by Noah Harris
“Do you need something Orrin?” Philip asked curtly.
Orrin’s faint smile never flickered. “The servants told me you had locked yourself away, I came to make sure all was well.”
Philip fought not to roll his eyes. “I’m sure you have. I can assure you, when the time comes, I will be more than ready to play my part.”
“I have nothing but the betterment of the kingdom in mind Prince Philip,” Orrin said.
Jaeger’s face was completely still, but Philip didn’t need an expression to know what he was thinking. The sorcerer was the reason Philip and Jaeger had been forced to be so careful in their interactions with one another over the years. Wherever they went in the world, it was very likely someone was serving as the sorcerer’s eyes and ears, always keeping their attention on the Prince and his favored personal guard.
“I have no intention of ruining your prophecy,” Philip told him as he adjusted the buckle of his belt.
Orrin’s gaze barely flickered between Philip and Jaeger. “A prophecy meant to keep our kingdom safe and prosperous.”
“So I have been reminded for as long as I care to remember,” Philip said.
Jaeger shifted, an unspoken caution for Philip to behave himself. Philip could smell no anger coming from Jaeger, but the sharp smell of fear was beginning to fill the air. Jaeger had never liked the sorcerer, even as a boy, and had grown to fear him as they’d grown older. At first, Philip thought it had to do with the amount of power Orrin could possibly have over him, but Jaeger insisted it was the influence Orrin had over the court, and the King himself. It would be all too easy for Orrin to pull the right strings, and both Philip and Jaeger could end up in more dire straits than they were already.
Philip took a steady breath. “I have not forgotten my role.”
“I would not believe you would,” Orrin replied pleasantly.
It was easy for the sorcerer to be pleasant, since everything seemed to be going his way. He had long ago made a prophecy about a ‘werewolf crowned in mistletoe’ and how it would bring prosperity to the kingdom unlike any seen before. So long as Philip, who was supposedly meant to be the werewolf in question, bound himself in marriage to a person of royalty, all would grow great in power and peace. If he failed to fulfill the prophecy however, Philip, his father, and the whole kingdom would suffer, experiencing great loss and death.
Everyone believed the sorcerer’s prophecy, and Philip himself had no reason not to. Yet, the prophecy was vague, and subject to Orrin’s own interpretation. No one had seen the prophecy save for Orrin, so they were forced to take everything he said as truth. Not that Orrin had done anything to prove himself disloyal, but neither had he proven himself worthy of anyone’s love. The only reason, in Philip’s mind, the sorcerer held power was because of the prophecies he’d foretold in the past, much to the kingdom’s benefit.
“I see you haven’t chosen to be completely alone,” Orrin noted, eyeing Jaeger.
Philip bristled, fighting to keep his voice even. “No, I was doing just fine until you came in to check on me.”
“I was referring to your personal guard,” Orrin said.
Philip smiled at Orrin’s reflection in the mirror. “My apologies, I’ve been attempting to keep myself isolated save for my family and those closest to me. My friend is welcome to keep me company while I prepare for the upcoming festivities.”
If the jab had any effect, Orrin didn’t show it. “Prepare? You make it sound as if you were marching off to war, rather than meeting your bride to be.”
The comment about war wasn’t missed on Philip, and it took a moment of restraint not to throw something at Orrin’s smug smile. One of the many ways Orrin had worked to ensure everything would go to plan was to subtly threaten to conscript Jaeger into the army. It hadn’t been a direct threat, but all it had taken was for Orrin to find Jaeger and Philip sitting too close to one another for him to find an excuse to bring up how conscription in the army worked. Even a member of the personal guard could be pulled into the army if the need was great enough, and Philip had no doubt the sorcerer would ensure there was sufficient need. The explanation, though casual, had carried the necessary weight for Philip to take it seriously, and he’d been careful about how Orrin found him and Jaeger together.
“Well, with all of these great festivities coming our way, we shouldn’t need to worry about the war much longer, now should we?” Philip asked, turning his attention back to his attire.
“It will be nice, won’t it? No longer carrying the banners of our kingdom northward, worrying if war might come to our doorstep, sleeping peacefully and not being roused in the dead of night for an emergency war meeting. Yes, I think this alliance with the Northern Kingdom will bring exactly the sort of prosperity our kingdom so sorely needs,” Orrin said.
Philip snorted. “And I’m sure the Arden people are going to be just as thrilled as you are.”
“Our kingdom will forever keep their interest in mind, as we always have,” Orrin assured him.
The Forest of Arden lay dead center between the southern and northern kingdoms. The people of the Forest were mysterious, and their woodland home was full of both wonder and terror in equal measure. The people of Philip’s kingdom regarded it as a place to be respected, feared a little, but revered completely. Those of the Northern Kingdom however, were of the mind that the place was meant to be used as a resource, where they could harvest their timber. The people of Arden had resisted them over the years which left the Northern Kingdom with a fear-filled and hateful attitude toward the wild packs living there. They regarded the packs of Arden as more wolf than man, and their brutal treatment and near occupation of the Forest had been one of the main reasons both northern and southern kingdoms had been at war.
“The north fears us, they always have. Until recently, they’ve refused to treat with us, calling us beasts and all manner of other spiteful names. They despise werewolves,” Philip reminded him.
Orrin nodded. “Yes, but times change, and those that began this war have long since passed, on both sides. Just as I have seen a need to end the war, so do many of the northerners. I have even heard that werewolves have begun to grow in popularity in the north, a new trend. It’s one of the many reasons the Princess is so thrilled to come here.”
Philip didn’t believe him for a minute, but he shrugged. “Well, so long as my bride to be doesn’t mind that her future husband gets the occasional bout of fur and teeth.”
“I am quite sure the Princess has been made aware of the situation, and has been properly educated on everything,” Orrin said.
In truth, the only reason Philip was going along with the entire plan was because it would supposedly help his kingdom. He mistrusted not only Orrin, but the entirety of the Northern Kingdom. It was a well-known fact they despised the people of Arden, and their being werewolves was a large part of their dislike. On an even more personal level, it was rumored they despised those men and women who had relationships with those of their own sex. The final rumor had come from Orrin, so Philip was wary to believe it. He didn’t immediately discount it either, the northern people were odd, and prone to being overly judgmental about things the Southern Kingdom would take as just another facet of existence.
“And my father?” Philip asked.
Orrin continued smiling. “The King is having one of his better days. He is currently excited at the imminent arrival of the Princess and thrilled to finally have found a match for you.”
Calling it a match was a bit of stretch, since it was more a political marriage than one of love. Still, Philip would give his father credit, King Vernal had done his utmost to find Philip a love match before finally having to turn to a political one. That was mostly Philip’s own fault, since he hadn’t given most of the matches put before him much of a chance. It was hard to see the smiling women, with their perfect hair and expertly done makeup, and find anything bearing any resemblance to attraction within his heart and mind. No, when he thought of something
worth watching, it was a shirtless Jaeger in the training yard, muscles straining and dark eyes intense as he traded blow for blow with another guardsman.
“No doubt, it will be nice to be on better terms with your homeland once again,” Philip added.
Orrin’s mouth twitched but his smile resumed its place a moment later. “In a way, but on the whole, it will be nice to have peace for the sake of this kingdom, which is my true home.”
Philip kept his tongue in check, not wishing to spiral Orrin into a foul mood. Philip normally disliked the sorcerer anyway, but the man became foul and spiteful whenever he was sufficiently crossed. There was never any proof of his misdeeds or manipulations, but Philip had always felt the stink of Orrin around many of the mishaps and sudden shifts in the politics of the kingdom.
Though perhaps no one had discovered anything because none had bothered to look too closely. From the moment Orrin had appeared on the political stage, he’d become invaluable to King Vernal. After the passing of the Queen, Philip’s mother, the King had been lost and bereft, having loved his wife dearly. The sorcerer had proven to be more than just a mere prophesier of the future, but a man of great intelligence and knowledge. He’d been as invaluable to the running of the country as all the rest of the King’s advisors put together. Whether it was war or peace, Orrin had been at the forefront of guiding the King in his rule.
“Well, I can see all is well here,” Orrin began, looking to Jaeger once again.
“All is accounted for, I’ll make sure the Prince makes it to where he needs to be,” Jaeger said, voice formal and his gaze never moving from somewhere on the wall in front of Philip.
“Good, I look forward to the festivities, we are nearly there,” Orrin said with glee.
Philip waited until the door closed, and then a few moments more, before letting out a breath. “I will never be happier than the day he is no longer involved in my life or the court.”
Jaeger snorted. “Do you really believe it will be as easy as that? He’s been a part of your life almost as long as I have.”
“And if he had his way, you wouldn’t have been a part of mine,” Philip said.
“He certainly has done his best to keep us apart, hasn’t he? I’m more surprised that he hasn’t tried to send me off to war,” Jaeger replied.
Philip shook his head. “My mother’s dying wish was for you to be treated as a second son, become a ward of my father. Orrin might dare to do a lot, but he’ll tread carefully where it comes to you. Beyond anything else, my mother’s last wishes are sacred to my father. Our resident Court Conjurer knows that, just like he knows everyone’s business. If he wants to be rid of you, he’ll have to deal with my father.”
“Your father won’t be around forever,” Jaeger reminded him.
It was a painful reminder of how far his father had fallen in recent years. The bright and vibrant man had slowly been waning, lost in a sea of confusion and outburst. No one was totally sure what had brought it about, but his father’s wits had begun to fade, taking some of his personality with it. There were times, when he was the same happy, kind man Philip remembered, but more frequently, he was replaced by an old man, confused and unhappy with the world. Years of ruling, and especially those ruling without his doting wife, had taken their toll on King Vernal.
“And should the day come…when it comes, I will be king. Orrin will have no more luck ousting you when I rule than he does while my father rules,” Philip contested hotly.
Jaeger leaned around Philip, standing on his toes enough to kiss Philip’s cheek. “You do what you must for your kingdom my prince. I should return to the barracks soon, so I can do what I must for my king and for my future king.”
Philip watched him leave, the words he wished he could speak trapped in his throat. When the door closed, his eyes stung, the vision of his reflection beginning to swim. With a snarl, he grabbed the mirror and threw it away from him. The fragile surface shattered with a crash, shards of the mirror flying into the air and falling like deadly rain.
“My lord, is everything alright?” a startled voice of one of the servants asked from outside the door.
“It’s fine, leave me,” Philip barked at the door.
His hope, like the mirror, was shattered, and Philip knew they were drawing ever closer to the end. What time he’d had with Jaeger was rapidly becoming something he could only hold onto in his memories. Jaeger might stay as his personal guard, but Philip’s soon to be queen would have just as much say in the matter. From the harsh rumors he’d heard about her, he didn’t have much hope of keeping his best friend at his side.
“No, it’s not okay,” he whispered to the broken glass, feeling his heart break in his chest.
Chapter Two
Jaeger
The frantic energy of the castle had dulled to a no less hurried whisper. The servants were still in constant motion, either touching up the decorations, or carrying out various orders from different people in the castle. The King, and by proxy, Orrin, had gone all out to make sure the castle was fit for royal guests. As Jaeger watched, one of the hurrying servants passed, nearly tripping over a coil of haphazardly placed tinsel. Jaeger smiled, catching one of the delicate ornaments in the man’s arm before it fell to the ground. The servant smiled his thanks, gathering up the ornaments in a tighter hold and scolding someone further down the hallway.
Everything, from the decorations, to the food, was not only the highest quality, but intensely detailed. Real gold and silver had been used in many of the decorations, particularly where the guests were likely to spend most of their time. Silks and the finest linens had been draped everywhere, from table clothes to sheets. Lamb was a specialty of the south, and they’d been raised and nurtured specifically for the feasts which would follow over the next two weeks. Fruits, vegetables, and even seafood had been sourced from across the kingdom to supply the many banquets and celebrations. The smell of baking bread and roasting meat was thick in the corridors near the kitchens, with harried but pleased cooks milling about, coated in flour, fingers sticky with sugar.
Jaeger had even seen an entire retinue of bards, hired from all corners of the land, to ensure there was both skill and variety in the entertainment. They were a rowdy and entertaining lot, though considering at least half of them were nursing a hangover, Jaeger had thought them a little too rowdy. They hadn’t been happy to have their access to the alcohol limited, but it had certainly improved their playing.
Jaeger was glad he wasn’t in charge of the finances, as he was sure the costs were astronomical. Orrin had yet to lead the king astray, even if he could be a bit of a shit about it at times. Jaeger had to believe the chief advisor and Court Conjurer wouldn’t lead the King into debt. As he watched a servant pass him with an intricately carved statue of the purest white, he wondered if maybe someone should have been curbing the sorcerer’s enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm was exactly what Jaeger was missing, though he made sure to smile as brightly as he could whenever someone looked him in the face. The castle was filled to the brim with people who were excited for the upcoming feasts and balls. The nobility was thrilled, wishing to not only flaunt their wealth and taste to their neighbors in the north, but at the opportunity to get a peek at those who would soon be their allies, rather than enemies. Jaeger was of the mind that the nobles would treat them as they always had, which was how one treated an enemy. He supposed he’d never understood the petty games of the nobility, and never would.
The celebration of Christmas had always been his favorite, especially as a child. The castle wasn’t what one would call dreary or depressing, but it always seemed so much brighter during the Christmas season. Before the solstice ended, bright decorations would be draped along the walls, candles of varied colors would be hung beside them, and music would fill the halls. Everyone always seemed a little happier, more willing to smile and more forgiving during Christmas time, or at least it seemed that way to Jaeger.
The celebrations hadn’t chang
ed as he’d grown older, but his attitude toward them certainly had. When they’d been young, he and Philip had been part of the decorating process. They would run up and down the halls, laughing and playing tag with different decorations they pilfered. They’d sneak into the kitchens and steal pie, though the cook had always known and pretended not to see. When all was said and done, they hadn’t really done much decorating but they’d make their way outside into the snow. Even in the south, snow came, though it went just as fast, coming down in dancing, soft puffs, or in a flurry of small flakes and melting almost as soon as it touched the ground.
The snow still came, but the life and light of the holidays no longer touched him. It didn’t help that the day both he and Philip knew would come, had finally arrived. When Philip failed to choose any of the many ladies his father had presented to him, Jaeger had known it would only be a matter of time before one was chosen for him, and for political reasons. Jaeger wasn’t sure which he would have preferred, a political marriage meant loveless, probably cool and professional.
The idea of Philip loving anyone but him filled Jaeger with a restless despair. He wanted Philip to be happy, no matter what, but he didn’t want to lose Philip’s love. Inevitably, he would lose Philip, but to lose him to another love was unbearable. Jaeger would endure the pain of being by Philip’s side while being unable to touch him, he would live through seeing him married to another, but he would die within—privately, silently—if he had to watch Philip fall in love with another.
Yet, he’d not seen one bit of temptation in Philip when the many prospective brides had come to the castle. Philip had been kind to them, those who weren’t scheming or greedy, and even warm to a certain degree. Jaeger knew Philip though, and he’d not seen one flicker of interest in the man, even when he’d watched from a distance. Many of the women had left the castle happy to have been treated well, though disappointed at not having been chosen. All had come with the dreams of being queen and left with nothing more than a friendly hug and a fond farewell.
