by Lola Ford
“Nerie, I would like you to meet your uncle, Sylas. My younger brother,” Soren told her.
Sylas turned and bowed before Nerie, and she flushed red. She’d known Soren had a brother but seeing him in person was a strange disconnect. Her uncle bowing to her felt wrong.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Sylas,” she told him formally.
“Soren, you’ve let Alaena spend too much time with the girl,” Sylas complained to his brother. “Please Nerie, call me Uncle Sylas.”
“It’s nice to meet you Uncle Sylas.”
She smiled. He had the same crooked smile and crow’s feet at his eyes as his brother, and he was currently smiling at her.
“The pleasure is mine, dear niece.”
He kissed her hand before turning to Soren.
“You didn’t call the meeting of the Curia brother?”
“No, I did not.” Soren’s face was serious.
“The summons I received were in your name, with your seal,” Sylas told him.
“Interesting, I wonder if they all had my seal?”
“I would imagine most of them did - if not all. Why did you allow the Curia to meet if you didn’t call it into session?” Sylas asked confused.
“And waste everyone’s time? While most of them stayed in the capital since the hatching, many, like yourself had to travel quite far to get here. In the meantime, Ilex and I are going to search for the one who called the Curia. Also, we might as well get some actual work done while everyone is here.” Soren shrugged, but looked uneasy.
“I do apologize for missing the hatching. There was that strange disturbance at the border. When Wyla informed me that Nerie had been chosen it was more than a little shocking.”
“Well, things shall work out the way that should be.” Soren turned to Nerie, “I would like you to join me in the Curia Minima sessions. You’ll learn hands on how the kingdom functions. As well as your appearance will possibly help Ilex and I gauge who is behind calling the Curia Regis.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
She did a slight curtsy.
“Nerie, it’s all right to call me Soren in front of my brother,” Soren laughed.
***
As the day continued small groups of five to eight nobles entered the chamber one at a time. Many attendees seemed surprised at Nerie’s presence, but she spent her time sitting quietly at the far end of the table. Vizen had left briefly and when he returned, he and another servant were carrying a large ornate chair for her to sit in. Wine was served to each group, as well as small delicacies, which were snacked upon as each group discussed their projects with the king.
One group was working on restoring older bridges throughout the kingdom, while another was responsible for collecting taxes and tithes before the harvesting season. Each group seemed to lead an important task for the kingdom, and Nerie was able to see how Soren was able to manage the kingdom. It seemed to her like a lot of delegating and remembering what each group was doing.
She noticed more than once that Soren had a small notebook in which he kept scribbling, but she didn’t know if the notes were about the groups or what he was discussing with Ilex. After the sixth group met, her stomach rumbled, and she flushed with embarrassment. The small snacks hadn’t cut it. She had missed her regular lunch with Soren, and it was well past the time she normally ate with her mother.
The noise seemed to remind Soren that no one had eaten yet, and a break was called. The groups were dismissed for the day, and Nerie learned that each Lord had an estate in the city. As large as the palace was, it couldn’t accommodate them all.
Sylas was invited to stay and eat with them. Nerie, Sylas, and Soren enjoyed a quiet meal together, with Sylas telling Nerie about his children who were near her age. Learning repeatedly that her family was much larger than just her mother made her head spin, but Nerie enthusiastically told Sylas that she would love to meet her cousins in the near future.
He told her that she was welcome in Cian, which was the town that most closely bordered Lutesia, their neighboring country. Wyla, the eldest of Soros and Eras’ children resided there. When Nerie asked why Sylas had chosen to live so far from the capital, he whispered in her ear conspiratorially, telling her it was for love, then laughing.
His wife’s family had ruled over Cian since it was founded, and that she - as an only child - refused to leave and move to the capital with him. It had left him with only one option, to leave Roria himself and live in Cian with Valria, his wife.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Nerie
Sylas had promised to stay in Roria for the following week, to get to know his niece better. Nerie was more than a little excited and Kiriga couldn’t help but tease her a bit.
You’re so happy to have met Sylas. Why?
You know why silly. My whole life, it’s just been me and Mom. So far, my new family has been amazing. Well, except Astra, but she’s a different story.
Astra can be bitten by a snake for all I care.
I don’t like her, but you shouldn’t say such things Kiriga.
You would too, if you had felt her mind last time, she saw you.
The pair were in the courtyard outside of Nerie’s rooms. Kiriga was starting to have trouble with doors being too small, so now she spent the majority of the time outside.
Nerie missed the constant physical companionship, however not a moment passed when Kiriga wasn’t present in her mind. Kiriga nuzzled Nerie gently with her now large snout.
Nerie had been a little surprised to find that the dragoness had not had any awkward periods of growth. Never was her tail too long or her wings too big. While constantly getting bigger, her proportions were staying nearly constant. Only the fact that she was towering over Nerie, and slowly closing the gap in size with Ilex betrayed that she was indeed growing at all.
Aldis is coming, Kiriga told her.
Kiriga swung her head in the direction of his rooms. Soros was already making her way over the low rooftops - Aldis astride her wide back. Eras was absent today, but he showed Nerie an image of himself laying in the clear waters of the nearby lake.
Soros had barely stepped into the courtyards when Aldis let himself slip down her shoulder. Running to Nerie the moment his feet hit the ground, she saw he was sobbing.
“What’s wrong Aldis?” Nerie asked, even as he ran into her arms.
As she wrapped him in a hug and Kiriga wrapped her tail around the pair, Nerie was unable to make out a cohesive sentence from his garbled words.
Kiriga however - having just laid down around them - sat up and positioned herself around them protectively. She was hissing slightly, her eyes whirling to an angry orange.
He says he’s going to be taken away, Kiriga said swinging her head around looking for the possible prince napper.
“What? Where? Who is taking you?” Nerie asked looking down at her young brother.
Her heart raced at the thought of him leaving. Even though she had known him for such a short time, her love for him was as complex and full as it was for her mother or Kiriga. Being his sister was more fulfilling than being a princess by far.
More mumbled words, but this time Soros translated.
He is being taken on a tour of Situra by Sir Camran. They will be gone for the larger part of two years.
“But why now?” Nerie’s eyes quickly moistened and tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Soros curled her massive body around the three of them, mirroring Kiriga’s pose.
Aldis is to be a Royal Knight one day. One of your most loyal protectors - if not the most loyal of them. His training must start now.
Soros was nearly snipping her words off as she spoke, but Nerie was quite sure the elder dragoness was just as distraught as Nerie that the boy was leaving. They were nearly inseparable.
Will you go with him? Nerie asked Soros.
No. My place is here in the capitol with Eras, Ilex and Kiriga. Our duty is to you and Soren.
Nerie caught a glimpse of aura the purple dragon was emitting and her sorrow at being unable to stay with Aldis was overwhelming.
“When do you leave?” Nerie asked Aldis through her tears.
He had soaked her shoulder with his tears. He dug his face into the wet fabric, wiping his running nose to try and manage an intelligible reply.
“Tomorrow.”
Nerie felt her heart break a little bit. Who was she going to talk to when she had a difficult day? Who was going to sneak her pants when inevitably they disappeared after laundry? Kiriga might be her entire world, but Aldis had become her rock in the sea that was palace life.
With nothing more to say or ask, the two simply held one another crying. Eventually they cried themselves to sleep, surrounded by the two dragons.
***
It was night when Soros gently woke them both with her mind. She urged Aldis to climb onto her back, and Nerie to go inside to her bed. Winter was approaching, and sleeping outside, even with Kiriga’s heat wasn’t advisable.
The following morning, Nerie woke melancholic - she hadn’t even said goodbye to Aldis last night after they had been awoken. Uninterested in her normal routine, she simply pulled her hair back with a ribbon and dressed in the least glamorous gown she could find in her over-sized closet. When Karina brought her breakfast, she picked at it, uninterested in eating.
By the time Queen Alaena arrived, she was apathetic.
“What’s wrong? You haven’t bathed or dressed well. You have tripped on your skirt five times in the last quarter hour,” Alaena said, exasperated.
Nerie looked at her with listless eyes, tears brimming, threatening to fall.
“Aldis is leaving.”
Alaena, already sitting straight, sat up straighter - if that was possible.
“Of course, he is. He was not chosen to ascend to the throne, so he will take up the next highest role of honor available to him.”
The tears started rolling slowly down Nerie’s cheeks.
“Why can’t he just be a lord, like Uncle Sylas?”
Alaena’s expression softened slightly.
“A royal knight is an esteemed position - you should be honored that he has been chosen for this role.”
“I am. I just don’t understand why he has to leave. Why now?”
“It is required of all knights during their training. He will start off as Sir Camran’s page and eventually will become his squire and then eventually he will be knighted himself.”
Alaena looked weary even as she spoke, like she was listing off her own reasons to accept his journey.
“He will still have years of understudy to train for the distinct roles that he has to fill in both court and as a guardian to the throne.”
Alaena pushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear, gently laying her hand upon her lap. Even said, she was the pinnacle of ladyship.
“Now, go bathe. Take time to compose yourself. After the lunch hour there will be a formal ceremony seeing him and Camran off. You are expected to be there, and to hold yourself in a manner appropriate for the Crown Princess.”
Nerie did so.
As she exited the large bathing room, Karina was standing next to the queen, holding a new formal gown and accessories.
It was one thing to have to attend, but Nerie did not want to wear clothing that made her look happy in any fashion. However, one look from Queen Alaena, and she was slipping on the dress without a word.
They practiced sitting and standing while they waited for lunch. Karina served both of them in Nerie’s quarters. They ate in silence, Alaena not comment on any of Nerie’s bad table manners, too lost in her own thoughts. Alaena was effectively losing her only son, her baby, today. Nerie doubted that Alaena was as accepting of the situation as she seemed.
Finally, they made their way down to the formal gathering hall. Nerie and Alaena were greeted with reverent bows as they joined King Soren and Lord Sylas on the raised dais. Many of the lords and ladies that Nerie had met the day before were in attendance. Another display of silks and jewels. She still didn’t understand the appeal of such gaudiness.
Across the hall from the dais stood a set of large golden double doors. Vizen stood there, and at the king’s nod, opened the door. A man who looked vaguely familiar walked with Aldis towards the dais. The crowd parted like a wave, slowly moving back to where they had been standing moments before as both Sir Camran - for that’s who it had to be - and Aldis passed.
As the duo stood before the waiting royalty, the courtesans grew quiet. Nerie could now clearly see Aldis’s face, and while puffy from a night of crying, his eyes were currently clear of tears. His eyes darted first to her face, then to Queen Alaena’s.
Ah, Nerie thought. Alaena’s training is so ingrained into him, that he can’t cry in front of the nobles even if he wants to.
“Your Majesties, Princess, your Lordship,” Camran started, bowing formally to each of them before continuing, “I’m honored that you have graced me with the task of training Prince Aldis to one day become a Royal Knight.”
“You have proven yourself time and again Sir Camran,” Soren said.
Nerie didn’t really hear the rest of what was said. It seemed like a bunch of formal nonsense, and she was more interested in the man that stood before her. The one taking Aldis away from her.
Camran looked, for lack of a better term - plain. He had short dark hair that was speckled with silver. A matching beard adorned his neither heavy nor thin face. His armor was the same as the other royal knights stationed around the room. Perhaps his shirt was of a finer quality, but it was hard for her inexperienced eye to tell.
“- as vice-captain of the guard, I do so pledge with my life to protect Prince Aldis.”
Nerie’s attention was finally pulled back to the proceedings at hand. Applause filled the room. Camran and Aldis turned and headed for the now open exit. Soren nodded for Nerie and the other royals to follow. Then as a more of a herd than a group, the noble lords and ladies followed the royals out the door.
They finished their procession in the largest courtyard whose gates opened out to the city below. Two white horses with tassels hanging from their reins and bells attached to their tails waited, along with a small regiment of men and a wagon-full of supplies.
Aldis and Camran mounted the horses. The jingle of the bells was cheerful, and the nobles cheered and waved their prince away. Only Nerie, Alaena and Soren were not smiling as the boy and his mentor prepared to leave the palace.
As Camran took lead of the small train of men and animals, Aldis turned back to the crowd. Nerie could see the tears brimming on his eyes, waiting to fall down his pale cheeks. A glance at Alaena and a firm blink or two kept them at bay. Nerie could feel tears of her own prickle her eyes but if Aldis could hold his tears back, so could she.
Two servants that Nerie didn’t recognize slowly lifted the large bar holding the outer gate shut. With a low moan, the doors swung open. More jingling as Camran and Aldis moved their horses to the head of the caravan signaled an increase in the volume from the nobles.
One last look backwards and then they were leaving.
As Aldis’s horse stepped through the gate, Soros launched herself into the air trumpeting her distress. From the angle that Nerie was standing at to Aldis, a brief ray of light illuminated his face, shining off the tears now streaking down his cheeks.
And then the pomp and circumstance was over.
Soros continued wheeling in the sky as the group retreated. Her grief was potent to Nerie. Eras was still absent - noticeably at this point - and Ilex and Kiriga sat on opposing sides of the gate, watching their mother fly through the air.
The nobles were piling back inside, assuming - not incorrectly - that there would be a feast after such a gathering.
Nerie felt drained. Her one faithful friend and ally in the palace was gone. Kiriga turned to look at Nerie from her lofted position, but she didn’t say anything. She was going to miss the young boy too.
***
In the days that followed, the palace was eerily silent to Nerie’s ears. No clashing of swords, or giggles from down a long corridor. It was like the livelihood that came with children was suddenly gone.
Nerie hated it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Graith
The cart had broken out onto the road after only a few minutes. Alix had directed them onto the road north, and they were off. Zel ghosted along parallel to them and the road, keeping to the cover of the trees.
Then there was silence. Mero’s hoof-beats a sharp staccato on the paved road.
Graith was rather impressed by the young boy’s silence. Perhaps it was his anger over the coin, which, if Graith remembered correctly, he’d told the boy to hide away.
A slight clinking of jarred food and rasping of fabric being pushed aside let him know the boy was going through his supplies. He didn’t say anything about it, as it was unlikely the boy was going to grab it and run.
That kept Alix occupied for about an hour.
The slight chink of metal on metal told Graith that he’d found the swords. He expected questions then, but they never came.
“I need to take a leak.”
That wasn’t at all what Graith had been expecting the boy to say when he finally decided to speak, but he pulled the cart off to one side and Alix made a quick dash to the underbrush. Graith used it as a chance to stretch his old bones and to dig out a snack.
We don’t have time for this! Zel’s irritated voice rang through his head.
We are traveling as fast as Mero can go. The boy needed to stop. He didn’t know what to expect. You were the one who invited him along.
He might know things that we need. He can at least recognize the men accompanying my eggs.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, you just need to be patient when he needs to stop.
She didn’t respond, but embarrassment and shame colored her mind. Alix reemerged and hopped back into the cart. Seeing Graith’s food, he reached in and pulled out a loaf of bread for himself. The cart was moving before he had brought the first bite to his mouth.