Female Man

Chapter Four – The request.

Amelia’s thoughts drifted to Lillian. She had fainted when she saw her father, she wasn’t alone after all. Even the marriage alliance was now cancelled. Now, Latvian had no ties with the idolatry nation. With the glad mood, Amelia finally drifted to sleep.

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“What was the meaning of that?” yelled Sam when they all got to their room. He cursed himself for taking this trouble upon himself. Kiera just lay on the bed and prepared to sleep. Infuriated by Kiera snubbing him, Sam advanced to slap him again then Jolly shouted a “stop”. The last thing she wanted was for them fighting. She knew Kiera was stronger and had no restraint. Her father had angrily stomped off to his own bed. Jolly laid beside Kiera. “Are you okay?” she asked. He smiled at her. “Good and don’t mind my dad” she added and slowly slept off.

Over at the military camp of Royal Army, Deputy Commander Wright stayed awake thinking. That look. Those eyes. The deputy would never forget them but to whom they belonged to he seems to have forgotten. That day at the Kings court, the younger man that had stared at the Princess. “It has to be him” the general whispered, “He’s back for revenge. And the favor, it won’t be anything good. It won’t just be anything good”. Well they shall wait for tomorrow.

Tomorrow came with its own troubles.

“What!” the Deputy. The King was silent. The young crown prince ran behind his elder sister and Amelia held him close. “What was that? What was that supposed to mean, old man?” she asked trying hard to reduce the temper rising in her. She heard a voice “yes, I need you angry”. Her eyes widened, the old man was kneeling in front of her father with all eyes on him. Was there a voice in her head? “Yes, there was” it spoke again.

“Who are you?” she asked to no one in particular. Charles looked up to Amelia “Who?” he asked confused. Amelia was sure someone spoke to her in her head. Well, she decided to settle the matter on ground now. “It can’t happen, sir’ she started, “We, the Latvianites, have never fought against magic unless they affect us negatively”. She stopped and walked towards the old man. “Doesn’t mean our crown prince can be a magician’s disciple. Look for a disciple elsewhere” she said sharply.

She noticed a smirk on the younger man’s face. “And what’s funny about this?” she turned to him. His smirk quickly disappeared. Amelia turned to her father. “I think our visitors have overstayed their welcome”. “Yes!” the deputy commander quickly agreed. Amelia gave him an approving look.

The king looked confused. Saving a general was worthy of a good reward but his son? He’s child was priceless. Of course, the king never thought of agreeing to the old man’s terms but he wondered what gave the man the effrontery, the audacity, the… and he needs to be a magic master to need a disciple.

What if he causes a war if his needs aren’t met? “Father?” Amelia called bringing him back to reality. The king shook his slightly and answered “Yes, um…my good man…we would talk on this matter tomorrow”. All eyes were on the king wearing confused looks but two. Amelia’s eyes wore anger while the younger man, it held a pleasing look like he knew what would happen. Looking at the old man, he didn’t look like a magician; he had a simple look but the younger man…could he be the magician? Looking at Amelia, she doesn’t understand what he was doing yet. But she would, she was a brilliant girl. The king dismissed them all.

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“Is it a win?” asked Jolly when they got to their room. She hadn’t spoken since they got to the kings court. The tension around was overbearing. For some reasons, the king had doubled their security. “We have to wait till tomorrow” answered her father. Jolly nodded then she giggled. “Kiera, did you see the look on the crown prince’s face when dad had requested he should be his disciple? Oh he looked scared” she giggled again and her face went stiff. “Kiera, did you hear me?” Kiera looked at her and smiled. He saw it all; the crown prince wasn’t much of a magician’s material. And the princess, she was too smart for her own good. If a magician really wanted her brother as a student, her threats would be just like hitting a dead tree. Still the princess attitude seemed impressive. “Daring” he thought, he liked it, he smiled.

Meanwhile Amelia was so angry she was eating herself up. “What’s father thinking?” she screamed as she slammed the door to her room. Her father should have given a straight “no” instead of stalling the issue. What was he afraid of? Some maids were in her room preparing her meal. “Get out, all of you!” she ordered. They scampered away. One of them came back. “What is it!” she yelled. Frustration was setting in. “Deputy Commander Wright is here to see you, my princess” the maid answered. Amelia noticed the calm disposition she answered with. Of course Kate knew her. She acts ladylike in front of the court and brings down hell in her room, in front of Kate.

“Bring him in” she finally answered. Kate left and the deputy came in. He seemed to be thinking seriously about something. “If you are cooking up a solution then lets cook it up together” she yelled breaking down the deputy’s thoughts. The deputy walked cautiously towards her and sat on a coach as she sat on one opposite him. “My good princess, I know him” he said. Amelia’s reaction didn’t change.

‘Know who?” she asked blankly.

“That boy, he’s back” the deputy continued. His neck turned left to right while he thought.

‘What boy?” Amelia asked again feeling irritated. Then her eyes shone, “That boy” she repeated. The younger man who had stared at her. He must have been the magician. He must have been the only one who wanted to defile Latvian’s sacredness. He must have been the one who spoke in her head. “Deputy, Who is he?” she asked sharply peering at the deputy, who seemed to be lost in thoughts. “Who’s he?” she slammed at a table.