Tap, tap, tap. They both turned to the heavy wooden doors that barely held her captive.
"Must be dinner time," Ruby said sarcastically, rising from her bed to get the door, as she pulled her hair haphazardly into a head scarf. The tapping was getting incessant. She swung the door wide open, her royal pout in place, and glared at the soldiers standing there. The one with his fist still raised, did not refrain from hiding his displeasure.
"Your royal highness, we are here to inform you that dinner will be at seven tonight. The king insists that you attend."
Ruby nodded, but her gaze was trained on the handsome young man still dressed in the metal breastplate uniform they wore for palace ceremonies. They had had a welcoming ceremony after her history class for her father’s friend, the king of Tyattar, hence their extra shiny attire tonight. She was glad she was not the only one her father had jumping through hoops. The handsome soldier who had caught her eyes, stood in the background, shadowing the disgruntled messenger, his dark eyes holding hers. She remembered him from this year's Seed festival, when he was assigned to guard her youngest sister, he could not keep his eyes off her then, just as he could not now. Since then she had seen him around the palace, stealing glances at her but never gracing her with a word. He smiled politely at her, his dark eyes speaking volumes. Ruby blushed despite herself, he was way too handsome to be a soldier, he had the features of a prince, of a royal.
"Did you hear what I said?" The guard before her was glaring at her, his sky-blue eyes searing through her unpleasantly.
"Of course," she bristled, "whatever happened to my attendants? Why are palace guards announcing dinner?"
The blue-eyed guard stared coolly at her, "maybe because the king knows your attendants would fail at detaining you, should you decide to keep your promise to defy him."
Ruby frowned at the soldier, his boldness earning him a sliver of her respect. For the first time since he had spoken, she was looking right at him. He was not especially handsome; his features were plain but intriguing. After all his race was rare in Aldor, it was the only thing she found fascinating about him, that and his uncanny ability to annoy her and spy on her. His skin was so light, she could see his displeasure rushing to his face in pink hues. She always found that fascinating about people like him. He did not have the characteristic woolly hair of native Aldorians, which many men often wore locked and held back by a string. Instead his sandy hair was worn short, he wore a dark shadow of a struggling beard, giving his jawline a distinctiveness that made him appear older than his companion.
“You speak out of turn guard,” she said firmly, garnering her most royally authoritative glare.
“My apologies your majesty,” he replied and bowed from his waist with exaggerated flair. When he lifted his gaze to hers, the mischief in his eyes reminded her of their little secret and she reigned in her response.
"Ugh!" She cried in exasperation before shutting the door in his face. It was not as satisfying as slapping him across the face, but it would have to suffice. The last thing she wanted was to upset her father even more by getting into a bout with this particular guard who turned out to be way better at his job than she had anticipated. Now that he knew where she had run off to, she could not risk having him spill the beans to her father.
CHAPTER 2
Ruby found out with great displeasure why her father was so insistent that she attend dinner this evening. Though they often ate as a family as much as they could, it was never a necessity as both Ruby and Topaz had missed dinner because of illness or in her case a good book she absolutely could not separate herself from. But this evening her father had other plans, because he had invited guests. Every now and then the king would invite governors, generals and other officials from kingdoms and cities who had pledged loyalty to Aldor. Tonight, might have been just another one of those if it was not King LaBar and his son.
They were from one of Aldor’s strongest military allies; the kingdom of Tyattar. They not only helped supply Aldor with weapons and wartime support, but Ruby’s father was rather fond of King LaBar, it was a friendship that blossomed from an alliance of necessity decades ago.
“Ahhh, worry not my friend,” King LaBar was saying, “I supply the best weaponry in the land, forged from the ever-burning fires of Tyattar. Not to mention my kingdom have been training Dragons for centuries, our alliance alone is enough to quell any thought of war against you.”
King Kalgary chuckled, “Your confidence never wanes LaBar!” with that he lifted his golden goblet and the two saluted each other.
Ruby sighed as she absently played with her food, she could feel the prince’s eyes on her but dared not engage him. The second son of king LaBar was as charming as his father was confident, Ruby knew this much from their previous visits when they were both children. She was not ignorant of the fact that their fathers thought they would make a good match. With Prince Haydward’s older brother already in line for the throne, he was left to marry into an equally as prosperous kingdom and what better kingdom to align with in marriage than Aldor, through Ruby who had no claim to any position in Aldor anyway.
“Ruby you have not touched your food?” her father asked with a hint of accusation in his domineering baritone.
She lifted her gaze and shrugged, “I am not very hungry father.”
He frowned, his rain-cloud eyes telling that he was onto the reason behind her sour mood and disliked it greatly.
“Haydward came all the way here with his father to see you. The least you can do is treat him like the old friend that he is.”
Ruby glanced at the handsome prince, with complexion that told of long days in the blistering sun and thick black hair, trailing to his lower back in a single braid as was the way of his people. The Tyattarians were natives to Saharia, they were the only kingdom wise enough to create an alliance with Aldor in its early days of conquest and since then they had enjoyed a peaceful partnership.
Haydward was smiling at her, “that’s alright your majesty, Princess Ruby and I are beyond fancy pleasantries. After all these years of acquaintanceship, she has earned the right to be unpleasant in my presence.”
Ruby rolled her eyes, earning her a glare from her father. He reluctantly returned to his meal, as did his guests and the rest of his daughters. Dinner finally dragged to an end, consisting mostly of the sound of metal utensils scrapping ceramic and her father’s disapproving glare in her direction. Her younger sisters had tried to lighten the air with funny stories from their day, but it had fallen flat, consumed by the tense silence. Diamond, who was the youngest of them, was completely unaware of her older sister's latest rebellion or the tension thickening on the dinner table between Ruby and her beloved father. She stared at them with her big dark eyes that were always full of wonder, expecting her father to entertain them as he usually did, with tales of his youth. But the king was in no mood tonight, even the Tyattarians could see it.
As the dinner wares were cleared away, the girls arose to retreat to their quarters, disappointed and staring daggers at Ruby, the only person capable of making their father quiet at dinner time. Ruby looked over at the king, who was staring at his gold chalet like it held the kingdoms deepest truths.
"Are you really not going to say anything to me father?"
The king lifted his gaze to her and sighed, "what is there to say Ruby? You have made it clear that there is nothing I can give to you that would make you happy."
Ruby frowned, "yes there is, you can arrange a meeting for me and the Prince...”
Her father's fists against the table top was like thunder in the dinner hall, and Ruby jumped.
"Why won't you understand? The prince is no hero, he is no prize to be desired! If you continue to insist on this, I am afraid we have nothing left to talk about."
“Fine then,” she turned to Haydward whose confusion was bunching the smooth skin between his dark brows.
“Haydward, it was good to see you after all this time.”
As
she rose to leave, amidst the confused stares of their guests, the sour-faced soldier stepped forward to dutifully escort her to her room. She lifted her hand to stop him, her gaze travelling to his handsome shadow.
"I would rather him as an escort, he is much more pleasant," she said as she glanced to her father "El knows I have had enough grumpiness for one night."
Robotically, the blue eyed sour-puss stepped back and motioned for his colleague to come forward. The young man stepped toward her with an eagerness that made Ruby smile widely and swept his hand before her.
"After you, your highness." He walked beside her along the stone hallway, his smirk growing wider.
"What have you to say?" she asked, batting her long lashes the way she imagined the duchess of Maryland would.
"Oh nothing, just wondering what a beauty such as yourself could have done to make the king so upset."
She smiled, she liked his voice, it was like a soothing water brooke, "what is your name soldier?"
"Serin Az of the West Territory," he replied, his brown eyes holding hers.
“Ohh the stone lands. What was it like growing up there? I have never been there.”
Serin shrugged, “well it’s what you would expect from a place referred to as the stone lands. Rocky, dusty… my father is a stone hand and I was to be a stone hand like him.”
He turned his palms upward so Ruby could see the callouses that marked them. He also had thick strong fingers that did not seem to go with the rest of him.
“Why did you choose to join the royal guard.” Serin shrugged, “I wanted to get out. I just wanted my path to look different to my father and his father before him.”
Ruby nodded, “I understand. Come look at the stars with me Serin, I would love to talk with you a bit longer."
"Oh but my orders are..."
She lifted a hand, "you don't seem like the kind to follow orders," she said, a daring look in her dark brown pools.
He smirked, "how is it that you know me so well."
She slipped her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder only to cringe at the cold plating on his uniform. For a moment she almost lost the air of charm she was going for but quickly recovered her trend of thought.
"Because you and I, we are not much different."
At the very top of the castle was Ruby's favourite place in the entire kingdom, but it wasn't too sacred for company. From up there she could see the wide expanse of Stone Vale and its surrounding lands. Her father's kingdom extended to lands beyond the vantage point of the castle, but she had never been beyond the gates to see them.
"I have often dreamed of travelling the lands, visiting the kingdoms," Serin was saying, as he hiked one leg onto the ledge and leaned forward.
Ruby looked over at him, eyes wide with intrigue, "and here I was thinking I was the only one who wanted to know what existed beyond the gates."
He chuckled, "there are many who want to, they just fear your father too much."
"Fear him? But why? My father is a fair man, he will never force anyone to stay if they wish not too."
Serin turned to her, "and what about you?" His gaze held hers, like they had the powers of a magic wand, “I mean what was that about? Bringing that spoiled prince to dinner like you were some kind of prize on display.”
Ruby shrugged, "He is the king and I am his daughter, with Pearl governing the North and Jasper to inherit the throne, my best option is to marry into a kingdom that does not care about…” she stopped herself abruptly, realizing how she had almost told Serin her secret. “I am not as free as you to do what I desire."
He stepped closer to her, "so you admit, I am free to do as I desire," his gaze burned into hers.
She felt the blush rise to her cheeks, despite her feigned maturity thanks to her favorite piece of literature of late. She had never been so close to a man before, especially one so handsome, so magical. Her mentor the duchess had only taught her how to feign worldliness to capture a man's attention. She had not gotten around to reading about what to do once you did.
"Well..." she started, for once in her life the waterfall of her mind had gone dry, "of course," she whispered, lowering her gaze.
He leaned in suddenly and pressed his lips to hers, the sudden sweet invasion of her personal space caught her off guard, just as his lips denied her of the power to resist. As she clung to his strong armor plated shoulders, she realized that she had no desire to.
"I have wanted to do this for a very long-time princess,” he said as he stepped back, “Say that you feel the same way about me and I will make your every dream come true. Even explore the wonders of the lands together, the kingdom of Dravia with all its wonders if you like," his eyes burned with passion, even as her lips still tingled from his unexpected kiss.
"I..." she started, still dazed by what had happened.
Serin smiled, “You do not have to answer now. Will I see you again tomorrow? Or is this all I get?”
Ruby smiled, “Let us make this our spot,” she replied. “Same time?” She nodded.
“Then let’s get you back before Deswald catches us.” “Is that grumpy dumpy’s name?”
Serin laughed, “is that how you call him?” She shrugged as he led her back to the steps.
“Well, he’s not as bad as he presents himself. Give him time. What name did I get?”
“That is my secret.”
✽ ✽ ✽
“Who’s there?”
The figure remained still in the shadows of the room but the Dravian King though he was sick, was not blind, nor had his instincts become so dull that he could miss the familiar but daunting presence in his room.
“Guards, Guards!” he called, only to be interrupted by a wracking cough that shook his entire feeble body. Distracted by the sudden pain from his coughing the king did not see the figure move. He only felt a warm hand over his lips and sadness draped over him like a dark cloak as the smell of rose petals filled his nostrils.
“Haddin,” he whispered, once his son lifted his hand from his lips.
“Yes, it is I father.”
“What do you want?” In the dim light of the room, he could make out his son’s youthful features, his artificially golden hair and his soulless blue eyes, carefully refined from his unusual attention to his appearance.
“The throne,” Haddin said with a bitter smirk, “but we already know you are going to give that to Drayton.”
The king leaned back against the pillows, “we have been over this Haddin, your brother is next in line for the throne. Besides he is a better ruler, you have never even seen battle, yet you desire to rule a kingdom.”
“There are other ways to conquer without the gore and filth of war.”
“You mean your magic. Haddin in the name of Rah you are no sorcerer you are the son of a king. We have people to do that for us here in Dravia.”
“I am also my mother’s son,” Haddin snapped, his cold blue eyes hardening in the dark, so much that they appeared to glow.
“My mother was smart enough to understand then when there is such great power to be had you do not leave it in the hands of your subjects.”
The king dared not show it but fear like cold steel swept through him. In his weakened dying state, he was afraid of his son, he was so much like his mother, that the king feared for Drayton’s life.
“Where is she?”
The king shook his head, “banished Haddin, and for good reason. Your mother bewitched her way into my life and used my name and my kingdom for her wicked exploits. There is a reason we kings have refrained from sorcery ourselves, it is a lifestyle and addiction that envelopes a man. Surely you must understand that I banished your mother for your own good and your brother's.”
“You did it for Drayton because you knew my mother would never stand for you favouring him over me. She knew you would never give me the throne over the son of the woman you truly loved."
"Drayton is older Haddin, it has always been the oldest son who gets the
throne."
"Well if you will not give me the throne, then tell me where to find my mother.”
The king sighed, “I will never, Luska is better off dead.”
Haddin grabbed a pillow and gripped it with restrained anger, “then your time will come sooner than you thought.”
The king chuckled, “I always thought you would be the one to kill your own father. For taking me out of my misery I thank you.”
The king’s cavalier demeanour only served to anger his son more and those haunted blue eyes glowed with that strange magic he wielded shamelessly.
“The world is changing father, Maldeev is coming for Saharia. Rah, Baynah, even the God of Aldor, will be trampled under his wrath and Dravia will stand by his side as he returns Saharia to its former glory. But you will not be here to see it, for you were too coward to do what needed to be done as king.”
He lifted the pillow and lowered it to his father’s face, feeling his weak hands reach up to grab his arms. As he pressed, allowing his anger and the loyalty he had for Maldeev to empower him to do this dreadful act, he leaned forward and whispered in the ears of his dying father.
“Drayton will not be there to witness it too. As you have tied your life to his, so will he join you in death. I will rule Saharia.”
CHAPTER 3
Jasper was the king's oldest and a most valuable asset in the kingdom, so much so, that he was often called the heart of Aldor. He was as kind as the king was mighty. Though he spent most of his time acquiring lands for the kingdom, securing alliances, upholding treaties and ensuring that the beneficiaries of Aldor were properly defended, his heart was always for the people. He had a great army with him which consisted of twelve of the most powerful men in the kingdom; soldiers known throughout the land as the Aldorian Knights. They were strong and feared; loyal to the kingdom and the king and set apart for their duties in ways that were hardly ever coveted by the other classes of the Royal Army. They had been out for months doing work beyond the borders that was beyond many in the Royal Army’s clearance level.
Kingdom of Refuge (Gemstone Royals Book 1) Page 2