We Three Heroes

by Lynette Noni

  Delucia’s emotions were rioting within her—shock, uncertainty, disbelief… hope. The very idea of what she was hearing… it was too much. Too big. Too life-changing.

  Swallowing, she said, “Just to clarify—” Her throat was so dry that she had to swallow again. “You’re saying I’m actually gifted? My dreams—that’s my gift?”

  Darrius nodded. “And should you decide to enrol at Akarnae, you will learn how to distinguish between your prophetic visions and your normal dreams, just as you will learn how to control elements of what you see, and perhaps even revisit your dreams to discover further details of what lies ahead.” He held her gaze as he added, “It is an impressive gift you have, Princess. We would be honoured to include you amongst our students.” There was a twinkle in his eyes as he finished, “And I do believe you might rather enjoy yourself.”

  She looked from him to her parents, unable to hide the wonder she felt. Fear, too, and no small amount of doubt. But there was no denying that some of her dreams had come true. And if that was because she was gifted… then perhaps she truly did belong at Akarnae.

  “The choice is yours, sweetheart,” her mother said, squeezing her hand again. “While your father and I aren’t pleased with how this situation was handled”—the look she shot Jaxon and Ying made Delucia feel a pang of sympathy for them both, certain they hadn’t heard the last of her parents’ thoughts on the matter—“there’s no denying that keeping your gift a secret means you will be safe, should you wish to complete the remainder of your education at the academy.”

  The remainder of her education… Delucia’s eyes rose to Master Ying, who only nodded and said, this time just to her, ‘There is nothing more I can teach you that you won’t learn at Akarnae. You would be wise to take advantage of this opportunity, child. For many reasons.’

  Before she could respond, Aurileous, having not heard Ying’s words, continued on from Osmada by saying, “And since you’ve been hidden from the public eye for years, you should be unrecognisable to your peers, too.” His features were soft when he finished, “The crown you were born to wear—it’s a heavy burden. We know that. This is as close as you’ll ever get to having a normal life, sweetheart. Even if it’s only for a few years. So we’ll understand if you want to go—and if that’s your decision, you’ll go with our blessing.”

  The back of Delucia’s eyes burned. A normal life—a normal life. She couldn’t imagine what that might be like. To live in a place where no one knew who she was and the future that lay ahead for her.

  Just yesterday Kaiden had said a doorway would one day open. But this…

  … It was more than Delucia could have ever dreamed.

  “What do you say, Your Highness?” Darrius asked. “Would you like to accept the offer of enrolment?”

  Glancing at her parents once more and seeing the encouraging looks on their faces, Delucia inhaled a shaky breath and turned back to Darrius. “Yes, Headmaster Marselle. I would like that very much.”

  And as she said the words, it was like something settled in her soul, a sense of peace she’d never known, along with a deep inner knowledge that the coming days were going to change her life—in more ways than she could ever imagine.

  Six

  The rest of Delucia’s birthday was spent in a state of shock, with her frequently pinching herself just to make sure she wasn’t in a dream.

  Headmaster Marselle spent hours that morning patiently answering her questions, as well as telling her about the academy and what she might expect, from the classes and the grounds to the teachers and the students. Towards the end of their conversation, Darrius also revealed that upon her arrival that coming Sunday—four days away—she would be partnered up with another first year, with the two of them sharing a dorm for the rest of the year.

  Delucia had never had a roommate before. The very idea made her nervous. But she couldn’t deny that she was also excited.

  Overwhelmingly so.

  This was her chance at a different life. And in the face of all that was opening before her, Maxton’s words that had defined her for so long were vanishing like smoke in the wind. Her roommate, her fellow first years—no one would know she was the princess, and that would change everything. Because of that, before Headmaster Marselle left, she made him promise that only the teachers who absolutely had to know her identity would be told. Even then, they were to treat her just like any other student.

  “D.C.,” she said to him as he stood and made ready to leave. “My initials—that will be my name at Akarnae. Not Delucia. Not Princess or Your Highness. Just… just D.C.”

  And he agreed without hesitation, seeming to understand just how much it meant to her that she’d get to put aside her crown for as long as she was a student at his school.

  His departure left a gaping silence amongst their small group, the tension from her parents towards Jaxon and Ying enough that Delucia squirmed in her seat. But she had little time to feel uncomfortable before her mother sighed and said that with so few days left before she was due at the academy, she’d best start making some plans. Taking advantage of the excuse, Delucia left her parents with her tutor and the advisor, relieved not to have to witness the forthcoming conversation.

  Hours later, she was still feeling stunned by what she’d discovered that morning—but in that time, she’d also realised something that could ruin her anonymity plans before they even began.

  Hurrying through the palace, she kept an eye out for the first Warden she could find, but a stroke of luck meant that she instead happened upon Commander Nisha as she was stepping out of the council room.

  “Good afternoon, Your Highness,” Nisha greeted, seeing Delucia stop before her. “Something I can help you with?”

  “Do you know if Jeera is at the palace today, Commander?” Delucia asked. “Kaiden and Declan, too?”

  Nisha cocked her head to the side, her blue eyes watching Delucia carefully. “I’m not sure about Declan, but Jeera and Kaiden didn’t come with me today. I can holo-call them if you’d like? Ask them to drop by?”

  Delucia bit her lip, feeling bad about possibly interrupting one of their last days of freedom before classes started back. “No, that’s okay. But maybe—do you know when they might next be coming? Will they be visiting again before they leave on Sunday?”

  A hint of a smile touched Nisha’s lips. “I’m not the one who can dream the future, Princess. Maybe you should tell me.”

  A quiet gasp left Delucia’s mouth, and she looked around quickly, making sure no one else had heard. The corridor was empty, though—something Nisha no doubt would have checked before she uttered such a revealing statement.

  “Did you know all along?” Delucia asked.

  The amusement left Nisha’s face, replaced by an apologetic look. “For what it’s worth, I voted in favour of you being told the truth, despite the security risks. But the council’s word is law, even to me, so I had to abide by their decision to keep it secret.” She reached out and placed a hand on Delucia’s shoulder. “You made the right choice this morning, Princess. Akarnae will be good for you.”

  Delucia nodded, feeling more and more confident of that being true.

  “I’ll make sure Jeera and Kaiden know you’d like to speak with them before they return to the academy,” Nisha offered. “And I’ll ask Jaxon to pass the message on to Declan.” Her smile returned as she said, “Be prepared for an argument, especially if I’m right about what you plan to tell them.”

  Shuffling her feet, Delucia asked, “Do they know? About me?”

  “I certainly haven’t told them,” Nisha said, before offering a quiet laugh and adding, “but it wouldn’t be the first time my niece and nephew knew more than they should. So it’s a very real possibility.”

  Delucia wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but it also didn’t surprise her, since in the last few days alone, both Jeera and Kaiden had proved to be much more intuitive than she’d given them credit for. Then again, it wasn’t as if she’
d ever spent much time around either of them to learn such a thing. And despite the opportunity now before her, that wasn’t going to change.

  Thanking Nisha, Delucia left the commander, a skip in her step as she headed back towards her bedroom. As she hurried along, she made a mental list of all that she had to do in the next four days, realising that she didn’t have the first clue where to begin.

  Nevertheless, she couldn’t wait to get started.

  The next three days flew by in a haze of checklists and planning as Delucia madly prepared for her departure. Before she knew it, it was Saturday morning, and she was standing in the receiving hall of the palace, bidding farewell to Lady Nerita and Lord Maxton.

  After what her parents had learned from Stablemaster Corbin, they’d excused Delucia from breakfasts for the past three days. She, however, had turned up anyway, since after speaking with Maxton in the stables, she was no longer intimidated by him or his cruel words. She didn’t have time for bullies, regardless of the reasons driving their behaviour, and she was determined to no longer allow him any power over her life—past, present or future.

  Maxton, however, had skipped the last two breakfasts, having only joined them today for their final meal together. He hadn’t looked at Delucia once in the dining parlour, nor had he responded with anything other than a mumbled, “Good morning, Princess”—but only after she’d greeted him directly.

  Delucia wasn’t sure if his show of humility was genuine or if he’d simply decided she wasn’t worth the effort, not now that she’d stood up to him. Either way, she felt a flicker of pride in herself, and she was empowered enough that during their goodbye, she was able to lean in and say, for his ears only, “Remember my words, Lord Maxton. The world owes you nothing. So you’d best watch that tongue of yours, lest you find yourself looking back one day and realising you have no one to blame but yourself.”

  Her words had the desired effect, since Maxton’s face paled, before it purpled, and then paled again. His only response, however, was to offer a curt nod, his gaze remaining lowered as he said, “Thanks for the hospitality, Your Highness. My mother and I are already looking forward to our next visit.”

  Only then did his eyes rise to meet hers, just for a moment, and Delucia saw that despite his words, he knew he’d never be welcome back at the palace—nor did he wish to return. Like a hunter whose prey had become a predator, the bully no longer had a victim to torment. Delucia only hoped he wouldn’t go on to find a new target, and instead he would heed her warning.

  That, however, was no longer her concern, since minutes later he and his mother stepped through their Bubbledoor back to Harovell, the rest of their small delegation leaving with them.

  A sigh of relief left Delucia, one she was careful to keep quiet since she knew her parents were watching her closely. Aware of how protective they felt—especially in the wake of what Stablemaster Corbin had shared—Delucia sent them a smile, showing she was fine. And she was, truly, which meant she was able to put the last ten days behind her within a matter of seconds, already moving on to everything else she had to do that day.

  Leaving her parents to go about their own business, Delucia hurried to the stables and ventured forth on one last ride before she left for the academy tomorrow. Her Warden companion, a new recruit, remained mostly silent, allowing her to enjoy her final bittersweet hours with Dancer.

  While Equestrian Skills was part of Akarnae’s curriculum and students were invited to bring their own horses, Headmaster Marselle, along with Advisor Jaxon, Master Ying and her parents, had recommended Delucia not bring her mare with her. Mostly because Dancer was a singularly spectacular creature—the horse of kings. Or, in this case, the horse of a princess. And if Delucia’s royal origins were to remain a secret, then having Dancer as her mount would no doubt raise questions best left unasked.

  Ultimately, they’d left the decision up to her, but she’d seen the wisdom in their advice and, as difficult as it was, she’d agreed. That didn’t mean her heart wasn’t breaking at the thought of leaving her beloved horse behind—or so it had been until yesterday, when she’d witnessed something that had helped ease her despair.

  Stablemaster Corbin’s wife—Doctor Sela, the palace physician—had been barren for as long as Delucia could remember. Two months ago, Corbin and Sela finally decided to adopt a young girl. That girl—Ruva—hadn’t spoken a word since her adoption, nor did anyone know if she’d spoken at all in her estimated seven years. Yesterday, however, Delucia had arrived at the stables and found Ruva in Dancer’s stall, her arms wrapped around the mare and tears streaming down her cheeks. More than that—she’d been whispering words Delucia hadn’t been able to hear, the first and only indication she’d shown that she was capable of speech.

  Delucia had ducked away before Ruva had seen her, but the image of the girl seeking comfort from Dancer had imprinted on her mind. She’d immediately hunted down Corbin and requested that Ruva be the one to care for Dancer in her absence. The mare had helped Delucia through years of loneliness—perhaps she would be able to heal whatever hurts plagued Ruva, too.

  That was what Delucia hoped, at least. And it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart when she returned from her ride and groomed Dancer one last time, silently saying goodbye.

  Or—perhaps not so silently, since she couldn’t keep from speaking quietly while she worked.

  “You be good while I’m gone, you hear me, girl?” Delucia said as she ran her brush over Dancer’s sleek coat. “And work your magic on Ruva. I have a feeling she’s going to need it.”

  Dancer gave a soft nicker, as if she understood and was agreeing.

  Delucia’s lips curled upwards, but they trembled at the same time. “I’m going to miss you,” she whispered, resting her forehead on Dancer’s strong neck and breathing in her familiar dusty scent. “But I’ll be back in a few months for Kaldoras. We’ll go riding through the snow together and I’ll sneak extra molasses into your warm mash afterwards. Sound good?”

  Another soft nicker from Dancer caused Delucia’s smile to grow, but before she could say anything more, another voice got in first.

  “Talking to your horse—the first sign of madness, Princess.”

  Startled, Delucia stepped back from Dancer to face the stall door.

  “We have to stop meeting like this,” she said, seeing both Declan—who had spoken—and Kaiden standing there once again.

  “We heard you wanted to talk to us,” said Kaiden, explaining their presence.

  Declan’s dark eyes sparkled with mirth as he added, “We can come back later, if you’d prefer? Maybe once you’ve finished your conversation?”

  Delucia pulled a face at him, hoping to hide the heat she felt touching her cheeks. “No need. Just give me a minute and I’ll meet you out in the courtyard.”

  Kaiden nodded and dragged the still-too-amused Declan away.

  Delucia closed her eyes tightly, pushing aside her embarrassment, and then reopened them to wrap her arms around Dancer, just as she’d seen Ruva doing yesterday. “I love you, my beautiful friend.” She released her arms and then pressed a kiss to Dancer’s soft muzzle. “I’ll see you again soon. Promise.”

  And before she could let the tears blurring her eyes spill over, she moved away and let herself out of the stall, her chest unnaturally tight as she headed down the aisle without looking back.

  With each step, she fought to remain composed, only managing to do so since she knew Kaiden and Declan were waiting for her. She was doing the right thing, she was sure of that. But it was still hard. She just had to trust that her instincts were correct—and that Ruva would be as good for Dancer as Dancer would no doubt be for Ruva.

  Once the courtyard came into sight, Delucia straightened her spine and shook aside her misery, something that became easier when she saw that Jeera had joined both of the boys, since that meant only one conversation would be needed.

  “Princess,” Jeera greeted. “Sorry I wasn’t able to come for
another ride this week.” She paused and added, “And also sorry we didn’t come sooner after Nisha told us you wanted to speak. The last few days of holidays always fly by so quickly.”

  Delucia had experienced as much herself since learning she would be attending Akarnae, so she wasn’t upset that they had only just sought her out. “No problem—and I appreciate you coming by when, if you’re anything like me, you still have to finish packing.”

  “So, it’s true, then?” Declan asked. “You’re really coming to Akarnae?”

  Feeling oddly shy, Delucia nodded. “Trust me, I’m as surprised as you.”

  Or, she was at least as surprised as Declan. Jeera and Kaiden, however, had knowing looks on their faces—looks that Delucia decided were best to ignore, if only to keep from demanding why they hadn’t shared their suspicions with her. She almost felt like she was the last person to learn the truth about herself, and that was a very strange position to be in.

  “I won’t keep you long,” Delucia said, gesturing for them to take a seat on the stone bench beside the small water feature. “I just want to talk to you about this coming year.”

  “You want us to act like we don’t know who you are,” Kaiden said. There was no question in his tone—just a statement of fact.

  Hiding her surprise, Delucia said, “This is my one chance at a normal life. And aside from a few teachers being aware for security reasons, you three will be the only people at Akarnae who know my identity. So I’m asking you—no, I’m begging you—please don’t tell anyone about me.” She wiped her palms on her breeches and added, “From tomorrow onwards, I won’t be your princess. I’ll be just D.C.—no crown, no kingdom, just a normal girl. One who you’ve never met.” She looked them all in the eyes, one after the other, as she finished, “Do you think you can do that?”

  There was a beat of silence, but despite the reserved looks on their faces, the three of them nodded.

  “We’ll respect your decision, Princess,” Jeera said. “And besides, for my part, I won’t see you often, anyway. If at all.”