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Adrika
I was a child of seven when I last encountered Prince Rian. He seemed much older then, at twice my age. He had given the impression that he hated everyone at that time. It was hard to reconcile that teenager with the man who had stood in my father’s court this morning. The gap in age no longer seemed significant.
I tried to not show interest in what had transpired as I waited, hoping my father would say anything about the prince. To have the lost prince of Gilvary show up here after all of these years was the most exciting thing to happen in this kingdom since . . . well, since before Mother’s death a couple of years ago. It seemed everything good in my world disappeared the day she passed away.
Why would Father keep Prince Rian prisoner? Did he not fear retaliation from the two brothers? I had seen the condition of our prisons. Just the time the prince had spent in one of those cells was enough to bring the wrath of his entire family down on our kingdom. If a battle ensued, we would lose. Our warriors did not compare to those of the rest of the country. It was also surprising that Prince Rian had not earned further punishment for his brazen actions as he flirted with me on his way out.
One stolen glance at my father told me that he was deep in thought. My uncle made a noise as if he meant to speak, but Father lifted his hand in a command for silence. Knowing him, he had started making some plan as soon as he figured out the identity of our prisoner. Father was always making plans. Most were harmless, as they never made it into action. My father was a thinker more than anything else.
Only when he spoke to me was I allowed to look at him directly without fear of reprimand. “Daughter, I would like for you to become reacquainted with Prince Rian.”
I knew this was not a request but a command. “Do you want me to . . .”
“No questions. Just do as I say. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Father.” I stood and curtsied before making my way quietly from the room.
Uncle Galik began speaking in a low rapid speech as soon as I started walking away. I knew better than to dawdle. I only heard do you think that is wise considering . . . Considering what? That we knew nothing of Prince Rian? That he could bring harm to this kingdom’s only heir? That my uncle had an agenda that had nothing to do with the prince?
Father obviously wanted me to spy on Prince Rian, but how was I to know what information I was to try and garner if he would not tell me? I stomped up the stairs, taking out my frustration. There was no need to hide it now that I was away from Father’s presence.
I entered my bed chamber and began stripping off my silken court attire as soon as I shut the door. The clothes I wore when presented in public were designed after the clothes worn in Cordelia—my mother’s homeland. The blue tunic, embellished with embroidery and beads on the gleaming silk fabric, had me looking like a foreigner to this country, rather than its princess.
Every activity in my life had a special outfit to go with it. Why could I not just go through my wardrobe and choose whatever I fancied for that moment like any other woman would?
Damini came in with a gasp just as my outfit slid to the floor. She ran to the glass door leading out to the veranda and jerked the drapes closed. “Did you not think to close the drapes or ask me to do it before you stripped? What if someone saw you?”
“So, let them look.” Truthfully, I had not given the open drapes a thought as I undressed, but I would never admit to such foolishness.
She mumbled under her breath as she picked up my clothes and began placing them neatly in my wardrobe. I wanted to remind her of how many times she had reprimanded me for the same thing. The servant had been with me since I was born. My mother had wanted a nursemaid from her home country to look after her daughter, one to train me in the “old ways.” It was so frustrating to be handed a different set of rules from anyone else living in Kearnley, and this in addition to the ones set for royalty.
I sat at my dressing table, staring into the ornate mirror as I brushed my hair. I twisted it into a knot and used one of my hand painted picks to weave through the knot, holding it in place. I could see Damini’s reflection shaking her head in disapproval.
“How am I to get your evening dress over your head with that thing sticking out of your hair?”
That was not the problem. The problem was that my mother deemed it inappropriate for a woman not yet married to wear her hair up. I was never sure if it was one of the old ways or just another of the many rules Mother had made up. Two years gone, and I was still being stifled by her teachings.
“I am going for a walk before supper.”
“We do not say supper. You know this. You just like to vex me.”
“All of Kearnley says supper, but I must call it the evening meal. You know, maybe I would not vex you if you stopped treating me as a child.”
“You will be a child until you are married, then your husband will tell you what to do. I just hope your future spouse has the constitution to finally put you in your place.” She snatched my hiking clothes from a hanger and slung them across the bed.
I slipped into the sturdy pair of trousers and pulled the sweater over my head. A snicker sounded from behind me when it caught on the stick holding my hair up. I twisted it up with less care this time and replaced the hair ornament. I slid my feet into my boots and began tightening the straps.
“I heard your father was going to try the prisoner today. He was not released, was he?”
“You have not heard? It turns out that our prisoner is none other than Prince Rian Barnali of Gilvary. You know, the one who has been missing. Father should have let him go, but instead he is holding him here. The prince was offered a room in the castle, though I doubt that will make up for how he has been treated up until this point.”
Damini looked up from rearranging dried flowers in the vase on my bedside table. “It is not up to you to question your father, and he cannot be blamed for what he did not know. I am sure the prince would have been given accommodations sooner had his identity been revealed upon his arrival.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Do you think his family will see it that way?”
“That is none of your concern. Let your father worry about appeasing the other kingdoms, and you just worry about yourself.” She came to me and placed her hand on my cheek. “Maybe you should refrain from going on a hike until we get to know this prince. What if he should approach you?”
“Actually, Father has asked me to spend time with Prince Rian. Maybe I should be the obedient daughter and seek him out now. I wonder which room he was placed in.”
“Oh, just go on your hike already. You are wasting time.” She crossed her arms and sat down on the side of my bed.
Damini knew I was baiting her. I would never go searching for the prince. If I happened to be in his presence, then I would gather any information that might appease my father. Otherwise, I would keep to myself as usual.
I bent down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Mini, please do not fret so. I am going on my hike now. I will have my staff and can take care of myself. I will be back in plenty of time to dress for the evening meal.”
I had made life difficult for her these last eighteen years, but I still cared deeply for the woman, and I knew she cared for me. My life would be much lonelier than it already was without her.
Wrapping myself in my cloak, I took up my staff and stepped out onto the veranda. I breathed deeply of the crisp mountain air. Snow was usually still thick on the ground in mid-April here in Dermot, but not so in recent years. With the drought we suffered these past five years, everything had changed. The snow left now was more of a muddy slush in the more frequently traveled places.
The castle was built into the lower part of Mount Cullan. The private verandas leading out from each room on this side were nothing but squares of packed earth. It was more of a tiered garden than anything else. Paths wound around the foot of the mountain. They were off-limits to everyone but the occupants of the castle. I tried to spend a little time out here daily. It was the only form of exercise I was allowed.
I walked across the flat surface and was about to take a step down to the path when I was startled by the voice of our prisoner. “I would not go there if I were you. You may be treated to a stay in one of your lovely prison cells if you dare to step foot on the sacred mountain.”
Rian was standing near the castle wall on the veranda next to mine. He was without a cloak. His arms were crossed at his chest, causing his tunic to pull tight across his broad shoulders. He had the build of a warrior. Come to think of it, none of our warriors were built like him. I felt a moment of panic at being alone with him. At my quick glance around, I noticed a warrior on the path just off from where the prince was standing.
“Do not worry, Princess, you are safe with me.”
I could feel the heat rising to my face at being caught. I hated that he had noticed my fear. I hoped to convey contempt rather than embarrassment as I glared up at the smirk on his face.
“Let me assure you, Soldier, I can take care of myself.” I thumped the end of my staff on the ground for emphasis.
“Are you trying to imply that your parents allowed you to be trained to use that stick? I find that highly unlikely.”
As a matter of fact, they had. It was the only thing outside the normal strictures placed on me that my mother had allowed. She wanted her only child to be protected at all times. Since I had a tendency of wandering off at an early age, she had reluctantly agreed to the lessons. I refused to answer his question. It was probably best for him to think me completely helpless.
“How would you know anything about what my parents would allow?”
He looked up toward the peak of the mountain and then back at me. “I was a teenager when I left Kearnley. I remember plenty from my time here.” The meaning behind this statement seemed to run deeper than our current conversation. “You were still an infant then. You probably do not even remember me.”
“There are only seven years between us. That would hardly make me an infant when you left Kearnley. And I do remember you. You are just as mean spirited and cocky as you were back then.”
The smile slid from his face, and his brows knitted in concern. I had not expected my words to affect him but they obviously had. “I am truly sorry that you think so of me. I cannot deny the person I was back then, but I hoped I had matured since that time. Please forgive me.”
I did not know what to say. Should I apologize for my words? I remembered then that my father had asked me to get to know this man. I felt I had somehow failed and had no idea how to redeem myself. In the time it had taken me to contemplate any further action on my part, he had decided to end this meeting.
He bowed low before me. “I will keep you no longer from your journeys, Princess.” He then turned and went back inside the castle.
What a strange thing for him to say. I noticed before that his accent and phrasing were a little off from the people of Gilvary. Maybe that was what made him seem more interesting to me than he should be. What had he been doing these past ten years? General Cormac said he had been a soldier in the country of Rivania. I could not imagine why a prince would take on such a role.
I had been standing there staring at his door for too long. What if he saw me through the window? Hastily, I turned to make my way down the path. I had become chilled from my lack of activity, and I had promised Damini I would be back in time to dress for the evening meal—two reasons for more vigorous action. I glanced back at his door one more time before it was cut from my view. For the first time, it struck me as surprising that Father would allow him to be so close to my own chambers. What could he be thinking?