“What do you mean he isn’t here?” Alayse snapped as the guards informed her and Jessivel that Emperor Gersius and Empress Lilly were out for the morning. They could see Empress Sarah but would have to wait as she was in a treatment. “A treatment? For what?” Alayse demanded. There was a guard from every major faith, but Alayse chose to stare intentionally at the woman of Ulustrah, who tried not to notice.
“Lady Sarah is having headaches,” the priestess said while trying to avoid meeting that gaze. “They seem to be defying her ability to heal them. She sent for a priest of Vellis and Endril, the commander of the gray legion came in person with two of his best healers. They are with her now, attempting to help with the pain.”
“The lady Sarah was unable to heal herself?” Jessivel asked in surprise.
“She has tried to heal them several times,” the posted knight of Astikar replied.
“What happens when she tries?” Alayse demanded to know.
“Well, nothing,” the man said. “She chants the prayer of healing, but the golden glow never comes.”
“That’s odd,” Jessivel stated and looked to Alayse. “What could be causing that?”
“I would say a poison, but I am sure she has been seen by a priestess of Ulustrah by now,” Alayse replied.
“Grand Priestess Kaylinn has been here twice,” the woman of Ulustrah replied. “She was unable to find any cause for the condition.”
Alayse began to pace as she considered the information. She asked when these headaches started, only to learn they had begun the night before, just after an informal banquet. She asked if anything of note happened during the banquet, but they reported it had gone well.
“So, what do you make of it?” Jessivel asked.
“How should I know?” Alayse replied. “Do you think she would let me try to heal her?”
Jessivel went to reply when the doors opened, and a woman of Vellis hurried out. She didn't pay them a moment of notice and ran down the hall as if being chased.
“That doesn't bode well,” Jessivel said as the women ran off. He leaned in the door to see the meeting chambers were nearly empty. Lady Sarah sat on one of the four thrones with a hand to the side of her head. A man dressed in the blues of Vellis had his hands over her head as he sang in a low humming tone. Beside him stood a knight in gray armor. He was tall with a shaven head, and a look of deep concern etched in his facial features.
Sarah looked up and saw Jessivel, then raised a hand to beckon him in. Jessivel stepped inside with Alayse and approached the unhappy woman on the throne.
“I am sorry, lord Endril,” the priest in blue said. “I can detect no cause of her pain.”
“There must be a reason,” Endril insisted. “There is no malady that Vellis cannot remove.”
“It seems to be waning now anyway,” Sarah sighed. “I thank you for coming so quickly, but I will have to endure and get on with my day.”
Endril bowed, but he was not at all happy that she was still in pain. He pointed out that this might be some form of magical attack and that perhaps she should seek the aid of a weaver.
“I will summon one shortly,” Sarah replied and thanked him again. She bid him and his priest farewell and waited until they were across the room before turning her gaze on the new arrivals.
Alayse couldn’t believe how naturally Sarah fit the role of empress. She had the countenance of a powerful woman with the grace and beauty of a delicate flower. She radiated strength and bore herself with a commanding presence even with the discomfort of a headache.
“Welcome back,” Sarah began. “I received your letter, and I have to say I am impressed. I take it you have delivered the forge master?”
“He has been turned over to your custody this very hour,” Jessivel replied.
“Good,” Sarah sighed and put a hand back to her head.
“I’m sorry, but are they very painful?” Alayse asked.
“Alayse,” Jessivel groaned. “We are here to deliver a report. She has others to handle personal issues.”
“That's alright,” Sarah urged and locked eyes with Alayse. “Most of the time, it is a dull pain. It seems to wax and wane throughout the day. Right now, it's almost gone, but nobody can seem to heal it.”
“And it started yesterday after a banquet?” Alayse asked to confirm.
“More or less,” Sarah replied. “I noticed something last night, but it didn't start to hurt until after breakfast this morning.”
“Would you mind if I tried?” Alayse pressed.
“I am sure the priests of Vellis could have healed it,” Jessivel pointed out.
“I am aware that they are the most powerful healers,” Alayse snapped. “But I wanted to see if I noticed anything unusual.”
“By all means,” Sarah said and beckoned her up.
Alayse shot him a smile of victory and ascended the steps to where Sarah sat. She put her hands over Sarah's head and fell into the void. Her song was sweet as honey and flowered like quicksilver as she prayed for healing. Through the power of the divine, she tried to feel the extent of the injury, but in the end, she felt nothing. There was no injury to speak of, but there was something. An echo of pain, but she could detect no cause or source. She let the song fade and stepped away, her puzzlement all the deeper for the lack of response.
“I thank you for trying,” Sarah said as Alayse stepped back. “You have a beautiful voice. Do you ever sing for others?”
Alayse dipped her head and explained that she didn’t care for entertaining.
“A pity. I would love to hear you sing with Thayle and Lilly.
“I used to sing with Thayle, but she wanted another path,” Alayse replied with a slight bow. She descended the steps and took her place beside Jessivel.
“Would you like to hear the report? Or shall I come back when Lord Gersius is here?” Jessivel asked.
“I think it would be best if he were present,” Sarah replied with a slight smile.
“If you don’t mind my asking, where is the Emperor?” Alayse questioned and caught another glance of annoyance from Jessivel.
Sarah noted the exchange but smiled ever so slightly as she sat tall and proud.
“Why he is out entertaining a young lady,” Sarah said.
Alayse looked confused as Jessivel remained silent and avoided eye contact.
“You mean he is out with Lilly or Thayle?” Alayse pressed.
“No, he is out with Duchess Curtain. I believe they have gone riding,” Sarah corrected.
“Why would he do that?” Alayse asked.
“Is it any of your business?” Jessivel asked.
“I was just curious as to why a man with three wives is out entertaining a woman who isn’t one of his wives,” Alayse replied as Jessivel groaned under his breath.
“Lilly is with them,” Sarah replied calmly as if the comment hadn’t touched her at all. “But your meaning has not escaped me. He is out with her with my blessing because I am rather fond of her.”
“And what does Thayle think?” Alayse asked.
“Thayle has said nothing about it, but If she did, I would take her advice strongly. I would never allow a woman to get close to this family if Thayle objected. I may be seen as the alpha female in our relationship, but joining this household requires approval from all its members. They are simply learning more about her to see if she could be considered. If Gesius and Lilly approve, I will insist that Thayle spend some time with her and give me her opinion.”
“You really don’t need to explain this to us,” Jessivel replied.
“Oh, but I do,” Sarah replied and stood. “This family makes many nervous, and quite a few question how our relationship works. I will not have people thinking Gersius collects women on a whim. He will have the final say in this and is very likely to say no even if all three of his wives say yes. He will not so much as touch a woman he doesn't feel he can love and who doesn't want to reciprocate that love. He is slow to fall in love and careful in the extreme when it comes to opening his heart to others.”
Jessivel bowed and grabbed Alayse by the wrist. “We have taken up enough of your time. We will return later and give our report to you both.” With that, he practically dragged Alayse away as Sarah watched them go with fire in her eyes.
“What did you think you were doing?” Jessivel asked as the chamber doors closed. “You all but accused her husband of infidelity.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“I asked a simple question,” Alayse countered. “If Sarah isn’t woman enough to answer with the truth, then she isn’t fit to sit on that throne.”
“And are you satisfied with her truth?” Jessivel demanded as they headed down the hall.
“She told the truth, but her words were statements about Gersius and not easily tested. She certainly believes there is no danger in her family toying with this woman,” Alayse replied.
“None of which is your business in any way,” Jessivel pointed out. “I wanted to deliver a report where I highlighted your skills and leadership so I could persuade them to reassign you. Then you go and question Sarah’s relationships?”
“I didn't question them, you ignorant man,” Alayse snapped back. “I was trying to figure something out.”
“What could you possibly be trying to figure out?” he asked.
“These headaches. They are being caused by something she has been recently introduced to. Some malady that she was exposed to, or is currently being exposed to,” she replied.
Jessivel shook his head and asked how that was related to where Gersius was. Alayse said she wasn't sure, but something in the healing attempt raised her suspicions. She had been assigned the east for most of her military career, and she learned a great deal in the time. The kings and queens in the east rarely fought in open conflicts. Instead, they used spies, assassins, weavers, and shapers to achieve their goals. They acted slowly from the shadows, manipulating people and events. Sometimes complex weaves were used to apply pressure where it wasn't expected. Some of those very assassins were inside the empire, and their weapons could be very subtle. This woman that was spending time with Gersius could very well be the source of the problem.
Jessivel listened to her explanation with a dour expression. He had pursued targets that used weaves to try and cover their trail or deceive his men. He knew that it could be very difficult to ferret out a magical attack, but wasn't Sarah a powerful weaver? He pointed that out to Alayse, and she reminded him that Sarah agreed to seek the help of a weaver when speaking to Endril.
“That seems odd,” Jessivel replied. “Why call for a weaver when they are likely to be no match for her skill?”
“Perhaps she is only skilled in fire?” Alayse offered, noting that most weavers only know a handful of weaves. She stressed that none of this made sense. A headache could be cured by the weakest woman of Ulustrah, yet two of the most powerful healers of Vellis couldn't touch it? The leader of the gray legion suspects it might be magical in nature, and Sarah agrees to call for a weaver when she is one? All the while, half her family is off entertaining some strange woman. Alayse wasn't sure how but this woman had to be the key to it all.
Jessivel chewed on the idea a moment, then let out a sigh. “You aren't done with this, are you?”
“Not at all,” Alayse replied. “Something serious is going on here, and it is very well concealed.”
“Then I am going to help you,” Jessivel replied.
“You will?” Alayse choked and gave him a sideways glance.
“I will set my agents into finding out who this woman is and where she came from. I will dig up as much information as I can. Maybe it will reveal something to help you,” he said.
“That will be very helpful,” Alayse said with a hint of sincerity. “I have some questions I would like to ask, but I need to find the right people, starting with Thayle.”
“Then why don't we part ways. Meet me in my barracks before dinner, and I will let you know what I have learned,” he suggested.
Alayse nodded and walked away, searching for the woman who should be able to provide the first answer. If she knew one thing, it was that Thayle was always suspicious of motivation. No doubt Thayle was already seeking answers, and Alayse knew exactly where she would be.
The sound of hooves echoed across the plains as two massive horses thundered by. Lilly shrieked in excitement and clung to Gersius as they raced along at full gallop.
“This is so much fun!” Lilly cried.
“I am glad you are enjoying it,” Gersius called back as he guided the animal around a large rock. He glanced to the left where Duchess Curtain was smiling wide and pushing her own animal to the limit. He was surprised at her skill with the horse and the great zeal for speed. They raced across the broken plains for another five minutes before slowing to give the animals a break.
“Well, that was exhilarating,” Celine said as the two horses fell in side by side. “I have to say these animals have quite a gait.”
“The ride is a bit rough, but they are strong and can carry a significant load,” Gersius replied.
“I would imagine,” Celine replied and glanced to Lilly, who was leaning into Gersius's back. “Did you enjoy your ride?”
“I did,” Lilly replied with a smile. “I had no idea they were so fun to ride.” She lifted her head and smiled at the man sitting in front of her. “Do you enjoy riding on me as much?”
He laughed and cleared his throat while smiling at Celine. “I love riding on you, but flying is very different than charging across the ground. It doesn't have the same kind of sensation.”
“They do bounce you around a little,” Lilly admitted. “I wonder if Sarah has ever ridden a horse. It's too bad she has a headache. I bet she would have loved this.”
Gersius looked down as he considered Sarah’s headache and wondered what it meant. He tried to heal it himself and could feel nothing of the cause. Worse, he was beginning to feel something, a sort of pressure in the front of his head.
“You have one too?” Lilly’s question whispered in his mind.
He smiled as Lilly read every thought and assured her it was fine. He felt gentle hands wrap around his head and heard her beautiful voice as she called on Balisha for healing. She tried her best to heal him, despite his assurances that he was fine. When no golden glow came, she pouted and asked if he was sure he had a headache. He turned to Celine to explain why Lilly was trying to heal him, only to catch a glimpse of the strange purple glow. For just a second, there was something over her head, a dark purple halo-like band, but it was gone before he could see it clearly.
“Is something wrong, my Emperor?” Celine asked as she watched the strange display.
“Everything is fine,” he replied and studied her aura that was back to normal. “I just mentioned to Lilly that I felt something of a headache as well.”
“How strange,” Celine said and looked ahead. “I wonder if perhaps it is the stress of trying to forge your empire. You and Lady Sarah must be under a terrible amount of pressure.”
“We are indeed,” Gersius agreed. “But I do not want that to spoil our morning. Come, there is a stream just ahead where we can water the horses.”
He led the way as Lilly resumed her position, firmly hugging from behind. They spoke about the land's beauty around the imperial capital and what he planned to do when the wars were done. Celine was cordial and forthright, never once telling a lie or behaving inappropriately. They dismounted and allowed the animals to rest when they reached the stream.
“It’s hard to believe that a quiet place like this exists so close to the largest city in the known land,” Celine said as she cast a stone into the water. “I wish I had such a place to be alone back home.”
“Do you seek to be alone?” Gersius asked as he noted the strange comment.
Celine looked over her shoulder with a smile and nodded. “It might surprise you to know I prefer to be alone. I find I can't think well when surrounded by others. As a duchess, I have to maintain a certain appearance so that I bring no discord to my father's house. I grow so tired of having to focus on keeping that disguise in place. It leaves little room to let one's mind wander and see the world around them.” She sighed and picked up another stone to cast into the stream. “It's only when I am alone that I can let the disguise slip and be who I really am. Then I am free to let my mind wander and dream of better things.”
Gersius was impressed with her answer. It showed a woman who didn't value the game played in the courts of kings and queens. She wanted to be free of the need to devote so much of her time to a false persona. What was most interesting was how honest her answer was, as her aura pulsed with the truth.
“So, are we seeing the real you now?” Lilly asked, much to Gersius's surprise.
Celine turned from the water and took a deep breath before giving a slight shrug. “As much as I dare to allow to show. I feel as if I don't need to hide who I am from you, but years of maintaining that image are difficult to discard.”
“You will need more time to lower your guard,” Gersius said. “I assure you, we will value the real you over any false image you could create.”
“Are you sure about that?” Celine asked with a strange smile. “What if I am not what you think I am?”
“I think you're nice,” Lilly said. “But I have noticed that some humans are careful to conceal who they are.”
“Exactly,” Celine replied. “In many a king's courts, it is expected. To show ones true self is seen as weakness and will quickly be exploited.”
“That's not how we are,” Lilly replied. “Many of our nobles are like that, and it infuriates them we won't play their game. Thayle says they are two-faced, showing one face to us in court while the other is only seen in secret meetings where they plot against us.”
“Oh, I do hope your lands are not beset by plots and intrigues,” Celine said.
“They are for now,” Gersius replied. “But we put the women of Ulustrah to work testing people's light and discovering plots. It is easy to locate the trouble makers because they refuse to come near the palace where they might be questioned, and their motives revealed.”
“I suppose it is to be expected,” Celine said as she folded her hands. “You have put the kings and rulers of more than a dozen territories under your feet. These are men who are accustomed to answering only to themselves. I doubt many have welcomed your yoke around their neck.”
“They do not have to welcome it,” Gersius said. “But they will carry it. They chose to put that yoke on themselves when they refused to unite and face the Doan. They forced me to walk the path of restoring the empire and becoming their master. I did not want this burden, but there was no other way to save them from themselves.”
“And this war with the wild men of the west. Is it true that dragons other than your own are involved?” Celine asked.
“Dragons are helping them,” Lilly replied. “It's terrible when we encounter them because they are blind with a curse. It blinds them to the happiness they could have and dooms them to a valueless life.”
Celine twitched for a moment, and Gersius thought he saw red in her aura, but it was gone in a heartbeat. She looked away with almost an irritating turn then took another deep breath.
“So, as a dragon, you find value in this new life?” Celine asked.
“Now that I know what it means to love, I never want to be alone again,” Lilly said. “Gersius has opened my eyes to a whole new way of living, and I can never go back. I would rather die than crawl back to my hole and waste my life sleeping.”
“Surely you see more value in a dragon's life than that?” Celine pressed as she turned about.
“What value do we have?” Lilly asked. “We don't build or create anything. We don't seek to learn anything about the world or dare to try and make changes. I have never heard of a dragon lifting its voice in song or coming together to share their voices. They don't gather to dance, feast, or enjoy each other's company. All they do is eat and sleep. They don't even value breeding and treat it like a chore that comes once in every female's life.”
“So you don’t see breeding as a chore?” Celine asked.
“Not at all,” Lilly smiled. “You must understand that a dragon doesn't feel the range of sensation that a human woman does. When I first mated with my husband, I was so overcome by what I felt that I cried. I had no idea anything could feel that way and no words to even begin to describe it. Humans feel so much in the act of love and breeding that they have words for it that have no equivalent in the dragon language. We don't even have a concept of marriage or words for husband and wife.”
Celine looked annoyed as she let out a deep sigh and admitted that she found it hard to appreciate Lilly's point of view. She dismissed it as something that only a dragon could understand and decided to ask another question. She was aware that Lilly had come first and asked how the others had come along. She was careful not to outright say that she expected jealousy between them, but Gersius could see that was what she was getting at.
“I love my Thayle,” Lilly replied. “And I love mother Sarah with all my heart.”
“Mother?” Celine asked with a strange smile.
“It is a dragon thing,” Gersius was quick to say. “They see themselves as one large family, and every dragon of a certain age or higher is mother or father to the younger ones. Sarah is our wife, but out of respect for her great age Lilly and Thayle like to call her mother.”
“It means so much to her,” Lilly added. “She wants to take her place in the order of scale, but it doesn't exist anymore. So we do all we can to look to her for guidance and support.”
“I see,” Celine replied and reached for another stone. “I suppose that is very kind of you to consider her nature and allow her to fill the role.”
“It’s easy because Sarah is so good to us,” Lilly said. “She takes the lead and handles all the important empire things.”
“Sarah is a great blessing to us all,” Gersius added and took Lilly’s hand. “She more than any of us desires to rule. She has taken to the role with great wisdom and skill, freeing Lilly and Thayle to focus on the challenges of their faiths. Lilly has taken on nearly all the responsibilities of building the faith of Balisha. She is the dragon half of the order and the one people look to for guidance.”
Lilly smiled and explained how Thayle was the champion of Ulustrah and was rebuilding her faith in the wake of some terrible internal conflicts. She was also very active in teaching Sarah about love and the needs of women throughout the empire.
“It sounds as if you complement one another,” Celine noted.
“Together, we have become something greater than we could ever be alone,” Gersius replied, then flinched as he put a hand to the side of his head.
“What is it?” Lilly asked as he rubbed at his temple.
“The pressure has become a headache,” he said.
“Let me try to heal it again,” Lilly insisted and put her hands around his head. She opened into song and called on healing power, but as before, the golden glow never came. She was concerned that he was in pain, but there was nothing to be done about it. “I can't even detect an injury.”
“How odd that you and Sarah would be struck with headaches,” Celine said with concern in her voice. “I suppose this ruins my plan for the next hour.”
“Your plan?” Gersius asked as Lilly rubbed his head for him.
Celine smiled and pointed to the basket lashed to the back of her horse. “I brought a lunch.”
“Lunch!” Lilly said excitedly as Gersius started to laugh.
“It is only a dull ache. I do not believe it will spoil our lunch,” he said and closed his eyes to enjoy Lilly’s touch.
Celine nodded and collected the basket before setting out a quilt beside the stream. She laid out a dozen bundles of cakes, bread, cheese, and sweet fruits. She had honey and fig spread and a bottle of red wine along with three fluted glasses. She hosted the impromptu function while looking in every direction as if worried they would be discovered. When Gersius asked about the strange behavior, she admitted to being uncomfortable that the emperor and empress were well outside the city with no guard.
Gersius nodded and assured her that he was under guard; he had Lilly. He also explained that this outing was planned in secrecy and the location chosen because it was empty. Nobody knew they were here except Sarah and an elite group of soldiers. These were on hand just in case and were given details about the exact route Gersius planned to take. If they were not back in an hour, the soldiers would break into search parties and scour the path. Thayle and Sarah would lead the effort, and he and Lilly would be found in a matter of hours.
Celine was amazed at his confidence, but Gersius assured her that no one could abduct him or Lilly and not be found by an enraged Sarah before they got very far. They settled into lunch, and the conversation changed to Celine and what she wanted for the future. It was a wonderful moment that Gersius was glad to be sharing with Lilly. It was too bad he had a headache.
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“Get out of my way!” Alayse yelled and swept the priestess of Ulustrah aside. She went into the lower halls of the grand temple of Ulustrah drawing stares from the women gathered there. Much to her dismay, the one she was looking for wasn't present, but there was one who might be useful.
Standing near the back with three others beside her was the Grand Priestess Kaylinn. She was as high a rank as a woman could go without becoming a prime and was appointed by Thayle to lead the temple in Calathen. She was an older woman with a creased face and stern eyes that fixated on Alayse as she approached.
“I have questions for you,” Alayse declared when she was close.
“Governess Commander,” Kaylinn intoned in a haughty voice. “I do not believe you, and I have met before. Is it customary for you to burst into my temple and begin making demands?”
Alayse paused with narrow eyes but dipped into a bow and addressed Kaylinn properly before asking for a moment to speak with her. It made her rage to have to bow to another priestess, but the task at hand was more important.
“So, how can I be of service to you, sister Alayse?” the woman asked when the formalities were done.
“I want to speak to you about these headaches Empress Sarah is having. I understand you saw to her personally,” Alayse stated.
Kaylinn nodded and explained what she knew of the situation. Alayse wanted to know what was being done about it, and the woman told her that Sarah hadn't requested any additional help. Alayse was unhappy to hear that and asked what Thayle was doing about it. Kaylinn wasn't sure if Thayle was doing anything about it, but she had been here earlier to use the temple's scryer. She wanted to know why Alayse was so interested in the issue and what she planned to do. Alayse recounted how even the priests of Vellis had failed to cure the malady. She had been given a chance to try, but just as Kaylinn had discovered, there was nothing they could do.
“So why are you pursuing this?” Kaylinn asked while taking a stance that exuded annoyance.
“I have seen this before,” Alayse replied as she thought back to her time in the east. She couldn't be sure without more information, but if her suspicion was correct, there was a danger close to the empire. She turned to Kaylinn and dropped the mask of politeness as urgency took precedence.
“I need to speak with Thayle. Do you know where I can find her?”