Princesses of Muerning, part 2

Chapter 4:

 

Maureen found her teacher in the kitchen preparing Tea. “Good morning,” He greeted her.

“Morning,” She said. “Thank you.” She accepted a mug of tea. “I hope I didn’t burn you in the dream.”

“No, I cannot be harmed there,” He said with a smile. “However,” He laughed. “Be gentle with me in this world. Here you are master, not I.”

“Master of what?” She asked. “An empty castle? A mountain where none but my sister and I reside? A master of nothing I think.”

“No,” said her teacher. “No, your mother, who mastered the stars, gifted you more than just that.”

“You mean my magic?” She asked.

“Yes, and more,” He said. “This world needs you and your sister now.”

“What happened to our parents?” Maureen asked as Xenia entered the kitchen. Her snowy eyelashes perked up in curiosity as she heard her sister’s question.

Their teacher paused.

“Do you know?” Xenia insisted.

“Sit down, daughters of Lunaria, Princesses of Muerning,” he said to them. They did so, and the teacher passed Xenia a cup of tea. At her touch, she pulled the heat from it. She broke its frozen surface and drank its cold contents.

“Your father has passed from this world,” He said. Both had somewhere within themselves expected this, yet it still brought out tears.

“What happened?” Xenia asked.

“The one responsible… You may call him, The Betrayer, for he deserves no other name now,” Their teacher said. “He tricked your father. He led him into a trap. Your father’s forces were crushed. None were left to live.”

“And our mother?” Maureen asked.

“They could not kill Lunaria,” Their teacher said. “But what became of her? Even I cannot be sure. I know who would though. I know this enemy.”

“Who?” asked Xenia.

“The Arachnoid King,” He said. “Zhinubian, the Lord of Spiders.”

Chapter 5:

“Zhinubian?” Xenia asked. “I’ve read stories with that name.”

“I’m sure you have,” said their teacher. “He is not unknown.”

“Where can we find him?” Maureen asked. “We know that he lives in the deep, far beneath the surface of the world. But where? Where can we enter his home?”

“If I show you now, you will both be slain and this world would be poorer.” Their teacher said. “You will receive this knowledge when you are both ready.”

“Then let’s us train,” Maureen said. Eager now that her passion had direction.

Xenia’s eyes turned to cold steel. “Yes,” She said feeling the dense cold within her, “Let us get ready!”

“Peace children,” Their teacher said. “Let peace be in your hearts, but yes I will ready you. That is why I have come.”

That winter was long harsh and unpredictable. It was partially fueled by the sister’s training. Mountains never meant to know fire, erupted and tormented the landscape with showers of molten earth and rivers of lava. Maureen’s practices would inspire tales of ancient gods returned. This word would spread.

Storms came down from the northeast and stalled out over the mountains and the castle. The storms had never known power like that which Xenia held and fueled them with. Storms coalesced around the castle, constant, hungry, and tempted by this girl of frozen will.

By winter’s end, the girls had grown. They were children still but wiser of mind and stronger of body.

“Are we ready?” Xenia asked.

“You are much stronger now,” Their teacher said.

“We can handle our magic,” Maureen added.

“Yes,” Their teacher said. “You are ready. It is time.”

 

Chapter 6:

“So sisters,” Their teacher said. “Tell me what you have learned about Zhinubian?”

Xenia said, “He lives in Arachnishi, the Spider city.”

“Where is Arachnishi?” Their teacher asked.

Maureen answered, “A thousand miles below the surface of the world. We must enter by the Cave of Webs along the Coral Coast.”

“Can you defeat him?” Their teacher asks.

“He fears both the heat of the sun and the chill of winter wind,” Xenia spoke. “Our powers together will be his undoing.”

“How will he fight you?” Their teacher asked him.

“His spidery horde will come for us. They are a bear-sized spides with armor made of inch-thick steel. They fight with poison-tipped spears, venomous fangs, and webs that can bind you,” Xenia answered.

“How will you fight those?” Their teacher asked.

“I will burn them inside their steal! I make the city an inferno if it will bring us closer to our mother,” Maureen nearly hissed.

“I will shield us and pull away their will with my cold,” Xenia said.

“Emotions must be controlled. Remember, it is Zhinubian’s knowledge we need. If his life is lost, so is what we seek,” Their teacher warned.

“We will remember,” Maureen said turning to leave the castle and to begin their journey. Her eyes were hot and her hair showed like amber fire.

“We will succeed,” Xenia said before joining her sister. Her hair was snow white and thick; her eyes could drain the heat from any soul.

Across mountains, they journeyed, till they reached the first town.  There they paid for a ride in a carriage to the coast.

The driver found the girls curious and in their fine clothes and odd looks. Young, no older than his fourteen-year-old girl back home. Yet, they carried themselves with command. He thought about talking to them once or twice but could never work up much more than a, “Good day, ladies,” or “I’m sorry for the bumps.” They would smile sweetly at him and say no more.

Something followed them. Something they did not know. Something that they had never seen yet knew them well. Its nature was shadows and its task was to follow. To intervene only if the girls got too close, and they were getting too close.