Princess Triumvirate

by Catherine Banks

  I had just finished the third novel Faxon had assigned me to read when Finn yelled from below deck. I ran as fast as I could and found him in Faxon’s cabin.

  “What happened?” I asked breathlessly.

  Finn looked at me in shock and glanced at Faxon, “Uh…”

  “I told Finn he didn’t have to read one of the novels I had assigned him because he had already read it,” Faxon said quickly.

  Finn smiled at me, but it wasn’t a true smile. “Yeah.”

  “Liars,” I accused them.

  “Okay,” Finn said with a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “Faxon has been helping me with my magic,” Finn admitted. “I finally learned to make a protective shield.”

  Finn was learning magic? I knew he had a bit of magic, but he had said it was barely anything, just enough to light a candle. And why hadn’t he told me? Why was he hiding it from me?

  “Oh,” I said as understanding hit me like a brick. He didn’t want me to know because I did not have magic anymore and he had basically taken my place as Faxon’s apprentice.

  “I was going to tell you, but…”

  I raised my hand and tried to smile. “It’s fine. It is a good idea for you to see if you can increase the amount of magic you have and even better to learn how to protect yourself with it.”

  The words I said were how I should have felt. Instead, I felt sad, and the emptiness in my core that I had successfully shoved from my mind, now felt even larger. I walked away from them and went to my cabin. My breathing had become erratic and I knew I was close to crying. No. I had cried enough. It was okay to be upset that Finn was working with Faxon on his magic instead of me. It was fine to be sad and miss my magic. I would not cry. I should be happy for Finn. He had not been fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who wanted to provide guidance and nurture him like I had. He had a rough childhood and early teen years with that abusive captain. He deserved this. I was being selfish and it was time for me to stop being so childish.

  Finally sorted out, I went back to the main deck to finish reading my novel. The day flew by as I read and submersed myself in the story.

  “Dinner time,” Finn whispered from beside me.

  I turned and found him sitting next to me. “When did you get here?”

  “About an hour ago.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “You were so absorbed in the book that I didn’t want to interrupt you, but your stomach was growling so I figured I should interrupt on its behalf.”

  I put the bookmark in place and kissed his cheek. “Sorry for not noticing you. I wasn’t ignoring you.”

  We stood up and headed down to meet Faxon.

  “I was going to tell you about the lessons,” Finn assured me.

  I slipped my arm around his waist and hugged him with one arm. “I know. You were trying to protect my feelings and I appreciate it. I am glad that you are learning magic and have these opportunities now.”

  He kissed the top of my head and squeezed me. “Thank you.”

  There were three plates of food at the table with Faxon when we arrived. “Good evening,” he greeted me.

  “Evening.”

  “How is the book?” he asked and tilted his head in the direction of the book I was holding.

  “Really good,” I admitted. “At first it was slow, but now it’s so intense and I can’t figure out what will happen next.”

  “I’m glad that you are enjoying it,” he said with a wide smile.

  “So, were you able to contact the person who sent the request for assistance?” I asked. The food was good and I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating. I finished my plate of food and asked for seconds.

  “I was able to contact them. They are expecting us,” he said and stared at me with an amused glint in his eyes. “Next time, you wouldn’t be so hungry if you ate all of your daily meals.”

  “Well it is your fault,” I accused him.

  “Mine?” he asked in disbelief.

  “Yes, you are the one who gave me this book and ordered me to read it. If it had not been so interesting, I would not have missed lunch.”

  Finn laughed and Faxon shook his head. “Just like a woman to try to blame a man even when it is her fault,” Faxon said. “You’re just like your aunt.”

  “I am so going to tell her that you said that,” I warned him with a glare.

  “One more thing won’t make any difference,” he told me and brushed some dust off his sleeve.

  “You know, if you keep doing things to upset her, she will hold more and more things from you,” I warned him.

  “Wait, what things? You know things that she has kept from me? What things? What things!” he asked with wild eyes.

  “The sea dragon told me that it was able to communicate with royalty,” I told him.

  “What! Why didn’t you tell me that?” he asked and then made his notebook and pen appear out of thin air, so he could make a note about it.

  “She told me not to. I cannot disobey an order from the Queen.”

  “Finn,” he admonished. “You should have told me.”

  “I can’t disobey the Queen either,” he said and shrugged. “Sorry, Faxon.”

  “What else is she keeping from me?” he asked, pen poised to take more notes.

  I shrugged. “Not sure.”

  “You do too!” he accused.

  “I really don’t know,” I told him truthfully. “If there are more things I cannot remember them right now.”

  He looked skeptical, but he sent his notebook back to wherever he kept it and turned to Finn. “Tomorrow we will continue with your training. I think by the time we reach our destination, you will be able to create and sustain a field that will protect you and whoever is within the battlefield and keep enemies away.”

  “That’s awesome,” I told Finn with a genuine smile.

  “Let’s hope I can learn that in time. It would be very useful in a battlefield, especially one against magic users.”

  “Speaking of the battlefield,” Faxon said. “I suppose I should tell you a bit more of what I know about our allies.”

  I pushed my empty plate to the middle of the table and crossed my arms on top of the table.

  “Most of the humans there do not have magic,” he explained. “The Elves have magic, but it is not like mine. They can heal and perform a few spells, but they do not use that in battle. They are faster, stronger, and live longer lives than humans. I have heard a rumor that the King of the Elves is over five hundred years old, but I have not been able to confirm it.”

  “So, they are likely much harder to defeat in battle,” I said.

  “Yes, but the women do not usually fight, only the men,” he continued.

  “Wonderful,” I mumbled.

  Faxon laughed and said, “Don’t worry, they know that I am bringing you and that you are a fighter.”

  “How far from the docks will we have to travel to reach the fight?” Finn asked.

  “Instead of docking and walking to our destination, we will teleport once we are close enough and the ship will head to the harbor where some of their people will unload our stuff and transport it to the castle where we will be staying,” Faxon explained.

  “Are you sure that you can teleport us safely?” I asked. “Originally you said we had to sail because you could not teleport us safely and might inadvertently send us to the battlefield.”

  “I’m going to communicate to one of the people there and they will go to a clear space for me to teleport to them.”

  “Have you done this before?” I asked nervously.

  He looked insulted. “Of course, I have.”

  I raised my hands into the air. “I was just checking.”

  “As if I would put you in such a dangerous situation without having tested it first. Do you have such little faith in me?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Drama queen.”

  “So, how long until we reach our destination?” Fin
n asked.

  “I can’t remember,” Faxon answered. “I’m hoping it will not be much longer because I want to make sure we get there in enough time to help them.”

  “Arriving after they have been defeated would be pretty embarrassing,” I agreed.

  “Alright, I’m heading to bed. Tomorrow we will continue with your math lessons,” he told us.

  Finn and I groaned at the same time, Faxon left with a laugh.

  “Can we outlaw math when we become King and Queen?” Finn asked me.

  “Sadly, that is a decision that must be passed by the Order of Elders and I have a feeling that math will not be outlawed as long as Faxon is alive.”

  “Did you hear him rambling about equations and letters in math? What was he talking about? Why would you have letters in math?” he asked and rubbed his temples. “I already have a headache just thinking about it.

  “Let’s hope we make it before we get to that stuff,” I whispered.

  * * *

  Our math lessons were even more torturous than we had anticipated. For four hours, Faxon instructed us, made us practice, and then even forced us to take a test. Finn and I hid once Faxon dismissed us and we didn’t come out until the next day. Finn used his speed to sneak food out of the kitchen for us to eat and we were discussing hiding for another day when Faxon found us.

  “Here you are! I looked everywhere for you!” he exclaimed.

  “We’ve been had!” I exclaimed.

  “We are almost close enough to teleport,” he informed us. “So, go get dressed and take the bags you want to keep with you for immediate use. Meet me on the main deck when you are ready.”

  Finn kissed my cheek and disappeared. I hurried to my cabin, changed into fresh battle-ready clothes, and took the bag that had my essentials and weapons in it. When I made it to the main deck Finn and Faxon were already there.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said and hoisted my bag over my shoulder.

  “I want you both to place one hand on each of my shoulders and then hold hands,” Faxon ordered us.

  We did as he asked and he closed his eyes. His lips moved, but I could not hear what he was saying. His lips stilled and then we entered the vortex of the teleportation spell. It lasted longer than when we had teleported home from Trian and just as my lunch threatened to make an reappearance, we stopped.

  I opened my eyes and Finn and I released Faxon. He turned and greeted someone behind us.

  “You okay?” Finn asked.

  “Yeah, that spinning is not something I think I will ever get used to,” I admitted. We were inside a room of stone walls with candle chandeliers. It seemed likely that this was the castle, but this room had nothing inside of it, not even a table or chair.

  “Macon, I would like to present Princess Tilia of the Realm of Olanze, heir to the Kingdom of Crilan,” Faxon said.

  I turned and curtsied to the rough looking human.

  He bowed and said, “It is an honor to meet you. Faxon has told me much about you.”

  “Don’t believe everything he says,” I grumbled.

  “Oh, I assure you that it was all good things,” Macon said.

  “And this is Finn, Chief of Crilan and fiancé of Princess Tilia,” Faxon introduced.

  Finn and Macon shook hands and I could tell that they were testing each other a bit. “Nice to meet you, Macon.” Finn greeted him with a smile.

  “Nice to meet you as well,” Macon said and they released their handshake.

  “What is the current situation?” Faxon asked Macon.

  “Well, you’ve arrived in the middle of night so everyone is asleep. The Kings would like to meet you and go over everything in the morning, if that’s alright with you?” Macon asked.

  Faxon nodded. “Sounds good. If you will just show us to our rooms, we will settle in for the night.”

  Macon opened a door and poked his head outside, summoning someone out there. The new man led the way and Macon walked behind Finn and I, beside Faxon. “It’s nice to see another female with a sword at her hip,” Macon said to me.

  “You don’t have many of those here?” I asked.

  “We have a couple, but really only one who is noteworthy,” he told me. “I believe you two will either be the best of friends or hate each other. It’s often hard to tell with Marin.”

  “These three doors will serve as your quarters while here,” the new man, who’s name I hadn’t caught, said.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He left and Macon said, “This isn’t a castle that I am familiar with, so I won’t be much help in telling you where everything is, but there will be someone to take you to breakfast tomorrow morning.”

  Macon left and Faxon turned to us. “Do not leave your rooms. I mean it. I don’t want to find out that you wandered around and got into a fight with people who are supposed to be our allies due to a misunderstanding.”

  “We will stay in our rooms,” I promised.

  “Good.” He opened his door and paused. “Your own rooms,” he added.

  “Yes, sir,” I agreed.

  Finn kissed me goodnight and I went to my room. This place felt different. I couldn’t single out what it was or how, but it just did not feel the same as Crilan. The room was rather large, but sparsely furnished with a bed and dresser. I set my bags on the floor next to the bed and lay on the bed with my clothes, boots, and weapons on. You never knew when the enemy would attack, so it was best to be prepared.

  The bed was incredibly soft and it didn’t take me long to fall asleep. It also didn’t seem like it was long before knocking at my door woke me. “Breakfast is ready,” a strange voice called through my door.

  “Coming,” I called back. I ran a brush through my hair, braided it, and then opened the door.

  The man bowed to me and when I stepped out, I found Faxon and Finn waiting as well. “Please follow me this way,” he said.

  We did and after a few turns, a staircase down, and a second set of turns, we were led into a dining hall. It was empty, shockingly, and we were the only ones who ate. After we had finished we were led to a war room where we encountered our first Elf. He was handsome and looked incredibly fit. His hair was silver and his ears were indeed pointed as the stories told. Faxon bowed low to him so Finn and I mimicked him.

  Macon said, “This is the King of the Elves, Cesar.”

  “It is a great honor to meet you, Your Majesty,” Faxon said humbly.

  “Please rise,” King Cesar requested. He had a kind voice, almost fatherly.

  “King Cesar this is Princess Tilia, Chief Finn, and Arch Mage Faxon of the Kingdom of Crilan,” Macon introduced.

  King Cesar bowed low to us and smiled at me. “It is an honor to meet you all.”

  I was surprised that we were the only ones present. “Where are the others?” I asked.

  “On their way,” Macon assured us.

  Finn stood against the far wall so that he could see anyone who entered and keep his back guarded at the same time. I stood beside Finn and adjusted the daggers on my wrists.

  A human man walked in, an air of confidence around him that suggested he was important. “This is King Trenton, ruler of the human realm,” Macon introduced.

  We were all introduced to him and I wished that we had been the last ones to come so we didn’t have to be introduced so many times.

  A female Elf with long silver hair and delicate pointed ears entered. She was beyond graceful and the most beautiful female I had ever seen. I felt inferior to her in every way and all she had done was enter the room. “Queen Amadis of the Elves,” Macon introduced.

  She walked over to me and curtsied low before me. “It is nice to meet you, Princess Tilia.”

  I curtsied back and said, “Thank you, Queen Amadis.”

  I couldn’t help staring at her. She was so lovely. “First time meeting Elves?” she asked in a whisper.

  I blushed and looked down. “I don’t mean to be rude.”

  “Nonsense,”
she told me with a kind smile. “I’m sure this is quite a shock for you.”

  “You are so lovely,” I told her finally.

  She smiled wide and said, “Thank you. You are quite lovely as well.” She turned and faced Faxon. “You vibrate with power,” she told him softly. “It’s alarming how powerful you are.”

  He bowed and said, “I assure you that we mean you and your people absolutely no harm. We are here to take care of something that should have never reached your shores.”

  She returned to her husband’s side and said, “The Princesses and Princes will not be joining us this morning. Princess Marin had a run in with Malavar late last night that has left them all shaken and in need of a bit more sleep than usual.”

  “What happened?” Faxon asked, full of concern.

  Who was Malavar? Was that the name of the man?

  “He summoned her from her bed, called her so that she could only answer it and had no power to stop. He offered her a compromise of her joining him or he would kill all of us,” King Cesar said.

  “How awful,” I whispered and gripped my sword’s hilt.

  “It seems you may have some experience with him as well,” Macon commented.

  “Princess Tilia was a victim of a cruel spell that he placed on her to upset me,” Faxon explained.

  “To get at you?” King Cesar asked.

  Faxon explained further, “Princess Tilia is one of a handful of people whom I treasure. He figured out that I was fond of her and hurt her and used a spell to make her terrified of me.”

  “What a horrid spell,” Queen Amadis gasped.

  “How do you know this man?” King Cesar asked. “We were told that he came from your Realm, but it seems that he may hold a vendetta against you, if he hurt the Princess that way.”

  “He is my brother,” Faxon said.

  The shock I felt was shared by everyone around us.

  “Your brother?” Macon asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And you have no issue defeating him?” King Cesar asked.

  “My brother has been taunting me for a long time. I had thought he was dead, but it seems that he was here, hiding. I failed to kill him and it is my duty to end his life before he can cause any more pain.”