“That’s very well done, but it’s really the hard way of going about it.” Talia laughed. “Look, I just look at you and picture the differences I want, and I cast this version of Illusion on you, the same way I would if I were attacking you with it.”
“Ah. Except I’m already doing it this way, so I might as well hang onto it for now.” He grinned as he inspected his altered appearance in the mirror. “Besides, I don’t have the talent to just picture something I haven’t seen with perfect realism like that. I have to see something to get that kind of detail all at once.”
She stood beside him in mid-air and put an arm around his waist as they studied their reflections, hers five feet, four inches tall and black haired with light blue eyes, his seven feet three, light blond, with dark blue eyes.
“I’d say we’re quite unrecognizable, if no less exotic in appearance.” she laughed. “But remember, you’d have to alter the Illusion to account for our actions. Right now the Illusion of me is centered upon me, and it’s larger than me, so if I stand on a floor, it will look like my feet extend below the floor. And if I remove your Illusion… There you see, it seems like my body is intersecting yours.” She restored his Illusion. “Now, my Illusion of you is altering itself, so that when we hug, it conforms properly to your Illusion of me. I’ll take care of physical interactions between us, so we won’t try to compensate for each other’s compensations.
“Here, I’ll cast a square yard of Force to stand on and color it brown with another Illusion.” She released her Levitation and fell three inches to land comfortably on her artificial surface. Sure enough, It looked to him like she was standing in brown liquid that came up to her ankles.
“I see.” He laughed. He moved the Illusion up till it was standing on the floor.
“Ah, but if I draw my sword and hold it over my head, it’s position is not consistent with the Illusion’s hand.” Talia demonstrated, and it looked like the hilt passed through her forearm. “The Disguise Illusion I’m casting follows the surface of your hands and the soles of your feet, and compensates for size differences by altering the Illusion’s posture and limb positions accordingly, and if necessary, it changes the apparent position of any object you’re touching or holding. Remember, an Illusion is a psionic spell, not a colored light spell. Illusions affect the mind, not the eye.”
“True.” he chuckled as he drew his sword, then sheathed it again as he dismissed his spell. “You’ve completely convinced me, but when I was getting spells from Alilia and your parents I mostly took the general version of each spell, and didn’t bother with any variations whose purpose I didn’t recognize, and I didn’t get that one. So if you’ll just pass it to me… Thanks. Now that I’ve seen the Illusion I had, I can picture it well enough to use this. Much better.” he nodded, seeing the taller dark-haired Talia properly holding her sword.
He caressed her with both hands as she sheathed it, and kissed her neck. “You know, with this meager sunlight, and as depleted as my power is, I should float here for at least twenty minutes…” he chuckled.
“My love, you are most admirably insatiable!” she laughed as she turned into his embrace.
“Let’s be gentle, all right?” he murmured. “Making love while flying this high is intense enough, and the pleasure of absorbing power here will be getting pretty strong in a while. I worry that if it’s too intense when we reach ecstasy with each other, on top of all that, we’ll overload our brains somehow.”
“Ha! Not only will I attempt to bring you to the most intense ecstasy imaginable, my huge but cautious love, I will endeavor to experience the same at the same moment! And, I will hold the Link wide open when we do, so that we will each experience all of that pleasure and we will each experience all of that pleasure in the other at the same time!” She was sensuously undressing him and nuzzling his body as she delivered this revelation.
“I… see.” Mark eyebrows rose and his jaw dropped as he considered her declaration. “And what do you think will happen then?”
“There are five possibilities.” She giggled as she opened his kilt. “One is that the Blessing will save us, perhaps by Translocating us out of the focus while dousing us with the psionic equivalent of cold water.
“The second is that our wedding spells will act directly on our brains to prevent them from being damaged.
“The third is that we will indeed die from pleasure that is too powerful to withstand, and while dying would be most regrettable, that does seem like the most preferable possible demise.
“The fourth is that we will become brain damaged, and while the results of that do include the tiny possibility that we would no longer be capable of experiencing pleasure, they also include the tiny possibility that our brains will become stuck in the experience, and we would spend the rest of our long lives trapped in a moment of absolute bliss.
“The fifth possibility is that it will not prove to be harmful in the slightest, and we will enjoy the absolute ultimate in pleasure, which may well prove to be a transcendent experience that will change us in some fundamental way. Perhaps we will realize the nature of divinity at that moment, and achieve godhood. It seems as likely a method for doing so as any other.
“And personally, I’m willing to take the chance.”
By this time she had removed all of their clothing, which floated about in the breeze, for she only spent the attention to make sure their swords remained within arm’s reach. Mark’s constant caresses had failed to distract her from her task. Now she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hungrily.
“I suppose I don’t get a vote on this issue?” he chuckled a moment later.
“No. You do not.”
Thus it was that twenty minutes later, while they had taken the time to again restore their appearances and to drop off their extra weapons at Hilia, they were still a bit dazed as they appeared in the early evening on the street in front of the guard house at the north entrance to the walled grounds of The Imperial Palace of Sming, in Latrel.
They were immediately immobilized by bands of Force and surrounded by a spell-damping field, then a fraction of a second later they were surrounded by four humans and six elves wearing the gray livery of Emperor Kevim’s personal guards, all aiming swords or crossbows at them, and then beyond them appeared the mixed-race force of a local detachment of The Military of The Just Alliance, all with spells or weapons at the ready. The people on the street quickly moved back out of the way as the soldiers established a perimeter, then stood to spectate the events.
“Halt!” one of the guards barked. His command was completely redundant, since Mark and Talia were immobilized, and beyond that were so stunned with surprise they could only gape. From his more ornate insignia, Mark judged him to be an officer of some considerable rank. “You have performed an unannounced and unauthorized Translocation into a controlled area from beyond the sovereignty of the Empire of Sming! And it appears you have done so while cloaked in Unseen and Illusion spells of surpassing power! Explain yourselves immediately, or be destroyed!”
“Uh, sorry.” Mark stammered as he and Talia dismissed their spells. “It’s us. We just came to do some sight-seeing, and to visit an injured friend, and didn’t want to draw attention.”
“We’ve never been here before, so we didn’t realize the significance of the reference location.” Talia added. “Again, we offer our most sincere apologies. We’re…”
“Prince Mark and Princess Talia of Hilia, Keys to The Just Alliance!” one of the elves exclaimed, and immediately bowed. Many of the others also bowed, and many began exclaiming excitedly to one another in Smingan and other languages.
“You’re on duty!” the human officer angrily yelled.
Unsure how to respond to this, some of the soldiers snapped to attention, while others brought their weapons back to bear on Mark and Talia.
“Bah!” the officer exclaimed in exasperation. “At ease! Back to your posts, all except my squad! Dismissed!”
As the weapons were put up, the Just Alliance detachment Translocated out, and the bands of Force on Mark and Talia were released, the officer turned to them.
“Your Highnesses.” he said with a nod, obviously controlling his anger. “I can understand your intention to remain unnoticed here, considering what happened the last time you visited Sming, but you’ve chosen a poor way of going about it. It may be different in the elvenlands, but here, less than ten persons in a million can Translocate themselves. We keep an eye on such things, since we’re on the verge of war.
“Let it be officially noted that you bear the recognized Markings of the vow of justice, that you are therefore welcome within The Empire of Sming, that you have been officially reprimanded for entering The Empire without giving prior notification to The Chancellery of Immigration And Tourism, and that you have been formally warned that any repetition of these actions would result in your prosecution, if you did not enjoy diplomatic immunity. Thus my duty is discharged.
“Now, if you would be so kind as to accompany us, the Emperor wishes to speak with you.”
With that he turned on his heel, and led the way through the arch, beneath the wall, and onto the palace grounds.
“You’ll have to excuse Colonel Rekanam’s brusqueness.” The elf who’d announced their names told them with a smile, obviously delighted to be in their company. “We’ve all been on edge since the attempt on the Emperor’s life only three weeks ago, and the recent events have been of no help in that regard. The formation of The Just Alliance and the changes it’s making among the people are wondrous, but the sudden military reorganization has been wrenching to us who’ve been affected by it. We do become a bit attached to our routines, and cannot help but dislike their being disrupted. There’s the business of the conspiracy, and Venak, and the attempt on your lives outside the city two days ago.
“And of course Colonel Riana here is affected more than most, since when he is off-duty, he is Prince Rekanam, brother to His Excellency Emperor Kevim The Sixth.”
“For all the good it does me!” Rekanam grumbled. He had led them across a cobblestone marshaling yard to the steps that led up to the grand entrance of the palace itself. “We’re wasting valuable time! We know that all the conspirators and criminals are holed up in Venak, and that King Renem’s a murderous bastard who’s in it up to his neck! We should blast that barrier down and arrest or kill every damn one of them! They know we’ll be coming for them sooner or later, and with every second that passes before we do, they’ll be that much more prepared for us! We have the power of this great military alliance, but Kevim and the rulers refuse to use it now, while it’s still likely to be effective! Our soldiers will end up paying for this indecision with their blood!”
“If it comes to that, I’m afraid they will.” Mark nodded.
“Damn, I’m glad you agree!” the colonel cursed, and shook his graying head. “Maybe you can talk some sense into them! I’m Prince of the Realm and Commander of both the Palace Guard and the City Guard of Latrel, but they damn sure won’t listen to me!”
“There are other factors to contend with beyond those in Venak, as you must know, Prince Rekanam.” Mark patiently told him. “Battle must be our last choice, for if we attack when open war can be avoided, or while lacking critical tactical information, soldiers and citizens on both sides will pay the price. First we must try persuasion.”
“Persuasion?! Persuade them of what?!” Rekanam snorted derisively. “The best you can hope for is to persuade them to keep the peace that they’ve already broken, and we’d be fools to trust them to keep their word on it! You’ll never persuade them to give up the guilty! Sure, the greater good is served if we restore peace without battle, but I doubt it’s possible. Decent folk could go back to the routine of their lives and all that, but if the guilty escape punishment for their crimes, where’s our fine vow of justice then? What’s to stop them from trying it all again, and again and again, until they finally succeed in seizing power and making life hell for everyone?”
They’d reached the deep columned portico at the top of the broad flight of marble stairs, and realized that Emperor Kevin and four of his attendants waited for them there, attired as any well-to-do merchants might be, their clothing finely tailored but not ostentatious.
“Good day Prince Mark, Princess Talia.” Kevim offered with a smile and a nod. “Welcome to Sming. Would you care to join me for a few moments?”
“Certainly, Emperor.” Talia accepted with the same smile and nod.
He led them into the entrance hall of the palace, and across it at an angle to a large, well appointed office.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable.” Kevim waved to a circle of various seating furniture. “Before we speak of other things, Prince Mark, I must admit that I could hear your conversation as you ascended the steps, and I’m consumed with curiosity to know how you would answer my brother.”
“All right.” Mark nodded. “If it comes to open warfare, a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt, no matter how much we try to avoid it. So, we can only initiate a military attack if we’re sure that doing so is the only way to prevent an even larger number of innocents from being hurt. If they don’t start it, we won’t start it. Sure, they’re getting ready for us with every second that passes, but I’m willing to bet that we’re getting ready for them even faster. We must concentrate our military effort on being ready to defend our people from a military attack by the enemy.
“Remember, the original intent of the formation of The Just Alliance was to prevent war. We thought that someone was trying to instigate a war among us, and we all joined it so that we could assure each other that we weren’t preparing to attack.
“Now I’m not involved in the military planning of The Just Alliance right now, but as far as I can see, the best case scenario goes like this: We bring them to the peace table with the bait and the cudgel. Emphasize the benefits of peace and trade with The Just Alliance, versus the costs of their being crushed in a conflict with us. Once we’ve restored diplomacy and trade and opened the borders, we have access to them. We use that access to learn the identities of the guilty as individuals; those who actually took part in crimes and those who ordered it done, and to know them with certainty. At that point we appeal to everyone who has any power in Venak but who did not participate in crimes to give up the guilty, in return for our backing them as they assume the positions of the guilty who were in power, and join The Just Alliance. And we appeal to the citizens of Venak to support us in this.
“If we don’t get the guilty that way, we’ll hunt them. We’ll offer huge rewards for their capture, or for information that leads to their capture, and we’ll send teams of specialists to capture them if possible, and to kill them if not. Right now the number of people who’ve been directly hurt by the insidious conspiracy is very tiny compared to the number who’d be hurt in a war. If we can keep it that way, and stabilize the situation, we can afford to send a thousand professional hunters after every one of the guilty. We’ll hunt them relentlessly, and we’ll never stop hunting them. Death is their only escape from us.”
There was a long silence as his words were considered.
“I can accept that. Well said.” Rekanam admitted with grudging admiration.
Kevim sat back and gave a huge sigh of relief. “There it is then. If you’ve convinced him with that policy, it will convince the rest of those who think as he does. Prince Mark, I would be most pleased if you would submit the words you have just spoken as an official suggestion of the Key to The Just Alliance.”
“All right. Prince Rekanam, with your permission, I’d like to send our entire conversation. You made a very strong case for a decisive first strike, and if we learn with certainty that the enemy intends an attack on us, that may be what we have to do. I just want to make sure that what I’ve said is taken in context.”
“By all means.” Rekanam nodded.
“I’ll end it right there.” Mark nodded, and took a Reading of his own memory, then cast a Speaking. “Somonik, I’m here in Sming with Emperor Kevim and Prince Rekanam, and I have a suggestion as Key to The Just Alliance. I’ll send you a Reading of our recent conversation.”
“I am ready to receive it.” Somonik Spoke clearly and formally in the minds of all who were present. “I have it. Brilliantly spoken. I am forwarding it to the heads of state of The Just Alliance. It is done. Discussion of this suggestion will be added to the agenda of this evening’s meeting of The Assembly of The Just Alliance. I personally expect it will be adopted as policy shortly thereafter.”
“Thank you Somonik. We’ll see you at the party later?” Talia asked.
“Of course.”
Mark ended the spell.
“I’m still on duty.” Rekanam declared as he stood, then offered his hand to Mark with a sudden grin. “I’m damn glad to have met you, Prince Mark. You’ve given me some real faith in The Just Alliance, and in your leadership as well. And I’ll be training hard in my off duty time to qualify for the hunting parties.”
“Pleased to meet you as well, Colonel Rekanam.” Mark grinned in return as they shook hands.
“Princess Talia, it’s been a pleasure meeting you.” Rekanam declared with a suddenly courtly manner and a flourishing bow.
“For me also, Prince of Sming.” Talia smiled with a slight curtsy, and Rekanam let himself out.
“Thank you.” The emperor smiled. “I think you’ve restored peace to my family’s dinner table for the first time in three weeks.
“Now, I understand you wish to see the sights of Latrel, and to visit a friend who is injured. I would surmise that to be Joseth Narr, recently made Colonel of the newly-formed Hilian Cavalry, and Commander of the Academy of Cavalry of the Hilian University of The Just Alliance, as your First Minister Sheramiv recently informed me when she formally requested my permission for the establishment of that facility within The Empire of Sming. Permission which was immediately granted, I might add. Jo’s a fine man, and his Healers have given him permission to commence with planning for his new charge, though they insist he do so while remaining in bed. He and the wizards who are still recovering from the attack on you are under the care of my Imperial Healers, in another building within this palace complex.
“If you would tell me which sites you wish to see, I will assign you a very capable guide who will respect your wish to remain anonymous as you enjoy our fine city.”
“I’ve always wanted to see Latrel, ever since my father visited here when I was a child and told me about it.” Talia shyly revealed. “We don’t have much time today, but I’d like to see more of your palace, and Prince Gotimin’s palace as well, and the North High Aqueduct, and The Architect’s Garden of Falling Water.”
“Myself, I’m wholly unfamiliar with your city, so I’m glad Talia has some sights in mind.” Mark grinned. “I’m just looking forward to being among the people as just another person, to talk to them and hear what they’re saying first hand, about how the alliance is doing and the threat of war and life in general.”
“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!” Kevim chuckled. “I’ve sent for my grandson Reen. He’s still officially a squire at court here, but he has no patience with the ways of the aristocracy in general, and tends to spend as much of his time as possible out carousing among the folk of the city. Still, he’s a slippery little whip with a good nose for trouble, and he knows every back way, alley, and hidden passage in the city. I’m not supposed to know about it, but he’s been training with Covert Services for a few months, and doing well. Furthermore, I think some time in your company can only benefit the lad.
“And by the way, I’m sure you have no wish to receive a similar reception the next time you travel to Sming. Luckily we now have a convenient way to avoid it. Not an hour before you arrived here I received delivery of several thousand of these items from the Grand Council of Xervia. Your First Minister will have received a few as well.” He retrieved a small oval sheet of blue glass about six inches by four. “It Reads the look and magical aura of the Marking of The Just Alliance with such detail that each one is recognized as unique. That unique Marking is then registered with the agencies in each nation that deal with international travelers. Registered citizens of The Just Alliance are recognized as being allowed passage over borders by the Wards and Warders of each nation, and can pass freely without needing to be individually examined to ascertain their identity. It streamlines the use of the Marking as a passport, and when it’s used in this manner as a diplomatic passport, only the diplomatic services of the nations whose borders are being crossed need to be informed of the identity of the traveler.
“Since you are reigning monarchs, you will be registered as diplomatic travelers. Then you will be able to Translocate into Sming while concealing your identities and your presence from all but the highest levels of our government, without risking arrest, for the Marking of a registered diplomat will be all our sentries need to identify you as friendly and trusted.
“However, until the threat of war is past, we are asking all those who travel by Translocation to register their movements with the involved authorities. Many of our soldiers are young and jumpy, so it’s best that they have at least a full minute’s warning before someone Translocates into their vicinity.”
“I understand completely.” Mark nodded as he took the glass from Kevim. “Sorry about the disruption we caused earlier.
“How exactly does this work?”
“Simply center it over your Marking, press it firmly into contact, and state your full name and rank.”
They did so, and as Talia was finishing there was a knock on the door. Squire Reen let himself in, closed the door, and bowed to his grandfather. He was in his mid-teens and shared a strong family resemblance, being dark and slight with a quick manner, and was dressed in a simple green silk tunic with matching leggings and sandals.
“Good day, Squire.” Kevim nodded. “Be at ease. I imagine you recognize my guests?”
“I do! I’m honored, greatly honored indeed, to share your presence!” Reen babbled with a grin and another bow. “Prince Mark, Princess Talia, Keys to The Just Alliance, and heroes to humans and elves and smart people everywhere! I really couldn’t be more honored than I am right now!”
“They wish to see some of the wonders of Latrel, to read the mood of the people first-hand, and to take the pulse of public opinion, while remaining unrecognized. And they prefer an informal atmosphere, so don’t fawn over them.”
“Of course! You’re just like I thought you’d be, and that’s just the kind of thing I’d expect you to be likely to be doing! And I’m just the man for the job, too! I can guarantee you a lively time in Latrel! How long will you be here?”
“Only an hour of two.” Talia told him with a giggle at his exuberance. “We’ll likely come back and see more soon, but we have a busy day scheduled. We just wanted to go out and relax for a few hours, and we’d like to see something of the other continents as well, before we return to our agenda.”
“Ah. That isn’t a great deal of time. To make the most of it, I suggest you view Latrel’s more spectacular wonders from the air, then take refreshment at a public house for a few minutes. Do you fly?”
“We do.” Mark smiled.
“Then you’ll not only be able to see the sights, you’ll get a look at the city-scape in between, and see the great rebuilding!”
“That sounds perfect.” Talia told him, and turned to the Emperor. “Thank you for your kindness. We’ll see you at the meeting later?”
“I’ll be attending, though we may not have a chance to speak together there, beyond official discussion in council.” Kevim smiled. “So accept my gratitude for your visit and your suggestion, and my best wishes for all that you do, until our next chance to speak on personal matters. I hope you enjoy your time in our proud nation. I welcome your return at any time, to my country or to my home, with a minute’s notice.”
“Thanks. You’re always welcome at Hilia, Your Majesty.” Talia smiled. She and Mark bowed ornately, resumed their disguises without the Unseen spells, then followed Reen out into the entrance hall.
“By the way, do you have a translation spell for Smingan?” Reen asked. “A lot of people can speak Trade Common here, but they don’t tend to do so in casual conversation.”
“I’ve got the elven Tongues spell for Smingan into Elvish, and the one for Elvish into Common.” Mark mused. “I could use both of them like that I suppose, but if you know one for Smingan to Common, it would be easier if you’d let me Read it from you.”
“Oh no, I could never learn such a complex spell!” Reen laughed as they paused outside the doors, and he dug into his tunic pockets. “I’m no sort of wizard, really, I’m simply well equipped! My Flight spell is contained in my belt, and I have a Translation medallion for Smingan and Trade Common. They’re common and reliable, manufactured by the wizard’s guild for the Chancellery of Immigration and Tourism. I don’t need it, since I learned Common the hard way.”
He handed Mark a brass disk as big as his thumbnail strung on a white string, stamped on one side with the arms of the Empire of Sming, and on the other with the marking of the Tradeguild of Wizardry.
Mark tied the string around his neck.
“You can keep that, courtesy of the empire, and I’m sure one of the palace workers will have an extra one for you, Princess Talia.”
“I won’t need one.” Talia smiled. “I can use the one Mark is wearing.”
“Impressive! And handy!
“We can fly from here, so long as we keep to a polite pace.” Reen grinned as he rose off the floor, settled into an invisible seat, and led them up to a fifth floor balcony, floated through the open doors to a lounge with games tables, and then through a pair of glassed doors that led onto an outside balcony. “We’ll gain some height, and get you oriented.” he told them as he quickened the climb, then slowed and settled some two thousand six hundred feet above the ground.
“All right, you can see the palace complex covers almost a square mile on the western edge of the city. That complex beyond the palace wall is the army base, home of The Empire’s Own First Legion. All the land behind that is theirs too, beyond the city wall to the other side of the peninsula, and you can see some of them training there with their guests; the Latrel contingent of The Military of The Just Alliance.”
“The palace is lovely! And I can see the aqueduct from here!” Talia marveled.
“What’re those people doing?” Mark asked as he pointed to a huge crowd snaking back and forth in a thick queue across a courtyard on the south side of the palace grounds.
“That’s the public entrance to the palace. Most of those are waiting to swear Osbald’s Oath on the crown of the empire. Many have already sworn on lesser items at any of several government offices throughout the city, so they could get the Marking. But to a Smingan, it really means something to swear on the crown, even if they have to wait. Grandfather joked with me this morning, saying he was glad that he didn’t have to wear the crown to activate its power! Most of those will get to swear on it today, and there’ll be another fifty thousand there tomorrow morning.”
“Ah. And what’s that over there? It’s shining with enough power to make me squint!”
“That is the palace of Prince Gotimin of The Elven Principality of Sming!” Reen proudly explained. “Everyone we have with any magic is contributing power there, even if they can barely light a candle, by Imperial Decree! I was there this morning myself with eight of my friends. We were an hour giving power to an elf who was charging Translocation Plates. He was taking power from some four hundred people at once! The plates were big enough to hold eighty men! Mind you, it’s effortless to give power once the spell’s working; I spent the hour chatting with girls. Anyone good enough to be a journeyman in the wizard’s guild is working twelve-hour shifts over there. Much of the effort goes into Flight and Translocation medallions for the military, and of course spelling arms and armor takes a lot too.”
“How far away is that?” Talia asked as she used their Link to view the glow through Mark’s eyes.
“About twelve miles.”
“Twelve miles! By the source!” she marveled as she began to realize how much magic was gathered there.
“Yup. It’s the same over at the Healers’ guildhal