Female Man

Chapter Five – Dealing with magicians.

“Temper, Temper” the deputy warned. Amelia diverted her gaze looking downwards embarrassed. She had lost it again. The deputy noticed her composure and patted her shoulders. “That boy is Koline” explained the deputy. “He is a powerful magician who toys with children. He should be almost seventy now, wonder why he looks so young. Amelia eyes twitched, seventy?

“Well…Um…Koline is his name. He’s um…a magician. He’s a bisexual. He’s…”

“He’s bisexual?” interrupted Amelia.

That explains his looks…his seductive eyes, weird walking steps and his voice…when he had spoken in her head, it sounded female yet male.

“Yes, it’s an ability of Koline. One I would never forget” answered the deputy.

“And how do you know all this?” Amelia sounded suspiciously.

“I was a victim” he answered sternly warding off the suspicious look.

Amelia froze “How?”

“Long ago, two days after I was sworn in as the Deputy Commander to the General Jack, a woman had visited me asking for directions. I was a young man then and she was beautiful”. The deputy stopped when he noticed the grin of Amelia’s face.

“Oh” she gasped and wiped it off. “What happened next?”

The deputy continued “We became close and she seemed interested in the Latvian’s army even the histories of our great Latvian. I stupidly told her everything till one day; she stopped visiting that was when I began hearing rumors of the female man. I knew her house so I began burning it down. People said she was a threat because she had magic. I know one day she, rather a he, would be back but this…this is too soon. This is revenge, my princess”.

All the while the deputy kept talking, Amelia thought of a way out of this mess. Her brother would be a toy to a magician. She wouldn’t let that happen but what would she do? What can defeat magic? Yes, a sorcerer?

No, sorcery is still magic. She had to think of something but what! How about an exchange? Her brother had roles to play in Latvian, he couldn’t just leave. What if she offered herself to the man instead? Wait a second, he’s over seventy! But she doesn’t care right now! There’s no other way.

The great Latvian is at risk of war but this time with a one man’s army. A magician. Amelia had arranged an emergency meeting with her father and the visitors. “Is there nothing else you rather have?” the King sounded polite. Kiera smirked and moved towards the king. “Was he going to speak?” Amelia thought.

“Watch and see, princess” he spoke in her head. She was surprised; he really was a magician who could read her thoughts. “Little bastard” she cursed in her head. Kiera turned to her sharply, he had heard her thoughts. “How dare you?” he said to her. Even outwardly his voice sounded ‘female-manish’. The king and the court looked at him surprised. Was he questioning the princess? “What is it?” Amelia asked feigning ignorance. Kiera realizes she had spoken in her head but he heard her. ‘Your highness, I will have your daughters hand in marriage’ he answered. He grins at Amelia. “Note, the lack of surprise” she replied inwardly.

He frowned “you accept then?”

“Why not? For my people’s sake but you’ll regret it.”. She smirks afterwards.

The King looked at the young man and his Amelia. “Where they communicating telepathically?” he wondered. He had expected her to throw tantrums and shout and yell but she just stood there with an unholy smirk. Maybe she accepted him?

Magicians never brought anything good, and this one was no exception. Latvianites only stay in peace with them to avoid war. How can they now think they’ll defile Latvian’s sacredness? Why does one want something so priceless? Does he have the proper wealth to take care of a princess? Or wasn’t he a farmer? Does he think because he is a magician he has right to marry a princess? Trains of thoughts went pass the King’s head.

“What do you say Amelia? Do you accept?” the King mumbled, he was shocked he even asked such a question. Amelia was also disappointed in her father, he would sell her to a magician for fear of war? How does that make him a King?

“Your highness, we can’t give out our daughter to a stranger. She is still young” shouted the advisor. Jolly giggled a little on hearing “our daughter”. “Also, what if he really isn’t a magician” continued the advisor. They were murmurings in the court.

Suddenly… the candles at the court went blind. It was almost mid-day so it wasn’t dark. A gush of wind began flowing into the court. Some covered their eyes, some blocked with their hands. “Is this proof?” Kiera bellowed. He looked at Amelia and for the first time, she was smiling. He wondered why? “Okay, okay” pleaded the advisor and all was calm. A servant hurriedly put on the candles.

The King became weak. He was powerful, how would they deny him his request? Going to war with him was suicide. The whole court stayed at the stared at the King awaiting his decision. He had never been in such pressure before to choose between his child and his kingdom. It was in such situations he missed his father, King Joseph William the fifth.

A thought popped into Amelia’s head as she turned sharply to Jolly. “How old are you?”.

The little girl was taken aback, she whispered, “Eleven, your highness”.

Amelia smiled at her “Then cant you be a magician’s disciple?” she asked.

Sam appeared in front of his daughter, “No your highness, we do not practice magic”. Amelia took some steps to the man, “And you should know Latvian doesn’t either. Then why did you bring a magician here?”.

The once quiet court started an uproar against Sam. The old man felt intimidated and began shouting “I’m sorry. I was forced to. I’m sorry”. Kiera frowned and asked “What are you doing?” Amelia heard his voice in her head again. She turned and matched his frown with a smile “Watch and see, magician”.