Swan Song

Twelve

  It was still early in the morning when Odessa entered the throne room. Anike hadn't come in to help her get ready for the day. Good. Odessa hadn't wanted to see her anyway. She still couldn't believe the things Anike had said last night. It ridiculous. She had to be confused or something because it just couldn't possibly be true. Her father, a magist? No. Never. When he spoke of magic users he talked as if they were a plague. And a murderer? She couldn't even entertain the possibility.

  "Good morning father," she bowed deeply before him and he smiled at her. He was the same man who loved her, raised her, gave her everything. It couldn't be true. Odessa knew her father. He could never do the things Anike accused him of.

  "Hello my princess!" He got off his throne and embraced her then kissed her cheeks. That was new.

  "Are you feeling alright father?" Odessa asked.

  "Of course my little swan." Little Swan? He hadn't called her that since she was a girl. Thank Moea the court hadn't arrived yet. How embarrassing would that have been?

  "Are you sure you're ok? You're acting different. You haven't called me that since I was little."

  "Ah," he paused, "I'm just sentimental I guess. By the end of the weak my little princess is going to be married."

  She swallowed hard, "Right." How could she forget. How did this become her life? She was probably getting married to a stranger who she could barley have a conversation with, her best friend was either crazy or hated her and if she wasn't crazy then her father was. Or worse.

  "Father. I need you to be honest with me. If you weren't king, but thought you deserved to be, what would you do?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, would you oppose the king? Would you take the kingdom?"

  "I am king. King Rothbart DeKnave of Wyttfeather."

  "But if you weren't, what would you do if you thought the kingdom should be yours?"

  "It is mine." He said, voice hard. "It always was and it always will be. No one takes what is mine. And nothing and no one stops me from having what I deserve."

  "I see." She was afraid to ask the next question. Would he kill? "Well, I have to get ready for tonight. I'll see you then father."

  He smiled easily. "Excellent."

  Odessa hurried away feeling rattled. Come on Odessa, father's not a killer. He'd never hurt anyone, she told herself. Anike was out of her mind. And that was just what she was going to tell her. She had better get it through her head that her father was king and that the things she said could have serious consequences. Aside from her lessons and exercises there was little to do today so Odessa marched up to Anike's door and knocked. No answer.

  "Anike! Hello! Anike?" She opened the door and found the room empty. "She must be doing her chores." She left determined to tell her off. She checked each upstairs room. She ran into Sakina and Maria. Karina. Salma. Tamika. Nora. Kamaria. Eli, Matthew, Nathan and some of the other valets. But Anike was no where to be found. Her search down stairs and outside were just as fruitful. Midday meal had come and gone but Anike still hadn't been spotted.

  Odessa was in the garden playing a solitary game of Build Borrow and Buy, letting her anger simmer, when Rebecca called her in for her lessons. Ignoring her she flipped the another card. White ace. She swore under her breath. There went her stack. She'd bent for the third time in a row.

  "You're majesty really. It's time to come in. Now." Rebecca may have been a savant but she would not hear arguments or be ignored, especially when it came to princess's schedule.