Aiden stood at the window, frost rimming its panes. A deep darkness dominated the view outside, punctuated occasionally by a shaft of pale moonlight breaking through the heavy cloud cover. The darkness of the night aided his thoughts as they traveled beyond the small cabin, nestled at the top of a small hill, deep inside the forest that bordered this part of the empress's estate. His mind worked through the evening’s events, from their arrival at the cultivation palace to his arrival here, punctuated by Davos' inconsolable cries.

  He replayed the scenes on the upper terrace, trying to find answers to questions he didn’t even know to ask. The thought that kept coming to the surface, the one that refused to be ignored despite all the horrors, was when he saw the empress writhing in pain on the dais. While it happened to a guardsman, and then Lord Hakana, Aiden could not shake the feeling that without telling Jovani of the images, what he saw would have happened.

  How did I know?

  It was Jovani's immediate response that made that moment stick with him the most. The captain had not hesitated, had not called him crazy. He acted, trusting in Aiden's … vision. That action probably saved his, Davos' and the empress' lives.

  Foretelling

  Aiden's mind refused to acknowledge the word, the implications. Captain Jovani's eyes had widened when Aiden detailed what he saw, and then the captain whispered the word, before grabbing Aiden’s arm and all but dragging him along. He was calling out commands over his comm unit and approached Lord Hakana and his son before Aiden could put the pieces together. After that, all hell broke loose, and the next thing Aiden knew, he stumbled to the rough hewn floor of the cabin.

  Nothing made sense. For one, Aiden was Senovian, not T’sanni, and Foretelling was most definitely the T’sanni Power. Senovar’s Power was Natural Cultivation. Secondly, he and Davos had not reached their age of majority when they could test for a Power. If those facts were not irrefutable enough, there was the simple fact that Aiden had never taken Lush, the drug required to unleash a Power.

  Three facts that were impossible to ignore. Three facts that were built into the very fabric of Solvonus.

  And yet. Had Aiden really Foretold?

  The assassination, the empress dead on the dais; it was as real to him as his breath misting the windowpane in front of him. That the empress's death happened to two others instead only lent weight to the truth of it; that he Foretold. He had glimpsed the future and acted, through Captain Jovani, changing the events, saving the empress. The Solvonus Power's, their basic capabilities, were well known. Every child in the system learned about Powers in school. Foretelling was the ability to tell the future, and the possibility of changing events.

  A door clicked closed behind him and Aiden heard slippered feet step softly across the thick rugs laid out across the cabin’s floor. The young man forced his thoughts to the present, pushing the swarming questions to the back of his mind. There were more immediate concerns to see to first. His best friend had just witnessed his father dying in the most horrific way. He could wait for answers, his friend needed help.

  Aiden turned from the darkened window to the small main room of the cabin, filled only by the light of a fire crackling in its stone hearth. The empress stood beside the fire, her arms crossed across her chest as she stared into the flames, a deep sadness etched across her features. Aiden absently noticed she had changed, her exquisite dress replaced by loose-fitting pants and a heavy knit sweater. Both looked warm and comfortable, at place in the rustic setting, especially when the young man contrasted it with the suit he still wore.

  “I had to give him something to help him sleep,” she said, not turning from the fire. “I think he may be out for a few days. His world, his soul, is torn apart and his mind is having a hard time reconciling the broken pieces.”

  “Empress,” Aiden said, with a low bow to her back.

  “It's Astra, Aiden,” she said as she turned from the fire to look at him. “Please. Too much has happened to keep to formalities.”

  Aiden nodded, but she could see the young man struggle with the idea of calling her Astra. She didn’t really care. Tonight, her world had nearly been destroyed. Her best friend, Nadim, had fallen protecting her. His son was in turmoil, curled into a ball under heavy blankets on the large bed in the back room. Davos’ fitful rest, possible only because of the drugs she placed in his drink. Astra had forced the distressed young man to swallow the drink between bouts of sobbing, her heart breaking with each cry. She didn’t know what had happened to the Royal Crest, or to all the people who had been there to celebrate her time on the throne.

  Her cabin, a place for refuge from the constant demands of the empire, was one of the few places she allowed herself to relax. She was most herself here and formality had no place within these walls, logged from the surrounding forest itself.

  She had questions, a lot of them. Astra was sure she even had answers for the questions she saw flickering deep within the dark eyes of the man who stood before her. She stepped to a pair of deep armchairs sitting across from each other in front of the glowing fire. She sat, allowing the plushness and warmth to wrap around her, providing what comfort could be found. Astra motioned for Aiden to do the same, pulling up her legs and tucking her feet beneath her as he did as instructed.

  The two of them, one an empress, the other a bodyman to the heir of a Great House, sat staring at each other, the crackling of the burning wood the only sound filling the space between them. Astra watched the young man, his body tense, his posture rigid as he sat on the edge of the seat. She waited, her renown patience on display, for Aiden to relax. Time stretched, becoming meaningless as they stared at each other, Aiden visibly ill at ease with the echoing silence. Astra continued to wait, the patience of a soldier aiding her as she examined Aiden’s features, watching as his walls lowered, brick by brick.

  He looked like a man aged decades within the last few hours, the weight of the world on his shoulders. Finally, with a heavy sigh, Aiden’s posture slumped, and he sank into the deep chair, becoming the young man he was again. Astra saw the intense focus in his eyes dim, and knew he was ready to talk.

  “Aiden,” she said, her voice soft, encouraging. “We need to talk. Are you up to answer some questions?”

  A nod, his only response.

  “Do you have any idea what happened? I was giving my speech, and suddenly I was surrounded by the Royal Crest and people started dying around me.”

  She watched as he collected his thoughts, his hesitation and uncertainty clear. She had excellent instructors, and they taught her to read body language and micro expressions as a language on to their own.

  “It's ok, Aiden,” she said, calmness rippling out from her. “Just tell me what happened. Keep it simple. I won't judge. I promise.”

  Aiden looked at the empress, Astra, trying to figure out what to say. He briefly considered denying any knowledge of tonight's events, but dismissed the thought immediately. Even if she did not wield the Nine, and would know if he lied, he found he wanted to talk about what happened, especially with the woman sitting across from him. If anyone had answers for him, it would be Astra.

  He started his story, his voice soft when he started, but growing in strength as he told his tale. Aiden started with their arrival at the upper terrace and seeing Astra transform from the young T’sanni woman. He saw a small upward tug flicker on her lips at this, but she stayed silent, letting him tell his story. He hesitated a moment, his eyes flickering to hers before his gaze turned to the fire as he continued.

  “A waiter bumped into me, dropping her tray, and that's when I saw … something.”

  Astra continued to wait, her subtle control over people's emotions urging the young man to continue. Of all her Powers it was the one she used least. It felt too invasive, too manipulative. It was the reason she banished her uncle shortly after she took the throne. He pushed her to use the Power to control the people around her, forcing her will on them. He said it was for the betterment of Solvonus, but she knew he just wanted to push his own agenda from behind the throne.

  Small pops as the fire found air pockets in the wood filled the silence between as Aiden gathered his thoughts.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Astra continued to wait, focusing on the young man across from him. She was tempted to use Foretelling as the young man found the right words, tempted to see what fate held in store for him, but she refused, her patience firm.

  “I…,” Aiden said, a furtive look thrown her way before he turned back to the safety of the fire. “I saw … your death … Astra.”

  Aiden took deep breaths, as if the admission was a physical effort for him. He looked at the empress from his peripheral vision, trying to see what reaction she had to the news. As far as he could tell, she sat quietly in her armchair, no overt reaction crossing her features. Aiden worked to calm his breathing, taking slow deep breaths, forcing his body to relax.

  “I saw you drop,” Aiden said, turning to face the empress. “Blood poured from your body, your back arching backwards at an impossible angle.”

  Astra nodded, her only reaction, her suspicion growing.

  “It was … odd. Like a dream,” Aiden continued, finding his voice now that he started. “But, I was awake. I saw you die, the image laid over top what was actually happening. You were giving your speech on the dais, but you also lay on the dais dying. I didn’t know what to make of it, but it freaked me out, and I knew I had to tell someone. Captain Jovani was nearby and must’ve seen something was wrong because he came up to me, and I told him what I saw.”

  Aiden paused, his eyes flitting about the room, everywhere but at the empress.

  Can I really say the next part? Foretelling? It's impossible.

  “Foretelling.”

  Aiden's eyes snapped to the empress, who had sat up, coming to the edge of her seat.

  “… That's … that’s what the captain said too,” Aiden said. “But it can't be, empress. It can't. I haven’t reached my age of majority or been given Lush. I swear. It can't be Foretelling.”

  Astra studied the young man for a long moment before standing up and walking to the back room where Davos rested. She pushed open the door on well-oiled hinges and entered the dark room. Soft distressed mutters came from the opened doorway and Aiden stood, following the empress to the room. He stood in the doorway, looking in, the light from the fire behind him casting flickering shadows across the bedroom. He couldn’t see Astra, but his focus was on the bed at the back of the room, centered between two windows, their shutters drawn against the cold of the nights.

  Davos lay on the bed, a mess of blankets wrapped around his body. Aiden could hear his friend’s labored breathing, broken by the mutterings that drew Aiden to the room. He took a hesitant step through the doorway, but Astra suddenly stood in front of him, appearing from behind the open door. She shook her head, and with a gentle push, sent him back to the fire. Aiden trod back to the pair of chairs, his feet heavy, dragging in the luxurious carpets. He heard encouraging soothing from behind him, the distress mutters of his friend becoming a whisper, replaced by soft snoring a moment later.

  Aiden sat back in his chair, his thoughts heavy, turmoil making a bundle of confusion in his mind. He watched the empress, Astra, as she closed the heavy door, twisting the doorknob so not even a click would disturb his friend on the other side. He watched as she stood, her back to him with her head bowed, resting against the door. Her shoulders shuddered and Aiden thought he heard a soft cry. The empress straightened and turned to look at Aiden, her eyes moist with tears.

  The sight was enough to jolt Aiden from the jumbled knot of thoughts threatening to drag him into the abyss. Astra returned to her seat, letting silent tears fall onto her cheeks. The two of them looked at each other, recognizing the shared sorrow they shared. Aiden gave a solemn nod, a grimace of a wane smile forming on his lips. Astra reciprocated the look, and the two of them sat back in their chairs, allowing grief to bubble to the surface for a time.

  “Aiden.”

  Aiden looked across to her, noticing for the first time that the fire had died down to coals, a dim red glow the only light in the room. He saw the empress sitting at the edge of her chair, her postures both regal and relaxed at the same time. In her lap sat a large wooden box covered with carvings. He looked at it, the workmanship plain, even to him. Astra opened the lid, the scent of vanilla emanating from the box. She reached in and removed a small glass vial, stoppered with a wooden cork and sealed with red wax.

  Astra placed the vial on the wide arm of her chair before closing the lid. She lifted the box and moved it to a low table beside her chair. Astra picked up the vial and held it up, inspecting it, rolling the delicate glass vessel between her fingers. Her eyes focused on Aiden, scrutinizing him for a few heartbeats before nodding to herself.

  “This, Aiden, is Lush.”

  Astra leaned forward, reaching across the small gap between them and took Aiden's hand in hers. She placed the vial in his hand before letting go and sitting back, tucking her legs underneath her.

  Aiden looked at the vial in his hand, and back to Astra. She kept her eyes on him, a curious intensity burning in their depths. He glanced back at the vial, in which lay a tiny petal. Did he sense warmth coming from it? He had seen all the holos and read the books. He knew Powers gained their abilities from this plant. In the stories, the hero always crushed the petal in their fingers and placed it in their mouth.

  “But… Astra, it's not my age of majority. It's close, but …”

  “That's just a formality, Aiden. One created to ensure children didn’t have access to Powers they’re too young to understand, never mind control. Besides, I’m the empress. I can do what I want, right?”

  She chuckled, the quiet humor of it sounding like music to Aiden, who smiled shyly at the comment.

  “I … I guess so.”

  “Good.” Astra said, the humor short lived as she shifted in her seat, making herself comfortable.

  Aiden hoped she would say more, his frustration at her silence mounting, before he mastered it, banishing the feeling. Even if she was ‘Astra’, she was still the empress. One did not get frustrated with the empress. He raised the vial, inspecting it, moving it around in the dim light of the coals, trying to out its secrets. Aiden peered at Astra from behind the vial and saw a single eyebrow raise at his examinations, but she didn’t speak.

  Well, guess I may as well do this thing.

  Aiden worked a fingernail under the thin layer of wax, working it off the vial, exposing the cork. He pinched the cork between two fingers, his other hand lightly grasping the vial, careful not to break the delicate glass. He pulled the cork out and the waft of vanilla grew stronger.

  Is that how Lush smells? They never talk about that. Odd.

  Aiden upended the vial, giving it a gently shake and the small petal inside fell into the palm of his waiting hand. It barely registered to his touch, almost ethereal. He placed the vial in his lap before pinching the petal between two fingers. His light touch immediately crushed it, the cloying scent of vanilla close to overwhelming. The moisture that dribbled between his fingers surprised Aiden, the amount seeming more than the petal could contain.

  He lifted his fingers to his mouth, entirely focused on the Lush he held, its essence the only thing that mattered in the moment. His fingers paused at his lips, a brief hesitation before he placed his fingers in his mouth, feeling the silky liquid of the Lush plant slide across his tongue, almost of its own accord, making its way to the back of his throat and down into his body.

  One breath. A heartbeat.

  Aiden waited.

  Another breath. Another heartbeat. Two.

  Nothing.

  A third breath, still noth —

  Aiden's mind exploded outward, escaping the mortal confines of space and time.

  He was on a distant planet.

  In the past

  The future.

  He saw himself, an old man, wrinkles marking the passage of time. He was in a garden, growing plants of curious origins, his hands gesturing, as if he led an orchestra. The garden responded to his movement; the plants growing and shaping themselves according to his wishes.

  A barren desert stretched out before him, the sun beating down on his bare head. Cries of anguish emanated from behind him, and Aiden turned. Bodies lay strewn about him, in various states of death. He stretched out a hand, his eyes growing wide at the sight of blood covering it. A shout, made up from a thousand voices, rang out, and he pulled his eyes away from the dripping blood to see a horde of enemies racing over a close dune. He knew they were here for him, and he knew they could not win.

  Aiden raced through countless visions, somehow knowing if they were in the past, the present, or the future. He knew if he saw himself, or through the eyes of someone else. He saw lives born and lives taken. Each scene became more fantastic than the last until it was too much for his young mind to comprehend.

  Astra sat in her armchair, the blanket that hung on its back, now wrapped around her, the cabin growing cool as the fire died, the heat from the last few coals almost gone. She saw Aiden's eyes, still open, but seeing far away places, darting this way and that. Astra knew what he saw, not the exact nature, but knew he was seeing countless histories, past, present and future, play out for him. She saw the moment his mind finally succumbed to the onslaught of images, turning away from their torrent, building up walls, trying to protect itself. Astra watched as Aiden's eyes drifted shut, his body slumping over in his chair, passed out from the impossible exertion Lush had just put his mind and body through.

  Astra stood, stepping to the hearth and placing a few pieces of dried hardwood on the dying coals, waving her hand. A breeze filled the hearth, breathing life into the few remaining coals, their insatiable hunger renewing. Flames crawled from under the wood, the fire regaining its strength, lending its warmth to the room once again. Astra walked across the cabin, thankful for the heavy rugs that helped keep the cold from seeping into her feet. Reaching a small kitchen, she rummaged about for a few moments before heading back to her armchair, her hands wrapped around a warm mug, steam rising above its rim.

  Throughout the night, she kept the fire stoked and made tea as it suited her, always watching the young man slumped in his chair. Astra’s suspicions grew into certainty as she watched with fascination the scene playing out around her. As dawn’s light crept through the windows, the comfortable, yet spartan cabin began to fill with plants and flowers of all varieties; extending from the young man asleep in front of her as if he was the epicenter of an explosion of life.

  Light streamed into the cabin, the sun high in the cloudless sky, as Aiden stirred. A groan escaped his lips as his stiff body protested hours of inactivity. He opened his eyes, the brightness overwhelming him at first. He squinted into the light as his eyes adjusted and the blurry outline across from his resolved into Astra, sitting in her chair, wrapped in a warm blanket as she sipped at her tea. She placed the mug on the table beside her and sat forward, reaching for Aiden's hands.

  “Welcome back. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”