They took a moment to silently appreciate her comments.
“They use magic,” Filona added.
“Mm,” Jularra replied. “We already knew that.”
“No, ma’am,” the Spire replied. “They use magic in everything. Everywhere. But what's troubling, Your Majesty, is the silence. Most areas are dark, and few things are said.”
Jularra’s spine prickled with unease.
“Is Messyleio not a busy port? Bustling with trade and commerce?”
“Oh yes, ma’am. The docks are flooded with goods and merchants, but even that area is dismal and quiet.”
Jularra knuckled her forehead in confusion.
“It’s wild, Your Majesty,” added the other Spire. “Arguments spill into the street, and more often than not end with someone dead in the mud at the hand of another's spell.”
Wona leaned over to Jularra. “It sounds like strangers are just asking to die.”
“All right. It’s dangerous,” Jularra replied. “We knew it was going to be dangerous. That doesn't change the fact that I have to go down there and find someone who knows where to find Leona.”
“I don’t believe they’re trying to dissuade Your Majesty,” Vischuno offered.
“No, ma’am,” Filona agreed. “We’re just wanting to share what we’ve seen.”
Jularra nodded, then licked the dryness off her lips and looked to the tree line. The wind was finally dying. Branches stopped shaking and the hill grew quiet. Only the persistent child of the earlier gust strolled through the grasses. Jularra looked back down the hill to the city's edge, grown brighter as the deep dark took hold.
“Come on. Let’s find the others.” She nudged her horse into a trot, taking point.
“But we’re not disguised,” Wona piped up.
Jularra turned around.
“It was never my intention to hide my identity; only to gather information with disguised personnel. I will present myself as the Queen of Acorilan and engage with them as such. We will not hide.”
In the torchlight, she saw her people nod.
“Keep your eyes open. Don’t try to hide. Let’s just get down there.”
Jularra led the way down the mountain. Wona, Vischuno and the others fell in behind. It was about two miles to Messyleio’s walls, down the hill and around the trees. The trot down the hill was quiet. Jularra and the others kept an anxious eye on both the tree line and the gates—but no one appeared. No horns. No calls from anyone at the wall. As they closed in on the nearest gate, Vischuno rode up next to Jularra.
“Let us take the lead, ma’am.”
She took a moment to consider strategy, but then nodded.
“Thank you, Visch. Captain Filona, will you lead our people into the city? Let’s find someone to talk to, or find a way to talk with Melcayro and Abranni.”
“Yes ma’am,” Filona complied.
Filona rode to the front. Jularra looked up to the top of the wall as her warriors filed past after the captain. No movement. No sentries.
They either don’t care we’re here, or have planned on it.
Filona raised her hand to knock, but froze at the sound of the locking beam sliding out of place on the other side. The massive door swung open just enough for a small hand to slip out through the crack. The door slid open a few more inches, revealing a small girl shoving it open. She leaned into it with a soft grunt. After overcoming her surprise at the sight, Filona stumbled over to the door to help.
“Thank you,” the child said. Though not the maternal sort, Jularra had to admit the girl was quite adorable.
Filona pushed the door the rest of the way and led the way into the city, clearly as curious as Jularra to see who'd lifted the locking beam mounted well above the child’s head. But they found no one. They looked up to the walls now that they could see them from the inside. Nothing.
The rest of the Bedrock and Spire trickled in, each one hesitant and suspicious from the odd greeting. The little girl watched as they passed through the gate and grouped up. At last, Jularra and the few remaining guards entered. The little girl grabbed the captain’s finger.
“They want you to follow me,” she said.
Jularra swung a leg around and hopped off her horse.
“Majesty…” Vischuno whispered in alarm.
She held her hand up while nodding in recognition of his concern. Jularra proceeded to the front of the group and came down on one knee.
“Who wants us to follow you?” she asked.
The child giggled and smiled. There were no teeth in her mouth. Nor was there a tongue, or any discernible depth to her mouth at all. Filona jerked away. Jularra's head tilted with concern, and wonder.
“What are you?” Jularra whispered.
The girl giggled again.
Jularra cycled magic, charms, enchantments, spells, and curses through her head, trying to consider what the little girl was. As she pondered the various types of magic that might be at work, she looked around the dimly-lit street and saw no sign of any other soul. But almost every window had a candle in it.
Jularra turned her head slowly to Filona.
“Where is everyone? Where are our people?”
Filona slowly shook her head. Her eyes were wide with confusion.
The little girl answered. Her voice dipped down unnaturally, and then back up again as she spoke.
“If you follow me, I’ll take you to them.”
Jularra's nerves tingled beneath a wave of realization that she and her group weren’t in control. The little girl spoke again. Her voice dipped down again, but this time it stayed at a deeper pitch.
“Follow me,” the girl directed.
Jularra ran her tongue over her teeth, desperately considering her options. But she didn’t have enough information to act on, nor any other viable choices given her ignorance of the situation. Most of all, the uncertainty over the safety of her people here in Messyleio left her with little choice. She smiled at the mysterious girl and nodded.
The girl took off, jogging down the muddy main street, leaving Jularra’s group staring at their queen in shock. She turned an admonishing look on Filona, whose
