"It was a piece of chocolate cake." Zephyra's words echoed through the room.
"I was poisoned by a piece of cake? But I haven't eaten any cake." Elias asserted. He intentionally did not look at Aurora, knowing the look of horror that must be on her face.
The Empress brushed his comment aside, "Everyone knows you occasionally fancy a late night snack. I refuse to let you lie to me about such things."
"Very well," Elias agreed easily, "I have a sweet tooth. That's not a valid reason to poison a man."
"You ate two pieces of cake, husband?" There was a threat in Zephyra's question, but Elias seemed not to hear it.
Instead he laughed, "You caught me, my dear. Perhaps it isn't poison after all; I simply overindulged in cake. It was delicious!"
"And deadly," the Empress added flatly. She let the matter drop.
Clearing his throat, the doctor approached slowly. "Your Majesty, did you discover what poison was used?"
Zephyra nodded. "I did. The cook used elysium." Everyone in the room froze. Their faces grew pale.
"No wonder he seems so happy," one of the nurses muttered. Elysium was a drug used in small amounts to relieve the extreme pain of dying soldiers. It was a hallucinogen and gave people a false sense of euphoria. Even in small doses, it was deadly, which is why only the dying could receive this treatment. Most interestingly of all, it was expensive and extremely rare.
"How could the cook get her hands on elysium?" The Emperor voiced everyone's question.
Zephyra pressed her lips together tightly. "That remains to be seen," she responded vaguely. "Obviously she had some help. But do not concern yourself. I have dealt with it." Aurora knew what that meant: the cook was dead or dying, and she would not be offered elysium to ease her departure.
"Well then I suppose I will not be able to attend you in your official business today," Elias said with too much cheer in his voice.
The Empress scowled, "I will not go either. Not when I should attend your bedside." There was a hint of guilt in her mother's voice, but Aurora failed to notice. This was the longest she had been in her parents' presence for as long as she could remember, and she was not about say anything that might cause them to notice her. She stood at the edge of the bed still as a stone, her eyes flicking around as the conversation continued.
Elias smiled warmly at his wife, "You must meet with the ambassadors. To miss this opportunity would be a sign of weakness. And you, my dear, are not weak. I promise not to die until you return." The Empress appeared torn, but she nodded.
"Let me know immediately if he deteriorates," she ordered. Everyone in the bedchamber fell to the floor in a deep bow, something they were too shocked to do when Zephyra entered. After the oppressive presence of the Empress departed, there was a collective sigh of relief.
"She sure scared me to death," Elias joked. "I nearly wet myself!"
Aurora scrunched up her face. "That's too much information, father," she told him. "Perhaps you should rest."
"I'll rest when I'm dead, which is not too far off. Until then, I'll treasure the company of my lovely daughter."
"Me? Lovely?" Aurora was stunned. She had been called clumsy, foolish, lazy and a myriad of other words, but lovely was not one of them. Her cheeks flushed. It was likely only the poison making him say such things, but she would take the compliment just the same.
The doctor nudged the girl gently aside and grabbed the emperor's wrist. He frowned. Elias jerked his arm away. "Yes, yes…I know my heart is weak. I'm dying of incurable poison, for Fate's sake!" He waved his arms in the air wildly, "All of you… GET OUT! Except you, Aurora. Your presence is calming, unlike these clowns. I think they mean to finish me off quicker."
"I would never, Your Highness. I mean…" the doctor was cut off.
"Then leave me in peace for an hour. You may come back then."
The doctor opened and shut his mouth several times, but finally he motioned for all the staff and servants to leave. The physician and Nanny were the last to go before the door was shut. Elias pointed for his daughter to pull up a chair to the bedside. She obliged by dragging an ornate golden armchair and sitting prettily atop its red velvet cushion.
"I had hoped you would have a better birthday than this." Elias told her. The joviality in his voice was gone, and it seemed for the moment that he was lucid.
"It wasn't how imagined it either," Aurora admitted.
"We haven't much time…" the Emperor looked around warily to make sure they were indeed alone.
"I don't understand…" the girl started, but her father held his hand to his lips.
"We've been discovered. Or at least I have. I can't prove it, but I believe the Empress ordered the poison for the cake. It wasn't meant for me; it was meant for you." Aurora gasped. Her mother had meant to kill her? Elias continued, "To be fair, your mother has long accused me of having a mistress. She is exceptionally jealous. My protestations have done no good, and Zephyra has become increasingly paranoid. When I would not give her a name of with whom I am having an affair (which, dear daughter, is no one), she nearly lost her mind completely. I guess the cook alerted my wife to my odd request for midnight cake, and the Empress saw her chance for revenge. I thought it was strange when the cook told me which piece was for me and which was for my 'special guest'. I guess I got the pieces mixed up…lucky for both of us." The emperor smiled weakly, his eyes filling with tears. "I would never have forgiven myself if you had been the one to die."
Aurora listened quietly to her father's words, unable to comprehend the depth of her mother's selfishness. His final thought hit her like a stone. "You can't die! You are all I have," She cried among uncontrollable sobs.
"Mistress Death does not fall under our dominion," he echoed his previous thought. "She does exactly as she pleases," he chuckled. The mirth was back in his voice as the merry delirium returned.
"Promise me you'll try to live," Aurora pleaded.
"I promise," he agreed readily. Elias died two days later.
The funeral for Elias was held three days after his death. The morning was rainy, matching the gloom that the princess felt. Watching her father be entombed in the Valley of Kings, Aurora felt hot tears mix with cold rain on her cheeks. She was the only mourner. The Empress had forbidden anyone from attending the burial, but the dark-haired girl ignored the decree. Zephyra had managed to keep her daughter from the ceremony, saying that it was not an appropriate place for children. Hiding in the wings as the final eulogy was spoken, the princess had followed the pall bearers through the city and to the sacred cemetery. The pall bearers did not want to disregard the Empress's orders, but in the end they could not bear to keep a child from saying goodbye to her father. As the rain ran down Aurora's cheeks and mixed with her tears, she felt utterly alone. What would become of her now? Her mother already hated her, and now there was no one to speak on the girl's be
Again screaming could be heard from inside the Empress's chambers. This time, it was different. The Empress was in labor. Nine months and two days after her husband's passing, the Empress woke with a start. She called her maid and spoke only two words through gritted teeth, "It's time."As the morning wore on, many midwives and physicians arrived at the palace to attend the Royal birth. Each had their own advice about what Zephyra should and should not do."She should walk around to let the baby come more naturally," one said."Your Highness, take these herbs for the pain," another offered."The Empress needs to rest," a third argued. "The hard work will begin soon."They began to bicker, each asserting that their way was best. The room spiraled into chaos as the arguing grew fiercer."ENOUGH!" A voice rose over the noise. Instantly, there was silence as a woman in white robes approached the Empress's large bed. She was clean and pale, her s
There was a knock on Aurora's suite of rooms; Nanny scurried to answer it. Although Aurora could not make out the words, she could hear the rushed tone of the conversation. When Nanny returned, she looked at a loss for words. "Child," she began. "I have news. Your siblings have been born...""That is wonderful! Was a girl or a... wait did you say siblings? I have more than one?"Nanny nodded, "Yes, a girl and a boy. They are safe and healthy.""This is excellent news, Nanny! My joy is doubled. Why do you look so sad?"The large woman looked at the ground. "There's more. Your mother....the Empress. Something has happened to her.""What do you mean?" Aurora did not understand her words."The Empress's midwife has disappeared, and the Empress is unconscious. No one can wake her.""Did the midwife do this to her?" the girl was worried. Midwives were supposed to help, not hurt."I don't think so. It just happens this way sometimes.
The Council consisted of twelve members plus their chief. After a long night of discussion, they sat once again around a long rectangular table with a tall backed chair at one end—for the chief—and a throne at the other end. When Aurora had been directed to place herself on the throne, she reluctantly complied. Her legs dangled awkwardly as she sat on the edge of her seat, trying to remember each Councilman's name. Cafer she had seen many times, but the others wisely chose to keep a low profile for fear of incurring Zephyra's wrath."We welcome the future Empress to the Council." Cafer announced."Glory to the Empress!" the Council responded in unison. They all stared at the girl, waiting for her to speak.Aurora shifted in her seat. "Thank you." She responded, unsure of protocol. Her tutors had taught her court etiquette, but none of them had actually prepared her to 'be' an empress. And the Council of her advisors were completely differ
The boys all stood in a line looking around with great interest. An envoy from the palace had arrived at their school only an hour before, and had plucked them from their studies. From age seven to fourteen, all of Valiant's children were encouraged to attend classes on history, language, mathematics, art, physical fitness and politics. After this time, it was up to parents how to further their child's education. The poor would generally select a trade to apprentice, while the wealthy had more options. The boys now standing in the hall were well-born and approved by the council for their manners and excellence in different areas. Although the children had no idea what was happening, they could sense something important was occuring."What do you think is going on?" a tall muscular boy whispered."Sh!" The boy next to him hushed him. "You could get us in trouble.""We'll find out soon enough," a third chimed in.A boy with grey eyes nodded. From the far en
The nursery was quiet as Aurora and Devrim entered. Having recently been fed, the twins were being cared for by nurses and other attendants. Nanny stood in the middle of the nursery overseeing the work. The princess was surprised, "Nanny, what are you doing here?"Nanny curtsied and chuckled lightly. "Hello, Your Majesty! I am taking care of my new charges.""What about me?""The new Empress does not need old Nanny here. You will be receiving ladies-in-waiting later today.""Oh," the girl said sadly. The thought had not occurred to her that she might have to give up her Nanny. Her small lips quivered for a moment. "Take good care of my brother and sister! I'll be checking on you.""Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you." Nanny bowed her head. Aurora hugged her caretaker for the last time. It was a tender moment, and Devrim felt like he was intruding. He cleared his throat awkwardly, bring
The other Councilmen looked nervous as Cafer stood at the end of the long table to address the future empress. The tension in the air was thick, but the Chief of the Council did not show his emotion. This girl was merely a child with power, and he would direct her in the proper way. Soon she would have to see his wisdom, as her mother had."Your Majesty, we received news that you have visited the nursery." Cafer began with a fact. If he could get her to agree to small things, perhaps he could coax her to his way of thinking."We have," the princess acknowledged."Then you are aware of the great danger facing us.""I do not follow you, Chief Cafer." Aurora scrunched her eyebrows.The chief humbly spread his hands, "Your mother did not name an heir.""She did not have a chance." Aurora countered."Traditionally the first born inherits the t
"Hold still, please, Your Majesty." "Your Majesty, please hold your arms out so I can pin the sleeves." "Which sash would you prefer, Your Majesty." On and on the servants and new ladies-in-waiting went. They poked and pinched the girl with pins and fingers. Aurora quickly lost interest in their nips and tucks. Instead she decided to focus on her three new lady attendants. They were all very eager and very…similar. All three were in their teens and stair steps of each other. Aurora finally decided they must be sisters. When she asked their names they curtsied and replied in turn. "I'm Anna." "I'm Bella." "And I'm Candela!" The third replied enthusiastically. 'At least they are in alphabetical order. I wonder if they have any more sisters at home,' Aurora thought. Their appearances were nearly identical. Each had chestnut eyes and rich, creamy skin. They had long broad noses and beautiful soft pink mouths. The only differences b