by RA Lewis
She turned to watch Hakon and Geir turn the next corner. She wanted to follow them, to chat about the war and get to know the Prince a bit better but something about her father’s countenance made her linger, listening at the open council door, just out of sight of those within. The King and Lord Illeron were speaking in hushed tones but she could still hear.
“This war is interminable,” her father’s weary voice said. “I’m not sure how much longer Ethea will last if we keep this up.”
“It will end one day, your Majesty. We just need to find the right solution.”
“Have any of your little birds told you anything we can use?” Her father sounded hopeful and it wrenched at Cherise’s heart.
“No, your Majesty. Other than that, the King of Askor’s new wife is pregnant with her second child. But that’s no surprise.”
There was a soft thump from the room and a groan of exhaustion.
“What do you think of the young Prince’s plan? His father didn’t seem too keen on it,” her father asked, his voice slightly muffled.
“He’s a smart young man. I think it’s worth discussing.”
Cherise smiled at that. Hearing the Spymaster endorsing Hakon meant a lot to her. She looked down the corridor to where the Prince had disappeared, a part of her hoping he would come back around the corner, looking for her. But her father’s next words made her breath catch in her chest.
“He is a smart man. When we promised his hand in marriage to Cherise, she was just a baby, and him a child. I was always skeptical about the match, but she’s smart as well. Perhaps they will go well together.”
Suddenly Cherise found it hard to breathe. She couldn’t seem to draw air in or out. Promise to be married? She was already betrothed to Hakon? Why hadn’t her father ever told her? Why wasn’t this common knowledge? Did Hakon know? She couldn’t imagine he did, he hadn’t mentioned it when they’d met. But they had only just met.
“It was a wise decision to let them meet and get to know one another before announcing it. But we really should make it official soon. I have the paperwork drawn up in my office when you are ready.” Lord Illeron sounded happy at the prospect.
“In due time. I have my reasons for keeping it between us and his father.”
Cherise couldn’t handle it any longer. She pushed away from the wall and practically ran away from the council chambers and down the stone corridor, her slippered feet slapping the stone. She didn’t stop running until she was in the garden, under her favorite willow tree, hidden by its drooping branches. Only then did she feel safe enough to think and feel freely.
How could her father, Lord Illeron, and King Natan have kept this big piece of information from her and Hakon? What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to act around him? She put her head into her hands, the thoughts and feelings too much, threatening to overwhelm her.
Chapter 3
Cherise dressed carefully for the day ahead. Her father had arranged for her and Hakon to go riding together in the country just outside Ravenhelm. Normally riding was one of her favorite pastimes, but her stomach was in knots as she laced up her leather riding boots and donned her split-skirt riding dress. She had barely talked to either her father or Prince Hakon since the council meeting the other day and she was twisted and conflicted inside.
On the one hand, she’d always known she’d have an arranged marriage. And she’d known it was coming soon since she’d reached her majority a few months prior. But knowing that her father had made a verbal agreement for her marriage long before she could even have a say in it was frustrating. She was both angry and resigned.
But when she walked into the stables and saw Hakon standing there, his father’s young advisor, Geir, standing beside him, and she melted a bit inside. She remembered how kind he had been the first day they’d met, and suddenly, the prospect of a ride with him in the countryside didn’t feel as strange.
“Are you ready to ride?” she asked as she approached, pulling on her leather riding gloves. Hakon beamed at her but Geir just scowled slightly. She had a feeling Geir was a very serious young man.
“Surprisingly, I’ve never ridden a horse. A dragon, yes, but never a horse,” Hakon said bemusedly, and turned to look at a beautiful black stallion in a nearby stall. Cherise’s mouth dropped open but she snapped it shut.
“Never?”
“Nope. Never had a need. But I’m excited to learn. So is Geir here, although he doesn’t show it.” The Prince lightly punched his grey-eyed companion playfully. Cherise grinned as Geir rolled his eyes.
“Well. Good thing I’m an excellent rider. I can teach you.” She walked importantly over to the stall where her horse, a palomino mare named Aura, stood waiting. She opened the stall and walked in, checking Aura over before leading her from the stall. As the Prince and Geir looked on, she placed a saddle and bridle on the mare, tightening the straps and explaining everything as she went.
“Sometimes,” she grunted, elbowing Aura in the ribs, “she won’t let you cinch the waist strap tight enough. So, you have to let them know who is boss.” She finally tightened the strap and Aura shifted her weight, letting out a small grumble. Cherise smiled and straightened, wiping the sweat and stray blonde hairs from her face.
Both Hakon and Geir were watching her, mouths slightly open. Finally, Hakon smiled and let out a laugh.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to walk me through that step by step.”
Cherise let out a sigh and moved to help them both saddle two geldings, one a dapple grey, the other red. By then her own guards were saddled and ready, waiting for her and the Valdir in the courtyard. She mounted up onto a patiently waiting Aura and turned to watch and giggle as Hakon and Geir struggled to get into their saddles, trying to get their mounts to obey. Finally, they were all seated and Cherise led the way out of the courtyard and down the main road to the castle gates.
The ride through the city was stressful, her guards on either side, protecting her from any rabble. As their little group passed, people came out of nearby shops and houses to watch and call greetings, creating a crowd for them to wade through. Despite the stress of navigating the crowd, Cherise loved her people. She loved chatting with merchants and shopkeepers and laundresses, finding out the gossip of the city and letting them know that their Princess saw and heard them.
It was with a sigh of relief that they passed between the outer gates of the city and the countryside finally surrounded them. Rolling green hills of farmland and the deep green smudge of the Deep Glen Forest in the distance greeted them for as far as the eye could see in every direction, a ribbon of blue winding through it. Watching Hakon and Geir grip their reins with white knuckles as they jostled around in their saddles made Cherise smile. The guards around the two royals dropped back slightly, letting Hakon and Cherise ride side by side.
“Look, you’re holding the reins all wrong,” she said, reaching across the distance and readjusting his fingers. When they touched, a thrill moved through her.
“I’m just trying not to fall off!” Hakon said with a laugh.
They rode along in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the spring breezes and the sun on their backs. Cherise watched the Prince out of the corner of her eye as they moved down the road and across the field. Soon she found her frustration at her father for keeping his arrangement with the King of the Valdir a secret dissipating. She was enjoying the movement of her muscles as Aura bunched and moved beneath her.
Soon they passed beneath the shadow of the forest and a cool darkness descended. Cherise drew Aura in, slowing down to a walk. Hakon awkwardly tried to rein in his horse as well but in the process only managed to bounce around the saddle and then get thrown forward. He clutched at the horse’s mane, hauling himself upright as Cherise hid a laugh behind her hand.
“I was hoping your first impression of me wouldn’t be as an awkward newling trying to find its legs!” he said, grinning sideways at her. She smiled back as they settled into a walk.
“My first impression was me bumping into you and almost falling over. Not much better, I’m afraid.”
“Aren’t we a pair?” he asked. She grinned back, her heart lifting. Perhaps, despite her frustration, being married to this young man wouldn’t be so bad. He was handsome, and he was kind as far as she could tell. Maybe she could give him a real chance.
They stopped for lunch in a lovely glade, the guards producing small satchels with bread and cheese, and small pastries filled with lemon tart. These were Cherise’s favorite and Mistress Aynne, the cook, knew it. She always sent a few along whenever Cherise went out riding.
“Tell me about your mother,” she said as she leaned back on her elbows and watched Hakon’s lanky form reclining beside her. She saw him swallow as he rolled onto his side to face her, propped on one elbow.
“Well, my mother is dead actually. A few years now.”
Horror spread through her and she put a hand to her mouth.
“Oh,” she said before reaching across the distance between them and placing her hand on his arm for a moment. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know.”
His throat bobbed but he smiled at her, albeit a little sadly.
“It’s perfectly fine. You didn’t know. And despite how painful it is, I want to talk about her.”
“Then tell me,” she said gently.
“Her name was Katla and she was beautiful. She taught me how to fly. My father was off fighting in the war. In fact, this is the most time I’ve spent with him since I can remember. But she was always there when I was growing up. She taught me to fly and to fight and to hunt. She taught me about my people, and what was required of a leader. I would be nothing without her.”
Geir spoke up for the first time. He was sitting a few feet away, sipping on his water flask.
“She taught me to fight, too.”
Cherise looked over at the grey-eyed Valdir. Somehow, she knew in her heart that he missed Hakon’s mother as deeply as the Prince did. Hakon looked at his friend and smiled.
“She did. Your mother was gone, and your father wasn’t around much. She practically raised us together.” He smiled into the cup of wine he held. “I miss her every day.”
“What happened to her?”
“She died when a sickness ran through our camp. She tried to hold on, but I was already a grown man. I told her it was okay to go.”
Cherise watched the sadness and pain play across his handsome features.
“I lost my mother to that same sickness,” she whispered.
Three years earlier a fever had run across the land, striking down young and old alike. One day her mother had been fine, helping the sick servants in the castle’s infirmary, and then the next day she was lying alongside them. It burned her from the inside out until she no longer made any coherent sentences and didn’t know her own daughter. Cherise fought back tears as she thought about her mother and she knew as she looked into Hakon’s eyes that he understood.
He reached across the gap between them and took her hand into his, holding it and squeezing. They stayed like that, watching each other’s faces for a few minutes until Cherise wiped her eyes and let out an awkward laugh.
“That’s enough sadness for one day. Let’s head back, shall we?” She got to her feet and shook out her riding skirt. Hakon smiled up at her, one corner of his mouth quirking up at her.
“Yes, let’s.”
Chapter 4
The ride back through the forest was quiet, each of the young people lost in their thoughts, the guards riding a few dozen feet back, quietly chatting amongst themselves. Just as they were about to break through the trees and into the open fields, there was a whizzing noise, and Aura shied, rearing up. Cherise cried out, trying to hang on and not fall off. More whizzing sounds filled the forest, followed by more thunks as arrows hit home in tree trunks.
Cherise frantically searched around her as she got Aura under control. Beneath the darkness of the trees was chaos. Hakon and Geir struggled to get their mounts under control, while Cherise’s guards raced to her side. Around them in the trees were figures, some mounted but most not, all armed.
“Bandits!” she yelled, kicking Aura into action. She drew the dagger that she always kept in her bodice, ready to fight, but in the meantime, she kept Aura moving. A moving target was harder to hit.
She watched, her heart rising into her throat, as Hakon leapt from his horse’s back and drew the long sword he wore at his waist. He charged into the shadows, Geir not far behind him. As her guards engaged the nearest bandits, she watched in amazement and horror as Hakon and Geir fought, each taking down three bandits. Within a matter of a few minutes, the forest was quiet once again, except for the moaning of injured men.
Hakon and Geir made their way to her through the gloom. Hakon wiped his bloody blade on the edge of his tunic before sheathing the blade. Cherise noticed he was limping and she dismounted a still nervous Aura to go to him.
“I’m fine,” he said with a smile. But she didn’t believe him. He has a nasty gash along his eyebrow in addition to the limp.
“Let me help,” she insisted, putting her arm under his and helping him to sit beside a tree. She looked up to her now bloody guards. One was combing through the dead bandits among the trees, one was wrangling the horses, and a third was digging through saddle packs for bandages. “Bring me the bandages and some water,” she called to a nearby guard, who quickly brought her what she needed.
Geir sat heavily beside them underneath another tree, and then leaned back. He was sweat-soaked and panting but she didn’t see any visible injuries, so she focused her attention back on the Prince. She used the water and a clean bandage to wipe the sweat and blood from the cut on his brow, being as gentle as she could. Her heart was still pounding, and she knew that if she didn’t focus on the task at hand then she might lose it. So, she gritted her teeth and made quick work of the wound before wrapping his head in a piece of the bandage.
Their eyes met as she finished, and Cherise felt a sudden urge to kiss him. They were mere inches apart, their labored breath mingling between them. She sucked in a breath and then sat back on her heels, putting distance between them. There would be time for kissing later, she reasoned, despite how much she wanted to.
“How did they find us?” Geir asked, wiping his face.
“Bandits are always a risk in these woods. They come up from the Borderlands. They seem to be ranging farther every year. But this is too close to the castle. We have to ride back and warn my father. He’ll send out a squadron to hunt down whatever is left of them because there are always more.” She stood and brushed her hands off on her skirt, looking around nervously.
“Our camp isn’t far from here,” Hakon said, standing too and wincing. “I know the dragons would love to help hunt them down. We could stop by there on the way back, and send out our own party. It’d be faster.”
Cherise bit her lip. It was a tempting offer. Finally, she nodded her assent.
“Let’s go to your camp.”
The guards helped her mount up, then helped Hakon with his twisted ankle, and they rode north through the trees.
Within a half an hour, as the trees thinned and a natural clearing came into view, Cherise gasped in awe at the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the Valdiran camp. Dragons as huge as houses roamed the clearing, or curled in tight balls beneath the tree canopy, their scales a dazzling array of colors. Their deep voices rumbled around her. All around her were tanned and silver-haired Valdir. She sat in her saddle, following Hakon and Geir as they wound their way through the tents and dragons, calling greetings to Valdir on the ground. Her heart raced at the sight of the dragons and she couldn’t take her eyes off them.
Finally, Hakon came to a halt beside a beautiful sapphire blue dragon. He dismounted and limped to her side, her great head snaking down to meet him. He barely reached the top of her head when he stood beside it, one hand stroking the scales between her dark eyes.
Cherise slowly dismounted, u
tter joy running through her at the sight of this beautiful creature. Hakon smiled and gestured her over, but she approached slowly, nervousness squirmed in her belly. The beast was huge, and as she approached, it opened its mouth, displaying impressive, deadly teeth as long as her arm, wickedly sharp.
“Don’t be afraid. This is Kaya, my dragon.” Hakon reached out a hand for Cherise which she took hesitantly. He pulled her close and the blue dragon raised her head to inspect the princess.
“Hello, Kaya,” Cherise said hesitantly. She knew very little about dragons but her curiosity was beginning to override her fear.
“Hello, Princess.” The dragon’s deep voice surprised her. Hakon let out a sharp laugh at the look on her face.
“Don’t seem so surprised. I know you’ve read books about dragons before,” he said, stepping aside so she could get a closer look at Kaya.
“I have, but somehow, you aren’t quite what I expected.”
“What did you expect? A large, dumb cow?” the dragon said, grinning and showing all her teeth. Cherise was shocked for a moment before she joined Hakon in laughing.
“Maybe, but you are more beautiful and more intelligent than anything I could have expected.” She stepped up beside the dragon. “May I?”
“You may. I especially like scratches under my chin.” Then Kaya lifted her head, proffering her favorite spot to Cherise, who laughed some more while she scratched the scales there. She was surprised again by how the scales felt. They were at once hard as stone, but supple, allowing for movement. She stood there marveling for a few minutes. Then she stepped back, remembering the reason why they were there in the Valdir camp.
“Hakon, we need to find those bandits.”
The Prince nodded and gestured for her and Kaya to follow. They made their way through the camp until they found Geir and an older grey-eyed Valdir. Cherise knew in an instant it was Geir’s father.
“Commander, has Geir been filling you in on the situation?” Hakon asked as they approached, his limping gait concerning Cherise.
