by S. J. West
“Something has to be done about your daughter,” Inara declared, completely out of breath.
I tried to stifle my laughter behind a hand but failed miserably. Inara stuck her tongue out at me and closed the door behind her blocking out the sounds of Dena yelling, “No crown!”
Inara walked over to the vanity and plopped down in the chair. She took her hat off and pulled out a handkerchief from an inside jacket pocket to wipe off the sheen of sweat from her face.
“Thank God for that spell you had cast between her room and yours. It certainly comes in handy when she’s having one of her fits.”
It hadn’t even occurred to me the explanation behind why such a seemingly simply wall could block out so much noise was because of a spell. I knew having a spell cast on personal property was extremely expensive. Only the wealthy could afford to have one of the mages from the Royal College come to their home and cast whatever spell they wanted. It wasn’t something the Harker family could have ever dreamed of having done in their home, not even the Pews were rich enough.
From what my father had told me, mages were born with a finite amount of magic. Once it was used up, they became as ordinary as everyone else. It was certainly a deterrent to keep those with magic from preying on those without. No mage wanted to waste their magic so they charged an exorbitant amount of money to cast requested spells. It was their way of building up funds for when they no longer had magic to barter with. It made me wonder if the Queen had to pay for their services or if she was exempt from such fees. After all, she was the one who personally paid all the expenses to keep the college free to all with magic who wanted to study and live within its protected walls.
After MJ29 finished buttoning the back of my dress, she walked to the bedroom door leading out to the drawing room and turned to me.
“Have a good evening, your majesty. I will return later to help you prepare for bed.” She curtseyed and promptly left the room. Inara was smoothing down a few loose strands of hair around her ears when I turned around to look at her reflection in the mirror.
“You know, since you’ve decided to stop mourning over Fredrick, maybe it would be a good idea to put that spell to the use it was meant for.”
It took me a moment to piece together her subtle innuendo.
“I’m not ready for another relationship,” I replied, silently hoping I had guessed right.
Inara rolled her eyes at me in the mirror. “Why not? It’s been ages since you had a man in your bed, Em. Besides, it’s not like you don’t have a willing partner at the ready.”
“And who exactly are you referring to?”
“Chromis, of course,” Inara put her top hat back on and turned around in the chair to face me. “All you’d have to do is snap your fingers to have that man crawling on willing hands and knees into your bed.”
“He’s not someone I intend to trifle with, Inara.”
“Well,” Inara tilted her head up in thought. “I know.” She looked back at me. “How about Fallon? He was more than willing once upon a time. I’m sure you could weave your spell around him again.”
“Absolutely not,” I said, a little too stridently. I could see in Inara’s eyes she was taking my response as something positive when in actuality it was meant just as said.
“Well then, your options are a bit limited,” Inara said, standing from her chair. “I suppose there’s always Gabriel…”
“Oh, please, dear Lord stop her,” I beseeched the heaven’s. “Enough, Inara. I can take care of my own love life.”
“Just making suggestions,” she shrugged, standing from the chair.
“A love affair is the last thing on my mind,” I told her. “I just want to get through this night and make sure Dena has a good time.”
“Oh she will.” Inara’s face lit up with excitement. “Have you seen the tent yet?”
I shook my head.
Inara’s smile widened. “Then you’re both in for a treat.”
Chapter 8
By the time Emily brought Dena to my room, Fallon and Gabriel were waiting for us in the drawing room when we walked out. Fallon was dressed in a more resplendent version of the Queen Marshall’s uniform which entailed a knee length leather burgundy jacket with gold buttons embossed with the Vankaran seal down the front. There were a few pins of valor decorating the front of the jacket over Fallon’s heart but I didn’t have the slightest inclination what they signified.
Gabriel’s appearance was the most shocking for me. For the first time since I had known him, Gabriel seemed to have discovered the use of a brush. His hair was neat and fashionably slicked back. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a white shirt and cravat. Gabriel had always been handsome to me, even when I was a child, but that night I felt like I was seeing him through a different set of eyes. The irony of my thought wasn’t lost on me.
When we ladies walked into the room, the men stood to greet us. Gabriel beamed with unabashed pride. I knew he was proud to see Dena willingly holding my hand as we walked towards him as mother and child. I took a chance and glanced to see Fallon’s expression. His brow was furrowed into deep lines as he stared at us. I couldn’t tell if he was confused about something or mad. The man was a complete enigma to me.
“Ladies,” Gabriel bowed at the waist. “You all look lovely this evening. Is everyone ready to join the party?”
“Party?” Dena questioned, looking up at me.
I looked down into her cornflower eyes. “Yes, we’re having a birthday party for you. Would you like to go see it?”
“Okay,” she answered before sticking her thumb in her mouth and keeping a tight hold of my hand.
Fallon led the way out of the Queen’s suite. Standing outside the door were two Queen’s guards dressed in black leather uniforms with silver buttons on the jacket forming a V-shape and knee-high black leather boots. I wanted to ask Gabriel why we needed the extra protection but didn’t voice my inquiry since I was expected to know the answer to my own question as Queen.
When we reached the back gardens of the palace, we were met by a throng of people. I noticed a few automatons in the sea of humanity offering up drinks and h’orderves on silver platters. A band was playing somewhere but I couldn’t physically see them. As our little entourage passed through, the people divided into two sections, clearing a path for us. I heard a multitude of “good evening, your majesty” and “happy birthday, princess” as we made our way to the large gold and maroon striped tent set up for the evening’s entertainment.
Near the entrance of the tent were a group of acrobats, six on each side of the red carpeted path leading into the tent, on tall wooden poles painted gold using long cuts of sheer fabric in a rainbow of colors to twirl around the poles, twisting their bodies into almost inhuman shapes. They were all dressed in the same white form fitting costumes with their faces painted in colorful mosaics transforming them into pieces of abstract art. I felt Dena’s hold on my hand tighten. When I looked down at her, her eyes were wide but not fearful. She seemed more in awe of the acrobats than anything else.
As we neared the tent entrance, an acrobat perched at the top of the pole on our right had all of his fabric wrapped around his waist. He leapt from his platform with arms splayed out in front of him like a diver and used the fabric around his waist to tumble down through the air until he landed quite gracefully on the ground in front of us. It must have been a pre-planned demonstration because our guards made room for the acrobat to land. The entertainer walked towards Dena with a single red rose in his hands and knelt in front of her on one knee, presenting her with his small delicate offering.
Dena smiled at the man and took his gift.
As the circus performer stood back up, our eyes met briefly, causing me to feel a moment of trepidation. Within his brown pools, I saw pity.
The acrobat scampered off quickly to rejoin his compatriots within the tent.
As we made our way inside the tent, the blare of trumpets marked our entrance.
“Ladies and gentleman,” a man I could not see said over the noise of the crowd and trumpets. “May I present Queen Emma Vankar and the birthday girl we’re all here for, Princess Dena.”
I had thought the crowd outside the tent was large, but the mass of people awaiting us inside the tent could have easily populated a large village. We were quickly led to a dais at the north end of the tent. Three thrones of gold sat there, two large with a smaller one directly in front of and between them, each covered with a maroon velvet cushion and facing the center of the circus ring.
One of the thrones was already occupied.
Aleksander Chromis sat majestically on his throne as if he were already king of Vankara. He was dressed in a lavish black military style suit. The jacket was trimmed with a gold and red threaded brocade down the front dotted with a series of silver buttons and had a high red silk collar embroidered with gold thread. He wore a half-red and half-gold silk sash around his waist cinched in by a thin black leather belt with a large intricately carved gold buckle in the front. Two burly men I did not recognize stood to the left of his chair.
All three men came to their feet as we neared the dais.
“You look completely ravishing this evening,” Aleksander said holding out his hand to me.
I was hesitant to give Aleksander my hand but thought it would seem impolite to refuse such a socially innocent gesture, especially in front of so many onlookers. I stretched my arm out and placed my hand into his. He leaned down and kissed it with a feather light touch of his lips.
“Thank you for your kind complement, Aleksander,” I replied, trying my best to act regal as he stood back up captivating me with his smoldering ice blue eyes.
He held onto my hand for a few seconds more than seemed appropriate before reaching down for Dena, picking her up easily and gingerly perched her on his hip like he was used to being around young children.
“Happy birthday, my one and only niece. Are you ready to watch the circus performers?”
Dena nodded vigorously causing her head full of curly locks to bounce excitedly around her shoulders.
Aleksander sat her on the small throne between our own. Four chairs had been set up to the left of my throne. Fallon took the one right beside mine while Gabriel, Inara and Emily took up the remaining seats. The guards who came with us positioned themselves strategically along the dais presumably to block any unwanted visitors.
Once we were seated, the lights in the tent dimmed and a spotlight shone brightly in the center ring where the master of ceremonies was standing. He was dressed in an outlandish costume of black and gold silk with puffy sleeves, pantaloons and curly toed shoes. He wore a floppy hat of the same pattern on his head and his face was painted white with red and gold diamond shapes over either eye. He spoke through a gold horn.
“Queen, Princess and honored guests,” he said bowing at the waist in our direction. “Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages,” he turned addressing the entire crowd gathered underneath the tent. “Tonight you will see things you only thought possible in your imagination. Tonight, the unreal will become real to tantalize your minds and hearts with otherworldly possibilities. Please, sit back in your seats and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime!”
Dena, deciding not to follow the instructions of the circus master, promptly got off of her throne and crawled up into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close enjoying the comfort and love she now willingly gave to me. I happened to glance in Aleksander’s direction and saw him smiling at us. It wasn’t a lascivious smile like I would have expected to see considering his interest in the Queen but one of warmth and kindness at the sight of Dena and I in tranquil repose. I politely smiled back at him and returned my attention to the group of performers entering the ring not wanting a replay of my earlier reaction to him.
For almost an hour, we were entertained with acrobatic acts performing death defying feats; animal acts consisting of a lion trainer coaxing lions through a series of flaming hoops; and contortionist bending their bodies beyond the reason of any sane person.
Several acrobats floated over our heads on long strips of gossamer fabric and hidden wires numerous times during the night displaying their amazing feats of athleticism. Dena seemed to be completely captivated by the show and giggled at the comical shenanigans of the clowns when they were center stage. The enjoyment I gained from watching her reaction to things was far more entertaining than anything occurring in the circus ring itself. She was pure joy encapsulated into an earthly form. And she was mine to love and protect.
At one point during the show, a solitary woman stood in the center of the stage silently commanding the attention of everyone within the large tent. She was dressed in a gown composed of long strips of blue gossamer fabric which cascaded around her body like a shimmering waterfall pooling at her feet. Her long dark curly hair tumbled well past her waist framing her pale ethereal face. A spotlight lit her from behind as the lights in the tent were dimmed giving her the illusion of an angel newly departed from heaven granting us mere mortals a moment of her time. When she opened her mouth to sing, it was like a cascade of butterflies emerged from the depths of her soul, each one carrying a single perfect note flying in perfect harmony with one another. I couldn’t understand a single word she sang but knowing the literalness of her song wasn’t necessary. Her voice lifted my heart on the wings of her butterflies to a place far away and well beyond my reach. A vision of my mother and father’s smiling faces floated in the ether of my mind. The sudden and unexpected reminder of them tore through the emotional dam I had been hiding their loss behind. I longed to be with them once more even if it were for just a few brief seconds.
I didn’t realize I was expressing my emotional state physically until the gentle smoothness of a large warm hand cupped the side of my face, wiping away the trail of a solitary tear from my cheek.
I looked over at Aleksander, startled by his unexpected tenderness.
I wasn’t prepared for the look of pent up longing I saw in his eyes. He held my full attention with his gaze as he searched my face for some answer to an unasked question.
He slowly drew back his hand and rested it on his lap, continuing to stare at me. Even though it was dark in the tent except for where the spotlight illuminated the singer, I felt eyes watching us and scrutinizing our interaction closely. I turned my attention back to the performer but not before I saw Fallon out of the corner of my eye, leaning forward slightly in his seat watching me. I knew he had seen the exchange between Aleksander and me, but I chose to ignore him, allowing myself the luxury to mourn the loss of my parents as Sarah Harker. To do anything else seemed disrespectful to their memory.
Near the end of the show, a female acrobat dressed in a black and white harlequin costume was allowed to walk past the Queen’s guards up to our dais. She held her hand out to Dena. It was then I remembered Thomas asking if Dena could participate in the show and realized with a saddened heart the show was almost over. I saw a white swing being lowered from the top of the tent to the center of the ring. The ropes were dappled with white and yellow daisies. Dena was hesitant and shied away from the entertainer to which the acrobat turned to the crowd and made a sad face. Someone in the gathering of partygoers began chanting Dena’s name and most everyone in the tent joined in trying to encourage the little princess to participate in the fun.
Emily walked up to us and said, “I think she might feel more like participating if I went with her, if that would be all right with you, your majesty.”
I looked down at Dena, her face still pressed against my chest.
“Dena,” I said coaxing her to look up at me. When she did, I said, “Why don’t you go? Emily will be with you.”
I could see Dena was torn between wanting to go and wanting to stay within the safe confines of my arms. Finally, her adventurous side won out and she crawled off my lap running to Emily with arms held out wide. Emily picked her up and followed the acrobat to the center of the ring. The
crowd immediately applauded the little princess’s bravery.
The harlequin dressed circus performer instructed Emily to sit on the swing with a flourish of her arm. Emily did so positioning Dena across the lap of her dress.
With eyes wide in wonder, Dena watched as a group of acrobats dressed in varying types of colorful bird costumes flew all around her on wire harnesses causing her to giggle excitedly every time they passed in front of her. Suddenly, the lights in the tent were extinguished except for a solitary spotlight shining on Dena’s gleeful face. A drummer rolled his drum adding to the excitement.
The spotlight then zoomed away from Dena to the very top of the tent. An acrobat dressed in an elaborate orange and red feathered phoenix costume stood high above the swing on a small platform. His face wasn’t obscured and I instantly recognized him as the acrobat who handed Dena the rose earlier that evening. The man jumped off his perch with wings spread wide in a flourish, flying around the tent as if he were indeed the phoenix of legend gracefully flying above us. After a few seconds, he landed directly behind Dena and Emily. Dena giggled as the performer wrapped his oversized wings around them hiding them from the audiences view. That was the last image I had of Dena before the spotlight was extinguished and the phoenix costume burst into flames.
Chapter 9
I immediately stood from my seat. Screams of terror swirled through the air around me filling the tent with the chaotic sounds of bedlam. I desperately wanted to leap from the dais and rush out to the center of the ring but was hampered by the pitch black darkness encasing me like a tomb, hindering my need to find Dena.
As quickly as they went out, the lights came back on, washing over all of us like a cold fire. All eyes were drawn to the center of the ring. Emily and Dena were gone; all that remained was a charred empty swing swaying back and forth in the middle of a ring of ashes.
