Coming of age fantasy
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My Dearest Lilia,
I am sure after these many years you have come to see the
error of your ways in choosing Theodric over me. I am willing to forgive your
transgressions and welcome you to my castle and my god, Sidramah. To make you
even more comfortable, you may bring one of your children with you. Waldrom
* * * * Seven Years Later:
Queen Lilia stood by the doorway of the aerie at the top of
the castle. A gentle breeze blew the scent of liliads through the open doors.
Tapestries depicting Asha covered the stone walls. It was sparsely furnished
with a wooden desk, chairs, a table, and bookshelves. Portraits of the princes
were interspersed between potted miniature rosas. She took off the ceremonial
day robe and tossed it on an armchair, leaving a simple white dressing gown.
She removed the petite crown and placed it on the desk. Finally, she pulled the
white ribbon out of a braid, freeing the hair to fall loose around her
shoulders.
Her lady in waiting delivered a letter. “My Queen.”
After the servant departed, Lilia closed the door and picked
up the letter. It was from her old school friend, King Waldrom. Slowly she read
it.
I will forever love you, but I find it hard to believe you
left me to spend your days in the drudgery of my enemy’s kingdom with his false
god. My lord would have given you more.
Soon you will know the pain I have felt these many years
since you went away.
There will be no peace for you, or Theodric, as long as you
remain with him.
Your only hope is to forsake him and come to me.
W
The letter dropped from her hand as a slow chill crept up
her spine. She grabbed her shawl and went to the crackling fireplace, but still
the chill would not go away. The evil message clawed at her heart until she
could stand it no longer. She snatched the page from the floor and flung it
into the hungry flames.
“I will protect my family from you and your evil, Waldrom,”
Lilia vowed, as the paper burned, hissing and twisting like a snake set on
fire. When the last of the charred paper floated up the chimney, she knew where
to turn for help. Lilia ran down the hall to find Rupert, the words of
Waldrom’s letter echoing in her head.
* * * *
Joachim stood and watched his twin brother, Brandan,
practice the re-growth spell Master Adept Croifan was teaching them. Why must
Brandan always be so difficult? Crack! The sapling exploded and fragments of
the pot and plant shot everywhere, showering the room’s three occupants with
ceramic shards and soil.
Prince and teacher ducked to avoid flying debris. Croifan
straightened up, dusted off his clothes. “Not a success, I think. Get another
plant, Brandan, and let’s try the spell again, but this time use all the
steps.”
Shaking his head at the short, stubby Kningrad, Brandan
said, “Master Croifan, this exercise isn’t necessary. We’ll never perform
re-growth spells. That’s all done by low-level adepts. We’re much more
important than they are.”
“You’re no more important than the lowest serf in your
father’s kingdom.
Besides, you never know when you might be alone and have to
perform one of these spells to survive.” Croifan pounded his staff on the
floor. “Do it again.” He pointed his staff, directing Brandan’s attention to
one of the lily pads in a fish bowl on the floor.
Brandan looked at Joachim and shrugged his shoulders as if
to say, “You asked for it,” and with his deep voice began the chant. “Powers of
Ramajadin quicken the streams of creation within your deepest regions and
enable this tree an increase in the life blood that feeds all living things and
frogs.” With a turn of his hand, Brandan then whispered, “Ignis.” The practice
trees erupted into flames and separated the twins from Croifan, now a small
green frog.
Glancing around the room in disbelief, Joachim yelled,
“Brandan what have you done?”
“Nothing. Now let’s get out of here while we have a chance.”
Brandan stalked to the door. “I have had enough of him and his lessons.” He
stormed out of the training room.
Joachim yelled, “Summergo,” and ran into the garden after
his brother.
Spring was blossoming in Crato, a country in the western
hemisphere of the planet Ramajadin. The royal gardens shimmered with the
variety of purples, golds, reds and blues of the flowers scattered across them,
giving the landscape a feel of rebirth…a rebirth in the faith of the people and
their love of the royal family.
Stepping into the courtyard, Joachim watched Brandan collide
with their parents, King Theodric and Queen Lilia, entering the gardens from
the royal family’s private quarters.
As Joachim reached the royal couple, the king grabbed his
arm. “Whoa, boys, slow down.”
Lilia brushed Brandan’s tunic, wiping away some invisible
dirt, and the king released Joachim.
“I’m sorry, Father,” Joachim responded as he brushed his
blond hair out of his eyes. “I didn’t watch where I was going.”
Smiling, the queen asked, “Where were you two going in such
a hurry?”
Grabbing his mother’s hands, Brandan said, “We finished our
lessons and were headed to the kitchen to get carrots from cook for the horses.
We were planning on riding. Would you and Father like to come with us?”
The king shook his head. “No, I can’t. I have to see Rupert
about the meeting with King Waldrom.”
“Mother, you should come.” Brandan looked at Lilia. “You
haven’t been riding in so long.”
“I wish I could but not today. I must speak to Rupert before
your father, and then I have some letter writing to do. Maybe tomorrow.” She
hugged the twins and then strolled with her husband toward the council
chambers. “I’ll see you boys at dinner,” Lilia called over her shoulder.
As Joachim headed toward the family’s kitchens and reached
the wooden gate in the center of the tall stone wall surrounding the courtyard
garden, Brandan caught up to him and patted him on the back.
“Thanks for not saying anything to Father. I would be seeing
the abbots for sure if he found out about my little spell.”
Turning, Joachim brushed Brandan’s hand away. “Maybe I
should have told Father. Haven’t you learned not to use your magic for evil,
especially during lessons?”
With a push from Brandan, Joachim fell to the hard ground.
“Well, aren’t you Sir High and Mighty, like you haven’t thought about doing the
same a time or two?”
He scrambled to his feet. “Yes, but I would never actually
do it. That’s the difference.”
“Well, maybe you should once in a while, and then you might
be more human.
Besides, who does it hurt?”
“It hurts you and tears your relationship with Asha. If you
have no self-control with Master Croifan, how can you ever expect to be an
Anointed One and a king?” Diving for his brother, Brandan caught his red tunic
on a nearby glingkol tree.
Joachim jumped aside, causing him to land with a solid thump
in a patch of blooming rosas.
“Setting that little fire won’t prevent me from being king.”
He stood and caught his breath. “Besides, who wants to be an Anointed One
anyway?” Brandan landed his fist on his brother’s jaw and then fell to his
knees on the small hillock between the garden and a stone wall behind Joachim,
exhausted and gasping for breath.
“Our final examinations are in a week.” Joachim stepped
forward. “When will we study?”
“You’ll have to figure that out yourselves.” He turned to
enter the High Council chamber.
* * * *
When Queen Lilia reached Rupert’s quarters, she found a
messenger leaving the room with Rupert not far behind. “Rupert, I need to talk
to you.”
“Sorry Your Majesty, but we just received a message, and I
must find the king to tell him of it.” He walked quickly down the hall, leaving
Lilia with her skirts lifted to run after him.
Lilia stopped to catch her breath when they reached her
husband and sons in the garden.
As he approached the king, Rupert bowed. “Sire, we just
received a message from Eyvindur. There has been a raid at Freiberg.” “Raid by
whom?” the king asked.
“The messenger was unclear who ordered the raid, but some
villagers saw King Shigeo, lurking in the forest during the attack.”
“Why would the Mantion king be leading the raid?” Brandan
stepped beside his father.
As he straightened his long gray beard, Rupert continued,
“There was another force leading the raiding party. The villagers reported
feeling evil that didn’t come from the attackers. Something or someone else was
in control.”
“Rupert, take eight men from my personal guard and see what
you can learn.”
“Sire, the Peace Summit is in a few days. We both need to be
here. One of the generals can take care of this. The raid is over.”
“Father, I can go with them,” Brandan interrupted.
Lilia put her hands on his shoulders and gently turned him
so she could look in his eyes. “Son, you haven’t been through your final
testing yet. How can you think about going?”
“The tests are a formality.” Brandan sighed. “You know I can
do this. When do I leave?”
“You aren’t going. Fifteen is too young to undertake such a
task. General Geurin, the leader of the Guard, and his squad will go. Be
assured, when you are ready, I will let you have your chance. Until that time
you must be patient.”
“Father, how can you say I’m not prepared for this? I’m
older than you were when you went on your first mission, and I have more
training than you had. If you can’t see that, then you don’t know me at all.”
Brandan turned and walked away.
“I’m ready for this. I’ll show them all.”
Joachim followed and overheard him mumbling under his
breath.
“Don’t be so angry. We’ll be doing this kind of thing soon
and probably wishing we could be at home instead.” He attempted to placate his
twin.
“What do you know about it? I bet if you asked, Father
would’ve let you go.”
“No, he wouldn’t. I’m smart enough not to ask.”
“Well, aren’t you the special one, maybe the Aga Adept?”
Brandan sneered before he pushed Joachim away and stormed into the palace.
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