Of Fury and Shadow

Chapter One: A queen's choice

People often say that the dead look as if they are only a sleep. Looking at the dead body of her mother Selene had to disagree. If her mother were only asleep then her skin, usually dusky colored and warm, would not be grayish and cold. Her lips would be rosy, not pale and bloodless. Her chest would rise and fall softly with the breath of sleep, not lay still and lifeless. Selene wished her mother were only sleeping because then there would be hope of her waking up and ending this nightmare.

When the scouts that had found the queen’s body told her the news, she was frozen by her disbelief. How could she be dead? The strong and bright queen of the amazons who had fought in so many battles and ruled with such strength and grace, dead? There was no reason for her to be dead. Except for the gaping hole in her chest where the knife that ended her life was found. The encampment had erupted into chaos as amazons raced to search the woods for the culprit but nothing was found except for that damned knife, small and poorly made, something a poor farmer would use in his day to day work. A simple farmer could not have killed the queen of the amazons. At least that is what Selene kept telling herself. She was stroking her mother’s head and humming an old sss lullaby that had been sung to her as a child when a voice called to her.

“You need to get some rest. You’ve been doing that since they found her.” Selene turned to the opening of the tent and saw her twin sister, Sabeer, enter dirt covered and tired. She entered the tent carrying the scent of trees and sweat.

“I will, I only wanted to be sure that she was ready for the ceremony tonight... did you see that they had cut off some of her hair?” Said Selene pulling a woven cloth over their mother’s body. She stood up and walked over to Sabeer, who was removing her armor and weapons.

“Yes, a few of the others who went out with me found chunks of her hair spread across the clearing. Whoever did this really wanted to humiliate her.” Sabeers face clouded over as she recalled the sight. She sighed heavily and turned to her sister.

“ Could you get that last tie? I can’t reach it.” Sabeer was stretching her arm across her back trying and failing to reach the tie of her leather armor. Selene took the ties and set to undoing the knot. Sabeer always knotted her ties when she dressed quickly and Selene was the only one with enough patience to undo them.

“Were you able to find any trace of the killer?” She asked hopefully as she finished with the stubborn knot.

“No, nothing. The bastard knew what he was doing, covered his tracks well. I did find this, so it wasn"t a total waste of time. It must have come off in the fight.” Sabeer reached into a pouch at her hip and pulled out a long silver chain with a large blood red ruby dangling at the end. The necklace caught the light and Selene saw that the silver chain links were crusted with blood.

“Mother’s necklace!” Exclaimed Selene, reaching for the stone. Sabeer snatched it away and quickly replaced the necklace back in the pouch at her side.

“The queen’s necklace.” She said correcting her younger sister. Sabeer turned and walked over to a large basin of water and began to wash her face and arms.

“I know it’s the queen’s necklace, I am just used to seeing it on mother.” Said Selene annoyed. She’d only wanted to hold the necklace that had been her mother’s.

“Don"t be mad little sister. I just didn"t want you to try and burn it with her. You already have her in her best armor. Good armor that still has a lot of use in it.” Said Sabeer matter of factly. Selene rolled her eyes. Was that really what was important right now? She hated that at times her sister could be so cold, even towards her, even when she needed her.

“The queen’s necklace is a relic that has been passed down from queen to queen since the first queen, Illah. I know our history just as well as you. Besides, what would you even do with her armor? It’s too big for you.” Selene looked over at their mother’s body, a whole foot taller than both of them. Sabeer looked over as well, she sighed and went back to work washing the dirt from her face.

“I know, I wish I had her height. She really looked like a queen... Help me do this, I can’t see if I’ve gotten it all.” She says holding out the cloth to Selene. Selene took it and began wiping away dirt from her sister"s face.

“You could just use a mirror.” She said, resenting her sisters commanding tone. Anyone listening would think Sabeer was addressing a servant.

“That’s what I have you for dear sister." She patted Selene"s cheek. " Although, I don’t want to look anything like you right now. Have you been crying all night?”

Sabeer knew that she had. As always she just wanted to point out Selene’s weaknesses, even with their mother dead. Selene didn’t answer her, she just focused on wiping away all the dirt she could find. Slowly, she uncovered the familiar face that her and her sister shared. Dark brown, almost black, eyes. Their stern nose and strong chin. They were twins, Sabeer born only minutes before her. There were few in the camp that could tell them apart without speaking to them first. She put down the cloth and looked at her sister. Even though her face was clean there was dirt in her long black hair that would have to be washed out. Looking at the face that was a perfect match of her own she wondered if Sabeer had ever shed a tear in her life. She tossed the cloth in the water basin and sat by the fire.

“Our mother was murdered. I am allowed to feel her death and cry over her loss.” The fire crackled and popped as she stared into it. There was silence as the two of them looked into the flames but never across them and into each other"s eyes.

“I have been out since before dawn. I am going to get some sleep, I want to be rested for tonight.” Said Sabeer, stretching her arms over her head and then laying down in her bed. She laid with her back turned on Selene and her grief.

Selene knew that Sabeer didn’t mean to dismiss her pain. She was dealing with their mother"s death the best way she knew how. Neither of them expected her to die so soon, leaving Sabeer to become their queen at 18 years old. Selene knew that she was nervous at the idea. She could feel it in everything that Sabeer did and said.

While Sabeer was nervous, Selene was relieved that it wasn’t her. She had no desire to be queen and shoulder the weight of a war that the elders say they have been fighting for hundreds of years.

The war with the kingdom of Durin had filled her childhood with fear and worry. She remembered as a child asking her mother why they kept fighting a war that was started by ancestors that have been dead for so long. If it hadn’t been for the amazons superior strength, magic, and constant moving of their camps, they would have been wiped out by Durin’s larger numbers. Sabeer was inheriting a war and the responsibility of bringing her people through it alive. Selene did not envy her sister in the least, she thanked the goddess for the gift that was being the second born.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and stood to follow her sister"s example and try to sleep before the long night ahead. As she reached her bed and pulled up the furs she heard a voice coming from the tent opening.

“Sabeer, Selene, I need to speak with you.” From the sound of it the voice belonged to Telmare, the council elder. Selene looked over to Sabeer, who had always been able to sleep the moment her head touched the pillow. She sighed and walked over to the tent entrance and pulled the flap up.

“Sabeer is sleeping, she needs her rest before the queen"s trial. Can this wait?” The old woman"s face was serious as usual but just now it also held a look of urgency that she didn’t usually see. “What have you seen?” She asked. Selene had always been curious about the seers in their tribe. They were mages who also had the ability to see into the future although that particular gift varied from sss to sss. Some could see big events, some could see only minutes into the future, and others could answer specific inquires that were asked of them if the right circumstances were met, but those were rare.

“No, this is about your mother and it has to be discussed before tonight.” The old woman stepped closer to the entrance and Selene relented, stepping back to let her in. Telmare hurries to seat herself by the fire and nods toward Sabeer’s sleeping form. Selene rolled her eyes. The least the old seer could do was wake Sabeer up herself. Sabeer hated to be woken up. Selene walked over to her sister and gently shook her shoulder then quickly jumped back.

“What!” Yelled Sabeer swinging her arm out at the air where Selene had been standing.

“Telmare wants a word.” She said gesturing to where the seer sat calmly observing the two. There was a look on her face that sent a shiver of anticipation through her spine.

“Oh, can’t this wait? I’m sure we will have plenty of time after queen"s trial to discuss whatever it is.” Sabeer rolled back under her covers, Selene cringed. Telmare"s face was tightly pinched, as if she were trying to keep from insulting her future queen. Their mother would never have spoken to the elder that way. Not the best way to start your reign, sister. Selene thought to herself as she smiled apologetically at Telmare. The old woman"s face remained pinched, then she took in a breath, and her features relaxed.

“If it could wait, I would not be here now. As it is we are running out of time and there are many things to discuss. So I will just tell you; your mother came to the council some weeks ago and told us that in the event of her death she wanted Selene to succeed her as queen.”

Sabeer sat up. She looked at the old woman with disbelieving eyes and the old woman looked back, clearly pleased with her reaction. Selene, opposite to her sister, sat down, she suddenly felt very heavy. There was silence as Telmare let this news sink into the minds of the two astonished girls. Finally Sabeer broke the silence with her voice like a razor.

“What do you mean? She never said anything to me about this.” Sabeer stood and took slow measured steps toward Telmare, her fists clenched.

“She was the queen, she didn’t have to tell you anything. However, she did say that she would discuss it with you both. Obviously, she never had the opportunity.” Said the old woman. Telmare made no effort to her pleasure at Sabeer’s anger. The two had never gotten along well.

“But Sabeer is first born." Selene said in a shaky voice. " The council would never have agreed to that.” Selene looked at her sister who nodded and looked to Telmare.

“They did, the queen made very convincing arguments.” Answered Telmare.

“Arguments that I want to hear from the whole council instead of you, hag!” Spat Sabeer.

“You will, they wanted to tell you both of your mothers decision but I convinced them to let me do it alone. I thought I would spare you the embarrassment of sharing this reaction with the entire council. If you are ready we can go now.” Telmare stood and walked out of the tent. Sabeer made to follow her but Selene took her arm before she could.

“Wait, Sabeer. Try to keep calm, we have to listen to…” Selene began.

“Keep calm?” cut in Sabeer. “You’re about to be handed my birthright and you want me to be calm?” Sabeer"s voice was hot as her temper climbed. She pulled her arm out of Selene’s grip and stepped back glaring at her.

“I am only saying that we should try to keep our heads until we know what is happening. We don"t have a lot of time to think of a solution so don"t waste it by throwing tantrums.” Selene was hurt by the anger she was getting from her sister. She didn"t understand where it was coming from. After all it wasn"t her idea that she be made the queen. Sabeer looked her in the eye and for a moment she calmed. Then she looked behind Selene at the shrouded body of their mother. Suddenly Sabeer"s face was swallowed by her anger.

"She is handing it to you, something I was trained for my whole life. What have you ever done to deserve it?" With one last glare for Selene and their mother Sabeer turned and followed after Telmare. Stunned and offended by her words Selene watched as her sister walked away. It was clear that Selene would be considered the one at fault in all of this.

***

"I don"t understand this, it"s insanity!" Sabeer was pacing the floor of the council tent shouting obscenities and interrupting everyone who spoke. They had been there for nearly an hour and still Selene felt that nothing had been properly explained. She understood Sabeer"s anger, it even made sense that she would be angry. The true insanity was that she wouldn"t listen and she wouldn"t let anyone speak. Selene"s patience was nearly gone. Sabeer was ignoring that this also changed her life in ways that she hadn"t wanted or expected. Instead of listening she was throwing a tantrum like a child. Normally, Selene would stand and leave when Sabeer got this way, considering the circumstances, she knew that would no longer be an option for her. She felt trapped. She looked at the faces of the six women sitting in front of her and was surprised to see them looking back at her, expectant. Telmare most of all. The old woman"s eyes moved to Sabeer and back, one of her eyebrows arched as if to say "It"s not up to us to stop this" Selene glanced over to Sabeer who was frantically waving her arms in the air, yelling, and then back to the Council. She took a deep breath and knew what had to be done next.

"Enough, Sabeer. We are getting nowhere with you screaming like a child every time someone says something that you don"t like." said Selene standing and facing her sister. She could feel her stomach tense as she said the words but she went on.

"We need to hear what the council has to say and once we have then we can decide what, if anything can be done." Sabeer stared at her with her mouth open as if looking for a response but was too surprised to find one. It was not that Selene had ever lost an argument with her sister, she had just avoided being in one as much as possible. Sabeer did not like to lose at anything and she hated being wrong. If you were foolish enough to have been caught in an argument with her, it could last for hours. She would yell, call you names, and in the end if you happened to be right she would smile smugly as if you"re brain had somehow been damaged and repeat how wrong you were again. Sabeer always had to have the last word, even if it was wrong. Selene learned that it was just easier to say nothing and move on. Unfortunately, this situation would have to be different, Selene would have to be different. Sabeer"s surprised face settled into a scowl and then into a glare. Selene kept her face blank as she met her sisters gaze.

"Thank you Selene." Said Delyth, the healer. Sabeer looked as if she could breathe fire but she let the woman continue. "As I was saying, the queen came to us with a plan; We"ve been fighting for too long. Few of our next generation know what this war is about or even care. Our numbers are diminishing and our gifts are manifesting later and weaker than before. If we continue on in this war, we will lose. The queen knew this and so she sent a messenger to the king of Durin to..."

"Surrender!" Yelled Sabeer throwing her hands in the air and shaking her head.

"To meet with him and establish a peace. He responded positively and agreed to meet with her." Said Ohma, plainly irritated with Sabeer. The general and warrior had been friends with the deceased queen and did not like how her eldest daughter was behaving.

"Yes, that I believe we understand." Said Selene resting her hand on Sabeer"s shoulder when she saw that she was about to begin shouting again. It was something she had seen their mother do many times and she was surprised it worked. Sabeer took in a deep breath, shook her head and let Selene continue. "It"s the part where the queen made me her successor that we are having trouble with." Said Selene, trying to be as respectful as possible since Sabeer insisted on rudeness. Sabeer jerked her shoulder and Selene let her hand fall.

"The queen felt that if peace were to be achieved, you would be the best candidate. Sabeer is too hot headed as she has made very clear to us tonight." Said Telmare glaring toward Sabeer who was glaring right back. Selene ignored them as the word peace had filled her head. She had never known peace in her whole life. She had killed her first enemy at the age of 10 and the number of men who died at her hand had steadily risen with each year that passed. They could have peace and her mother believed that she, Selene, could get it for them. What would that be like?

"Selene would present as a weaker queen! The king of men would cheat us and then kill us once he has what he wants. She has never even wanted to be queen. She wasn"t raised to it like I was. The amazons have always had their strongest warrior as their queen and I have proven that I am that warrior! " This outburst from Sabeer is what finally pulled Selene out her own thoughts. How could Sabeer say that about her in front of the council? Selene had never in her life challenged her right to rule or insulted her in public. Yes, they have had their fights in the past but they were sisters, it was expected of them that they would fight. She was angry that Sabeer would resort to saying such things about her when Selene had only ever supported her. Here their mother had left them a chance for peace. She had wanted to achieve this peace herself, and Selene felt a strong need to get it for her and her people. She hadn"t intended to accept the nomination if she could help it, but that was when she had thought she would have to lead her people in this never ending war. Now with peace as a real possibility she had no intention of refusing the role of Queen. Sabeer would just have to accept it.

"Sabeer, I am sorry that you feel that way. It"s true that I have never wanted to be queen but we have also never had a chance for peace. It would be foolish of us to throw away this opportunity. Our mother wanted this future for us." She looked at her sister and reached out her hand. Hoping to convey how sorry she was that things had to turn out this way with the simple touch. Sabeer looked at her outstretched hand, she didn"t take it. Selene lowered it and took a deep breath. She kept her face blank, no need to show Sabeer her disappointment. She would only see it as weakness.

"What do I need to do?" She said turning her back to Sabeer and facing the council.

"Exactly what you have done. Now that you have accepted, you will just need to present yourself at queens trial as the queens successor." Telmare spoke quickly before Sabeer could interrupt. She stood, her eyes growing wider with each word spoken.

"Once the trial is over we should send a messenger to Durin"s king to let him know about the queens demise and that a new queen has taken her place, one that is also interested in peace." Said Selene.

"Wait." Sabeer"s voice was low and dangerous. “Nothing has been decided. I am still first born."

"Actually, sister, things have been decided and as you are no longer the successor you are no longer needed here in this meeting. Please leave. I will speak to you in our tent once I have finished here." Selene said calmly as if talking to a child. It both hurt and pleased Selene to say this to her sister. It hurt because some part of her did feel as if she were betraying her and it pleased her because she felt it was her revenge for all of the things that Sabeer had said about her. She kept her face calm and blank however as she looked Sabeer in the eye.

"This is a mistake. You"ll see." And with that Sabeer left. Selene watched her go and took a moment before she turned back to the council. Sabeer would be furious with her and she didn"t know where she would even begin to repair the damage done. However, that would have to wait. She had responsibilities to attend to

"Is there anything else that I need to know?" She asked.

"Yes, two things in fact." Began Telmare as Selene seated herself in the queens place.

“ As Delyth said before, our gifts are manifesting later and weaker with every new sss child. One of our seers has been able to confirm the reason for this." She said ominously. There was a scoff from one of the council members. Selene hadn"t seen who it was so she gestured for Telmare to continue.

"My niece, Nenasea, has the ability to see into the past as well as the future. With this ability she has been able to see that the first of our ancestors brought here to this land were in possession of an enormous amount of power." Again there was a scoff. This time Selene was able to see that it came from Katan, her mother"s body guard. Former body guard.

"Katan, you have something to say and I would rather hear that once then hear you scoff a third time." Said Selene with a disapproving look at Katan. The shadow warrior met her gaze and sat up straighter.

"I don"t disagree with the idea of peace, Selene. But I do not believe that we should up and leave our home based on the ramblings of Telmare"s lunatic grandchild." Said Katan crossing her arms.

"Let"s refrain from insulting anyone till I have all the facts." Said Selene turning again toward Telmare. The old woman looked ruffled by Katan"s words. " What does she mean by leave our home? Has Durin made this a requirement?"

"No, they did not. This is something we can discuss after you have been crowned queen. It"s enough for now that you know that it may be a possible outcome." Said Telmare with what Selene was sure was relief.

"I see, in that case I will go. I have a queen"s trial to prepare for." Selene stood to go when Katan"s voice stopped her.

"Your mother and the council have agreed that your sister should not be queen but I am still not sure that you are the one to replace her. I didn"t say this while Sabeer was here because I didn"t want her to think that I supported her. Honestly, I have never seen anything in you that would make a queen. Until tonight I never even thought of you as anything but another warrior. Don"t expect everyone to support you." She said from her spot, she was lounging in her seat giving Selene and appraising look. Selene could tell that Katan was going to be a problem but she had spent her life dealing with Sabeer and Katan was nothing compared to her.

"Then I suppose I will see those who do not support me at queen"s trial." She said giving Katan her own appraising look and left.

When Selene reached her tent Sabeer was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and prepared to sit with her mother till the sun went down.