Two days before the birthday party, a messenger ran looking for the Empress. "Your Majesty, Prince Alaron's caravan was spotted entering Valiant!"
Aurora stopped mid-bite and looked down the breakfast table at Devrim and Mairwen. They were equally concerned. Although the princess was unaware of all the details, she knew that Aurora had received another visit from the from the Fates and that the news was not good. She worried what her twin's return might bring.
"Is his caravan with him?" Devrim asked the servant.
The messenger nodded. "Yes, Sire, everything seemed to be in order." She was confused by the royals. They looked more like they were about to attend a funeral than a joyous reunion.
"Tell Spymaster Brinn that we need to see her, please," Aurora requested.
"Glory to the Empress." The servant bowed and exited to complete her task.
Before the elf could arrive, Gandr was announced and hurried into the room. He bowed. "I am sorry fo
With Cafer's training in deception, deceit and double-dealing, Alaron played the dutiful son for two days. By the morning of the party, he felt the suspicion of those around him had all but disappeared. Early that morning Aurora went to visit the boy early to give him the present she had personally selected. Alaron caught her in the hallway. "You wanted to see me?" "Happy birthday! I was going to give you your gift. Could we go somewhere private?" The Empress wanted to give her son a hug, but she knew that he disliked public displays of her affection. So she held still. Alaron dismissed Warin, but when the guard was out of sight, he changed his mind. "Actually, can we do this later? I am sure we will find time in a little bit." By the look in his eyes, Aurora could see he was uncomfortable. There was some unspoken wall between them. "Oh, uh of course. There is no rush…" The Empress watched the prince turn his back on her to leave. An anxious feeling t
Brinn watched the servant's entrance into the palace with an eagle's eye. If she were sneaking into a palace, this is where she would come. There were many unfamiliar faces and unknown names. One more would not be suspicious.Gandr was watching all the nobility at the front of the palace, and the red-headed elf had happily let him take that post. "If there is one thing worse than evil gnomes, it is self-important nobility," Brinn had said.Gandr tilted his head quizzically, "Aren't you a princess back home?"The spymaster narrowed her gaze. "So I should know!" She turned her nose up in the air, very glad that only a few knew her secret.After that they had parted ways, and now Brinn was pretending to be distracted by a roasted bird while monitoring those entering next to the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a band of rough looking entertainers enter rowdily asking for scraps of food. The elf was instantly on alert."Can't a man
The party was well underway when Aurora and Mairwen joined the festivities. In return for her assistance, the princess had helped her mother get ready. When the Emperor saw his Empress, his heart skipped a beat. She wore in a violet gown that was form fitting to the waist before falling gently to the ground. Aurora had chosen the gown instead of one of her more fantastical dresses because today was not about her. It was about her children. But for Devrim, her simple outfit only made her more attractive. The room grew quiet as the Empress took to the musicians' platform with her daughter. Aurora scanned the crowd looking for Alaron, but he was not anywhere to be found. They would have to go on without him. "Welcome to the celebration of the Prince and Princess's sixteenth birthday. If it is acceptable to my daughter, I will allow the official celebration to commence." "It is acceptable to me," Mairwen announced proudly. "Please enjoy yourselves!" After the applause di
Out in the Spring Garden, much of the ground was cleared and a stage erected. Many of the guests were gathered around ready for the performers to begin. Led by a servant, Aurora and Devrim took their seats.The first act was an acrobat. His strange patchwork costume, made his tumbles interesting to watch as he moved round the stage. He was joined by a woman and the two bent their bodies in ways that were equally fascinating and horrifying.Then a group of women took the stage and showed off a variety of exotic animals. Birds flew through the air to retrieve thrown grapes, and beautiful large cats of many colors pranced around with their tamers. Aurora wondered if the cats and birds ever got accidentally mixed.That would end very poorly indeed.A fire breather with a large tattoo across his bare chest took the stage. Although the platform on which he stood was wood, he assured his audience that they were perfectly safe. Taking a swig of a clear liquid, he b
Anna ran up to the Aurora. "Your Majesty!" She had obviously seen the display. Her face was deathly pale. Nurlan also appeared at her side. The soldier looked so angry that he might burn the entire stage to the ground to repair the damage done to Aurora."Please get the Empress out of here," Devrim advised the other two. "Can I get you anything?" He asked his wife."I just need a moment. I will go back to my room to freshen up and compose myself. I will be fine, I promise," Aurora gave an unconvincing smile. Her heart was breaking, but she was too well trained to show her sorrow. "Please carry on as normal if you can. Everyone should be alert. I do not think this is Cafer's only move tonight." The Empress left with her escorts. The audience parted to let her through.Alone, Devrim bravely faced the crowd. Some were wisely avoiding eye contact and acting natural. Others were staring while they gossiped with their neighbor. And a few blessed souls had already forg
Pulling herself back together, Aurora knew she would have to go back to the party if she had any hope to salvage the situation. On one hand she was slightly relieved that the secrets were out, but she was mortified by the twisted way the story was presented. She had to admit that Cafer's version seemed more believable than what had actually happened. Aurora hoped that her kindness to her people would keep them from thinking the worst of her.Anna fanned the Empress gently, unsure what to say. Nurlan was equally at a loss for words. "Anyone who believes that words cannot hurt them has never had a cross thing said to them in their life," Aurora said bitterly to break the silence."I am sorry, Your Majesty. That was a cruel trick to play." Anna felt motherly compassion for her mistress."Cafer is a master manipulator," Nurlan added angrily. "Warfare on the mind is very effective." The soldier was not good with comfort, but
Mairwen danced to her heart's content. She enjoyed dancing immensely, but after a time she grew weary of countless dance partners always asking the same questions. Aside from a few boys that she knew, everyone asked her about her plans for the future, wondered if she knew how beautiful she looked, and inquired what it was like to have an Empress for a mother. She could only have the same conversation so many times.At last the princess pulled herself away from the crowd of dancers and headed toward the Spring Garden, where Alaron sidled up beside her. "Are you enjoying the party?" He asked. The Prince looked very handsome in his blue and white tunic and pants. A lighter blue, shortened cape was draped loosely across his shoulders like a kingly robe. Alaron had opted to represent the royal colors, and they sat well upon his figure."Oh brother, it has been a wonderful celebration! Dancing with father was certainly the highlight. The music, the excitement: it has been pe
"Is he?" Mairwen couldn't finish the sentence. Her words caught thickly in her throat.Eira was already checking the Emperor. The soldier's hard expression softened. "He is breathing, but barely. They are all alive." Trying to wake the men, Eira shook them but received no response.Mairwen recognized the man next to Devrim. "This is Warin. What is Alaron's personal guard doing here with my father?" The princess recovered form her shock and gave into her more curious nature. Then like both her adoptive and birth mothers, she took charge. "We need help! Is there anything else we can do to wake them?"Eira pinched one of the guards, but the man only groaned. She shook her head. "We need a doctor.""Then get a doctor and alert the guards. We need to find out who did this and fast! I will stay with these men. Hurry!" Mairwen's voice was so forceful that Eira quickly complied. While she was gone, the princ