The Crown Of Kylthena: Monkey Queen, #6

By Robert Dahlen

“Whatever it takes to rescue Beth, I'll do it.”

The Crown of Kylthena is a legendary relic from the Lost Lands of Earth. The stories say it brings great power to its wearer. Michiko Koyama, the hero known as the Monkey Queen, is sent to retrieve the crown along with her girlfriend and partner in adventure Beth McGill, only to find that it's been stolen. They'll have to hop from world to world and team up with the enigmatic wizard Alasdair Sterling to get it back...but can he be trusted?

And even if they find the crown, the secrets it holds could tear Beth and Michiko apart...or lead to their doom.

Travel the muiltiverse with Michiko and Beth in this third book in the Monkey Queen series! Fantasy with heroines, humor, romance and heart! Visit the Monkey Queen Books web site at http://monkeyqueenbooks.com for previews, short stories, the official blog and more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Dahlen
• Release date: Oct 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536554090

Robert Dahlen

Fantasy novelist, all-around wisecracker and penguin aficionado, Robert Dahlen lives in northern California with his wife, numerous aquatic waterfowl, and a tablet loaded with e-books and works in progress. He is hopefully working on another Monkey Queen book even as you read this.

Book preview

Chapter One

Beth McGill tapped the screen of her smartphone. Go! she said.

Abigail Main-Drake nodded and raised her rapier, pushing a stray red hair off her forehead, fixing her hazel eyes on her foe. She wasn’t dressed for a fight, in her Sherlock t-shirt and gray sweatpants, but she was ready for another round of practice against the Monkey Queen.

Michiko Koyama leaned on her gold-tipped wooden staff and waited. She was short and slender, and she wore what Beth jokingly called her Monkey Queen costume, her yellow karate jacket over a black t-shirt and leggings, her red sneakers and pillbox hat with the long matching scarf. Her brown eyes took in all the rooftop they stood on, but Beth knew Michiko’s main focus was on her opponent.

The wind blew Beth’s blond hair out of place as she watched; it stung her blue eyes, and she had to wipe the water away. She wondered how Michiko and Abby were able to block out the cold of a spring morning in Nortonville as she shivered in her green army jacket and Meri Amber t-shirt; even if one of the many enchantments on the jacket helped keep her warm, the wind still got into the parts it didn’t cover.

Come on, Abby said to Michiko, shuffling her old sneakers across the gravel surface as she waited. Michiko eyed her silently, standing completely still. Her face was expressionless as her long red scarf floated in the wind.

Abby circled Michiko, edging ever closer, holding her sword high. The silent treatment this round? she said with a grin. You’re usually so chatty—

The staff lashed out. Abby stepped quickly out of its way and spun to one side, moving behind her foe. Tag! she said as she thrust her sword forward.

Michiko swung around, parrying her thrust and snapping her staff towards her foe. Abby jumped out of its way, landing on her feet and pointing her sword at Michiko. Not down yet, she said as Michiko dropped into a crouch, her staff under her right arm. Abby spread her arms. Come on. Try me.

Michiko snapped up and swung. Abby twisted out of the staff’s way, raising her swordarm as she moved behind Michiko. Ha! she said as she started to strike. Got you at—

The Monkey Queen reached behind her with her staff and parried the blow before the sword tip could touch her back. Abby’s eyes widened as Michiko turned towards her. She slipped a foot behind Abby’s ankle and yanked it back.

Abby toppled over. Michiko stuck the tip of her staff into her stomach. Abby looked up at her foe’s grim face and rolled her eyes. I yield, she said. Again. She opened her hand, sighing as her sword fell to the rooftop.

Michiko smiled. I win! she said cheerfully as she pulled her staff back. Yay!

She bent down and stretched her free hand out towards Abby. Thanks, Abby said as Michiko helped her up. She looked over to Beth and asked, Did I do any better?

Beth glanced at her smartphone and the stopwatch app it was running. Just past thirty seconds this time, she said.

So? came the voice from the shoulder bag Beth was carrying. A black and white guinea pig stuck his head out and continued, It doesn’t matter how long or short the time is, it’s still the same result. Monkey Queen wins, new girl loses.

You never saw all those old movies, Gregor, Abby said. I’m trying to work my way up to three minutes in the ring with the big wrestling guy. I win the prize if I do. She grinned.

Gregor shook his head. Another fool with her eyes glued to a screen, he muttered.

That coming from someone who’s hooked on reality TV? Beth said.

Don’t listen to him, Abby. Michiko had taken a towel from a gym bag and was wiping off her face. You are getting better. All the training you’ve been doing is showing results.

I know. Abby stared at her rapier and shook her head. I wish I had a better sword, though. I know this is a good one, but the balance feels off and the hilt is just a bit wide for my hand.

You need to get one custom made for you, Michiko said.

I’ve dropped hints to Mom and Dad about a graduation present. Abby smiled slightly. What I really wish is that I could have my…old sword back.

Abby saw Michiko tense up a little. I…

I know it’s too much to ask for. Abby’s face turned red. Her old sword had actually been a powerful relic, but a sorceress had used it to control her and then steal her body; it took everything Michiko, Abby and their friends had to stop her. It’s probably been tossed in a dumpster by now anyway, Abby said.

Michiko nodded and raised her staff. One more round? she said.

What about breakfast? Gregor grumbled.

I hate to say this, Beth said, but he has a point. We should go in.

Michiko held up the gym bag. Abby took out a scabbard, slid her sword into it, and put it back inside. Michiko tossed her towel on top and zipped the bag up. Let’s get downstairs. Beth?

Beth nodded and stared at the seeming that Gregor had put up around the roof before Michiko and Abby had started their practice. Her second sight, the ability she had to see through seemings and other illusions, kicked in, and she blinked. The seeming vanished.

She headed for the locked door that led to the stairs. She dug into the pocket of her green army jacket and pulled out a skeleton key trimmed in brass wire, a magical gadget crafted for her by Mec the gremlin. She tapped the lock once with the key, and the door popped open.

It was the final day of spring break, and Abby’s last day as Michiko and Beth’s house guest. Abby had met the others several weeks before, when things got slightly out of hand during a recruiting visit Abby took to Cooper College, where Beth was in her sophomore year. By the end of that visit, Michiko and Beth had learned that Abby had some training in both sorcery and swordsmanship; Abby had enrolled in Cooper for the upcoming fall term and, more importantly, had agreed to work with her new friends on protecting Nortonville and the Emigres who had settled in and around the college town. She had spent the break with Michiko and Beth, getting to know the area.

The role of protector was just one of many Michiko had. She was the Monkey Queen, prophesied to be Earth’s great hero and trained from a young age in combat. She joked about how her job was saving the world, and that she was starting small. She had adventured in other worlds, but most of her time was spent practicing and keeping an eye on the many communities of non-humans in and around Nortonville, Emigres from Faerie and other worlds who had come seeking better lives on Earth.

Michiko had rescued Beth from an assault some months back, when Beth had learned that she had second sight. She had joined Michiko as her partner, and the two had become good friends at first and, over time, more.

So we’re heading to Wonderland? Abby asked as she followed Michiko downstairs.

Beth stepped through the door, reached back and tapped the lock twice with her key. Same thing we do every Sunday. She pulled her arm back as the door slammed shut and followed the others.

Pancakes! Michiko said with a grin.

It sounds like a good plan, Abby said.

They stopped in front of the door to the apartment that Michiko and Beth shared. Shower first? Beth asked.

Michiko nodded as they stepped inside. And change! She ran into her bedroom, coming out a moment later with an armful of clothes as she headed for the bathroom.

Abby sniffed. I think I need one too, she said.

You can use my bathroom. Beth grinned. But I wasn’t going to say anything. She walked over to an end table that had a guinea pig cage and pulled Gregor out of his shoulder bag.

You didn’t have to, Gregor said. He made a face. The new girl worked up a sweat. He had been an an amoral sorcerer in a previous life, and hadn’t been told about the catch when he consented to be reincarnated. He worked with Michiko and Beth, but he took every opportunity to remind them that he wasn’t all that thrilled about the arrangement.

Tactful as ever. Beth shook her head and set Gregor in the cage.

The Wonderland Diner and Tavern was just outside of Nortonville, built inside an abandoned barn covered with seemings. Under the guidance of Aloysius, the chief chef with the looks of a demonic monster and the cooking skills of a culinary angel, Wonderland was not just a place for a good meal but one of the hubs for the many Emigre communities nearby. Faeries, dwarves, pixies, gremlins and many others showed up for food and chat every day.

It had been a typical Sunday morning breakfast; Michiko had her pancakes, Beth her omelet, and Gregor his strawberries. How’s your food? Beth asked Abby, who had ordered the Hungry Ogre Special, with huge portions of half a dozen items crammed onto a plate that seemed to groan from the weight.

Big. Abby stared at her half-filled plate. I think this is going to be breakfast and lunch. I’m stuffed.

I can help you with that, Beth said.

Abby glared at her friend. Back off, McGill, she said. It’s all mine. Beth giggled.

Aloysius will be disappointed if you don’t finish it, you know.

The women all looked up at the gremlin with the goggles and the grease-stained t-shirt as he approached their table, a grin creasing his face. Mec! Michiko said with a big smile. Hiiii!

Good morning. Mind if I join you? Mec asked.

Nope!

Just squeeze your way past all the bags, Abby added.

Mec sat down carefully, managing not to kick the suitcase next to his chair. Right. This is your last day here. Is Hitchcock taking you back to San Francisco?

He is. If he ever gets here. Abby shook her head.

Maybe he won’t show up, Beth said, and you’ll have to stay another few days.

That’ll give you time to finish that food, Mec said.

And more practice! Michiko said.

And more bingewatching, Beth added. "We still have a lot of Doctor Who to work our way through."

Abby smiled. I could have Mom and Dad scan my homework and send it to me.

That blasted bawson had better get here soon, Gregor muttered. If I have to hear the words ‘timey-wimey’ one more—

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Everyone in the diner glanced over as the door opened. A bawson with a white dress and a cross expression walked in, pulling another bawson by his ringed tail. He wore black shorts and a red bow tie, and was yelping in pain as he was roughly dragged across the floor. All eyes were on them as Constance approached Michiko’s table. Is this yours? she said to Abby, holding Hitchcock up in front of her.

Never saw him before in my life, Abby said, her eyes fixed on her cup as she refilled her coffee. Michiko barely held back a giggle.

Beth sighed. Constance…what happened?

Well— Hitchcock started to say.

He is the cheekiest, freshest bawson I have ever met! Constance snapped. All those magic tricks he’s learned have left him touched in the head!

I knew you liked me! Hitchcock grinned, then winced as Constance squeezed his tail hard.

Constance… Beth looked over at the young spriggan in the blue dress and resoled boots, with eyes like cherry stones, who was standing near the door. Everyone’s staring at us.

Jill! Hiiii! Michiko smiled.

Hey, Jill, Beth said. So…

What happened? the spriggan said. Hitchcock decided to see Constance while he was here to pick up Abby. We walked here from our meadow, and they were getting along fine until we got here, and he tried to steal a kiss.

Oh, it’s my fault! Hitchcock said.

Spot on, Constance muttered.

I hate to say this… Beth tried not to