The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus Read Free

on the Glacian Ocean instead. It was the stretch of water that drew cold currents from far to the north before turning east between the continents of Taltan and North.
    Ivanor shadowed the girl as she walked. Even in more conservative clothing, the lady was a beauty and would draw an eye. Added to the obvious draw of her looks, many knew the girl as one of the royal family, albeit a branch further from the king than might warrant as much attention as others.
    Two more men with swords at their hips had joined them from the gate opening onto the street east of the wizards' courtyard.
    "Did your training go well, my lady?" one of the guardsmen asked from her right.
    "It went about as usual, Ryan," the girl replied to the older man. He wasn't old compared to someone like Master Qerlan, but to the twenty-two year old Annalicia, he was old enough. Unlike the other guard, a man much closer to her age; Ryan had most likely been chosen by her parents because he was more mature and had the wisdom that came with age. He was the lead of her guard detail, though most often it was just the two men and one of the many male wizards she worked with.
    That was another reason that the girl stood out. Malaiy had an unusual shortage of female wizards. It was a small country, but she had heard most countries had a nearly even number of males and females with the talent.
    "So you gave Ivanor about eighty percent and you were yelled at by the master?"
    Eyes darting to the man as she frowned slightly, Anna refused to turn and give him the satisfaction of being surprisingly correct. "It is hard to give your all when you know your opponent so well. We fight nearly every day. There is nothing more that I can learn about his choices in magic."
    Ivanor frowned and replied without looking at her directly, "You could vary it up, if you wanted. I am hardly so predictable that I couldn't surprise you and win a match."
    Looking at the other wizard, the girl stated, "You know the pool of choices for sparring partners is small, Ivanor. You can't tell me that you aren't more excited about going to Southwall to test yourself against someone new."
    "I didn't say that I wasn't. I am just saying that we could certainly test each other to push our growth more than we usually do."
    They walked through a crowd that was still thin enough to see well beyond their immediate surroundings. A small group of men in red cloaks and robes were in the next intersection shouting to the throng around them.
    "More Brothers of the Blood?" Annalicia questioned as they slowed their feet to watch the men calling out to the crowd, which was forced to move around them. She realized that she had never stopped to listen to their speeches.
    Her father and brother had made mention of the Brothers a few times at dinner or in conversations around their home. Neither seemed overly fond of their message. They spoke of change and apparently the Brothers were most emphatic that that change should include the king and any of the royal family that might side with him.
    "They've become more common of late," Ryan commented stilling his face against revealing either distaste or acceptance of their message. The guardsman had never given her a reason to believe that he sided with such a radical view, and Annalicia had a trusting enough heart to not question those surrounding her. "When the economy slowed, more people joined the unemployed. Beggars and those starving would believe that the king is doing something wrong. There are still many making a good living, and even becoming richer, while others stumble."
    Annalicia watched the crowd ignoring her desire to see the actual reaction of her guards as the brothers shouted their beliefs.
    "So they wish to pull down the king... and then what?"
    The guard leader shrugged. Ivanor, on the other hand, spoke up on the matter. "They don't preach about whether Malaiy can survive a change in government. King Orlaan hasn't always created policies that everyone likes,