“What?” I asked. Tyran was quickly getting on my nerves.
“You’ll see what I mean.”
“Well maybe when I get my PhD, I’ll come back and take a crack at diagnosing you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing, I’m sorry,” I said.
“No, don’t back down. Say what you mean,” he instigated. “That would be another refreshing personality trait Tamporlea doesn’t get to see.”
“Fine,” I said reaching my breaking point. “Obviously you have a problem with authority. It bothers you that you have to answer to Orion, so you mask that by insulting him. Maybe you have an issue with Tamporlea all together and you resent the fact that you have to stay here. I’m willing to bet you think you’re too good for this place, so instead of letting outsiders like me enjoy their stay, you bombard them with negative comments.” I waited a few seconds to see if he was going to say something but he looked too shocked to respond. “C’mon Casper, time to go in.”
I walked quickly toward the entrance but Tyran caught up easily. “Miss Jasmine, wait.”
“What?” I snapped.
“How did you know all that?”
“Simple people are easy to analyze.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“I guess it just comes naturally for you then.”
“Hey, I’m trying to apologize here.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry,” I said feeling guilty for giving him a hard time.
“Can we just forget about all this? I’m really not as big of a jerk as I just came off.”
“Sure, if you promise to forget what I said about you. It was cruel.”
“It was all true though, for the most part.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m usually right about people. It doesn’t make anything I said less cruel. I usually don’t blurt out my opinions like that.”
“You gave me some things to think about. In return, I’m going to give you something to think about.”
“Oh yeah?”
He smiled and said, “Take a look at that necklace, Miss Jasmine. How much of an ‘outsider’ do you think you are?”
“I…I’m not sure.”
“Exactly. Ponder that for awhile. I’ll see you around.” Tyran stalked off obviously pleased with himself.
Chapter 5
An Offer
The next morning, Orion came to my room as I was searching the cupboards for coffee.
“Everything okay?” Orion asked as I continued my search.
“Where on earth do you keep the coffee?” I asked.
“Miss Jasmine, we don’t drink coffee here.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, we’ve always just had tea. Coffee has never become a staple here.”
“Insane! How do you wake up?”
“The alarm clock.” Orion joked.
“Funny,” I said as I abandoned my search and sat next to him on the couch. “So what’s up?”
“What’s up is that we have our meeting in an hour. Will that be enough time to wake up?”
“Sure,” I grumbled.
“The meeting is in the third gold room. Would you like me to come get you before or can you make it on your own?”
“I can find it.”
After Orion left, I made some brown sugar oatmeal for breakfast. Once I brushed through my hair, wavy from the braid I’d left in overnight, I took Casper out for a quick walk. People were working the fields using antique farm equipment powered by massive horses. This didn’t make sense to me, they had television but they couldn’t make hard labor any easier for themselves? When we got back, it was time to make my way to the gold room.
The door was open and when I in Orion said, “Good morning Miss Jasmine.”
I smiled as I took my seat when he pulled out the chair next to him. There were only six people other than me in the room. I recognized Calalilly and Tyran but the rest of the people I only vaguely remembered seeing at dinner.
“Ok Miss Jasmine. I suppose we should get this meeting started. I think we should start off just by going around the room to introduce ourselves and tell you a little bit about what we do here. Tyran, why don‘t you start.”
“I am Tyran Brocket,” he said with a sly grin. “I am a Guard and my magical ability helps protect Tamporlea’s boundaries.”
“I’m Calalilly Cross. I’m a Reader. Technically speed reading isn’t a magical ability. However, I am able to read large volumes in minutes and retain all the information. This is helpful when we need to know details of something that has to do with our history.”
“I’m Kelly Manyon, I’m an Enchanter, meaning I’m able to protect Tamporlea using major spells.”
“I’m Simon Rivers. I’m a Runner. I go into the surrounding towns to sell or buy the goods we need.” I didn’t want to interrupt, but I recognized him as one of the men from the farmer's market.
“I’m Healer Rebecca Gates and I can heal those that are sick or injured.”
“I’m Storm Mills and I represent the Others, or the people with magical abilities that don’t fall into a particular category. I also organize and supervise the Commoners.”
“And I am Orion Underhill,” he said with a smile. “I am a former Guard, former assistant to the Queen and current Head of the palace. We are the best of the best and we attend all the meetings and pass along any necessary information to the rest of the palace. This selective group are called the Heads.”
“It’s very nice to meet you all,” I said nervously.
“I know you’re probably anxious to know what’s going on here. On our hike here, I told you some of the history of Tamporlea. You remember the story of the High Priestess Syeira and Jal right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“So to add a little more to that, Syeira was the one who hallowed out this small mountain and Jal did all of the small beautiful details, like the carvings on the door and the jade inlay on the floor. So you can pretty much see the vast difference in magical abilities between the two. Jal actually made the medallion you are wearing with his magic,” Orion added. I touched the charm, suddenly feeling just how special it is.
“It was his gift to Syeira,” Orion continued. “Syeira decided that it was to be passed down to each generation. Miss Jasmine, you are the next generation of hers to come to Tamporlea.”
“No way,” I said completely taken by surprise.
“Yes, but there’s more. When Syeira reigned here, she set clear rules as to who was to be the next Queen. She cast a spell that made it so only girls could be born to her descendents.”
I remembered my mom telling me that there were only girls on her side of the family when I was learning about how the sex of a child was determined by the male. She told me that wasn’t the case for our family. I didn’t understand it at the time, but is it really possible that this was a spell set on our family?
“Females hold the most power and Syeira didn’t want to take the chance of her magical powers dying out.”
“Wait a second,” I said. “On the way here, you said that Syeira didn’t want to ever use her powers again and only created Tamporlea to show her love to Jal. What made her decide to keep using her powers?”
It was Calalilly who answered, “Syeira and Jal didn’t put any enchantments on the palace and when a Gypsy was banished from their colony, or they decided to leave on their own, they somehow found their way to Tamporlea. For each person that came, Syeira would have to create a new room in the palace. She saw how happy the people in Tamporlea were and she realized that her magic was good. She helped so many people with her abilities, she didn’t want it to end with her.”
“Ok, so if I’m her descendent, wouldn’t I have some type of magic in me? I’m just a normal seventeen year old girl, and my mom doesn’t have any magical abilities either.”
“Well, the High Priestess made it clear that magic was to stay within Tamporlea’s walls,” Orion explained.
“This is to say, only those descendents that are crowned Queen will be able to use their magic to their full potential. I also told you that Queen Holly passed away about a year ago. She was your great-great-grandmother. Miss Jasmine, you are next in line to take the throne if you wish to take it.”
“You’re asking me to be Queen?”
“Yes, we are.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“We are very serious.”
“What about my mom? Wouldn’t she be next in line?”
“We offered this to her when she was eighteen. She said no, so you’re next.”
“Why did she say no?”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot give you that information.”
“That is so frustrating you know.”
“I’m sure it is,” Orion said. “The decision to become Queen should not be influenced by other’s decisions. This choice you are to make should not be taken lightly. If you should decide to become Queen of Tamporlea, you cannot go back to your old life. You will not be able to visit even. If you choose to go back home and not be Queen, your memory will be wiped of all things to do with Tamporlea. You will not remember this place, and you will not be invited back.”
“That’s pretty harsh,” I responded.
“Yes, but it is all for Tamporlea’s security.”
“What happens if I decide to go back home and forget I was ever here?”
“You may choose to do that. No one in Tamporlea, or any other kingdom for that matter, can force you to become Queen,” Orion explained. “You would go home to your mom and when your daughter comes of age, she will be given the same opportunity as you are now.”
“Right, I understand that. I just meant what would happen to Tamporlea?”
I thought I could see Orion trying to suppress a smile. He was pleased that I was concerned about the welfare of the kingdom. “The kingdom has survived once before with no Queen for twenty-three years,” Orion began.
“Times were different then,” Simon interrupted but he was silenced when Orion glared at him.
“Miss Jasmine, no one can be completely sure what would happen. What Simon was about to say is that the kingdom would be weakened, but that would be true of any society. Imagine if there were no president. The whole United States would be at risk of attack by other countries and even within the country. This shouldn’t effect your decision. We’ve had no real conflict in over a century. You should make the decision to become Queen because it’s what you feel in your heart you should do,” Orion concluded.
There was a silence at the table as I thought about what Orion had said. If I chose not to take over as Queen I would be creating a weak Tamporlea, possibly too weak for the other kingdoms to ignore. Although he wasn’t able to say it, I could tell that this was what Simon feared. More likely than not, he wasn’t the only one.
“What would happen if I decide to become Queen?”
“You would have to choose your assistant as soon as possible. Normally, the current Queen would pass along some much needed advice and wisdom. I will do my best on that account. After a short amount of time, there will be a crowning ceremony where you will be officially named the Queen of Tamporlea.”
“And…what about my mom?” I asked, my voice thick with emotion.
I saw the others shift nervously in their seats but Orion held strong. Before he had a chance to speak, it was Calalilly that responded.
“Miss Jasmine it is my pleasure and job to read about the history of Tamporlea which means that I also know what happens to the descendents who do not live in Tamporlea. I can tell you that every mother who has allowed their child to come here without them, has gone on to live a happy and fulfilling life. It’s as though the Gods smile upon her and reward her for the sacrifice she has made.”
Although Calalilly was very confident in her response, I felt compelled to look at Orion for some confirmation. He had the look of approval which eased my mind a bit, but there was something else as well. Relief I think, and as I looked at the others, I realized my suspicions were right. Everyone at the table had the look of relief and I wondered what they were hiding.
“I can’t give you an answer right now. I need to think about this. I need to go home and talk to my mom. I’m supposed to go away to college next month.” My words came out in a rush, a million thoughts flooding my brain at once.
“I’m sorry Miss Jasmine, but you must stay here while you are deciding. We need an answer in five days,” Orion continued. “I know this is a lot for you to think about. Please don’t feel too pressured. I’m sure you will make the decision that is best for you, just as your mother did.”
There wasn’t much left to discuss so I excused myself to go to my room. Casper was happy to see me and jumped on the bed when I went to lie down. I know that the offer to be Queen was real, but it still seemed impossible. Eventually I decided I couldn’t think about it anymore and I went for a walk with Casper where I could really relax by the waterfall. I wondered what my mom was doing at home without me. I though about my friends who were probably have fun at the beach or shopping for college supplies. I wanted to go home and not have to think about the craziness that was Tamporlea.
When Casper and I made our way back inside, I lay on the couch and, more exhausted than I realized, I fell asleep. I don’t know how long I was out before I heard a knock on my door. I willed them to go away, more than anything I just wanted to be alone. The knocking didn’t stop and finally, I got out off the couch and opened the door. Calalilly was there, holding a platter of food for me. She smiled weakly and I invited her in. She set the tray on my table and said that she would go.
“No, that’s okay. You can join me if you’d like.” She sat across from me and I offered her some food, but she had already eaten. I couldn’t believe that I had slept right through dinner. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at dinner tonight. They must all think I am so rude.”
“Not at all Miss Jasmine. Orion told us that you had a lot to think about and you probably didn’t want to be disturbed. I just wanted to make sure that you had a decent meal.”
“Thank you very much,” I said looking at all the choices spread out before me. There was a garden salad, vegetable stew with homemade bread, iced tea, and yogurt with blueberries. My stomach growled hungry at the scent of it all. I took a bite of salad and said, “Are you sure you don’t want any?”
“I’m stuffed, but thank you. Miss Jasmine, do you mind if I ask you something?”
“Not at all, but please just call me Jasmine. All this Miss stuff is kind of throwing me for a loop.”
“Okay Jasmine. My friends all call me Cali if you’d like to as well. They all think Calalilly is a mouth full.”
I laughed and said, “I think I have to agree with them. So what would you like to ask me Cali?”
“I understand you and your mom were very close.”
“Best friends really.”
“I’m pretty close to my mom too. We’re not exactly best friends, but still really supportive of each other. I can’t imagine having to make a choice between my mom and a whole new and exciting world without her. It must be really hard.”
“You have no idea,” I said finishing off my salad and pulling the stew close to me. It smelled just like the way my mom makes it, with fresh veggies from our little garden in the backyard. “I would do anything just to talk to her. She’s so good at giving advice and making me see things from all aspects.”
“I know you don’t know me, but if you ever need to talk, I’m pretty good at giving advice and stuff like that.”
“Thanks. That really means a lot. Especially if I decide to stay.”
“You mean you really aren‘t sure about being Queen yet?” she asked surprised.
“No. I have never done anything without my mom’s support along the way. It would be really hard. Plus I know my mom must‘ve turned it down for a good reason,” I said taking a bite of potato from the delicious stew.
“I guess I just imagin
ed that being Queen would be so exciting. I can’t imagine having to think about it.“
“Well, you have some idea of what to expect. I mean you’ve grown up here, with Queen Holly. I’m an outsider and I have no idea what to expect. I don’t even know if I have what it takes to be Queen. It’s kind of scary.”
“I know I shouldn’t tell you this, you have enough pressure already. Jasmine, Tamporlea really needs you. The others wouldn’t want me telling you this but Tamporlea is getting weaker everyday. So many people that live here are angry with the conditions in which we live. The restrictions Queen Holly has imposed are overwhelming.”
“What restrictions?”
“Oh, she was wonderful. Don’t get me wrong. When she first became Queen, she was honestly dealing with a mess. It was chaos and she had banished several people. However, she set restrictions that were necessary for the time, but not so much now. “
“Like what?” I asked anxiously.
“Well, for starters, the population controls restrictions. If you are a Commoner, you can only have one child, and if you are magical you can have two.”
“But that’s necessary,” I argued. “In a space this small, you can’t let everyone have as many kids as they want.”
“I agree Jasmine. The problem I have is that even if one of the couples doesn’t want a child of their own, or only want one, no one else can have an additional child to take that one’s place. Also, if a child were to die of illness or accident, the parents cannot have another child.”
“Oh. Well that seems a bit unreasonable.”
“Yes, and that’s just for starters. The marriages here are all arranged. It’s always male Guard with a female Guard. The idea of two people with different magical abilities getting married and having children is taboo. This was necessary a long time ago because magic was dying out and the Queen wanted to strengthen the abilities we still had. However, people are getting very angry about this now.”
“I don’t understand. Why can’t a Guard marry an Enchanter? Wouldn’t the ability of their children be one or the other, or even both?”
“Not necessarily. If it is one or both of the abilities of their parents, they wouldn’t be as strong as their parents. There is also a possibility that they would have no powers or an ‘Other’ power. That is why we have so many Commoners. Even the people with Other powers are frowned upon. They never feel like they belong.”
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