She spits at my feet before derisively adding, “I said I can take care of myself. Just do what you are going to do, and send me to wherever I'll call home now.”
I roll my eyes. “You sure have a lot of attitude for someone in your situation, trying to bite the hand that's trying to help.” I can't help the way my heart feels as I look at her, like a wave of emotions pulling me toward her.
“I can handle myself. But just know, if you force yourself on me, I will find a way to gut you in your sleep. So if that's what you're going to do – let's go ahead and get it over with, so death finds one of us much quicker.” She wipes the back of her hand across her cheek, smudging dirt that's already there.
I can't help but laugh. Never has a woman been so bold to speak to me like this. My father's wrong though, I have been with women. I just don't take them against their will, they leave my room happy. And here, if you want to stay that way, you keep quiet.
“What is your name?” I ask the woman, untying the rope from around her chains. I don't have the key to them, my father has the only one, but maybe I can give her some relief. “And I'm not planning on forcing myself on you, when a woman screams I want it to be my name on their lips in pleasure, not pain.”
She stands a bit taller, her chainless shackles around her wrists dig into her skin as she brings her hands up, pushing her hair behind her shoulder and answers, “Anara.”
twenty-two
CARNAXA
The room has a rounded wooden door and a square window opposite the entry way. I’m without a balcony but the window provides much to see. From the large window, I can see the village outside the castle gates and the forest that surrounds us. The village seems to already be awake as sounds of music and voices, along with smells of bread, drift through the air. Nothing happened yesterday after our arrival. Many of us preferred to have dinner inside our rooms after the journey here.While it wasn't a long or terrible trip, I’ve never needed to sleep anywhere but my own bed before, so I was eager to see a large, plush and inviting bed waiting for me.
“Good morning, Princess Carnaxa.” A young woman, probably close to my age, walks in with a tray of fruits and a goblet of water. “My name is Lanie and I will be more than happy to get you, or anyone accompanying you, anything that’s needed while you all stay here.”
“Thank you, Lanie. Can you tell me if anyone from my party is awake yet?” I pop a ripe strawberry in my mouth.
“Yes, my lady, Prince Ereon and Captain Thylas were seen earlier this morning heading to the training yard.BêlRhenor andBêlitSiphonie have not yet left their rooms, but are awake as I served them breakfast myself before coming here.”
“Prince Ereon and Captain Thylas are in the training yard? Together?” My mind remembers the strong words Ereon spoke to Thylas just days before our departure. It would be a worthy fight between the two, but the thought of them harming one another makes me flinch. May the tide take me, I need both to help me survive the days to come.
“Can you help me get dressed and then escort me to the training grounds please?” I gulp down the water quickly and begin dropping my sleeping gown on the floor.
“Yes, Princess Carnaxa. However, I must warn you our training grounds are not exactly a place where royal guests are normally seen. The training grounds are brutal. Queen Natala rarely ever finds herself down there, we have no female soldiers at this time, and many women don’t wish to see the bloodshed. The soldiers who train are few, as our kingdom rarely sees battle-so it's usually just men with grievances toward one another. They like an audience.”
“Either way ...” My mind drifts toward the trouble the two men could find themselves in. If Ereon was to hurt Thylas, who is nowalso Antalis’ ambassador, that would anger my father. If Thylas hurts Ereon, the mistake would anger King Atlas. “Take me.”
Lanie helps me get into a floor-length, grey gown, a Midaeliean style commonly worn. The gown is heavier than I am used to with ribbons that tie up the back. The dress hangs loosely around my waist and has sleeves that are attached separately, going up to just under my shoulders and tying with more ribbon. My shoulders are exposed, but I find the garment comfortable while also being surprisingly airy. Lanie's nimble fingers tie my hair in a variety of braids that cascade down my back. She adds a wooden hairpin, shaped like a tree, to complete the look.
For a quick look, she did great. I put on a pair of loose slippers and my Mother’s crown. In Antalis, I rarely wore any crown. But today, I’ll happily wear it while it reminds me she’s still with me in my heart. The shells that sit atop each other create the crown, coated with silver to keep them everlastingly beautiful. Along with the shells, sapphires and pearls are scattered throughout. I adjust it a bit more but it still feels heavy and I feel off balance.
Lanie smiles at me, her hair twisted and held together by a ribbon on the side of her angular face in a beautiful way. She's a lovely girl as she opens the door for me, her deep-olive dress is in a similar fashion to mine but hits her mid-thigh instead of going all the way to the floor.
“Are you ready, Princess?”
Taking one more glance toward the mirror, I tuck a piece of stubborn hair behind my ear and nod toward her, before following her out the door.
Inside a wooden dome is a large open area with grass and dirt. There are seats around the area for those wanting to witness the training or fighting. The top of the dome has an open circle inthe middle allowing light to filter through while the sides of the dome are also open.
In the middle of the circular area stands Ereon and Thylas. Both are covered in dirt and sweat. Thylas' midnight hair is twisted at the base of his neck, strands escaping around his face as he stands in nothing but his leather breeches and boots. He holds a sword in his left hand and a short dagger in the other.
Ereon stands on the opposite Thylas, his wild curls bouncing as he sways from foot to foot, waiting for Thylas to make a move.Mohashasave me. Ereon wears nothing but leather pants and laced boots as well. He however, holds two large, curved swords that look just as deadly as the expression on his face.
Neither of them notices as I enter and I don't say a word but instead hide in the shadows, Lanie following me. The coolness from the shade surrounds us and I motion for her to stay quiet, she smiles and nods. Her eyes drift toward the men circling each other. Others stand to the side watching as it happens, some even taking bets on who will be the winner. Lanie rubs her chest with her hand, obviously getting excited by what she sees, I can't blame her.
Ereon advances toward Thylas, as he clangs his two swords against Thylas' broadsword. They both grunt and try to push against each other, kicking up dirt. I can see their mouths moving, but can't hear from here what is being said. Ereon drops one sword suddenly, startling Thylas as he brings his left hand to connect to his jaw. Thylas face turns to the side and he loses balance. He tumbles to the dirt, but rolls away and is quickly back on his feet.
“If you would have been born in Shaston, you could have been a decent warrior, Captain.” Ereon spits at the ground as they circle each other again, twirling his remaining sword in his right hand.
Thylas says nothing as he advances again, kicking toward Ereon's feet trying to trip him, as Ereon jumps, his sword in the air. He brings it so close to Thylas' face that I gasp and Lanie grabs the bend of my arm. The short dagger is still in Thylas' hand, the only thing separating him from death by Ereon's blades. Thylas moves his head toward Ereon, headbutting him, and Ereon scrambles back a few steps. Thylas loses no time before kicking Ereon in the side and throws a punch across his face. He then brings his dagger toward Ereon’s throat but Ereon grabs Thylas' wrist.
It's then that I notice Thylas' back. The scars that mark it. The scars that are all my fault. It's been years since he's displayed them so publically. His tattoos flowing across his shoulder blades are beautiful compared to his back. The scars are faded now, but the whipping was one caused by a broken heart and pain, the physical scars reflect that emotional trauma. Lanie takes in a breath beside me, noticing the scars the same moment I do; not many see such a mangled back from someone of importance.
The two men continue to struggle for the upper hand until Ereon glances my way and winks. In the middle of fighting and the man winks at me! He pushes against Thylas who is still on top of him with his dagger almost touching Ereon's throat. Ereon pushes hard enough that Thylas falls backward and Ereon quickly pushes to his feet, and announces my arrival, “My princess, we weren't expecting to see you here.”
