Phoenix Gift

Chapter Six

“Biervenido, Habib,” Akina greeted without looking at her companion.

“Biervenido,” the white-haired gypsy answered, puffing on his pipe. “It has been a long time since your last visit.”

“Yes, it has.”

Habib nodded. Seldom did gypsies ask direct questions out of respect for another’s privacy. The old one waited for Akina to speak.

“I have had distressing dreams of late.”

“Dreams?”

“Yes, even when I am awake.”

The old gypsy didn’t reply, but his forehead furrowed with thought.

“My time is short, Habib. I can feel it.”

“You are still young.”

“I am old and fading.”

“Everything happens at its chosen time.”

“There is much she has yet to learn. Who will teach her?”

“We shall all do our part, parvench,” Habib tried to comfort her. Akina’s distracted mind still recognized her nickname, but it did not bring her usual smile. “Do not worry. All things happen as they are meant to.”[1]

“Yes,” Akina nodded. “I only wish there was a way to help her understand.”

“She will, in time.”

Akina nodded, watching Alexis with her cousin. She smiled while she watched them play with cornhusk dolls. It would be the last time she would behold the sight.

As the night deepened and after the evening meal was served, the musicians took up their prepared instruments to fill the night with music. Akina allowed the celebratory mood to carry her and momentarily forgot her dreams and the unicorn.

When the moon was high, Habib brought Akina a bundle of carrots, whispering, “She is waiting for you.”

Bidding farewell to the band, they walked to the gypsy corral where the horses grazed and dozed in the moonlight. Akina whistled. They heard an answering nicker and waited as a golden-colored mare left the herd. It trotted up to greet them.

“Hello, My Treasure,” Akina greeted as the mare eagerly thrust her head toward her mistress.

The equine huffed. Though almost thirty-years-old, she still looked eager for a day of weary travel. It was not unusual for gypsy-bred horses to live fifty years or more. Treasure lowered her head to nuzzle Alexis.

“Hello, Ogbay Jumoke,” Alexis giggled, offering the eager mare carrots her mother handed her.[2]

Treasure was Akina’s horse. By her request, the mare had been bred to Xavier’s destrier, a golden stallion. The foal would be born the following spring. When Alexis was old enough to ride, the foal would already be grown and waiting. Akina wished she could see it.

“Come, deerling,” Akina sighed. “It is past your bedtime.”

“Yes, maya.”

They returned to the castle and Akina tucked her daughter into bed. Cadmus curled up beside Alexis as Akina sat in a chair and sang a gypsy sleep song, unwilling to leave Alexis until she was certain the little one was soundly asleep. Even then, she stayed a few moments longer, hoping for a little more time. She wished for one more night with Xavier but knew it could not be. Cadmus stirred as Akina finally rose.

“No, Cadmus,” Akina said. “You must stay with Alexis. Guard her well, little dragon.”

Cadmus made a noise somewhere between a chirp and a growl, accepting his task. Akina scratched his chin before leaving as silently as a ghost. She wandered down corridors, part of her wishing for Xavier’s company and part of her glad to be alone.

Her wanderings brought her to the entryway, then through the courtyard and across the meadow. Even though it was night, the unicorns remained in the meadow. They stood in two rows, forming an aisle for Akina to walk down. She bowed to the magical creatures, glad for their support. The unicorns bowed as she walked between them. They lowered their horns nearly to the ground to show their respect.

Beyond the meadow, she followed the stream to the small pond, but, even there, she did not pause. Akina crossed the bridge, walked through the stone passage and emerged into the outer forest. She walked among the trees, to where they gave way to the beach. Before leaving the forest entirely, she removed her slippers and crossed the soft beach sand barefoot. Akina walked to the edge of the surf. There she waited as the water rose to her ankles before slipping back to the sea.

Lights appeared over the water’s surface and a strange mist drifted toward shore. The unicorn with the glowing red horn appeared, walking across the water. Akina silently greeted it. It was time.

* * *

Xavier trudged toward the royal chambers. He had spent the whole day in the company of the wizards and was not comforted by their stories. Absalom and Tavel spoke of magic draining away, dying across Nuwa. So disturbed by the sight, the wizards feared the same might be true of Milagros. The island, however, did not suffer like others. Yet, it was unlikely such safety would continue if all the magic continued to leave the world. The wizards could not offer any ideas or hope.

He was glad to hear his wife and daughter decided to sup with the gypsy band. It meant that neither was troubled by the wizards’ talk, though part of him wished for Akina’s thoughts. Yet, her sleepwalking disturbed him more than he was willing to admit. It was unlike her, and he worried it might be an ill omen.

Xavier placed his hand on the door handle.

“She’s not in Your Majesty’s bedchambers,” a voice announced.

At first, Xavier thought the voice was in his own head. Recognizing it, he said aloud, “If you know where she is not, then you must know where she is, Artac.”

“Very probable, Your Majesty,” the voice answered, moving from shadow to shadow.

“Where is she, Artac?” Xavier looked around but knew he would not see what he searched for. “Please, tell me.”

“She is on the beach, Your Majesty. If you hurry, you might yet be able to say goodbye,” the voice answered, growing fainter with each word.

“What? What do you mean?” Xavier hoped to detain the informer.

“Her Majesty has gone to meet the unicorn,” the voice answered like an echo.

“What unicorn?” Xavier called but knew the speaker was gone. “What unicorn?!”

Deren, the answer came to him.

He went cold with fear. No, she couldn’t…

Xavier turned and rushed through the halls. He did not care if he raised alarm with his frantic passage. Taking the steps two at a time, he hurried out of the castle, running across the courtyard and into the empty meadow.

Following the same path Akina had taken, he prayed he would not be too late. Deren would not take Akina, not if he could help it. The scenery passed in a blur. Emerging at the edge of the beach, he came across Akina’s slippers. There he paused.

His eyes followed her footprints in the sand until they rested on her figure. A strange mist made the boundary between earth, water and sky indistinct. It hovered around her and a glowing unicorn. The red light of its horn spread across the beach, tinting all caught in its glow. For a moment, he thought it was a dream, but the red horn pulsed with energy that buzzed in his mind.

“Akina, no!” Xavier sprinted across the sand.

Akina stiffened at the sound of her name. She turned as Xavier’s arms encircled her, and he pulled her close to him. Akina wrapped her arms around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, dyre,” she whispered.

She lifted her head so that they could look into one another’s eyes. Sadness clouded the warmth and love shining from the immeasurable blue depths of her gaze.

“Do you remember what tomorrow is?”

“Alexis’s birthday.”

“She’ll be six summers old. Take care of her.”

“Akina no! I cannot do this alone.”

“You are not alone.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“I am always with you, dyre,” she stroked his cheek. “Always.”

Akina leaned forward and kissed him. Deren waited. For her there was no need to hurry, and time was irrelevant. The lovers’ lips slowly parted. Akina smiled in a strange way, as if suddenly privy to a secret.

Then, her eyes lost their luster, and her body went limp as life left her. The unicorn’s light faded, and the mist vanished, leaving Xavier alone. He gently shut her eyes, kissed her forehead and held her close as his tears fell. Above, clouds gathered in the clear, night sky. There was a rumble of thunder and raindrops fell across the island, as if it too grieved.

* * *

Alexis sat with the other children while the magicians, Kristos and Sebastian, performed their tricks. She laughed at the jesters and danced when the gypsy musicians played. Everyone kept her occupied with games and presents. No one mentioned her mother’s name.

After the celebration, Xavier carried Alexis up to her room and laid her on the bed. Cadmus curled up next to her as Xavier tucked her underneath the blankets.

“Agia geth, abu,” Alexis whispered.

“Good night, princess,” Xavier straightened. Though he had tried to stay excited during the evening, it was a hollow joy. The pain of losing Akina was still too fresh. Surely, the heavens could have given them one more day.

“Abu?”

“Yes,” he looked back at her.

“When is maya coming back?”

“What?”

“Maya, when is she coming back?” Alexis sat up. “The unicorn said that she would go away for a while, but she would come back. When is she coming back?”

“She—I don’t know,” he tucked her back into bed, unable to comprehend the origin of such a story. “Someday, maybe. Now, get some sleep.”

“Agia geth,” she curled up under the blankets. As her father retreated to the door, he heard her whisper, “Agia geth, maya.”

Only a silent watcher observed all. From the trees, he watched the Queen’s funeral procession to the hallowed cemetery where royals, knights and dwarves were all entombed in stone mausoleums. The funeral was conducted out of sight, while the Princess played with the other children. She didn’t understand their sadness. She knew her mother would return. Then everyone would be happy again.

As the Queen’s body spent its first night entombed, the watcher appeared in the mausoleum. Though it was against his kind’s nature to visit such places, he stood in front of her tomb to pay his respects. He left a single crocus blossom on the engraved cover. His watch over the Queen was over, his watch over the Princess continued.