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Leaving Home

last update Last Updated: 2021-11-09 01:00:25

Aurora and Devrim hurried through the darkness of the tunnel, their only light the glow stone that was part of the walls. The Empress wrapped the Guardian's cloak around her tightly as she followed Devrim through the tunnel. She had been wary of using it because Zan was so much taller than her, but Aurora found as it wrapped around her shoulders that it adjusted to her height and build. The pair had placed many items inside the recesses of the cloak before leaving the palace, including money and weapons for protection. The weight of the cloak never changed. As she made her way underground, Aurora wondered what else she would discover about this magical garment. The novelty of adventure pushed her to move quickly, always anticipating the next discovery.

When the passage forked to lead inside and outside of the city of Valiant, Devrim paused and looked back at her. While the tunnel leading up inside Valiant was paved with glow-stone, the second passage was dark and unfriendly.

Melissa N. P.

I like camping, but I prefer to have a bathroom nearby. I do not envy these travelers the journey that they are about to make.

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  • Empress of the World   The Inn

    Around sunset a storm of late summer rain whipped out of the east, and as a result the company decided to risk a night at an inn. They pressed through the sheets of water to a shelter below a small copse of trees. "You should change." Devrim told Aurora over the sound of the rain. "I can lend you a shirt and trousers.""Why?" Aurora did not understand.Junayd answered her. "There's a small town up ahead with an inn. Four men traveling together will draw less suspicion than three men and a lady. The inn is above a tavern. Drunk men are stupid men," he said with smirk.It made some some sense. While women were free to do as they chose, it wasn't common for them to travel with a bunch of men. People would automatically assume that she had hired them to escort her, and that would raise questions as to her identity. She could enter separately from them and request a room, but two sets of strangers in a tiny town on the same night might be equally curious. Aurora push

    Last Updated : 2021-11-10
  • Empress of the World   She's a Girl!

    "Good sir, do you mean to rob us?" Devrim asked carefully. He hoped the words would sink into Jarog's thick, drunken skull."Lay off, Jarog!" someone from Jarog's table called. "Tell them you were joking." Aurora noticed the friend would only confront the large inebriated man from a distance."I would listen to your friend," Junayd said with an easy smile. He, like Nurlan, had his hand at his belt.Jarog realized his error. He squinted hard to clear his vision and laughed. "You men can't take a joke." He laughed again awkwardly then abruptly stopped as no one was laughing with him. Another curiosity struck him. He turned to the figure whose face was shrouded in a dark hood. "What's with your friend there? Can't he talk?"Aurora sat up straight, but sunk her face deeper into the cowl. He could not have seen her face either way, but it couldn't hurt to be safe. Devrim spoke up for her, "Our friend is quiet. Is that a crime?" He was obviously referring to th

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  • Empress of the World   Talk Like a Man

    "Empress, it's time to go," Devrim called gently. Aurora opened her eyes and saw Devrim smiling softly above her face. "The men asked me to wake you, seeing as how we are, you know, supposed to be married."Aurora sat up and began to brush the hay from her dress. "Of course," she said, a little embarrassed that he had seen her sleeping. The pair had discussed before they left whether they should reveal the truth to their escorts before leaving and decided only to tell them if it became necessary. It would be unfair of them to ask the soldiers to keep their pretend-marriage secret when they returned home, so they opted to carry on as usual. Many political marriages were devoid of love and affection, being purely for business. Everyone in the palace knew the Emperor Consort and Empress had separate quarters and never visited each other in them (for of course no one knew about their secret passage). As there were already two royal heirs, Devrim's duty was complete. So the soldie

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  • Empress of the World   Call a Doctor!

    "Berry!" Aurora cried out as she ran over to her horse. The beautiful black mare lay on the ground shaking violently. "What's wrong with her?" She asked Devrim frantically.Devrim came alongside the horse as well and removed the loosened saddle. "I don't know. Her breathing is very labored.""We need help!" The Empress told Devrim, though it was obvious. Neither of them knew anything about horses other than how to ride. Nurlan and Junayd, having heard Aurora's scream, came running into view. "Berry is in trouble! We need physician," she told them quickly.The two soldiers didn't hesitate. Nurlan jumped onto his own horse, grabbed Junayd's horse by the reigns, and took off for the closest town. Junayd scanned the ground, running over to nearby bushes. He pulled a leafy green plant out of the ground and brought it to Aurora. "Get her to chew on this. It will calm her." The girl accepted the plant and coaxed Berry into a chewing it. After many minutes, Berrys breat

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  • Empress of the World   What Now?

    "I don't have enough information, Your Majesty," Nurlan responded without looking the Empress in the eye."It was a simple question. Do I do a good impression of a man's voice?" Aurora prodded."Perhaps with more practice…""Ha!" Devrim felt vindicated.Aurora turned her nose up at the three men in front of her. "You three have no culture," she said indignantly, though not even she was sure what she meant."So this man, the one who tried to kill you…he knew who you were and where you would be. How?" Junayd tried to change the subject. The other two men jumped on this new line of thought quickly."If someone knew we were headed north, this road is a logical place we would cross." Devrim mused."And four adults on horseback that aren't merchants or soldiers would be relatively easy to spot." Nurlan added.

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  • Empress of the World   Negotiations

    After a night in the barn of a generous farmer—for they thought a night in the open would be too risky—and another early morning, the group made it to the city of Obsequence. It was so named by one of Aurora's ancestors who conquered it. The town at the time not only didn't fight the invading force, but actually welcomed them, throwing out their own terrible leader to be captured. Now it was a bustling city full of traders and merchants. Junayd went ahead of them and bought new clothing for them to wear. The style here was in general less flashy than the capital, and the soldier returned with simple garments to help them fit in."What's this?" Aurora held up a long piece of light brown cloth."It's for your head. Some men and women wrap them around their hair and face to block the sun. I figured it would hide your appearance, Your Majesty." Junayd said. Aurora had seen nobility from the desert region southwest of Valiant visit occasionally, so she had an id

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  • Empress of the World   Emotions

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  • Empress of the World   The Gnome's Motivation

    Cafer headed into a daybreak Council meeting. It had been two days since receiving the mirror message from Gandr about the death of Aurora. Since receiving the news, Cafer had been practicing his most aggrieved expression so that no one would suspect his involvement. Although he seldom felt happiness, this was as close as he had come in a long time. "It's going to be a good day," he muttered to himself. With Aurora gone, he could mold young Alaron into a true Emperor and use him to bring the gnomes into power. Cafer's long years of service would finally bear fruit. Cafer was sure the news of Aurora's death must have come in the night. Why else would such an early meeting be called?As everyone gathered around the table, they could see Zan's face was grim. "Councilmen, we have received word from the Empress's traveling party. Something has happened." Cafer braced himself for the wonderful news. Zan went on, "There has been an attempt on the Empress's life."There was an

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Latest chapter

  • Empress of the World   Be Better

    Alaron told the Empress his story. She was amazed by his words. However, it made his altered appearance make sense. His white hair had been gained by meeting the Maker while visiting the Mystic Spires, and his now silver eyes were earned in answer to his call."A Guardian," the Empress mused. "It is a high honor."The young man lowered his head humbly. "Not an honor I deserve, but one I will try to be worthy of.""But…it has been a year since all this happened." Aurora looked at him with a thousand questions in her eyes.Alaron nodded. "The Fates thought it best if I remained gone for a time. Let the world begin to heal. I spent the last year among the Fates in the Mystic Spires and got to know some of them quite well. But I knew that my time there had come to an end, and before I could return to take my place as a Guardian to help mend the world, I needed to mend our family first. That is, if you will forgive me." He bowed low again. "Will you?"There was a king painful silence. So l

  • Empress of the World   What Happened?

    The voice of the figure was one etched deep in Aurora's memory. It was almost as familiar to her as her own. It was the voice of a ghost now, yet the figure before her she was sure was flesh and bone."Clear the throne room," the Empress ordered.Nurlan stood behind her close to the throne with his hand resting lightly on his sword. "Your Majesty?" he asked, uncomprehending."Everyone out except him," she motioned to the cloaked man. "You may stay, Nurlan, if it eases your mind. And see if someone can find Hanna."The general quickly went to work. With the help of the other attending soldiers, every soul was removed from the room except the Empress, Nurlan and the mysterious figure. The man waited patiently, seemingly unconcerned with the flurry of activity his few words had caused.Aurora took a deep breath. While the figure had allowed them to be alone, she was still slightly scared that he might disappear at any time. "What forgiveness do you seek?""I seek the forgiveness of the

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    "Wake up! Rise and shine, Your Majesty!" Hanna said cheerily as she threw back the thick curtain that blocked the balcony. Light streamed into Aurora's bedchamber, but the woman pulled the covers over her head like a child. "You're back," the Empress groaned in a muffled voice. "I think it is sweet that you think I actually ever leave these days. Now get up!" Hanna yanked the covers back, but Aurora held on tightly. "Go away!" The stubborn woman wouldn't even open her eyes. She would not let the Fate win. "Where are my ladies-in-waiting?" "Anna, Bella and Candela are busy." Hanna answered unapologetically. "And my husband?" "He took over your very important duties and told everyone to let you sleep. It is a good thing I do not answer to him." Hanna fluttered her eyelashes innocently, but of course, Aurora did not see. Sensing the Fate would not give up her chipper attitude, Aurora pulled the only card she had left. It was, in the end, what made her unwilling to get out of bed "

  • Empress of the World   One Final Song

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  • Empress of the World   Together

    Brinn hurried to Ithel and her father in the corner of the tent. Out of respect for the king, Zoltan had a curtain hung around him, so it was only natural that Aurora had not spotted him and Ithel earlier."Father, I thought you were dead!" Brinn said a she rounded the partition. Her face went from hopeful to grim."I may yet be," Zoltan answered with a gentle smile. "However, the unicorns think I shall live, even if I am not exactly whole."Zoltan's body from the waist up seemed normal enough, but his lower half and legs looked horribly wrong. His legs and feet twisted awkwardly, and his pelvis was much flatter than it should be. The boulder from the giant had done irreparable damage."Oh Father!" Brinn eyes were wide with fear."It is not as bad as it looks. Well, maybe it is, but I do not feel any pain." The king received a cup of water from a servant. With Ithel's help, he sat up slightly to drink. The elven princess just stared, not knowing what to say or how to comfort her fathe

  • Empress of the World   Alive!

    Brinn used her keen hearing to listen for her husband as she scanned the carnage of the battlefield. Alvar was many things, but quiet was not one of them. She was sure that with enough patience, she would hear the elf she was searching for.Along the ground, some fairies were popping in and gathering up the wounded and taking them to the healers. Other fairies had the more difficult task of collecting the dead. Separately she passed by elves who were still gathering the gnomes in groups to hold them until the peace talks were complete.It was amazing how quickly things had been organized. Brinn realized that these plans must have been made before the battle began because neither the fairies nor elves seemed to need direction or supervision.Even more amazing was the new King of the Gnomes. The timid, mousey gnome that Brinn had witnessed at the palace when she was pretending to be Mairwen was gone. The difference was night and day.Lukoss was walking around and ordering his new subjec

  • Empress of the World   More Time

    Justum considered her words. "I cannot control how you feel," he answered at last. "But the victory is yours. It is over. We will leave you to your tasks."Aurora stared past him with empty eyes. He was right about one thing. It was over.Turning to his fellow Fate, Justum held out his hand. "Your mission is complete, I assume," he said with an arched brow. "Either way, your banishment is over. Will you be coming back with us?"Hanna smiled demurely, "As welcoming that invitation was…" Her face changed to be one of concern as she looked at Aurora. "Now that I am permitted to see the Empress, I shall stay a while to make sure things run smoothly."Expecting an argument, Aurora was surprised when Justum simply nodded. "I understand."He turned to the fiery-haired woman and bowed respectfully. "Farewell, Your Majesty. May the rest of your reign be a peaceful one.""Thank you," Aurora curtsied, her years of training taking over. She then moved forward toward the Fate holding her son.Just

  • Empress of the World   The Seal is Broken

    The entire company of the Fates exited through the celestial portal and filled the sky with their terrifying presence. Their light magic emanating from them was oppressive even to the other magical creatures.As soon as Hanna grabbed the Empress's arm, Aurora blinked and was instantly across the field beside the slowly waking Cafer. The Fate slapped the magic blocking cuffs on the gnome and stepped back as he came to his senses.Cafer grabbed his head, unsure of what had happened. The last thing he remembered was being blasted by a light before everything went dark.He had seen, but been unable to process, the source of the light on the other side of the battlefield. Whatever it was had power beyond anything he had ever seen.As he opened his eyes, he was greeted with a reproachful look from his least favorite Fate. He instinctively tried to use his earth magic to repel Hanna. That is when he noticed the cuffs on his wrists. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded as he stood to hi

  • Empress of the World   Deliverance

    Mairwen and Nurlan had finished dispensing with the leprechauns and were monitoring the capture of the dark blue troops. Minor skirmishes were going on here and there, but overall the New Emperor's army had surrendered."I want to know how Mother and Father are doing," the princess told the general. They both glanced behind them and toward the sea. They could see neither of the battles clearly. However, they could hear the sounds of war wafting over the Beachy plains and see that at least some of the ships were still floating in the sea. The Emperor and Empress still had work to do."A fairy will come and get you once it is safe," Nurlan assured her. "Until then, we will stay put."Mairwen sighed and bit the inside of her cheek. "The waiting is harder than the battling."Not wanting to contradict the princess, Nurlan shrugged. "The time certainly seems to go slower when nothing is happening," he mused.Listening quietly, Eira was glad for the moment of peace. There were far too few of

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