Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

“No,” Kalina responded, “wecan not take the chance that they might see you. The last thing wewant to do right now is spook them. They are so skeptical ofstrangers that we would lose them for sure. Especially that Tedi. Idon’t think he even trusts himself. We need to let them getthemselves in trouble so we can come to their aid. It is the onlychance of drawing them close to us and even that is a slimchance.”

“I would be more tempted tojust grab them and bend them to our will,” commented Garth. “Ithink we take too many chances letting them run free. They need tobe reeled in and put under yoke.”

“You do have a brutal way ofexpressing your gentleness,” she chuckled. “Is that how you handleme? Have you got me sufficiently harnessed?”

Garth reached over and grabbed Kalinawith his arm, drawing her nearer. A strong scent of jasminecaressed his nose as he hugged her. “You know,” he cooed, “thiscould be one of the last times we have alone for a longtime.”

Kalina leaned back and kissed his lips.“While that is true,” she smiled, “you smell more like a mule thana man. Perhaps a trip to the stream will make you more desirable ordo you prefer sleeping with the animals?”

“Am I still here?” he laughedas he headed for the stream. Kalina watched his muscular form as hewalked away. So much of life had changed since she met Garth, buthe was right. If everything went according to plan, they would nothave much time alone together for a long time. Perhaps tomorrow theplan will start falling into place.

Niki Forloe watched the short, wiry boyapproaching the shack with a self-assured saunter, his dark brownhair blowing gently in the breeze. His brown eyes darted left andright, not for fear of anyone sneaking up on him, but as if toassure himself that the rabble kept its distance. Niki laughed toherself. Fredrik Wason was the rabble as far as anyone else wasconcerned, but Fredrik always maintained the air of being superior.The buxom young girl hoped that His Highness managed to steal somefood this time. Any less to eat and Niki would start losing herfigure and that was unacceptable. If Fredrik couldn’t start takingcare of her like the Princess she should be, she would findsomebody who could. Niki waved her hand in the air and the door tothe shack slid open smoothly allowing the young boy to enter.Fredrik glided in and placed a turkey on the table.

“A twelve pound tom,” Fredrikproudly exclaimed, “and already stuffed and cooked toperfection.”

“What about vegetables?”complained Niki. “Meat by itself is not good for the digestion.Honestly, Fredrik, you promised that we would be living likeroyalty and all you can do is pinch a turkey.”

Fredrik turned and frowned at the youngredhead. Her curly hair was neatly combed, but the blue satin dresswas obviously a poor fit. “You shouldn’t be using magic for suchmundane things as opening doors,” he scolded. “One of these dayssomebody will detect you using magic and there will be the demon topay for it. If you must use magic so often, why don’t you use it tomake your dress fit better.”

“The nerve of you ordering mearound,” she protested. “I’m not a bloody seamstress. I’m aprincess and I demand to be treated as one. Look at this shack! Isthis the type of palace that a princess belongs in? If I didn’t usemy magic, I wouldn’t even have a dress to needaltering.”

“Quite true,” Fredrik laughed,“but you didn’t have to leave the poor woman in the street naked,did you?”

Niki laughed too. “Probably not,” sheadmitted, “but it certainly made a convenient diversion. Nobody waswatching us get away. Really, though, Fredrik, this place is not tomy liking. I deserve better, much better.”

“I couldn’t agree with youmore,” conceded Fredrik, “but is it my fault that Forgum has beenoverrun by rogue armies? Too many people knew us in Trekum and yougot us run out of Caldar by tossing all of those guardsmen aroundlike toy soldiers.”

“They were toy soldiers,” Nikiinsisted. “Besides, I refuse to put up with their insolentbehavior. Just because I’m smaller than them, they think they canhave their way with me. Well, they hadn’t reckoned with who I am.They’ll think twice at accosting a woman again.”

“I’m sure they will,” sighedFredrik. Niki was Fredrik’s only friend, but there were times whenhe wondered why women had to be so pushy. She seemed to delight inimpressing people with her magic, mindless of the possiblerepercussions if the wrong people knew of her ability. The onlyplace for a magician today was in the Black Devils serving the DarkOne and Fredrik had no desire to serve anyone. Anyone found withthe ability was given a choice of joining the Black Devils ordying. The only exception might be to endear yourself to one of thegreat armies. They would welcome the skill and give some measure ofprotection against the Black Devils, but that option also entailedserving someone. Fredrik wished Niki wouldn’t live sodangerously.

“What are you thinking about?”quizzed Niki as she cut slabs of turkey to put on the twoplates.

Fredrik snapped his head around andrealized that his mind had been far away. “Oh, I was just thinkingthat maybe we should head for the next town north. Perhaps it willnot be destroyed like this one. Cidal is a good-sized town andshould present some better opportunities.”

“Is there a palace there?”Niki inquired. “You haven’t forgotten your promise to make me aqueen have you?”

“I didn’t promise to make youa queen,” Fredrik reminded her. “I said I could see you in a palacesomeday.”

“It’s the same thing,”insisted Niki. “Let’s eat this while it’s hot, but next time try toremember some vegetables.”

“All right,” Fredrik agreed,“but in the morning we travel north again. Maybe Cidal does have apalace.” Niki actually brightened up at that statement and waseager to get to bed early so they could leave first thing in themorning.

The gray sky of morning came too soonfor Fredrik, but he slid into his brown leather pants, tan woolenshirt, and brown leather vest. Quietly he stepped outside andstrode down an alley that ran behind the businesses along thecoastal highway. In a short time, he came to the stables behind oneof the inns and spoke to the stable boy as he walkedpast.

“Can you believe it?” heasked. “After all these years, we finally have an Emperoragain.”

The stable boy started running to catchup to him. “What do you mean, an Emperor?” he inquired. “You meanhere in Forgum?”

Fredrik stopped and turned towards theboy. “Why, yes, haven’t you heard?” Fredrik asked in mocking shock.“He’s entering the town on the coastal road from the south at thisvery moment. Word is he’s looking for people to serve him in thenew palace they are going to start building tomorrow. Forgum isgoing to be the capital. I’d like to stay and tell you more, butword is that only the first few to greet him will get thehigh-paying positions and I want to be one of them.”

“But you’re not much olderthan me,” protested the stable boy.

“The new Emperor likes hispeople to be young,” Fredrik insisted. “Sorry, but I’ve got to bemoving along.”

Fredrik snickered to himself as hewatched the stable boy’s reaction. The boy was looking aroundfrantically to see if anyone would notice if he left his post.Fredrik continued sauntering down the alley and caught a flash asthe stable boy went running between buildings to the highway. Thefact that he didn’t run down the alley past Fredrik indicated thathe was willing to take the extra chance of getting caught by theinnkeeper to beat Fredrik to the Emperor. Fredrik smiled as heturned around and entered the stables. He quickly threw saddles onthe two closest horses and led them along the alley back to theshack.