Fanfic

Jonathon of Cont� sat in his conference room waiting for Numair Salamin - the most powerful mage in Tortall - to arrive. The mage had said that he had something very important that needed to be discussed immediately.
He rushed in with a flurry and sat down quickly. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I saw this amazing new breed of-"
"It's quite alright, Numair." Jon said hastily. If he allowed Numair to start, he might never finish. "You said you had news?"
"Of course, Milord. There has been discovery of powerful untamed magic coming from the strangest place: The Asylum for the Mentally Deranged. I looked into this magic and found that it came from a young woman, a ten-year-old girl. I looked into this young lady's past and discovered something disturbing; she is the only daughter of Roger of Cont�."
"That's impossible! Roger never had any children! Not to mention, if the girl is ten, Roger was dead when she was born!" Jon exclaimed, the mention of his dead cousin making his face pale.
"That is true, however, that does not mean that he was dead when she was conceived. He died seven months before her birth, meaning he had plenty of time to become involved with Miss Eldorne." Numair said calmly.
"What do you expect me to do about this?" Jon asked in confusion.
"I expect you to attempt to befriend the child." Numair said. "It would be the wisest action."
"What ?" Jon yelled in shock. "You expect me to be civil and friendly to the girl whose father killed my mother and attempted to kill me numerous times? A girl whose parents both led a siege against the throne? Why?"
"War isn't that far off. After the appearance of immortals and the attack of Carthaki Raiders last year, you need every warrior you can get. At a week old, this girl had the power to unknowingly perform "The Sorcerer's Hands." That is a spell learned only by Carthaki red robes and Mithran Masters. Her raw powers surpass those of every mage I've ever met, saving myself and other black-robes. The only Tortallan Mages with power above that level in history are Si-Cham, Thom of Trebond, and the Duke of Cont�."
Numair paused to sigh seriously before looking at Jon levelly. "I know Emperor Ozorne very well. It would be very easy for him to convince an angry child to use her power to their side. With proper training, she could easily be Tortall's greatest asset or it's greatest danger."
Jon sighed, he knew this was for the best of Tortall. "Fine then, I shall contact her and see what I can do."

*~*~*

King Jonathon of Cont� IV walked through the iron doors of the Asylum for the Mentally Deranged, and looked for an attendant to direct him to the young girl. Numair had informed him that the girl had been named Astrosa. Finding an attendant finally, he said, "I have been told that this is the Asylum."
The attendant looked at him kindly. "And who might you be?" she said in a sickeningly sweet voice, slowly forming each word.
"King Jonathon of Cont� IV, Ruler of Tortall."
"Oh." she said simply. "We have a special "Royal Suite" for you to stay in." The woman led Jon to a door that he saw was labeled, "Identity Crisis Cases."
Jon faced her in horror. "I am not a patient! I am Jonathon of Cont�!"
"Of course you are, Majesty." she said with a low bow and a patronizing smile. Her bow was interrupted by the head of the Asylum's arrival.
"Ah, Your Majesty! Good, you've arrived; now I'll bring you to the girl you requested to see." Jon walked off with him, leaving the pale attendant staring at their backs in shock.
When Jon entered the room, he thought it was empty. Then he noticed a girl in a chair, staring blankly at the magicked windows. Jon cleared his throat to get her attention and she spoke coldly, in a voice that chilled the very marrow of his bone. "Yes, Your Majesty, I'm aware of your presence. If I cared you were there, I would've acknowledged you."
"H-how do you know who I am if you haven't turned around?" Jon said nervously.
"It's simple," she said. "I felt your magic all the way over here. It's very distinguishable: the Gift, the Magic of Tortall and the Dominion Jewel, and Bazhir magic. No others have that combination."
"That sort of sense is the work of fully trained mages!" Jon exclaimed in shock. "How can a ten-year-old girl do that?"
"My magic is unusual." she said shortly. "Now, let's talk business. You did come here to discuss that with me, did you not?"
"Jon was taken aback and he stumbled for an answer. "No, I came to talk." he said soothingly. Immediately he felt the air grow heavy and she began to glow.
"I am not to be treated like a child, and I do not like liars, Jon." Astrosa said softly. Then she breathed in and the magic faded from the room. "Talk then." she said mockingly. "It isn't as if I had somewhere better to go." she added with a sharp laugh.
"Let's start at the beginning." Jon said. "Astrosa is a pretty name, how did you get it?"
She laughed again, although her laugh was frighteningly hollow for her age. "It's a scholar's joke, I wouldn't expect you to get it. Astrosa is a word from the language of the Old Ones; it means Insanity of the Blood."
Jon inwardly thought the name was fitting, although he did not say as much aloud. "I didn�t realize Delia was a scholar."
"She isn't." Astrosa said softly. "My father was. As far as I can tell, he made sure my mother would get pregnant so that he would have a legacy. At the time of course, he had no intention of dying. I was to be a male, and help his conquest of Tortall. He sent my mother my name from the grave."
"And how did a ten-year-old girl come to an Asylum� at a mere week's age. I heard that you performed a spell. A complicated one at that! How did you do it?"
She smiled bitterly. "The advantages of having Roger of Cont� for a father rest in talent. Magic spells come easy to me; especially when I'm angry. As for the asylum; it was the only place I could go anyway." her eyes grew sharper, if that was even possible. "I doubt anyone cared enough to send me elsewhere. You Majesty, didn't care even to look in on me until you felt I was a risk to Tortall."
"From what I hear, you're dangerous. It's overwhelming!" Jon said defensively, forgetting that he hadn't known until yesterday that the girl existed.
Astrosa smiled a wolf's grin. "So, you say it had nothing to do with my parents. You have a son my age I believe, Roald?" When he nodded, she continued. "So, if he'd had magic like mine, he'd be here as well?" When Jon was silent, she laughed. "I didn't think so."
Jon pondered for a moment. This girl was dangerous� and so angry. Perhaps it would be safer just to have her killed.
"I wouldn't even try if I were you." Astrosa said. "Oh don't look so surprised; you honestly thought I couldn't read minds?" She sighed and said, "Listen. I wouldn't hesitate to fight for Tortall in this war� if the right price was named."
"And what, pray tell, do you want?" Jon snapped angrily.
"Freedom." she said softly. "Now leave so you can spend your hours pondering what should be an easy decision."