Chapter 3: Those Related to Royalty
The first night of the ball ushered in a wave of girls who entered the castle as quite an interesting group. After giving their names, ancestry and where they were staying to attendants at the door, they filed into the ballroom with wide eyes and trembling legs, sometimes clutching the arm of a sister or cousin who accompanied them.
Mortesen had expected to see hedgehogs since the Royal family had been such as far back as the earliest records, but rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, badgers and foxes came in as well, making up not quite a third of the gathering.
Their clothes were not always new—in fact most were not—but they were clean and free of wrinkles. The dresses all had a hem embroidered with the designs of the girls' native towns and their sleeves all bore a simplified version of the Royal crest: wings on either side of a green diamond.
Mortesen greeted each one as though she was a princess. He knew there was no way to spend time with them all, so he hoped the evening would not be completely centered around him.
Fortunately things seemed to work themselves out. Many of the girls were excited to learn they had so many relatives, distant or not, and little groups formed around those who discovered they were descended from the same Royal family member.
Since there were so many girls and no male counterparts aside from the one who invited them, the music played was more for listening than dancing. The head cook had suggested laying out two long tables of food, allowing the guests to eat at their leisure and without ceremony. A group of mummers in masks began to act out a silent play on a raised dais, attracting a large audience, but Mortesen was occupied for most of the first hour with customary introductions.
When the line of girls dwindled to nothing, he stepped over to the nearest servant who was tallying up the lists. "How many total?"
"So far, sixty-three. There still might be some stragglers, so I'll keep someone here to make sure anyone who's late is recorded properly."
He went over to a set of steps and followed them to the upper hall. A curtained doorway led to one of several balconies that overlooked the ballroom. King Negolas was sitting there with his wife and Rakar, watching the crowd of young ladies below.
"I never expected so many," he commented. "Because most of the nobility were raised to their stations by promotion rather than birth, I was under the impression most of our ancestors' siblings left the country. And these are only the girls in their teens. Just imagine how many other relatives we have out there. I would like to look over the records later and see their genealogies."
Queen Priscilla sat stiffly in her chair, throwing a hard look back at Mortesen. "Yes. I suppose this appears to be an interesting testament to the virility of Royal family members who were not fortunate enough to establish good marriages. It's almost comical."
He clenched his jaw. "It's thanks to that same virility that resulted in your existence, my Queen."
"How good of you to notice." The snideness in her tone was unmistakable.
"Priscilla!" Negolas snapped, seizing her by the arm and giving such a fierce look that she flinched back. "You are insulting me when you speak that way to my son."
"It was only a jest, Husband," she tried to rectify her words. "My lineage is traced back to the Royal family just as easily as any of these maidens'. If I truly meant what I said, then Mortesen is entirely correct: I would be mocking myself as well."
He released her arm, but didn't soften towards her. Rakar sat on his father's other side, staring at the girls and looking very much as though he was interested in them.
"Come down with me, Rakar," Mortesen suggested. "I'm sure many of them would like to meet you too."
The brown hedgehog shrank back into his chair. The only thing more painful than being ignored was being purposely avoided. And inevitably the whispering would begin.
"No. I don't want to ruin the celebration by making them feel...uneasy. I'm just as happy watching from here."
His older brother placed a hand on his shoulder, understanding the plight he found himself in. "You're always welcome, Rakar. When you feel ready, I'll be waiting for you."
On his way back downstairs, a servant was heading up. When he saw the prince, he bowed and gestured back to the lower corridor.
"Prince Mortesen, a young lady by the name of Thia is here who says she is related to the Marcurian Royal family," the servant said with a certain amount of skepticism in his voice. "I was under the impression that only those related to the Coizard Royal family were admissible."
Mortesen's heart thumped against his ribs and he hurried over to the entrance, hoping she hadn't gotten skittish at the questions and left. Thankfully Athena was still there, waiting patiently for someone to decide whether she could go in or not. She turned as he approached.
"I invited anyone of Royal blood, so you are most welcome."
She looked at him, a certain shyness about her. The dress she wore was vivid green, looped with braided silk that stretched from her waist nearly to the floor, and a brooch of a lily pad with a tiny ivory flower was fastened near her shoulder.
"May I escort you inside?" he asked, offering his arm.
Athena smiled and they walked forward as she said in a low voice, "The invitation was worded in such a way that I felt it was almost directly for me. You're not angry at me?"
"For what?" Then he remembered. "Oh. Well...a little, but I'm more grateful than anything. I didn't realize how different life was for the average commoner. It should have been obvious, I suppose, but I've never been taught to pay attention to anything other than what directly concerns me as heir to the throne." He looked at her dress more closely and said in a thoughtful tone, "You remind me of the story about a frog princess."
Her expression hardened. "Please don't—"
"I swear I'm not trying to mock you. It's just what crossed my mind. Is it Marcurian style?"
"Yes..." she replied, fingering the fabric at her waist. "We brought a few things with us. I thought this might be my only chance to wear them."
"It's very lovely on you, Athena," he complimented, standing back to see it better.
She darted a glance around. "Don't use that name. I've been Thia for over a year now."
"I don't think anyone will notice, but alright. I do like your real name better, though."
They went through the large double doors, entering the castle ballroom, and Athena's eyes were instantly drawn to the four large chandeliers. Instead of candles, they were lit by round moon-crystals imported from the Ice Empire to the north. As the night deepened, they grew brighter with a clear silver light that would only fade as the sun grew closer to the morning horizon. Mortesen started to lead her toward the tables piled high with enough food to easily feed a hundred guests, but two girls materialized in front of them, quite obviously wanting to speak to the prince.
Athena unhooked her hand from his arm, saying, "You have many guests, my Prince. I am only one person."
"Thia, I would like to speak with you. Will you stay?" he asked with some anxiousness.
She gave a secretive smile and shrugged before meandering off toward the banquet tables. Beside him, the two hedgehogs who were so alike that they had to be sisters eagerly waited for his attention.
The one on the right gave a practiced curtsy and started to speak. "Prince Mortesen, we were hoping you could tell us—"
"Is it true the Royal Library has hundreds of books?" the other interrupted, nearly bouncing on her toes.
"I believe it has several thousand." He looked at the disbelief on their faces and nearly laughed. "If you would like to see for yourself, you may visit it tomorrow during the day."
They exchanged glances that said they never expected such an invitation. "Truly? We can come?"
"Of course. And the day after as well, if you wish. If you know anyone else who is interested, they can go with you."
A happy squeal from a nearby circle caused quite a few people to look over. "Anyone? Anyone can visit the Royal Library?!"
Excited flurries of conversation sprang up, spreading around the room, and Mortesen began to wonder what he'd unleashed.
"I didn't know so many of you could read. My tutor tells me it's rare for peasants to be educated enough to recognize more than numbers."
The sisters smiled and the older one explained, "Three generations ago when Princess Eilonwy's noble daughter married a commoner, she taught her children to read and they passed it on. I'm sure most of the girls here have similar stories."
"I didn't know that. Is it very useful?"
The girls looked a bit sad. But their prince had asked a question and they had to answer.
"Not often. We don't get a chance to see books except what odds and ends traders might bring on their way through Cosium, and what we happen across when we visit the city on market days. That's why being able to see the Royal Library is such a pleasure."
After a little more conversation, he excused himself on the pretense of having other guests. Mortesen began to pass from group to group, saying a few generic things but mainly looking for Athena. When he was nearly halfway around the ballroom, someone placed a hand on his arm.
"Mortesen, I wanted to spend at least a little time with you before everyone departs at midnight," a hedgehog said, her fur a creamy, butter yellow. Her turquoise green gown was much fancier than most of those worn by the other guests and he suspected it had been made for this occasion.
"Sherry," he bowed politely to his second cousin. Her grandmother had been the only sibling of Mortesen's grandfather. "I hope you're enjoying yourself."
She wrinkled her nose in distaste and swept her skirts to the side a little as though to avoid a muddy puddle. "Among all this riffraff? You must be joking. I still can't believe the palace guest rooms were closed to me and the other nobles. My room at the inn is far less than sufficient. Was this Queen Priscilla's idea? My mother says she always had a penchant for doing things of a rather tasteless nature."
Mortesen held his head a bit higher. "She had nothing to do with it. I asked for all these girls to be invited. And it would have been considered rude to allow only some guests to stay in the castle while others stayed in Cosium Town."
"Oh!" Sherry looked genuinely surprised. "How very charitable. It is rather unnerving, though, is it not?"
"What?"
"Well, with their ties to the Royal family," she said almost too innocently, "any one of these girls or their brothers could lay a claim to the throne."
The idea was so unexpected and hilarious that Mortesen burst out laughing, attracting quite a few glances. Once he had gotten over the attack, he looked at his annoyed cousin.
"Oh, Sherry! If they knew half of what's involved in ruling a kingdom they'd stay as far away as they could. I don't envy my father the headaches he suffers, though I know they'll be mine a lot sooner than I'd prefer, and Queen Priscilla is always griping about her duties."
"They don't necessarily understand that, Mortesen," she pointed out, one hand gesturing toward the group of nearly seventy guests. "All they know is that you live in a castle while they live in a filthy home with a dirt floor. Don't you think the throne looks quite attractive from there?"
The words put him in mind of the one-room cottage where he'd been shackled for a day and he sobered.
"Maybe, but I certainly hope they're smart enough to realize the truth. I would like to find someone. I'll spend time with you later, perhaps."
He left, not noticing the unfriendly look on her face as she muttered to herself, "Not everyone worships you and your father, dear cousin."
Sherry rejoined the group of about ten nobles who had separated themselves from the rest of the party, fluttering their fans and trying to pretend there were no commoners surrounding them. Mortesen was unable to mingle for very long as he continued going through the ballroom. His eyes kept slipping away from whoever he was speaking to and roving about, intent on finding someone with blue fur. Finally he caught sight of her standing in a corner near the oceanside windows.
Athena glanced up when he came over. "I don't know why you invited all these girls here if you only wanted to see me."
"Are you saying it bothers you for me to single you out?"
"Well, I suppose I appreciate it." She cocked her head slightly. "But I still don't understand why you want to spend time with someone who chained you up."
"You're truthful and not shy about speaking your mind. I like that in you." He paused, shifting slightly as the beginning of nervousness set in. "How...how are the children? The ones that came to your home that day, I mean."
She suddenly looked sad. "One stopped coming. The baron decided to assign her to water-drawing, so the others are helping to get food to her family."
The prince blinked. "But none of them could be older than eight. Why would he do that?"
"Because he can," she said as though it was obvious. "He wants to get more work out of their family since her father is gone, and who is there to stop him? He may be directly answerable to the duke, but that means nothing if he doesn't care either."
Mortesen looked around and then took her by the hand. Athena let herself be pulled out onto the balcony where there was a certain amount of privacy to be had. Cool air washed over them. He leaned against the railing and stared at the waves far below.
"Is there anything I can do? Some way I can help?"
She shook her head. "Not without attracting attention, and that would put me in danger. I'd prefer to keep doing things as I have been."
The black hedgehog looked at her thoughtfully for a few seconds. "Thia, if you are ever in trouble, hide in the Forbidden Forest."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Are you crazy? Even if I'd never heard all those tales about it, I'd know there's something strange about that place. I keep to the fringes as much as I can and try not to antagonize whatever watches me every time I go there, but I'm not stupid enough to go any deeper."
"I promise you'll be fine. If you're nervous, just say my name and that intimidating aura it has ought to fade away. The forest won't hurt you."
"I'll keep that in mind." Athena stared at him intently. "Maybe there is something you can do. I mostly try to help the peasants who are oppressed by barons, but there are bands of thieves who like to prey on them as well. I can't always find them before they strike. I can give you a list of the places where they usually are."
"You mean they have to deal with bandits too?"
"And worse," she said, nodding sadly. "Last month one of them found a garden hidden in the woods and waited nearby until someone came to tend it. The girl is lucky I was in the area. If I hadn't heard her screaming she would have been..." Athena's hands clutched the railing tightly, trembling as she tried to hold in her rage. "I just regret that he got away with a few broken ribs and a torn ear, but I was more concerned with the girl. He had been beating her and tore off half her dress..."
Mortesen couldn't think of anything to say at first. "I... I'll do what I can. I really do want to help and protect them."
"I know you do. That's why I came tonight."
The prince stared into her eyes, reminded of a ruby's shine. "I'm so glad you did."
The Following Night...
The first night had been indoors, so to make things more interesting, the Royal Gardens had been decorated, set up with dozens of benches, and strung with colored lanterns.
As soon as the blood-gold sun sank into a sea of wine, girls came streaming into the gardens, finding their newly-made friends and striking up conversations immediately. An additional thirty or so girls attended, making up almost a hundred guests. A small pen held all the young foals from the castle stables, and the animals were stroked and patted to their content, especially spoiled with apples, carrots, lettuce and other treats that countless maidens provided as they played with them.
Mortesen looked up at the second-story balcony where the king, queen and prince sat watching. He threw them a wave, but only Rakar waved back, and his mother must have said something sharp to him because he dropped his hand and ducked a little. The crown prince began to mingle with the guests, spending quite some time with them before catching sight of Athena.
"Thank you for coming again. Isn't that the dress you wore last year at your ball?"
The former princess looked away, her cheeks coloring slightly. The dress was red to set off the color of her fur and bring out her eyes. It had the same style of looped silken braids, though they were darker than the fabric, and she wore a pearl-colored brooch of a rose.
"I didn't embarrass you, did I?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't remember," she said quietly, touching it self-consciously. Athena glanced around at the crowd. "Was the library filled to capacity today?"
Mortesen shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. "I had no idea they would all come and bring their escorts along. I thought the noise they were making would upset the librarian, but I've never seen her so pleased. I think she appreciated their interest and questions. Some of them kept peering into my study, like they were ogling me. My tutor couldn't stand it after half an hour and canceled my lesson."
She didn't bother holding back the grin. "You can't exactly revoke the invitation now."
The prince walked with her over to a table of food that was decorated with fake, colorful birds. "This is probably the only chance for them to see the Royal Library ever. It would be pretty heartless to throw them out just because I'm a little annoyed."
They broke off their conversation as a Fire-wielding entertainer lit a fountain with blue flames. The watching maidens let out pleased sounds as he started to siphon off bits of fire and send them dancing above their heads.
But then one girl, a red hedgehog with black markings, began to laugh. Everyone turned their attention to her.
"I know how you did that! You mixed a flammable potion in the water first. If you did something that simple in Benden Weir, you'd get laughed out of the square! Watch this." She stepped forward, shooing the entertainer away, then clapped her hands commandingly at the musicians. "Come! Let's have something less drear, like 'Ringing Along the River'."
After an uncertain pause they began to play a livelier tune and she touched the blue flames. A line of them leaped out and landed on her dress, shifting to red and yellow. She danced to the song while the fire crawled along her swirling skirts. Another hedgehog, most likely a sister, grabbed her hand to join the dance and the fire sprang to her too.
"How do they keep from setting their dresses on fire?" Mortesen wondered.
Athena giggled beside him. "My grandmother was a Fire-wielder. She told me it takes training and concentration to create a heatless flame. They're only using light, not real fire. The fact that they can do it while dancing means they are very advanced for their age."
The song came to an end, prompting delighted applause, even from the entertainer who immediately took them aside and began an animated conversation.
The brief spectacle appeared to be an inspiration for the other guests. Within minutes there were little shows being held in different clearings throughout the gardens.
Some were simple, such as a group molding stones with their hands or a small, controlled whirlwind that carried ribbons and feathers into the air, but others were far more impressive. One young lady made the iron framework of a trellis look just like the vines and flowers that crept over it, and another demonstrated her ability to hear things at a distance she couldn't possibly have heard naturally.
"The wind remembers where it's been," she explained to the others who were testing her. "It carries what it hears for a while and I'm attuned enough that I can catch it."
Most notable was a pair of cousins, one who used Fire to melt a pile of sand while the other used Earth magic to mold it. The hedgehog sweated as glass floated between her open hands, slowly changing into a swan in flight. Athena's expression was one of complete astonishment.
"I've seen a couple glass-makers at work before," she whispered to the prince, "but even using magic they still needed gloves or tongs to form the glass. I've never seen anyone do it with just their will."
Mortesen had to intervene several times to keep the Royal Gardens from becoming a Royal Forest when some Nature-wielders started competing, and later when Earth-wielders nearly got carried away by trying to improve on one of the fountains. But for the most part they were happy to demonstrate to one another on a smaller scale and simply talk about their skills.
"Do most peasants have magic at this level, or does it have more to do with their connection to the Royal family that makes the girls so strong?" Mortesen asked after they had toured the gardens for over an hour. He'd given many compliments, leaving a trail of blushing maidens in his wake without realizing it.
"I don't know. This isn't my country, you know. But I'm sure more Coizards would be stronger if someone trained them," she said, watching a Fire-wielder make a stone glow. "What they pick up is directly from their parents or what they discover on their own. All I've ever seen them use is the magic of their Elements, though. Nothing more academic like binding spells, traps, shields or Alchemy."
They found a more secluded corner of the gardens and sat down on a stone bench. Mortesen didn't speak. He was too occupied with this new information.
"Still, magic has more practical uses than these," Athena said. "I've seen them use Wind for washing laundry and Fire to cook food without a hearth or heat stones during the winter. These girls are mostly just playing to show off how skilled they are."
"I know your Element is Nature," he commented. "We've had to cut plenty of soldiers loose from those giant plants of yours."
Half a smile lit her face and she pulled out a seed that she'd found at the edge of the horse pen earlier. A soft green glow encompassed her hand, then she flicked it to the ground. Long, curling vines sprouted, traveling around the bench. Within a minute, one of its flowers had wilted to be replaced by a bulb, then it grew larger until Mortesen realized he was looking at a pumpkin. It sagged to the ground, continuing to swell until it was as high as their knees, and the prince unconsciously edged away from it. Athena gave a laugh and let go of the vine. Instantly its growth halted.
"It won't taste very good, unfortunately. Magic doesn't have much flavor. I'm adept with flowers, but vines are my specialty. Ivy, climbing flowers, creepers... Beanstalks are most useful as weapons because the seeds are easy to get and they hold the full potential of a grown plant. I can't form them out of pure magic, though. If I don't have something to work with, I can't do anything."
"You know you've inspired my father to hire soldiers who use Nature magic, don't you?"
She blinked, the smile fading. "At least he's learning something from me. Too bad it's not what I'm most concerned about. Do you think he'll ever listen?"
Mortesen leaned back. "Maybe, but it will take time. He'd refuse to be forced into anything."
They looked up at the wide sky speckled with stars, not yet graced by the moon. For a time they didn't say anything, and the silence between them was both thoughtful and friendly.
"Mortesen, what's your Royal gift?"
He stiffened in surprise. "Y-You want to know?"
Only his family and those closest to him knew, so for someone else to ask was either a sign of arrogance or...or desired intimacy. Mortesen was glad his fur was dark so that she couldn't see the heat creeping into his cheeks.
"Uh...truth-telling. When someone speaks I can sense the truth. My father has me stand with him during audiences," he said with a certain pride. "And there's no need to torture prisoners because all they need to do is answer a few questions before I know whether they're guilty—what is it?"
Athena's expression wasn't quite mocking, but he could tell she was ready to laugh. "Oh, really? You know the truth? I'd like to see that."
"Why do you consider it so funny? You don't believe me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You put all your faith in your gift, don't you? I find it both amusing and sad that you use it as an excuse not to think. Suppose you had a Coizard and someone from Hos-Hostigos side by side and asked them if Cosmos or Styphon was the more powerful god? You would get two different answers, but would you really hear the truth or their opinions?"
Athena's words were more teasing than serious, but the possibility seemed to tear the earth out from beneath Mortesen's feet. Not once had he ever doubted the nature of his gift, accepting it as fact that what he sensed was really the truth. But if it wasn't...could he be misunderstanding without realizing it?
He stared, a fearful numbness creeping over his mind.
"It's late," the blue hedgehog said, not noticing the change that had come over him. "I have plenty to do tomorrow, but I'll be back in the evening. I promise."
She was gone before he snapped out of his thoughts, but when he tried to follow, she had melted into the darkness without a trace.
A/N: I'd find the prospect of a giant pumpkin growing at my feet rather intimidating too. Here are some specifics about magic to keep things straight.
Elements: In most countries usually only Royalty or nobility are born with the ability to use magic (fire, water, wind, earth, ice, nature, dark, light), but in Cosium most of the peasantry can use it to an extent as well due to the saturating influence of the kingdom's Cosmos Diamond. As children they can't avoid using it and need training to keep from harming themselves or others. Wands can bolster magic and give it focus, but are not necessary for the most part once a person learns full control.
Academic Magic: Elemental magic comes naturally to those who are born with it, but some things can only be learned through studying.
Alchemy - Using markings, usually in the Old Speech, that draw on ambient magic. Any physical objects imbued with magic must have writing on them in order to hold a spell.
Non-elemental - Healing, barriers, snares, hypnotism, long-distance communicating, magical contracts, etc. that have nothing specifically to do with Elements.
Potions - Mainly related to magic by association since many ingredients are enhanced magically, but technically anyone can become an expert with practice.