Prince Xander groaned as the Zolar sun beamed into his bedroom. Pulling himself up, he groaned once again at the naked faes at his side. He swore, as he had done many times before, no more faerie parties and certainly no more Unicorn Juice. That stuff was lethal and he was feeling the aftermath.
He dragged his body from beneath silk sheets and winced as the throb in his head began to intensify. Stumbling towards his washstand, he pushed his face into the chilled clean water enjoying the brief moment of respite and numbness. As he lifted his face from the basin he caught the wet features in the gold ornate mirror on the wall.
He smiled. He knew he was considered the most handsome man in Zolar and could see why. His long dark hair framed a strong chin and high cheekbones. Dark brown eyes shone like a newborn child's. Though his father was fae, Xander did not possess the wings, but the fae charm was deep and strong in him and he prided himself on being able to capture any heart.
He pulled off his loose white nightshirt and winced at the sight of gold and silver on his left arm. It was a reminder that his bachelor days would soon be over and he would have to marry the Princess of Zilva, whom he’d never met.
His freedom meant so much to him. Nights out with his friends inside the bawdy inns on the wrong side of town. As well as bedding frisky faes who were free and easy with their bodies. Once married, he would have to settle down and the thought of spending the night in only one woman’s bed was his idea of torture.
His bedroom door swung open with a crash as his Nanna Bess bustled in, arms filled with clean linen. The two faes disappeared in fright leaving in their wake a billow of faerie dust. Nanna Bess tutted as she began to shake the gold dust clear.
She was an elf and though age had made her body swell and her hair turn silver, her eyes gave away she was once a beautiful woman. Nanna Bess had cared for Xander since birth and he had come to both love and respect her, especially her no nonsense tongue.
'Wha’ ‘ave I tol’ ye’ abou’ mixin’ Unicorn Juice an’ faeries?' she said as she pulled the bedclothes from the mattress.
'I know. I know,' Xander said yawning and stretching, still gazing at himself in the mirror.
'Well ye'll ‘ave to stop ye antics when ye married, young man,' she said now pulling some clothes from his wardrobe.
Xander folded his arms and looked at his beloved Nanny.
'Nanna Bess, you know you’re the only woman for me, besides we only marry if one becomes heir.'
'Tha’s why I've lai’ ou’ ye’ bes’. News ‘as come tha’ King Marlon ‘as passed on. The Princess Briganti is on ‘er way now. She should b’ ‘ere at noon.’
The jug on the side of the washbasin splintered on the floor with a smash as a shaking Xander paled with shock.
'W...w...what?' he stammered.
'Princess Briganti ‘as inherited the throne at Zilva. She arrives at noon t’ take ye ‘as ‘er ‘usband.'
'But it's three day’s sail to here,' he whispered and then something hit him. His own parents had become secretive and locking themselves away in whispers. They had known and not warned him.
Xander’s heart began to sink. That meant he would have to be the King of Zilva until his own father died. A land, he’d heard, was full of darkness and gloomy waters. A land filled with goblins and dwarves, pirates and gypsies. He couldn’t think of anything more unpleasant. No beaches to warm his body on or pure blue seas to bathe in. This was it. His life was over.
Meanwhile, upon the royal ship, the Phoenix, a similar argument was ensuing.
'Ow! In the name of Hecate could you pull it any tighter?'
'I'm sure we could ma'am, but it would mean breaking a few ribs.’
Princess Briganti winced as the bodice was pulled even tighter. If there was anything she hated more than being a princess it was wearing gowns that required broken bones to get into them. She had grown up around water and ships, places where such finery was never needed.
Very much like her father, she was a free spirit who loved nothing better than the sting of the salt water on skin and the harsh wind in hair. But since Briganti’s father’s death, the ideal life of ships and adventure had to stop.
She now faced a duty bound to her at birth. She had to marry the High Prince of Zolar and be crowned High Queen, which meant a life of staying in Court listening to the politics of smaller kingdoms, but at least she would remain in Zilva. That was a small mercy. She knew how her own kingdom functioned. From what she heard, the glamour of Zolar would be like torture and she would never fit in with such pomp.
'You're ready, your highness,' the Dresser said stepping away from her and smiling.
Briganti looked at the stranger in the mirror. Her usual straggled red hair had now been brushed and preened so much it now shone. Her tanned skin had been scrubbed to an almost coffee white, making her green eyes even brighter, and her body had totally changed. She no longer recognised the shape that had been squeezed and pulled. Her usually hidden breasts now threatened to overspill from the shimmering silver gown.
'Silver’s definitely your colour,' a voice came from behind causing her to smile.
She picked up a cushion and flung it at her trusted friend.
'Really, what do you think?' she said, awkwardly tugging at the tight laces that had tied her in.
'Fit for a king I'd say,' Orlson said.
Orlson had been with her as long as she could remember. Wherever she went so did he. Their friendship had grown so much more than the commitment band he wore for her. But now as the shores of Zolar had come into sight so had his freedom from her too, and it left them both feeling at a loss with the other.
Orlson’s usually bright blue eyes had since darkened with an unspoken sadness. Now, silence had fallen yet again between them as unspoken gestures floated around the room. The free way they usually had with each other was seemingly gone.
She knew that once her wedding vows were spoken not only her own commitment band, but his too would break leaving him free to leave her and do as he pleased. This was something Briganti didn't feel able to do. Live without the one person who made her complete and safe.
'How is everything?' Briganti's mother’s voice broke the silence as she entered the cabin. Orlson hurried to his feet and bowed to his queen.
'She’s giving the Dresser the usually banter, your highness,' he said smirking at Briganti.
Queen Magda laughed. 'Briganti, you will soon be queen and dressing like one is part of the deal. Besides, Prince Xander is half fae, how bad could he be?'
'I know, I know, for the good of Celesta,' Briganti sighed.
'Exactly, the good of Celestia,' Magda said stroking her face.
Briganti had noticed a change in her mother since her father’s death, one that went deeper than grief. It was a longing to be a part of something that was long gone.
Her mother had been the favourite daughter of King Aquim. Chosen to take the throne at her father’s death and rule the sea, but on a trip to the surface she’d caught sight and fallen in love with a young gypsy pirate. Begrudgingly, she’d gone back to her own kingdom; however, she could not get the man from her thoughts.
The young pirate turned out to be the High King of Zilva and when he discovered a young naked blond girl on his beach, he took her home and made her his wife.
But King Marlon had been the anchor that kept her from longing for the sea and now at his death, her mother had found herself yearning to return, which would mean her own death. So Briganti had ordered a constant watch on her mother during their sail so the water would not claim another parent from her.
‘Well, there is much to do before we arrive at Zolar,’ the Queen smiled. ‘I will leave you both alone.’
Briganti watched as her mother left and the silence continued. Trying to shift her body in the tightness of the dress, she hoped it would loosen, but to no avail. Going to the bench, she tried to negotiate how to sit. She really hated gowns.
‘Stand straight and lower yourself
slowly,’ Orlson offered.
‘How do you know how to sit in a gown?’ she muttered taking his advice.
‘I pay attention,’ he smiled.
She looked at her guardian and felt her insides flutter. She really hoped this Prince Xander would make her feel the same way. The thought of spending the rest of her life with a man who didn't was too much for her to bear. Maybe the prince would be all she wanted and finally be able to release Orlson from her heart. After all no good could come from the crush. Slowly Orlson moved to his feet and offered a small sad smile.
‘I must go too.’
And with that he too left. She was now alone, preparing to meet her husband. The man she had been bound to since she was a babe in arms. Her life would soon be over.
Chapter Three
Celestia's Tales: The Lybiria Scales Page 3
