Q is for Queen

Q is for Queen

A scan of the character sheets in the novel notebooks for Imprisoned in Stone and Hearth and Sand yielded nothing to use as a post topic. The series notebooks for the Draghsi Chronicles and the Windmaster Novels provided a single name, Qaralzha. However, that is from the story Fire and Ice in the First Change anthology. Since references to Mirabeesh's tale were already done in this challenge in the posts Diovi and Daxa and Eruichin, I decided to try another approach.

So, I opened the dictionary to the letter "Q." Eyes closed I ran a finger down the pages and where it stopped the nearest word was "Queen." Although an occasional king has appeared in my two series, no story really featured royalty. A review of the various storylines provided a single item tangentially related to queen--Glacier Queen.

Glacier Queen is a lug-sailed ketch that sailed Botunn Loghes. At the time, priests from the Oracle of Givneh were confiscating property and services. As protection, Glacier Queen's captain took unusual precautions. Here is how the vessel appeared at first meeting.

Dal pointed to the derelict at the end of the dock. “You want me to go out on the lake in that?”

Ellspeth tried to see the Glacier Queen through Dal’s eyes. Usually a ship matched its berth. The dock was canted and several of the floorboards did not look able to support the weight of a child. “

Ellspeth and Dal were desperate for transport. Mercenaries working for the Oracle were in close pursuit. But a different obstacle presented itself, the ship's captain.

“I’m Captain Vika of Glacier Queen. Why should I take your fare?”

Ellspeth studied the grizzled beard and Vika’s gold bracelets. “I’m Captain Ellspeth of the Sea Falcon of the House of Cszabo. I’d like transport across the lake for myself, my escort, and our four horses.” She ignored Dal’s startled look at her honest identification. “The wind’s about to change. So that we don’t have to wait another day, I’ll pay twice the normal fare. And, I’d rather not travel with pilgrims.”

“Captain of Cszabo, huh? Got any proof? Those aren’t sailor’s clothes.”

Ellspeth smiled. She unwrapped the small bundle Dal slipped her. Her fingers trembled as they dropped her own mark of rank in Vika’s hand. “Will these do?”

The bracelets glittered in the noonday sun as he tilted them for a closer look. His expression changed when he noted the engraved symbols that identified ship and trading house. “Prove to me they’re yours.”

Ellspeth searched for an answer. She straightened her back and put the full force of authority into her voice. “I am Ellspeth of the Clan Cszabo, daughter of Mirrim, granddaughter of Rima. I captain the Sea Falcon.”

The old man’s laugh took her by surprise. “Yup, you’re related to Rima.”

Windmaster - one click to estores


Tomorrow’s post is the letter "R" and that means it's time for "Redemption." If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

~ till next time, Helen