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Ani’s eyes fluttered open. Her back was stiff after sleeping in the chair near Larissa’s bed, reminding Ani of Larissa’s injuries. Fortunately, Larissa was breathing normally. Ani checked Larissa’s lung. It seemed okay, though Ani wasn’t entirely certain because her knowledge of elf lungs was limited.
Light streamed into the room between the scarlet draperies covering Larissa’s window. Ani was late for practice. She jumped out of the chair, ran from the room, dashed down the stairs, then out the castle door where her elf trainer, Kessler, was waiting for her. Her stomach growled in protest over skipping breakfast. Ani was still recovering from healing her mother’s lung, making practice that morning difficult. She struggled to stay alert and listen to Kessler.
Though Kessler was not an elf, he taught Ani how to use an elf shield and a dagger. Soon after Kessler started training her, when Ani was seven years old, Ani overheard the cooks say that training Ani was Kessler’s punishment for disobeying orders. While other soldiers were on guard duty, he was stuck with a thin, little child.
Kessler was light on his feet for a large man, with a belly that reminded Ani of a tea kettle. His scruffy hair was always in disarray, giving him an almost savage look. A scraggly, brown beard made Kessler look older than Ani thought he was. Despite his long-term punishment and shaggy appearance, a twinkle in Kessler’s eye, made keen observers wonder if he was precisely where he wanted to be.
Ani formed an invisible shield in front of her as the bottom of Kessler’s shoe smash against it. Creating a shield was a skill unique to elves. Ani would concentrate on a spot then form an invisible shield in that place. Her first shield lessons were a complete failure. After nearly a month of trying to make a shield, Ani tripped on a rock. Before she crashed to the ground, she formed a shield in front of her, cushioning her fall and likely sparing her a broken arm. Kessler laughed for hours over how she finally figured out how to make a shield.
Ani knew she wasn’t a graceful child. It took years of training for her to be aware of her surroundings and stop tripping over everything her toe touched or even her own feet, but it had been years since Ani felt like a stumbling, awkward girl.
Kessler tossed whatever was within arm’s reach, rocks, twigs, and daggers. Though Ani could only make one shield, she was getting better at dropping a shield to create a new one. It was easiest to think of the shield in relation to something else. If Ani created a shield on a tree branch, it stayed in place. If she put a shield in the air, it moved around when pushed, but mostly stayed where she put it. Kessler also trained Ani to forget about rocks and twigs that wouldn’t hit her and focus on items that could hit her if she didn’t block them. When Kessler threw too many things in one spot and Ani couldn’t quite block them all, she side stepped then formed a shield that blocked a small rock.
Once Ani formed a shield on an old fiveral leaf, unaware that when fiveral leaves turned a deep purple they were ready to fall off the tree. The wind blew the leaf. The shield moved with it, gently pushing her through the air, making her feel as though she was floating on a fluffy cloud. Little Ani closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze brushing her cheeks. The leaf stem broke. Since the shield was formed on the fiveral leaf, the shield fell with it. Ani covered her face with her hands, screaming while approaching the ground. When she looked up, she was standing on her shield in a pile of leaves, near a large aerial root that grew into the ground from the fiveral branch she fell from. The landing was so soft, Ani didn’t realize she was on the ground. Kessler was watching her with a sly smile on his face. After that day, shield training became more intense. It was obvious her shield could be used for more than blocking rocks and twigs flung her way.
Kessler pointed to a gray tree branch ten meters above them. “Climb up there, then jump to the tree over there.” Kessler pointed to a different branch eight meters from the first, supported by several, thick fiveral aerial roots that pulled nutrients from the ground. Kessler sleepily sank to the ground under a tree while Ani climbed the tree then jumped off her clear shield, dropping the first shield as she soared in the air. Before she could plummet to the ground, she created a new shield and landed on it. Jumping off shields without landing on the ground was tricky. Ani had to be quick or the shield would float down farther than she could leap. Sometimes she felt like a frog, leaping on lily pads. Ani moved toward the next tree branch, her lose hair flinging up and down, hitting her back. After her foot touched the branch, she floated to the ground on her shield. Kessler was dozing with his back against the tree trunk. Ani sat on a smooth rock and braided her hair to keep it out of her way for training.
Though Kessler could get away with taking a nap whenever he wanted, Ani knew what would happen to her if she was caught napping. She struggled to stay awake, yet her eyes drooped. Her nose twitched. She was almost in a dream world when a squirrel scrambled around the tree Kessler was sleeping against. It ran over Kessler’s leg, then up his arm and sat on his shoulder. Kessler snorted, then woke. The squirrel scurried away. Kessler rubbed his eyes and spotted a horse tied to a tree. “Mount the horse for archery.” He slumped back against the tree, his eyes closed before Ani could turn around.
Though horse riding was part of Ani’s training, she had never tried to shoot from one. She rubbed her eyes and tried to focus on her task, but her vision blurred from exhaustion. Ani clutched a bow in her right hand then slid her left foot in the stirrup and pulled herself onto the chestnut mare. The mare shifted slightly as Ani sat in the leather saddle.
“Practice shooting while the mare walks. Go over there and shoot the target.” Kessler lazily waved his hand at the target.
It was difficult for Ani to see the target with her hazy eyes. Fiveral branches twisted around aspens and pine trees. Her eyes wandered around the forest until she located a white target. The wooden target seemed to move, but Ani knew it couldn’t have moved at all. If she couldn’t see the target clearly, how could she shoot it? She blinked, trying to clear her vision, then urged the mare to walk. It was awkward for Ani to shoot from the side because she wasn’t accustomed to the angle. The arrow hit the edge of the target. Hoping for a better shot, Ani twisted at her waist and breathed in deeply. The next arrow hit a little closer to the center. As she drew her third arrow from the pack on her back, she noticed King Reth traipse toward her. Kessler stumbled to his feet, still in the shade, likely to hide his grogginess.
“Continue,” King Reth snapped.
The horse’s hooves seemed strangely loud on the blue moss. Ani carefully placed the arrow on the string while desperately wishing King Reth would go elsewhere for a while. Her hand shook. Ani blinked and tried to focus on the target. She narrowed her eyes, barely able to see it. The arrow missed entirely and flew into a tree.
King Reth’s voice boomed across the field, “Dismount and come over here.”
Knowing her punishment was coming, Ani dismounted. Kessler stiffly watched as King Reth’s nostrils flared, his hand in a tight fist. “What was that? You didn’t even hit the target.”
Ani mumbled, “I am tired and ill today.”
The ring on King Reth’s finger scraped harshly against Ani’s cheek as his knuckles slammed into her face. A fresh stream of light, red blood trickled down Ani’s cheek and under her chin. King Reth’s knee flung upward, hitting Ani’s stomach unmercifully. “Hit the target this time.”
A tear threatened to drizzle down Ani’s cheek, but she breathed in deeply and kept it in place. Ani mounted the horse, but her stomach was in agony. An arrow flew from her bow, past the target.
“Dismount.” King Reth’s tone was icy, “Are you trying to embarrass me?”
Ani once heard the cooks say that King Reth enjoyed some things about Ani Louise, specifically bragging rights. When Ani wasn’t around, she was used as an example for King Reth’s soldiers to discourage incompetence. If a scrawny child could do better than a soldier, the soldier needed to work harder. The cooks said that was why seeing Ani do poorly in training filled King Reth with rage. The conversation Ani overheard echoed in her mind as she braced herself for what was sure to be one of her worst punishments yet. She hadn’t completely missed a target at that distance since she was nine.
The beating Ani received was difficult for her to bear. Hoping King Reth wouldn’t notice, she used a shield to block some of the worst hits. Ani knew she wasn’t allowed to use a shield against King Reth. She hoped his anger would blind him to the fact that his foot often landed centimeters from her. She curled up on the ground with her arms over her ears, her hands covering the back of her neck and her knees tucked next to her stomach. It was one of the longest beatings Ani ever had.
Eventually, King Reth stomped to the castle with his guards close behind him, leaving Ani lying on the ground, struggling to breathe.
Kessler hovered over Ani, his voice almost nervous, “Can you get up?”
Ani lifted her head and tried to get up. A pool of blood collected in a hoof print on the ground, below a cut near her ankle. Kessler anxiously studied the ground. A soldier was standing nearby, but she was looking everywhere except at Ani. Kessler gently put his hand on Ani’s shoulder. “Can you hear me?”
Ani tried to mumble, but her lips were too numb to move. She tried to peel herself from the ground but collapsed. Ani wondered if she heard pity in Kessler’s voice. Kessler was more inclined to laugh at her when she was klutzy from learning something for the first time than get angry with her for not learning quickly enough. His voice was no longer laced with laughter. Ani allowed Kessler to help her off the ground then she forced herself to stand, wondering if her stomach would feel as though it was on fire for long.
Kessler carefully grasped her shoulders, as though uncertain if he would hurt her by trying to help her stand. He glanced at the soldier again, then spoke firmly, “Ask one of the housekeepers to bandage your leg. That’s an order.”
“Yes sir.” Ani struggled to follow her orders.
The soldier walked toward the castle, leaving Ani and Kessler behind. Kessler took a long look at the soldier’s back before he grabbed Ani’s shoulders to prevent her from falling back to the ground. Kessler grabbed Ani’s arm and looped it around his neck. As Kessler helped Ani limp to the castle door, she heard Kessler mutter, “At least you defended yourself a little. And you’re still alive.”
Ani struggled to fight off the pain in her stomach and arms as she reached for the handle on the heavy wooden door to the castle. Guards standing by the door gaped at Ani in horror. They were to open the door for royalty and nobility, but King Reth informed the guard’s years ago that Ani didn’t qualify as such. Ani leaned her head against the cracked door to regain her balance. One of the guards put his hand on her shoulder. Ani jumped in panic and raised her arm, ready to block a hit with her arm or a shield. The guard didn’t hit her though. Ani stepped back, allowing the guard to open the door. “Thank you,” her whisper was barely audible, but the guard was close enough to hear.
As Ani limped inside, she noticed the newest assistant castle manager, Hazel, studiously reading her notes. Of the castle managers Ani knew, Hazel was unusually young. Ani often saw Hazel bounding back and forth in the hallways, checking rooms and making sure everything was cleaned and properly organized. Once Ani caught Hazel wiping dust off her vanity that Ani missed after brushing dirt out of her hair. Hazel never mentioned the dust.
A strand of short, curly, blond hair fell into Hazel’s intelligent, azure eyes. When Hazel saw Ani struggle into the castle, her jaw dropped slightly. “I will get you some bandages.” Hazel ran to fetch the bandages.
Ani slowly stumbled to her room, leaving a trail of light, red blood.
Hazel was waiting for Ani with a basin of cool water and fresh bandages. “Sit down,” Hazel said softly.
Ani collapsed on a chair near her table. Hazel washed the cut on Ani’s leg then carefully dabbed at Ani’s face. Hazel glanced around the room. “King Reth?”
Ani nodded.
“Does he do this often?”
“Whenever he sees me make a mistake, or if I don’t do as I’m told.”
“What did you do?”
“I missed the target.”
Hazel pause. “That’s all?”
Ani tried to nod but her neck was too stiff. She whispered, “Yes. I was up all night with Larissa after he . . .” Ani stopped. How could she thoughtlessly speak with Hazel? How dare she speak more than necessary? What if Ani accidentally told Hazel she could heal?
Hazel’s lips quivered. “King Reth beats Larissa as well?”
“Yes.”
Hazel choked down a sob while she bandaged the wounds and cleaned Ani’s face. “It will be an hour before lunch time. I will wake you when it is time for you to eat.”
The world was spinning when Ani finally lay down and went to sleep. Later Hazel’s urgent voice echoed in her mind, “Please wake up, Ani. It’s time for you to eat.”
Though Ani could hear Hazel, her eyes refused to open.
“You need to wake up. You only have a few minutes to eat. Are you alive, Ani? Can you wake up?”
As Ani turned her head, sharp pain shot from her back to her neck. She groaned but opened her eyes.
“Here. Let me help you up.” Hazel reached for Ani’s hand and pulled with all her strength. Ani’s long braids dragged across the pillow, despite relentless protests from Ani’s muscles. Hazel placed a tray of food in front of Ani. Mobility crept back into Ani’s limbs.
Hazel picked up the empty tray. “You must have been hungry.”
“I missed breakfast.”
Hazel doubtfully eyed Ani. “It’s time for warrior training. The cooks said you’re not allowed to miss training for anything.”
“Missing training would make matters worse. Oh!” Ani groaned as she wrapped her arm over her ribs, wondering how she could do Bern training. The movements were hard, swift and required far more strength than she had that afternoon. Preoccupied with getting ready for training, Ani didn’t notice Hazel’s eyes fill with tears.
Ani gathered her energy and pried herself off her bed. She made her way down the stairs where Maelie and Adeline were discussing the impending arrival of Maelie’s father, King Orrick. They burst into hearty laughter at the sight of Ani Louise. “What happened this time, Ani? Did you slip and fall?” The princesses laughed as they walked around her. Ani continued to the door.
“I command you to stop and talk to us,” Maelie said.
Ani stopped in the middle of the entrance, on top of a mosaic rose. The stone walls suddenly seemed cold, despite the late summer heat. Adeline fluttered a pale, blue fan with yellow flowers, fanning her face. “A girl dressed the way you are cannot be a half-sister of mine. Use the servants’ entrance.”
Ani abruptly turned around to walk down the hallway, but Maelie spoke in a singsong voice, “Surely a servant who thinks of using the castle entrance should be punished. What would your father think if we allowed such an act to be brushed aside?”
“What would be an appropriate punishment for this act of rebellion?”
Maelie pulled a white, satin glove from her pocket and admired her perfectly slender fingers. “I would slap her with a glove, but I fear the state my poor glove would be in after touching her hideous face.”
Adeline laughed, “A shoe perhaps?”
“I dare-say she is not worthy of anything I own.” Maelie giggled at a soldier who was standing on guard near the castle entrance. Though the soldier attentively faced away from Adeline and Maelie, Ani knew he heard the conversation by the way his shoulders and his jaw stiffened.
“Guard, come hit this servant.”
Ani’s back remained toward Adeline and Maelie, giving Ani an opportunity to roll her eyes, thoroughly annoyed by the situation. Though it normally wouldn’t be a problem for Ani to go through the kitchen, it added more painful steps to the training field. Why would Adeline and Maelie order a soldier to hit her in such a weakened condition? Ani considered walking away, but she couldn’t take another beating later that evening. Besides, what was another hit after what she experienced?
The soldier stopped next to Ani and brought his hand back for a solid punch. His fist stopped before it reached Ani’s shoulder then lightly brushed her jacket. Ani stifled a smile then continued to the familiar kitchen.
When Ani opened the door, Ida brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Ani!”
“I’m late for training,” Ani said curtly.
The cooks watched Ani limp out the servants’ entrance and into the bright sunlight. Ani hobbled along the cool path, under thick trees. On the training field, thirty soldiers stood in neat rows according to their training level. Half the soldiers on one side of the field were working on level one. The rest formed neat groups that were smaller as the levels became more advanced.
“Today we are going. . .” Master Crevan’s voice trailed off, his piercing blue eyes resting on Ani. Slowly, he walked around Ani twice then stopped in front of her. If Ani understood Master Crevan better, she would have known he was calming his fury over knowing where Ani’s injuries came from. When he spoke again, his voice was filled with decisive determination, “Today Ani will teach the level one class.”
Ani bit her lip, grateful for her task. Master Crevan would not have her train normally that day. She limped to the level one soldiers and split them into pairs. Ani watched them carefully to ensure they were following the Bern techniques. Occasionally she corrected a soldier. Despite her age and appearance, most of the soldiers knew Ani was skilled and they followed her instructions carefully. Ani often tested soldiers. Most saw her defeat trainees almost twice her weight and several centimeters taller than herself.
A new soldier skeptically narrowed his eyebrows when she showed him the first level one move. He blocked an attack with his arm at an odd angle. Ani grasped his arm and twisted it, stopping before his shoulder could pop out of its socket. Ani cleared her throat, “That is a dangerous angle for blocking an attack.” The soldier was more careful to follow Ani’s directions and didn’t question her again.
Somehow, Ani made it through the afternoon. When training was finished, she stumbled to the kitchen. Ida gave Ani a large plate piled with potatoes, beans, purple carrots, and dapibus berries. The orange berries were high in protein and were often used in place of meat for soldiers. Ida gently set the plate on the table. “Here, Ani.”
Immediately Ani noticed she had closer to three meals on her plate than one. She muttered, “Thank you, Ida.” Ani spotted a strawberry tart, hidden on the opposite side of her plate. “I haven’t chopped fruit or vegetables tonight.”
“We don’t need more vegetables chopped tonight.” Ida winked at Ani. “I suggest you start with the tart in case someone comes into the kitchen.”
Ani was terrified of being caught by Bianna, but she was too hungry to protest Ida’s decision. A concerned frown formed on Ani’s face, warped by a scrape on one cheek and a forming bruise on the other. Ani scanned the kitchen, noting a pile of vegetables near the sink. Obviously, vegetables needed chopping.
Ida watched as Ani enjoyed each bite of her strawberry tart, chewing carefully. Ida cleared her throat, “You’re going to be late for music lessons if you don’t hurry.”
Ani mumbled, “It hurts to chew.”
Ida nodded. “I’m sure it does.”
Ani tried to rush through her dinner, ignoring dull aches and sharp pain that radiated from her jaw and down her neck. Usually she enjoyed her vocal lessons. That night, she just wanted to sleep. Ani swallowed her last gulp of potatoes then dragged her feet to the front parlor. Though Ani knew she was running a few minutes late, she couldn’t move faster.
Philyra, Ani’s music teacher, was ruffling through papers with her back toward Ani. She must have heard Ani enter, because Philyra asked, “Are you ready Ani?”
When Ani didn’t answer, Philyra faced her student. Her chin quivered. “Perhaps we will start with basic scales today.”
The room swam around Ani as she struggled to remain upright. At any moment, King Reth could walk in to check on her, but he didn’t. Philyra gently brought her hand to her forehead. “I don’t feel well this evening. My voice is terribly scratchy. Please forgive me for ending your music lessons early.”
Never had Ani felt so relieved over ending her music lessons early. She tried to squeeze out a thank you, but only managed a nod. Instead of studying, she fell on her bed and slept with streaks of blood and puffs of dirt on top of her blanket.
When Ani awoke the next morning, she was finally well enough to diagnose her injuries. She studied several grim bruises and a few scrapes, but the worst was a fractured rib, internal bleeding and a deep gash on her leg, above her ankle. Ani healed her rib and did what she could to stop the internal bleeding. She didn’t dare heal more injuries, lest King Reth discover she had healing abilities.
The rest of the week went by in a daze for Ani. One day the following week, King Reth summoned Ani to the throne room. Near the castle entrance Hazel was studiously writing in a notebook. Ani’s footfalls echoed in the immaculate hallway to the throne room on the far side of the castle. Hazel followed Ani down the hallway, checking rooms as she went. The entrance faded. In the distance at the end of the hallway, near a golden door leading to the throne room, a guard shuffled his feet. On Ani’s way to the throne room, she spotted Master Crevan. From his finger, he pulled off a large ring with a green stone in the center then glanced at Hazel. She nodded. Master Crevan quickly whispered in Ani’s ear, “Wear this. Keep it well hidden, then return it to me directly after you leave the throne room. I will be around here.”
Master Crevan slid the warm ring on Ani’s finger. She immediately stuck her hands in her pockets and scanned the hallway. Guards near the throne room were still too far away to see a small item, like a ring. Ani was determined to keep Master Crevan’s ring in her pocket, no matter what happened.
Ani hurried to the throne room then past four guards standing by the door. They paid little attention to Ani as she stiffly walked into the bright room and knelt in front of King Reth. She slipped the ring off her finger then rested her hands on her legs.
On one side of the throne, near King Reth, stood a short, bald man with an orange tint to his bronze skin. His brown-orange eyes peered at Ani on either side of a wide, flat nose with only one nostril. Two ridges on his forehead almost looked like eyebrows, but the ridges continued around his smooth head.
King Reth’s commanding voice rang through the throne room. “Rise, Ani. Try it, Debin.”
Ani slowly rose and slipped her hand back in her pocket. Her fingers wriggled around until they found the ring again. Debin touched her forehead with his hand. Frozen with fear, Ani clutched the ring in her pocket. From a young age, Ani had learned to keep her thoughts to herself. She knew King Reth was dangerous and would not approve of what she thought of him. Ani could feel Debin trying to search her mind, but Ani didn’t want him to know anything about her. Steadily she fought him, focusing on blocking her thoughts, using years of self-restraint to keep her deepest secrets hidden.
Finally, Debin dropped his hand. “She is strong enough to block me. The connection will not work with her.”
King Reth frowned. “How many telepaths would be required?”
“At least ten.”
“And it won’t work with Master Crevan?”
“Trained humans can block telepath attacks. Most part telepaths can block a minor attack as it is instinct to do so. It is no surprise that Ani can block us. It is more difficult to create a connection of this sort than it is to block.”
King Reth rubbed black stubble on his chin. “Test her telepathic strength then make Ani forget this meeting when she leaves the throne room.”
Hiyal, another telepath, rested her hand next to Debin’s. They tried to break down her mental barrier, but Ani was determined not to allow them into her mind. The third telepath, Gwyan, added even more strength to the invasion on her mind. Eventually they made it to her memory of the throne room. Ani’s eyebrows scrunched together in concentration as she struggled to build back the barrier in her mind, but as the telepaths dropped their hands, she knew it was too late.
“Was she really that strong?” King Reth asked.
“Yes. She is probably equal in strength to you. It would likely require over thirty telepaths.”
“How can she be that strong? She has only half my telepathy.”
“She is a determined child and has clearly practiced. It takes a significant amount of self-control for a part-telepath to block firmly at her age. Telepaths increase in strength as they age, due to training and practice.”
“Ani is only fifteen. Are you certain of your diagnosis?”
“Yes.”
“But she doesn’t have the strength of a full telepath?”
“At her rate of development, she is equivalent to a weak telepath. It’s hard to say because she is also half elf. Her rate of development might be different from yours.”
“That’s impossible! Are you certain?”
“We are not experts on determining telepathic strength, but she blocked us.”
“What other options do we have?”
“We can weaken her.”
“Leave,” King Reth shouted to Ani.
Hesitant about losing the memory she had gained, Ani slowly walked to the closed door, focusing on the memory of the throne room in hopes of keeping it with her. A guard opened the door. As she walked through the doorway, Ani felt something block the telepath memory wipe. Her finger holding the ring in her pocket tingled as Ani understood why Master Crevan gave it to her. The ring blocked whatever King Reth had planned for Ani, though she couldn’t understand why it didn’t block the telepaths from reading her mind.
The soldier outside the door spoke stiffly, “You were leaving.”
Ani nodded then carefully limped down the hallway where she last saw Master Crevan. He was talking to Hazel, his face somber. His whisper barely reached Ani’s ear, “Trip.”
One of the guards rushed past Ani, pushing her shoulder on his way. Ani pretended to trip. Master Crevan caught her, giving her a chance to return his ring. He showed no sign of receiving it, but simply asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Ani understood his question related to what happened in the throne room, not tripping. Since she began training as a warrior, Master Crevan watched out for Ani. When he had a chance, he gave her specific warnings that kept her out of trouble with King Reth. He always gave King Reth glowing reports about her progress. King Reth never punished Ani for something Master Crevan said.
Some of the information Ani heard in the throne room sounded helpful. She swallowed hard then decided it was too risky to say anything with soldiers in the hallway. Ani leaned her hand against a wall, pretending to rest before proceeding to her room where she could analyze what happened and think of a way to respond.
