Halcyon Days
by
K'Arthur

Month of Lorelai Decan, 1992

The year will turn over soon, but I won't be able to go to Grand Chokmah for the celebration. Every year, the Emperor hosts a big banquet that lasts seven days. My father's banquets are usually boring, but the ones at the New Year are lots of fun. When I'm Emperor, I'm going to have all my banquets be as fun as those. Anyway, I asked Matheson if I could go in disguise but he said no. He said Father had explicitly told him I was not to leave Keterburg. I'm also really not supposed to leave the manor, but Matheson doesn't know I do. Or if he does, he's pretending that he doesn't.

I sneak out every afternoon to go to the square and see Jade and Nephry. They are usually there, and I always bring Jade 100 gald for the firewood he delivers every day. I convinced Matheson to give me some money if I kept my room clean. Well, I really just demanded that he do it because Father used to do it. He asked what I needed money for. I told him I was saving up for something. I guess that sounded responsible because he started giving me 150 gald a day. I put 50 in my sock drawer and give Jade the other 100. He buys food every day, and he even bought some warmer clothes for Nephry. He only bought himself a pair of gloves, though.

Two days after Jade first brought me firewood, Matheson and the guards were wondering what he was doing. I said I was sure my father had arranged for him to do that annoying work so that they wouldn't have to do it. I knew Matheson wouldn't question me. He still calls me Highness, even though Father told him not to. He's just so stubborn and boring like that. Maybe that's why Father likes him so much.

Anyway, I have been just taking my lessons in the mornings and then sneaking out to see Jade and Nephry in the afternoons. Matheson finally got me a new teacher. Her name is Miss Belinda and she's very pretty. She lets me study what I want and she tells me all about fonic artes when I ask. The hag I used to have didn't want to talk about them. Someone probably used one on her to make her so ugly. I don't really care about fonic artes, but Jade does, so I try to get lots of information for him. I even take notes. Matheson said he was impressed.

In the afternoons when I meet Jade and Nephry, we usually get into a snowball fight with some other kids. That's how I met Saphir. Jade seems normal compared to Saphir. He is a white haired boy that lives in the Order of Lorelai orphanage. Every day he comes to the square with different little fon machines that he makes. He digs pieces out of people's trash to make them. They can be really cute or really mean. He used to have some that would throw snowballs, but Jade and I destroyed them. He got all mad and his nose started dripping. It was so gross.

But his machines are really cool so sometimes Nephry and I help him find parts in people's trash. Jade usually watches so people don't throw things at us or yell. We got yelled at really bad at this one lady's house. I wanted to go get my guards and have them tell her I could dig through anyone's trash that I damn well pleased. But of course I couldn't.

Saphir is also a little delusional. That's what Jade says, at least. See, Saphir keeps saying that he's only staying in the orphanage until his parents get back from their trip to Kimlasca. Jade says that Saphir has been saying that for five years and that they aren't coming back. Saphir says that Jade is completely wrong. They argue a lot, but they are friends, though Jade makes fun of Saphir and sometimes I don't think Saphir realizes it.

One day, they were arguing about whether or not fon tech or fonic artes were more important—stupid, right? Nephry and I told them to cut it out, but they wouldn't. Then Saphir called Jade's mother some really ugly words that I'm not allowed to say. I'd never seen Jade so mad. He jumped on Saphir and started beating him senseless. Nephry and I tried to pull him off the smaller boy, but we couldn't. Jade just wouldn't stop!

He finally stopped when two adults in the square dragged him off Saphir. Poor Saphir had a bloody nose and his face looked really bad. But if someone said those things about my mother, I'd probably do the same. Or have my guards lock them up.

That night, Jade snuck into my bedroom. He would let himself in at least once a week to get books from me. He didn't want books this time, though. He just wanted to talk.

He sat on my bed and I sat on the chair I'd made Matheson get me. I told him it was for studying. It really wasn't. It was for when Jade visited. I kicked my legs over one of the chair arms and sat sideways in it. "Did you get in trouble?" I asked. I really was curious.

"No," he answered, his voice that strained and distant tone that he'd use when he was hiding something. I'd come to learn how Jade talked and that what he said wasn't as important as how he said it. He really was strange, but I liked him. "It's hard to get in trouble when your legal guardian is passed out."

"Rum?"

"Lots of rum," he sighed. "I'm sure he won't be a problem until the morning."

That didn't sound too reassuring. "Is Nephry okay? You two can sleep here if you want."

"We're fine. I just…I don't know," he said, this time there was a nervous tremor in his voice—one I'd never heard from him before.

"You just what?"

"Klaus," he frowned. "You're the one person I'd consider a friend and I just…I just want to talk to someone."

"Yeah, okay, so talk," I answered. I mean, really, how do you answer that?

"I beat up Saphir today," he said, as if I didn't know this. "I beat him badly—just like my father does to me, but I don't feel any remorse for it."

"He shouldn't have said those things about your mom," I said. "I would have done the same."

"You don't know how to fight, Klaus."

"Details," I said, waiving my hand. I'd seen my father do that to his advisors. It looks so cool.

He looked at me and then laughed darkly. "Well, yes. But…really. I don't think my mother would be happy that I did what I did today."

"Yeah, maybe not," I answered. He'd never mentioned his mother since that night months ago when he first climbed into my room. "What was your mom like?"

"Beautiful," he said, his voice sounding dreamily distant. "She was beautiful and she was smart and a Seventh Fonist. She used to be the school teacher for the town. She taught me to read when I was only three."

"Wow," I said. I only learned to read when I was five and it was the third teacher father hired that actually taught me anything. The others just let me do whatever I wanted.

Jade nodded. "Sometimes the townspeople would say she wasted her life on my father, but she always dismissed them."

"He wasn't mean back then?"

"He had his moments, but she always tempered him. I remember one time Nephry's kitten clawed up his pants. He was so mad, I was afraid he would hurt the kitten. Mother just laughed and after a few moments, he did, too."

I'd never seen them with a cat so I asked, "What happened to the kitten?"

"Coyotes killed it a month or two later," he muttered.

"Coyotes?"

"They look like big wolves. They live in the woods around here but only come into the town when their food supply runs low."

"I'm sorry."

He just shrugged. "Nephry cried a lot, but these things happen. Just like Mother dying."

I wasn't sure what to make of that. "Did you cry when she died?"

He didn't answer me and changed the subject. I hated it when he did that. "How is your painting of Grand Chokmah coming?"

"Fine, but I'm out of black paint because I spilled a whole can on the carpet. Matheson said he ordered some but it will be a week before it comes in." Yeah, the maids weren't too happy about that, but it's their job to clean the carpet, not mine.

He nodded. "I better get going. I'll see you in the square tomorrow."

I bid him good night and watched him climb down the tree. I couldn't help but feel bad for him, but he did say the strangest things sometimes.

-----------

The next day, Jade and Nephry didn't appear in the square. I didn't worry too much because they would have to do chores once in awhile. The second day they didn't show up, I got a little nervous, and on the third, I really started to worry. I thought about walking over to Jade's house, but I was afraid of being seen and his father might hurt me.

So, I sent Saphir. I promised to give him 500 gald if he went and knocked on their door while I hid behind a barrel. Nephry answered the door and she looked bad. Her shoes were gone, her hair was a mess and she looked terrified. I came out from behind the barrel and asked if she was okay. She nodded and kept glancing behind her, like she was afraid of something there. I asked her where Jade was. She whispered, her eyes welling with tears: "Daddy was playing cards and he told a man if he won he could have Jade for a week. The man won."

This town had some strange traditions. "Huh? Where is he?"

"I don't know, Klaus. But Jade didn't want to go with the man. He said he was a bad, mean man."

"Come outside and play," Saphir said, smiling at her like the some of the palace maids do with some of the guards. "We miss you."

"I can't come outside. Daddy took my shoes. He said I can't go anywhere until Jade comes back."

Jade had said his father would get mad if he didn't have food, so I gave Nephry the money I had in my pocket, even though I had promised it to Saphir. I was sure he would understand. "This is for the firewood. I always pay Jade in advance."

She took it and smiled, just a little. Then a noise behind her caused her to turn and she slammed the door. A man started yelling at her, but she said she had money and he said, "Good girl."

I looked at Saphir and he looked at me. Poor Nephry. There wasn't anything else we could do, so we walked back towards the square.

On our way there, we saw a man and a woman talking and we heard them say Jade and Nephry's last name. It sounded important and Saphir said the man was the governor and the woman was from his orphanage. So, we ducked behind a big stack of firewood and listened.

"You must do something, Governor," she said. "That man is downright horrible to those children. At least let us take them in."

"I would if I could," he replied. "But you know the law, Cantor Zalis. Unless he willfully surrenders them--"

"Of course I know the law, but Killey Balfour beats those poor children. Haven't you heard he's traded his son to settle a gambling debt?"

"I heard that, but indentured servitude isn't illegal in Malkuth, either."

I frowned. I didn't really know what that meant, but I did know that when I was Emperor, no one was going to do to Jade what his father did. I was going to make sure of it.

"And the man who 'owns' that child now is forcing him to sleep out in his barn! In the dead of winter! The poor boy will die of pneumonia!"

"Again, Cantor," the governor said, adjusting his glasses. "Nothing that is actionable on my part."

I wondered why Father would let this man be governor if he wasn't going to protect people. It made me so mad, I kicked the firewood pile. Saphir looked at me as if I was crazy.

The Cantor gathered up her skirts and glared at the man. "Will it be 'actionable' when you have a dead child on your hands, Governor?"

"That's not fair," he called after her as she walked away.

Right then I knew the first thing I would talk to Father about when I got back to Grand Chokmah.

----------

The week seemed really dull without Jade and Nephry. Saphir and I would go to the square and play with some of the other kids, but they weren't as much fun as my friends. One day, I didn't even go. Not that I didn't care about Saphir, but because I finally got my black paint to work on my mural. The maids kept laughing at the painting, but I would just look at them and they'd shut up. I guess they were afraid that Matheson would make them clean it if I got mad enough.

That night, I got a surprise. Matheson called me downstairs. I didn't want to go because I was working on my painting, but he said I had to.

When I got down the stairs, Mother was there! She was dressed in a big fur coat and she didn't wear her crown or any of her jewelry. She smiled at me and I hugged her. She cried as she held me. I don't know why. It wasn't like I was hurt or anything.

One of the maids brought us some tea and desserts and then Matheson dismissed them for the night. They knew better than to say anything because Father picked the best ones from his palace to work for me. Mother hugged him and thanked him for caring for me. Like he does anything but tell the maids what to do! She asked him to leave us, and he did, but not before giving her a really deep bow.

Mother and I talked long into the night about my teacher, my painting, the fonic artes I'd been learning and Keterburg. I didn't tell her about my friends, though. I didn't want to get in trouble for sneaking out of the house. She was especially pleased to learn I was interested in fonic artes. They are very important to Malkuth, she and Father had said to me numerous times. She is a very good fonist. She's even a Seventh Fonist and those are very rare. I'm not, though. Generally, both your parents have to be Seventh Fonists for you to be one and my father isn't. He told me once that most of the Emperors of old were not, so I shouldn't worry about it. Come to think of it, I think he worried more about it than I did.

Just as we finished tea, Mother said, "Peony, I have a special gift for you."

"A gift?"

"For the New Year," she said. "Perhaps it's hard to notice the change of seasons here."

"Yeah, it is."

"Yes, it is," she corrected me. She doesn't like me saying 'yeah.' She told me once that made me sound unrefined.

"Well? What is it?" I was really hoping for another battleship. Maybe a bigger one, or one I could ride on in the house.

"In the entourage that traveled with me is Horatio Salizara, the man who trained General Jerico Frings as a child. He is going to stay here with you and teach you military skills."

"Like what?" I asked, my eyes widening. I really hoped that meant he would teach me how to use a sword.

"Fonic artes, strategy, and swordsmanship," she replied, sounding hesitant on the last word.

I jumped up and hugged her. I was going to learn all that cool military stuff! I know I had to learn it because I'd have to command the Imperial Forces some day. "Thank you, Mother!"

"And now I think it's time for bed, Peony. I'm exhausted."

I hugged her again and she kissed my cheek. It was so good to see her again, but I knew it wasn't going to last. I tried not to think about that.

----------

I didn't go to the square for the first few days that Mother was there. I wanted to spend all my time with her. She even helped me paint my mural. She said it was very good. The maids didn't dare laugh while she was around.

Then, I decided I should check up on my friends so I told Mother that I needed to study. I went up to my room and locked the door and climbed down the tree. I ran to the square and saw Nephry and Saphir. "Where's Jade?" I asked.

"Where have you been?" Saphir answered.

"Sick," I lied.

"Jade's sick, too," Nephry said. She looked like she had been crying.

"I'm sure he'll get better," I said. "I've got a new book you can bring him. He can read it while he recovers."

Nephry barely nodded at me. I was missing something, but I had to get back to the house before supper so I said my good-byes and left.

When I got back to the house, I ate with Mother and Horatio. She asked Matheson to join us but he declined. He said it wouldn't be "proper." He's so annoying like that.

Mother, Horatio and I talked long over supper. The cook prepared mother's favorite—grilled rappig meat. I really don't like it, but I didn't complain. After that, it was late, so I went up to my room and changed to go to bed.

I didn't go to bed right away. I decided to draw a picture for Jade since he was sick. I drew a really good picture of one of my father's battleships. As I was working on it, a funny noise came from outside my window. I ignored it, but then it came again. I walked over and lifted the sash as a small rock flew past my head. The wind had picked up and a big storm was brewing. Jade told me that you could smell a storm. I didn't believe him at first, but after living there for awhile, I learned what a storm smelled like—humid, frosty and a strange scent of warmth. It reeked of storm.

"Klaus!" Saphir called. He had been chucking rocks at my window. Idiot. He could have broken it.

"What!"

"Let me borrow your guards!" Saphir shouted back over the wind and snow.

"What? No! You're going to wake everyone up and get me in trouble!"

"Fine, I'm coming up then."

"Fine."

He climbed the tree but it took him twice as long as it normally took Jade. I had to help him in the window, too.

"I need your guards," he said, trying to catch his breath.

"You're crazy."

"Jade's gonna die!" he said, grabbing my shirt.

I shoved him away. "What are you talking about?"

"He's sick. Really sick, probably from sleeping in that man's barn and Nephry tried to get him medicine but her father got mad and started beating the two of them. It sounds like a war in that house! He's really mad that Jade is sick! Cantor Zalis tried to get help but no one will do anything! You have guards, Klaus! Please, just let me borrow them!"

I listened, but I couldn't believe this. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Does anything their father do make any sense, Klaus? We have to get them out of there!"

"You just want to rescue Nephry like a knight," I said. I probably shouldn't have said that.

He sighed and started to climb out the window. "Never mind. I thought you'd help your friends, but I guess you're just like all the other rich brats that come to this town. You use us for your fun and then you ignore us when we need help."

"No," I said. "Wait. Just wait right here."

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

I walked to the door to my room. "I'm going to get help."

----------

Mother was still awake. She always liked to read before she went to sleep, so I was thankful for that. I went into the room she was staying in and I climbed up on the bed.

"Oh, Peony," she said, reaching out and petting my hair. "Do the storms still scare you?"

I laughed. "No, Mother. But I need your help."

She looked at me, her head tilting to one side in curiosity. "With the painting? Can we do that tomorrow?"

"No, Mother. With something much more important."

"What is it?" she asked, studying my face.

"Promise I won't get in trouble?"

She touched my cheek. "I can't make promises like that, Peony."

I took a deep breath. Getting in trouble was nothing compared what my friends were going through, so I told her. I told her about Jade, Nephry and Saphir. I told her how I snuck out each afternoon and went to play. I told her about Jade and Nephry's father and how mean he was. I told her about the governor who wouldn't do anything to help them. I told her how Saphir was sitting in my room begging for help, and how we had to do something.

Mother was aghast at the story. I thought she would be mad at me, but she wasn't. She told me I did the right thing by telling her and she hugged me tight. She asked me where Jade and Nephry lived, and I told her. Then, she got out of bed and woke Matheson up. I thought she was going to yell at him, but instead, she said, "Rouse the household. What we are doing tonight does not get back to my husband, do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied. Like he would say anything else. He's boring, remember?

Moments later, everyone was up—the guards, the maids, even Horatio. Mother ordered the guards to put on their Malkuth uniforms instead of the fake ones they wore everyday. Then Mother pulled on her fur cloak and gave orders. She took Horatio and all the guards with her and left. I went back to my room and watched her walk with them in the direction of Jade's house.

"We have to go see," Saphir said, leaning out the window.

I agreed, so we both climbed down the tree and followed them, staying hidden from Mother's sight. She would be most furious if she found out I was trailing her.

Mother marched right up to the door and knocked. She didn't get a response, so she turned to the guards. Three of them broke it down.

Horatio led the men into the house and I heard a struggle. Moments later, they came out leading Jade's father. They had tied his hands behind his back. He was shouting all sorts of words I'm not allowed to say. He said something ugly to my mother and Horatio slapped him and said, "Show some respect for--"

But Mother waved her hand to cut him off. She spoke directly to him. "Killey Balfour. I am placing you under arrest by order of His Majesty Frederick Peony Malkuth VI. The charge is attempted murder."

"What? I didn't try to kill nobody!" the man shouted, his words all slurry.

"Your children," she replied in that voice she used when I did something really, really wrong—like making Aslan eat paint.

"Take the brats," he said before throwing up all over Horatio's shoes.

She turned to two of the guards. "I intend to. Take him to whatever they use as a jail in this town and be sure the Imperial Seal appears on the arrest order. That way the governor cannot override it."

I'd never seen my mother command men before, but she was really good at it. Then she went into the house with Horatio (who kept kicking his boots to try and get the puke off of them) and the rest of the guards. Minutes later, they came out with Jade and Nephry. Jade didn't look very good. One of the guards was carrying him and another was carrying Nephry. Neither of them had shoes.

Mother turned to one of the other guards. "Knock on every door in this town until you find a doctor."

He gave a nod and started with the "Yes, Your Majesty," but she waved him off with a "Hurry, dammit!" before he could even get "Yes" out.

They took Jade and Nephry to my house. Saphir and I followed, of course, going in through my window. I went downstairs and I brought Saphir with me. No one dared to say anything about that—especially not around Mother.

Mother was still giving orders. She had the cook prepare a meal for Nephry and the maids prepare a bed. Nephry kept saying she was fine and that she wasn't leaving her brother. She looked really scared. I stood next to her and smiled. I told her that everything was going to be okay, even though I didn't really know for sure.

The guard still hadn't come back with a doctor, and Jade was really sick. He had such a high fever that his clothes were soaked in sweat and he just moaned things that didn't make any sense. Nephry said he'd been like that for two days and she didn't know what to do.

Mother did, though. She took off Jade's clothes and had the maids bring her cool cloths. She put them on him and talked to him in that voice she uses when she reads me bedtime stories. He opened his eyes at her a few times, too. She even used one of those Seventh Fonic Artes. It made a pretty ring around Jade and made him shiver. Mother said it would help break the fever.

Finally, a doctor did come. When he saw Mother, he bowed. She told him that he was not to speak of this to anyone and then told him to examine Jade. We all had to leave while he did. Nephry was really upset, but Mother, Saphir and I did our best to console her. It seemed like forever, but it was really only a half an hour and the doctor came out and said Jade would be all right. He gave mother some medicine and told her to keep him in bed for at least a week.

Jade and Nephry stayed with us for that week, but while they were there, I called Mother "Auntie" and the household was forbidden from using our titles. Mother said it was for the best. Though she admitted my friends were trustworthy, she didn't want to cause any trouble, especially after all the efforts Father had made to hide me here.

After Jade recovered, Mother arranged for the two of them to stay in the Order of Lorelai's orphanage with Saphir. I wanted them to stay with me, but she told me privately that it wasn't a good idea. She said I could still be their friend, but they needed to live somewhere else. I wasn't too happy, but I trusted her.

----------

Mother stayed another three weeks after Jade and Nephry moved into the orphanage. I still snuck out to see them, even though I could have used the front door. I really just liked climbing down that tree.

One afternoon, I saw smoke coming from the direction of Jade's house and I walked over there. A large fire had just started inside. I called for help, but then I saw Jade coming out from behind the house with a book about fonic artes in hand.

He saw me, walked over and smirked. His clothes were a lot nicer now that he was living in the orphanage. "Fire spell."

"You learned one, then?"

"Yes. A very useful one."

"I…see."

He smiled broadly as he watched the house burn, the flames reflecting eerily in his eyes. It was his house, so I guess he could do what he wanted to with it.