The Kingdom of Arteria was a vast, green rolling lush land of promise. Standing on the highest turret of Castle Caine, Princess Kaylee could see for miles, overtop of the village houses, past the woodlands, and behind her, to the misty blue where the ocean and sky merged. It was a beautiful kingdom, and she was both proud to be next in line for the throne and understood how fortunate she was to have been born here, during this time of relative peace. She tried to remember that as she took a step backward, preparing to re-enter the castle and join her parents for a dinner party celebrating the arrival of her cousin, Princess Jenna of Clovington.
“You don’t have to act as if you’re a captive,” her lady-in-waiting, and good friend, Annetta, reminded her. “It’s not as if you don’t do enough traipsing about as you please.”
Kaylee rolled her eyes and tipped her head down to meet her friend’s gaze. She had two inches on Annetta, and she liked to remind her of that whenever she had the chance. “I don’t feel as if I am a prisoner,” she assured the duchess. “It’s only… I want to go out there and explore. And Father won’t let me.”
“For good reason,” Annetta pointed out. Though the Duchess of Corona was only two years her senior, she often acted like an old maid in Kaylee’s opinion. “You’ve heard about the raids. It isn’t as if it’s perfectly safe now, as it has been before.”
Again, Kaylee’s eyes moved backward of their own accord. “Everyone knows Arteria is the safest kingdom in the world. No fool would ever dare attack our lands. My father’s army would slaughter them before they stepped foot on Arterian soil.” Done with the conversation, Kaylee turned and headed for the open door that led to the stairs. Ever since her father, King Caleb, had forbidden her from leaving the castle, almost a month ago, this had been her only taste of freedom--well, except for the few times she’d escaped to the woods to ride with her cousin Marcus and their friend Daniel. Of course, Annetta had come along, too, and while Kaylee had been certain Annetta would tell on them, she hadn’t. Yet.
Kaylee’s slippers hardly made a sound as she pounded down the steps in frustration. She wished she’d been wearing thick, black boots, the kind that would make a statement. The kind that would emphasize her disgust at not being able to walk out the front door any time she liked. Annetta followed in silence, but Kaylee could tell the duchess was simply weighing her options when it came to a response. How far was she willing to push the princess’s patience?
Too far. “It isn’t an army your parents fear,” Annetta explained, a few steps behind her. “Raiders are different, Kaylee. You know that. They are stealthy. They can sneak through breaks in our defenses.”
Stopping at a landing, Kaylee turned to face her. “You honestly think that’s possible? That a raiding party from Gradenia could get through either of my uncles’ defenses--through Clovington or Zurconia--and somehow end up in the forest near Castle Cain undetected? I don’t mean to be harsh, Annetta, but I’m afraid you’ve gone mad.” Kaylee spun around and continued on her way, hoping she hadn’t been too offensive, but then she didn’t care all that much. If she hurt Annetta’s feelings, she’d get over it quickly enough.
“You’re right, Princess.” Annetta’s tone dripped with sarcasm. She even went so far as to cross her arms under her ample bosom. “I’m sure you know far more about the situation than your father, the most highly regarded strategist in the history of the entire world.” Kaylee scoffed, thinking the duchess must know she sounded silly making such an exaggeration. “You go ahead and do as you please, and when the raiders kidnap you, the way they have princesses in several other kingdoms, I’ll tell your parents I thought you were asleep in your bed and had no idea you’d somehow managed to escape out one of the side doors when the guards were off taking a piss.”
Again, Kaylee wheeled around, her pink gown spinning out from her ankles far enough to whip into Annetta’s shins. While she wanted to address the fact that she’d snuck out with the guards standing right next to their posts, she felt more compelled to speak about the alleged number of kidnappees. “Several? Several other kingdoms? Do you believe everything you overhear Caroline saying in the kitchen? I know of three that have been reported, and believe me, I don’t think any of it’s true. All of those kingdoms are far north of here. Not a single one of our neighbors have had any incidents at all.”
Shaking her head, Annetta said, “I do believe it is at least three. Perhaps that is because only two neighboring kingdoms have princesses, Kaylee. Why else do you think your Uncle James has brought his daughter here? It has to be so that she is further away from Norterly, the closest kingdom to have lost a daughter. Certainly, King James believes Jenna will be safer here. Behind the thick walls of Castle Caine--not out in the wild where you wish to go.”
Kaylee narrowed her eyes. It was doing her no use to try and explain to Annetta what it was she felt in her heart, a calling, a need for adventure, to see the world. After eighteen years of trying to explain, she’d hoped her closest friend would understand her a little better, but every time the subject came up, she took her parents’ side. Rather than trying once more, Kaylee turned and headed the last few steps down the stairs. While she was excited to see Jenna, she knew her cousin was almost as timid as Annetta, and something told Kaylee her exploration into the forest would be put on hold indefinitely, now that Princess Jenna had arrived at Castle Caine.