The Catswold Portal

Fighting her fear she led the Catswold warriors straight into battle, though many upperworld Catswold drew back. Ahead, Siddonie loomed suddenly among her fighting men, the black stallion rearing and charging. Melissa gave the sign and leaned low in the saddle, and they charged the queen at a dead run. She saw Siddonie’s warriors separate to surround the Catswold. This was Siddonie’s plan. She would expect Helsa to draw back and be captured. She signaled again and her troops separated, swerving away in two arms circling the Affandar troops. She saw Siddonie’s movement of surprise, saw her jerk her horse, saw her shout orders but couldn’t hear the words.

Siddonie’s soldiers wheeled to form a wider pincer. The Catswold warriors wheeled and cut them off. They had lost more of the upperworld Catswold; Melissa could see them, galloping away to safety. She could see also, behind Siddonie’s troops, the rebel bands closing in. And suddenly a roar came from above and the Griffon dropped over her, sweeping low, knocking Affandar soldiers from the saddle. At the same moment Melissa charged, her soldiers with her. Beneath the Griffon’s diving attacks they began to drive Siddonie’s troops back. They cut the Affandar soldiers down and forced them into the swords of the pursuing rebels. Again and again the Griffon dove and they attacked, and with each sweep a wave of the queen’s troops fell. Men lay dying. Loose horses pounded away. Melissa thought Siddonie was shouting a spell. But the queen, surrounded by enemies, shouted suddenly, “Truce! I want truce!”

The Catswold warriors paused, looking to Melissa.

“Truce,” Melissa breathed warily. Her hood was tight around her face, and in the confusion of battle surely Siddonie still thought she was Helsa. Was this the moment the two had planned, when Helsa would turn on her own troops and help kill them?

Siddonie rode forward alone to face the gold-hooded Catswold queen. But then she half-turned, aware of something behind her. And Melissa saw within the flames of the pit the black dragon rising up. Its thick body looked like a gigantic, endless tree rising. Its head touched the granite sky snaking, seeking. And now suddenly Siddonie recognized her, her face was transfixed with rage. Suddenly she dropped low over the saddle, her sword drawn, and charged Melissa. Melissa could see her lips moving in a spell, could feel the cold power weaken her, enervating and lulling her…

No!

She roused herself, grasping the Amulet shouting a spell against Siddonie, as their swords met.

Melissa felt Siddonie’s blow like fire in her arm. She saw the Griffon dive to distract Siddonie, and she struck the queen, nearly unseating her. “Now, Griffon! Again!” He dove and she struck again. The queen twisted. Her mount stumbled under the Griffon’s driving weight, and the Griffon grabbed the queen’s arm in his powerful beak, as Melissa struck the sword from her hand.

Facing Siddonie, Melissa shook back her hood, and opened her cloak to reveal the Amulet.

Siddonie went white, but then she laughed at her. “That is not the true Amulet! A useless toy. A common emerald.”

“Is it?” Melissa said softly. Then, “Speak to your armies, Siddonie. Tell your soldiers that you fight to free the Netherworld.”

Siddonie smiled and turned to face her armies. Her captains pressed their horses nearer. But when the queen tried to speak, she could not. She opened her mouth but her voice would not come.

Melissa said, “You cannot lie before the Amulet.” She watched Siddonie’s rising uncertainty and anger. “Tell your soldiers, Siddonie, that you fight to free the Netherworld.”

The kings who had ridden with Siddonie were close around her now, her brother King Ithilel, King Moriethsten of Wexten, King Craysche and others. But as the gathered armies waited for the queen to speak, and as they realized the queen could not speak, Melissa saw one king then another draw back.

King Bedini of Ferrathil left Siddonie’s side, then Hevveth of Chillings. Soon other kings turned away, and only four monarchs remained beside the queen of Affandar.

Melissa said, “Can’t you speak to your armies, Siddonie? Can’t you tell them they fight for freedom against the slave-making rebels?”

When Siddonie remained mute and the silence had stretched taut, some of Siddonie’s own officers turned their horses away.

But other soldiers drew closer to her, watching their queen. And suddenly with no warning a dozen Affandar soldiers attacked Siddonie, grabbing her horse, trying to pull her from the saddle. Her stallion plunged. Siddonie screamed a spell that sent the men reeling, and sitting her fighting horse, she laughed. But Melissa rode at her hard, grabbing the stallion’s bridle. “Tell them!” she shouted, jerking the horse to her, her sword poised at Siddonie’s throat. “Tell them what they fight for.”

When Siddonie tried to shout her lies her voice strictured and broke as if hands circled her throat.

“Tell them!” Melissa thrust her blade, blooding the queen’s cheek.