Again screaming could be heard from inside the Empress's chambers. This time, it was different. The Empress was in labor. Nine months and two days after her husband's passing, the Empress woke with a start. She called her maid and spoke only two words through gritted teeth, "It's time."
As the morning wore on, many midwives and physicians arrived at the palace to attend the Royal birth. Each had their own advice about what Zephyra should and should not do.
"She should walk around to let the baby come more naturally," one said.
"Your Highness, take these herbs for the pain," another offered.
"The Empress needs to rest," a third argued. "The hard work will begin soon."
They began to bicker, each asserting that their way was best. The room spiraled into chaos as the arguing grew fiercer.
"ENOUGH!" A voice rose over the noise. Instantly, there was silence as a woman in white robes approached the Empress's large bed. She was clean and pale, her skin seeming somehow translucent. But that was nothing compared to her eyes. Her irises, instead of being brown or blue, were colorless. More than that—they seemed to have a life of their own. A strange light swirled and shone between the black ring around the iris and the pupil, as if a storm were constantly brewing. It was mesmerizing. Even the Empress fell still between birth pains to take note of this strange character.
"All of you, OUT," the woman in white ordered, "except you two. I'll use you as my attendants."
One of the physicians puffed out his chest. "What gives you the right to…"
"Leave!" The woman's voice seemed to echo in everyone's mind. In a calmer tone she added. "I'm the only midwife she needs." All the attendants filed out in turn leaving the strange midwife and her two attendants to care for the Empress. Zephyra was both concerned by the woman's commanding presence and relieved that the circus had left her bedchamber. She opened her mouth to speak, but was overtaken by the urge to push. She released a guttural grunt instead.
"Very good, Your Majesty. It will not be long now." The midwife patted the Empress gently. Zephyra grunted again, her breathing labored and difficult. Shaking violently for several seconds, the Empress finally relaxed and lay still. The midwife moved to her appointed position and smiled confidently. Minutes passed and periods of tension and release came in regular intervals. "It's time to push, dear one. Whenever you are ready."
Zephyra followed the midwife's instruction and after what seemed like an eternity, a small cry could be heard. The Empress had never felt such relief, but then the midwife's words confused her. "You aren't done," the woman told her.
"What do you mean?!" Zephyra demanded.
"You are only halfway there. There is a second child." The woman in white was serious, and as the pain redoubled, Zephyra again went to work. Only moments later, a second small cry entered the air. Working to sit up, the Empress could see two bundles being held in the midwife's arms. The new mother wondered how the midwife could have caught both children so easily, but kept her thoughts to herself. The cords cut, the midwife handed one child to each of her assistants. "Good work, Your Majesty. They are very healthy."
"What did I have?" Zephyra asked, exhausted.
"This one is a boy!" one assistant said as she cooed at the little one.
"This one is a girl!" the other replied, pulling the warm blanket around a tiny escaping hand.
Processing the information, Zephyra nodded. "Who was born first?"
The midwife didn't seem to hear her. "I'll get the physicians and the wet nurses." She glided out of the room without another word.
"Who was born first?" Zephyra directed the question to the nearest assistant. The assistant turned white as a sheet.
"I don't know, Your Majesty. The midwife was blocking by view."
The Empress looked at the other assistant, who lowered her head. "My deepest apologies. I could not see either, Empress."
The physicians and wet nurses burst into the room and bowed deeply. "My sincerest congratulations, Your Majesty!" the head doctor said.
Zephyra looked at him angrily. "Get the midwife back in here. I need to know who was born first."
"Yes, right away," the doctor bowed again. He sent a servant in search of the midwife. The servant arrived a short while later, empty-handed.
"Well?" the Empress glared at him, certain she would not like what she was about to hear.
"The midwife is nowhere to be found," the servant pressed his face to the floor. He knew there would be a punishment for his failure.
"What do you mean?!" Zephyra's face turned red. She sat up in the bed. The head physician shook his head and tried to encourage her to lay down.
"You have not recovered, Empress. Please lay back down or you will hurt yourself," he scolded gently.
"Never mind about me." The Empress would not be calmed. "Where is the midwife?!"
The servant shook in fear. "She seems to have...vanished. No one saw her leave your chambers and no one matching her description has entered or exited the castle today. It's as if she just appeared and then disappeared."
"What are you saying?" Zephyra asked with steel in her voice.
The servant, knowing his fate was already sealed, decided to make one final stand. He lifted his head bravely and looked the Empress in the eye. "I'm saying Your Highness, that your midwife was a Fate..."
The air was suddenly sucked from the room as everyone felt the weight of what he said. Fates were mystery and myth. No one but the occasional street-corner crier had ever claimed to have seen one. Zephyra took several deep breaths as her face turned so red it was tinged with purple.
When she spoke, her voice was low slowly growing in intensity. "You would mock your Empress in this way? With fairy tales and fables? Fates be cursed! I will find that midwife and she will tell me the order of my children's birth. I--" Zephyra's eyes rolled back in her head, and she shook uncontrollably. Then without warning, she fell on the bed, still as a stone. The head physician grabbed her hand to check her heart beat.
"She's alive," he announced. Everyone released the breath they had been holding. As if on cue, the Empress's took a shuddering breath herself. The doctor looked around the room. "We shall never speak of this again." He made a strange circular motion in the air. "Please forgive us," the physician said into the air. "Honor to the Fates."
Those present in the room mimicked his circular action and words. "Honor to the Fates," they chanted.
There was a knock on Aurora's suite of rooms; Nanny scurried to answer it. Although Aurora could not make out the words, she could hear the rushed tone of the conversation. When Nanny returned, she looked at a loss for words. "Child," she began. "I have news. Your siblings have been born...""That is wonderful! Was a girl or a... wait did you say siblings? I have more than one?"Nanny nodded, "Yes, a girl and a boy. They are safe and healthy.""This is excellent news, Nanny! My joy is doubled. Why do you look so sad?"The large woman looked at the ground. "There's more. Your mother....the Empress. Something has happened to her.""What do you mean?" Aurora did not understand her words."The Empress's midwife has disappeared, and the Empress is unconscious. No one can wake her.""Did the midwife do this to her?" the girl was worried. Midwives were supposed to help, not hurt."I don't think so. It just happens this way sometimes.
The Council consisted of twelve members plus their chief. After a long night of discussion, they sat once again around a long rectangular table with a tall backed chair at one end—for the chief—and a throne at the other end. When Aurora had been directed to place herself on the throne, she reluctantly complied. Her legs dangled awkwardly as she sat on the edge of her seat, trying to remember each Councilman's name. Cafer she had seen many times, but the others wisely chose to keep a low profile for fear of incurring Zephyra's wrath."We welcome the future Empress to the Council." Cafer announced."Glory to the Empress!" the Council responded in unison. They all stared at the girl, waiting for her to speak.Aurora shifted in her seat. "Thank you." She responded, unsure of protocol. Her tutors had taught her court etiquette, but none of them had actually prepared her to 'be' an empress. And the Council of her advisors were completely differ
The boys all stood in a line looking around with great interest. An envoy from the palace had arrived at their school only an hour before, and had plucked them from their studies. From age seven to fourteen, all of Valiant's children were encouraged to attend classes on history, language, mathematics, art, physical fitness and politics. After this time, it was up to parents how to further their child's education. The poor would generally select a trade to apprentice, while the wealthy had more options. The boys now standing in the hall were well-born and approved by the council for their manners and excellence in different areas. Although the children had no idea what was happening, they could sense something important was occuring."What do you think is going on?" a tall muscular boy whispered."Sh!" The boy next to him hushed him. "You could get us in trouble.""We'll find out soon enough," a third chimed in.A boy with grey eyes nodded. From the far en
The nursery was quiet as Aurora and Devrim entered. Having recently been fed, the twins were being cared for by nurses and other attendants. Nanny stood in the middle of the nursery overseeing the work. The princess was surprised, "Nanny, what are you doing here?"Nanny curtsied and chuckled lightly. "Hello, Your Majesty! I am taking care of my new charges.""What about me?""The new Empress does not need old Nanny here. You will be receiving ladies-in-waiting later today.""Oh," the girl said sadly. The thought had not occurred to her that she might have to give up her Nanny. Her small lips quivered for a moment. "Take good care of my brother and sister! I'll be checking on you.""Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you." Nanny bowed her head. Aurora hugged her caretaker for the last time. It was a tender moment, and Devrim felt like he was intruding. He cleared his throat awkwardly, bring
The other Councilmen looked nervous as Cafer stood at the end of the long table to address the future empress. The tension in the air was thick, but the Chief of the Council did not show his emotion. This girl was merely a child with power, and he would direct her in the proper way. Soon she would have to see his wisdom, as her mother had."Your Majesty, we received news that you have visited the nursery." Cafer began with a fact. If he could get her to agree to small things, perhaps he could coax her to his way of thinking."We have," the princess acknowledged."Then you are aware of the great danger facing us.""I do not follow you, Chief Cafer." Aurora scrunched her eyebrows.The chief humbly spread his hands, "Your mother did not name an heir.""She did not have a chance." Aurora countered."Traditionally the first born inherits the t
"Hold still, please, Your Majesty." "Your Majesty, please hold your arms out so I can pin the sleeves." "Which sash would you prefer, Your Majesty." On and on the servants and new ladies-in-waiting went. They poked and pinched the girl with pins and fingers. Aurora quickly lost interest in their nips and tucks. Instead she decided to focus on her three new lady attendants. They were all very eager and very…similar. All three were in their teens and stair steps of each other. Aurora finally decided they must be sisters. When she asked their names they curtsied and replied in turn. "I'm Anna." "I'm Bella." "And I'm Candela!" The third replied enthusiastically. 'At least they are in alphabetical order. I wonder if they have any more sisters at home,' Aurora thought. Their appearances were nearly identical. Each had chestnut eyes and rich, creamy skin. They had long broad noses and beautiful soft pink mouths. The only differences b
The morning leading up to the public announcement of Empress Zephyra's death was filled with hustle and bustle. A carefully selected crowd was allowed into the palace courtyard to witness the event. In addition, town criers were set in strategic places around Valiant to spread the news. Other messengers were dispatched to carry the announcement along with the two royal edicts to all the parts of the globe. The first edict pronounced a week of mourning in honor of Zephyra's passing. The second edict declared a week long holiday in honor of the new Empress, her marriage, and her children, the new heirs. "Is this really necessary? Why would people want to mourn someone most of them didn't like?" Aurora asked. She had no delusions about people's opinion of her mother. She had been sneaking around for years, hearing snippets of conversations never meant for her ears. Cafer could understand her concern. "It's not about affection. It is about respect. They will show respect
The wall swung open in the Empress's chamber with barely a whisper. Devrim peeked out his head with a mischievous grin. "Are you ready?" He asked. Aurora had been awaiting his gentle knock on the wall for what seemed like an eternity. She was clad in old play clothes that Nanny had made for her the year before. They were well-worn and comfortable. Anna had thought it strange when the princess had requested the clothes from her old room, but the lady had decided not to dwell on the mystery. It was not worth her position to question her mistress's quirks. Ducking her head into the passageway, Aurora winked at her co-conspirator."Let's go!"The pair were careful to not close the passage until they found the hidden latch that would open it from the inside. "That's what I was looking for last night," Devrim said sheepishly. "I thought I was back at my own room. We should probably mark our way as we go." The boy pulled out a piece of chalk and marked the girl's passage with