Chapter 12 Princess Bree Varlon #2
Aradella wants—to never be near anyone because she’s smarter than everybody.”
When the animal landed in a big courtyard, she slid off its back. “I guess I should thank you but you’re a traitor and I don’t
want to be here.” The bird-head of the creature seemed to smile as it gave a shake and her bag fell to the ground. “I’ll get
Tanek to tell the top half of you off. Then you’ll be sorry.”
With a quick bow, the animal rose up and was soon out of sight.
Standing by a set of double doors was a very handsome young man. She was tempted to offer him one of the sapphires she’d brought if he’d get her a horse and point her toward the nearest town. Or to anywhere else on the planet for that matter.
“Zeon is occupied,” the man said. “You may wait inside or in the garden.”
“Garden,” she said quickly. Maybe she could start walking down the mountain. “Are they . . . ?” She waved her hand. “Are the
others here?”
“The guests are away. They will return for dinner.”
Hours, she thought. I only have a few hours before my life is over forever.
So now she was sitting in the garden and all she could think about was how to get away from the beautiful place.
She saw a movement of something half hidden by the greenery. It was probably an animal and she paid no attention to it. Her
mind was fully occupied with the coming horror of spending time with Aradella.
No matter what she says, I won’t react, she thought. She can sneer at me, insinuate that I have no brain, that I know nothing, that I— She leaned forward. Coming toward her wasn’t an animal but a child.
On Pithan, children were so precious that they were never without an adult nearby. But no one was near this one.
It was a boy, about three years old. He had on trousers with a long, embroidered robe that reached to his knees. His black
hair was pulled back into a braid. He was so cute that Bree thought her heart might melt.
When the child got closer, he looked up and saw her. He was so startled that he froze in place.
In the next second, several things happened at once. A little animal that Bree had never seen before ran out of a flower bed,
and behind it came a big, burly creature, like a bear with dog legs. The boy started laughing.
The sound so enchanted Bree that it took her a moment to see what was happening. The big animal had bumped into a stone statue
of a woman pouring water out of a pitcher. It had been dislodged and was now rocking back and forth.
The little boy was standing still and watching the animals roll about together. He was in the direct path of the falling statue!
Bree jumped up, leaped the few feet to the statue, and caught it just before it landed on the child.
When a man shouted in warning, the child looked back, then ran to him and was picked up. He was a tall, handsome young man,
his body thick with muscle. He and the child looked very much alike.
“Thank you.” The man’s voice was full of emotion.
Bree was holding the statue like it was an infant.
He put the boy down. “Here, let me help you with that.” He went to Bree, slid his arms under the statue, and took it from
her. But it was too heavy for him to hold. When he dropped it, the head broke off and rolled away. He looked at Bree in shock.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “I tried to save it.”
He was blinking at her in astonishment. “I couldn’t hold that thing. It was too heavy. For me, anyway.”
Bree could feel her face turning red. “My father . . .” she mumbled. “I’m like him.”
The little boy was clutching the man’s leg. “Tell this lady thank you for saving your life.”
The child looked shy, but then he put his arms out for Bree to pick him up.
“I usually warn people that he’s heavy, but you . . .” He didn’t finish.
As Bree held the boy, he snuggled his face into her neck.
“He likes you,” the man said. “I’m Tam, Zeon’s son, and this is my son Pilkellan, Piks for short. Are you the princess?”
“I’m Bree, and I’m one of them.” She loved feeling the child in her arms. “The important princess isn’t here right now.”
“You look important to me,” he said. “Have you seen the garden? It’s the pride of my father.” He held out his arms, Piks went
to him, and Tam set him down. “Go home to Mamá and stay away from those two creatures.”
The child nodded but from the look in his eyes, he didn’t plan to obey. They watched him walk away.
“My wife is carrying our second child and Piks drives her crazy. We never know where he is.” Tam looked at Bree. “Again, thank
you for this.” He gestured to the fallen statue. “I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been here and
if you weren’t . . . uh, like your father.”
“Could you not mention this to anyone? My father and I work hard to keep it secret that I’m like him. Of course he’s much
stronger than I am, but still . . .”
Tam’s eyes sparkled. “I know about hiding talents. Before I married my wife, I had no idea that she’s very smart. I thought
I would be the leader and I would wisely make all the decisions.”
Bree gave a one-sided smile. “That’s different from a wife who can pick up the man and toss him across the room.”
“But that would be one exciting wedding night!”
They both laughed and she was pleased that he didn’t make her feel like a freak. He indicated the garden and they began walking.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” he said, “but why are you here?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve been told that I’m to go to an island called Abby. Something like that.”
“Never heard of it.” His head came up. “Could it be Abicis?”
“Yes! That’s it.”
“Ah,” Tam said. “I assume this has to do with what we were told happened on Olina’s island.”
“She’d like to think she owns it, but she—” Bree broke off. “I guess she does. My cousin Aradella was supposed to be clasped
with one of the new royals, but she refused. I don’t know what’s going on. I was told I must come here and I must go to some island no one has heard of. Do you know anything about this?”
“My father loves to keep secrets, but I listen.” He motioned to a bench and they sat down.
“If you’re to go to Abicis, then it’s probably to see Qip.
He visited here once and told me about where he lives.
It’s an island full of people who’ve been thrown out of Empyrea because they’re different.
The name Abicis translates as ‘Unwanted.’”
“I’ve never heard that such a place exists.”
“I can’t imagine that a royal princess would know about it.”
Bree felt she needed to defend herself. “We are an island of women and we feed on gossip. And, like you, I listen. I’m very
good at sitting so still that people don’t realize I’m there. To most people, a pretty face means an empty head.”
He smiled warmly at her. “If beauty takes away brains, then your head is totally empty.”
She smiled at his compliment. “Where is this island and how can this man help?”
Tam shrugged his big shoulders. “I have no idea, but I don’t think it’s too far away. I spent time with Qip while my father
worked. I don’t think he knew that Qip and I got to know each other.”
“Did you inherit your father’s ability to foresee the future?”
“Not at all.” He paused. “But I did get some things from my mother.” When he snapped his fingers, a flame appeared at the
tips. He broke off a plant and set it on fire from his fingers.
“What a very useful ability to have.”
“It’s nothing compared to my mother. She can make this house disappear.”
“That spell would probably take two days of energy.”
“It does,” Tam said. “How do you know that?”
“I work for a woman who is a—” Bree hesitated. “A sort of doctor. She can make plants and objects do unusual things.”
Tam was looking at her with interest. “And what do you do for her?”
Bree was so used to keeping secrets that she was afraid to tell. “I help mix the plants. Like for a cooking recipe.”
Tam got up and picked a flower. “Like this one?”
“I know the names of the plants but not by sight.”
“This is ragwort.”
“It’s good to stop itching,” she said, then added, “and for other things.”
He sat back down. “I think I understand. My mother had an apprentice. She called her the ‘Book.’”
Bree smiled. “Yes, that’s what Reena calls me.”
“Reena! I’ve met her. She’s scary powerful.”
They were quiet for a few moments, then Tam said, “My entire life has been ruled by what my father foresees. He’d say, ‘No!
Don’t pick that flower. It’ll make a whole forest die.’ He constantly reminds me that everything affects everything else.
He arranged my marriage because he foresaw that with the woman he chose, we’d create a son who’d grow up to be important.”
“You’re unhappy at that?”
“No! I adore my wife, my child, and even the new one who isn’t born yet. My point is that if you’re here and you’re going
to Abicis, probably to find Qip, then there’s a reason behind it.”
“I’m sure there is.” Bree’s eyes widened. “You have powers. Maybe you could go with Aradella. Or your mother’s Book could go. I can pay you. I might be persuaded to sell my soul if it gets me
out of spending days with Aradella.”
He frowned. “I don’t mean to ‘take over’ as my wife accuses me, but it sounds like you need to stand up for yourself.”
“No one talks back to Aradella! Even bad-tempered Queen Olina is scared of her. Aradella could make a genius feel stupid.”
Bree took a breath. “And I can do nothing in retaliation! Someone saved me from an ultimate humiliation and I promised that
in return I’d be nice to Aradella. Nice! I’d like to—” Bree made a motion of twisting and snapping a body in half. But then,
she sighed. “I’m sure there’s a good reason for all of this and that I must endure it. It’s as your father said, ‘Everything
affects everything else.’ But being with Aradella is a cosmic punishment.”
“And you won’t tell her of your strength?”
Bree’s face seemed to drain of color. “Tell her I am more than just a face? Her words are stronger than my arms! No, I prefer to keep my privacy.”
They heard a bell ring and Bree stood up. “I guess that’s dinner.” She looked at Tam sitting on the bench. “I apologize for
complaining. I’m sure your father has a good reason for bringing me here, and I guess I’ll live through it. However . . .”
She gave a wicked little grin. “I know fourteen spells that would help me step out of my body and just be an observer. Maybe
I’ll mix one up and you can ignite it.”
“That sounds like fun,” Tam said. “I think maybe I should go. Someone needs to protect the brilliant Aradella from Bree, the
powerful goddess.”
The bell rang again and, laughing, Bree stepped back. “Yes! You are needed to protect me from myself. And by the way, your
son is a gift and I envy you.” Turning, she ran toward the house.