by R L Medina
My eyes dropped to my half-finished cup. “I don’t think they like me.”
Her shoulder shrugged. “They don’t have to like you, but they will obey and they’re loyal to your aunt.”
“How many… slaves does she have?”
She shrugged again. “Countless. Your mother pledged her court to her as well.”
Uneasiness filled me. Did that mean all Mom’s work to free her people had gone to waste? Did my aunt own them now? I thought of Des and shuddered. Was he also enslaved or was being an elf enough to be free?
“You’re to begin your magic lessons today.”
Grimera’s words struck me like lightening.
“What?”
She sighed. “You must learn how to control your powers. They grow stronger day by day. Princess Cindra has acquired a proper tutor.”
My brows creased together. “I thought no one else could train me except Des.”
“Des found an elf from your mother’s court. He will be here shortly so finish up and I’ll have them bring up a bath.”
I sipped the last drop of my cup and groaned. Already my head throbbed at the prospect of ‘magic training.’ I didn’t want to learn my powers. I just wanted them to go away. Grimera left me to the last of my pastries. I stared down at them, unable to stomach any more.
Nausea set in along with all my doubts. What if I started to like my powers? What would I become? I shuddered. More than ever, I longed for Mom. Anger stirred up. How could she have left me so unprepared?
“You should have told me,” I muttered out loud, the words sounding hollow.
A knock startled me. Without waiting for an answer, Grimera made her way in, the imp and brownie from before trailing her. The imp’s eyes narrowed on me as he dragged a large wooden tub into the room. I stared at the long, narrow thing and blinked.
“Isn’t that a boat?” I asked Grimera.
The brownie grunted, straining to push her end. I rushed over to help. A snarl from the imp stopped me in my tracks. He swiped a clawed hand in the air.
Grimera advanced on him. “You are dismissed. Remember your place, Grimface. Princess Cindra will not tolerate disrespect.”
Anger whipped around him, but he bowed stiffly. With a final glare towards me, he bounced out of the room. The little brownie glanced back, wide-eyed as she scurried after him.
“The water will be up shortly,” Grimera chirped.
I ran my hands over the intricate carvings. “This is a boat, isn’t?”
“Yes. There are no tubs large enough for your use. Elves use the bathhouse or the river.”
Grimera drilled me on court etiquette as we waited for the water. So many rules. Too many to remember. And this special treatment I received? It made me flush and never want to ask for anything again. Causing the slaves more work felt wrong, but how else would I get to bathe, if I couldn’t leave the room?
11
After a quick bath, I dressed grudgingly into the black gown Grimera had picked out for me. Surprisingly, I found it soft, and comfortable. She helped me comb my hair despite my protests. I didn’t want this. To be royalty. I wanted things to go back to the way they were before when she was my Grandmere. Not my servant.
No sooner had she finished, a knock sounded. I sucked in a breath. The tutor?
“Come in,” she answered for me.
I stood and clenched my fists at my sides, my stomach filled with knots. Des strode in and scanned the room. Behind him, an elf followed.
Des waved him forward. “This is Sacha.”
I gasped as I met a familiar pair of hazel eyes. The elf from the party. A warm smile lit his face but was quickly masked behind a solemn expression. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head. My eyes bulged. What was he doing?
“Princess, I am yours to command.”
I gaped at him and glanced at Grimera. What was I supposed to say to that?
“Uh… thank you?”
He beamed and stood, making my heart race at his proximity. He towered over me, my head at his collar bone, giving me a very close up view of his dark muscular chest. A naked muscular chest.
“Sacha is young, but he is one of the best warriors in your mother’s court. Des assures us that his mind reading abilities are the strongest out of all the others,” Grandmere told me as if trying to persuade me to overlook some fault.
My face heated. Did that mean he could read my mind? I cringed, remembering my embarrassing thoughts.
“How old are you?” I blurted out. A habit that was becoming much too frequent.
“I’m forty. Or in human years, 20.”
Des snorted. “What does that matter?”
I blushed. “Just curious.”
The door opened, Aunt Cindra gliding in, wearing a flowing yellow gown.
Her eyes narrowed. “What is this, Des?” She waved a hand over Sacha.
Sacha’s shoulders tensed.
Des glanced at him and back to my aunt. “What?”
Her lip curled. “You bring him to MY court. Dressed like that.”
Des shrugged. “Give him a shirt then.”
Her nostrils flared. “Pardon me?”
Des bowed. “I meant, I’ll get him a shirt.”
She clucked her tongue. “You’ve spent too much time among the humans. Your manners are appalling.”
Sacha bent in a deep bow. “Forgive me for offending you, Highness.”
She lifted her chin and motioned him to stand. Clasping her hands together, her eyes sparkled. Calculation behind her gaze. I shifted my feet. Dread built inside me.
“You are here in an official capacity. Des tells me, you are the only one who can properly train Princess Renée in using her gifts.”
Gifts. I snorted, drawing everyone’s attention. My face flamed.
Ignoring my reaction, Aunt Cindra went on. “You swore an oath to Princess Aubri to protect her court, no?”
He nodded.
“You will swear an oath now to protect her daughter.”
My mouth dropped slightly, and my ears reddened. So serious. Heat flooded my face for the umpteenth time as he dropped once again into a deep bow.
He looked up, meeting my eyes. The intensity behind his stare frightened me. “I swear I will protect Princess Renée, daughter of Princess Aubri of the Court of Fur. I will protect her at all costs, my life forfeit.”
His words shook me. How could he agree to this? He didn’t even know me, and he pledged his life? Chills crept along my skin.
Pleased, Aunt Cindra waved him to his feet. “Once you are properly attired, you may begin the lessons.”
He bowed. My nerves shot up. Why, him? Would I have to open my mind up to him and expose my thoughts? Why couldn’t have it been some crusty, haggard old elf? In the movies, the mentor was always old. Not young and attractive. Young for an elf. His eyes met mine briefly, an amused smile tugging on his lips. I mentally kicked myself and forced up a wall to my thoughts. He bowed to me and followed Des out.
Aunt Cindra glanced at my half-eaten tray. “Was it not to your liking?”
“Oh, no. It was delicious, thank you.” I shrugged. “I just can’t eat that much in the morning.”
“My Highness, am I to stay for the training?” Grimera’s voice interrupted.
“That won’t be necessary. Des will supervise.”
I stifled a groan. Great. He’d be there to witness my every mistake.
“If I may, your Highness, I’d like to visit the Gray Forest while Princess Renée has lessons.”
Aunt Cindra nodded. “You may.”
My eyes jumped to Grimera. A wistfulness filled me. I wanted to return to my mother’s court too. No time to explore it before, I longed to see more.
When Des and my tutor returned with an extra chair, I said my goodbyes to Grimera and Aunt Cindra. My hand instinctively went to my charm bracelet as I braced myself for what would come.
Des slumped into one of the seats and grunted. “You may begin, Sacha.”
He nodded and waved me to a chair. I took a deep breath and adjusted my dress as I sat across from him. My heart pounded so loud, I cringed, hoping they couldn’t hear it.
His hazel eyes studied me. I imagined a wall, rising around me to keep him out. My thoughts were my own, and I wanted to keep them that way.
“Princess, I promise I will not harm you or violate your trust. I’m here to help you with your powers. You can trust me.”
I bit my lip. The genuineness of his words startled me. Truth. He spoke truth. I blinked at him. Oh. Now I understood, he was opening his mind to me, to remove my doubts. To show me I could trust him.
“Shall we begin?” His voice was gentle.
Des scoffed. “Please do. I’m dying to see this.”
His sarcasm dripped with every word. Sacha’s nose scrunched up, making me smile. I guess, sarcasm wasn’t something he was familiar with.
They both looked at me and my eyebrows shot up. “Yes, sorry. We can start.”
Des rolled his eyes and slumped further into his seat with a sigh. I bit back a smile. For an ancient elf assassin, he pulled off moody teen too well.
Sacha stifled a laugh. My eyes widened in horror. When had he broken through my wall?
Ignoring my startled look, he pushed on. “First, I’d like to test your abilities. See your strengths and… areas to improve.”
Folding his hands together, he waited for my reply. I cringed. What did he mean by testing? Would it be similar to Des’s methods?
I played with the charms on my bracelet and sighed. “And how do we do that?”
A soft smile lit his face, revealing dimples. I blinked, surprised to see something so human like. Without his pointed ears, he could pass for human. So young too. My mind drifted, imagining him in the Outer World, at my high school. I snorted. The girls would be all over him.
His cleared his throat. “Princess?”
My eyes snapped to his. Had he been talking while I ogled him? I flushed. What had I missed?
Des let out a long, dramatic sigh. “I told you.”
Ignoring his remark, Sacha continued, “Maybe we should start with something simpler. How about some explanation of how our powers work?”
“Yeah. That would be helpful.”
He pushed a few strands of his coiled hair behind his shoulder and nodded. “Elves have an instinct when it comes to magic, some more than others. The limitations and possibilities have been studied since the dawn of time and still we don’t fully understand them. What we do know, is the greater connection to earth or the elements, the easier the magic is to calculate and wield. For this reason, most apply themselves in those fields of study. fire, water, earth, and ice.”
My nose scrunched up. “Shouldn’t ice be the same as water? It’s the same element, but in a frozen state., no?”
He smiled, pleased with my question. “It would follow logic. But that’s the beauty of magic. It doesn’t conform to our narrow parameters.”
“And what about… my magic? How am I supposed to control something… uncontrollable?”
“With years of practice and study.”
I stifled a groan. Years? I needed a better grasp of it now.
“What if… someone didn’t practice their magic. Would it go away?”
Des and Sacha stared at me. Disbelief written on their faces.
“No. Your power will always be a part of you, whether you choose to learn it or not.”
Des grunted. “You don’t have a choice. You have to learn.”
Anger rushed through me. Who were they to tell me what I had to do? It shouldn’t be their choice. Mom would never have forced me into this.
Sacha smiled hesitantly. “Learning your magic is the wisest course. Especially in our case. Without knowing how to build proper barriers, you allow your mind to become a target.”
I thought about the spirit in the cabin. How quickly it found me. I didn’t want to imagine what the spirits in Feylin would be like.
“Can I learn that part without having to mind read or control others?”
His eyes widened. “Mind-control is a very rare ability. No one except Princess Aubri has that kind of strength.”
I slumped. So, I was a freak among freaks?
“Even if they did, only the highest caste could go that far in their studies,” he continued.
Sensing my confusion, he explained. “Caste determines your use of magic. However, in the Gray Court, Princess Aubri let me study above my caste.”
His words startled me. How could the elves accept these rules so easily? Castes and rules. Didn’t they want freedom?
“He’s pesan caste,” Des added.
Sacha nodded. “Yes.”
I glanced at Des. “And that’s higher than… what you are?”
Sacha stiffened. Des’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
“Grimera said vulgaire is the lowest caste?”
He sneered. “And?”
I shrugged. “I’m just trying to understand it all.”
“Get back to your magic lessons. Before I—”
Sacha shot up, startling me. His eyes met Des’s. “You dare threaten a royal?”
Des’s lips spread into a smirk. “Calm yourself, elfling. We both know you’re no match for me. Glorified soldier. If it weren’t for Princess Aubri, you’d still be working in that market.”
Sacha’s jaw twitched. I tensed, afraid of what would happen. If Sacha couldn’t use his powers on Des, what defense did he have? I glanced at the door, debating if I should call someone.
“Continue the lessons.” Des’s voice came low and dangerous.
Sacha’s bottom lip curled in defiance. “You will apologize to the princess.”
I gaped at him. Des laughed. A mirthless laugh, eyes flashing to red.
“Stop it. Enough. Please. Let’s just continue.” I wrung my hands together.
Sacha’s fists clenched by his sides, muscle straining under the tight fitted red shirt he wore. Like a beast ready to spring. Des waved a dismissive hand toward Sacha. I scowled at him. He liked getting a rise out of others.
“As you wish, princess.” My tutor bowed stiffly and sat back down.
I released a breath, I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “And please stop calling me that. You can call me Ren.”
His eyebrows shot up. “That would be very inappropriate, Princess.”
Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I slumped further into my chair. Is this who they expected me to become? A princess? The thought sent panic swirling inside me.
“First, you must summon your power.”
Sacha’s words snapped me back to reality. Des’s lips curved into a half smile. The jerk.
“Can you feel it?” Sacha continued, oblivious to my distress.
Sweat beaded my forehead. Feel it? What was I supposed to be feeling?
“Uh… Des didn’t teach me how to summon it.”
Sacha’s brows knitted together. “Just call it to you.”
Des’s smile grew wider. Amusement danced in his eyes. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, heat rushing to my face.
The sound of my heart pounded in my ears. Call it to me? Call what? As far as I understood, the magic was just out there swirling around us, ready to be used. How was I supposed to harness it? I took a deep breath and moved my hand in an arc like I’d seen Des do.
A warm stinging sensation covered my skin. My eyes shot open. All my senses flared to life. I lifted my hands in front of my face, sure I’d see the energy pulsing through me. There was a slight trembling, but no glowing. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just this raw sense of power. My heart skipped. It felt good. Too good. A sickening feeling filled me, but I smiled as Sacha clapped in approval. Even Des approved, judging by his slight nod.
This is a part of you, now.
I trembled at the thought. Fear swirled inside me along with the thrumming power.
The next days followed in the same routine. Wake up. Eat. Magic lessons. More eating. More studying and then
bed. On top of my magic tutoring, Grimera trained me on social etiquette, history, and family politics. The historical books she gave me were as exciting as the ones we were required to read for school back home.
Sometimes she or my aunt just came to keep me company, sharing memories of my mom. Though every night Grimera would return to the gardens outside the palace, leaving me to sleep alone. I got lost in the stories they told me and the pain of losing Mom grew. Why hadn’t she told me any of it? What hadn’t I ever asked? The truth, that Mom had manipulated my thoughts, left me bitter.
As much as I appreciated the stories and my aunt’s and Grimera’s presence, I longed to see the rest of the court. Or even a different room. What was happening to Mom while I remained trapped inside? Why hadn’t anyone found her yet? Every question I asked was met with cryptic answers, but I refused to believe the worst.
After what felt like endless training, I finally achieved something. Unlocking mental barriers. Sacha and Des both supplied different ones. Some with simple locks and some with complex layers. And I opened them all. In the scheme of things, it seemed a small victory, but it thrilled Aunt Cindra.
She glowed with pride. If only Mom could be there to witness. Would she be proud of me too?
After witnessing another unlocking, Aunt Cindra stood to leave. “You will continue with the lessons so that you can perform a demonstration for the ball. For your formal presentation.”
Her words struck fear inside me. Ball? Presentation? Nausea built up.
“How long do I have?”
“Five days.”
I sucked in a breath. Five days? How was I supposed to gain enough control of my magic in five days? Anxiety reared its ugly head, growing like a weed, threatening to strangle me.
I shook my head emphatically. “I can’t. I need more time.”
Aunt Cindra fixed me with a solemn stare. “We don’t have time.”
Without another word, she turned on her heel. I watched her dress sway as she left. I shuddered and sank onto my bed.
Mom. How am I supposed to do this?
The moon grew brighter as I tossed and turned. Trying to ignore the panic and fall asleep. Trying and failing.
Shadows gathered in my room. Fear spiked in my veins. I glanced at the door, ready to bolt, but something kept me rooted to the bed.