LETTERS
My Dearest Children,
How are you doing? Are you well? Is your father making bad dad jokes? If he is, just tell Merilee and she will take care of the problem.
I heard that you’ve started talking! That’s so exciting. I wish I could be there to talk with you. And run with you and teach you to fight and how to do magic and all of those other things that children want to learn how to do.
But I can’t be with you yet. Mama is still very busy with her work and the Emperor must be obeyed. Our time will come, however. I honestly believe that. Until then, take good care of your father and listen to what Merilee says.
All my love,
Mama
###
Dear Anika,
The children are growing up strong. Just like their mother. They look so much like you! It’s hard to believe that they are four years old now. They run everywhere and talk a mile a minute. They are starting to read as well. It’s like they’re superheroes out of a comic book.
Of course, I might be a little biased. I hope you are too! I tell them stories about you every day. I’ve written a whole series: Princess Anika-sama and the Den of Thieves, Princess Anika-sama and the Puppy Pirates, Princess Anika-sama Tries to Make a Chocolate Cake (that one’s a tragedy)…. The list goes on and on. And all of them are a hundred percent true - or so the children believe and everyone knows that if a child believes a story to be true then it comes alive.
The kids have also started some magic training. Merilee tells me that it’s not normal for kids their age, but what can you do. If we didn’t start teaching them, they’d start figuring it out on their own. They’re sooooo smart!
Luckily, the staff members here all can do magic. Can everybody in this world do magic? That seems strange to me. Merilee says not to think too hard about it. Which I guess means don’t ask questions.
So they are being tutored in basic magic. Their affinities are already quite clear. Liesel is all fire and earth and darkness. Lionel is all water and ice and light. Just like their personalities. They fight like cats and dogs and are utterly devoted to each other. Each of them seems to know exactly what the other is thinking.
And they finish each other’s sentences. It’s maddening! Or when you’re talking to one of them and you realize that the person who’s answering is the other twin. Especially when they’re in different rooms. It would be disconcerting but we’ve become inured to it. It’s our normal, here and now.
And just how is it possible to have identical twins of different genders? A question I don’t ask because I’m sure Merilee would just give me a ‘look’ and I'd have to go to my room until supper time.
Speaking of the staff, why are they all women? And why are they all so clumsy? A day doesn’t go by when I don’t have to admonish them for tripping and falling on me, or leaving the door to the bathing room open, or wearing short skirts on windy days. Maybe you could ask Merilee to have a word with them?
Anyway, everyone loves the kids like crazy. We are well taken care of. We miss you very much. Please take care of yourself!
Your Co-Parent,
Ned
P.S. I’m attaching a note from Merilee to this letter.
P.P.S. Also a note from each of the children, along with a short Princess Anika-Sama manga that the kids wrote and drew themselves.
###
Dear Princess,
As per your instructions in your last letter, I initiated the child magic affinity testing a year earlier than usual. You were right, the children are advanced for their age. We also discovered that they had been doing some small magic on their own in secret. We put a stop to that by beginning their formal magic training.
Between them, they exhibit all the magical affinities except lightning. It’s funny, though, how Ned had guessed what their affinities were already. As early as two years ago, in fact. That man is a natural at reading people and has the heart of a true teacher.
Also, as per your instructions, I have had the various staff attempt to get him involved in a personal relationship. Oh how they have tried to catch his interest. He’s like every woman’s secret crush here. However, nothing has worked. Ned is either, a) completely and totally dedicated to you, or b) hopelessly oblivious. Or both. Probably both.
The whole household is now working together like the parts of a well-oiled machine. Everyone is on board with our mission and we are prepared to face any challenge.
Best Regards,
Merilee
###
Dear Mama,
How are you? I wish
Papa says you are a very nice person.
He reads us stories about you.
Lionel’s favorite is Princess Anika-sama and the Floating Labyrinth of Ice.
We’re learning magic. Don’t worry, Lionel put out the fire with his water magic.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
I miss you.
Love,
Liesel
###
Dear Mama,
I hope you are well. I could meet you.
And very beautiful too.
Liesel’s favorite is Princess Anika-sama and the Volcano Spirit.
It’s a lot of fun. Liesel set the garden on fire.
I miss you.
Love,
Lionel
NED: SIX YEARS OLD - TEACHING
Ned puts his pen down and sighs. Merilee steps up behind him and asks, “Are you okay, Sir? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed?”
“I’m okay, Merilee. Just a little tired. It’s so hard to keep ahead of them.”
“The twins are energetic, Sir.”
“And just too damned smart. And so competitive! They push each other so hard, which means they push me hard. I’m not smart enough to keep ahead of them. It’s demoralizing.”
“You’re doing your best, Sir.”
“You were supposed to say that I’m smart too and something like ‘you can do it!’”
“Sorry, Sir. I hadn’t realized you were fishing for blandishments. I’ll try to do better in the future.”
“See that you do!”
“Keep in mind that you aren’t in this alone, Sir”
###
The next day was a normal day. The twins learned and played and had lessons and got into fights across a broad spectrum of engagement.
Before breakfast: Stretching and physical exercise (moderate enthusiasm).
Morning classes: unarmed combat (high enthusiasm), magic theory (mild enthusiasm), etiquette and comportment (negative enthusiasm), language and writing (indifference), archery (high enthusiasm).
Afternoon classes: armed combat (high enthusiasm), mathematics (indifference), practical magic (mild enthusiasm), gardening and natural science (indifference), combat magic (excessive enthusiasm), horse-back riding (high enthusiasm).
“Why are my children so combat oriented?” Ned laments during a break.
“It’s only natural, Sir,” Merilee comments. “They are siblings and they are rivals. If they fight we chastise them. But in any class where they can compete, they can whale away at each other without repercussions.”
“Ah. Merilee, how did you get so wise?”
“I have three brothers and four sisters, Sir. It’s not wisdom, it’s painful hard-earned experience.”
“Is that how you got so good at combat?”
“I’m sorry, Sir? I’m a maid. What would I know of combat.”
“Merilee. You can’t kid a kidder. You got some mean maid skills, I admit, but you are no maid. You’re a knight for sure. Probably a commander of knights. Is there such a thing as a knight-champion? If there is, it would be you.”
“Sir, please stop. I’m no such thing.”
“I want you to teach the children, Merilee.” Ned just bulldozes right over her protests. “They fight each other all of the time, but since each of them always know exactly what the other is going to do, it’s a null-sum game.”
“Sir…”
“They need someone else. Someone good. Someone who they can’t predict.”
“Er…”
“It’s not like you to be speechless, Merilee. Snap out of it.”
Merilee surrenders at last, “How did you know, Sir?”
“I have my ways…” Ned blows on the fingernails of his left hand and polishes them on his shirt-front. “Will you teach them?”
“I can’t let anyone know who I am, Sir.”
“You can do it in secret. You are infinitely resourceful. As well as being cute when you blush.”
“You’ve never seen me blush, Sir.”
“I can dream.”
“All right, Sir. Enough pointless flirtatious banter. I have work to do. I’ll set up training sessions in the evening.”
“Thank you, Merilee. Truly. I don’t understand this world. I don’t know why they have so many classes on fighting. But if it’s something they need, then it’s up to us to provide them with the best we can.”
“You’re a good father, Sir.”
“See, now you’re making me blush.”
“You’re cute when you blush, Sir.”
“Nice try, but I’m still not giving you a raise. Get to w—…”
An alarm went off. A quiet yet clear bell.
Without a word, everyone dropped what they were doing and moved into the building, making their way through the hallways to a back stairway and into a basement room.
“Team leaders, report in!” called out the Chief Guard.
“Squad A, all present, Sir.”
“Squad B, all present, Sir.”
“Back house maids, all present, Sir.”
The team leaders cycled through the roster, including Merilee reporting in for Ned, Lionel, and Liesel.
Once all were present and accounted for, the Chief Guard declared, “This was a drill. Thank you all, you did well. Easily within time. Merilee!”
“Yes, Sir!”
“What would we be doing right now if this weren’t a drill?”
“Either you or I would have unlocked this door. As we called off, we would be making our way through the door.”
“Ned!”
“Sir!”
“What’s behind this door?”
“I don’t know, Sir! And I hope never to find out, Sir!” Clearly Ned has been through this drill before.
“That’s right. Let’s hope the time never comes when we need to find out.”
ECHOES OF REVOLUTION
Aniika is troubled. She is in command of the military garrisons covering a broad swath of the Empire along its southern border. There is no conflict with the neighboring countries. They are all allies of the Empire, at least nominally.
Yet things don’t feel right. Troops have disappeared. She has issued orders that no soldiers are allowed to go out in groups of less than four.
Supplies have been misdirected or lost. There are signs of movement that can’t be accounted for. People are afraid but can’t explain why.
“It feels like a storm is coming,” she says to herself. Intelligence reports are in conflict. She can make little sense of them. There is no open unrest, yet the region feels restless.
She has given her orders. The troops are as prepared as they can be, but will that be good enough? How can you prepare for something if you don’t know what it is that you are preparing for?