Aurora was in the nursery. The twins were playing quietly as she knitted a blanket. When had she learned to knit? How had she gotten here? Where was Nanny? Aurora looked down at the blanket. On it were land masses and oceans. They were crafted so carefully that they seemed alive. The Empress stared at her handiwork. She ran her fingers along one of the oceans, and her hand came back wet.
"Wow, Mother! You have the whole world in your hands!" Mairwen exclaimed. Her eyes were big and innocent…too big. She went back to playing with blocks silently.
"Thank you, dear," Aurora found herself saying. Alaron turned toward her. His face was not right either. His mouth was too large. He was fighting an imaginary enemy with a wooden sword. The Empress looked as he played. She could feel someone was watching her, but she could not see them. A chill ran up her spine.
"Mother?" Alaron said, pausing between strokes. "Who was born first?"
"What?" Aurora could not c
"What do you think the woman meant?" Devrim asked after Aurora recounted her dream. Aurora was feeling better now that she had shared her burden with the two men. She sat up and ate and drank from a tray Anna had brought. "I think she meant if we don't change the way things are going, Alaron will do something drastic. Something that will tear our world apart." "He's still so young." Devrim shook his head in disbelief. Zan agreed, "He is young. But in your vision, for that's what I believe it was, Alaron was older when he struck you down. We may yet have time to avoid this catastrophe." "Or by knowing about it, we cause it. What if we try so hard to avoid this terrible prophesy that we in fact bring it about?" Devrim's brain was beginning to hurt. "Then why warn us at all?" Aurora countered. "You read too many books, Devrim. I think the solution lies in the questions Alaron asked in my dream. We need to know who was born first and who their fat
"You cannot seriously believe the Fates exist!" Cafer mocked in yet another Council meeting. Zan glared at him, and Cafer averted his gaze. The councilman needed to tread carefully. "And even if they did exist and you could somehow visit them, how would you find them?" This was a valid question."Oh, I have an idea," Aurora smirked.—————Earlier that morning Aurora had gone to see Nanny. "Do you remember that song you sang for me once?" Aurora asked.Nanny gave her a baleful look. "You will have to be more specific, dear.""The one about going to find a white palace. The words were strange."Nanny's eyes widened slightly. "I remember it, Your Majesty." She sang the song. Again the tune filled the Empress's soul. The lifting melody gave Aurora a sense of flight."That's the one! What does it mean again?" Aurora needed to know."Beyond the land of ice and snow, you'll find a land of green. There mak
Preparations took a few weeks, but at last everything was ready."I wish we could go with you," Alaron said with a a pout. In his mind, his parents were going on a grand and glorious adventure that would be all fun and no work."Nothing would make me happier than for you to be able to come, but it's far too dangerous." Aurora kissed the boy on the cheek."Mother!" He whined, but secretly he loved the affection."Why did the Fates do this to us?" Mairwen wanted to know. The Empress had told them of their birth and the strange Fate that delivered them, but left out the fact that Aurora wasn't the one who gave them life. It pained her to keep secrets from these children she loved so much. Someday she would be able to tell them everything."I do not know why the Fates did this, but I will do my best to find out. As soon as I do, I will hurry home to you." The slender woman wrapped th
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.
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
"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
"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
"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
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
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
"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 "
With slow progress, the prisoners and the victorious army headed for Valiant. Since the city was still empty of human citizens, there was no fanfare or grand welcome for them. That was fine; they were all just happy to be one step closer to being home.Only a small skirmish awaited the Imperial Army from those left behind. The palace was easily reclaimed without the catastrophic results of the last battle fought there. The sight of the large human force in the wrong shade of blue made the gnomes flee immediately, and those left of the ill-named New Emperor's Army only put up minimal resistance.The servants on the inside of the palace, seeing their rescuers in sight, freed those in the dungeon and set off a myriad of traps and clever devices that had been left behind by the scientist but never deployed.One such device covered the unlucky recipient in a slimy goo that made them slip and slide, never able to stand in that area again. Renat was thoroughly chastened for it later and force
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
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
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
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
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