***

  The trio watched as Benjamin and Forlana slowed to a walk, until they stopped, a few paces from them.

  “I don’t know who you are, but stand aside. I don’t want to hurt children,” said Benjamin.

  Twirling her sword in her hand, Jess sneered at the mage. “You don’t seem to include Alavari children or princesses in that.”

  Benjamin’s neutral expression vanished under a glower. He opened his mouth to speak, but Forlana raised her hand.

  “You don’t have to justify yourself to these fanatics, Benjamin. Children without any idea of why or even who they are fighting for.”

  “You’re trying to kill the Queen of Erisdale and her son,” said Gwen.

  Rowena swallowed. Even now, Forlana’s eyes weren’t really looking at them, but past them. It wasn’t that she didn’t see them, but the flat gaze sang out that she found them beneath her.

  “I’m killing an usurper and her spawn,” said Forlana in a bored tone.

  “As the one she ‘usurped,’ I have no complaints,” said Jess with a drawl.

  Rowena’s grip around Tristelle tightened as Forlana regarded Jess. A flash of recognition lit her expression into a cold, mirthless smile.

  “Oh cousin, you’re not the one she usurped,” she said.

  Jess frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Forlana,” Benjamin hissed.

  Forlana pursed her lips and shook her head. “Benjamin, I am tired of hiding. They ought to know the hypocrisy of their position, especially my cousin.”

  Rowena glanced at Jess and back at Forlana. Her eye widened as a suspicion formed in her mind.

  “This cousin thing is getting pretty weird,” said Jess.

  Forlana grinned. “Why would it be weird, Jessalise of House Grey? After all, we are truly cousins.”

  Utter confusion arched one of Jess’s eyebrows, but she didn’t lower her hand. “What the hell are you talking about? I have no cousins! King Jerome never had a child.”

  “She does kind of look like you, though,” said Gwen, exchanging a glance with Rowena, who nodded. The resemblance was more than passing, and if their hair had been the same color, Rowena would have found it uncanny.

  “Coincidence. King Oliver only had two children—” Jess’s eyes widened “—Oh. Oh no.”

  “And you finally realize it, Jessalise,” said Forlana, smiling triumphantly as she raised her hands.

  “Jess, what is she talking about?” Rowena asked.

  “King Oliver’s wife died shortly after Prince Jerome was born. He didn’t remarry, but he took a number of mistresses. I—I think he did have children with one of them and one child did survive to adulthood. I don’t remember what happened to him,” Jess stammered.

  The slightest hint of a scowl marred Forlana’s smile. “Oh you will. For I am Forlana of House Grey. Daughter of Jason of House Grey. Granddaughter of King Oliver of Erisdale, and the one true Queen of Erisdale.”

  Gwen’s eyes narrowed. “An illegitimate child, you have no claim to the throne.”

  Forlan shrugged. “Normally, but Martin and Ginger’s claim rests entirely on House Grey having no valid heirs. I’d say my claim is better than theirs.”

  Rowena shook her head, trying to stop her teeth from grinding together.

  “You’re the Grail. You’re who this whole conspiracy has been for. You—the mages—they kidnapped the princess, for you.”

  “And what of it?”

  Rowena feinted, screaming a note, she sliced toward Forlana’s arm, but reversed her slash with a twist of her arms. The pretender princess almost fell for it, initially raising a shield, only for Rowena to get her blade underneath the magic barrier.

  “Rowena!” Jess yelled.

  The Lost Princess threw herself backward narrowly dodging a blast of magic from Benjamin. She cut and slashed again, singing as she did so to send arching cuts of magic at the mage.

  Rowena wasn’t really thinking. She was fighting on instinct fuelled by fury. For every bolt of magic the man who had enslaved her fired at her, she returned in kind.

  Benjamin shot a fireball at her. She blasted it apart and sent a torrent of flame from Tristelle’s point. Benjamin tried to create space with a wall of earth and she’d break it apart with an overhand blow from Tristelle and scatter the debris into his face.

  She was doing far better than she expected against the former Red Order Mage, so much so she paused.

  “Tristelle, shouldn’t Benjamin be beating me?” she whispered, watching the man breath heavily as the pair circled one another.

  Her sword chuckled “You practice a lot, and constantly duel against Morgan and Hattie, mages who have been fighting all their life. I think you’re more prepared than you think.”

  Rowena took a breath, glancing to try to find her friends.

  Gwen and Jess were both fighting Forlana, but to her surprise, they weren’t doing as well as she thought. Jess was dodging behind cover trying to get a hit on Forlana, but every time she showed herself, the pretender princess fired a spell, before switching back to trying to knock Gwen out of the sky.

  The Alavari was exchanging spells against Forlana, but the princess was far more agile and Gwen was having to shield Jess at times.

  Tearing her eye from the battle, Rowena refocused on Benjamin, just in time to see him twist his wand. She sang a shield into existence, blocking a barrage of green bolts. This time, though, they did not end, Benjamin continued to rain down the barrage of magic as he advanced, drawing his dagger as he did so.

  Focusing on Tristelle, Rowena redirected her magical barrier onto the saber. Adjusting her grip, she stepped to the right, angled the shield away and let the barrage slide off her shielded blade.

  Caught off guard, Benjamin fell back, trying to dodge the blade, but Tristelle’s point cut across his robes. His scream and the sensation of resistance against her hand sent shivers up Rowena’s spine, but she pushed through.

  Stepping forward, she completed the cut, and drew Tristelle up to guard, but she didn’t have to. Benjamin wasn’t dead, but he was holding onto the gash across his torso, gasping, his dropped wand rolling away from him. Rowena kicked the wand away.

  “And stay down,” she said.

  Benjamin coughed, glaring at Rowena for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened.

  “No way—”

  Ignoring the mage, Rowena searched for Jess and Gwen and her stomach sank.

  Gwen was down, her body limp. Jess was hunkering over the Alavari, her hand outstretched, screaming as she held the fading pink magic shield up. Only now could Rowena hear her screaming.

  “Rowena! Help!”

  Tristelle whirled to a high guard as Rowena lunged forward, sweeping the blade down as she sang a note. Forlana, hearing the spell, cried out a Word of Power to summon a shield. The false princess stepped back, bringing her wand up to face Rowena.

  “Where’s Benjamin—” Forlana’s eyes widened and narrowed as she took in the wounded mage. “You insufferable wench. You have stood in your queen’s way for far too long, Rowena.”

  The two girls circled one another, the hum of magic broken only by the scrape of boots on the road. Rowena, gritting her teeth to remain calm, her eye watching Forlana and how she coiled like a snake ready to strike.

  “I am not your subject,” said Rowena.

  Forlana giggled. “I am Queen Forlana of House Grey. All who call themselves Erisdalians are my subjects. They should swear loyalty to me and me alone.”

  Tristelle laughed and glowed, but not because her mistress commanded her to. From within her shoulder-bag, Rowena felt the heavy crown shift.

  Taking a breath, Rowena nodded and reached into her bag. Before Forlana could react, she swiftly placed the circlet on her head. It was a bit too large, but it fit strangely well.

  “And I am Princess Rowena of Erisdale, born Forowena of the House of Congrey, daughter of King Martin and Queen Ginger. The Lost Princess, found again. You tried to hurt my family and friends. You tried to destroy the peace. You are no queen. You’re just a pretender.”

  Forlana stopped, her mouth falling open. Then she shook her head and a furious, twisted expression snarled her fair features.

  “Well then I shall banish you again!” Forlana screamed a song into being. Cords of earth rose from the ground, trying to tie Rowena down. The princess rolled, moving to close in. Forlana immediately switched her song, twirling her wand in a circle.

  Just in time, Rowena yelled out a Word of Power to get a shield up. Even so, the blast of flames from Forlana was too much. Her shield fractured like glass, broke—

  Only to be replaced by a ruby red shield that appeared in front of her as the jewels in the crown shone.

  Rowena blinked, reversed her backpedal and leapt forward. Tristelle swung across, nearly taking off Forlana’s head, but the older girl was surprisingly athletic. She bounded backward toward Benjamin, casting a shield.

  “Withdraw! Benjamin, hang on!” she hissed, grabbing the wounded mage.

  “You’re not getting away!” Rowena charged after them. But Forlana was pulling out two gems in her belt. The pretender queen cried out a Word of Power and the gems crumbled, activating the spells.

  The pair vanished in a glimmer of red sparks. Tristelle’s edge swung through the cloud, but met no resistance. Rowena could only glare at Forlana’s snarl before she was gone.

  “Good riddance,” croaked a voice.

  Rowena turned around “Gwen!”

  “She’s alright. She just took a hit for me,” said Jess, squeezing the Alavari’s hand.

  The flap of wings heralded Morgan and Hattie’s arrival as they landed.

  “I’ll take care of Gwen, good work all of you,” said Morgan, kneeling down beside the Alavari.

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  “Rowena—Oh, where did you get the crown?” Hattie asked.

  “Jess gave it—returned it to me,” said Rowena, gently nudging the circlet a little. She let out a shuddering sigh. “I know what the Grail means now. The fake Forowena is Forlana, one of King Oliver’s granddaughters from his bastard son Jason.”

  Hattie blinked and groaned. “That explains way too much. Does your mother—”

  The door from the Lady Sara Wing slammed open. Frances charged out, Ivy’s Sting at the ready, Queen Ginger right behind her boasting two pistols and a small army of guards and mages

  The moment the queen laid eyes on Rowena, the pistols were back in their holsters. Ginger ran forward, arms outstretched but before she could collide with the wide-eyed Rowena, she stopped.

  “Rowena, I…I’m so sorry,” she stammered as she clasped her hands in front of her.

  Rowena—Princess Rowena, took in a deep breath and met her mother’s eyes. They were already filled with unshed tears. Every fiber of the woman’s body wanted to run forward and sweep her off her feet. Yet, the queen, her mother, was holding herself back, waiting for permission.

  Her permission, her choice.

  Rowena sheathed Tristelle. “Your Majesty—mom. I—We can talk now.” Then, hesitantly, Rowena smiled, raised her arms and nodded.

  Gentle, warm arms wrapped around her. Rowena found herself pulled into her mother’s embrace. Before she could stop herself, she was hugging her mother back and tears were flooding down her cheeks.

  And for that moment, nothing mattered but the fact that she had found her mother and she was loved.

  ***

  Rowena sipped quietly from a mug of Hearthsange to soothe her throat. It’d taken quite a bit of time for her to explain everything that had happened and what she’d found out. Her ability to see the future had needed some vouching from Hattie and Morgan, but they were all now sitting in silence around a table at city hall, the same dining table where she’d served her mother.

  King Martin, participating thanks to a mirror brought in, scratched at his hair and flashed Rowena a smile.

  “Well, she most certainly takes after you, my dear.”

  Ginger nodded stiffly, due to the bandage around her cheek to cushion a bruise. “She has your eyes, Martin.”

  Martin nodded, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “She does. Rowena, I’m so glad to have found you. Thank you, for saving us once again.”

  Rowena nodded. “I’m… glad too, sir.”

  Ginger smiled as well, but Rowena caught out of the corner of her eye, her mother’s jaw tightening. “Before we continue this debriefing, I do have to ask a question.” The queen faced her, eyes only for her. “Rowena, do you wish to be part of our family and a princess once more?”

  Touching the crown on her head, Rowena pursed her lips. “I want to try, if you don’t mind. I would like to visit Athelda-Aoun as often as I can, though.”

  Ginger nodded. “Of course, your friends are here after all, and so are Morgan and Hattie.”

  “We can make a few trips to Erisdale as well,” said Morgan.

  “It’s also a good idea to keep you moving,” said Frances. The archmage, her arms crossed, drummed her fingers on her arm. “The fact that the conspiracy has been centered on bringing Princess Forlana to power means it is stronger than we could have ever thought.”

  “It certainly explains how they’ve lasted this long and acted in such a coordinated fashion,” said Martin.

  “Still, finding Forowena—Rowena that is, is a significant victory, and they have lost a lot of resources in their attempt to assassinate Ginger. It’ll take time for them to act against us again.” Frances smiled at Rowena. “Much of that was thanks to you, Rowena.”

  Rowena instinctively almost returned Frances’ smile, but as she met the archmage’s eye, she froze. Yes, much of that was thanks to her, not to Frances, or her parents, who couldn’t even recognize her.

  Well, they had good reason not to be able to recognize her. They couldn’t see the past and she’d barely been a month old before she was kidnapped.

  Except it was because of Frances, and her parents’ failures that she’d been kidnapped in the first place.

  “Rowena?”

  “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?” she asked, shaking her head.

  “We’re wondering if you have any questions on what is going to happen next, Rowena,” said Ginger.

  Rowena swallowed. “When are we leaving for Erisdale?”

  “In a week. Enough time for you to pack some things and have some lessons with us before you go,” said Hattie, looking a little wistful.

  “That’s all I got for the moment then.” Rowena bit her lip. “If that’s all, can I go now? I want to see how Jess and Gwen are doing.”

  Frances rose to her feet. “That’s a good idea. I’ll walk you there. Jerome, come with me.”

  “You really don’t have to,” stammered Rowena.

  “It’s just a short walk. I need to clear my head too,” said Frances, as Jerome jumped out of his seat.

  Ginger reached as Rowena passed her chair and they briefly touched hands. Jerome gave his mother a hug before the three stepped out to the corridor and started to walk to the infirmary.

  Rowena’s suspicions were confirmed as Frances glanced at her, her smile fading into an expression of regret and sadness.

  “They sold you because they heard I was coming, didn’t they?” she asked.

  Rowena nodded, wincing as she looked away from the archmage. “How did you know?”

  “You wouldn’t look at me the entire meeting, Rowena, and I can pick up on what you didn’t say about your vision,” said Frances.

  “It’s not your fault,” said Rowena. She forced herself to look at Frances, really look at her, but she couldn’t stop her teeth and fingers clenching.

  “But you do blame me, don’t you?” Frances asked, her voice gentle, her amber eyes on her.

  “It’s not your fault!” Rowena tore her gaze away and marched forward, but Frances did a funny little run that outpaced her. Stepping in front, Frances relaxed her arms by her side.

  “Maybe it wasn’t my fault, but as your Godmother, I did fail to save you.

  “Godmother—” Rowena felt a tremble run up her back as she remembered Tiamara explaining the Otherworlder word to her. “You’re my Godmother?”

  Frances nodded.

  “What took you so long to get to the inn? You can teleport!”

  “Many reasons. I know most of them will sound like excuses, but if you really want to know… Nobody expected that they’d sell you. Hold you ransom, maybe kill you, but not sell you. I could have risked a teleport, but I’ve never been to Glasport. Even if I could teleport near it, while I knew I could defeat the three other mages, I didn’t know if I could do so after a teleport.”

  “How could you not know about my blindness, or my magical gift?” Rowena demanded.

  “Some magic gifts develop after birth. I was supposed to test you next week,” said Frances.

  “Why did nobody recognize who I was? If I’m the princess why—why did nobody figure it out? Why—why did I have to be the one to figure it out?”

  Arms wrapped around Rowena, not Frances’, but Jerome’s. The prince squeezed his sister tight, and Rowena couldn’t help but lean against her younger brother as she sniffled.

  “Thank you, Jerome.”

  “Anytime,” said the prince.

  Frances sighed. “I’m sorry, Rowena. I don’t have an answer for that. I just wish I could have spared you that.”

  Rowena wiped her eyes, thanking whatever god was out there for her brother. “I know. I know you didn’t mean it. I know you tried your best and…and you even invited me to the school and gave me all this help. It’s just—”

  “You blame me. I understand and that’s natural.” Kneeling, her eyes level with Rowena, Frances reached out with her hand. “I just want you to know that no matter how you feel towards me, you can always ask for my help. Just, please try not to let your anger at me affect your friendship with Tiamara.”

  Rowena nodded immediately. It was easy to agree on. However, now that she was really thinking, Rowena couldn’t help but remember the last few years.

  Frances teaching her about the Otherworld with its wonderful and strange technologies.

  The archmage facing off with Lady Sylva and saving her life.

  Tea time at Frances’ house with Tiamara and the rest of her friends.

  Rowena swallowed and clasped her godmother’s hand. “Frances… thank you for everything. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re most welcome, Rowena,” said Frances, tearing up just a little.

  ***

  Jess and Gwen were quite alright but were glad to see Rowena and Jerome. After Frances had left to rejoin the adults meeting, they talked a little about what had happened before Tiamara had shown up and they had to fill her in.

  Tiamara stared at Rowena’s crown for a moment before sitting down on the side of Jess’s bed. “That sounds like a sh—crap tornado, no offense, Wena.”

  “None taken. I’m still feeling quite overwhelmed.” Rowena bowed her head. “Tia, I’m sorry, but I’m… a bit mad at your mother right now.”

  Frances’ daughter winced, looking remarkably like her mother in that instant. “I get it, and I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” said Rowena.

  Tiamara nodded. “Are we still friends?”

  “Of course,” said Rowena, clasping Tiamara’s outstretched hand. “I still am thankful to your mom. She helped me a lot. It’s just…”

  “Yeah. I know,” said Tiamara, smiling sadly.

  A knock on the door drew the kids attention.

  “I’ll get it,” said Jerome, hopping onto his feet. Running to the door he opened it to reveal Queen Ginger.

  “Jerome dear, I need to borrow your sister. We need to discuss a few things, like our trip back to Erisdale. You’re going too of course, but she has some lady things I need to arrange with her,” said Ginger.

  Rowena narrowed her eyes. There was something about Ginger’s smile that was sincere, but not quite right.

  Whatever it was, Jerome didn’t notice. He turned to them, grinning, making Rowena smile reflexively.

  “I’ll be in a moment. I’ll see you tomorrow everybody,” said Rowena. Waving her friends goodbye, she briefly hugged Jerome before following her mother out of the room.

  The queen didn’t say anything at first, and so Rowena followed her, waiting for her to say the first word.

  They walked in silence, out of the infirmary, to the dorms. Somehow they managed to avoid some of the more nosy kids.

  The queen had just stopped outside of Rowena’s rooms before she spoke.

  “I figured that you might want somewhere safe, and comfortable for us to chat,” said Ginger, gesturing to Rowena’s room.

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll have to cast a privacy spell. The walls are pretty thin,” said Rowena, sliding her room door open.

  “Of course,” said Ginger as she followed Rowena in. She looked around, letting out a small sigh. “Your room at Erisdale castle is so much bigger than this.”

  Rowena blinked. “You mean my room was.”

  “No, your room is.” Ginger shut the door and the pair sat down at the worn work table. “We kept your room, and kept updating it as the years went by. You have dresses, work clothing, even a set of makeup.”

  Rowena swallowed. Touching Tristelle, she cast the privacy spell around her room, before undoing the sword and placing it gently against the table. Her sword was staying mercifully silent, but that left the space for Rowena to fill.

  “Mom, what is this really about?”

  Ginger leaned forward, interlacing her fingers together as she rested her elbows on the table.

  “Frances was doing her best to respect your privacy, but I know you probably have some things you want to say to me without anybody listening. Questions you want to ask, things to blame me for—”

  “Blame you for what? You were betrayed. You couldn’t have anticipated that.” Rowena swallowed. She hadn’t meant for that to sound so harsh.

  “Rowena, it’s alright for you to be angry—”

  “I’m not—truly. Not really. I’m just—” Rowena pressed her hands against her face, trying to find solace against the touch of her own palm. “—I don’t want to be angry at you, my father, or Frances. I shouldn’t.”

  “You have every right to,” said Ginger.

  Rowena shook her head. “You’re my mom! You both tried so hard. You—you kept a room for me even if you weren’t sure you’d ever find me! If it wasn’t for my magic, nobody would ever have known. I know that.”

  “Rowena, you don’t have to hide your—”

  Rowena stood up suddenly, her chair toppling backwards. “But I want to hide it!”

  Ginger blinked. Unprompted, she reached out, palm up. Rowena couldn’t help but take her mother’s hand. It was scarred, but Rowena couldn’t help but hold onto that gentle touch.

  “Alright, I’ll stop asking. Just, please, don’t hold back for me. Let me help you. I can take it, and I know your father would be more than willing to listen to you.”

  “Mom…” Rowena swallowed. She could feel her tears welling up again. “Just tell me what do you want me to do.”

  The queen frowned. “Rowena, I can hardly make demands of you.”

  “Then how do I know what to do? How to be your daughter? How to be a princess? I can’t just do anything I want. If I have to lead Erisdale, if I have to be the princess, I need to do the right thing. I need to know who to become,” said Rowena.

  She could see Ginger’s confusion etched across her face in lines of wrinkled expression. It told her what she was going to say, even as she said it.

  “Rowena, you don’t need to become anybody. Just be you,” said Ginger.

  Rowena groaned. “But I don’t know who that is. What, are you going to tell me that you’d love me no matter what I do because I’m your daughter?”

  “Yes!”

  “Then why couldn’t you find me—” Rowena pulled her hand back, clamping her hands over her mouth, looking away, cold horror filling her heart. “I’m sorry! It’s not your fault.” She waited, anticipating the queen’s reply, only, there was silence.

  Rowena looked back at her mother, who was staring at her. There was no anger, no reproach, just wide-eyed disbelief.

  “Your Majesty?” she whispered.

  Ginger seemed to snap out of it. “Rowena, why are you trying so hard not to hurt my feelings? To act so mature. You’re still a kid. You don’t have to act like an adult right now.”

  The question throbbed like a pulsing vein. Unable to answer it, not sure why she couldn’t put words, Rowena stammered, “If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to save your life.”

  Somehow, the answer seemed to stagger Ginger, like she’d been shot. The queen had to brace herself against the table as she turned pale.

  “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean—”

  “No, you’re right.” The queen took a deep breath. “Earlier, Rowena, you asked what I wanted you to do. You deserve an answer to that. I want… I wanted you to be able to laugh, to play, to be a child in a world safe for you to express what you want and who you are. I want you to be able to pursue your dreams without fear.”

  Rowena stared at the queen as she processed her mother’s wishes for her. Her mother's loving, touching wishes for her. They struck her to her core that someone who had never met her, loved her to such a degree.

  And yet, the truth of the matter also spoke just as loud, and just as damming.

  “But I can’t do that,” Rowena whispered.

  Ginger nodded. “No, you can’t. Not after what has happened to you. And I’m so sorry for that.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think I will ever stop feeling guilty about that. I won’t ever stop wanting that for you. I’m sorry.”

  “Mom, I…” Rowena swallowed and reached out to take her mother’s hand. “Thank you for being honest with me. You…you deserve that honesty too.”

  She closed her eyes, feeling her mother squeeze back. “I don’t know who I am. I still don’t feel like I know who Rowena is and I don’t think I know how to be a kid, mom. I’m responsible, I’m mature and when I don’t act like a kid, I do the right thing and I save people’s lives. It’s how I found you.”

  Rowena pressed her forehead against her mother’s hand. She didn’t know why she did that. It just felt right. “I’m sorry I can’t be who you want me to be. I’m so sorry.”

  Ginger, without letting go, stood up and walked over to embrace her daughter, tucking her head underneath her chin. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You’re perfect the way you are, even if it’s not what I wanted for you.”

  “But I thought you wanted me to be able to be a kid?” Rowena croaked.

  Ginger laughed, and a soft thumb wiped Rowena’s tears away. “Oh, Rowena, more than anything, I just wanted to be able to find you. And now you have, I’m the happiest woman alive.”

  A new flood of tears burst from Rowena’s eyes as she hugged her mother. She was shaking, trembling, and in a truly wretched state, but that didn’t really matter.

  “Thank you, mom.”

  “Thank you, my daughter.”

  ***