Chapter 26: The Queen Mother

26

The Queen Mother was living in a sort of self-imposed exile.

A strange sort of exile, though, holed up as she was within her suite of chambers inside the Grand Palace, the Royals' family home far outside of Chakiti Enzi, the Capital city of the Long Plains Kingdom.

She spent most of her days there in darkness, with the drapes drawn and the lights turned low.

Malikia Azari, the duly appointed Queen's Regent, and currently the most powerful and influential person in the Incata, was in mourning.

Her eldest son, the once future King, was dead, while her youngest, the wayward Prince, and currently the rightful heir, had been held captive and powerless in foreign lands; where his shame was complete.

And now her kingdom was in jeopardy, the very fabric of the land, many of the major Elementals, the very glue which magically held the Incata in place, under attack and dying. Meanwhile, there were enemies veritably at the gates, aided, no doubt, by traitors rampant within her very own house.

All of her well lain plans had turned to ash.

“Best,” she thought. “To have left well enough alone.”

But, it was much too late for such regrets now. At whatever cost, those long laid plans were fully in motion and a delicate balance must be maintained in order for her to assure the survival of the House of Askai.

She was certain that before all was over, she'd be labeled a monster and much of the blame for the ruin to come would be lain at her feet.

It was a burden she was willing to bear.