Chapter 5

"I have considerable influence in these areas," said the Queen in her inimitable haughty tone. "I could do you great good...or harm."

"We have no particular need for your influence." The Chair of the Board of Governors was politely dismissive. "We have our own reputation as a school. This student will do nothing but enhance that reputation." That piece of conversation she heard was soon common knowledge amongst the students. It fueled Anaeth's anger at Alexandra, and it won Alexandra no friends.

They were in class while Mr. Smith talked about law and how they needed to be consistent in the way they interpreted and enforced the law.

"The law is the thing that holds your kingdoms together over time," he said. "Magic is all very well and good, but it is not consistent. Much of the time it causes more problems than it solves."

Princess Anaeth yawned.

"Am I boring you, Anaeth?"

"Why should I learn about law and all this boring stuff? It isn't like I am going to actually run the kingdom. Whoever I marry will rule." She batted her eyes at the teacher. "As Alexandra pointed out to me, my only job is to look beautiful. I'm good at that, aren't I?"

Mr. Smith sighed and went on with the class. Anaeth wouldn't graduate anyway. She would return home before her sixteenth birthday to fall into her enchanted sleep.

"Mr. Smith," Alexandra said. "Isn't it necessary to have good laws before we can enforce it fairly?"

"Well, yes and no," answered her teacher. "Good law certainly makes it easier to rule well, but even a poor law is better than none if it covers everyone equally. Let's look at an example..."

"You think you are so smart," whispered Neje as she brushed past Alexandra on the way out of class. "Because of you we have extra work to do."

"I could help you with it," Alexandra said.

"And have them think I'm like you? No thanks."

"You could do what Anaeth does. Nothing," Alexandra said. The other princess was already gone.

"I wouldn't mind some help," Herbert said behind her.

"Aren't you afraid they will make fun of you?"

"They already do."

Alexandra sighed, "It will be worse if you hang out with me. Sorry, Herbert."

She went to the library and sat down by the pile of books on her desk. Somehow the books she needed were always waiting for her. She noticed similar piles on the desks of the other students, but none of theirs were as tall as hers. Soon she was lost in the world of books; here at least no one hated her.

After supper, Alexandra went back to her books. Herbert came and interrupted her.

"Why do you think Smith talks about law all the time?" he said. "It's magic that is really important, isn't it?"

"The magic is only for royalty and the rich. The average person will never see any magic their entire lives."

"Does it scare you?" Herbert leaned over and whispered to her. "It scares me. I don't want to be a frog. What happens if I get lost, or the princess doesn't want to kiss me?"

"It doesn't scare me. It makes me angry. Magic doesn't seem to be very fair. There must be a better way."

Herbert shook his head and wandered off. Alexandra pulled the letters from her mother out of the bottom book. They were meant to encourage her, telling her how the royal advisors were still researching her problem and would definitely have a solution to her lack of enchantment before it was necessary for her to meet her prince.

Later that night Alexandra heard the others as they slipped out to their nightly gathering. She stood outside the door with her stomach aching as she listened to Anaeth mock everything she believed in. Alexandra put her hand on the latch, but let it drop. There was no use.

She went back to her room and took out her calendar and counted the days until Anaeth went to sleep, and Alexandra was free of the snooty princess. Though now the calendar also represented freedom from her mother, and the demands of enchantment, somehow, somehow...