by AJ Martin
“That is enough!” Josephine snapped and glared at Matthias. “We are not here for this!” Matthias blushed at her fiery look and after a moment nodded. Josephine turned back to Balzan. “I must apologise for my escort,” she said calmly. “It is not my intention to ambush you within your own home.”
Balzan sat back and nodded. He took a breath. “I think, perhaps, we have become side -tracked. In any case, I applaud you princess for your conduct.” He sighed. “I feel I need to be candid about my actions relating to your request. May I?”
“I would prefer it,” Josephine said.
He nodded. “I am deeply concerned about your request of a meeting with the regent. You hint at an unspecified danger, but you will not tell me what that danger is. You have emerged in our realm without warning - a princess bringing such news? Why not an ambassador? Why such a small party? None of this makes sense to me. Neither does the fact that you will not tell me. If the danger is as imminent as it sounds, why not tell me what it is?” He stood. “But, above all else, I am very concerned about the company you keep.” He moved to stand over Matthias. “I do not trust Mahalians. Even lower ranked ones.” Matthias’s nose wrinkled. “That you are here as an advisor to Aralia troubles me, Matthias Greenwald. I am forced to wonder how much influence my former countrymen now have with your king. Aralia has always had difficulties freeing itself from the leash of the council.” He turned back to Josephine. “It is that reason that has given me great pause. To allow access to the regent under these circumstances may present not only a danger to him, but to these people I now protect.”
“You haven’t told him the regent we’re here, have you?” Luccius asked suddenly, joining in the discussion.
Balzan looked at him soberly. He shook his head. “No ansuwan man. No I have not. I am sorry to have deceived you.”
Josephine sat forward. “You have not informed Regent Caldur I am even here? Then what have we been waiting for?”
“I was looking for some proof from our information gatherers that would convince me you are here for the greater good,” he said. “Or some part of me that could justify setting up the meeting you requested. I could find none that could warrant the risk.”
“You have not told the regent because you fear for his safety?” Josephine asked, the frustration evident in her voice. “Is that the reason you deny me this right?”
“I have not informed him because to allow a wizard and those potentially under his influence to have access to the most powerful man in this country. I need to know of what it is you want to speak with him about!” he said, gesturing heatedly with his arms. “Royalty or not, your highness, that is the crux of the matter.”
Josephine stood from her chair. She was a head shorter than the protector, but she looked up at him with no less authority for it. “Do you care for the people of this realm?” she asked him.
“Unquestionably,” he responded.
Josephine stared at the man. “I believe you,” she said, and then, after a moment, she nodded. “You are correct. You do have a right to know what is happening here.”
“Princess,” Matthias said warily. Josephine turned to Matthias, who was looking at her anxiously.
“What is more important here Matthias?” she asked him. “Keeping secrets or stopping this threat?”
Matthias looked from the protector to the princess, his eyes analysing them intently. “He is not to be trusted!” he exclaimed.
“I don’t believe that,” she rebuffed. Matthias looked hurt. His cheeks flushed. Josephine noticed and her face grew softer. “Matthias, you have looked after us along this journey and I have trusted your judgement this far. But I have to listen to my instincts first.” She turned back to the protector. “I have been told you are a cruel and devious man. I may be able to believe the latter, as I have never met a wizard who is not so. Even this one,” she nodded to Matthias. “But cruel?” She stared into his eyes. “I do not see it.”
Balzan smiled. “Then you see a greater truth than your companion, my dear,” he said warmly.
Josephine turned her head to Matthias. “You may not trust the protector Matthias, but do you trust me?”
Matthias stood and looked at Balzan. His eyes drowned in confusion. Then he looked to Josephine and meeting her gaze again, he took a breath. “Implicitly.”
“Then let me do this,” she asked.
Matthias smiled at her and then, slowly, he nodded. “Tell him.”
An Explanation
142nd Day of the Cycle, 495 N.E. (New Era)
Protector Balzan poured himself another glass of wine - his third in the space of the hour Josephine had taken to tell him about her journey. Now she was finished, they sat and watched as he sniffed at the glass.
“I do enjoy a spiced wine. It reminds me so often of the drinks of Mahalia. Do you not agree Matthias?”
“I would rather hear of your thoughts regarding the information Princess Josephine has just given you than your musings about the comforts of home,” Matthias replied acidly.
Balzan sipped at the wine. “It is a very good vintage.” he said and set the glass on the table, regarding Josephine. “That you can wield one of the powers is one thing, your highness. But... that you are an Akari?” He recited, shaking his head. “It is hard to comprehend.”
Josephine smiled. “I said that you would not believe me, did I not?”
“Did I say I didn’t believe you?” Balzan responded. “It is just hard to do so, when one takes all the current truths of the world into consideration.”
Josephine nodded. “Well that is who I am, whatever your opinion is on the matter. Or at least, I am the heir to their power, if I am not a part of their race. If I have to demonstrate the powers I wield, I will do so. Though you may want to remove anything of value from the room. I am... still learning.”
Balzan smiled. “I do not think that will be necessary,” he said. “Your convictions speak louder than any demonstration can.”
“You do not think this is some kind of Mahalian plot?” Matthias asked with surprise.
Balzan chuckled. “As deceptive as Mahalia can be, it is beyond even their means to weave such a farfetched tale.” He proceeded to pace the room. “Your involvement in this Matthias is almost as surprising as the other aspects of this tale. It seems much has changed in the council if members of its ranks would so openly defy the Consensus.”
“This is not a betrayal,” he said pointedly. “Before you try to find similarities between our two situations, protector. I am acting in the best interests of my people, even if they do not consider it to be so.”
The old man smiled. “You still have much to learn,” he commented and moved to the window, where he stared out at the city. The pillar holding the dragon stretched into the air, and from the perspective of the window only the tail and wings were readily visible. “I believe you,” he said.
“You do?” the princess said with surprise.
He nodded. “I believe that you are what you say you are, or at the very least, that you are a women who can wield one of the powers. I am an expert judge of character, even if I say so myself.” He let out a snort of laughter. “And having practiced the art of deception for so long as a part of Mahalia’s council, I have learned to spot an untruth as soon as it leaves someone’s lips.” He turned to Josephine. “You are no liar, princess. Of that much I am certain. And your companion is not practised enough in the art to pull the wool over my eyes.” Matthias gritted his teeth as Balzan looked back out the window. “That being said, I cannot see how anyone could be working to release the dragon. I test the wards around him regularly. I have never found any weakness.”
“These sorcerers are clever,” Matthias interceded. “They have hidden for centuries without being found. Age has undoubtedly brought them wisdom.”
Balzan sniffed. “I have found that age mostly serves to highlight how little we still truly know of the world. For most people, age simply brings wrinkles. Myself unfortunately incl
uded.”
“If it were only the gift of youth these men were after, I would not be so concerned,” Matthias retorted. “But they seem to have other plans afoot.”
Balzan sighed. “I cannot see what releasing the dragon would accomplish, even if these men are the sorcerers you believe them to be.” He squinted at the pillar.
“Protector, I have told you what you wanted to know,” sighed Josephine. “It is all we know. Regardless, I hope you realise now that we are here in your best interests and that we have not come to hatch some plot to undermine you?”
Balzan left the window and returned to where they were gathered behind him. He nodded. “I will accede as much.”
Josephine bowed her head in response. “Then I will repeat my original request. Will you grant me a meeting with the regent?” she asked. “I understand you have a great many things to make sense of. But you may puzzle over the intricacies of our situation whilst I convene with him. We do not have any more time for deliberation.”
Balzan’s jaw worked as he thought. After what seemed an eternity, he finally dipped his head. “I will visit him now and tell him all you have told me. I cannot say how long I will be, but I will send for you as soon as I can.”
Josephine smiled. “You have my thanks, Protector Balzan. You have made the right choice.”
Balzan smiled. “That remains to be seen.” The man swept across the room and opened the heavy door. He turned to regard them once again. “To think, I was having rather an uneventful day...” He smiled and shut the door behind himself.
Luccius let out a deep breath. “Well, I am glad that is over!” he exclaimed. “I have never felt so awkward! I’m only sorry I had nothing to add. I felt like a mute!”
“I think Matthias interceded more than enough for all of you,” she said tersely. “I do not know what you are thinking of, acting so rudely! How are we to earn the trust of the man if you manage to anger him at every opportunity?” She raised her hands to the air. “And I thought you were the one who was supposed to be heading up this quest!”
“I cannot pretend to like the man Josephine. You might believe he is a good man. I can’t.” Matthias shook his head.
“Not that I am always a good judge of character, but he didn't seem to be a dishonourable man,” Thadius added. “In fact, aside from his bluntness of earlier, he was rather accommodating when you explained everything to him.”
“I agree,” Josephine said. “With that in mind, I would ask that you restrain yourself the next time. You may be a master of your magics Matthias, but this is court life - politics - and I have lived in such a world since birth. I know how to talk to these people.”
Matthias opened his mouth to rebuff her comments, but then, he stopped himself. “You... you are right. I’ve let my personal feelings for the man take over my common sense. You have done exceptionally here, Josephine, whereas I have done the complete opposite.” He sniffed. “But I still can’t bring myself to trust him.”
“I am not asking you to trust him,” Josephine said. “I just need you to remain calm in his presence until this is over. I need your support, now more than ever.”
Matthias nodded. “You have it.”
Josephine moved to the window and stared at the dragon’s wings, hovering above them. She took a breath. “How am I going to do this?” she asked.
“With my help,” Matthias replied. “We will find a way.”
“It looks so lifeless. How could anything live for so long, trapped in such a way? Could we... could we not simply smash him to pieces? Push him off the pillar?”
“Now that is a good question,” Thadius added. “If he is made of stone, why not grind and crumble him to dust?”
“I wish we could, but it isn’t that simple,” Matthias advised.
“Why am I not surprised?” Thadius sniffed.
“Many have tried to smash or destroy a petrified person, but once they have been turned a creature’s body becomes as impenetrable as urunahenium. They are not technically turned to stone, despite the use of the word. It is more a kind of diamond. It's virtually impossible to destroy. The best solution people have managed is to drown victims of petrification in the deepest of seas or else, bury them.”
“Then why did they not do that with Sikaris?” Luccius asked.
“Because he is a symbol of the greatest victory man has ever accomplished. And people are too full of pride in their past accomplishments to ever consider doing what might be sensible.”
After more than an hour had passed, the door opened and Protector Balzan reappeared. They regarded him eagerly. He smiled.
“You have your meeting, princess.”
Regent Caldur
142nd Day of the Cycle, 495 N.E. (New Era)
The Regent sat in a big, purple, cushioned chair, his big, round glasses balanced loosely upon the bridge of his pointed nose, which twitched as his bristly great moustache tickled his upper lip. He rifled through the stack of documents that were piling up on and around his desk. Being regent had become a mammoth task lately. Years had passed since his appointment and ensuring all the wheels of government were kept well greased in the transition was not easy. He swore that this was what had turned him grey, rather than the fact that he was approaching sixty. Had he known what he was getting into all those years ago, when he, together with an army of revolutionaries, stormed the fortress and toppled the despotic king, he might have taken a different path. The years in - between his bloody youth and the present had brought him a wisdom he had never anticipated, and he was grateful, but he never imagined there would be quite as much paperwork involved in ruling a country!
Sighing, he signed off another form with the thick, swan feather quill and replaced the nib in the inkwell and tapped the pile of papers in front of him, placing it neatly to his right as the dark mahogany door of his chamber rattled in its frame. Yawning, he beckoned entrance. Balzan bowed his way into the chamber.
“Regent, may I present Princess Josephine of Aralia and her… entourage.”
“Thank you Balzan,” he smiled and wrinkled crows feet stretched across his face as he did so. “That will be all for now. Please could you wait outside?”
The protector bowed his head and shut the door to join the purple-cloaked officials who stood outside.
“Princess Josephine,” The regent said warmly. “It has been far too long!”
“Indeed it has, Regent Caldur,” Josephine replied, smiling back. “I was but a child when we last spoke.”
“And what a woman you have become. Look at you!” He shook his head. “How is your father?” he asked.
“He is well. A little greyer perhaps than when last you both met.”
The regent smiled. “Well if it is a consolation to him, he is not the only one! Please, take a seat,” he added and motioned to the empty chair in front of him. There was only one on the other side of the desk, so the others stood behind Josephine as the regent pulled it out for her to sit in.
Matthias studied the man from where he stood behind Josephine. He was short, almost dwarf – sized. It seemed ironic that a man of such small stature oversaw the entire Olindian Realm with such ferocity. The Regent was known for his hard bargaining, and for a past that seemed a stark contrast to the genial and mild-mannered figure before him. He and Balzan made a formidable team.
“You are still as gentlemanly as ever,” Josephine said.
The regent smiled. “Gentleman.” He twisted the word between his teeth. “I have been called many a thing my dear princess, but never a gentleman. Are you sure you do not confuse me with someone else?”
She smiled. “You have forged a lasting bond between our two lands. It is a peace hard fought.”
Caldur nodded distantly. “The peace brought between our nations is perhaps my greatest achievement in these troubled times. For your father, a king, to speak with me as an equal, after the murder of his distant relative…” he shook his head. “It took a lot of hard work, on both sides. I am grateful to
your father for having the foresight to recognise our legitimacy.”
Josephine smiled. “We have lost our taste for war,” she said. “It brings no good to my people.”
Caldur smiled. “If only all rulers were as enlightened. Perhaps you could talk with Emperor Chalize of Aslemer?”
“I fear that anything we say to him may fall on deaf ears,” Josephine grinned.
“Alas, I digress,” Caldur shrugged. The small man took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes then, replacing them carefully upon his nose. “Balzan has told me your story. It seems that you have made quite an impression on him, which, believe me, is no easy feat. He believes you.”
“The protector is a clever man,” Josephine continued. “I am glad he has had the wisdom to see the truth.”
“The question you wish to ask next, I believe, is ‘do I?’” The man smiled again. “It is a question I must admit, that I am struggling to find an answer to.”
“The correct answer is ‘yes’,” Josephine replied, smiling
“Forgive me, princess, but I cannot come to such an answer. Not yet.”
“You still do not believe us in spite of Balzan’s acceptance of the facts?” Matthias asked, interjecting.
“Wizard, I have lived a long time. Not as long as Balzan, that much is certain, but long enough to have gained an instinct that guides my decisions in many things. It has served me well. Balzan’s opinion does add credence to your statements, but I must rely on my own judgement at the end of the day.”
Matthias sighed. “Regent, I may look young, but I have experienced much. One thing I have found, especially recently, is that sometimes you have to acknowledge that you are not always right. You have to trust another’s judgement over your own.”
“Trust is something I have found little use for with your people,” Caldur replied sourly. “Tell me princess, why do you travel with this man so freely? Does it not grate upon your soul to be dealing with a wizard?”
