Prisoner of the Crown

by Cheryl Oblon

  “You’re welcome. Keeping you and your cousins here is for your safety, right now. I’ll consider your proposal once we have all the information, and I’ve determined the outcome for everyone. Is there anything else you want to discuss?”

  “Tell me what you want me to do. I’ll do it.” I dipped into the monarch’s mind. She had my father.

  I reached out my powers and felt him. Cold and in pain. Forcing a smile on my face, I cleared my throat.

  “I’m glad you’re so agreeable,” she said.

  “You found my father,” I added.

  “Yes, he’s been questioned.” She leaned over and put her hands on my shoulders. “Your father left you and was fleeing capture. Loyalty and family are good things, but you can’t be loyal to everyone at the same time. You must do what’s right for you and the family that will count on you as ruler.”

  “Thank you, Your Highness.” The veiled threat gave me a smidge of hope.

  “As for what I want you to do. Keep an eye out for the right match for Remmy. He’s next to settle down. Minnette is all but engaged, so you can use your gifts to make sure he’s the right choice, but she’s quite determined.” The queen rose.

  I stood as well. “Of course, congratulations.”

  “I’ll have an appropriate dress sent up for the Welcome Reception. You will not wear mourning clothes in front of the guests. It’ll only distract them and draw attention to yourself.” The queen pushed on the door and was gone in a flash.

  Any other time, I’d be thrilled to receive a gift from the crown, but forcing me out of the proper dress for her show was trivial. A mad power grab. Royals could do this on a whim. Their word was law. I sat at the desk and pulled out my pages. Rebellious desires tangled with survival instincts as I added to my notes.

  Showing up early for the reception, I’d have to change again, anyway. The dress they’d brought to my room required assistance to get in to, and a guard wasn’t any help. Instead, I dressed in my blue as planned. A sign of rebellion.

  LeFawn and Dagot, a shifter who was born here, checked the decorations. I couldn’t stop myself. I walked up to my old friend and hugged her.

  “It’s so good to see you out of that room. It was for your protection, but Mother really needs your help.” LeFawn smiled.

  “Dagot, how are you?” I said. He was tall and handsome, with long golden brown hair. A griffin shifter who consulted with the court on shifter matters. His mother had fled the Bachal and was accepted into the Lazrel nation. Eventually, she’d married a human man. Dagot loved learning about the Bachal. His mother refused to be part of the negotiations for fear she’d be taken back.

  “Very well, Lady Kimess. I’m very sorry about your mother.” He bowed slightly.

  “Thank you.” Little reminders that I was the ruler of the fifth family helped my confidence.

  The nasty glare from Minnette, who stood across the grand ball room that glittered with silver and gold decorations, reminded me that I had to serve close to the queen. On Minnette’s arm was a tall, dark stranger. I’d never met him before.

  “Who is with your sister?” I asked LeFawn.

  “Lendo. No magical gifts. Not from a royal house. She thinks he’ll make her look more in touch with the people,” LeFawn said.

  “Always calculating.” I sighed and let my mind wander to his. Strutting around like a peacock, he had power. The man wanted status with no work, but there was something more. He didn’t love Minnette.

  “You better hope Mother lives a long time. You and Minnette would kill each other,” LeFawn said with a laugh.

  Dagot looked away. “I should let you ladies talk.”

  “I won’t kill anyone. I promise.” I dipped into Minnette’s mind, and she hated me. Hated my dress and my very presence. It wasn’t personal. Anyone who knew her weaknesses and could call her on them was an enemy to Minnette. There weren’t many people who could…Minnette left her man and headed for us.

  “I thought they were sending you a dress?” LeFawn asked.

  “So did I.” Minnette stared at me. “You are not going to ruin this negotiation.”

  “I have no intention of ruining anything. I got a dress with full corset and buttons all down the back. Handed to me by a guard. I may be the technical ruler of the fifth family, but I wasn’t allowed to bring a droid or servant with me. I don’t have a servant assigned to me here. Someone comes to clean the room daily, but that dress requires someone’s assistance, at least.” I hated to sound demanding, but they both probably had three ladies attending them.

  Nemal walked up and gave me a weak smile. “What’s wrong?”

  “Look at her. A mourning dress will only taint the event.” Minnette shook her head. “I will send you a servant. You can keep her until you leave. But you will be dressed appropriately.”

  “Thank you. That will help,” I lied. Anyone Minnette would send would be a spy.

  “Don’t worry about it, Minn. You need all your help. I’ll arrange someone for Kimess. And I’ll take her back and make sure she gets dressed in time.” Nemal put his hand on the small of my back.

  As I started to walk, Minnette cleared her throat. “Go arrange it, Nemal. I want a word with the Royal Seer.”

  Nemal strolled a safe distance away and used a handheld tablet to find me help. Minnette walked in close, and when LeFawn didn’t leave, her sister glared at her. LeFawn headed off to find Dagot. I stood my ground. Minnette and I would have to work together one day.

  “I’m sorry you don’t like me,” I said.

  Minnette pulled back for a second at that. “I don’t care about you enough to like or dislike you. I have the weight of learning to rule on my shoulders. I must produce daughters to secure my line. The peace with these shifters is very important. I don’t want a war.”

  I shrugged. “No one wants war.”

  “Men do. The Bachal might be ready to try and take our country. Your mother understood what was at stake. You can’t screw this up.”

  “I’ll do my best.” I meant it.

  “There are limits. You are very powerful but lack control, at times. Don’t say the first thing that comes to your mind. File it for later, private talk. Don’t touch my man. Don’t touch my brothers. Remmy may be old enough to marry, but it won’t be you. Understood?” she asked.

  She towered over me. Minnette was painfully thin with thick brown hair and wide eyes.

  “I understand. You need to know that I will tell the queen the truth. I will be respected as ruler of the fifth house, and I am not crazy, cursed, or the least bit unstable. Don’t undermine me because it’ll only hurt the strength of the court.” I smiled and turned.

  Finding Nemal, I accepted my babysitter. Laughing, I put my hand on Nemal’s arm.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “Your sister. Don’t worry about it. Now, please tell me you assigned me someone from my family. A droid or anyone else is just a spy, and I’ll have to keep silent with them.” I entered my room and stared at the dark gray dress covered with a lovely, intricate silver design that made it suitable for a festive event.

  He followed. “Not a bad dress. Don’t worry, I picked someone from the first family so no one can complain.”

  “Great. Minnette will have her spying on me.” I kicked off my shoes.

  “I promise I won’t,” said a timid female.

  Nemal and I turned. The very plump girl had her dark brown hair pulled back in a tight bun. She looked Minnette’s age but lacked cosmetics or jewels.

  “There is Marel. My cousin.” Nemal waved her in. “This is Kimess, ruler of the fifth family. Royal Seer. You’ll help her with her dresses and keep her company?”

  Marel smiled and picked up the gown. “Of course. It’s an honor.”

  “If she’s a cousin of the first family, why haven’t I met her?” I asked Nemal.

  “Minnette hates me, ever since we were little. Now, she’s embarrassed by
me. I just stay out of the way.” Marel worked open the buttons on the dress. “You can go, Nemal. I’ll have her changed and ready for the reception in no time.”

  He nodded to me. “If Minn gets rough, just find me.”

  “Thanks, but I have plenty of other people to feel out tonight. Actual work to do. That feels good, somehow. Thank you,” I said as he headed out the door.

  Before I could turn, Marel was unfastening the basic gown I had on.

  “So, what do you do normally?” I asked.

  “Oh, I’m an artist. Sketches. Paintings. I do the royal portraits and such officially.” She helped me out of the gown and carefully hung it.

  “Why would Minnette keep you from school?” I asked.

  “It’s a long, boring story. Now she just says I reflect badly on the family. My size is unpleasant to her. My father was not royal, so I attended normal school once Minn and I had our disagreement.” Marel shrugged as she helped me into the corset.

  It wasn’t a full cinching or painful one, just a bit of a shaping garment. My curves were subtle, but on a petite frame, they could be made more noticeable without overdoing it. Then, I stepped into the dress.

  “Minnette and I disagree as well. She might try to get you to spy on me. Not that I’m worth spying on. Something is poking me,” I said.

  Marel pulled a tiny scroll of paper from the hem. “What is this?”

  “Let me see.” I unrolled the scroll and read the note. “Come see me…”

  “Who is that from?” she asked.

  “The handwriting isn’t familiar, but it must be my father. Julianne could see me if she wanted or call telepathically. He must’ve bribed a guard.” I frowned and headed for the desk.

  The lights were adjustable, but there were some primitive things in the desk, as well. We learned in school that the castle was supplied to function in case of an attack that caused power loss. In the desk, beyond the paper and pencil, I found the candles and matches. Sticking a candle in the holder, I lit it.

  Just before I burned the scroll, Marel grabbed it. “Maybe you should keep it. Proof your father was bribing guards and trying to see you?”

  I looked at her. “He abandoned my mother and me. I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to protect him. If he committed some crime, he’ll have to pay for it.”

  “Burning this looks like you are protecting him. Stash it away in case you need to prove he tried to sway you for help. I’m not saying use it against him, but if anyone tries to use him against you, you’ll have some proof he tried draw you in, and you resisted. Once it goes up in smoke, the proof is gone.” She moved my hair to the side.

  “You’re right. I can’t be hasty.” I tucked the scroll into the hem where it’d be safe and go unnoticed. This time, it wouldn’t poke me. I blew out the candle. “Thank you, Marel. I could also use some more personal care items. I don’t have a hair removal laser or curling rod for my hair.”

  She hooked the buttons up the back. “I’ll get you those things by the morning. While you’re at the party, I’ll look around and see what else is missing. But don’t worry about Minn, Lady Kimess. She won’t try to spy on you through me. She doesn’t speak to me. Nemal picked well for you. I’m far beneath her attention, now It doesn’t matter. I have my painting, and I’m happy to help you. I was so sorry to hear about your mother. She was always kind to me.”

  I turned around. “You knew her?”

  Marel nodded. “I live in the castle. My mother attends the queen, and my father is on the guard. I finished school last year, so I paint and sketch. At least, now I’m useful.”

  “Art is very useful. And I’m sure you have many friends and other things to do. Don’t feel like you have to babysit me all the time.” I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me.

  “Minn makes sure I don’t have many social engagements. My father wanted to send me away, but there are such pretty and interesting things to draw here.” Marel frowned, then smiled.

  I felt her internal struggle. To appear happy and together—not let the weakness show. She’d had a lot of practice putting up walls around her. I understood the pain. Every moment was a struggle to not give in to the grief. Failing now wouldn’t bring my mother back.

  “I can see the temptation for an artist. The castle is very beautiful. I’d much rather be at my estate, but I don’t have a choice.” I envied her supportive parents and options.

  “I’d rather have your figure and no talent. Minn would have less to make fun of.” She wrapped an accent sash around my neck.

  “You don’t mean that. You wouldn’t give up your art.” I called her on the lie.

  She smiled. “I’d take half as big and half as talented.”

  “Those kind of dreams don’t help. That sort of magic doesn’t work. I’m sure you’ve been to spell casters.” I checked myself in the mirror.

  “I have. My weight is not a curse or bad spell of any kind. They can’t help without a dire consequence.” She sat in a chair that was against the wall.

  I touched up my hair a bit. “Life is hard enough. Thank you for your help! Shall we go?”

  “We? No.” She seemed fused to the chair now. “You should go.”

  “You’re coming to the reception with me,” I said.

  She shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not invited.”

  “You’re my attendant. Won’t your mother be there looking after the queen if she needs anything?” I folded my arms.

  Marel ran her hands over her hair. “Of course, but she’s the queen.”

  “And I am the Royal Seer. I want you there with me. If anyone bothers you, say that with my mother’s recent death it was smart to have someone to look after me if I needed it. Someone who won’t be needed by the rest of the party. Okay?” I asked.

  “I suppose. You are very pale. Minn won’t like me being there.” She shook her head.

  “All the more reason to go. Come on.” I hit the button on the door.

  Slowly, she stood and joined me in the hallway. Being alone had been harder than I thought. I was raised to help people and being isolated cut off part of who I was. Nemal had done me a favor by picking Marel. We both needed a friend.

  Chapter 7

  It took some dragging, but Marel was in the grand ballroom. She found her mother and kept out of the way, but her smile made me feel better. Being invited and included was never a problem for me; people had no choice. The hard part was knowing if people liked me for me or my status. Minnette and I didn’t care for each other, but we could be honest and real.

  Marel avoided Minnette but seemed to settle in. Nemal even gave me a bit of a nod. Meddling man, he had given me an ally, at least. I found my way near the queen’s head table and made my curtsey.

  “I expected you sooner,” she said.

  “Forgive me, Your Highness. I required some assistance with the lovely gown. Marel is a great help,” I replied.

  She glanced over at the wallflower in a green dress. “Yes, I see. You will need someone if you’re to be present at such functions, dressed appropriately, and attending court. Good to see Marel getting out of her studio.”

  I smiled. “Your Highness takes a great interest in her family.”

  “She was ill as a child. The healers cured her, but for a few years, her lungs were quite a problem. Not able to run and play. Bad habits stick, unfortunately. Perhaps your tenacity will inspire her.” The queen didn’t look pleased overall, but she rarely smiled. Her dark red hair was wound into a braid today. It seemed rather informal, but her air of power always reminded me of my place even if we were simply talking about a mutual acquaintance.

  I didn’t delve into what aspirations Marel should have. A subject change seemed in order. “The Bachal have arrived?”

  “Their airship has landed on the grounds. You’ll mingle. Nothing will be decided today. They need Lazrel trade as they lack agriculture. Just be pleasant, and use your gifts to assess the Bachal.�
� The queen nodded to the head of her guard.

  A flair of trumpets called for attention. My stomach knotted up. Our nation, the Lazrel, had survived so much and had created a world that straddled the old and new. The best of technology and science had been retained while keeping alive the ways that had sustained people before industry. Like my little desk, candles and paper alongside the powerful tablets and food generators. We had balance. My mother always said the Bachal were conquerors who wanted to win, not survive. Lazrel survived.

  They needed Lazrel for food, true. We had fertile lands, and they had more wastelands. Bombs of all types had been dropped and harmed their ground. They’d used chemicals for years to prop it up. Hunted their game too much. Now, the rumors were they would conquer other nations to obtain what they needed.

  As our people took their places, I expected the relocators to pulse and flash, as it was only a short trip from the ship in the sky. Instead, the room’s wide set of doors were thrown open, and a mob of fifty paraded in. Clearly our guests liked to make an entrance and had relocated from their ship to the castle in another room. Their airships were too large to land near the castle and security would never allow it too close. The Bachal could relocate directly from their palace to ours but that meant security issues. Plus, they’d be too vulnerable. They liked having their ship close by.

  The Bachal guards were obviously around the sides with laser pistols similar to what our guards carried. Our two nations had a treaty but that didn’t mean we trusted each other or let our guards down. The king was easy to spot with his leather strap diagonal across his chest adorned with a royal crest and a gold crown studded with gems worn low on his forehead.

  Our queen’s delicate crown of titanium and diamonds was worth far more. We had great mining operations in place. But this was a negotiation, not a contest. King Gregor looked serious and as though he was in charge, despite being a guest here. His wife, Maeka, was stocky and solid. Dark reddish brown hair in a braid was topped with a subtle crown, but the dagger on her hip caught my eye, as well. The king had a sword. They were allowed to be armed? I gazed at the two Bachal princes, both tall and good-looking. One was Remmy’s age and named Faldar. The other, a couple years younger, was called Tantil.