Page 13

Magda dismounted first. “Beat you.”

Aleksy scrunched his face. “It was a tie, but I’ll let you have this one today, guardian.” He emphasized the word, reminding Magda once more of the weight of the coronation. After today, she would be an official heir, second in line to the throne after Aleksy.

Magda began walking away. “And the guardian has to get ready!” She turned back to her brother, giving him an over-dramatic curtsy before starting a light jog back to the royal quarters. It was true, she was extremely late and her mother and Urszula would likely be furious with her. “Come, Odie.”

She heard Aleksy’s voice echo behind her, asking about the horse, but she was already bounding into the fortress.

Magda turned the corner, heading through a set of large double doors. The entrance to the royal wing was via a walkway across a shimmering pool. Water cascaded down from the ceiling, cresting into the pond on either side and creating the illusion that there were two walls made of water, flanking the path.

The royal wing had its own personal staff, chambers for all members of the family, spare bedrooms that were meant for more children—or potentially grandchildren—and a private library. The library was where the Scribestone was located, allowing immediate contact between all royals across the kingdoms.

Magda turned up a staircase ascending to the royal bedchambers, racing Odie to the top. Odie bounded beside her, sometimes lingering behind and sometimes darting in the front, as if he knew where they were heading. She passed nearly a dozen knights, adorned in silver breastplates and donning the pastel pink and blue crest with the elk. They nodded their heads, giving a gracious smile to the princess as she passed. Two of Bogdan’s wolves prowled beside them, acting as guard dogs.

Finally, Magda raced through the parlor connecting the family’s suites and offices, emerging into her bedroom. Her mother and hand-maiden, Urszula, leapt from their seats when Magda and Odie entered.

“Where have you been?” her mother Bernadette scolded immediately. “Come, come quickly.” She wasted no time in ushering Magda to a raised pedestal at the far end of the room.

Odie dashed to his large pillow at the foot of the bed, twirling twice before settling down in a comfortable position.

“Look at you…,” Bernadette’s face wrinkled upon examining Magda in the mirror, “And you smell like a horse.”

“Mom!” Magda let out a huff.

“You know you shouldn’t be outside with the infections spreading,” she sighed. Then Bernadette motioned to a bouquet of red flowers on the desk. The crystal-blue vase contrasted against the blood-scarlet poppies. “These are for you. A tradition in honor of your coronation.”

“Thank you. They’re beautiful,” Magda confessed.

“And this is your dress.” Bernadette crossed to an armoire and threw open the wardrobe doors.

Magda couldn’t take her eyes off the dress hanging in front of her, designed to appear as waves of the ocean with ice-like crystals resembling the glittering salt that was found in the kingdom’s scattered mines. She imagined what it would feel like to slide the dress over her body and step into the role as a Guardian of Life. Did royals in all of the kingdoms feel different after the coronation? Even those that controlled the earth, air, and the minds of others?

“What do you think?” asked her mother.

“It’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I had it made for you.” Bernadette’s eyes softened as she placed her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. The two could have been twins if they were the same age. She said, “This is an important day for us all. I love you, but I will not have you attending the most important day of your life in this state. We have visitors coming from all over the kingdom!”

“I know, and I’m sorry for running off.”

Bernadette waved her hands in the air. “No more excuses. You and your brother are always getting into mischief.” Then she turned on her heel and darted out of the room, but not before calling over her shoulder, “I want you ready in one hour!”

Magda let out a sigh before examining her appearance once more in the mirror. Her silver hair was wild from the wind. Behind her, her handmaiden Urszula peered over the princess’s shoulder.

“I think you look great,” Urszula laughed, placing her hand on her hip and sinking into it.

“Thanks. But I feel like my mom is going to kill me.”

“I was being sarcastic. Your mom is going to kill me if I let you go to the coronation like that.” Urszula walked toward the bathroom, disappearing around the corner. “I’ll draw your bath,” she called back. “Then we’ll make sure you look like you could actually become a queen someday.”

After Urszula helped Magda wash off as best as she could, she entered her bedroom once more. Upon seeing the princess, Odie’s head perked up from his pillow at the foot of the bed, letting out a friendly bark.

Urszula quickly excused herself, “Your new crown should be polished by now. Let me go fetch it.”

With that, Urszula crossed to the door and exited.

When Magda was alone, she approached the stunning dress once more. She ran her fingers over the crystals, sliding her hands along the rough rocks. They were unlike anything she had ever seen before, appearing different from the crystal-like salt in the Azuremi mines. As she touched the stones, the rocks moved underneath her fingertips, flattening until they were a smooth liquid, dripping down the dress like molten lava.

Magda jumped back, startled at the sight. She moved away from the window, looking at the dress at a different angle and hoping that a trick of the light had made the crystals appear to move. But it was not the case.