CHAPTER 1

The blue-grey walls of Lockeleigh Palace glittered majestically in the early morning sun, purple and silver pennants fluttering from its battlements. On another world - in another time - the sight would have conjured forth visions of youthful fantasies; dragons and elves and gallant knights. On the world of Andarel, however, these things were far from fantasy, they were a way of life.

The palace sat atop a small promontory, overlooking the city of Lockeshire and the lake it was nestled against, Locke Mare. Both the city and the lake were named in honor of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Trimaria, House Lockeleigh. For over fifteen centuries a Lockeleigh had been on the throne, and one day would be again, but for now it sat vacant and waiting.

Master Talisin Gwynare was waiting as well, and the looks on the faces of most of his fifteen students were as vacant as the throne. They were all in their mid to late teens, and with the exception of two were all the sons and daughters of prominent nobles. Lords and Ladies by birth, destined to inherit wealth and power, and yet they couldn't answer his simple question about how magic had come to Andarel. Talisin feared for the future of the kingdom.

Lady Darsia appeared totally oblivious to the question as she was far more concerned with attracting the eye of Lord Randir. Her three sycophants were no better - it simply wouldn't do for them to show interest when the ranking member of their little clique didn't. The newest member of the class, Lady Enara Delarn, looked like she wanted to speak, but she was a shy girl and, as the lowest in rank, was already a target for disdain from the others.

"Surely someone can answer the question," Talisin pressed.

"Well, it fell from the sky."

The speaker was one of the exceptions, a young woman of surpassing beauty who was neither a noble nor a commoner. Royal blood coursed through her veins - and something more as well. Most of the people of Trimaria could claim some degree of elfin ancestry; in generations past, elves and humans had lived and prospered within the kingdom, and frequently intermarried. The elves were long gone now, departed to some unknown land, but very rarely a child was born to human parents in whom the blood of the elves ran nearly true. Princess Kerialla Astriala Lockeleigh, heir to the throne of Trimaria, was one such child.

Her elfin ancestry was apparent in her beauty - she had a face that could turn a young man into a stuttering idiot with a smile, and light, golden hair that she most often wore loose, so that it flowed down her back to her waist. Because court was to be held immediately following class, it was currently in a more formal style, braided and arranged in loops which were contained within a caul of gold chains ornamented with glittering rubies. Her skin was a perfect creamy peach that really didn't require the aid of cosmetics, not that she would ever appear in public without some color on her lips and around her eyes. She was, however, far more conservative than most girls her age, who tended to paint their faces heavily, but then the Princess could afford to flaunt current fashion trends because, well, she was the Princess.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Talisin said. "As always, your answer is succinct. I was, however, hoping for a bit more detail. I trust I am not boring you?"

"No, of course not, Master Tally," the Princess replied. "It's just that Ali got a little too enthusiastic lacing me into this gown, and it's a little hard to breathe."

Her handmaiden, Aliana, raised her eyebrows, a crooked grin spreading across her face as she said, "You're the one who kept saying it wasn't tight enough."

"Okay, maybe I got a little too enthusiastic," Keri admitted. "It is a new dress after all."

The other girls in the class all made appreciative remarks about the Princess's gown. Here again she defied convention, but where her use of cosmetics was conservative, her taste in clothing was far more daring. Instead of wearing a corset between her chemise and overdress as was customary, her gown had it incorporated into the red silk outer garment. Rather than flatten her bust, the corset's design lifted and accentuated her breasts, and the scooped necklines of both the chemise and overdress displayed a generous, and some would say scandalous amount of cleavage. The chemise was made of light cotton, the color of the fibers altered by means of a simple enchantment so that they glittered like silver. It was mostly concealed except at the sleeves, where the overdress had long slits that allowed the material to show through.

Master Talisin looked down his long nose at his Princess and pupil, the look of disdain on his face betrayed by the mirthful twinkle in his eyes. She was not required to be present; in fact, she had learned these lessons many years ago, but she chose to be a part of the class out of respect for her teacher. With the Princess in attendance, it was hardly possible for the others to refuse.

"Your gown is quite lovely, Highness, and I'm certain it will soon be the envy of every young woman in the kingdom. However, I would like to return to the subject at hand."

"Master Talisin, if I may?" Aliana said from her seat beside the Princess. She was no less pretty than her mistress, but whereas Kerialla reflected the almost ethereal beauty of her elfin heritage, her handmaiden had an earthy look, with thick, dark-brown hair and the dusky complexion common to those who worked for a living. Her parents were tailors of considerable reputation, her mother having served as the Royal Dressmaker, first to Queen Mistara, and now to her daughter.

The handmaiden's dress was similar in fashion to that of the Princess, with a purple over-dress embroidered with silver triskeles, the emblem of Trimaria. It was a gown most girls of her standing could only dream of wearing, one of the benefits of being the companion of the Princess.

"Please enlighten us, Aliana," Talisin said.

"Many millennia ago, during the time of the dragons, Andarel had two moons, Manthra and Kessil," Aliana explained. "Then a comet struck Manthra and shattered it. Many fragments rained down on Andarel in a great shower, The Fall, with the largest striking here in Trimaria and forming Crater Lake. The smallest of the fragments eventually formed Andarel's Belt, but some still fall to earth on occasion.

"The Fall caused great devastation across all of Andarel, but with the destruction came two blessings. One was the meteorites themselves, which were made entirely of manthracite. Manthracite is charged with mystical energy, and after the Fall manthracite spread to all parts of the world, as dust in the air and water, and as great veins of the ore within the earth. The mystical energy from the manthracite created the aether that surrounds and flows through all life. Eventually the sentient races, starting with the elves, learned to manipulate the aether, and magic was born."

"And what was the second blessing of The Fall?" the sage asked, his eyes settling on Lady Enara.

"The Fall caused a climate shift that made most of Andarel too cold for the dragons to thrive," she said, her voice soft and low. "Many of them died, and the survivors were forced to the equatorial region."

"Why was this a blessing?"

"Because they think we're nice and crunchy," the Princess interjected, eliciting a round of laughter from the class.

"I believe you mean that humanity and the other sentient races of Andarel were able to thrive once the dragons were no longer the dominant species."

"Exactly," Keri said with a nod of her head.

"Now that we've refreshed our memories regarding the origins of magic," Master Talisin said, "we'll move on to the purpose of today's lesson and learn some basic household magic."

Keri tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn, earning her a reproving look from the sage. She smiled in apology, and turned her attention to the task at hand. With her natural affinity for magic, she had mastered these techniques long ago, but just as her presence in class inspired the others to attend, the fact that she bothered to master these simple spells motivated them to do so as well.

Magic on Andarel was segregated into three levels. Household magic was the simplest and most common, and virtually everyone possessed the ability to manipulate the aether through simple cantrips for everyday tasks. Things like igniting a candle, heating hearthstones, or lighting the glowsphere of a lamp could all be accomplished through magic. Household magic made everyday life easier, since even the simplest home could enjoy many of the same conveniences as the finest noble household.

Unfortunately, few of the students in the class had been encouraged to learn any household magic — they were nobles after all and had servants to perform such tasks. Only the Princess and Aliana could truly be said to have mastered these most basic of magical skills, and technically Aliana was a servant - not that any of her classmates would dare treat her as such, especially not in the presence of Her Highness.

Craft magic was more complex, and required not only a greater connection to the aether, but a degree of technical talent as well. It was used to produce a variety of items, from fine jewelry and clothing to exquisite weapons and armor, many of which possessed magical enhancements. A crafter had to posses the physical skills to produce an item, and the magical ability to manage the more intricate incantations to enhance its beauty and functionality.

Finally, there was high magic, which required both a very strong connection to the aether and years of study to master. The mages who practiced high magic could perform astounding feats and create magical artifacts of great power. Healer mages could cure many diseases and repair wounds that would otherwise prove fatal. Transmutation could be used to change the properties of raw materials, such as transforming lead into silver or gold, or tempering steel beyond the capabilities of a forge. Most fearsome of all were the battle mages, who could wield fire and lightning as weapons of war.

There were also very rare individuals; those so in tune with the flow of magical energy that they could accomplish many things by mere thought that for others required complex incantations. The Princess was such a person, the blood of her elvish ancestors nearly pure in her, despite the many generations that separated them. Usually, such individuals would be sent to the Crescent Island Academy on Crater Lake at a very young age, but that was not possible for the Princess. As the heir to the throne, it was considered far too dangerous for her to be sent beyond the security of the palace.

"Our first exercise will be a fire cantrip," Master Talisin told the class. "It can be used to light fires in a variety of situations, but for our purposes we'll be using a candle. Your Highness, would you care to demonstrate for us?"

Keri smiled and took a candle from the drawer of the small desk before her. She set it on the desk top and stared at the wick for an instant before uttering the cantrip.

"Flamus ignitus."

The words were barely out of her mouth when the wick flared brightly. Her classmates murmured in appreciation, causing Keri to grin and roll her eyes at her handmaiden.

"Was that elvish, Highness?" Lady Darsia asked. The expression on her face was one of innocent curiosity but Keri knew there was nothing innocent about the girl.

Darsia was the second cousin of the Princess, sharing the same great-grandmother, the legendary Queen Riala. Like Keri, she was nineteen, but there the similarities ended. She lacked both the beauty and charm of the Princess, and preferred to use her status as a member of the royal bloodline to bully others.

"No, it's gibberish," Keri explained. "Cantrips use nonsense words for commands. You don't want to use words that might come up in casual conversation; that could cause nasty accidents."

"Oh, I see," Darsia said. "I thought that perhaps since you're an elf you might use elvish for things like that."

"Darsia, dear, you know there aren’t any elves left in Trimaria," Keri said. Darsia had always delighted in teasing her about her heritage. Unfortunately, when it came to verbal sparring, she was not very well armed. Keri already knew what her next words would be as she added, "As much as I hate to admit it, we are related. There's as much elvish blood in your veins as there is in mine."

Darsia's face clouded with anger, her eyes squinting as she said, "Well, I don't have pointed ears!"

Keri grinned and pounced. "You're not that pretty either, but no one's calling you an orc."

Darsia's face turned bright red, and her mouth dropped open in mute protest. The laughter of the rest of the class only made her embarrassment that much worse. Embarrassment quickly gave way to rage, but instead of directing her angry glare at the Princess, she turned it on Enara, who immediately ceased her own laughter. The look promised retribution, and Enara seemed to visibly shrink under her gaze.

"That will be enough of that," Master Talisin said. "Now, let's see how the rest of you can do."

One at a time the rest of the class attempted to light their candle using the cantrip. Most required a few attempts before they achieved success, which was to be expected. In some ways, household magic was more difficult to master than the higher forms. Partly this was because the students had no experience with magic, and so were moving through completely unfamiliar territory. The main difficulty was that the average person had only a tenuous connection to the aether, and so they were unable to 'feel' the flow of magical energy.

When it was Enara's turn to try to light her candle, there was a sense of anticipation in the room. In the two weeks she had been in the class, she had earned a reputation as an accident waiting to happen. There was no doubt she was highly intelligent and she tried very hard, but things just seemed to go wrong around her with alarming frequency. It was no different as she tried to light her candle. She was already visibly nervous, which wasn't helped by the cruel grin that Darsia directed at her. She focused on her candle and uttered the cantrip. Instead of the weak spark the others had managed on their first attempt, Enara's entire candle burst into flame, immediately melting into a puddle that filled the shallow holder and continued to burn. Master Talisin was quick to counter the small fire with a cantrip that extinguished the flame.

Keri's eyes widened slightly at the display. She had raised a protective shield about the candle as a precaution, and the power that had been directed against it when the spell went wrong was impressive. Enara was far above average when it came to magic, enough that she should have received training long ago.

"Master Talisin, maybe it would be better if Ali and I worked with Lady Enara separately," the Princess suggested.

"An excellent idea, Highness," Talisin said with a knowing glance.

Enara's eyes grew wide, like a deer that had caught the scent of a predator. She looked at the Princess and swallowed hard. Keri gave her a reassuring smile as she rose and started towards the far end of the room.

"Be careful, Highness, she might set your pretty gown on fire," Darsia said. The rest of the class laughed, and Enara seemed to shrink further under the ridicule.

"Then maybe we should have her work with you, Darsi," Keri replied, a feral smile fixed on her face. "Your gown certainly should be burned. You didn't actually spend money on it … did you?"

The cruel smile on Lady Darsia's face vanished, as the laughter of her classmates was redirected from Enara to her once more. She glared at the Princess, but Keri's smile only broadened as she gave her cousin her 'I'm the Princess, what are you going to do?' look.

"Don't pay that harpy any mind, Enara," Keri said as they sat down at a small table. Supplies were already arranged on the table, Master Talisin having anticipated the possibility someone might need personal attention.

The Princess made sure Enara's back was to the rest of the class, and then erected a magical barrier about them, cutting them off from all sound outside the sphere. She wanted nothing to distract Enara. Once the barrier was up, she gave Aliana a look, and her handmaiden nodded, indicating she would protect herself from any mishaps. Finally, Keri shielded both herself and Enara, the shield around the younger girl constructed to allow magical energy to flow out, but not back.

Enara didn't lack aptitude, that much was clear, but her lack of training coupled with that aptitude was potentially dangerous. It could also explain the many mishaps that seemed to follow her about. Combined with her obvious low self-esteem, her non-existent magical education was likely causing her to lash out in moments of stress, with highly unpredictable results.

The first thing she had to do was calm the girl down. She reached over and took her hands, squeezing them gently as she smiled.

"Enara, you're with friends here," the Princess said. "I want you to forget about the others. They can't hear us, and we can't hear them. We're in our own little world right now, and all Aliana and I are concerned with is helping you. Now, are you ready to try again?"

"I think so, Princess," Enara said.

"Good girl," Keri said as she released Enara's hands. She set a candle in the middle of the table, and then moved everything else a safe distance away.

"There's a reason candle lighting is used for your first cantrip," Keri explained. "Everyone knows what a burning candle looks like. I want you to fix that image in your mind. Take as long as you need to get a good mental image, and then say the cantrip."

Enara nodded and fixed her gaze on the candle. The look of intense concentration on her face was almost comical, but Keri didn't laugh. She remembered her own bumbling attempts at controlling her magical powers when she was a child, and that had been under the tutelage of some of the best mages in the kingdom.

After several minutes, a look of determination came to Enara's face and she almost whispered, "Flamus ignitus."

The candle flickered and then caught, and a smile of joy sprang to Enara's face. The Princess and her handmaiden congratulated the young woman, and then they repeated the exercise several more times. Each time the young girl's confidence grew, until the candle was lighting instantly each time.

"See, it's not so hard," Keri said.

"I'll just mess up again like I always do," Enara said as her momentary elation faded. "I just can't seem to do anything right."

"Nonesense," Keri said. "I once singed Master Talisin's eyebrows off with this very cantrip, and now…."

The candle lit once more, without the Princess even uttering a word.

"I'm an elf, remember?" the Princess said to the astonished young woman.

"Can you do that too?" Enara asked Aliana.

"Yes, milady, I can," the handmaiden replied. "With practice most people learn to use cantrips without saying the words out loud. I still have to say them in my mind, however. Keri only has to think about it."

Enara's face showed her surprise at Aliana's informal reference to the Princess, and Keri smiled.

"Ali is more than my handmaiden; she's my dearest friend," the Princess explained. "We pretty much grew up together."

"When we were six, Queen Mistara commissioned a gown from my mother," Ali added. "From the moment Keri and I met, we were best friends. When the gown was finished, the Queen made my mother her official dressmaker, and I was made Keri's handmaiden. We've been together ever since."

"I wish I had a friend like that," Enara said.

"You've got two right here if you want," Keri said, "but we can talk about that more later. Let's try some other cantrips."

Keri extinguished the candle and moved it aside, replacing it with a small glass sphere set into a wooden base. Inside the sphere a silver rod extended from the base, widening at the tip into a star with three curving points, a triskele, which was used as the symbol of Trimaria.

"Lighting a glow is much easier than a candle," Keri said. "The element has already been enchanted, so all you have to do is activate it. You still have to focus on what you want to happen, so picture the element glowing. When you're ready, just say 'illuminatus majoris'."

Enara did as instructed, taking much less time to concentrate before speaking the command words. The glow illuminated instantly without a flicker. Keri then had her try a different command which lowered the light to a dim glow. After switching the level of light several times, she had Enara extinguish the glow.

Without the distraction of the other students, Enara was easily able to grasp several other basic cantrips. She was especially delighted when she managed to successfully conjure a tiny whirlwind and direct it about the tabletop as it sucked up dust. Keri was pleased as well — the dusting cantrip was one of the more difficult bits of household magic. After several attempts, Enara was even able to direct it into a pail and cancel it so that it deposited its load of dust.

The progress Keri was able to get from Enara was remarkable and only confirmed what she had suspected — the young woman had great potential. She simply needed the proper encouragement to help boost her self-confidence. It would have been enough to end things where they were, but the Princess decided to truly test Enara's potential.

"Ali, would you get that wool you've been working with from your bag? I'd like to see if Enara can handle a spinning incantation."

"That's a crafting spell, Keri," Aliana said. "Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't want to mess anything up," Enara added.

"What is there to mess up?" Keri asked. "It's just a spell to spin wool into yarn. What could go wrong?"

Aliana rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more. She left the table, returning a moment later with a large cloth bag that matched the rich purple color of her gown. One of her primary duties as Keri's handmaiden was to carry everything the Princess might need while she was out and about. Since Keri could be more than a bit vain about her appearance, her bag was larger than normal, with two compartments inside so she could keep her own things separate from Keri's. The thick fabric the bag was constructed from carried an enchantment that allowed the handmaiden to alter its color to match whatever she was wearing.

Aliana removed a wad of raw wool from the bag and placed it on the table, a portion of which had already been spun and gathered on a wooden cone.

"This uses a simple rhyming incantation rather than command words," Aliana explained. "The basic process is the same as for a cantrip though. You just fix an image in your mind of the wool being spun into yarn and wound on the cone. The most important thing to remember is to keep your thoughts focused on the spell once it begins. It helps when you're learning to keep reciting the incantation in your mind."

Aliana focused on the wool for several seconds, and then spoke the incantation.

"Twist and wind, spin and bind, forming yarn of finest kind."

The strand of yarn began twisting while the main mass of wool remained stationary. As the fibers were spun together into a single strand, the cone began turning and winding the yarn onto it. After several seconds of spinning, the process stopped and the cone settled to the table.

"When you want to stop you just think, well, stop," Aliana said.

Enara looked nervously from Aliana to the Princess, and then settled her eyes on the wool. She spoke the incantation and the yarn began spinning as before. Everything was going fine — until her eyes drifted from her work to the Princess.

Keri knew something had gone seriously wrong when she felt her scalp tingling. She realized she had been foolish not to shield herself, and by the time she tried to correct the error it was already far too late. She saw Enara's eyes widen in horror and the cone of yarn clattered to the table top. She would have been truly concerned if Aliana hadn't burst into hysterical laughter.

"What happened?" the Princess sighed.

"Y … your hair …." Aliana stuttered, unable to get more out through her laughter.

Keri reached up and felt one of her braids through the mesh of her caul. Her hair had the feel and consistency of yarn, like the hair on a rag doll.

"Oh well, that's not too bad," Keri said. "No one will notice through the caul anyway."

"But … but it's … it's pink," Enara said, close to tears.

Keri turned a questioning look to Aliana, and her handmaiden nodded. "It's really, really bright pink."

The barrier she had up prevented the rest of the class from hearing what was going on at the table, but it didn't stop them from seeing everything. Keri could see Darsia laughing hysterically and pointing in their direction.

"A mirror please, Ali," Keri said.

Aliana did an admirable job of stifling her giggles as she took a hand mirror from her bag. She kept her face rigidly dispassionate as she handed the mirror to her mistress. Keri raised the mirror and studied her hair carefully for a long time.

It was bright pink, so bright it almost seemed to fluoresce with light. She could see that her hair emerged from her scalp normally, but less than a half-inch out it thickened into strands of yarn. That was a good thing, she knew. If the hair had been changed down to the root, just taking her caul off could have left her completely bald. Her hair was also much thicker, and the increase in volume was straining against the mesh of her caul. There was no way it wouldn't be noticed.

"What time is it, Ali?"

Ali lifted the timepiece that hung from her neck by a gold chain and said, "We have about five minutes before we have to leave for court," Ali said.

"Frag, that's nowhere near enough time to fix this," Keri swore.

"Oh Highness, I'm so sorry!" Enara cried. "I'm such an idiot! Why can't I do anything right?"

Tears streaming down her face, Enara rose and tried to leave the table, but Keri gently grasped her wrist and stopped her. She pulled the girl onto her lap and put an arm around her shoulder. She had to get her calmed down because she hated to see anyone in such distress over a silly accident, and she would need her help to reverse the effects of the spell.

"Enara, I want you to listen to me very carefully," the Princess said. "This was not your fault; it was mine."

"Oh no, Highness, it's all my fault," Enara sniffed. "My father has told me over and over again that I'm no good with magic."

~ That explains a lot. ~  The Princess thought.

Keri and her handmaiden shared a knowing look. There were some close-minded people, very few fortunately, who viewed magic with a distrust bordering on hatred. Usually it was because they had little or no aptitude for the art themselves.

"Your father is wrong, Enara," Keri said. "I've had my eye on you ever since you were first presented to me in court when your family came to Lockeshire. I could sense that you had a strong connection to the aether. That's why I asked your parents to let you join us in this class."

"You did?" Enara asked, wide-eyed. "I wondered why Father suddenly changed his mind."

"Well, I do have a tiny bit of influence you know," Keri said. She gestured to her hair and continued, "This is my fault, because I pushed you into something you weren't even close to ready for. On top of that, I was careless and didn't shield myself. Do you know what transmutation is?"

"It’s a form of high magic," Enara said. "With transmutation, mages can turn one material into another of similar properties, like lead into gold."

Realization dawned on Enara, and her hand sprang to her mouth.

"Or hair into yarn," Keri confirmed. "You just performed a powerful act of transmutation, Enara, without any training at all."

"But what are we going to do?" Enara asked.

"Well, if you look closely, you'll see that my hair comes out of my head normally," Keri said, bending forward so Enara could see. "That means it will grow out again in time."

"Your hair's so long and beautiful," Enara said. "That'll take months."

"Yes, which is why I'm going to counter the spell," Keri said. "But to do that, I need your help."

"Oh no! Please, I don't want to make it worse!"

"Trust me, you won't," Keri assured her. "I'll be prepared this time."

"Can't you just reverse it yourself?" Enara pleaded. She was getting more agitated, not less.

The Princess shook her head. "Whether you said anything or not, you cast a spell, and every spell, even those common to all mages, has a pattern unique to the caster. We have to recreate what happened, so I can feel how you manipulated the aether, and then I'll construct a counter weave to reverse it."

"I … I don't think I can, Highness," Enara said. She was shaking now and wringing her hands. "I'm so frightened."

"No, you're not," Keri said, her voice almost singing. As she spoke, she reached out with her mind, touching the aether and weaving streams of magical energy about Enara.

"You're very calm and relaxed, Enara," she soothed. "You have such a pretty smile; it's so good to see you happy. Now be a good girl and go back to your seat and wait for my instructions."

Enara rose, a happy, vacant look on her face. She went back to her chair and sat down, smiling at the Princess.

"You mesmerized her?" Aliana asked in shock. "Keri that's forbidden, even for you!"

"It could take an hour to get her calmed down enough to fix this," Keri said, turning to address Enara. "It's a very mild charm spell, Enara. At the moment you can only follow my instructions, but they have to be very simple ones, and I can't make you do anything against your will. In a few seconds, you'll be able to move again, but the calming effect will last for a while longer."

Aliana just shook her head and rolled her eyes at the Princess. Keri dropped her privacy barrier and was gratified that the entire classroom was now silent. She directed a glare at the other students to encourage them to remain that way, and then turned to Talisin.

"Master Talisin, we've had a slight problem here," she said. "I'll need some privacy to correct it."

"Of course, Highness," Talisin said. "Class is dismissed. Please try to safely practice what you've learned today."

The students rose and as one bowed and curtsied to the Princess, then filed out of the room.

"Ali, go tell my guards we'll be delayed," Keri said. "Master Talisin, would you be so kind as to inform the Regent I'll be a little late?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Talisin said. He looked at Enara and then shook his head, a wry grin on his face. Then he too bowed and left the room.

"Ali, not a word to Marc about this," Keri said as her handmaiden started towards the door. "Just tell him I'll be out as soon as possible, and we are not to be disturbed."

"Would I try to embarrass you like that?" Aliana said, a feigned look of hurt on her face.

"Yes, you would, now go," Keri said. "You'd best wait out in the hall until I call you."

Once Aliana had left the room, the Princess turned her attention back to Enara, who was coming out from under the effects of the charm spell.

"Thank you, Highness," Enara said, her face still calm and serene, "I feel a lot better now."

"I apologize for doing that, Lady Enara," the Princess said. "It was very rude of me."

"It's all right, I was getting pretty hysterical, and I know you're pressed for time," Enara told her. She looked towards the door Aliana had just left through and added, "You really do see her as a friend."

"Yes, I do," Keri told her. "I don't know what I would have done without Ali these past six years."

"It must have been very hard when your parents died."

"You mean when they were murdered," Keri said, the bitterness in her voice plain.

Unbidden, the memory surfaced of the day she had learned her parents were gone. Her father, King Toranon, had sought to end years of sporadic conflict with the Kingdom of Merdia, and after months of negotiations he and the Queen had left on a journey to sign a peace treaty. They had been ambushed by orc mercenaries just after they crossed the Isthmus of Valmor, and the entire entourage slaughtered without mercy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad," Enara said.

"It's all right," Keri assured her. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about them. They should have ruled for many more years."

"Is that why you haven't taken the throne yet?" Enara asked, the lingering calm from the charm spell making her bolder than she would usually be. "I mean, you could have done it when you turned eighteen. Is it because you think it will dishonor their memory?"

"That's the official excuse," Keri said. "The truth is not nearly so noble. I'm just not ready yet. Once I take the throne, what freedom I have now will be gone. I'm just plain selfish."

"I don't think you're selfish, Princess," Enara said, "and I'd like to be your friend very much, if you'll still have me after what I've done."

"Of course I will, silly," Keri said. "Don't you fret about the hair - I've half a mind to go into court just like this. It would almost be worth it to see the look on my aunt's face."

"I wouldn't recommend that," Enara said. "I've heard the Regent doesn't have a sense of humor."

"She used to," Keri said with a sigh. "At least she wasn't always so … hard."

"My father wasn't either," Enara said.

Keri smiled and patted her hand before getting down to business.

"Now, Enara, I need you to tell me exactly what you were thinking when this happened to my hair."

"Well, I was concentrating on the yarn, and then I looked up at your hair," Enara said. "It's so pretty, and I remembered my favorite doll when I was little. She had pink yarn for hair."

"Ah, that explains it," Keri told her. "To fix this, I need you to start reciting the spinning incantation again. We don't need the wool, but you do need to picture it in your mind just like before. When you have it in your mind, look at my hair again and think about that doll, just like before."

"But what if…."

"It will be fine, I promise. I've got a barrier up, so you won't be able to do anything to me, but I need to get a feel for how you worked the aether. Once I have that, I can counter the effect."

Keri took Enara's hands and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Whenever you're ready, begin."

"Oh, I hope I don't mess this up," Enara fretted. The calming effect of the charm had faded, which was good because they didn't need any other magic around to confuse things.

CHAPTER 2

The corridors of Lockeleigh Palace quickly emptied as the scheduled time for the royal court approached. The palace was always a focal point of much activity, but it became even busier on the one day each month when petitioners came from throughout the kingdom to present their concerns to the Regent.

Before the conflict with Merdia had escalated into a full-scale war, court had been held more frequently and was far less formal. Trimaria had a system of magical transport spires, which allowed individuals to travel easily over great distances, and people regularly brought their concerns to the palace. With Merdian raiders forging deep into Trimaria, however, it became necessary to restrict the use of the spires. If the raiders managed to capture one of the keys the adepts used to operate the spires, they would have unrestricted access to every corner of the kingdom. There simply wasn't enough manpower to protect the spires constantly, so now they were only used for official business, and once each month a company of troops escorted an adept who transported petitioners to the capital for court.

Court could not begin, however, until the Princess was present, and she had not yet emerged from the classroom. In the corridor outside the classroom three warriors waited, dressed in brightly polished armor and the black and purple tabards of the Royal Guard. Their faces were impassive, betraying no emotion whatsoever. Two stood on either side of the door to the classroom, while the third was across the corridor, his body blocking the light from the window behind him.

Knight-Captain Marcan Demos was an imposing figure, standing nearly a head taller than most men. His grey eyes had a hard intensity to them, and his ruggedly handsome face had a long, jagged scar down the left side, a testament that he was no stranger to combat. Healer mages could have eliminated the scar entirely, but most warriors chose to keep such marks as a badge of honor, especially when they were received in a particularly notable battle.

Marc had served the House of Lockeleigh for over twenty years, ever since King Toranon had taken in the orphaned eight-year-old son of one of his squires. He had become more than a page — Toranon and Mistara had truly made him feel like part of their family, in love if not in actual fact. He was eleven when the Princess was born, and as she grew Marc came to see her as a sister - which explained why she was able to infuriate him so easily.

At thirty, Marc was young to be in such a position of power. Toranon had made him captain of the Princess's personal guard when he was only twenty-one. It was a prestigious position for one so young, but there were only twelve warriors assigned to the Princess, and no one had objected, at least not like they had when Toranon knighted him at nineteen. Then Toranon and Mistara had been ambushed and killed, along with their entire guard and retinue, and suddenly he was Captain of the Royal Guard. There had been attempts to remove him, but his was a royal appointment, and as the heir to the throne only the Princess could replace him.

Marc had immediately set about the task of rebuilding the Guard to its proper strength. It hadn't been easy — with Toranon gone there were many among the Chivalry who resisted his efforts, but he had the full support of the then thirteen-year-old Princess. Marc made the recommendations as to which warriors would be suitable for positions as Royal Guardsmen, and Keri made the appointments, leaving no room for anyone to interfere. Now the Guard was back to its full strength, six troops of light cavalry, three-hundred of the finest warriors in Trimaria. Only four troops were normally active at any one time, with the remaining two in reserve.

"The Regent is likely in a foul mood by now, doncha think, lad?"

Marc's gaze shifted to one of the two guards by the door. Serjeant Garith Kragen was a barrel-chested warrior, almost as broad as he was tall. He had a mirthful twinkle in his brown eyes, despite a hard, craggy face with a large nose that was skewed slightly to the left and mashed in from one too many blows over the years.

"No doubt she is," Marc agreed.

"It's not like the Princess hasn't been late before," the taller guard on the other side of the door said.

Marc shot his cousin, Stilnar, a withering look that warned the young squire not to expect the same latitude while on duty that Garith enjoyed. Stil was almost as tall and muscular as his cousin, but there the similarities ended. Where Marc had a rugged handsomeness, Stil was comely, with shoulder length hair the color of wheat and an impish grin that had melted the heart of more than one young woman. Marc was fairly certain his cousin had set his eye on the Princess's handmaiden as his next conquest, and he frankly expected Aliana to have him wrapped around her finger in no time. Despite being three years younger than Stil, she had amassed her own impressive list of lovers, and growing up in the midst of the royal court had equipped her far better at playing the games of both politics and romance, which were often intertwined. She stood quietly off to the side, pointedly not looking at Stil, yet the slight grin on her face told Marc she was perfectly aware that the squire’s eyes kept straying towards her. When she caught Marc looking at her, the grin broadened and she winked.

The sound of booted feet drew Marc's attention, and he turned his gaze toward the noise. Another knight approached, with two members of the Regent's personal guard in tow. The look of annoyance on the knight's face made it plain why he was there.

"The Regent has sent us to bring the Princess," he said as the group approached.

Marc stepped forward, blocking the corridor with his body as he turned to face the men.

"The Princess will be along as soon as possible, Commander Jaris," Marc said.

"What's the delay?" Jaris demanded. His gaze shifted to Aliana, whose eyes widened in a look of innocence and awe, which Marc knew was feigned. After thirteen years in the royal household, there was little that awed the handmaiden.

"I wasn't informed, and it's not my place to ask," Marc said. "Nor is it yours."

"Court should have started twenty minutes ago," Jaris said, moving to step around Marc. That wasn't a simple matter to accomplish as Marc sidestepped and blocked him once more.

"Stand aside, Captain," Jaris said. "Since you can't carry out your duties, I'll do it."

"I serve the Princess, not the Regent and not you," Marc said. Garith and Stilnar stepped forward and took positions just behind their captain, and Garith swung his pollaxe from his shoulder into a ready position. The burly serjeant gave the two yeomen behind Jaris a broad grin as he slapped the haft of the weapon into his left hand.

"My duty is to protect Her Highness," Marc continued, "not drag her about at the Regent's command, nor allow anyone else to do so."

The two knights stared at one another, neither prepared to back down. As a Knight-Commander Jaris was superior in rank, but as captain of the Princess's personal guard Marc answered only to her. Jaris was in an awkward position — he couldn't back down without losing face, and if he tried to force his way past Marc, the royal guardsmen would almost certainly trounce him and his men.

The situation was defused when the classroom door opened and the Princess entered the corridor. Marc recognized the girl with her as the Lady Enara - he was familiar with everyone who had regular contact with the Princess. He wondered what the two had been doing for so long, but was not about to ask, especially with Jaris and his men there. The Princess surveyed the standoff in the corridor with raised eyebrows, her lips spreading into a slight grin.

"I trust I'm not interrupting?" she asked.

Jaris remained silent and unmoving for an instant, and then remembered his place and stepped back, he and the two men with him bowing to the Princess.

"Apologies, Highness," Jaris said as he rose. "The Regent was concerned and sent me to check on you."

"You mean my aunt is impatient and sent you to hurry me along," Keri said. "You've done as you were told, commander. Now run along and tell my aunt I'll be there momentarily. Oh, and since you're going that way already, get a chair and place it on the dais beside mine for Lady Enara; she'll be keeping me company during court."

The look of umbrage on the Jaris's face was almost enough to make Marc laugh. He knew the Princess had chosen her words very carefully. The question was, would the knight-commander do the smart thing or snap at the bait?

"Highness, I am a member of the Chivalry, not a common drudge."

The Princess lifted her chin and tilted her head to the right, a gesture Marc had seen her mother use often, sometimes on him. Keri called it the 'stink-eye'.

"Well, if that's the only thing preventing you from obliging a simple request from your Princess, the situation can be remedied."

The color drained from Jaris's face, and he immediately backpedaled verbally and physically.

"Forgive me, Highness," he said, he and his men bowing as they backed down the hall. "I'll see to it immediately." He cast a final glare at Marc and then turned and practically fled down the hall.

"You know, I don't usually like playing the snooty Princess," Keri giggled as she stepped forward and linked her right arm through her guard captain's left, "but he makes it so much fun. I see you've been your usual charming self, Marc."

"I live to serve, Highness," Marc replied as they started down the hall.

Keri laughed and gave his bicep, which was almost as big around as her waist, an affectionate squeeze. Aliana and Enara fell in step behind them, careful to avoid stepping on the short train that trailed behind the Princess, while Garith and Stilnar brought up the rear. Keri turned and looked over her shoulder at the stocky guard, who had once more adopted his usual look of stony vigilance.

"I suppose you're disappointed my appearance stopped things before a fight broke out, Garith," Keri said.

"Wouldn't a been no fight, Highness," Garith grinned, patting the pollaxe resting on his right shoulder. "Not much a one anyway, as long as the youngster here didn't trip over himself."

Keri caught the hint of a grin on her handmaiden's face at the reference to Stilnar. She was well aware that Aliana had her eye on the handsome squire, and the Princess had to admit he was pleasant to look at. As she directed her gaze back to the front, she idly fingered a large, ornate ring on her right hand.

"He's very pretty, Aliana," she said. "I imagine he should have enough stamina to satisfy even you."

The only indication that her words had any effect was a slight break in the rhythm of Stilnar's stride. Then Keri was suddenly brought up short as Aliana stumbled and stepped on her train. Marc's arm instantly stiffened to prevent her from falling, almost as if he had anticipated the stumble. Keri shot a glance back at her handmaiden, who stuck her tongue out and grinned.

"Bad, bad Princess," she whispered as she rearranged Keri's train.

Keri and Aliana both broke out into a fit of giggles, while Enara looked at the two young women in confusion. Keri caught the look and gave her a smile of reassurance.

"You'll get used to me," she said.

"Forgive me, Highness," Enara said, "but what exactly is my part here? I've never been to a royal court before."

"You've been to baronial courts in Highkeep though, right?"

"Yes, Highness, but never as an attendant."

"A royal court is very similar," Aliana explained as they started down the corridor once more.

"Just longer and much more boring," Keri added. "Just follow Aliana's lead, and you'll be fine."

"The only hard part is keeping the Princess awake," Aliana said.

"Ali, that's not fair," Keri protested. "I only fell asleep once, and I was eight at the time. Now you girls hush and let me talk to Marc."

Marc let his gaze drift down to the Princess for an instant as he said, "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"

"Probably because you know me too well," Keri said. "After court, I'll need some time with Ali and Enara to discuss some things. After that, I'd like to go to the market square."

"That won't be a problem," Marc said, his surprise showing in his voice. From the way the Princess was playing up to him, he had expected something more difficult.

"Then, this afternoon, I want to go for a ride."

Marc almost stopped in his tracks, but instead settled for giving her another look, his face clearly showing what he thought of the idea.

"Highness, you know there has been raider activity within a few miles of the palace," he said.

"Isn't that why I have a whole company, two hundred of the finest warriors in Trimaria, as my Royal Guard?" Keri asked. She lowered her voice and added, "Please, Marc, I've got to get out of this place for a little while. I'll agree to any conditions you think necessary. Just don't bring the whole two hundred as an escort, okay?"

Marc heard the pleading tone in her voice and knew it wasn't affected just to get him to agree. It had been especially hard for the Princess since Merdian raiders had begun striking deep into Trimaria. She hadn't been allowed beyond the outer curtain wall in over a month.

"I'll make the arrangements," he said.

"All rise and pay homage to Her Royal Highness, Kerialla Astriala Lockeleigh, Princess of Trimaria!"

The din of subdued conversation ceased as the herald's words reverberated through the throne room. The assembled petitioners and nobles rose to their feet as the Princess's entourage entered. Four more guards had joined them outside the hall, and they preceded her small procession carrying the standards of the kingdom. As before, Marc was immediately in front of the Princess, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword as he scanned the crowd on either side for any threat.

Those assembled in the hall bowed in respect as the Princess passed, and Marc didn't have to turn to know her head was turning left and right, making eye contact with as many as she could and acknowledging each with a smile. The knight-captain felt a swell of pride - for all her fears and doubts, and more than a few flaws, the Princess knew how to touch the hearts of the people she would one day rule.

A large, ornately carved chair sat on the floor before the dais, not as resplendent as the two thrones which had remained empty for the last eight years, but considerably more elegant than the simple chairs for the audience. The Princess's procession stepped around the chair, and as Garith, Silnar and the standard-bearers moved to positions on either end of the raised platform, Keri stopped before a smaller chair to the right of the thrones. She gestured to the chair that had been placed to the right of hers, and Enara stepped up to it while Marc and Aliana moved around to the back of the dais. The Princess looked out on the assembly and smiled warmly.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting," she said.

Her eyes met those of a tall woman with fiery red hair and a look of controlled anger on her face. Duchess Rayna Binara Ethelwyn, her aunt and Regent of Trimaria, was a lovely woman, but the past six years had aged her. Eyes that had once shone with laughter were now hard and intense. Keri could barely remember her as she once had been, so carefree and happy. Responsibility, pain and a burning hatred for those who had been responsible for the death of her beloved sister had destroyed all that.

Keri nodded slightly to her aunt, and then took her seat, motioning for Enara to sit as well. The herald stepped forward and his voice rang out in the hall once more.

"This opens the court of Her Royal Highness, Princess Kerialla, this Enas, the first day of Prel, Anno Trimaria fifteen and twelve. The assembly may be seated."

Keri resisted the urge to laugh as her aunt stepped forward and sat down in the chair before the dais. All the ceremony was just that — ceremony, with no real meaning. Since she was the heir to the throne, the Princess was required by law to be present at any official court, but she had no say in the proceedings. Until she claimed the throne, her aunt made all the decisions. Her eyes drifted to her left, settling on the scepter that rested across her father's throne. All she had to do was take the scepter from where it lay and announce that she was asserting her right to rule, and she would be queen. She wondered how her aunt would react if she did that very thing.

She wouldn't, of course. There was still time to enjoy what freedom she had, and she was going to take advantage of it. On her twenty-first birthday, she would have to make a choice — claim the throne or abdicate forever. There was really no choice to make. If she abdicated, the next person in the line of succession was her second cousin, Darsia. There was no way she would dishonor her parents by allowing that girl on the throne.

Because a formal court was only held once a month, it was usually a long affair. Today was no exception as, one after another, petitioners were called forward to present their concerns to the Regent. There were bright spots - not all those in attendance had problems to address. There were several representatives from distant shires that had gifts to present to the Princess, and no matter how ornate or simple, Keri accepted each with the same heartfelt appreciation. She had received many gifts over the years - each one was displayed somewhere in her personal chambers and she could relate its history with ease.

Despite the high points, Keri's impatience was apparent as court dragged on past three hours. When the final petitioner was heard, the Princess readied herself to rise, but stopped as the Regent rose to address the crowd.

"I know it is very early to be speaking of the Harvest Festival," the Regent said. "The crops have only just been planted, and the summer solstice is not yet upon us. I mention it because there are two important pieces of information that need to be disseminated quickly. First, after much discussion, it has been decided that the Barony of Wallkeep will host this year's festival."

Stunned voices whispered through the hall, and the Princess suppressed a grin. She had known about the choice and expected it to cause a stir. Though Wallkeep was the newest and most modern barony, it was also the most distant, as it was on the western border of the kingdom. The Harvest Festival was the most important social event of the year, and no one wanted to miss it, even if it meant a lengthy trip.

Distance wasn't the only thing that made Wallkeep, in Keri's opinion at least, unsuitable for the festival. Its name came from the fact that it was built into Riala's Wall, a fifty-foot tall fortification that stretched for fifty miles, sealing the eastern end of the Isthmus of Valmor. The wall was only two hundred miles from the frontier in Camron, where the armies of Trimaria were struggling to push the forces of Merdia and their orc allies back from the land Trimaria had claimed. When she had told Marc about the location and her intention to attend the festival, he had not been happy.

"I realize that Wallkeep is a long trip for many in the kingdom," the Regent continued. "The Ministry of Transportation will be opening the spires for transport two weeks prior to the festival, and a schedule of transport times will be posted within the month."

The Regent paused and turned to look at Keri, a disquieting smile on her face. The Princess felt a chill run down her spine and knew her aunt was up to something.

"This year's Harvest Festival will be a very special occasion. It is my pleasure to announce that Her Highness, Princess Kerialla, will be attending the festival, and at the Grand Ball she will entertain suitors for her hand in marriage. All those who wish to be considered must submit their patents no later than the twenty-third of Awist, one month before the festival begins. Patents may be transmitted via the orb network, but they must go through your local herald. Also, please include a likeness, so the Princess will have a face to place with the information in your patent."

Keri froze in shock, not even attempting to hide the look on her face. The Regent turned and smiled again, then nodded to her herald, who pronounced the court closed. The crowd rose to their feet and bowed in preparation for the Princess's departure.

Shock gave way to anger, and Keri's eyes narrowed as she rose. There was no smile on her face as she left the hall, her retainers practically having to run to keep up with her long strides. Marc led the way as always, and the Princess kept her eyes fixed on his back as she fumed. It was only when she noticed him shift his shoulders uncomfortably — and saw the wisp of smoke rising from his tabard - that she realized what she was doing and forced herself to calm down using a chant she had been taught as a child. As they reached the doors, the herald's voice rang out once more, and the crowd echoed back his words.

"Long live the Princess!"

The Princess fumed in silence, and once they were a short distance away from the hall, Aliana moved forward and took her friend's hand. Keri's rage subsided a little more as she drew comfort from the silent show of support.

"Marc, are you all right?" she asked.

"Barely singed," the knight-captain replied.

They passed down the long, wide corridor that led from the throne room to the cavernous Grand Hall. Forming the centerpiece of the Palace, the hall was one hundred feet wide and twice that in length. Eight immense columns supported the high-arched ceiling, from which were suspended elaborate collections of brightly glowing crystal spheres. In times past the hall had hosted balls and feasts but now it was little more than an extravagant entryway.

The standard bearers split off from the procession as they entered the Grand Hall and moved to take their usual positions at the front and rear entrances of the Palace. The rest of the party made their way to the stairs at the back of the hall and up to the third floor of the Palace, where they turned left and followed the mezzanine around to the doors leading to the west wing.

The Grand Hall separated the east wing, which was devoted to the administration of the kingdom, from the Royal Quarters of the west wing. Currently the west wing had only two residents, the Princess and Aliana. The Royal Residence occupied the entire third floor of the wing, but the Princess and her handmaiden only used one of the suites. The staff quarters on the second floor had been empty since the King and Queen were killed along with their entire retinue, and likewise the kitchen, dining room and private audience chamber on the first floor had been unused in all that time. Keri was served by the main Palace staff, which also saw to the east wing and the administrative personnel that lived and worked there, and took her meals and received visitors in her sitting room.

As the entourage approached the ornate doors which led to the Royal Residence, the guards stationed there opened the doors and snapped to attention. Keri usually greeted them with a smile and a word as she passed, but she was too angry to do so now. The omission was not lost to the two guards, who shared a look as they closed the doors.

A short distance down the corridor, they reached the door which led to the Princess's living quarters. Garith and Stilnar took their stations on either side of the door, which Marc opened before stepping aside to allow the Princess to enter.

"Sir Marcan, please tell the Regent that the Princess requires her presence, immediately," Keri said, her formal tone leaving no doubt that she intended it as a royal summons.

"Yes, Highness," Marc replied. His footfalls were already fading in the distance when the door to the Princess's sitting room closed.

It was Aliana who spoke first, letting out her own rage as she exclaimed, "By the Fragment, she has a lot of nerve to pull something like this!"

The look of absolute fury on her pretty face was so comical that Keri broke out in a fit of laughter. She collapsed onto a plush sofa and for several minutes couldn't even speak. Aliana joined her, while Enara looked at both as if they had lost their minds.

"Oh, thank you, Ali, I needed that," Keri said at last. "The look on your face was priceless."

"I live to serve, sweetie," Ali told her. "Not that the look wasn't genuine. I'm so mad I could tear the Regent's hair out!"

"We can't have that," Keri said. "That would be treason, after all. I on the other hand…."

"Highness, should I leave?" Enara asked.

"It's Keri in here, Enara, and I'd really like you to stay," the Princess said. "When the Regent arrives, you can wait with Ali in her bedchamber."

"We'll probably hear a little shouting," Aliana added. "Of course, we won't really 'hear' anything."

"I'm not sure I understand," Enara said. "You didn't know about the festival?"

"Oh, I knew about the festival and had already made plans to attend," Keri told her. "I didn't know my aunt had made arrangements to parade me before every noble's son in the kingdom like a broodmare."

The Princess rose and began pacing about the chamber, clenching her fists and muttering under her breath. Aliana and Enara couldn't catch the words, which was probably for the best since the Princess was using very unladylike language. Finally, she stopped and drew in a deep breath before turning to face Aliana.

"Ali, dear, would you please loosen this fragging dress," she said through clenched teeth. "I'd like to be able to breathe, so I can scream properly when the Regent gets here."

"Why would the Regent do such a thing?" Enara asked as she moved to help Aliana adjust the lacing on the Princess's dress.

"I'm sure it all has some political motive behind it," Keri said. "She likes to push me too, knowing I can't…."

Enara looked on, waiting for the Princess to continue. Keri turned to look at Aliana, who nodded and said, "I think you can trust Enara."

"I don't understand," Enara said. "Trust me with what?"

"You've heard all the stories about elves, haven't you, Enara?" the Princess asked.

"I suppose so," Enara said. "I know they were a beautiful race, and they had a natural connection to the aether, which made them powerful mages. They also had very long life spans; some even say they were immortal."

"That's all true," Keri said. "Much of it also has passed on to humans with elvish ancestors. My great-grandmother, Queen Riala, was over two hundred when she died, and she looked almost exactly like she did when she was my age. My mother's family also had a strong elvish bloodline, and that bloodline mixed with my father's did something very unusual. My parents were human, but they had an elf for a child."

"How could they know that?"

"Magic," Keri explained. "The mages at the academy did a magical examination shortly after I was born. They said I'm a pureblood elf, something that hasn't been seen in Trimaria for over five hundred years."

"Oh, well, why keep that a secret?" Enara wondered. "I think it's wonderful."

"Because the elves didn't disappear, they were driven out," Keri said. "They lived side-by-side with humans for generations, but eventually jealousy and bigotry set in, and things became so bad that they left. My parents wanted to protect me from that possibility, so they presented me as just a child who resembled an elf, which while not common, isn't unheard of either."

"What does that have to do with the festival?"

"Do you know what else elves were known as?" Aliana asked.

"They called themselves the Fae," Enara said. "Elf females were called nymphs by some because … oh … I think I see."

Keri nodded and said, "That's right, the elves were very … adventurous … regarding sex, especially the females. They had magic to prevent themselves from getting pregnant unless they wanted to, so they had no reason to restrain their sexual nature. It was common for an elf female to marry, but she would also have numerous lovers. Of course, the same was actually true of the males, but it's always been acceptable for a man to have mistresses on the side. Along with everything else, I inherited that too."

"But aren't you…," Enara started. "I mean I'd heard you were…."

"Yes, I'm still a virgin," Keri said. She extended her right hand so Enara could examine the ring she wore.

The band was very wide and made of a dark silver-grey metal Enara recognized as manthracite. A large emerald was set into the band, and the setting and band were etched with what looked at first glance like swirling lines. Upon closer examination, Enara could see that the swirls were actually finely wrought glyphs that were inlaid with pure gold.

"It's called a chastity ring," Keri told her. "It keeps my elvish nature suppressed. My parents had it made when I was a child, but I didn't have to start wearing it until just before I turned eighteen, when I started to mature."

"She was a late bloomer," Ali offered.

Keri nodded and giggled. "Ali had breasts when she was fourteen, and I was so jealous."

Aliana raised her eyebrows and looked at the Princess's cleavage.

"You certainly made up for it though," she said. "It took me four years to grow these, and you passed me in a year."

"I've read about chastity rings," Enara said. "Don't they also affect others?"

"Yes, they do," Keri said. "It doesn't stop someone from feeling affection or attraction to me, but if their thoughts start to progress to something more physical, the enchantment … well, let's just say it dampens their enthusiasm."

"If you don't mind my asking, Keri, what does it do to you?"

"Basically, it prevents me from getting aroused," Keri said. "Unfortunately, it doesn't stop me from thinking about sex or wondering what it would be like to be with someone. So you see, even if I were to meet someone I liked at the Grand Ball, I can't do anything about it. If I even let him kiss me, it would be like someone dumped us both in a pure, frigid spring."

"Couldn't you just take it off — I mean just for a little while?"

Keri looked at Aliana, her cheeks reddening as she said, "No, that is not an option."

"I think I understand now," Enara said. "As Princess and the future Queen, it could cause you a lot of problems if you had a string of affairs. It's not like it is for Aliana or me."

Both the Princess and Aliana raised their eyebrows at her last remark, and Enara's cheeks turned crimson.

"It's always the quiet ones," Aliana said as she shook her head.

"Yes," Keri agreed, "well, except for you, Ali."

"Just how old are you, Enara?" Aliana asked after sticking her tongue out at the Princess.

"Seventeen," Enara replied, still blushing. "I'll be eighteen in two months. I haven't … I mean, there were only two so far."

"So far?" Keri grinned. "Are you sure you're not related to Ali?"

"Hey, I…," Aliana started to protest, but was interrupted by a knock on the sitting room door. She looked at Keri, who visibly steeled herself and then nodded. Aliana rose and walked to the door, opening it a crack to speak with someone outside.

"The Regent is here as you requested, Highness," she said after closing the door again. "Duke Terlen is with her."

"Oh, that's sneaky," Keri said. "She thinks I won't pitch a fit if he's here."

"You can have him wait outside," Aliana suggested.

"No, I'll see them both," Keri said, rising from the couch. "Lady Enara, would you join Ali, please?"

Enara walked over and stood by Enara at the door. The Princess took a moment to compose herself and then nodded to her handmaiden. Aliana opened the door and took a step back to admit the Regent and her consort.

Duke Terlen Corvass was a kindly looking man, his black hair streaked with grey at the temples. He maintained a respectful distance behind the Regent as she entered with a look of agitation on her face. She barely spared a glance for Aliana, though her eyes did linger for a moment on Enara. Both the young women performed an informal curtsey and then turned to face the Princess.

"Thank you Enara, Aliana," Her Highness said. "I'll call you when I need you."

The girls again did a quick bob and nod, and then Aliana led Enara through the door which connected to her bedchamber. After the door was closed Keri didn't say a word, she just stared at her aunt and waited.

"Keri, I understand that you're upset…."

"Upset doesn't begin to describe how I feel, Regent," Keri spat, emphasizing the title. She wanted to make it clear from the beginning that this was not to be a family discussion.

"Your Highness, the fault is mine," Duke Terlan said. "I should have seen to it…."

"Duke Terlan, I will not let you take the blame for something that was not your responsibility," Keri said. "You have been more than kind to me in the years since you married my aunt, and I am grateful for that. This discussion is between myself and the Regent, however, and your presence here is an indulgence of courtesy. Please do not make me regret that indulgence."

"Forgive me, Highness," the Duke said.

"You were saying, Regent?"

Duchess Rayna glared at her niece, but managed to keep her voice under control as she said, "It was my intention, Highness, to inform you of the arrangements for the Grand Ball prior to the start of court. If you hadn't been late…."

"You will not try to put this on me!" Keri almost screamed. "Five minutes before the start of court is not the time to inform me of something like this, and you know it. You may not have any respect for me as your niece, but By the Fragment you will respect me as Princess!"

Keri saw something she hadn't expected in her aunt's eyes - hurt. She saw how the years of responsibility had taken a terrible toll on a woman who had once been vibrant and full of life. The look vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by her aunt's usual stony gaze, but it was almost enough to make her regret her words, but only almost. This wasn't the first time the Regent had used her to garner political support, and she was just plain tired of it.

"You know I have no intention of marrying before I assume the throne," Keri continued. "You also know that because of the ring I wear, even if I met someone and truly felt something for them, I can't act on those desires without removing the ring and opening a floodgate. You didn't even consider any of that. "

"I considered everything," her aunt told her. "The political situation in the kingdom right now is very complicated."

"I know how complicated it is," Keri said. "You think I'm stupid, but I'm not. I know the Council of Barons is concerned because I haven't taken the throne. I know you're doing this to allay that concern. If I'm entertaining suitors, it gives them hope of an alliance with the royal family. What you don't know is that if you had come to me and asked me, I would have said yes. I would have whined and moaned, but I still would have said yes, because I do care about the welfare of this kingdom.

"That's why I'll attend the ball, and I'll make nice for all the suitors. I'll do my duty as Princess, but if you ever try to use me again, if you ever intentionally leave me in the dark about anything, I'll have no choice but to remove you as Regent by claiming the throne."

"May I speak now, Highness?"

Keri nodded and braced herself for what was to come.

"I've never thought you were stupid," the Regent said. "Irresponsible, yes; capricious, definitely. You're overly indulgent of those beneath you, which presents an inappropriate image for the future sovereign. I had hoped you would grow out of it, but that doesn't appear likely now.

"If you wish to be kept informed, I'm more than happy to obey, but you have never before expressed such a desire. However, if you believe that throwing a childish tantrum is going to encourage me to treat you with more respect, you're mistaken. You're free to claim your right to the throne anytime you wish, and have been for over a year now. Until you do so, I will do what must be done to maintain support for the war effort, even if that means using you for political purposes."

Keri tried not to let the feelings of defeat show, but the slight grin on her aunt's face told her she had not succeeded. Her threat had been an empty one, and the Regent knew it. She had hoped she could reach her aunt, but she had failed.

"Then we're done here," she said, turning to the Regent's consort she added, "Duke Terlen, please forgive my rudeness to you earlier."

"Of course, Highness," the Duke said with a bow. The Regent turned and left the room without any display of courtesy, and Duke Terlen followed on her heels.

"I pity that poor man," Keri whispered after they had left.

She didn't have to call for Aliana and Enara. She knew that her handmaiden at least had probably been standing at the door listening to every word. Instead, she walked over and dropped onto the couch, pulling the coronet from her head and dropping it onto the wooden table before her. By the time Aliana and Enara entered the sitting room, the Princess was shaking as her body was wracked with sobs. All her friends could do was sit with her and try to provide some comfort.

CHAPTER 4

It took the better part of an hour to get the Princess calmed down. Once she had regained her composure, Aliana and Enara helped her out of her gown. As she stood nude in the sitting room, Keri couldn't help but notice the way Enara looked at her, a mixture of embarrassment and admiration on her face. The Princess knew she had an exquisite body, but she suspected the young noblewoman's look went beyond mere appreciation for another woman.

Aliana brought her a half-length, strapless bustier made of silk, with hooks in front to make it easy to don unassisted. Her breasts were too large for her to go without some form of support, and she intensely disliked the brassieres that most other women wore. After the bustier was in place and she was properly arranged within it, Ali slipped a dark green dress of shimmering silk over her head.

"I can get dressed without assistance, but Ali usually won't let me," Keri told Enara.

"I enjoy making you look pretty, not that you need any help," Ali said. "You're like a big dress-up doll. Besides, you help me too."

"Yes, part of my indulging those beneath me," Keri said with a grin to show she didn't mean it.

"You're so different," Enara said. "You don't act like a Princess at all. That didn't come out right … what I mean is…."

"It's all right, Enara, I understand what you're saying," Keri assured her. "I take it as a compliment. My parents taught me that being born noble is nothing more than an accident of fate. Most of all, they taught me it's not a license to be rude and look down on others."

"Is that why you asked me to accompany you to court? Because the other girls were so mean to me?"

"I asked you because I like you," Keri said. "I did want to try to shield you from them some too, however. Making you part of my entourage elevates your status, and they won't dare pick on you."

"I … I don't understand," Enara said. "Part of your entourage?"

The Princess smiled and nodded. "Lady Enara, I'd very much like you to be my Lady-in-Waiting."

Enara's mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew wide and round. She looked from the Princess to Aliana, her lips quivering as she tried to speak.

"It's all right, Enara," Aliana assured her. "Keri talked to me about this shortly after you came to Lockeshire. I can't be her Lady-in-Waiting because I'm not a noblewoman. I'd be honored to serve my Princess by your side."

Keri smiled at her handmaiden. In her mind, Aliana was far more noble than most of those born that way. Once the Princess assumed the throne, she would remedy that situation. As Queen, it was her right to grant titles to whomever she pleased, and her very first official act would be to give Aliana what she so richly deserved, even though it would mean she would lose her as handmaiden.

"My parents … they'd never let me," Enara said when she finally found her voice. The fearful look that came to her face confirmed something Keri had suspected - Enara did not have a happy home life.

"Enara, I'm asking you, not your parents," the Princess said. "Would you like to be my Lady? Before you answer, you need to understand that it would mean moving into the palace. There's a suite already prepared that connects to this room. You would also become the Honorable Lady Enara."

"I'd … I'd like that very much," Enara said, her voice soft as though she was afraid saying it too loud might awaken her from a dream.

"Then it's settled," Keri said. "I'll deal with your parents. Do you think they would be able to receive me this evening?"

"Father often works late into the evening at the Ministry of Finance," Enara said.

"Enara, sweetheart, I'm the Princess," Keri said. "They'll let him leave early for me." She turned to Aliana and asked, "Can you find something nice and comfortable for Enara to wear? We don't want her to ruin her court gown."

"We're about the same size," Aliana said. "I'm sure I have something."

"Good. After you change, I'd like you both to go to the Herald's office and have them send word to Enara's parents that I would like to pay them a visit this evening at five. That will give us plenty of time for some shopping and a nice ride. Make sure they know that it's an informal visit and they don't have to make a fuss."

"Could I make a suggestion?" Aliana asked.

"Of course you may."

"You need a herald assigned to you personally," the handmaiden said. "It would be better to do it now, so you can get him, or her, properly broken in before the festival. It's time you had a proper suite of retainers — the shard knows I could use some help looking after you."

"Are you saying I'm high maintenance?" Keri asked with a pout. Before her friend could answer, she did so herself by adding, "Of course I am — I'm the Princess. You're right, of course. While you’re there, tell Master Otellan that I'm looking for a herald. I trust him to recommend someone suitable to my personality."

"You don't sound happy about the idea," Enara said.

"Well, I don't particularly enjoy being pampered constantly," Keri said. "Ali's been with me so long that she knows when to lay it on and when not to. On the other hand, Ali is right, it is past time she had some help. I just dread the thought of training a whole horde of retainers."

"Well, isn't that what you have us for?" Enara asked. "I mean, I don't really know anything, but I'm sure Ali can teach me everything I need to know, and then we can teach the others."

"Very well said, Enara," Ali told her. "Now, why don't we see what we can do about something for you to wear?"

"My friends … my friends back in Highkeep, well, they always called me Nara."

"Let's go get changed, Nara," Ali said as she took their new friend by the arm. As they reached the door to her bedchamber, she paused and looked back at the Princess.

"Oh, Keri? If you ever really get sick of being fussed over by your new retainers, you can always send them to me. I love being pampered. I still remember when we were ten and your father proclaimed me princess for the day."

Aliana didn't catch the look of sudden inspiration on her friend's face as she and Enara entered her chamber. As soon as the door closed, Keri rushed to her own bedchamber. It had changed little over the last six years, and she still thought of it as her parent's room — Aliana now slept in the chamber that had once been hers, a fact which was a constant sore point with her aunt.

She passed through the bedchamber and into her closet, which was larger than the room that had once been Ali's. The closet was more than half full of clothing, all relatively new. Her body had changed so much in the last year that she had gone through several wardrobe changes.

Keri walked to the back of the closet and twisted a glow fixture on the wall. A small panel in the center of the wall slid aside, revealing a plaque of pure manthracite. She placed her hand against the plaque and whispered, "Open the way."

A concealed door swung inward in response to her command. After her parents were killed, Master Talisin had given her a sealed letter her mother had entrusted to him, which contained the instructions for accessing the secret chamber. It had been written several months before she died, and Keri had always wondered if she had sensed that her time was short.  Queen Mistara had been a gifted sorceress, yet even among the magically adept, precognition was viewed with skepticism. Still, something had prompted her mother to prepare the letter for her thirteen-year-old daughter.

She paused for a moment as she entered the chamber, thinking that any thief that managed to force his way in would be disappointed. Certainly the items of jewelry within were of great value, but there was not nearly as much as most would expect in a king's treasure room. The real treasures of the kingdom were locked away in another part of the palace — what was in this chamber were just a few items that were personally precious, but the value of many of them went far beyond their physical beauty.

Keri walked to the left side of the vault, where an ornate wooden box sat on a small table. She opened the box and lifted a small piece of paper that was inside — her mother had left a similar note with each item in the vault.

This is the Amulet of Kessil, my most precious treasure. Your father and I have used it many times, and it brought new meaning to our love. I hope that one day it can do the same for you. You will find the details regarding it, as well as the instructions for the required ritual in my spell book. Should you decide to make use of it, please be careful.

She had, of course, checked her mother's spell book long before and learned what the amulet was capable of. She had a few details to work out, the biggest being how she would get to the place she needed to be to make use of the amulet. She had a plan though, and if it worked, she would get out of the onerous task of being on display at the festival — and give her friend a very special gift in the process.

CHAPTER 5

Despite its nearly eighty-thousand inhabitants, Trimaria's capital and most populous city was remarkably uncrowded. Built upon a cape that separated upper and lower Locke Mare, the bustling city covered more than three-thousand acres. Unlike Oldenkeep, Markeep and the other older cities, the construction of Lockeshire had been meticulously planned. Precisely ordered streets were laid out in a grid that radiated from Market Square, the commercial heart of the city.

Aliana loved Market Square. You could find virtually anything there, as merchants traveled from the four corners of the kingdom to sell their wares in the capital. With the restrictions placed on spire travel, the market wasn't what it once had been, but there were still all manner of exotic items available.

"I've been afraid to come here," Enara said as they walked among the shops of the square. "I'd get lost for certain. I thought Highkeep was big, but it's tiny compared to Lockeshire.

"The best way to learn the lay of the city is to explore it," the Princess said. "That's what Ali and I did as children. I'm afraid we ran poor Marc ragged with all the times we snuck out of the Palace."

A low growl issued from the big knight, and the three girls giggled.

"There are constables everywhere, Nara," Aliana explained. "They can help you find any place you want."

"And of course, now all you have to do is ask, and a Royal Guardsman will escort you wherever you like," Keri added.

There was nowhere the Princess could go where she wouldn't draw attention, but the people of Lockeshire were accustomed to seeing her and didn't cause a scene. Of course, the presence of Marc, Garith and Stilnar, plus six additional Royal Guardsmen made a very effective deterrent for the overly curious.

As its name implied, Market Square was indeed a square. Three outer rings of shops surrounded an open area that was filled with the carts of traveling merchants. As the entourage made there way through the center area, a cart off to their right caught Aliana's eyes, and she touched Keri's arm.

"Look, it's an Artemisian!"

The merchant at the cart was a woman nearly as tall as Marc with a well muscled yet unmistakably feminine physique. Her hair was sun bleached, and her skin deeply tanned. She wore a dark red dress with a tight bodice and long flowing skirt, the distinctive oval scales marking the material as dragon hide. Artemisia was an island continent over two-hundred leagues to the south of Trimaria. Over half of the island lay within the Dragon Latitudes, a narrow band centered on the equator where the temperature was hot year-round, and one of the few areas where dragons still thrived.

The Princess changed direction and headed towards the cart. The tall woman saw her coming and walked around to the front, dropping to her knees and bowing her head.

"Her Highness honors me with her presence," she said in a melodious alto. "I am called Brynmara."

"I am pleased to meet you, Brynmara," Keri said. "Your dress is very exotic and lovely."

"Your Highness is gracious," Brynmara said as she rose. "Perhaps you would care to see an even more exotic dragon hide?"

"Oh yes, most definitely," Keri said.

Brynmara smiled and walked back behind the cart. She lifted a large chest from beneath it and opened it, tilting it forward so they could see the material inside. It was a deep purple in color, like the purple on the flag of Trimaria, but as the sunlight caught it the scales glittered like a rainbow, displaying flashes of red and green and gold.

"May I?" Keri asked, gesturing to the material.

"Please do, the hide must be felt to be appreciated," Brynmara said.

The Princess touched the hide, a delighted smile spreading across her face. She turned to Aliana and Enara and said, "You have to feel this!"

Aliana touched the hide and was amazed at how it felt as her fingers slid across it. It was thick and felt extremely durable, as one would expect, but it had the soft smoothness of fine silk. As the child of two of the finest clothiers in Trimaria, Aliana had grown up around fine fabrics, but the way the dragon hide flowed through her fingers like liquid was unlike anything she had ever seen.

"This is the hide of a Chromatic Dragon," Brynmara explained. "It is the rarest of all dragons and has very unique properties."

The merchant reached beneath her cart once more and pulled out a small section of identical hide and a candle. After lighting the candle with a cantrip, she held the hide over it for several seconds. When she showed them the area where the flame had touched it, it was blackened with soot, but once she wiped it with a cloth, the hide appeared unmarred.

"If I could borrow the handsome knight's dagger?" Brynmara said. When Marc gave her an uncertain look she said, "You have my oath — I mean Her Highness no harm."

Artemisian honor was a thing of legend. They never lied and, once given, their word was unbreakable. To even accuse one of lying was to challenge them to a fight to the death. Still Marc hesitated, until the Princess spoke.

"It's alright, Marc," Keri said.

Marc still didn't look happy, but he handed over his dagger. Brynmara examined the blade and smiled in approval.

"Enchanted, yes?" she asked. Marc nodded.

Brynmara placed the hide section on a thick block of wood and then drove the point of the dagger into it. There was a flash of light as the enchanted steel met the hide, and though it did pierce the hide, less than a quarter-inch of the blade made it through. Brynmara moved the hide aside and plunged the dagger into the block, burying half the foot-long blade in the wood.

"Impressive," Marc said as the merchant returned the dagger hilt first. Brynmara smiled, her eyes roving up and down Marc with undisguised admiration.

"It looks like you have enough here for several gowns," Keri said. "How much for the whole lot?"

Brynmara's eyes barely widened, and a slight grin spread across her face. She and the Princess settled into negotiating and quickly settled on a price that both found fair.

"Would Her Highness like this delivered to the Palace?"

"No, to Mistress Karinna's shop in the third ring of the square," Keri said. "I can send someone to collect it if you don't know the way."

"I am quite familiar with the Grand Mistress," Brynmara said. She loosened the top of her bodice and pulled it aside enough to reveal a bustier of fine black silk.

"Even we Artemisians love the feel of silk against our skin," she said with a grin at Marc that made it plain she would have no objections if he were to offer to help her out of her dress later on.

Keri and her friends couldn't help but giggle at the knight-captain as he cheeks reddened slightly. The Princess extended her hand and the merchant took it, bowing her head.

"It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Brynmara. Should you come back to Lockeshire in the future, please let me know."

"I will, Highness," Brynmara said. "I'll be traveling through your fair kingdom over the next few weeks, making my way to Wallkeep for the Harvest Festival, where I will have many more treasures from the south to display."

"I'll look for you there then," Keri said. "Honor to you, Brynmara of Artemisia."

"And to you, Highness. Trimaria is truly blessed to have a Princess of such great beauty and bearing. May your house stand tall and proud."

"She could teach some of our knights a thing or two about gallantry," Aliana said as they walked away. "Not you, of course, Sir Marc."

"She definitely likes you, Marc," Keri teased. "You should pay her a visit before she leaves — I've heard the women of Artemisia are quite skilled."

"I'll vouch for that," Garith said. "Though contrary to what you may have heard, Highness, they're surprisingly gentle lovers. Ain't that right, Cap'n?"

Marc turned and gave the serjeant a menacing glare, which failed to faze Garith in the least.

"Are we going somewhere in particular, or just browsing?" Enara asked.

"We are going to visit Ali's mother and father," Keri told her. "We're going to get you measured for some new clothes, including about a dozen court gowns. That's not to say there's anything wrong with your current wardrobe — you have a wonderful sense of fashion, and you know how to dress to accentuate your beauty, but you're running in a different circle now."

"Won't that be expensive?" Enara asked. "We haven't even spoken to my parents yet."

The Princess stopped and turned to face Enara. Ali noticed the mischievous twinkle in her eyes, the kind that said she was the Princess and she knew she could have virtually anything she wanted.

"Enara, your parents can't prevent you from being my Lady," the Princess said. "However, if they refuse and you don't wish to go against them, I’ll understand that completely. In any case, the clothes are my gift to you - and don't you dare tell me you couldn't accept such a gift!"

"No way!" Enara laughed. "I love getting new clothes!"

The Princess and Aliana shared in her laughter while the guards shook their heads and smiled in wonder. Ali didn't know about Marc or Garith, but she was certain Stilnar had no more than three complete sets of clothing in addition to his armor.

"You did send word to your mother that we were coming, Ali?" the Princess asked.

"Of course I did," the handmaiden replied. "If we showed up unannounced, she'd turn me over her knee and spank me right in front of you!"

As the procession made its way through the square, the crowds parted, paying respect to their future Queen with their bows and curtsies. Aliana feared Enara's head was going to pop off the way she kept turning it to the left and right.

"You'll get used to it," she said in a low tone.

"I'm just afraid I'm going to wake up and find this was all a dream," Enara replied.

"Maybe it is," Aliana said with a smile. "Sometimes dreams do come true."

"It's fun to make people's dreams come true," Keri said with a giggle. "I'm working on a couple of special projects along that line right now."

Aliana was amazed, and concerned, by the change in the Princess's demeanor. She knew Keri too well — because of her magical powers the Princess had received extensive training to help her control her anger since an outburst of rage could have potentially fatal consequences. When she did get angry, she tended to simmer for a very long time. Just an hour earlier she had been mad enough to start fires with her eyes, and now she was almost giddily happy. If she hadn't known better the handmaiden would swear the Princess was a little tipsy, but she knew Keri hadn't had anything to drink, and even if she had it took a prodigious amount of wine to get her intoxicated. That could only mean one thing — she was up to something.

They spent another half hour ambling through Market Square, stopping at several shops to browse and greet favorite merchants. Finally, they passed completely through the square to the outer ring on the south side, where they reached a shop of modest size and entered. Marc and the guards waiting outside - they wouldn't prevent anyone from entering, but their presence would discourage most from coming into the shop.

The first thing that struck the eye about the shop was the eight girls working there. They ran the gamut of body types, from tall and thin to short and plump, and each of them were dressed in gowns of breathtaking beauty, tailored specifically to flatter their shape. As soon as the Princess entered, the girls rushed to line up before her. As one, they performed a quick curtsey and then waited with expectant grins.

"Oh, go back to work," Keri scolded. "You do that just to aggravate me."

"They do it because I expect it of them, Highness," an elegant woman in her forties said as she approached. "I love you too much not to make my apprentices show you the respect you deserve."

The woman stopped and curtsied formally to the Princess and then turned to Aliana, her arms opening wide.

"Hello, Mother," Aliana said as they hugged.

"Ali, dear, you look lovely," her mother said. She shared her daughter's chestnut hair and had the same impish twinkle in her eyes. She turned to the Princess and once more spread her arms wide, and Keri eagerly embraced her.

"And you are ravishing as always, Highness," she said. "You look so much like your mother."

"If I am, it's because you dress me so well," Keri said. "Grand Mistress Elena, may I present to you the Lady Enara, soon to be my Lady-in-Waiting."

"Your presence honors me, Lady Enara," Mistress Elena said as the noblewoman curtsied in greeting. "I understand we'll be fitting you for some new gowns."

"Yes, Mistress Elena," Enara said.

"We'd like a dozen court gowns and about twice that in casual dresses," Keri said. "Oh, and we're all going to need gowns for the Grand Ball at the Harvest Festival."

"My, that's quite an order," the seamstress said. "What's the occasion?"

Keri leaned forward and in a conspiratorial whisper said, "I'm going on a Royal Progress. I haven't told Sir Marcan yet."

"This is the first I've heard of it too," Aliana said. "When did you decide this?"

"When my aunt informed the court that I was going to be put on display at the ball," Keri said. "If it's safe enough for me to attend the festival, it's safe enough for me to get to know the people I'm going to rule. I'm tired of hiding in the Palace."

"Good for you, Highness," Mistress Elena said. "Now, before we get to measuring Lady Enara, did you have something special planned for all this lovely dragon hide that Brynmara had delivered?"

"I was thinking of three of the most beautiful and unique ball gowns ever," Keri smiled.

Enara gasped in surprise, but Aliana's eyes narrowed, and she shook her head.

"Keri, that's fine for you and Enara, but it's too much for me," she protested. "I'm just a handmaiden!"

The hurt look that sprang to the Princess's face was enough to make Aliana want to cry.

"You know you're much, much more than that to me," Keri said, her voice breaking. She looked at Elena and blushed slightly, but Aliana's mother only beamed with pride.

"Her Highness is right," Elena said. "You're not just a handmaiden, you're the Royal Handmaiden. If the Princess wishes to let the kingdom know how special you are, that's her right."

"I'm sorry, Keri, that was a stupid thing for me to say," Ali apologized. "You have never treated me like a servant."

"Ha! I treat you like a servant all the time," Keri countered, "but only when I must. If it'll make you feel more comfortable, I'm certain your mother can design a gown that will be suitably low key — at least when compared to mine, which has to be absolutely stunning!"

Ali saw that look again in Keri's eyes — a mischievous twinkle that said she was plotting something. The handmaiden couldn't imagine what it might be and knew better than to ask at the moment.

"You can work with dragon hide, Mistress Elena?" the Princess asked.

"Of course," Ali's mother assured her. "It requires special enchantments for the needles and such — dragon hide is very tough despite the way it feels, but I have everything I need. I daresay the three of you will not only be the loveliest ladies at the ball, but also the most well protected."

Mistress Elena led them to the fitting room of her shop, and once the Princess was settled in a comfortable chair, her apprentices set about taking the necessary measurements for Enara. It was obvious to Aliana that the noblewoman had never had a formal fitting before and wasn't used to having eight girls clucking and fawning over her. She also knew this was a carefully constructed plan on Keri's part — she was showing Enara the benefits of being her Lady-in-Waiting.

"Where are my manners," Mistress Elena said. "Ali, dear, would you help me with the refreshments?"

Aliana didn't miss the look in her mother's eyes, and after getting a nod from the Princess, rose and followed her mother into the back room of the shop.

"Enara is a lovely girl," her mother said as they prepared a tray of sweet snacks. "I'm glad Keri doesn't do what so many high born women do — surround themselves with plain girls to make themselves look prettier."

"Keri doesn't have to stoop to that," Ali said. "There's no one prettier than her in the kingdom."

"They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder," her mother told her. "When the Princess looks at you, she sees the most beautiful creature in the world, as do I."

Aliana blushed, aware that her mother knew she and Keri were more than friends despite having never acted on their feelings. It made her love her even more to know that she would accept the relationship, even if Keri were a lowly farm maiden.

"I love you so much, Mother," she said. "Now, why did you arrange to get me away from Her Highness — there's something on your mind."

"Yes, there is," Elena said. "This Royal Progress is a grand idea, and it pleases me beyond words that Keri came up with it on her own. The Regent may just find her machinations have turned around to bite her."

"I don't follow you, Mother."

Elena smiled and touched her daughter's cheek.

"You've both grown into lovely young women, but you've been sheltered here," she said. "Neither of you has traveled far beyond the walls of Lockeshire for eight years, and the kingdom has changed so much. Keri needs to see this, and you will need to be there for her when she does."

"Mother, you haven't left Lockeshire in all that time either," Aliana pointed out.

"No, that's why I have journeywomen. They travel to the four corners of the land and when they return, they tell me not only what fashions are popular in different regions but also what the mood of the people is. That's why the guilds have such positions."

This was not really news to Aliana. She knew that the journeymen and women of the various guilds did much more than spread their craft throughout the kingdom.

"What are you trying to tell me, Mother?"

"I'm saying the Princess may find her reception somewhat cold in some areas, especially those in the western part of Trimaria. The war has taken a terrible toll on the people. It will break her heart, and for that I am sorry, but the Princess needs to see this first hand. She also needs to assemble a proper retinue about her — people who will provide her with counsel. The Council of Guilds supports the Princess because Toranon always supported the guilds. Have her speak to the guild masters."

"I suggested that very thing to her this morning," Aliana said. "She had me speak to Master Otellan about assigning her a herald."

"That's my girl," Elena beamed with pride. "A herald is a good start, and I know Otellan already has a candidate he's been grooming for the position. Of course, Master Talisin will be with her to represent the sages, and I'll provide her with a seamstress. She'll need a scribe as well and a minstrel — especially a minstrel."

"Hmm, you lost me there," Aliana said. "What's so important about a minstrel?"

"Child, minstrels and clothiers are the best spies in the kingdom," Elena said. "Minstrels are trained to have keen eyes and ears, and people will say things during a fitting without thought for the person who is making them look noble."

Aliana's face clouded and she asked, "Mother, you haven't used me to spy on Keri — have you?"

"Of course not, dear," Elena said. "First, there's been no need. Keri's heart is with the people, just as her parents’ were. More importantly, I would never betray anything you told me in confidence."

"I … I'm sorry, Mother. I should never have even suggested you would."

"Of course you should have," Elena said. "Do you remember what I told you when you became the Princess's handmaiden?"

Aliana nodded. "You said I would always be your daughter, but from that day forward my first duty was to the Princess."

"And you've never disappointed me."

"I love her, Mother," Aliana said, putting into words for the first time what she knew her mother suspected.

"I know, dear," Elena said. "Now, we'd best get these refreshments to Her Highness before she begins to wonder where we've gotten off to."

The measurements had all been taken by the time they returned, and Elena's apprentices were already helping Enara try on gowns and dresses of various styles. The gowns the grand mistress designed were all modular — skirts, sleeves and bodices could be mixed and matched to produce a unique garment tailored to the individual client. She had earned her Grand Mastery for designing a method for easily attaching and removing the various components of a display garment to allow the buyer to see how the different pieces would fit together.

As Enara tried on various combinations, Aliana served the Princess and then sat down next to her to observe and offer advice when asked. Keri remained silent for most of the fitting too, only offering her advice when Enara asked for it. She did the same for her handmaiden when she was being fitted for a new gown — the Princess wanted her friends to develop their own sense of style.

By the time they were finished, Ali's mother had prepared rough sketches of the court gowns for Enara and the ball gowns for all three young women. They left the shop with several bags filled with foundation garments for Enara, and under her borrowed dress she wore a bustier of the style favored by both the Princess and her handmaiden.

They were just saying their goodbyes when a man of impressive size entered the shop. He was as tall as Stilnar and as broad as Garith, a bearish physique that would have suited him well as a smith or beastmaster. His clothing, however, was as impeccably styled as that of Mistress Elena — a tailored doublet of velvet and long trousers tucked into the top of knee boots.

"Father!" Aliana exclaimed, forgetting etiquette and rushing to leap into his arms. Grand Master Odon Karinna scooped his daughter up and lifted her from the ground.

"Oh, it's good to see you daughter," he said. "You don't visit us near enough, and you're so close!"

"I know," Aliana said with a pout. "I'm a bad daughter."

"And so am I," Keri said. "Do I get a hug too?"

"Of course you do, child, come here this instant!" Odon commanded.

Aliana watched as her father scooped the Princess up and treated her to the same bear hug he had given his daughter. She didn't begrudge the attention in the least.

"Goodness, child, but you've filled out!" Odon exclaimed, "You're a woman now, Princess. If I were twenty years younger and not madly in love with my lady, you'd turn my head."

"Poppa Odo, you're going to make me blush," Keri said, proceeding to do exactly that.

Aliana felt a tremendous surge of pride. When she had become Keri's handmaiden, Toranon and Mistara had treated her like a daughter rather than a servant, and when they had died, her parent's had done the same for Keri. Sometimes it felt odd to the handmaiden — she had come to love Keri first as friend, then as sister, and finally as her true love — but she wouldn't change a moment if she could.

"I wish we could stay longer, but our horses are saddled and waiting at the Royal stables," Keri said.

"Well, you need to get out, child," Odon said. "A girl your age shouldn't be cooped up behind stone walls all the time."

They said their goodbyes and parted with a promise that Ali's parents would join them for dinner the next evening at the Palace. The Princess and her attendants left the shop and started walking back towards the Palace.

"I can't believe it … I have boobs!" Enara giggled as she looked down at her more prominent cleavage.

"Mother always says a girl should display her treasures but not flaunt them," Aliana said. "The true measure of a gown's beauty is how much it makes someone want to take it off you."

"Yes, a dress is like the wrappings on a present," Keri giggled. "It's what's inside that counts, but the packaging can greatly enhance the anticipation. You have a lovely body, and it’s still developing, Nara. You're going to be a stunning woman."

Enara blushed brightly and asked, "Will you teach me how to do my face like you do? I've never really liked having so much paint on."

"That'll be fun!" Keri laughed. "Now, I believe we have horses ready for us at the Palace stable."

"I suppose there's no point in trying to convince you to restrict your ride to the inner curtain wall," Marc said.

"The parade grounds?" Keri asked. "Please, Marc, you can't even get up to a gallop there. I want to feel the wind in my hair."

"I live to serve, Highness," the knight replied.

CHAPTER 6

Andarel's Belt glittered in the southern sky as the Princess and her small entourage rode their mounts at a walk over the gently rolling landscape. Marc knew the Princess had been surprised when he told her she would only have himself plus Garith and Stilnar as escorts, and that they would be traveling without armor or any display of colors. Marc wasn't concerned — he had two full troops, half the Royal Guard, scouring the countryside around them for any possible threat.

Marc and his men weren't the only ones traveling incognito. Fortunately, convincing the Princess that she and her attendants should dress in simple tunics and trousers hadn't been at all difficult. Keri actually preferred such attire for riding, though it wasn't always possible for her to dress so. It wouldn't fool anyone who got close — even dressed in common clothes, the Princess looked regal, but no one was going to get that close.

"She's up to something," Marc said. They were riding several lengths ahead of the girls to give them some privacy, though all three frequently checked behind them.

"Why would you think that?" Stil asked. "She seems to be in a really good mood. She didn't even whine when you told her you had a hundred men sweeping the area."

"Exactly, she's being far too nice," Marc said.

"That's not fair, lad," Garith said. "The Princess is always nice unless someone gives her reason not ta be."

"All right, she's being too accommodating," Marc said. "Remember, I've been with her since I was eleven, her whole life. She can be very manipulating."

"That she can," Garith admitted, "but it's not so bad if ya don't mind bein' manipulated, and she does it in a way that makes ya like it. She's just a child lookin’ for a little space. Her schemes are harmless enough."

"I don't call slipping out of the palace without her guards to go to a fair harmless."

"Aye, that was a bit foolish, but she was only fourteen at the time," Garith said. "Her parents hadn't even been dead a year."

"She's the future queen — she has to learn to be more responsible."

"You're soundin' more like the Regent every day, lad," Garith said.

Marc shot his serjeant an angry glare and opened his mouth to protest but stopped.

"I'm not that bad," he said finally, but with little conviction.

"You and Aliana are the only real family she has left, Marc," the serjeant told him. "She loves you, lad, but she's scared. She shoulda had years, time to marry and have kids of her own before she took the throne. If Toranon hadn't gotten killed…."

"I know," Marc said.

The pain in Marc's voice was plain, and Garith's hard eyes softened as he said, "It wasn't your fault, lad. If you'd been there, you woulda died with the rest, and the Princess wouldn't have you here now."

"They're coming up," Stilnar warned.

Marc looked over his shoulder and saw the three girls spurring their horses to catch up. Garith and Stilnar dropped back to allow the Princess to pull alongside Marc.

"Are you ready to head back, Highness?" Marc asked.

"Not quite yet," Keri said. "I have something to talk to you about first."

"Here it comes," Marc muttered under his breath. Her smile told him she had heard his words.

"My talk with my aunt after court has made me realize I need to begin seriously preparing for the day I'll take the throne," the Princess told him. "Making Lady Enara my Lady-in-Waiting and expanding my retinue is the first step in that, but there's more that needs to be done. Would you agree that it's important for the people to have confidence in their future sovereign?"

Marc was unsure what she was building up to, but he had to concede her point so he nodded and said, "Yes, Highness."

"How can they have confidence in someone they've never seen?" Keri asked. "When my parents were alive, we toured the kingdom every year. I haven't been allowed to travel more than a few miles from the palace for the past six years."

"You want a Royal Progress?" Marc asked. "Highness, we have raiders striking deep into the kingdom!"

"My aunt is packing me off to Wallkeep in four months for the festival," Keri pressed. "That's right on Riala's Wall, less than seventy leagues from the war front."

Marc didn't need to be reminded of that. Riala's Wall had been built by Keri's great-grandmother after she had led the armies of Trimaria on a campaign that drove the orcs from the kingdom. The wall was fifty feet high and fifty miles long, stretching across the east end of the Isthmus of Valmor. Wallkeep was the fortified city built into the wall, and while it was a mighty fortress, it was only a little over two hundred miles from the front lines. Marc had already protested vigorously to the Regent about the Princess attending the festival, but to no avail.

"She can't make you go to the festival, Highness," Marc said. "You can refuse."

"What would that accomplish, Marc?" Keri asked, a pleading tone in her voice. "People - my people - are being killed, while their future queen sits safely behind the walls of Lockeshire. How does that make me look? I've been trained in the combat arts since I was a child. Not to the same extent you have, but supposedly enough to handle myself in a fight. When I become queen, I'll be expected to be able to lead the armies of the kingdom like my great-grandmother did, yet I haven't traveled more than a league from the palace since I was thirteen."

There was a look of fierce conviction in the Princess's eyes, and Marc was frankly impressed by her argument. Trimaria did have a tradition of warrior queens; Queen Mistara had become more than competent with sword and shield, despite the fact that as Queen-Consort she had no expectation to live up to. Riala was virtually a legend, both for her military prowess and her scandalous love life. Even though she bore several children, she had never married. One thing Marc was grateful for was that Keri hadn't inherited that - in fact, she showed almost no interest in romance.

The knight was more dubious about the Princess's fighting skills. It was true she had received training, but Keri had never really seriously applied herself. Aliana, on the other hand, took to her weapons training with a passion. As the Princess's handmaiden, she was the one person who was constantly at Keri's side. Ali took her position very seriously, so much so that she had asked Marc to arrange for advanced training in close-combat arts, and very few people knew that the ruby that routinely nestled in the handmaiden's cleavage was the pommel of a nine-inch long bodice dagger. The knight had no doubt that she was prepared to use it to defend her Princess.

"The reports I've seen indicate the raiders are small bands," Keri continued, "no more than a dozen strong. They've been attacking small, defenseless farmsteads — do you think they'll be stupid enough to take on the Royal Guard, two hundred of the finest warriors in Trimaria?"

He couldn't fault the logic of that argument either. Though Marc hadn't left the vicinity of Lockeshire himself for the last six years, he tried to keept well informed of the state of the kingdom with the help of his friends in the warrior community. There were many rumors floating about the kingdom; some that the Princess was actually dead or a prisoner, but the worst claimed she simply didn't care about the welfare of the people and spent her time in self-indulgent pleasures while the Regent ruled in her name.

"You're right, Highness, we need a Royal Progress," he said at last. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

A perplexed look crossed the Princess's pretty face, and she said, "I hadn't really thought that far ahead. I was expecting you to need more convincing. You usually go out of your way to discourage any ideas I have."

A pained look he was powerless to hide sprang to Marc's face, and the Princess immediately regretted her hasty words.

"I … I didn't mean that, Marc."

"My only concern has always been for your safety," Marc said, his voice stiff. "I won't fail you like I did your parents."

"You never failed my parents, and I don’t ever want to hear you say that again!" Keri cried. "I'm a spoiled, conceited and ungrateful child, but you've put up with me because you were honoring the responsibility my father entrusted you with."

"I've never thought you were ungrateful," Marc told her with a roguish grin.

Keri laughed and said, "But I am spoiled and conceited? I do love you so, Marc. I don't tell you that nearly enough. And even though your honor won't allow you to say it, I know you love me too."

"I live to serve, Highness."

Keri smiled, knowing that was the best she would get from the big knight.

"I'll work out the preliminaries of my progress with Aliana and Enara and have it for you tomorrow," she said. "Then you can tear it apart and tell me why we can't do it that way and change everything."

"I live to serve," Marc said again. "I take it Lady Enara will be moving into the palace?"

"If all goes as planned," Keri said. "I'll be speaking to her parents this evening."

"She seems like a very sweet girl," Marc said. "I doubt the Regent will approve, but then she doesn't have to. You haven't met her parents before?"

"Only when they were presented in court," Keri said. "They seemed a bit stiff, but then most people do under those circumstances."

Marc didn't speak, but his expression betrayed his thoughts..

"I know that look," the Princess said. "Is there something I should be aware of?"

"Lord Burrin can be a bit difficult," Marc said. "I've dealt with him a few times since they came to Lockeshire, regarding the budget for the Royal Guard. I haven't met Lady Telina."

"Exchequers are always difficult when it comes to money," Keri said. "You don't think they'd have a problem with their daughter serving as a retainer, do you?"

Again the knight hesitated before saying, "What I have heard is strictly rumor, Highness. Lady Enara's parents are not pleased with some choices their daughter has made in her personal life. They're very strict with her, some might even say cruel. I think they'll be resistant to her serving, not that they can refuse you. Frankly, if what I've heard is true, the best thing would be to get her out from under them."

"I think I know what it is you're not saying," the Princess told him. She turned and looked off to the west, her eyes narrowing for an instant.

"There's a rider approaching, and he's in a big hurry," Keri said. "He looks like one of your men. I can see smoke just beyond that hill too."

Marc's sword was in his hand in the blink of an eye, his horse rearing and pawing the air as the knight pulled back on the reigns.

"Garith, to me!" Marc shouted as he set of towards the approaching rider at a gallop. "Stil, stay with Her Highness!"

Marc spurred his horse even faster, not waiting for an acknowledgement. He could barely make out the figure of the approaching rider against the glare of the sun as it settled in the western sky. After several seconds of hard riding, he was finally able to distinguish the colors of the Royal Guard.

~ She's got the eyesight of an elf, that's for certain. .~

Marc kept his sword out and ready, just in case it was some kind of ruse. Once he was close enough to recognize the rider's face, he relaxed, but only a little. There had to be a reason the yeoman was pushing his mount so hard.

"Report!" Marc barked as the man came within earshot and reigned in his mount.

"Raiders, Captain," the yeoman announced. "They were attacking Tuatha farmstead to the west when we came upon them. We drove them off, and as per orders, half the troop is pursuing them to make sure they don't double back. The rest are tending to the villagers. I was sent to bring you word and to bring a healer from the palace. Several of the settlers are badly injured, but there may still be time to save them."

"Then we’d better get there quickly," the Princess ordered as she pulled up alongside Marc. "I don't want to hear an argument, Sir Marcan. I may not be a healer, but I can do more than any of your warriors are capable of."

The swell of pride Marc felt at her words warred with caution. It was exactly what her mother would have said, but he was duty-bound to think of her safety first. Keri made the decision for him, spurring her horse forward, Aliana and Enara following right behind.

"Go!" Marc told the yeoman. "Bring healers and the rest of the Royal Guard!" 

Marc set off after the Princess, urging his mount to its limit. The stallions the three girls rode were runners, light, fast and possessing great endurance. The heavier warhorses of the guards couldn't possibly catch them, which was intentional. If there was trouble, the girls could easily outdistance it - unless of course they went charging straight towards it.

Fortunately, the Princess, while brash, wasn't stupid. She checked her mount as she reached the top of the low hill, allowing her guards to close the distance between them. Marc didn't bother stopping for a recrimination - there would be time for that later. Instead, he swept past, Garith following, while Stilnar once again stayed back with the Princess.

Tuatha farmstead was a large one, typical of those in the immediate vicinity of the palace. For the thousandth time, Marc wondered how the raiders were able to penetrate so deeply into the kingdom. They struck with impunity and had so far confounded every attempt to run them down.

Two dozen modest houses were arranged in a circle around a small stockade. The houses and stockade appeared undamaged, but the barns and granaries along the edge of the fields had not fared so well - many were burning furiously. Fortunately the harvest was still months away so they were mostly empty, and the raiders had been driven off before they could fire the fields. If the Princess hadn't chosen to go for a ride today, things would have been much worse.

Marc would have preferred to ensure the village was secure before the Princess entered, but once again she didn't give him the opportunity. Seconds after he entered the central commons, she galloped in, her horse rearing as she brought the stallion to an abrupt stop. She was out of the saddle before his front hooves had settled on the ground, dropping lithely to the dirt and striding over to where several of the injured were being tended to.

Recognizing the Princess, the guards there immediately rose and bowed as she approached. The uninjured villagers were slower, most never having seen the Princess, but they caught on quickly and did likewise.

"Please, we have no time for this," Keri said. "These people need attention far more than I do."

By the time the healers and the remaining two troops of Royal Guards arrived, over an hour later, those who could be saved had been. Keri had been able to use her limited healing abilities to stabilize many, but some were beyond her capabilities. Marc was busy much of the time directing the half-troop of Royal Guards that had remained at the farmstead, forming them into a loose perimeter in case the raiders returned, but he caught several glimpses of the Princess as she directed the effort to help the injured. All the while, she comforted those in pain and used her magic to do what she could, and the big knight felt tremendous pride.

The half-troop pursuing the raiders returned just before the healers and the rest of the Royal Guard arrived. They had lost the trail a little over a league away, wisely breaking off rather than following into the dense forest further west.

When Marc found Keri again, she was sitting on the ground, cradling the still form of a boy in her arms. Aliana and Enara knelt behind her as she cried, her tears falling on the small, lifeless body. Garith and Stilnar stood watch nearby, both obviously shaken by the scene.

"Highness, we should go," Marc said in a soft voice. When she didn't move, he dropped to a knee before her and took her hand.

"Keri, you've done all you can here," the knight said. He hadn't addressed her in such a familiar way since the day he had told her that her parents were dead.

Keri didn't respond at first — she just continued rocking back and forth with the child in her arms. Her clothes were dirty and bloodstained, and her face was streaked with perspiration and tears. Healing magic was the most physically taxing of all the arcane arts, and it was evident that the Princess was close to exhaustion from her efforts. When she finally looked up at him however, Marc didn't see a princess - he saw a thirteen-year-old girl as he told her the parents she loved with all her heart would never return. Marc had hoped he would never see that pain in her eyes again. Then Garith stepped forward, kneeling and gently but firmly taking the child's body from the Princess.

"I'll see to it that he's taken care of, lass," the serjeant told her. He locked eyes with the Princess before rising to add, "It's my honor to serve you, Highness."

Keri gently stroked the grizzled serjeant's face and then allowed Marc to help her to her feet. She watched as Garith took the boy's body to the area where the other dead rested — thankfully, there were only ten. The farmstead had been extremely fortunate that one of the troops of the Royal Guard had been making a second sweep through the area as the attack commenced. What troubled Marc was that they hadn't noticed anything amiss during their first sweep, when the raiders must surely have been in the area.

"He's just a little boy, Marc," Keri said as she leaned heavily on his arm. "How could even Merdians murder a child like this?"

Marc waved one of the guardsmen over and took a sword from him, showing it to the Princess. The double-edged blade was wide towards the tip to increase its chopping force, while still maintaining enough of a point for thrusting. Both edges were serrated for the entire length of the blade. Keri had never seen one of the weapons before, but she had heard them described.

"They were orcs," Marc said. "The villagers managed to kill two before the guard arrived and drove the rest off."

"Orcs? But how?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out," Marc said. He hesitated before continuing, "There's a man here you should speak to."

The Princess nodded weakly, and Marc motioned for a man standing nearby to come forward. He bowed and then looked hesitantly at the big knight.

"Highness, this is Kerlan Barliss. Please tell the Princess what you told me."

"Well, Your Highness, I was livin' and workin' at Darnow farmstead when it was raided two months ago," Kerlan said. "I was away with my two boys takin' some livestock ta market when the raid happened. We got back ta find the whole village burned and everyone dead, my wife and daughter among them. Mala … my wife … she was still alive when we found her. She said it was orcs … she said they … they …"

Keri released Marc's arm and pulled the farmer into an embrace as he broke down. Her own tears fell anew as she whispered soothing words until Kerlan regained his composure.

"Please, tell me your sons are all right," she said as they separated.

Kerlan smiled and nodded.

"Aye Highness, thanks to you."

"I've spoken to several other survivors," Marc said. "Kerlan's son's stood their ground and held off the orcs with their bows for several minutes and accounted for the two killed. That gave most of the villagers the time they needed to barricade themselves in the stockade. They were both seriously wounded — you stabilized them and kept them alive until the healers got here. The whole village might have been wiped out if not for their bravery."

"I'm very sorry about your wife and daughter," Keri told the farmer. "Thank you for bringing this information to my attention."

Keri hugged the man again, then turned and took Marc's arm, leaning on him for support once more as they turned and walked towards the horses. As tired as she was, there was anger in her voice as she spoke.

"Why didn't you tell me, Marc? Orcs have been raiding the countryside for at least two months! I should have been informed."

"I wasn't informed either," Marc said, his own anger evident. "You've seen every report I have about the raids. None of them said anything about orcs."

"Aunt Rayna," Keri hissed.

"Highness, let me handle this, please," Marc said.

Keri looked into the eyes of the man she thought of as a brother and saw ice in the steel-grey pupils. She was angry, but Marc was furious.

"All right, Marc," she said. "Just don't do anything stupid — that's my job."

When they reached the horses, Keri turned to Aliana and Enara. They were both as dirty and ragged as she was, though neither of them looked nearly as tired. She smiled and pulled them both into an embrace.

"I'm so proud of both of you," she told them. "You did wonderfully."

"All we did was bandage some cuts and carry water," Aliana said.

"You did all the hard work, Highness," Enara agreed. "You were wonderful."

"I couldn't have done it without the two of you by my side," Keri said.

She looked back at the carnage of the village, and then with a sigh turned and tried to mount her horse. She didn't have the strength to pull herself up and fell back into Marc's arms.

"This has to stop, Marc," she said weakly.

Her eyes fluttered closed, and Marc lifted her into his arms. Garith and Stilnar rushed forward, and Marc passed the Princess's limp form to the burly serjeant. Then he mounted his own horse and leaned over, easily lifting Keri into his lap. She stirred long enough to wrap her arms around his neck and then sagged against him once more.

"Let's get her home," Aliana said as she climbed into the saddle of her horse.

"I'll send word to my parents to let them know the Princess won't be able to visit this evening," Enara said.

"They're probably going to be worried about you," Aliana said. "Don't you think you should go home when we get back?"

Enara looked at Keri as she slept in Marc's arms and shook her head.

"My place is with her," she said.

Marc looked over at the young noblewoman and dipped his head in respect as he said, "My Princess chose well."

CHAPTER 7

The Princess received Enara's parents in her sitting room late the next morning. Despite being told it was an informal meeting, both Lord Burrin and Lady Telina were dressed in their court finery, which did not surprise Keri at all, considering what she knew about them. None of it came from their daughter — she was completely respectful of her parents — but Aliana had provided a wealth of gossip that she had gleaned from her sources about the palace. Combined with what Marc had said, and more by what he had been so careful not to say, the Princess felt she had a good picture of Enara's home life. Her own observations of Enara's magical abilities had prompted her to do a little digging which filled in the final pieces of the puzzle.

The Princess wore what passed for her as a simple dress; a pale blue, lace front overdress with flowing bell sleeves and an open front skirt with a short train, over a white under skirt. The ensemble was made of fine silk and accented with a drop-waist brocade belt with the dark blue triskeles of Trimaria woven into its pattern.

"I'll get right to the point," Keri said once the preliminaries of etiquette had been observed. "I have grown very fond of your daughter, and as such I have asked her to become my Lady-in-Waiting. She has accepted, but it would be rude of me to make it official without first speaking to you."

Enara's parents were obviously taken by surprise, and Keri had the distinct impression that their loss for words was something they were not accustomed to. She waited patiently as they stared at one another for a long moment. Then Lord Burrin cleared his throat and spoke.

"You honor our family with this request, Highness," he said, not missing the Princess's raised eyebrow at his use of the word request. "I don't wish to seem ungrateful, but I fear Enara is not a suitable choice for a position of such gravity."

"What makes you think Lady Enara is not suited to be my friend? I'm sure you realize as my Lady she would be elevated in rank. I would think you would want that for her."

"It would be wasted on her, Highness," Lady Telina said. She cast a sideways glance at her daughter before adding, "She … she's not right."

"Why, because she prefers girls to boys?" Keri asked. She heard a gasp escape Enara's lips, and she felt bad for surprising her by voicing her secret, but it was best to get it out of the way.

"I make no judgment on someone based on who or how they choose to love," the Princess continued. "As long as Lady Enara is happy, then I am happy for her."

"But Highness," Enara's mother persisted, "if she becomes your Lady, people might think … might think you were like her!"

"Maybe I am," Keri replied with a sly grin. "Even if I am not, I do not choose to rob myself of someone whose company I have come to cherish because of what narrow minded people might think."

"Highness, forgive my lady's words," Lord Burrin said. "We're only concerned that Enara may prove to be an embarrassment. I'm ashamed to say she's not very bright, and she is very clumsy. Accidents just seem to happen around her. We simply couldn't allow her to cause trouble for the royal household."

"You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I require your consent," the Princess said, her voice growing sharp as she rose to her feet. "I am ashamed to hear a parent talk as you have about their child. I find Lady Enara to be not only intelligent, but exceptionally so. As to her being clumsy, those accidents that seem to 'just happen' around her are due to her exceptional gift for high magic, a gift which should have been nurtured and not suppressed."

Lord Burrin started to protest, but Keri raised her hand to silence him.

"Please don't insult me by denying it. I had the records checked. Enara was examined as a child by mages from the Academy, at the request of the Baron of Highkeep. The mages reported she had a strong connection to the aether, but that you refused to allow training. For most, the connection would have faded without advanced training as they grew older, but Enara has even more potential than the examiners realized. Apparently your bigoted views extend beyond one's preference in bedmates."

While nearly everyone in the kingdom used magic in one form or another, there were some who viewed high magic with mistrust and disdain. Some of the information Aliana had uncovered indicated Enara's parents had very strict rules for their servants governing the use of even household magic, and they had expressly forbidden any of them to teach Enara even the simplest cantrips as a child. It was an extremely foolish and dangerous attitude. Left undeveloped, talent like Enara's could easily have resulted in someone getting hurt, even killed.

"Father, Mother … is this true?" Enara asked. Keri was pleased to hear indignation in her voice rather than the timidity that had been there when she introduced her parents.

"I'll have no sorceress as a child of mine," Lord Burrin practically growled.

"You have little choice," the Princess said as she sat back down. She gave Enara a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand, then turned her attention back to her parents.

"Enara will receive the necessary training to safely manage her power," Keri continued. "She will also have all the advanced training she desires, if she so chooses."

"I do," Enara said. She cast a gaze filled with determination and pride at the Princess. "I want to learn to use my power to help people, like you do, Highness."

"Then I disown you!" Lord Burrin proclaimed, springing to his feet. Marc moved a step towards the man, in case he was foolish enough to approach the Princess, but Keri waved him back.

The Princess turned to her new herald, a very handsome young man named Rodin. He stepped forward and in a powerful tenor announced, "Heard and witnessed!"

"Since you choose to sever the ties of family, I extend them," Keri said. "If Lady Enara wishes, from this moment forth she will be considered part of my family, and will be entitled to all the rights and privileges accorded one of royal blood. She will be known as the Honorable Lady Enara Lockeleigh."

The stunned look on Enara's face was matched only by that of her parents. With one heated statement, her father had elevated his own daughter to a rank far above his. Still, there was hesitation in the young noblewoman's face, and she rushed from her place beside the Princess and knelt before Lord Burrin.

"Father, Mother … please," she begged. "I love you."

"I will have no sorceress as my daughter," Lord Burrin repeated, refusing to even look at her.

"Mother?" Enara asked. Lady Telina looked pained for an instant, her mouth opening as if to speak, but then she looked away from her daughter.

Enara rose slowly to her feet, raising her chin high. She looked down at her parents for a moment, and then shook her head sadly.

"Then I believe we are finished here," she said. "Lord Burrin, Lady Telina, I will choose to remember the happy times, and though you no longer count me your daughter, I will always count you my parents."

Enara turned slowly and with quiet dignity walked back to the Princess. She knelt before Keri and bowed her head.

"Princess Kerialla, I accept your gracious offer," she said. "I pledge to you my fealty, my service and my devotion, until you release me or death takes me."

Keri placed her hand on Enara's head and said, "And I accept this oath, freely given, and pledge to reward it in kind, with devotion, friendship and love."

Enara rose and resumed her place at the Princess's side. She cast a final glance at her parents, and then fixed her gaze on the far wall of the sitting room.

"Lord Burrin, Lady Telina, I thank you for your time," Keri said.

Enara's parents rose, paid proper respect to the Princess and then retreated from her presence. Keri made eye contact with both Marc and Rodin, and they both left the room as well. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Enara collapsed to her knees and buried her head in Keri's lap as she cried. There was a clattering sound as several items on the mantle over the hearth began dancing as the air of the room seemed to vibrate.

"I know it hurts, Nara," Keri said as she stroked the girl's hair. "Just let it all out. You're with friends."

The Princess began singing softly as Aliana knelt beside Enara and placed her arm across her shoulders. The song had no words, only a soothing melody woven around a chain of syllables that Keri had learned as a child, when her mother would sing it to her to calm her.

"Listen to the music," Aliana told Enara. "Don't try to hold in the pain, just let the music carry it away."

The clattering died away even as Enara's sobs grew louder. It was a long, cleansing cry, and when she had finally shed all the tears she could, Enara lifted her head and looked up at the Princess.

"I've gotten tear stains all over your beautiful dress," she said.

"My mother once told me that the greatest gift one friend can bestow on another is their tears," Keri said. "Thank you, my dear friend."

"Besides, stains are easy to fix," Aliana said, her gaze shifting to the dark circles on Keri's skirts.

"Stainus eliminatus!"

The stains twinkled like tiny stars and vanished. All three girls laughed, and then Keri rose and helped her friends to their feet. They moved over to the more comfortable couch and sat down.

"I'm sorry I ambushed you that way, Nara," Keri said. "I just didn't know how to broach the subject, and I was worried I might frighten you off."

"It's all right, Keri, I don't mind. I would like to know how you figured it out though."

"Nara, the palace is a hotbed of rumors," Aliana offered. "Anything that smacks of scandal spreads quickly."

"Not that we think there is anything scandalous about your sexual preference," Keri added. "I had decided I liked you long before Darsia ran her mouth to Ali."

"Is she really your cousin?" Enara asked. "She's so mean!"

"Unfortunately, yes, though only my second cousin," Keri sighed. "She's also a great-granddaughter of Queen Riala. Her grandfather was one of Riala's younger sons."

"Which technically makes her your cousin now too," Aliana added. "What's even scarier is that if Keri abdicates, or something happens to her, Darsia is next in line."

"I don't quite understand how that works," Enara said. "Why wouldn't your aunt be next in line?"

"Because my mother was Queen by marriage," Keri explained. "As her sister, Aunt Rayna has no claim on the throne. That's why she was made Regent — by law the Regent must be someone close to the heir but out of the line of succession. Until I have a child, Darsia is next in line for the throne."

"So why aren't you already pregnant?" Enara asked.

"I ask her that all the time," Ali said.

Keri glared at Enara and then Aliana before looking up at the ceiling and saying, "What have I done? Now there's two of her!"

Enara looked at Aliana and said, "I'll take that as a compliment."

Keri gave Enara a smile of approval and nodded her head.

"That melody you were singing," Enara asked, "was it magic?"

The Princess nodded and said, "Music can be a powerful way to focus the aether, because the flow is like a melody. Whenever I feel myself losing control, I sing that tune to myself, just as my mother used to sing it to me — jut as I sang it for you."

"I can still hear it," Enara said, a confused look coming to her face. "It doesn't sound quite the same though."

"Remember, I told you every spell is unique to the mage that casts it," Keri said. "As you heard the song, you felt the weave and now you're adding your own touch to it. Don't try to remember it exactly — just remember the peace it brought."

"I will," Enara said.

"Now there are some thing's we need to discuss, Nara," Keri told her. "Right now, Rodin is drafting a proclamation that will declare you as my sister-in-law. That means you will be legally considered my younger sister, but you aren't part of the line of succession. It does mean you'd be taken care of if something were to happen to me, however. It will also provide you with a monthly stipend and a clothing allowance."

"This doesn't seem fair," Enara said, looking at Aliana. "Ali really is your sister in every way but blood."

"Ali's future is secure," Keri assured her. "She'd be an extremely wealthy girl if I were to have an untimely accident. I've never told her exactly how wealthy, because I don't want to encourage her to arrange one."

"Please," Aliana laughed, "I know I'd never get away with it. They always think the handmaiden did it."

They all laughed at Ali's joke, and before the Princess could continue, a knock sounded at the door. Aliana walked over and opened the door a crack to see who was there, and then swung it wide to admit a middle aged woman carrying a tray laden with food. When Keri saw a large pitcher of orange juice on the tray, she squealed with delight.

"Orange juice! Oh, Maeve, I love you. I thought we were all out."

"I managed to save a few fruits for a special treat, Highness," Maeve said. "Just for my pretty Princess."

"You spoil me, Maeve … and I like it!" Keri laughed. "Have you heard from Branwynn recently?"

"Aye, Highness, she orbed us just yesterday from the Academy," Maeve said. "She was a bit homesick for a while, but now that her classes are getting into some real craft magic, she's just so excited. She'll be home next week for a visit."

Just as Trimaria had a rapid transit system in the transport spires, the kingdom also had a communication system, which utilized spheres of aluminium infused with manthracite. Specially trained adepts used these orbs to transmit messages from one orb station to another for a small fee. Every barony and shire had an orb station, and many of the smaller villages and farmsteads had them as well, because the transmission range was limited to around two hundred leagues. The system wasn't secure - transmissions could be intercepted and monitored, and there was no way to sign a message, which was why all sensitive communiqués were sent by courier using the transport spires.

"Please ask her to call on me," Keri said. "I'd love to see her and hear all about her classes."

"I know she'll want to see you too, dear," Maeve said.

After Maeve had arranged their breakfast of fruit and pastries, she curtsied to the Princess and left the sitting room. Aliana took the pitcher of juice and filled three blue goblets and set one before Keri and Enara.

"Keri paid the Academy tuition for Maeve's granddaughter, Branwynn," Ali explained as she took her seat.

"Father always told me I couldn't go to the academy because we couldn't afford the tuition," Enara said sadly. She knew now that it hadn't been true. Because of her exceptional ability, the Academy had offered a full scholarship.

Keri selected some melon slices and a muffin from the tray and began eating. Enara looked at the food, uncertain what the proper etiquette was.

"I don't insist on following form in here, Nara," Keri told her. "However, Ali is stubborn, and she won't serve herself until you have, so don't be shy. Also, I'm a light eater, so if I finish, you don't have to stop eating."

Enara smiled and selected several items from the tray, and then Aliana prepared a plate for herself. Besides being a light eater, the Princess also ate very slowly, taking tiny nibbles of her food. It was a practice born of necessity - at a formal dinner, when she finished eating, etiquette required everyone to stop.

"Now, as I was saying, the proclamation will make you my sister-in-law, Nara," the Princess continued between bites. "There is one thing you need to be aware of, however. If something were to happen to me after I have a child, and the child was not yet eighteen, you would likely be appointed Regent."

Enara froze, her eyes becoming wide circles. She sat there for a few seconds in shock, the grape she had just popped into her mouth making her cheek bulge. She slowly chewed her food and swallowed hard.

"Nara, it wouldn't even come up for years," Keri said.

"It's just a shock, that's all," Enara said. "Yesterday I was nobody, and today…."

"That's my Princess; she loves to keep things interesting," Ali said. "May the Fragment save us when she's Queen."

"I'd do it, if it came to that," Enara said, "just please don't let it come to that."

"I have no intention of going anywhere," Keri assured her.

"You do know Darsia and her friends believe you're going to abdicate," Enara said. "She's always talking about how things will be when she's queen."

It started as just a giggle, but very quickly the Princess was laughing so hard tears were streaming down her cheeks. It was an infectious laugh that soon had spread to Enara and Aliana.

"Oh I'm sure she does," Keri managed to say. "Her little mind can't possibly understand why I haven't already taken the throne. She has no concept of what it means to rule. I have two years before I have to accept my responsibility, and I'm going to enjoy them. However, I'd burn the palace to the ground before I let her have it."

When they finally got their laughter under control, Enara said seriously, "She'd make a horrible Queen - she's so mean."

"Yes, she is, but that's not the real danger," Keri said. "Darsia is weak, both of mind and conviction. She'd end up nothing more than a puppet for someone."

"You're not worried she might try something?" Enara asked.

"Like having me killed?" Keri asked. "Oh, Nara, don't worry. Darsi is not very good at intrigue, and she doesn't have the courage for anything like that."

"She'd never live to sit on the throne either," Ali said. "If I didn't get her, one of the Old Guard would."

"The Old Guard?"

"My original personal guard," Keri explained, "Marc, Garith and eleven other warriors hand-picked by my father. They're all part of the Royal Guard now."

"They love Keri," Aliana said. "When she was little, she insisted on paying them personally every week."

"I baked them cookies," Keri added.

"That's so sweet!" Enara exclaimed, and then started giggling. "I'm sorry, it's just the thought of you in an apron, covered in flour … it's just so cute! I mean, you're very down-to-earth, but you're also so … so proper."

"They were really good cookies," Aliana said. "Believe it or not, Keri is very good in the kitchen."

"Ali, that's brilliant!" Keri exclaimed. When her handmaiden gave her a confused look, the Princess turned to Enara and said, "She has flashes of genius; she just doesn't know what to do with them."

"I'm with her then," Enara said. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, I know this Royal Progress is going to be a massive undertaking," Keri explained. "I've been trying to think of a way to thank everyone that's going to be involved, and now I know what to do. I'm going to prepare a feast!"

"Keri, that will be a huge task," Aliana said. "Do you have any idea how many people will be with us?"

"About five hundred," Keri said. "Marc's already called up the reserve Guard, and we'll have a hundred archers plus about another hundred support personnel. I'm not suggesting I'll do everything myself, but I want to coordinate the meal and be there in the kitchen helping. Of course, to do it right, neither of you can help. I want you to be able to enjoy it."

"That's all right for Ali," Enara said. "She's been by your side for years and deserves this. I'd really like to help though. I'm a pretty fair hand in the kitchen myself."

"I accept," Keri said, giving Enara's hand a squeeze.

"I'll agree to it, but I want to be with you," Ali said. "I won't work in the kitchen if you insist, but someone needs to be there to make sure you don't overdo it. You have a tendency to forget about yourself when you’re helping others, like you did yesterday."

"All right," the Princess said, "but if you so much as lift a ladle, I'll turn you over my knee and spank you."

"Promises, promises," Ali laughed.

Enara saw the look that passed between the Princess and her handmaiden and bit her lip, unsure of how far she could push this newfound friendship. Keri noticed the look and smiled.

"You're wondering if what I implied to your parents is true," she said. "Yes, Nara, I do like girls. I also like boys, however. My ring doesn't prevent me from feeling sexual attraction; it just stops me short of actually getting aroused. The only person I've ever tried to seduce, however, was female."

"Seduce!" Aliana laughed. "You grabbed me, kissed me, and then you practically ripped my dress off and threw me on the bed."

"Oh my," Enara said, her hand rising to her mouth. "Did you … do it?"

"My virtue is still intact," Keri said. "It happened just a little before I turned eighteen. I always knew it was a possibility, but I was expecting there to be some kind of gradual awakening of my sexuality. Instead, it just hit me — Ali had helped me get ready for bed and was about to go to her room, and I just had to have her. She put a damper on me pretty quick, and I've worn my chastity ring ever since."

"I knew she wasn't herself, otherwise I would have been happy to oblige" Aliana said. When Enara stared at her wide-eyed, she added, "I've done a bit of experimenting. It's very nice to be with another girl, but I prefer men."

The Princess and her handmaiden exchanged a look that spoke of many emotions - joy, love, longing and, most of all, sadness.

"I'm so sorry," Enara whispered, realizing what the exchange of glances meant. "I didn't even think. Why … I mean, you're the Princess, why can't you be with whomever you like?"

"We have a very complicated relationship," Aliana said. "I really do prefer men when it comes to sex, but I love Keri with all my heart."

"I love Ali just as much," the Princess said. "But I have my elfin nature to contend with. I don't know if I'm capable of being faithful. I also have a duty to bear an heir, which means marrying one day."

"Have you ever taken off your ring?" Enara asked.

Keri nodded her head and said, "I take it off frequently, but only when I'm alone in my bedchamber. One day, I'll be able to take it off permanently, but right now I'm still going through puberty, and my carnal nature is very intense. In a year or two it should even out, but right now I'm still a growing girl."

"I certainly hope your boobs don't get any bigger," Aliana said with a stern look. "They're already huge!"

"They are not huge!" Keri protested. "I just hope I don't get any taller. I'm almost eighteen hands now; that's taller than my horse!"

"My … friend … in Highkeep is tall," Enara said, feeling her own cheeks warming. "She's very graceful like you are too, Keri."

"What's her name?" the Princess asked.

"Lady Elyssa Trilarn."

"The daughter of the Baron of Highkeep?" Keri said. That explained some things. Baron Evan Trilarn wasn't known for having an open mind to change, and a daughter who liked other girls would be a thorn in his side. Undoubtedly, he had arranged for Enara's father to be 'promoted' to the Exchequer's office in Lockeshire to separate his daughter from her lover.

Enara smiled and nodded. She removed the silver pendant around her neck and opened it before passing it to the Princess. Inside was a full color likeness of a beautiful young woman with striking light blue hair. Exotic hair colors were a rare elfin trait. Keri's own shimmering golden color was the rarest of all, but she had often wished for one of the blue shades.

Elyssa’s hair was apparently her only elfin trait, but the way it contrasted with her light brown skin gave her a very exotic look. Her face was beautiful but not delicate, her features strong and proud. Enough of her shoulders and chest were visible to reveal she was wearing a molded leather breastplate.

"She's a shield maiden?" Keri asked as she passed the locket to Aliana. Technically, the Princess could call herself a shield maiden because of her training, but she knew there were many female warriors who could thrash her in a fight, not the least of whom being her handmaiden.

Enara nodded proudly and said, "She commands her own company, the Highkeep Rangers, and they're all women. There's always been brigand activity in the area around Highkeep, but most of the able-bodied male warriors are committed to the war. The Rangers patrol the area and try to keep the bandits in check. Elyssa has slain several orcs."

A cloud passed over the Princess's features, and Enara reached out her hand to touch her arm.

"It's all right, Nara," Keri assured her. "You assumed I knew about the orcs. I know you would have told me if you thought otherwise. I've heard of the Rangers — they're spoken of with great respect. It's said that one-on-one they could stand against any warrior in Trimaria."

Enara beamed with pride, and it was apparent her affection for Lady Elyssa was no mere infatuation.

"She's lovely, Nara," Aliana said as she returned the locket. "I take it she's a little older than you."

"She's twenty," Enara said. "She's only had her company for a few months."

"Does she like to dance?" Keri asked. Enara gave her a confused look, and the Princess giggled.

"Highkeep will be our last stop on my Royal Progress before we go to Wallkeep. I thought maybe you'd like to have Lady Elyssa join us for the festival as your escort."

A faraway look came to Enara's eyes, and it wasn't hard to read her thoughts as she pictured herself on the arm of the lovely shield maiden.

"Oh, Keri, could we … really?"

"Of course we can," Keri said. "It's time for this Princess to start shaking things up. And to that end, it's time I let you two in on a little plan I have devised."

CHAPTER 8

The guards at the door to the council chamber watched nervously as Knight-Captain Marcan approached. It wasn't just the towering knight's fierce glare that gave them pause, but the eight members of the Royal Guard that accompanied him as well. They had been informed that the Captain of the Royal Guard had been summoned by the Regent, but no one had said anything about an armed escort.

"Wait here until I call you," Marc told Garith and Stilnar. He turned his attention to the Regent's guards and added, "If you know what's good for you, you won't try to interfere."

"Oh come now, lad," Garith said, his pollaxe in hand. "They could interfere just a little if they like."

The guards looked at each other and then stepped to the side to allow Marc to pass. The Regent's Guard was largely ceremonial, restricted by law to a handful of personal bodyguards that had nowhere near the skills of the Royal Guard. The reasoning was the same as that behind the law requiring the Regent to be out of the line of succession — to mitigate the power wielded by the Regent and discourage any thoughts of trying to maintain it.

Marc entered the council chamber and found the Regent seated at a huge wooden table, with Knight-Commander Jaris standing behind her.

"Just what the frag were you thinking, Demos?" Jaris demanded without preamble.

Marc didn't answer; he just looked down at the knight-commander as if he was a particularly grotesque insect. The Regent sat and silently watched the big knight, a look of expectation on her face.

"I asked you a question!" Jaris shouted.

"And since you chose to ignore my rank, I choose not to answer," Marc growled.

"All right, Sir Marcan," Jaris said, slurring Marc's rank. "When you allowed the Princess to enter that farmstead, what were you thinking?"

"I was following the orders of the Princess," Marc replied. "I was serving her and the people of Trimaria. In other words, I was doing my duty, unlike you."

Marc's eyes fell on the Regent, and her eyes widened as she realized his accusation was aimed at her.

"You forget your place, Knight-Captain," she said in a low voice.

"No, but you have forgotten yours," Marc said.

"That's enough, Demos!" Jaris shouted. "You will not address the Regent so. I'll have you clapped in irons!"

"No, you won't, but if you speak again, I'll have you removed from this chamber," Marc said. Without turning, he raised his voice and called out, "Garith!"

The doors opened and Garith entered with Stilnar and the other six Royal Guards. They fanned out along the back wall of the room and stood there, silent and stone faced.

"Captain, you had better explain yourself," the Regent said. "Commander Jaris is in charge of Palace security, and the presence of your men here is a serious breach of protocol."

"Commander Jaris is responsible for your security, Regent," Marc corrected. "This palace belongs to the Princess. As Captain of the Royal Guard, the men at every entrance and in every passage are under my direct command."

"That sounds very much like a threat," the Regent said.

"That is a message from the Princess," Marc replied. "She is very angry that you have chosen not to inform her that the raiders striking throughout the kingdom are orcs."

"I decided there was no need to trouble her with that information."

"That is not your decision to make," Marc said, his voice tightly controlled. "You do not rule this kingdom, Regent - you manage it in trust for the Princess. Yesterday, when I expressed my concerns over the Princess attending the harvest festival, you failed to mention that orcs have penetrated the border."

"Wallkeep is seventy leagues from the frontier," the Regent said.

"Orcs can march fourteen hours in a day," Marc said. "The Wall is just five days hard march for them. Word is already spreading throughout the kingdom that the Princess will attend, which places her at risk for the entire week of the festival, not to mention during her upcoming Royal Progress. Your failure to inform me of this threat could be considered treason. If it were up to me, I'd place you under arrest right now."

"I have heard enough of this!" Jaris protested, taking a threatening step towards Marc. The big knight made a sharp gesture to his men and Garith and Stilnar stepped forward.

"Sir Jaris, you can walk out of this room, or we can carry you out," Garith said. "The choice is yours."

Jaris cast a pleading look at the Regent, who waved dismissively and said, "It's all right, Commander Jaris. You're dismissed."

Marc nodded to Garith, who grinned in reply. The burly serjeant opened the door and gestured for the knight-commander to precede him. Jaris glared at Marc and stormed out of the chamber, followed by Marc's men.

"You don't seriously believe I would do anything to harm Keri, do you, Marc?" the Regent asked once they were alone.

"Not intentionally, Your Grace," Marc told her. "I do believe you persist in thinking of her as a child, but she's changing. She's growing up. If you had seen her yesterday - she worked herself to exhaustion helping those villagers. Those people saw their Queen, Your Grace. They saw her love for them, and they will never forget it."

"That's the problem, she loves them too much!" the Regent declared. "We're at war! Trimaria needs a queen who can be hard, and my niece does not have that in her. She's soft and weak."

"You're wrong," Marc said. "She's stronger than you know. You've tried for six years to break her and mold her into the person you think she should be, and you've failed. She's her parents' child, and when she takes the throne, she'll finish what they started. We'll have peace with Merdia."

"There can be no peace!" The Regent shouted, rising to her feet. "They're animals, no better than the orcs they send to murder our people."

The Regent walked over to a map that covered the entire back wall of the chamber. It showed the entire continent of Noraster, of which both Trimaria and Merdia were a part. In the northeast was the boot shaped Trimarian peninsula, the western end of which was connected to the unclaimed region known as Camron by the Isthmus of Valmor. To the south and west lay Merdia, more than twice the size of Trimaria. The Regent pointed to a line that extended across Camron, roughly two hundred miles west of the point where Riala's Wall sealed off the isthmus.

"It's taken six years to reclaim the land my brother-in-law gave away in his fool's pursuit of peace," she said. "We have enough troops in place now to begin a new offensive. By the end of the year, half of Camron will be in our hands. I will not let my weak-willed niece throw that all away!"

"Careful, Regent," Marc warned. "You're treading dangerously close to sedition."

"I meant nothing of the kind," the Regent said, though she was clearly mollified by his words. "I am simply saying that I will do everything I can to convince the Princess not to surrender the ground we've gained."

"You'd have a better chance of that if you didn't push her so hard," Marc said, his expression softening. "The two of you used to be so close. Remember when she was ten and you took her to Crystalmere? The two of you had such fun at the springs."

"Yes, I remember," the Regent whispered. Her voice rose and hardened as she added, "And then you were appointed captain of her guard."

"Rayna, I …."

"I know, Marc," the Regent said, her voice filled with bitterness. "You made your choice, and it wasn't me."

The chamber was silent for a long time. Finally, the Regent returned to her seat and began reviewing a stack of papers on the table before her. Earlier that morning, Marc had submitted Keri's preliminary itinerary along with requests for additional troop support for the Royal Progress.

"As much as I hate to admit it, a Royal Progress is a good idea," she said. "Keri will take the throne in less than two years, and it is high time the people got to know their future queen. Unfortunately, I have to deny your request for heavy cavalry and infantry to support the Royal Guard. With the upcoming offensive, we can't spare any of our reserves."

"Not even to protect the Princess?"

"You have a hundred men in reserve for the Guard," the Regent said. "Call them up."

"I already have," Marc said. "We're still only light cavalry. A company of heavy horse and some infantry would secure us against any threat."

"They may be orcs, Sir Marcan, but the raiders are still small, scattered groups," the Regent said. "I'll give you an additional fifty reserve archers, but that's the best I can do. You'll also have all the support personnel you desire. Was there anything else you wished to discuss?"

"No, Regent, I thank you for your time."

Marc saluted and then turned on his heel and headed towards the door. He paused there as the Regent spoke again.

"Knight-Captain, don't ever bring your guards to this chamber uninvited again," she said, her voice cold and hard. "If you do, there will be serious repercussions."

Marc turned and stared back at her, his grey eyes hard and unflinching. His own voice matched the ice in her words.

"Yes, there will be, Regent. If I am forced to enter here with the Royal Guard again, you'll be leaving in chains."

The Regent stared at the door long after Marc was gone, indignation in her eyes. She didn't even turn at the sound of the concealed door next to the wall map opening.

"I assume you heard all that," she said. "How dare he threaten me!"

"Don't mistake it for a threat, my dear," Duke Terlen said. "I told you it was foolish not to provide Her Highness with the full details of the raids. The only reason you're not under arrest right now is because the Princess wouldn't allow it. I wouldn't count on her charity a second time."

The Duke hesitated, as if unsure of how to proceed. When he finally spoke again, his voice was carefully measured.

"Perhaps it would be best to discourage this idea of a Royal Progress," he said. "The countryside, especially the western reaches, is not safe."

The Regent shook her head. Her voice was cold as she said, "No. If she wants to see the kingdom then let her."

CHAPTER 9

The look on Aliana's face was one of incredulous disbelief. She had known the Princess was up to something, but she had not suspected it to be what she had just heard, Enara's reaction was not quite so severe; she was still getting accustomed to her new friends, but it was obvious she was shocked as well by the Princess's proposal. The three young women were sitting on the Princess's bed, where she had told them of her plan to avoid the Grand Ball - she and Aliana would swap bodies, allowing the handmaiden to attend in her place.

"Have you lost your fragging mind, Keri?" Aliana asked. "I mean, you've come up with some wild schemes in the past, but this is way beyond any of them."

"Well, if you're going to do something, do it big I always say," Keri replied. "You can't seriously tell me you wouldn't love to trade places with me temporarily."

Aliana opened her mouth to speak but stopped. It was true she had often fantasized about just such a thing. It wasn't that she begrudged her friend her rightful place - she loved Keri both as Princess and soul mate. But to actually trade places?

"Look, Ali, I really, really don't want to go through the circus the Grand Ball will be," Keri said. "To have all those young noblemen fawning on me and not be able to do anything about it will be maddening."

"Whereas I can use a break from sleeping around?" Aliana asked, a bit sharply.

"That hurt, Ali," Keri said with a genuine pout. "I never suggested anything like that. You know what it's like, so you won't be wondering what might be with each of them. I've never been intimate with a man; I've never even kissed one, and you have no idea what that's like."

"I'm sorry, love," Aliana said. Then a sly grin spread across her face and she added, "You realize if we do this, you will experience it. If I suddenly became celibate for a month, people would know something's wrong."

"Well, yes, I did consider that." Keri blushed.

"Aww, how can I resist when you blush like that," Aliana said. "You're so cute!"

"You'll do it?" Keri squealed.

"Whoa!" Enara said. "Hold on just a minute. I think you need to provide some details before Ali says yes or no, Keri. I've never even heard of a spell that could do what you're suggesting. Are you that powerful?"

"No, I'm not," Keri said. "No one is powerful enough to perform a body swap, not without help."

The Princess rose from the bed and walked over to her dresser, where she retrieved the ornate wooden box that had been in the vault along with her mother's spell book. When she had settled back onto the bed, she opened the box and removed a large amulet on a fine silver chain.

The amulet was about three inches in diameter and made of pure manthracite framed in fine silver. Intricate magical glyphs were carved into the polished face of the amulet, and in the dim light of the bedchamber they appeared to be glowing faintly.

"This is the Amulet of Kessil," she told them. "My mother left it for me, along with the instructions for the ritual required to use it. It makes the transference possible."

"What does the ritual involve?" Aliana asked.

Keri opened her mother's spell book to a marked page and turned it so both Aliana and Enara could see the pages.

"It's not very complicated - it doesn't even require an incantation," she told them. "Like a lot of the more powerful magical items, the amulet will only work in a specific place at a specific time. In this case, the place is the Star Stones near the shire of Amurga, and the time is when Kessil is full."

"It says the participants stand in the circle of the stones as Kessil approaches zenith," Aliana read from the tome. "When the light of the full moon passes through the focusing aperture on the appropriate stone and strikes the amulet, the wearer opens their eyes and looks at the one they wish to swap with."

"That's all?" Enara said.

Keri nodded. "The amulet does all the work. There's nothing that can be messed up by the participants."

"Your parents really used this?" Aliana asked.

Keri smiled and nodded. "Both before and after I was born. In fact, Mother wrote in her journal that Father asked to swap when she was almost eight months pregnant with me. He wanted to feel what it was like to carry me inside."

Keri stopped and turned her head as tears filled her eyes. Aliana pulled out a handkerchief that was tucked into her bodice and passed it to her friend.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard," Enara said.

"King Toranon was a very special, wonderful man," Aliana said as she reached over and squeezed Keri's shoulder. "His daughter is pretty wonderful too. I would like to know if this is the reason you came up with the idea of a Royal Progress however."

"It was, at first," Keri admitted. "After yesterday though … I'll do the Progress anyway, because it’s the right thing to do."

"That's what I wanted to hear," Aliana said. "I'll do it."

"I'll help any way I can," Enara said.

"Thanks, Nara," Keri said. "We will need your help, but it's better if only the two of us are there for the ceremony. If something happened and I looked at the wrong person, it would be bad - not that I wouldn't love to swap with you someday. We need to get you more comfortable with being part of the Royal Court first, however. Aliana already knows as much about being Princess as I do."

"I understand," Enara said. "I can cover for you both while you're at the Star Stones; in case anyone comes asking about you."

"That's perfect," Keri said.

"I notice your mother made a note in the margin about reminding Toranon not to remove the amulet," Ali said as she continued to read. "What's that about?"

"Ah, yes, that's explained on the next page," Keri said. "The amulet has to stay with the body that wore it during the swap. It acts as an anchor, maintaining a tenuous connection between the spirit and its proper body. It's important for two reasons. First, if one of the participants were to die, the spirits would return to their proper bodies. Second, for cross gender swaps, it maintains the spirit's gender identity. Without it, the spirit would gradually begin to conform to the body it occupied, which could cause problems when they swapped back."

"Oh, I see," Aliana said.

"If you read a little further, you'll see we'll also have access to each other's memories," Keri said. "It won't be instant, total access, but more like our normal recall. The memories can be triggered by something."

"I have no problem with you knowing my dirty little secrets," Aliana said. "I've already told them all to you anyway."

"Well, I guess that's everything," Keri said. "I need to meet with Marc and find out how his talk with my aunt went. He'll probably be ready to tear apart my proposed itinerary too. We need to get it finalized, so it can be distributed throughout the kingdom."

"Marc is not going to be happy about that," Aliana said.

"You can't have a Royal Progress without letting people know where you're going," Keri said with a shrug. "It's rude, and it kind of defeats the whole purpose of doing it. It would also be oh so boring to show up and have no one there to greet us."

Aliana laughed and said, "Whatever else it may be, I doubt this trip is going to be boring!"

CHAPTER 10

Though it was called the audience chamber, the largest room in the west wing of the palace actually served multiple purposes. The main area was a smaller version of the Grand Hall, complete with a raised dais upon which sat a large, ornate chair.  There were a few comfortable chairs along the wall and a large table for important meetings. To the left of the dais was a door which led to a large office that Keri's father had used for handling the business of running a kingdom. The Princess could remember him remarking many times that one would think a king would be exempt from paperwork, but such was not the case. Even though Trimaria was a hereditary monarchy where the sovereign ruled with virtually absolute power, the kingdom did have laws which even a king or queen was bound to obey.

The office was dark until a bookcase along the back wall swung silently open, revealing a hidden alcove with a spiral staircase that led directly to the Princess's living quarters. Keri entered the office and without saying a word activated the glows on the walls, flooding the room with light. Her friends were right behind her, Aliana carrying her ever-present bag and Enara a large leather satchel.

The room was decorated as one would expect - Toranon had been a warrior after all, and there were many fine weapons proudly displayed. Despite the martial tone of the room Keri had always felt very comfortable in it because it had been her father's private space. Though she hadn't used it for official business since the king had died, she often came to the room to just sit - it made her feel close to him.

The Princess walked to the desk and passed her hand over the small crystal cube there, picturing in her mind the person she wished to speak to. The cube was similar in function to the orbs used to communicate throughout the kingdom, but while the orbs could send both voice and images over great distances, the crystals could only transmit voices within a relatively small area. They were invaluable for communicating within the expansive palace.

"Lord Fenril, could you join me in the audience chamber, please?" she asked.

After a moment's pause, a distinguished male voice replied, "Of course, Highness. I shall be there immediately."

"Keri, why don't you have a crystal speaker in your quarters?" Enara asked.

"Father refused to have one, and I've followed his example," the Princess said. "My quarters are private - no one but a select few enter without permission, and I don't want the Regent, or anyone else, to be able to invade that, even with just a voice."

Enara nodded in understanding, but Keri could see a pained look on her face. She could imagine her relationship with her aunt was a painful reminder of Enara's own situation.

"I love my aunt, Nara," she said softly. "We just don't see things the same way anymore."

"I understand completely," Enara told her.

They left the office and entered the audience chamber. To the right side of the dais was a small alcove with tables on which several trays of food and drink had been previously arranged by the kitchen staff. Keri moved to the large chair in the middle of the dais, which she could sit on since it wasn't the throne. Aliana and Enara sat down on two smaller chairs immediately behind her, and Enara removed a binder from the satchel she carried and passed it to the Princess.

"Keri, relax," Aliana told the Princess. "You're as stiff as an ironwood tree."

"I'm nervous," Keri admitted. "I've never played Princess like this before."

"Highness," Enara said, emphasizing the title for effect. "You don't have to play at anything. You are the Princess, and everything about you says that."

"Besides, if you're nervous, think about poor Nara and me," Aliana added. "You're about to pass judgment on the girls we've chosen to be your new handmaidens. What if you think they all stink?"

The Princess laughed, knowing that was unlikely. For the last week, Aliana and Enara had been charged with the task of interviewing dozens of girls to find her six new handmaidens.

"You'll both be safe as long as they learn fast not to hover too much," Keri said. "I can't believe I'm going to have a flock of girls following me around."

"Oh, I know you; you'll love every minute even if you whine about it," Aliana said. "I can't believe you're actually calling me your Maid of Honor though."

"I know it's not really appropriate," Keri said, "but Trollop of Honor sounded contradictory and a bit crass."

"Oh, very funny," Aliana said as Enara and Keri both burst into laughter. They were still laughing when the door to the chamber opened and Rodin entered.

"Lord Chamberlain Fenril is here as requested, Highness," the herald said, a look of confusion on his face.

"Thank you, Rodin, please send him in," the Princess said.

Keri got her laughter under control and rose to her feet, just as Aliana whispered from behind her, "Bitch!" The Princess broke into giggles again as a tall, elderly man with white hair entered the chamber. He approached the dais and bowed low as though he noticed absolutely nothing unusual.

"Thank you for coming, Lord Fenril," the Princess said. "Please forgive me - my friends and I were sharing a bit of levity."

"Your laughter is always music to my ears, Highness," Lord Fenril said with a grin, "as your visage is always a delight to my eyes."

"Oh, Fenril, you are always the charmer," Keri giggled. "I won't keep you long, as I know you have much to attend to, and I'm afraid I'm about to add to those duties. First, however, I must correct an oversight on my part. I have not yet formally introduced you to the Honorable Lady Enara. I hope you will come to love her as I have."

"I have no doubt I will, Highness," Fenril said, turning as Enara rose and stepped forward. The Lady-in-Waiting curtsied formally to the Lord Chamberlain and then extended her hand.

"Her Highness has told me much about you, Lord Chamberlain," Enara said as the old man kissed her hand. "I am honored to meet you."

"And I you, My Lady. I trust your new quarters are satisfactory?"

"Very much so," Enara said. "I already feel so at home here."

"The Palace is enriched by your beauty, My Lady," Fenril said. Enara blushed and retreated back to her seat.

"Now, Fenril, I'm going to need your help with two things," the Princess said. "First, we're going to be opening the retainers’ quarters. Ali and Nara have selected six girls to serve as handmaidens, and they'll need a place to sleep."

"That is no problem at all, Highness," Fenril said. "The quarters have been maintained regularly. I'll see to it the housekeepers place fresh linens in the appropriate rooms, or would you prefer we ready all the rooms?"

"Let's do all of them, the men's included," the Princess said. "Rodin is still staying at Herald Hall in Lockeshire, but I'm going to ask him to take quarters here as well."

"I would suggest one of the suites near mine for the young journeyman, Princess," Fenril said. "He'll need office space for his duties."

"You're quite right; I should have thought of that," Keri said. "I'll have a scribe and seamstress joining me in a few days as well, so we'll need suites for them too. You can open the other suite next to my quarters for the seamstress - I'd like to have her close at hand."

"The quarters shall be ready by day’s end," Fenril said. "Does this mean you'll be staffing the residence wing as well?"

"Yes, and I leave that to you. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I trust you won't give me an entirely new staff."

"No, of course not," Fenril laughed. "I've several experienced members of the main staff that are ready for greater responsibility. They'll form the core of the residence staff, and I'll add new personnel as needed to both."

"Excellent," Keri said. "Now, I'll need one more bit assistance. This afternoon you'll have a complete itinerary for my Royal Progress. I know you organized the supply of such trips for my parents, and I'd very much like you to do so for me as well."

"Of course, Highness," Fenril said. "It will be my honor."

"Thank you. Lord Fenril. I'll let you get back to running the Palace now."

The Lord Chamberlain bowed once more, and then gave a grin to Aliana and Enara before turning and leaving the chamber. Keri returned to her seat and settled into its soft cushions, preparing herself for the next encounter, which promised to be far less pleasant.

"He's quite a character," Enara said.

"They say he was a real ladies man in his youth," Aliana said.

"I can believe that," Enara giggled.

The Princess remained silent, lost in thought. Aliana reached out and touched her elbow gently to get her attention.

"There's wine in the cold box if you need a little something," she suggested.

"Ali it's not even midday yet," the Princess replied.

"It's not like I'm trying to get you drunk," Ali laughed. "We only have one bottle anyway." She turned to Enara and added, "Don't ever try to match Her Highness drink for drink - you'll lose."

"I'm fine, really," Keri said. "I just want this to go well, but I know how Darsia is going to take it."

"All you can do is make the offer, Keri," Enara said. "We all know it's from your heart."

Rodin entered once more and announced that Lady Darsia and her mother had arrived. Keri rose again and walked to the door as Rodin escorted them into the chamber. Darsia was obviously surprised when the Princess greeted them at the door.

"Hello, Darsi," the Princess said, giving her cousin a smile that further confused her. She turned to her herald and asked, "Would you get us two chairs, Rodin? Put them in front of the dais, please."

The herald moved off to carry out her request, and Keri took Darsia's mother by the arm and began slowly escorting her towards the dais. Viscountess Alicia Lockeleigh, Keri's first cousin, once removed, was an attractive woman of nearly seventy years. Her raven hair was accented by strands of silver, which was exceedingly rare for a woman who was barely even middle-aged, and she moved with the staggering steps of someone much older.

"It's so good to see you again, Cousin Alicia," Keri said.

"Is that you, Mistara?" the Viscountess asked.

"No, Cousin Alicia, I'm Kerialla."

"Kerialla?" the Viscountess asked, looking to Darsia in confusion.

"This is the Queen's daughter, Mother," Darsia said. "You remember Keri, don't you?"

"Of course, I remember Keri!" the Viscountess said. "She's the Princess … but she's just a little girl!"

"I've grown up, Cousin Alicia," Keri said.

As Rodin brought the chairs up, Keri helped her elder cousin onto the dais and started to ease her into the big chair.

"Why that's your chair, Mistara," she said. "Does this mean I'm Queen?"

Keri nodded and said, "For a little while, Cousin Alicia. My friends here will attend to your every need while Darsia and I have a little chat."

"Oh, won't that be lovely," the Viscountess said.

Keri smiled and then turned, gesturing for Darsia to accompany her to the seats Rodin had set out. Once the Princess had settled herself, she carefully removed the coronet from her head and set it on the floor beside her. The significance of the gesture was not lost on Darsia, who waited with a wary expression for her cousin to speak.

"Darsi, I want you to join my entourage," Keri said. "You'd be a Lady-in-Waiting along with Enara, and accompany me on my Royal Progress."

"Why?" Darsia asked. "You hate me."

"You know that's not true," Keri said. "We've never been friends, and we may never be, but you are my cousin." She reached out and grasped her cousin's hands and continued, "We're the last of House Lockeleigh … we should be together. I'd really like us to become closer."

A look of poorly veiled disgust washed over Darsia face, her lips moving soundlessly as she pulled her hands free. Now it was Keri's turn to be confused — she had expected anger or bitterness but not revulsion.

"I'm not like you and your … your friends!" Darsia spat at last. "You can't turn me into one of your sapphist lackeys!"

Keri looked to the dais but saw that neither Aliana nor Enara appeared to have heard. She turned her gaze back to her cousin and shook her head.

"You think I'm making an advance?"

"You can't fool me, Keri," Darsia said, her voice rising. "I've seen the way you and your little commoner slut look at each other … the way you touch each other when you think no one is looking. The only reason she sleeps around so much is to throw off suspicion. And I know all about why Enara's parents had to leave Highkeep, and why they disowned her."

Keri didn't have to look again to know her friends had heard Darsia's accusation this time — she had certainly said it loud enough. Her first instinct was to fire back an angry response, but she had promised herself she wouldn't do that. She fought her anger down, and when it was gone she felt only sadness.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Darsi," she said, her voice heavy with sadness. "My offer was made only out of an honest desire to strengthen our ties as kin, nothing more. If you can't accept it as that, then there's nothing I can say to change your mind."

"It's easy for you," Darsia said, her voice more subdued. "I … I'm not pretty like you all are. Keri, if I were to be … I mean, if people thought I was like that, what man would want me?"

Keri actually grinned at that and said, "You might be surprised, Darsi. Some men find women like us … exotic and very attractive. At any rate, I won't pressure you into anything. I would ask that you refrain from spreading any more rumors about me or my retainers."

"Or what?" Darsia demanded, her voice growing louder again. "You'll kick us out of the Palace?"

"Shards, no, Darsia!" Keri said, shocked. "You're my family, and no matter how nasty you are to me, this Palace will be your home for as long as you choose. I'm asking you as my cousin to let the private lives of myself and my friends remain private."

"I … well I've never actually passed any of them along," Darsia said. "I've never discouraged others from doing so … but I never…."

"I believe you, cousin," Keri said, rising to her feet. Aliana rushed down from the dais and helped her put on and adjust her coronet while Enara began helping Viscountess Alicia up.

"I don't mean to rush you, Lady Darsia," the Princess said, "but I do have a number of appointments today."

"Of course, Highness, I understand," Darsia said. She did a quick curtsey and walked over to where Enara was helping her mother off the dais.

"Is it time to go, dear?"

"Yes, Mother," Darsia said. "We're going to have lunch, and then I'll have your carriage brought round so we can go for a ride in the country — won't that be nice?"

Darsia took her mother gently by the arm, and for an instant, her eyes locked with Enara's. She saw something there she didn't anticipate — respect.

"Thank you, Lady Enara," she said.

"It was my privilege, Lady Darsia."

The Princess walked with Darsia and her mother to the door, and then hugged the Viscountess and kissed her on the cheek.

"It's always lovely to see you, Mistara," Alicia said. "My nephew was smart to marry you."

"Thank you, Viscountess," Keri said. She looked from Alicia to Darsia and added, "You know if you ever need anything…."

"I know, Princess," Darsia said with a smile. She curtseyed once more and then took her mother gently by the arm and led her from the audience chamber. The Princess walked back to the dais and settled back into her chair.

"I think I'll take that wine now, Ali," Keri said.

"I could use some myself, if you don't mind," Enara said.

"I think we all could," Ali said, rising and walking into the alcove.

"How long has the Viscountess been like that?"

"It started before Darsia and I were born," Keri told her. "She was about our age too. Her new husband and her father, my great uncle Duke Gerronel, were off fighting orcs with Queen Riala. Alicia was left to manage their estates near Northkeep."

Keri paused as Aliana brought the wine and took a big sip of hers. She closed her eyes for a moment before continuing.

"Alicia had gone to her father's estate to check on the harvest; back then there weren't any orb stations for communication. She left her twin infant daughters in the care of their nanny. While she was away, orc marauders struck. Alicia sent her small escort to delay the orcs while the people from the outlying farmsteads retreated into the palisade around the estate. Her younger brother was leading the escort — they were slaughtered to a man, but they bought the time the villagers needed."

The Princess drained her goblet and passed it to Aliana, who refilled it immediately. It was obvious that the story was hard for Keri to tell.

"The orcs didn't have the numbers to storm the palisade or the time to lay siege, so after a half-hearted attack that wounded a few of the defenders, they retreated. Alicia stayed to see to the injured, and then returned to her own land. Her estate was new — it didn't have a defensive wall yet."

"Oh, no!" Enara gasped.

Keri nodded, "Some of the troops from her father's estate were escorting her back. They saw the smoke from about a league away. By the time they reached her estate, the orcs had finished and were retreating again. Everything was in flames — the fields, the stables and the house.

"The orcs saw them and made a fatal mistake — they turned to attack. You see, Alicia was like me — she could weave the aether without the use of spells. In her rage and pain however, she opened herself to the flow too much. Some of the men with her were veterans — they said it was like nothing they had ever seen, not even from the most powerful battle mage. In the blink of an eye, fifty orcs and their mounts were burnt to a cinder."

"And the strain broke her mind?"

"The strain … the grief … the pain … it was all too much," Keri said. "It didn't help that a few weeks later she learned her husband and father had both been killed in battle. She didn't get like she is now overnight — that would have been merciful. No, she felt her mind slip away a little at a time over the years. She tried to continue to manage both estates, but eventually my grandfather, King Baltor, had to give them to someone else for the good of the people. Alicia was brought to the Palace and has lived here ever since."

"But she married again?" Enara asked. "I mean, she had Darsia."

Keri smiled. "It's only been the last few years that her body has begun to deteriorate. She used to be as much a handful as me, or so I'm told. She would wander away from the Palace, and she was a very pretty woman. She ended up pregnant, but by the time it was found out, she couldn't remember who the father was. Darsia was born here in the Palace — it’s the only home she's ever known. As she grew up, she watched her mother become more and more child-like."

"I feel so ashamed," Enara said. "I've thought such horrible things about her."

"Don't blame yourself, Nara," Aliana said. "Keri and I have known her for years, and we've thought the same things."

"I still feel bad," Enara said. "I mean, I know it doesn't excuse her being so mean, but the stress on Darsia must be horrible."

"More than you may realize," Keri said. "You see, when Alicia's estates were taken, Baltor never expected her to have another child. No provision was made for any kind of inheritance."

"So you're supporting her, just like you're supporting me now," Enara said.

"Don't look so guilty, Nara," the Princess said. "Yes, Darsia receives a monthly stipend and a clothing allowance plus funds set aside for her future should she marry and leave the Palace, just as I have done for you. My father set that up when she was born, and I've increased it. It doesn't even come close to what she would have inherited though."

"And I thought you didn't even like her."

"I don't like her," Keri said. "She's never been anything but petty and cruel to me, but she is family, and I take care of my family. The difference is, you give back, Nara, and I have no doubt you'll continue to give. I have plans for you, sister."

"Well, now that you've scared poor Nara white, why don't we bring in the girls?" Aliana asked. "And remember, Honorable Lady Enara, you can't help them — I don't want them thinking of you as one of them."

"All right, bring them in, Ali," the Princess said, looking at the timepiece around her neck before adding, "You've got ten minutes to introduce them, and then they have three hours to fawn over me."

"Oh, no, you promised the whole afternoon!" Ali protested. "Your meeting with Marc is going to be the real test. If they can handle him glaring at them, they'll face down orcs."

Keri sighed. "Okay, I surrender."

"Good," Aliana said with a crooked smile. "I thought I would have to resort to tickling to get you to submit. And since you're in a weakened state, after they get comfortable, Enara and I are going to leave you in their care for about an hour."

"What? There is no way you’re leaving me alone with them!"

"Keri, we have to," Enara said. "I have an idea about how to fund the plan you're going to present to Marc, but I have to look up the specifics in kingdom law. I'm not familiar enough with the library here in the palace to find what I need."

"The girls will be fine," Aliana said. "They all have experience attending; all they need is a chance to get over the awe of being in your magnificent presence."

"Very funny," Keri said, not looking at all amused. "All right, I'll let you both go, but this better be good."

CHAPTER 11

Marc was more than a little shocked when he entered the audience chamber late that afternoon. The Princess was being attended to by only her six new handmaidens, and to the knight-captain it was a striking change. He had rarely ever seen her without Aliana at her elbow.

Even more shocking was that Her Highness looked exhausted like he hadn't seen since the days after her parents had died. Like then, it wasn't from physical exertion — the Princess was virtually tireless — but rather emotional stress. Despite her obvious fatigue, she smiled as Marc entered and rose to meet him at the table to the right side of the chamber.

"Highness, you look tired," Marc said. "We don't have to do this today."

"I'll be fine, Marc," the Princess insisted. "You'll be a relief after dealing with the barons of Southkeep, Westkeep and Northkeep."

"Let me guess," Marc grinned. "They received the preliminary itinerary you sent out and are feeling slighted that the Progress won't be stopping at their keeps."

"Shards! They have the egos of spoilt children," the Princess fumed. "It's not good enough that I'll be visiting several shires and farmsteads in each of their baronies — no, they want me to arrange my schedule to accommodate them. Baron Lasser of Southkeep actually said he was much too busy to leave the keep, and I would have to come to him!"

"They've had six years with no sovereign," Marc said. "The Regent has had to accomodate them because she was appointed by the councils of the guilds and baronies, and either of those bodies can call for her removal. How did you finally placate them?"

"I didn't," the Princess said. "I simply reminded them that their lands and positions were granted by the Crown, and that one day I would be the Crown. Then I suggested they would be wise to indulge me."

"Good," Marc said. "They need to know that you won't back down to massage their egos."

"Thank you, Marc, you know I don't like throwing my weight around," the Princess said. "Now, let me show you what I have in mind for the Progress."

The Princess unrolled a large map of the kingdom and Marc could see it had been marked with lines to indicate the route of her Royal Progress. The preliminary itinerary she had distributed a few days earlier had included the locations she intended to visit, but there had been no information on dates or the final route. With the vast network of transport spires there were a number of possible routes, though the Progress would be limited because of its size to the largest spires.

"We'll break the tour into three parts," the Princess explained. "The first will be here in the Central Valley. The spires here are too small for a group our size to use, but the distances aren't that great either. The entire circuit will take three weeks and end up back here at the Palace, where we'll spend a week resting. Then we'll spend two months in the south, and return to the Palace again before starting the final leg through the western reaches."

"You've reduced the number of stops I see."

"I had to," the Princess said. "As much as I'd like to visit more shires, there are only eight days in a week — there's just not enough time."

"This is only your first of many Progresses," Marc said. "I see you plan on using the old outposts as waypoints here in the Central Valley."

"Yes. They're not very large, but their stone walls are much more protection than the wooden palisades we'll be constructing in the west."

Marc nodded in approval. The small outposts were relics from the days before Queen Riala had driven the orcs from Trimaria. Then the people had been largely concentrated in the Central Valley, and the outposts provided garrisons and regular patrols to keep the creatures at bay.

"I'll need you to work with the engineers on repairing any damage," Her Highness continued. "I want them brought back to their full operating capacity and ready to be garrisoned."

"Highness, the Regent has already refused to pull troops from the frontier to deal with the raiders," Marc said.

"I know, and as Princess I don't have the authority to reassign troops. The most I could do would be to divert funding to try to force my aunt to assign soldiers to deal with the raiders."

Marc looked at her sharply, and the Princess smiled.

"I would never leave our men in harm's way without proper resources," she assured him. "I do, however, have military assets of my own. Remember, as the senior member of House Lockeleigh, I'm the Grand Duchess of Lockeshire."

"The city militia?" Marc asked. The Princess smiled and nodded.

All of the major cities and even the larger shires had their own militia for self-defense, which was why none of them had been attacked. A shire or farmstead with a few dozen inhabitants was a far more attractive target than a city of hundreds or thousands with walls and armed citizens to man them. Lockeshire's militia was made up of five thousand men and women, and all had been fairly well trained and equipped. Only five hundred were active at any time, but all could be activated in the event of an emergency.

The door to the audience chamber opened, and Aliana and Enara entered, both flushed and breathless as though they had been running. Keri gave them her best imperious glare.

"It's about time," the Princess scolded. "Did you find something useful?"

"Yes, very," Enara said with a big smile.

"You're going to love it," Aliana added.

Marc gave the two young women a curious stare and then turned his attention back to the Princess.

"Highness, your idea has merit, but there are some difficulties," he said slowly. "In order to call up the militia, you need a declaration of emergency specific to the reason they're being activated. Even with that, you need funding — you can't pull people from their shops and fields without compensation."

"We already have a declaration," Keri said with a triumphant grin. She pulled a large piece of paper from a pile on the table and passed it to Marc.

"This is the declaration the Regent used to restrict spire travel," Marc said.

"Yes, and it specifically states that the emergency requiring such measures is the presence of raiders within our borders. The same emergency that allowed my aunt to close the spires also allows me to call up the militia, and she can't touch them. The law forbids the use of militia to support military campaigns."

"Of course," Marc said. "The militia is for home defense. You still need money — you could pay for it out of your personal funds, but even you don't have the money to maintain that for more than a few months."

"I believe Lady Enara has a solution for that," the Princess said. "Please, tell us what you learned, Nara."

Enara smiled nervously and said, "Well, a few nights ago I asked Her Highness if I could look at the kingdom's financial records. I've always been good with numbers … it's about the only thing my father ever praised me for … and I did work with him in Highkeep on the barony's budget."

The noblewoman dug through the leather binder she carried and pulled out a sheet of paper filled with lines and columns of numbers. One section had been circled for reference, and she showed it to the Princess and Marc. It indicated a fund with a vast amount of money.

"That's the kingdom's emergency fund," Enara explained. "By law it became available as soon as the emergency declaration was issued, as long as the funds are used in relation to the reason for the declaration."

"I am such an idiot!" the Princess exclaimed. "I should have thought of this … Nara, you're brilliant!"

"Highness, you can't be expected to know everything," Enara said, her cheeks turning a deep red at the praise. "The Exchequer should have made you aware that the funds were available as soon as the declaration was issued."

The Princess looked at Marc and raised her eyebrows, and the knight knew she was thinking the same thing he was. The Chancellor may well have informed the Regent, but she had decided not to mention it to the Princess.

"Marc, I need to know two things," the Princess said after a moment. "Can the militia handle this, and how many will we need to garrison the forts? I'd like to have them rotated out on a weekly basis."

"The forts are small, only intended to support a troop at best," Marc said. "Twenty-four hundred militia would be sufficient to man them on a six week rotation without compromising the security of the city. It's what the militia is intended for. They're up to the task."

"That's what we figured," the Princess said. "Any suggestions to make it more effective?"

"Yes," Marc said. "We should detach some serjeants and yeoman from the Palace Guard to command the outposts initially. One serjeant and a pair of yeoman during each rotation would give each unit experienced leadership and provide some additional training."

"Can we spare them?"

"Easily," Marc said. "The brilliance of your plan is it doesn't weaken the city defenses, it strengthens them by expanding our defensive sphere. Lockeshire is virtually unassailable anyway — it would take an army of two hundred thousand to have any hope of breaching the walls, and if an army like that were to penetrate this far into the kingdom … well, we'd have more problems than raiders."

"I'm glad you approve, because I want to extend those capabilities even further," Her Highness said. "When we travel into the western reaches, I want to take enough additional militia with us to garrison each of the fortifications that will be built for the Progress. They will stay long enough to train up a local militia, and then return to Lockeshire. That will also add to our defense — I know it's not the same as the heavy cavalry and infantry you wanted, but at least it's something."

"It will give the people hope," Marc said, his eyes shining with admiration. "Your parents would be proud."

"They shouldn't be," the Princess said as she rose to her feet. "I've let my aunt manipulate me and turn me into nothing more than a stamp of approval for her policies. I don't deserve to be Princess, but I am — and I won't be a puppet anymore."

"Highness, you are able to dispense the funds," Enara said, "but the order still requires the Regent's signature."

A wicked grin crossed the Princess's face and she said, "Exactly, Enara — she's required to sign it. Let's see how she likes it when someone else is pulling the strings."

CHAPTER 12

Duchess Rayna stared at the words on the note attached to the order to dispense emergency funds for the militia. It was all worded very properly and respectfully, but it amounted to one thing — the Princess was ordering her to sign.

"I won't do it," the Regent said flatly. "If she thinks she can play her little games with me…."

"She is not playing a game," Duke Terlan said, looking up from a thick tome that held the laws of the kingdom.

"As heir, the Princess controls the finances of the kingdom," he said. "Until now, she has been content to let you dictate how funds are disbursed, but it is her signature that orders it. Your endorsement is simply a confirmation that the funds are being utilized according to the law. Should you fail to endorse a legal disbursement, which this clearly is, then you would be removed as Regent."

"The Council of Barons would never support that," the Regent said, but her voice betrayed uncertainty.

"My dear, you have grown accustomed to having to placate the barons," Terlen said. "You need their support - the Princess is under no such stricture. They know that to refuse her, even as Princess, would only give her cause to replace them once she is Queen. If Princess Kerialla made a formal request for your removal, with just cause, the Council of Guild Masters would support her, and the barons would have no choice but to do so as well."

The Regent looked at the order, her eyes still burning with anger. She picked up a pen and started to sign, then stopped, throwing the pen back onto the desktop.

"Look at it this way," Duke Terlen said. "There's no reason not to endorse the order. What the Princess proposes will not hamper war funding in any way. In fact, her solution is really quite ingenious."

"It could hamper our plans in other ways," the Regent said. "The raiders have been a nuisance at best, but they have increased the level of anxiety among the populace. I convinced the barons that the best way to deal with the attacks is to press forward with our offensive and take the Merdian ports in central Camron, which is where your intelligence has suggested the raiders are launching from. The Princess's efforts could curtail the attacks and sap the will of the barons."

"It will take months to build a militia force capable of dealing with the raiders," Terlen said. "By that time, the offensive will be well under way, and it will be impossible to stop it."

The Regent stared at the order a moment longer, then snatched up the pen and hastily scribbled her name beneath that of the Princess.

"Perhaps there is a way to speed up our offensive," the Regent said. "Find Knight-Marshal Teagan - I want to discuss his plan."

"The seaborne assault?" Duke Terlen asked. "That's a very risky proposal. We have never attempted to send such a large force over the water."

The Regent merely nodded. Marshal Teagan's plan called for loading an entire division, over fifty-thousand troops, onto coastal barges pulled by steamships and then sailing them across the Gulf of Camron to land a hundred leagues in the Merdian's rear area. If successful, they would then push east towards the frontier, forcing the Merdians to weaken their line in response. It wasn't without risks — the barges were not intended for travel over deep water, and the whole force could be lost if it ran into foul weather. The troops would be isolated, without support or supply lines, until they were able to link up with the main force.

"Perhaps it's time to be bold," the Regent said.

"As you wish, my dear," Terlen said as he turned to leave.

When he was gone, the Regent walked over to the map on the wall and stared at it. Despite what her niece thought, Duchess Rayna did believe Keri had the makings of a fine Queen, who would lead her people into a new age of prosperity. But before that could happen, the Merdians had to be crushed once and for all, and the Princess was simply too compassionate to carry on with the war.

The Regent left the map and walked over to her desk and passed her hand over her crystal speaker. The cube lit up with a pale blue light, and the voice of Knight-Commander Jaris issued from it.

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"I want you to set in motion the plan we discussed earlier," the Regent said.

"I'll see to it at once, Your Grace."

"Remember, Jaris, no harm is to come to the Princess," the Regent said. "If so much as a hair on her head is hurt, I'll have yours on a pike."

"I understand, Your Grace."

The Regent deactivated the orb and sat down at the desk. She had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but the Princess had left her no choice. She needed her niece out of the way for a time, so that she could proceed with her plans. It was treason, and she would likely pay with her own life in the end, but that was a sacrifice she was willing to accept. The Merdians had to be held accountable for the death of her sister. One way or another, she would have her revenge.

CHAPTER 13

The Royal Progress left Lockeshire as scheduled on the first of Mai. It was a cool spring morning, but Keri didn't even notice as she rode out of the city at the head of her three hundred Royal Guardsmen. She had decided to make a statement of sorts, and instead of a gown she was clad in her armor - a brightly polished, sculpted breastplate of manthracite steel over rings of blackened mail. Keri was as tall as most men, and with her longsword and dagger at her hips, she was the epitome of the warrior princess. She left her hair loose, the golden strands billowing beneath her golden coronet. The streets were lined with cheering people, a spontaneous display that touched her deeply.

Their first stop was a short distance from Lockeshire, at Tuatha farmstead. A Royal Court was called, held on the village commons, and once the Princess was seated, Rodin stepped forward to open the court, and then unrolled a large scroll.

"Her Highness calls forward Kerlan of Darnow," the herald proclaimed in his powerful tenor.

The old farmer emerged from the audience and approached the Princess, bowing low before kneeling in front of her. Keri rose and walked forward, placing a hand on the man's head.

"Please rise, Kerlan, so that you may share in this."

Kerlan stood and bowed his head, but the Princess placed a gauntlet-clad hand on his chin and raised his face until their eyes met.

"It is I who should bow before you, Kerlan," she said as she drew the farmer into her arms. "Despite the great price you have already paid, your sons stood tall and proud, and that can only be the result of their father's example.

"Long ago my forefather, King Brestor, issued a decree that abolished the practice of serfdom and made all Trimarians, commoner and noble alike, free people who could own land," the Princess said. "Vast wealth was not necessary, only the desire and commitment to prove a claim and make the land bloom. The people of Tuatha have shown great commitment and sacrificed not only their time but their very blood. In honor of your diligence, I hereby declare your obligation fulfilled — this land is yours, now and forever more."

A great cheer rose from the villagers, and after it had died down, Keri turned to Rodin, who passed an ornately scribed and illuminated scroll to her. The Princess passed the paper to Kerlan before continuing.

"As a new shire, Tuatha needs a leader, and after receiving many recommendations from the people here, I name Kerlan Seneschal of Tuatha Shire."

There was more cheering, and the Princess paused again to allow the people to show their support for their new leader. As a shire they would now be able to expand and establish their own farmsteads, which would attract more people to live and work there. When the crowd was quiet again, Rodin's voice rose once more.

"Her Highness calls forth Enis and Gerron, the sons of Kerlan!"

Two young men bearing the mark of their father approached, neither long out of their teens. They stopped before entering the Royal Presence and laid their bows and daggers on the ground. Then they stepped forward, bowing and then kneeling before the Princess.

"One of the duties and great privileges I have is to award those who distinguish themselves through exceptional courage. These young men showed such courage, and it is my great joy to reward them thusly."

Rodin raised another scroll and in a loud voice read the words scribed upon it.

"The heart of Trimaria is her people, and only through her people can Trimaria stand tall. When their friends and family were threatened by orc raiders, Enis and Gerron, sons of Kerlan, bravely faced the enemy, and without regard for themselves, held the raiders at bay until the rest of their village could seek safety. They did this without thought of glory or fame, thinking only of others. For their selfless courage, above and beyond all expectation, I, Her Royal Highness Princess Kerialla Astriala Lockeleigh, grant unto them the Sovereign's Order of Honor, and with it, an Award of Arms!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, and the two young men rose. The Princess placed around their necks the medallion of the Order of Honor, and gave each a smile and an embrace. The order was a great honor, but more significant was the Award of Arms attached to it. As armigers, Enis and Gerron could enter the Royal Presence armed, and could submit to the College of Heralds a crest which would be associated with their descendants forevermore.

Before releasing them, the Princess pulled each of the young men close once more, kissing them on the cheek and whispering, "If I can prove worthy of such as you, I will be a great queen indeed."

The Princess didn't tarry long in Tuatha, as they had long ride ahead. Once they were a short distance from the new shire, the procession stopped to allow the Princess to dismount and transfer to her coach. Pulled by a team of six powerful draft horses, the coach was eight feet wide and twice that in length. It could seat up to six in comfort and included a small privy, a cold box for food storage and two bunk beds. The coach was too massive for travel overland, but Trimaria, especially the Central Valley and the south, had an excellent system of well-maintained roads. They were less numerous in the west, but most of the Progress's travel there would be via spires, and all of them were connected to nearby settlements by roads.

Once inside, Aliana and Keri went forward and drew a curtain for privacy, out of respect for Master Talisin who was riding with them, and the Princess got out of her armor and into a comfortable gown.

"How do you like my palace on wheels, Master Tally?" Keri asked as she settled into her seat.

"It's a remarkable conveyance," the sage said. "I assume the temperature is maintained by some mystical means?"

Keri nodded, pointing to a black plate in the ceiling.

"It works the same as a cold box," she explained, "except it can also give off heat. All we need to make it perfect is a little something extra."

The Princess snapped her fingers and a gentle breeze began wafting through the coach.

"Show off," Aliana said.

"We're going to be in here a lot," Keri said. "We might as well be comfortable."

For the next three weeks, the Royal Progress made its way through the Central Valley. They saw no sign of raiders, and at each shire the Princess was greeted warmly by the people. The farmsteads and shires of the valley were the most prosperous in Trimaria and only recently had begun to experience the fear caused by the raiders. The announcement that the outposts were being reactivated was received well, with many volunteers for local militias coming forward.

By the time they returned to the Palace, everyone was ready for a week of rest — not that there was that much rest to be had. Wagons and equipment had to be serviced, supplies restocked and the few little problems that had surfaced during the first leg addressed and corrected.

Keri and Aliana had their own work to do. Patents from prospective suitors had begun arriving, and they both had to be familiar with them — Keri because she might encounter some of them before they reached the shire of Amurga, and Aliana because she would be greeting them as the Princess at the Grand Ball.

"I should have insisted on an age limit," Keri sighed as she reviewed one. "This is from Earl Brannick … he's sixty!"

Aliana laughed and said, "Well, this one is from his twelve-year-old grandson. At least you have the right to reject any you want without comment."

"Well, you get to decide that," Keri grinned. "You're the one that will have to dance with them."

Aliana smiled sweetly, took the scroll from her friend and stacked it with hers and set them both aside.

The second leg began on the first day of the month of Jun. The summer heat was brutal in the southern part of the kingdom, but the reception Keri received at each stop was not dampened. The south was not as densely populated as the Central Valley, but there was much more ground to cover. Fortunately, they had the spires for travel, allowing them to cover great distances in an instant.

There was one marked difference in the south. When the procession was traveling along the roads they frequently encountered small groups and even individuals, something they hadn't seen in the Central Valley. The south had yet to feel the fear of the raiders, and the question the Princess was asked most frequently was when the spires would be opened to the populace again.

The southern countryside was vastly different from the grasslands of the Central Valley as well. Keri spent many hours outside her coach as they rode through vast forests of towering evergreens. The highlight of the trip, however, was the afternoon they spent on the white sand beaches near the Shire of Seamar on the Altaen Ocean. Keri managed to drag Aliana and Enara and all of her handmaidens into the water at some point. The day ended with them all tired, gritty and a little sunburned.

The first two legs did nothing to prepare the Princess for what she would see in the west. From their very first stop at the shire of Glynhold, the mood of the people was different. They still turned out to greet their Princess, but the crowds were subdued with an undercurrent of hostility. The west had suffered repeated raider attacks for nearly a year, and many people had been killed. Crops had been destroyed as well, and yet there had been no relief of any kind. By the time they set out for the spire that would take them to Amurga, the Princess had come to an important decision — one that would change her life forever.

CHAPTER 14

On the twelfth day of Tember the Royal Progress arrived at the transport spires near the shire of Amurga. The spires were truly impressive sights - towering sixty feet high, they looked like great claws rising from the earth. The four manthracite spires curved inward, arcing over the stone circle at their center, a hundred feet in diameter. Magical glyphs of bright silver formed intricate patterns on every side of the spires, pulsing with the power of the aether that they channeled.

The spires began to hum, the glyphs glowing more brightly. A ball of brilliant blue-white light appeared in the air at the point exactly in the center of the four spires, quickly growing in size until it filled the entire space, completely covering the hundred-foot diameter stone platform. Then the ball flashed like a star exploding, and when the light was gone Marc and fifty mounted Royal Guards were revealed. They quickly cleared the platform, forming a circle about it. A few minutes later, the spires began to hum once more.

A second group of guardsmen arrived, and the perimeter expanded out from the spires. When the third group of fifty guardsmen arrived, they immediately set out down the road to Amurga to scout the path. The Princess and her entourage arrived next, along with several of the wagons carrying supplies and support personnel.

The size of the entourage had decreased in the five weeks since they had left Lockeshire on the final leg of the Royal Progress. Most of the militia troops that had accompanied them had been left at various stops along the way, and there were only two groups that still had to be dispersed. Despite this, it still took more than an hour toe complete the transfer, as the spires required several minutes between trips to recharge. The remaining three troops of Royal Guards followed after the last of the support train was through, and the procession began to form up for the four hour march to Amurga.

"We'll be ready to move out momentarily, Highness," Marc told the Princess as he brought his war-horse to a stop by her coach. "I thought you might enjoy the view."

The Princess looked out at the spires and behind them the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Malmorrow Mountains. Keri took in the panorama, and Marc was sure he saw the glint of tears in her eyes. It had been eight years since she last saw the mountains with her parents.

"Thank you, Marc," she said. "I'd almost forgotten how beautiful it was."

After over four months of travel and countless stops, the Royal Guard functioned with precision and speed. Two troops, a hundred men and women, formed a vanguard preceding the Princess and the support personnel. Two additional troops fell in behind, and a third lagged back to bring up the rear.

The morale of the men was very good, and Marc was more than pleased with their performance. This was what the Royal Guard was meant for - not sitting around the palace as a permanent garrison. There had been a few awkward moments as the Royal Progress began, as many of the men had never had the opportunity to act as the escort they were intended to be. The veterans quickly straightened out the problems without any intervention from Marc or his serjeant.

"It feels good, don't it lad," Garith said as they traveled towards the shire of Amurga.

Marc actually laughed and nodded. "Yes, it does. It was wrong to keep the Princess locked away in the palace, I can see that now."

"She was born to rule," Garith said. "She knows how to touch the hearts of her people."

Marc nodded again. It was true; Keri was born to be queen, and not just because her father had been king. In a few short weeks, Marc had watched her blossom and seen her literally sweep the people of her kingdom off their feet with her charm. She had warmed the hearts of the Royal Guard as well. On the nights when they had to camp, she sat around the fire with them and listened to the stories of the veterans. Many told her things about her father she had never known, and the Princess had not been ashamed to let them see her laughter or her tears. She had spent one day entirely in the cook tent, and that night the entire company had been treated to a sumptuous feast that the Princess had overseen. The dessert course had been freshly baked cookies, and the Princess had personally served all of the Royal Guard. The gesture was lost on the newer men, but the veterans happily explained how a young child used to insist on paying them every week personally with cookies her mother had helped her bake. It brought to mind happier times - and promised more to come.

"Aliana's been thrilled to actually have her own staff of handmaidens," Stilnar said.

Marc grinned at his cousin, knowing that the pretty handmaiden had enticed him into her bedchamber on more than one night. Though he would never admit it, the big knight had entertained more than one fantasy about the Princess's handmaiden. While he had virtually grown up with the two girls, he had always seen the Princess as a sister, whereas Aliana had been more attainable, not that he had ever seriously considered a romantic relationship. It had nothing to do with the eleven years that separated them — girls younger than Aliana routinely married men older than Marc — it was the knight's sense of decorum.

The knight-captain saw a familiar hand waving from the royal coach and spurred his war-horse forward until he was alongside the Princess's window.

"Could you have our horses brought up, Marc?" Keri asked. "It's too lovely a day to be cooped up in this carriage the whole trip."

Marc turned in his saddle and waved the handler in charge of the girls' mounts forward. The procession stopped briefly to allow them to mount and then proceeded on its way. The girls had kept their dresses elegant but simple to avoid the necessity of riding sidesaddle, while still presenting an appropriate appearance should they pass anyone on the road. Despite her disdain for many things done for the sake of tradition or propriety, the Princess understood that the people needed some of it. Her attire and entourage emphasized her nobility, but her manner and charm made her seem very down to earth. In every place they had visited, the people had quickly warmed to her, even though the western villages were wary at first.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you look so happy," Marc said as they rode on.

"I am happy," Keri smiled. "Thank you, Marc."

"I should thank you, Highness," Marc said. "These past years, I've worried that you might never become what I thought you should be, but I see now I was one of those keeping you back. You've reminded me what we're here for."

"Brother, you've never kept me back," Keri said, "and you've taught me more than you know."

Music drifted forward, and Marc and the Princess looked back to see her minstrel, Varil, serenading Enara as he rode alongside her. The Lady-in-Waiting was giggling and blushing, obviously enjoying the attention.

"Poor Varil," Keri laughed. "He doesn't even realize he has no chance."

"The Honorable Lady Enara doesn't plan to have children?" Marc asked.

"Oh she does, but not anytime soon," Keri replied. "She's become fascinated with my great-grandmother. I've been letting her read the journals she left. They're quite … risqué in places, and downright ribald in others. I think Enara's found a role model."

"She could do far worse," Marc said. "Queen Riala was an impressive woman."

"I wish I could have met her," Keri said. The legendary queen had passed away just days after her great-granddaughter was born.

"Now that's odd," Marc said, a strange look on his face.

"What is?"

The knight shook his head in wonder and said, "I just remembered something she said to me, just before she passed on. I was passing her in the hall outside her quarters and she stopped me and said, 'I'll be moving on soon, Marc. Before I do, I need to tell you this - sometimes to fulfill our duty, we must surrender ourselves. Sometimes to protect we must let go. When the time comes, you remember that.' It was so odd to hear her talk about dying because she still looked like a young woman."

"That scares me sometimes." Keri told him.

"Dying?" Marc asked.

"No, not dying," Keri said. "Pureblood elves don't die naturally. I don't know if I can stand watching the people I love grow old and die."

"Don't think of it that way," the knight said. "Remember that in you, in your memories, the rest of us will live on, maybe forever. Live for yourself, Princess, but live for those you love as well."

"You're pretty wise for a sword swinger," Keri said. "What would I do without you, big brother?"

"I live to serve, Highness."

The Princess and her friends rode with the guard for an hour and then returned to their carriage. They were still three hours away from Amurga, and Keri didn't want to be stiff and saddle sore when they entered the shire. She knew the impression riding in on horseback would make, but she wasn't foolish enough to think she could stay in the saddle alongside trained warriors for the entire trip.

While on the surface it seemed logical that settlements would develop and grow about the transport spires, in fact the opposite was the true.  The location of the spires was governed by the flow of the aether, which more often than not didn't coincide with land that was amenable to habitation. While the aether permeated all of Andarel, it was stronger in certain places than others, like the currents of a river. Only a small percentage of the spires were located close to population centers. At four leagues Amurga was actually much closer to its spire than many other villages.

Thirty-minutes out from the village, Marc had the saddles on the horses for the Princess and her friends swapped, and when they entered Amurga, Keri was astride her stallion, riding sidesaddle in an elegant gown of glittering purple and silver. Her hair was not braided or styled, and it billowed about her head like a golden aura. Marc watched with pride as she strove to make eye contact with as many of the throng that greeted her as possible, gifting each with a heartfelt smile.

After the procession, there was a Royal Court. Keri listened to each petitioner with genuine interest, and if an issue arose that she was not permitted to deal with, she promised to bring it to the attention of the Regent.  Her scribe dutifully recorded the entire proceeding for future reference. Keri also met privately with the seneschal of the shire, a kindly looking man with thinning hair called Yoris. He was hesitant at first to speak of any concerns, but by now Keri knew what to expect and was able to coax him into speaking freely.

"Well, it's the taxes, Highness," Yoris told her. "We've always been glad to provide our tithe to support the army, but over the last few years they've been raised six times. Several of our farmsteads have been raided and their crops and stores burned. The stockpiles are gone, and we barely have enough to feed ourselves. There's nothing left for trade or to replenish our reserve. If we have a bad harvest, I'm afraid we'll starve."

"You're not the first seneschal I've heard this from, Yoris," Keri told him. "I'm ashamed to say I wasn't aware of how badly the taxes levied to support the war have strained the people. I will be speaking to the Regent about this when I return to Lockeshire, and you have my solemn vow that I will do everything within my power to bring you relief."

Later in the day, the shire held a banquet in honor of the Princess. Marc felt a renewed surge of pride as Keri stood as the meal was served and addressed the people.

"I thank you all from the depths of my heart for this sharing of your labors," she said. "I am well aware that this has placed a strain on your supplies, and I want you to know that I am deeply touched. My only hope is that one day I can prove myself worthy of the love you have shown me."

After the feast, the Princess was escorted to their encampment, a short distance away from the shire. The encampment outside Amurga consisted of a wooden palisade atop a grassy knoll at the base of a steep, rocky hill. The backside of the hill was a sheer wall over a hundred feet high, making an assault from that direction impossible. Despite this, Marc had positioned sentries at the top in case an enemy attempted to scale the crumbling cliff face.

At the base of the knoll, an outer perimeter of wood and earthen barricades had been constructed, forming a semicircle. It was a strong defensive position, with a hundred yards of open ground between it and the dense trees of the forest to the west.

Despite the strength of the position, Marc wasn't happy. He had only the Royal Guard plus fifty archers for defense. Amurga was over eighty leagues from the frontlines on the Isthmus of Valmor, but with the raider activity, Marc was concerned. He had asked for infantry and heavy cavalry to support the Guard, but the Regent had denied the request, saying there weren't enough troops to spare.

Keri surveyed the encampment as they passed through the outer perimeter and sighed.

"I hate this," she said.

"Riding side saddle or the encampment?" Marc asked.

"Well, I don't like riding this way, but it's necessary in this gown," Keri said. "I do hate having to live in an armed camp at every shire we visit."

"This is necessary too," Marc said, "but I understand what you're saying. You shouldn't have to do this … not here in Trimaria."

"My aunt should have received the message I sent this morning," Keri said as they entered the palisade on the hilltop. "How do you think she took it?"

"I think I'm glad we're over a hundred leagues from Lockeshire," Marc answered.

Keri laughed and said, "Me too. Do you have time to for a little wine, Marc, or do you have to check the guards?"

"My presence isn’t needed at the moment," Marc said. "I'll make a round before I turn in for the night."

The Princess's quarters were actually three round pavilions joined together by a central canopy that created a sitting area. Keri removed her coronet as soon as they were inside and dropped into a chair.

"Ali, do we have any wine chilled?" she asked.

"Of course we do," Aliana said. She walked to a corner of the sitting room and opened a wooden chest. The magically chilled air inside immediately formed a cloud of vapor as she withdrew a large bottle of dark red wine.

"Will you be requiring my services further tonight, Highness?" her herald asked.

"Not precisely, but I would like you  to stay for a moment, Rodin," Keri said. "What I have to say is important."

Aliana served the wine and then took a seat next to the Princess. Keri took a sip from her goblet and seemed to be collecting her thoughts.

"Before I get started, there is something I would like you to take care of first thing tomorrow, Rodin," the Princess said. "I have a message I'd like you to deliver personally to Lord Chamberlain Fenril, authorizing him to begin purchasing supplies to provide relief for these people. If something isn't done, some of them won't make it through the winter.

"I also have a message for Master Otellan. I know the heralds get news that doesn't always make it to me or the populace in general. I want him to assist Lord Fenril in identifying the shires hit hardest. Sir Marcan will provide you with an escort."

"I'll leave at first light, Highness," Rodin said.

"Thank you, Rodin. Now, on to the meat of the matter. This war is bleeding the people of our kingdom dry, and I've heard too many tales of sons and daughters lost."

The Princess paused as her voice became choked with emotion. Aliana immediately passed her a handkerchief, and she and Enara gripped the Princess's hands in a show of support. When Keri had composed herself, she continued, a look of determination in her eyes.

"After what I have seen, I've decided that I can't in good conscience wait until my twenty-first birthday to assume the throne. This morning I had Marc send a courier back to Lockeshire with a message to the Regent — I intend to assume the throne three months from today."

Keri paused and looked about, waiting for someone to speak. They all just sat there smiling at her.

"Isn't someone going to say something?" she finally asked.

"I daresay we've all been expecting you to come to this decision, Highness," Master Talisin said. "I think I speak for all when I say you have our full support."

"Well, you people are no fun at all," Keri pouted. "Here I thought I was going to shock you."

"Like you could shock me," Aliana said. "I know how horrified you've felt over the conditions we've seen, and I know it's tearing you up. These walls are thin, Highness — I've heard you cry yourself to sleep."

Keri smiled and squeezed her friend's hand.

"Thank you all for your support," Keri said. "I think the girls and I will be getting ready for bed now."

Marc waited until the others had left before rising from his seat. He paused at the pavilion's entrance, turning back to face the Princess.

"I'm proud of you, little sister," he said, and then left to make his rounds.

CHAPTER 15

As soon as she was alone with Aliana and Enara, Keri sprang to her feet and began pulling at the laces of her gown while moving towards her bedchamber.

"Remember to stay close to me, Ali," she said as she slipped out of the gown, "especially once we're on the horses. The cloaking spell will hide us, but it doesn't have a very long range."

"Keri, considering your decision, maybe we shouldn't do this," Aliana said.

The Princess stopped as she was about to remove her under-dress and grabbed Aliana's hands, pulling her over to the bed and sitting her down. She knelt before her handmaiden and looked up into her eyes as she spoke.

"Ali, I want to do this now more than ever, but not for the reason I first came up with for the whole thing," she said. "These last few weeks, you've been beyond wonderful. You've taken care of my every need and whipped those other girls into shape amazingly. Well, I want you to be taken care of for a change, and more than that, I want to be the one doing it. Please let me do this for you."

Aliana reached out and touched her friend's cheek as she said, "All right, Keri."

With Enara's help, they quickly changed into tunics and trousers, with thick wool cloaks to ward off the night's chill. In case of trouble, they were both armed with swords and daggers.

"We should be back well before dawn," Keri told Enara. "Turn the lights down, so it will look like we've gone to bed."

"I will," Enara said. "If you're not back an hour before sunrise, I'm going straight to Sir Marcan."

"I know you will, sweetie," Keri said.

"Have you figured out how we're going to convince Marc to come back here before we return to Lockeshire?" Aliana asked.

Keri grinned and nodded. "It's very simple. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to tell him everything. This is the last night of the full moon, so there's nothing that can be done until next month. That'll be just a week after the Harvest Festival, and there'll be no choice but to come back here."

"He's going to be furious."

"I know, and I'll weather the storm," Keri said. She looked at both girls with a serious expression and added, "If by some chance our little swap is revealed, you're both to swear that you cooperated by my command."

Aliana shook her head furiously and said, "No fragging way, Keri. We're treading on the law as it is here. If the Council of Mages thought you'd forced me into this, they'd strip you of your powers. We can protect Nara, but I'm a willing participant."

"Me too," Enara said. "We're in this together or not at all."

"All right, you silly girls," Keri relented. "If we hang, we hang together."

The Princess grasped Aliana's hands and closed her eyes for an instant as she reached out for the aether. Then she recited the cloaking incantation, and before Enara's wide eyes, they both vanished.

"Good luck," Enara whispered, knowing they could hear her, but she couldn't hear them. The cloaking field masked every trace of them, while still allowing them to hear and see the world around them.

Keri moved to the wall near her bed and knelt down, lifting the fabric of the pavilion just enough to peek out. No one was in sight, so she and Aliana slipped out into the night.

Even with the cloaking spell, they had to be cautious. If they bumped into something, they could still make noise, and even worse, if a guard passed close enough to even partially enter the field, he would be able to see them. The most dangerous part of their escape was passing through the gates of the palisade. The entrance wasn't very wide, and Keri pulled Aliana so close to her that their breasts were mashed together as they slipped through.

"Stop that," Keri whispered after they were through. She could feel Aliana's nipples stiffening from their intimate contact.

"What can I say," Aliana told her with a giggle in her voice. "You make me horny."

"Everything makes you horny," Keri replied.

"Not like you do," Aliana sighed. "I wish…."

Keri stopped and pulled Aliana close, kissing her on the lips with all the passion she could muster. Her ring immediately reacted, and she felt Aliana's nipples soften through the fabric of her tunic as her own passion was dampened.

"You're sneaky," Aliana pouted as they continued towards the corral. "That was like having a bucket of cold water dumped on me."

"Ali, when I'm queen, we won't have to pretend," Keri said. "We can't ever be what we'd really like to be - you like boys too much, and I have a duty to provide an heir, but we can be together whenever we want."

"I think I'll enjoy being the Queen's mistress," Ali laughed. "I'll take anything I can if it keeps me near you."

They made it to the corral without incident, and once the guards were not looking in their direction, Keri expanded the cloak to include their horses. Fortunately, the corral was just a roped off perimeter, and they were able to slip the horses out easily enough. They would have to ride bareback, but they had done that many times before.

Once they were well away from the encampment, Keri dropped the cloak, and they spurred their mounts into a trot. The Star Stones were almost two miles away from the shire, sitting atop a rocky plateau that afforded them an unobstructed view of the night sky. A narrow path wound up from the valley floor to the top of the plateau, and after dismounting, they tied the horses to the rail constructed for just such a purpose and entered the ring formed by the Star Stones.

Like the spires, the Star Stones were curving monoliths of manthracite, one for each month of the year. Unlike the spires, the Star Stones actually curved inward until they almost touched, and each one had a focusing aperture through which the light of Kessil shined when it reached its highest point in the night sky.

"I always loved coming here with your parents," Aliana said as she gazed at the glittering tapestry above.

"Me too," Keri said. "And now we know what they were doing. I always wondered why they shooed us away as the moon was rising."

Keri pulled the Amulet of Kessil out from beneath her tunic. As soon as the light of Kessil hit it, the medallion began glowing with a blue-white light. It wouldn't reach its full power until the light was concentrated through the focusing aperture of the appropriate standing stone. The proper stone was easy enough to identify, as the moon was clearly visible through a large rectangular opening that was marked with lines to track it as it approached its zenith.

"It looks like we have about an hour, maybe a little more" Keri said.

"Do you think you'll ever try it like your parents did, with a man, I mean?"

"Maybe," Keri said. "I'd have to find the right man."

"I'd do it," Aliana said. "Especially if I could be with you."

Keri smiled and pulled Aliana into an embrace.

"I love you so much," she whispered. "I'm going to fawn all over you for the next month."

As they stood in each other's arms, a series of rumbling sounds reached their ears. With the rocky terrain of the area, it was difficult to tell precisely what direction the sound had come from.

"That's odd," Aliana said. "I didn't see any lighting, and the sky is clear as can be."

"Sound can travel strangely in the mountains, I've been told," Keri said. "It's probably a long way off."

*****

The night was still and calm, without even the hint of a breeze as Marc finished his tour of the perimeter. He was just about to return to the palisade and retire for the night, when a thunderous noise erupted from the distant tree line. Marc spun and saw the moonlight reflecting off a rising cloud of smoke, and a massive flash of fire followed by a second booming noise.

"Incoming fire!" Marc shouted in his loudest voice. "Cover!"

Thunder continued to roar from the trees as Marc dropped behind the outer barricade. There were six distinct explosive volleys - the exact ammunition capacity of orc bolt-casters. Orcs possessed no aptitude for magic and had come to rely on more technological means to make up for it. The bolts their weapons fired were slightly smaller than a standard crossbow bolt, and were propelled by an explosive powder. The weapons had six barrels, which were rotated by means of a lever to bring the next bolt into firing position after each shot.

Before the echoes of the last volley had faded, the first bolts began to fall along the perimeter. Good gunners could fire off their entire load of darts in quick succession, starting with a high trajectory and lowering their aim with each shot so that the darts landed in the target area almost simultaneously. As the foot-long bolts fell like rain, Marc knew these gunners were very good.

Their one salvation was that the hundred-yard range was extreme for the weapons. Many fell short and others buried themselves in the wooden barricade with a loud thunk. Some found flesh, however, and Marc heard screams erupt from along the defensive line.

As soon as the last shots had been fired, Marc had started counting the time. Even the best gunner would take almost half a minute to reload and prime his weapon for another volley. That gave the guard time to respond.

"Stand to!" Marc shouted. "Archers hold fire!"

Guardsmen who had been off duty rushed to their positions on the barricade, most still pulling on their armor. Meanwhile, Marc's hundred archers held their positions within the hilltop palisade, arrows knocked and ready. There was no point in returning fire — the enemy was hidden in the trees, and despite the copious amounts of smoke their volleys produced, the archers would be firing blind. It was best to keep them hidden for the moment.

Thunder rolled across the open ground again, and more bolts fell among the Royal Guard, followed by more screams. The guards were spread out to cover the nine hundred foot perimeter, and were fairly well concealed from the incoming fire, but the high trajectory of some of the bolts permitted them to strike men behind the low wall, and casualties were mounting.

"Keep yer heads down, lads," he heard Garith calling as he moved along the line. "They'll be comin' soon enough, 'till they do keep low."

As the guns volleyed a third time, the burly serjeant slid to the ground next to Marc. The knight-captain looked at the serjeant, his hauberk hastily belted and his tabard missing, and shook his head.

"Well, I was in kinda a hurry," Garith said in defense of his appearance.

"And here I thought you slept in your armor," Marc said as more bolts fell.

"Nah, it just smells that way," Garith replied.

"Where's Stil?" Marc asked.

"Doin' his job, lad," Garith told him. "He was runnin' for all he's worth towards the corral to get the Princess's mounts. If it comes to it, he'll get the lasses outta here."

"When the volley ends, get word to the mounted troop," Marc ordered. "Tell Killian to sweep wide to the left and wait for the signal."

The bolts stopped falling, and Garith leapt to his feet and set off at a run to carry out his orders. The silence after the last volley went on, long past the point when the gunners should have reloaded. That meant they were either out of ammunition and this had merely been a harassment, or the enemy was preparing to charge and they were saving their next volley to support it. Marc didn't believe it had been a harassment..

"Pass the word," Marc told the men on either side of him. "Make ready, but stay down until I give the order to rise."

The order was passed down the line quickly. Marc would have preferred to meet the attack on the field, but he didn't have enough men to do that and hold the barricade. Their only option was to defend the low wall, its cover acting as a force multiplier

The thunder of the guns sounded again, this time accompanied by the roar of orc battle cries. Marc spared a glance over the barricade, and estimated there were well over three hundred orcs charging towards them. He figured there were at least fifty gunners hidden in the trees, which made the enemy's numbers close to his own. It was far more than would be necessary to sack Amurga. They could only be here for the Princess, but it was too soon to order her evacuation. She was far safer in the encampment for now.

Marc ducked back as more bolts fell, and then leapt to his feet as soon as the deadly rain was over. He didn't have to give a command for the archers to fire — arrows were already arcing out from palisade, the enchanted shafts trailing streams of magical light. The bowmen couldn't match the rate of fire of the bolt-casters in the short run, but they could maintain a steady hail of arrows without the long pauses the gunners required for reloading.

"Stand to the barricade!" Marc shouted, his longsword flashing out from its scabbard. "Starbursts now!"

All along the line, magical energy streaked skyward from the guardsmen. They burst into brilliant globes of white light that hung in the sky, illuminating the battlefield. Arrows began to fall among the charging orcs, and their numbers dwindled. In response, they spread out to make themselves harder targets.

Orcs could move with astounding speed and had great endurance, but even they couldn't cover a hundred yards fully armored in less than half a minute and still be fit to fight. Unfortunately for them, their gunners required that much time to reload. If the charging infantry slowed to allow for a second volley, they would have to endure the deadly hail of arrows from the palisade even longer. As it was, the archers were able to get off five salvos before the orcs reached the wall. Their numbers were reduced by about a quarter — they still outnumbered the guardsmen, but the disparity was much less. The two troops of militia still with them were inside the palisade, both as a last ditch defense and a reserve if needed.

"Time for you to pull back, lad," Garith said as he rejoined Marc at the barricade.

As much as he wanted to remain at the wall, Marc knew his serjeant was right. He had to be able to see the entire line, not be caught in the midst of a fight along one section. Garith took his place on the line, and the knight-captain withdrew to a position a short distance up the hill. He knew the odds were in their favor — their numbers were nearly equal, but the Royal Guard had the advantage of stout barricades between them and the attacking orcs. Their long spears would extract a deadly toll.

Marc spared a quick glance towards the palisade, nodding as he saw the gates closed and sealed. He was confident they would prevail in this fight, but he would have felt much better with additional troops and a battle mage for support. He was slightly surprised the Princess hadn't made her presence known. She was no battle mage, but she knew a few spells that would have given the orcs pause. He would have to commend his cousin for keeping her out of the fight.

The orcs reached the barricade, and sharp steel clashed with wood and flesh. There were screams of pain from both orc and human, and above it all, Garith's voice bellowed.

"Hold them, lads! Send the filthy beasts ta the depths o' the crater!" he called, and then brought his pollaxe smashing down on the head of an orc.

A cry to the right drew Marc's attention, and he saw two guardsmen go down, and several orcs pour through the gap. Without hesitation, Marc rushed to block their advance up the hill and found himself facing six of the brutish creatures. Each was tall and powerfully built, but still a head shorter than the knight-captain.

Marc ducked under the sword of one, the serrated blade whistling through the air over his head. He brought his own sword up and around, the blade singing through the air like a scythe. The orc staggered forward, its head separated from its body.

The knight drew his shortsword with his left hand and parried another blow, then dispatched the orc with a thrust to the chest. His weapons were gifts from King Toranon, along with a matching dagger, the blades enchanted to an unnatural sharpness. He couldn't help but think it ironic that this was the first time they had been used in battle

The remaining four orcs closed in, and as Marc parried one attack with his shorter blade, he felt a burning pain across his right side as one of the other creatures scored a hit, the tip of its sword penetrating Marc's mail. The wound wasn't deep, and Marc brought his longsword down, severing the orc's arm at the elbow and then followed through with an upward slash that rent the beast's leather jerkin and opened its torso from waist to shoulder. He immediately reversed the direction of his blade, its tip opening the throat of the orc to his left and swinging around to batter down the thrust of another. He thrust his shortsword forward into the throat of one of the remaining two, and then settled the point of his longsword at the chest of the last.

"Yield, and I'll spare your life," Marc said. He knew it was more kindness than the orc would have shown him, but he wanted a prisoner.

A sneering grin spread across the leathery, misshapen face of the orc. It grabbed the blade of Marc's sword, pulling hard and impaling itself. With a gurgling sigh, the hideous creature sank to its knees. Marc planted his foot on the orc's chest and pulled his blade free.

Heart pumping rapidly, the fire of battle still coursing through his veins, Marc surveyed the battlefield. The orcs were retreating, and the knight gathered his thoughts, concentrating for a moment before thrusting the blade of his longsword skyward. A ball of red fire streaked up and exploded into a flaming triskele which hovered for several seconds. Before the flare had faded, Sir Killian and his mounted troop rode up from the south. They charged the fleeing orcs, their long spears cutting the beasts down before they could reach the trees. No bolt-casters fired from the forest, a sure sign the gunners had left their comrades to die.

Marc turned to face the palisade gates and signaled for the healers to come down. There were wounded to tend to - too many. The knight-captain let out a heavy sigh.

"It coulda been a lot worse," Garith said as he joined Marc.

"Something's not right," Marc said. "They didn't have near the numbers they needed to overrun our position. Orcs aren't the best tacticians, but they're not stupid either. Did we take any alive?"

"None," Garith said. "Those that weren't killed outright took their own lives rather than surrender."

Marc looked down at the dead orc at his feet. The creatures were foul and brutal, willing to fight for anyone who would pay them, but they were not without a sense of honor. To die to the last, taking their own lives rather than surrender could mean only one thing.

"Shards," Marc growled. "It's the blood oath."

Orcs were odd creatures, and they had a convoluted sense of honor. They would fight for anyone who paid them in gold, but their loyalty was haphazard at best. The only thing that could prompt a fanatical devotion was the blood oath, but even that had its quirks. Orcs might swear a blood oath, but only payment would prompt them to fulfill it, and once they had accepted payment, they would never stop. There was only one blood oath that every orc clan had sworn — against House Lockeleigh for the campaign Queen Riala had led against the orcs.

"Aye, it would seem so," Garith said. "These are all of the same clan. They'll keep coming until the Princess is dead or they are."

"Shards," Marc swore. "I want the guard doubled for the rest of the night - no one sleeps. Have the healers pass out endurance draughts to all the troops. Send a courier ahead to Highkeep and tell the baron I want a company heavy cavalry sent here immediately and a company of infantry to secure the Highkeep spire. Make sure he knows his compliance is required by the Captain of the Royal Guard."

"We're going on then?"

Marc nodded and said, "There's no choice. If we retreat to Lockeshire, they win and the people will lose confidence. Besides, Keri could be in more danger in the Palace than she is here."

"And just how do ya figure that, lad?"

"Our scouts swept this area thoroughly," Marc said. "They couldn't possibly have missed the signs of a group this size - orcs aren't exactly stealthy. That means they came from somewhere else, probably several locations, and they got here fast - too fast."

"By the Fragment," Garith swore.

Marc's face was grim as he scanned the dead orcs scattered about the field. He didn't want to believe it was true, but it as the only explanation that made sense. The pieces all fit — the ease with which the raiders had been striking throughout the kingdom, the attack on the farmstead near Lockeshire even after his troops had swept the area.

"Somehow the orcs are using the spires to move around, and that means someone at the palace is a traitor," Marc said. "Spire keys can only be issued through the Royal Keymaster at the palace. We strike camp at first light. I'll let the Princess know what's going on."

Garith nodded and set off to carry out his knight's orders. Marc started up the hill towards the palisade and was met halfway there by a very agitated looking Stilnar, who was pulling the Honorable Lady Enara along behind him.

"She's gone!" Stilnar said. "The Princess and Aliana snuck out of camp almost an hour ago."

'Frag it!" Marc swore, anger bordering on madness taking him. He whirled and grabbed Enara by the upper arms, nearly lifting her from the ground.

"Where did they go?" Marc demanded, shaking her with each word.

"The Star Stones!" Enara cried. "We didn't think…."

"No, you didn't think!" Marc barked, cutting her off.

"Please," Enara whimpered. "Y … you're hurting me."

The pain in her voice shocked Marc to his senses, and he released her, purple bruises already forming on her bare upper arms. Enara sank to her knees, weeping.

"Take her back to the Royal Pavilion," Marc told Stilnar. "Place her under guard. No one is to speak to her, and if she tries to escape, they are to use whatever force necessary to restrain her."

"I … I'm sorry, Sir Marcan," Enara cried. "I was just trying to help Ke … the Princess. If anything happens to her, I'll die!"

"That may be more true than you know," Marc growled. "Someone has betrayed the Princess, and if I find out you're involved, noble or not, I'll remove your head myself!"

The look of horror on Enara's face was so genuine that Marc knew she wasn't feigning it. He didn't retract his threat, however, because he wanted her to be good and scared. Then he remembered something he hadn't thought about for a long time. On more than one occasion, he had accompanied Toranon and Mistara to the Star Stones. His gaze darted to the moon Kessil as it climbed towards its zenith in the night sky.

"Shards, I know what they're up to," he hissed, starting towards the corral at a run.

"Marc, where are you going?" Stil called.

"After those fool girls!" Marc shouted back. "Get Garith and follow me as fast as you can!"

*****

"It's almost time," Keri told Aliana. "Once the light of Kessil starts to shine through the aperture, I'll go into a trance state. Just stand there and wait for me to open my eyes. After the swap happens, you'll be disoriented for a minute or two from the power that my body was channeling, but I'll be right here with you."

Aliana nodded in understanding. Kessil began to creep up into the focusing aperture, and as its light again reached the amulet, Keri hissed and closed her eyes, throwing her head back as the power of the aether began flowing into her in a way she had never felt before. It was warm and inviting, and she felt herself becoming extremely aroused as the power temporarily negated her ring. She could feel Aliana's presence, and she wanted to open her eyes and ravish her on the spot, but she was unable to move.

The power grew more intense, and the Princess moaned at the pleasurable sensation. Her conscious mind was overwhelmed by it, and she was awash in an eroticism she had never experienced. There was no thought - only intense feeling that went beyond sexual. She felt connected to everything, as though she was literally part of the aether.

She didn't hear the clatter of metal shod hooves on stone, or the heavy footfalls as Marc rapidly approached her from the rear. As the power reached its crescendo, she was vaguely aware of strong hands grasping her shoulders and spinning her around. Then she heard Aliana cry out, "Marc, no!"