“Did you write them a nice note when you sent it back?” Alli asked, grinning.
“I told them again to stop sending me stuff! The Imperial household has been sending me gifts since I was born. You’d think by now they’d have figured out that gaudy jewelry and expensive clothes are not the way to impress me!”
Mari shook her head. “Jane, Camber has told me that he is advising the emperor that renewed war would be folly, and that Kira is very unlikely to change her mind about marrying into the Imperial household.”
“Camber is old,” Jane said. “So is the emperor. What they say and what they believe has less and less impact. The likes of Prince Maxim are operating with more freedom. Maxim has gathered support in the Imperial household by promising to elevate the Empire in its rightful, superior, place in the world now that the Great Guilds can no longer restrain it.”
Lukas also shook his head, frowning. “I can't be the only one here who's heard that the remnants of the Mechanics Guild inside the Empire are also pushing for war. They want the common people to kill enough of each other to give the Guild a chance to reclaim power over the world.”
“That's insane,” Calu commented. “Technical knowledge has become too widespread, and the commons would never accept the Guild's control again.”
Queen Sien shrugged. “Those who want something badly can easily convince themselves that even the most foolish plan could work. And we saw in Tiae that those who believe they have lost much are willing to risk everyone else losing much more in the hopes that they can climb to the top of the rubble of whatever remains. What of the Mages?”
Mage Asha made a small gesture of uncertainty. “The majority continue to explore new wisdom. Others cling to the past, but we have no information that they have gathered around new leaders. Those who favor the old wisdom fight bitterly among themselves, even though their hatred for Master of Mages Alain and the daughter of Jules has not faded.”
“But will they willing aid the Empire?”
“Their services may be bought, but they also hate imperial arrogance and being ordered about by commons. Such Mages will willingly help sow the seeds of chaos among commons and Mechanics, but Mage Dav has heard nothing of any single effort that gathers those Mages hostile to the changed world,”
Jane nodded, one hand rubbing her arm where it been badly injured during the war. “The remnants of the Great Guilds cannot be discounted, but for now the real power still lies with the Empire's forces and powerful imperials like Maxim. All of them know the biggest obstacle facing them is the daughter, and now also the daughter of the daughter. Like it or not, Kira has surely become involved in Imperial plans.”
“Kira just turned seventeen a few months ago,” Mari said, frowning with unhappiness.
“She is also the daughter of you and Alain,” Queen Sien observed. “At seventeen, I was dealing with some extremely serious challenges, Mari.”
“I’m not you, Your Majesty,” Kira said. “I’m not my mother.”
“You have proven yourself to be a worthy daughter of your father and your mother,” Sien said. “The question is, how can we convince the supporters of Prince Maxim that any plan aimed at you and your mother cannot work?”
“They can’t think I would ever agree to marrying Maxim!”
“You are officially unattached,” Sien said. “As long as you are free of commitments to another, they can imagine that they could come up with a way to convince you or force you to marry Prince Maxim.”
Kira shuddered at the idea, aware that the others in the room, powerful people with immense experience in the world, were watching her. Not indulgently, but with the interest of people expecting her to say something worth listening to. It almost rattled her too much to keep speaking. “What if I made a public statement that I would never marry into the Imperial household? That I thought doing so would, um, compromise my mother’s impartiality and any future position I might have?”
“In most cases, that would be wise,” President Jane said. “But with you, that denial would be regarded within the Empire at least as proof that you wanted to marry into the Imperial household.”
“What?”
“You have to understand, Kira. You’re evil.”
“I’m evil?”
“I’ve been trying to warn people about her for years,” Mari commented. “Nobody believes me.”
Kira made a face at her mother as the others laughed.
“In all seriousness,” Jane continued, “you know who many Imperials think you are and who your mother is.”
“Mara?” Jason said without thinking, then cringed as Kira bent an angry look at him and Mari sternly shook her head his way.
“Yes,” Jane said. “She Who Must Not Be Named In This Household. The undead courtesan allegedly seeking to reestablish her role next to the Emperor’s throne, once again pulling the strings of power as she did long ago, and with an endless supply of young men available to feed her appetites, their blood keeping her young and beautiful. The Imperials believe that everything you do and say is in the service of that goal.”
“How can insisting I don’t want that mean that I do want it?” Kira said.
“You’re evil! Just because they can’t explain or understand your plans doesn’t mean you aren’t plotting to do something evil!”
“Then why does Maxim want to marry me?”
“Because he claims that he can control you and neutralize you, just as Emperor Maran supposedly once did with…you know who,” Jane said. “By binding you under his control, he will ensure that the Empire is safe from you.”
“He claims to be a new Maran, and they are painting Kira as a threat,” Alain said. His voice was impassive, in the way of a Mage, but Kira could still sense the underlying anger and worry that her father couldn't hide. “An active threat to the Empire.”
“Of course. The last thing they want is for Kira to become well regarded within the Empire. And you know Imperial thinking. You are with them, doing as they command, or you are against them. There is no middle ground.”
“Perhaps war at this time would not be the worst outcome,” Sien said. “If the Empire intends war, we should force it upon them on our terms.”
Mari shook her head. “You know how powerful the Empire is, and what war can do.”
“I have far too much personal experience with it,” Sien said. “But I also have personal experience with what happens when those intending harm are not countered before they grow even more powerful.”
Master Mechanic Lukas, lounging back in his seat, looked at Alain. “What do the Mages think? Are there any prophecies or visions?”
Alli laughed. “Master Mechanic Lukas, you are one of the last I ever expected to ask about that.”
“I’m a practical man, Master Mechanic Alli,” Lukas said, “which means if I see something that works, I don’t deny the evidence just because I can’t figure out how it works. I work with it.”
Alain answered. “I have been speaking with Mage Asha since she arrived. She brings word of many visions that have been told to Mage Dav. There is…confusion.”
Asha nodded, her expression solemn. “Normally, foresight offers images that are consistent. What one Mage sees, others will see as well, if they have connections to the same people or events. But now visions come and contain clashing images. One Mage sees something that seems clear, but another sees something far different. Sometimes the same Mage sees images that contradict.”
“Why?” Mari asked. “What’s changed?”
“Many of the images have one person in common. My uncle, Mage Dav, believes the answer lies in that person.” Her eyes, as brilliant and striking as ever, settled on Kira.
A moment of startled silence followed Asha's words. Kira looked at her father, seeing the worry in his eyes.
Mari spoke with the forced calm that Kira knew meant her mother was very upset. “What has Kira been seen doing? What’s happening to her?”
Asha paused before replying. “Many
…difficult…things.”
Kira inhaled sharply, the sound breaking through the renewed silence that followed Asha’s statement. “I would have liked hearing about that before now.”
“The visions cannot all happen,” Asha said. “Some see her in the Imperial court, in the robes of a consort.”
“They see what?” Mari demanded. “Alain, why wasn’t I—”
“He was just told.” Asha’s eyes were on Kira again. “Others see her…entering the next dream.”
“Dying?” Kira barely got out. “I’m going to—”
“These are not things that will be,” her father broke in. “They are things among many. They cannot all occur. Other visions show Kira happy and well, crowds cheering her, or simply living her life. In a boat, for example.”
“Her future is entangled with the Empire,” Asha warned. “But how that will work out is impossible to say. Nothing is clear. Jason is also seen. Sometimes.”
“What’s being seen of Jason?” Calu asked, concerned.
“The same. Many possible futures, some good, some bad.”
“H-how bad?” Jason asked.
Asha’s eyes rested on him. “As bad as the worst of Kira’s.”
“What about the good ones?” Alli said.
“As good as the best of Kira’s. And many that show alternatives between those two. But many are…difficult.”
Queen Sien looked from Kira and Jason to Alain and Asha. “This is not how I have been told foresight works. What does it mean?”
“I think,” Kira’s father said, speaking slowly, “it means that normally the choices of an individual matter in what may come to pass. What they choose to do. But their choices are limited by who they are.”
“How does that explain things?” President Jane asked.
Alain’s eyes rested on Kira. “If someone contains more than one potential, if someone can act in different ways that no other could, it would create differing possibilities. If she makes use of one set of choices from one…aspect of herself, futures would flow from that. If she makes use of choices from another aspect, different futures could come into being. And if she somehow can draw on both aspects, mingling possibilities, the futures become mixed and uncertain.”
“What are you talking about? I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what could make Kira so different in terms of her possible future actions.”
Mari sighed. “Kira, there are two people here who aren’t aware of something important about you. I would like to tell them, but only if you’re all right with that.”
Kira looked up at the ceiling, reluctant but knowing that her mother would not have asked without good reason. “If you think you need to.”
“Lukas, Jane, this is something that’s been kept to just a few of us. I have to ask that you not share it with anyone else. We’re talking a major secret regarding my family that must not be revealed.” They both nodded in agreement. “Kira has manifested Mage powers.”
Lukas frowned. “I saw her practicing with her pistol earlier.”
“Yes. She’s primarily a Mechanic. But she also has some Mage powers.”
Jane leaned forward, studying Kira, as Kira tried not to flinch from that examination. “That’s what you meant, Alain? That Kira could act as both a Mechanic and a Mage? I can see how that would create a unique set of problems in predicting her actions and outcomes,”
"It creates very different possible actions and outcomes,” Alain said.
“But how is it possible?”
“We don’t know,” Kira’s mother said. “The differences between the way someone with Mage powers has to view the world and the way a Mechanic views the world are, as far as we know, so vast as to be completely incompatible.”
“What powers are we talking about?” Jane’s eyes were still fixed on Kira, as if some outward sign might answer her question.
Kira answered, not liking the sense of being a curiosity on display. “Some foresight, in different forms. I can sense Mages and spells being cast. And once I was able to overlay a small illusion on the world. That’s all.”
Jane shook her head in amazement. “I’ve heard some rumors that Kira displayed Mage powers during the incidents involving the ship from Urth. But everyone I know of is discounting those rumors, especially the Mages, because Kira has been publicly demonstrating Mechanic skills.” She looked at Asha. “Have either of your daughters shown this?”
Asha shook her head in turn. “No. Devi leans toward the Mechanic arts. Ashira has growing Mage powers. Neither can do both.”
“It’s not causing you any problems?” Lukas asked Kira.
Kira smiled reassuringly. Gruff old Master Mechanic Lukas had always had a soft spot for her, and Kira had always returned those feelings. “No. I’ve been fine. The powers have been…I guess quiet is the right word, for the last few months. They’re still there. I’ve been working hard with Father on ways to block my…my Mage presence from the awareness of other Mages.”
This time Asha nodded. “I could not sense you at all when I arrived, Kira. I asked your father if your powers had vanished.”
“Really? Thanks. But, uh, no, it hasn’t caused any problems.”
Jason spoke up, frowning. “Um, Kira, you did seem kind of disoriented a couple of times when you used them.”
“I was really exhausted, Jason. That’s all.”
Kira noticed everyone giving her more concerned looks and wished that Jason hadn’t gotten over-alarmed again.
“What do you mean by disoriented?” Lukas asked Jason.
“Kira seemed to have trouble understanding me, or knowing what to do. It only lasted for a real short time.”
“That does sound like extreme tiredness.”
“See?” Kira said. “I’m fine.”
“Is there anything besides Kira that the foresight visions have in common?” Queen Sien asked.
“Many visions show war,” Asha said. “And in those visions both Mari and Kira appear prominently.”
Mari ran both hands down her face. “Haven’t Mages been seeing the possibility of war, and me appearing prominently, for the last twenty years?”
“Yes.”
“What about mountains? Has Kira been seen in the mountains? Alain had a vision six months ago of her and Jason being chased through mountains somewhere.”
“Yes,” Asha said. “Visions have seen her in the mountains, on open lands, on the sea, in the sea, in the air, on a horse, walking, climbing, falling…”
“The girl gets around,” Alli said. “Just like her mother.”
“We cannot say which of these future visions actually portray events which will happen. Kira’s nature has made the future too hard for even foresight to see clearly.”
“You know,” Kira said, “this isn’t my fault. I’m not messing with the future on purpose.”
“We know that,” her father reassured her. “But your unique nature has created a unique mix of possible outcomes.”
President of State Jane spread her heads imploringly. “A lot hinges on what Kira does or does not do. Do the visions offer the slightest clue as to what we should do?”
“No,” Alain said. “Anything we do because of them could be exactly the wrong thing.”
“Then why not try to disrupt the Empire’s plans?”
“I think that would be wise,” Kira’s father said.
“Without unduly exposing Kira,” Mari added.
“I have some ideas,” Sien told the others. “I would like to discuss them one on one.”
“All right,” Mari said. “Let’s…” She paused, looking toward Jason and Kira. “Jason? Is there something you need to say?”
He looked around, uncomfortable. “What about me?” Jason asked. “What should I do?”
Kira’s mother smiled at him. “No matter what happens, what Kira will need the most is someone she can trust, someone she can count on, standing beside her.”
Jason nodded. “I’m there.”
“And if ther
e is war?” Sien asked.
“Oh, yeah—what if Tiae goes to war?” Kira asked. “I can’t be neutral if that happens. There’s all this talk about me taking over for Mother, but I’m a citizen of Tiae.”
Queen Sien looked at Kira’s mother, who sighed and nodded. “We’ll talk about that later, Kira.”
“You and Sien already have some agreement? If my queen is all right with it, then I’m sure it will be fine. Queen Sien knows what she’s doing.”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
The older and wiser heads began having quiet conversations among themselves while Kira and Jason sat for a while longer, then went off to pretend to talk about other things while their thoughts remained centered on the earlier discussion. Jason stood by the window in Kira’s small bedroom, she sitting on the bed, just as it had been six months ago when she hardly knew him and could barely tolerate him. “Why do you have to be involved in this?” Jason asked. “In danger again and everything?”
“Because my mother is the daughter of Jules and my father is the only Master of Mages,” Kira said. “It comes with being me, with being their daughter.”
“That’s not exactly fair, Kira.”
“Believe me, I spent plenty of time bemoaning my fate,” Kira said. “You may remember hearing some of that. Excuse me, I do not need that look on your face. I was not that bad. But I’ve realized that if I didn’t try to fulfill my…my obligations, that would be a decision to not help when I could help, to not do a job that maybe no one else could do. I can’t do that, Jason. I have to try if there’s a chance I can make a difference.”
He nodded, looking resigned. “I remember that girl I met who kept telling me she wasn’t anything like her mother. What was her name again?”
“Hey, you fell in love with her!”
Jason smiled. “Yeah, because even though she thinks I’m delusional, I really am in love with who she is. And this is part of her, part of you. I guess we’re both stuck with it.”
She gazed back at him, somber. “You’re not stuck with it, Jason. You don’t have any obligations to me. It’s a choice.”
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