Celestia's Tales: The Lybiria Scales
Page 5
Orlson stood on the deck of the royal ship the Phoenix and watched the lone figure of his princess. She had long since changed from her dress into her breeches and shirt, with her hair knotted upon her head. With her back to him, the tension in her body was obvious. She was not happy and that gave him some relief. The Prince was not what she’d expected.
The mood on the ship was tense since leaving Demeter. The Queen had locked herself away, refusing to come out and the Prince, after a day of being ignored, had done the same. Crew busied themselves quietly around him, and all that could be heard was the lapping of the sea and the squeal of the gulls above.
It worried him that the Scales had been removed from their home in the centre of Celestia. There were no seasons as in other worlds but the continuous sun and summer in Zolar with the winter rain and autumn winds in Zilva. The sun did travel across the sky but shone weak and low in Zilva, so much so the moon shared the sky with it. Orlson had no idea of the affect the loss would cause, but he had a gut feeling it would soon be seen.
Behind him, he could feel a pair of eyes boring into his back. He turned to see the prince’s guardian, Surrial, staring intently at him and it caused him to shudder. Surrial was an angel and had been ordered to stay with the prince at all costs, and his height and power was enough to make many of the crew nervous. Orlson could see suspicion in his eyes when they looked at him and Orlson knew it was because he was unaware of his origins and angels hated that. It made them edgy when they could not read people, especially those who did not know their true selves.
Orlson had been brought up around people growing into their own abilities, even Bri, yet nothing seemed to change for him. He was no different from when he was a child. Physically he had become a man, but nothing more. No special gift or power. Just normal.
He remembered the day Bri had accidentally fallen from her father’s ship. Everyone had gone into panic, but the king had ordered for her to be left.
'Let’s see if she has her mother’s gift,' he said confidently and sure enough she had emerged from the water.
Her red hair had turned to spun gold and when she was pulled aboard the ship she oozed charm. Like the faes, mermaids had the ability to charm people so they fell to their knees at their feet. However, mermaids, unlike faes, were only attracted to power so when Orlson had tried to approach her she had repelled him by calling him worthless. This had broken his heart and even after the old Bri returned, the damage was already done. Out of all the men she had spurned for those few days, while she changed back to her normal self, she had rejected the one that loved her the most. Bri had been so angered and affected by her behaviour she vowed never to use her gifts and worked tirelessly on suppressing her mother’s blood.
One of the Queen’s ladies interrupted his thoughts.
'Orlson, the Prince has asked that the Princess join him for dinner.'
He raised his eyebrows and she merely shrugged.
Everyone at Zilva’s court knew that Bri was not a woman to be summoned by anyone; too much of a free spirit that went wherever a boat and a wave took her. She was not going to be suited to married life and certainly not to a husband as well maintained as the Prince. He nodded and made his way towards Bri.
Orlson had secretly dreaded today for a lifetime. His life had been filled with nothing but her and to let her go was unbearable. He hated feeling so jealous and the longing for her to stay and not to leave was so strong. He had even felt he would not be able to watch her wedding, even though his missing presence would no doubt hurt her. But as he neared where she stood, he secretly thanked Hecate for Dryad buying him time with her.
Bri turned to him and her green eyes met his making his heart leap.
'Have you sent word to Clues to get the Crux ready? If we leave as soon as we get there we may be able to lose the pampered fae and his flying monkey,' she said pulling a stray hair from her face.
Orlson laughed. 'Now that’s your husband and his flying monkey you’re talking about. Anyway he may surprise you,' he added diplomatically.
‘I doubt it. Have you seen him? He’s better dressed than mother and he also used charm on me, how disrespectful to use charm on a princess of Zilva,' she ranted.
Orlson raised his eyebrows in surprise. 'That’s a first, you using your title. You hate being called princess.'
'Princess sounds so weak and prissy,' she muttered, looking back towards the open water.
'He's requested your presence at dinner.'
Bri looked back and rubbed her head sighing. 'Any sign of mother?' she asked choosing to ignore Orlson's words.
'She's still in her cabin. You have to give her time. She has just lost the love of her life and met her father in the space of a week,' he said softly.
'I know,' she whispered. She grabbed his arm and fingered the commitment band on his bare arm, causing an electric pulse to run through his body. 'You'll have to wear this a little bit longer.' Orlson could feel his pulse quicken at her touch. 'Do you think you can put your life on hold for me a little longer?' her voice turning soft.
Orlson raised his head in the hope she could not see the truth in his eyes.
'For as long as it takes my lady.'
He felt her hand stiffen and sensed a moment of anger and hurt ripple between them. At that moment it was easier to use her title then to say her name. She let go and he watched her stroll towards the cabins. Why could he not just tell her how he felt?
Bri wet her face using the washbowl near her cabin to hide the tears. Why did he have to turn so formal whenever they got close? She longed for the innocence of childhood when they would curl up together amongst the rocks and sleep the day away. But since the day she discovered her mer-gifts everything between them had changed. She had become attracted to great power and she had sensed it in him and fought to keep him from falling under her spell. She wanted him to love her for being Bri, not through any charm. So she did the only think she could think of and that was to repel and attack him until she returned to her former self. However, the incident had also stirred her curiosity; she wanted to know why Orlson had a power that kings would envy.
Chapter Five