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Awake Again
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Empress of the World The Coronation
Blue and white banners adorned the palace and flapped outside in the breeze. The balcony was the outfitted with all manner of royal finery to accept the participants in the coronation. Below, nobility and commoners waited for the ceremony to begin.Dressed in a fine gown of blue and white, Brinn, disguised as the princess, took her place in the seat on the balcony for the coronation. Earlier, the terrified ladies-in-waiting could only tell her that Alvar had been dragged from the room after being knocked unconcious and that the guards commented that he was heavier than he looked. They had no idea where he was nor how to find him. So she was forced to attend the coronation without back-up and blind to the situation.She fingered the lace of her gown idly, but really she was sizing up the two guards standing on either side of her throne. They were wide but not tall and smelled of dirt: obviously gnomes. Brinn could probably take them out and leap to the ground hoping for the best, but e
Empress of the World Examination
In the infirmary, Birger had been placed on a cot in a corner away from the patients. A white sheet was laid across him to conceal him, and a gnome guard was lazily watching his body."Where is the lead physician?" Ravenna asked one of the healers.The woman hesitated. "No one is allowed to see the doctor. He is confined to his room."Ravenna adjusted her pink hair with indignant disgust. She glared at the young woman and lowered her voice. "You think I want to be here? I am here on official business. Now where is the doctor?"Her words recieved the proper amount of respect, and the healer pointed toward the doctor's room with a shaky hand. Ravenna turned her back on the young woman and strode confidently toward the surgery room behind which the doctor lived.Human soldiers guarded the door to the doctor's quarters. "No one see the doctor without permission."Ravenna turned her nose up at the soldier. Who did these people think they were? "Do you not recognize me? I do not need permis
Empress of the World Reception
Brinn was heavily guarded by the two short gnomes during the reception. It was frustrating because she could not escape to conduct her search for Alvar, but at least none of the nobility were engaging her either. She knew most of their names, but she had no idea how close Mairwen was to any of them. It could be a problem that would only add to the suspicions Xander was having about her identity.The throne room was packed with people. Brinn watched from beside a pillar as people bowed before an expressionless Alaron. Whatever Cafer had done had been enough to take all the personality from the boy.Cafer was doing his part to distract from the muted monarch. Like a magician, he would pull the attention of whoever approached the throne to himself. The advisor would then direct a pleasant question toward the boy and encourage him to nod or respond in some simple way.For the most part, people seemed unbothered by the quiet ruler. If they were honest, it was a nice change from the impulsi
Empress of the World Quite a Show
Brinn stood and the guards instantly came to her side. She groaned inwardly. Losing the goons would be no small task.Xander was still engrossed with the heiress. The girl laughed musically at something the pirate said. Her lovely strawberry-blonde hair danced around her shoulders as they shook up and down in delight. The girl was half the man's age, yet Xander was still handsome enough—or perhaps powerful enough—that the girl did not care. His advances were clearly welcome.'Disgusting,' Brinn scoffed. 'She looks like she would throw herself at him at a moment's notice, and I am sure he would tell her any little secret to get her to that point.' An idea began to form in the elf's head. She walked over and stood near a group of commoners and then waited until a couple of them left. The elf stifled a laugh."What is it?" one of the guards asked, noticing that she had not spoken to anyone before laughing.Brinn quickly straightened her face as she folded her hands gently against her gow
Empress of the World Hold On
The coronation feast was only for nobility, gnomes that Baak thought worthy, and a small group of Xander's pirates. The captain and king were becoming more picky with their company, and with Alaron now officially in power, they felt they could act more freely.It was this attitude that had earned Xander his injured jaw. He believed he was untouchable. He was wrong."Are you sure you do not want one of the servants to mash up your food, Xander?" Baak teased. "Or perhaps that young lady you were flirting with would like to come in and cut up your meal in small bites for you."Xander snapped his head toward the king in a flash of anger. His purpled and slightly swollen jawline only made the king chuckle louder. The pirate inhaled deeply through his nose and gave a pained smile. "Perhaps I can give you a matching injury, Your Majesty. Then we can both call back the lovely Miss Loane for assistance."The Captain shot a wary glance far down the table at Lord Ulrich. Why the man had been all
Empress of the World Breaking Free
It took some time to avoid the soldiers, pirates, and even some leftover guests in Brinn's movement around the outside of the castle. She could make herself invisible for short times, but she was hoping to save up her magic to use only in dire emergencies.Fortunately the short spurts of windy jumping that she was doing were only minor magic. Brinn had done such maneuvers for hours on end when patrolling through the trees. By comparison, this was easy.Coming to Xander's balcony, Brinn jumped slightly short and landed lightly atop the railing. With her hands and feet, Brinn balanced on the polished wood. She froze, listening for any sign of life within.It seemed like Xander was not inside. No one was. He might have still been in the infirmary tending to his broken hand. Brinn smirked slightly. Stepping onto the cold marble floor of the balcony, the elf moved quickly through the shadows to the other side. There was always the chance, however small, that she was wrong about someone bei
Empress of the World Escape
Xander looked at the two ladies, the sleeping prince and the unusually calm Cafer. Something did not add up, but he was not sure which thing to address first."Cafer, you sneaky jackal! Already trying to find new ways to control the young man?" Baak laughed. The group lowered their weapons.Brinn giggled, and Alvar did his best impression of a coquettish woman. He pushed out his chest and wiggled his hips. Brinn was equal parts amused and offended by his acting. She would make him apologize later for sinning against womankind, but she was glad that the men in the room did not seem to notice his awkward manner.Baak furrowed his brow. "Your efforts will not do much good if the boy is sleeping. He has not even woken with all this commotion."The king was right. Tired from the day and sedatives, Alaron had not stirred since everything began."Where did these women even come from? I did not see them enter," Xander did not sheath his sword, holding it firm in his unbroken hand."The servan
Empress of the World Long Live the...
After a long night of vetting and making sure no one else in the castle was an elf, the two gnomes and the pirate slept in and only dragged themselves into the banquet hall for a late lunch.The decorations from the day before were still hanging proudly along the walls as a reminder of the new regime. Waiting for them at the table were Ravenna and a coherent Alaron.Without Cafer's guidance, no one had given hima sedative. However, Gnomic guards flanked the new Emperor making sure he was safe from himself and others.Alaron scowled at the king, pirate and advisor as each of them entered, but they ignored his quiet tantrum."Greetings, Your Majesty," Cafer bowed before the boy."Might as well call me a marionette, oh mighty puppet master…" Alaron muttered in response. The gnome wisely pretended not to hear him."Nice of you to join us, gentlemen," Ravenna dipped her head but did not stand. "I suppose you have finally recovered from last night's celebration.""The celebration if not wh
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