Thief Prince

by Cheree Alsop

  The swords the middle group wielded were smaller than the ones used by most Denbrian armies; they were more like the one that Captain Rurisk had made for me. The design made sense, shorter and thinner than the average broadsword for better manipulation. A broadsword's weight carried it through heavy armor to reach the attacker's flesh, but from what I had seen of the Breizans, they wore little armor and attacked with a ferocity that would quell the heart of the strongest warrior. These swords were better able to make multiple wounds and allow for escape instead of the brief, heavy-handed combat for which the broadsword was designed.

  I fought the urge to go down there, reminding myself that it would definitely be out of place for a stranger to be seen watching their training, let alone the designated ruler of a country that possibly had something to do with their demise.

  When I finally left the window, I dressed quickly so that I could see the letter I had written last night sent off as soon as possible. I longed for word of Rory's condition. I had to know if he was getting better. Father would let me know; of that I was certain.

  A new dress of light blue and gold hung in the wardrobe where the dark blue one had been. I quickly slipped it on and combed my hair with the soft brush on the small end table, then braided it again. The bowl held fresh, cool water with an unfamiliar, subtle scent that felt pleasant and refreshing to my skin. I left the room with my letter clutched tightly in one hand.

  I was pacing the room with anxiety by the time the others finally made it to the small waiting chamber where we had met Andric the day before. I didn't really want to rely on the others' company, but I also dreaded seeing Andric again after my imposition last night. I didn't know how he would react, but I didn’t want to leave him a chance to confront me about it until I could get the situation straightened out in my own head.

  The Antorans had finished their training and most were already eating breakfast when we entered the banquet hall. Andric rose when he saw us, and the rest of the Antorans followed. I fought back a blush at both the Antorans' show of respect and Andric's gaze as we made our way to the table on the dais. I made sure that Kaerdra and Trevin sat between me and Andric with Landis and Tisha on the other side. When we sat down, Andric and his citizens also sat and continued their breakfast. The Crowns ignored Prince Andric and he seemed satisfied to eat in silence.

  The morning meal was a heartily cooked grain with dark sugar and the same sweet pumpkin milk that we had been served on our journey to Antor. It was satisfying and filling, though I heard Kenyen comment to his brother about the lack of options. I glanced sideways to see if Andric had noticed, but he watched his people, a pensive look on his face.

  Though he must have been hungry after the morning’s training, the Prince's food was mostly untouched. The dark shadows under his eyes had lessened somewhat, but he still looked tired and troubled. With a pang, I remembered the sword wound down the back of his shoulder. I vowed to ask Jesson if I saw him to make sure he was tending to Andric's wound. If he strained his left shoulder too much he would tear through the stitches and the Antoran Crown Prince didn't seem like one to hold back, as attested to by his actions on the practice field.

  He looked my way and I stared down at my plate. I scraped the remaining oats from the bowl and finished the pumpkin milk before I allowed myself to look back up. I was surprised to see that Andric had already left; I didn't remember him excusing himself, but most of the other Antorans had left as well.

  We met back in my room. The steward who came to get us didn't seem surprised to find us all together. He bowed when I opened the door at his polite knock. “His Honorable Crown Prince Andric has asked that I escort you to the hawkery to meet Hawkmaster Ayd so you will know who is sending the letters to your families.”

  “So we’ll know who's reading our letters,” Nyssa said in a vexed voice to Brynna.

  The steward looked up, his glance indignant at Nyssa's not so quietly spoke words. “Crown Prince Andric has reassured you that your letters will be treated with the utmost respect and privacy, and so they shall. Any implication to the contrary will be viewed as doubt of the royal word; such implications are not healthy to those being protected under the Prince's roof.”

  Surprised and chagrined, Nyssa mumbled an apology and glanced furtively at Brynna. The other Princess shrugged, her cheeks red. None of us were used to being rebuked by a servant, but his firm gaze and quick defense of his prince left no room for argument.

  We followed the steward in silence down the stairs, across a hall, and out a side door to a small path that had been cleared of snow. The path led around the castle and through the training grounds we had watched earlier.

  We were led through a door in a short wall that followed one side of the training ground, through the small, snow-covered yard beyond, and ended at a gray-bricked building.

  The steward held the door open for us to pass, his expression still showing his displeasure at Nyssa's comment. I was the last in the door, and thanked him quietly for showing us the way. He mumbled something about us hopefully able to find our way back through the snow by ourselves and left. I glanced at the others and was relieved to find that they had missed the comment. It only bothered me slightly, but they were accustomed to being respected and I didn't want them to have something else to complain about.

  The inside of the gray building seemed dim after the bright sunlight bouncing off of the snow. The scent of birds and hay tickled my nose. It was quiet, and only the occasional brief murmur or rustle of a bird preening its feathers broke the silence. The birds were bigger than I expected. They perched on posts made of stout branches that had been trimmed smooth and lopped clean of twigs and leaves.

  Each bird had its own spot, designated by a tassel of leather on which was strung what looked like a small whistle. The difference between the hawks here and the ones in our countries was that here they weren't bound by jesses or hoods. They perched freely, and a few wide windows stayed open around the room so that they could depart if they wished.

  The birds were mostly shades of brown, though toward the back I saw a few big black ones that I thought were eagles. They ignored us for the most part. A few turned bright, piercing eyes our direction, then looked away. But I could still feel their attention on us despite the indifference.

  “Welcome.”

  The sudden voice behind us made us all jump. A boy close to our age smiled sheepishly. “Sorry,” he apologized with a slight bow, “I didn't mean to startle you.”

  “And you are?” Trevin asked without bothering to return his bow.

  “Hawkmaster Ayd,” the boy replied.

  We all stared. I definitely wasn't the only one surprised to see how young the Antoran Hawkmaster was. Usually, a Hawkmaster was the oldest hawker at the castle or palace. It was a revered position appointed by the king because the Hawkmaster was the one entrusted with royal mail, the contents of which could make or break a kingdom.

  Hawkmaster Ayd smiled amiably. “Crown Prince Andric said you would be curious about who sends out your mail.” I wondered if he read something on the other Crowns' faces because his eyes creased with laughter. “You don't have to worry about your letters being read.”

  “Why is that?” Kenyen asked, his gaze suspicious.

  Ayd grinned. “Because my hawks don't know how to read.”

  I groaned along with several of the others at the bad joke and had to fight back a smile when Kenyen rolled his eyes. Ayd shrugged. “Hard audience.” He winked at Nyssa and her cheeks turned red. Despite his station, it was obvious she was taken by Ayd’s sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled with laughter in the sparse lighting.

  I couldn’t blame her. It was hard enough to find a suitable suitor within the lower royal lines of the kingdom to not give in to wistful thinking now and then. We Crowns were within the same age group due to the fact that our great-great-grandfathers along the royal genealogy were the four sons of King Denbrow, two sets of twins born within two years of each othe
r. The King had split the kingdom into four quarters when the youngest set of twins turned twenty, telling them to find suitable queens immediately who could rule beside them and bear healthy children.

  The new kings were obedient to their father's wishes and married within months of each other, bearing their first child within a year of marriage. Prince Dareth divided his country between his twin son and daughter, creating Zalen and Faer. Prince Veren left his country to his son, Tyneth, who then divided it between his three daughters before he died, naming the largest country after his father in tribute. Nichas, with the southern lands, was unable to have children. He ended up leaving the lands to his wife's two brothers, who then divided it for their two older sons. The King of Antor, King Toren, kept to himself behind the northern mountains and established the mines.

  The oldest child of each became the Crown Prince or Princess, heir to the throne. Because our parents were so close in age, and the founding roots were not yet so distant, the first generation from each family was generally born within a few years of each other. In our situation, Tisha was the youngest at sixteen, with me only a few months older than her. Kaerdra was next, reminding everyone that she and Trevin were just shy of seventeen.

  Kenyen and Danyen were seventeen, born only a month before Landis. Nyssa and Brynna were the oldest among us at eighteen. Rory had been the oldest of the group. He had turned nineteen a month ago, though there had been little to celebrate as he struggled to take a bite of his favorite meal of maple sweetened ham and sweet potatoes that Mother had made for him by her own hands.

  I wondered if that was one of the reasons the others resented me so much. Rory had been their leader, the oldest and most adventurous of the group. He had arranged for all of the Crowns to go on a camping and hunting expedition each year. I was never allowed to go, though Rory always told me about it when he got back so that I wouldn't feel left out. It sounded like the 'hunts' were mostly full of swimming in sun-warmed lakes, the girls sunbathing on the beach, and the boys trying to top each other’s stories about their parents, battles, and dangerous hunts for creatures that had long-since been trapped out for the safety of the citizens.

  Once in a while we heard about the rare dragon or nightbeast being spotted; hunting expeditions were sent out but it was usually a false alarm. The creatures that had kept our land from being populated by humans long before King Denbrow reached its shores had been killed-off in organized forays when Denbrow and his followers escaped from the Fayn prisons and fled across the ocean. I never knew what they had done to be thrown into the prisons in the first place, but their stories of courage and bravery when they first reached Denbria wiped out most speculation. Denbrow had been given the crown after risking his life to save two of his companions from a nightbeast.

  The door opened in the hawk house, bringing my attention back to the present. Bright light filtered into the room. Tiny motes of dust from the layers of straw on the ground danced and sparkled in the air.

  Kenyen and Danyen walked out, followed by Nyssa and Brynna who whispered to each other in annoyed tones. Tisha and Landis wandered through the hawks. I remembered from Rory's stories that Landis' father had a big aviary in Faer where they raised a variety of birds. Ayd and I watched him point out traits of the different hawk species to Tisha. The Crown Princess of Maesh actually looked as interested in learning as Landis was of teaching her. It seemed like a great relationship.

  I noticed Ayd watching me. I thought back quickly to see if he had asked me a question; unable to find one, I blushed. “Sorry,” I said in embarrassment. “I didn't hear you.”

  The Hawkmaster shook his head. “No offense taken, my Lady. I noticed after I spoke that your attention was elsewhere.” He indicated the letter I still held with a respectful nod. “I was just wondering if you wanted me to send that out with the first flight.”

  I glanced guiltily down at the letter. There was no doubt my family was worried and anxious to hear from me, and I was busy gawking at hawks. “Yes, please. My father’s likely to tear down the whole mountain if he doesn't hear from me soon.”

  Ayd nodded and took the letter from me. I noticed that several of the birds closest to us already had letters fastened to the light harnesses on their backs. Back home, letters were usually delivered by carrier pigeon and tied into tubes on their feet, but it was obvious such a contraption would hinder a hawk whose sustenance depended on its ability to catch prey with its sharp talons.

  These hawks had been rigged with very lightweight soft leather harnesses that looped across their chest and crisscrossed past the back and around the wings securely enough to keep it snug, but without hindering any movement. It was a cleverly devised contraption, one of which Ayd seemed quite proud as he secured my letter to the back of one of the huge brown hawks.

  “Crown Prince Andric already sent out a batch of letters early this morning to all of the royal families in Denbria,” he explained affably. “He knew there would be some controversy from the Crown Princes and Princesses when they learned that his letter reached their parents first, but he wanted to assure them of their children's safety immediately.” Ayd frowned from where he fastened the buckle on the pouch as though he realized I was one of the Crowns he referred to. “I mean, your parents.” He turned to study me, his gaze frank. “You know, you don't act like them.”

  I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to act as snobbish as Brynna or highhanded as Nyssa, but I also doubted that I carried the same respect their very bearing demanded. Could I lead without that kind of respect? I couldn't help it when my answer sounded a bit sullen. “I know. I'm not really one of them, just sort of a stand-in.”

  Ayd's brows creased and I saw another question on his lips, but Landis and Tisha came back, interrupting him. The Hawkmaster turned smoothly to answer Landis' question about a rare crested hawk from the plains below Tyn.

  “They're neat, don't you think?” Tisha asked me. Her tone was anxious as though she hoped I was enjoying myself as much as she was, and also hoped that having a good time wasn't a bad thing given the circumstances.

  I nodded honestly. “I think they're amazing. I like how they don't have to be tied or bound at all.”

  Tisha’s eyes widened as though she had just noticed. “Is it magic?” she whispered. She peeked over her shoulder to make sure Ayd was far enough away so that he couldn't hear us. The Hawkmaster and Landis stood in front of a tiny hawk who stared back at them insolently as though disgruntled that they had disturbed its sleep.

  I shook my head quickly. The sooner the rumors about Antor could be cleared up, the better for everyone involved, especially if the Antorans were serious about heading south in the spring. “The animals aren't enchanted or forced to obey; they have a bond with their human, and they can communicate and understand each other.”

  “Oh,” Tisha said. Her eyes grew even wider. I wondered if I had said the wrong thing, but she turned and looked back at Landis. The boys were still talking about the little hawk that now stood quietly on Ayd's gloved hand. “I don't really understand, but I think Landis does. I think he wishes he could talk to the animals, too. He said it would make hawking so much easier.”

  I couldn’t help but stare. I never thought about anyone wanting that kind of a bond with an animal. I was still coming to terms with the whole situation. From the way Andric described it, I didn't know if I would want to share my thoughts with animals, or how it would be to have their thoughts in my head.

  A bell tolled loud enough to echo around the room and startle the resting birds. Several of them squawked or clicked their beaks and flapped their wings. Ayd smoothed a few feathers on the back of a beautiful silver and black one, his blue eyes bright. “It's time for the picnic!”

  “A picnic?” Landis and I repeated in unison.

  “In the snow?” Tisha asked at the same time.

  “It's one of the highlights of the Winter Festival! They'll bring blankets and light bonfires, so everyone’ll be warm,” Ayd said. He opened
the door for us to exit the hawk house. “There'll be horse racing, mock fights, and then storytelling at dinner when we eat the feast.” He sobered a bit when he paused to shut the door firmly behind him. “I don't think we'll have many feasts after this one, or much to feast about. After the Spring Festival, it'll be time to leave.” He shook his head, then gave us a smile that looked a bit forced. “Well, the least we can do is enjoy the celebration at hand, right?”

  I nodded in agreement and he grinned again. We followed in his wake through the snow. When I turned to close the gate, one of Andric's wolves, the small, dark gray male, paced up to me along the inside of the wall. He gave a slight wag of his tail and sniffed my hand. Snow stuck to his nose and I brushed it off. The wolf gave my cold fingers an amiable lick and then trotted off along the wall again.

  “Kit, come on!” Tisha shouted.

  I looked up to see that they were already at the castle door. The brisk mountain air nipped at my face as I ran to catch up to them. I had a scarf inside, and the warmer cloak that Prince Andric had given all of us on the journey. I made a mental note to grab them before taking off to the picnic.

  Ayd held the door open for me and bowed when I neared. “Princess Kit?” He said it as a question.

  I nodded. “I prefer it.”

  He smiled and I wondered briefly who could get mad at the good-humored Hawkmaster. Brynna and Nyssa managed, and the twins, but they were mad at everything. He closed the heavy door behind us and took off down a different hallway. I followed Landis and Tisha up a set of stairs, careful to make the right turns this time.