Lasgol now saw that there were other shamans in the hall, dressed like Arrain. It seemed that he was the highest-ranking one, because the others stayed behind the throne. All around the hall, the Queen’s guards watched the new arrivals with alert eyes.
The Queen waved her hand. “You can rest assured that no harm will come to you in this hall.”
“We offer our heartfelt gratitude for the Turquoise Queen’s benevolence,” Eicewald said. He gave a deep bow.
“Don’t misunderstand me, Ice Mage. I haven’t said that you will leave my realm alive. Only that nothing will happen to you in here.”
Lasgol and Astrid exchanged a warning glance, as did Gerd and Nilsa. Ona was now as tense as Ingrid and Viggo, who were ready to leap into action.
“To try anything against me would be a great mistake,” the Queen warned them. “My Shamans and warriors would put an end to you. But in fact, there is very little you could do to harm me.”
“We wouldn’t dare –” Eicewald began, but the Queen interrupted him.
“Who is your best warrior?”
The six exchanged glances. Viggo was about to speak, but Ingrid was quicker off the mark.
“I’m the best warrior, and the leader of this group,” she said firmly.
“Good. I see you carry three bows at your back. My people don’t know that type of weapon. I want you to try to hit me with them.”
Ingrid looked at her in surprise. “With my bows? At this distance?” she asked. She knew it would be impossible for her to fail.
The Queen nodded. “That’s right.” She gestured to her to try.
“Your Majesty, it’s not necessary –” Eicewald began, but the Queen raised her hand to interrupt him.
Ingrid took her compound bow and nocked an arrow. “Your Majesty?” she said, hoping to receive a countermanding order.
“Go ahead,” the Queen said, and with a wave of her hand she caused part of the water in which she was half-submerged to rise and create a barrier around her.
Ingrid sighed and released. At this distance the arrow would transfix the Queen, water barrier or no.
She was wrong. The arrow hit the water it was supposed to go through, and as it did so the crystalline liquid turned black. Instead of piercing it, the arrow broke apart and fell to the ground.
“What –?” Ingrid said, taken aback.
“Try again with your other two bows, and use those elemental arrows I know you have with you.”
Ingrid obeyed, and as had happened with her first attempt, the elemental arrows broke apart in the same way, without either exploding or producing the elemental effect.
“They’re useless,” Ingrid said, sounding annoyed.
The Queen waved her arm again and murmured something. The barrier of water vanished, then reappeared around Ingrid, who started in surprise.
“Don’t touch the water!” Eicewald warned her. “It breaks down everything it touches, including humans.”
Immediately Ingrid froze still as a statue.
Viggo reached for his knives. Lasgol glared at him to dissuade him from doing anything. Viggo held back, but grasped the handles of his knives, ready to leap on to the Queen if necessary. Lasgol knew that his friend would do that without a second thought, whatever the consequences.
“Quite right. If you touch it, warrior, you’ll lose the limb you touch it with.”
Ingrid, still motionless, glowered at the Queen. Astrid and Nilsa tensed, anxious to help Ingrid.
“No, no, my guests …” murmured the Queen, and waved both arms. From the water around her there emerged five new barriers which rose around the rest of the team and imprisoned them. Eicewald alone remained free of the spell.
They were all aware that they could not move, but the situation of danger almost forced them to do so. Ona, on whom the Queen had not cast the spell, stared at the barriers of water fearfully.
“Everyone keep calm,” Lasgol said to his companions. Don’t do anything. Ona, stay. Camu, don’t interfere.
I can with magic.
I know, but this isn’t the moment. Don’t do anything.
Sure?
Yes, sure. If I need you, I’ll let you know.
“Everybody stay absolutely still. If you don’t, there’s going to be a tragic accident,” Eicewald warned them.
“You’ll be wondering about the reason for this little demonstration,” Uragh said calmly. “In fact, it isn’t to show you how powerful my magic is, or how easy it would be for me to kill you all – including my dear Eicewald – but in order that you understand that the magic of water may be used either for life or for death. That is usually the case with nearly all kinds of magic, and although I practice that of life, I can also use that of death when it is necessary.”
“Our Queen makes her people prosper with Magic of Life,” Arrain said, “and protects them with Magic of Death.” The other shamans in the chamber nodded in agreement.
“Your Majesty, if you let me explain –” Eicewald began, but the Turquoise Queen raised her hand to stop him.
“Visits from the great continent do not please me – as you know well, Ice Mage. The realms of Tremia are all different, but at the same time they have one thing in common: they seek wealth and power.
