Queen of Their Colony (Kindred Tales)

“Or maybe the cup just wants Terra to drink from it,” Tem said quietly.

“How do we know it’s safe?” V’rone demanded.

Rive shrugged. “The Kat-sat-Suum is supposed to be an artifact that conveys health and life, not death.”

“Look on the edge of the fountain!” Tem exclaimed. “There are some instructions!” He pointed and they all leaned down to read the delicate silver writing which had suddenly appeared running around the lip of the white marble fountain.

“Drink of me once but never again

Lasting youth and health to gain.

Drink of me once but never with greed

From your heart, banish envy’s seed

For if twice you try to sip your fill

Or drink of me from spite

Alas, I fear it will go ill,

And you’ll never more be right,” Terra read aloud. “Hmmm…” She looked at the three Monstrum. “Should I?”

“That would be up to you, Terra,” Rive said. “But I believe it to be safe.”

“I don’t like it.” V’rone was scowling. “I don’t like the idea of risking our Queen!”

“I’m not really your Queen, you know,” Terra reminded him gently. “And whatever we do, we have to do it quickly. Aren’t we about out of time?”

Rive nodded.

“I’m fairly certain our seventy-two solar hours are almost up. So whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly, Terra.”

Terra stared at the clear water brimming in the golden chalice. Did she dare to do this? She wasn’t sure…

“Wait—run the poison indicator over it,” Tem suggested.

“An excellent idea.” Rive produced the little silver wand and ran it over the top of the cup. His eyes grew wide in surprise as he looked at it.

“What? What is it? It’s poison, isn’t it?” V’rone demanded suspiciously.

“No, actually—the exact opposite. Look.” Rive showed them the little silver wand and Terra gave a gasp. The lights at the top of the wand had all lit up and every one was green, glowing so brightly she could barely look at them.

“Wow…I guess that means this stuff is really good for you, then,” she murmured.

“I would think so,” Rive said. “Drink from it, Terra—I’m sure you won’t regret it.”

“All right—here goes!” Lifting the cup to her lips, Terra drank a long swallow.

It was the freshest, clearest, cleanest water she had ever tasted and long after their adventure was over she would remember the flavor. For the rest of her life she would sometimes wake from a dream in the middle of the night with that taste on her lips, but of course she didn’t know that now. She only knew that the water from the chalice of the Kat-sat-Suum was the best thing she’d ever tasted.

“Well?” V’rone asked as she lowered the cup, which was still half full.

Terra realized they were all looking at her anxiously.

“It tastes amazing,” she said, trying to explain it. “Like…like starlight filtered through rainbows or something. It’s so pure and clear! It’s delicious.”

She raised the chalice for another sip without thinking but Tem’s hand shot out to stop her.

“No, my Lady!” he said earnestly. “Remember what the writing said! Drink once only.”

“Tem is right,” Rive said, nodding. “When dealing with a magic artifact, it’s best to follow the instructions.”

“Oh, sorry.” Terra shook her head. “I wasn’t even thinking.”

She was about to put the chalice down when V’rone suddenly leaned closer and stared at her with a frown on his face.

“Hey, little Terra,” he said. “You’re changing.”

“What? What do you mean?” Terra demanded.

“Yes, she is!” Tem exclaimed.

“I think you’re right,” Rive murmured.

By now, all three of them were staring at her. Terra began to feel a sense of dread in the center of her chest.

“Changing?” she exclaimed. “Changing how? Am I growing horns on my head or something?”

“And what’s wrong with horns?” V’rone demanded, stroking his own black horns with a frown.

“No, I didn’t mean that! I just meant—what do you mean?” Terra demanded anxiously. “What do you mean when you say I’m changing?”

“Hmm…” Rive peered at her more closely. “I do believe you’re getting younger somehow. The sighs of your Maturity are disappearing.”

“He’s right—the silver in your hair has gone. And the tiny lines around the corners of your eyes and mouth are smoothing out,” Tem told her.

“They are?”

Terra clutched at her face with the hand not holding the heavy chalice as though she could feel the small changes. In fact, she did feel somewhat different than she had before.

“My knees don’t hurt anymore!” she exclaimed, flexing them. “And my back doesn’t ache!”

In fact, she felt pretty amazing. It was the first time in years that her entire body seemed to be in agreement with itself that nothing ached or twinged or pained her. Not that she’d been riddled with pain or anything before, but she just felt so much more flexible now. So much…

“So much younger,” Terra whispered to herself. She wished fiercely for a mirror, but there was none in the black velvet room. Just the stars overhead and the fountain in the middle with its now empty pedestal.