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The Party Begins
The party was well underway when Aurora and Mairwen joined the festivities. In return for her assistance, the princess had helped her mother get ready. When the Emperor saw his Empress, his heart skipped a beat. She wore in a violet gown that was form fitting to the waist before falling gently to the ground. Aurora had chosen the gown instead of one of her more fantastical dresses because today was not about her. It was about her children. But for Devrim, her simple outfit only made her more attractive.
The room grew quiet as the Empress took to the musicians' platform with her daughter. Aurora scanned the crowd looking for Alaron, but he was not anywhere to be found. They would have to go on without him. "Welcome to the celebration of the Prince and Princess's sixteenth birthday. If it is acceptable to my daughter, I will allow the official celebration to commence."
"It is acceptable to me," Mairwen announced proudly. "Please enjoy yourselves!" After the applause di
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Empress of the World The Show Must Go On
Out in the Spring Garden, much of the ground was cleared and a stage erected. Many of the guests were gathered around ready for the performers to begin. Led by a servant, Aurora and Devrim took their seats.The first act was an acrobat. His strange patchwork costume, made his tumbles interesting to watch as he moved round the stage. He was joined by a woman and the two bent their bodies in ways that were equally fascinating and horrifying.Then a group of women took the stage and showed off a variety of exotic animals. Birds flew through the air to retrieve thrown grapes, and beautiful large cats of many colors pranced around with their tamers. Aurora wondered if the cats and birds ever got accidentally mixed.That would end very poorly indeed.A fire breather with a large tattoo across his bare chest took the stage. Although the platform on which he stood was wood, he assured his audience that they were perfectly safe. Taking a swig of a clear liquid, he b
Empress of the World Divide and Conquer
Anna ran up to the Aurora. "Your Majesty!" She had obviously seen the display. Her face was deathly pale. Nurlan also appeared at her side. The soldier looked so angry that he might burn the entire stage to the ground to repair the damage done to Aurora."Please get the Empress out of here," Devrim advised the other two. "Can I get you anything?" He asked his wife."I just need a moment. I will go back to my room to freshen up and compose myself. I will be fine, I promise," Aurora gave an unconvincing smile. Her heart was breaking, but she was too well trained to show her sorrow. "Please carry on as normal if you can. Everyone should be alert. I do not think this is Cafer's only move tonight." The Empress left with her escorts. The audience parted to let her through.Alone, Devrim bravely faced the crowd. Some were wisely avoiding eye contact and acting natural. Others were staring while they gossiped with their neighbor. And a few blessed souls had already forg
Empress of the World Trapping the Empress
Pulling herself back together, Aurora knew she would have to go back to the party if she had any hope to salvage the situation. On one hand she was slightly relieved that the secrets were out, but she was mortified by the twisted way the story was presented. She had to admit that Cafer's version seemed more believable than what had actually happened. Aurora hoped that her kindness to her people would keep them from thinking the worst of her.Anna fanned the Empress gently, unsure what to say. Nurlan was equally at a loss for words. "Anyone who believes that words cannot hurt them has never had a cross thing said to them in their life," Aurora said bitterly to break the silence."I am sorry, Your Majesty. That was a cruel trick to play." Anna felt motherly compassion for her mistress."Cafer is a master manipulator," Nurlan added angrily. "Warfare on the mind is very effective." The soldier was not good with comfort, but
Empress of the World The Princess's Evening
Mairwen danced to her heart's content. She enjoyed dancing immensely, but after a time she grew weary of countless dance partners always asking the same questions. Aside from a few boys that she knew, everyone asked her about her plans for the future, wondered if she knew how beautiful she looked, and inquired what it was like to have an Empress for a mother. She could only have the same conversation so many times.At last the princess pulled herself away from the crowd of dancers and headed toward the Spring Garden, where Alaron sidled up beside her. "Are you enjoying the party?" He asked. The Prince looked very handsome in his blue and white tunic and pants. A lighter blue, shortened cape was draped loosely across his shoulders like a kingly robe. Alaron had opted to represent the royal colors, and they sat well upon his figure."Oh brother, it has been a wonderful celebration! Dancing with father was certainly the highlight. The music, the excitement: it has been pe
Empress of the World Taking Charge
"Is he?" Mairwen couldn't finish the sentence. Her words caught thickly in her throat.Eira was already checking the Emperor. The soldier's hard expression softened. "He is breathing, but barely. They are all alive." Trying to wake the men, Eira shook them but received no response.Mairwen recognized the man next to Devrim. "This is Warin. What is Alaron's personal guard doing here with my father?" The princess recovered form her shock and gave into her more curious nature. Then like both her adoptive and birth mothers, she took charge. "We need help! Is there anything else we can do to wake them?"Eira pinched one of the guards, but the man only groaned. She shook her head. "We need a doctor.""Then get a doctor and alert the guards. We need to find out who did this and fast! I will stay with these men. Hurry!" Mairwen's voice was so forceful that Eira quickly complied. While she was gone, the princ
Empress of the World Breaking the Spell
Mairwen pulled the orange-tinted glasses from her dress. She had been talking with her mother about them when they were getting ready, and she had slipped them in her pocket on a whim. It seemed the Fates were with her. She put the glasses on her face and used the knife to reflect the images of the ballroom. It was distorted, but she could make out four figures on the dais. A bright light was beaming from one of their hands. Feeling braver, the girl moved around Junayd and looked into the room. Unlike the others, she did not instantly become a statue. This was a relief, because she had no back up plan.By the thrones, three men stood gloating and discussing their next move. Mairwen recognized Alaron and the strange general, but the third figure was completely unfamiliar. Now that she had a fuller view of the room, a few people were moving through the crowd, stealing odds and ends off the wealthy mannequins.The man with the shining ball was defending the thieves' actio
Empress of the World The Party's Over
"You fool!" Xander snapped as those in the ballroom awoke from their slumber. "No one should touch the pearl but me!" A murmur of confusion rose in the room. Pirates were blocking the exits, and the guests did not have a way to defend themselves.Regaining consciousness, Aurora grabbed her arm and cried out in pain. She tried to move from the platform, but Xander had already caught her by the waist and held a knife at her neck. Nurlan, who had been mid-lunge when he froze, sprawled out on the platform as he fell. "Do not move," Xander warned those around him. Zan and Gandr also had to stop charging the stage when they saw the predicament.On the balcony, the sudden release of tension in Brinn's body threw her forward. She barely missed falling over the balustrade. "Brinn, watch out!" Since the Princess's feet were melded with the floor, the pirate decided that the elf was the bigger threat. He attempted to push her over the edge. Rolling to one side, Brinn avoided him,
Empress of the World An Underground Escape/At the Infirmary
Outside the palace, three figures emerged from the ground. Alaron was leaning on his mentor, panting heavily. His face was pale as he limped toward the outskirts of town. "How could she stop us?" he wheezed."Her Majesty has a proclivity for lucky breaks," Xander answered. "You should have let me kill her when I had the chance."The prince did not disagree. He was too weak. "Save your energy, my boy. We have to get out of Valiant before we are captured," Cafer said gently.Xander put his shoulder under the boy's other arm. "What is wrong with him?"The gnome shook his head sadly. "The explosion he used to free me from the cage was very powerful. It took all his energy to perform the feat. Magic can be a costly venture." The gnome almost felt bad for what he had done to the boy. But self-preservation made him glad Alaron knew magic."I am fine," the prince said as he nearly dropped to the ground even with the two others supporting him. "I am strong
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