Calasithdia, the jeweled city of the desert.   

Shimmering mansions circling the city like strands of blue, pink, green and yellow pearls. Glittering colors of ruby, sapphire, and emerald carelessly strewn in random patterns in a rich tapestry of flowing blue water, thick patches of luscious green gardens teeming with life. The city brazenly challenged the cruel barren power of the desert with a air of reckless and bold contempt. It amused the Gul Dar Lathan to create paradise in the midst of the ruthless burning hell of the desert plain. It confirmed their mastery and supreme power over the land and its peoples.   

Sendrilea's wide silver eyes were cold and bitter as she watched the desert sands roll over the glittering white marble paths, quiet the flow of singing springs and streams, choke the gurgling fountains, rip and tear down the fruiting trees, blanket the sweet fragrance of the blooming flowers with stinging darkness. The winds howled and shrieked lifting the sand higher. Single story buildings once inhabited by the city slaves disappeared. Rumbling, the ground heaved and roiled and the noble houses vanished.   

They had held back the ravening beast that howled at the gates for a thousand years, and might have done so forever. But their King had betrayed them. He had unlocked the door and invited the murderer and thief into their home. The destroyer poured over the royal city angry and vengeful. The memories of a thousand years of majesty and splendor swallowed in just a few moments by a rushing onslaught of sand, and wind, and judgment. They may have not been able to escape the destiny of judgment that awaited them , but she would never forgive her husband and king for bowing meekly before the executioner.   

As quickly as the storm appeared, it slipped away soundlessly. Calasithdia hovered for a moment in all its glory in Sendrilea's mind and then was burned away like a shadow by the sun. It was gone. Lost forever. Only the twin towers of the Sun and Moon broke the endless stretch of sand in all four directions. A sardonic smile cracked the brittle facade of the queen's face. The last law held true even now when all else was ruptured and eradicated. The amber sunstone of the Tower of the Sun cast its unwavering shadow over the plain but to its left, twisting and spiraling upward toward the sky, the milky white tower of the Tower of the Moon. It shifted and shimmered but left no sign of its existence to stain the fine grains of sand with a shadow.   

The tower of the Sun ruled the day and was called the scepter of the King, but the Tower of the Moon reigned in the night, the crown of the Queen. It was written in the ancient texts that they would stand as long as the King and Queen walked the earth.    

Though the Gul Dar Lathan had long ago forsaken the sacred writings, it seemed that they were filled with wisdom after all. Sendrilea was only the second queen to take possession of the royal titles and the tower of the Moon, and even then they had stopped worshipping the gods. There seemed little sense in worshipping beings that were distant and silent when you possessed the might of supreme rule in the world. But it was in the sacred texts that the words were found to unlock the secrets and magick in the tower and so she had read them.   

Sendrilea patted the sinuous neck of the dragon, Jaline, and the dragon descended slowly to the grasp the silver balcony railing of the tower of the moon. Slipping gracefully from the Jaline's back, Sendrilea landed softly on the carved moonstone flooring. Sendrilea De Olissian, High Lady and Queen, the second woman to carry the titles and the last. Even on this day of death and ruin, it pleased her that it should be so.   

"Go, Jaline. It is not your fate to share the death of the Queen."   

I am bound to the Royal House, there is no other to give my life meaning. You are the last.   

Sendrilea sighed and caressed the huge dragon's jaw gently with both her hands. Though the Gul Dar Lathan were a hardy and long lived people, only the dragons were immortal. When the Guls died, the dragons that had bonded with them were free and no longer rode in the dragon host of the Gul Dar Lathan. But it was different with the royal mounts, the dragons of the King and Queen, Korlum and Jaline. The bond was to the royal line and whenever a new King or Queen was named, they returned and linked with them.   

"I, Sendrilea, High Lady and Queen, Second Keeper of the Tower of the Moon do release thee from thy bonds. I am the last and thus claim this right."   

Then, Sendrilea elathai Jaline, fulfill your oath.   

"I cannot."   

But you are the last.   

"No."   

Then the curse of the oathbreaker be upon your soul.   

Sendrilea smiled. All other birthrights had been destroyed, but a few, if bitter ones, remained to her.   

"I shall die content in the Tower of the Moon bearing the Curse of the Queen."   

So be it.   

The huge silver dragon unclenched its hold on the railing and flew in a rush toward the west. Winking out of sight like a dying ember in the sky. Sendrilea turned and entered the tower room, her steps echoing across the desert plain. The tower of the moon had been carved from a single huge moonstone with silver inlaid to create swirling designs and runes of power.   

Sendrilea knew that as Queen she must meet her death in the ancient tower that stood before the palace and the city were yet undreamed. She had chosen death rather than exile for her people just for this reason. She would not face the end of this existence in a foreign land bereft of her power and her heritage.   

Removing her silver blue robe, she folded it and placed it on the throne seat. Lighting the twelve black candles set in silver holders three feet high, she began chanting the deathsong of the Queen. Casting the sacred herbs and oils on the glowing coals of the brazier, she laid down upon the altar and closed her eyes waiting for the darkness of night to bring the magick.   

Gelmisil heard Sendrilea's death scream crackle and thunder around him and shuddered. She had performed the old death rite. But something had gone terribly wrong.   

Cursing himself for being a fool, he turned Korlum back toward Calasithdia and arrived there in just the few rapid beats of his heart and a single gasp of breath. Dawn broke over the empty plain. The city was gone, only the flashing gold of the Sun tower was left as a sign of the civilization of his people. His amber colored eyes searched the shifting sands for the Moon tower, but it had vanished.   

It was done. His people were gone. There was only one thing remaining left to do, but Gelmisil trembled with fear as his gaze fell upon the tower of the sun spraying its flashing light over the rolling hills of sand, more brilliant than the dawn. He had sworn to witness the death of Calasithdia, but it had been Sendrilea that had kept the death watch and died. And this death came without peace or release. Her cry still vibrated in his bones with all its terror and despair.   

But the tower of the sun still waited for him. The tomb of the last King of the Gul Dar Lathan would not lie buried until it enclosed his body. He had given his word that he would accept this price to save his people, to save his beloved Queen. Though his reward for the sacrifice was lost, the tower shimmered with a beckoning light reminding him that his promise was still waiting to be fulfilled.   

Korlum glided down to the tower and perched himself gracefully on the golden railing. Gelmisil jumped off his back and stood before the mighty golden dragon, Korlum, the King's mount.   

"Farewell, my old and faithful friend."   

Do not speak to me of faith and friendship, Gelmisil. It breaks my heart.   

Gelmisil trembled as he felt the sorrow of Korlum flood his mind.   

"I'm sorry."   

Korlum regarded Gelmisil with the swirling depths of his eyes for a moment.   

I can almost see truth in your words, but they are not enough.   

"Then I die, a bane to my people and yours."   

We have both failed. It is finished. Farewell Gelmisil.   

Gelmisil watched Korlum circle and then disappear in the east. Walking into the domed chamber of the tower of the sun, Gelmisil prepared for his death.   

Continued ...