Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第190/246页)

nallydaredtorideonitsbacktothedeepestpartofthekeandbringbackthatrge,roundpearl.Sheremembereditsbringingherbacksafelytothesurfaceoftheke.Itwasaroundtripshecouldnothavemadewithoutitshelp.Victoria’smeritoriousservicetotheKingdomcouldnotbefotten.Herloveandfriendshipfortherge,whitefishwasnodifferentahatwhatshefeltfortheotherbeautiesofthepace.Itssuddehwasagreatblow,alossshecouldnotcopewith,Deannathoughtsobbing.

    “Thisisnotthetimetocry,Deanna”saidQueenAisha.“TaketheflyinghorseLightningandbeonyourway.”

    “Yes,yourmajesty”saidDeannaawithtearsionotifythetribalchieftains.

    AfterDeannahadleft,anirlbrokeoutintears,galoudbrokeedly.ItwasnaughtygirlDorna.LikeDeanna,shethoughtofherfirstmeetingwiththergewhitefish.Sherememberedhergentlesmile,herguilelessnature.SherememberedhowshebedVictoria’shairandtaughtherhowtousethemirror.SherememberedVictoria’shappyandsurprisedsmilewhenshesawherownrefleinthemirrorforthefirsttime.Uotrolhersorrow,sheturoleavetheroombutQueenAishacalledherbacksaying,

    “StopDorna,whereareyougoing?”

    “Ionlywanttogotothesideofthekeandydearfriend.”

    “Youmaygoayourfriend,butonlytothekeside.Donyiwithyou.That’sanorder!”

    “Yes,yourmajesty”repliedDornarespectfully,fullyawarethatthesewereunusualtimesandsodidnotbehaveinhernormaldpamperedways.QueenAishasighedandsaid,

    190页

    “Cyclopsinhiddenawayintheseforestsandmountains,whileweareintheopen.Itishardtobepreparedforeverythingbutwemustbevigintagainsthissurpriseattack.”

    “Iwillchoosestrongyoungwarriorsfromthetribestodefendthepace”saidMedusa.QueenAishanoddedsilently.Intherain,anothermassiveoperationwasuheke.Hundredsofsmallboatswerebusyscoopingupdeadfishandburyingthem.

    Thebeautiessurrouheirqueenanxiously,waitingfornews,ntostepoutoftheroom.TheywerewaitingtohearwhetherVictoriawasaliveordead.Badnewsfinallyarrived:Victoria’sbodyhadbeenfoundandbroughtbacktothepace.Shewasidoutinthegreathall.ThebeautiesallburstintotearsandfollowedQueenAishadowairs.TheysawVictoria’sbodylyingsilentlyonthegrouahafishingweb.Herlowerbodywasstillbleeding.Medusa’sangerknewnobounds.Everyserpentonherheadsprangoutwardshissingmenagly,“TherebenodoubtthatthisisCyclopsdoing!WhenIseehim,IwillmakesureheatonesforVictoria’slife!”

    “Quick!Carryoutmyorders”saidQueenAishatoanattendant.“IwantacoffinmadeacctoVictoria’smeasurementsassoonaspossible.”

    “Yes,yourmajesty”saidtheattendantahurriedly.

    “Victoria’snamewasgiventoherbyKingDimitri.Healsoinvitedhertoeandliveinthepace.Shebesideredamemberofthepadweshouldgiveheraroyalburial.Doyoualgree?”Nooneobjected.Whenthecoffinwasready,theycarefullyidVictoria’sbodyinit.QueenAishahadorderedaholebeduginthegroundbehindthepadthatwaswheretheywent.QueenAishaledtheprocession.Eleveies:Medusa,Novel,Elina,Deanna,Romi,Lotus,elle,Angelica,Dorna,NatalieandWhiteFairycarriedthecoffin,whiledozensofpaceattendantsfollowedbehind.Theysoftlyletitdownintotheburialsite,covereditupwithsoiheheadstone.Onitwaswritten,“ThisisthetombofVictoria,MotherofalquaticlifeiarMoonLake.”QueenAishaandthe