by T. N. Hayden
“My name is Faryn.” She pulled her hands free. “I cannot do that. I love you Kurtis, and I thought you loved me. How can you ever ask me to be anything less than your wife?”
“I can’t be selfish.” He stood and paced away from her. “I wish I could be selfish. Then I could marry you and love you with all my heart, but war could easily break out again, and I can’t do that to my people. Please Ray-Faryn, please understand that.”
She nodded. Perhaps he was right. He was preventing another war, one probably led by Viveca. As much as her heart burned for him, they would be selfish to put so many lives in danger.
“Oh Faryn.” He gently grabbed her right arm and pulled her toward him. “I’m sorry we can’t be together.”
“Your father promised me he would make me wish I was dead.” She whispered.
“Don’t say that.” He kissed her forehead. “Ederra told us Fergus was gone, looking for a place for the two of you to go and rebuild your lives.”
Faryn nodded. “I did not want to go with him, but now I see I must.”
“Rebuild your life, as I rebuild with Zenia. I’m so sorry.”
Not as sorry as she was. “Just go Kurtis.”
He kissed her right cheek and left without another word.
Faryn fell to the ground, sobs rushing from her lips. Pain etched its way through her chest, and she clutched at an invisible weapon piercing her. She lay on her side, gasping as the breath couldn’t refill her lugs quick enough. She wheezed as snot flowed from her nose. Wiping her face clean, she closed her eye and was ready to die.
Faryn didn’t want to ever see Kurtis again. Everything was too painful for her to think about, to go through anymore. Rayna Little was truly dead.
“When will I be able to join Fergus?” Faryn took several small steps toward the open door. “Where are we right now?”
“We are in the port city of Kirit. One of Fergus’ friends is letting us stay here.” Ederra explained. “We did not want to take you home. Rebels ransacked our estate. It did not matter that our family supported their cause. They want most high nobles to pay for being loyal to the king, even if that loyalty was promised long ago.”
“That is not right.” Faryn whispered. “Kurtis is letting them do that?”
“Without Creedon, who led the rebels, and Viktor, who was a leader within the nobility, dead, Kurtis has been having a hard time trying to get both sides to work together. That is why he is trying to bring a strong match to his throne.”
“Please,” Faryn closed her eye. “I do not want to hear any more about Kurtis.”
“I am so sorry my sweet.”
Faryn didn’t want to meet Fergus’ friend who was letting them stay at his house. She didn’t want anyone to see her as she was. Tears seeped from her good eye as she thought back on her life. She’d always been the beautiful young woman everyone stared at. She was the gem, the jewel meant to sparkle and delight. So much of her life had revolved around her looks. She used to resent her beauty, since so many people only loved her for that reason. Now she would give anything to have her beauty back.
I may be dead, but I will make you wish you were.
The king was true to his word.
~ Chapter 50 ~
Dintz 540
Faryn packed a few outfits, bandages, and scarves to hide herself with. She didn’t want pity or stares. For the first time in her life, she was celebrating her birthday completely alone. She had Ederra and Fergus, but those she’d loved so much, Kurtis, Barrett, Jerrika, had deserted her. She finished putting her things together, ready to leave Perso’s Creek behind forever.
“I am ready to go Mother.” Faryn met Ederra in the front parlor. They walked down several streets to the harbor. The King’s Dagger was a fine ship from Liad, a country just south of Perso’s Creek, and it made port in Kirit.
“Take care, my sweet.” Ederra embraced Faryn, careful to avoid her left side.
“Thank you for everything.” Faryn whispered. “I hope you make your way to Fedji as well Mother.”
“I am sure I will.” Ederra touched a small part of Faryn’s face that wasn’t bandaged.
“Goodbye.” Faryn took her small bag and walked onto the ship. She turned to wave to her mother once more. How strange that in the end, it was Ederra who would be her final mother. Gwen would always hold that true place in her heart, but now she was dead. Faryn knelt as she suddenly felt light-headed and sick. Gwen and Creedon were dead, her mum and dad: the two people who had done everything possible to fight for her.
“Are you okay?” Someone touched her right shoulder.
Faryn looked up with her one good eye. The kindest light green eyes held concern and a spark of adventure in them.
“I will be alright.” Faryn stood.
“I’m Brian, the cabin boy.” He introduced himself.
Faryn looked him over. Brian had short blonde hair, and he was tall and lanky. Dressed in cut-off britches, willowing shirt, black bandana, and belt, he looked a year or so younger than she was.
“Faryn.” She introduced herself. She didn’t want to think about what Brian must have concluded about her. With her left arm, shoulder, and side of face bandaged, Faryn must look like some kind of undead being.
“Nice to meet you Faryn.” Brian gestured. “You’re the only guest we’re picking up. I understand you’re traveling to Fedji?”
Faryn nodded. Brian wasn’t treating her like she was unwanted, and there was no pity in his voice.
“My brother is in Fedji.” Faryn explained. “We are starting a new life there.”
“Ah.” Brian smiled. “I joined this ship to start a new life too. I used to live with my mother. She owns a tavern in Liad, and I would always be there to help.”
“Why did you leave?”
“I needed to establish myself, to realize who I am.” Brian paused. “And I need to find out what really happened to my father. My mother won’t tell me the truth.”
Faryn nodded.
“How about you?” Brian bit his lip. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”
“It is alright.” Faryn stated.
“I heard there’s been a big rebellion here within the last month or so.” Brian went on. “Looks like you saw battle.”
“And that is why my brother and I are finding a new life in Fedji.”
“I’m sorry. It’s never right to have to leave your home because of someone else. You should always be able to truly make a choice.”
“It is a good thought.”
Brian helped Faryn change the bandages on her wounds. Faryn was grateful because she still refused to look at herself in the mirror. She hated the torn material, but she was far more disgusted by whatever was below them. She couldn’t bring herself to look at the burns.
“How long have you been sailing?” Faryn looked at Brian as he unwrapped her bandages.
“I left home about four months ago.” Brian’s hands were gentle as he worked. “My mother always told me that my father was a Naval officer in Liad, but about five months ago, I was talking to one of the sailors who came into the tavern. The sailor told me that no Naval officer had ever had the last name of Long. I confronted my mother about that, and she wouldn’t even talk about it. So now I’m on a search to find out the truth about my father.”
“Why did you not stay at home and look there?”
“Because my mother moved there when I was a baby. I ask about my father at every port, and I’m praying that one day I’ll find out about him.” Brian wiped her burns clean and reapplied healing salve. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you?”
Faryn took a deep breath. “I was in love, and the father of the man I loved did not want us to be together. He pushed me into a torch.”
“I’m so sorry.” Brian started wrapping fresh bandages around her arm. “What happened to the man you love?”
“He rejected me.” Tears formed in Faryn’s right eye. “Turns out his father was right in the end.”
“And that’s why you and your brother are rebuilding your lives in Fedji.”
Faryn nodded. “Thank you for helping me Brian. All the other sailors just stare at me. You are so kind.”
“I can see past the surface.” Brian grinned and helped her up.
Faryn smiled. “Thank you.” She took an aqua silk scarf and wrapped it around her head.
“You need to look at yourself.” Brian’s voice was soft. “Promise me you’ll look at yourself one day. You won’t be able to move on until you do.”
“I do not think I will ever be able to move on.”
“You can’t live life in the past.” Brian put a hand to her right shoulder. “If you do, then you’ll never be able to move forward. You are a beautiful and special young woman. You are meant to do things in this world, to be someone truly incredible.”
“How would you know that?”
“Because I see a lot of me in you.” Brian paused. “You once loved yourself?”
Faryn nodded.
“You must learn to love yourself again. Why would anyone else love you if you don’t?”
“I will work on it.” Faryn hoped she wasn’t lying.
Faryn wanted to ignore the other passengers and ship hands, but Brian always came by her cabin and insisted she join him for mealtime with the others. The other passengers stared at her, and they whispered when they didn’t think she was looking.
“Don’t mind them.” Brian stated. “They just haven’t met anyone like you before.”
“And I hope they never have to meet anyone like me again.” Faryn whispered.
“You don’t have to be so sad. You have a lot to be thankful for.”
“You do not even know much about me.” Faryn shook her head. “I have lost everything.”
“You’re still alive. You’re meeting your brother. You’re starting a new adventure. Instead of dwelling on all the terrible things which have happened to you, think about the good things. Tell me one thing you’re glad about.”
“I am glad I found out people’s true intentions.” Faryn’s fork moved through the mashed potatoes. “I am glad I met you.” She looked at him with her good eye.
“I’m glad we met too.” Brian blushed, looking at his beans and potatoes.
“My friends rejected me.” Faryn explained. “Thank you for being a good friend Brian.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
After dinner, Brian took Faryn up to the top deck where the other passengers and his shipmates we having a small party. Dancing, knife-throwing, and laughter accompanied the people.
As Faryn stepped onto the deck, a wave of silence broke through the noise.
“Come on.” Brian grabbed her hand and pulled her into the dance. Brian looked at the navigator who had a guitar. “Keep on playing Kip.”
The navigator nodded and continued playing his music. All of a sudden it was like Faryn was a normal guest on the ship. The other couples danced, and she felt more like herself than she had since King Navion burned her.
Faryn smiled. “Thank you Brian.”
~ Chapter 51 ~
Jipso 541
Brian gave Faryn a hug before she left the ship in the new port of Fedji.
“Sister.” Fergus ran to meet her.
“It has been too long.” Faryn embraced him.
“I got you a job here.” Fergus explained. “I told you that Fedji had a prophecy and a change in leadership a few months before we did at home.”
Faryn nodded.
“Well there is a new queen here.” Fergus stated. “She was the princess, and when her mother died, she took over the kingdom. Queen Dianastace has a sixteen-year-old daughter who was raised with rebels in a cave.” He shook his head. “Seems crazy to think a princess grew up in a cave, but in Sara’s case, it is true. Anyway, now Princess Sara is living in the palace, and she needs a lady-in-waiting to help her. I got you that position. I know customs are going to be different here than they were at home, and I know you will be a great companion for the princess.”
“No princess will want me for a lady-in-waiting.” Faryn gasped. “Did not you tell them about my injury?”
“That only made the princess want you for a companion more.”
Faryn closed her good eye. “Probably so she will not have to worry about competition over suitors.”
“She is betrothed.”
“Of course.” Faryn couldn’t believe what her brother was going to make her do. She was going to continually be humiliated.
“Do not judge her before you even meet her.” Fergus scolded.
“I suppose we need to travel to the royal palace now.”
“The queen is there, and that is where we are going to live. But Sara is here to meet you.”
Faryn looked at him. “She wants to meet me now?”
He nodded and pulled her along with him. “I think you are really going to like her.”
They walked down the dock, Fergus holding his sister’s two bags. Faryn had only known one princess, and she prayed Sara wasn’t like Viveca.
To her surprise, there was no carriage there to take them to the palace, instead six horses grazed together and four people waited for them.
The oldest was a man in his mid-thirties, along with a woman who seemed a little younger. Two teenagers accompanied the couple.
“I would like to present two of the queen’s finest commanders: Melanie Kender and Dave Clark.” Fergus gestured. “This is Dave’s nephew, Nabil, and this is Princess Sara.”
The princess had the kindest deep-blue eyes Faryn had ever seen. She had long golden-red hair which she wore in a simple braid. She was dressed in britches, shirt, boots, cape, and sword. There was nothing in her appearance which defined her as royal.
“You must be Faryn Mint.”
Faryn opened her mouth to correct her last name, but Fergus gave her a slight shake of his head. They came here to start over. New identities came with that.
“Yes your highness.” Faryn curtsied.
“Please don’t do that.” Sara shook her head slightly. “Please call me Sara. I’m looking forward to having you as my lady-in-waiting, but I must ask you to first and foremost be my friend.”
Faryn stared at the princess. She was unlike anyone in Perso’s Creek. Slowly it sunk in exactly how things were going to be different here than at home. A real smile found its way across Faryn’s mouth. “I would love that.” She paused. “Sara.”
“Then let’s ride and get home as soon as possible.” Sara mounted her horse in a swift movement.
As they rode, Sara insisted on riding alongside Faryn. She asked her question after question about her life, her family, her friends, her training. At first Faryn was on edge, wondering what the princess’ true purpose was in finding out about her past, but Faryn quickly came to realize that the princess just honestly wanted to get to know her.
As they passed farmers, workers, and other common folk, the commanders, Melanie and Dave, stopped to check on the workers and their places. Faryn wondered if the commanders would beat or harm the common folk, but they only helped them.
“Is she using magic?” Faryn gasped as she saw Melanie touched the soil and brown shots of light went through one of the farmer’s fields.
Sara nodded. “Aunt Elaine has magic. She’s very powerful.”
“She is your aunt?”
“Not biologically.” Sara paused. “She’s my mother’s best friend, and they were raised as adopted sisters. I was raised by a man named Craig Kender, and Aunt Elaine is biologically his younger sister. Craig and my mom fell in love and were engaged, so she was going to be my real aunt. But Craig was killed in the final battle when I killed Queen Filia.”
“You killed the queen?” Faryn gasped. “Was your mother not the princess?”
Sara nodded. “I was destined to kill my grandmother.”
“That is awful.” Faryn didn’t want to talk about destiny or prophecies, especially not hers. “My brother mentioned that you are betr
othed.”
“To Nabil.”
“Oh.” Faryn didn’t realize he was the one she was going to marry. “How did you two meet?”
“Nabil’s parents were rebels.” Sara explained. “They died before I joined them. Craig raised us.”
“Why did your mother not raise you?”
“She did until I was eight. But then she had to return home, and I had to be protected from her mother.”
“That must have been awful.”
“It was.” Sara grinned. “I love living with my mother now.”
“Especially since you live in a palace instead of a cave.”
Sara chuckled and nodded.
They rode in silence for a while before entering a market and the grounds of the royal palace. Faryn gaped as she took in the sight of the royal palace of Fedji. It was built of white granite with several towers and floors. The royal palace of Perso’s Creek was intimidating, but this palace was inviting.
They dismounted in a stable, and a groomsman took their horses.
“My mom will be thrilled to meet you.” Sara gestured toward the palace.
Faryn followed the princess and Nabil. The other adults remained outside, speaking to one another.
Faryn stared at the hallways as they entered the palace. Tapestries with breathtaking nature scenes hung from the high walls. Tall columns lined the sides, edged in granite with draperies hanging between them.
“How was the ship from Perso’s Creek?” Nabil asked.
“I have never been on a ship before.” Faryn replied. “But it was a pleasant enough journey.”
“Here we are.” Sara pushed a door open.
They entered one of the towers. Inside was a small library with a couch and fireplace. There was a circular upper level with walls of bookcases full of books. Sitting on a couch was a woman with long, golden-blonde hair pinned in an elegant twist. She wore a delicate blue gown, belted at her waist, and fine white slippers peeked out from under her long skirt. She put a small piece of paper into her book, closing the leather-bound pages.