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fingers as he grew anxious.
    ‘ Please do not drag me into this,’ Balien thought and closed his eyes in horror. He opened them to see
Aisling looking his way.
    “Balien has his own frivolities to attend to
here,” Nolen brushed off. “Do you not?”
    “I should think so, Queen Miranda,” Balien
replied in a pleasant tenor voice. “The soldiers are training new
bannermen, and they need my sword arm.”
    “Oh, oh yes.” She nodded thoughtfully.
    Nolen mumbled some salutation of thanks and
left as quickly as he could. Aisling and Balien shared a moment of
relief as the Advisor, dressed in a high-necked green gown dripping
with ropes of pearls, took a seat across from the Queen.
    “I always thought Fire Mages were the ones
with uncontrolled tempers,” Miranda sighed and swirled her wine.
“Air Mages usually have such nice dispositions.”
    “The stereotypes are often wrong,” Aisling
replied. “Spirit Mages are said to be crafty and intelligent, but
we all know that is not always true,” she smiled.
    Balien chuckled and raised his goblet to her.
Aisling was a Spirit Mage, a Class Five, and was as schooled as
they came. Miranda got the joke after Balien’s laugh. When the
servant pouring wine refilled their goblets, Queen Miranda asked
him to step out and close the door.
    “I wonder,” she began. “I wonder, has there
been any news of Princess Robyn? I am most anxious to find
her.”
    So was Balien. The controlled smile Aisling
gave said she too was desperate.
    “Nothing as of yet, but I have the armies’
best diggers looking for her,” Aisling answered, referring to their
spies and masters of incognito.
    Balien had his own men out looking. He
learned of her location three years before. He traveled out to see
her and his old foster-brother Gabriel whenever he could, but a
year later they vanished. Urima Manor was vacant but for the
servants. It was so quiet since Mage Cordis disappeared about the
same time. They left no clues, no trail, and sent no word. For all
he knew, they were dead, though he did not think that could be
possible. The disappearance of Mage Cordis had innerved the Mage
population. They knew nothing of Mage Gabriel, so they were none
the worse when he vanished. ‘If only they knew of you,
brother,’ Balien sighed and glared into his cup.
    “What if we sent ambassadors to…” the Queen
began, but Aisling put up a hand.
    “We do not want to worry the people that the
heiress is missing.”
    “But it could help find her! Get the word
out, and maybe she will hear!” Miranda exclaimed.
    “Robyn will return by her birth anniversary,”
Aisling replied with an air of finality. “I am certain of it.”
    “Very well,” Miranda nodded, her curls
flopping about her head. “What work do you need me for today?”
    “Nothing,” Aisling replied. “I have it taken
care of.”
    ‘ As always,’ Balien thought.
    “Prince Balien, how are your days with the
armies?” Aisling asked. He sat in a precarious situation with the
various factions of the armies. While his sister was heiress to the
throne only Queens sat on, it would be Balien’s duty to command her
armies. Since he made no claim to them without Robyn on the throne,
the task fell to Nolen. Everyone knew it was a position Balien
would eventually take, and Nolen loathed him for. For some time now
the power had been shifting between them, but in Robyn’s absence
they stood at a stalemate. Still, it did not stop the men from
showing favoritism. Balien was a respectable swordsman where Nolen
relied on his Air Element, and men respected what they could
see.
    It would be tricky for Miranda to step down
and Robyn to gain her throne. Why remove a Queen who was healthy
and able? While those close to Miranda knew she was neither, the
people saw what Aisling wanted them to see. To the populous Miranda
was very just and giving. In fact, she was so giving she was
speedily eating away their silver holds and mines her sister Queen
Rincarel