For all their memories of bloodshed and war, for all their thoughts of the evils that used to wander the forest, Kahlua did her best to forget these things. Only at night, when the darkness came and the nightmares crept into her head did she remember the way the screams had filled the forest when the Basin had invaded, and even those nightmares were rare anymore. She had so many other demons chasing her that the battle she had fought with Farenjar hardly seemed important anymore. Those nights where she was a wraith, Aurelia’s snake Shilva, the invisible walls that pressed in around her every day that she was stuck in the Edge… those were the nightmares that haunted her now, in the night of the forest.

Arriving fashionably late to the meeting, just as Midas decided to offer introductions to those around, Kahlua was surprised by the voice that she heard and the face that she saw. She knew that face well. It was the face of a man who had been a different one of her nightmares, many seasons ago. She had almost forgotten. She did not forget now. Instinctively, for a moment, she stiffened as she emerged from the shadows. It was a deep breath that finally allowed her to relax, memories of Onni that finally allowed her to move forward. “Midas,” she cooed softly as she settled her basket of goodies onto the ground. Yes, she knew that name. Ghost, however, she did not.

“Kahlua, queen,” her tinkling soprano announced when it was her turn. From the trees, a dragon’s caw rang out before Khan dropped to the muddy ground, front legs perching upon the handle of Kahlua’s glass basket, watching the gathering before him with wide eyes. Of particular interest to him was the golden firebird that was near Midas. For now he simply watched and contemplated, but Kahlua could feel his own mind whirling and affecting her own mind. “We’re open to hearing what you have to say,” she suggested then, turning to confirm with her Captain and Glazier. This was their home as much hers and their opinions mattered as much to her as anyone else’s. “Thank you for guarding our borders so well Captain, Glazier,” she greeted them then, the smile upon her face genuine.

Suddenly, she added a few more words. She had not learned much as queen- she tried so hard to avoid her responsibilities- but she had learned a little from Kaj and Evangeline. “I agree that there are many strange things happening in Helovia right now.” A quick frown accented her words. “What would the Falls seek out of an alliance with the Edge?”

Kahlua

only light can drive out the darkness