Royal Promenade

by Suzanne G. Rogers

  The ugliness hung in the air and everyone within earshot gasped.

  “If whales wore gowns, Mrs. Diamond would make them look exquisite.” Alice gave the girl a cool glance. “I came over to say that I must beg off from attending your ball tonight. I’m developing a headache.”

  Miss Vaughn’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, you must come. We’ve arranged a magical entertainment and everything!”

  “I’m certain the affair will be splendid, but I cannot be there.” A buzz went up amongst the surrounding girls and spread through the room. “Besides which, I think you should have the spotlight tonight. The Minfo can cover you the way you deserve without a Vanguardian upstart to spoil things.”

  The makeup on Miss Vaughn’s skin looked garish as her face lost all color. “I…I…well, I beg your pardon.”

  Alice’s smile was tight. “Oh, don’t beg. It’s unbecoming.”

  An uproar ensued as Alice turned on her heel and crossed the room to retrieve her handbag. As a princess, she was beginning to learn about power. Alice found it somewhat exhilarating to exercise a little of that power, particularly when withholding her approval was deserved.

  Sally gave her a puzzled glance as she approached. “What just happened?”

  “I told Miss Vaughn I have a headache.” Alice winked. “Therefore, I won’t be attending her ball.”

  Sally’s eyes widened. “The event will be completely spoiled if you don’t attend.”

  “That’s rather the point, isn’t it?”

  “Is this because of her unpleasant remark at the ladies’ luncheon?”

  “Partly. Let me assure you, she deserves her comeuppance.”

  Sally gave Alice a searching glance. “I hope your father won’t be upset that you aren’t going to the ball.”

  “My father isn’t going to attend so he won’t know.” Alice shrugged. “I’m going back to my suite, put on some casual clothes, and have dinner. If you decide the ball isn’t to your liking, come join me.”

  “All things considered, I’d rather not partake of Miss Vaughn’s hospitality.” Sally’s expression brightened. “I think I feel a headache coming on as well.”

  ∞∞∞

  On the outskirts of the village, Kellan channeled lightning energy to set a pavilion and several storefronts ablaze. Just to make sure the distraction was robust, he seared a clump of bushes and a tossed a firebrand into a field of grass. Once he was satisfied with his handiwork, he loped through town with as much speed as his sore muscles would allow, yelling, “Fire!”

  Kellan’s voice was soon drowned out when he tripped the curfew alarm. Trolls streamed from the entrance to their underground nest, but the dim creatures did not seem to notice the flames rising in the near distance or the acrid smell of smoke beginning to permeate the air. As searchlights lit the streets, Kellan looked for a place to hide until the fire became too big for the soldiers to ignore.

  He kicked open the door of a candy shop and hid behind a pillar. The display case of sweets nearby turned out to be constructed of flimsy wood and filled with colorful cardboard images of sweets. The walls and ceilings of the building were completely unfinished, with exposed framing and very little bracing at all. Apparently, the shop had been designed to pass only a cursory examination.

  After a short while, both soldiers and trolls were rushing down the street toward the fire and it was time for Kellan to put the next part of the plan into action. He stood in the open doorway of the shop and struck a passing troll with a small bolt of lightning. The creature turned toward him, spitting and howling with rage.

  Kellan laughed and waved his arms. “What are you going to do about it, you big lunk?”

  The troll leaped forward more quickly than Kellan could have imagined possible, smashing the shop window with the force of an explosion. Kellan fled deeper into the shop, wondering if he would survive his plan long enough to reach the gateway. He rammed through the thin wall with his shoulder, noticing—too late—the unfinished section in back.

  As the troll smashed through the wall in pursuit, Kellan dashed across the adjacent shop and ducked through an opening made by missing plywood. He made his way to the end of the row of shops, busted out the back, and waited for the troll to appear. When the entire wall fell down moments later, Kellan narrowly avoided being crushed in the debris.

  “Is that the best you can do?”

  As Kellan scrambled away, he shot another bolt of lightning at the troll and sprinted toward the Node gateway twenty yards away. As he approached, the Gate Keepers aimed their rifles at him. “Halt!”

  “Run! The troll has gone crazy from the fire!”

  Indeed, the roar of the creature was making the hair on the back of Kellan’s neck stand on end. Doubt crept over the Gate Keepers’ faces as they stared down the barrels of their rifles at the threat bearing down.

  Undeterred by their weapons, Kellan sprinted closer. “Run before it’s too late!”

  The soldiers edged back and then fled behind the gate itself. When the troll smacked Kellan’s shoulder with his beefy hand, he staggered forward. Spurred on by adrenaline, Kellan kept his footing, dove through the shimmering surface of the Portal, and prayed the troll came in after him.

  ∞∞∞

  As soon as Alice returned to her suite, she sent word to the Minfo that she didn’t feel well and wouldn’t be attending the ball that evening. When the receptionist protested, Alice terminated the comscreen call and changed into trousers and an oversized, lightweight sweater. She was happier to have an evening free than she had anticipated.

  Janelle arrived shortly thereafter with a carafe of water and a bottle of pain reliever.

  Alice frowned. “What’s that for?”

  “I brought you something for your headache.”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “The gossip is all over the Promenade channel.” Janelle poured a glass of water. “You told Miss Vaughn you had a headache and wouldn’t be going out tonight. Everyone says it’s a purposeful snub, but I brought some headache tablets just in case they were wrong.”

  “The Minfo has reported something accurately for once.” Alice paused. “Did anyone speculate about why I was snubbing Miss Vaughn?”

  “No need to speculate. The Minfo aired a snippet of conversation in which Miss Vaughn compared Miss Yardley to a whale.” Janelle grimaced. “You glared at her something fierce.”

  “Oh, dear. Miss Vaughn was acting ugly, but I wish the Minfo didn’t highlight every conflict as a form of entertainment. Making our private conversation public only serves to embarrass Miss Yardley even more.”

  “I can’t say that I agree. Miss Yardley’s figure isn’t as slender as Miss Vaughn’s perhaps, but she’s among the loveliest girls in the Promenade this year.” Janelle smiled. “Colossus is fortunate to have such a kind and thoughtful princess. The maids consider you a heroine.”

  “Nobody should consider me a heroine, but I just can’t be friendly to a girl who insults everyone she considers unworthy.” Alice shrugged. “We all have deplorable thoughts from time to time, but we don’t have to give them a voice.”

  “You’re quite right.” Janelle patted her arm. “Your mother taught you good manners.”

  “Yes.” Alice took a sip of water to ease the sudden lump in her throat. “I left word with the security staff that Miss Yardley is coming to dine with me tonight. Could we have a bottle of sparkling wine along with our meal?”

  The maid nodded. “I daresay you could have anything you want. The kitchen staff considers you a heroine, too.” Janelle left.

  Alice slid open the door to the balcony and walked out into the deepening twilight. The balmy night would have been perfect had Kellan been by her side. Her father had sent him away on some important business, obviously, and she had no idea when he would return.

  A worrisome, chilling notion struck her, almost as if she had taken a snowball to the face. Why hadn’t she realized before now that her father had sent Kellan on a
mission to the Shadow Realm? Even if she could never call him her own, nothing would matter if he didn’t return to Colossus, safe and sound. Forlorn, Alice tilted her head back until she was gazing at the evening sky. “Wherever you are, Kellan, please, please come home.”

  ∞∞∞

  When Kellan emerged from the Node Portal, the road came up to meet him fast. He fell onto the hard asphalt surface with his arms extended and ended up scraping the heels of his hands and knocking the wind from his lungs. Due to a surge of adrenaline, however, he managed to roll to one side. To his relief, nothing came barreling through the gate. In fact, the shimmering surface of the portal was gone, and he could see straight through to the Briarwood City nighttime sky. His plan to muck up the Network by luring a troll inside had succeeded and the gateway was down. Kellan went limp with relief.

  In the next moment, he was staring up at the muzzles of rifles.

  “Looks like we caught ourselves a spy.”

  Castle Guardsmen unceremoniously cuffed him and dragged him upright, even as Kellan shook his head. “I’m not a spy. My name is Ranger Stratford and I have information for the king.”

  The guards burst into laughter. Kellan felt a crack on the side of his head and then the world went black.

  Chapter Twenty

  In a Bad Way

  Alice heard a knock on the door of her suite and hastened to answer. Although she had expected Sally, Blade was leaning against the doorframe—wearing casual clothes and a smirk.

  “Somebody told me you’re staying in tonight.” He held up a bottle of wine. “I brought a gift.” He sauntered into the room without waiting for an invitation.

  Alice shut the door. “Why aren’t you getting dressed for the ball?”

  “If you’re not going, I’m not going.” He glanced around. “Do you have any glasses?”

  She gestured toward a bar cart in the corner. “There.”

  “Perfect.”

  While Blade poured the wine, Alice gave him as sidelong glance. “Miss Vaughn will be devastated at your absence. I heard she finds you exceedingly attractive.”

  Blade scoffed. “Why would I be interested in a girl with such a low DQ?”

  “You’ve been misinformed. Her DQ is sky-high.”

  He snapped his fingers at the vidscreen. “Aether, what is Miss Vaughn’s Desirability Quotient?”

  The screen responded. “Miss Winnifred Vaughn’s Desirability Quotient is currently at six.”

  “No!” Alice’s jaw dropped. “Her DQ was almost the same as mine!”

  “Not any longer.” He chuckled as he pressed a glass into her hands. “The opinion of a princess can move mountains, it seems.”

  Alice sank into a chair and stared at her wine. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  “Didn’t you?” Blade sat. “From the video I saw, she deserved it.”

  “She deserved to have her comeuppance, yes, but not to have her life ruined.” She frowned. “Now I feel horribly guilty. Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut and gone to the ball.”

  “I’m not a paragon of virtue by any means so it seems silly for me to offer you any advice.” He paused. “That being said, if you hadn’t refused to go, it might have seemed as if you approved of Miss Vaughn’s comments.”

  Alice’s spine straightened. “I absolutely did not!”

  “In that case, you did the right thing.”

  “Maybe.” She collapsed back into her chair. “Having power over people carries a very heavy weight indeed. I’m not sure how my father bears it.”

  “He was born to it, Alessandra.” Blade smiled. “I think the struggle you’re having with your conscience is admirable. It means you will never lose your humanity.”

  She studied him. “What about you? You seem to crave power. What will you do once you have it?”

  Blade shrugged. “Perhaps I’ll follow your example.”

  When the comscreen began to ring, Alice put down her glass and crossed the room to answer the call. “Yes?”

  Sally’s pretty face filled the screen. “Oh, Alice, you’ll never guess what’s happened! Miss Vaughn called to apologize and asked me to be her guest of honor tonight.”

  Alice’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that wonderful! I’m so happy for you.”

  “I hate being at odds with anyone and she was so nice when we spoke.” Sally’s expression fell. “I hope you don’t mind if I cancel dinner with you tonight?”

  “Not at all. I think this is the best of all possible outcomes for both you and Miss Vaughn.” Alice beamed. “Have a wonderful time. You deserve it.”

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye!”

  “Bye.” Alice terminated the call and turned toward Blade. “That was unexpected!”

  “Not really.” He gave her a crooked grin. “Do you think Miss Vaughn would have reached out to Miss Yardley without your snub?”

  “No.”

  “Well then, you exercised your power appropriately.” He picked up her glass and brought it over to her. “I drink a toast to you.”

  Alice sipped her wine. “This is delicious.” She paused. “I should call down to the kitchen to cancel her dinner.”

  “Why? Can’t I dine with you instead?”

  “Now that Miss Vaughn has made an effort to atone for her transgressions, I wouldn’t dream of keeping you from the ball.”

  “Mmm.” Blade mulled it over. “If you feel up to it, I’d love to have dinner with you. Afterward, we’ll still have plenty of time to attend the ball. Even if we’re a little late, the Vaughns will be thrilled that you and I have come.”

  Alice’s brows drew together. “Ought I to go back on my word?”

  “Did Miss Vaughn relent?”

  “She did.”

  “In that case, I’d say your headache miraculously disappeared.”

  Alice’s thoughts returned to Kellan. “My headache hasn’t gone away, actually, but perhaps we should go to the ball. It’s the right thing to do.” She paused. “The problem is, I haven’t got anything to wear.”

  Blade cocked his head. “I can’t believe that.”

  “It’s not as if I have racks of ballgowns in my closet. A team always brings me things from Mrs. Diamond.”

  He gestured toward the comscreen. “Call the Minfo.”

  Alice grimaced. “I’ve already canceled the evening, but I’ll try.”

  She managed to reach the receptionist but when he put her through to the minister, no one answered. Alice terminated the call. “I expect Seer is put out with me.”

  “I doubt that very much.” Blade scratched his head. “Perhaps he just has his hands full with organizing coverage of the hand-to-hand combat event tomorrow. The logistics will be incredibly challenging.”

  “That must be it.” Alice extended her glass for a refill. “Maybe my maid can help.”

  When Janelle rolled the cart in with dinner, Alice asked whether or not she had anything suitable to wear to a ball.

  “I haven’t returned your Snow Day gown to the Minfo yet. I had a few water stains to remove and a tear under one arm to repair.”

  Alice breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I must wear it to the ball tonight.”

  The maid blinked. “But you can’t wear that dress again. You’ve already been seen in it.”

  “Don’t worry about that. That’s what magic is for.”

  ∞∞∞

  When Kellan came to, he was sitting in a guard shack strapped to a chair. Two castle guards paced in front of him like caged animals.

  The guardsman whose name tag read Virgille, glared. “Oh, look. The spy awakens.”

  “I’m not a spy.” Kellan found it difficult to articulate with his newly fattened lip. “The name is Ranger Stratford.”

  “You don’t look anything like Stratford.” The second guardsman wearing name tag marked Woolsey, kicked the leg of Kellan’s chair before tossing the pieces of his wizard tracker onto the floor at his feet. “What is this—a weapon?”

  “It m
easures energy.”

  Virgille got so close that Kellan could see the oversized pores on the man’s nose. “Is that what sabotaged the Node gateway—Ronan?”

  “That was a troll.”

  The guardsman tipped Kellan’s chair completely backward. When it hit the ground, Kellan a bone in one of his left fingers snapped. Virgille kicked him in the ribs and Kellan nearly vomited from the pain.

  “I bet that hurt.” Woolsey pulled his chair upright again, laughing. “That’ll teach you to make jokes.”

  “He looks white as a wraith, doesn’t he?” Virgille grinned. “Speaking of which, what’s a Shadow Realm spy doing in Briarwood City?”

  “Not…a…spy.” If Kellan could have focused his thoughts long enough to let loose a lightning bolt, he would have sparked the two men until they cried for mercy. As it was, he wasn’t entirely certain how long he could stay conscious. “Call my commanding officer, Captain Woods.”

  Virgille’s nostrils flared, as if he smelled something nasty. “Not a chance in Colossus I’ll call a Ranger for anything.”

  Kellan hung onto consciousness by a thread. “Blade Blackmon, then. He’ll vouch for me.”

  The guards shared a laugh.

  “Will he now?” Woolsey folded his arms. “You think yourself quite high and mighty.”

  Virgille frowned. “I expect Mr. Blackmon is at that society party tonight. I doubt if a Minfo wizard would be interested saying anything on behalf of a saboteur.”

  A wave of pain made Kellan’s gorge rise again but he managed to mutter, “If you’re wrong, you’ll lose your jobs.”

  Virgille hit him across the face with a closed fist and Kellan finally succumbed to blessed darkness once more.

  ∞∞∞

  As Alice and Blade drove past the Briarwood City Node gateway, she noticed its shimmering field had gone dark. “Do you see that? It appears to be inoperative.”

  Blade peered through the window of the Pomparriage. “You’re right.” He smiled. “That explains why you couldn’t reach Minister Seer. He and Pompano are probably out of their wits trying to get the gate operating again.”