Contents
61. The Witch-Queen
Overview
Kinch climbs to the stranded Queen Mireya, offering water and clothing, and learns through Galva that the Takers—not the king—took the giants to punish Ispanthia for ousting the Guild. Mireya magically multiplies water for Misfa, confirming she is a witch-queen. Kinch realizes the Guild must kill her to stop her return.
Summary
Kinch climbs the treacherous rock to reach the stranded Queen Mireya, bringing the last of their water and a spare kirtle to cover her. With Galva translating, Mireya questions what the giantess said and asserts that the king forbade crossing the Thralls. She insists the Takers punished Ispanthia for closing Guildhouses, not the crown.
Mireya confirms Kinch’s past Guild ties and accepts that he now opposes them. She whispers into the waterskin, imbuing it with magic, and sends Kinch to pour it for the dying giantess, Misfa. The water flows without emptying, proving Mireya’s power and allowing Misfa to drink without relinquishing the deadly book.
Witnessing this, Kinch recognizes Mireya as a true witch-queen, the first in ages, capable of driving the Guild from Ispanthia as she did in Oustrim. This revelation crystallizes the stakes: if Mireya survives and returns, the Guild’s dominance could falter; therefore, the Guild will stop at nothing to see her dead.
Who Appears
- Kinch Na ShannackClimbs to aid Queen Mireya, delivers water and clothing, and recognizes her as a witch-queen.
- Queen Mireya of Oustrim (Infanta of Ispanthia)Stranded, reveals Takers’ guilt, enchants a waterskin to save Misfa, confirming her witchcraft and political threat.
- GalvaTranslates between Kinch and Mireya, clarifies Kinch’s break from the Guild.
- MisfaWounded giantess clutching a deadly book; drinks the magically flowing water.