Royal Promenade

by Suzanne G. Rogers

  The cheers from the crowd were deafening and as the shot tightened, Kellan could make out the tears in her eyes. So could the citizens, apparently, because they began chanting. Princess Alessandra! Princess Alessandra! Alice’s resulting smile seemed to egg them on even more and Kellan felt a sense of wonderment run down his spine.

  Blade appeared at his elbow. “Do you hear that? That’s the sound of history being made.” Fireworks began exploding in the deepening twilight. “I have to hand it to Minister Seer. He’s a genius at making anything more spectacular.”

  Guests at the cocktail party were spilling out of the castle to watch the show. As a broad-shouldered, uniformed man came into view several yards away, Blade smacked Kellan on the arm to get his attention.

  “Do you see that fellow—the one with the gold epaulets? That’s Prince Theissen of the Shadow Realm. He must have arrived after we left the party.”

  Kellan frowned. “I don’t think much of a man who dons a military uniform with nothing to show for it.”

  “You’ve got it wrong where he’s concerned. Although Theissen is a powerful wizard, he came up through the military ranks properly. Don’t you see how he walks around without guards? He doesn’t need any.”

  Although the prince could not possibly have heard his name over the fireworks and cheering, he turned his head toward Kellan and raked him with his cold, hard gaze.

  Blade whistled between his teeth. “I certainly wouldn’t want to cross swords with him.”

  Kellan shrugged. “If he’s a Shadow Realm wizard, he’s very likely evil.”

  Blade peered at him. “You ought not paint everyone from the Shadow Realm with such a broad brush. After all, every wizard can trace his or her lineage from there.”

  “Perhaps it’s the actual practice of magic that warps a person’s character so dramatically.”

  Blade scowled. “You’re just jealous you haven’t a magical bone in your body.”

  Kellan shrugged and strode back toward the castle. Although he would never admit it to Blade, he knew he was wrong about wizards. Helene Masters was one of the best people imaginable…as was Alice. Magical blood wasn’t inherently evil unless it was paired with a preexisting weakness of character or unbridled ambition. He was grateful for his own decision to stay on the straight and narrow path.

  As Kellan changed out of his evening clothes and into his uniform, however, he contemplated whether or not he was truly above reproach. He considered Gus, Dewar, and Paddy to be his brothers and yet he’d never told them his biggest secret. It was time to clean the slate and hope they could forgive him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Snow Day

  Over a steak dinner in a quiet corner of the dining hall, Kellan told his friends what he’d been keeping from them over the years. When they stared at him without reacting, he added, “I am sorry for staying silent. I suppose my magical ability was something I wasn’t particularly proud of, all things considered, and I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

  To his surprise, Gus, Dewar, and Paddy laughed.

  “That’s the big secret?” Gus smirked.

  Dewar scoffed. “Why don’t you tell us something we don’t know?”

  “Yeah.” Paddy chuckled. “I thought you were going to confess how you’d fallen for the princess.”

  Dewar squirted another dab of steak sauce onto his plate. “Yeah. I figured you were going to tell us you’d decided to enter the Promenade for real.”

  Kellan sat back in his chair, astonished. “Do you mean to say the three of you have known I was a wizard the entire time?”

  “Not the entire time.” Paddy gestured with a sliver of crisped potato. “Just since the last year at the academy.”

  “How?” Kellan shook his head. “I thought I’d covered it up perfectly.”

  Gus gave him a sidelong glance. “Did you think your best friends wouldn’t notice you slipping out after lights out to practice magic in an empty classroom?”

  Dewar snorted with laughter. “I thought you were sneaking off to meet a girl until I saw otherwise.”

  “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Kellan peered at them. “I was essentially lying to you about who I was, and you never let on that you knew better.”

  “We’re your friends, Kell.” Paddy’s expression was uncharacteristically sober. “Did you think we wanted to force a confidence?”

  Gus stuck a thumb at Paddy. “What he said. Besides which, after you discovered who your father and brother were, we could see for ourselves how that affected you. We didn’t want to rub salt in the wound.”

  Dewar reached over to punch Kellan’s arm. “We’ve got your six, buddy. Just don’t use your magic on us and we’re all good.”

  Paddy gave Kellan a puzzled glance. “Does the princess know?”

  “I don’t intend to tell her.” Kellan averted his gaze. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Once the Promenade is over, she’ll be engaged to Blackmon.”

  “What a sick joke.” Gus shook his head. “I feel sorry for the princess.”

  Kellan brushed aside a surge of emotion. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think she’s keen on the idea.”

  “Surely Helene Masters could put a stop to it?” Dewar frowned. “Even if she in poor health, His Majesty will take her opinion into consideration.”

  “There’s something else you should know. Helene’s so-called sabbatical is a cover story.” Kellan told them the truth about her disappearance, his investigation, and his theory about the Node Network prototype. “I intend to bring Alice’s mother back to her or at least prove it cannot be done. It’ll put Pompano’s mustache in a twist, but I don’t care.”

  Gus’s eyes widened. “Do you think the Head Wizard had something to do with the crime?”

  “Not necessarily, but I think Pompano is enjoying his promotion.” Kellan sighed. “I’ll just have to pick the right moment to press the issue—on or off the books—or the crime will never be solved.”

  “Give the word and we’ll do what we can to help,” Paddy said.

  “On or off the books,” Dewar added with a wink.

  “Hear, hear.” Gus lifted his glass of ale. “Rangers to the rescue.”

  “You don’t know how much your support means to me.” Kellan lifted his glass. “Let’s toast to good ale, beautiful women, and inseparable brothers.”

  The Rangers drank the toast and for the rest of the meal Kellan was buoyed by the warm glow of friendship. In light of his uncertain future, he savored the moment and hoped it would not be the last time he felt a small measure of peace.

  ∞∞∞

  As soon as Alice entered her suite, the excitement of the evening drained away and she felt a pang of loneliness. Although the welcome she had received from Colossusians had been deeply moving, she knew full well the people were responding to Seer’s propaganda campaign far more than they were to her. Similarly, the only reason the illustrious guests at the cocktail party had been eager for her company was because of her title. Prince Theissen had not been impressed, obviously, but his dismissive attitude was a relief. The dour man had set off all her alarms and she hoped he would return to the Shadow Realm as soon as possible.

  The door flew open, and Janelle wheeled a cart into the sitting room. “Hello, Princess! I’ve brought your dinner. If you’ll have a seat at the vanity, I’ll collect your jewelry.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  The maid unpinned the tiara sparkling atop Alice’s tresses, removed her necklace, and collected the ostentatious ring on her finger. Afterward, Alice changed into something comfortable and went into the bathroom to wash the makeup off her face. As her unvarnished features gazed back at her in the mirror, she sighed, “I hardly recognize you these days, Alice.”

  Janelle joined her. “What did you say, Your Highness?”

  “Oh, nothing.”

  Alice returned to the sitting room, slid into her chair, and reached for a slice of hot rosemary bread.

  She gave her maid
a curious glance. “Tell me about the Promenade. I was raised in Vanguard and have only a vague idea what to expect.”

  The woman’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re in for a treat. Tomorrow night, the Royal Ball begins the festivities. The next night is Talent Night for the ladies, then there’s another ball and—”

  “Wait…did you say Talent Night? Nobody told me about that!” Alice scowled at the disrupter on her wrist. “My chief talent has been muted.”

  “Perhaps you should have a word with Minister Seer. The program is all pre-recorded so surely there’s a way for you to perform.”

  “I’ll ask.” Alice paused. “Do the men do anything other than scrutinize our Desirability Quotients?”

  Janelle giggled. “They participate in sports competitions during the day. Fencing, archery, dressage…things like that. It’s how the men earn points to advance in their ranking.”

  “Ranking? I thought only the women compete for their Desirability Quotients.”

  “The gentlemen must also establish a pecking order, as it were. The man with the highest score gets his first choice of lady and so on.” The maid beamed. “Because of you, I expect this year’s Promenade will be the hardest-fought in history.”

  Since Alice knew the outcome in her case was predetermined, she was not impressed. “I don’t find the Promenade terribly romantic.”

  Janelle shrugged. “It’s certainly more civilized than in ancient times, when knights fought to the death to win a lady’s hand in marriage.”

  Alice frowned. “I wouldn’t want that, either.”

  If the outcome didn’t affect her so personally, she might have enjoyed the Promenade a little. Could Blade actually manage to get the top rank just on his skills alone or would the Minfo find a way to give him an assist? Furthermore, if Kellan’s participation was just for show, would he be forced to hold back?

  More questions sprang to Alice’s lips. “Are the ladies permitted to attend the sports events?”

  “You’ll be busy attending teas and plays and such during the day, but all the matches will be broadcast on the vidscreen.”

  “My fate is hanging in the balance, but I can’t watch the outcome of the competition in person? Seems cruel.”

  “Not to worry. The final sports competition is held in the Colosseum and everyone will attend.” Janelle gave a happy sigh. “That final match is a sight to behold.”

  “What sport?”

  “Hand-to-hand combat—either with weapons or magic.”

  Alice’s jaw dropped. “Do men get injured?”

  “Frequently.”

  The maid carried the cocktail party gown from the suite, leaving Alice alone to mull over what she’d been told. Would Blade really risk his limbs to achieve a top rank? If he was truly that committed, perhaps she’d underestimated him.

  ∞∞∞

  When Kellan reported to the Minfo, he was nursing raw knuckles and sore muscles. He and his friends had had a strenuous late-night workout with weights before finishing up with a punishing session on the heavy bag. When he’d woken up this morning, he could barely make a fist…but his tension had eased.

  As far as his Minfo duties were concerned, he decided to make the most of an awkward situation. Vidscreens across Colossus were tuned into The Making of a Princess at the moment but soon they would feature the love triangle orchestrated by Seer. Kellan was glad he’d told his friends what was about to unfold so he wouldn’t have to dread their reactions. Furthermore, now that he knew Dewar, Gus, and Paddy had long since figured out he was a wizard, he felt a sense of relief.

  When he stepped out of the elevator, he could see an edit bay already editing footage of the encounter he’d had with Blade at the cocktail party. Watching himself on the vidscreen was peculiar, to say the least. As a rule, he barely gave himself a second glance in the mirror while shaving, so he’d had no idea his jaw looked so square, or his face was so lean. Perhaps it was just a trick of the camera, but the family resemblance between him and Blade was more marked than he’d realized. He shuddered.

  As Kellan drew near the end of the corridor, Minister Seer came into view. The man wore a riding costume, complete with tall boots, tight breeches, and a crop under his arm.

  “There you are! You’ll need to visit hair and makeup before we do our interview.” Seer paused. “I hope you can help me with a little problem, Ranger.”

  Kellan cocked his head. “I’ll try.”

  “We’re filming Princess Alessandra’s magical talent today so she must take off her disrupter until she’s done. I’ve been informed you’re the only one who can remove it from her wrist.”

  “I would need permission from His Majesty.”

  “Certainly.” Seer produced a scroll and gave it to him. “I just happen to have it right here.”

  Kellan peered at the signed document. “Fine, but I will need to supervise her while the disrupter is off.”

  “Not a problem! We’ll just get your interview out of the way first.” Seer beckoned. “Come along!”

  The Minister ushered him past Gus and into a well-lit room lined by swivel chairs, mirrors, and rolling carts. Alice and Blade had already arrived and were being prepared for the camera.

  “I’ll leave you here to get ready.” Seer hastened away.

  Kellan caught Alice’s eye. “Good morning, Princess.”

  Her head was covered with rollers, but she gave him a beaming smile. “Good morning.”

  Blade was sitting in the far chair, where a woman was dabbing makeup onto his face with a sponge. Kellan almost made a smart remark but decided against it when he realized he would probably be forced to undergo the same treatment. As a makeup artist named Opal took his uniform jacket and hung it on a peg on the wall, Kellan slid into the chair next to Alice.

  “Did you enjoy the party last night, Princess?”

  “Yes…and no.” A slight frown creased her brow. “You and Blade disappeared.”

  “Once your father began introducing you to his guests, I was in the way.” He paused. “Even so, I was watching from the grounds when you appeared on the Tower Balcony. Congratulations at your wonderful reception.”

  “Thank you. It was a bit overwhelming.”

  The makeup artist draped a protective cape around his shoulders, peered at his skin, and fished a suitable shade of foundation from her kit.

  Kellan met Alice’s gaze in the mirror. “I hope you’ll save a dance for me at the ball tonight.”

  “You couldn’t escape me, even if you wanted to.” She rolled her eyes. “Minister Seer has already written your name on my dance card.”

  Blade glanced over his shoulder. “What about me?”

  “Yours as well.” She paused. “Blade, what sports event is on the schedule for tomorrow morning?”

  “Archery.” Blade chuckled. “I’m sure to walk away on top, Stratford, so you might as well get used to failure.”

  Kellan’s good humor evaporated. “It’s too bad there’s no competition for unmitigated arrogance. You’d be sure to win that one, too.”

  “I’m not so sure. You’d give me a run for my money, I think.” A muscle worked in Blade’s jaw. “Of course, you’d also win for sanctimony, self-righteousness, and rigidity.”

  Kellan snorted. “It’s rather windy in here all of a sudden. Why don’t you put a cork in it?”

  Blade bolted from his chair and Kellan did the same. As the two men glowered at one another, the makeup artists gasped.

  “Stop it.” Alice’s expression was stern. “This isn’t the time or the place.”

  “I was just leaving.” Blade removed the protective cape from around his neck and tossed it over his chair. “Save the hair-trigger for the competition, Stratford. Perhaps you’ll do yourself a favor and get disqualified early on.” He strode from the room.

  Kellan uncoiled and gave everyone an apologetic smile. “Forgive me for that display. Blackmon and I don’t get on very well.” He sank into his seat.

  Alice gave him a d
roll glance. “And I thought it was just for the cameras.”

  The makeup artists laughed.

  Alice cocked her head. “Do you and Blade ever exchange a civil word?”

  Kellan shrugged. “Very occasionally, but only when you aren’t around.”

  As Opal began sponging on his foundation, he focused his gaze on Alice. Her makeup artist was tracing her lips with a brush, emphasizing every luscious curve and contour. He was suddenly quite envious of the brush.

  Opal made a sound of frustration. “Stop smiling, Ranger Stratford, and relax the muscles of your face.”

  “Sorry.”

  For the duration of the session, Kellan made an effort to rein in his feelings. Any man who saw Alice would want to possess her, but he was a Ranger and ought to have better control over his impulses.

  Once Kellan’s hair and makeup were complete, his skin had been perfected and his hair was styled a little more fashionably than usual, but he was relieved to discover he still looked like himself. As Opal went to fetch his uniform jacket, he rose from his chair and gave Alice a smile. Her makeup was perfect, and her stylist was nearly finished arranging her lustrous locks. Could he venture a compliment without appearing to be smitten?

  “You look beautiful, Princess.”

  The dusting of blush across her cheeks seemed to glow. “Thank you.” She paused. “I hope you don’t mind removing the disrupter for a little while.”

  “His Majesty authorized me to do so.” He shrugged into it. “Actually, I’m looking forward to seeing your talent—although I’ve already had the pleasure, first-hand.”

  “So you have.” Alice laughed. “I hope my efforts are more engaging this time around.”

  “Ranger Stratford?” A man with a clipboard stood in the doorway. “I’m here to escort you to your interview.”