by Guy Antibes
“I’ve run in the past,” Ricky said.
“Can you do that so easily with ten people hanging on to you as you fly away?” Mattia said. “I suggest that you consider that your running days are over. You have Pira to think about, as well.”
Ricky tapped his finger on the desk. “Can you help me with that?”
Mattia grunted. “Isn’t that what you wanted me here for?”
Ricky laughed. “I didn’t know why I wanted you, but I know now,” he said. “Who do you think is on our side?”
Mattia grunted. “Whose side are you on?”
“Right now? I suppose I am aligned with the Order of the Curled Fist.”
“The one Princess Pira runs? The King knows all about it.”
Ricky shook his head. “Princess Pira doesn’t lead the Order; Duke Noacci does.”
Mattia looked stunned and stood up. He walked to the window that looked out on an overgrown garden. He turned. “That isn’t possible. Duke Noacci is loyal to King Leon.”
“Whose townhouse did you think we took you to? Why did we come to Naparra?”
“You are the heir.”
“Despite my being a traitor, Mattia?”
He looked around the room. Ricky could see his mind turning trying to take in the information.
“I wondered about that. Everyone thought Noacci was a little too rebellious to want to improve his position with King Leon. He’s a tough man,” Mattia said.
“And the leader of the order. He still plays his own game, but I am on his side, against King Leon.”
“And you want me to play traitor, too?”
“Yes,” Ricky said. “A traitor to the king, since he is under the control of the University’s Botoyans. I am for Paranty first. Perhaps sorcerers, second. You have made me think.”
“Any time I can make you think, I count as a victory, young Valian.” Mattia sighed. “It looks like I am going to throw in with you. I’ve been accused of being a traitor before.”
“In Applia.”
Mattia nodded. “In Applia. That was an exercise in bad judgment.”
“I’ve always wanted to ask you about Mara,” Ricky said. “Was she as evil as I thought?”
“What is evil? She was cold-hearted. I always thought I had a cool head, but that young woman put me to shame. Mara was never a traitor, so I’d have to pass on evil. She used to laugh about fooling you in the Home and at Doubli Academy.”
“So naive it hurt,” Ricky said.
“Don’t let that get to you, Ricky. I don’t think of you as painfully naive, but you are young. Experience hasn’t seasoned you enough, especially when you were fifteen at the Home. What can you expect of a boy that young? She compared you to an adult, and that was, I believe, unfair.”
“She must have always underestimated me.”
“You are right on that. She underestimated everyone, since she thought she was the greatest sorceress and greatest spy who ever lived. Mara got what she deserved. Don’t feel bad about defeating her. You did the world a service.”
Ricky frowned. “You didn’t like her?”
“I’ve met people like her. When she got older, if she ever lasted that long, she would have turned into an Antino Pacci. Even Nania admitted the woman had a cruel streak.” Mattia sat back down. “Have I passed?”
“It wasn’t a test, but I suppose you did, again. When you submitted to the interrogation spell, you showed me that you weren’t a threat.”
“I can become a threat,” Mattia said.
Ricky nodded. “But you won’t. I think our interests are aligned well enough, all the way to the end.”
“What is the end?”
“When King Leon doesn’t sit on the Parantian throne, and the Botoyans have been neutralized.”
“Does neutralization mean killed?”
Ricky shook his head. “Not necessarily, but that might happen. That was something you taught me today. I need to learn more lessons.”
“You do. Do you have any assignments for me?”
“Our defense. What will you need? It’s not that I am without funds, but I don’t know how much all this will cost.”
“Then I’ll get started, if you will excuse me. I will look around for a planning room.” Mattia left Ricky with more to think about.
~
Pira looked up at the castle. Ricky and she had just sampled the fare at the little inn on the square in front of the castle.
“I can’t decide if I like the food here or the food in the castle,” she said.
Ricky didn’t have to make that kind of decision. He liked the simpler style of the inn, but he kept quiet.
“Why did you bring me outside to talk?” Pira said. “If it was private, we could have linked.”
Ricky took her through the woods that surrounded the village and sat her on a fallen log. The sun shone brightly, and it reminded him of the woods on the north shore of Shantytown.
“We are all taking on roles.”
“For the Order?” Pira asked, squinting up at Ricky.
“I haven’t heard anything from Duke Noacci, so our goal is—”
Pira put up four fingers. “Warn the royalty of Kerrothia, depose King Leon, and fight the Botoyans. That’s what the Order wants, just like we do.” She left one finger up. “Figure out what we are going to do with each other.” She made a fist and shook it at him. “The Curled Fist.” She laughed, and Ricky joined her.
“Then we will fight alongside the Duke at some point, won’t we?” Ricky said.
“Or he will come to join us. This is his castle, by the way.”
Ricky nodded. “He gave it to me, and I am the heir, by the way.”
“And I am your princess, by the way.”
Ricky clamped his lips together. “I’m not disinherited, and you are.”
Pira pouted. “You win, but I don’t mind losing to you.”
She reached out her hand, and Ricky took it. He sat down next to her. “Which gets us back to what you want to do.”
“I suppose I am more familiar with royalty than anyone in our group. Why don’t I come up with a plan to warn the royalty?”
“It might have to be in person.”
Pira shook her head. “There are bridges that I have destroyed.”
“Fisttia?”
“Among others,” Pira said. “So consider me a strategist.”
“I’ll consider it.” Ricky squeezed her hand. “Does all this scare you?”
“I am immune to fear,” Pira said.
She didn’t look like she was done talking, so Ricky just let her words float in the breeze.
“Actually, I’ve always been afraid. I never considered King Leon a parent, but rather an enemy. He has never given me a reason to think otherwise,” Pira said. “My pranks were a way to fight back, and after a lot of thought, I’d do it the same way again.”
“Then think of ways we can prank the royalty. You definitely have the talent to do that, Pira.”
She beamed. “I’ll do that. Nania and Greda can help. Sarini isn’t quite the right type.”
“I have another job for Mirano and for her. They are both healers, and that means they have some other talents that I am looking for.”
Pira feigned looking shocked. “What kind of talent do they have that I don’t?”
“Understanding sorcery, so we can defeat it.”
“Ah, my third finger,” she said. “The Cacophony Defense?”
“Maybe,” Ricky said. “Perhaps they can help us make it the cacophony offense.”
“You are right. I’m not well-schooled in sorcery, am I?”
Ricky smiled at her question. “You aren’t as well-schooled in the deep-linking that a healer does, and I want them to understand how best to hamper the Botoyans’ efforts to use magic.”
“So everyone has a role. Who will defeat King Leon?”
“Duke Noacci. We don’t have the resources. Nemo Mattia is working on a defense for Samira, and that is about all we can do ri
ght now. The duke has political power and military power, am I right?”
“More than we have, anyway,” Pira said. “You have all this figured out, don’t you?”
“No, but I had a talk with Mattia that helped clarify a few things. We can’t do it all and fighting the king is something we can’t do from Samira.”
“Have you told Duke Noacci that?”
“How could I do that? We never did get a chance to set up a link with anyone in Applia.”
“You don’t need a link if you have birds, do you?”
“There are birds here?”
“You didn’t think to ask, and I did,” Pira said.
Ricky pursed his lips. “Waiting for an opportune time to tell me?”
“Of course. Timing is a necessary facet for a prankster to consider.”
“Then, by all means, we will tell him of what we hope to accomplish.”
Pira straightened out her dress. “I already have. Enough, anyway.”
“How did you know?”
She batted her eyelashes at Ricky. “No one is sworn to secrecy. I just talked to Mattia and Bespa after you did. I’m smart enough to figure it out. And don’t worry about giving away everything. I’ve been communicating with Duke Noacci since before I met you, and few knew.” She giggled. “Nemo Mattia’s reaction was especially gratifying.”
“Do you think Duke Noacci will agree?”
“We’ve been waiting for you, Ricky. The Order always needed sorcerers to fight sorcerers. Duke Noacci always had his eye out for you, ever since your Juvenile Home experience. You couldn’t have done anything better than to learn at the Duterian Rings. Our plans and his are very much aligned.”
Ricky blinked in disbelief. “You didn’t tell me.”
“You didn’t share with me what you were doing. Doesn’t that make us even, at least?”
Ricky smiled and shook his head. “At least. Where are these birds?”
“Eddo has them in the stable.”
“Eddo?”
Pira smiled sweetly. “Eddo Toracci, our steward.”
“You’ve been active,” Ricky said.
“A girl has to keep her hands busy.”
Ricky stifled a retort.
“I have something that I have neglected to give you.” Ricky pulled out the wand he had made for Pira.
“For my busy hands?” she said, coyly, taking the offered wand.
“One at a time,” Ricky said. “This wand has a sting attached.”
He instructed her how to extend the blade. After some unsuccessful tries, Pira managed to extend the blade.
“Is it as sharp as yours?”
Ricky nodded. “You have to be careful. The edge will cut anything it brushes up against.”
“You fought Ticco with a wand like this,” she said, admiring the long silvery extension.
“I did. I made yours by myself. Wedo guided me, of course.”
“Of course. How do I get the blade back into its proper place?”
“It is the same spell. Practice for me.”
“For you,” she said, smiling, and spent the next few minutes moving the blade back and forth. “Certainly there are more uses for this kind of spell.”
Ricky smiled. He hoped Pira and he could work on that together when the current crisis ended. Perhaps the Rings could have a program that was more creative, but the Duterians had spent their time advancing to the Tower rather than advancing their knowledge. Something else to work on in the future.
~~~
Chapter Five
~
S ince no one else could link with Dimani, Ricky opened up a link with Jac Griama, the Crown Prince.
Has something happened? Jac said as the link engaged.
What hasn’t happened? Pira and I are in southern Naparra. She has been—
I know all that. So you are close to Dimani. Can you come to the capital? We are nearly in crisis, Jac said. My father and Ducri Wamia are stirring up the capital.
Your father doesn’t support you?
Jac laughed in his mind. He hates me as much as he does Mother and blames me for Ticco’s death. What’s worse is Ducri and my father have assembled an army of malcontents to break off the Rasso’s domain from Dimani.
Ricky couldn’t believe Jac’s statement. Your father is fighting against King Courer?
It’s true. The whole country is upset, and King Courer sits on his throne and does nothing. His councilors have pleaded with him. I’m no longer allowed into the castle to plead against my father.
What kind of hold does your father and Lord Wamia have over the king? Ricky asked.
I wish I knew.
Ricky suspected compulsion. Pira and I are coming over. We’ll bring a few others, as well.
Your own little army? Jac asked.
We might be able to help. Dimani is on our list to visit anyway. I’ll let you know before we dock.
~
Ricky assembled everyone in the lower level dining room.
“I am headed for Dimani to help Jac Griama. The country is in crisis, and King Courer refuses to act.”
“You suspect compulsion?” Mattia said.
“Maybe not,” Ricky said. “King Courer is a very indecisive king. He might be afraid to act. It gives us an excuse to administer the sterility counterspell.”
“Who is going?” Pira asked.
“Nania, Mattia, Pira, and I. The rest of you can stay busy while we are gone.”
Wedo raised his hand. “I don’t have an assignment.”
Ricky stopped and smiled. “I didn’t give you one,” he admitted. “Work with Hemo and Greda. We will keep you Vorrians busy. You can all use Vorrian swear words and the rest of us won’t know.”
“I know some Vorrian swear words,” Pira said.
“You won’t be here to practice them,” Ricky said, smiling.
~
Flying to Amarine was slower than Ricky anticipated. Pira taxed her flying strength carrying Nania, but they still reached the Naparran port much faster than any other way. Pira’s ship was in the harbor.
“Is the captain still working for you?”
Pira shook her head. “Not exactly. He is hired by the Order.”
“How did he know to be here?”
Pira shrugged. She wasn’t about to tell him, but Ricky had a good idea that Pira had become very familiar with Duke Noacci’s birds without telling him.
Ricky sent Nemo to arrange their passage. Soon they were aboard. The captain recognized Ricky.
“I suppose you didn’t mislead me,” the captain said once they were underway. “Princess Pira is aboard my ship. It’s her first time,” he said.
“She has sailed to Dimani before,” Ricky said.
“Of course. It has been a few years. Help her with sea sickness if she needs it.”
Ricky laughed. “She can fend for herself,” he said. “Can I play with your crew?”
“Feel free. They probably still remember you, too. Most of them are the same men.”
~
Nemo looked up from the deck with a disgusted look on his face. Ricky didn’t care. He hadn’t had the opportunity to exercise for a while, and it felt good to use his muscles. He had to remember to work out at Samira when he returned. The sea was smooth, and the winds were favorable. The passage took less time than his trip during the winter.
Pira stepped onto the deck, ready to enter the harbor at Dimani, the capital. Ricky helped gather a sail for the last time and slid down a rope to join the others.
“Show-off,” Pira said.
Ricky grinned. “I needed the exercise.”
“And what would happen if you fell and cracked your skull on the deck?” Nemo said.
“I can fly,” Ricky said.
Nemo shook his head and made a face. “I guess you can.”
The captain showed them to their bags, sitting on the deck. “You people don’t burden yourselves with baggage.” He bowed to Pira. “I’m sure you have your reasons.”
> “We do,” Ricky said. “Make sure you remind your crew not to tell anyone who traveled from Amarine.”
“I will. You’ll be wanting us to stay in port for a while?”
Pira nodded. “We’ll notify you if there are any changes.”
“I stand ready, ma’am,” the captain said.
Pira smiled as the captain left to guide the ship through the port and into a dock.
They disembarked and hired a carriage to take them to an inn across from Falcon Castle.
Ricky engaged his link. Jac, we have arrived.
That was quick. Where are you staying?
The inn where you took us when we first visited Dimani. There are four of us. I brought a bodyguard for Pira and our military strategist.
Good. I’ll be in the lobby, Jac said. At least the situation hasn’t become worse.
Nania arranged for the rooms, while the three of them waited for Jac to arrive.
He walked into the inn, with a silk scarf wrapped around his face. “I’m recognized on the streets, these days,” he said. “Come with me.”
“We are seeing the king now?” Pira asked.
“No time like the present,” Jac said, grinning.
“How is your mother?” Ricky asked, as they walked across the square to the castle.
“Better. She was mortified by the way she treated you after she over-imbibed.”
“I understand.”
Jac smiled. “She said you would. If we go south, she would like to apologize, personally.”
“I—”
“She needs to apologize to you,” Jac said.
Ricky nodded.
“When we get to the gate, Princess Pira will ask for an audience. If I do, King Courer won’t talk to you. I won’t be joining you until the king invites me.”
“That bad?” Mattia said.
Jac nodded. “Everything is tense in the capital because of King Courer’s behavior.”
“I will accompany Princess Pira. Nania Sarini and Nemo Mattia will stay with you, if that is acceptable.”
“I’d appreciate a little tending, right now. When you are done, link to me, and I’ll give you directions to my townhouse. It’s a minute’s walk.”
Ricky led Pira up to the guardhouse as they split off, Jac leading Nemo and Nania away.
“Princess Pira to see King Courer,” Ricky said.