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Princess of Trimaria - Part 1 By Scott Ramsey Edited by Amelia R. CHAPTER 1 The blue-grey walls of Lockeleigh Palace glittered majestically in the early morning sun, purple and silver pennants fluttering from its battlements. On another world - in another time - the sight would have conjured forth visions of youthful fantasies; dragons and elves and gallant knights. On the world of Andarel, however, these things were far from fantasy, they were a way of life. The palace sat atop a small promontory, overlooking the city of Lockeshire and the lake it was nestled against, Locke Mare. Both the city and the lake were named in honor of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Trimaria, House Lockeleigh. For over fifteen centuries a Lockeleigh had been on the throne, and one day would be again, but for now it sat vacant and waiting. Master Talisin Gwynare was waiting as well, and the looks on the faces of most of his fifteen students were as vacant as the throne. They were all in their mid to late teens, and with the exception of two were all the sons and daughters of prominent nobles. Lords and Ladies by birth, destined to inherit wealth and power, and yet they couldn't answer his simple question about how magic had come to Andarel. Talisin feared for the future of the kingdom. Lady Darsia appeared totally oblivious to the question as she was far more concerned with attracting the eye of Lord Randir. Her three sycophants were no better - it simply wouldn't do for them to show interest when the ranking member of their little clique didn't. The newest member of the class, Lady Enara Delarn, looked like she wanted to speak, but she was a shy girl and, as the lowest in rank, was already a target for disdain from the others. "Surely someone can answer the question," Talisin pressed. "Well, it fell from the sky." The speaker was one of the exceptions, a young woman of surpassing beauty who was neither a noble nor a commoner. Royal blood coursed through her veins - and something more as well. Most of the people of Trimaria could claim some degree of elfin ancestry; in generations past, elves and humans had lived and prospered within the kingdom, and frequently intermarried. The elves were long gone now, departed to some unknown land, but very rarely a child was born to human parents in whom the blood of the elves ran nearly true. Princess Kerialla Astriala Lockeleigh, heir to the throne of Trimaria, was one such child. Her elfin ancestry was apparent in her beauty - she had a face that could turn a young man into a stuttering idiot with a smile, and light, golden hair that she most often wore loose, so that it flowed down her back to her waist. Because court was to be held immediately following class, it was currently in a more formal style, braided and arranged in loops which were contained within a caul of gold chains ornamented with glittering rubies. Her skin was a perfect creamy peach that really didn't require the aid of cosmetics, not that she would ever appear in public without some color on her lips and around her eyes. She was, however, far more conservative than most girls her age, who tended to paint their faces heavily, but then the Princess could afford to flaunt current fashion trends because, well, she was the Princess. "Thank you, Your Highness," Talisin said. "As always, your answer is succinct. I was, however, hoping for a bit more detail. I trust I am not boring you?" "No, of course not, Master Tally," the Princess replied. "It's just that Ali got a little too enthusiastic lacing me into this gown, and it's a little hard to breathe." Her handmaiden, Aliana, raised her eyebrows, a crooked grin spreading across her face as she said, "You're the one who kept saying it wasn't tight enough." "Okay, maybe I got a little too enthusiastic," Keri admitted. "It is a new dress after all." The other girls in the class all made appreciative remarks about the Princess's gown. Here again she defied convention, but where her use of cosmetics was conservative, her taste in clothing was far more daring. Instead of wearing a corset between her chemise and overdress as was customary, her gown had it incorporated into the red silk outer garment. Rather than flatten her bust, the corset's design lifted and accentuated her breasts, and the scooped necklines of both the chemise and overdress displayed a generous, and some would say scandalous amount of cleavage. The chemise was made of light cotton, the color of the fibers altered by means of a simple enchantment so that they glittered like silver. It was mostly concealed except at the sleeves, where the overdress had long slits that allowed the material to show through. Master Talisin looked down his long nose at his Princess and pupil, the look of disdain on his face betrayed by the mirthful twinkle in his eyes. She was not required to be present; in fact, she had learned these lessons many years ago, but she chose to be a part of the class out of respect for her teacher. With the Princess in attendance, it was hardly possible for the others to refuse. "Your gown is quite lovely, Highness, and I'm certain it will soon be the envy of every young woman in the kingdom. However, I would like to return to the subject at hand." "Master Talisin, if I may?" Aliana said from her seat beside the Princess. She was no less pretty than her mistress, but whereas Kerialla reflected the almost ethereal beauty of her elfin heritage, her handmaiden had an earthy look, with thick, dark-brown hair and the dusky complexion common to those who worked for a living. Her parents were tailors of considerable reputation, her mother having served as the Royal Dressmaker, first to Queen Mistara, and now to her daughter. The handmaiden's dress was similar in fashion to that of the Princess, with a purple over-dress embroidered with silver triskeles, the emblem of Trimaria. It was a gown most girls of her standing could only dream of wearing, one of the benefits of being the companion of the Princess. "Please enlighten us, Aliana," Talisin said. "Many millennia ago, during the time of the dragons, Andarel had two moons, Manthra and Kessil," Aliana explained. "Then a comet struck Manthra and shattered it. Many fragments rained down on Andarel in a great shower, The Fall, with the largest striking here in Trimaria and forming Crater Lake. The smallest of the fragments eventually formed Andarel's Belt, but some still fall to earth on occasion. "The Fall caused great devastation across all of Andarel, but with the destruction came two blessings. One was the meteorites themselves, which were made entirely of manthracite. Manthracite is charged with mystical energy, and after the Fall manthracite spread to all parts of the world, as dust in the air and water, and as great veins of the ore within the earth. The mystical energy from the manthracite created the aether that surrounds and flows through all life. Eventually the sentient races, starting with the elves, learned to manipulate the aether, and magic was born." "And what was the second blessing of The Fall?" the sage asked, his eyes settling on Lady Enara. "The Fall caused a climate shift that made most of Andarel too cold for the dragons to thrive," she said, her voice soft and low. "Many of them died, and the survivors were forced to the equatorial region." "Why was this a blessing?" "Because they think we're nice and crunchy," the Princess interjected, eliciting a round of laughter from the class. "I believe you mean that humanity and the other sentient races of Andarel were able to thrive once the dragons were no longer the dominant species." "Exactly," Keri said with a nod of her head. "Now that we've refreshed our memories regarding the origins of magic," Master Talisin said, "we'll move on to the purpose of today's lesson and learn some basic household magic." Keri tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn, earning her a reproving look from the sage. She smiled in apology, and turned her attention to the task at hand. With her natural affinity for magic, she had mastered these techniques long ago, but just as her presence in class inspired the others to attend, the fact that she bothered to master these simple spells motivated them to do so as well. Magic on Andarel was segregated into three levels. Household magic was the simplest and most common, and virtually everyone possessed the ability to manipulate the aether through simple cantrips for everyday tasks. Things like igniting a candle, heating hearthstones, or lighting the glowsphere of a lamp could all be accomplished through magic. Household magic made everyday life easier, since even the simplest home could enjoy many of the same conveniences as the finest noble household. Unfortunately, few of the students in the class had been encouraged to learn any household magic ? they were nobles after all and had servants to perform such tasks. Only the Princess and Aliana could truly be said to have mastered these most basic of magical skills, and technically Aliana was a servant - not that any of her classmates would dare treat her as such, especially not in the presence of Her Highness. Craft magic was more complex, and required not only a greater connection to the aether, but a degree of technical talent as well. It was used to produce a variety of items, from fine jewelry and clothing to exquisite weapons and armor, many of which possessed magical enhancements. A crafter had to posses the physical skills to produce an item, and the magical ability to manage the more intricate incantations to enhance its beauty and functionality. Finally, there was high magic, which required both a very strong connection to the aether and years of study to master. The mages who practiced high magic could perform astounding feats and create magical artifacts of great power. Healer mages could cure many diseases and repair wounds that would otherwise prove fatal. Transmutation could be used to change the properties of raw materials, such as transforming lead into silver or gold, or tempering steel beyond the capabilities of a forge. Most fearsome of all were the battle mages, who could wield fire and lightning as weapons of war. There were also very rare individuals; those so in tune with the flow of magical energy that they could accomplish many things by mere thought that for others required complex incantations. The Princess was such a person, the blood of her elvish ancestors nearly pure in her, despite the many generations that separated them. Usually, such individuals would be sent to the Crescent Island Academy on Crater Lake at a very young age, but that was not possible for the Princess. As the heir to the throne, it was considered far too dangerous for her to be sent beyond the security of the palace. "Our first exercise will be a fire cantrip," Master Talisin told the class. "It can be used to light fires in a variety of situations, but for our purposes we'll be using a candle. Your Highness, would you care to demonstrate for us?" Keri smiled and took a candle from the drawer of the small desk before her. She set it on the desk top and stared at the wick for an instant before uttering the cantrip. "Flamus ignitus." The words were barely out of her mouth when the wick flared brightly. Her classmates murmured in appreciation, causing Keri to grin and roll her eyes at her handmaiden. "Was that elvish, Highness?" Lady Darsia asked. The expression on her face was one of innocent curiosity but Keri knew there was nothing innocent about the girl. Darsia was the second cousin of the Princess, sharing the same great- grandmother, the legendary Queen Riala. Like Keri, she was nineteen, but there the similarities ended. She lacked both the beauty and charm of the Princess, and preferred to use her status as a member of the royal bloodline to bully others. "No, it's gibberish," Keri explained. "Cantrips use nonsense words for commands. You don't want to use words that might come up in casual conversation; that could cause nasty accidents." "Oh, I see," Darsia said. "I thought that perhaps since you're an elf you might use elvish for things like that." "Darsia, dear, you know there aren't any elves left in Trimaria," Keri said. Darsia had always delighted in teasing her about her heritage. Unfortunately, when it came to verbal sparring, she was not very well armed. Keri already knew what her next words would be as she added, "As much as I hate to admit it, we are related. There's as much elvish blood in your veins as there is in mine." Darsia's face clouded with anger, her eyes squinting as she said, "Well, I don't have pointed ears!" Keri grinned and pounced. "You're not that pretty either, but no one's calling you an orc." Darsia's face turned bright red, and her mouth dropped open in mute protest. The laughter of the rest of the class only made her embarrassment that much worse. Embarrassment quickly gave way to rage, but instead of directing her angry glare at the Princess, she turned it on Enara, who immediately ceased her own laughter. The look promised retribution, and Enara seemed to visibly shrink under her gaze. "That will be enough of that," Master Talisin said. "Now, let's see how the rest of you can do." One at a time the rest of the class attempted to light their candle using the cantrip. Most required a few attempts before they achieved success, which was to be expected. In some ways, household magic was more difficult to master than the higher forms. Partly this was because the students had no experience with magic, and so were moving through completely unfamiliar territory. The main difficulty was that the average person had only a tenuous connection to the aether, and so they were unable to 'feel' the flow of magical energy. When it was Enara's turn to try to light her candle, there was a sense of anticipation in the room. In the two weeks she had been in the class, she had earned a reputation as an accident waiting to happen. There was no doubt she was highly intelligent and she tried very hard, but things just seemed to go wrong around her with alarming frequency. It was no different as she tried to light her candle. She was already visibly nervous, which wasn't helped by the cruel grin that Darsia directed at her. She focused on her candle and uttered the cantrip. Instead of the weak spark the others had managed on their first attempt, Enara's entire candle burst into flame, immediately melting into a puddle that filled the shallow holder and continued to burn. Master Talisin was quick to counter the small fire with a cantrip that extinguished the flame. Keri's eyes widened slightly at the display. She had raised a protective shield about the candle as a precaution, and the power that had been directed against it when the spell went wrong was impressive. Enara was far above average when it came to magic, enough that she should have received training long ago. "Master Talisin, maybe it would be better if Ali and I worked with Lady Enara separately," the Princess suggested. "An excellent idea, Highness," Talisin said with a knowing glance. Enara's eyes grew wide, like a deer that had caught the scent of a predator. She looked at the Princess and swallowed hard. Keri gave her a reassuring smile as she rose and started towards the far end of the room. "Be careful, Highness, she might set your pretty gown on fire," Darsia said. The rest of the class laughed, and Enara seemed to shrink further under the ridicule. "Then maybe we should have her work with you, Darsi," Keri replied, a feral smile fixed on her face. "Your gown certainly should be burned. You didn't actually spend money on it ... did you?" The cruel smile on Lady Darsia's face vanished, as the laughter of her classmates was redirected from Enara to her once more. She glared at the Princess, but Keri's smile only broadened as she gave her cousin her 'I'm the Princess, what are you going to do?' look. "Don't pay that harpy any mind, Enara," Keri said as they sat down at a small table. Supplies were already arranged on the table, Master Talisin having anticipated the possibility someone might need personal attention. The Princess made sure Enara's back was to the rest of the class, and then erected a magical barrier about them, cutting them off from all sound outside the sphere. She wanted nothing to distract Enara. Once the barrier was up, she gave Aliana a look, and her handmaiden nodded, indicating she would protect herself from any mishaps. Finally, Keri shielded both herself and Enara, the shield around the younger girl constructed to allow magical energy to flow out, but not back. Enara didn't lack aptitude, that much was clear, but her lack of training coupled with that aptitude was potentially dangerous. It could also explain the many mishaps that seemed to follow her about. Combined with her obvious low self-esteem, her non-existent magical education was likely causing her to lash out in moments of stress, with highly unpredictable results. The first thing she had to do was calm the girl down. She reached over and took her hands, squeezing them gently as she smiled. "Enara, you're with friends here," the Princess said. "I want you to forget about the others. They can't hear us, and we can't hear them. We're in our own little world right now, and all Aliana and I are concerned with is helping you. Now, are you ready to try again?" "I think so, Princess," Enara said. "Good girl," Keri said as she released Enara's hands. She set a candle in the middle of the table, and then moved everything else a safe distance away. "There's a reason candle lighting is used for your first cantrip," Keri explained. "Everyone knows what a burning candle looks like. I want you to fix that image in your mind. Take as long as you need to get a good mental image, and then say the cantrip." Enara nodded and fixed her gaze on the candle. The look of intense concentration on her face was almost comical, but Keri didn't laugh. She remembered her own bumbling attempts at controlling her magical powers when she was a child, and that had been under the tutelage of some of the best mages in the kingdom. After several minutes, a look of determination came to Enara's face and she almost whispered, "Flamus ignitus." The candle flickered and then caught, and a smile of joy sprang to Enara's face. The Princess and her handmaiden congratulated the young woman, and then they repeated the exercise several more times. Each time the young girl's confidence grew, until the candle was lighting instantly each time. "See, it's not so hard," Keri said. "I'll just mess up again like I always do," Enara said as her momentary elation faded. "I just can't seem to do anything right." "Nonesense," Keri said. "I once singed Master Talisin's eyebrows off with this very cantrip, and now...." The candle lit once more, without the Princess even uttering a word. "I'm an elf, remember?" the Princess said to the astonished young woman. "Can you do that too?" Enara asked Aliana. "Yes, milady, I can," the handmaiden replied. "With practice most people learn to use cantrips without saying the words out loud. I still have to say them in my mind, however. Keri only has to think about it." Enara's face showed her surprise at Aliana's informal reference to the Princess, and Keri smiled. "Ali is more than my handmaiden; she's my dearest friend," the Princess explained. "We pretty much grew up together." "When we were six, Queen Mistara commissioned a gown from my mother," Ali added. "From the moment Keri and I met, we were best friends. When the gown was finished, the Queen made my mother her official dressmaker, and I was made Keri's handmaiden. We've been together ever since." "I wish I had a friend like that," Enara said. "You've got two right here if you want," Keri said, "but we can talk about that more later. Let's try some other cantrips." Keri extinguished the candle and moved it aside, replacing it with a small glass sphere set into a wooden base. Inside the sphere a silver rod extended from the base, widening at the tip into a star with three curving points, a triskele, which was used as the symbol of Trimaria. "Lighting a glow is much easier than a candle," Keri said. "The element has already been enchanted, so all you have to do is activate it. You still have to focus on what you want to happen, so picture the element glowing. When you're ready, just say 'illuminatus majoris'." Enara did as instructed, taking much less time to concentrate before speaking the command words. The glow illuminated instantly without a flicker. Keri then had her try a different command which lowered the light to a dim glow. After switching the level of light several times, she had Enara extinguish the glow. Without the distraction of the other students, Enara was easily able to grasp several other basic cantrips. She was especially delighted when she managed to successfully conjure a tiny whirlwind and direct it about the tabletop as it sucked up dust. Keri was pleased as well ? the dusting cantrip was one of the more difficult bits of household magic. After several attempts, Enara was even able to direct it into a pail and cancel it so that it deposited its load of dust. The progress Keri was able to get from Enara was remarkable and only confirmed what she had suspected ? the young woman had great potential. She simply needed the proper encouragement to help boost her self- confidence. It would have been enough to end things where they were, but the Princess decided to truly test Enara's potential. "Ali, would you get that wool you've been working with from your bag? I'd like to see if Enara can handle a spinning incantation." "That's a crafting spell, Keri," Aliana said. "Are you sure?" "I wouldn't want to mess anything up," Enara added. "What is there to mess up?" Keri asked. "It's just a spell to spin wool into yarn. What could go wrong?" Aliana rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more. She left the table, returning a moment later with a large cloth bag that matched the rich purple color of her gown. One of her primary duties as Keri's handmaiden was to carry everything the Princess might need while she was out and about. Since Keri could be more than a bit vain about her appearance, her bag was larger than normal, with two compartments inside so she could keep her own things separate from Keri's. The thick fabric the bag was constructed from carried an enchantment that allowed the handmaiden to alter its color to match whatever she was wearing. Aliana removed a wad of raw wool from the bag and placed it on the table, a portion of which had already been spun and gathered on a wooden cone. "This uses a simple rhyming incantation rather than command words," Aliana explained. "The basic process is the same as for a cantrip though. You just fix an image in your mind of the wool being spun into yarn and wound on the cone. The most important thing to remember is to keep your thoughts focused on the spell once it begins. It helps when you're learning to keep reciting the incantation in your mind." Aliana focused on the wool for several seconds, and then spoke the incantation. "Twist and wind, spin and bind, forming yarn of finest kind." The strand of yarn began twisting while the main mass of wool remained stationary. As the fibers were spun together into a single strand, the cone began turning and winding the yarn onto it. After several seconds of spinning, the process stopped and the cone settled to the table. "When you want to stop you just think, well, stop," Aliana said. Enara looked nervously from Aliana to the Princess, and then settled her eyes on the wool. She spoke the incantation and the yarn began spinning as before. Everything was going fine ? until her eyes drifted from her work to the Princess. Keri knew something had gone seriously wrong when she felt her scalp tingling. She realized she had been foolish not to shield herself, and by the time she tried to correct the error it was already far too late. She saw Enara's eyes widen in horror and the cone of yarn clattered to the table top. She would have been truly concerned if Aliana hadn't burst into hysterical laughter. "What happened?" the Princess sighed. "Y ... your hair ...." Aliana stuttered, unable to get more out through her laughter. Keri reached up and felt one of her braids through the mesh of her caul. Her hair had the feel and consistency of yarn, like the hair on a rag doll. "Oh well, that's not too bad," Keri said. "No one will notice through the caul anyway." "But ... but it's ... it's pink," Enara said, close to tears. Keri turned a questioning look to Aliana, and her handmaiden nodded. "It's really, really bright pink." The barrier she had up prevented the rest of the class from hearing what was going on at the table, but it didn't stop them from seeing everything. Keri could see Darsia laughing hysterically and pointing in their direction. "A mirror please, Ali," Keri said. Aliana did an admirable job of stifling her giggles as she took a hand mirror from her bag. She kept her face rigidly dispassionate as she handed the mirror to her mistress. Keri raised the mirror and studied her hair carefully for a long time. It was bright pink, so bright it almost seemed to fluoresce with light. She could see that her hair emerged from her scalp normally, but less than a half-inch out it thickened into strands of yarn. That was a good thing, she knew. If the hair had been changed down to the root, just taking her caul off could have left her completely bald. Her hair was also much thicker, and the increase in volume was straining against the mesh of her caul. There was no way it wouldn't be noticed. "What time is it, Ali?" Ali lifted the timepiece that hung from her neck by a gold chain and said, "We have about five minutes before we have to leave for court." "Frag, that's nowhere near enough time to fix this," Keri swore. "Oh Highness, I'm so sorry!" Enara cried. "I'm such an idiot! Why can't I do anything right?" Tears streaming down her face, Enara rose and tried to leave the table, but Keri gently grasped her wrist and stopped her. She pulled the girl onto her lap and put an arm around her shoulder. She had to get her calmed down because she hated to see anyone in such distress over a silly accident, and she would need her help to reverse the effects of the spell. "Enara, I want you to listen to me very carefully," the Princess said. "This was not your fault; it was mine." "Oh no, Highness, it's all my fault," Enara sniffed. "My father has told me over and over again that I'm no good with magic." ~That explains a lot,~ the Princess thought. Keri and her handmaiden shared a knowing look. There were some close- minded people, very few fortunately, who viewed magic with a distrust bordering on hatred. Usually it was because they had little or no aptitude for the art themselves. "Your father is wrong, Enara," Keri said. "I've had my eye on you ever since you were first presented to me in court when your family came to Lockeshire. I could sense that you had a strong connection to the aether. That's why I asked your parents to let you join us in this class." "You did?" Enara asked, wide-eyed. "I wondered why Father suddenly changed his mind." "Well, I do have a tiny bit of influence you know," Keri said. She gestured to her hair and continued, "This is my fault, because I pushed you into something you weren't even close to ready for. On top of that, I was careless and didn't shield myself. Do you know what transmutation is?" "It's a form of high magic," Enara said. "With transmutation, mages can turn one material into another of similar properties, like lead into gold." Realization dawned on Enara, and her hand sprang to her mouth. "Or hair into yarn," Keri confirmed. "You just performed a powerful act of transmutation, Enara, without any training at all." "But what are we going to do?" Enara asked. "Well, if you look closely, you'll see that my hair comes out of my head normally," Keri said, bending forward so Enara could see. "That means it will grow out again in time." "Your hair's so long and beautiful," Enara said. "That'll take months." "Yes, which is why I'm going to counter the spell," Keri said. "But to do that, I need your help." "Oh no! Please, I don't want to make it worse!" "Trust me, you won't," Keri assured her. "I'll be prepared this time." "Can't you just reverse it yourself?" Enara pleaded. She was getting more agitated, not less. The Princess shook her head. "Whether you said anything or not, you cast a spell, and every spell, even those common to all mages, has a pattern unique to the caster. We have to recreate what happened, so I can feel how you manipulated the aether, and then I'll construct a counter weave to reverse it." "I ... I don't think I can, Highness," Enara said. She was shaking now and wringing her hands. "I'm so frightened." "No, you're not," Keri said, her voice almost singing. As she spoke, she reached out with her mind, touching the aether and weaving streams of magical energy about Enara. "You're very calm and relaxed, Enara," she soothed. "You have such a pretty smile; it's so good to see you happy. Now be a good girl and go back to your seat and wait for my instructions." Enara rose, a happy, vacant look on her face. She went back to her chair and sat down, smiling at the Princess. "You mesmerized her?" Aliana asked in shock. "Keri that's forbidden, even for you!" "It could take an hour to get her calmed down enough to fix this," Keri said, turning to address Enara. "It's a very mild charm spell, Enara. At the moment you can only follow my instructions, but they have to be very simple ones, and I can't make you do anything against your will. In a few seconds, you'll be able to move again, but the calming effect will last for a while longer." Aliana just shook her head and rolled her eyes at the Princess. Keri dropped her privacy barrier and was gratified that the entire classroom was now silent. She directed a glare at the other students to encourage them to remain that way, and then turned to Talisin. "Master Talisin, we've had a slight problem here," she said. "I'll need some privacy to correct it." "Of course, Highness," Talisin said. "Class is dismissed. Please try to safely practice what you've learned today." The students rose and as one bowed and curtsied to the Princess, then filed out of the room. "Ali, go tell my guards we'll be delayed," Keri said. "Master Talisin, would you be so kind as to inform the Regent I'll be a little late?" "Of course, Your Highness," Talisin said. He looked at Enara and then shook his head, a wry grin on his face. Then he too bowed and left the room. "Ali, not a word to Marc about this," Keri said as her handmaiden started towards the door. "Just tell him I'll be out as soon as possible, and we are not to be disturbed." "Would I try to embarrass you like that?" Aliana said, a feigned look of hurt on her face. "Yes, you would, now go," Keri said. "You'd best wait out in the hall until I call you." Once Aliana had left the room, the Princess turned her attention back to Enara, who was coming out from under the effects of the charm spell. "Thank you, Highness," Enara said, her face still calm and serene, "I feel a lot better now." "I apologize for doing that, Lady Enara," the Princess said. "It was very rude of me." "It's all right, I was getting pretty hysterical, and I know you're pressed for time," Enara told her. She looked towards the door Aliana had just left through and added, "You really do see her as a friend." "Yes, I do," Keri told her. "I don't know what I would have done without Ali these past six years." "It must have been very hard when your parents died." "You mean when they were murdered," Keri said, the bitterness in her voice plain. Unbidden, the memory surfaced of the day she had learned her parents were gone. Her father, King Toranon, had sought to end years of sporadic conflict with the Kingdom of Merdia, and after months of negotiations he and the Queen had left on a journey to sign a peace treaty. They had been ambushed by orc mercenaries just after they crossed the Isthmus of Valmor, and the entire entourage slaughtered without mercy. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad," Enara said. "It's all right," Keri assured her. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about them. They should have ruled for many more years." "Is that why you haven't taken the throne yet?" Enara asked, the lingering calm from the charm spell making her bolder than she would usually be. "I mean, you could have done it when you turned eighteen. Is it because you think it will dishonor their memory?" "That's the official excuse," Keri said. "The truth is not nearly so noble. I'm just not ready yet. Once I take the throne, what freedom I have now will be gone. I'm just plain selfish." "I don't think you're selfish, Princess," Enara said, "and I'd like to be your friend very much, if you'll still have me after what I've done." "Of course I will, silly," Keri said. "Don't you fret about the hair - I've half a mind to go into court just like this. It would almost be worth it to see the look on my aunt's face." "I wouldn't recommend that," Enara said. "I've heard the Regent doesn't have a sense of humor." "She used to," Keri said with a sigh. "At least she wasn't always so ... hard." "My father wasn't either," Enara said. Keri smiled and patted her hand before getting down to business. "Now, Enara, I need you to tell me exactly what you were thinking when this happened to my hair." "Well, I was concentrating on the yarn, and then I looked up at your hair," Enara said. "It's so pretty, and I remembered my favorite doll when I was little. She had pink yarn for hair." "Ah, that explains it," Keri told her. "To fix this, I need you to start reciting the spinning incantation again. We don't need the wool, but you do need to picture it in your mind just like before. When you have it in your mind, look at my hair again and think about that doll, just like before." "But what if...." "It will be fine, I promise. I've got a barrier up, so you won't be able to do anything to me, but I need to get a feel for how you worked the aether. Once I have that, I can counter the effect." Keri took Enara's hands and gave her a reassuring smile. "Whenever you're ready, begin." "Oh, I hope I don't mess this up," Enara fretted. The calming effect of the charm had faded, which was good because they didn't need any other magic around to confuse things. "Trust me, everything will be fine," Keri said. Her smile became a wry grin and she added, "What could go wrong?" CHAPTER 2 The corridors of Lockeleigh Palace quickly emptied as the scheduled time for the royal court approached. The palace was always a focal point of much activity, but it became even busier on the one day each month when petitioners came from throughout the kingdom to present their concerns to the Regent. Before the conflict with Merdia had escalated into a full-scale war, court had been held more frequently and was far less formal. Trimaria had a system of magical transport spires, which allowed individuals to travel easily over great distances, and people regularly brought their concerns to the palace. With Merdian raiders forging deep into Trimaria, however, it became necessary to restrict the use of the spires. If the raiders managed to capture one of the keys the adepts used to operate the spires, they would have unrestricted access to every corner of the kingdom. There simply wasn't enough manpower to protect the spires constantly, so now they were only used for official business, and once each month a company of troops escorted an adept who transported petitioners to the capital for court. Court could not begin, however, until the Princess was present, and she had not yet emerged from the classroom. In the corridor outside the classroom three warriors waited, dressed in brightly polished armor and the black and purple tabards of the Royal Guard. Their faces were impassive, betraying no emotion whatsoever. Two stood on either side of the door to the classroom, while the third was across the corridor, his body blocking the light from the window behind him. Knight-Captain Marcan Demos was an imposing figure, standing nearly a head taller than most men. His grey eyes had a hard intensity to them, and his ruggedly handsome face had a long, jagged scar down the left side, a testament that he was no stranger to combat. Healer mages could have eliminated the scar entirely, but most warriors chose to keep such marks as a badge of honor, especially when they were received in a particularly notable battle. Marc had served the House of Lockeleigh for over twenty years, ever since King Toranon had taken in the orphaned eight-year-old son of one of his squires. He had become more than a page ? Toranon and Mistara had truly made him feel like part of their family, in love if not in actual fact. He was eleven when the Princess was born, and as she grew Marc came to see her as a sister - which explained why she was able to infuriate him so easily. At thirty, Marc was young to be in such a position of power. Toranon had made him captain of the Princess's personal guard when he was only twenty-one. It was a prestigious position for one so young, but there were only twelve warriors assigned to the Princess, and no one had objected, at least not like they had when Toranon knighted him at nineteen. Then Toranon and Mistara had been ambushed and killed, along with their entire guard and retinue, and suddenly he was Captain of the Royal Guard. There had been attempts to remove him, but his was a royal appointment, and as the heir to the throne only the Princess could replace him. Marc had immediately set about the task of rebuilding the Guard to its proper strength. It hadn't been easy ? with Toranon gone there were many among the Chivalry who resisted his efforts, but he had the full support of the then thirteen-year-old Princess. Marc made the recommendations as to which warriors would be suitable for positions as Royal Guardsmen, and Keri made the appointments, leaving no room for anyone to interfere. Now the Guard was back to its full strength, six troops of light cavalry, three-hundred of the finest warriors in Trimaria. Only four troops were normally active at any one time, with the remaining two in reserve. "The Regent is likely in a foul mood by now, doncha think, lad?" Marc's gaze shifted to one of the two guards by the door. Serjeant Garith Kragen was a barrel-chested warrior, almost as broad as he was tall. He had a mirthful twinkle in his brown eyes, despite a hard, craggy face with a large nose that was skewed slightly to the left and mashed in from one too many blows over the years. "No doubt she is," Marc agreed. "It's not like the Princess hasn't been late before," the taller guard on the other side of the door said. Marc shot his cousin, Stilnar, a withering look that warned the young squire not to expect the same latitude while on duty that Garith enjoyed. Stil was almost as tall and muscular as his cousin, but there the similarities ended. Where Marc had a rugged handsomeness, Stil was comely, with shoulder length hair the color of wheat and an impish grin that had melted the heart of more than one young woman. Marc was fairly certain his cousin had set his eye on the Princess's handmaiden as his next conquest, and he frankly expected Aliana to have him wrapped around her finger in no time. Despite being three years younger than Stil, she had amassed her own impressive list of lovers, and growing up in the midst of the royal court had equipped her far better at playing the games of both politics and romance, which were often intertwined. She stood quietly off to the side, pointedly not looking at Stil, yet the slight grin on her face told Marc she was perfectly aware that the squire's eyes kept straying towards her. When she caught Marc looking at her, the grin broadened and she winked. The sound of booted feet drew Marc's attention, and he turned his gaze toward the noise. Another knight approached, with two members of the Regent's personal guard in tow. The look of annoyance on the knight's face made it plain why he was there. "The Regent has sent us to bring the Princess," he said as the group approached. Marc stepped forward, blocking the corridor with his body as he turned to face the men. "The Princess will be along as soon as possible, Commander Jaris," Marc said. "What's the delay?" Jaris demanded. His gaze shifted to Aliana, whose eyes widened in a look of innocence and awe, which Marc knew was feigned. After thirteen years in the royal household, there was little that awed the handmaiden. "I wasn't informed, and it's not my place to ask," Marc said. "Nor is it yours." "Court should have started twenty minutes ago," Jaris said, moving to step around Marc. That wasn't a simple matter to accomplish as Marc sidestepped and blocked him once more. "Stand aside, Captain," Jaris said. "Since you can't carry out your duties, I'll do it." "I serve the Princess, not the Regent and not you," Marc said. Garith and Stilnar stepped forward and took positions just behind their captain, and Garith swung his pollaxe from his shoulder into a ready position. The burly serjeant gave the two yeomen behind Jaris a broad grin as he slapped the haft of the weapon into his left hand. "My duty is to protect Her Highness," Marc continued, "not drag her about at the Regent's command, nor allow anyone else to do so." The two knights stared at one another, neither prepared to back down. As a Knight-Commander Jaris was superior in rank, but as captain of the Princess's personal guard Marc answered only to her. Jaris was in an awkward position ? he couldn't back down without losing face, and if he tried to force his way past Marc, the royal guardsmen would almost certainly trounce him and his men. The situation was defused when the classroom door opened and the Princess entered the corridor. Marc recognized the girl with her as the Lady Enara - he was familiar with everyone who had regular contact with the Princess. He wondered what the two had been doing for so long, but was not about to ask, especially with Jaris and his men there. The Princess surveyed the standoff in the corridor with raised eyebrows, her lips spreading into a slight grin. "I trust I'm not interrupting?" she asked. Jaris remained silent and unmoving for an instant, and then remembered his place and stepped back, he and the two men with him bowing to the Princess. "Apologies, Highness," Jaris said as he rose. "The Regent was concerned and sent me to check on you." "You mean my aunt is impatient and sent you to hurry me along," Keri said. "You've done as you were told, commander. Now run along and tell my aunt I'll be there momentarily. Oh, and since you're going that way already, get a chair and place it on the dais beside mine for Lady Enara; she'll be keeping me company during court." The look of umbrage on the Jaris's face was almost enough to make Marc laugh. He knew the Princess had chosen her words very carefully. The question was, would the knight-commander do the smart thing or snap at the bait? "Highness, I am a member of the Chivalry, not a common drudge." The Princess lifted her chin and tilted her head to the right, a gesture Marc had seen her mother use often, sometimes on him. Keri called it the 'stink-eye'. "Well, if that's the only thing preventing you from obliging a simple request from your Princess, the situation can be remedied." The color drained from Jaris's face, and he immediately backpedaled verbally and physically. "Forgive me, Highness," he said, he and his men bowing as they backed down the hall. "I'll see to it immediately." He cast a final glare at Marc and then turned and practically fled down the hall. "You know, I don't usually like playing the snooty Princess," Keri giggled as she stepped forward and linked her right arm through her guard captain's left, "but he makes it so much fun. I see you've been your usual charming self, Marc." "I live to serve, Highness," Marc replied as they started down the hall. Keri laughed and gave his bicep, which was almost as big around as her waist, an affectionate squeeze. Aliana and Enara fell in step behind them, careful to avoid stepping on the short train that trailed behind the Princess, while Garith and Stilnar brought up the rear. Keri turned and looked over her shoulder at the stocky guard, who had once more adopted his usual look of stony vigilance. "I suppose you're disappointed my appearance stopped things before a fight broke out, Garith," Keri said. "Wouldn't a been no fight, Highness," Garith grinned, patting the pollaxe resting on his right shoulder. "Not much a one anyway, as long as the youngster here didn't trip over himself." Keri caught the hint of a grin on her handmaiden's face at the reference to Stilnar. She was well aware that Aliana had her eye on the handsome squire, and the Princess had to admit he was pleasant to look at. As she directed her gaze back to the front, she idly fingered a large, ornate ring on her right hand. "He's very pretty, Aliana," she said. "I imagine he should have enough stamina to satisfy even you." The only indication that her words had any effect was a slight break in the rhythm of Stilnar's stride. Then Keri was suddenly brought up short as Aliana stumbled and stepped on her train. Marc's arm instantly stiffened to prevent her from falling, almost as if he had anticipated the stumble. Keri shot a glance back at her handmaiden, who stuck her tongue out and grinned. "Bad, bad Princess," she whispered as she rearranged Keri's train. Keri and Aliana both broke out into a fit of giggles, while Enara looked at the two young women in confusion. Keri caught the look and gave her a smile of reassurance. "You'll get used to me," she said. "Forgive me, Highness," Enara said, "but what exactly is my part here? I've never been to a royal court before." "You've been to baronial courts in Highkeep though, right?" "Yes, Highness, but never as an attendant." "A royal court is very similar," Aliana explained as they started down the corridor once more. "Just longer and much more boring," Keri added. "Just follow Aliana's lead, and you'll be fine." "The only hard part is keeping the Princess awake," Aliana said. "Ali, that's not fair," Keri protested. "I only fell asleep once, and I was eight at the time. Now you girls hush and let me talk to Marc." Marc let his gaze drift down to the Princess for an instant as he said, "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" "Probably because you know me too well," Keri said. "After court, I'll need some time with Ali and Enara to discuss some things. After that, I'd like to go to the market square." "That won't be a problem," Marc said, his surprise showing in his voice. From the way the Princess was playing up to him, he had expected something more difficult. "Then, this afternoon, I want to go for a ride." Marc almost stopped in his tracks, but instead settled for giving her another look, his face clearly showing what he thought of the idea. "Highness, you know there has been raider activity within a few miles of the palace," he said. "Isn't that why I have a whole company, two hundred of the finest warriors in Trimaria, as my Royal Guard?" Keri asked. She lowered her voice and added, "Please, Marc, I've got to get out of this place for a little while. I'll agree to any conditions you think necessary. Just don't bring the whole two hundred as an escort, okay?" Marc heard the pleading tone in her voice and knew it wasn't affected just to get him to agree. It had been especially hard for the Princess since Merdian raiders had begun striking deep into Trimaria. She hadn't been allowed beyond the outer curtain wall in over a month. "I'll make the arrangements," he said. "Thank you, Marc," Keri said, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek and whisper, "I love you, big brother." CHAPTER 3 "All rise and pay homage to Her Royal Highness, Kerialla Astriala Lockeleigh, Princess of Trimaria!" The din of subdued conversation ceased as the herald's words reverberated through the throne room. The assembled petitioners and nobles rose to their feet as the Princess's entourage entered. Four more guards had joined them outside the hall, and they preceded her small procession carrying the standards of the kingdom. As before, Marc was immediately in front of the Princess, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword as he scanned the crowd on either side for any threat. Those assembled in the hall bowed in respect as the Princess passed, and Marc didn't have to turn to know her head was turning left and right, making eye contact with as many as she could and acknowledging each with a smile. The knight-captain felt a swell of pride - for all her fears and doubts, and more than a few flaws, the Princess knew how to touch the hearts of the people she would one day rule. A large, ornately carved chair sat on the floor before the dais, not as resplendent as the two thrones which had remained empty for the last eight years, but considerably more elegant than the simple chairs for the audience. The Princess's procession stepped around the chair, and as Garith, Silnar and the standard-bearers moved to positions on either end of the raised platform, Keri stopped before a smaller chair to the right of the thrones. She gestured to the chair that had been placed to the right of hers, and Enara stepped up to it while Marc and Aliana moved around to the back of the dais. The Princess looked out on the assembly and smiled warmly. "I apologize for keeping you all waiting," she said. Her eyes met those of a tall woman with fiery red hair and a look of controlled anger on her face. Duchess Rayna Binara Ethelwyn, her aunt and Regent of Trimaria, was a lovely woman, but the past six years had aged her. Eyes that had once shone with laughter were now hard and intense. Keri could barely remember her as she once had been, so carefree and happy. Responsibility, pain and a burning hatred for those who had been responsible for the death of her beloved sister had destroyed all that. Keri nodded slightly to her aunt, and then took her seat, motioning for Enara to sit as well. The herald stepped forward and his voice rang out in the hall once more. "This opens the court of Her Royal Highness, Princess Kerialla, this Enas, the first day of Prel, Anno Trimaria fifteen and twelve. The assembly may be seated." Keri resisted the urge to laugh as her aunt stepped forward and sat down in the chair before the dais. All the ceremony was just that ? ceremony, with no real meaning. Since she was the heir to the throne, the Princess was required by law to be present at any official court, but she had no say in the proceedings. Until she claimed the throne, her aunt made all the decisions. Her eyes drifted to her left, settling on the scepter that rested across her father's throne. All she had to do was take the scepter from where it lay and announce that she was asserting her right to rule, and she would be queen. She wondered how her aunt would react if she did that very thing. She wouldn't, of course. There was still time to enjoy what freedom she had, and she was going to take advantage of it. On her twenty-first birthday, she would have to make a choice ? claim the throne or abdicate forever. There was really no choice to make. If she abdicated, the next person in the line of succession was her second cousin, Darsia. There was no way she would dishonor her parents by allowing that girl on the throne. Because a formal court was only held once a month, it was usually a long affair. Today was no exception as, one after another, petitioners were called forward to present their concerns to the Regent. There were bright spots - not all those in attendance had problems to address. There were several representatives from distant shires that had gifts to present to the Princess, and no matter how ornate or simple, Keri accepted each with the same heartfelt appreciation. She had received many gifts over the years - each one was displayed somewhere in her personal chambers and she could relate its history with ease. Despite the high points, Keri's impatience was apparent as court dragged on past three hours. When the final petitioner was heard, the Princess readied herself to rise, but stopped as the Regent rose to address the crowd. "I know it is very early to be speaking of the Harvest Festival," the Regent said. "The crops have only just been planted, and the summer solstice is not yet upon us. I mention it because there are two important pieces of information that need to be disseminated quickly. First, after much discussion, it has been decided that the Barony of Wallkeep will host this year's festival." Stunned voices whispered through the hall, and the Princess suppressed a grin. She had known about the choice and expected it to cause a stir. Though Wallkeep was the newest and most modern barony, it was also the most distant, as it was on the western border of the kingdom. The Harvest Festival was the most important social event of the year, and no one wanted to miss it, even if it meant a lengthy trip. Distance wasn't the only thing that made Wallkeep, in Keri's opinion at least, unsuitable for the festival. Its name came from the fact that it was built into Riala's Wall, a fifty-foot tall fortification that stretched for fifty miles, sealing the eastern end of the Isthmus of Valmor. The wall was only two hundred miles from the frontier in Camron, where the armies of Trimaria were struggling to push the forces of Merdia and their orc allies back from the land Trimaria had claimed. When she had told Marc about the location and her intention to attend the festival, he had not been happy. "I realize that Wallkeep is a long trip for many in the kingdom," the Regent continued. "The Ministry of Transportation will be opening the spires for transport two weeks prior to the festival, and a schedule of transport times will be posted within the month." The Regent paused and turned to look at Keri, a disquieting smile on her face. The Princess felt a chill run down her spine and knew her aunt was up to something. "This year's Harvest Festival will be a very special occasion. It is my pleasure to announce that Her Highness, Princess Kerialla, will be attending the festival, and at the Grand Ball she will entertain suitors for her hand in marriage. All those who wish to be considered must submit their patents no later than the twenty-third of Awist, one month before the festival begins. Patents may be transmitted via the orb network, but they must go through your local herald. Also, please include a likeness, so the Princess will have a face to place with the information in your patent." Keri froze in shock, not even attempting to hide the look on her face. The Regent turned and smiled again, then nodded to her herald, who pronounced the court closed. The crowd rose to their feet and bowed in preparation for the Princess's departure. Shock gave way to anger, and Keri's eyes narrowed as she rose. There was no smile on her face as she left the hall, her retainers practically having to run to keep up with her long strides. Marc led the way as always, and the Princess kept her eyes fixed on his back as she fumed. It was only when she noticed him shift his shoulders uncomfortably ? and saw the wisp of smoke rising from his tabard - that she realized what she was doing and forced herself to calm down using a chant she had been taught as a child. As they reached the doors, the herald's voice rang out once more, and the crowd echoed back his words. "Long live the Princess!" The Princess fumed in silence, and once they were a short distance away from the hall, Aliana moved forward and took her friend's hand. Keri's rage subsided a little more as she drew comfort from the silent show of support. "Marc, are you all right?" she asked. "Barely singed," the knight-captain replied. They passed down the long, wide corridor that led from the throne room to the cavernous Grand Hall. Forming the centerpiece of the Palace, the hall was one hundred feet wide and twice that in length. Eight immense columns supported the high-arched ceiling, from which were suspended elaborate collections of brightly glowing crystal spheres. In times past the hall had hosted balls and feasts but now it was little more than an extravagant entryway. The standard bearers split off from the procession as they entered the Grand Hall and moved to take their usual positions at the front and rear entrances of the Palace. The rest of the party made their way to the stairs at the back of the hall and up to the third floor of the Palace, where they turned left and followed the mezzanine around to the doors leading to the west wing. The Grand Hall separated the east wing, which was devoted to the administration of the kingdom, from the Royal Quarters of the west wing. Currently the west wing had only two residents, the Princess and Aliana. The Royal Residence occupied the entire third floor of the wing, but the Princess and her handmaiden only used one of the suites. The staff quarters on the second floor had been empty since the King and Queen were killed along with their entire retinue, and likewise the kitchen, dining room and private audience chamber on the first floor had been unused in all that time. Keri was served by the main Palace staff, which also saw to the east wing and the administrative personnel that lived and worked there, and took her meals and received visitors in her sitting room. As the entourage approached the ornate doors which led to the Royal Residence, the guards stationed there opened the doors and snapped to attention. Keri usually greeted them with a smile and a word as she passed, but she was too angry to do so now. The omission was not lost to the two guards, who shared a look as they closed the doors. A short distance down the corridor, they reached the door which led to the Princess's living quarters. Garith and Stilnar took their stations on either side of the door, which Marc opened before stepping aside to allow the Princess to enter. "Sir Marcan, please tell the Regent that the Princess requires her presence, immediately," Keri said, her formal tone leaving no doubt that she intended it as a royal summons. "Yes, Highness," Marc replied. His footfalls were already fading in the distance when the door to the Princess's sitting room closed. It was Aliana who spoke first, letting out her own rage as she exclaimed, "By the Fragment, she has a lot of nerve to pull something like this!" The look of absolute fury on her pretty face was so comical that Keri broke out in a fit of laughter. She collapsed onto a plush sofa and for several minutes couldn't even speak. Aliana joined her, while Enara looked at both as if they had lost their minds. "Oh, thank you, Ali, I needed that," Keri said at last. "The look on your face was priceless." "I live to serve, sweetie," Ali told her. "Not that the look wasn't genuine. I'm so mad I could tear the Regent's hair out!" "We can't have that," Keri said. "That would be treason, after all. I on the other hand...." "Highness, should I leave?" Enara asked. "It's Keri in here, Enara, and I'd really like you to stay," the Princess said. "When the Regent arrives, you can wait with Ali in her bedchamber." "We'll probably hear a little shouting," Aliana added. "Of course, we won't really 'hear' anything." "I'm not sure I understand," Enara said. "You didn't know about the festival?" "Oh, I knew about the festival and had already made plans to attend," Keri told her. "I didn't know my aunt had made arrangements to parade me before every noble's son in the kingdom like a broodmare." The Princess rose and began pacing about the chamber, clenching her fists and muttering under her breath. Aliana and Enara couldn't catch the words, which was probably for the best since the Princess was using very unladylike language. Finally, she stopped and drew in a deep breath before turning to face Aliana. "Ali, dear, would you please loosen this fragging dress," she said through clenched teeth. "I'd like to be able to breathe, so I can scream properly when the Regent gets here." "Why would the Regent do such a thing?" Enara asked as she moved to help Aliana adjust the lacing on the Princess's dress. "I'm sure it all has some political motive behind it," Keri said. "She likes to push me too, knowing I can't...." Enara looked on, waiting for the Princess to continue. Keri turned to look at Aliana, who nodded and said, "I think you can trust Enara." "I don't understand," Enara said. "Trust me with what?" "You've heard all the stories about elves, haven't you, Enara?" the Princess asked. "I suppose so," Enara said. "I know they were a beautiful race, and they had a natural connection to the aether, which made them powerful mages. They also had very long life spans; some even say they were immortal." "That's all true," Keri said. "Much of it also has passed on to humans with elvish ancestors. My great-grandmother, Queen Riala, was over two hundred when she died, and she looked almost exactly like she did when she was my age. My mother's family also had a strong elvish bloodline, and that bloodline mixed with my father's did something very unusual. My parents were human, but they had an elf for a child." "How could they know that?" "Magic," Keri explained. "The mages at the academy did a magical examination shortly after I was born. They said I'm a pureblood elf, something that hasn't been seen in Trimaria for over five hundred years." "Oh, well, why keep that a secret?" Enara wondered. "I think it's wonderful." "Because the elves didn't disappear, they were driven out," Keri said. "They lived side-by-side with humans for generations, but eventually jealousy and bigotry set in, and things became so bad that they left. My parents wanted to protect me from that possibility, so they presented me as just a child who resembled an elf, which while not common, isn't unheard of either." "What does that have to do with the festival?" "Do you know what else elves were known as?" Aliana asked. "They called themselves the Fae," Enara said. "Elf females were called nymphs by some because ... oh ... I think I see." Keri nodded and said, "That's right, the elves were very ... adventurous ... regarding sex, especially the females. They had magic to prevent themselves from getting pregnant unless they wanted to, so they had no reason to restrain their sexual nature. It was common for an elf female to marry, but she would also have numerous lovers. Of course, the same was actually true of the males, but it's always been acceptable for a man to have mistresses on the side. Along with everything else, I inherited that too." "But aren't you...," Enara started. "I mean I'd heard you were...." "Yes, I'm still a virgin," Keri said. She extended her right hand so Enara could examine the ring she wore. The band was very wide and made of a dark silver-grey metal Enara recognized as manthracite. A large emerald was set into the band, and the setting and band were etched with what looked at first glance like swirling lines. Upon closer examination, Enara could see that the swirls were actually finely wrought glyphs that were inlaid with pure gold. "It's called a chastity ring," Keri told her. "It keeps my elvish nature suppressed. My parents had it made when I was a child, but I didn't have to start wearing it until just before I turned eighteen, when I starte