Chapter 167: Queen Azura

Queen Azura stood next to her most trusted wolf. His coat was more gray than brown, streaked with age. Despite the fact that he was younger than his Queen.

Her black hair fluttered in the ocean winds. Her blue eyes shimmered as she looked at the large body of water.

[Are you certain, my liege?]

His voice echoed in her head, and she looked down at him. "It’s about time, Rudor. Wouldn’t you say it took too long? I should have done it that night."

[You would wipe out the whole kingdom?]

"You sound horrified."

[I am.]

"I am not. One might even say I have been quite merciful."

[Indeed you have, my liege.]

"Then why do you ask about my certainty?"

[I apologize, my liege. I just can’t help but have hope. If you wipe them all out, it erases that hope.]

"You saw it too, didn’t you? My emerald necklace?"

[Yes, I did.]

"You tried to confirm its authenticity, didn’t you?"

[That I did.]

"And what was your verdict?"

[It is your emerald necklace.]

"It can’t be taken off her except if she is dead—which is exactly what the necklace was supposed to prevent! Tell me, Rudor, why do you think my actions are hasty?"

Rudor shivered, his huge form lowering slightly, his nose pointed to the ground. [Forgive me.]

"You are forgiven," She looked away from him to the sparkling water. "Don’t try to hold me back again."

[I won’t.]

"It should rain tonight," she said and looked to the skies. "But the skies seem to be holding back for some reason. Perhaps the Goddess agrees with my decision. She would not have given me such powers if she didn’t."

Rudor nodded, but his deep brown eyes held hesitation. He glanced at his Queen and looked away immediately. Her expression was distorted; hate had made her different.

She had grieved for months after the war, and that was when he fully realized that she had never given up hope. Not until she saw the emerald necklace on the battlefield.

He winced as he remembered the memory. A sneaky little wolf had managed to slip into their ranks and get close enough. Blood dripped from all over its body, yet the wolf didn’t drop down.

Dangling from its neck, even through the bloodied mess, was her emerald necklace. The very one she had made to prevent tragedy from hitting her a second time.

The Queen was too stunned to react and would have been attacked if he had not intervened swiftly, snatching her away on his back while the rest of the enemies used the chaos the one with the necklace caused to break through their troops.

The Queen lost her zeal for the war after that, and it ended. The southern kingdom, Earndor, didn’t pursue. Perhaps they, too, were tired of the war that had gone on for nearly two decades.

Queen Azura had locked herself up for months, grieving after the war, but a little over half a year later, she stopped grieving.

He didn’t know exactly when, but he knew the instant she hardened her heart and let the hate take hold.

He had tried to bring up hope, but she had looked at him as though he spewed nonsense, and he knew he did. To tell a mother not to seek revenge on her child was heartless.

But his worry wasn’t her vengeance—it was the power she held. Like his mother, he too now walked this path, making sure his sire didn’t stray.

She could have ended the war as soon as it began, but she had hope. Hope that she would find what she was looking for. Now that it was gone, he couldn’t stop her.

"You might want to step back," she said as she stretched forth her hand.

He didn’t argue; he took a step back. They were on a small hilltop overlooking the ocean. Not that it mattered—with her power, they could even do this while they were still on the ship. However, she wanted a closer view of the damage.

[It will take a toll on you.] He tried again, hopeless he knew but if he could deter her even a little he would.

"What’s a few years off my lifespan to bring justice for my daughter? I am sure she would be pleased when I see her again in the Goddess’ arms."

[Queen Azura] He called her name like a prayer but she ignored him.

She stretched her hands as wide as they could go toward the ocean, and the floor shook. The air around them crackled, and the sky seemed to react to her.

Rudor didn’t flinch as he watched. Despite how terrifying it was, it didn’t change its allure.

The veins in her arms strained to burst, and blood poured out of her nose, but her eyes stared unblinking as the water molded to her command.

The large body of water wobbled, lifting high. She held it steady, pulling as much water from the ocean as she could. Then, in one loud gush, it was pushed toward the town.

Her hands fell to her sides, and she dropped to the ground with a loud gasp, coughing blood. She wiped her mouth and forced her head up. She had to see.

[My liege!]

Her mouth fell open at the sight before her. "Rudor, did you see where it started from?" She yelled, not caring that blood was still pouring out of her nose.

[I may ha—]

The rest of his words were cut off as she grabbed his fur to propel herself onto his back.

"Take me!" She yelled, but he was already moving quickly, down the hilltop and toward the beach. She leaned against him, her body not yet recovered.

In the middle was a weird shape. He was too far to see, but that was the source. He hadn’t noticed it at first—he had been enthralled by his Queen’s power.

However, his wolf ears had picked up a sound as soon as she sent the water toward the town.

A crack. One that could only happen when water hardened too quickly.