Heart of a Kingdom

by Lisa Bain

  John wheeled her down to the stables the first time she went to visit Hoss. He was running full speed until he was sure he heard her laughing but slowed down after he almost dumped her out on a turn. There were limits to having fun, even for the descendant of a pirate. After he had her set up in the stables, she waved him off and asked for some privacy.

  Libby managed to get herself out of the chair and into the stall next to Hoss, who was so weak he couldn’t stand. He whimpered as she sank down and curled up next to him on the floor of the stall, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Oh, Hoss Boss, I’m so sorry I haven’t been to see you since you got back. I know you miss him, too. I promise not to wait so long next time, I just needed to get help to get here.”

  He lifted his head and turned towards the wheelchair she’d left blocking the open stall.

  “Yeah, I can’t walk either. It’s why I need you to get strong. I need you to eat. I need you, Hossy. I can’t lose you, too.”

  Libby collapsed into sobs, still draped over Hoss.

  “Please, boy, please eat. I love you. And I know you did everything you could to help Dale. He wouldn’t want you to just give up. He’d want us to stay together.”

  Hoss listened, too weak to do anything but blow in her face. Eventually they both cried themselves to sleep. That’s where Kurtis found her a few hours later, tear-stained, and sleeping with Hoss, like a kitten in its mama’s chest. He paused. Hoss opened his eyes to look at him, and then turned his head to look at Libby. The young man thought he saw Hoss nod his head. Kurtis bent over to wake Libby and help her into her wheelchair. The ride back to the palace was a quiet one. He didn’t know what to say.

  That evening Hoss ate and drank for the first time in over a week. Libby kept her promise, visiting Hoss almost every day. Once he’d built up enough strength, Kurtis would walk him up to the palace portico and Libby would visit with him there. Until today.

  “Hey Hoss Boss,” she greeted him, as she plopped down, winded, on the comfortable sitting chair that had magically appeared next to Hoss’s stall. She’d guessed Kurtis had brought it down for her. Such a thoughtful boy. She smiled to herself. She unlatched the door. Hoss pushed it open with his head and stuck his face close to hers so she could bury her face in his mane and wrap her arms around his neck, a bit of a challenge while seated. She laughed at him as he nosed her pocket, looking for the apple he knew she’d brought for him.

  “Yeah, yeah, you only want me for my apples.” She burst into a fit of giggles which quickly turned into a coughing fit.

  “I’ll be okay,” she assured him as he stopped moving to look her in the eyes. “Hossy, I’m going to go on a trip soon. I’d like you to come with me, but you don’t have to. It’s going to be long and will involve a lot of riding. And it may be dangerous. But I need to go.”

  Hoss started shaking his head and stamping his feet. There was no way he was going to let her go without him. He grabbed for her hair, and since she was still slow-moving he caught a mouth full.

  “Sonofabitch that hurts!” Libby yelled. “But okay, I get it. You’re coming with me. Although if you try to bite my hair again, I’m leaving you behind.”

  Hoss snorted at her, knowing full well she wouldn’t leave him. Satisfied he’d made his point, he nuzzled her other pocket for the extra apple he knew she’d have. He backed into his stall and pulled the door closed, dropping the latch to catch the apple she’d tossed at him.

  Libby laughed at him, “You really are the smartest horse I’ve ever met, Hoss Boss.”

  That night, after a lifetime of denying it, Libby McGregor had her first magic lesson. Maggie appeared shortly after she’d fallen asleep. She was wearing a bright green scarf, which made her red hair and blue eyes that much more vibrant. Libby had half expected her to show up with a magic wand a crystal ball. Instead, the two women sat cross-legged on cushions on the floor of an old cottage.

  “Every living thing is made of energy.” Maggie began. Your engineers use science to explain the energy of the force field. They draw pictures and diagrams so that they can see something that can’t be seen. Some will say that magic is science we don’t yet understand. It is more accurate to say that science is a way for those who can’t see, to visualize what those of us with the sight can.”

  Libby had to will herself not to roll her eyes. She felt a sudden rush of empathy for her young heirs and hoped she didn’t sound like this in their lessons.

  “Those with magic are blessed with The Sight, the ability to see energy itself. Once you learn to see it, you will be able to manipulate it, to weave it into your intentions. Normals refer to it as weaving a spell. That’s a crude description, but not wholly incorrect.”

  Libby felt herself tense up again. She rolled her neck and shoulders and focused on her breathing. This was for her people, she had to focus. “How do I prevent what happened to my mom from happening to me?”

  Maggie blinked at the question. “Always direct. I appreciate that. What happened to your mother is rare. It’s all about balance. You can’t live in two worlds at once. Your mother was left to learn largely on her own. Her mother died in childbirth and would have been the one to have taught her. And her mother did teach her what she could from the other side. She was fine with that limited instruction until you were born and your magic manifested. When she realized you were having the dreams and visions, she was determined to help you in a way that she wasn’t. She sought out advice and instruction, and ended up taking risks she shouldn’t have, including spending too much time in our realm.

  Libby sat in silence, thinking. She’d never heard this before. All this time she’d believed her mother had been selfish in her pursuit of magic, and it turned out that it was all for Libby’s sake. For the first time she viewed her mother’s situation with empathy. As frustrating as it was for her to grow up without her mother’s guidance, she’d had her dad to teach her what she needed to be Queen. Her mother had no one to help her growing up.

  Maggie continued. “You must learn to focus your vision so that you can see the energy. It may be difficult, since you’ve fought it for so long, but you’re going to have to work on it both awake and asleep.”

  “How do I do that?” Libby demanded, impatient to get started.

  “Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. Quiet your thoughts. Focus your intention on your third eye chakra, that’s the one between your eyebrows. When you open your eyes, look at me. Keep your intention and look at me through your third eye. Keep breathing.”

  Libby did as Maggie instructed and then opened her eyes. She looked at Maggie. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. She couldn’t see any energy, just Maggie.

  “What exactly am I looking for?” She asked, frustrated.

  “Usually a color. Most energy has a color.”

  “Like music?”

  “Yes. Like music. How do you see the colors of music?”

  “I don’t know, I just do. I feel it more than see it, but I can see the colors when I really let myself surrender to the music.”

  “Aha!” Exclaimed Maggie, throwing her hands up. “Surrender! Of course, a warrior would think in terms of surrender. Yes, that’s it. Let’s try that again. Send your intention to the third eye, and then surrender to the sight.”

  Shaking out her shoulders, Libby started again. She went through the steps, and when she opened her eyes, she still saw nothing.

  “Why isn’t this working?” Libby wailed.

  Maggie frowned. This was going to be more complicated than she’d thought. Most people with magic could just see it, the same way you just open your eyes and see. She’d never heard of someone with selective sight. Think, Maggie. How do we do this? She must be able to see something if she can see music magic. Perhaps a little music?

  “Let’s try it again. Did you think it was going to be easy? Just relax. I have an idea. Do you know exactly how it feels when you surrender to the music?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Think abou
t that.” Suddenly a soft mandolin began playing in the background of her dream.

  Libby closed her eyes. She took three deep breaths. She willed her intentions to her third eye. And she thought about how it felt to surrender to the music. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled. Maggie was surrounded by a bright blue light, the color of her eyes. No, not a light. It was pulsing, or vibrating, but it was definitely emanating from Maggie. It was the color of her magic; her energy or aura. Libby could see the frequency of the color and started to analyze it. Suddenly it was gone.

  She frowned in disappointment, but looked Maggie in the eye and said, “Blue.”

  Maggie laughed. “Excellent! That’s enough for one day. But I need you to practice. Practice with me when you’re asleep. Practice with your wizards when you’re awake. When you’re able to see the energy at will, we’re ready to move to the next level. And if you have questions, you don’t have to wait for our trainings. Just set the intention you want to talk to me and call me.”

  Libby nodded, gave her a soft smile, and went back to a dreamless sleep.

  Chapter

  The Heirs

  As her strength and stamina continued to improve, the Queen added daily meetings with her two young heirs. She’d had years of training with her father and grandmother to prepare for the throne. These two may have less than a year to learn as much as she could teach them. They could deal with the informality of their lessons in her current situation.

  Today they pulled up a chair near their aunt’s bed. Between their physical training and endless meetings and studies, they were exhausted but thrilled to get these private lessons with her. It made the fifteen-year-olds feel so grown up. Today’s lesson was a continuation on diplomacy, with a focus on etiquette.

  “As a king or queen you must interact with all kinds of people, in all kinds of situations. No one should ever leave your presence without feeling like they had your full attention, and most definitely should never leave feeling inferior. There are basic rules to follow, especially in formal situations:

  “You must always address others by their title and surname, until such time as they ask you to call them something less formal.”

  “You will always stand when your guest enters the room.”

  “You will always offer a hand to your guest.”

  It didn’t take long for the two teenagers to begin shifting their weight in their chairs and fidgeting.

  “Never agree to a formal proposal or contract without first consulting your Council.”

  “Do not allow your facial expressions to reveal your true feelings. Mastering your breathing will help with this, especially when you are struggling to master your emotions.”

  “You will learn the language of your guest whenever possible.” Libby droned on until she saw Dyanna roll her eyes. “Dyanna Chandra Chaney, I saw that eye roll, which is definitely poor etiquette for a young lady who may one day be Queen.”

  “Aunt Libby, these etiquette rules are archaic.” Dyanna moaned. Kurtis agreed wholeheartedly but wasn’t about to voice that opinion.

  “They are tried and true, Dy, and decorum is the first rule of diplomacy. You disrespect others, and yourself, when you fail to behave properly. A queen is born to this role and has a duty not only to her people, but to her ancestors. The antics and lack of decorum you see from elected leaders in today’s world are beneath you. Never forget that. If I ever see either of you behaving like a president or prime minister you will be disowned in the blink of an eye.”

  Kurtis snickered when Dy got three-named, and Libby now turned her attention on him. “Laugh it up, Kurtis Travis McGregor, you have your share of etiquette rules.”

  Dy smirked at him. Being three-named was serious, but misery loves company.

  “I expect both of you to demonstrate your mastery of etiquette at all times, including with each other. Once you have proven to me that you will not embarrass the Kingdom in an official capacity, I will allow you to relax your etiquette in private. Do you understand?”

  “Wait, you want us to act this way all the time? Twenty-four-seven?” asked Kurtis

  “What about when we’re in battle practice?” demanded Dyanna.

  “Yes. At all times. It must become habit. How you address individuals and groups, how you carry yourself, the words you choose and the expressions you wear on your faces are all part of it. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” they answered, although they looked at each other with doubt. As they stood up to leave, Libby cleared her throat and looked pointedly at Kurtis.

  He sighed and reached over to assist Dyanna with her chair and extend an arm for their exit. “Miss Chaney?” he asked.

  “Thank you, Mister McGregor.” Turning to look at her aunt, she said with a slight curtsy, “Good bye, Aunt Libby. Sleep well.”

  “Good bye, Aunt Libby. Thank you for meeting with us today,” Kurtis forced himself to say, willing himself not to roll his eyes.

  Libby smiled. “Good job you two. Now get the fuck out.” She laughed at their shocked expressions. “What? I already know the rules so can say whatever I want and still be queenly. Now go so I can take a nap.” She was still laughing as the door closed behind them and it turned into a coughing fit.

  As time progressed, Libby’s physical condition did as well. She was able to incorporate moderate physical training into her daily schedule. It consisted mostly of long walks and taking Hoss out for rides. She continued her yoga sessions with Harley but added in light strength training.

  In addition to her physical and magical training, the Queen was working diligently to formally prepare the Kingdom for her extended absence. As such, she assigned her sisters Ava and Corrine as CoRegents in her absence. Ava hated this responsibility, especially since she was pregnant with her first child, but her experience as the royal bookkeeper made her an ideal choice since she already had a good overview of how things were run. Ava would work directly with Sean for logistics support.

  Since Ava already had an office in the palace, Libby gave Corrine her office and moved into Dale’s. No one had dared, or cared, to step foot in his office since he’d died, and it was wasted space. This made the most sense. Libby assigned the job of overseeing the packing up of Dale’s things to her heirs. It wasn’t fair, but this didn’t fall under the scope of anything she could ask her knights or LIW’s to help with, and she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It needed to be family, and they may as well learn early that responsibility sometimes sucked.

  Since there was a real chance the Kingdom would implode if the Queen died, people were afraid. One of Corrine’s responsibilities was to organize parties, meditations, and other activities to make the most of whatever time may be left. She redecorated the palace in calming peaceful colors and piped in meditative music. She wasn’t thrilled her daughter would be going with the Queen, but also understood the responsibilities that come with being part of the royal family.

  Her daughter had begged to go along. As Junior LIW, and an heir to the throne, it was impossible to deny her. If the Queen failed, Dyanna would die no matter where she was. But it was all Corrine could do not to lock her in her room and forbid it. Her baby girl going off on a quest–it just felt wrong. She wiped the tears from her face and got back to party-planning.

  To Dyanna it felt so right. Once it was announced she’d be joining the group, the teenager started flexing her muscle, walking around with an unladylike swagger whenever Aunt Libby wasn’t around. She wanted so badly to be a warrior and worshipped the ground Leia and the LIWs walked on. No one would treat her like the cute, helpless princess ever again. Shortly after the announcement, she’d cut her long blonde hair and dyed it blue like her aunt Libby’s. She’d never be mistaken for a boy, but it was one of those spur of the moment rebellious decisions that made her mother shake her head.

  Dyanna still couldn’t believe her aunt Libby was letting her come at all, and that her mom and dad didn’t fight it. As much as she was jumping ahead, she was no slouch.
Always an overachiever, she doubled up her training, even asking Larra to spar with her. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed and Kurtis, not to be outdone, did the same. The two teenagers were out on the practice field before anyone else and stayed until they had to run to their lessons with Libby.

  One afternoon found Dyanna and Kurtis sitting on the edge of the training ring, waiting for their lesson with the Weapon’s Master. They were engaging in a verbal sparring match about which of them was better. What started out in friendly banter quickly turned into a challenge to pick up real weapons and prove it.

  “You’re not too bad of a fighter, for a girl,” Kurtis remarked.

  “For a girl?” Dyanna was outraged. “I’ll take you or any other boy any day of the week.”

  “Oh, you think so,” Kurtis snorted.

  “Yeah. I’m the heir to the throne. I’ll be just as badass as Aunt Libby when I’m grown up.”

  Kurtis burst into laughter. “You’re only one of the heirs. Aunt Libby hasn’t chosen yet. And I’ll still kick your ass no matter how tough you think you’re gonna be.”

  “You’re not even in the royal bloodline,” Dyanna retorted.

  “You know that doesn’t matter,” he scowled, feeling his temper start to flare as she hit a sore spot. “How about you put your sword where your smart mouth is?” he challenged.

  Like many battles of the sexes, this one drew an audience. Knights and LIWs routinely sparred with each other. But in this case, the two youngest and inexperienced of their number were going at it hard. There was no more talk, only grunts and the sounds of swords and shields making contact. There were no practice swords here, and the knights and LIWs observed with pride and a bit of concern, even if there were a few wagers made. They didn’t need any severe injuries at this juncture. If they all survived, one of these two would end up running the Kingdom. Until that day, they would do their best to make Aunt Libby, their Queen, proud.