by Kelly Carr
“I know,” Susan said, “but it will have to wait. For now, let’s not be late for supper.”
James waited impatiently for the guests to arrive at dinner. They were brought in by a servant, and James had to work to maintain a neutral expression as he took in the transformation they had undergone. The Lady Liana was clad in a lovely blue dress that highlighted the copper tints in her hair. A simple circlet of gold rested on her brow. She caught his eye and smiled, and he couldn’t believe he had ever mistaken her for a man.
Valeria was similarly dressed in a red gown, though the way she tugged at it made it clear that she was unaccustomed to such attire. They were accompanied by a well-dressed older gentleman who was introduced to him as ‘Elias.’
There were a number of courtiers present at dinner, and as they sat, the king introduced each of them to the visitors, who listened patiently. The Torvinian nobles looked at Liana and her friends with great interest, presumably having witnessed their audience with the king in the throne room earlier. Word of that encounter had already spread. James had heard about it as soon as he came back to the castle. He was eager to see a demonstration of their powers for himself.
To his disappointment, the Trevi were seated too far away for him to engage them in conversation, so he had to content himself with observing them from a distance.
Dozens of platters were placed on the table, and everyone partook of the food with great enthusiasm. Liana and Valeria appeared perplexed by the abundance of knives, forks, and spoons laid out before them. Elias very subtly laid a finger on the correct utensil at his own place. Liana understood instantly and picked up her own with confidence. Clearly, the man was their guide and had some experience of courtly life.
“So, Lady Liana, I hear you’ve had an exciting afternoon,” said the king, startling James from his reverie. “I wasn’t aware that the Trevi allow their women to participate in combat, but I’m told that you bested not only the majority of my guards but my son as well.”
James felt his cheeks flush and looked down at his plate. He wasn’t surprised that word had already reached his father of the unusual goings-on at the training ground.
“I did,” Liana said. “The Trevi don’t separate tasks between men and women. I started training with weapons when I was five years old. I am proficient with several, but the sword is my particular favorite.”
“I’m best at the bow and arrows,” Valeria said, “like most Sylphs, but I prefer the sword as well.”
“Well, apparently my men, and my son, could learn a thing or two from you,” the king said archly. “As long as you’re here, why not spend some of your time teaching them about Trevi methods of fighting?”
James thought he saw a flash of irritation cross Liana’s face, but it was gone before he could be sure. “Perhaps I will,” she said simply, taking a bite of the fish that lay in front of her.
The king allowed the matter to rest and talk drifted to other subjects. One of the noblewomen sitting across from Liana began asking her about Trevi fashions. James listened eagerly to her description of what each of the tribes considered traditional clothes until his own neighbor drew his attention away. He was forced to make polite conversation for several minutes.
When he turned back to the Trevi visitors, a man was asking very insistently to see a demonstration of magic, but Liana restricted herself to producing a small flame in the palm of her hand and using it to light a candle that had gone out. The man didn’t seem impressed, but James felt sure that Liana was simply reluctant to cause a scene at the dinner table. Shortly afterwards, she stood and made her excuses to leave.
On an impulse, James stood as well. “I’ll walk you back to your room, Lady Liana,” he said.
Liana smiled politely. “That’s not necessary.”
“Please, I only offer because I had no opportunity to speak to you at dinner. It’s my pleasure,” James replied in his courtliest manner.
Liana shrugged and allowed him to take her arm as they left the room. James smiled inwardly, knowing what gossip this would cause among the courtiers.
When they were out of the room, Liana seemed to relax.
“What did you really want with me?” she asked bluntly.
James tried to hide his embarrassment. “I, uh, I wanted to apologize for this afternoon. I had no idea that you were—but I should have. My sister was right. I’m an idiot.”
Liana gave him a long, searching look, as though trying to determine if his apology was genuine. Finally, she took pity on him. “Well, I suppose I didn’t make it easy to see, but dresses are so impractical, and besides,” she smiled wryly, “none of you would have even considered fighting me if you’d known I was a woman, would you?”
“Well no, of course not,” James said, “but you can fight. I hope you’ll consider my father’s suggestion to come and train with us. I believe he meant it as a joke, but he wasn't there this afternoon. I think you could really teach us something.”
“I’ll consider it,” Liana said.
“If nothing else, I would enjoy the opportunity to spar with you again. It’s not often I come up against someone who actually poses a challenge to me.”
This time Liana’s smile was genuine. “I enjoyed our match as well,” she said. “As I said, I’ll think about it.”
At that moment, Elias came out of the dining hall, shortly followed by Valeria.
“Goodnight, Your Highness,” Liana said, and with that, she and her friends turned towards their rooms, no doubt eager to get a good night’s sleep.
Chapter thirteen: valeria
Early the next morning, before the sun rose, Valeria was awakened by a soft tap on her door. She sat up and was unsure for a moment where she was. After so many weeks of travel, it was strange to sleep in a bed again.
The knock came again, a little louder this time. “Valeria?”
Valeria hurried over and opened the door. Susan stood outside, already dressed. “What are you doing here at this hour?” Valeria said with a yawn.
“I wanted to talk to you and your friends,” Susan explained, “but I didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that we already knew one another, so I thought it best to come to you before anyone else was awake.”
Valeria sighed and, giving her bed one last wistful glance, took Susan’s hand and led her to Elias’ room. They knocked at his door and then moved on to Liana’s.
Her friend opened the door, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, but when she saw who it was, she opened the door wider. “Alright, come in,” she said, as though she had been expecting them.
Valeria and Susan took a seat on a comfortable sofa in the corner, while Liana lit a few candles. Elias came in and leaned against the wall, waiting expectantly.
“So, I suppose I owe you an explanation,” Susan said, sounding a little guilty.
“You do,” said Elias.
“Well, as you now know, I’m Princess Susan, second child of King Charles and Queen Jane. My parents have kept me locked away in the castle grounds nearly all my life ‘for my own safety,’” she said bitterly. “My brother was raised as heir to the kingdom, and I’ve never envied him that honor, but I’ve always envied his freedom to go where he pleased. He was always telling me of his adventures travelling to the other kingdoms. Meanwhile, there I was, stuck in the castle every day, doing the same things over and over.
“Nothing in my life ever changed until a month ago, when my father announced that he had promised my hand in marriage to the prince of Karzay. I had never imagined myself getting married, much less to Prince Hassan. He’s only fifteen, and the most apathetic person I’ve ever met. Nothing interests him or gets him excited. I couldn’t bear the thought of marrying him, so I decided to run away. I wanted to see the world before I was trapped by whatever duty to my family dictates, but of course, I didn’t get very far.” She sighed heavily, and Valeria put an arm around her shoulders, patting her arm sympathetically. She, of all people, could understand the desire to travel the world.
/> “The rest of the story you know well enough,” Susan continued. “I made it as far as Laketown and then…when I woke up and met you, my only thought was to conceal my identity from you, for fear you would force me to go home. But then I learned about the Genvu and the Trevi and my own new abilities and, well, I’m still the princess. I had to do whatever I could to help. You brought me back to Corralis, and my father’s guards found me within hours. It wasn’t a pleasant homecoming. Everyone was furious with me, even James, but at least my father seems to have given up the idea of marrying me off for the moment.”
Valeria was appalled at the very idea of someone being given in marriage like a gift. Among the Trevi, affairs might last for decades, but true pair bonds were rare, given the Trevi’s longevity.
“Your father made no mention of your new abilities at dinner,” Elias commented. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Ah,” Susan grimaced. “Well, he was rather angry enough as it was. I wasn’t sure how he’d react to that particular piece of information. Besides, I thought I shouldn’t mention it until you’d had a chance to speak with him. He’d have too many questions. He doesn’t like change.”
“Yes, I got that impression,” Liana said.
“He’s greedy though,” Valeria pointed out, thinking of the eagerness with which he had leapt at the idea of trading with the Trevi.
Susan laughed at her bluntness. “I’m sure the only reason he asked you to stay here was so he’d have more time to convince you to trade with him.”
“We can’t trade with him if we’re too busy defending ourselves from the Genvu,” Liana said, “and he refused to help us.”
“I should’ve warned you, but my father doesn’t believe in anything he hasn’t seen for himself.” Susan rolled her eyes.
“Then I don’t see what good our staying here will do,” Liana said.
“Don’t be so hasty,” said Susan. “I’ve come up with a plan that just might help you. My father is as close-minded as they come, but my brother is much more flexible. He doesn’t have the authority to order the army to accompany you back to the forest, but people like him and trust him. We may be able to convince him to help us recruit volunteers. You could change them into Trevi, make them stronger, train them…” she stopped. Liana was shaking her head.
“It would take too long,” she said. “The Trevi need me now. I should go back to them as soon as possible.”
“Jina and the Avenai Jevar can handle the journey on their own,” Valeria said. “I like Susan’s plan. Stay and train some volunteers, just until the ball. The other kings may be willing to help in some way, and if they aren’t, then at least we’ll be bringing back some help. If we leave now, this entire journey will have gained us nothing.”
Liana was silent for a while, considering. She turned to Elias, who also looked thoughtful, and raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question.
“She has a point,” he said. “It may be worth a try. Of course, this entire idea hinges on the assumption that the prince will help us, and then that you can actually change Humans into Trevi at will and not simply by accident.”
Liana sighed. “Alright then, we’ll try it.”
“Excellent,” Susan said. “I’ll arrange for my brother to meet with us after breakfast.” She yawned. “I’d better get back to my room before anyone realizes I’ve gone. I’m in quite enough trouble as it is.”
With that, she got to her feet and left the room. Valeria returned to her room as well but found that she couldn’t go back to sleep. Instead, she went to her window and watched the sky lightening outside, wondering what another day in this strange place might hold.
chapter fourteen: liana
“My sister tells me you wish to speak with me,” Prince James said, taking a seat across from Liana in a small, empty room across from the dining hall.
“Yes,” Liana said. “We want to ask for your help.”
The prince frowned. “My father told me that you came to request military assistance against an attack by the kingdom of Lezar. I’m afraid, however, that if he’s decided against it, there’s nothing I can do to change his mind. Besides, I put no more stock in tales of monsters than he does.”
“The Genvu do exist, James,” Susan said. “They attacked Laketown and nearly killed me. I would have died if it hadn’t been for Liana.”
James looked shocked. “Word reached us of a disturbance there, but the details were unclear. You’re sure it was monsters?”
Susan pulled the front of her dress down just enough to reveal the first of the four thick, raised scars that ran across her torso. “I don’t know of any ordinary creatures that could do this, do you?”
“Susan!”
Liana wasn’t sure which shocked him more, the sight of the scars or his sister’s boldness. When he recovered, he turned back to Liana. “You saved her?”
“I did,” she said, “but not without consequences. Susan, would you care to show your brother your new abilities?”
“Valeria, would you toss that over here please?” Susan said with a grin, indicating a delicate wooden carving that looked very expensive.
Valeria obligingly threw the object in a high arc towards the princess.
“What are you doing?” The prince made a grab for the carving, but before his fingers could close around it, it darted out of his reach, spun around the room, and came to land, spinning, just above Susan’s palm. She laughed.
“How did you do that?” James said, peering closer at the carving as if it might have been a trick.
“Magic, of course,” Susan said. “Thanks to Liana, I’m now one of the Trevi. I thought it best not to tell Father.”
“No,” James said, seeming to struggle to find words. “You’re probably right about that.” He sat in stunned silence for a minute before he managed to collect himself. “How did this happen?” he asked.
“It was my fault,” Liana said, “an accident. I was trying to heal her. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I must have accidentally boosted whatever residual magic she was born with. All Humans are descended from Trevi, you know. You probably all have the potential for magic, you just can’t access it. I had no idea it was possible to trigger that power.”
“Which brings us to why I asked you to meet with us,” Susan said. “I think she can do it again. You can’t order anyone to join their cause, but do you think you could find us some volunteers?”
The prince sat heavily and rested his head in his hands. “To do what, exactly?” he asked cautiously.
“I’ll attempt to change them into Trevi. If I’m successful, I’ll train them to use both magic and weapons if they’ll promise to come north with us after the ball,” Liana said.
Prince James groaned. “You realize that all of this would have to be done without my father’s knowledge? He’d never agree to it. I don’t like lying to him.”
“Then you won’t help us?” Valeria said, the disappointment clear in her voice.
The prince finally looked up at them. His expression was resigned. “I don’t see that I have much choice in the matter. I believe you, even if Father doesn’t, and whatever is happening, we can’t allow monsters to roam freely through the kingdom, attacking our people. Something must be done, and if Father won’t help…” he paused for a few moments, considering. “Alright, I’ll talk to some of the more trustworthy guards today. We’ll meet with you after dinner, but I’m leaving it to you to find somewhere to practice where you won’t be seen and reported.”
“Valeria, Susan, can you see to that?” Liana said. “I’ll go with the prince. No reason I can’t go ahead and begin teaching them how to use weapons, even if the rest will have to wait.”
Elias straightened and placed a hand on the sword at his waist. “I’ll help.”
“Really?” Liana was unable to disguise the enthusiasm in her voice. She hadn’t had a chance to see Elias fight since Laketown and was eager to get a better look at his technique.
“Yes,�
�� Elias said. “If I can’t keep you out of the fight, I’m going to make certain you can defend yourself, and that you’re well defended by others.”
Each prepared with a task to do, they stood and went their separate ways.
The soldiers’ reactions were mixed when they saw Liana walking down to the field. Some looked curious, others wary, and a few indignant.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Prince James said. “As you can see, Lady Liana has kindly agreed to lead our practice this morning. She and her friend, Lord Elias, will be doing a demonstration and lesson on Trevi swordplay for any who are interested in learning how exactly she overpowered us all yesterday.”
Most of the men appeared intrigued and gathered around as Liana and Elias chose weapons. Each of them took a ready stance.
Liana stepped in with confidence, swinging her sword at Elias’ side. He blocked her with such casual ease that Liana was shocked. They exchanged a handful of blows, and she quickly realized that she was outmatched, but she fought back anyway.
Each blow was jarring, and Elias moved so quickly that Liana struggled to keep up. By the time he disarmed her, sending her sword flying into the dust ten feet away, the men around them were gaping in awe at the skill they displayed. They applauded as Liana and Elias bowed, then they enthusiastically stepped forward, each eager to be the first to receive their instructions.
Chapter Fifteen: susan
Susan and Valeria flew out a high window of the castle and glided out over the city. Corralis lay sprawled below them, the Calesheen River winding through it and away into the distance. From the air, it was easy to see many places that would be hidden from view at ground level. There were dense woods on either side of the city, but they wouldn’t provide enough room to conduct their magical experiments. There was a blind spot at the base of the cliff where the bridge crossed to the castle grounds, but it was too narrow.
“There!” Valeria shouted, jerking her chin to the east.
Susan looked and saw a long, wide beach, concealed from the city and the castle by the eastern woods.