Red Rope of Fate

by Shea, K. M.

  “He’s rather guarded,” Tari agreed before finally taking a bite of her buttermilk pie. The creamy filling melted in her mouth.

  “Exactly,” Princess Claire vigorously nodded. “I know Arion would do much for me, but I would say I am better acquainted with Eric. He talks much more.”

  “And he does not resemble a rock when speaking to a person,” Tari snorted. She froze and looked to Princess Claire, but the princess did not seem offended and was laughing.

  “Exactly! I was terrified of Arion when I was little because he always seemed to be frowning. He smiles much more since he’s met you.”

  “I doubt that. I suspect I have the ability to irritate Captain Arion more than the most incompetent guards in his squad,” Tari said, elegantly shrugging one shoulder.

  “Oh no,” Princess Claire shook her head. She looked like a sweet puppy with her bouncing curls and dark eyes. “Quite the opposite. Arion has improved much since bonding with you. It is obvious how much he treasurers your friendship.”

  Princess Claire’s words simultaneously pleased Tari and stabbed her through the heart. To be treasured was grand, but merely for friendship?

  What more can I expect? Love is not to be found between humans and elves.

  “I thank you for your kind observations,” Tari said.

  Princess Claire studied Tari, and for perhaps the first time since meeting her, the princess displayed the same intelligence Tari saw in Arion. “I think you underestimate your power over Arion, Lady Tari.”

  “What do you mean?” Tari asked, tilting her head as she returned Princess Claire’s stare.

  “You mean much to him, and I believe there is very little he would refuse you,” Princess Claire paused and put her tea cup down before she glanced at her maid. The woman curtseyed and left the room.

  The movement raised Tari’s hackles and she straightened in her chair, cautiously studying the room.

  “It is precisely because Arion prizes you so greatly that I need your help, and that I am asking you and not him.”

  Tari narrowed her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”

  Princess Claire licked her lips and took a deep breath. “As you may be aware, I have been struggling to make my home here in the palace. Vincent has done everything in his power to make me comfortable, and King Petyrr has been most welcoming… but Vincent does not hold much sway over the courts and King Petyrr is oblivious.”

  “I have taken note of the situation,” Tari said, still guarded.

  Princess Claire nodded. “Queen Luciee has essentially refused to acknowledge me at all. I am ignored by most nobility. My family is slighted on a daily basis, I have been unable to make friends in my new rank, and the queen has made sure I know I am inferior,” Princess Claire said, looking down at her hands.

  She’s so young, and she cares too much. The poor pup.

  “And?” Tari prompted.

  Princess Claire swallowed. “Prince Benjimir has recently approached me with a, an arrangement I guess you could call it.”

  Tari forced herself to keep sitting even though she wanted to stand and hotly exit the room. Prince Benjimir, again?

  “He said he was prepared to lend me his aid—to help me establish myself and my family in the courts—if you would return home,” Princess Claire said, the last of her words coming in a rush like spilt water.

  Tari was silent and unmoving for a few moments as she mulled on the words. “You are asking me to uproot myself for your sake.”

  Princess Claire winced. “I suppose so, yes. But don’t you want to go home? Eric said you live in a port city in Lessa. I imagine you must be homesick by now. Plus aren’t you a dancer? Don’t you want to get back to dancing?”

  “I am an Evening Star,” Tari said, careful to keep her words free of malice. She had to remember that Princess Claire was nothing but a scared, young puppy. Princess Claire was not doing this to be cruel, she just didn’t know better. “And while I love my home city of Gloria I am quite content in Haven. I am astounded, though, that you have the gall to ask me to return home for your sake.”

  Princess Claire drooped. “I know I’m being unfair and stupidly selfish, but it isn’t just for me. Arion will benefit too!”

  Tari pushed an eyebrow up. “I fail to see how.”

  “This snubbing isn’t just happening to me. At every dinner and banquet Arion, Eric, my sisters and parents, my whole family is mocked and slighted.”

  “I have observed Eric being made fun of, but I must disagree in Arion’s case. He is flocked by female admirers, and I have yet to see anyone even attempt to disgrace him.”

  “Yes, Arion has admirers. He fares the best, I think he’s shielded by your presence. But Arion was on the fast track to promotion, which screeched to a halt when he was pulled from the army and reassigned to Haven to be with you. Everyone said he was going to be the youngest army general ever. Father thought Arion would probably be given a higher title of nobility than what he will inherit. His position here in the palace is actually a demotion,” Princess Claire said, nervously twisting her hands.

  “Arion will never leave Haven, not while you’re here, which means his career isn’t going to move forward. And yes, everyone takes care not to speak ill of him within your hearing… but…” Princess Claire blushed and looked away.

  Tari frowned slightly. “What?”

  “Since the day you were bonded…the courts have been in something of an uproar that a male and female were paired together. I think Prince Benjimir started the talk, which is pretty ironic considering his partner, but there has been much speculation.”

  Tari blinked. “On what?”

  “Ah… you know.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Your reputation? And Arion’s?”

  Tari stared, genuinely confused. “My what?”

  “Ahhh, some say Arion is less than honorable since he’s been bound to you, a female.”

  “What does my being female have to do with anything?” Tari asked.

  Princess Claire winced, her blush deepening. “People talk. They never say anything ill about you, you’re an elf after all, but it doesn’t reflect well on Arion. If people keep talking I’m not certain he’ll ever be able to recover from a career standpoint.”

  Tari leaned back in her chair, thinking.

  “Do you understand?” Princess Claire hopefully asked.

  “No, not at all. But I do know that you humans are overly concerned with certain issues because of your poor morals. I do not detect a lie in you, so I must trust that this is one of those issues,” Tari said, thoughtfully gazing at the ceiling for a moment before looking back to Princess Claire. “I want this to be made clear. You are asking me to leave Haven, claiming because I’m hindering Arion’s career, although the real reason you ask me is because you want the help Prince Benjimir offers you if I leave.”

  Princess Claire did not lower her eyes although she swallowed hard. “I know I’m being selfish, and I will not deny that my personal comfort is the main reason I ask you to leave… but everything I’ve said about Arion is true.”

  “If it is why do you ask me, and not him? If Arion left I would have no reason to be in Haven, and I would leave as well,” Tari asked, picking up her tea cup, only to discover the tea had cooled.

  “Because it’s as I said. Arion would never leave you, not even if it meant salvaging his career. He is an honorable man and he takes his duties seriously, but he is staunchly loyal to you Lady Tari. I don’t think you can exactly comprehend what he feels for you, but I know you are fond of him. I’m asking you because you will do what is best for both of you. Arion would not, and he would suffer for it,” Princess Claire said. Her gaze was steady although her hands shook.

  Tari closed her eyes for a moment to think. There seemed to be a second layer to Princess Claire’s words, although Tari could not decipher it. Her words rang true, however. Tari highly doubted Arion would leave if she asked him not to. Hadn’t that already happened once when
he was to be transferred to his previous position?

  I love him. Parting from him would be painful and dismal. But if Princess Claire is right and Arion is suffering because of this… I love him. I love him enough to admit that he is not mine. I love him so much that I would wish better for him than for me to be granted my heart’s desire in being with him.

  Her eyes still closed, Tari said, “How can you be sure Crown Prince Benjimir will be true to his word?”

  Princess Claire shifted, rustling her dress. “Prince Benjimir has never mocked my family or myself, but he has not attempted to help us either. He has given me his word he will help me, and I believe him.”

  Tari opened her eyes and stood. “I will think on what you said. If you’ll excuse me, Princess, I believe I must be going.”

  Princess Claire jerked to a standing position, seeing Tari to the door. “I’m sorry to ask this of you. I may have underestimated your level of friendship with Arion. I did not think leaving Haven would be a trial for you.”

  Tari paused in front of the door. She liked Princess Claire, in spite of the girl’s selfish ways, but she was not going to let the princess sweep away without guilt or the realization that she was asking much. “You only see the picture from one view point, Princess Claire, yours. You are seeking a way to diminish your pain, and I am thankful that you were upfront with me instead of merely hinting at this. However, I hope for the good of Calnor you begin to see things from a viewpoint that is less self-centered.”

  Princess Claire quivered. “You are upset.”

  Tari spared the princess a slight smile. “I am,” she admitted. “I believe you need to take greater responsibility for your happiness, rather than relying on Prince Vincent, King Petyrr, Queen Luciee, or even Arion and myself to help you find it. But I know you are young, and I would not wish that harpy of a queen on anyone. I will speak directly to Crown Prince Benjimir before I make my decision. Thank you for the tea, Princess Claire. Good day,” Tari said, performing a final curtsey before she swept out of the room.

  Tears stung her eyes as Tari beat a hasty retreat. She hurried down a staircase and glided her way to the elvish wing her rooms were located in. When she reached the correct hallway she ran to her room, opened the door, lunged into her quarters, and threw the door shut behind her.

  She leaned against the door, her shoulders heaving as she tried not to cry.

  “My Lady? Have you returned already?” Evlawyn called from inside Tari’s bedroom.

  Tari breathed deeply for a few moments before pushing away from the door. “Evlawyn,” she called, crossing her sitting room. “If I left—what happened?” Tari asked, stopping in the doorway to her bedroom.

  Every surface in Tari’s room was covered with hair ornaments. Not just any ornament, but flowers fashioned from metal. There were blue roses; white daisies that were glazed to shine; a bird of paradise painted in vivid blues, yellows, and oranges; a handful of tiny baby’s breath pins that were fashioned out of glittering gems; irises so purple it was breath taking; lilacs that were individually fashioned and clustered together; miniature sunflowers and more.

  The room glittered and twinkled as the sunlight from the open windows caressed the ornaments.

  There had to be a hundred of them.

  Evlawyn, placed the last hair stick—an orange lily—on the last bit of open space on an end table and stepped back. She smiled as she held out a folded piece of paper to Tari. “For you.”

  “They’re all from one person?” Tari said as she twisted in a circle, gazing at her new collection.

  Evlawyn nodded, placing the note in Tari’s hand. “You are treasured, My Lady,” she said before sweeping out of the room.

  Tari, stared at the hair sticks for a few moments, barely registering the quiet tock of the door when Evlawyn left. Her wits addled, Tari looked at the note in her hand before unfolding it.

  Written in shaking but painstakingly copied elvish script was a short message.

  For you, enjoy

  ~Your Partner

  Tari sunk to her knees when the tears finally broke loose. She clutched the note in her hand as she sobbed, surrounded by her glittering flowers.

  Tari knew what her answer would be.

  “You seem distracted today,” Arion said as he and Tari walked arm in arm in the gardens.

  Tari glanced up at the captain. “I am,” she admitted, twisting her neck to glance over her shoulder.

  They were attending a luncheon thrown by King Petyrr, celebrating the recent breakthroughs in medical science. Tari didn’t see the point of the celebration, the so called breakthroughs were elvish medicines and medical practices Tari had relayed to Arion over the course of their weekly, Translators’ Circle sponsored talks. (Not to mention wasn’t disinfecting a wound a basic medical foundation? It was beyond Tari how the humans had survived to this point if they didn’t even have that practice down.)

  All of the Calnor royal family members were in attendance—including the icy Queen Luciee— and only Princess Gwendafyn was missing from Lessa.

  “You’ve been thinking something over for three days now, I believe,” Arion said, surprising Tari with his attentiveness. It was exactly three days ago that Tari had tea with Princess Claire.

  “Yes,” Tari carefully agreed. She reached up to feel for the metal blue rose that was nestled into her hair, drawing a small smile from Arion. “I have been thinking for a long while, and discussing it with Seer Ringali. I think it is time for me to return home.”

  Arion slowed his stride for only a moment. He nodded. “I see,” he said, his body language and voice giving nothing away.

  “I do not want to go,” Tari admitted. “But as an Evening Star I have a duty.”

  Lies, all of it. Tari hadn’t even breathed a word of her plan to return home to Seer Ringali, and she wasn’t returning home because of her career. But there was no need to burden Arion with the details. If he knew Prince Benjimir was pressuring his sister there was no telling what he would do. While he was not brash he was also not the type to take blackmail sitting down.

  “I understand. You intend to remain home then?” Arion said.

  “If you return to your post, probably. But could we not arrange to meet in Haven a few times a year?” Tari asked, hopefully turning to Arion. “Or we could write… or… draw pictures,” Tari said, some of the hope dying as she realized that even their special bond would not allow them to bypass the barrier of written languages.

  Arion would not look at her. He blankly stared at the depths of the garden. The hum of the luncheon behind them mixed with the chirping birds. After a few heartbeats of silence Arion turned to Tari and offered her a slight smile. “We will think of something.”

  Tari’s shoulders heaved in relief, and without thinking she flung her arms around Arion in an embrace.

  He’s not angry with me, and he doesn’t seem disappointed. I can be satisfied with this.

  Tari smiled into Arion’s chest plate when the captain returned the hug and briefly rested his chin on top of Tari’s head. He abruptly stepped back. “I need to check in with my men. You are staying for the remainder of the luncheon?”

  “I am. I will see you when you return.”

  Arion nodded. “Very well. Until then,” he said, offering her a quick smile before he swept deeper into the gardens.

  Tari turned around to face the luncheon crowd, vaguely wondering why Arion was heading in the opposite direction of his office before she set her eyes upon Crown Prince Benjimir.

  There is a man I can be spiteful and angry to without any need to hold back. What else could he do, kick me out of Haven early?

  Tari made a beeline for the Crown Prince, who was standing in the shade of a willow tree, alone.

  “Good afternoon, Your Royal Highness,” Tari said in Calnoric before sweeping into a curtsey.

  “Lady Tari, it is a pleasure to see you,” Crown Prince Benjimir said, executing a shallow bow. His voice was flat and lacked warmth. “May I
extend my congratulations in the great medical strides you and Captain Arion have made.”

  “I cannot take credit for relaying what my people have practiced for centuries, but I thank you all the same,” Tari said. “The weather is perfect for today’s celebration.”

  “That is so,” Crown Prince Benjimir agreed. “Where has Captain Arion run off to?”

  “I believe he is leaving for a short while to check in with his men,” Tari said. Arion was still in eyesight, although he was so far away he was nothing but a blob in the green of the gardens.

  “I see. He is devoted to his career,” the Crown Prince said.

  “He is an excellent captain,” Tari said, a chord of pride in her voice.

  “I agree. Do you have any idea how long your teacher will be staying in Haven?”

  Tari followed the Crown Prince’s gaze to where Seer Ringali stood with Crown Princess Yvrea. “Seer Ringali? I do not think he will stay much longer, as I will soon be leaving,” Tari said, switching to elvish.

  Crown Prince Benjimir jerked his neck to face Tari. “You are leaving?” he asked in decent elvish.

  Tari internally smirked and howled with laughter. The Crown Prince wasn’t even aware he had replied in elvish, much less acknowledged he understood her sentence. Tari couldn’t quite put her finger on it but there was something odd about the Crown Prince’s ability to speak elvish.

  “Indeed, I believe it is time for me to return home. I have neglected my duties as an Evening Star for too long.”

  Crown Prince Benjimir ill masked his delight. “Haven will suffer a great loss with your departure,” he said, still speaking elvish. His speech was slightly slurred, but it was excellent for someone not in the Translators’ Circle.

  “Indeed. I think so as well. And if I find out that Princess Claire’s situation has not at all changed in a month’s time, I guarantee I will be back.”

  “I’m sorry, my elvish isn’t that good. Once more…,” Crown Prince Benjimir halted when he realized what he was saying. He looked to the luncheon attendees, but no one seemed to have noticed Tari and the Crown Prince conversing in elvish.