Impossible Castle (Guardian of the Realm Book 1)

by M. Gregg Roe

  “Rymac was Andoran’s contemporary and rival,” Rosalind answered. “Well, until Valadek killed him. That started the chain of events that led to the creation of Andoran’s Realm.”

  Audrey had read about that once, but that had been years ago. “Then that means these were made by someone powerful. We can easily test the range, but how are we going to use them to communicate?”

  “I haven’t worked out that part yet,” Rosalind admitted, staring at the cubes with her brow furrowed.

  “If you put one in a fire,” Audrey mused, “then the other one would get really hot. That’s it. If my cottage burns down, then I’ll know you want to see me.”

  “I think we can come up with something less destructive,” Rosalind remarked, smirking at the jest.

  Audrey looked around at the array of metal shelves still waiting to be examined. “I think that’s enough for today.” She stacked the cubes and picked them up as Rosalind moved up next to her. Then she teleported them to her sewing room, where it was both hot and humid.

  After putting down the glow-cube on the nearby table, Rosalind gestured at the copper cubes. “Put one on something that won’t burn, just in case.”

  “Like a ceramic plate?” Audrey suggested.

  “Yes, that’s good.” Rosalind pointed to where Audrey had been sketching some dress designs. “Paper. We could use the cubes to remotely burn a piece of paper.”

  That still sounded dangerous. “What about wax? I could put a candle on top of it.” She always had a few around because they were more romantic than glow-cubes.

  “Wax,” Rosalind repeated, clearly deep in thought. “That’s perfect. We’ll put a small piece of wax on top of your cube. If you see that it’s melted and spread out, then you know we heated the other cube at some point.”

  Audrey retrieved a fat candle from a cabinet, then headed to the kitchen, with Rosalind following. She got out a small ceramic plate and placed the cube atop it. Next she used a paring knife to carve off a small piece of wax that she then pressed down on the top of the cube.

  Less than an hour after she returned from taking Rosalind home, the wax began to melt. That gave them a second way to communicate that was more flexible in some respects.

  Audrey teleported to the keep to give Rosalind the good news.

  [ 22 ]

  Youthful Romance

  Standing behind the chair, Aliva put her left hand on Romee’s left shoulder. “You really want it cut that short?” she asked. “I thought you liked the braids.”

  Romee stared wide-eyed at her reflection in the dressing table’s mirror. “I like braids, but long hair gets in the way. Most of the girls at the school have short hair.”

  Aliva removed her hand and picked up a pair of scissors. “The thing about hair is that if you cut it too short, it will eventually grow back.” She had a feeling that Romee would regret her decision.

  “That’s right,” Romee said, smiling radiantly. “Go ahead and cut it. Please.”

  Romee had already undone her long braids, so Aliva began by cutting the hair to shoulder length. After that she took her time, gradually trimming it shorter but not uniformly. Romee provided both feedback and praise as the process continued. When they were both satisfied, Aliva had the girl stand up and then turn all the way around.

  “It’s perfect,” Romee exclaimed. “Thank you, Aliva.”

  “You’re welcome. Go outside and brush off any stray hairs from your clothing.”

  “Okay,” she said, already halfway to the door.

  After fetching a brush and dustpan, Aliva cleaned up the clippings. Cutting and styling hair was something that she had learned from her mother, so it always felt somewhat nostalgic. Aliva cut Stanley’s hair, but not her own. Her ability to change her appearance included her hair, so she just kept it the same length.

  Romee’s feigned look of innocence when she returned didn’t fool Aliva. “Do you need something else?” she asked lightly.

  “There’s a shop that sells jewelry that looks nice but doesn’t cost much,” Romee said, twisting her hands together with her eyes averted. “I was thinking maybe a bracelet or a necklace.”

  The items were inexpensive because the gems were colored glass and the metal wasn’t pure. They were imported from Glasston, and Aliva owned several pieces herself. She had never seen the point of buying expensive jewelry.

  “Do all the other girls wear jewelry?” Aliva asked. Peer pressure was a powerful force among teenagers.

  Romee looked away. “Some of them.”

  “What’s his name?” That was the only explanation for the girl’s obvious embarrassment.

  The reply was barely audible. “Lars. But he likes someone else.” Romee scowled. “And she doesn’t like him. I know because she told me.”

  It sounded like a complete mess, but Aliva knew that kind of thing wasn’t unusual among teenagers. “You need to take the initiative, Romee. You could invite him to have dinner with us.”

  “Here?” Horror showed in the girl’s eyes. “I couldn’t.”

  “Then invite him out to dinner. Or maybe to watch the sunset.” The river confluence was an excellent place for that.

  “Sunset,” Romee said, nodding fervently. “I’ll ask him.”

  Her worried expression said otherwise. “Tell me about Lars,” Aliva urged gently.

  Romee gulped. “He’s… from Fisherton,” she stammered.

  That was both unexpected and a complication. Romee didn’t like to tell people where she was originally from, and Aliva couldn’t blame her. With Lars also being from the Fog Lake region, it was even possible that he was a distant relation.

  “When people ask me where I’m from,” Romee continued sadly, “I just say I’m from the Witch’s City. I don’t tell them about the wealth, either. I just want to fit in.”

  “There is nothing wrong with that,” Aliva assured her, feeling genuine sympathy. “Shall we go look at some jewelry?”

  Romee’s face lit up. “Yes! I know just what I want.”

  Aliva doubted that, but she would just see how things went.

  Loitering near the river confluence, no one paid Aliva any attention. Their gazes just slid by. Several factors were at work. Aliva’s current appearance was ordinary to the point of boredom. Along with a forgettable face, she had given herself the most common eye, skin, and hair color. Her drab clothing, purchased from thrift shops, was old and worn. On top of all that, she was using her glamour ability in reverse, discouraging interest rather than inviting it. She had learned this disguise from a succubus, one who claimed to have known Aliva’s mother. That same demon had also been the one to tell Aliva that she had to embrace what she was if she ever wanted to fully control her abilities. That had proven to be sage advice.

  Other than Romee and Lars, there were only two other couples in the vicinity, both much older. Barring a miraculous clearing of the sky, there wouldn’t be much of a sunset to see. But at least it didn’t look like rain.

  Lars was slightly shorter than Romee, with a short neck and a barrel chest. (With an appropriate beard he might pass for a tall dwarf.) He was attempting to grow facial hair, but it wasn’t going well. His features were boyish, with dirty blond hair, gray eyes, and skin a shade darker than Romee’s. And he was visibly shy, listening raptly as Romee spoke but rarely saying a word.

  Aliva couldn’t imagine Lars trying to kiss Romee, let alone take advantage of her, but she would keep monitoring their date. Stanley hadn’t objected to her plan, and neither had Lasrina.

  The sunset was unimpressive, but everyone still watched it. Romee and Lars walked right past her when they departed. Aliva followed after a moment, but she kept well back. Eventually the two of them should end up at Gunhilda’s Cafe, but they would probably take a walk first. In fact, they seemed to be heading for the docks, where there was always some kind of activity. The two of them stopped briefly to watch crates being loaded aboard a Novox ship with a crane that required two men to operate it.

/>   Outside the cafe, Aliva tried to decide if she should follow them inside or just go home. The two teenagers weren’t even holding hands yet, and there had been little conversation as they strolled. She was still dithering when she spotted Stanley approaching from her left. Amused that even her husband couldn’t see through her camouflage, she deactivated the reverse glamour as she walked over to him.

  “They’re inside?” he asked, grinning as he finally recognized her.

  “Yes.” Aliva hesitated. “Let’s just leave them be.” After a quick look around, she restored her normal appearance to the extent she could without damaging her clothing. Stanley offered his right arm, and she promptly took it with her left.

  “Earlier today we ferried over three people who were returning to Fisherton,” he told her as they headed home. “They were happy to answer my questions.”

  “Did they tell you that Lars’ father is a fisherman?” she asked him jokingly.

  Stanley chuckled. “Actually, his parents make and repair fishing nets. It’s the family business, but Lars has two older brothers. The people I spoke to had nothing bad to say about any of them.”

  That wasn’t definitive, but it was certainly encouraging. It also explained why Lars had been free to pursue an occupation not related to fishing. But he still might plan to return home to work as a town guard.

  The two of them were sipping grape wine in the sitting room when Romee arrived home about an hour later. After the girl seated herself opposite the two of them, Stanley said, “How did it go?”

  “Good,” she answered. “He’s nice. He insisted on paying for our pie.”

  “Then you should pay next time,” Stanley told her.

  “Okay.” Her face fell as she looked directly at Aliva. “I kissed him on the cheek. Is that okay?”

  “Yes,” Aliva told her, resisting the urge to laugh at the girl’s worried expression.

  Romee visibly relaxed. “He said he likes to play Sparrow. I sort of know the rules, but I want to learn to…” She waved her right hand.

  “Play properly?” Stanley suggested. “You should start by rereading the rulebook. You know where it is, right?”

  “In the cabinet in the office,” Romee called back, already headed out of the room with an eager expression.

  Aliva leaned over and gave Stanley a kiss on the cheek. “I think our foster daughter’s first date went just fine.”

  He returned the favor, lightly kissing her on the lips. “I agree. Do you think we should buy her a supply of AP powder?” he joked.

  Anti-pregnancy powder was safe, effective, and readily available. For the women that used it, AP powder meant control of their reproductive systems and sexual freedom. Andoran’s Realm would have been a very different place without it.

  Aliva was tempted to take her husband’s suggestion seriously, but soon reconsidered. Romee knew what AP powder was and where it could be purchased. They would trust her to do the right thing if her relationship with Lars developed that far.

  After returning, Romee studied the thin folio until she began to yawn. “It’s really hard,” she complained, rising to her feet with the rulebook clutched to her chest. “There’s too much to remember.”

  “Then why not ask Lars to teach you?” Aliva suggested.

  “Teach me,” Romee repeated with a blank look.

  “He will be flattered,” Stanley assured her, smiling in his goofy way.

  Romee shrugged. “Okay. I’ll ask him. Good night.”

  “Ah, to be young again,” Stanley sighed after they heard Romee’s bedroom door close. “I was in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. And even after being cruelly rejected, I never gave up hope.”

  Aliva didn’t mind the reminder of how she used to reject anyone who showed a romantic interest. It had been cruel, but also necessary. She just didn’t have sufficient control of her powers. But that was in the past. She sauntered over and gave Stanley a kiss that promised much more.

  It was such a lovely morning that Aliva went out for a long stroll. Summers were usually pleasant in Rohoville, moderated by gentle breezes and abundant shade. Even though it would attract more attention, she opted for a lavender sundress that showed off her figure, leather sandals, and a white hat with a wide brim.

  She headed southeast, roughly following the contour of the hill on a broad path lined with tall alders and sprawling rosebushes. On a whim, she turned onto a narrow path that soon joined a wider one that passed by Advanced Alchemy. The two-story wood building was well-separated from other structures, but that was the norm for such an establishment. When alchemy was involved, there was always the possibility of explosions, fires, or eruptions of noxious fumes.

  Standing in front of the shop’s closed front door was someone that Aliva hadn’t seen in quite some time. Rosalind’s simple attire suggested she wasn’t here in her role as priestess, and her pinched expression was one of annoyance.

  After glancing at Aliva, Rosalind jabbed a finger at a piece of paper visible through the door’s single large glass pane. “Petra won’t be back for two days,” the diminutive half-elf complained. “My timing is terrible.”

  Aliva had planned to just stop by briefly and tell Petra that Romee was doing well, so the shop’s temporary closure wasn’t a problem. She walked up and read the note for herself. “They probably took the children to the Witch’s City to visit their grandparents,” she opined. “What did you need, Rosalind?”

  “Something for a research project,” she replied absently. “That’s what I do now. I’m no longer at the temple.”

  “Audrey mentioned you were working for her,” Aliva said. “Is this for a Gray Potion?”

  Rosalind shook her head. “It’s for something else. How long have you known about Audrey’s secret identity?”

  Aliva glanced around to make sure no one was in earshot. “I found out she was the Guardian early on.”

  “I only found out recently,” Rosalind complained. “And she’s still keeping secrets from me. I can tell.”

  “We all have our secrets,” Aliva told her. “I don’t go around telling people what I really am.”

  “You have a point,” Rosalind conceded. She glanced at the shop. “I’ll just go back to the Witch’s City and order what I need there. Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

  That would probably be to talk about Audrey, but it was also an opportunity for Aliva. Fisherton was one of the places that Rosalind’s former temple had served.

  “I know just the place,” Aliva told her and then led the way.

  As they strolled, she told Rosalind about Romee and her boyfriend. Lars was coming over tonight for dinner, after which the four of them would play Sparrow. It was all Romee had talked about for days.

  “I know that family,” Rosalind remarked. “Those three boys were always getting into scrapes.”

  “But not into serious trouble?” Aliva asked, suddenly concerned.

  Rosalind shrugged nonchalantly. “Just the usual trouble growing boys get into.”

  That was reassuring.

  They followed a narrow and twisty path to an undeveloped area which had both a lovely stream and some large rocks that they could sit on. Tall silver maples provided adequate shade, and the air was alive with the sound of insects and songbirds.

  After making herself comfortable on a flat-topped rock near the stream, Rosalind said, “Do you know about the castle?”

  “Yes,” Aliva answered. “Is joining the blocks affecting Audrey?”

  “Not unduly. I’m more concerned with how the overall responsibility is affecting her.” Rosalind swung her legs idly. “I’m just looking for your general thoughts.”

  After considering the matter, Aliva spoke at length. She was one of many who had worried about Audrey’s mental state after everything she had been through. But she had never been concerned about Audrey abusing her newfound abilities. It just wasn’t in the woman’s nature.

  Aliva was about to suggest that the two of th
em dine together when Lasrina interrupted. Tell her about me, she ordered.

  Rosalind’s startled look showed that she had already sensed something. “There’s a divine presence here,” she said, staring at Aliva.

  What was the goddess up to now? “I work for Lasrina,” Aliva confessed with an embarrassed smile.

  “That’s unexpected,” Rosalind said half to herself. “Does she communicate with you directly?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. And don’t ask me why she wants you to know.”

  Rosalind’s gaze went distant. “Audrey and Ferikellan both worship Lasrina,” she murmured.

  “And that may not be a coincidence,” Aliva added, rising to her feet. “Why don’t we go get something to eat? I’m curious about the elf you work with.” The name had slipped her mind.

  “I can tell you all about my future husband,” Rosalind shot back, smiling devilishly as she hopped down. “Not that he realizes that yet.”

  It made for an entertaining lunch.

  Lars was smarter than he looked. Romee hadn’t noticed, but Aliva could tell that the boy was deliberately playing badly. He didn’t want to show up his girlfriend.

  Aliva’s contribution to the evening had been to render Romee more appealing, employing a combination of hair-styling, makeup, and nice clothing. She, meanwhile, had opted for the conservative and frumpy look. Stanley was in his usual drab clothing.

  After drawing a tile, Romee stared at it for a long while before saying, “Sparrow?”

  “It’s not supposed to be a question,” Stanley chided gently.

  Romee compressed her lips into a thin line. She slowly removed a tile from her rack and placed it face up. “Sparrow,” she said, filling the gap with the new tile. She picked up the rack and turned it around. “Three sets of four.”

  “Well done,” Aliva told her as Lars nodded his approval. Romee had used two Sparrow tiles, resulting in a hand that wasn’t worth many points, but at least she had finally scored.