Chapter 10: Mirrors

Oyael stretched out her hands and spoke the words of the spell. The stone flickered, and she felt its light pierce her own mind, as she saw the memories of this stranger as her own...

The wedding, though held in the palace of Aquliaria, was a small and private one--small by the standards of the Astras, at least. Many of them had positions in the government of one or another of the rebuilt nations of Terra Prime, so their weddings were state occasions, signs sent to the public that there was hope after the Phage and nuclear fire had struck the world. Ten years and many Freds and Astras later, this wasn't quite as necessary. The world was on its feet and currently peaceful, even if that peace felt fragile and tenuous. So this wedding was for the Champions themselves and no others, save for the clerk at the registry--a woman named Praxedes, who'd no doubt have some interesting stories to tell her friends and family.

The first of the Freds and Astras, the ones who'd passed through Walants, a group with closely connected lives, danced a complex serpentine dance together that must have taken a good deal of practice. Dragon Fred and Malachi D'Honaire--both in human form, a rare occasion for that Fred--performed an elegant pas de deux. Joan, lacking a partner, danced around the room with everyone who'd let her, and all the eyes were on her, watching her swift, furiously graceful motion. The Sigins sat at table together, trading puns, while the Synizns kept their hands over their ears. Even the first Andrea was there, watching silently and eating cake.

Manfox Fred did a whirling dance with the two Alicias he'd married, while Alicia 2, the human one, clapped for them. Astra 8a sat beside her--the two "odd analogs out" had been getting closer in recent months. Even here, Alicia 2 was a little tense, for she'd come before the wedding to investigate rumors of corpses found in Themiscyra, drained of blood. Still, Astra 9 hoped she'd find some moments of happiness.

The two Doctors who were there--the ones called Doctor What and Doctor Which--joined in the dance, when dragged to the floor by Melissa. They danced with each other and executed a perfect Venusian flibbertigibbet, which from what Astra heard was impressive for a pair with only two arms and legs apiece. Diana Walker, ex-Military empress of the Dwarves, played a song called "Love Don't Roam" and said something about how "the world doesn't end when the Doctor dances."

Not all the Champions were present, though. There was a sadness in Synizn 2's eyes--his Sigin was off with Doctor Who, exploring the many worlds and repairing the damage done to the Dark Tower. No one knew when his group would return--though in theory, with his TARDIS repaired, they could at any time.

"So," said Andrea 2, standing with Annafrid and Astra 9 while Jarlath exchanged words with his brother, "Amazing, huh? How'd a little weirdo like Jarlath get to marry two gorgeous women like you? I mean, I like him, and I'm glad this happened, but I never woulda seen it coming."

Astra laughed. "Well. He was a mage and a pickpocket for many years, and you don't get to practice those trades without being skilled with your fingers." Annafrid nodded vigorously.

"Well, catch you later," said Andrea, who headed off to congratulate the groom.

"So, what do you think of your new family?" said Astra, regarding her new "sister."

"God, I don't know," said Annafrid. "There's so much of everything. And everybody." She laughed.

"Well I grew up here," said Astra, "so it's completely normal to me."

"Hard to believe I'll ever get used to it."

"If it's too much... We can leave if you want. I'm sure the two of us can drag Jarlath off with little effort." She winked conspicuously.

"Eh, I'll give it another shot," said Annafrid. She hugged Astra goodbye and ventured back onto the dancefloor, joining together with Joan. Astra watched Annafrid--she lacked Joan's grace, but she threw herself fully into the dance. Astra 9 was so absorbed in watching her that she almost didn't notice Astra 10 sit beside her. "You're falling for her, aren't you," whispered her older sister.

Astra 9 crossed her arms. "Don't do that." Astra 10 wasn't just her analog from another world, she was almost the same person, the one who would have been her future self before the time paradox with the giants. All of that gave Astra a headache--understanding time travel was something she was more than happy to leave to Jarlath. But she knew it meant that she and Astra 10 were closer than the others--sometimes too close for comfort.

"If you are, you should tell them," said Astra 10. "Sooner rather than later. Remember what happened to Penthisilea, Camilla and Xanthe in the days of Queen Otrera."

"But what if Annafrid doesn't feel the same way? Or what if Jarlath can't deal with that? Things are strange and shaky enough as they are."

"If the love between you is strong enough, you'll sort it out," said Astra 10. "I have faith in you and yours, sister." She hugged Astra 9, then left to join her Fred. All this coming and going.

Astra 9 looked around the room, taking an inventory of who was there--and who wasn't. Gloria was absent. The daughter of Weylan Rift had been Astra's closest friend growing up, and one of the people she'd most hoped to see. She'd grown up to aid her father as protector of Walants, and since Tarin and Rift weren't there either, so most likely she was looking after some business there with them. But...

There'd been a few times when something had almost happened between the two of them. Astra had left that in the past long ago, but had Gloria? She was just the kind who'd nurse a grudge in secret. She was ambitious, brilliant, clever--perhaps too clever for her own good--and kept much hidden. Not unlike Astra 9's new husband. She 9 had a type, it seemed--one different from the other Astras, interestingly enough.

Of course, there was a Gloria here. Charmina, one of the newest Champions, was her analog. She'd spent all her time dancing with her companions, Astra 13 and Angela, and Astra 9 was wondering if the wedding had given them some ideas. What had gone differently there? Perhaps it was Angela--a Protector, a being created to look after the vulnerable, said to have the power to read hearts. An artificial construct--like Annafrid. Mirrors within mirrors. Astra looked at her analog and Charmina dancing happily together and sighed. Living on a world surrounded with other versions of oneself made it hard to avoid thinking about what might have been.

Then she saw Queen Astra at the door, talking with someone who wasn't a Champion--a page. Had some emergency matter of state come up? Or something related to the vampire rumors? Then another page walked in and handed a letter to Astra 9, scrutinizing her carefully to make sure she was the right one. "For you, Lady," she said.

"Thank you," said Astra. She opened the letter, written in a clear, even hand. It read:

Dear Astra,

The Sons of Aymon were planning to sabotage your wedding. I took care of them. Consider that my gift. No, I don't have any hard feelings, in case you're wondering. I hope you'll be happy.

Love,

Gloria

Astra found herself smiling. Gloria could be lying through her teeth, of course. She often did--and it was possible she couldn't bring herself to lie in person. Still, she wanted them to stay friends. That was a huge weight off Astra's shoulders. She tucked the letter into her dress and rose to join the dance.

It would end soon; after it was the play--A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of those plays that one of Sigin's analogs had written as "Shake-spear," with Fred and Astra 10 and 11 playing Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia.

But she'd seen that play. She remembered sitting in the audience and laughing at Puck's antics with her husband and his wife.

Which meant this was a memory and something was trying to trap her, break into her mind.

She pulled her mind back into another memory, the psychic defense class she'd taken with Doctor What. Concentrate on a symbol, he'd told her, something with great meaning for you. She imagined a curved triskelion--a symbol of the Aquilarian royal house, drawn from the ancient cult of the threefold goddess. The symbol blazed with light and power.

And Oyael pulled herself out and collapsed to the floor just as the palantiri crumbled to dust.

Mist seeped into the room, and the man called Denom, who may have been Lord Frederigo D'Honaire, burst in with some of the strangers. They helped the red-haired woman to her feet and walked up. Oyael herself couldn't move a muscle. Her mind was still reeling from all the new knowledge it had taken in. Other worlds that were like hers but different, where knights kept company with dragons, where different versions of the same people walked together... Was it all a demonic illusion, or could it be real?

1. The Champions and Fred escaped, heading for the forests. But first, they had to obtain some mercury.

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