Because this is the land my parents told me stories of when I was a child.
I close my eyes, remembering their stories about the waterfalls that cascade down from several mountains and how they create dazzling rainbows. I open my eyes and look at the mountains. My thoughts are confirmed when I see the rainbows glowing in the sunlight.
Odessa’s last few words echo in my mind, and I whip my head to her.
“Did you say my mother’s former palace?”
The pieces finally click together.
The costumes, the stories, the lectures, and the strange otherworldliness.
My mother was fromhere. My heart cracks with the revelation.
Odessa addresses the people who have gathered by the doorway. “I need a moment alone with Helena.” She then turns her attention to the blonde-headed man standing in front of the others. “Julius, can you begin the council meeting? I will be there as soon as I get her settled.”
Julius had been the other man flanking her in the throne room. His height overshadows the men next to him; he’s slimmer,though, a swimmer’s physique compared to most of the men’s brute muscles.
As he nods to Odessa, I study his features. Short, sun-kissed blonde hair and dark golden eyes, the color almost black except for their strange glint in the sun, make him fairly attractive, but a slight sneer spoils his good qualities.
“Of course, my dear,” he murmurs.
His voice makes me want to recoil, but he throws me a small smile before herding the remaining audience with him.
Odessa waits until the footsteps have faded before she speaks.
“Your mother was Queen Bryn.”
Her words halt my breathing altogether. My mother was aqueenhere.
I blink hard, trying to wake myself up, but it’s futile. This is all real.
“I have heard of this place, but only through the stories my parents told me as a child.”
She leads me farther out onto the terrace, and I can see that part of it overlooks a small garden, with vibrant colors contrasting against the terrace’s white stone. To the left of the garden is a cobblestone walkway that leads down to some long wooden buildings and spacious, flat grounds. But beyond the garden is a breathtaking view of the city that stretches out before us. We take a seat on a cool marble bench, and Odessa sighs.
“Well, I’m glad they mentioned this place to you, but I’m sorry you didn’t know the truth before you arrived.” I press my lips into a thin line as I nod. “I assume you don’t know really anything about Idirhalla, though, do you?”
It’s hard to peel my eyes away from the city as I take in the buildings separated by roads and trees.
“They told me of a place—,” my voice cracks, and I take acalming breath, still trying to adjust to my surroundings. “A place that was a paradise for the chosen warriors to come live and train for the Father’s armies.” My parents’ loving faces appear in my mind before I push on. “They described a massive hall like the one we were just in, a land that looked identical to this one, and people with wings.” I turn towards her. “I just thought it was their attempt at explaining an afterlife. I didn’t think it wasreal.”
Odessa pats my leg. “It is very real, and that does sum it up quite nicely, but things have changed since your mother was the Queen here.”
“Changed how?”
“Well, originally, we would travel back and forth between the human realm and this one, bringing the warriors Odin had chosen for his army, but we don’t do that anymore. I mentioned earlier that we heard your mother’s charm and assumed it was her. That necklace you’re wearing opens the bridges between worlds, but we haven’t been able to travel since the magic started to fade. I’m really not sure how you managed to reach us at all.” Her gaze goes distant momentarily before her eyes sharpen, and she clears her throat. “But it’s changed in more ways than that. Odin, the Father, has returned to the Gods Realm. There is no war coming, so there’s nothing to ‘train’ for. We live as we wish.” She scrunches her nose. “Well,we did, but with the power in Idirhalla weakening since your mother left, terrible disasters have been occurring. It has brought about some unique challenges.”
I clear my throat. “How is this tied to my mother?”
Odessa stares out at the city before us. “The power is tied to the royal bloodline through your mother in a covenant between her line and Odin. I’ve been the reigning queen in your mother’s absence, but we only share a father and not the maternal bloodline through which power is linked.”
I nod, but it’s difficult to wrap my mind around the fact thatI’m the daughter of a queen in a realm that has, orhad,magic, and is currently crumbling because of her absence.
“I have a few questions,” I say, my brow furrowing.
Odessa smirks, her eyes flash playfully. “I’d be concerned if you didn’t.”
“First, not to be rude, but what are you? Like, why do you have wings? Second, what kind of magic is this power-fading thing? What does it do?” The questions tumble out of me so quickly I’m worried I might’ve lost her.
