[The Panther]

As usual, I was arguing with my uncle. The latest heated discussion was about Project AQ.

“Ralph, I do not like this idea of yours at all!”

“But Selena, it is not my idea!”

“Oh, really? Then whose idea is it?”

“Our fine Minister of Research, your childhood friend Veronicas.”

This stopped me for a bit. But I gathered my wits quickly and bounced back. “Then why did she not tell me this instead of you?”

“Oh, because she is so darn busy these days. As are you, I night add, constructing all those artifacts for our army. In fact, she asked me to tell you all about Project AQ.”

Well, this put a new light on the situation. Veronicas has not been wrong yet. If this really was her idea, well then…

In a blinding insight, I suddenly realized that this MUST be her idea. No way would Ralph discover this knowledge outside the laboratory of the Research Ministry. I therefore got over this little annoyance with my uncle. I suppose he was just the messenger anyway.

I changed tactics and said, “OK, Ralph, I believe you. Now tell me, exactly why should we employ other Queens in my army. Aren’t I the only Queen we need?

“Of course you are my only Queen, Selena! These other creatures are simply magical beings. They are only referred to as Queens of the Sky. In fact, any nation can summon these Air Queens. But we should get them first.”

“And just what good are they?”

“Ah, they are most powerful beings. They control storms and lightning. They can summon powerful Air Elementals in battle. They can cast wind guide for our longbowmen. They can kill nearly unlimited mundane, ordinary troops. And they can use the air itself in the form of Lightning Swarms to easily crush all enemies. I assure you, we do NOT want to have to fight against these Air Queens. You MUST direct Veronicas to go forth with Project AQ.”

“And what exactly will it cost me from my treasury?”

“Well, Veronicas said we must have a very powerful air mage. As you well know, you have no knowledge of any air magic. Thus, it cannot be you.”

“Who is our most powerful air mage?”

“Igraine, an ancient Crone of Avalon. But this spell is so difficult that she will need much help.”

“What kind of help?”

“Igraine will need to be empowered. It costs 60 air gems to complete that one ritual. She will also need to use our Bag of Winds and our Winged Helmet, both of which have already been built using 15 air gems apiece using your Dwarven Hammers. And she will need one more thing we do not currently have.”

“Ninety air gems. Plus even more?”

“Yes, my Queen. Igraine will need a Staff of Elemental Mastery that you alone can construct. This will cost your magical treasury 15 fire gems and 15 water gems when using one of our Hammers. You should do it this very month while we empower Igraine.”

I mused out loud, “All that just for some false queens…”

“And that is still not all, Selena. Igraine will have to spend 50 air gems apiece to summon each Air Queen over the course of three months. In fact, this is why Veronicas has been saving air gems for years.”

I exploded over this news. “RALPH! Well over TWO HUNDRED air gems plus some other kinds too. No way!”

“Yes way, Selena. These Air Queens are that powerful.”

“Nothing is that powerful.”

“These queens are, Selena. They are truly quite strong, especially after we construct many artifacts for them to use in battle. We MUST have these three Air Queens to limit the army losses in the upcoming Green banner War. You do still plan to conduct this war, right?”

“Yes, I will go through with this war. But Ralph, I really still do not like this at all. I am the only true Queen around here.”

“Oh, of course you are! These are merely Queens of the Air. They are NOT Queens of Man. They will follow your orders, and yours alone if we summon them first. Go talk to Veronicas. I know you will believe her.”

I glared at my uncle and replied hotly, “Good idea, dear uncle. I will do exactly that. And right now too! This conversation is over.” I immediately stormed out of my chamber without a backwards glance. I am sure my uncle was smirking at me anyway!

And so, that is how it happened. I did talk to Veronicas. She backed up my uncle completely. She did admit to all this being her idea. And she did strongly assure me that these Air Queens could be controlled by me. She even gave me the wise suggestion to bring them into my chamber one at a time for a private chat as they were summoned out of the air.

So, in a seemingly fast month, the very first Air Queen to show her face called herself Nephele. I had laid out all the artifacts on my work table that we constructed for Nephele’s use on the battlefield against Pangaea. I tried not to think of all the gems being drained from my treasury for this one project alone. Easily 400 gems just for three false queens, consisting mostly of valuable air gems.

And when I was done talking to this odd creature, I found Veronicas and Ralph to both be correct. This was no true queen. Maybe Nephele could control the very air, but she had no intelligence. She had no vision, nor any plans. Not like me, or even like Ralph or Veronicas! And she was strongly tied to me though unbreakable magical bonds. I could easily feel the truth of that.

This scene was then repeated twice more over the course of the following two months. Next, it was Thuella. And finally, there was Aella. All three Air Queens now serve Man alone. I sent them down to the war chamber for their battle orders. I wondered the wisdom of all this.

But only time will tell if Project AQ was worth the cost or not.