Chapter Seven

The door to the Queen’s throne room rang with a firm knock. Asani glanced up from the book she was reading at the sound.
“Come in,” she called. The door opened softly and Ficum appeared in the doorway. Asani snapped her book shut with a bang and dropped it on the floor. She beckoned him to come closer and when he did, peered searchingly at his face but said nothing. The boy broke the silence.
“My mother told me what happened,” he said, “not only what you said to her, but everything I needed to know. I just have some questions to ask and my mother can’t answer them. Why do I have to leave now? Why can’t I wait until I am sixteen, since that’s what was agreed on? Don’t you think I should have more time to prepare, to increase my skills? I don’t feel ready; why are you doing this to me?” His face grew hard and his voice shook. Asani gazed at him narrowly and ordered,
“Sit down.” He obeyed, crouching on the floor. She put her delicate hands on his strong shoulders and looked at him. His sapphire-blue eyes stared at her accusingly while hers held pity.
“Lad,” she said sorrowfully, “I know the pain you hold in your heart. You feel as if I have betrayed you and no longer care for you, deciding to send you away without hesitation. I understand; although you are wrong. The truth is, I would have kept you as long as I could. You are a good, good boy and the joy of my heart. But I was unable. I tried as hard as I could to convince myself that you weren’t ready, yet you are. However it is not for this cause only that you are leaving us.
“The reason I am sending you away, really, is because of fear. I have this feeling that something terrible is going to happen. I feel that there is an immense evil lurking outside the border of my kingdom, preparing to strike. Consider the panthers that attacked you and Anomien. I don’t think that was merely some unusual event. Such a thing has never happened, not in my lifetime or in the whole history of the Fairy Kingdom. I believe that those panthers were somehow connected with the enemies of your mother, the ones who killed her; it is my fear that those murderers would find you here and do the same to you, if they do not know you are living in this place already.” Here Ficum interrupted.
“How do you know all that?” he cried incredulously. “You can’t tell the future. I know, because I’ve tried.” And Ficum grinned slightly. Asani shook her head and smiled.
“I have been known to tell something is going to happen before it happens. I am not always right, but for safety I think it is best that you start your journey now. It is hard for all of us: you, me, Anomien, Syla. Sometimes the choices we make in life are not easy. We just have to do what we feel is right, and accept whatever happens.” Ficum bowed his head, for he knew it was true. The Fairy Queen then said briskly,
“I have something for you, that you can take on your journey. It is magical and very mysterious. Even I do not know the extent of its powers. You must take extreme measures to respect and watch over it. It is my family heirloom which will help you with your quest.” She summoned her maid and told her to bring “the scarlet case.” Upon the maid’s return Asani took the case in her arms and motioned the maid to leave.
It was a large case, oval-shaped, covered in bright red velvet. It had two clasps of gold and on the top was the picture of a dragon made of gold thread. Asani opened it gently and unwrapped a bundle of purple silk. She then held up a magnificent sword. The sheath was black with queer designs running its whole length. The handle was black as well, while the guard was of pure gold encrusted with valuable rubies and diamonds. On the end of the hilt was a tassel, also of gold. Asani carefully drew the sword and the long steel blade without spot or blemish caught a sunbeam passing through the window, and shone brilliantly. Figures were cut on the blade, swerving down to a sharp tip.
Ficum stared in awe while Asani held the weapon. She twirled it around, bending her dainty arm back and forth in smooth, skilled movements. She stabbed an imaginary enemy, tossed the sword in the air, caught it and offered it to Ficum.
“That’s a sword for you!” she said excitedly, “full of beauty and costly stones, yet light as a feather. Would you like to try?” Ficum opened his eyes wide and replied
“Would I ever!” He picked up the sword and held it. “Isn’t it gorgeous?” He also swung it through the air, even more skillfully than the Queen. She watched him proudly and said,
“Do you like it?”
“Sure I do! This is the most amazing sword! And,” he asked wonderingly, “you’re giving it to me?” Asani nodded, laughing.
“This comes with it,” she said, handing him the sheath. “As I said, guard these well, for they are most precious. The ancient fairy kings and queens of old used this sword in battles whose tales are unknown, and in some battles that are quite well-known. Its name is Haspam. May Haspam serve you as well as it served its royal masters of old!”