Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  “The prince may choose any woman he wants. And the king can force any marriage he wants.” He looks more sad about that than he should.

  “Not if I’m gone. My father won’t suffer anything bad. He is adored. I just won’t be allowed back home. I don’t care.”

  She stares into his eyes. Those dreamy eyes staring back at her. It doesn’t have the same effect on her as it does on Bessy, and certainly with his looks he must be a lady-killer. It’s almost as if he wants to say something else but cannot find his voice. He storms off. She folds her arms, puffs out a sigh and then a low grunt.

  All the nobles are in attendance for the party. Knowing that Prince Remy is looking for a bride increases the women’s interest. Some of the commoners have shown up. They do not think their prospects of a royal proposal is likely but the chance is offered to them nonetheless. There is a grand feast set out across a long wooden table with pitchers of ale and tall, slender bottles of wine.

  Talen walks in with her head low. She thinks this is going to get her past everyone unnoticed. Maybe if she was wearing her farmer attire. Not in this dress. Immediately the men take notice. Like seeing her for the first time. As each one takes a double look, they realize it’s Talen. It’s the first time they get to see her womanly figure in motion. She’s never had a graceful walk but she is trying tonight. She misses her old clothes. The pants were flexible and the comfort of her sweater never fails. When it is too warm she switches to a light long-sleeved shirt. Never does she wear anything to flatter her figure. Women from the noble and common side take notice of her natural beauty and envy it. They have their faces painted up pretty to impress the prince.

  Horns sound off. The king comes into the assembly room followed by his advisor. His guests form a perfect line. Bow after bow as he comes down the line.

  Then the prince comes in with his advisor following closely. Once more there are bows as he greets people.

  Talen gets behind the line of people at the end waiting to shake the king and prince’s hand.

  The king comes to the spot where she is hiding. He makes no gesture or acknowledgement that he sees her, although she can tell she’s been found. Remy is overly gentlemanlike with his greeting. A firm hand shake, a pleasant smile, and a few hugs to those he knows personally.

  Talen gets her first glimpse of the prince. For all the time she’s been alive, she does not remember ever seeing him. He likes to spend most of his time in his tower or he reads in the gardens. Whenever he came to the farmland as a boy to work alongside the farmers, she was out in the woodland. She spent too much time outside. If she had spent more time inside reading or up at court, she’d have a better understanding of the sacred beasts, the world, and more importantly the Masters. After all, that was where the Marksman spent most of his time. Tucked away inside the palace walls, working closely with the king on secret matters. When there is none left to greet, the crowd disperses and retreats for food and drink. She is standing alone.

  Remy is with his group of friends. Actually they pretend to be his friends and he knows it. Both sides don’t seem to care.

  Talen continues staring at the prince. She can’t deny that he is a likable person despite what is said about him. A drunk nobleman bangs into her.

  “Oh, forgive me,” he says.

  They lock eyes. He spills wine on his white tunic. Talen grabs a towel from one of the servants nearby and hands it to the man.

  “Pat it a little. If you rub it, it’ll never come out.”

  “I am Tristan Goodwyn.”

  “Talen Dragniss.”

  “Gavin’s daughter, huh? You are pretty. Hey, isn’t this party for you and Remy? To find you both a partner?”

  She blushes.

  “I’m single. I wouldn’t mind considering the pleasure of marriage.” He licks his lips at her. Or he could be licking the wine off his lips.

  Either way she feels awkward around him. He is very attractive. His sand colored hair, dark-blue eyes, and muscular body makes him an ideal candidate for a good breeder of children. He is the son of a gold and gem merchant. Enough wealth to buy anything. But will he buy her a home far away from here and together they raise a family? Will he accept her when she becomes a Master?

  Tristan gets shoved. He laughs as Remy puts his arm around him.

  “You’re drunk already?”

  Talen turns away from them.

  “This is Talen Dragniss. She’s the one looking for a husband. I have practically proposed to her.”

  “Really?” Remy’s eyes widen. He tries to see her face but she is being difficult. “And what did she say?”

  “Good evening, my prince. Looking forward to your birthday celebration in a few days.”

  “I’m afraid that Miss Dragniss is either very embarrassed, or she is not interested in marrying you. Either way, I must steal her away for a few minutes.”

  “What? Why?” she asks. She looks into Remy’s eyes, horrified.

  “Oh?” Tristan raises his eyebrows. “You going to ask her to marry you? I wouldn’t blame you. She is quite luscious.”

  Remy smacks Tristan’s shoulder hard. “Miss Dragniss, I must speak with you, privately.”

  She regrets ever coming to this stupid party. A bunch of self-absorbed nobles and greedy commoners. She’s thrown into the middle of them. “My prince, I beg of you to leave me be. I am not the social type. I am very uncomfortable right now.

  Tristan laughs as he grabs another goblet of wine.

  Remy holds out his hand to her. He looks deeply at her. He finds her to be a nice looking woman. Not luscious. He finds her… beautiful. “It’s imperative that I speak to you alone, right now.”

  “My prince… okay. Forgive me.” Right now she can’t say no to a prince and mean it. He can have her thrown into the dungeon if she is rude to him. Not that he would. She takes his hand.

  Remy takes Talen over to the corridor leading to the throne room. “I must apologize for my friend’s behavior. I imagine you are bored with this party, as I am. My father throwing a party for us to find suitable matches. It’s insulting and ridiculous. Who falls in love in a few hours?”

  She is not registering any of what he says.

  “What I wouldn’t give to be away from this place.”

  That she registers.

  “I am not going to choose a woman tonight to be my wife. I suspect that you are not going to choose a man to be your husband tonight either.”

  “No. Then again, that Tristan is dreamy.”

  Remy shoots her an inquisitive look.

  She stares at Tristan who waves and then gives a flirtatious smile.

  “I really don’t want to be wearing a dress. I feel overdressed.”

  “You think Tristan is dreamy?”

  “Yeah, sure. He is attractive. I’m surprised that he isn’t married.”

  “He is a romantic. Every girl he’s been interested in has only wanted him for his money. You’re not like that, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want me to arrange a day for you two to be alone so that you may get to know each other and then he can court you?”

  She relaxes her shoulders. Trying to stand straight to look presentable at the royal court and for suitable suitors has been hurting her back. “I can’t say.”

  “Would you be willing to help a prince out?”

  “Help with what exactly?”

  “Escaping here. I wish to escape this place forever.”

  “How can I help you do that?”

  “You can get me away without the Hunters noticing. You can convince your father not to look for me.”

  “I am not risking my father being imprisoned for helping the spoiled little prince escape the pressures of royal life. Deal with it.”

  “You’re a very sour subject of mine.”

  “You can say whatever you want about me. I’ll be gone soon. It won’t matter what you say.”

  “You’re leaving? You want to run away too?”

&nb
sp; “I am not running away. I am going to be a Master. I will not live my life on a farm forever.”

  “I don’t want to live my life forever in a palace on a throne.”

  She never would have imagined that he’d try to leave again. Not after getting beaten the first time.

  “Please, Miss Dragniss.”

  “Why not abdicate when you take over? You can be free then.”

  “The only way a king can step down is if he chooses to and hands it over to his heir, or if he dies.”

  “Then get married, have an heir, and abdicate.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” He plays with his hair a bit. A nervous habit he picked up after being beaten a few times by his father.

  “Surely one of these beauties will marry you.”

  “I know I could get one of them to. But you’re not listening. I don’t want any of them.” She is getting frustrated with him but he has more to say. “If you married one of the nobles, you could live a better life. That’s not to say that you will do it, but you know it’d be a good choice for you. Tristan is a good man. He’d make you a fine husband. But you won’t do it. That’s what it’s like for me.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to leave here so I don’t have to deal with this.”

  “Take me with you. Take me as far as you can. I won’t be a burden, I promise.”

  The king interrupts them. “Found you. Getting along nicely I see. Shall I make an announcement?”

  “Father, we hardly know each other. We’ve only begun our conversation.”

  The king hurries away to talk with some nobles.

  “What is that about?”

  “Nothing.”

  “He wants us married?”

  “I will not do it. He can’t force us.”

  “He can. Unbelievable.” She walks away.

  Remy looks on defeated. How is he going to make her understand how dire his need to leave is?

  The king watches as Remy leaves the room to head for his tower. What was meant to be a party for the prince and Talen, has now turned into a drunk fest. The king flirts a bit with some young women, then he is off down a corridor, up a staircase.

  Remy gets undressed and into his sleep attire. He doesn’t wear a shirt. It’s always too hot with the fireplace burning. If he douses the flames then the room gets too cold. His white linen pants barely provide enough warmth.

  His bedroom door opens and in steps the king.

  “Father, I want to sleep.”

  “I must ask what you thought of Talen.”

  “She is a nice person.”

  “Nice person. You’re going to have to do better than that. I have already announced that you took a liking to her. You should see how jealous all the other women are. And Tristan Goodwyn is jealous too. Apparently he likes her. Well done.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that. Talen has a life planned for herself that doesn’t include marriage.”

  “You have more in common than I thought.”

  “I think her and I could be friends, but nothing more.”

  “Friends? A prince doesn’t need friends. You better make it more or I’m going to stop all the nice things you enjoy. And if you dare to run away, I have decided that your mare is the first to go. She can be fed to the woodland wolves.”

  Remy springs out of bed. “Take that back.”

  “Marry Gavin’s daughter.”

  “No.”

  “Marry anyone then.”

  “If you force me or Talen to marry, I will tell everyone why the beasts have left the Wilderness. How you ordered the elves --”

  The king raises his hand to Remy. “Go on and threaten me again. I shall smack your head right off your neck. You have pushed me too far this time.”

  Remy lowers his head. “Forgive me, Father. I am weary from the party. Miss Dragniss has affected me on multiple levels.”

  “Good. I’m glad she has stirred something in you. You announce your engagement to that girl or you’ll see a storm on this city last seen when the last dragon left.”

  The king leaves the room with the door slamming so hard that it cracks.

  Remy gets out of bed and trashes his room. He glimpses himself in the mirror and stops. “What am I doing? No wonder everyone thinks badly of me.”

  A servant comes into the room. “My prince, what happened?”

  “Get out!”

  The servant runs as if for his life.

  Talen gets up early and checks on the new cabbage heads. Ragbar walks over to her with a disheveled look. “What happened to you, Uncle?”

  “I hear that the prince has taken a liking to you. And you dismissed his advances, his regard.”

  “Goodness. If that is what you came out here to yell at me about, you can go back inside and wait for your breakfast to be served.”

  “I am disappointed in you.” He walks inside the house.

  She continues down the line checking the cabbage heads. Almost to the end, when she gets a tap on the shoulder.

  “Good morning, Miss Dragniss.”

  “My prince. Why are you out here?” She can’t imagine what has possessed him to come see her after their unusual conversation last night.

  “I am leaving today.”

  “I am not helping you.”

  The other farmers are making their way outside. They stop when they see Prince Remy talking to Talen.

  Remy looks around. When he comes back to Talen, she is gone. She is walking back towards her house. “Wait. I don’t want your help in escaping.”

  “Then what are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to say goodbye. You have been kind to me.”

  “Hardly.”

  She pulls on one head of cabbage and hands it to Remy.

  “What is this for?”

  “To eat. You’ll be hungry on your journey. I’m sure I can get the other farmers to give up some things for you to take.”

  “Thank you.” He smiles down at the cabbage then directs his smile towards her. He almost wants to admit that he will miss her.

  “Goodbye, Prince Remy.” She does a small curtesy.

  “I never want you to lower your head to me. I see you as a true friend.”

  Her heart just shatters with that bold statement. It was loud enough for the other farmers to hear. Now everyone knows that he likes her as a friend. She doesn’t know how to respond. What can she say? Or do?

  He stands there holding the cabbage, watching her go inside. His thoughts shift to what he can offer her. A crown. A throne. A city to rule for however long they may. He wonders if he should stay and ask her to marry him. Not right away, but maybe over a few weeks or months he can work up the courage to ask her. During that time he can certainly start to like her and develop romantic feelings for her.

  Talen watches him from inside the house. Ragbar looks out the other window. “Why is he still here?” he asks.

  “He’s a confused man.”

  “Did he ask you to marry him?”

  “No. He needs to go away before the talk comes.” She goes to open the front door but Ragbar stops her.

  “It’s good that he is still standing here. It improves our relations with the king.”

  “If you want your comfortable lifestyle back, have it. I can run the farm on my own.” She walks away from the window.

  She is talking crazy. Running the farm. How can she run the farm if she is gone? It just came out. A twinge of foreseeable guilt resides in her. Abandoning the farm is hard. She likes that it is an easy job for her. It keeps her free of the nonsense that grows up at court. Also, her mother loved the farm. She pushes back those tears. That regret. She must remain steadfast.

  Ragbar leans against the front door. “I don’t want it back. I would not hurt my brother that way. But you… you don’t belong here. You’re much too headstrong. Determined to do as you will. You’re also the only one who can talk to animals. You can’t fit in when you have that talent.”

  She starts chopping vegetables, th
en stops. “You’re saying that you want me to leave?”

  He comes over to her, reaches out to her, and then goes into his bedroom.

  Was that his farewell? She can’t believe it. Her own family cares nothing for her. She can roll into a bog down in the valley, fall off the hill into the river, or marry the prince, and they don’t care. Her whole life has been hanging on the hope that someone will be there to guide her to the right path. If she had known before, she would have left sooner. She tosses the vegetables into a bowl, wipes her hands off on a cloth, and then goes into her bedroom.

  She looks around to see what she should take and leave behind. She grabs an outfit for colder days. An outfit for warmer days. She will keep on what she has now. She only owns two pairs of shoes. Boots and casual flat shoes, which she is wearing. She has one dress that her father had tricked her into buying. He said that if she got a nice dress for any upcoming parties, he’d secretly give her one of the Brimbar offspring. The horse never came. She does have the other dress that she wore to the matchmaking party. She wants nothing to do with that one. She rolls it up into a ball and tosses it across the room.

  Remy shifts his weight from the wall to his bedroom door. He cracks it open, looks down the corridor. The guards are changing. They change every six hours. It gives him a few minutes to make a move. Probably better to wait until night but he can’t wait any longer. He grabs a small cross body bag and puts it on.

  The off duty guards turn the corner. Remy makes his move.

  He peeks around the corner and all is clear. He hears a clang of silverware behind him. He turns around and sees a servant coming to his bedroom. The servant is going to find out that he isn’t in the room. Then it occurs to Remy. He is running away from home and has only one outfit with him. The one he is wearing. He has his money purse inside the cross body bag and that’s it. No supplies. No food. He really hasn’t thought this through. So much for being impulsive. He realizes he isn’t cut out for making decisions on his own.