CHAPTER FOURTEEN ELF QUEEN ILSA LIGHTSHOWER ALONE

  Elf Queen Ilsa Lightshower sat on her throne and contempted as night came over The Forest Kingdom. She waved her hand at candle sticks near and far and spoke, “Burn.” Instantly the throne room was abze in light. After watching the candles burn for a few seconds, Ilsa leaned back and mented a moment about how easy her life once had been when she was just a sorceress, but she then sat up and continued with her thoughts on what had transpired that day.

  Though her beautifully intricate crown was made of wood, it felt heavy. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. Her people had beaten back Goblin King Taudridor from their border again, and now there was a rumor from her spies that a new power had awakened in The Barren Wastend. Not only that, but that new power had invaded The Dwarven Mountains.

  When Ilsa was asked by the dwarves and humans to assist in the battle against King Brock’s treasonous general, Landon Rosser, barely a year ago, she had declined. Let the humans deal with their own problems, thought the sorceress elf queen, and if King Ironhearth and the dwarves wanted to ally with them, so be it.

  The Forest Kingdom had been split on her decision. True, the former kings and queens had mostly kept to The Elven Forest, but they never were fully isotionists. Neither was she, but when Taudridor allied himself with Rosser, that changed things, thought Lightshower. Now Rosser and his men who were exiled to The Barren Wastend had not just survived, but had grown powerful, somehow. Maybe Salifir was right. Perhaps if they had joined with the humans and dwarves, this all could have been avoided.

  Of course, there was no way she would have agreed with Brock and Ironhearth to let them live. Perhaps some of Rosser’s followers, who had been swept up in his powerful words and powerful acts, but certainly not Rosser himself, or the goblins that were sent by Taudridor to aid him.

  The sorceress queen rose from her throne, grabbed her staff, and walked down the five steps that led to the empty audience floor. Though she was not as young as she once was, the aging leader of The Elven Forest still walked with grace. She waved her staff, and the candles that had just been lit a short time ago were snuffed out, one by one, as she walked past them.

  It is of no consequence, Lightshower thought, as she neared the giant wooden throne room doors. My kingdom’s gates shall remain closed. Let the dwarves and humans again deal with this evil. And if it comes knocking at my door, every arrow of my kingdom will be let loose. Then the elf queen closed her eyes and thought, and if that is not enough...

  Lightshower raised her staff before her and opened her eyes, which had become clear as water. The sorceress’ body trembled ever so slightly as tremendous magical power shot entirely through it. Then she whispered...

  “I will be enough.”