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Aurora stared, reading the same page for the hundredth time. Her mind could not focus. Having received a brief account of what had happened at the fort from a messenger late the night before, the Empress had been unable to sleep. Instead Aurora found herself pouring her time into working on her son's problem: ridding his body of magic and its damage.
After sunrise, Councilman Birger had joined her in scouring the books for a solution. As promised, he had diligently come every day to read with her, and when she was particularly tired, he would read aloud to her. Just now they were sitting quietly in the palace library when Aurora slammed the book shut in frustration.
"The princess should have been here by now. Perhaps the messenger did not know to find me here. Nurlan!" Aurora called. The guard appeared instantly. "Make sure the front gate knows where to find me. I want to know the minute Mairwen and Brinn enter the city so I can meet them when they arrive"
"Yes,
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At last the victorious party entered the gates. They were weary from their journey. Thanks to all their prisoners, they were also an entire day later than expected. Brinn contemplated bringing Mairwen home ahead of the group, but hoped that all the extra people would stunt the anger of the Empress. Mairwen would not have gone with her anyway. She wanted to ensure the troops made it safely into Valiant.The Empress, clothed in all her splendor, looked over those entering. Her troops saluted her, proud to see their leader. The prisoners bowed their heads before her fierce gaze, knowing that their fates were in her powerful hands. Aurora was only partially paying attention to those who entered. While her face showed strength, her eyes searched relentlessly for the person she was aching to see.Finally, Mairwen rode proudly through the gate and dismounted. Her long dark hair framed her delicate face, and Aurora struggled to think of a time when she had ever seen a sight so
Empress of the World The Scientist Problem
"My servants tell me that Renat has found his way to the infirmary," Aurora commented as she walked down the hall with Brinn, Mairwen and Zan."Is he sick?" Mairwen was worried."Did you hurt him, Your Majesty?" Brinn was quickly returning to her plucky self.The Empress looked at her friend sidelong. "Not yet. Renat seems to have taken up well with the doctor. Great minds must gravitate towards one another."Mairwen only heard the threat at the beginning of her mother's words. "Please do not hurt him! Remember that he saved my life and yours too with those special glasses. Renat is one of your most loyal subjects. Anyway, he is just a friend so there is no need for alarm." The last part was more to herself than to the others."I will reserve my judgement until after I have met him," the Empress responded, suppressing a smile. It was nice to have the tables turned after days of fretting over her daughter. 'Let her sweat a little,' Aurora thought. A
Empress of the World Answers and Questions
Mairwen tensed and backed away humbly. In her heart, she hoped that her mother had forgotten to punish her. Of course, the Empress never forgot anything. The princess answered quickly, "I should have been honest with you about my intentions to follow father. I should not have gone alone. I put myself and possibly the Empire in peril by my reckless actions. I submit myself to your judgement.""Not that you have a choice," Aurora reminded her. "But appreciate your graciousness. I know you have already suffered unspeakable horrors because of your choices. So I will make this brief. You will complete menial labor for the next month. You will assist in the building of the rest of those unique orange glasses and any other things that the scientist thinks will be useful in the defense of the Castle Valiant…"Mairwen nodded dutifully until the words sank in. "Wait, you will let me work with Renat?!"The Empress held up her finger. "You must always have at least T
Empress of the World Home of the Gnomes
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Empress of the World Meeting the Gnome King
Cafer and Alaron descended into the strange grayish light of the cavern. Although this was not the same set of tunnels as Gandr had destroyed ten years prior, it had a similar structure. The spaces were wide and tall. It seemed the gnomes either had not learned or were too prideful to adapt."The ceiling is so high! It is almost like being outside," the prince observed."Minus the sun, flowers, and open air," Cafer replied bitterly. He was already unhappy to be home. Four soldier gnomes came to meet them as they reached the end of the first hall."We are here to escort the prisoner to the king," one of them said in human-speak.Alaron took a step back. He had not expected that kind of welcome. Cafer bristled, "You are mistaken. Prince Alaron has come to meet King Baak to talk of an alliance. You will treat him as an esteemed guest not some lowly prisoner. Now apologize!" he boomed.The guard was taken aback. "Sorry, Prince Alaron. May I...escort...
Empress of the World Meeting the Gnome King II
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Empress of the World Eavesdropping
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Empress of the World Seeds of Doubt
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