The Aldean Chronicles: Spotlight (Part 2)

"So Myles, tell us." Seb is saying. "How is Dantor Military academy?"

"It's fine, I hated it at first. But it's been four years, I've made my peace." We're all seated at the dining hall. Tristan went home half an hour ago and Seb invited Myles to stay for dinner.

He nods his head slowly. "So Myles, will you be attending the State dinner?"

"As a Liege, it is my duty." Myles sighs. "Also, mother would throw a fit if I missed it."

Grey laughs. "Mothers, they just keep pushing you."

Lilian gives him a look. "Children, they don't understand the stress we go through for them. I was just talking to Bailey Wester at my book club last week. Lovely lady."

"That she is, Lady Lilian," Myles says to appease her.

"So, Myles. What's military school like? Can't be too different from Brimstone." I ask.

"Oh, it is. Your school focuses more on academics. Mine doesn't, half of our time is spent harnessing our powers."

"Sounds challenging."

"It is." He agrees. "But it builds character." He doesn't sound at all like he believes that.

"So what's your plan for after you graduate next year?" Seb asks.

"Immediately resume my duties in the council and the public. My mum has had enough of them." We smile at his light joke. "I've been taking the appropriate classes, I should be fine."

Seb nods. "And what do you think of the reforms?" He's suddenly serious.

Myles stares blankly. "Which ones?"

"The one stated in article 29."

Myles doesn't answer.

Kat jumps to his aid. "I think it's unnecessary." She starts. "Things have been done a certain way for so long, why change it? All lieges should automatically be in the council."

I didn't even know what that was. I know most of the propositions in the document and what they mean, I just can't answer questions like that on the spot.

Three years ago, the prepositions were submitted to the council. Secretary Davis is personally sponsoring them.

He needs the approval of the Queen and 2/3 of the 120-member council. 37 of them are made up of the 37 liege title holders and a few more by their family members who were elected.

Aldeans have been complaining for years that they don't like that system. The bills are mostly citizens' complaints. They've been hotly debated for a while. Aunt Freya is scared that if their silent demands aren't met, they'll come after the whole system next, particularly us.

As someone who grew up in America, I don't blame them. Monarchies are overrated and unnecessary. You won't see me saying that out loud.

"So, Liege Wester. What do you think, should every title holder make rules for our country?" Seb asks, rather harshly.

Myles sighs. "Honestly, no," he admits. "I don't know anything. I'm 19."

Seb nods. "At least I know where you're leaning on the vote. I wonder what your other preferences are."

Kat clears her throat. "So, the basketball match is coming up." Her veiled attempt to take the attention of Myles. And on to me. "I know you can't play."

"I've been praying for a miracle, anything just so I won't have to."

And I do get a miracle. The basketball match never happens. What does is much worse.

***

"Wake up," Seb yells.

I open my eyes and groan. "Why are you in my room?" I bury my head under my pillow. "Get out."

"Get up, it's an emergency." He drags the pillow from my face.

"What's wrong?"

"There's been another attack." That shakes me awake. "About five miles from the palace."

I sit up and remove the hair from my face. "Was anyone hurt?"

"Yes, but no one died." That relaxes me a bit. "Get up and get dressed, we're starting our day early."

He leaves my room. I pick up my phone and check the time, it's just after three.

I go online and piece together information about the attack he's talking about. It happened ten minutes ago, a dozen Ryppers were spotted at the Aldean National Museum. Guards were immediately dispatched and the matter has been taken care of. Two civilians and three guards were injured, they're all expected to make full recoveries.

I jump out of bed and have a very quick shower. I wear a purple, ankle-length, floral dress with spaghetti straps and cream sandals. "Knock, knock," Grey says instead of knocking.

He opens the door and stumbles in with dark sunglasses. "I need sleep."

"So do I." I put my hair in a low ponytail. "Where are we even going?"

"Morning tea with aunt Freya, I hate those." He places his head on my door.

I snap my fingers in his face. "Sleep in the car, we have to go."

I grab my blue backpack and rush downstairs with him.

"Here." Lilian hands us both flasks.

I remove the lid and inhale. The sweet scent of Ghale tea fills my nose.

I walk outside and frown at the moon. People shouldn't leave their houses before 5. I get into one of the four SUVs in front of the house and rest my head on the seat.

Grey follows my lead. His gentle snoring soon fills the car.

I'm unable to sleep. I take little sips of my tea and think about the attacks, they're getting worse.

Two people got hurt during their last attack, now it's five. I scroll through my phone to avoid thinking about this. Today's my match, that's probably not happening anymore.

We arrive at the palace and are rushed up three flights of stairs, and into a pretty room with glass walls. In the middle is a cluster of sofas and armchairs, and by the east wall, a glass table with two wicker chairs.

"Finally, you're here." Aunt Freya stands up from her seat. I'm shocked by how good she looks. It's four in the morning and she's wearing a black and white dress, heels and has full make-up on. "Katya."

Kat rolls on the sofa she's sprawled on. "I'm awake."

Grey and I sit on armchairs and rest our heads on the side.

"Sleeping. When our country is under attack." She sounds bitter. "Disgraceful."

I ignore her, I'm too tired to care. "We're here," I say. "Why are we here?"

"Because I need you three somewhere. Sebastian and I have matters to attend to, we'll give interviews later."

"We should just go to the museum." Kat sits up.

"No, I want you to visit the victim's families. Lilian will go to the museum."

"Fine, wake me up when it's time to go." Kat lays back down.

"It's time, I want pictures of us there before the rest of the populace wakes up." I cover my face so she won't see my disapproving look. Here I was thinking she cared. "Greyson, Dent is going with you. Katya, Keri is going with you."

"Who's going with me?" I ask.

"The new girl, Chrysla, I think. I'm not sure." She brings her hands together. "Stand up, be on your way. Touch up your makeup in the car." She looks directly at me as she says this.

I crawl to the car and continue my losing battle against sleep.

"Princess Cassandra." A young woman enters the car. "I'm Chrystal, I'll be chaperoning you today."

I nod in response. I'm too tired to talk. "The family you're meeting are the Fards, their daughter Nelly was walking past the museum during the attack."

"She was walking on a major road at 3 am in the morning? Am I wrong to say she brought it on herself?"

Chrystal frowns. "Please don't say that when you meet her family, or ever again." She focuses her gaze on her tablet. "She's 22, a hairdresser, and has two siblings." I try to remember as much as I can.

We arrive at the hospital and a hospital administrator leads us past photographers and up to Nelly's private room. Her family are crowded around her bed and look happy. Their faces go down when they see me.

I ignore that. "How are you, how is everyone?"

"We're good." Her elder sister, Vicky says. She looks behind me.

"Oh, are you expecting more family?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No, we just...never mind."

Chrystal comes in with a photographer. "Hello, sorry do you mind me taking a picture?"

The victim, Nelly shrugs. "You're footing the bill, so why not." That isn't technically true, her taxes cover all medical fees. Aldean has free universal health care.

I shake her hands and smile at her as photographers take pictures. My phone soon goes off. "Excuse me." I take the call in the hall.

"You're not at your house," Tristan says.

"I'm at the hospital."

"What happened to you? Are you alright? Tell me which one. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I'm fine, I'm visiting Nelly Fard. She got injured in the attack."

"What attack?"

"Check your phone. I'll call you back, I have to go."

I go back to the room. "Was that Princess Katya?" Vicky ambushes me.

"Or Prince Greyson?" Her mother asks. Their eyes look bright.

"No." Their shoulders slump. I move closer to Chrystal and whisper, "Can I leave soon, it's clear they don't want me here."

"We can't leave for another thirty minutes, it'll be considered rude if we do. Talk to them, make them fall in love with you. They'll be interviewed later."

"Fine." I sit at the foot of Nelly's bed. "You know, my cousin's a hairdresser."

"No, she's not." The father accuses. "Harringtons aren't hairdressers."

"On my mother's side." It's my dad's niece, but I don't have it in me to explain that to them.

"Is she any good?" Nelly asks.

I snort. "No, she did it for a few months and quit. Picked a new passion and has been doing that for a year now. She'll be changing her mind soon."

"What's Brimstone like?" The third kid, a twelve-year-old boy asks.

"It's alright, I guess."

He nods enthusiastically. "I've been training extra hard. I'll be taking their exam in three years."

His mother looks uncomfortable. "Let's not talk about that right now." She shares a look with his mother.

I give him a warm smile. "I wish you the best of luck."

I spend the next half hour answering any questions they have about school, the palace, and my summer.

The visit ends up being not as bad as I expected it to be.

"I have to take her to her next appointment," Chrystal says. "It was nice meeting you all."

I get off the bed and smooth down my dress. "I hope you get better, it was really nice meeting you guys."

"You too." Nelly smiles. "I have to say, I was a bit disappointed when I saw you. But now, I won't have it any other way."

I don't break my big smile. "Thank you."

Chrystal and I say goodbye to the hospital administrator and leave the building. "That was good," She says. "They loved you."

"It was alright." I get inside the car.

"No, I'm serious." She gets in beside me. "You have good people skills."

"Thanks."

She nods and redirects her attention to her tablet.

***

At the state dinner, later that night, aunt Freya has us take a moment of silence for the victims.

"I implore you all to take up extra measures to ensure the safety of your constituents." She retakes her seat and carries on a conversation with Secretary Davis and Liege Elkins.

"I read the article," Arin says from my left. "Princess Cassandra was surprisingly pleasant, she wasn't distant, and she seemed genuinely interested in hearing what I had to say."

I smile. "Yeah, even though what they had to say was mostly boring." He smiles too. I pick up my glass and swirl the cider around. "So, what are you doing this week?"

"Not too much. Lucky for me, my grandfather is not a very social person."

"I wouldn't have guessed." I stifle a yawn. "I can't wait for this to end, I need my bed."

He leans back on his chair. "What about you, what's your week like?"

"I have to be at Milton's match on Saturday."

"I'm free Saturday, I can come with you." He offers.

"That's so nice, Tristan and I were going to go alone."

He sits up. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I just remembered I'm visiting my parents this weekend."

"You are?"

"Yeah, I'm leaving Friday night. Won't be back till Sunday. They asked me to come see them."

"Oh." I nod my head slowly. "That's nice, have fun in Dolma."

We don't talk again for the rest of the meal.