"Never mistake motion for action."
--Ernest Hemingway
The ship was huge, with three tall masts atop the sprawling deck. The sails bore the twin lions standing back to back on a blue plain—Berelain's colors and symbol. The Princess had not yet arrived, sending the others ahead to the docks. They toured the ship under the stern gaze of Zell, the first mate. He showed them their cabins as well as the Princess' and informed them of their duties while they were aboard the Strider. Zell told them that everyone aboard worked, though they wondered if that included the Princess as the tasks included such things as swabbing the deck and taking turns in the crow's nest high above the main deck.
The Princess had been allowed passage under great protest by the King. He had only been mollified after the Princess had agreed to a deployment of fifty Royal Guards added to the crew. Also, he had taken each of the boys aside and made them swear fealty to the Princess, something they did easily enough. Marya, however, was not allowed passage, something that came as a surprise to everyone. The girl just shrugged it off.
"I get seasick easily, anyway," she told them and introduced them to the two girls who would be the Princess' handmaidens. Carlinya was thirteen and had regarded them haughtily with sharp blue eyes set in a prim if not pretty face. Galina was eleven and was friendly and open toward all of them. Tom found her immediately fascinating and figured the trip would go well enough indeed. Marya frowned at him until Matt assured her they would all be on their best behaviors. Matt swatted Tom when the girl wasn't looking and told him to watch himself.
"Be on your best behavior," he growled at his younger brother. "These are ladies."
"Pshaw," Tom said, but obeyed.
"Looks like it'll be fun," Aiden said once Zell had led them back onto deck. He and Annie were checking out the ship before they left. "Almost wish I was going."
"Almost?" Cruz asked him.
"The ocean scares the bejeezus out of me," he admitted. "Giant squids, sharks, and—and the Kraken." All of them remembered the giant sea monster from "The Clash of the Titans" movie.
"There are beasts out there," Marya said looking over the rail to the water far below. "Serpents and wyrms and other great beasts. Captain Baines took that great skull you were all admiring in the Castle's Commons." The skull had been big enough to swallow each one of them whole. And the teeth were as long as a hand width and wickedly sharp. "Why do you suppose the King sent fifty armed men? To ensure my Lady is safe."
"You didn't mention this before," Jess said frowning.
"You didn't ask," she replied with a laugh. "Surely you brave warriors are not afraid?"
"Of course not," Aiden told her spitting into the water below. "What about arms?"
"What about them?"
"Do we get weapons?" Cruz asked curiously.
"There is an armory aboard the ship. You are welcome to what is there," she told them.
"Yes!" Matt said high-fiving Jess. Marya pointed out toward the docks where a carriage had pulled up. The Royal Guards on the far end of the deck stood at attention.
"My Lady is here," Marya said. "Time for us to go ashore." They made their goodbyes amid much backslapping and arm-punching and general joking. Annie and Marya marveled at the production, feeling a bit left out. Within minutes they were included with hugs and well wishes. Marya slipped something unseen into Jess's hand and turned to march off down the gangplank. Jess looked at it only glancingly and stuffed it into his belt.
"Watch after Aiden," he said to Annie, grabbing her arm as she turned to go. His face was grave.
"I will," she assured him. He nodded and let go. With a final wave, Aiden led her down the gangplank, stopping to say something to the Princess as she was coming up with her retinue. The Princess nodded briefly and he bowed. Then, she continued her way up. They watched Aiden and Annie get swallowed up by the crowd on the docks. A few crewmen rushed to the gangplank and started to pull it aboard. The Princess stood before them, golden and smiling.
"Isn't it exciting?" she said brightly. "Captain Baines was telling me about encounters with pirates. Pirates! Can you imagine?" She strode up the deck, looking around. She waved gaily to the Royal Guards on deck and the startled guards waved back. Zell cleared his throat. "Yes?"
"At your word, my Lady, we will push off," he said.
"Push off!" she said excitedly. Zell nodded and men on the deck started untying mooring lines. The Princess watched them for a moment before rounding on Matt and grabbing his arm. "Do help me find a sword for myself," she said steering him below decks. "I know nothing of swords. I yield to your expertise." Matt just grinned and let the Princess lead him away. The sails snapped in the wind overhead. Jess, Cruz, and Tom made their way to the back of the boat to watch the docks disappear behind them, and land with it.
"Now it's just a waiting game," he said once they were back at the castle.
"Still no sign of Jason?" she asked him. They were sharing a bench in the Royal Garden beneath a gnarled oak tree. A fountain bubbled nearby and fat koi swam lazily beneath it.
"Nothing," he said. "They even got rangers monitoring the goblin tribes to see if he's shown up there. Meanwhile, nothing." He plucked an oak leaf from overhead and turned it over in his hands.
"They'll find him," she assured him, patting his arm. "Where else could he go?" Aiden sighed and leaned back, looking up into the tree. It had only been two hours since the others had left and he was already restless.
"I'm no good at waiting," he said finally. "I get all fidgety. Feels like I should be doing something."
"You are. You're waiting." He sighed again. "You want to go out looking for Jason?"
"We'd just get in the way," he grumbled.
"You want to go out and look for the weak point?"
"It could be anywhere."
"Well, what do you want to do?"
"Those witches…"
"I thought you don't trust witches."
"I don't," he admitted. "But what if those guys find nothing? What are my options then? We can kill two birds with one stone if we go find out about these witches."
"But you said people disappear on the way to see them."
"Could be coincidence. Could be those people cross over into other worlds—that's why they're never seen again. Witches are known for their black magic, though." He frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure how magic works in this world. Do you need spells? Rituals? Or is it all just force of will?"
"I saw the Princess light a candle with magic," she told him. "Marya knows how to do it, too. They said they would teach me."
"Marya knows magic?"
"The Princess said she did. But she said it was forbidden."
"Maybe she'll teach us," he mused. "Let's go find her."
"No," Marya said firmly. They had found her in the Royal Library and asked her quietly to teach them magic.
"Why not?" Annie asked. "Because it's forbidden? Why isn't it forbidden for the Princess?"
"The Princess—my Lady Aramelle—is Therisian. I am from the… from the North Country. It is forbidden among my people when not in the North Country."
"Why?" Aiden asked, confused. Marya blushed when she realized what she was saying and who she was saying it to. She sighed and fidgeted with her skirt.
"You know nothing of the North Country. I am sorry. Perhaps I should explain," she said and motioned that they should sit. She continued once they sit down. "I am different from most people here. They all have done their best to treat me the same, but there are differences." In truth, she did stand out. With long black curls and large brown eyes she stood out among the mostly blonde and brown-haired people of Berelain with their blue and green eyes. She was also extraordinarily pretty, but very different from the Princess. Where the Princess had the beauty of a graceful falcon, Marya had the soft-eyed look of a doe. "I am a wild girl." Annie had no idea what that meant but Aiden gave her a meaningful look.
"A wild girl," he said under his breath. "How old are you really?"
"Fifteen," she said with a blush. "The King found me in the North Country—a foundling child—and raised me alongside his daughter as a friend and confidante. I am luckier than most. Some are born with tails, some with antlers. I was born as you see me."
"To Moonlight and Mystery," Aiden said. The girl nodded, looking astonished. "That explains why magic is forbidden."
"I don't understand," Annie said, still confused.
"I am forbidden magic because I… I am…" Marya tried.
"Because she IS magic," Aiden finished.
"But the Princess said you could do magic."
"It is forbidden… but I was taught, the same as she," she admitted. "Please, you do not know of what you ask of me. It is forbidden!" She looked as if she were about to cry. Aiden tapped his lip with a forefinger in thought.
"Can you answer our questions?" he asked suddenly. "Just yes or no?" Marya blinked at him. "I think I know how magic works, but I just need a few… well, clarifications, I guess. You will violate nothing—only tell me if I'm right."
"I—I suppose," she said quietly. Annie wondered what he was up to.
"Okay. Magic and technology occupy the same niche, that is, both supply a means to an end. Technology seeks to explain the process something goes through to reach an end. Magic is the forcing of a resolution to an end through a force of will. Am I right so far?" Marya nodded. "Will is limited through certain factors—mainly ignorance and a lack of imagination. Magic is older than technology but it's difficult to say which is stronger. Technology may be just another form of magic—a way to focus resolutions and keep out potential problems. Magic is the process that leads to a resolution. A focus of will." Marya nodded again. He leaned across the table and grabbed a stub of a candle. He set it on the table in front of him.
"Magic has to do with potential. The candle is either lit or it isn't. Two potentialities. Magic is the gentle push—a forcing of will—on one or the other potentials. But it is not entirely dependent on my will, is it?" Marya shook her head. "There are other influences. One is the presence of belief in others present—suspended disbelief will bar magic. Belief in it will strengthen potentials. Another part is my imagination. And my own belief in the outcome." Marya nodded, surprised. "With practice, magic should come as easily as thought. The more belief or assuredness in imagination, the easier magic is." He grinned as he stared at the candle. "I can do this. My imagination is limitless." He reached out and cupped a hand around the candle.
"You are going to light the candle?" Marya asked breathlessly. His grin widened.
"This candle was lit not an hour ago. It is still warm." He focused on the wick within his hand. "A little air and…" He blew into his hand and a tiny wisp of smoke curled lazily in the air. He blew again and the wick glowed red. Another puff of breath and a flame flickered above the wick. He drew his hand away quickly.
"You did it," Annie said, surprised. Marya could only gape.
"You did it on your own," Marya murmured. "You reasoned it out on your own. And your world has no magic?"
"Technology reigns," he replied. Annie still stared stupefied at the candle flame. Did Aiden really light it? Had he really used magic? Could she? Aiden had learned nothing—he just DID it. Her curiosity about her strange friend grew. How did he know how to use magic? "I may be able to light a candle but I don't think I'm capable of opening a door across worlds." He stared hard at Marya. "Tell us everything you know about the witches in the north. Everything."