A Clove of Fates

4. Look Regal

Ifera's Royal Portrait, perhaps? Art credit to Eeva Nikunen.

I was in the throne room, as was expected behavior of a crown princess with nothing better to do. Only, I looked kind of dumb because I sat next to the throne, which stood embarrassingly empty next to me, and made me look like a rag doll in comparison. I couldn't sit on the throne because I had yet to be coronated, and I had yet to be coronated because I had yet to channel magic into the dokkt stjorn, one of the most powerful magical objects in all of Heimurinn wielded only by the Chosen Enchantress. Or at least, it was supposed to be. Thus far, the only thing I'd wielded it as was a gaudy piece of jewelry.

Even feeling the thing against my neck gave me anxiety. I wanted to throw it out of the window most days, but Father would just as soon strike me down as chastise me.

My council stood behind me, as they always did. I didn't think it was legal for me to close my eyes without their thorough consideration of all options and consequences on my behalf. I could only rid myself of them when I got coronated, and it didn't look like that was going to happen soon. A fact they didn't seem to be too upset about. Could I blame them? They'd been running this place before I was plucked out of my orphanage and placed in the palace. Some of these geezers had even seen the Nuadottir Dynasty, and the last of Queen Nua's descendants kicked it around fifty or so years ago. It stressed me out, always having them looking over my shoulder. Having to grit my teeth and smile when they asked about my "Progress in fulfilling my destiny." They didn't want me to succeed, not really. It was the kind of thing that made a crown princess paranoid.

Anyways, we were hearing petitions today. Or at least, we were supposed to be. Without the dokkt stjorn's manifestation magic, I was in no position to be granting anyone's wishes. Hardly anyone came into the throne room except for diplomats and the occasional farmer asking for land. Whatever petitions we did receive, I always granted, however. It made me feel bad to see my people like this. My country was sort of in a recession by what I could tell from the very little attention I paid during my daily meetings with my council. The economy wasn't doing too well, stocks prices rising or falling or something. I don't know, I didn't like to think about it.

I was covertly scrolling through my Glass, hoping that Woodwow, the most severe looking of the six, wouldn't notice. Of all the things I didn't need at the moment, it was a long winded Woodwow lecture.

"Come on, Ifera. When's the last time you came out with us?"

Livian's words flashed across my Glass. I bit my lip, thinking up a response. I was sort of working on her at the moment, and there was nothing like the old "sorry, too busy doing crown princess work to hang out tonight" to put a damper on a budding romance. So I stalled.

"Where were you thinking?"

I sent to her and not so patiently awaited her response.

My Glass buzzed. "There's this elf circuit party right now in Sjarvad."

I frowned. "All the way in Sjarvad?"

"You know those conservatory kids like to party. Good vibes. Elves eat that shit up."

"Yeah I know that, it's just not exactly a five minute walk from the palace."

"It's not a two week journey, either. Take a Daydr and it'll only take you an hour or so."

"And an hour back. And two at this party if it's going to be worth anything. I can't just disappear for five hours."

"So sneak out."

"Liv."

"Ifera."

"LIV."

"IFERA."

I held in a laugh. "Stop it. I'm being serious."

"So am I. Come on. For me?"

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on my throne, picturing her. I sighed. Pretty girls would be the death of me.

"Yeah, alright. Okay. But I'm going stealth tonight, okay? So I won't be able to pull too many free drinks."

"Please, with that body of yours? We'll be bombarded with free stuff."

I smiled. It seemed my efforts might be paying off after all.

I straightened and glanced over my shoulder totally inconspicuously at my council. Now, for my escape.

I stretched. "Welp!" They focused their attention on me, "I'm beat. Long day, huh?"

They looked unimpressed.

I continued on. "We probably won't be getting any other petitioners this late into the night, and I'm sure you would all like to return home...to...your...I'm going to assume you all have families, yeah?"

"If you'd been paying attention in your studies," Woodwow started, his voice paper thin and seemingly on the edge of tearing, "you'd know that as council members, we swore an oath of loyalty to the throne which cut off all of our familial ties long ago."

"Of course I was paying attention. I was just..." I grasped the air with my hand to find the words "...give me a break here, would ya? I'm tired, and staring at a closed door for eight more hours isn't doing anyone any favors."

"Not just yet, princess." This came from Sahro, the most tolerable of my council members. "We have one more visitor."

I frowned. "Who?"

She smiled at me. "Patience."

Always with the patience.

I sat and waited impatiently (just to spite her) for a couple of minutes, thinking of how exactly to explain my absence to Livian without her wanting to murder me. Standing her up was becoming far too common to be played off as another one of my endearing eccentricities as crown princess.

And then, surprisingly, the door actually swung open and in walked a young woman a couple of years older than me. She was pretty. Dark skin and even darker curls which tumbled down her back. Wide eyed and staring. But she had an edge to her that was uncommon here.

I straightened, trying my best to look regal.

Her eyes came to a rest on me. She bowed. "Your highness."

I put on my best Crown Princess voice. "What is your business here?"

"I've come to present myself to you, your highness, under orders from Okkar Heillar, God of Charms."

My throat constricted. "Are you... one of his students?"

"Yes. The newest."

I nodded; my head was swimming. "Yes. I heard that you would be arriving today." Of all the girls, she seemed the least likely to do something so stupid. But was any girl, no matter how strong willed, any match for my father? Even I, as sure as I was of his character, still longed for his approval and shuddered to think of his disappointment. "And your name?"

She lifted her chin. "Elke Talindottir."