Lessons

Dest'rei give Ali a crash course of recent history.

Trudging along with my companions wasn’t as boring as I feared.  For one thing, Dest’rei was randomly throwing out questions like “During a war, who is the Commander in Chief?” to keep me on my toes (in case you were wondering, the King is Commander in Chief unless he personally appoints an alternate that is approved by the Council of Elders). 

            Being educated by diligent but boring tutors, I knew most of the questions up until we stopped for lunch.  Then, as we sat down and munched on dried meat and waybread, Dest’rei asked, “How is physical and mental strength directly related to your magical force and how does magical force in turn affect your personal aura?” 

            I stared at him, clueless and feeling rather unintelligent.  Aris snorted, amused.  “Don’t worry,” he assured me, “Rei can be like that sometimes.”

            I glanced at Dest’rei.  “I, I don’t know,” I faltered, feeling quite stupid. 

            The elf sighed, then admitted, “I really was hoping I didn’t have to start from scratch.  But that’s okay.  Your father says you catch on quickly, and there’s no time like the present.” 

            He was about to start teaching me, when Aris said hurriedly, “Rei, let’s start walking again before you begin.” 

            Dest’rei’s piercing emerald eyes laughed, but he answered somberly, “Admirable idea, my Deputy.” 

            I looked at Aris, “You’re a Deputy?  But you’re so young!”  (Not all leaders have a deputy, but when they do, they personally appoint the person.  Usually a Deputy needs years of service under their leader.)

            He looked slightly uncomfortable, and mumbled, “I have… some special talents…that made me ideal for the job…”  He drifted off uncertainly, flicking his eyes towards my teacher. 

            Lynya saved him by yowling and saying to all of us, The day passes as you talk!  Will we not travel at all?

            As we went on our way on foot (Alonwyn was carrying our packs), Dest’rei started to talk.  “Let’s talk a little about history before magic.  We will start talking about magic when we stop for the night.  Now I will tell of a time not so long before you were born.  Before your father became King, magic in general was thought of as evil here in Aestarlin.  There were wise folk that knew that magic was just misunderstood, but until King Darsin died and his son came to the throne, mages were often outcasts of society.”              I looked at him, tall and straight and alien.  I could hear the sorrow and regret in his voice as he spoke of a time long past.  There was something else there too.  Anger, maybe? 

            “In fact, not only were mages shunned, they were hunted and captured, sometimes killed.  In this way, hundreds of mages were lost to us, and it was a dark age for elves also, for we all carry magic in our veins.  The mages were disappearing, and so were the secrets of their crafts.  Aestarlin was in deep trouble, though few knew it.  Many only realized what peril we had been in after King Agrenvr accepted his office.

            “When he became King, our land, and other countries, were shocked.  The very kingdom that had feared and rejected magic now had a mage for a King.  Some were apprehensive, some were afraid.   Some downright spurned the idea of a mage King.  Most people, however, were willing to give it a try.  And the magical community was overjoyed.  We knew a new age had come, it was a new time.  King Agrenvr began to restore libraries and temples…  He convinced his people that magic could be used for good as well as evil.  Gaining the trust of his citizens was only a matter of time, and most of the magic users of Aestarlin were completely behind him.  All in all, he was managing well.  Then he met Princess Astaria.  She was beautiful and wise; practically perfect, except she was Carnehin.  He was still young and rash, and he plunged into marriage without her father’s permission.  And for all that she was smart, she too was overcome by love and was willing to do anything.  The tension between our two countries, already dangerous, became outright hostile.

            “He didn’t care; neither did she.  They were together, and that was all that mattered to them.  But certain advisors saw the ever present threat of Carnehi, and reminded His Majesty of the Queen’s parents.  He asked Commander Erlen of the Alliance-  What?”  I was looking at him curiously. 

            “I’ve never heard of Commander Erlen…”  I informed him. 

            Aris, walking a little behind us, said, “He was Commander for about a month before-”  He cut off abruptly when Dest’rei gave him a warning look. 

            Dest’rei shrugged.  “Few people have heard of Erlen.  He was Commander for only a short time.  Anyway,” he started again, then stopped as I opened my mouth.        “What now?” he asked. 

            Sheepishly, but determined to know, I probed, “Why was he Commander for such a short time?” 

            Shaking his head at me, my teacher muttered under his breath, “I had to get a curious, stubborn, persistent student…”  But he half smiled and winked at me, so I figured he wasn’t actually mad.  However, he neatly sidestepped the question and calmly continued talking.

            “Your father asked Commander Erlen for assistance.  Commander Erlen agreed instantly, for he too was not as wise as he could have been.  Between the two of them, they devised a plan to invade Carnehi, to declare war.  Astaria was crushed, for though she had chosen her path once and for all, she loved her parents still.  Your mother is a rather remarkable woman, Ali.  She fought against the two leaders.  She spoke to them daily, discouraging them going to war.  She made my acquaintance and asked me to help.  I couldn’t, though I wanted to.  I was bound to the service of the Alliance and could not go behind my leader’s back.  However, from speaking to me, the Queen understood that many men, though loyal to their leaders, did not wholeheartedly support the war.  She pointed this out to your father, saying that if they went to war now, the country would not like it.  The citizens couldn’t handle a war so soon after crowning a new king.  The king would lose some of his followers.  The country’s economy would suffer.  Could we afford that?

            “King Agrenvr knew we couldn’t.  So he put away the war plans for another day and focused on a diplomatic approach.  Commander Erlen still wanted a war, but he subsided and accepted the King’s decision.  I was glad, and many others were glad as well.  Disaster was averted, at least for the moment.  Several years passed, and our relations with Carnehi, if not improved, were not any worse.  King Agrenvr was now firmly settled in his throne, and all of Aestarlin was prospering.  Aris, you were born in the fourth year of King Agrenvr’s reign.  Ali, when you were born two years later, the entire kingdom was thrilled.  Less so when they realized that your father meant you to rule after him.  After all, we have never had a ruling Queen.” 

            I laughed defiantly.  “You shall, soon enough.”  I had gotten a lot of grief about being female.  However, I needn’t have worried. The elf smiled gently at me, reassuring me, “And I don’t doubt you will be a splendid leader.” 

            Aris’ grey eyes shone at me, as he agreed, “I can’t think of anyone better.”  I looked at both of them gratefully.

 

Author's Note

Constructive criticism and compliments gladly accepted.