“My thoughts are we split the generations”
Victor looked across the desk at his heir sitting with his legs crossed and fingers steepled as he spoke. With a smile Victor nodded, “A valid option, why?”
“Well,” Razor smiled back at his dad and took a quick sip from the large stein of liquid next to him, “First I know you don’t want to go with all the stuff going on, but you and Aunt Alexandra DID make the arrangement years ago and both of you have lived up to it, so you WILL be going. So we should definitely have two convoys.
Razor sat back again before continuing, “That way if something happens to one, that’s not the entire line of succession in one go. The generations so that if something happens to one we still have all our age groups represented still.”
Nodding Victor waved a hand, “We’ll do that then. Good job. I was thinking similar. Let’s leave the specifics to Milena.”
Razor sat forward, as one of the guards bowed and took off to find the Commander of the Court Guard, “Tell me pops, any news on the investigation on that string of fires on the outer quadrant.”
“Yes,” Victor interlaced his fingers under his chin and looked at his son, “I am however not going to disclose. You’re too close to this one. I know you wont go seek vengeance, but we are not even entertaining the notion.”
Narrowing his eyes Razor snarks, before sitting back, “Tsukiko and Herro would love that, but I get it. I can respect the choice.
“If we go all ‘The King commands it’,” He continues, “The people will lose respect. We need to show them the right way to be. That doesn’t mean I’ll like it.”
Victor nodded, “That’s the way to go about it. Be the role model for the people.”
“So,” Razor’s smile quirked back to wry, “Now that my main concern is quelled, how exactly DID my aunt get into the party?”
Victor slumped back into his chair, “Shadows.”
“Shadows?” The younger Peacecraft raised his eyebrow.
“Yes, Shadows,” Victor nodded and pointed to the shadowed corner of the room, “Unfortunately your Aunt is attuned to shadow magic. She even evolved to Shade when she felt she was strong enough. She can basically phase into any shadow and traverse its length in a fraction of the time as covering the distance normally.”
Razor grimaced a bit before continuing his father’s implication, “And if she left early evening, the shadows would be lengthening and she could get to our kingdom as night fell, with shadows everywhere.”
“Correct. Your mother always called her a Shadow Fiend and that she always seemed to be more at home in the dark embrace of her shadows than her own room in the palace. So much so everyone gave up after not being able to find her multiple times, and figured if she was gone she must’ve been in a shadow somewhere.”
“Especially considering the Magecraft bloodline usually having insane amounts of mana to spare, her natural regen could easily pair with it allowing her to stay there indefinitely if she was that attuned to it,” The prince said with a nod of understanding
“It’s not quite as simple as that,” Victor said, steepling his fingers in front of his chin, “She uses much more mana to move through the shadows. However if she stays in a single shadow, she uses none. The usual Shades use mana the entire time they are within a shadow. Your aunt is different however.
“if she wasn’t the Monarch of the kingdom with all the responsiblities that entails, I would wager that EbonSun would have the best intelligence operative around,” He contiued with a grin, “However, she is almost always under observation and our own is considered one of the top. Hence why usually we can keep track of her.”
“But,” Razor picked up his train of thought, “With her own family holding festivities for her birthday, that I would wager ended with her ‘Drunk’, she passed out in her room and her King didn’t check on her. She slipped into a shadow and by the time the servants came to wake her up, she was already here. Any missive to let you know would have already been too late, even by phone.”
Victor nodded and waved a hand at Razor, “I have some paperwork to finish before this trek. So can you send in Aphrodita when you head by her desk? She’ll know what paperwork I need to finish.”
“Can do old man,” The younger man said as he fluidly swung to his feet and turned to walk out the door, sweeping his long-unbound hair behind him, “Enjoy the position. Not looking to take over for you anytime soon.”
“Not yet,” Razor stood grabbing the collar of his younger sister, “Protocol Linna. They’re still doing the procession and getting the cars ready. Just because we can go doesn’t mean we CAN go. Get it?”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Stopping and glaring up at her brother while she adjusted her top back into place, “Just because I do doesn’t mean I like it. I’m like eighth in line for the throne, nothing I do really matters.”
“Eighth huh?” Razor asked, quirking his brow, “Tell me, oh dear sister, the math used to get to that one.”
“You, the Crown prince perfect is first. Followed by Summer then Autumn. Then the High court Guard, then the High Military Guard, Then Johan down at the butcher shop, and finally, Rinna and then Me. Eight.”
Matt, standing by a wall in parade rest snickered as Razor put his hand over his face. Autumn was the one to respond though, her voice holding mirth, “Linna, you are technically the third in line. You realize that right?”
Linna scowls at her and points to her before Autumn continues, “Razor is the first as the Crown Prince. Then is Summer. I am the Magidan, putting me outside the line of succession for any of the Sovereignties, and while not all is age in succession, neither of you have done anything to put the other ahead of you. Thus, Rinna is below you. Third.”
“Don’t even mention the butcher,” Razor chuckled, “He’d be over me even. King Johan would rule over all of us with the nitrile glove of Peace and the Bloody cleaver of Justice.
He snapped his finger into a finger gun pointed off to the side and smirked, “Trademark”
“You’re all crazy,” Linna muttered as she pulled the deep hood of the hoodie she had on over her face.
Autumn stepped up behind her and wrapped her into a hug, “You’re not worse than any of us, sister dear. I’d say far from it. You can probably give Summer a run for her money in the arena.”
“But I-“
“I know,” Autumn interrupted her softly, “I know you don’t Want to fight. You don’t need to. Just because it’s expected as a Royal Amazon, but there are hundreds of Amazon Artisans and Crafters.”
Matt stepped forward and bowed slightly, “If I may Lady Linna.
He continued after she nodded, “I have been to many of the other sovereign nations and while the Peacecrafts are famed for warriors to rival the best. There is the Skillcraft and the Wisecraft families are especially known for that. The Progenitor of both were the ones who organized the fledgling Amazons knowledge through tomes and history through arts. So fret not my lady, you are not less of an Amazon for liking such.”
Tsukiko popped her head around a corner, before walking in with a pair of four spot cup holders hovering behind her, “Magidan? I’m surprised I’ve never heard the word from Mom. Can I ask what that is?”
“Of course,” Autumn says cheerfully, grabbing the closest drink carrier and passing them out to the ones who ordered them, talking all the while, “The Magidan is considered to be the most magically adept of a specific generations amazons.”
“Doesn’t your family over in EbonSun specialize in magic?” The lone Magia asked while giving out the other drinks.
“They do,” Razor answered, taking Tsukiko’s hand as she passed, “But there’s a difference. I’m sure you can tell that between all the amazons here in the room, Autumn’s mana level and even her magical aura is at the very least Twenty-Five times stronger.
Tsukiko nods, so he continues, “Matt and most of the rest of the court guard are chosen due to extra high mana levels. The thought being, even if they don’t use it, having more magical aptitude, allows them to counter magical attacks, so they are trained at innate counter magic.”
“So they are quite high compared ot the average Amazon.” Autumn picked up, “Mine however is leagues above even them. So while many in EbonSun and the Magecraft line in particular are closer. None come close to mine.”
“okay, I get it, but how does that take you out of the line of succession?”
“That is a longer story and dates back to the Schism War, but the basic part is after the War. The Demoan invasion was curtailed, thus the Magia decided the physical realm was lacking too much in mana density, took off to the spirit realm.”
As she took a breath Razor smiled and still stroking Tsukiko’s hair snickered, “And flashback”
Autumn rolled her eyes before continuing, “The Amazon’s united and formed the High Council made up a family from all the major sovereignties. That was when the first Magidan appeared. They knocked all the guards out with a single spell and walked into the council chambers and sat at the head of the table. Stating that the Amazons survived two wars against strong magic foes and needed someone who knew the arts.”
Her speech started to stop as another Amazon dressed in the Court Guard reverie stood in the door, “Apologies Lord, Ladies. We are about ready to proceed ot the convoy. I would wager about another few minutes. We’ll let Subcommander Matthew know when we’re ready.”
“Thank you officer,” Razor said, as the guard saluted and opened the door to the outside, letting the loudsound of a gathered crowd trickle into the room before he shut it behind him. Razor took Tsukiko’s hand and walked towards a well worn spot away from the door, but at the lead of a procession, “We’ll get in order. You can continue Autumn, nothing says we can’t talk while we wait.”
“Sounds good,” Autumn said standing behind Tsukiko and Razor with Linna looking at her phone next to her, “So the first Magidan proved without magic at all Amazons were at risk from the other races. They proposed a solution that the council took gladly. The magically gifted Amazon suggested that the council keep them, or their like, on the council. Not as councilers but full advisors and endowed with the power to make decisions if magical threats are too blame.”
Tsukiko nodded back at her hopefully soon to be sister-in-law, “So they made it so that they were the go to on magical matters, and since it happens roughly once a generation, you get the old to help the new and keep things tidy.”
Putting her hand to the odd colored lock of hair she smiled, “Exactly, There’s usually some distinguishing birthmark for each one. That’s why my hair is strange here, and there’s a line from it down my back and ending at the hip.”
“So a physical marking to help distinguish those who have the capacity.” Tsukiko said and opened her mouth to say something else, when Matt appeared beside them.
“It’s time, Highnesses,” He said with a slight bow as Razor stepped forward to the door which was opened by a pair of guards. With a flourish he made sure Tsukiko’s arm was locked in his before they walked down the long path with crowds on both sides and snapping flash bulbs going off, as they headed towards EbonSun for the party of the year.
