She glanced over to Trish who averted her gaze from the whores with a nervous gulp.
Lamplighters went around with flaming torches to light the metal lanterns which hung from the eaves of many of the buildings. The dark city streets fell into a beautiful orange glow as the lanterns came alive.
Katryna had forgotten the serene atmosphere created at night by Ravenrock’s thousands of city lamps. Ravenrock was famous for its lamps. Some even called it ‘the City of Stars’, others ‘the City of Canals’.
Katryna turned to Trish. They couldn’t help but smile at each other. Despite their anxieties and anticipations, they were glad to be back.
“It really hasn’t changed one bit,” Katryna repeated to herself.
Tulip whinnied, almost as if she too had realised that she was back home. Her limp was already fading.
But the biggest dissonance that Katryna was suffering with was how alike all the people looked. She was not used to it. Most of the people living in Ravenrock were of pale skin, spoke Alyrian, and were freemen. In Redwatch, where Katryna had been living for the last several years, slavery still flourished, especially with the lucrative market available by being located nearer to the west coast of the continent.
Anai were the most common race to be enslaved by man, due to their short stature and passive personalities, making them good workers who rarely questioned their imprisonment. Katryna knew of some places in the world where human criminals were enslaved as punishment.
In Redwatch, Katryna had seen all sorts of peoples. Men, of course, and their slaves, but also Valkhor, and even some Tekawa Nomads. Camridia had outlawed slavery, and remained one of the least multicultural kingdoms in all of Eos.
Katryna’s company rode onto the Westgate Bridge, their horses’ hooves clopping on the worn cobblestones beneath. Blackstone Rush flowed underneath the arching bridge. The canal had a tendency to become a raging river whenever the rains struck.
They crossed many more canal bridges, making their way further towards the upper city, known colloquially as hightown. Castle Bower was by-far the tallest structure in the Ravenrock. It reminded Katryna of a huge guardian watching over its domain, square-shaped, with stone towers on each corner rising into the sky.
Up high around the peak of the keep circled flocks of grey gulls and coastal drakes.
Castle Bower, unlike the outer city walls of Ravenrock, was all mortar and stone rather than sandstone. The sole gatehouse, flanked by two watchtowers, ensured that the city guards could keep an eye over who entered and left the castle.
“Here we go,” Katryna said to Trish.
The grill-like portcullis was down when Katryna’s company arrived over the drawbridge. She was met with an Infinity Guardsman, one of one hundred of the royal family’s personal bodyguards and protectors of Castle Bower. The guard lifted his visor, revealing a chunky, square face and splotchy beard. “State your business,” he spoke, coldly.
Katryna cleared her throat. “My…my name is Katryna Bower.” Well, that didn’t sound convincing.
He scowled. “Who?”
“The princess?” There was a long pause. He doesn’t know who I am. “I’m here on urgent business, to see my father, the king-”
“The king is sick and is not receiving any visitors at this time,” the guard spoke in a pre-rehearsed manner. “Now, if you will make your way back from where you came-”
“No, you don’t understand,” Katryna said bluntly. She was becoming frustrated. They’ve forgotten who I am. Weeks of travel, only to be held up by some ignorant guard. “My name is Katryna Bower, I am the daughter of the king. My brother, Prince Finnigan, sent a request for me to return home at once.”
She pulled out the letter he had sent almost a month prior. The Infinity Guardsman read it slowly. At first, Katryna thought he was just reading it carefully, then it dawned on her that he was struggling to read the words. He noticed the family seal imprinted at the bottom of the parchment but still looked confused.
“Please,” Katryna sighed, “if you just”-
“Let her through!” a voice called out from inside the bailey. Katryna peered behind the guard to see her younger brother, Finn, running towards the gatehouse. “Let her in!”
Katryna smiled with happiness. One of the only people she was eager to see again upon returning home.
The chains lifting the portcullis up groaned under the immense weight. The guard bowed to Katryna as a gesture of apology, handing her back the letter, and stepping aside.
The company rode into the bailey. Katryna jumped down from her horse, placing the reins into Trish’s hands, and running up to Finn with open arms. They embraced one another.
“Creator, it’s been too long!” Katryna said. She took in his scent and his warmth, letting it absolve the hurt still in her heart.
Finn kissed his sister’s cheek, and they looked at each other, studying how their faces had changed and grown.
“Kat, the last time I saw you-”
“You were only six years old!” Katryna said. “Now look at you, you are a young man!”
Finn had really grown into his looks. He had stunning blue eyes, was clean-shaven, and his dimpled cheeks reminded Katryna of his exciting, mischievous youth. His fair curls flowed down the side of his face. They ought to make the girls go crazy.
“It’s so good that you came,” Finn said, his smile slowly fading.
“We got here as fast as we could. Redwatch is a long ride away.”
“I know,” Finn replied, trying to comfort his sister. “I know.”
Katryna rubbed her hands awkwardly. “I wish we had a chance to catch up properly, but…”
“It’s best we go inside, first. We can find time later for catching up.”
Katryna paused, unsure if she wanted the answer to the question she was about to ask. “Is… is father…”
“He’s still hanging on,” Finn said. “Mother passed the day before I wrote the letter to you.”
Katryna felt tears welling in her eyes but refused to let them free. Her mother’s death brought anguish to her heart. She had never been able to patch things up with her, and for so many years, the two had lived separate lives across the world to avoid one-another.
But Katryna felt no glee in her mother’s death. Only sadness, only regret. She could not deny the relief to know her father was still clinging on, though.
Finn held his sister again, tightly, recognising that she needed to be consoled.
“I’ve missed you, baby brother,” Katryna whispered in his ear.
Several servants arrived to take the horses to the royal stables and bring the travellers’ bags inside. As they got off their horses, they bowed to their prince. Trish curtseyed elegantly.
“Come on, we should head inside.” Finn held her hand. “The family is all here, and we have a lot to discuss.”
The day Katryna had been dreading had finally arrived. She held her head up strong while gritting her teeth in anxiety.
The prince and princess made their way into Castle Bower.
Chapter 5 - Embrace
The plush palanquin that King Emery Blacktree was resting in shook as his servants carrying it struggled taking it up the endless stairs of Chateau Cardell.
Emery had kept the shutters closed as soon as they had entered Andervale. The crowds that had gathered around were boisterous and the trip from Dawnhill had been a long one. While he couldn’t blame them for their excitement at the king of Ashen’s royal visit, the last thing he wanted to do was put on a smile and wave to strangers.
The palanquin, while luxurious, became cramped after a while. Years of being stuffed into it like a fish in a barrel did little to ease the muscle-stiffening and claustrophobia that came with long trips.
Across from him on the other seat was Queen Sirillia, still asleep against a tasselled cushion despite the noise and the bumpiness. Emery needed to protect his wife from any sort of stress, so he let her sleep.
Despite being roughly the
same age as Emery, in his fourth decade, Sirillia’s skin was wrinkled and pale. She was exhausted from the previous night when a bad fever had ravaged her once again.
Emery had insisted she stay back home in Dawnhill. Andervale was a long way away, but Sirillia was adamant that she attend the wedding of her daughter, no matter the cost to her failing health.
A knock came on the window of the palanquin, waking Sirillia up from her deep slumber. Emery rolled his eyes before sliding the shutter open. A beam of bright light illuminated the lavish palanquin, and in with it came the scents of smoked meats, incense and sea spray.
“Yes? What is it?” Emery said. He hurriedly found his crown and placed it atop his head. He loathed the thought of some lord catching a glimpse of him in an unkempt state. That would be quite the story for the nobility.
Ser Yelin Mortimer was pacing beside the palanquin with a bright red face. The overweight royal guard was feeling every degree of the western heat in his black and silver armour. The shield sigil of Ashen was imprinted into his chestplate.
“Forgive me, my king,” Yelin huffed, sensing Emery’s frustration. “I just wanted to make you aware that we are about to enter the Chateau Cardell bailey. The Seynards are sure to be receiving us shortly.”
Emery nodded, adjusting his crown until it sat in the perfect spot atop his well-washed black curls. “Thank you, Ser Yelin. And Ciana, is she alright?”
“Aye, my king. Giddy to get out and stretch her legs, though.”
“Make sure she is prepared to greet the Seynards.”
“Aye, my king.”
“Any word of Petir and Jodie, yet?” Emery added.
Yelin nodded. “They sent a rider to let us know they will be late. Their carriage lost a wheel on the road earlier in the day. They requested the festivities go on without them.”
“If there’s one thing I know about Caldaeans, it is that the festivities wait for no one.” Emery said with a smirk.
Yelin chuckled. “Aye, my king.”
The palanquins containing the royal family passed Andervale’s Church of Luminance. The immense structure was so large that it blocked the sun with its towering grey steeples, grander than most chantries back home.
Emery slid the shutter closed and looked to his loving wife who was brushing her thinning hair. He struggled to tell if she was smiling or frowning.
“Are you feeling up to this? If you are still unwell, we can request that you be taken to your quarters as soon as we get there,” Emery said.
“Of course, my love.” Her voice, while scratchy, still had the same softness that Emery had fallen in love with. It was the sort of voice that hinted at a kind soul. “I will be fine. It would be rude of me not to be properly received by our hosts.”
“Pfft,” Emery scoffed. “As if Tobius Seynard has any manners left in that decrepit mind of his.”
“Emery, hush. We are not here to trade petty comments. I don’t want any of that, not today.”
Emery poured some purple wine from a pitcher into a goblet and handed it to her. “Drink up. It’s a hot day outside.”
“Nice and cool in her, though. Thankfully.”
The palanquin continued uphill into the Chateau as the king and queen groomed themselves ready to be presented.
“Did you sleep alright?” Emery asked.
Sirillia shrugged. “I had that same strange dream again. Waves of blood upon rocks. The decaying husks of shellfish in a never-ending sea.” She scratched her head; even saying it out loud sounded ridiculous.
“I will ask for one of Tobius’s apothecaries to give you something to help you sleep better tonight. A dreamless sleep will do you good.”
“What is sleep without dreams, my love?”
“In your case, a sound sleep!”
Sirillia sipped at the sweet wine. “I can’t believe our little girl is being wed today,” she said.
Emery nodded, reassuringly tapping his wife’s outstretched hand.
“I… I want to be happy for her,” she continued with some hesitation.
“Now, now,” Emery said. “You were her age when you were married off to me. And look how well that has turned out for all of us?”
His wife smiled back, accentuating her crow’s feet. “Few are as lucky as we have been. Most marriages result in surprise bastards and unhappy wives.”
“Do you remember our wedding night back in Dawnhill?”
“Like it was yesterday.” Sirillia could practically hear the bells ringing and feel the falling petals brushing against her face.
“I fondly recall my father stumbling during his speech and falling into our cake,” Emery joked.
Sirillia could not hold back a grin. “In front of everybody!”
“It was a mess,” Emery laughed. “It really was a night I will never forget. The jesters claimed he could not wait for the toasts to end and needed to eat right then and there.”
Sirillia’s laughing slowly silenced as she was drawn back into despair. No matter how hard she tried, fear gripped Sirillia like a vice. Fear for her daughter, a deep fear that only a mother could ever truly understand.
“Worry not, my love,” Emery said calmly. “All is well, and all will be well from this day onward.”
“I know,” Sirillia said. She organised the ruffles on dress.
“Ciana is very lucky to be marrying a prince from such a prominent family. She will be looked after for the rest of her life, living on the Emerald Sea, with pristine views of the Midsummer Gardens and servants to attend to her every need.”
Despite Sirillia’s nodding, Emery could still sense her hesitation and concern.
“House Seynard may have once been our adversary, but her sacrifice will bring peace to all. This wedding has to happen.”
“I know,” Sirillia said.
“So, let’s make the most of it, for Ciana’s sake.”
The palanquin lurched to a halt and the servants carrying it lowered it to the ground. Trumpets played outside and Ser Yelin unlatched the door and swung it open.
“Let us embrace peace,” Emery whispered to his unsure wife, before stepping from the palanquin, holding his neck up high with straight shoulders, out into the sunshine to a large group of applauding royals and nobles.
Chapter 6 - The Meaning of Blood
Little had changed inside the keep of Castle Bower since the last time Katryna had set foot within, so many years ago. She hesitantly stepped into the main foyer with Prince Finnigan, her handmaiden Trish, and her procession of guards and servants with whom she had ridden with.
Several Infinity Guardsmen stood out, their armour gleaming red and white. Katryna noticed that there seemed to be a lot more guards around than she could ever recall.
Katryna could feel eyes all over her from the many servants and courtiers going about their business in the castle. Some wondered who she was. Others who recognised her wondered why she was back. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but one that Katryna forced herself to disregard.
“Strange being back?” Finn asked.
“Definitely,” Katryna said. “Wish it were under better circumstances.”
“I’m just glad you are home for good.”
Katryna saw Finn’s face light up. For good? He thinks I’m staying for good? Katryna rubbed her clammy hands together, taking a long breath in. One thing at a time.
Despite growing up in the opulence of Castle Bower, the sheer wealth surrounding her still stunned her.
Two silver chandeliers hung high above their heads, alight with hundreds of wax candles. The metal of the chandelier’s column was engraved with ornate flower patterns.
An elegant circular rug covered in colours of summer lay on the floor of the foyer. The walls were decorated with hanging linen banners, adorned with the sigil of House Bower and Camridia, and along the flanks of the entrance hall, archways stood atop huge rising columns of pure white stone.
Katryna had forgotten what it was like to live like this.
Immedi
ately, the memories of growing up in Castle Bower flooded Katryna’s mind. Running through the long halls with her siblings, playing all sorts of games with her brothers. Fighting imaginary monsters in the gardens with sparring swords. Watching her father as he adjudicated atop the throne.
She had always wanted to sit on his lap but was never allowed. It was forbidden for women to be so close to the throne.
Father. Where was her father?
“Everyone is waiting for us in the dining hall,” Finn said to Katryna. “Come.”
Katryna turned to Trish, “I’ll catch up with you later. See to it that you are all fed, and please make sure Tulip is settled for the night.” Trish nodded in response. “And Trish?”
“Yes, Kat?”
Katryna pulled Trish in and whispered in her ear. “Make sure to say ‘hello’ to Edrick from me.”
Trish smirked and whacked Katryna gently on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry. I will be sure to pass the message on, one way or another.”
Katryna and Finn made their way into the bowels of the castle. Every stone hearth had a raging fire inside and candles lit up the interiors with a warm glow. Somehow, despite its size, the castle was always warm on the inside.
They reached the dining hall, a massive open space at the rear of the keep. Its oak doors were wide open. The walls were painted in stripes of red and white, separated with thick wooden beam supports, and were covered in beautiful candle sconces.
A long table sat in the centre of the hall, its top made from expensive Efferven red pinewood, held together with thick nails and metal braces. At the table sat many of Katryna’s close and extended family members. She could instantly tell who was happy to see her back home, and who was less than thrilled.
“Kat!” Katryna’s aunt Rashel, her father’s sister, leapt to her feet from slouching on a chair, warmly embracing her niece.
Rashel was well into her sixties and looked it. Her hair had grown silver and her face was withered and wrinkled like an old piece of fruit. The soft scent of lavender filled her nostrils- Katryna had always loved the smell of her aunt’s perfume. It smelled like home.
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