49 Punishment

When the Queen finally called for Brightise, it was early morning and she was dozing off on a chair in the infirmary.

Both Bronwyn and Neleah had agreed that it would be best for her to stay there. They thought it would be too risky for her to walk back to her room and chance another attack by an Amazon that didn't recognize her.

"I thought Zelna was the worst," Brightise had argued.

"She is, but her friends come pretty close," Bronwyn had told her.

Thus, Brightise had stayed there and Neleah had left to inform the Queen about that small late-night incident. She had promised that she would make it sound small and insignificant.

When Brightise entered the throne room again though, the expression on the Queen's face was one of concern.

Brightise walked over to the throne and stepped forward with little confidence. Light poured in through the tall windows, making the room look bright and glorious. Brightise felt the sun beat against her back as she stood there silently, waiting to be addressed.

To her surprise, the Queen let out a deep sigh.

"So, I heard you were pretty busy during your first night here."

Brightise tilted her head to the side uncertainly. "I wouldn't say that."

"Why were you roaming the halls at night?" the Queen demanded to know.

"I had good reason," Brightise rushed to explain. "I was looking for you. There was some information I had forgotten to disclose last night."

"Information that couldn't wait till morning?"

"Not if you wanted all your Amazons to survive the night."

The Queen frowned in thought. "I don't think anyone died last night. Zelna could have, but as far as I know, she is still breathing."

"Have you checked the nursery yet?" asked Brightise.

"No," the Queen answered after a pause. "But tell me why I should have."

Brightise took a deep breath before she explained, "Maybe I'm being too dramatic, but there is a risk in making my sister share a room with other children. At least if there is a fireplace in it. Clober has a special gift."

"Besides being immune to fire?" the Queen asked.

"Yes. She can also manipulate smoke. Make it expand or shrink. Just move it around in general. We don't know a lot about it besides that. Clober is not evil," she rushed to add. "She just hasn't learned how to control her power yet. She only discovered it a few days ago."

The Queen contemplated all this in silence. Brightise was terrified to hear her verdict.

"I will let Mother know," the Amazon answered at last. "She will decide what's best for the children. Meanwhile, we have another problem."

Brightise suddenly found it hard to breathe. "What's that?"

"You," said the Queen. "You are withholding information from me again. If your sister has a special power, then so must you. Why are you not willing to disclose it?"

Brightise almost laughed out loud. "I would, if I knew what it was. Unfortunately, I have no idea. I didn't even know I was supposed to have one until Clober discovered hers."

The Amazon seemed to believe her. "Some of our daughters don't discover their powers either until they are well into adulthood," she said with a curt nod.

She was talking about the Amazons that inherited powers from their Slorigan fathers. Brightise wondered whether there was an Amazon that could use lightning like Rayvad had.

"I know what your punishment will be then," the Queen said with a slow smile.

"What punishment?" Brightise's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. She had thought she was in the clear, but apparently she was not.

"Zelna will demand that you get punished for disfiguring her face. I will have to punish you so my fairness is not questioned. Worry not though, what I have in mind will be both beneficial and torturous for you."

"That doesn't console me much."

The Queen grinned. "It wasn't supposed to."

Brightise shifted uneasily on her feet. "What will you do to me?"

"You will find out soon enough. I will call an assembly at noon. You have to meet everyone so yesterday night's incident is not repeated. I will announce your punishment then. I would suggest that you go see your sister now. You will not be seeing her for a few days."