The MirrorMasters (19 page)

Prime Minister Roland chuckled, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Great work finding and retrieving the crystal, I must say. I'll go smooth things over with the museum. While I'm out, the three of you might want to freshen up from your journey and get ready for the evening feast. Caleb can show you to your rooms."

Caleb, who had reached the grand foyer shortly after Prime Minister Roland, frowned at the three teens. "I thought we were attempting to keep things discreet." Unlike the prime minister, Caleb was apparently not amused by our exploits.

"Dad, lay off. Please. It just happened. Leah approached the crystal, and it came to her." Brian scowled and crossed his arms, put off by his dad's attitude.

"High Lord Drake, we did well keeping things quiet for this long," King Korin said in an effort to ease tensions. "Even if the public now knows of First Daughter Leandra's return and the truth about the legendary crystals, it doesn't matter. They won't have the information or means to stop us."

Caleb arched an eyebrow, still not mollified. He swept up the steps, only glancing back once to see if we were following him. We were.

W
hen I entered
my bedroom suite, I thought I had stepped into a fantasy. Added to the main bedroom itself, which could hold all of the top floor of the home I'd grown up in, was a cozy sitting room area with high cathedral ceilings and a ceiling fan. Straight across from the bedroom door stood a wall of clear crystal, with french doors leading out onto a balcony overlooking the high cliffs and the ocean below. The room was decorated for a teenager or young adult. My parents must have updated the room as I aged to keep it ready for my return. Still, some of my early childhood toys remained in the sitting room. A well-worn stuffed bird and a soft cloth doll sat in the center of the sofa, as though waiting for me. I rushed over to them.

"Annalyn and Elbie! I remember you!" Laughing, I scooped them up and hugged them to me. Other childhood memories tickled my thoughts, close enough to touch if I wanted, and I collapsed onto the sofa, inhaling the scent of my well-loved toys.

A chuckle sounded from the bedroom doorway. "You loved those two more than anything, so I saved them for you," First Lady Rhianna said, coming into the room and sitting down beside me.

An image flashed in my mind of standing near the cliffs, and suddenly I was scooped up into my father's arms. Startled, I had lost my grip on Elbie, and it slipped from my fingers. Inspecting the bird, I noticed a chip in his beak he'd acquired during that fall. "Oh, yeah! I remember dropping him over the cliffs once and thinking I'd lost Elbie forever, but then he came back up somehow…"

The first lady laughed, a light, musical sound. "Brian was there with us, and he showed you how to use your magic to move Elbie back up the cliffs and into your arms. You two worked together to make it happen. As soon as you had Elbie again, you gave him to Brian for what he'd done to help. He left it here for your return."

A surge of affection for Brian welled within me. "When I met him, it sort of felt like we'd known each other all our lives. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that we actually did know each other when we were little." I chuckled.

First Lady Rhianna reached out and gently took my hand. With a small, wistful smile, she said, "You love him, don't you? I can see it in your eyes whenever you look at him, and when you talk about him."

My mood sobered at the statement. "He hurt me."

She narrowed her eyes, and I could practically feel the protectiveness and anger radiating off of her. "What did he do?" When I explained what had happened just after our return to Jantyr, her emerald eyes widened. I suspected that she understood something more than I possibly could at the moment. "Things are not always quite what they seem, my darling. Given Brian's reaction earlier when we were discussing what this quest will lead to for you, he in particular wanted to spare you from that."

I sighed. "Yeah, he did say things were complicated here — though I wish someone would explain it instead of hinting at it."

"You always were curious, wanting to know everything." First Lady Rhianna smiled. "One day, perhaps, but it's so much more than you should have to think about while dealing with the disasters. Still, I'm going to kill him for what he did."

We shared a laugh at that. Reluctant to let the topic go, I nodded again. "I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am." First Lady Rhianna gave a cheeky grin and stood, pulling me up with her. "Now, I do believe some of my gowns from when I was your age will fit you. I've left them in your closet. Shall we pick out something for you to wear tonight?"

We selected an emerald ballgown with a bustled train and delicate crystal beading.

D
escending
the grand staircase to the ball on the arm of Korin, I prayed not to completely humiliate myself by tripping and falling in front of everyone. Though I wished Brian could have escorted me, I couldn't fight the custom of Astoria. It would have been scandal for anyone but Korin to accompany me to the ball, as he was widely known to be my betrothed.

The ball itself was a blur of meeting interesting new people, engaging in friendly chatter, and getting to know the people of Astoria. Most of them, it seemed, put no stock in the disasters as world-ending, and in fact the conversation seemed to focus more on politics, history, and the sciences. Everyone seemed eager to get to know me as well, and I fielded a thousand questions about where I had been and what my life had been like. All the attention made me slightly uncomfortable, but it helped to have Korin and Brian around. Soft music played, providing ambiance without disrupting the pleasant chatter.

"The extremes in weather are certainly fitting our latest models, especially if you go back about fifteen years to when this all began," a young meteorologist sitting across from me was saying. "Old prophecies and magic aren't necessary to predict any of it. Hard science explains it all, including the periodic cycles the planet goes through."

"Yes, every 10,000 years or so seems to be the time of a change in global climate," observed the young woman sitting next to him. "We appear to be entering into that period now."

"It's getting into full swing in the past few years. But don't you think it's interesting how the 10,000 year cycle fits with the times of renewal described in ancient legends? The archaeological evidence shows quite odd shifts in the evolution of plant and animal life at those times. Sudden, rapid changes you don't find at all between the cycles," observed a more open-minded scientist.

I listened to the conversation with interest, remaining quiet. So many here could only speculate, but my group knew the truth. Brian and I exchanged a glance, each of us smiling secretively.

After an elegant meal of fish and poultry, some sort of delicate vegetables with a spicy taste, and fresh baked breads — all artfully presented — Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna stood, as did Caleb beside them. The crowd hushed, and all the guests watched, expectant. Caleb formed an iridescent energy ball which slowly rose in the air. It peaked high over the center of the table and then burst into a shower of colorful fireworks. My face lit up in a bright smile at this brilliant display, and I clapped along with the crowd. When I tore my gaze away once the sparks had faded, I noticed some smirks and whispers.

Korin glared at the offenders, but hastened to whisper to me before anyone could notice his reaction, "It was the customary duty of the King and Queen to begin an evening's entertainment," he whispered in my ear. "Some view it as a scandal for a royal couple to lack magic and therefore be unable to complete certain basic tasks, particularly when it must be done by the chief advisor."

My cheeks flushed in anger, and I, too, found myself glaring at the ones who were displaying obvious snobbery. "It's a shame some people are so close-minded and bigoted," I whispered back. "I'm sure Mom and Dad have done a wonderful job, yet those people can't see it, or think it isn't as important as some tradition that says the rulers have to have magic?" Shaking my head and sighing, I so wished I could give those people a piece of my mind. Unfortunately, it would do more harm than good if I did.

My father knew exactly how to handle the situation. "Thank you, Caleb, for the wonderful display. And welcome, one and all, to this joyous feast celebrating the return of our long-lost daughter, First Daughter Leandra."

More clapping ensued, even from among the snobs. I couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at this, but I knew they must be pleased that I, at least, had magic. Forcing a gracious smile, I rose along with King Korin. My plastic smile became genuine as I glanced around the grand hall and saw an outpouring of joy at my return.

Since everyone seemed to expect me to say something, I replied, "Thank you all. It is wonderful to be...home." Overcome, I hugged my parents, and we all sat down as First Lady Rhianna invited everyone to sample the dessert. Once dessert was served, the evening's entertainment truly began. Poetry readings, singers, dancers, and even acrobats were among the performers, and the crowd delighted in each one.

Following this, the orchestra began to play once more. Korin and I were invited to share the first dance, and partway through the first song, others joined in little by little until all became part of the dance. Again I was reminded once more how Jantyrian dances resembled those during medieval times on Earth. At one point, I caught my mother's eye and saw how impressed she appeared at how I had learned what to do. Afterward, First Lady Rhianna whispered something to Caleb, and I assumed she was either thanking him or complimenting him on teaching Brian and me the basics.

When the crowd had danced so much that older feet grew tired, people left the dance floor in small groups and returned to their chairs to mingle. Still energized, I stayed to visit with my parents and chat with some girls my age, one of whom had seen me at the museum. Meanwhile, Korin had taken Brian aside. They stood by the balcony, appearing deep in conversation. I kept sneaking glances their way, and it took a great effort to focus on my current conversation about the latest disaster, a major flood on the plains.

"How horrible! I hope no one was hurt," I exclaimed, keeping my attention on the girl and not letting my gaze drift toward the door yet again.

"Several were, but fortunately their caravan tents were packed and moved in advance. They had at least half a day's warning, so almost everyone was spared."

"Good." Smiling in relief, I then turned serious as I thought of those lost and the potential for it to have been an even greater disaster. "It could have been so much worse otherwise." Unable to resist any longer, I glanced over at the door again and saw Brian and Korin go outside to the balcony.

"Go," the girl said, giggling and giving me a playful push in the direction of the door. Smiling once more, I excused myself and followed them outside.

My exit was halted when I overheard a snippet of conversation from the other side of a grand column.

"The wielder must be stopped," the man I'd met earlier in the library said to a group of men gathered around him. "She intends to activate the genesis device."

"Agreed. If that ancient legend is true, who can say what that machine will do? Or is it magic? Either way, it cannot be allowed to be used. We have promised…"

"And we will keep our promise. The land will be theirs again."

Chilled, I stopped and listened. The speakers wouldn't be able to see me from this vantage point. Unfortunately, the two fell silent, so I filed away their conversation for later. I slipped away undetected and wandered out onto the balcony, the glass doors sliding open for me. Brian and Korin stood by the railing, still having an intense discussion. They were glaring at each other, furious, neither of them willing to break eye contact.

"I will fight for her!" Brian said, in a voice just loud enough for me to hear. After a long moment, the two young men turned away from each other.

"There's nothing to be done, Brian," Korin replied more quietly, leaning against the balcony and gazing out over the cliffs. "It isn't up to either of us, is it? She will choose for herself...if she has the opportunity when this is all over. Right now, she needs our full support, not this. Listen, you can fight the inevitable, but you must also be able to bend lest you break." He turned back to Brian and put a brotherly hand on his shoulder before stepping toward the door. In that moment, he spotted me.

"Bad argument?" I asked them both.

Brian and Korin exchanged a glance, respect mingled with rivalry in their expressions. "Something like that," Brian said.

Korin inclined his head in a nod. "Are you enjoying the party, my Leah?" he asked, changing the subject. "Come, see the view."

"The party's a blast! I just wish everyone else were here with us to be part of it." I joined them at the railing and gazed out at the sea, golden in the cool glow of the setting blue sun.

"I know." Brian sighed as we all took in the lovely sight. "But maybe you're right that it's going to get too dangerous. Things are escalating."

I nodded. "Yeah, I heard about the plains."

"Anywhere else, and many more lives would have been lost." Korin reached out to comfort me but thought the better of it. Had Brian not been there, he might have given into the impulse to wrap his arm around me, though, despite their conversation.

We fell quiet and watched the sun slip below the horizon. Now, the large ringed planet shone in the darkening sky, and lights from the sea vessels in the ocean below began to glimmer. The peaceful scene seemed a surreal, stark contrast to the devastation I'd seen in other parts of the world. Would Astoria be next?

No sooner had I wondered this but the serenity was shattered by an explosion that rocked the land and sky. I screamed at the sudden sound and the sensation of being knocked off balance. Brian, Korin, and I clung to each other and the railing to keep from falling over the balcony.