Siddis did not feel herself to be unreasonable. Although she harbored no affection for her younger sister, she did not see why things could not be settled peaceably. After all- she wasn’t asking for anything irrational: just her rightful place as Queen. And so she gathered up the courtliest of her associates from the Outer Dark and with them approached her sister’s palace- with intentions to parlay rather than attack.
T’myra was shocked to see Siddis alive- still more so to see her so strange in appearance and so obviously wreathed in alien power. But when she heard why her sister had returned- to claim her crown- she could not acquiesce. As gently as she could, she explained to her sister that she had been gone for too long: Siddis was a stranger to the people, and they would not accept her as their ruler. Moreover, T’myra felt that perhaps Siddis, having left so young, did not have a full understanding of what the kingdom required from its ruler.
This response infuriated Siddis, but she did not immediately lash out in anger, for she saw that T’myra was surrounded by powerful allies, and that it was not the time to move against her. Instead she seduced T’myra’s most trusted companion, a young serving-man named Kyl’k, and bent him to her will. She set Kyl’k to spy for her, that she might become better acquainted with her sister’s strengths and (more importantly) her weaknesses. This accomplished, she withdrew to the Outer Dark to build her armies, and to plot.
Years passed, and soon it was known throughout the lands that the White Queen T’myra was with child. This piece of news interested Siddis greatly, for she remembered something that no-one else knew; when her mother, the former queen, had been pregnant with T’myra, all her shape-changing magic had gradually gone deep within to aid the development of the child, until by the ninth month she was left virtually powerless. Siddis knew that finally her time for vengeance had approached.
Under the pretense of bringing a birthing-gift to her sister, Siddis returned once more to the palace of her childhood. T’myra, thinking Siddis reconciled to her fate, welcomed her with open arms, and gladly accepted the gift: a beautifully wrought collar made of silver and set with colorless gems that glittered coldly in the sun. T’myra told her sister she would wear it to the next night’s feast, which of course Siddis must stay for. This was exactly the sort of invitation Siddis has hoped for- it would give her an opportunity to move against T’myra with no-one the wiser.
That next night Siddis brought an herb to the feast that would cause any pregnant woman to bleed heavily and bring forth her unborn child before its time. If T’myra managed to survive, Siddis had a still darker plan in reserve- but for now she would focus on this one.
T’myra suspected nothing as she ate and drank at the head of the table. When her sister, seated in honor to her left, shared a dish with her, no one could complain- for Siddis ate as much from the plate as T’myra did. It was not until hours after the feast had ended that the cry went up- the queen was in labor, and far too early! Siddis remained in her chambers, biding her time to see if everything would end quickly and cleanly (for her, anyway) or if she would have to go to more elaborate plans. When a page arrived bearing the news that both mother and child were thought to be out of danger, Siddis smiled sweetly (a disturbing look for her) and sent him away.
She waited until the following night before she summoned Kyl’k, and told him his time had come. To prove his loyalty to her he must kill the newborn and bring her its body. If he would do this thing she would make him the most powerful lord in the land: perhaps even her Royal Consort. Kyl’k protested that T’myra would never let him do such a thing- and now that the child was born she had her full powers back. Siddis explained to him that he need not worry- the collar she had gifted T’myra with was in fact an instrument of dark power. All Kyl’k need do was speak a certain word, and T’myra would be trapped in her animal form- but what’s more, she would be trapped with the mind of whatever dumb beast she had chosen. She would not know who Kyl’k was, let alone think to protect the human child in the room. Siddis gave him secret word and sent him forth.
Soon the castle was once again in an uproar. A wolf, its muzzle stained crimson, had been seen fleeing the palace. The queen and her child were nowhere to be found. Siddis smiled her bloodless smile, and waited for Kyl’k.
When the manservant finally re-appeared he was soaked in blood, but alone. He told Siddis that when he spoke the word of power T’myra had transformed into a wolf- and immediately leapt upon her own child, intent on devouring it. He had tried to wrest the babe from her jaws (aware that he must bring Siddis proof of its death) but she had turned and savaged his arm, then grabbed the pitiful remains and run. Kyl’k groveled before Siddis, apologizing for failing her, but instead of the terrible punishment he had feared, she threw back her head and laughed. It was far better than she could have planned for! The queen had gone mad, transformed into a wolf, and devoured her own child! No one could blame Siddis if she sent out hunters now!
And so she did.
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