The summer was in decline, although on the Northern Island this was mainly ascertained merely by the position of the sun, rather than any other indicators. Marek had told her that down in the village of Northwood, the rain was shifting to sleet, in preparation for when it became real snow.
When he was not around, Azkadellia spent far too much time watching Esmeralda in her magic mirror, although the little girl did not carry her teddy bear around all that much. Still, the evening glimpses were very precious to her. The Queen usually came to tuck Esmeralda into bed, much as she had done for Azkadellia herself when she was small. Azkadellia was happy that her Mother was treating Esmeralda as her own daughter.
Occasionally, Azkadellia felt as though she were prying, or taking an unhealthy interest in Esmeralda's life, but although she could walk away from the mirror of an evening, the next day she was back, looking for glimpses of Esmeralda's life. Esmeralda did not return the interest. Azkadellia had only overheard one conversation involving her, and though she knew that she should not have listened, she had done so anyway.
It had been just prior to the last visit to the Northern Island, and Esmeralda had been complaining to the Queen about the necessity of visiting. It was cold, and a long way away. There was nothing to do, and, well, her sister Azkadellia was a bit creepy.
The Queen had looked a little put out. "You mustn't say things like that, darling. Your sister cares for you, and only gets to see you every annual or so. Of course she pays attention to you when she does see you."
Esmeralda had scrunched her face up in defiance. "She treats me like I'm a baby."
The Queen had sighed. "People who haven't raised children themselves don't really appreciate how quickly you grow up. Your sister saw a lot more of you when you were small, and so that's how she remembers you."
Esmeralda had then lowered her voice as if imparting a great secret. "People say that she's a Wicked Witch, and that she imprisoned you and did terrible things."
The Queen had looked downhearted, and had not replied, so Esmeralda had piped up again. "It's true, isn't it? That's why she has to live in that horrible cold icy rock, rather than here, with us?"
"No, my dear," the Queen had said firmly. "You mustn't listen to rumour and gossip. I'll tell you the truth. You can ask DG as well if you like. Your sister was possessed by an evil spirit when she was very young, and the evil spirit did some terrible things through her. The evil spirit was killed by DG, remember that story? When she returned from the Other Side after her long exile there, along with Ambrose, and Raw, and Wyatt? Lots of people in the O.Z. were hurt, though, and they don't want to believe that she was possessed because they want somebody to blame. Or, even if they do believe that she was possessed, they can't stop themselves remembering when they see her. So, Azkadellia has to stay at the Northern Island because it wouldn't be safe for her anywhere else. One day, though, I hope that she'll be able to come and stay with us for good."
Esmeralda had soon gone to sleep after this, but Azkadellia treasured the conversation, replaying it in her head, as a beacon of hope for the future, and as a reminder that Mother still considered her salvageable.
In the end, of course, the magic mirror proved to be far more trouble than it was worth, as magic mirrors are wont to do. Young Marek Pontis was visiting again. He had somehow transmuted from would-be assassin into friend. She knew that he kept his visits secret from his family, and that she should not encourage him, but having a regular visitor was so welcome that she could not bring herself to do so. In any case, she was offering him a great opportunity by giving him free rein in the library. He was a smart, brave young lad, and the O.Z. needed people like him.
They had had dinner, and, as was her custom when he was visiting, she went to check quickly in her magic mirror that Esmeralda was okay. He followed, peering over his shoulder. She had the impression that he disapproved of her little spying game, but he was too polite, or too afraid, to say anything. Still, she tended not to linger when he was around.
The scene that swam into view was familiar. Esmeralda was sitting on the floor, playing with the teddy bear Azkadellia had given her. There was no one else around. Then, there was a sharp bang, as the door was opened brusquely, smacking against the wall. A young man that Azkadellia did not recognize dashed in. Esmeralda looked up and squeaked in fear as the man bore down on her, roaring. "There you are, little princess. Surprise - you're being kidnapped!"
He hoisted Esmeralda over his shoulder, and she started screaming, and kicking her legs about. He dashed out, and a colleague in the kidnapping dashed in with a small leather sack, stuffing the princess' nightclothes in, and after looking round, settled on the teddy bear and also pushed it in. The mirror went dark.
Marek turned to look at her. "Did that just really happen?"
Azkadellia swallowed with some difficulty. "Yes. It did. She's been kidnapped. I must tell Mother."
She dashed off to scribble down a note. As she looked back over it, she saw that her handwriting was terrible, but it was still legible. She summoned a crow and sent the letter off.
"How long will it take to get there?" asked Marek.
"Too long. I mean, crows fly fast, but they'll have taken her goodness knows where." She closed her eyes, thinking hard. "I should be able to track the teddy bear, even if it is in a sack. We can let Mother know where she is."
Marek jumped up, looking too keen. "You said yourself, that'll take too long, with the crows and whatnot. We should go ourselves and rescue her. We can send messages to make sure everyone knows where we're going. But that would be the best way to make sure that she stays safe."
Azkadellia gnawed on her thumb for a moment. "Yes. You're right. I've got a horse in the stables; I can leave right away. Well, I'll need to get together some food and gear, but that won't take long." She rushed off to get ready, and was somewhat surprised when Marek hoved into view, leading his horse and gear. "You're not coming with me, Marek. It's far too dangerous, and none of your business."
Marek snorted. "Of course I'm coming with you. Every Princess needs a bodyguard!"
"Who knows how long it'll take? Your parents will get worried."
"I'll send them a message saying that I am stalking a big deer. Dad'll be pleased."
She should have argued, but the prospect of company at this time was too appealing, and so she let him accompany her. His first advice as bodyguard was to wait for sun-up the next morning – traveling in the dark was too risky.
They had ridden south fast, joining the main road after passing Northwood. Azkadellia had a veil wrapped around her face to avoid any unfortunate incidents, but she was in no mood to brook any interruptions. Travelling at speed, they covered a lot of ground, and by nightfall, they were perhaps a half day's ride from Central City. On the ride, Azkadellia had magicked her map to show the location of the teddy bear. The kidnappers had clearly moved north, and were not too far away. Azkadellia and Marek continued along the road on horseback, and then spotted the location: a stone tower on top of a hill rising up like a monk's head from a forest of trees.
With the target so close, Azkadellia insisted on continuing, against Marek's advice, although she heeded his call to leave the horses in a safe place. There was no point in laming them when they might be needed later.
The forest was thick at the point they entered it, but one of the moons was high in the sky, which provided enough light to see by. Marek's woodscraft came in useful as he was able to identify some animal trails that they could follow. Although the tower had seemed far away, they soon reached the tree line that had been cut at the base of the tower.
Azkadellia spotted a sentry patrolling near the trees, luckily just past the point where they had arrived. A short burst of magic soon had him unconscious on the floor. They dashed over and rolled his body out of sight. Azkadellia found no recognizable livery or signs on his jerkin.
The next step was to approach the tower. Azkadellia created a portable shadow of sorts, and they dashed under its cover towards the base of the tower. Marek looked over and whispered, "Front door?"
She shook her head and pointed up. "Window?"
He nodded rather doubtfully, and then Azkadellia created a platform of more solid air with her magic and slowly lifted them up. They stopped close to a window, and after a quick peek to check that nobody was inside the room in question, Marek used his breaking and entering skills to get them inside.
To their surprise, once inside the tower, there were not many guards around – they were mostly posted by the front door, and Azkadellia quickly sent them all into unconsciousness. After that, it was a matter of carefully trying a series of doors. The correct door was not at the top of the tower, as she had been fearing would be the case, but instead simply on the third floor of the tower. Listening at the door, they heard nothing, but on carefully slipping it open, they pushed into a body.
The owner of that body shouted and spun round. Azkadellia and Marek pushed through, determined to seize an element of surprise. Esmeralda was there, on a thin bed, and two other children of a similar age were in beds alongside. They had been sleeping, but the guard's shout had startled them slightly awake. There were two other guards coming to their feet and stepping forward on the other side of the room.
Azkadellia recognized one of them as the kidnapper. She stepped forward and released her magic in a swirl of blue. The blue wave of air split into three streams and pushed the three guards backwards, lifting them into the air and dashing them against the walls. Azkadellia rushed towards Esmeralda while Marek stood at the door, keeping watch.
"Esmeralda! Are you alright? I've come to rescue you. Come on, let's get you and these other kids home."
By now, Esmeralda was fully awake, and looking rather fearsome. She sat up just as Azkadellia engulfed her in a hug. "Azkadellia. What are you doing here?"
"I learned that you'd been kidnapped, and came to rescue you." Azkadellia squeezed Esmeralda hard and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
Esmeralda squirmed out of her arms. "I haven't been kidnapped! What are you talking about? This is a camping trip."
Azkadellia felt her hands drop to her sides bonelessly. "A camping trip?"
"Yes. What have you done to the guardsmen? I'm getting Mom." She turned away, her expression looking eerily familiar to Azkadellia. "Lorek, Maria, don't worry. This is my big sister. The one who lives at the Northern Island."
The boy whispered, for all the world as if he could not be heard, "The Wicked Witch?"
Esmeralda looked over her shoulder at Azkadellia, and smiled with a hint of malice. "Yes, the Wicked Witch. But she's not going to hurt us, at any rate." She turned to dig through her possessions.
Azkadellia turned to look at the fallen guardsmen. Two of them were simply unconscious, but the third one was still and unbreathing. His head had smacked into the stone hard, and the back of his skull had crumpled. There was blood all around his head, although it had not spread far, as yet. She reached forward tentatively with her magic, but it was clear that he was dead. She turned to look at Esmeralda, who was now reassuring her friends, and fingering a large emerald.
"A camping trip? You were kidnapped by these gentlemen from your bedroom."
Esmeralda put her hands on her hips defiantly. "How do you know that? Are you spying on me? And where are all the guards? You haven't killed them all, have you?"
Azkadellia could not find the words to answer, but stood to hide the dead guardsman's head from Esmeralda's view. Marek spoke up. "They're just unconscious."
Esmeralde turned to him next, her child's voice squeaky with anger. "And who might you be?"
He looked over at Azkadellia, but saw that she was in no position to help him out. "I'm Marek Pontis, ma'am. I was just assisting the Princess Azkadellia."
"Well, that's just great. I spent ages persuading Mom to let me go on this trip. I bet it'll never happen again." Esmeralda was building up a head of steam.
Azkadellia found her voice. "I'm sure Mother won't hold it against you. After all, it's my mistake."
"But the guardsmen should have been able to stop you. Mom said it was too risky." Esmeralda started to chew her thumb.
With a slight pop, the Queen and DG appeared in the middle of the room, DG supporting her mother's weight. They both glanced round, assessing the situation. The Queen said, "Esmeralda, are you okay?"
At the same time, DG said, "Az, what are you doing here?"
Esmeralda piped up, keen on being the centre of attention. "My sister and her servant broke in here and knocked all the guards unconscious. Somehow, she thought I'd been kidnapped, and needed rescuing."
The Queen turned to face Azkadellia, exasperated. "I sent you a message saying not to worry about it." With perfect timing, a rather tired looking crow flapped up to the window and knocked on it with his beak.
Azkadellia shrugged helplessly. "I thought that Esmeralda was in danger. I couldn't stand by…"
The Queen sighed sharply. "How did you know anyway? Have you been spying on the palace?"
Azkadellia looked to the floor, and felt the weight of her mother's disappointment heavy on her shoulders. "Yes. I put a trace on the teddy bear."
The Queen raised her eyes upwards and then turned to the children. "Come on kids, we'd better be getting you home. The other guards are?"
"Unconscious downstairs," murmured Azkadellia.
"DG, could you take the three children downstairs and wake up the guards and get ready to go back to Central City? We'll leave as soon as possible, I think."
DG nodded, and then reached over to give Azkadellia a hug. Azkadellia could not relax into it; everything was going wrong. DG let her go, and then shooed the three children out of the room. Marek hovered at the door, but then the Queen crooked her finger at him, indicating that he should stay, and close the door.
She brushed roughly past Azkadellia towards the dead guard and touched gingerly at his wound. "Well this is all a fine mess, isn't it. He's dead. You killed him! How am I supposed to pass this off? Killed by one Princess while guarding another? What am I going to tell his family? Why couldn't you just have waited?"
Azkadellia felt truly miserable. "They weren't wearing any livery. How was I supposed to know that he was one of the Royal Guardsmen? And he said he was kidnapping Esmeralda!"
"It was a secret trip, to avoid the attention of the Freedom terrorists. I didn't think they'd have to avoid you as well. Couldn't you just once manage to go outside without managing to persuade more people that you really are evil and not possessed!" The Queen had worked herself up into a most unseemly fury. "You could have waited for my reply. Not gone haring all this way, to look for yoursister." The intonation seemed particularly pointed to Azkadellia. "I'm sure the 'kidnapping' was just a turn of phrase. Now I'm going to have to make up some story of how that man died an honourable death and hope that it doesn't leak out that you were responsible. If it does, I don't know how I'm going to save you."
Marek stepped forward, brave and stupid. "Your Majesty, the Princess Azkadellia was just trying to help."
"Young man, that is precisely the problem. I'll make sure that teddy bear is destroyed. And you are to promise me, Azkadellia, that you will not perform any kind of scrying on her in the future."
Azkadellia started to protest. "But…"
The Queen interrupted. "No buts. You can't invade her privacy like that, and it's not good for you either. Promise."
Azkadellia wilted before her mother's fierce glare. "I promise not to scry on Esmeralda."
"Good." The Queen turned away as if she could no longer bear to look at her firstborn. Azkadellia stared glumly at the floor as the Queen started to interrogate Marek. "Now who are you, young man?"
"Marek Pontis, ma'am, of Northwood."
"And what are you doing with the Princess Azkadellia?"
"She's been letting me use the library at the Northern Palace, ma'am, and I was around at the time that the Princess saw that the Princess Esmeralda had apparently been kidnapped. So, I said I'd come with her."
"Well, that was very brave of you, Mr. Pontis. How did you meet the Princess Azkadellia, though? Last time I passed through Northwood, I was told that your townsfolk had no direct contact."
Azkadellia heard Marek's nervous chuckle. "I, er, well, that is, I decided, as an adventure, to try and, well, assassinate her. Clearly, I didn't, but she let me look at some of the books in the library."
The Queen's voice sounded pinched, but with amusement or annoyance, Azkadellia could not tell. "You tried to assassinate a Princess?"
"Well, I thought she was the Wicked Witch of the North. I know better now, of course."
The Queen sniffed. "Well, Azkadellia, at least that time you didn't overreact. You sound like a most resourceful young man, Mr. Pontis. I imagine Northwood seems very small at times?"
"Yes," he said sheepishly.
"Well, how old are you?"
"Fourteen, ma'am."
"So young and yet so brave. And loyal to my daughter, apparently. Well, we're always looking for brave, talented people for the army. You're about the right age to join the army officers' college. The state will pay for your tuition. There are too few young men of sufficient valour."
Azkadellia glanced up; Marek was positively bouncing on the spot. "Oh, Your Majesty, that would be grand."
"There's an examination that you'll have to pass first."
Azkadellia spoke up. "That shouldn't be a problem. Mr. Pontis is very clever."
"I can't imagine why you thought it suitable to allow a fourteen annual old to accompany you on a rescue mission." The asperity was back in the Queen's voice.
"No, it seems rather silly now. What do you want me to do, Mother?"
The Queen sighed. "Go home. I'll take care of everything. Just try to keep out of the way. I think that Mr. Pontis should come to Central City immediately, so that he can take this examination and see if the officers' college is to his liking. We can send a message to your family, if you give me the details later. Azkadellia, do you have a transport key you can use to get back to the Northern Palace?"
"No, we rode."
"You rode all that way in one day?" The Queen sounded grudgingly impressed.
Azkadellia waited in the tower room with the dead body while the Queen took care of Marek and DG organized the return to Central City. DG popped up an hour or so later. "Hey, sis. Everyone's up and on their feet. Well, apart from …" she nodded in the direction of the dead body. "They're all okay, although some of them have their pride bruised. Mom didn't tell them what happened, just that there had been a test attack. I'm not quite sure how she thinks she's going to get those three kids to keep quiet, though!"
The conversation required that she answer, but Azkadellia was feeling rather sullen. "Why was this trip a secret, anyway? Who are the Freedom terrorists?"
DG was a bit blindsided by this. "You don't know? Haven't I mentioned them in my letters? They're some bunch of rebel thugs, based in the north-east of the O.Z., we think, although nobody knows for sure. They move around attacking places here and there. They burned down one of the Munchkinland small forests an annual and a half ago, and been involved in some other terrorist actions."
"Oh. What do they want?" On learning this, Azkadellia felt even more cut off from the world than she had before.
"God only knows. Freedom, according to their name. The end of the rule of the House of Gale. We haven't had much success, or desire, to communicate with them. If they get in touch with you, let us know straight away." DG paused and then forced a smile. "But Esmeralda's really headstrong, and after hearing one of Dad's camping trip stories – you remember? – she declared that she had to go on a trip, and wouldn't hear otherwise."
Azkadellia ignored this, and said, "Can you make sure Marek is okay? He's quite young, really. Did Mother mention this idea of officers' school to you?"
"Yes, she introduced him as one of her testers, and chided all the guardsmen at being bested by a fourteen annual old! They didn't like that. But he seems like a plucky little thing. Have you known him long?" DG's face looked vaguely suspicious.
"No, a few months. He tried to kill me – thought he had to save his village from my terrible powers of destruction." Azkadellia tried to lighten the words; usually remembering the story made her smile, but this time it just felt like an added burden.
DG's hands flew to her mouth. "That's awful. How do you manage it up there, Az? I think I'd go mad."
Azkadellia laughed bitterly. "Well, I used to watch Esmeralda. I guess I'll have to find a new hobby now."
DG had obviously picked up on the anger in her voice. "Hey, calm down, Az. I'll tell you about her in my letters. Maybe she'll write more to you as she gets older. She's just like you really. Ever so good at magic, just like you were."
Azkadellia stood up. "Just stop talking, DG. I don't want to know. She's nothing to do with me. She didn't like me before, and I'm sure she doesn't like me any more now. And that's the way it is, and will always be. That's the way it should be." She walked to the window and looked out. "Just go away, DG. Go back to Central City. Go back to your Mr. Duval."
DG did not reply, and Azkadellia forced herself to keep staring out into the dark, ignoring the reflections in the glass. She was surprised when DG's thin arms tightened around her waist, but forced herself to ignore the hug. DG said nothing, and just leaned her head against Azkadellia's back for a long moment. Finally, DG said, "Az, I'm sure she'll like you when she's a bit older. She's just a kid at the moment."
After a moment, Azkadellia said, sarcastically, "Of course, because I see her so often. I try, DG, but it never seems to work. I thought I was doing the right thing, but instead I've just added another murder to the many I already bear."
DG did not reply, just kept leaning into Azkadellia. A few seconds later, there was a soft knock on the door. It opened and Marek came in. He said, "Excuse me. The Queen said that it's time to go, Princess."
DG waited for a moment and then let go. "I'll come and visit, soon, Az." She stepped away.
Azkadellia stayed facing out, but this time focused on the reflection. Marek was looking at her. He said, "Princess. I'm going with the Queen – she's offering me the best opportunity!" His young voice was full of enthusiasm.
Azkadellia forced herself to turn around, remembering that he was just a boy. "Good luck, Marek. I'm so happy for you. I'm sure you will do excellently. Remember that you must get in touch with your parents, though. Your mother will worry if you are away too long without any news."
Marek grinned. "Thank you. I'll visit when I come up to Northwood." He dashed forward and wrapped her in a hug. After a moment, she responded, tousling his hair.
Then she let go and pushed him out to arms' length. "Good-bye, Marek." She looked over and nodded at DG, "DG."
The pair of them left, and Azkadellia went to the window to watch them leave. Both moons had set, and it was pitch black outside, with only the stars for light. She made her way out of the tower, and then started through the forest. She picked up her speed, and was soon running along the barely remembered trail, gathering scratches on her arms. The horses were still there
Azkadellia waited until the troop had left. It was the middle of the night, and she supposed that someone would be coming to collect the body. Then, she walked down out of the front door, and back into the forest towards where she and Marek had left the horses. Marek's horse was gone, and she supposed that he had come to collect it earlier. She mounted her own horse and started to ride straight away to the north. She rode as if driven by the devil, running from her thoughts. She arrived at the Northern Island and unsaddled her horse mechanically, brushing it down and giving it some feed.
She walked into the kitchen, and hugged herself, suddenly feeling the bitter cold. Her thoughts caught up with her, and tears built up behind her eyes. Then she started to cry, slumping to the floor in despair.