The MirrorMasters

by Lora Palmer

  "The extremes in weather are certainly fitting our latest models, especially if you go back about fifteen years to when this all began," a young meteorologist sitting across from me was saying. "Old prophecies and magic aren’t necessary to predict any of it. Hard science explains it all, including the periodic cycles the planet goes through."

  "Yes, every 10,000 years or so seems to be the time of a change in global climate," observed the young woman sitting next to him. "We appear to be entering into that period now."

  "It’s getting into full swing in the past few years. But don’t you think it’s interesting how the 10,000 year cycle fits with the times of renewal described in ancient legends? The archaeological evidence shows quite odd shifts in the evolution of plant and animal life at those times. Sudden, rapid changes you don’t find at all between the cycles," observed a more open-minded scientist.

  I listened to the conversation with interest, remaining quiet. So many here could only speculate, but my group knew the truth. Brian and I exchanged a glance, each of us smiling secretively.

  After an elegant meal of fish and poultry, some sort of delicate vegetables with a spicy taste, and fresh baked breads — all artfully presented — Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna stood, as did Caleb beside them. The crowd hushed, and all the guests watched, expectant. Caleb formed an iridescent energy ball which slowly rose in the air. It peaked high over the center of the table and then burst into a shower of colorful fireworks. My face lit up in a bright smile at this brilliant display, and I clapped along with the crowd. When I tore my gaze away once the sparks had faded, I noticed some smirks and whispers.

  Korin glared at the offenders, but hastened to whisper to me before anyone could notice his reaction, "It was the customary duty of the King and Queen to begin an evening’s entertainment," he whispered in my ear. "Some view it as a scandal for a royal couple to lack magic and therefore be unable to complete certain basic tasks, particularly when it must be done by the chief advisor."

  My cheeks flushed in anger, and I, too, found myself glaring at the ones who were displaying obvious snobbery. "It’s a shame some people are so close-minded and bigoted," I whispered back. "I’m sure Mom and Dad have done a wonderful job, yet those people can’t see it, or think it isn’t as important as some tradition that says the rulers have to have magic?" Shaking my head and sighing, I so wished I could give those people a piece of my mind. Unfortunately, it would do more harm than good if I did.

  My father knew exactly how to handle the situation. "Thank you, Caleb, for the wonderful display. And welcome, one and all, to this joyous feast celebrating the return of our long-lost daughter, First Daughter Leandra."

  More clapping ensued, even from among the snobs. I couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow at this, but I knew they must be pleased that I, at least, had magic. Forcing a gracious smile, I rose along with King Korin. My plastic smile became genuine as I glanced around the grand hall and saw an outpouring of joy at my return.

  Since everyone seemed to expect me to say something, I replied, "Thank you all. It is wonderful to be...home." Overcome, I hugged my parents, and we all sat down as First Lady Rhianna invited everyone to sample the dessert. Once dessert was served, the evening’s entertainment truly began. Poetry readings, singers, dancers, and even acrobats were among the performers, and the crowd delighted in each one.

  Following this, the orchestra began to play once more. Korin and I were invited to share the first dance, and partway through the first song, others joined in little by little until all became part of the dance. Again I was reminded once more how Jantyrian dances resembled those during medieval times on Earth. At one point, I caught my mother’s eye and saw how impressed she appeared at how I had learned what to do. Afterward, First Lady Rhianna whispered something to Caleb, and I assumed she was either thanking him or complimenting him on teaching Brian and me the basics.

  When the crowd had danced so much that older feet grew tired, people left the dance floor in small groups and returned to their chairs to mingle. Still energized, I stayed to visit with my parents and chat with some girls my age, one of whom had seen me at the museum. Meanwhile, Korin had taken Brian aside. They stood by the balcony, appearing deep in conversation. I kept sneaking glances their way, and it took a great effort to focus on my current conversation about the latest disaster, a major flood on the plains.

  "How horrible! I hope no one was hurt," I exclaimed, keeping my attention on the girl and not letting my gaze drift toward the door yet again.

  "Several were, but fortunately their caravan tents were packed and moved in advance. They had at least half a day’s warning, so almost everyone was spared."

  "Good." Smiling in relief, I then turned serious as I thought of those lost and the potential for it to have been an even greater disaster. "It could have been so much worse otherwise." Unable to resist any longer, I glanced over at the door again and saw Brian and Korin go outside to the balcony.

  "Go," the girl said, giggling and giving me a playful push in the direction of the door. Smiling once more, I excused myself and followed them outside.

  My exit was halted when I overheard a snippet of conversation from the other side of a grand column.

  "The wielder must be stopped," the man I’d met earlier in the library said to a group of men gathered around him. "She intends to activate the genesis device."

  "Agreed. If that ancient legend is true, who can say what that machine will do? Or is it magic? Either way, it cannot be allowed to be used. We have promised…"

  "And we will keep our promise. The land will be theirs again."

  Chilled, I stopped and listened. The speakers wouldn’t be able to see me from this vantage point. Unfortunately, the two fell silent, so I filed away their conversation for later. I slipped away undetected and wandered out onto the balcony, the glass doors sliding open for me. Brian and Korin stood by the railing, still having an intense discussion. They were glaring at each other, furious, neither of them willing to break eye contact.

  "I will fight for her!" Brian said, in a voice just loud enough for me to hear. After a long moment, the two young men turned away from each other.

  "There’s nothing to be done, Brian," Korin replied more quietly, leaning against the balcony and gazing out over the cliffs. "It isn’t up to either of us, is it? She will choose for herself...if she has the opportunity when this is all over. Right now, she needs our full support, not this. Listen, you can fight the inevitable, but you must also be able to bend lest you break." He turned back to Brian and put a brotherly hand on his shoulder before stepping toward the door. In that moment, he spotted me.

  "Bad argument?" I asked them both.

  Brian and Korin exchanged a glance, respect mingled with rivalry in their expressions. "Something like that," Brian said.

  Korin inclined his head in a nod. "Are you enjoying the party, my Leah?" he asked, changing the subject. "Come, see the view."

  "The party’s a blast! I just wish everyone else were here with us to be part of it." I joined them at the railing and gazed out at the sea, golden in the cool glow of the setting blue sun.

  "I know." Brian sighed as we all took in the lovely sight. "But maybe you’re right that it’s going to get too dangerous. Things are escalating."

  I nodded. "Yeah, I heard about the plains."

  "Anywhere else, and many more lives would have been lost." Korin reached out to comfort me but thought the better of it. Had Brian not been there, he might have given into the impulse to wrap his arm around me, though, despite their conversation.

  We fell quiet and watched the sun slip below the horizon. Now, the large ringed planet shone in the darkening sky, and lights from the sea vessels in the ocean below began to glimmer. The peaceful scene seemed a surreal, stark contrast to the devastation I’d seen in other parts of the world. Would Astoria be next?

  No sooner had I wondered this but the serenity was shattered by an explosion that rocked the land and sky. I
screamed at the sudden sound and the sensation of being knocked off balance. Brian, Korin, and I clung to each other and the railing to keep from falling over the balcony.

  "Was that an earthquake?" I asked. It had felt different somehow from any I was used to. Glancing up at the sky once more, I gasped.

  "Oh, no..." Brian breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the sight that had caught my attention.

  "The blue flames in the heavens." I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

  "We have to set out first thing tomorrow morning." Korin's declaration drew nods from Brian and me, and as a trio, we rushed inside to inform the prime minister and first lady.

  Chapter 20

  Alone in my bedroom, I wandered out onto the balcony through a wide crystal door as it slid open for me. Of all the places I’d seen so far on Jantyr, the castle, and especially my luxurious room, felt most like home. It was all familiar somehow. An eerie blue glow still lingered in the sky, but otherwise the view was as I remembered, with the castle lit from within all around me, its iridescence brilliant against the darkness of the night. I could just make out the constellations beginning to appear and wished I had the time to learn them. Would I find my sun, and Earth, somewhere among them? No, not my sun anymore. It didn’t matter — my prospects of seeing Earth or my family again, of living long enough to figure out where I wanted to make my future, were infinitesimal.

  I pushed away thoughts of Earth and the ache in my chest whenever I dwelled on everyone I missed — most of all my parents, David, Jenny, Kara, and Kevin — and focused on the journey ahead. So many people had already died when the blue flames struck. Each life lost was like a punch in the gut. If I’d known about all this years ago, those lives might have been saved. At least, tomorrow I would place the Illusion Crystal and activate the second part of the device, and I’d be one step closer to stopping the apocalypse before anyone else was lost.

  Afterward, I’d race to find the remaining crystals and wield them before Aedalina and Erik could get in a position to stop me. Even at this moment, they were probably tracking down the locations of the crystals and places spoken of in the legends. It wouldn’t be long before they made it to one of them first, so they could attack as I arrived. Was that what they were up to now? Or were they gathering support for their plan, whatever it was? I had the sense, both from what my mother said and what my father refused to say, that the criminals’ plan went deeper and was more complicated than I could yet guess.

  "Where are they now?" I whispered, leaning against the railing. Because the mirrors in the throne room were only allowed to be used for matters of Astorian security or planetary emergencies, I hadn’t been able to find out yet. Using them to contact my family was strictly forbidden. I let out a frustrated cry and pounded a fist against the railing. What was the good of being a MirrorMaster if I had such limited access to mirrors? Still, I should be able to spy on Aedalina and Erik. Nobody could tell me it wasn’t a planetary security issue.

  Half tempted to go right then to the Hall of Mirrors, I gave one last lingering look at the stars and stalked back inside. Before I could leave my room, I imagined what my birth parents — or worse, their annoying security chief — would say if they happened to catch me in the act. They could punish me for breaking the rules by locking me away, or believe I was too reckless, too unpredictable to handle the mission. But I had to do something now.

  Maybe I could learn to control those vivid dreams like I’d learned to control mirrors. Yes, that was it! Kara had said it was all a matter of letting your mind give you the answers. If a mirror was just a way of showing those answers, dreams could be, too.

  I lay on my grand four-poster canopy bed, slipping beneath the most luxuriously soft sheets I’d ever touched. Squeezing my eyes shut, I kept Aedalina and Erik in my thoughts as I let sleep claim me. Sometime later, I found myself in a different part of the jungle, amid several warriors, all huddled together beneath a village in the trees. I could see bridges and houses in the branches high above me.

  "Do not hinder her when she arrives," Aedalina was saying to the chief warrior. "We will deal with her in our own time. The more she accomplishes before we take over, the better. Now, you said you have an idea of the next crystal’s location. We have an understanding, then? You will cede to us?"

  "Yes."

  Then the chief froze and glanced around as if sensing my presence. I stepped back behind a tree, not wanting to be discovered there, but the snapping of a twig underfoot betrayed my presence. All five of them turned toward me. Erik smirked, like he’d been expecting this, and Aedalina had a fierce gleam of triumph in her eyes as she stalked toward me. "Ah, Leah. Glad you could make it here."

  Wake up, I told myself sternly, my heart thudding painfully against my ribcage. Something terrible would happen if I didn’t. I willed myself awake, even tried to shake my body awake until I found my skin fading, turning translucent just as Aedalina reached me. My last sight was of the shock on their faces as I disappeared in front of them.

  Wide awake and furious that I missed out on hearing what the chief might have said next, I refused to fall asleep again the rest of the night.

  * * *

  The next morning, Brian, Korin, and I packed a breakfast of fruits, nuts, cheese, and bread to take with us. Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna were there to see us off, knowing we wanted to set out early. Caleb joined us in the Hall of Mirrors, having gathered some useful gear for the journey. He would have to stay behind to return to his duties as chief advisor.

  "Be careful, you three, and come back as soon as you get done."

  "We will, Mom." I hugged my parents and then turned to Caleb. "Watch out for the guy we saw in the library yesterday. You know, the one who recognized me? At the ball, I heard him talking to some others, and they want to stop us." In detail, I explained what I’d overheard the previous night.

  "Why didn’t you tell us this before, Leah?" Brian cut in.

  "It kind of slipped my mind when we saw the blue flames light up the sky!" I retorted.

  "Let’s set out before they realize we’re going, then." Korin jerked his head toward the mirror, impatient to set out as soon as possible.

  "Another thing," I remembered. "We should be careful, too. Last night, I had another dream. Aedalina and Erik were in the jungle, and their chief and a couple of his warriors are in league with them. They might not interfere yet, but we might run into trouble."

  "We hate to see you go so soon after you got here." Prime Minister Roland appeared more serious than I had ever seen him, and he reached out and pulled me into a hug.

  After I accepted a handshake from Caleb, Brian captured my attention with a pointed glance between me and the mirror. I nodded and stepped back, then stopped as I realized something.

  "We need a contingency plan to evacuate offworld," I said. "If something happens to me, or this doesn’t work, there has to be a second plan in place. Is there anywhere else we can evacuate everyone to? Maybe a habitable world that doesn’t have other people on it yet, or one whose people are willing to take us in?"

  "The world you grew up on, Earth, is the only other world we know of." First Lady Rhianna frowned in concern. "Where else would our people go if Jantyr cannot be saved? However, it’s likely too close to the destruction. I have faith in you, Leah, but I believe you’re right. We need to figure out another option — one outside the galaxy."

  Swallowing hard, I fought back terror that threatened to crush me like the weight of all the water in the ocean. I can’t fail. I can’t let myself fail. If I do, this contingency plan won’t save everyone. Millions, maybe billions, on countless worlds will die.

  Caleb rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What about other nearby star systems that might be outside the danger zone? On Earth, their scientists have a growing catalog of worlds potentially like ours, so I may have some data we could sort through. And by all records, the MirrorMasters in ancient times used their abilities to explore the cosmos. There might be informati
on in their records also."

  "Good," Prime Minister Roland nodded in approval. "We will start on that today. I recommend calling all available MirrorMasters — a few others still remain — to stand ready to handle the evacuations if need be."

  A wave of excitement surged in my belly, melting away some of the terror. I’d get to meet others like me and Brian if we survived this. What were they like, and what had they learned about our abilities?

  Korin tapped his foot and gestured toward the mirror. "Let’s go, preferably before security commander Lars and his men stop us."

  "Good advice. One can never keep a secret in this castle for too long." Caleb put a hand on Brian’s shoulder. "Take care of yourself, son, and come back."

  I can’t lose you, too.

  I could almost hear Caleb’s unspoken thought, and Brian seemed to pick up on it as well, because he nodded and clapped his father on the back. With our goodbyes made, I gave my parents one last, lingering glance before Brian and I stepped up to the mirror.

  We each placed a palm against the cool glass, and soon the image of the Hall of Mirrors began to fade. Now the glass shimmered and rippled until it became liquid. The liquid glass parted to reveal a lush landscape beyond, filled with palm trees, exotic flowering bushes, and all sorts of tropical greenery. The jungle appeared well-tended and manicured, with no wild overgrowth in sight.

  Brian and I followed Korin through, and we found ourselves in a clearing by a flowing river of clear blue water. A short distance ahead, we could see a path into the jungle. As the mirror-portal closed behind us, a gentle breeze stirred, bringing with it a blast of hot, humid air.

  Scanning our surroundings, I took several steps forward, and the air seemed to become more stifling with every step. Suddenly a splash of icy cold water from the river hit me from behind, eliciting a startled yelp. I pivoted to find Brian laughing.