by Alice Ivinya
Falada had already been taken out and bridled. A bright blue saddle blanket, embroidered with silver, stood out smartly against his white fur. He rocked his head up when he saw me and pranced a few steps in excitement. I giggled and reached to his soft nose in greeting.
As I mounted, I took in my companions. Ruo was unfortunately not joining us, but I felt stronger in Falada’s company. Jian was already mounted and was still wearing his military uniform. I wondered if it was partly to annoy his mother by giving a constant message of where he felt he ought to be. He struck me as the sort of man who could never turn off and relax. Prince Han, however, was dressed in white fur with a bright red tunic beneath. He was laughing with an open face towards a young man whose hair was in multiple thin braids that fell to his waist.
Behind him, three women were gossiping with coy glances towards the elder Prince. All of them had hair styles that were far too elaborate for a simple hunt, with long hair pins that glistened in black hair that shone like silk, and two had painted eyes and lips. I wondered if this was another reason Jian preferred to be less noticeable. He didn’t seem the sort to want a gaggle of girls hassling him for attention.
The King and Queen sat regally on their mounts and were the closest riders to the gate. A ring of space had formed naturally around them, and they chatted amicably together. The way Queen Fei looked up at her husband with a mischievous twist to her lips, suggested they were still in love. I tightened Falada’s reins and shifted in the saddle. I needed to make a good impression today. There would be many eyes on me.
The low drone of horns sounded and Falada pranced sideways before pushing forward, eager to be at the front.
“Falada,” I hissed. “Stop showing off.”
He pulled the reins sharply forward in reply. Jian had already fallen to the back, I guessed so he didn’t have to speak with me. I couldn’t remember ever meeting a noble in Hava who was as reclusive as the Prince.
The ground had thawed from the chill of the night, but the air still held a bite and I was glad of the warm fur of my hat. We trotted across the plains to the dark stands of pine trees that spread on and on into the distance. When we entered the shadows of the woodland path, the sharp scent of pines filled my nostrils and the soft ground cushioned the horses’ hooves. The party slowed to a walk, and the hounds went tearing off into the trees. The pine branches were so dense, they didn’t leave much light for undergrowth, and I wondered how much prey we would find here.
I rode Falada with a straight back, trying to look as regal as possible and stole furtive glances at Prince Jian. He stared ahead or into the woods and looked disengaged from the rest of the party. Was he going to interact with me at all? We were going to be married in two months, he could at least talk to me. Ignoring me wasn’t going to get him back to the Border any quicker. I wanted to know what he was like, even if it was just a glimpse. Was he a thoughtless brute or a private philosopher?
The Queen pulled up beside me, a large bow already strung on her back, and she asked shallow questions about the quality of hunting in Sybera and the breeding of the horses. Though I loved to ride, I’d never enjoyed hunting. Elyanna did though; murdering innocent animals was almost a passion for her, so I answered the questions as best as I could. My thoughts kept turning to the butterfly she had sprayed with ink until its wings became too heavy to fly. Those kittens she had drowned in the water trough. Maybe it was an escape to come here.
After a few miles we paused to let the horses rest and drink from a stream. The hounds yapped happily around the hound master and the atmosphere was relaxed. A servant passed me a wineskin and a heel of bread.
Worried that the alcohol would go straight to my head, I dismounted to fill up my water bottle from the stream and gasped as the icy water flowed over my hand. It was so bitterly cold, my bottle slipped from my fingers, and I cried out as it was taken by the current and bounced back and forth between the rocks as it flowed away. I took a few steps after it, but then a gloved hand snatched it from the water. I looked up and saw Prince Jian pressing in the stopper and handing it to me. My heart started to thud in my chest. This was my chance to start a conversation.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice sounding strained. I took the bottle and clutched it to my chest, trying to think of something to say.
The Prince nodded and headed back to the horses and I cursed under my breath. I needed to think of an interesting conversation topic, but it would help if he put in some effort too. He could at least pretend to be interested in me as his future bride.
I rushed to catch up over the icy rocks before the opportunity went, but he spoke first, making me jump. “Do you know how to use that?”
I frowned and reached his side. “I’m sorry?”
He gestured to where my sword was strapped to Falada’s saddle. “Your sword. Can you use it?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Of course.”
He tilted his head with a disbelieving twist to his lips. “You used to train in Sybera?”
I gave a firm nod. “Most days. Most nobles do.”
“Against other women I presume?”
I frowned and folded my arms. This was an area I could prove my worth in. “And men. Is that quite so unbelievable? I could beat all the other nobles.”
He shrugged and looked me up and down with a quick sweep of his eyes. “You’re just so… skinny.”
I swallowed down my annoyance at his tone and almost said I was better than Princess Elyanna, before remembering I was supposed to be her. I dried my hands on my skirts and strapped my water bottle to the saddle, turning my back to him. I asked lightly, “Do you want a match?”
He barked a laugh. “I wouldn’t just let you win, you realize.”
I pulled myself into Falada’s saddle so I could look down at him. “Likewise. I understand if you don’t want to; you might get hurt.”
He shook his head slowly, a small smile twitching his lips. “Fine, we’ll spar tomorrow.” He mounted his own horse in one swift, elegant motion.
“Is it not normal for you to fight women?” I focused on pulling on my gloves and gathering the reins rather than looking at him. It was easier to be confident without seeing his dismissive eyes.
“Yes, but they’re Borderlanders, not southerners. Everyone here has to be prepared in case there is a breakthrough at the Passes.”
His words caught my interest and I turned to look at him. I knew little about the Border which this kingdom defended. The books said that beyond it lay a wasteland of monsters. Beasts and men purely of the Old Blood but twisted by their search for power. My nanny had scared me with stories of the Beasts when I’d refused to go to bed or come in from playing in the garden. It was of little concern to Sybera, however, so we hadn’t studied it further than how the threat had militarized Borderland governance.
“Does that ever happen?”
He looked off into the forest, his expression turning vacant. “Not in the last ten years.”
I leant closer towards him. “What happened ten years ago?”
His eyes met mine and they were colder than ever before. “A lot of people died.” He kicked his horse and trotted off to the front of the group, leaving me wondering if I’d touched a forbidden subject. Maybe this was why nobody went out alone in the dark.
The rest of the group was starting to move, and I nudged Falada to join them.
‘He’s not very talkative, is he?’ The horse shook out his mane and chomped on the bit.
“No, he’s not,” I replied. “And not very friendly either. I told you so. What am I going to do?”
A deep voice from behind me made me jump. “Oh, don’t worry too much. You get used to him. It’s just the way he talks to everyone.” I turned to see Prince Han riding up to us on his huge chestnut warhorse. I felt my cheeks heat at being overheard. The Crown Prince gave me a wide smile. “As I said before, he takes a while to adjust to new people.”
I smiled at him, but my insides recoiled at being so close to a man
who had probably killed his wife. “Any advice for conversation starters?”
He thought for a moment, scratching his short beard. “Eh, no not really. His passion is the Border, the defense of the Forts and the loyalty of his men, but they can also be touchy subjects for him at the moment, so I wouldn’t recommend them.”
Great. “Does he have any hobbies?”
“Eh,” he pulled his hand through his hair. “He likes to spar and read military books.”
I sank down into my saddle. He sounded so boring. At least the sparing was an area I could join him in.
Prince Han cleared his throat and seemed uneasy as if not sure he should keep talking. “Jian has lost people very dear to him in the past. It makes him… cautious about his attachments and protective. Some might say overprotective. Just… give him time. He is a good brother to me and a fine general to his men.”
The sharp blow of a horn made me jump and the horses leapt forward, ending our conversation. Falada launched into a gallop in excitement, and Han’s words were torn from my mind. Some poor animal must have been sighted. I tried to merely focus on the joy of the ride, but Falada wanted to win.
He leapt a log with a high-pitched whinny and flared his nostrils, his head nodding faster and faster. I gripped hard with my knees as he wove tightly between the trees.
“Falada,” I warned, but he didn’t respond. I could feel the excitement quivering down his flanks and his joy at the reckless abandon of the chase. I held on tight and trusted his judgement.
There were no Spirit-Horses in Stonekeep, meaning Falada stood a full two hands taller than even the Crown Prince’s horse, and had the longest legs. He was the fastest, and he wanted to be recognized as such. He sped between pines, and leaped streams and rocks. He caught up with the hounds and the other riders fell behind.
I caught sight of our quarry through the trees; the grey bushy tail of a wolf, its ears flattened with panic. I wanted to pull Falada away and not take part in this, but I knew it was too late. The dogs growled and attacked the snarling wolf, leaping onto its back. I rode past the rolling mass of fur and teeth before I eased Falada to a walk, not wanting to see the wolf ripped apart. I knew their numbers had to be kept down or they would take too much of the livestock, or worse, prey on children, but it didn’t make the act any less distasteful.
The zip of an arrow whizzed overhead, and a bundle of white fell to the pine needles in front of me. I edged closer and saw a dove beating its wings against the snow-speckled floor. It was pierced clean through by an arrow.
‘Help, help.’ The voice was quiet, thin.
I froze in shock. Surely this was a trick of my imagination? It should be impossible for me to hear this bird speak. It wasn't of the Old Blood and we weren’t bonded. It made no sense.
“Falada?” I asked.
The horse snorted in return. His breaths were still labored from the chase, misting the air around us.
“Can you hear the dove speak?”
He shook out his mane and swiveled his ears forward. ‘Perhaps. Faint on the wind. I’m surprised you can hear it.’
Cold shot through me as I watched its helpless fluttering, the arrow holding fast. Crimson seeped into white feathers. I felt sick. “Do… do all animals talk?”
‘In their own way, yes. But only those of the Old Blood can use words that humans understand. This bird must have the faintest of bloodlines. There is no outward sign at all. But the magic in these woods is strong. I have never run that well before.’
“What does that mean? How can I hear it?”
The hiss of leather sliding against leather made me jump as Prince Han dismounted beside me and thudded to the ground. He strode to the dove in long strides and snapped its neck. He met my eyes and grinned. “Too squeamish to do the deed?”
My nausea only grew, and I turned away before I disgraced myself.
I heard a woman’s voice behind me, bright and flirtatious, as I steered Falada to the main party. “What did you expect from a Syberan? They’re all so fragile. She wouldn’t survive a day on the Border.”
Han’s reply was low and soft and lost in the whisperings of the pines.
5
Sixth Level Swordsman
I woke up feeling energized and was dressed in tunic and leggings before Ruo had reached the room. I stretched my muscles and did a warm-up routine with my sword. It was frustrating that I hadn’t sparred in almost two weeks, and already I could feel the stiffness in my thighs and arms, but I was still going to wipe that dismissive smile right off Jian’s arrogant face. This was one thing I had truly excelled at back in Hava. Not even Elyanna had managed to hold me back.
I ate a light breakfast of fruit and drank only water. This close to the mountains, it was safer than the water in Hava and I was grateful to be able to keep my head clear. I was looking forward to finding an activity to do with Jian that wasn’t awkward and wouldn’t involve the embarrassment of an onlooking crowd.
Jeremiah already knew where the training grounds were and looked better than he had in days. The Queen had provided me with a guard of two extra men, so two could guard me at night if Jeremiah wished. It was good to see the squire looking fresh and alert, his boots shined and his cheeks shaven. He led the way down busy halls with a bounce to his step.
I had hoped to reach the training square before Jian so I could familiarize myself with the weight of the training swords, but he was already there sparring with an important looking soldier. Despite the cold of early morning, sweat gleamed on their brows, and I guessed they had been fighting a while. I shaded my eyes to take in his footwork, the side he favored, his strengths and weaknesses. But their swords flew so fast I became lost in the beauty of it, and it took all my willpower not to gape. Borderlander swords were thinner in general than the ones in Sybera, and the fighting style was faster, more graceful. I’d only fought against Syberans before. My confidence faltered.
Jian saw me and called a halt, bowing sharply to his opponent and then nodding towards me. The stocky soldier returned his practice sword to the staff master, stripped down to his uniform, and left without acknowledging me. From the brocade on his chest, I guessed he was a commander, maybe a captain. I pulled on a padded tunic that stank of sweat and strapped on the knee and elbow guards. There were leather braces for both my arms, decorated with tide marks of dried sweat and warped out of shape with age and use.
The staff master handed me a wooden sword, weighed down with an iron rod through its center. Its balance was different to what I was used to, and it felt awkward in my hand. I performed a few practice swipes and adjusted my footwork to stop me overreaching myself. I wished Jian hadn’t been here early; this was already unfair.
I looked over my shoulder to where the Prince stood at the edge of the ring drinking water, his expression was blank, but his eyes were analyzing me. I looked away as my skin prickled, and I walked to the center of the ring, not checking to see if he would follow.
I picked a spot and checked the ground for rocks before picking a stance. Jian strolled in front of me with his sword resting casually on his shoulder, and his lips pressed together in amusement.
He looked at the dirt as he swung his sword down. His fringe fell forward, dripping. “You do know I am a sixth level swordsman and General of the Guard at the Eastern Pass, right?”
I shrugged. I had no idea what ‘sixth level’ meant anyway.
He shrugged back. “Just letting you know. It’s completely acceptable for you not to do well.”
I grimaced. “Are all Borderlanders so arrogant?”
His eyes met mine and there was no playful boasting in his gaze. “It’s not arrogance, it’s truth.” His voice was flat.
I felt a shiver ripple down my spine. Sure, I had been good in the ring at Sybera, but we were a country at peace. This man slew monsters. I shrugged again.
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m not the one with an inflated view of my talents.”
I opened my mouth to object, then t
hought better of it. I couldn’t let him goad me into anger; it was the oldest trick in the book. I rolled my shoulder and held my wooden sword up in a defensive position. He swung his up casually and then sprung forward, testing my guard. I parried and stepped back into neutral. He lunged again, this time testing the other side of my guard, and again I parried, but only just. He was quick and nerve-wracking in his precision. I tried to give nothing away with my expression, but I felt like every move I made was stripped bare under his prying eyes. He lunged a third time, and this time he caught me off balance. My sword merely skimmed his as he broke through and landed a blow to my side. I grunted, but could tell he was softening the blow. I tried to retaliate by bringing my elbow down on his outstretched arm, disarming him. But he was too quick and spun, landing a blow on my other side.
He took a few steps back and cocked his head. “You need to work on your left side. It’s a glaringly obvious weakness.”
I felt a stab of annoyance at his tone, but it was soon suppressed by a bubble of excitement. This man could fight, really fight, far better than any of my instructors back home. And now I didn’t have Elyanna cutting our training sessions short, or complaining when I did well, or making me fan her when she got hot. And finally, I had the elusive Prince’s full attention.
“Again,” I said, rotating my toes into the dirt.
He attacked, this time high, and I shoved his sword away, only for it to spin and come at me in a diagonal thrust. I barely got my blade down in time. His face was now close to my hilt, and I tried to ram it towards his nose. He leapt back, faster than I’d have thought possible, and I staggered forward a step before catching my balance.
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re fighting dirty for the training ring.” His breathing was just as steady as before.
I shrugged. “I thought you were a sixth level swordsman. I’m sure you can cope.”
He gave me a patronizing smile. “Of course. Especially when it makes you wobble like a toddler.” He pushed his fringe back. “Now, I want to see your attack.”