“Are you sure, father, mother?” Rowena asked.

  “No. I’d rather keep you safe in Erisdale, but there are some really good reasons why you should go,” said Ginger. “First off, Erisdale needs to send a representative of some kind to this Royal Wedding of equivalent or sufficient rank. This limits it to me, your father, you and your brother. Given what you know of Alastor, sending your brother is out of the question.”

  “Now Ginger or I could go, but the thing is, you might be Erisdale’s next queen and yet you have not travelled outside of Erisdale to another capital. Athelda-Aoun is important, but before you become queen, we always planned for you to travel to Alavaria’s capital Minairen, and Erlenberg,” said Martin.

  Jerome pursed his lips. “Isn’t Erlenberg the city-state where Elizabeth and Ayax, your two friends, live?”

  Rowena nodded. Elizabeth Kim was another former Otherworlder like Frances and one of the founders of the Lightning Battalion. She’d married the legendary war mage Ayax the Blackgale, who was Frances’ adoptive cousin.

  “Well they keep multiple homes, but yes, it’s where the pair often return to visit Ayax’s family,” said Martin.

  Ginger smiled wistfully. “We plan to eventually make a trip there with you. Erlenberg is an important ally and trade partner. However, Lapanteria has been our most important human counterpart on this continent and one of our neighbours. If Alavaria has been our old enemy turned friend, Lapanteria has always been our rival.”

  “Since the end of the Great War, that rivalry has mostly been friendly, but before it was deadly. We need to send a message that we don’t want it to return to that state, but that if it does, we’re more than prepared,” said Martin.

  Jerome drummed his fingers on the table. “Lapanteria has a third more troops than us, though, and they’ve seized new territory to the west, from the remnants of the Kingdom of Roranoak. How would sending Rowena intimidate them?”

  Rowena frowned. In her mind, she brought up a map of Erisdale and the number of troops they had. “First off, if I understand what mother and aunt Mara have been teaching me, then our army is probably deadlier than Lapanteria’s.”

  Martin chuckled. “I’m not sure I would go that far. My sister has every right to be proud, but numbers do help. That being said, you are right. Our Magic Corps, our artillery and weapons have improved the army and we want you to go with one of our most powerful formations to make a statement.”

  “Which one?” Rowena asked.

  “The Fifth Brigade, The Red Lightning, the commanders of which are veterans who I had the pleasure to serve with,” said Ginger, smiling beatifically.

  “They’ll make sure you’re safe, and make a statement. What do you think are the other reasons we would send you to Lapanteria, Rowena?”

  Rowena nodded, her mind turning the situation over and over as her parents met her with smiles. This wasn’t a test. Martin and Ginger weren’t withholding knowledge. Rather it was part of her training to be the next queen where her parents would try to let Rowena approach the situation by herself.

  “Me going is a good statement of our resolve. Sending mom or dad would be too much. We can’t look like we’re bothered by mere discussion of redrawing territorial borders, but sending me would make it clear that we’re not going to give up.”

  Rowena pursed her lips. “There’s also the matter that I, not being much younger than Alastor, would be far less intimidating, and perhaps appear a more conciliatory person to deal with. He might even try to flirt with me given his womanizing habits.”

  “Alastor being a womaniser was actually a reason we didn’t want to send you there,” said Martin, grimacing.

  “But good on you for thinking of how to deal with him,” said Ginger, her smile turning wry.

  Rowena blinked a little more than touched that her parents were so concerned for her safety. “Thank you. We don’t know who Alastor is marrying, right?”

  Her father and mother shook their heads.

  “Earlier, Jerome brought up the possibility that she’s marrying him because she has something to gain, which I think is true. I am also wondering. however, if they both have other more concerning reasons for marrying one another,” said Rowena.

  “How so? By being the crown prince he’s already a desirable match,” said Ginger.

  “Yes, but if you just want a desirable match, why not marry a duke or a countess? Why aim for the crown prince” Rowena asked.

  “Count. Lapanteria still forbids same-sex unions,” said Martin. “I see your point, though. You don’t aim for the highest point and all the attention that comes with it without some other motive.”

  Rowena resisted the urge to make a face as she nodded.. “Right, I forgot. As for Prince Alastor, why marry an unknown woman? Do we even know her name?”

  “Lady Veina. She’s an eighteen-year-old mage and a good one at that, but there are other ways to retain powerful magic talent. The only thing we know about her is that she fought for a year in Roroanoak, coated herself in glory and entered court.” Martin grimaced. “Not that there is much glory annexing parts of a collapsed kingdom.”

  Ginger squeezed Martin’s arm. “There is certainly no honor in that, but we shouldn’t underestimate her, dear, or the Lapanterian Army. Our envoy reports that she single-handedly saved the Lapanterian army in a pitched battle and was key to sieging down several castles. Whoever Veina is, she’s a determined young woman and unlike our army, their army has been fighting.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” said Rowena. She drummed her fingers over Tristelle. “So I have to show the flag, show that we will not abide to any changes to the Treaty of Athelda-Aoun, and hopefully make a good but firm impression on their future king?”

  “Pretty much. You have a week to choose who you’d like to accompany you on this. I know Alavaria is sending your friend Gwen as their representative. As you know, she recently became betrothed to Prince Teutobal.”

  “Yes, I do wish to attend that wedding when it occurs. Though, why is Alavaria only sending Gwen? I would have expected maybe Princess Zoebelle or Prince Teutobal,” said Rowena.

  Jerome winced. “It’s the same reason why Zoebelle and Teutobal haven’t come to Erisdale. King Thorgoth ordered the assassination of King Oliver of Erisdale, and it’s widely felt in Lapanteria that Prince Sebastian’s mother, Queen Syrene, died from the stress brought on by the war.”

  Rowena grimaced. “I really hate that war and it’s already bloody over.”

  Martin sighed. Ginger pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “Wena, if you don’t mind, did you have any dreams of late?” Jerome asked.

  Rowena pursed her lips. “I had one a few days ago, but it didn’t make any sense. It… well I think they’re of Erisdale’s future.”

  “You think?” Martin asked, eyes wide.

  “Yes, because I did see our flag flying, but everything had changed. There were steel and glass buildings that towered over Erisdale castle, metal dragons—huge gliders, that flew through the sky. Trains, larger than the one Jerome and Tia are building. Morgan and Hattie tells me that these are things similar to the world Archmage Frances came from, which means that they are of a far future,” said Rowena.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  “Well, at least Erisdale still stands,” Ginger murmured.

  Rowena sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

  “Sweetie, we’re sorry you need to go to Lapanteria by yourself,” said Martin.

  “Don’t be. I have to go.” Rowena smirked. “I am the Princess of Erisdale after all. The Lost Princess Now Found,” she said, not quite managing to suppress the drawl at the end of her impromptu title.

  Martin and Ginger exchanged an amused glance.

  Jerome arched an eyebrow. “You really don’t like that title, don’t you?”

  Rowena crossed her arms, unable to help but pout. “It’s a such a wordy title and I can’t blame anybody but myself!”

  Her family chuckled at that and Rowena couldn’t help but smile to that.

  Being a princess was full of responsibility, but it wasn’t so bad when her family was supporting her.

  ***

  Later that night, in her room, Rowena sat in front of her room’s communication mirror. As she sat, facing her reflection, she gently massaged the bracelet that her friends had given her so long ago.

  “What are you waiting for, Rowena?” Tristell asked, the sword nudging her shoulder.

  The princess sighed. “You know, Tristelle.”

  “Just leave a message for her, Rowena.”

  Rowena looked up from her mirror, glaring at her sword. “What, that I like you and after I left I realized I might have a crush on you—Ow!”

  Tristelle pulled back, leaving Rowena massaging her shoulder from where the sword had smacked her. “Of course not! Just ask her to accompany you on the mission!”

  “Right, but for what reason? I’m going on a trip to Lapanteria and need a friend? That’s pathetic,” said Rowena.

  “No it isn’t! She is your friend, could gain valuable experience, make connections for her own county, and put herself in your parents good graces,” said Tristelle. The blade nudged Rowena again. “Just call her!”

  Rowena grabbed onto her blade’s hilt, glaring at it. “Tristelle, she and I will be together for…for weeks. How am I supposed to hide my crush on her?”

  “Why not just tell her?” Tristelle asked.

  “It’s been too long! We…” Rowena looked down at her vanity table. “Jess and I have been friends for years. How do I tell her that I’ve had a crush on her for the last two years but was too scared to act on it?”

  If the sword could roll her eyes, she would have, but instead it sighed. “When did you realize it actually? That you liked her?”

  The princess bit her lip. “Just after my fourteenth birthday, after we went on that camping trip.”

  The sword snorted. “Oh that trip. Then, why don’t you just tell her then? What happened and how you realized it?” As Rowena looked away from her sword, her cheeks flushed. Tristelle sighed. “Mistress, I’m doing my best not to try to read your mind but you’re not working with me. You like Jess, so you want her to come with you, but you also don’t want to ask her because you don’t want her to find out you like her. Why don’t you want her to find out?”

  The princess looked up. “What if she doesn’t like me that way?”

  “In my opinion, Jess is either very close with you, or crushing on you,” said Tristelle in a flat tone.

  Rowema glared at her sword. “And what is there about me to like?” she retorted

  Sharp alarm shot through the princess’s arm from Tristelle. “Rowena, are you kidding me? Why wouldn’t she like you?’

  “No, I don’t mean it that way.” Standing up, Rowena walked to her window to gaze out over the city and its lights. In the distance, she could see the hills that protected and set the boundaries for Erisdale City. “I know I’m good at being princess of Erisdale, and at being a mage. But I’m aware I can be cold and overly adult-like. I’m not funny or charming and Jess deserves to be with someone who makes her laugh and be happy.”

  Tristelle sighed. “And you will never know until you ask her. Look, why not just ask her to come along first? Then you can decide whether to tell her or not. You’re worried about going to Lapanteria without someone watching your back, aren’t you?”

  “Gwen will be there.”

  “You and I know Gwen will have to look out for Alavaria’s interests. You need someone from Erisdale and you can’t bring Jerome. So sit down and call her.”

  Rowena held her breath as she turned back to the mirror. Moving without really thinking, she sat down in front of the vanity, touched it and muttered the spell. Her pink magic spread across the surface until the wood and glass glowed.

  After a moment, the mirror stopped glowing and the face of Rowena’s desires and worries appeared.

  “Wena! What’s the occasion? I’m just about to turn in, but I’m happy for a quick chat,” said Jess. Rowena managed a smile, and how could she not? In the years since, the pair had grown into young ladies.

  Rowena had seen herself grown tall and slender, drawing the eyes of both young ladies and lads at court. Her grounded poise and steady gait had lead most to see her as striking and handsome. She didn’t really mind the looks, but neither did she really care for them.

  Rather, she was most concerned with how Jess saw her. This time, the crimson princess looked at her with a mischievous dancing smile and fond, tender eyes. Her best friend and crush hadn’t grown quite as tall as Rowena had. Instead, she’d took on more curves that accentuated her athletic build, barely hidden by her loose light-red silk pajamas.

  Forcing herself to breathe, Rowena said, “Hi Jess. Have you heard of Prince Alastor’s wedding?’

  “Yes. Mom and I had a pretty long discussion about it. We’re not sure what to make of it but both agree he’s up to no good.”

  “Oh, that’s nice. You and Countess Janize don’t usually share a common subject,” said Rowena.

  Jess stuck out her tongue, though, in Rowena’s private opinion, that just made her look cute.

  “We met him before, two years ago ago, during a party with Lapanterian nobles. He tried to charm me, the nerve! I had quite indirectly and then more directly, told him I wasn’t interested. Thankfully I got him to clear off.”

  “What did you do?” Rowena asked.

  Jess cackled. “I told him I was into girls and he was so poleaxed I managed to escape!”

  Rowena’s heart skipped a beat. She almost grinned but managed to restrain herself to feign an amused smile. “Oh, you didn’t tell me that before.”

  Jess blinked, her eyes widening. “Rowena, I definitely told you. I swear I told you. I mean, I barely hid it that time we went on camp!”

  Rowena shook her head. She would have remembered.“I mean it explains a lot, and maybe I did miss it, but I really don’t remember you telling me.”

  “But when were at camp in the tent. You asked what would my dream partner be—” Jess’ jaw dropped open. “I didn’t actually say that my dream partner was a girl. Oh Amura and Rathan I am an idiot.”

  “It’s alright, Jess. For what it’s worth, I’m pretty sure I prefer girls myself,” said Rowena.

  A flash of something passed over Jess’ face. Rowena missed it, but she could see Jess tap her bracelet. “Huh, we are alike then. But anyway, what’s all this about those Lapanterians and their weird “we don’t do same-sex relationship thing” that you wish to discuss at this hour?”

  Rowena nodded. “Right. Keep this a secret, but I’m going to Lapanteria to attend Alastor’s wedding. It’ll be my first diplomatic trip and I’d like to ask you to accompany me. If you don’t mind—”

  Jess leaned closer, eyes narrowed, a determined grin lighting up her expression. “I’m in. When are we leaving?”

  “Jess, I haven’t even told you why I’m attending the wedding!” Rowena exclaimed, hoping her cheeks weren’t reddening.

  The red-haired girl almost laughed loudly, but managed to catch herself. “I don’t care. We’re going on an international trip, paid for by the Erisdalian Crown, spending time together while attending a party. Yes, there is going to be the matter we have no idea who Alastor is marrying and the fact that I think he wants to claim a part of Erisdale territory.”

  “Ah, so your mother has heard about their wish to revise the treaty too?” Rowena asked.

  “Yes. She’s not happy about it,” said Jess.

  “I can imagine. Though I do wonder, why do you think they want to claim a part of Erisdale’s territory?”

  “Because I cannot think of another reason why Alastor would want to revise this treaty. All our life, we’ve grown up in the Great War, but for all the crap it put you and I through, we’re generally happy with our lives. So if he’s not just using that as leverage, then he wants something seriously big.”

  Rowena leaned back against her chair as a shiver ran up her back. Her friend’s words struck to an unvoiced suspicion that now ran rampant in the crown princess’ mind. “Alastor sounds like a deeply unpleasant person, but why go after us?”

  “Who knows, ‘Wena. The Demon King Thorgoth plunged the entire continent into war to kill all the humans. My mother, Earl Darius and the Traditionalists split Erisdale into civil war for the throne and to protect their noble privileges. People can be incredibly selfish,” said Jess.

  Rowena winced as she nodded at her friends somewhat depressing truth. “You’re right, though, I was actually wondering why is Alastor going after us? Erisdale that is. We know that Lapanteria’s been expanding into Roranoak and securing territory that way. They’re doing it despite our protests because Roranoak is an easy target.”

  Jess nodded, grow furrowed. “And our kingdom is the opposite of an easy target. We have a strong army, loyal nobility, and satisfied citizens. The only weakness we have is our army isn’t as large as theirs.”

  Rowena pursed her lips. “Then, assuming our enemy is being rational, and assuming they do want to challenge us, they must have something up their sleeves that they think will give them an advantage. What it is though…I don’t know.”

  Jess nodded. “Hmm. I suppose we’ll have to find out. In any case, I am going with you and that’s final.”

  Rowena smiled. “Thank you, Jess. I’ll let you know the details of the dates tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good.” Jess waved at Rowena, beaming at her. “Sleep well.”

  Rowena waved back and ended the mirror spell.

  “That wasn’t so hard was it?” Tristelle asked.

  “No. But… well, this mission ahead might be,” said Rowena.

  “Yeah but with you and Jess together, and Gwen joining you both, you stand a pretty good chance of succeeding,” said Tristelle.

  “I do hope so,” said Rowena as she rose to get to her bed.

  ***