“Child!” Aunt Elfie said after they were seated in the parlor. “You really must give more countenance to your exalted station. You are as kind as Ethelred, and that is not a compliment. Remember the teachings of Cnut, you have to be firm and ruthless but just. Kindness is not a virtue royalty should cultivate. You also have to treat the upper classes better than you do. Being dismissive of them while taking care of the lower class is insulting to your subjects. You must remember you are the light for these people. They all look up to you, they want to be you. Some may hate you, some may love you, they will blame everything on you, and expect everything of you. You are not one of them you are their ruler, their goddess, their princess. You are not just another human to them. Remember to act like the princess you are. Your words and actions matter. You represent the Empire, even when you are not the one deciding their fates. I wish I could infuse you with the strength of character King Cnut has.” Lady Elfie was exasperated. “You look different.”

  “She has been cultivating magic. She has just made a breakthrough and upgraded her race. This includes a process we call molting. The body changes,” Laird Tokavaig told her, “That is why she was in my tower all afternoon.”

  “Good to know. This doesn’t change her unbecoming behavior; however. Erameya, what are you going to do about the promise you made to all of those serfs to see them first next court day?”

  “It sounds to me like you want me to see the upper-class petitioners first and then see the lower-class people from the list.”

  “That is what I would do, I am asking what you will do.”

  “I would be offended and leave if I showed up to see you and you talked to a bunch of farmers before me. I deserve to be treated with the respect my station requires.” Laird Tokavaig told her. “I am sure you have heard the stories about my anger when I am slighted.”

  “I have. I did hear about the city in the Japanese Empire that you burned because they were less than welcoming.”

  “I am the king of that city. They should have treated my arrival with more respect.”

  “I hear your concern.” I will read over their petitions and have Duncan contact them all for a special court day. I know it will mean another day of missed work so I will try to be as expeditious as possible. This way I will keep my promise and not offend any of our subjects.”

  “An interesting but good solution. What do you think Laird Tokavaig?” Lady Elfie asked.

  “I would never be offended at this solution as long as I was informed beforehand what was happening. Make an announcement that you will see the people on the list of people waiting to see you. This way the nobles will know why people are gathering in the throne room.”

  “There will still be some nobles offended and some serfs, who didn’t stay to get their name on the list, who will try to force their way in.” Angus pointed out.

  “I will only see those who are on the list,” Erameya decided. “Duncan, could you bring me the list of petitioners and their petitions?”

  Duncan left the room and soon returned with a scroll and a stack of papers. On the scroll was a long list of names with their position next to it. Only one petitioner was high class. There were several middle-class citizens and the rest were all lower class. “It seems I will need to see Baron Killier first. Please hand me his petition.”

  Duncan handed the petition to Erameya.

  “Princess, my petition is simple. My estate has had an invasion of sum kind of small sprite. Please send a druid and or magical creature to deal with the problem.”

  “Angus, are you able to go to his estate and take care of his problem, tomorrow?”

  “Yes, but I think I you should accompany me. You will honor the baron and learn to deal with lesser beings.”

  For the middle class there were three of the problems she could take care of while returning from the Baron’s. The remainder were simple decisions she was able send a reply to by pixie post. This left the lower-class people on the list. Most of the petitions were simple thigs she could send a response to by way of hep or an answer. There was one particular one that she felt like she needed to visit the serf to make sense of the petition. It felt urgent but she was unable to decipher the meaning of the words.

  “Duncan, what can you tell me about this petition?”

  “She is a Pict. Her syntax is strange. It is always hard, even for me, to know her meaning. My suggestion is to fly up to her house before you go over to the Baron’s.”

  “Thank you. I do feel an urgency about the wording.”

  The next morning Erameya was happy to have another tunic, this one with pockets, her new belt and a new pair of leather leggings to wear. She cleaned up in her dressing room and did herself a French braid and tied a bit of leather to the end. After quickly dressing, she infused magic into her clothing so it would fit better and contain all of the other magical properties she had given her other clothing. She focused her magic on making her stocking stay up.

  As soon as she was dressed, she went to the training grounds to train. Angus and Master Bracken met her there and they did some martial arts training. Angus showed her a cleaning spell and they quickly cleaned with magic. It was she realized the first spell she had used. She had to this point only been using raw magic. She appreciated the focus the spell put on the magic. She noticed she used much less magic but much more concentrated. She realized again how little she actually knew about the practice of magic. She knew that there was so much to learn about how to use the different magics she felt in over her head. If she knew spells for healing how much easier would it be? As she was pondering on her great need of education, she saddled Ailish and was soon in the air on her way north to visit the Pict woman.

  The flight over the beautiful countryside filled Erameya with joy. She noticed again the tapestry of life energy and mana. She noticed the ebb and flow of energy, like the world was a living entity. Was the earth a cultivator? She felt along the lines and thought she felt a gigantic core pulsing with life and magic. The flows of energy were immense and unfathomable. She could feel many more kinds of energy woven in than just mana and life energy. Although she couldn’t identify any of the others. She lightly tugged at the ones that seemed compatible. As the new essences slowly trickled into her, she felt her soul expanding. She noticed the same thing happening to Ailish.

  “Erameya, if you keep helping my cultivation like you have been you will have to let me stop and molt. I think we should wait until we are home, don’t you?” Ailish asked her telepathically.

  “I guess so. Did you know this world had so many different threads of energy?”

  “No. I had only felt three until I met you. I mean the new you. Looks like we are here.”

  They landed on the road outside of a large property and lead their animals to the gate. They were met by a tall woman with blue eyes and long red hair.

  “Princess, come. Escort is who?”

  “This is Angus Donan, Prince of the Dragon Kingdom. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Breda, is myself.”

  “Nice to meet you Breda. How may I help you?” Erameya smiled.

  “Husband my, and wife one fishing were. Home not come for day three.”

  “Where were they fishing?”

  “Islands north.”

  “We will fly up there and see what we can find. Do you have a map of the rout they took?”

  “Follow north the river.”

  “Do you have any drawings of your family? Or could tell us what they look like?”

  “Magic you?” Erameya could not tell if Breda meant, was she magical, or could Breda perform a spell on her but decided to roll with it. “Yes.”

  Breda put her palms on either side of Erameya’s head and started whispering words in a language it took her translator a few words to understand. Once she was finished, she had what seemed to be a memory of the lost people. “Thank you. We will hurry.”

  Breda nodded and they flew off. Erameya shared the image with Ailish who was able to share it with both Angus and his wyvern.

  “I wish I could shift. I have all of the other traits of a beast. Good hearing, amazing eyesight, strength and dexterity. I just cannot shift.”

  “After molting, I believe you will be able to shift. Molting is an awful but enlightening experience. Until yesterday I though only animals molted.”

  “Father has never molted. Do you think that is why he is unable to hold a shift?”

  “Possibly, are we talking telepathically?”

  “How else would we talk in this wind?”

  “Weird.” Erameya scrunched her nose in thought.

  “What is the matter?”

  “She has only ever talked to me and Tintreach telepathically before today. First Breda planted an image in her brain then you just start talking to her. I think you broke her. She must not have known it is a beast trait you carry.” Ailish told Angus

  “I apologize. I forget not everyone is like my family. You may be more telepathic with your race upgrade. You never know what that can do for you. According to my grandfather, every molting gives each person a different set of skills.”

  “Cool, a skill like this is amazing, why is it not on my character sheet?”

  “Maybe because you hadn’t found out about it yet. Did you look at what human level 2 means?”

  “No. I will look at my sheet and see if I can find out.”

  “Cool is this how you see your screen?”

  “Yes. I tried to share my skill sheet with you.”

  “I think it worked. Hold on. It worked. I can pull up a screen and click on items for descriptions. This is so cool. How did you do it?”

  “I don’t know. I Just knew I could.”

  “Can I have it?” Ailish asked.

  “Let me try.” Erameya again willed her system into Ailish.

  “This is neat. Is that them?” Ailish suddenly turned her head.

  “I believe it may be, let’s go look.” There were two people on a river island. They were huddled together and looked wet and cold. As they flew down, they saw it was the people they were looking for.

  “I think we should land a little way away from them. We don’t want to scare them.” Angus recommended.

  “Good Idea. Did you get either one of their names?”

  “No. You?”

  “No. how are we going to approach this?”

  “You’re their princess. Your decision.”

  Erameya started walking and waving at the stranded people. When she was close, she noticed the woman had an arrow pointed at her heart. “Hello, I am Princess Erameya, Breda asked me to look for you. Do you need help?”

  “Breda went to Edinburgh?” The man asked with a deep brogue.

  “She did.”

  “I’m impressed she has a hard time communicating.”

  “She is a very anxious woman. She is very concerned for your safety.”

  “My leg is broken and I believe Ingrid has a broken arm.”

  “Do you mind if I try using magic to heal you? I am new to my powers but will do my best. Prince Angus will help me.”

  “That would be great. Breda is my only wife with magic. Some of my children have it.”

  “Okay, Ingrid, can I look at your arm first?”

  “Yes, M’lady.” She tried to lift her arm. Erameya took it and noticed it was not set. She felt for the power in the world around her. She guided the threads of power into the arm and felt the injuries in Ingrid start to heal. She was hypothermic, had a cold, was getting pneumonia, had a broken arm and three broken ribs. She had some internal bruising and was on the edge of dehydration and starvation. She directed the magic to heal Ingrid. She felt as Ingrid’s bones set and the magic cured the illnesses and diseases. With the combination of all the essences of the world she felt the healing in a way she hadn’t before.

  “What happened?”

  “We were on our way to the Shetland Islands to fish, and we were hit by a huge storm, our boat was thrown into a cliff. We were able to make it to this island but have not been able to do much since.”

  Once she was done, she asked the man if she could help him. She put her hands over the brake and again gently guided the magic into his body. After the magic had healed everything it could while she guided it, she let go.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Good, how are you going to get us home?”

  “I am on a griffin and Angus a wyvern.”

  “May we take the wyvern and the two of you take the griffin?”

  “I am good with that if Ailish is.” Angus answered.

  “I’m good.” Ailish said in her mind.

  “Ailish said she could carry us both, s you two are welcome to take the wyvern, just have a pixie take it to the palace. Be safe.”

  The man and Ingrid got on the wyvern and flew off.

  “Can we fly west to my cousin’s keep and get a wyvern for me? I don’t want seen sharing a ride.”

  “A bit arrogant? We can let’s get on Ailish and you can tell her where we need to go.”

  Ailish struggled with the weight of both people on her, but they soon made it to Angus’s relatives. They landed outside of the village. Angus ran in to borrow a wyvern while Ailish and Erameya waited.

  “Are you going to marry Cousin Angus?” Erameya jumped as the small girl asked her the question.

  “Young lady, you startled me.”

  “Are you going to marry the lech?”

  “Lech?”

  “My brother calls him that. He is always afraid of what he leaves in the servants.”

  “His Grandfather is training me. We are just learning magic together right now.”

  “You know magic?”

  “I do.”

  “My mother is a member of Grandfather’s grove but they can’t make me better.”

  “What is the matter with you?”

  “I sometimes cannot breathe.”

  “May I feel your energies?” Erameya was sure she had asthma.

  “Sure.” The child shrugged.

  Erameya knelt down and held the little girl’s hands. She felt the weave of magic around and through her. She saw how the pattern was wrong in her lungs and trachea. She gently coxed the pattern until it corrected itself. She felt emotionally and physically drained again as she finished the magical healing.

  Ailish cast a spell on her that reenergized her before she collapsed.

  “Ailish, I didn’t know you could cast spells. Thank you.”

  “A few. Mostly our bond lets me care for you.”

  “Erameya! Are you crazy? Quit healing people when you are alone. Imp, how are you?”

  “I feel great, Lech.”

  “Kriana! Stop calling him that! Father will kill me. I have no idea what conversation you overheard but please stop. I beg your pardon, Princess, Kriana evesdrops unrepentantly. I am Dadax, Angus’s cousin,”

  “Nice to meet you. Kriana is an outgoing child. Her curiosity does you all credit. I do recommend you be more careful what you say around her. She told me you are worried about what Angus leaves in the servants.”

  “Gaia, she must have heard me yelling at him last time he was here. Thank you for healing her.”

  “I hope it works, you can send to me if you need anything.”

  “Erameya, we had better leave we have a lot of stops to make. It will take us half an hour to fly to the Baron’s. Will you be able to fly?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do stay and eat the nooning meal with us. Angus, Mother will be angry with me if you leave and she doesn’t see you. Princess Erameya looks like she could use a rest and so does her griffin. I will take her to the stables to rest while we eat and the stable boy gets a wyvern ready for you. Out of curiosity, how did you get here, Angus?”

  “I let an injured Pict take my wyvern, I rode here on Ailish, the griffin.”

  “You are too heavy for her.”

  “I know.”

  “Wait, you and Princess Erameya rode together? The poor girl, no wonder she looks tired.”

  “I would like to meditate for a few moments, where I won’t pull Ailish with me.”

  “We can stay here while Dadax takes care of her.”

  “Thank you, Dadax.”

  “Can I stay with you and Cousin Angus?” Kriana asked.

  “I don’t see why not, I am going to sit here in the grass and cross my legs, like this, and place my arms here, and close my eyes.” Kriana followed as she got into the lotus position.

  As Erameya tuned into the ebb and flow of magic around her, she noticed Angus had three kinds of essence flowing through him. One was mana, one was life energy, and the third was a primal energy she could taste but not use.

  “Angus, you have multiple essences flowing through you.”

  “How? What do you mean?”

  “You know we use mana and life energy, well, you have a primal energy also.”

  “We will have to talk to grandfather but I bet it is a form of beast magic.

  After a long day of helping her subjects, Erameya just wanted a hot shower and to go to bed. She got Ailish settled in, talked to Tintreach for a while, and walked back toward the keep.

  “Erameya, Anthony got a message back from Markus that you need to see.” Lady Elfie said as she walked out to meet her. She handed her a tiny piece of paper and a larger one. The tiny one had some words in Latin written on it. Erameya translated it as she read.

  Information received. Have captured a dragon and her rider, Prince Edward.

  “Edward? What did Tokavaig say about this?”

  “He is furious. He said Edward is with his youngest daughter’s granddaughter. He wants to go burn the Roman armata. I wondered if you and Angus will go instead.”

  “I will talk to him and Laird Tokavaig. Ailish is going to molt soon so I cannot take her if we leave too soon. Do you think one of Anthony’s flying seahorses would lead us to them?”

  “I’ll ask him. You go shower and get a short rest; I’ll send a message inviting Laird Tokavaig and Prince Angus to meet us for dinner. We can discuss details after dinner.”

  “Angus, did you hear about Edward and your cousin?” Erameya thought at Angus.

  “I told him!” Laird Tokavaig yelled back at her in her mind.

  “I am going to clean up and take a nap then we need to talk, before you go burn the entirety of Rome.”

  “Why? My granddaughter is being held captive. I told her not to go too far south because she was so young, but she is in love and didn’t listen to me. I need to help her.”

  “How did they capture a dragon? We need to plan.”

  “Fine! I’ll see you in an hour. Angus needs to rest also.”

  Telepathic communication with an angry dragon had sapped the rest of her energy, she was grateful for Delphy as she undressed and bathed. She luxuriated in the hot water as her hair was washed then slipped into her nightdress and fell asleep. In what felt like minutes Delphy was waking her up.

  “You said that Laird Tokavaig would be here in an hour and it has nearly been an hour, do you want me to send a message to him that you will be late?”

  “No let me hurry dress. He is angry. His descendant and my brother were taken captive by a Roman.” Erameya said as she took off her nightdress.

  Delphy helped her with er under garments and her dress. “M’lady, your dress doesn’t fit any longer.”

  “You work on my hair while I fix it.” Erameya pictured magic weaving through the fabric of her dress, in moments the dress fit her like it had been tailored to her.

  Dress: Magic

  Can be equipped from pouch.

  Erameya thought it was strange that the system did an auto identify but assumed it was because she was focused on the dress. She put her leggings in her pouch and told the system to equip leggings. The leggings appeared on her laced and ready to go.

  “Your hair is done; your dress looks amazing; and you have people waiting on you.”

  “Thank you, Delphy.” Erameya smiled. She was soon in the parlor where she found her aunt, Laird Tokavaig, and Angus waiting for her.

  “Let us eat and then discuss this matter.” Lady Elfie said as Erameya walked in. “Duncan we are ready to sup.” Lady Elfie stood followed by the other two. She took Laird Tokavaig’s arm and lead the way to the dining hall. Erameya and Angus followed. They enjoyed the meal to the best of their ability under the circumstances and were all grateful to retire to a parlor to hash out their plans.

  “I have two major obstacles in the way of my leaving soon.” Erameya said as soon as they were seated. “The first is my promise to see the rest of the people on the list and the second is Ailish is going to molt soon.”

  “Griffins are not good for long flight.” Angus pointed out.

  “True. She can go into the molting chamber in my tower. My staff will care for her.” Laird Tokavaig agreed.

  “I will take care of your duties while you are gone.” Lady Elfie told her.

  “I want to sleep tonight. I’d like to wait until morning to leave,” Erameya suggested.

  “Two hours. I will fly, you and Angus can both ride on my back.”

  “You also need rest, Grandfather.” Angus pointed out. “How about we leave just before dawn?”

  “I’d like to go over Denmark and see if my Parents are there yet.”

  “That is a good idea. We can fly over France on our way to the coast. We will watch for them on our way. We will leave in four hours. Be packed and ready. Angus did you get your pouch done?”

  “I did.”

  “If you infuse your clothes with magic, or let me do it, you can use the system to equip them.”

  “I’ll try that. Grandfather, she gave me her system. We don’t know how, but it worked.”

  “We can talk about it on out flight. You two go get ready, I will talk to Lady Elfie for a while. I also want to talk to the spy.”

  Erameya went back to her room. Delphy was still in there. “Delphy, I need to magically adjust all of my clothes, will you help me change into each of them?”

  “Sure, do you need to or is this a spell you can do while they are in the wardrobe?”

  “I have no idea, let me try.” Erameya put her hands against her clothes, holding them together, and lightly guided magic into all of her clothes. She could now equip and unequip her clothes. The magic in them again adjusted the clothing to fit. “It worked.” Now I need to sleep wake me up in three hours. I have to pack and get ready. Laird Tokavaig wants to leave in four hours.”

  “I’ll get hampers of food ready. I can sleep tomorrow. Is there anything else you need?”

  “Camping supplies.”

  “What?”

  “We will likely be sleeping outside, anything to make it more comfortable.”

  “Okay I will get three getelds and some cushions ready. I will get help from a soldier on what else you will need. You look like you need to do that bendy thing you do.”

  “I will, yoga and meditation will help me more than sleep at this point.”

  In a few short hours they were in the air, flying toward Denmark. The flight was short and refreshing. They met with the local elven enclave. When they were leaving, Prince Laedireil walked with them outside of their village. He had informed them that King Cnut was not yet in the area.

  “Princess Erameya, you appear to be healthy. Last we met you were in so much pain I was not sure you noticed me.”

  “How could I not, you and my sister were … canoodling the entire time I was in the room.”

  “And now she is married and large with child.” He bemoaned, “That baby could be mine.”

  “Or a selkie’s, or a dragon’s, or a werewolf’s, I lost track of her lovers years ago.”

  “I also lost track of the rest of them.” He mourned.

  “Hey, can I try something?”

  “Sure, what?”

  Erameya closed her eyes to focus on the web of essence. “Your magic is not the same as mine or any of the ones Angus or Laird Tokavaig use. You have a lot of essences flowing through you. Your life energy I can recognize but it is not the same as the kind the druids use,”

  “Fae magic differs from human and beast magic. There are many kinds of fae magic. If you can see the streams of magic, look at those the flying seahorse uses.”

  “It uses water, air, and a wild magic that I can only see not feel.”

  “You can feel fae magic?”

  “Yes, but I cannot use it.”

  “Your sister practiced sex magic. She said it didn’t work as well with humans, can you see why?”

  “I might be able to but I’s have to see the patterns of magic around her while she was casting and with at least two different partners. I don’t think I want to see that.”

  Prince Laedireil laughed, “I imagine not. You do know she had no feelings for her partners.”

  “It makes it worse in some way.” She cringed.

  “Erameya, we need to hurry.” Laird Tokavaig interrupted.

  “Safe travels, Princess, do let me know if your sister’s child has white hair and pointed ears.”

  “I’ll leave that to her. Gods be with you and yours.” She bowed and left to get back on Laird Tokavaig.

  It was odd to her how welcoming the enclave had been. In her memories they were always very standoffish and proud. When they arrived that morning, the elves had treated all three of them like dear friends and they were taken into the village, fed breakfast, and met with the prince and the high council. Every elf she met was kind, open, and friendly. They were happy and full of life. For a long-lived race, they were unbelievably childlike. No one had the dower visage of her father. No one seemed lower class, no one seemed to be above the others. The order of their village was communal. Even the prince, the elders, and the counselors were treated the same as the other citizens when not in council.

  Their homes were coxed out of the trees and appeared to be natural parts of the forest. They used some kind of dimensional magic in their structures so the trees were not misshaped. The magic running through everything was palpable. The clothing, armor, weapons, food, homes, and animals were brimming with magic. Their breakfast was vegetarian and high protein. She felt the energy flowing into her with only a small portion. The table and chairs they used were grown out of bushes just moments before they ate. The paths they walked upon were parted out of the forest foliage as they walked. The animals were free, the gardens were organized with a wild beauty. The flowers around the trees looked to have grown naturally. The beauty of the glen was unsurpassable.

  “Laird Tokavaig? How come the elves were so friendly this morning, but so stiff when they met with Father?”

  “We met them in their home. When they go into a dead building, they are uncomfortable.”

  “Do they not feel the magic around them when they are in a building?”

  “They do, but not as strongly as they do in their forest. The children are not allowed to leave because without the magic of the glen they get very weak and sickly. Your sister’s house is ahead, do you want to stop and see her?”

  “For a moment. I want to see if they have seen my parents and leave a message for them if they have not made it this far north yet.”

  “I didn’t see or sense them. They are likely still to the south.”

  “I haven’t had much to do with elves but the other fae people seem to do fine in human settlements.” Angus observed. “Why can the brownies that clean your castle live and breed in the stone with no side effects, but an elf will get sick outside of their forests?”

  Laird Tokavaig landed and shifted into ha human before answering.

  “High Faries can live in stone also. I assume the elves are more like druids in their attachment to the earth.”

  “Erameya! How did you get here? Laird Tokavaig, Prince Angus, welcome. What brings you here?”

  “Edward has been captured with the great granddaughter of Laird Tokavaig. Has father been here yet? Should you be running in your condition?”

  “No, and no. Who captured our brother?”

  “The Romans.”

  “The Babylonians have just reconquered some of the land the Romans took from them. The Iberian Peninsula is no longer in the control of the Romans. Father has taken all of France and is meeting with King Ernesto to make an alliance today. I think they are getting desperate. I heard most of the centaurs have left Rome for Grease. I believe the Babylonians are going to invade Rome by small increments. The Persians are pushing east into the Empire of Japan . Do come in. I was told Markus had a secret weapon, but why would he be sailing to attack England? I think I have a pretty good grasp on the politics of the world, but I just learned that Markus took his armata north with no explanation.”

  “I don’t know. His spy thought it was because we are vulnerable with Father and the boys gone. I just cannot imagine why he wouldn’t attack somewhere he could keep control of. He will never hold England.”

  “We will find out when rescue Edward. Tell Father what is going on if he gets here before we return. We need to be on our way. Oh, Prince Laedireil wants to know if your child is his.”

  Goda laughed, “I promise you it is not. He would love it if it were. You are taller and look a little different and have more magic than I at the peak of one of my spells. What happened?”

  “I died. My spirit was summoned from another reality.”

  “Funny. What really happened?”

  “Master Gareth healed me. We really do need to hurry. I’ll see if we have time to catch up on our way back.”

  “Be safe.”