by Phil Stern
They argued bitterly, Aprina finally moving out of their communal apartment into rooms of her own. She publically recanted her opposition, pledging renewed fealty to the crown.
Two weeks later her boyfriend was arrested and drafted into the royal army. Six months after that Lydia’s father was killed during an encounter with the Kardens.
But that was long past. Though Aprina’s personal opposition to royal policies had become even more entrenched, in public she’d never been anything other than a loyal subject. Lydia’s welfare had always come first.
Clearly, however, there were elements within the royal court dredging up her youthful agitation for their own benefit. For what ultimate goal, she wasn’t quite sure. But Aprina needed to clarify things with the King himself before this all got out of hand.
And if the King wasn’t willing to listen to reason? Well, Aprina was ready for that too. For unknown to anyone other than a few close confidants long ago, Lydia’s mother was one of the most potent telepaths who’d ever lived.
Mulling over her upcoming confrontation, Aprina only vaguely noticed a female drudge turn the far corner of the castle passageway and begin shuffling past, head properly lowered. Without warning, there was a sudden surge of power from the Demon, Aprina’s mind quickly tugged toward a deep sleep.
However, the effect took a few seconds to fully coalesce. In that tiny window Aprina was able to activate her own power, yanking her consciousness back in time by sixteen and a half seconds.
This wasn’t time travel, per se. There were no alternate time lines, or splintered dimensions branching off from their own. Rather, it was merely resetting her mind, and nothing else, by a short period of time.
Or possibly it was sending information back in time, within her own head, to her earlier self? Even Aprina wasn’t quite sure.
In any event, the princess went from slumping down onto the stone floor, nearly unconscious, back to walking down the hallway, as she’d done nearly seventeen seconds before.
Only this time she knew what was coming. Immediately focusing on the intersecting passageway a short distance ahead, the drudge/Demon once more took a step into view, preparing to turn and pass Aprina. But rather than just walking into her trap, this time the princess sent a knife whipping into the Demon’s chest.
Staring vacantly ahead, the sleep-Demon dropped to the floor with a surprised grunt, instantly dead.
Lydia was in school, but with the Network now actively operating against her, there was no time to extract them both from the castle. In any event, her daughter was still too young to be considered a danger to the crown, no matter what anyone thought of her mother. For the time being, at least, Lydia should remain safe.
Yanking the bloody knife from the cleaning woman’s body, Aprina carefully extended her sensitivity. There were at least four empowered individuals very close by, whether royal or Demon she wasn’t sure.
Well, there was only one way to find out. Striding quickly into the intersecting passageway, making her way toward the corner stairwell, Aprina waited for the next attack.
It wasn’t long in coming. Heavy wooden doors flung open on either side. In an instant two men tackled her, pushing Aprina’s face down into the flagstones.
A mere mental flick, however, and Aprina was back pulling the knife from her first assailant. This time she sprinted down the passageway, spoiling the timing of the next strike. So rather than successfully assaulting her from both sides, Aprina turned around to see two large, muscled men charge out the doors into each other.
These weren’t Demons, merely conventional guards doing the Network’s bidding. Aprina’s throwing knife summarily dispatched the first one. As the second recovered and took a step forward, the royal princess deployed her secondary ability.
This monumental power, judiciously applied and closely guarded, had been deliberately secreted from the world-at-large. It was a talent of such pervasive scope that the Network, if they’d become aware of it early on, might have taken an unhealthy interest in Aprina’s development. Even during her rebellious years she’d known enough to keep it hidden away, realizing the enemies it would instantly produce.
As the second guard approached, Aprina deliberately looked into his eyes. Unwittingly drawn into her power, the guard couldn’t glance away. He quickly stumbled to a halt, entranced by the connection that had instantly formed.
Soothing approval suffused the guard’s mind. Smiling happily, all thoughts of harming Aprina immediately forgotten, he merely waited for her instructions.
“You must help protect me.” Smiling warmly, Aprina now took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m going down to the royal stables. You must stay here and guard my rear. If anyone comes after me, stop them.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“Good.” With her power fully coalesced within the guard’s head, she retrieved her throwing knife. Patting him on the shoulder, she then raced around the next corner, dashing down the stairway toward ground level below.
Oh, how often had she been tempted to influence a younger, willful Lydia in this fashion, or various men in her past when they’d been difficult! And on occasion, in subtle ways, she had.
But the full effect was too potent to remain hidden, and wouldn’t last forever. Though now fully influenced, the hallway guard would be back to his old self within the hour.
But by then, Aprina planned to be long gone.
As she neared the bottom of the first flight of stairs, the stone seemed to explode underneath Aprina’s sleek boot. Without warning, her foot sank down into the rubble. Catapulted forward, Aprina’s leg broke, slamming her body down on the hard stone landing.
At least, that’s what happened in the initial version of events. Shooting back in time by sixteen and a half seconds, Aprina was able to detect the Demon hiding on the other side of the massive stone staircase, on the top stair of the reversed downward flight. Leaping over the disintegrating bottom step onto the landing between floors, she pin-wheeled around the banister, giving the innocent looking cook a hard shove. Tumbling backwards down the second flight, the Demon lay motionless at the bottom.
Darting past him and out the door, it took only a moment to reach the royal stables. The attendants, obviously not in on the plot, merely nodded and stood aside. In a minute she was astride one of the powerful Stallions, a groom leading her toward the courtyard.
While exiting the stables, however, there was a powerful surge of power behind her, on the horse itself. Before she could react, a strong arm was around her neck, yanking Aprina from the Stallion’s back. Crashing down to the ground, the arm was now choking her.
“Now, now, Princess. I think that’s quite enough.” Perno’s voice was right next to her ear. “There’s no way out, as I know you can’t time shift when directly in contact with someone else.”
This was true. Doing so would mean taking them both back in time, which was beyond Aprina’s abilities. “Let me go!” she cried out, trying to sound helpless and defeated.
“I think not,” he purred. Carefully keeping hold of Aprina’s arm, Perno stood, hauling her up as well. Spinning his victim about, Perno slammed her back into a closed stall gate, hand flashing up to close firmly around her neck. During all this the groom passively stood by, waiting.
“Help me!” Aprina croaked, the hand cutting off her air. In a moment she would pass out.
The groom didn’t move. “He will not, my Lady.” Perno smiled, only now looking directly into her eyes. “Unlike you, this man is loyal to his King.”
So this was the powerful Network chief, able to transmute his own bodily structure at will. She’d heard rumors, of course, but obviously Perno was most effective working in the shadows, revealing himself only when absolutely necessary.
But Perno’s intelligence on this latest quarry was clearly incomplete. Staring now into her eyes, the head Demon became subject to Aprina’s secret ability. Within several seconds Perno’s expression softened, his gaze becoming sla
ck and unfocused.
“Let me go!” she snapped. Perno’s hand fell away. The groom gaped, clearly uncertain what to do.
Shoving Perno into a stall, she then leapt back onto the Stallion, charging from the stable. With satisfaction, she noticed the groom was knocked aside as they passed.
Crossing the courtyard in a flash, they raced through the main gates into the town beyond. Soon Aprina and her Stallion were tearing across open fields, Brenlaw and the royal castle fading quickly behind.
***
That evening Lydia was led into the King’s private chambers, the heavy doors closing behind her with a foreboding thud.
Lounging in his customary chair, the elderly monarch studied his young relative. Such a pretty girl, yet possessing the same stubborn defiance as her mother. Then again, the King had never much liked his far younger half-sibling, even before Aprina’s active plotting had been brought to his attention.
“Your mother is a traitor,” he gravely announced, wearily wiggling his stockinged toes. “Were you aware of her designs on my life?”
“That’s absurd!” Lydia exploded. “My mother would never...”
“Silence!” the monarch bellowed. A vase mentally whipped across the room, crashing against the wall. “You will show respect, young lady! As it stands, you’re lucky not to be in my dungeon this very instant!”
Choking back her rage, Lydia forced herself to relax. “I meant no disrespect, my liege.”
“Good.” Eyeing her for several moments, he then continued. “I ask you again. Were you aware of Aprina’s seditious, murderous intentions?”
“No, my liege.” Calmly, she matched the monarch’s gaze. “And I tell you plainly, I believe those are all lies.”
“Then how do you explain the three Royal Guards she capriciously attacked and viciously murdered?” the King persisted.
This, the King well knew, was a gross distortion of events. Two of the “guards” in question had actually been the sleep-Demon and the stone crushing-Demon, who had died from a broken neck following his tumble down the stairs. The other guard had indeed been slain by Aprina’s throwing knife.
More difficult to explain, however, was the wild attack of the second guard on reinforcements dispatched once things went haywire. An hour later, seemingly normal, the man could only say Aprina had told him to do so.
His own spymaster had a disturbingly similar story. Perno had no explanation for what had occurred in the stables, other than Aprina had somehow compelled his cooperation.
It was all very unsettling, to say the least.
Might Aprina have some secondary power they’d known nothing about? As if her time-shifting ability wasn’t potent enough, could Lydia’s mother also command obedience in others, albeit for a short while? It was a frightening thought.
For several minutes the monarch listened to Lydia’s impassioned denials of her mother’s wrongdoing, finally waving her into silence.
“Enough!” he commanded. “Your mother is a traitor. You, I’m not so sure about.”
Taking a deep breath, Lydia drew herself up. “And what might that mean, my Lord?”
“Prince Tenen has asked for permission to take your hand in marriage.” Grimly, the king smiled. “I have granted it.”
“No!” Eyes growing wide, she stamped her foot. “I will not have it!”
“You are betrothed. It is done.”
“But even if I wanted him, my Lord...” Stunned, Lydia forgot herself, causing several nearby objects to glow. “I’m only sixteen, my Lord. I turn seventeen in two months!”
“You are betrothed,” he repeated. “Your wedding day will be on your 18th birthday.”
“But...”
“Listen, young lady.” Rising to his feet, the King came to stand before her. “Prince Tenen will make a fine husband. He led the final attack that scattered the Karden army on campaign, after Prince Garob had been slain.”
“But my liege...”
“Tenen’s now a hero! Any girl would be happy with such a match.” Exasperated, the King folded his arms. “What’s the problem?”
“My Lord...” Tears welling in her eyes, Lydia briefly looked away. “I don’t love him! Why, I don’t even like him very much!”
The King grunted. “You will, in time.”
“I don’t think so,” she whispered, soft brown eyes imploring the elderly monarch. “That’s just not possible.”
Despite himself, the King was moved. “My dear,” he gently began. “Your wedding day is over a year hence. Don’t jump to any hasty conclusions, I beg of you.”
Lydia wiped away a tear. “And what of my mother?”
“We are searching for her.” The King spoke coldly, turning and wandering back across the room. “When we discover her, and we will, I assure you, then I will make a determination as to her fate.”
Gasping, Lydia drew back. An expensive painting by her head came to life, dark colors angrily pulsing. “You are unfair, my liege!”
“I am the King,” he replied, dropping once more into his favorite chair. “Fairness has nothing to do with it.”
“But my mother would never...” Trailing off, Lydia realized it was useless. Nearly bursting with fear and frustration, she nevertheless forced herself to bow low. “May I take my leave of you, my Lord?”
“Certainly.”
Turning on her heel, the princess advanced on the heavy door behind her.
“Oh, and Lydia? One more thing.”
Angrily wiping away a tear, she took a second to compose herself, then turned back to the King. “Yes, my Lord?”
“You have two powers, is that correct?” The King’s heavy gaze bore in on her. “This glowing light thing and talking to animals?”
“Yes...yes, my liege.” Now the tears were starting to flow freely.
“There’s nothing else?” he continued. “No secret power we have yet to celebrate?”
“What? I mean...” Holding a hand to her head, Lydia felt the room beginning to spin. “No, my Lord. Are two talents not enough?”
“Of course. We are all very proud of you.” The King paused. “Well, you may go now.”
Nearly sobbing, Lydia yanked open the massive wooden door, racing from the chamber.
Well, the King thought, mentally retrieving and then filling the goblet with wine, the girl seemed harmless enough. Lighted pictures and sociable bunny rabbits were no threat to the Kingdom.
Yet Lydia was clearly bursting with power, far more than could be accounted for by her two somewhat mundane talents.
If Aprina was indeed far more powerful than they’d ever suspected, could her daughter possibly possess an almost unprecedented third ability? Perhaps something the girl wasn’t even aware of herself?
The situation would bear watching.
***
Firmly closing the cottage door, Aprina allowed herself a moment to finally relax, leaning against the hard, unyielding wood with a soft sigh.
Located on the outskirts of Yarlee, a village in the central Kingdom, she’d rented her refuge with a tiny sliver of gold. As expected, the Stallion she’d taken from the royal stables had a small stash of jewels and precious metals secreted in the saddle, so money wasn’t an immediate issue.
Sadly, Aprina reflected on the purpose of the hidden treasure. Should the commoners actively revolt, all the royals escaping Brenlaw on horseback would have cash at hand. It said much about the current state of affairs within the Kingdom.
She’d just sent the Stallion trotting off into the gathering darkness. As he was trained to do, the huge equine would eventually find his way back to the castle. The Network would be none the wiser for the Stallion’s appearance, yet Lydia could easily use the great horse to find her.
For now, it would have to do.
***
Four days later the victorious army, with Anson once more in its ranks, returned to the camps surrounding the capital city.
Half-a-day after striking out from the cliff face he’d made c
ontact with the royal army, joining a unit at random. After several days of combat in the dense forest, many formations had become separated and cluttered with stragglers, allowing him to easily blend in.
Thus, he was just in time to participate in Prince Tenen’s now fabled strike at the Karden center, leading to much slaughter and the dispersal of the enemy army. With Prince Garob slain and the little men at least temporarily chastened, Tenen had led the triumphant march back down through the Kingdom to Brenlaw.
Vastly relieved to escape the capital city and its preying Demons a short time before, Anson now welcomed this new foray into the seat of royal power. Emboldened by his new found self-assurance and cleared perspective, he felt confident of handling anything they threw his way.
And the capital was where Anson needed to be, should he wish to reconnect with his young royal admirer. In fact, the seeds were ripe for another encounter the following day. The vast Victory Parade kicked off at noon, with ranks of proud soldiers, Anson among them, marching through the capital streets.
Surely there would be one brunette princess in particular watching, and sensing, the marching soldiers very carefully.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AMID BOOMING DRUMS AND CHEERING THRONGS, the victory march crawled through Brenlaw. One after another each unit paused before the royal reviewing stand, presenting arms to the King. It was a wild, happy affair, the crowd becoming more boisterous as the spirits liberally distributed by local taverns took greater effect.
At the monarch’s insistence, Princess Lydia uncomfortably sat on the reviewing stand next to Prince Tenen. During the grand feast on the massive fairgrounds that evening, the King would formally announce their engagement.
Miserably, Lydia watched yet another procession of men parade off, clearing space for the next formation to march in. Fanning herself to little effect, the young princess was uncomfortably hot in her heavy dress.
Though they’d spoken little, Tenen at one point reached over and took her hand. After barely a minute she could stand it no longer, angrily yanking it away. Tenen merely smiled, patting her leg and clapping lustily for the next unit that presented themselves.
