At breakfast on Monday, 20th Maalisku, 23rd year of Peter III, his wife noted the family member who wasn’t attending. “Arillia, your sister has retreated to her room again.”

“Yes, Mother, I know it’s all my fault again. At least this time, she has Elizabeth with her, and Mary reports that Carnel is eating properly.”

“It’s my fault for suggesting Prince Peter. I should have let you find your heart.”

“Mother, you have made an excellent choice. Prince Peter shall be my husband and as our next king Peter IV, the father of your grandchildren.”

King Peter III rose to his feet. “Arillia! This is a jest too far after he conspired to kill your sister! Why did you let him escape our kingdom?”

“Father, we are in no shape to take on Excelsior, especially as their conflict with Stonekey isn’t what it is purported to be. You have seen what I have made of Deborah Swarey. Once Prince Peter becomes my puppet, he will bring all the previous advantages Mother and I have noted, and in addition, he will also be the key to unlocking the conspiracy against us. In my judgment, we simply have no alternative.”

Father sat back down and studied my face. “I have raised a monster.”

“Yes, you two have. Fortunately, even if I prove not monstrous enough to save Ioa in this moment of crisis, then there is another Skywalker. Let us take full advantage of this attempt against the life of the true hero of Ioa so that once she emerges from her room, she shall find the entire nation supporting her.”

“Why didn’t Carnel detect your enchantment on Miss Swarey?”

“It’s not an enchantment, Mother. You saw for yourself that she didn’t have the empty expression of the enchanted in either of her personalities.”

“Yes, both of her personalities were completely convincing. If I hadn’t seen her switch right before me, I would have sworn that they were two different women who just looked alike.”

“This isn’t foolproof. Careful use of Telepathy can reveal her true self, and at least Emperor Ramolino of Frankia can shift her again. Or she could be possessed. Should she suddenly violate her banishment without prior notice, please consult me before turning your back on her.”

“Who else have you used this power on?”

“At least Polly and Wayne Duenits of Calus, perhaps even you two.”

“We are under your control?”

“I don’t know, Mother. But you have both agreed with my reasoning in several cases that, in hindsight, seem rather rash.”

“You used this power to force Polly into your bed?”

“Yes, I did, to break her out of her death-seeking path.”

“Please tell us exactly what you did with Polly.”

I then told my parents the full extent of my adventure in Suskan.

“You killed a Bishop?” Mother looked up from the notes she had been taking.

“He was ordering his men at arms to attack me. I was a clearly marked noble exercising my right to defend my own life. Let the clergy make a claim to act as commanders in the field, and we shall see how the other kingdoms respond.”

“We had best keep this to ourselves for now, and please send Polly to speak with me. What are your plans for the moment?”

“Thanks to this attack against Carnel, I finally got Koching to tell me where he buried Martinia, so I’ll retrieve her next.”

“Are you sure you can command so many spirits of the dead?”

“What’s the point of being a monster if I can’t? And in the meantime, please write back to Prince Peter’s mother of how frightened I have been since the attempted assassination and have begged you to bring Prince Peter back here so he can properly organize our defenses.”

I returned to my room, sent Polly to consult with the Queen, and considered who I could take on my next adventure. Elizabeth would now have to stay with Carnel, and Polly wasn’t suitable for travel or battles against the undead, given how poorly she had fared against Koching. It was best to see how my squire was progressing. I put on my riding outfit, strapped on my swordbelt, put a cloak on over this, and then set out to the courtyard.

There, I saw Rebecka about to set out on Sharon.

“Rebecka, where are you heading out to?”

“We have an appointment to meet with Lady Augustus.”

“We? I don’t recall receiving an invitation. Hold on a minute, and let me fetch Emberstep. I want to talk to my aunt.”

“As Your Highness demands.”

Aunt Aleyda was waiting in the stable of her townhouse. “Arillia, why are you here?”

“Rebecka said that we had an appointment to meet with you.”

“No, Your Highness, we as in myself and Sharon.” Rebecka’s horse nodded at this.

“Why the horse?”

“Arillia, Sharon has simply been more reliable than you of late.” My aunt scratched Sharon behind the ear. “I’ve decided to take these two on as my assistants to help manage my council. Lady Rebecka can then relay reports to you and the Queen as needed. But as long as you’re here today, please tell us what your integration of Miss Swarey revealed so that Rebecka and Sharon can track down the local conspirators.”

“What good is a horse to investigate a conspiracy?”

“Nobody watches what they say around a horse.”

I was aware that Prince Peter had recently returned from a trip to Avrupa and asked Aunt Aleyda to check to see if he had met with Emperor Ramolino or his agents.

On our return to Kristophoro castle, I made a brief stop at the stablemaster’s house, where he greeted me in a more cheerful mood than I had seen of him lately.

“Your Highness.”

“Sir Amadev, how goes the training of your squire and your daughter?”

“Amelia has been showing him how to run the stables. I’m sure he’ll be ready to take over my job when I retire.”

“That he cannot do.”

“What?” Sir Amadev, his daughter, and her unwanted fiancee asked in unison.

“The Olmec family have important commercial interests in Port Linton, and Master Oliver must return within the year to serve under the Duke of Awato. He needs to be trained as a knight, not a stable hand. I will take this into my own hands and take these two on a training ride for a few days tomorrow. Please pack two tents on a mule, for we leave just after breakfast.”

Amelia followed me into the courtyard. “Why is Your Highness so intent on having me marry Oliver if you will send him away to serve under your uncle?”

“So that as his wife, you can see the birth of Duke Gustav’s and Miss Justine’s child.”

“Miss Justine doesn’t seem the type to seduce a married man.”

“She didn’t. He has used his alchemy to make her his unwitting mistress and the deliriously contented mother of as many children as he cares to put into her.”

“Is that the fate Your Highness is sending this humble stable girl to?”

“No, for Gustav is not long for this world. Hence, I need you to advise young Duke Zoltan so that he does not turn against the throne in anger. Do you see now why your marriage to Master Oliver is so critical to my plans?”

“I have been demoted from dragon slayer to stable girl and now to chess piece.”

“But you will do it?”

“If Your Highness absolutely requires it, I shall.”

“Best to get the dead done during our camping trip. I’ll give you two the time together.”

“I doubt Your Highness has arranged an entire trip for such a trivial matter. What will we really be doing?”

“We are off to fight the most wicked and talented witch who has ever died in Ioa.”

“Since Your Highness isn’t dead yet, then this must be Martinia.”

“Oh, please. Carnel is far more talented than myself, in magic at least.”

Amelia returned to the stablemaster’s house, and I entered the keep, found Polly, and went to knock on the door of the most talented wizard who has ever lived in Ioa. “Princess Carnel, might I have a word?”

“Yes, Arillia. Come on in.”

We entered and found Carnel and Elizabeth sitting at her table, which had the parts of her next Magical Abacus on it. Carnel kept her wand in hand as I walked up.

“Carnel, I know that any apology I offer will be insufficient. Therefore, I will beg for your understanding and not waste your time asking for your forgiveness.”

“Then expand on that understanding, Arillia. How exactly did you change Miss Swarey so completely and so quickly?”

“While I am myself a flawed human of limited wisdom and understanding, I have access to a power beyond this world.”

“Are you here to change me as you did Miss Swarey?” Carnel pointed her wand directly at me.

“That would be futile, for you are immune.”

“Are you just telling me this so that I won’t know I’ll be changed?”

“Polly, answer me truthfully. Am I lying to my sister?”

“Your Highness is difficult to read, especially with two undead spirits upon you.”

“Two?” Carnel asked.

“My oversight.” I unhooked my sword scabbard and put that with the haunted sword inside on the table. “Carnel, you know our distant uncle, Lord Sparot.” I then pulled the necklace with the haunted jewel from my shirt and put that beside the blade. “And this is our great, great, great, etc. grandfather, the elf we call Koching. Now, Polly, do I believe that Carnel’s will is immune to the power beyond?”

“Yes, you do. But how is this when Princess Carnel is merely human?”

“How can I trust her? Show me, Arillia.”

“I will never demonstrate on Elizabeth, out of respect for her as a person and for her circumstances so as Your Highness demands. Carnel, as your elder sister, I order you to confess all of your sins here and now.”

“That’s it? No enchantment? You just talk to people?”

“It takes a bit of finesse, but my words have power. Polly, did I attempt to control my sister?”

“Your Highness seemed sincere in an attempt that you felt would be in vain.”

“Carnel, do you appreciate Polly’s power?”

“She spotted Miss Swarey but didn’t speak up in time.”

“I leave her training in your hands. Elizabeth and Polly are to serve only you and travel with you.”

Polly looked at me in alarm.

“Polly, while your day job is to serve my sister, you may continue to share my bed as long as you like. Unlike we royals, you are free to live your own life, to the extent that duty allows.”

“Arillia, I thought you said you needed Elizabeth to protect you on your adventures and that I should sleep in a crib in our parents’ room?”

She’s getting hostile.

“Carnel, this is a cruel, dangerous world, and at sixteen, you are still very much a child while at the same time taking on many adult responsibilities. I hereby resign from my self-appointed roles as your chief protector and adviser and return these duties to Your Highness. While I will always be ready to protect, advise, and answer all your questions, I ask you never again to ask: What would Arillia do? Instead, ask: What should Carnel do? As for myself, well, I have all these nice things.” I gathered up necklace and scabbard as I rose. “May I leave Polly here so that you may determine for yourself what use you might make of her? I ask only that you send her back to lie at my side every night that I am in residence.”

“Yes, Sister. I will talk with her and consider the things you have said.”

“One thing you need not worry about is the question of succession, for I have decided to breed with Prince Peter.”

“After he held you back from defending me?”

“I was attempting to get Prince Peter alone to turn him into a ‘Debbie’. Should he prove immune, then he will die, and I shall have some other puppet prince put an heir in me. I am not judging your heart, which seems far purer than mine, merely pointing out that I am willing to take up this responsibility so that you should feel no obligation to seek the embrace of a man should you not wish to do so.”

Carnel reached out to hold hands with Elizabeth. “I thank you for your understanding.”

When Polly returned to my room that evening, I held up my hand. “Do not speak to me of anything my sister has told you in confidence, only what she has asked you to relay to me. And in the meantime, I have better uses for your tongue.” I doffed my nightrobe.

Carnel joined the family for breakfast on Tuesday, 21st Maalisku, and I had Polly sit next to her and Elizabeth.

Mother raised an eyebrow at this new seating arrangement.

“Your Majesties, I have assigned Miss Posgort to assist Princess Carnel.”

“And we have already accomplished the impossible!” My sister turned to my lover and asked. “Polly, show us your wand.”

Polly pulled a five-inch long quarter-inch diameter wooden dowel with runes carved along its length. She held this before her in both hands and closed her eyes in concentration until the tip started to emit a dim blue glow.

“Extraordinary!” Mother leaned across the table to examine this.

“That’s it?” Father asked.

“Father, the interesting part about this is that Polly is channeling her mana through a magic item without a dozen years of wizard’s training or even Carnel’s six years. Carnel, other wizards have tried for decades to get a Blessed Girl to channel mana from or to a magic item. How did you do it?”

“Blessed Girls use mana, but on a different frequency than wizards. Polly, give your wand to Arillia.”

I turned Polly’s wooden dowel over in my hands. “Clearly not a real wand. It’s a magic item, but the balance of the runes is off. Mother, what do you think?”

“Yes, I couldn’t power this. Carnel, it seems to take a great deal of her effort to generate a minimal effect?” Mother handed the stick back to Polly.

“Sure, it’s not a practical replacement for even the basic Light spell, but now that we know how to connect to their mana, I could someday build a device to channel vast amounts of mana to boost her healing abilities.”

I didn’t need any cosmic power to control my sister, who would jump like a starving puppy for any table scraps I tossed her. I would wait until she was at a loss for how to provide this quantity of mana and then offer her the Bind Spirit spell. But first, she needed a group of lab assistants. “Why don’t you make this the subject of your next lecture?”

“My next lecture?” Carnel looked at me.

“You can hold it here in the great hall. Just have Sage Reltuc select your students and then have Polly screen all visitors at the door. Tell our nation that you will not be silenced by these threats from hidden conspiracies against your life.”

“Arillia!”

“Father, Ioa needs a hero. Fate has given Princess Carnel the chance to be that hero.”

“I’ll…” Carnel stopped for a moment, studied my eyes, then continued. “I’ll think about it.”

After breakfast, I kissed Polly goodbye, accepted her best wishes for my trip, went back to my room to put on the adventuring clothes and boots, strapped on the Sword of Wraith, tucked Koching in my shirt, gathered my pack, and headed for the stables.

There, I found my doppelganger instructing Oliver on preparing the horses and the mule Eugene while Amelia looked on in amusement.

“Lady Rebecka!”

“Your Highness.” She bowed to me.

“Arillia?” Oliver looked back and forth between us. “I mean, Your Highness!”

“Your wig seems even more lifelike than before, but surely that was not sufficient to fool someone who knows me as well as Master Olmec, even with Miss Amadev supporting your facade.”

“It is a dye, not a wig, Your Highness, and Master Olmec never looks you in the eye.”

“I don’t recall inviting you on this mission. And by looking like that, you would give away our doppelganger secret.”

“The king instructed me to follow your party secretly. Sharon and I shall rest until evening, then follow your trail overnight.”

“Isn’t telling me this a violation of his order?”

“My pledge is to Your Highness, not your parents.” Rebecka waved, then strode into the courtyard, where a few guards bowed to this fake princess.

I inspected Emberstep’s bridle and saddle and then turned to Amelia’s new mare. “A real beauty, what’s her name?”

“Dawn Patch, a daughter of Goldeneye. You can just make out the marking around her eye.”

“Yes, I see the resemblance. Dawn, when I tell you to stop, you must stop in order to save Amelia and yourself.”

Dawn snorted at this.

“Yes, Your Highness, I have learned my lesson very painfully and will stay in my place. You don’t have to pile emotional injury on top of the physical injury I have suffered on your behalf!”

“And is that injury fully recovered?”

“I have nine-tenths the strength I used to have and am still recovering. I can ride by your side.”

“Oliver, as your princess, I order you to tell us truthfully what you feel about Amelia and her condition.”

“Your Highness, Amelia isn’t as pretty, educated, or cultured as the women my parents have suggested, but she’s strong, determined, honest, and good-hearted. I’ve searched for years and seen none other I’d have as my bride. Bless your Miss Polly for speeding Amelia’s recovery. Now, I look for those occasions when Amelia will push herself a little too hard and get a bit winded, and I’ll step in. Oh, she’ll complain and then take to instructing me with sharp words, but the gratitude in her eyes as she rests is all the thanks I need.” Master Olmec seemed a bit startled at his own words. He thought for a bit and nodded in agreement with himself, then after a further moment’s reflection, he said. “My apologies, Miss Amadev. I don’t know why I said all of that.”

“Princess Arillia has that way with people.” Amelia turned away from Oliver to hide her blush. “Let’s set out on this great adventure of hers.”

We reached the village of Notyad that afternoon and stopped to rest at the mayor’s house again. At dinner, his younger son asked me what had happened to the blue-haired girl. His family held their breath, but I decided to be gentle.

“Miss Posgort has fully recovered and now assists my sister, Princess Carnel, in her research.”

The next day, I followed the path that Koching showed me to the northwest, adjusting for the changes humans had made to the land in the two centuries since he had set foot there. That evening, as we set camp in the forest I pointed out that a squire such as Miss Amadev couldn’t possibly share the same tent as a princess. Oliver said he would sleep in the open, but Amelia kissed him and dragged him (unresisting) into their tent. I distracted myself from her sharp instruction to him on the arts of how to please a woman by calling up Debbie, who reported that she had escaped her guards in Spearland (as previously arranged), made it through torturous interrogation, and was now plotting with Ezra Oliverson’s group schemes to kidnap and hand over to Excelsior this weak Princess Arillia. I congratulated my pet on her excellent work and said I would get back to her in a few days to coordinate my abduction.

When I sent Oliver to scout our path the next day, Amelia told me that spunk tasted awful, but she had swallowed and smiled for my sake.

On the morning of the third day, Oliver announced they would marry when we returned. Then, that afternoon, as we continued to the northwest and approached the Black Bog, I felt a tingle in my head. I pulled out my wand and completed the connection.

Who is this?

Koching is misleading you.

And then the connection dropped, but I noticed that the direction was to the east.

I called Rebecka to join us over the earring link and Amelia and Oliver seemed surprised when she suddenly appeared riding Sharon.

Over the next several hours, we followed the source of this strange voice. I attempted to address this entity several times but only received a faint acknowledgment each time. This, however, proved sufficient to track the source to a small mound in the forest. I had Oliver dig into this, and he soon hit stone. Sparot said that he was no student of Elvin runes and had paid no attention to those carved into his tomb, but I had read about these since that encounter and soon directed Oliver to uncover the door stone, which I opened with my magic.

I proceeded as before, but this time, I conserved my mana by relying on Sparot’s undead senses. When I opened the sarcophagi, I saw that the skeleton inside was dressed in the tatters of the dress I had seen in Koching’s vision, and she was holding her wand. I braced myself for my toughest fight ever as I held Sparot’s saber in my left hand and picked up the wand in my right.

Quickly

Martinia?

Do you know the Bind Spirit spell?

Yes.

I’m barely hanging on. Quickly cast your spell with an oath to protect and advance the best interests of the Fireblood tribe.

Spirit, I agree to your terms. I exchanged wand for saber, cast the spell, and then shouted aloud. “By the terms of protecting and advancing the best interests of the Fireblood tribe, we two are bound.”

Thank you. That’s much better. Now, let us leave this Elvin circle of runes.

I climbed the steps back to the door stone and had Oliver push this closed. Then I turned to the others. “May I introduce to you Martinia Fireblood, the Marquise of Magic. Now excuse me for a few minutes, for I must speak with her.”

I found a nearby rock to sit on and examined Martinia’s wand.

How did you know of Koching’s trickery?

His runes greatly hampered my magics but did not totally prevent their use. Never trust an elf. I see that you have faint Elvin features yourself. Are you a descendant of Kateri?

I am her eighth-generation descendant, Princess Arillia Aurora Angleland of Ioa.

Eight generations, so much time. But at least my kingdom has survived. Why did you seek my power, Princess?

Conspiracies within and beyond my kingdom threaten its further existence.

Then it would be best to make this wand your own, as its capacity for mana greatly exceeds that of the twig you carry.

Isn’t this your wand? How can one wand serve two masters?

An exception can be made due to the binding oath we share. Let me show you the procedure.

Lastly, if you really are Martinia, then why is your vocabulary so modern?

Unlike this Sparot fellow you carry, my might was not entirely contained by the Elvin runes, so I listened mostly unconscious all these years to what occurred around me.