by Adria Eustis
October, Year of the Pearl Acacia
His Imperial Highness King Dederick Oros the first of his name, polished the silver sheen of his most recently acquired artifacts. A set of cabryx vambraces forged by the Gods themselves. Cabryx is a metal so rare it was sure to be the first time his aid Matthew had seen it up close and personal. Their viewing was a gift.
“Beautiful, just beautiful. And all mine,” Dederick said as he held them up.
“Yes, certainly Your Majesty,” Matthew replied with a nod, though he couldn't possibly have seen the intricate carvings and serzalite gemstones that adorned the vambraces, from his bowed position.
Dederick lay the artifacts on a red velvet cushion and placed it on the table of pure gold, in the middle of the room. He rubbed his fingers through his well-groomed auburn, beard. Hmm needs more tonic.
“Such precious, precious beauties. What do they do again?”
“Your Majesty, Sir, turn the wearer into a fearless berserker, Sir. Two archaeologists died in the findings, Sir.”
“Mmm, is that all they do?” He placed his finger on his lips, where should he place such a piece?
“Up there next to the tigers-eye broadsword.” Dederick pointed out the perfect spot on the many rows of glass shelving, though it was a tight squeeze, the small pillow might fit. His artifact vault was overflowing with ancient weapons, armour and trinkets left behind by the Gods. All the treasure in Ainin was kept in this room, after being thoroughly accessed by the finders first.
Matthew nodded and hoisted up the pillow next to the sword.
“Tell me. Why has the rate in which I receive new treasures slowed down?”
“Your Majesty, Sir. The Nymphs have gone into hiding. They're not giving visions to the Druids anymore. If the Druids aren't shown where the treasures are, Sir, the archaeologists don't know where to look.”
Dederick's nostrils flared, he deepened his voice, perhaps this aid wasn't listening properly.
“Why? I said why?! Has the rate in which I receive new treasures slowed down?”
“Your Majesty, Sir. We're working on finding the Nymphs, but they're very good at hiding, Sir, they can commune with the Druids from anywhere, Sir, so we don't have a clue where they are.”
Matthew's face was turning a hideous pallid shade. His trembling lips and chin were annoying, he jerked around on the ladder whilst placing the vambraces in their new home. Dederick waited until the aid had climbed down and his artifacts were safe. Matthew swept a hand across his damp forehead. Before he could even turn around, Dederick thrust out his hand and gripped it tight around the aid's neck. As he willed The Light to manifest from his fingers and wrap three times around his throat like bolas of shimmering golden energy, Dederick savoured the feeling of the young boy's body going limp. When all life was gone he dropped the corpse to the ground. Turning around to his Uncle Oscar who fiddled with a ruby amulet, he clenched his jaw. Oscar had not bothered to witness his execution just, what could be more important. He tapped his fingers across the golden table.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?” Oscar looked up.
“Can't you see there is a mess? Uncle, Matthew's corpse is ruining the polish of my marble floor.”
“His name was John.” Oscar rolled his eyes, and sighed.
“Do I care? They're all called Matthew to me.”
Dederick tugged the neck-cord of his fur cape and let it fall to the floor. It was too hot, he needed a walk in the palace gardens.
~
In the perfectly preened gardens, Dederick admired the midnight blue plants that he'd had shipped in from the mountains. The rustling of the leaves from the glittering twenty foot tall Moonlight Trees from the Elven lands of Eumor, made him think of how many other things native to the western continent he could plant in his magnificent gardens should he decide to take his army there to conquer it. He knelt before the bronze statue of Ciorr the Goddess of Light, Peace and Justice. Dederick knelt to no one but Ciorr and Dedite the Goddess of War. He closed his eyes.
“Your Greatness. Your voice is not merely a whisper anymore. I have brought vengeance to those who would disobey you. Justice will continue to prevail.
You blessed me with Your Light and I blessed the cities with peace. I continue to weed out the sinners in your name. And use them to appease your beloved sister Dedite. I hope you are pleased Great Ciorr.”
Dederick paused for some moments hoping for a response, but the Gods were too busy, they always had been, that is why he had to make their lives easier. Wherever they may be. The sun hurt his eyes when he reopened them, it was always so damned hot in the capital city of Prille.
“Your Majesty. If you will, your aid Garric has returned from his travels.” Said one of the many soldiers who guarded the palace. Dederick had admiration for his soldiers, he blessed them with an aura of infinite range, that kept them from harm. But these aids whom he sent under cover to find things were hopeless and unworthy of such generosity. He'd gone through ten of them just this week.
~
In his throne room, Dederick perched on the royal seat of silver and ran his gloved fingers over the cobalt blue enklinite gemstones that dotted the arms of his chair of sovereignty. He held a false smile on his face.
“Ah, Matthew, what news have you of my sweet little brother?”
The aid stood at the bottom of the marble steps, Dederick could smell the shadow of the man's fear lurking in the dark shade of the room. He wasn't bringing good news.
“Your Majesty, we have searched the lands farthest south as you requested. I'm afraid there is no sign of Prince Bryce there. There's nothing there but snow and ice, it is inhabitable. Please Your Majesty, if you will allow me to again search the cities and towns in the middle lands, I am sure that given a bit more time I can return your brother home.”
Dederick pounded his fist against the arm of the throne. The mighty thud echoed throughout the long narrow room, a patch of wetness formed around the aid's crotch. He felt his cheeks sting with reddening. Dederick reached to the side of his seat and wrapped his hand around the knotted leather grip of his throwing axe, Jade. A treasure found hundreds of years ago, supposed to have belonged to the daughter of the Goddess of Mountains, a demi-god, the axe turns it's enemies to stone. Pulling back his arm he gathered strength, with a grunt, he propelled the axe through the air at rapid speed. It struck the barer of bad news in the back. Coward had tried to run. The aid's scream pierced the air for a second before ceasing instantly, the cretin's body was replaced with a stone statue exactly as it had posed. He indulged in the the recall of lungs crushing and then the room was silent only for Jade falling onto the floor and rocking to a stand still.
“Break the imbecile down into pebbles, scatter them on his families garden, throw the tiny grains of dust that remain, into their eyes. Show them what justice is when you fail your king. And find me Prince Bryce. NOW!”
CHAPTER FOUR
JANINA
October, Year of the Pearl Acacia
“Nina? Where are you going? Heeey Nina!” She'd recognise that screechy high-pitched voice from anywhere. Vellesia Brown.
Nina turned to look for her friend. Only managing to get a quarter way into the journey across town to the second employment office, she couldn't quite recall the exact street that took her from tall dusty shop windows and browning hedgerows to the luxury tan-brick, asymmetric buildings with their deluxe and extravagant shop fronts and staircase waterfall features. But she was in the posh area now, of course Velle would be hanging around these parts. Nina always felt out of place walking by tall windows displaying shiny-new gadgets that she could only dream of affording. Though she had done a very good job of hiding her poverty as no one was any the wiser, Nina thought herself a crafty chameleon.
“So glad you're here,” Velle said with a gasp as she bounded across the pristine paving blocks towards her. The many shopping bags on her arms clashed together as she moved.
“Hey Velle.”
&nb
sp; “What do you think of these?”
Velle fished from a bag, a pair of high-heeled shoes in a vivid purple and black striped fabric. Nina smiled politely and wandered her gaze elsewhere - anywhere but those hideous shoes. Typical Velle, even now her fuchsia blouse cast a spot-light on her as she held her head high atop a stage of sombre sheep. But Velle was a good girl, an only child, her father accomplished, and not a single felon in her family tree as far as paper trails went. It was fine to attract attention when you had nothing to hide.
“Well, what do you think of my lovely new shoes?” Velle asked again, thrusting the new oddities in her face.
“They're lovely, how long were they hiding out in the stockroom?”
“Pfft, you, just because you're too scared to stand out. Anyway, I'm wearing them tomorrow. You're still coming right?”
“Tomorrow?” Nina asked.
“Uh gosh, don't tell me you forgot. Our double date remember, I have got the perfect guy for you.”
“I don't know if I can make it.” Nina shrugged apathetically.
“Aww, you're so shy, it's adorable.”
“I'm not shy, just busy. Something came up that's all.”
“Nina, did you get dressed in the dark this morning?” Velle wrinkled her nose at the black skirt, supposedly knee-length but reached mid calf, and the tailored jacket, made-to-measure for someone twice her size.
She felt a bloom of colour sweep across her cheeks. “I borrowed them from Maire, to find a job.”
“Wait, a job? Did you say 'find a job?'”
“Yeah, I changed my mind about school. I'm not going.”
Velle's eyebrows smashed together. “Come Nina, let's get coffee – we need to talk.”
Her hands were cold and her belly was arguing with her, she promised herself fifteen minutes in the coffee shop, and it was Velle's turn to buy.
~
The girls sat down at a table, now that they were inside the full force of Velle's overbearing floral perfume attacked Nina's nose. It must have been new, as she'd gotten immune to the previous ones. A soldier in his Peace Blaggers uniform sat opposite them, his pinky finger raised above a tiny china tea-cup. Enjoy your Fortitude Aura, one day it'll be gone, and you'll get what's coming to you. Her toes curled tightly within her pumps.
The girls ordered coffee and cakes, Nina shifted in her chair thinking of a good excuse for not continuing her education. Though Velle had been her best friend for the last three years, there were some things you just couldn't tell anyone. Especially not with The Army eating jam tarts in earshot. Dederick's Peace Law stated very clearly in it's two hundred page manuscript that poverty was a sin. They were behind on the rent, they were using candles because the light-bulbs had blown and were too expensive to replace, the electricity would most likely be shut off soon anyway. And the minute the landlord gave up on them and decided to remove them from his property, they were officially homeless. And officially homeless meant officially a criminal, and with that; a cozy cell on the island.
“Well?” Velle asked, “did you fall and bump your head?”
“Aliens finally found us, I was the first one replaced.” She gulped.
“Ha. Ha. So you're joking right, you're coming to the academy with me still?”
“I'm not coming.”
“No I can't believe it at all. Janina Ambrose, if there's anyone who wanted to become the most skilled jewel-smith it's you. it's all you ever wanted, who's going to design my wedding tiara now?”
“Things change.” She wrapped her hands around her steaming mug and slumped back into the cushioned seat. Ah a few moments of warmth, bliss.
Velle shook her head, “What changed?”
“I decided I don't want anything to do with baubles anymore.”
“Um, but you're obsessed with those baubles. You can't just change your entire personality over night.”
She knew her too well - there was no getting out of it. Nina had been fascinated by the mystic properties of gemstones and minerals since she could first walk. Velle was wearing the blue-violet abelite drop earrings that she'd made her for her sixteenth birthday. Abelite was her favourite, said to increase perception and they were sure enough working. They sparkled in the bright lights of the coffee shop, against Velle's pale lilac curls. Nina lowered her head.
“Eri is sick, and her medicine is very pricey.”
“Oh Nina. That's awful, poor Eri. Is it really bad?” Velle reached her hand across the table and placed it on her shoulders.
“Yeah, but we'll get through it. And so that's why I have to get a job for a while. And I guess maybe I'll start the academy a while later.”
“I can help, if you're a little short. Gosh I know how expensive hospitals can be, my nanna had to sell her second home in Prille to pay for her last visit.”
Nina paused for a moment. This is where two weeks ago she would have said no thank you, and pretended that she had a jar of huge savings under her bed somewhere. Perhaps she'd left it in the fully stocked wine cellar, Velle wouldn't know, she'd never managed to get invited over to Nina's place no matter how hard she tried. She could feel Pride sitting on her shoulder with a dagger, a miniature version of herself, slapping itself across the face before slashing its throat and tumbling down, whacking its head on the table and landing spread eagle on the floor. She stared at the empty floor tile where her invisible pride lay dying.
“That would be nice of you. If you could help, I'll pay you back.”
Velle reached into her purse and dug out some notes, probably pocket change to her, but a rich bounty to Nina.
“One hundred silver, and don't worry about it. Just make sure you show up tomorrow, I'll look such an idiot if you don't – I've talked you up all week to Daryn. And he's sooo cute.”
“Thanks Velle,” Nina said. A warmth spread through her chest as she clutched the crumpled notes, it would be enough to pay a weeks rent, but the medicine was far more important. She wanted to say thank you over and over, but that would be revealing.
“Righteo, I've gotta go.” Velle finished the last sips of her drink and pushed her half eaten cinnamon bun to the side.
“I'll see you tomorrow, five was it?”
“Five sharp. And wear that yellow dress, it brings out the green in your eyes.”
“Will do.”
Nina got a face full of glossy hair as she hugged her friend goodbye. Velle gathered her many shopping bags.
“Oh, I just thought. Dad's employer, Mr Vice just fired a maid yesterday. Funny story – I'll tell you about it tomorrow. I don't know why that came into my head, all this talk about jobs I guess. A maid's job – totally beneath you though right.” She offered a sincere smile, Velle would never know her plight.
“Right.” Nina replied.
The coffee shop door closed behind Velle, Nina scooped up the left over cinnamon bun into a napkin, placed it into her bag with the money and headed out the door alone.
~
Inside the pharmacy, Nina leaned against the glossy painted wall, she was about to fall over with lack of energy and it was that that kept her upright. She stared at the words on her phone screen, “pharmacists are all out of Orunip, they said it sold out months ago and they don't expect to see it again. They practically laughed at me.” She kept pressing 'Send', but the text message wouldn't go through - she was all out of credits. Maybe it was for the best that Rohn didn't get the message anyway.
She stepped back out into the chilly air, pulled her jacket up close to her chin and carried on. Determined.
~
A while later Nina arrived at a large iron gate and rang the bell. The mansion was surrounded by stylish gardens and a woman in black with a white apron was on a balcony watering plants.
“Who is it?” A croaky woman's voice came after a buzz from the intercom speaker.
“Sorry to bother you, I heard there was a job opening, as a maid.”
“No one told me they were interviewing today.”
“Oh, w
ell I'm here now.”
The gate clanked into motion and opened just wide enough for her to fit through. She took a deep breath, better not to think about it and get herself worked up. It was always better to just jump in head first and think about what you could have done better, later on. Otherwise her nerves would talk her out of it. Inside she found herself perched on the edge of a velvet settee and a gold tasselled rim. The smell of cleanliness mingled with that of burning logs on the fire, and doors creaked upstairs and down. A pudgy maid had sat her down and told her to wait, she had seemed confused but then she had every right to be. No doubt the woman would be a while trying to figure out who asked the stranger here for an interview. But Nina supposed they'd have to blame someone eventually and give her a chance.
Tapping her feet on the ceramic tiles she cringed when she became aware of the noise they were making, and the maid who flicked aimlessly with a duster at the mantle piece, reached over and turned up the volume on the television.
The news reports were beginning and Nina watched to amuse herself whilst waiting.
“Good evening, my name is Patra Circra and you're watching the Nanta Afternoon News at two thirty.” The reporter sat behind a desk, pulling her best sad face as she read out an article on the recent avalanche in the middle lands. A few goats were killed and a man broke his leg. She wondered if she should stop watching before they displayed images of the Elven man perishing in the town square earlier that day. That was something she needn't see again. They'd have crystal clear footage of it too no doubt, from a Zimir's Oculus. Nina didn't recollect noticing an Oculus there at the scene, but then they were hardly noticeable being only the size of her thumbnail. Nina remembered back to the first time she'd seen one.
She was eight years old and playing in her front garden in the capital city of Prille.
“Janina, your underwear is pink.” Came a taunting voice.
She blushed, how could they know? Nina dropped her doll, Su, onto the grass and spun around to face Kris, the boy from across the street. He rocked from his toes to his heels with his hands behind his back, grinning wickedly through gaps in his long raven hair.