Ellamana

"Is it true?"

"Yes your grace" the servant paused before continuing, "the child has been taken."

"And my daughter?"

"Her screams at the discovery woke the fellow-tree. The first ones to see her had to restrain her. Her mind seemed temporarily broken as one might expect under the circumstances."

"Do not lie to me Pagilli, was there any of the child's blood? Are we sure it was just taken?"

"There was no blood your grace; as far as we know, your granddaughter is still alive."

"Thank you Pagilli, when my daughter wakes, please bring her to me. You may leave me for the moment to collect myself. The council will want to know what has happened. They will want to know something passed through the barriers."

"Of course Queen Ellamana, I will have her brought in when she wakes from her magic slumber." And with that, Pagilli turned and pulled the curtain aside and left.

Queen Ellamana could hold back her tears no longer, as soon as she was alone she started to curse to herself. Her poor daughter, Allina, must have been distraught at the sight of the empty crib.

Ellamana knew what had happened. Or at least she thought she did. He had come. He had taken Qalida. He had stolen away her granddaughter as leverage. She had her nightmare play out right in front of her; He had discovered her plan to break their deal.

The queen felt sick to her stomach; her mind racing. After dismissing the thought that any harm might actually have been done to the child, she knew the worst part was the upcoming façade she would have to put on. No one could know of course of the deal she had made with Xefgoraathi all those years ago. No one could understand the burden she had carried for the past century.

Her anger shifted quickly to the witch. She lied to me! Queen Ellamana spat a curse at her own stupidity and self chosen ignorance at actually believing the ritual could have worked. When the demon had failed to appear at the summoning ritual, she had hoped the failure would not have been discovered by Xefgoraathi. She knew now, that there was no doubt the failed ritual and her missing granddaughter were connected.

Xefgoraathi would not easily allow her free from their deal. And the only hope of seeing her granddaughter again, was to  accept her fate… or at least be very convincing that she was going to.