How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 19

Several days later.

“This is Vitas, capital of Ryan and seat of the Helman Federation’s council. That gray castle you can see is the king’s residence. I’ll point out Federation Headquarters in a little while; it isn’t visible yet…”

Listening to her mother offer an enthusiastic explanation from horseback, Aisha looked curiously at the city that would become her new home.

As the capital of the most powerful nation in the Helman Federation, Vitas had always represented the very idea of a “great city” in the human imagination. It was indeed completely unlike Philray. Every street and building embodied prosperity.

Dimska, where Aisha had spent the previous two months, was also a major city. But she had seen it only after defeat, when decline and despondency hung over everything. It could not compare with Vitas, which had recovered from the shadow of the bride raids and now rejoiced in victory.

Aisha traveled amid the triumphant army. The cart acquired in Philray had been too shabby to suit the procession, so Tina bought her a new carriage in a nearby town and placed it discreetly among the troops. This carriage was far better than the open cart, though its exterior remained understated enough that no one would pay special attention to Aisha. She could still watch the city freely through the window.

The army stretched back for several li (roughly 1–2 miles). Crowds packed the streets to welcome them. At the sight of armored soldiers returning home, the people erupted in excitement, and the scene was extraordinarily lively.

Tina commanded the Second Army of the Federation, with Hock serving as deputy commander. By tradition, both should have ridden at the very front to receive the people’s thanks and blessings. Tina, however, was eager to introduce Aisha to the city where she had grown up. She dropped far back to ride beside the carriage window, leaving Hock alone and helpless at the head of the procession.

Tina did not seem troubled by this breach of custom. When civilians called her name, she turned, smiled, and waved, provoking still more frantic cheers.

Her mother was a hero to countless people.

Aisha understood that more clearly than ever before. Only a few months earlier, Tina Killott had been a distant, untouchable hero to her as well. The thought stirred a wealth of emotion.

“Our home is near Central Street. We should pass it soon,” Tina said softly after waving. She turned back and gave a slight nod. “Though honestly, I haven’t returned in years. The last time I attended a Federation council meeting must have been… several years ago.”

As a hereditary noble, Tina possessed a prosperous fief that produced considerable tax revenue. But nearly all nobles maintained residences in Vitas and lived in the capital for long periods, allowing them to attend court and participate in politics. It was there in Vitas that Tina had grown from a little girl into a young woman.

A wistful look crossed her face.

“I was always away fighting the darkfolk, so I had no chance to return. Now, whenever I think of geography, my head fills with military maps. Vitas almost feels unfamiliar… Ah, but don’t worry. I told the steward to prepare your room in advance. We bought some clothes and daily necessities too. We took your measurements before, so… mm… there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Her mother looked as though she genuinely believed Aisha might be worried about such things. Aisha laughed.

“It’s all right. I wasn’t worried. Besides, you and Papa are both here. I have no reason to worry.”

Tina immediately brightened. She reached through the window, mussed the hair Aisha had carefully arranged that morning, then leaned closer and bumped her forehead lightly against her daughter’s.

…

The army’s march ended at Federation Headquarters.

The Helman Federation comprised four nations. Besides powerful Ryan, there were Bisnis, the kingdom of commerce; Micks, the kingdom of religion; and Ger, the kingdom of heroes. Seats on the federation council were distributed according to each nation’s population. The federation’s head was traditionally the king of Ryan, the strongest of the four kingdoms, so Federation Headquarters stood in Ryan’s capital.

Today marked the soldiers’ triumphant return, and royal representatives from every member nation had gathered in advance. Aisha saw the kings of Ryan and Bisnis, whom she previously knew only from newspapers. Beyond them stood a confusing crowd of princes and princesses. She could not tell who was who or which kingdom any belonged to. They were probably representatives from the other nations and members of Ryan’s own royal family.

Aisha searched carefully for a long time but did not see Elizabeth. Remembering Elizabeth’s poor health and how rarely she was allowed outside—and that the last time she had finally managed to visit Wold, a darkfolk prince had broken her wrist and placed sealing magic upon it—Aisha could not help worrying.

Now that they had arrived, Tina could no longer remain beside Aisha. She rode to the front, where she and Hock dismounted to meet the two kings. After official greetings, the King of Ryan commended every soldier and arranged for the troops to rest at the nearest base.

Aisha became uneasy as the army carried her away and her parents disappeared from sight. But no sooner had the carriage reached a place hidden from the crowd than two servants arrived. They led the carriage back behind Federation Headquarters and parked it inside the compound. Then they escorted Aisha along a twisting route to one of its rooms.

An elegantly dressed servant opened the door. Aisha entered with trepidation and found the King of Ryan and the King of Bisnis seated in state, while her parents smiled at her.

“This is our daughter, Aisha—Hock’s and mine,” Tina said.

She took Aisha’s hand and led her before the kings.

Becoming the focus of two monarchs at once made Aisha intensely nervous. She had never faced such a grand occasion. Her heart leaped into her throat.

King Richard Brown of Ryan smiled as he studied her face.

“I know. Elizabeth told me about you… I hear you are a mage? One with an innate gift?”

Aisha nodded nervously, uncertain whether she should bow or curtsy. Even if etiquette demanded one, she did not know how.

In truth, she lacked confidence in calling herself a mage. She had learned only while imprisoned in the darkfolk castle and had cast a spell just once. Tina and Hock were astonished as well. Neither was a mage, so their chances of having a child with magical ability should have been small—let alone one with an innate gift.

“I see. That is rare indeed,” said the King of Bisnis.

His perpetually smiling face made him appear exceptionally approachable. Since he was younger than Richard, he seemed less distant, though in fact his eldest son was nearly nineteen.

He studied Aisha appreciatively.

“And speaking of rarity… the girl is extraordinarily beautiful. Never mind Cattleya, Oni Red’s daughter—she might compare with Louisa in her youth. What do you think, Richard?”

Before the King of Ryan could answer, the extravagant comparison startled Aisha.

By “Louisa,” the King of Bisnis unquestionably meant the present queen of Micks, the kingdom of religion. In her days as a princess, her beauty and the Micks royal family’s signature silver hair earned her the titles White Lily of Helman and First Princess of the Federation. Her parents were reportedly so afraid that their daughter’s appearance would fracture the Federation that they rarely allowed her outside and never agreed to any marriage proposal.

After Louisa became queen, the title of First Princess passed among three princesses from different countries. It now belonged to Cattleya, daughter of King Oni Red of Ger, the kingdom of heroes. Yet old nobles who had seen every one of them said none of the later princesses compared with Louisa White in her youth. She had become a byword for incomparable beauty, something the world could not reproduce.

Simply put, the King of Bisnis had skipped over the princess currently acknowledged as the Federation’s youngest and most beautiful and compared Aisha directly to a legendary beauty. It was wildly excessive.

Richard Brown appeared to think so too. He gave the other king a bland glance.

“I will not answer a question guaranteed to offend someone.”

“Oh, then I’ll take that as a lack of disagreement.” The King of Bisnis narrowed his smiling eyes. Offending Richard was apparently insufficient; he decided to include someone else. Turning to Hock, he continued, “She takes after Tina. What a blessing she looks nothing like you, wouldn’t you say?”

Hock: …

“Don’t say that. He spends all his time in army camps and has no opportunity to take care of his appearance.” Tina protectively linked her arm through her husband’s and rolled her eyes at the King of Bisnis. “Besides, Hock was very handsome when he was young. If not for—”

“You always say that, but none of us saw Hock in those days, so I choose not to believe you,” the King of Bisnis replied shamelessly. “Come to think of it, your girl is sixteen. You should begin considering a marriage match, shouldn’t you? It would be a pity if so pretty a girl had no handsome boy beside her. Let me think. Handsome young men… My son is a fine choice, but he already has a prospective fiancée. What about Cattleya’s elder brother? Both siblings are reasonably good-looking. Oh, and relations with the beastfolk have improved recently. If you’re considering a political marriage, I hear they have a young major general named Les Wolf whose appearance is also—”

“No,” Tina interrupted, frowning. “Aisha is still young. Do not impose the royal custom of early marriage upon her. Aisha has her own wishes, and she intends to continue studying magic.”

Mortified by the king’s speech, Aisha finally had a chance to express an opinion. She gripped her mother’s hand and nodded vigorously.

They had discussed the matter in Dimska. Aisha expressed her wish to study, and her parents respected it, even though discovering her magical aptitude had overturned every plan they previously made.

“Is that so? Then never mind.” The King of Bisnis shrugged, an easy smile still at his lips. He did not appear invested; everything he had said was merely a joke. “Although… if we’re discussing someone capable of teaching a gifted mage, surely the person on Wold is the obvious choice. I heard you were once friends, though later…”

“We are still friends,” Tina replied evenly, plainly unwilling to elaborate. “We will send Aisha to take the Wold Tower of Magic examination in March. You need not concern yourself.”

“Forgive me. I meant no offense.” Seeing anger in Tina’s face, the King of Bisnis finally offered a light apology. “I should not speculate about your friendship. Naturally, I believe the daughter of our greatest female general will be no less exceptional merely because her gift lies in magic. I await good news in March.”

After a pause, he straightened from the table as though preparing to leave.

“For now, I must inspect my formal attire… You do remember the victory ball tonight, don’t you? Then I look forward to seeing all of you there. Goodbye.”