Chapter 28: Deductions
In an instant Edith reacted, flinging her wand forward at Sofia and her Papa, the two now hanging in the air above the execution platform. There was no time to plan, only react. Sofia pushed Birk away, both falling to the sides as Edith's searing blast of lightning shot between them. Sofia cried out as she fell, pointing her wand upward to the sky and shooting a massive red flare up to summon the rebels to her aide. There was no knowing if any help would come though, as Amalthea had been alerted to their presence. The princess collided with the cobblestone street, thankfully rolling to deflect most of the force of impact. She could see Birk had landed into a pile of Maldonian troops, knocking several shocked men to the ground.
The square erupted. Cloaks were shed by several of the peasants, revealing them as some but not all of the very rebels who had been accompanying Axel on the outskirts of town. Before Sofia could get her bearings, Edith was leapfrogging over a fallen soldier, wand at the ready and cracking with energy, a deranged look in her eyes. Sofia screamed, kicking outward to lurch backwards along the stones and dodge another blast from Edith. The witch stepped closer, swinging around for another shot and was pummeled by one of the wooden planks from the execution platform. The timber had been magically launched by none other than Lucinda, who'd heard the chaos erupt above and dove into action. Sofia was able to regain her footing before Edith had even collided with the ground. A hand was set upon her, and Lucinda helped steady the girl, their gaze meeting each other. Two against one, they finally had the advantage in magic, if not much else. Maldonian troops had begun attacking. With their superior weaponry things were looking grim.
"The plan?" Lucinda said hastily.
"We've got to stop her, then get everyone out of here."
Lucinda turned toward the direction Edith had landed. "Got it."
Edith screamed and stood, grabbing at her side in obvious pain. Sofia dodged to the side, as did Lucinda, the coming onslaught expected. Spells went flying, ricocheting off the walls. More than one Maldonian soldier was the unfortunate recipient of a misdirected hex. Sofia made the ground below Edith fold and roll, and while the witch was able to rappel the wall next to her the four Maldonian troops alongside her were unable to escape. Balance lost, they collided with each other, unconscious. All those spells Sofia had learned to prepare for the Hexley Hall tournament were finally coming in handy. There was a blast of a cannon, and a shop along the village square exploded, raining down wood and other things Sofia dared not dwell on alongside the freezing rain.
But Sofia's target remained elusive. Edith crawled in visible pain over a rooftop like a demonic lizard and beyond sight, the hint of sinister planning as she went. It was the same look she'd worn when trying to goad Cedric into fighting her in the gazebo. There was a plan behind those eyes. Afraid of what Edith was planning, Sofia pursued. Lucinda was right behind her, but then cried out. Halting to aide her friend, Sofia saw beyond Ludinda's path four Maldonian troops attacking a man in the telltale blue-mask. Lucinda charged, and poof! The four adult men were transfigured into rats, their weapons melted into water. Sofia could hear them squealing, a gruesome gift from her amulet, and as quickly as they transformed she lost sight of them in the crowded battle tumbling between them.
Another loud BOOM, and raining shrapnel fell everywhere. There were cries of pain amidst the descending rain. That cannon had to be stopped. Sofia jumped over something, perhaps a body but unwilling to dwell on it she landed on the slick stones beyond. Her footing lost, she slid a ways on her backside before popping upright near the wooden platform. Several Maldonian troops were on the other side, reloading it. Clutching her wand, she jumped on top of the execution block and "Vannisimo!" A blaze of brilliant white light connected with the cannon, disintegrating it. The growing battle turned on itself, and several Maldonian soldiers shrieked and ran backward, away from the village. Something was approaching from the side, and from the corner of her eye Sofia spotted her Papa. Thank the stars he was still okay.
He took her free hand in his, raising it triumphantly atop the stage, his deep voice booming a call to arms over the mêlée below.
"Children of Friezenburg! We shall win this day!"
There were cheers, and the general tussling below continued as several soldiers fled. Rebels began chanting, "We shall win the day!" in unison as the battle continued, rejuvenated fighting spirit in them. Sofia jerked her hand back, "No Papa, we need to flee! People are getting hurt, on both sides."
"Take out their weapons, then keep a look out for the witches from a distance, are we clear?"
"But Papa!"
"Are we clear Sofia? From a distance."
A man bellowed and Birk launched forward, picking up a discarded Maldonian sword. Sofia couldn't bear to keep watching her Papa and what he might do with that, and turned away. Lucinda was triumphantly picking off soldiers as if they were flies to be zapped, their transfigured forms scurrying away, while Axel with sword drawn defended her. Noticeably absent was Westin, and desperate to confirm her cousin was okay Sofia scanned the horror. A whizz passed through the air less than an inch from her ear. She briefly caught sight of a desperate Maldonian soldier being tackled by a man and woman freedom fighter, his misdirected sword landed several feet behind her.
A crackle of energy streaked through the rain, and three points of ominous green light buried themselves into the wooden platform around her, sending sinister rays upward. Trying to turn in the direction the beams came from, Sofia found herself unable to move. Frozen in place, Edith's high-pitched triumphant screaming from above began. She'd been immobilized. Unable to lift her wand or even call for help, Sofia was at the mercy of Cedric's sister.
There was a glow of purple light from around her neck, and a hole was blown in the wooden platform to the side of where she stood. The blast disrupted two of the ominous green lights, and the spell was broken. The Amulet of Avalor to the rescue, once more. It was supposed to protect the princess that wore it, after all.
Sofia fell through the remains of the stage, managing to protect her head and shoulders as she went. Glancing upward she caught a trace of Edith crashing down on top of her. The witch had plummeted from one of the rooftops expecting to end Sofia, but instead had been struck by the liberating blast.
The force of impact knocked Cedric's sister unconscious, and she laid there, vulnerable, weak, and injured.
Sofia felt the world go still and laid there, staring at this woman. Thoughts of how Edith desperately wanted to hurt Cedric, to steal from him everything he valued in life gripped her, how the woman wanted to help enslave these people just to advance her status in life, and how she wanted to deceive Rolland and kill the 'mystery mage' all welled up inside Sofia. This woman was evil, why couldn't she just disappear already. In fact, if Amalthea, Edith, and King Victor just stopped existing the war would end.
Just three deaths, and the people of Friezenburg would be free.
Did she just think that somehow people dying would solve everything? In that wretched moment, lying prone along the muddied wet cobblestone streets of Friezenburg in the near dark, Amalthea's words in the prison block not half an hour prior sprung forth. Perhaps she wasn't that dissimilar from that woman after all, and the thought terrified her.
Sudden images of the pain Cedric's parents would endure at Edith's death gripped her, and then everyone she'd ever known looking down upon her, reining condemnation. She could NEVER do it, or let anyone else do it either. The thoughts washed away with the rain pounding on her face just as quickly as they had come.
A deep breath, then two. Edith was effectively neutralized anyway.
Time started to lurch forward once more, and the crackle of energy from beyond followed by more screams. She was needed.
She couldn't go upward, a mass of splinters and unsteady wood broken from her fall were suspended above them, perilously close to collapsing. Instead she needed to go out. A quick "Vannisimo!" and several wooden planks from the side of the structure were gone. The mound of wood groaned, but didn't collapse upon her and Edith, and Sofia staggered out from beneath the platform.
Lightning cracked through the sleet, and the smell of singed flesh permeated the air.
Lucinda screamed, and Sofia found herself lying face down in the cobblestone street with a body on top of her. Frighteningly, the Amulet of Avalor had been knocked from her neck, and was now less than a foot from her head under the other person's body, but no longer was she within its protective grace.
Was she dead, and just didn't realize it yet? Disoriented, Sofia struggled against the object on top of her to see where the lightning came from when the weight began to groan. Able to crane her neck outward but nothing else she caught sight of an enraged Amalthea, running straight for her, knocking rebels to each side with a flick of her wand as if they were bowling pins, inert and ineffective. But the princess's wand was pinned under the weight of the man on top of her.
Unable to defend herself, nor was the amulet able to do so, her thoughts turned inward, for this might just be the moment of truth. A litany of bad decisions flickered across her eyes, and a sudden calmness washed over her, as if some primal instinct had risen up to soften the blow death would have upon her. The image of waking this morning in Cedric's arms covered her mind in kinder moments. The soft breathing, the gentle motion of his fingers across her skin, that goofy grin he'd been wearing lately. She let her eyes close, knowing what was going to come, and embraced the bittersweet memory.
She'd failed everyone.
The whirl of feathers streaking through the air, and Amalthea screamed. Sofia's eyes flung open and behold! The witch's wand had been shot from her hands, now bleeding, and pinned to the wall on the opposite side of the courtyard by a long brown arrow. Sofia craned her neck further and saw Carol of the Arrow standing on top of the rubble that once was a corner shop before the cannon blast. Alongside her in the descending sleet stood Jane, and several of the grown Merry Helpers. They'd come to help turn the tide of the war.
Amalthea turned toward her wand, but was stopped in her tracks by Lucinda, who hexed the clothes right off of her. Naked and without her wand or any other defense Amalthea collapsed to the stones beneath, flinging every curse word invented at Lucinda but otherwise immobilized.
Sofia was finally able to shift around and rummage underneath the man for the amulet, extracting it and looping the precious stone and intact chain back over her neck, safely hidden beneath her clothes before Amalthea could notice. Another pained groan came from the man on top of her, the brown hair flecked with grey was unmistakably her Papa. He had saved her life, but was gravely injured.
"NO! PAPA! PAPA!" Axel had come running, and was able to help gingerly lift him off of her. Scanning him over, his back had been burned, but it wasn't life threatening as most of the energy had missed him. "Sweet pea." Creaked out, his usually booming voice tamped down.
She cradled the head of her beloved father, this man who risked everything for her, in her arms while cold, wet clumps fell all about them. "Papa."
Amalthea just stared menacingly at the display, taking it in while a couple of the young rebels leered at her trying to chance a glance at her more private bits now covered with the woman's long and lustrous, if sopping wet, hair.
BOOM
It had landed not a foot from where Lucinda stood, the ground erupting in stone and dirt that mixed with the descending water, raining mud down on all within the blast radius.
Edith had awakened. Drat. Lucinda engaged her immediately, the witches dueling sent spells careening into tall walls of boulder stone and hardened wood, shattering glass and snapping timber, the rubble scattering everywhere. Carol's arrows were flying, axes were clanging, and Amaletha broke for her wand pinned to the wall. Sofia was casting a numbing spell on Birk, and caught sight of a very naked Amalthea prying her wand free from the wall on the opposite side of the courtyard. Birk turned to follow his daughter's gaze. "Run."
She turned to face him, "No! I can't leave you like this!"
"Just be safe. Please. You and your mother are my reason. My everything. Please run."
"NO!"
She let go, gingerly stepping out from under him. As she pulled away he looked so miserably alone, broken and lying wet in the forsaken streets of Mazida. Her mother was happy somewhere in Leidleville on Rolland's arm, and here he was broken, soaked, and in incredible pain.
He needed her. To win this war, to keep him from loneliness, he truly needed her.
Amalthea tugged and her wand was free. The woman did a little hop, her beautiful assets bounced a bit and she instantly conjured a plain coverall, then surveyed the situation and settled her sights on Sofia, who took up a defensive posture between the sorceress and her Papa. There was no way that woman, or anyone else was going to harm him. Wand raised, she stopped mid-chant when battle cries came up from the river. The sound of men rushing through the streets echoed off the stone buildings. These weren't the cries of trained soldiers, but energetic, unruly rebels. Reinforcements were arriving, and Amalthea was shrewd enough to realize that most of the Maldonian troops and weaponry were gone. She straightened, grimacing and shaking her head and crying out in pain.
"Just look at this horror you've wrought, son of Friezenburg. These deaths are on YOUR hands." With that the royal sorceress turned and fled, barking orders to the last of the Maldonian soldiers to retreat somewhere called Nurdiwan.
Several dozen rebels came streaming into the square some brief seconds after the Maldonian departure, led by Westin.
"Cousin we came as fast as we could! We weren't sure that was the signal from all the sleet so I sent a scout, and he had to come back to the river and tell us what was going on."
Sofia collapsed, taking up Birk into her arms once more and sobbing. The young man bent over, fearing the worst while gently stroking Sofia's hair to comfort the girl.
Birk groaned a bit, and the largest, "Oh" of relief escaped Westin. Choking back tears, Sofia looked up at her cousin.
Birk coughed, "Luci's still fighting."
A little explosion went off in the distance, and Westin was off with the eager rebel soldiers. Sofia tried to stand and Birk gripped her harder. "I have to help too! Edith is-"
"Intent on killing you. That is her goal. Lucinda's not her target."
"BUT-"
"NO. The sons of Friezenburg will aid her. We have to keep you safe." and with that command, Birk considered the matter ended.
Looking around, there were so many that needed her attempts at healing magic. Through the sleet Sofia worked tirelessly to heal the burn, but it would require Cedric's special elixirs, wand magic simply wasn't getting the job done for a burn this bad.
A feminine hand was gently set upon Sofia's shoulder, and then long thin but muscular arms reached around her slowly. "It will be alright."
Sofia saw a mass of brown curly hair, and distinctive feathered headpiece on the woman now hugging her.
"Carol! Thank you for saving me." Taken aback, the woman let Sofia nuzzle her matted and filthy blonde disguise into her neck.
"My lady, we should get the wounded to safety."
"Wait." Birk coughed out. He bade Sofia help him stand. The princess couldn't bare to dwell on the carnage her stupidity had caused. Amalthea was right, all this destruction because she couldn't navigate to the infernal river.
Birk stood as tall as he could, Sofia under one arm, Carol under the other. "Today, sons and daughter's of Friezenburg, begins our freedom!"
Those not in horrible pain erupted in cheers that spread throughout the city. People began steaming out of buildings into the streets, hugging, crying, and elated beyond measure. Dumbfounded, Sofia watched it all in amazement.
"Where did all these people come from?"
"They are the oppressed my lady, and you've set them free." Carol smiled down to her. The peasants began bundling the wounded up. Hugs, kisses and cheers ensued and such a joyous elation Sofia had never witnessed before.
Sofia turned to Carol. "You saved them, I didn't do much."
"I've heard all about you. You stopped the cannons, fought those witches, and freed the slaves. Without you the people would have lost. It's the best good deed I've ever seen." Carol was smiling widely, and it assuaged a little of the anguish inside her.
"Thanks Carol, it means a lot coming from you."
Confused, Carol quirked her mouth to the side. "Do I, know you? You seem very familiar."
Sofia exhaled, and melted her disguise away. Carol exclaimed and made to wrap her in a hug but couldn't do so without letting Birk fall over. Instead Jane bounded up and performed the act.
The battle was over, but the work had just begun. Several were injured, but Mazida was liberated.
…
It turned out that Mazida wasn't far from Birk's home village, and had been the last holdout of royal influence in the region. With the fall of Mazida the entire eastern half of Friezenburg was free.
"Free."
Was it worth it? Sofia couldn't help but repeat that word over and over as she did what little healing she could for the wounded. All were respectful, nearly reverent toward her, bowing their heads and pretending like their injures didn't hurt. She looked like one of them now, but word must have spread she was the 'mystery mage', as small children kept coming up and standing nervously in front of her until she smiled, then they'd bound off jubilantly toward their parents. At one point her cousins ran up alongside her with their grandmother, and a series of hugs ensued before she could resume healing people.
There were dozens of wounded, and with crowds of peasants arriving continuously, Birk's small village was bursting at the seams. Thankfully the sleet had relented, allowing the excess to be treated outdoors in makeshift tents of tattered cloth hewn together from discarded sheets, but Sofia couldn't shake the extreme internal confliction at seeing exuberant celebratory ruckus alongside the wounded.
Tension started to come from the far end of the tents, and bidding goodbye to the grateful young man who she'd been healing Sofia wandered over to where her Papa was seated uncomfortably. An elderly man clearly agitated stood before him with two young men, one short and broad-shouldered, the other a bit tall and lanky, flanking the elder.
"You and your ruffian lot are never to set foot in my village again, you miscreant." The elderly man was clearly upset at the damage inflicted on Mazida.
"To you I say this, your village can decide who enters and who does not. It is your right. But Mazida's people must decide. Titles bequeathed by a king who would enslave his people mean nothing to me."
The old man growled and stomped his foot. Struck by the finely detailed leather work of his shoes, Sofia cocked her head to the side. Almost all peasants she had encountered were clad in worn cloths, rotund but by no means healthy looking. This man, and the young men beside him, seemed to have fine clothes worthy of Enchancian peasants, and the well-nourished features of them as well. Perhaps being a village elder had its advantages.
The old man raised a fist. "I'll tell you, you fishmonger, I speak for Mazida!"
Birk sat upright, clearly in pain. Perhaps more than the burn on his back had been inflicted on her Papa during the battle. "Do you?" The resolute leader of the resistance looked around, and the peasantry, once jubilant at being liberated from the Maldonian troops now looked menacingly at the elder and flanking men. The elder man finally turned enough that Sofia could see his face, and he was frightened. Despite the words, there was no confidence there, and Birk was exuding that particular emotion. The young men were nervous as well while Birk spoke, "Or are you simply trying to maintain your comfortable lifestyle while shipping off some of your people to be slaves."
The gathering crowd erupted in angry chants. Several children, the very same who'd stared up at her in awe, were now tossing small stones at the men. Cowering, the younger men began protecting the elder when Sofia charged forward.
"STOP!" she cried, and instantly the crowd fell silent. Birk moved slowly, his body seemed to creak as he stood upright under his own power and boomed forth commands that sounded similar to Rolland's royal proclamations to the assembled crowds.
"My daughter is right. We are all Sons of Friezenburg, and there has been enough bloodshed today." Taking advantage of the pause, the lanky young man bent down to check over the elder. The tall man had suffered a stone to the forehead and was cut, but was far more concerned with protecting the frail instigator of this ruckus, affectionately addressing the elderly man.
"You okay Papa?"
Realizing why the young man was so concerned with the health of the elder, Sofia let out a little gasp and ran over, wand in hand. Instantly the two young men formed a blockade in front of the elder, while Sofia stopped and put her hands down. "Don't worry, I just want to heal your forehead."
The shorter, studier man looked over at the tall one, and was immediately concerned, as his cut had begun to bleed quite severely.
Three seconds and Sofia planted herself in front of the injured young man, streaming healing magic until the wound closed. While she did it the assembled peasants looked on, at first confused, then with that same reverence that was beginning to unnerve Sofia so.
"Look momma, he's been blessed by our savior. I thought he was a bad guy." A little girl, perhaps no older than four, stood arm outstretched and pointing directly at Sofia.
Embarrassed, Sofia began to correct the girl, "Oh no, I'm no savior, I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
The princess turned back to the young man, smiling together with him while leaning in to examine the healed area. It seemed an almost intimate moment, absurdly, since at least three-dozen pairs of eyes were staring at them. "Please try to think about the people who were taken, everyone should be free to live their life as they see fit."
In this young man's eyes lay a certain admiration, perhaps even a soft blush of shyness crossed his face before being yanked unceremoniously away by the elder. All three of them were off toward the direction of Mazida, Sofia and Birk staring after them as they departed.
"Papa, I'm not a 'savior'."
A heavy hand was set upon her shoulder. "Indeed you are, sweet pea. You set us free, and you've saved my life from the executioner's block twice now. You stopped those cannons, and the witches. Without you, I'd never be free. These people, our people, would never have been free." She turned to face up at him, a swirling sea of confliction thrashing in the pit of her stomach.
"But so many people were hurt, maybe…" Her gaze trailed off to the outline of the elder and his sons disappearing over the hillside. "Maybe Amalthea was right."
"She isn't." Birk stated resolutely.
"But.."
"Look". Birk gestured forward, and the young man Sofia had healed was looking back at them over the ridge before disappearing. "You've changed that man's heart, and many others." Taking her firmly but slowly by the shoulders he turned her torso to face him straight on. "It will still take time, but you Sofia are a symbol that we can win this. We are all suspended between our darkest fears and dearest hopes, but one must always look toward the light, the promise of tomorrow."
Raising his voice up, he cheered, "And we shall win the day!"
A chorus erupted, and over the hillside the same chant echoed back. Westin had found Lucinda, the witch beaming triumphantly and skipping along with Axel shaking his head in adoration of her spirit. Sprinting up to them, Sofia wrapped her arms around her taller, thinner friend.
"I was SO worried!"
"Is this a thing we're going to do now Sofia? We say that every time we see each other."
All smiles, Sofia practically giggled she was so happy Edith hadn't harmed her. "Well we are kind of fighting a war. Seems appropriate." To that Lucinda smiled. "I wanted to go after you to help, but Birk said 'NO'." Sofia shifted her voice down a few octaves to mimic her Papa, and Lucinda laughed.
"Yep, that's Birk. But I'm glad you didn't. Once Edith figured out you weren't coming she turned tail and ran. She wasn't after me anyway."
Sofia let her arms go flaccid, falling a few inches down. "Yeah. She's out for MY blood."
Axel put his arms around both girls. "I'm just glad you're both okay."
A little devious glint, and Lucinda was stroking a finger along his jaw line, "Come here and show me how worried you were."
Sofia ducked her head out of that one, flushing with embarrassment while Westin whipped the triumphant rebels and peasantry into a celebratory frenzy. "Come on everyone! We've WON!"
Merriment ensued. Food and spirits appeared, seemingly from thin air as happy women bounced around and children sang. The late afternoon sun had begun to streak through the clouds, bringing rays of sunshine along to match the joyous ruckus spreading about, and somehow the quiet, miserable town she'd come to when returning Birk home didn't seem so dismal after all.
"Hi sweet pea, I wanted to give this back to you, before I forgot." Being in no position to frolic, he sat down uncomfortably, and produced from his pocket the glowing yellow stone Westin had lent her.
"Oh, thanks."
"What is it child?" his concern raining down on her.
"I was just thinking." He was obviously not going anywhere, so she continued, "You said I was your reason to live, and I guess I was overwhelmed."
A sturdy arm hugged her tightly. "You are Sofia. Sure, I want my people to be free and happy, but each man fights to protect something. You are my thing to protect."
"Oh." She leaned her head against him.
"Sweet pea, I didn't get the chance to ask if you were hurt in any of that."
"No, I'm alright, but what about you? You've been limping. Did the numbing spell wear off for your burn?"
"I will be fine, but you're not alright. I can see you're upset."
She let out a deep sigh, "I know you said we were right, but I can't help thinking about what Amalthea said. What if we lose, then the only thing that happened was that people died."
"We will not loose, because righteousness is on our side."
"But—"
"There is more to this fight than weapons Sofia." Birk exhaled as Sofia lingered on his meaning. "There are battles across the fields, but also in our minds. Maldonia's Royal Sorceress, Amalthea was it?" Sofia nodded, "Amalthea is waging a silent war, one that undermines us from within. It aims to destroy our resolve, and question our motives, so that she can take advantage of it and defeat us."
"But Papa I don't think she was lying when you spoke to her."
Birk turned to face her, "Then tell me why you think that."
A deep exhale, and Sofia began to relay everything she'd learned about the woman. How she was originally from Friezenburg, how she'd had two husbands, one probably from Friezenburg and the other one Maldonia's royal sorcerer, and they had both died, how she kept insisting she was speaking for the dead and acting in Friezenburg's best interest, how she claimed responsibility for starting the first war, and how she'd spent 15 years destroying something called Autunite, and her apathy toward Cecelia. Birk just sat there, taking it in. After a long pause he raised his hand to his chin, and began stroking it, taking in the information as if it were bitter medicine to swallow.
"Why are you so upset Papa?"
"Because Sofia, it's not just the Sons of Friezenburg who suffer, and that is a serious problem."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not a question of sneaking in at night. The stolen women won't be collected in groups like the men were in the mines. They'll be in Maldonian houses, and rearing Maldonian children." He paused and looked out at the party ensuing around them. "Some may not wish to come home, having accepted their new lives as this Amalthea has done."
"I guess they'll have to make the decision, but they should be given the choice, right?" Sofia said, having already come to this conclusion, and Birk smiled down at her.
"Yes, but we will have to facilitate that, which means this doesn't end when Friezenburg is liberated from King Aaron."
Maldonia, and King Victor loomed large. "Amalthea did say Maldonia and this Autunite was the 'root' of the problem."
A quick snort, and Birk responded, "She did."
"Do you know what Autunite is Papa?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't. The only thing I knew about Maldonia's royal sorceress is that she would show up periodically to escort shipments of the stones we mined. That, and she mediated our silent protest a few years back during a particularly cold winter. She was fair-minded, but not an ally of the prisoners." Sofia reached into her pocket, rolling the stone around in it against her lap as she pondered what Amalthea was doing escorting stone shipments. Was this stone that Birk had ripped from the wall of the prison the autunite Amalthea spoke of? Maybe Amalthea used the stones to destroy the Autunite? Or it could be refined into something else entirely. There was so many possibilities, and she had no idea of their correctness.
Birk disrupted her train of thought. "But the bit about that sorceress starting the war is troublesome to me."
"In what way Papa?"
"Well, the last war started when King Aaron ascended the throne. He immediately cut trade ties with Maldonia, and then notices went out to every village that an army was being raised." Birk stopped staring at the ground, turning to his daughter, "But before anything could be done Maldonia attacked."
Frustrated, Sofia kicked the ground below her. "Axel said something similar, but it just doesn't make sense, unless…"
Her body went cold, as shivers ran down her spine. The realization made her feel like she was about to vomit.
"Sweet pea, what happened?" Overtly concerned, Birk was keeping her upright.
"Unless the something Amalthea did IS the reason King Aaron ascended the throne. Do you know what happened?"
Ascensions typically happened for exactly one reason, and one reason alone. It was however reasonable to assume Birk wasn't an expert on royal succession practices. He did however offer up the only specific knowledge he had of the situation long ago. "Before King Aaron his father, King Ferdinand ruled. The old king was studious, a bit distant toward the people, and kept to himself much. He died at a meeting of many nations, actually it was held in Enchancia. I remember it was quite sudden and unexpected, and the elder King Rolland was swept up into the war because of it."
"Were there royal sorcerers at this conference Papa?"
"I don't know, but you would know if it's common practice for royal sorcerers to attend such things, not I."
In fact it WAS common practice, but Cedric, being the slightly anti-social person he was, didn't typically participate in such things unless ordered to do so.
"It is."
Birk grew solemn. "Then I suppose Amalthea may have very well started this war, just as she stated, by dispatching King Ferdinand."
Sofia stared off into space, not looking at anything in particular while Birk stroked her hair and back to comfort the girl, which worked well. In the distance Westin was alternating between hugging his father and bounding around, serving as the life of the party, hugging happy couples and playing with children. Everyone seemed happy, she should try to be as well. After all, these horrible events happened long ago.
A sudden movement in her peripheral vision caught her eye, an unfortunate glimpse of Lucinda and Axel participating in some heavy petting on the far side of a few trees. The two were insularly involved, thinking they were hidden from view. Sofia pretended not to notice Axel's hands were trailing a bit lower than one could ever deem proper and turning up Lucinda's skirt.
Sofia let out a little 'eep' when thigh was exposed and turned away. Birk glanced off toward the tree, and turned back smiling and chuckling a bit. "Ah, youth. I will speak with him later, once they are done, as his father is unworthy on several fronts."
Speak to him? What could Birk possibly want to say…Oh NO, not that, anything but that. Sofia flinched. "Maybe we should just leave them alone."
"No Sofia, they need to be married soon, before children come. Instructions must be given, he must ask her family. It is tradition."
CHILDREN! Oh by the stars this was getting awkward. "Papa don't, please just don't. It's not our business." Sofia emitted that strange nervous laughter she'd learned through hundreds of royal functions. The kind that served as a cue in certain rings of society that a conversation was best left unspoken. Birk just stared at her, an inescapable realness in his demeanor intolerant of intentional diversions that permeated high society.
"Our traditions aren't funny Sofia, they are necessary to maintain the dignity of the women. Why are you laughing?"
The nervous laughter stopped immediately. "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to belittle anything Papa, it's just not something we discuss much in Enchancia. Don't you remember?"
"I, did not fit well in Enchancia Sofia." Birk was staring down at his lap, hands folded across. "However it was worth it for your mother's happiness. This harsh land was no place for her."
"Oh." Sofia placed a hand upon him and smiled. She hadn't understood any of that from her childhood, having been so young when he disappeared.
Birk took a long breath inward, "Regardless, if Axel and Lucinda are to fight alongside us they should respect our traditions and be wed before her belly grows."
Sofia spit out the air she'd inhaled violently. "Belly grows?! PAPA DON'T"." It was mortifying.
"Sofia, didn't your mother instruct you in what happens?" He began shifting in his seat, "I see. Well Sofia, when a man and a woman love each other very much-"
AAHH! Not this, anything but this. "No really please I—" Her hands flung up to his face to stop this awkwardness, to no avail. He batted her hands down.
"You should know these things sweet pea, as you're well past the age of choosing a husband and it's better not to be surprised. So then, the man begins by…"
"NO Papa! EEP!" Sofia flung her hands over her ears. This was utterly embarrassing, on several fronts. What if Lucinda was listening to all this? They could hear the moaning after all.
Birk shifted, staring at the scraggy branches above them. "The most important thing is to communicate what you want, go slowly, and—"
"This isn't happening. This is NOT happening." Sofia dropped her head down into her lap, still clasping her ears. That finally seemed to work, as the only sound was the celebration in the distance. Finally she retracted a hand, and saw him staring at her.
"Forgive me. I wished with all my heart to help guide you, and I sometimes would spend hours thinking of your happy future with someone special, so I guess I got carried away." He turned to face outward. "I suppose you truly aren't ready for this, despite your age."
To that she sat back upright, retracting her hands and letting them fall to her sides, "Why would you say that? Everyone seems to think I am old enough to be involved with someone."
"Well, you wouldn't be embarrassed if you were ready, you'd be curious and appreciate the knowledge. I know I was."
It wasn't the knowledge; so much as it was coming from her father, a man she'd just reconnected with after fifteen years of estrangement. "Oh papa NO, it's just, I guess that in Enchancia there is a certain modesty about these things, and I just wasn't expecting to, um, discuss the way I feel about, um, other people."
"Oh." Birk's eyes went wide. "OH. Sofia, do young women catch your eye instead of men?"
"Wait, what?" He'd taken her hand, the gentle smile of acceptance across his face. That was nice, if misplaced.
"Sofia I want you to feel safe and secure telling me these things, whenever you wish it, and it makes me so proud that you're brave enough to realize your attractions and communicate them with me."
Sofia stood and squealed, "NO papa! I like boys, well men, well a specific man, but NO, just…. No." AAGHHH why was this happening?
Suddenly Birk was the one embarrassed, and pulled his hands into his lap, occasionally glancing upward at her.
"My apologies for assuming such things, but did you say 'man'? If this is the case Sofia, then perhaps I should meet him, that is if you're seriously considering this man as a husband, assuming your mother has not already done so. I don't wish to overrule her judgment, in any way."
The princess practically started jumping, fists clenched and heels pounding into the dirt. "NO! NO! I…" Her shoulders slumped as she said it, and the energy of earlier passed out of her as water flows from a cracked glass. "He doesn't like me that way, and besides, Mom does know him."
His strong hand took one of hers, unfurled her fingers, and lifted them to his face sincerely. "I'm sorry, sweet pea. Love is complicated, but I'm sure that you will find your special someone, soon." He chanced a small belly laugh, "Perhaps that young man from Mazida is your destiny. He seemed keen on you, and will be a fine Son of Friezenburg once his father comes around."
"Thanks Papa, but I'm not really looking, I think." Even though he had been somewhat tall, and thin, and was particularly easy on the eyes. Wait, where was this going?
A rather loud and distinctly female moaning sound came from the bushes, and Sofia covered her face to not have to look at her Papa while listening to such a thing.
Birk smiled. "Well that settles it. There should be no question of why Axel must be spoken to."
Sofia stood to leave and give her friend privacy, but Birk pulled her back. All she wanted to escape this horribly uncomfortable discussion, but no. Fate was unkind.
"It's natural and beautiful Sofia, but must be done responsibly. I remember when your mother…" He stopped looking down at his legs. "I better not discuss that, huh? That would be embarrassing."
Was he finally getting the message?
"Yes, it would, so PLEASE don't. I know you loved Mom and I ended up here, that's enough detail."
"I guess it is, until a man of mutual attraction presents himself to you. Sofia I will always love your mother, and maybe when I'm…" again he paused.
"When you what Papa?"
He smiled brightly, a certain determination solidifying in his wrinkled features. "Nevermind. One day at a time, and today we were victorious. This is the first time we have won against the witches in a battle, and it's all because of you and your friends, and there is to be no more copies sent in your stead, are we clear." A finger was wagging in her face most reproachfully. "It confuses the people, and they trust the copy as if it was you. It almost led to our doom, so never again Sofia. Never again."
Disbelief struck the princess, "Was she really that bad?"
"She couldn't cast a single spell Sofia."
"Wait, no. That's not possible."
"It was what happened. She spoke eloquently, whipped the men up into a frenzy, goading them onward when it was too dangerous, and then could not conjure a spell, no matter how many times she tried it. She was incapable of performing magic."
Sofia sprang to her feet, "But my copy said she was performing magic with Mr. Cedric in his tower! He even stated that she had 'magic fingers'!" Birk's eyebrows furrowed strangely at the reference, "What?"
"It's just, perhaps that means something different to sorcerers than us common folk." Completely confused, Sofia was cut off abruptly from inquiring further as to what alternate meanings 'magic fingers' could have. "Anyway, I don't know what to tell you sweet pea, but she was ineffectual at using magic."
"Maybe she was just nervous, she was a wreck when she came back to Enchancia."
Birk grew hard. "So your copy is the one who informed you. She is never to come back here Sofia. On this I am very serious."
What had Cedric been referring too if Scarlett wasn't able to conjure a spell. It just didn't make sense. She must have been nervous during the battle, perhaps she wasn't a perfect copy after all. Sudden worry gripped her, as that same copy was now traipsing all over Leidleville and Enchancia, doing untold damage. That needed fixing, as soon as possible.
There was another moan, this time from a man's voice. Birk finally let her escape while wandering his way toward Sal. Hands flung over her ears Sofia scurried off toward the party, grabbing Westin and shouting above the deafening celebrations. "We need to get back to Enchancia."
"WHAT?"
"I SAID WE NEED TO GET BACK TO ENCHANCIA. MY COPY MIGHT BE WREAKING HAVOC."
"WHAT?"
Sofia rolled her eyes, then motioned as if they were flying away.
"OH."
After about ten minutes the witch emerged from the tree line, readjusting her robes. Standing there Sofia felt heat splotching her face while Westin wore a silly grin. Lucinda had the largest smile, playing innocent, "Lovely evening, isn't it?"
"Don't you lovely evening me. That was so embarrassing!"
"Oh Sofia, relax."
"We'd better get out of here quick before my Papa comes back over and gives Axel an earful about what was happening behind that tree." Sofia was glancing around, looking for the man.
The witch went sheet white. "Oh."
"Yes oh. He was worried about your belly growing. Do you have any idea how awkward that whole conversation was?"
"Wait Sofia, we didn't… you know. Do that, exactly." Lucinda was digging the toe of her shoe into the ground, twisting is shyly and grinning wildly.
"Oh I don't need to know what you did or didn't do, we just need to get back to Enchancia before my copy does more damage."
Axel emerged readjusting his jacket, tucking the shirt underneath into his belt as if his pants had been repositioned, and Sofia thought her face might explode in embarrassment as Axel noticed both her and her cousin there, staring at him.
Lucinda cringed, "Uh, I think we weren't quiet enough."
Axel coughed, "Really? Everyone is singing loudly and… OH. Oops." He imploded inward, then rubbed his hand over his face to distance himself from the conversation.
Axel, being as gentlemanly as he could under the circumstances, offered to escort them all back to Enchancia. Sofia rode with Westin, Lucinda upon Axel's horse and clutching the prince's chest rather intimately. Her cousin leaned in, "Oh stop glaring cousin. Those two are smitten, it's wonderful." Westin shifted, laying his head on Sofia's shoulder. "Oh, if only Cedric would forgive me for what happened earlier. I'd love to make him moan like that. Maybe if I do something really nice for him I'll get another chance."
The rest of the ride was a blur. Westin's words banging off the walls of her cranium, cutting paths through her consciousness and emotions. Vivid imaginings of Westin having his way with Cedric refused banishment, and she started babbling incoherently about the autumnal colors in the trees farther south and the courses of rivers shifting from rain, anything to switch topics. Suddenly Westin had the self-described 'inspired' idea to stop by a magical dispensary to ingratiate himself to Cedric, after all, Sofia had mentioned the man liked magical gifts. Punching herself internally, Sofia detoured toward Old Caldoun and Cedric's favorite charmacy, taking Cedric's wand back from Lucinda and watching as the two lovers rode off into the distance.
Westin took forever and a day to pick magical trinkets. Being situated relatively close to Enchancia, Old Caldoun wasn't a long detour, but the princess was anxious to dissolve her copy, and so paced behind her excited cousin while the shop owner laughed. "Back so soon? Did Cedric forget something?"
Perplexed, Sofia just stared at the man while Westin agonized over a vial of liquid snowflakes or an ever-blooming begonia. "It's been a long time since I came here with Mr. Cedric."
The man just shook his head, "Funny girl. To think you're trying to convince me I'm loosing my mind, an old man like me. For shame." She shook her head earnestly but the man continued, "I know for certain you and that royal sorcerer were here not an hour ago, giggling like school children. He clipped my ash tree with that strange flying machine as you left, and look, I have the receipt right here."
The man produced a sheet of parchment, and indeed it was a laundry list of things Cedric used for common potion requests. The tree outside had the telltale broken branches of a traditional Cedric launch as well. "Oh sorry, I guess we needed something else."
"Well let me know if you need any help. He's our best customer."
"Uh, Thanks."
Westin finally settled on buying both items and stood there, grinning wildly that he was going to patch things up and seduce Cedric, somehow. Insecurity gripped her, and looking over the gifts, they were nice but ordinary, and Cedric had a flare for the exotic, rare and more importantly thoughtful. A jar of sparkling diamond dust caught her eye, an ingredient he was constitutively low on. Gesturing toward it, the shop keep was more than happy to oblige her, it being one of the more expensive items. He put it on the royal tab, and Sofia wandered out feeling guilty she wanted to impress Cedric more than Westin would, as if somehow she could keep all of his attentions when clearly she was going to loose this battle. Westin smiled as she emerged.
"So what took you so long? I thought you weren't going to buy anything."
"I… wasn't, but then I remembered Mr. Cedric is always out of Diamond dust, so I just thought…"
Westin smiled brightly and exclaimed, "Oh! You're so wonderful Sofia!" An outstretched hand was set before her, Westin eagerly awaiting the ingredient's handoff.
"But I…"
"You did get it to help me win over Cedric, right?" Westin's smile had begun to fade.
What could she say? She felt horribly possessive of the sorcerer and was worried to her core that Westin would snatch him away forever. "Uh, sure. Here." Relenting, she handed over the vial, her chance lost as Westin shimmied happily.
They were back to the castle before sunset, Sofia taking great care not to be seen so as to not be caught playing the doppleganger card while reconjuring Westin's disguise. She'd snuck back to her room and almost had the door closed when long thin digits stuck themselves into her door jam.
"SOFIA! Watch it! You almost pinched my fingers."
"Sorry Amber." At least the girl seemed upbeat, but considering she'd been at her lover's funeral earlier it was a little, unexpected.
"Well I'm fine, so it's okay. Wherever have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!" Amber was standing there, exuberant and brushed past Sofia, letting herself in without invitation. The brunette princess cringed, but was pleasantly surprised that there was no copy occupying the room. She must be up in Cedric's workshop.
"I was, at the Charmacy in Old Caldoun for a bit." It was technically true. Sort of.
"Sofia you spend too much time with Cedric, especially after that lovely afternoon stroll you had with Hugo."
WHAT. Sofia's eye began to twitch. Apparently her copy had been all too forgiving of Hugo, but then Cedric was described as 'giggling like a school child', so perhaps a riot hadn't broken out. "Oh Amber, you know I'm not interested in Hugo."
"Oh Sofia, you don't have to pretend with me. Everyone saw you."
Her head craned to the side, "What do you mean, everyone saw me? What do you think I did?"
"Really Sofia, you're going to play coy with me. I thought sisters told each other everything." Sofia almost snorted; it had been a long time since she trusted Amber with information, a very long time. But then this copy business was getting distressing.
"Seriously Amber, what did you see?"
"Only that you snuck Hugo out to the rocky beach below Leidleville's castle, and were locking lips with him like there was no tomorrow."
Amber was just staring at her, and who would blame the woman? Sofia's mouth hung open as if the jaw had become unhinged. What was her copy thinking? She was supposed to be a stand-in, not muddle up Sofia's relationships. Oh NO, now Hugo would think they were a real couple. Sofia groaned and flopped on the bed, lamenting this woe. Still, it was better than her Papa and Lucinda dying in Friezenburg.
"What's the matter Sofia? You seemed positively happy about it on the coach ride home. In fact, I thought you'd finally come to realize it would be marvelous to be a princess of Maldonia." The words stuck to her like peanut butter on the tongue. A princess of Maldonia…why would she want that? More specifically why would Scarlett want that… "Anyway, Hugo's been looking for you everywhere but I need your help first. I want to have the most spectacular outfit designed for my coronation and I want you to come see the possibilities."
Information was shedding off the blonde princess in record time, making Sofia's head spin. "Wait a minute. What do you mean coronation? Just what's going on Amber?"
The girl paused her backward bolt toward her room, and looked perplexed. "You're kidding? This isn't your normal humor Sofia."
James.
"OH NO! What happened to James!" a hyperventilating Sofia cried. Why else would Amber be inheriting the throne?
"Whatever is the matter with you? James is fine, well he's a bit stand-offish lately but why are you worried about him?"
The girls stood there, staring at each other. She couldn't tell Amber where she'd been all day, could she? The girl was horrible at secrets, practically the gossip champion at Royal Prep if not for Hildegard.
Hildegard….
Before Sofia could formulate a response Amber relaxed and walked up, "You really are clever Sofia, but maybe you've had a long day after what happened." The taller, thin girl set a hand on her shoulder, and looked over toward her bed. "Maybe you should lie down, Daddy did say he was worried about you 'overdoing it'."
Ugh, this again. She was FINE, but it was a good excuse to get Amber to leave. "Maybe you're right."
"I always am" Amber beamed. Sofia sat upon the soft mattress as Amber swayed out of the room.
"I'll be back once you're feeling better, after all, it was your idea to have me assume Desmond's throne anyway, you've just got to come see what I'm planning. Later."
The door clicked shut, and Sofia was left stunned on the edge of the bed. Amber was going to inherit Leidleville? It was true that Desmond had no siblings, and his parents were extremely old, but… How could she do that? She'd be living her life in effigy to the slain prince. Not a happy fate, even if it brought temporary comfort to the grieving girl.
Sofia flopped backward onto her bed in disbelief her copy could wreak so much havoc in such a short time. So now she was dating Hugo, somehow Cedric wasn't furious about it, and Amber was inheriting Leidleville, all in one afternoon. More defects were starting to emerge in this Scarlett copy, and they weren't particularly endearing. She needed to stop relying on the girl, but the war… It was clear her help was needed to protect the people, but she couldn't just abandon her family and obligations here either, especially Cedric. Caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, the copy had proved essential to maintaining the ruse, but a creeping suspicion began to grow in Sofia's mind that the girl wasn't being completely honest with her, as the 'magical' evening her copy had shared with Cedric haunted her mind.
Scarlett was hiding something, but why?