Page 16 of Arise the Queen
As expected, he said nothing in response. He found a spot up high where he could peer down at Gwendolyn, then turned himself in a full circle, and, once more, and again and again, until he finally settled, kneading the ground a long moment before tucking both his front paws beneath his chubby little torso.
And that was that.
With no blanket or cloak to cover herself, Gwendolyn removed the sword’s harness, then settled it by the cavern wall. She then positioned herself with her back to the wall and used her sack as a make-shift pillow.
Regrettably, with the hob cake growing old and firm, she couldn’t help but remember her bride’s gift from Locrinus—that polished cedar pillow he’d given her on the night they took their vows. It might have been a lovely gift. Indeed, on the surface, it would appear he’d meant to honor her, but those oils that resisted vermin, were also an irritant to the flesh, especially when the pillow was damp with tears—tears she’d shed because of him. After a fortnight of sleeping on that loathsome thing, Gwendolyn’s cheeks had formed a rash.
Don’t think of him—or even Málik.
This wasnotthe time to be weak—not when shemustremain strong.
With a grunt of displeasure, she settled herself for the evening, but not before plucking one corner of a piece of crumbling Hob cake…
She laid her head back, placing a bite to her lips, entertaining thoughts of revenge.
This one tasted like…
Bloody, unpurged beef and soft, runny spermys, all washed down with an overly sweet gulp of gritty mead.
“How disgusting,” she said, tossing the bite away, and that was when she heard the plop…
Curious, Gwendolyn inched closer to the edge of the shelf, peering down only to discover a small, but glorious pond.
The crystalline pool reflected its surroundings like a mirror, and she gasped softly at the sight of it—a place of serene beauty, with the gentle sounds of water lapping against stone, and the occasionalsplash, splashof fish.
There are creatures in this realm who live entirely without eyes.
And here they are, she thought.Here they are…and they were thriving indeed.
Despite that those fish might not see, their surrounding pond was aglow with their beauteous light, and the algae grew thick and green, thriving as well.
And there was more… tiny, luminous mushrooms grew in clusters about the stones, their soft grey light creating an enchanting border.
Even the water itself emanated a soft blue glow that appeared to come from its very depths, wherein coral-like formations rose, giving shelter to myriad creatures, including… piskies, with their lights flickering beneath the water, frolicking amidst delicate fronds that swayed with the current.
Málik once told her they could be curious and playful, but for Gwendolyn, they most often heralded danger. Here they appeared at home.
Atop the water floated large, frilly pads, with strange but beautiful flowers that produced radiant blooms in vibrantshades of blue, purple, and pink, every petal rimmed by a luminescent edge that made them appear as though they were glowing from within—like the small, bright fish darting through the water, leaving trails of liquid lightning in their wake, their scales shimmering like gems.
The very sight filled Gwendolyn with awe. She had never seen its like—even Porth Pool paled in comparison.
“Lovely!” she said, and it was.
Blinking with wonder, Gwendolyn lay staring into the pond.
So it was. Even within the darkest of places, life flourished. Blinking once more, she sighed with pleasure because this pond reminded her so much of Porth Pool—not as it was now, black and oily, but as it was when she was a young girl on her father’s shoulders. Long, long before the Rot…
Long before she’d ever swam there with Bryn.
Over the years, that pool had slowly deteriorated, and it was only now, as she lay here, staring into this pristine water, that she recalled how utterly spectacular it used to be.
New.
Untouched.
Brimming with life.
Full of light and wonder.
