The wagon lurched to a stop, jerking Lukas awake. Through the vent holes in the walls, he glimpsed the surroundings. Added to the press of thousands of sleeping minds, what he saw confirmed they were in the inner city. The cage around his magic allowed the uncomfortable weight of the citizens' sleepy thoughts in but prevented a straightforward reading of any, even the soldiers riding close beside him. Lukas did not need to read thoughts to know why he was in Glav Miritis. They were bringing him to Castle Miritis, to the Queen.

The abrupt silence in Lukas' mind clarified the reason the wagon halted. The soldiers had been waiting for the castle gate to open for them. Once through it, the castle's privacy barriers relieved his unshielded mind. Now, only a few hundred souls touched Lukas, and most of these were awake enough to shield their thoughts.

Lukas took the respite as a chance to explore Natalia's well-crafted bindings. They were formidable, in large part, because she had anchored them in his powers. As long as he lived and retained his sanity, his magic would feed the cage and keep it secure. Its construction intrigued Lukas, possessing a mixture between Natalia's early style and training and that of the Queen's Masters. This old magic would make up the sturdiest sections and be the least understood by her new Masters. Lukas began to follow the lines of the cage that felt strongly of his people. Perhaps this would be where she hid the window.

While leading The People, Lukas developed a strong network of spies, whose presence he had hidden from even his inner circle. These he had dispersed among all levels of the Queendom's hierarchy, so they could fully inform him of every move she made. Because of this web, he had known for some time that the Queen used Mind Masters. However, somehow, the Queen had hidden Natalia from him and trained her to build the cage that rendered Lukas defenseless. An unfamiliar coldness clenched his stomach. What if the Queen had allowed his spies only to see what she wanted them to see? Lukas' confidence in his ability would not permit this possibility. He would have discovered this deception. Yet, he had been captured. The cold rose from his stomach to his chest and clenched tightly. He did not recognize the feeling at first; doubt was something he had not felt for many years.

Perhaps, the Queen did not understand Natalia's real strength. And because of this, Natalia had remained beneath the notice of his agents. This would have kept her alive as well as hidden her from Lukas. Most Masters ignored or failed to notice that Natalia didn't need contact if she concentrated. Even her weaker distant magic was more potent than the Mind Masters who currently surrounded the Queen. His insight thawed the tight ice that gripped his chest.The ignorance of her captors must have been the reason for his network's failure to notice her. Otherwise, such an oversight would bespeak a more significant weakness in his leadership than Lukas was willing to consider.

That the Queen had not destroyed Natalia after discovering her relationship with Lukas surprised him. As crazed as the monarch could be, the Queen took a calculated risk when she spared Natalia. However, the Queen still treated Natalia as disposable instead of the fierce weapon she could be. It was fortunate but confusing. To kill the cage builder seemed a decision that the clever monarch would not make. Lukas puzzled over this mystery, allowing it to distract from the inevitable reunion before him.

As the carriage rolled to a stop, he felt the pressure of a Mind Master on his thoughts. Lukas' people had not trained this Master. This mind bore the marks of the Queen's academy, a mediocre echo of Lukas' childhood training centers. Her schools lacked Wisemen or Shamen, the teachers who stored the recorded history of their people's talents in their minds. Without this, the instructors could not comprehensively train those with ability —especially those with unique skills. Even so, after he felt this foreign Mind Master's touch, Lukas hid his bond with Raja deeper. If the Queen found out how vital Raja was to him, she would stop at nothing to capture him.

"Master Lukas," a voice yelled into the carriage from outside as the soldiers unlocked the carriage doors. "I feel you have woken from the sedatives." The door opened as the man continued. "We are honored to have you back among us."

Lukas snorted but found his voice blocked by the strange Master when he attempted to reply. The one-way cage suppressed his powers, so he could not use them actively, but others could still get inside. This was how her magic differed from a barrier. Her cage allowed for this subtlety. What crazed genius had thought of this? How had they known it was possible?

With a start, Lukas felt his legs begin to move towards the exit of their own volition, pulling him entirely from his musings. It had been so long since a Master had broken through his shields; this level of vulnerability was unbelievable and sickening to Lukas. He fought the mild wave of disgust and fear at this violation and refused to be humbled. By walking quicker than the Mind Master led him, Lukas knew he could take some control of his body back. Lukas, therefore, exited the carriage independently, if somewhat ungracefully.

A small balding man stood at the bottom of the steps and smiled at him. If he had noticed Lukas' attempt to thwart his control, he remained unperturbed. The man's eyes darted around him, more nervous about his surroundings than the powerful man in front of him. His fear was curious to Lukas, so he also took note of the environs. Despite Lukas' mental and physical bindings, the castle guards surrounded them with crossbows, armed and at the ready. Their presence was posturing, a display of her power and a reminder of his weakness, though even the Queen's guards did not know. The Queen knew that if Lukas had not been caged, these men would already have died. The Mind Master was right to fear the guards more, Lukas was confined, but these men feared him still. The memory of Lukas' terrifying power must have lingered among their leadership and filtered down to them.

"I am called Bishop, the Queen's Controller." Bishop bowed and waved to the soldiers to put down the crossbows. The leader of the soldiers who had escorted him from the tower nodded silently to his castle counterpart and only then did the Castle Guards slowly lower the weapons. "The Queen awaits, and you will remember that she is not a patient sovereign." The smile could have been pleasant on the ugly man's face had it not been tinged with superiority and loathing.

Lukas followed the man as soon as he felt the pull on his legs. Now that he knew this man's power, he could anticipate and frustrate it by merely complying at a slightly faster pace. The carriage had brought them to the inner courtyard. Lukas recalled that only the Queen's carriage usually came this far. All other court members, supplicants, or prisoners had to walk from the outer courtyard to the Grand Hall. Lukas did not know what it portended that they brought him to the inner courtyard. Perhaps things had changed, or the Controller wanted to avoid testing his ability at such a great distance. Or was it a sign of the Queen's impatience? And why the Grand Hall? Had the Queen called her court to assemble at this ungodly hour?

The opening of the massive entry doors answered his last question as dozens of curious minds assaulted him. Without his shields, he could not keep out those with reading abilities. But as they approached the inner doors, an unexpected silence announced the presence of another Mind Master. This shielded him, and she dared to speak in his MindSpace, though she did not appear within it.

"You are to be punished." Relief flooded him as Lukas felt the smooth touch of one of his spies. Tian was a Queendom-trained Mind Master trusted enough by the Queen to be one of her Watchers. Her position allowed him so much access to the Queen's Mind Masters, but her closeness to the crown made her vulnerable to discovery. Tian continued, ignoring what she had read of his thoughts and emotions, "It will not be as harsh as it could be, but will not be mild. By the Queen's order, I cannot shield you from any of it. However, she has commanded me to shield you from all other prying minds. A Watcher will be with you every waking hour, and I am the strongest, so I will be with you most often."

"The People?" He was unsure who else may be listening but risked little by asking.

"The beacons have been lit," she answered his half-question. "The People are no more. The circle is broken; none are to be trusted." Lukas had known that Raja would light the beacons once Lukas confirmed his capture. This failure of his rebellion pained Lukas, especially since he had not discovered the betrayal until it was too late. Still, he did not know who of his trusted inner circle was working with the Queen. He had been blind in his arrogance, much like the Queen was, with his spy at her side.

"Is your escape prepared?" Lukas queried. He dismissed any introspection for expedience's sake. He could not lose confidence in his abilities.

"Yes, I hope I will have to use it. I tire of this work." He could hear Tian's mental sigh and answered the unasked question.

"I will be able to free myself, but not immediately. I will give you as much notice as I can."

"Good." He felt her relief briefly, then her voice stiffened. "She is ready for you, and I must go."

Bishop's power pulled him with unnecessary roughness, causing Lukas to stumble. The man smirked as Lukas stabilized and began to follow his guards. It was time to face the Queen.

===================

The Queen watched as the soldiers walked at a steady, slow pace down the long hall toward the throne. Only the torches placed on each column lit the room. Their crackling became the only sound outside of the footsteps when her Courts' murmurs silenced at Lukas' hall entrance. As the bright flames flickered, shadows danced provocatively on the pointed arches between them. Her foremothers built the Grand Hall to display their power; every time she sat on her throne, she remembered their strength and knew she had exceeded it. She could build a more elaborate hall, but it was unnecessary. Her superiority to the other Queens was understood.

The small procession stopped, and the Queen peered down at her prize. A shiver of delight threatened to disrupt her calm demeanor, but she allowed only a small smile to break through. The one man the Queen had ever desired stood before her, as handsome as ever. Lukas was so close; she could smell the alluring scent of his sweat. And his strength, even caged, pulsed from him. It bathed her like waves of sunlight, and she allowed herself to bask in it.

It would take much restraint to hold back her desires for this man, but she possessed much inner strength. And though the Queen abhorred being patient, she understood its occasional necessity. Ever since she had met Lukas, both of them barely out of adolescence, she, then named Crown Princess Gisele, had coveted him. Gisele had lost her name when she became the Queen but not her passion for Lukas.

Years ago, after much plotting and deception, The Queen had destroyed a nation to have him. And she had possessed him, if not his soul; his body had been hers as had his power. Her anger flared at the theft that had deprived her of Lukas for so long. She would punish the Tribe for taking him away. This revenge she would plan later, the Tribe was more challenging to approach than other nations. She had Lukas again. Once she controlled him fully, she would turn his strength on the Tribe. But first, she could finally send her assassins to finish the Circle without fear of his reprisal. She no longer had to tolerate his insignificant rebellion. Lukas' People would be no more. Satisfaction welled in her chest as she stood.

The Queen felt the surprise in her Court when she descended from her platform to stand closer to her prisoner. The Queen never left her throne during Court. Her seat of power was never to be questioned. But with Lukas' capture, she held the strongest being on her continent in her hand, and no one could dare question her power again. Still, she chose to stop on the last step to remain slightly taller than her prisoner. Her Court would understand that her strength was enough that she need not fear this legendary killer, but she could not allow any sign of weakness, even a height difference.

At her unspoken command, the Controller brought Lukas closer to her. So close that she could feel his breath on her face and his smell almost intoxicated her. She allowed herself the pleasure of touching his face. Age had made him even more handsome. Fine lines around his eyes and mouth spoke of happiness and pain. The Queen begrudged that joy, the tribesman who stole him from her had been part of it. He dared to try to replace her. She would destroy the tribesman, Raja, so utterly that no one would remember his name, including Lukas. Only she would remember him when she looked at her Lukas and knew she had won. Lukas belonged to her alone.

The Queen allowed herself another smile as she held his gaze. The hate in his ice-blue eyes thrilled her more than it should have. This hate meant his mind would be present for her this time and not hidden behind the Keeper's walls. Those walls had allowed her complete control, but she had been young and did not understand the stupidity of having only one way to control Lukas. This time, she would break him, and he would willingly stay with her. She would not make the mistake of relying on one man to keep Lukas under her control. She had perfected her methods since his departure. Lukas would stand next to her for eternity. 

WC 2423

Edited 12/31/2022