That’s What Friends are For

"We will return Ezer to the others and find out where Cafer has run off to…" Alaron said, not understanding the depth of Brinn's question.

The elf nodded dutifully, knowing the soldiers were watching. They walked with Ezer back to the holding area. Alaron gave the guards at the door their new orders. Councilman Ezer would be able to leave the room with an escort.

"Do you know where my advisor might be?" Alaron asked a servant. He was directed to a room down the hall. As the door swung open, Alaron and Brinn could see a small creature dressed in green suddenly disappear. King Baak, Xander and Cafer all snapped their heads toward the door as the royals entered. Something about their expressions made the prince feel uneasy.

"Emperor Alaron! I was just coming to look for you. We are running behind schedule. You were expected to start receiving your loyal noblemen and citizens a half hour ago." Cafer spoke smoothly as if he was expecting to see the boy, but it was clear by the moment of confusion that the prince had walked in on something.

Alaron started at them long and hard. "Would anyone care to explain what a leprechaun was doing in my palace without my knowledge?"

The males at the chess table cut their eyes at one another while Cafer chuckled. "You know how I use those creatures to relay messages for me. I see no reason to stop now, unless it bothers you, Your Majesty." The advisor bowed deep as he waited for Alaron's response.

"Keep me informed of what your informants discover." The future Emperor said icily.

"Of course, Sire." Cafer spread his hands wide to show his sincerity.

Alaron inhaled deeply. "Then let us go meet my loyal followers."

As they went out in the hall, Brinn curtsied and tried to excuse herself. "Where are you going, Princess Mairwen?" Cafer queried.

"I was going to spend some time in my quarters…reading." Really Brinn wanted to be as far away from the gnome as possible, and she had no desire to see anyone grovel before the new Emperor.

"You will not support your brother in front of the citizens of the Empire? I thought you wanted to make sure he would be a wise ruler." Cafer clicked his tongue in disappointed.

"I at least need to freshen up. I would also like my eunuch to attend me." Brinn had left Renat alone since just after breakfast. Just like Mairwen, the boy knew how to find his way into trouble. The spymaster did not want to leave him alone for very long.

Not knowing the exact 'freshening up' the girl needed to do, Cafer could only nod. "I will have Lukoss escort you to your room. I would not want you to have any trouble." A mousey looking gnome stepped forward dressed in a soldier's uniform.

Brinn held in her feelings and accepted the escort. "You are too kind, Cafer," she responded with more than a little sarcasm.

"I am sure Cafer only wants to keep you safe. I will see you soon," Alaron commented as he tried to lessen the tension.

"His Majesty is right. We must be on our way. Glory to the Emperor." Cafer raised his eyebrows, daring Brinn to repeat.

The elf curtsied again, nearly hitting the advisor with the wide sweep of her dress. "I will join you soon, brother."

Brinn thought up over a dozen creative curses for Cafer as she neared Mairwen's room with Lukoss. Fortunately the gnome was smart enough to wait outside the princess's suite. Within the ladies-in-waiting swarmed Brinn.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?"

"What is happening out there?

"Are we safe?"

The questions came rapid-fire toward the elf as the ladies checked her body for injuries and her face for signs of concern. Brinn gave them a comforting smile. "Calm down, ladies. I am quite alright. The palace is still swarmed with annoying little men and you are safe as long as you remain here as much as possible. Alaron has told the soldiers not to bother you, but it is better if you stay out of sight if you can."

The ladies nodded and seemed to calm down. Brinn changed her gown and prepared to go. She noticed the lanky boy had yet to come out of the sitting room that had become his sleeping space. The elf entered and found Renat looking broken. His hands held many papers with the princess's handwriting.

"Renat! Have you been snooping? Those better not be the private thoughts of your love." Brinn teased, hoping to bring the boy out of his depression or at least get him to feel embarrassed.

The scientist looked at her with red-ringed eyes. "I was looking for paper on which to write experiment ideas when I found these. They are the drafts Mairwen wrote to ask for my opinion on how to stop Xander. She wrote so many just to get the wording the way that she wanted. I read them thinking it would help ease my pain, but it only made me miss her more. When I read them, I can hear her voice, see her face and imagine her smile."

"There there," Brinn patted the Renat's shoulder, unsure of what else to do. In her head, she reminded herself to find a better place to hide Mairwen's diary. That would cause the boy to lose it altogether.

"I never told her how I felt, and now I likely never will have the chance," Renat mumbled hopelessly. His hands dropped into his lap as the boy leaned back in his seat and stared at the lines on the ceiling. "How did you know your fiancé was the one you wanted to marry?"

'Talking about marriage already? This boy has got it bad,' Brinn thought. "The first time I punched Alvar in the arm for his stupidity and I felt bad about it, I knew he had wormed his way into my affections. Marrying him will probably be the smartest thing I ever do."

Now the elf felt a little homesick. She had sent the message ball to Ithel after all of her discoveries, but now she wished that she had included a personal message for Alvar. It was possible that she might never get the chance now. 'No, I cannot think that way!' Brinn pulled herself from succumbing to the boy's melancholy.

"You will see Mairwen, and I will see Alvar again. After I go save Anna this evening, I will work on helping you, Bukuri and Nurlan escape." Brinn announced with determination.

"If I leave, then that will come back on you. They will blame you for letting me get away." Renat argued.

"I will deal with it when the time comes. I can handle myself." The spymaster grinned. It was cute how Renat was worried about her. Cute, but misguided. While she had magical powers at her disposal, he was a puny human with only his mind and lanky arms to help him. It was laughable.

Lost in her thoughts, Renat's next words caught her off-guard. "I will come with you to help Anna."

"You don't even know Anna," Brinn countered.

"Anna is Councilman Ezer's wife and Her Majesty's lady-in-waiting, right? I do not have to know her. If she needs help, I want to help." Renat's sadness was gone as he found a purpose.

Brinn held her fingers to her chin. "I will think about it...no."

"But!" Renat begged. "I have to do something. Please."

"Use that brain of yours to make up some inventions that will help Anna," the elf offered.

"Like what?" The boy raised his eyebrows. Her request was vague.

Brinn shrugged. "I do not know. You are the scientist!"

Renat sighed. He placed the papers in his hand on a nearby table. "I will see what I can do," he said at last.

"Good, but you will have to do the planning in your head for now. We are expected in the throne room." Brinn grabbed the boy by the arm. "And stand up in the presence of your princess. You are making me look bad." There was no one in the sitting room to see them, but the elf did not care.

"Why 'we' expected in the throne room?" Renat asked.

"Because Alaron has people who want to grovel, and we are expected to witness it." Brinn puckered her lips like she had a bad taste in her mouth.

"I understand why you might need to go, but why am I needed?" the boy rephrased his question.

"I told you I need another set of eyes. You will see things I do not. We can look for allies and enemies. You want to be useful? Then be useful. But most importantly, you are coming," the elf got a mischievous gleam in her eye, "because I do not want to suffer alone listening to that drivel."

Renat shook his head. "So I must suffer with you? Gee, thanks..."

Brinn smiled brightly. "That's what friends are for!"