Part One: What They've Sown
Heavy is the Head
After court, Manu returned to his small villa. It was large enough to reflect his status as a member of the royal House Amin, but also small enough that he never got any grandiose delusions. The villa was situated high up in one of the mountains that looked down over the Duren Palace, which gave Manu an excellent view of the kingdom. He liked to imagine he was keeping an eye on things, in case they ever got out of hand. It also gave him a beautiful view of the moon and stars, which had been the intent of the Queens when they had ordered the villa's construction. He had been too young to understand it then, but it was for his own benefit when they had made the decision to keep him out of view of the royal court before he could learn to control his powers.
Manu was a Moonshadow Elf, and one with fortunately a natural talent for magic. Once he had learned to control his illusions, the first one he crafted was one of a perfectly normal human boy. He wore it and aged it every day for five years while learning from the royal tutors at the Magisterial College, and no one ever suspected a thing. There were some close calls, however. When Manu was studying magic, his instructor had performed a revealing spell, and had Manu been a pace closer his disguise would have been destroyed completely. A year later, then Manu had overcome his inner fear and decided to turn his back on elven taboo, his first revealing spell was cast safely in another direction.
The disgust for dark magic was something that had taken Manu a long time to work himself through. It was the only way, however, for him to be able to continue to learn magic from educated instructors instead of on his own. He needed to be able to give himself a cover for his magical powers, which, along with his insatiable hunger for knowledge and understanding, was how he justified it's use. In his villa, however, he was able to practice his illusions and other moon magic any time he wanted, and he had an entire secret library under the villa in which he stored his rare elven texts. He was careful, though, to keep his illusionary disguise whenever he went outside.
A good thing, too, Manu reminded himself, as he watched as a brown horse and rider start up the path to his home. The trip took around twenty minutes by horse and over twice that for a person walking by foot. Manu had long since enchanted the path to alert him whenever someone started upon it, but more often than not he was able to see them when they began. He liked being outdoors and watching the busy kingdom below him. It reminded him that even without him as Regent, life went on. It was soothing.
He leaned his head back to look at the twilight sky. The sun was starting to set earlier now, meaning autumn was on it's way. As much as he hated the cold, he relished the longer nights. He supposed it was his primal affinity with the moon, but maybe it was the darkness that made him feel safer. He could be himself when no one was watching. He rubbed the top of his head, knowing he should feel two horns there; because of his illusionary magic, he felt nothing.
Manu thought back to the pain from earlier. Something bad was coming, he knew it. Recently, Aanya had passed new laws that took away the rights of the royal Houses to enforce their own laws within their lands, and had established a new system of courts to enforce the Crown laws. As was normal with Aanya's decisions, the commons rejoiced while the nobles were outraged. Manu could see that her mind was going in the youthful direction of a more equal and fair society, but he was worried that she would eventually abolish the Crown in favor of even more extreme measures.
He put a long sigh into the wind, releasing with it all the frustration of the day. He had changed out of his Magisterial robes when he got home, ditching the white and gray garments for a light tunic. He kept his sword with him though, just because he was just far enough from civilization for the local guards to be able to reach him if he needed them. The sword was more for appearances - his moon magic could easily take care of any danger that would find him up in the mountains. Still, it was a comfort.
Manu went inside and waved a hand, and the candles throughout the house lit with illusionary fire. The heat would feel real to anyone that got too close, and should they touch the flame, their brain would believe it would cause a real burn. Manu would easily be able to treat any injury with a little showmanship and then just remove the imagined burn like it were any other conjuration. He did many similar things at the royal court, "healing" wounds just by placing hexes to remove the pain. A sore throat here, stubbed toe there, even the occasional larger wound. It was a blessing that the illusions had physical form, because otherwise he would be nothing more than a charlatan playing with smoke and mirrors.
Manu set out bread and berry wine on the kitchen table, and began to cut an apple into slices. He could create any food he wanted with his illusions, but he preferred knowing he was eating the real thing. From time to time, he indulged himself in turning water from the mountain spring outside into wine just to save himself from having to spend any gold.
He was sitting at the table sipping from a flute of wine when his visitor walked in. He had heard the horse whinny outside, but it was the soft music of the enchanted wind chimes on the wall that had alerted him of the arrival.
"Your Majesty," He said, not getting up from his seat. He had long since been chastised to never bow or show any deference to the Queen when not in public.
Queen Aanya stepped into the kitchen from the doorway, wearing a dark riding cloak. She still wore the crown in her hair, but she had changed out of her pauldroned dress into more comfortable clothing. Now she wore a light blue summer dress. Manu admired how she moved with grace and certainty wherever she went. Even though she had not been born it, she was now royalty in every sense of the word.
"I grow tired of this fighting in court, Manu." The Queen said, putting her cloak on the back of her chair before she sat down. "I thought it was children who were supposed to fight all the time, not adults."
Manu chuckled, and slid the plate of apples and bread towards her. He did not offer her wine because he knew she would refuse it. She was a queen of the highest virtue. "Years ago, it would have been me they were fighting with. You are lucky they've decided to go after each other instead."
Aanya put her head on the table, immediately reminding Manu of just how young she actually was. "I just want them to stop." She proclaimed, voice muffled by the hard wood. "Every one has better things to do."
Manu sipped from his wine and watched her. She visited with him almost every evening - they were family, adopted or not, and they were all they had left. Although he was certainly her senior, she was the one named in the line of succession, and she hated it.
"Take the Satin again, Manu," Aanya pleaded, as she did almost daily. "I'm so tired of these nobles."
Manu kept from rolling his eyes out of respect for the Queen. For an elf, in disguise, to rule over a human kingdom? As compassionate and loving as his stepmothers had been, they understood the political necessity for a human ruler in a human kingdom. That Manu was regent at all was a fluke on their part. Death always came at inconvenient times.
"You are a better ruler than I could ever be, Aanya." Manu said, wishing that their stepmothers were still alive. Aanya deserved to have a child's life, and grow up playing with friends and maturing at her own pace. Within the past year, the young girl had seen more conflict and turmoil than some experienced in their entire lifetime. Attempted assassinations and coups, some from open enemies, some from former allies and friends, all deeply troubling to the young queen. To still be ruling after it all was a true testament to her resolve and her bravery. Or, at least her stubbornness.
Aanya looked up, a red imprint on her forehead from the wooden table. "Manu, why do you still come to court?" She asked.
The question caught him off guard. He chose his words carefully. "Even though I am no longer your regent, it is important for people to see that you still have me around. It implies that you take my counsel."
"But," Aanya said. "I do take your counsel. All of Duren knows it."
Manu sipped his wine. The sour berries almost made his eyes roll back in their sockets. The flavor was exquisite. "Some of the noble Houses are concerned by that. They worry that I am trying to control you. Other Houses worry that you don't listen to me at all, and then some Houses worry that I could declare a claim for the Crown and use my influence at court to take the Satin."
Aanya was silent, and then finally she moved to take a slice of apple. She bit into it with a crisp crunch. "So why stay at court?" She repeated.
Manu looked outside at the setting sun. "I suppose I feel as though I have to," he admitted. "Sometimes I worry that if I am not there, the nobles might try to take advantage of my absence and push you on issues that you might not fully understand. Or, they would worry about what I was doing when not around."
Aanya thought for awhile. "I would not have thought of the seasonal planting if you had not said anything about it."
Manu looked back at her. "It really wasn't a good excuse," He confessed. "I just know that the only thing that scares the late-year Houses more than the elves is missing a harvest. If all their workers march to war, then they would not only their workers but their money as well."
"I had already decided not to join Katolis in their war before you had told me that." The Queen said, her attention wandering to one of the candles. Her voice was soft.
"I know." Manu told her. It was cyclical for the two of them: the Queen would make a decision, and Manu would tell her what her explanation to the court and her advisers would be. Whereas Manu made decisions based on what was practical and efficient, the young Queen made decisions based on what she thought was right and wrong. His explanations were what kept the nobles from seeing the innocent and soft heart of the Queen. Without using any magic, he was able to disguise her as well.
"Thank you, Manu." Queen Aanya nodded to him.
"Of course, your Majesty."
