Call of the Wild (27 page)

by Lucy Kelly

Ishnam, Supreme Queen of the planet HeVan, turned away from the window and slowly made her way back to her bed. She could feel the poison wending its way through her body. She only had a few hours left now. Still, she had time to finish one last act to prevent her enemies from succeeding in all of their traitorous plans.

She looked around her room; it wasn’t overly opulent, for a room in the palace. She gave in to a show of grandeur in the throne room, with its mirrored walls and gold and red tapestries framing the windows. Beautiful crystal chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings, lighting every corner. The marble floors had a plush red runner leading up to the ornately carved gold throne. It sat on a dais, with three steps leading up to it.

The throne had been in her family for centuries; it had been a gift from the people, but she’d always thought it was horribly uncomfortable. Her Ankida had ruled by her side so she’d had three additional chairs carved out of hardwood. They had been inlaid with rare woods and precious metals from every province on HeVan. She’d personally selected the cushions covered in the colors of her House. At least
they
could sit comfortably while she handled matters of State. She often requested their opinion on various problems and had found their counsel to be wise. She missed them with her whole being.

Here in her bedroom, only the size of twenty feet by twenty feet indicated wealth. The bed was large enough for her and her three mates to sleep comfortably. She reached over and picked up the pillow next to her and breathed in the scent of her Ankida, barely lingering there. Her heart broke a little more at the loss; she would be with them soon.

She looked over at the curved, wide couch where they all sat together so many times. It was covered in white and gold brocade, with beautiful multi-colored pillows for added comfort. She remembered lounging there in the mornings with her Ankida, having their breakfast, or in the evenings during story time with the children.

News had arrived about her successor—her only daughter was missing and presumed dead, her ship tossed into hyperspace by a jump gate malfunction. She suspected this
accident
was also no accident. Now, since she herself was facing death, she realized the betrayal went further than even she had realized.

The Queens of HeVan had been blessed with a special gift. They shared a link with the planet HeVan itself, as well as with the people, keeping the world in balance. This power affected all aspects of life on HeVan. The Supreme Queen, known as the
Nam-Nin
, was the physical representation of Mother Earth for them all.

Only the Queen knew the secret place from where the first Nam-Nin had joined with HeVan and received the power to link all living things together and keep the planet in harmonious balance. As Queen Ishnam lay back in her bed, she decided she wasn’t beaten yet. The power she held had been passed from mother to daughter in an unbroken line going back for millennia. The location of the place of
Join
ing was passed along in the same way, lest it be forgotten.

She thought back to a month ago. Merél, her friend and confidant for many years, came to her and told her the time to pass her powers was approaching.

Merél was a powerful Seer of the present and past. On rare occasions, usually regarding things of great importance to their people, she would get a vision of the future. One such vision, she said, had prompted her to speak with the Queen.

Ishnam knew now Merél had not really had a vision. Yet, Merél’s warning had caused the Queen to make the one decision which would give the planet hope and allow Ishnam to pass from this world with less fear for the future of her people.

At the time, still believing in her friend, Queen Ishnam wasted no time. Her three Ankida had recently been killed in an explosion. Her grief was great; she thought her own end would come soon. Her only daughter, Tamiel, was scheduled to leave for an Interstellar Conference. She should already have left but delayed her departure due to a volcanic eruption in the northern region. So the Queen took advantage of the delay to take her daughter into her private chambers.

Her power, which linked her to the planet, she passed on to her daughter that very day. The action she had taken and the one she would take now would, with the blessings of the Goddess, save her people. Since she’d received word her daughter’s ship had malfunctioned while traveling in hyperspace, she began putting her plans in motion.

Queen Ishnam, known as the Nam-Nin to her people, was also dying. It was another betrayal.

I've been a reader all my life, often wondering what I would do with those characters if I'd written the book myself.

I no longer have to wonder, with the encouragement of friends and family, including a few swift kicks, I am now a published author.

I grew up in San Francisco and raised my child there. Then followed my job to Chicagoland six years ago.

The more I write the more I enjoy this outlet to my imagination. The only downside to writing when you're already holding down a full-time job is that it doesn't leave enough time for reading!