Arillia by Illuminati Architect

Chapter Five, The Father

I awoke before dawn on Wednesday, 30th Nodwin, 22nd year of Peter III, did my quick magical shower of water and wind magics with eyes closed, then dressed and made my way through the castle. I asked for directions and soon found myself at Alice’s door. I was just about to knock when I heard her cry out. “Princess Arillia!”

Foolishly taking this as an invitation, I opened the door and saw that Alice lay naked on her bed facing me with eyes tightly shut. Her right hand was buried in the dull brown curls of her thatch while her left hand mauled at her ample breasts.

“Oh, Princess Arillia! Don’t lick me down there. It’s dirty.” At that point, her flat brown eyes flew open. “Your Highness!” She raised her hands in shock off her stout and well-rounded body, with her right forefinger visibly damp.

I could just see the potential Greg said she had. She just needed a bit of shaping up.

Over the next several seconds, I would have assumed that she was intentionally showing me every inch of her body if she wasn’t so clumsy about pulling the sheet from under her to over herself. I memorized her three moles for investigation at a later date. These could be magicked away or not. It was a matter of health versus beauty, and she seemed to have a good start on both with the proper attention.

She lay there staring at me, so I decided to toy with her a bit.

“Aspiring above your station?”

“I’m so sorry, Your Highness. It won’t happen again.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I’m flattered, not offended, but please bolt your door next time. Now wash up, dress comfortably, have breakfast, and seek me out.”

“Comfortable?”

“We’re going running this morning.”

“Where to?”

“Just around and around the castle. I need to ensure that when we do travel to the Tomb of Sparot, you’ll be able to run away from the dangers so that I can deal with these without worrying about the safety of my precious, dear sweet Alice.”

She shivered for a moment, then said. “Yes, Your Highness.”

When I met Alice after breakfast, she was wearing only a tunic so thin that I could make out the outlines of the broad straps of her bra over her shoulders under it, her belt (without the keys), and old brown shoes over discolored socks. She kept up right behind me for three laps around the castle, drawn forward only by her eyes on the prize of my backside. I could tell from her heavy breathing that she was at her limit when the dozen guardsmen gathered on the archery field parted to allow Rebecka to pass. From their expressions of awe, she must have been drilling them in her craft.

“Lady Rebecka, this is Alice, our sage in training.”

“Is this how sages train, Your Highness?”

“She’ll be leading us on our next quest.”

“And whom shall Your Highness acquire then?”

“Lord Sparot.”

“Sparot!” Alice joined the conversation at that point, lifting her head but leaving her hands on her knees, with sweat threatening to drip from her hair into her eyes. “But he’s been dead for over two centuries!”

“Then I hope you treat him with the proper respect due to his age and rank when you meet him. He’ll be my right hand.” I stopped a moment to consider my wand preference hand. “Well, either hand man, depending on wand versus dagger I suppose. I’ll need to remember to get Sir Hoofblack to teach me both ways. Alice, why aren’t you wearing your glasses?”

“I only need those for reading, Your Highness.”

“Lady Rebecka, do you know how to read?”

“I’ve never needed to, Your Highness.”

“Then Alice will teach you as you teach her your brand of fitness, which seems more suitable for fieldwork than what my sheltered upbringing has provided. Why don’t you two shower together then spend the afternoon learning and investigating?”

“Together?”

“It’s to conserve water. And Lady Rebecka, be sure to examine Alice all over to determine her fitness needs.”

“I have never had another in my care, Your Highness.”

“Then let this be another part of your training. But first.” I grabbed Alice’s shoulder, and silently cast Telepathy.

Other than hair, eye color, and a little skin tone, Lady Rebecka is identical to myself. So, I shall allow you a few furtive glances.

“Your Highness?”

Alice, respond mentally like this.

Yes, Darling. Er, I mean Your Highness.

Do you see how hard it is to lie or even withhold the truth under this spell? Be ready for it. And do let me know if Lady Rebecka is either offended or flattered.

But your heart?

Is open to all of my trusted companions. My body will be exclusive once I am married, but only with respect to men.

Even if you are married into a foreign court far overseas, I will follow if you allow me.

I will hold you to that.

With that I released my grip and the spell. “Be on your way you two. Decide between yourselves which half of the day will be devoted to the body and the other half training your minds and determining where we must go.”

Rebecka looked quizzically between us during the spell, but now, she took Alice’s hand and led her up the stairs.

On my own way up the stairs to my room, I regretted not having my wand in hand when casting Telepathy after exercising. I sat on the stairs for a minute and resolved to amend the first rule of wizardry to never ever cast to exhaustion. From now on, I’d always carry my wand in my pocket and respond to the old boorish joke of “Are you happy to see me or is that a wand in your pocket?” with “I’m all woman, but if that’s all you’re packing, then you’re gonna hear me snore.”

When I finally got to my room and collapsed on the bed, I could hear the other two women being just a little too energetic in a shower that seemed to go on a little too long.

Why do you keep pairing off the girls you pick up?

I noted to myself that while I had not commanded the pair to get physical with each other, I had strongly suggested it and had been thinking about it during the spell. “To keep them out of your hands, Greg. Of course. Now, where is this tomb?”

Somewhere in the mountains of Suskan. The game was a little unclear.

“That’s not so far past our southeast border. It’s where I’d go if I wanted to find undead, given their many bloody battles over slight religious differences. I’ll let Alice know when I see her next, after she’s finished with their mutual stress relief.”

From the bathroom, I heard Alice loudly cry out, “Arillia!” before her voice was muffled, perhaps with another mouth covering hers.

After they moved back to Rebecka’s room, I entered the bathroom and knocked on the connecting door.

There was a pause, and then Alice answered, “What is it?”

“Alice, while you’re dressing Rebecka, you probably haven’t noticed that while everything I have fits her, none of my things fits you. Rebecka, would you like me to have Mary and the other maids bring all of Alice’s things to your room?” Again, I did not command, but I mentally pictured the two in the continuing relationship that I suggested.

After a moment’s pause, Rebecka answered, “That would be satisfactory.”

“Also, the tomb is in the mountains of Suskan.”

Alice responded. “That narrows it down a lot. Let me go check that.”

“Get dressed first, please.”

“Yes, Your Highness. How can you tell everything I’m doing? Are you using a spell to spy on us?”

“Another thing Rebecka needs to teach you is how to move or at least stay still quietly, like a fawn in the forest.”

After washing up and lunch, I walked down to the castle library (in more comfortable and seasonable clothes than my last visit). I found Alice defenselessly engrossed in the book of Mantup. I walked up within spear’s reach and asked. “Where’s Rebecka?”

She jumped back on the bench she was seated on and nearly over it. “Your Highness!” Then, a moment later, she finally processed my question. “I think you’ll find her teaching archery in the courtyard. What do you need her for?”

“No, I need your assistance this time. Do we have a copy of The History of Suskan by Eadkink?”

“Let me see.” Alice grabbed another book from the table, opened this to the middle, and then scanned through three pages before looking back up at me. “No, that’s never been added to the castle library.”

How does she Dewey that so fast without a computer? Well, she is a computer, isn’t she?

“I’ll go get a copy.” I waved and walked away without verifying if Alice was watching my behind this time, as neither answer would be helpful.

On my way down the stairs, I whispered to Greg. “Do I truly have all that I need for the tomb quest?”

It would help if you’d get the Jewel of Koching.

“I am not plucking out an eye for one quest. I need to preserve at least the appearance of marriageability for diplomatic purposes. I can maintain Magescan from my wand for long enough, and once I have Sparot in hand, he’ll show me all spirits anyway. Very little thought seems to have gone into your game.”

If you’re careful with your spells, you might make it with Elizabeth and Rebecka to protect you.

“Can’t pry Elizabeth away from Carnel.”

Without Ms Meatshield you won’t survive. I tried five times and lost the entire party to overruns each time, no matter who else I took.

“Let me think this though.” I stood on a small platform next to the stairway and gazed out through an arrowslit at The Academy’s central tower in the distance. After a few minutes, I shouted out. “Reltuc!”

I don’t remember that name.

“He’s a sage at The Academy. One of my old instructors. He’s the key to this, I think.”

As I stepped outside the castle, two guards followed me. I remembered their faces, so I made sure not to lose them as I walked through the city square and into the Academy.

Their uniforms caught a bit of attention on the campus, but those who recognized my face simply nodded or appeared to pay no attention.

Reltuc answered when I knocked on the door to his office, so I motioned for the guards to remain outside.

“Your Highness! What brings my best student ever back to our humble campus? Will you be taking time off your royal duties for even more advanced studies?”

“Sage Reltuc, one thing I noticed over the years is that while most instructors would spend these coming holidays at home with their families, you would always be in the castle library reading from our selection.”

“Well, every family celebrates these times in their own fashion.”

Something about how he phrased his response almost reminded me of something important, but I couldn’t quite place it. “So I would like you to do so this year, but I have an additional very important mission.”

“I am happy to help Your Highness however I can.”

“I’d like you to instruct my sister, Princess Carnel, during this time.”

“Surely, Your Highness has this old sage confused with a much braver man. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“She has changed a great deal since you last met her. Come to the castle library after breakfast on Monday and see for yourself. Also, bring a copy of The History of Suskan by Eadkink.”

“I still have your report on that book, and I’ll happily bring the volume itself on Monday. I’ve been planning to retire next year and spend my remaining years writing my own book based on the techniques you used to cross-reference the observations in that and other works. Please share with me any additional notes you may glean from the rereading.”

“It’s not for me. I’m planning a trip to the Suskan mountains.”

“Your Highness is sponsoring a royal expedition? That must mean you have over a hundred extremely courageous men already. Just take the bravest of those, and you have your instructor.”

“I’ll see you next week then.”

“As always, the pleasure is mine, Your Highness.”

On the morning of Monday, 5th, Meceder I waved as he entered the gatehouse. “Good morning, Sage Reltuc.”

“Good morning, Your Highness. I can see how eager you are to reread this book, but I hope you didn’t wait out in this chill for me?”

“No, just got here myself.”

“Let’s be off to your library then.”

“Surely we have nothing there that you don’t have at The Academy?”

“In this castle, one may find what I have indulgently called the jewel of our kingdom. If you will excuse this old man’s sentimental nature, Your Highness.”

“But of course.”

As we entered the library, we saw Alice on her usual bench, with Rebecka straddling her. The two had their arms around each other and were kissing. Alice opened her eyes, unlocked her lips, and cried out, “Father!”

Rebecka released Alice, bent over backwards, and somersaulted over the table to land on her feet and curtsy to me. “Good morning, Your Highness.”

“I am used to taking Alice by surprise, but what is your excuse, Lady Rebecka?”

“Your Highness matched your pace to the man who walked beside you. It would be presumptuous of myself to consider him a threat when you did not.” She then turned to the sage. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Father of Alice. Mr. Reltuc, I presume?”

That’s right, she’s Alice Reltuc. I think I remember seeing that on a display somewhere.

“Sage Reltuc, if we must be formal, Lady Rebecka. May I ask what your intentions with my daughter are?”

“I would rather be part of her family than my own.”

Alice paused in putting on her glasses and bit at her lip as she looked over at her father.

“Well, in that, you have my blessing. I feared that my poor Alice would always be alone, and I hope you will take good care of her.”

“Thank you for welcoming me, Father. Is there anyone else in our family?”

“No, just the three of us now. Alice’s mother passed away when she was very young.”

“Here!” I took the book from Sage Reltuc and placed it in front of Alice. “While you were enjoying each other, I’ve been working on the quest. When will your part be complete?”

“It is! Here’s the map of our route that goes through the three possible locations in the Suskan mountains. We just need to investigate each in turn, and we’ll find the Tomb of Sparot.”

“Now Alice,” Her father approached the table to look at the map, “You mustn’t get carried away and start using the royal we when talking about Her Highness’ huge expeditionary force.”

“No, Father, I meant we as in myself, these two, and one other.”

“Your Highness!” He spun around to face me. “While it rips my old heart to shreds that you would throw away the only joy in my life for this fantasy, I am a rational man, and I fully understand what a grave blow it would be against this nation for you to throw your own life away like this. Will you drop this now, or must I have a word with the King?”

“He knows.”

“What!”

“He understands the risks and the absolute necessity of this expedition. We have considered sending in as big a force as we could spare, but this would lead to needless loss of life, the attraction of monsters, and that of even more terrifying natives that this much smaller group can sneak around. Foreign invasions have been the only thing that has ever united the feuding tribes of Suskan. But if I am captured, I am merely a princess on a diplomatic mission.” I left out Greg’s ravings about stars of death and mechanical men but resolved to ask him where I might find this saber of light, even with Sir Hoofblack’s warning against wielding two full-sized swords simultaneously.

“What secret source do you have that tells you what treasures might have once been buried in a tomb centuries ago?”

I noticed and decided to overlook Sage Reltuc’s shift to less respectful language. I was once again just a student and not a princess. I had cherished those days when everything I accomplished was the result of my own efforts, not some accident of my birth. “I have precognition.”

“Hogwash! I can recall at least a half dozen occasions during your schooling where you showed no anticipation of events in the future.”

“It only activated on my 18th birthday.”

“What proof do you have of this extraordinary claim?”

“This power told me exactly when and where to recruit each of my three companions. This wasn’t something I’d find in some old book, and how would I know when to cast the right spells without it?”

Alice folded her hands together and looked up at me. “Then that day, Your Highness walked into the library…”

“Yes, my power told me exactly how to dress and walk and why you would be vital to my quest and so important to me. I just added my own improvisations along the way.”

“I’ve always admired Your Highness from a distance.”

“But I was blind to your presence, and your value, and the wonderful person you are until I gained this sight beyond sight, this perception beyond magic. And I know that without these hints of the future this kingdom would already be on the road to ruin, and we may still fall within a year if I do not take full advantage of what has been arbitrarily gifted to me.” I turned back to her father. “And that, Sage Reltuc, is why I must do the things I know I must do and take my chances with the things I do not foresee.”

“So the mighty princess is but a puppet on a string, dancing to the whims of an unseen master?”

“I can always say no and go sulk in my room. It is responsibility and not compulsion that drives me. Sage Reltuc, will you step up to your responsibility to assist me in my quest?”

“How can you ask me to send my only daughter into the wilderness, not to hear of her fate for months or years?”

“Thank you, Sage Reltuc. You have just made my argument because the task I have for you is to help maintain the daily communication between myself and this castle.”

“You would use the Telepathy spell? I know how proud you were to finally learn that last year, but the range is far too short.”

“Unless the link is between two people who know that spell and each other’s minds.”

“You have found another wizard who knows the spell?”

“I taught it to Carnel in one day. She still casts from the book and fails most of the time, but if she puts her full effort into it, we will have a half-minute of conversation every day.”

“At her young age?”

“Carnel may not be my equal in a great many things, but her innate affinity for spellcasting exceeds even my own. Now, you must pledge never to reveal my power or hers, especially to Carnel.”

“You would tell us about these things that you would not tell your own sister?”

“Carnel is like an uncut jewel, precious and fragile, but with the proper care set to shine with unparalleled brilliance. But she is not and should never try to be Arillia the second. It would crush her if she learned that I have an ability she can never match. And if she thinks too highly of her own wizardry, she will dive into its depths and drown there. She needs to balance out her education first, then return to the systematic study of magic, covering all the concepts and carefully probing each of the pitfalls. I don’t want a crown on her head; I want her to be head of the school of magic at The Academy, surrounded by the best and brightest wizards to push forward the study of magic. And that potential is why her life is more valuable than mine. I will first lift her up, then set her free to fly whatever course she finds best.”

“But how can you change the future?” Alice asked.

“There is not one fixed future. I have seen many possibilities, and from these, I try to select the best.”

“But what of destiny and fate?”

“Fate says that we’re all already dead, and I say ‘Not Yet’.”