“The boy didn’t speak, but his eyes were ever watchful. The girl was unharmed, and Isadora thanked the boy profusely while trying to draw him into conversation. When Alaric talked to the boy alone, he told the king that he was an orphan lost in the forest. He saw the girl and wanted to bring her back to the city. The forest was no place for a child, he said. The king felt a fondness toward the boy, whose eyes looked much sharper than any child’s had a right to be. He soon realized the boy was very smart and very quick to learn, much like he had been.
“He took him on as a sort of apprentice, teaching him hand-to-hand combat as well as sword fighting. Though Alaric knew the boy possessed some sort of magic, he never used it. He sat in on strategy meetings and often held solutions to problems the king hadn’t even seen. He knew the boy was more than he appeared.” His eyes flicked to Rowan, and mine followed. He certainly seemed to be more than he appeared to me. When our eyes met, I blushed, looking away.
“When whispers of sightings of Kieran started once more, the king restarted his search for him in earnest. Shuni and Conduits were disappearing in droves, and the people were panicking. Alaric offered shelter to all he could, banding them together as the start of what we have here in Alaris today. He and Isadora organized for the children to be taught and trained and for the older teens starting adulthood to have the option of training with the guard. The people had never felt safer than with the wall up around them and the opportunities to learn and train to protect all that they had.
“Alaric’s guards caught a rebel band trying to break into the tunnels of the palace and discovered a plot to steal his child. He instructed Farran to take Isadora, their child, and the boy into hiding. The boy agreed to take a blood oath to protect the girl at all costs, as the king’s final line of defense. Farran hid them in a cottage in the forest and warded it from sight, but he returned to the city at Isadora’s command when they heard of an attack on the palace.
“That night the forest began to burn. It was an unnatural fire, consuming all in its path with a single-minded purpose that was fueled by blood magic. The cottage caught fire, and when they escaped the flames, a woman was waiting. Isadora told the boy to take her daughter and run; she sacrificed her life to save them. That very same night, Kieran killed Alaric using the staff during the battle at the palace, using unnatural power that radiated evil. It knocked everyone to their knees with the sheer force it expelled. Kieran was mad with power, and Farran stole the staff from his brother’s hand as he stood over Alaric’s dead body in victory and then disappeared.
“Farran returned to the forest and found the boy and the child hiding up in the canopy of trees. He told the boy to go back to the palace. Kieran had fled, and the people had retaken it and were trying to pick up the pieces. They needed the boy’s knowledge and guidance. The boy refused to let Farran take the child. He was blood-bound to protect her. He wanted to go with her.
“When Farran refused to allow the boy to come, he shifted into a young lion. His limbs were lanky, his mane patchy, but his eyes were fierce . . . he was yet to grow into the magnificent being he would surely become. Farran had never seen a lion Shuni. The line was supposed to have been destroyed more than a century before. When the girl saw the lion, she clapped and laughed, reaching her hands toward it with glee. The boy returned to his human form, angry that the girl hadn’t been afraid. Farran used that to his advantage and swore to the boy that he would take her somewhere she would not be found until the time was right. He told him to return with news of their deaths to keep them safe. The boy agreed that it was the best plan.
“Farran took the girl and left her in the protection of the twelve monks of the mountain, placing a block on her powers and a ward around the valley where she remained until she showed up at my cottage, escorted by the boy yesterday evening.” Kel finished with a clap of his hands, having brought the long story full circle. My mouth was hanging open, and my eyes felt as if they were about to pop out of my head. I could feel the blood rushing to my brain. Surely I wasn’t going to faint? My eyesight started to dim.
“Head between your knees,” Rowan barked, and I complied, taking deep breaths. I needed to process all the information I was just given. Over two generations had been covered by his tale and his abrupt ending left my head spinning as his story merged with my reality. Details, I needed to focus on each detail. I took deep, steadying breaths.
“You’re my uncle?” I looked up at Kel warily.
“That is true.” He smiled.
“Why did you give me a fake name?” I asked angrily.
“Onkel . . . Uncle . . . it was a shameless pun to be sure, but I couldn’t resist, and I didn’t want to spoil the story. Look at you! Ha! It was so worth it!” He laughed as if it were obvious all along.
“And you are the boy.” I looked at Rowan, and he nodded, face unreadable.
“And I am the girl,” I said slowly, and Briony laughed. I had forgotten she was even here.
“Yes. You are Princess Vivienne Cosette Reinhold of Alaris,” Mauve barked loudly, her patience clearly diminishing. I blinked slowly.
“Maybe she needs time? We had much more time knowing she was still alive, and I still can’t believe it,” Dahlia suggested with humor in her eyes.
“Yes, I suppose you are correct. Briony, take her to her room and help her get cleaned up. The feast is being prepared as we speak,” Zoran said kindly. I flinched when Briony put her arm around me. I still wasn’t used to being touched so easily and so often. Especially by someone I didn’t know. She let go, putting her hands up as if in surrender.
“Sorry,” I said crossing my arms.
“No problem,” she replied, giving me an odd look before walking in front of me. I glanced back to see Rowan was gone and Kel—or should I say Farran—was waving with a smile. Farran, my uncle. This was going to take some getting used to.
Briony led me up the right side of the grand staircase, and I followed without seeing, trying to collect the facts in my mind. I was a princess. I had an evil uncle who wanted to kill me and another who didn’t age, and we all could turn into tigers. Ha! Just thinking it sounded insane. Still no parents, though . . . but at least I knew who they were now. My mother and father may have been royalty, but even more important than that is that they were good. My parents were good people.
I looked at the pictures lining the hall that must have been my ancestors. It was odd to feel like I should know them when I didn’t. Crown moldings fitted to the ceilings and the floors were shiny marble. Everywhere I looked in this palace was covered in intricate detail.
I followed Briony up another much smaller staircase that opened up to a long, arched gallery framed in mirrored glass. There was a door at the end of it, and she opened it with a smile, nodding me forward. The room opened up to a high domed ceiling; a huge bed was draped with a light-blue sheer canopy in the far corner. I took note of a few arched doorways on each side of the room. There was a huge mirror atop a desk in an alcove, and I groaned as I took in my appearance. I looked exhausted, hair and clothes rumpled, bags under my eyes. I sighed, looking away.
“Take your time freshening up,” Briony said with a soft smile that I returned.
I entered the door across from the foot of the bed and found a bathroom with a huge tiled tub that I couldn’t wait to sink into. Sadly, I had never had a hot bath and nothing would make me happier at this moment. The wall opposite was lined with a countertop and mirror. I didn’t look at myself any closer in the mirror and made use of the first toilet I’d seen in too long. I washed my hands and then stripped off my clothes in a hurry.
I climbed into the bath while the water was still running and eased my aching body into it. There were glass vials of lotions and soaps, and I used many of them. I scrubbed my skin until it felt raw, and by the time I was finished, I smelled like an orchard. I could have stayed in that bath forever; I wasn’t exactly sure how I had survived this long in my life without it. I groaned as the water started to cool, a
nd I knew I had to face the rest of this night.
I pulled myself out of the bath and wrapped up in a robe that was hanging on the back of the door. My clothes were disgusting, dingy, and sweaty. There was no way I was putting them back on my freshly clean body. I braided my still-wet hair down my back and walked into my room to find it empty. A note was left on the desk telling me someone would come to retrieve me for dinner soon. I wandered into the other arched doorway on the left of the bed and found the dressing room. It was already stocked with clothing and shoes, all of which looked to be my size. All of this with hardly any notice? I wish I knew how conjuring magic worked.
I found clean underwear and an amazingly comfortable bra before I pulled on a lightweight long dress that was similar to the style that I was used to wearing. It fit a little more snugly and hugged my curves nicely. I wasn’t used to showing my body so blatantly, but it felt freeing. I would be lying to say that I didn’t like it. I found a simple pair of sandals and walked to look at myself in the mirror.
I had seen the way the girls in Velia dressed and the way boys looked at them. I had even seen them easily touch and kiss one another. While I was fascinated by it, it had never occurred to me that I could participate; I didn’t, beyond reading about it in books, that is. The thought of Rowan’s lips on mine came in a flash, and I blushed.
There was a knock at the door, and when I opened it I saw Farran smiling widely. I frowned.
“You tricked me,” I said, still mad over his ruse.
“Don’t take offense at it, Vivi. I trick everyone at some point. I can’t help myself.”
“Vivi?” I asked, liking the sound of it.
“Yes, Vivienne is too formal. You’re young! You should have a fun name! A new start with a new name,” he said with a wink, and I smiled.
“I like that,” I said truthfully. No more feeling stifled, I could feel myself changing since the block had been removed. I felt everything more vividly. It was as if my world had opened up.
“Your magic is slowly but steadily building, Vivi. Have you tried to do anything yet?”
“No,” I admitted.
“It’s probably best to let it come naturally and see how it manifests itself,” he said, taking my arm and pulling me out into the hall.
“If you are finished, the feast is ready in the dining hall.” Rowan had been waiting at the door with Briony. I looked at Farran, and he led me in front of them. The novelty of touch was not wearing off quite yet. It wasn’t quite as awkward when Farran touched me, but when Briony appeared beside me to throw an arm around me, I winced before relaxing.
“Has someone harmed you?” she whispered quietly, concern filling her voice. It took me a moment to understand what she meant, and when I did, I blushed. I opened my mouth to explain when I ran into Rowan’s firm chest and stumbled, trying to regain my footing. He grabbed my arms to steady me, and I looked up into his glowing eyes feeling both confused and entranced.
“What?” I asked, fascinated by the yellow glow instead of being frightened, which was clearly the reaction the others were having.
“Answer her question,” he growled, and I blinked looking at Briony. Oh.
“What? No . . . nothing like that. I am just not used to being touched so freely,” I replied, embarrassed. His chest released a breath that I hadn’t known he had been holding. His eyes dulled and his shoulders relaxed. When he turned and continued walking, the others around me let their own breaths go and followed. Were they really afraid of him?
It was an odd thought, because the last thing that came to mind when I saw Rowan was fear. The thought of him being so close, his eyes flashing bright, his hands on me . . . I had to get myself together. I blushed fully again at my thoughts.
When we reentered the dining hall, the tables were packed with people. Cheers filled the hall when I entered, and I promptly felt overwhelmed. These people all knew who I was, but I knew none of them. I faked a smile and waved to them as they led me to the front table to sit with the council. I looked at the spread laid out, and my mouth watered. Every sort of meat you can imagine: beef, pork, chicken, and fish. Potatoes, corn, beans, bread, salads, and soups. I had never seen so much food in my life.
Mauve stood and everyone quieted as their attention turned to her.
“As all of you now know, our Princess Vivienne is very much alive and has returned to us. Our very own Prince Farran, also alive and well, hid her away after the attacks that killed our king and queen. He himself remained hidden along with the king’s staff until recent events occurred, forcing them from their cover. Be cautious, but fear not; with the power of the royal bloodlines once again on our side, I am sure we will finally gain the strength to end this war against the darkness!” she exclaimed, and cheering began in earnest. I flushed. What did they expect from me? I knew nothing of war. I didn’t know much of anything about this new world, and what I had learned was hours old. I tried to calm my breathing.
“For now, though, let us celebrate this moment in time,” she said, sitting down, and everyone followed, digging in to the food.
Suddenly I wasn’t hungry. Fear gripped my chest. I wasn’t what these people thought; I was a fraud. I had no power to be seen. The royal bloodlines must have failed. Panic was choking me. A hand appeared on my shoulder, and I felt instant comfort radiate from it. I looked up into Rowan’s eyes.
“Eat. That is all that is expected of you at this moment,” he said before returning to his seat with the other guards. Only Farran and I had been permitted to sit with the Six. I glanced at him, and he patted my hand before promptly beginning to fill my plate. I smiled, eating a little of everything, and let myself relax a bit. I could still feel the glances sliding my way, but I couldn’t begrudge them that . . . not after Mauve’s introduction. When the feast was over, Briony grabbed my hand with mischief in her eyes.
“Come, let us show you what a real celebration is,” she whispered in my ear. I tried to accustom myself to her easy touch, and it was becoming more familiar already. I looked at Farran, and he nodded me away. I took that as permission.
We ran through the hall and down the front steps laughing. I hadn’t felt so carefree since I was a child running in the streets of Velia. People smiled, shaking their heads as we passed in a flurry. We laughed, and she talked about the best shops in the market district before we finally made our way back to where the streets branched off and continued onto one of them. I took in the trees and grass as we started down the road. Houses were dotted here and there, but mostly there was farmland. Crops growing tall on each side of the road as far as the eye could see. After a while we came upon a big white farmhouse with a barn twice as big behind it.
“My house,” she said, pointing at it, and I smiled at the old woman sitting on the porch.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we continued on past the house and around a bend in the road. She turned suddenly, cutting through the cornstalks, onto a small path. She held my hand, and I followed her blindly as the sun sank farther in the sky.
“Short cut,” she said even though I didn’t ask.
We came out of the cornstalks abruptly, and I took a second to orient myself before I looked around. In the center of the field sat a large tree overlooking a pond, its limbs sprawling every which way high in the air. The lowest of the branches was adorned with a rope swing. I couldn’t help but smile when I noticed it was surrounded by a group who seemed a bit closer to my age. They cheered in welcome when they saw me and then went about their business. I heaved a sigh of relief; these people expected nothing from me at the moment. I was free to finally relax a little. I noticed some guys to the left of the pond gathering tree limbs and stacking them up.
“Bonfire for later,” Briony said, noticing where my attention was focused.
“I’ve never been to a party,” I whispered in her ear to explain. It was an embarrassing admission, but I wasn’t sure of the protocol.
“They don’t have to know that,” she replied, squee
zing my hand and making me like her even more. I squeezed her hand back gratefully and smiled. I hadn’t realized how set apart from the world I had actually become.
“Want to swim?” she asked, waving her hand over herself, and suddenly she sported a bathing suit. Briony was a Shuni! I looked at her suit and realized it was a little skimpy, but she was thin and it looked good on her. The times I had swum in the past, I had been fully clothed, and it was usually an impulsive decision to join in on the fun the other children were having in Velia.
“Yes, but I don’t have a suit . . . and no offense, but I wouldn’t even attempt trying to slip into one of yours. We aren’t even remotely near the same size,” I said, looking over her small frame.
“Yes, I’m well aware that I’m miniature,” she complained halfheartedly.
“And I’m well aware that I am not,” I replied, and she smiled, looking me over, before waving her hand.
“Wow, want to share those with me?” she chuckled, pointing to my chest, and I blushed. There was no hiding the fact that I had a little extra on top, and it was currently stretching the tank top she had conjured for me to wear near its limit. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to hide the blush that was creeping up my neck.
“I’m sorry, Vivi. I’m not trying to embarrass you. It was meant as a joke,” she said, catching on to my discomfort. Beyond the too-tight tank top that was baring the bottom of my midriff were shorts that barely scraped the top of my thighs, both equally tight and in matching black material. I looked up and saw that she had her hand covering her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, and even I had to admit it was funny.
Out of the Mountain Page 6