The Royals

Chapter 40

'Good.' The prince paused, reluctant to move on to more unsolvable problems.

'Let me make it easier,' Abadan said. 'I actually have a bit of good news.' Henry leaned forward in his seat. 'You found Kate! Wonderful, excellent-'

'No, not Kate, but...'

Henry's heart sunk. He had to find her. 'Well, keep searching. You're my best hope.'

'Henry, listen to me,' Abadan said impatiently. 'I'm trying to tell you I've found Maarcus. He's here in The Cliffs.'

'Whatever in the world is he doing? Hiding-'

"Henry!' the magician spoke sharply. By the holy Seven, quit jumping to conclusions and listen to me! Maarcus is being held captive by your half-brother, Hadrian. I have every reason to believe he has Kate as well.' 'Ah, I see. What are the ransom demands?"

'None. I don't believe Hadrian is aware we've discov ered him.'

'If he wants this rotten throne, he can have it. After today, there's not enough left to save.'

'Who knows what the man wants?' Abadan said. 'He was always very clever at concealing his true ambitions.

'Obviously.' Henry scowled at him. 'You gave us the impression he had no interest in anything beyond a warm little house where he could practise his perversions... Kate!' The prince covered his face with his hands. 'We I can't leave her with that lecher."

'We won't, Henry. But one thing at a time. First, you must tell me of your battle.'

'What's to tell? I led them to a s*******r and them all die. I am responsible Henry, this is not what I mean. We know the out come. We saw much of it with Walther's help. He's quite talented you know.' The dwarf gave Henry a weak smile. 'Yes, I know. For all the good that talent does any of us. No offense, Walther.' 'None taken.' Abadan took the last sip of brandy and set down the glass. 'Henry, you need to tell me everything you remember. It's important."

The prince looked from the magician to his apprentice. Both waited, expectant. He supposed recounting the horror couldn't be any worse than going to bed and dreaming it. 'All right.' And he began.

Walther remained solemn and quiet throughout. Abadan was uncommonly silent himself, interrupting only to ask a question or two.

'And where's this man who claims to have saved your life?' Abadan asked when Henry has finished.

'He's in the East Wing with a guard. He'll keep a while.'

"What do you think?' Abadan asked the dwarf.

Walther face reddened, embarrassed no doubt to be asked his opinion in such a critical discussion. 'He is clearly the Dragon Prince. Everything he says points to the papers I've studied these last days.'

'I agree,' Abadan said.

Henry drummed his fingers on the chair-arm. 'So I've been addressed from the moment I was transformed. It seemed only natural given my earlier shape as well as our family coat of arms. Are you saying there's more?'

'Yes,' Abadan said.

'What?'

Walther spoke up. 'That is the difficulty. I've read and read these past few days in hopes of finding a way to defeat the elfwitch, to undo her dreadful spell-casting. Apparently what little written information that exists was stolen long ago, either by Alvaria herself or someone who thought to protect others from the knowledge. Therefore, I ran across few references to shed light on what we already know about the troll transformations. However, each and every time I did, without fail it was accompanied by text on the Dragon Prince. My best understanding of him would be to describe him as a man transfigured and orphaned and transfigured again all against his will.'

'Interesting, Henry said, 'but I don't think it helps us much."

'It can,' Walther insisted. 'The true Dragon Prince can learn to direct his shape-changing.'

The prince stared at Walther dumbfounded. 'Are you saying I actually was a living, breathing, flying dragon?'

Abadan answered for the dwarf. 'Henry, you can master a forgotten art. Walther and I will help you.'

'No,' the prince said. 'I cannot do it without Kate.'

'That's nonsense, Henry. Admirable of you, but war doesn't always allow for such sentiments. You've already proven you can do it.'

The prince jumped out of his chair and began to pace. 'I'm serious, Abadan,' he said, earnest now. 'Kate is more than my twin. We've always worked as if we knew one another's intent. It's how we've survived. With her, I have a chance, a real chance.' He stopped in mid-stride and stared into the cold fire. But without her we're doomed to failure as devastating as everything else we've attempted since we began working separately. He spun about to face his companions. 'We've got to rescue her from Hadrian - for her sake, and for that of the Ash Kingdom.'

Notti woke surprisingly warm and in high spirits. Despite his frostbitten fingers and nose, he felt only contentment. They absolved me, he thought. I must be dead and gone to the land of the Sisters.

A quick look around dispelled that notion. He couldn't imagine that the Sisters would have need of wooden huts.

They seemed much too earthly.

He opened the door and peeked out.

His heart sank. He'd been returned to his home camp. He was worse than dead: he was troll-makings.

He stood unthinking, unseeing for a long moment before he realized he didn't know these elves. They were not his clan.

They were smiling.

Smiling?

Several children lay on their backs, making snow Sisters. Their laughter rang across the clearing.

Adults went about their chores with the efficiency of most adults everywhere, but these elves were singing.

Singing?

The children stopped. Laughter ceased. The One! No. The elves were staring at Notti.

'He's awake!' shouted a boy. 'Uncle Jedrek, the goat boy is awake.' Did he reek of goats even now? .

'His name is Notti,' said a woman No one here could know the nickname but for ...

'M-mother?' he asked tentatively. 'Please, please. He wasn't even sure he knew what he was asking.

'Notti, come out, child. Meet your new family.'

'F-family?'

'You're home now. Safe.'

'But how?' he asked, not daring to believe. He leaned against the hut's doorway for support. This was one of Queen Alvaria's cruel jokes.

A beautiful woman squatted down next to him. 'All things are possible with the Sisters' help. Jedrek's been watching out for you.' She hugged him hard. 'Oh, Notti, I'm so sorry for leaving you. If I'd had any choice.. Her voice broke.

'Sh,' he whispered, comforting her. 'I've kn-known all al-long that y-you had n-no choice. B-better th-that you 1-lived in ex-exile than d-died at h-her hand. Or worse, he thought, unable to speak the terror of the trolls aloud.

She straightened up and smoothed out her dress. 'Fool ish of me to treat you like a child. You're almost a man now. I know about the trolls,' she continued, and from her somber tone, he could tell she knew about the trolls and maybe worse still. 'But I couldn't be sure you knew. You were so young then.' She gave him another quick hug. 'Have they treated you well? They promised would.' me they would.'

Notti's mouth opened but no sound came out at first. They had abused him time and again, but what use would it be to have her fretting over the past? Then again, she should know they had lied. 'I s-survived it,' he said, after a long pause.

Her brow creased in worry, but she respected him enough not to push him further. 'Come. I want you to meet the others.' She wrapped her arm around him and began a lengthy list of introductions.

He greeted them one by one with a quiet smile and a stuttered, 'H-hello.' In turn, they welcomed him by patting his back and kissing his cheeks. Children tossed snowballs at his feet while they sang a festive song.

Each person had a function, a place within the group. It was all so neat, so organized. It reminded him briefly of the camp he'd fled, and this was not a comfortable thought. At least he'd had a purpose there, as unappreci ated as it was. He couldn't imagine what his role would be here.

But were they not all elves? Had he not endured? Had he not survived the deadly trek through the mountains in deep winter?

Notti relaxed. He was home.