"Hello, Pena!" Tama greeted the pigeon with a smile. "Let me see what you've got!"
She opened the box on the pigeon's leg and took the parchment out. She unfolded it and began reading:
"Your dad and I are alright, Tama. Yesterday, we harvested the cabbages he planted early this year. They're yummy! When you and Yannou come for a visit, I'll prepare some cabbage stew, like in the good old days. We miss you two so much, but we're happy you're doing well in the capital! We're proud of you both.
"Regarding Yannou and Princess Alvina, I see a match, but don't tell them yet! It's better to let these things flow naturally. Just between you and me, I saw rose and lotus intertwined and blessed with sunlight. Since Alvina is the wielder of the Rose Sword and Yannou of the Lotus Sword, you can guess what this vision means! As for his upcoming expedition, Yannou wrote to me about it. He said they're going against Lizardmen, who have invaded Hasurei under orders from Drahvelt and are harming villagers at the border. There's nothing to worry about, though! I see a flawless victory for Yannou and Princess Alvina.
"Now, regarding your dream… I'm glad you're having fun with Ronna, dear, but Drahvelt is dangerous indeed. I advise you to avoid that kingdom. I hear that ever since the late Dragon Priestess perished in a battle years ago, the protective shield of Drahvelt has been in the hands of their king, who is 'not a pleasant fellow', to quote your uncle Valkas. And you know how rare it is for my brother to criticise someone, he reigns over all kinds of monsters in Lunaria!
"I've been having troublesome visions about you lately, Tama, as though you're flying too close to the sun… I don't know what these visions mean yet, but I advise you not to travel far these days! Even in Dreamscape, try to stick to the palace! Ronna can visit you herself.
"I'll finish the letter with good news: there's a cure for Princess Amida! Valkas informed me yesterday that Dad devised a countercurse for Vizier Prudus' ancient spell from King Arthur'
"I'll finish the letter with good news: there's a cure for Princess Amida! Valkas informed me yesterday that Dad devised a countercurse for Prudus Rochefeu's ancient spell from King Arthur's time, which affected Amida. Prudus Rochefeu's spells are so potent that even my dad, Carneh the Shadow God, needs some effort to deal with them. As you know, the negative magic is unpredictable in emotional humans' hands. So many new combinations can be created, strengthened by hatred, that even the Devil gets jaw-dropped! Fortunately, Dad agreed to devise a countercurse for Princess Amida on your and my behalf. Now, the hard part is to convince Her Majesty Queen Eclaire to send Princess Amida to Lunaria (because, as you can guess, Dad will need his full power to perform the countercurse). If you succeed in convincing the Queen, please write to me so I can inform Valkas and Dad! Looking forward to your reply!
"With hugs and kisses,
"Priestess Anne Lotosse of the Lotus Temple"
Tama's hands trembled from joy – Grandpa devised a countercurse for Princess Amida?! This was the best day ever! But the parts about herself were concerning. Mom advised her to avoid Drahvelt, and yet she ventured there with Ronna last night and met a boy from the royal palace! Draki, a creepy statesman, who told her about Princess Amida's fateful future…
No, I won't let that happen! Tama shook her head, banishing the evil thought. Now that Grandpa has created a cure for Amida, I'll make sure she gets healed! I won't let her be sacrificed to the monstrous king of Drahvelt!
She folded the letter and stacked it safely in her box of scrolls. She turned to the pigeon.
"Wait a little, okay, Pena?" She smiled. "I'll consult the Queen and write a reply for Mom!"
The pigeon cooed in affirmation, although begrudgingly, and flew into the room, perching on the writing table.
"And don't poop anywhere!" Tama frowned at her. "This is the Princess' room!"
Pena, the pigeon, ruffled her feathers, sulking at Tama as though she never deserved such an insult. Tama chuckled at her antics. She put on her dress, tied up her hair in a ponytail and prepared herself. She glanced at Amida for one last time and, reassured that she was asleep, ran out of the room, darting towards the Queen's tower.
The Queen's room was defended by heavily armed knights, who barred Tama's way with their halberds.
"Her Majesty is consulting Cardinal Dracul Rochefeu of the Rose Church," they said. "She can't see you now."
"Ugh, that old geezer again?" Tama rolled her eyes.
The Rose Church was a powerful religious institution in Hasurei, established two centuries ago but already rivalling the ancient Lotus Temple, to which Tama's mother belonged. The Lotus Temple existed even before the foundation of the Hasurei Kingdom, but its popularity was now in decline because the Rose Church had spread rumours that the current Lotus Priestess was the Devil's child. It was partially true: Tama's mother, Priestess Anne Lotosse, was the daughter of the Shadow God Carneh, the undead king of monsters. However, Carneh wasn't as evil as the Rose Church claimed, or so Tama believed. She remembered how, in her childhood, her grandfather the Shadow God would take her, her brother Yannou, and their younger cousin Arubah fishing, teaching them how to use the Moon Rod – his special weapon.
Tama smiled, touching her golden hairpin with a skull depiction, which held the golden band of her ponytail. It was a gift from her grandfather. The love for him made Tama despise the Rose Church, and especially its current head – Cardinal Dracul Rochefeu, a power-hungry man who, to Tama's view, cared rather about money than people's troubles. He belonged to the Rochefeu Clan – the direct descendants of King Arthur's devious vizier, Prudus, who was the author of Princess Amida's generational curse and many others damaging the world to this day. Tama figured that descendants of such a vile man couldn't be any good. After all, the dark magic had a strong trace persisting through generations, so Vizier Prudus' lineage must be heavily contaminated.
"Listen," she said to the guards, "I just got a word from the Lotus Priestess: Princess Amida's curse can be broken! I need to see Her Majesty immediately!"
"Oh…" The knights widened their eyes. "Uh, wait a moment, please!"
One of them knocked on the golden gates and entered, while the other remained with Tama. Soon, the first knight returned, ushered Tama inside and closed the doors behind her.
Queen Eclaire sat in her armchair, sipping her morning coffee and reviewing some scrolls. By her side, stood a wrinkled old man with droopy cheeks. His hair was white and dry, and his eyes – greedy and sly. He wore circular glasses made of pure gold. He was dressed in a scarlet chasuble, a golden stole embroidered with scarlet rose depictions, and a white alb tied with a golden cincture. He carried a golden headdress, on which was engraved a symbol of a scarlet rose with a golden cross in its bud. This man was the cardinal of the Rose Church, Dracul Rochefeu.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Tama bowed to the queen, ignoring the old man. Dracul Rochefeu was visibly offended by her lack of respect but didn't comment.
"Tama Raveene, the guards told me you found a cure for Princess Amida?" Queen Eclaire asked.
"My grandfather devised it, to be more precise," Tama replied. "The thing is Princess Amida can be cured only if she travels to Lunaria, so_"
"What?" Cardinal Rochefeu cut into the conversation. "Her Highness can't be sent to the Devil Kingdom!" He turned to the Queen: "Your Majesty, all those years ago I warned you the Lotus Temple couldn't be trusted, and look, they're asking you to send your daughter to monsters! No doubt they wish to sacrifice Her Highness to the Devil King – they're his spawns, after all!"
"My grandfather is not a devil!" Tama flared up. "He agreed to help because he loves my mom and me!"
"Blasphemous!" Cardinal Rochefeu cried out. "Devil King Carneh is the Shadow God, the lord of all evil! You, your brother and your mother are bearers of his blood. You should've never been permitted to use your unholy magic on Her Highness!"
"The Lotus Temple is a sacred place for healing. Our techniques are not 'unholy magic'!" Tama retorted.
"Enough!" Queen Eclaire slammed her coffee cup on the table, glaring at Dracul Rochefeu. "We'll resume our discussion about the church funds later, Cardinal. Please leave us!"
"What? Your Majesty can't be considering sending your daughter to the Devil Kingdom!" Cardinal Rochefeu said, but the Queen only gave him a furious look. Realising she didn't wish to discuss the matter with him, Dracul Rochefeu gritted his teeth and bowed. "I… I understand, Your Majesty!"
He clicked his heels and left the chamber. Queen Eclaire turned to Tama with hope.
"Is it true, Tama? Amida can be healed?" she asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Tama nodded. "If you agree to send her to Lunaria, I'll inform my mother at once!"
"But… what about her engagement in Drahvelt?" Eclaire asked. "Tama, I've already signed the treaty. I can't back out now!"
"I've thought about that, Your Majesty," Tama replied. My grandfather is the god of all monsters, even Gerart the Bloodthirsty won't dare challenge him! She thought. Lunaria and Drahvelt are allies. If I become the Dragon King's bride instead of Amida, they won't harm me. Draki's threat won't come true! Happy to outsmart the nasty young man from her last night's dream, she said to the Queen: "Because of her ailment, Princess Amida has lived a secluded life since her birth. Only her family, close attendants and I know what she looks like. Therefore, we can send a substitute to Drahvelt and claim it's her."
"What?" Queen Eclaire covered her mouth with her hand. "Who can pull off such a thing? If the impostor is discovered, Drahvelt will invade us!"
"I'm willing to undertake this mission!" Tama bowed. "I know Princess Amida, so I'll play my part well. Meanwhile, you can send her to Lunaria for treatment."
"But, Tama, it's too risky!" the Queen said. "I_"
"Your Majesty, my grandfather is risking his health to help us," Tama said, piercing the Queen's eyes with hers. "To perform the countercurse, he'll have to go against his nature, which will have a backlash on him. But he's agreed to do it for me, because, I care about Princess Amida as my sister!" She placed her hand to her heart. "I'm willing to risk my life in Drahvelt if it means I can save her! I swear I won't endanger our kingdom. I'll perform my duty thoroughly! But the final choice is yours. As Princess Amida's mother, you must take this risk!"
Queen Eclaire covered her face with her hands. She didn't give a voice for long, but Tama saw her shoulders shaking. Soon, her muffled whimpers sounded.
"Your Majesty?" Tama ran up to her. "Are you alright?"
The queen stood up, grabbed Tama and pressed her to her breast. Tears overflowed from her eyes.
"Oh, I thought I'd lost her, Tama! My little daughter…" She sobbed. "Amida is blessed to have you as a friend!"
Tama didn't know how to react. The Queen was bawling her eyes out on her shoulders! She returned the embrace, patting Her Majesty's back. But the Queen's weakness didn't last long. She recovered her composure and got off Tama. She wiped her last tears away and straightened up again. She placed her hand on Tama's shoulder.
"Very well, Tama Raveene, I'm willing to take the risk!" she said, regaining her commanding tone. "From tomorrow, you'll undertake a classified mission: you'll impersonate my daughter and become the Dragon King's bride!"
"I'll serve Your Majesty and Her Highness with my life!" Tama bowed.
"Thank you!" The Queen stroked her cheek, with a motherly smile. "Our kingdom depends on you!"