Fragments of Light

by Beth Hodgson

  “You see, I like ruling. Emerald is worth far more than a normal princess dowry. And if your father would be able to afford such a price, he would insist that Arcadia be his for how much he would pay for my daughter.”

  It will not be easy to win Damaris over, even if Emerald were smitten, he recalled his father telling him before he left. Damaris is a hard man. Always has been, always will be. You must make more friends within the council in order to persuade the King, as he has a personal vendetta against York…

  Derek took a deep breath, thinking of Emerald. Emboldened by the King’s pushback, Derek took another step closer, lowering his voice. “Your Majesty, forgive me for being so forward, but I thought that I could bring much favor to you and your kingdom. I have heard that your kingdom is in need of more financial help. Much more than it needed seven years ago. Some would say that Arcadia is on the brink of financial ruin. The kingdom of York is willing to level out all debts that yours has racked up, restoring the crown’s credit. In return, I would only ask for the Princess Emerald’s hand in marriage. My father would ask that you continue to govern Arcadia under an alliance between Arcadia and York.”

  Derek took a drink of his wine and pressed on. “I’d say that is more than a fair offer, considering your kingdom is about to collapse, and on a colossal scale like no other city-kingdom has before.”

  “Of course, he would grant me comforts during my last days living,” the King said with a mocking tone.

  “Sire, with your kingdom being on the brink of a financial devastation, would it not be better to restore it and live out your days in glory rather than shame?” Derek asked. “You would still be able to rule Arcadia!”

  “The answer is no. You cannot marry my daughter.”

  “You would ruin a whole kingdom just to spite my family?”

  “Indeed, I would.” Damaris’s words stung him, though the coldness on his face hurt more. “Go back to York, and marry another princess. You cannot afford Emerald. Whatever offer you make me, I highly doubt I would accept. Arcadia is mine.”

  Derek’s heart sank. He couldn’t leave without Emerald. He’d known his trip would be difficult, but not to this extent.

  Damn Damaris!

  Derek’s eyes flared up, but he kept his poise. He bowed, then stated firmly, “That is not an option, Your Majesty. I would do anything for Emerald. Anything.”

  “Anything, you say? The only way I would agree to your marriage is if the kingdom of York graciously restores Arcadia’s debt, Arcadia remains mine, and I remain king. Your father would have absolutely no ties, nor any control of Arcadia, and there would be no alliance. And even then, after you marry my daughter, she stays here in Arcadia, at the palace.”

  Derek stood stunned at the King’s mockery. Damaris was insane. “You know my father would never agree to that.”

  “How badly do you want my daughter? You told me you would do anything for her.” Damaris’s sharp eyes flickered back.

  He is serious. No wonder every suitor left Arcadia empty-handed. No kingdom would agree to those terms.

  Damaris gave him a smile, knowing exactly what Derek was thinking. He took another drink of his wine.

  “I give you one week. If you cannot make an acceptable offer within that time, you will leave and never return to Arcadia ever again.”

  Derek’s stomach dropped. One week, Derek thought? He had better make every day count while he was in Arcadia. He bowed to Damaris, his eyes lowered. “Your Majesty, I will be in contact day and night with my kingdom to prepare an offer. One that will hopefully be pleasing to you.”

  “Good. I look forward to most favorable negotiations that will satisfy Arcadia,” the King said. He didn’t look at Derek, instead he walked off into the crowd, his guards trailing behind him.

  Derek leaned up against the pillar, finishing his wine.

  Father will never agree to his demands, he thought. I must speak to the others in the council as soon as I can. Maybe they can reason with Damaris.

  The server came back, filling his empty glass. He watched Emerald dance. Tonight is about Emerald. Tomorrow, I will start with the council.

  Finishing his wine in haste, he set his goblet down on a nearby table, then boldly walked out to the dance floor.

  ***

  As the orchestra finished up the next song, Haze bowed to Emerald while she returned the favor with a curtsy. Haze’s face gave Emerald a “there is someone behind you” glance. As she peeked over her shoulder, she saw Derek shadowing her. When their eyes met, he gave a polite bow to them both.

  “I am so sorry to interrupt you two, but I was hoping to ask the princess for the next dance.” Derek smiled at her with his pale eyes, then flashed Haze a forceful stare.

  “Certainly, I would be delighted,” Emerald replied, exchanging looks with Haze.

  A smirk appeared upon Haze’s face. Haze bowed to them both, grandly waving his jeweled fingers. “Have fun,” he told Emerald, turning away into the crowd.

  Derek took Emerald’s hand in his as his other hand wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her close. His intoxicating scent lingered once again, making her blood temperature rise, tickling her senses.

  “Should I be jealous?” Derek questioned jokingly as they began to dance.

  “Haze?” Emerald asked, blushing. “No, Derek. He’s not like that.” She faced him again after he spun her slowly, giving him a faint smile. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Good. I don’t like competition.”

  “Oh? Is that so?” Emerald said playfully. “Are you saying that you are competing for my affection?” She realized it was the wine talking and not what she would say truly, but it didn’t matter. She wanted to make Derek perfectly aware of her flirtations.

  Derek laughed at her suggestion. “Would it bother you if I were?” He tightened his hold around her waist, drawing her close to his face.

  The two paused for a moment, looking at each other while the room continued to dance. Her heart leapt through her chest, making it impossible for her to remember to breathe.

  In her enraptured state, all Emerald could do was remain breathless. There had been no other man she had ever wanted like Derek. All these years, she had thoughts of him, fantasized about him coming to Arcadia for her. Never did she ever think it would actually happen. It was like she had stepped into one of her dreams, and she never wanted to leave.

  Gathering her senses, she smiled shyly at Derek. “No, it wouldn’t. In fact… I would quite encourage it,” Emerald stated softly.

  Derek answered her back with a bright smile, pulling her closer as they continued to dance. Emerald saw from the corner of her eyes photographers taking photos of them, their cameras flashing continuously. By morning, all of Arcadia would know about her dancing with the prince, and no doubt many of the articles would speculate a possible betrothal. And for good reason. The prince and princess dancing together, both still eligible for marriage. That story would fuel the media for quite a while. The flashes continued, and more photographers kept coming.

  With each flash, Emerald became more and more dizzy. The wine was hitting her very hard and very suddenly.

  Derek noticed, leading Emerald off the floor while shooing away the photographers in the process. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ve had too much wine. I should retire for the evening before I make a fool of myself or possibly black out.”

  Derek put his arm around her. “There is no possible way that you could make a fool of yourself,” he assured her. “Come, let me escort you to your quarters.”

  “Are you sure? I do have my handmaidens to escort me.”

  “I was actually just making an excuse to see you just a bit longer before the night was over,” he confessed with a smile. “Feel free to play along.”

  Emerald flushed. She scolded herself in her mind for suggesting she was such a weakling. “Well, then, please, by all means.”

  Derek led Emerald through the hall, supporting her weight wit
h his arm around her while she tried to focus on each step. The floor began to swirl, and faces became a blur. All the while, she felt Derek’s strength leading her out of the main hall and into the depths of the palace. Splotches of white entered her vision, and she felt a tugging at her fabric as Derek picked her up into his arms. Derek’s hard body was warm and inviting. And strong. So strong.

  Emerald smiled to herself as he continued to carry her through the hall of blurs; the only thing she could see was the pattern on his sleeve. Emerald buried her face in his tunic, letting the moment sink into her memory.

  What seemed like only seconds later, they had arrived at her quarters. Derek put her down carefully as a white blur, who only could be one of her handmaidens, retreated inside to prep the room for her, giving Emerald her privacy.

  Emerald looked into his intense eyes, the only thing that remained clear in her blurry state. She leaned back against the frame of the door, giving him a wanting look.

  “When will I see you again?”

  Derek leaned into her. Her body began to throb as he took her hand and kissed it with a hot breath, then placed it against his chest. “Tomorrow morning, if that would please you,” he said smoothly, reaching for a lock of her long wavy green hair and lightly brushing it aside. The very touch gave her a warm flutter inside, her heart quickening.

  “Yes, it would,” Emerald answered, giving him a delicate smile. “Very much so.”

  A moment of hesitation appeared on Derek’s face. His icy eyes shone as he gazed upon hers in silence. Was he going to kiss her? How she hoped that he would.

  “Good night, Emerald,” he said as he bowed to her.

  Her body trembled while she tried to contain her excitement. “Good night, Derek,” Emerald murmured dreamily, the smile still on her face.

  He kissed her hand one last time. His lips lingered above her hand where he had kissed it, then he gave Emerald a soft smile. After a brief moment, he retreated down the hall, his deep-blue cape swaying gently behind him.

  She watched Derek until he had disappeared into the darkness. After he was out of sight, Emerald slid her back down the frame of the doorway, then gently rested her head against the wall with a pleased sigh.

  She had no idea how she’d manage to fall asleep.

  CHAPTER SIX

  VIOLET

  The heavens shook from the aftershocks of the red and stirred from the sadness of the blues. Out of their depths formed a new color: violet. It was so intense, so beautiful. More beautiful than I had ever seen. The color took a hold of my mind, and I was lost in its intensity. The more I lost my mind, the more I lost my body. I then had no control over my being, and instead, the color consumed my consciousness. I became a slave to the color. It controlled me and made me do things that it wanted.

  —excerpt from Saint Helen’s writings, 2671 B.E.

  “Enchantress Ikaria,” Suri interrupted gently, nodding her delicate neck ever so slightly. “You have been summoned by the Empress to meet with her in the council chambers.”

  Ikaria finished her spellbinding enchantment on the metal circlet before her, wafting her violet magic away as the energy slowly diminished. The onyx crown emitted a deep-violet radiance, the jewel glowing a dark radiant purple.

  Turning her attention away from the enchanted object, Ikaria eyed her servant. “Do you know if the Emperor will be present?” Ikaria inquired. Her eyes lowered to her fingers, ensuring none of her lacquered amethyst nails had a chip.

  Suri shook her head. No movement came from her black hair, only the jingling of her bronze hair ornaments and the rustling of her simple yellow yukata. “No, Enchantress. I believe it will only be the Empress.”

  “Excellent. I don’t feel up to dealing with His Majesty today,” Ikaria jeered.

  Looking back at her newly enchanted object, she cracked a satisfactory smile. Ikaria had experimented with several objects, successfully enchanting them with her newfound orange magic mixed with her existing violet power. To add the power of control into enchanted objects excited her. No one in the history of mankind had ever done such a thing, and she was the first and only one to do so. All thanks to the Lady Yasmin’s blood.

  “What do you think of this, Suri?” Ikaria asked, holding the circlet up for her servant to see.

  “Impressive, Enchantress.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” Ikaria flashed a wicked grin. “There are times that I even impress myself.”

  Ikaria set down the circlet on the empty throne next to her. It was an ornate chair, designed with swirls that intertwined with silver and a deep-purple velvet padding. She was seated in an identical matching throne, near her enchanted firepit. The chairs were an early engagement gift, courtesy of Cyrus himself. That was when she was to ascend the throne, before she lost her place as heir. Whenever Ikaria sat upon the chairs, it made her hate the Emperor and the High Court all the more. But instead of burning them, as she wanted to do every day, she vowed with every living breath that it would be Cyrus’s execution chair when she became Empress.

  Suri stood frozen in front of her for a moment. Her orange eyes met Ikaria’s, giving off a slight twinkle. “Also, Enchantress, there was another… technological artifact found on the surface. I saw one of the commanding officers from the surface workforce deliver it to the citadel’s gates about an hour ago.” Suri’s pink lips hinted a smile, but no other emotion appeared on her face.

  Ikaria stretched out her body within the confines of the throne, grinning. “Does the Emperor know about this delivery yet?” She got out of her chair, smoothing her skirt fabrics.

  “No. Only the two guards on duty. I believe they were to deliver it to Lord Nyko.” Suri’s eyes locked onto hers. “I have everything arranged in our favor.”

  “Thank you, Suri.” Ikaria flashed a wicked smile and gingerly brushed her hand against Suri’s smooth face. Suri blushed the moment Ikaria’s fingertips touched her lips. “You always know how to brighten my day,” Ikaria whispered, then waved her hand to dismiss Suri.

  “Enchantress.” Suri bowed, sucking in her breath. “It is always a pleasure to serve the true and rightful heir. And I have none other than you to thank for my… gift. It is very invigorating.”

  Ikaria laughed, thinking about her own body, raging with more power and passion now with the addition of the orange and red magic. She was sure Suri’s body had felt the same when she drank from the Lady Yasmin. If Ikaria could compare the two colors that she’d consumed, orange was far more sensual and erotic than red.

  “My dear Suri, you are so loyal, much more than anyone who has ever served me. I just wanted to show you my gratitude for assisting me with Lady Yasmin and Lord Valamir. I looked rather beautiful that night. Or should I say you did?” Ikaria laughed, swiping her hair off her shoulder. “I love illusion magic. And to think that Lord Valamir thought he had everyone fooled at court. What a sorry excuse for a High Court spy. His blood was quite delectable, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Yes, quite so, Enchantress.”

  Ikaria glanced at Suri, revealing a faint smile. “If you continue to be loyal, I can promise you the power of my violet blood. Besides, someone has to fill the enchantress position once I am Empress. Please continue to use your new power with discretion, as we would hate to give away your newfound identity. Especially around the other orange-gifted. We don’t want people to start asking questions.”

  Suri smiled softly, her eyes in reverence of Ikaria. “I will. Thank you, Enchantress,” Suri murmured, bowing deeply.

  “And Suri, do expect that we will have company in my chambers this evening. I have my eye on that new servant of the Emperor’s.”

  “Yes, Enchantress.”

  Ikaria gave herself a private smile, delighted at what was to come that evening. How she loved blond men. They looked nothing like the Emperor.

  Walking over to her full-length mirror, Ikaria checked her lipstick, which had faded from drinking her morning wine. Reapplying her violet cream, she posed for her refl
ection seductively. I still look better than most of the court women combined. She flirted with her reflection one last time with a devious smile, then walked out of her chambers.

  When Ikaria arrived at the council chambers, she found Ayera sitting at the small glass table, dressed in a red kimono trimmed with gold. Her hair was fixed up in a large ornate half bun with many hair accessories woven throughout. Ayera’s dark eyes fixated on Ikaria as she walked across the room.

  Ikaria sensed her sister’s thoughts. A knowing feeling came over her, one that told her that her sister did not suspect her involvement in Lord Valamir’s demise. Satisfied, Ikaria seated herself at the table.

  “What’s this all about?” Ikaria said casually. A servant came by, offering Ikaria a drink, which she happily accepted. Ikaria glanced at her sister, noting her glass remained empty. “No drink, sister?”

  Ayera ignored her question. “So I hear you have changed your title to court enchantress.”

  “Sorceress had such a negative connotation, don’t you agree? We wouldn’t want everyone to get the wrong idea about me.”

  “They already do, sister.”

  “Yes, yes. I am the cursed gifted. The one who can’t use her power. Thank you for reminding me,” Ikaria sneered, taking another drink. How long must I keep up this damn charade? “Did you really summon me here to chat about my change of title? Because if so, I can think of twenty better things to do with my time.”

  “I am assigning you to study with Lord Kohren. I have already informed the guards stationed at the citadel’s main library to give you access to all necessary documents.”

  Oh, this is going to get good…

  Ikaria smacked her lips, tasting the bitter wine, then relaxed in a comfortable position. “Sister, I was under the impression that my input isn’t needed. In fact, I believe, your husband told me so,” Ikaria replied in a cynical tone. How she hated him.

  “I don’t care what he said. We both know that you are known for your studious skills, and in truth, would be better off doing the research instead of Kohren. As much as I like the man, he is taking too much time and coming up with no results.” Ayera paused, then eyed her. “Our sector needs you. I cannot afford to lose any more gifted, whether it be their power or their lives.”