She laughed. “Charlotte and I are close friends.”
I pointed at Milly. “Exactly.” For the first time since arriving in Besmium, I felt myself smile.
Chapter 5
Princess Charlotte
I AWOKE WITH AN INTENSE throbbing in my head. My limbs were noticeably heavy, and every time I moved a fraction, I felt the threat of nausea clawing at my stomach. Flashbacks of the night before started coming back like puzzle pieces strewn across my bed.
I don't want to marry you.
I cringed and buried my head into my pillow as if I could suffocate the embarrassment out of me. My plan was ruined. Although my behavior had been humiliating, I doubt it was enough to scare the prince away. I was out of time. Behind the door, I heard my mother’s shrill voice cry out, “Open the door, you idiot.”
I rolled over as the guards pushed open the door, and my mother strode in.
"Get up," she said, her voice shrill and forceful. "Wash your face. Your father wants to have a word with you before the wedding."
I couldn't move. "Mom," I groaned, "I'm sick."
She sighed. "I don't care if you're dead, this wedding is happening today."
Ugh. I considered sitting up quickly and throwing up on her. Then she'd have to accept that I'm sick, but based on the rigidness of her movements this morning, I decided it wouldn't change a thing—barring a smidge of personal satisfaction. I forced myself to sit up and felt the forceful pulse of a headache as the room tilted into a repetitive loop.
My dad entered, already dressed for the wedding ceremony. "Charlotte," his voice boomed, “I'd like to talk to you." He sat down at the edge of my bed while my mother headed for the door. He waited for her to leave before he spoke again. "I want to tell you why I chose Prince Young."
It was almost enough to make me sit up, but I stayed put. As my mother shut the door behind her, a strange thought came into my head: Do they even like each other? Why did it seem like when one came, the other left? Was I doomed to suffer a similar marriage?
My father continued, jolting me from my thoughts. "As you know, I've had a very long-lasting friendship with the King of Vires. He is a wise man, able to appease his surrounding kingdoms with gestures of peace and fair political dealings." He scratched at his beard. "Because of this, his military has grown quite strong where ours has grown weak due to ever-present war. Reports from the front lines say the Drethen Kingdom is close to breaking through. Someday you and Young will take my place and I'd like to leave you in a secure kingdom. It's what every father wants for his daughter."
I sighed. "Father, I know."
"But what you don't know—is why I chose Young specifically." He paused and waited for me to respond. I didn't move. He had my attention. That was all I had to give. "I was in Vires about ten years ago, visiting the king, when I came across his three sons playing in the garden. The eldest, Sumin, was in a scuffle with the middle boy Minseo. Young, who was no older than eight, was sitting in the grass with his eyes closed, his face turned to the sun."
I sat up slowly, resting my head in my hand.
"As I got closer, I could hear the young boys arguing about which of them would be the king in their game. I'm taller and I'm older, Sumin yelled. You always get to be king! Minseo cried. Intrigued, I walked up to the youngest boy and asked him why he didn't want to be king. He blinked open his eyes in confusion, stood to face me, and said something along the lines of, ‘Kingship is not a position that one can aspire to. You must be predestined or chosen. Do you see how they argue?’ I nodded at the boy. He continued. ‘It means they haven't chosen me, therefore I am not fit to lead them.’ He took a seat. ‘So I'll enjoy this fine weather until my time comes.’"
"What kind of eight-year-old talks like that?"
He tilted his head back in a wide, deep laugh that warmed me inside. "I don’t recall his exact words, but the sentiment stood out in my memory. Besides, you're also a little..."
I shrunk. "Creative?"
He smiled. "Yes, creative. You just might be what each other nee—"
The door swung open and a guard rushed into the room, his face pale and covered in beads of sweat. He bowed, but not as low as usual. Out of breath, he handed my father a letter. My father opened it immediately while the guard caught his breath. My father's cheeks sunk in and his shoulders stiffened.
"What's wrong, father?" I asked. My heart thudded, matching the pace of the guard. Had Prince Young fled the kingdom from my drunken rampage?
"I—I have to go," he said. He jumped off the corner of my bed and headed for the door.
I stood up, feeling a surge of anxious energy rise to my chest. "Go? Go where?"
He shook off my question. “They’ve broken through,” he blurted, half to himself. “You have to go too. To the southern castle.” He mumbled something inaudibly, his gaze shifting back and forth. His gaze met mine. “Quickly. You must evacuate.”
"What about the wedding?"
He shook his head. "The wedding is canceled."
Chapter 6
Prince Young
EVERYTHING WAS UNCERTAIN—MY place in this kingdom, the future, and even our safety. The only two things I could really be sure of were that the kingdom was under attack and that the wedding was canceled. Drethen had broken through the front lines, and King Morgan of Besmium had gone to assist in the battle with as many Heims castle guards as he could rally on his way out. I wasn’t sure exactly how close to the castle the battle was, but I did know the castle sat only a few days on horseback from the Drethen border. Which meant, if the king’s men couldn’t stop them, at best, we had only a few days to escape. At worst, a few hours. I stuffed the jacket and sash, meant for the wedding ceremony, into my trunk.
"Let's just go," Minseo said, pacing around the room.
I shook my head. "We can't just leave."
"We can. They canceled your wedding and this isn't our battle."
"If this attack was a day later, it would be our battle. Besides, we don't even know how bad this attack is."
"Did you hear the king? He said canceled. Not postponed, not delayed—canceled."
I knew he was right. This was a dangerous situation. We could get caught in the middle of a war without having any significant protection from either side. But was running away really honorable? If the king managed to negotiate peace, he'd likely resume the wedding. What would he think if his future king fled at the first sign of trouble?
Minseo continued, "I'll round up our guards and let them know we're heading ho—"
"I'm not going," I said, slamming my trunk closed. My words hung in the air between us.
Minseo stared at me in disbelief. His eyes narrowed and his chest puffed out. "You could die. We don't know how bad this is, or even how close to us the battle is."
"Why don't you go on ahead back to Vires?" I said. I stood and scanned my chamber for any more of my things. "You can tell father what's happened here and ask him if he'd be willing to send troops in support, despite the marriage contract’s dissolution."
Minseo plopped down onto his bed. "You're my brother. I can't leave you behind. I'll send a message, but I'm not sure if there's enough time—"
A loud knock at the door captured our attention. Minseo leaped to his feet. We held our breath as we waited for the door to open as if about to find out that the sky had fallen. The queen strode in. Minseo and I froze. She'd hardly acknowledged us since we’d arrived, and now she barged into our chamber without introduction. It meant only one thing—bad news.
The queen’s voice was forced and uneven. "Prince Young, our kingdom is not in the position to ask any favors of you. However—"
Minseo cut in. "Your majesty, we were about to send a message to my father, asking for aid in this conflict."
A glimmer of irritation flashed across her eyes, then she softened. "That's very kind. However, the king has asked something else of you, something of a different nature. He's asked that you and your guard accompany a small group to t
he Valor Castle in the south of Besmium. We can't spare our guards at the moment, and the king would like our daughter protected."
"Is the negotiation not going well?" I said, trying to grab clues from her stone-like expression.
She huffed. "The king takes every precaution when it comes to his daughter." She looked me up and down and added, "Although, I can't say I agree with all of his choices."
I bowed deeply, ignoring her attempt to fluster me. "I accept this quest, Your Majesty."
She returned the bow half-heartedly and hurried out.
I turned to Minseo. "Ready the carriage and the guard. Send out the message to father."
"Young," Minseo said.
"Make sure that everyth—"
"Young."
"What?" I asked, noticing the perplexed look spread across his face.
He chuckled. "You're not king yet."
I sheathed my sword and prepared for the mission ahead.
Adrenaline pulsed through me as we made our way through the castle. Everywhere I looked, servants and guards rushed about, carrying bags and weapons in every direction with profound urgency. I couldn’t focus on the evacuation, not after the news that the wedding was canceled. I clenched my jaw in frustration. How was Charlotte taking the news? My thoughts flashed to the night before. I don’t want to marry anyone, she’d said. I bristled at the thought that Charlotte might rejoice from this news, even if her kingdom was in danger. When my preparations had been made, finally, I had an opportunity to prove myself. I balled my hands into fists in anticipation. Only one part of this mission concerned me—the princess.
I hustled through the corridors of the castle to collect Princess Charlotte, remembering the way from last night. I knocked on the double door, my nervousness swelling. No response. I had my fist ready to knock again when one door swung open. In front of me stood the crystal-eyed blonde from last night. She clutched a wooden cross that hung from a bare string around her neck.
"Milly..." I said, the words barely a whisper.
She curtsied. "Hello, Your Highness. The princess has asked me to accompany her on this evacuation."
A voice shot out from behind her. "Vacation, not evacuation. My father will fix this. This is just temporary," Charlotte said, pushing the second door open.
I had to step back to avoid being hit. I nodded, my gaze darting between the two foreign-looking girls. I didn't know why, but a twinge of guilt settled at the bottom of my stomach. I turned my attention to Charlotte. "Charlotte, it is my intention to keep you safe during this evac—forgive me, vacation."
That afternoon when the sun was almost at its midpoint, the halls of the castle had almost cleared. I helped the two ladies into the carriage, which already held my brother, the royal dresser—Philip, and two other men I recognized as high-ranking members of the court. I was the last to enter. As I took my seat, my stomach clenched at the way Charlotte's gaze met Minseo's so quickly.
I settled in for the long ride as the horses neared the outer gates of Hiems Castle.
We were only ten yards away from the front gate when the first cannonball hit the castle walls. The horses bucked. The carriage shook, launching seven bodies into chaos. I glimpsed an orange orb crash beside the carriage as balls of fire rained down around us. The crackle of war sounded. The air filled with dust and smoke, filling my lungs and stinging my eyes. I choked. The world darkened as screams reverberated off every surface and rattled my bones. We scrambled to break free from the carriage just in time to see the walls of the castle crumble down around us, blocking our escape.
Chapter 7
Princess Charlotte
THE FIRST SOUND I HEARD was the crack of stone hitting the castle walls. The second was the furious neighs of the horses. The carriage jerked. Our bodies tossed around in the cabin in a mess of limbs and colliding bones until someone's hands pushed me out onto the cemented ground. I crawled away, still in danger of being hit by the crazed horses and giant wheels. My head throbbed. A hot warm liquid slid down my forehead. Bodies lay around me as dark masses in the smoke and dust. The horses bucked until released from the rig. The carriage flipped as a ball of fire engulfed it. Was someone still inside?
"Milly!" I screamed. My body lurched toward the flames. Milly stood over me, pulling me to my feet. Relief washed over me and I squeezed her hand hard as if our locked hands could protect us from the attack like a child’s blanket protects from darkness. Another flaming ball hit the ground a few yards away.
Young and Minseo propped up Phillip between them, then dragged him toward us—two Viran guards at their sides.
Minseo said, "Let's make a break for the gate. It's closer than the castle. If we make it out—"
Another ball of fire hit a few feet away, sending dust all around us, the heat of it on my skin. Milly let out a blood-curdling scream. She fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands. Young ran to us then lifted Milly's chin, looking her in the eyes. "Breathe," he said. "I need you to keep your head up. You can see them coming. You can avoid them. They're aiming for the walls, so as soon as we get away from them, this will be over."
She nodded and Young helped her to her feet, tears still streaming down her face. He wrapped his arm around her, turning his attention to our group. "Let's stay together," he said.
My gaze lingered on Young, who had his arm around Milly. Had I missed something? I shook the thought from my mind.
Minseo led the way, still supporting Phillip who limped clumsily at his side. Behind him were the two guards from Vires. Where were the other Viran guards? Dead? Mixed up in the attack? Young and I clenched Milly's arms as we ambled toward the broken gates.
Trumpets sounded behind us as Hiems Castle guards poured out of the castle we were fleeing. I felt my heart leap. We were saved.
"Young, behind us!" I yelled. “The guards!”
"Should we go back?" Young called, looking over his shoulder.
Minseo shook his head. "No, we're so close."
The fire in front of us surged upwards like an orange tidal wave. Heat licked out towards us like slithering serpents, biting at our cheeks. We turned away. Our path to escape engulfed in black and red. I gasped for fresh air but inhaled a gulp of thick gray smoke that scalded my throat.
We turned to Minseo who stood in stunned silence, watching our escape burn. The crack of fireballs ceased and the only sound was the crackle of the burning courtyard. Minseo turned with a look of terror so hair-raising that it made my stomach drop. "Run!" he screamed.
We turned and ran back toward the castle—toward the charging Besmium guard. The encroaching flames closed in, spreading faster with each moment. My body soaked in sweat as my lungs filled with smoke and dust, but I didn't slow down.
The northern wall collapsed, its broken stones raining into the courtyard inferno. I eyed the opening as my numb legs carried me towards the castle. Over the rubble, the silhouette of enemy soldiers sliding into the fray stopped my heart. Of all the years we’d been at war, I’d never actually seen an enemy soldier—until now. They leaked into the burning arena and began to engage with the Besmian soldiers. If they could hold them off a little longer, we might make it back to the castle.
The smoke obscured my vision, but I could hear the clang of metal, the cries of wounded soldiers. Nausea threatened to overcome me. A loud crack pulled my attention back to the northern wall. I glanced back over my shoulder to see a second chunk of the wall collapsed, this one bigger than the last. Blue-suited soldiers charged in from behind us. Exhaustion and oxygen deprivation blurred my vision. My legs slowed.
Drethen soldiers closed in from the left, and now behind us.
Just steps ahead. I focused on our salvation—our guards. My mind raced. We're not going to make it. I heard the furious howls of the blood-thirsty nation behind us as they cleared the crumbled walls and charged across the far end of the courtyard. We're not going to make it. I glanced back. Minseo.
Minseo, with Phillip on his back, was several strides be
hind—the enemy inches away. "Young!" I screamed.
He looked back. "Take Milly and get to the castle."
He unsheathed his sword and turned toward the battle. My leg muscles shook, threatening to give out, but we were almost there now. I didn't dare look back. I ran, my hand tightly gripping Milly's arm. The front line of Hiems guards parted to clear a path for us. We made it. With each row of soldiers we passed, we felt safer, but we didn't slow down or catch our breath until we reached the inside of the castle. The clash of the battle outside rattled the corridors. I toppled over in exhaustion, finally looking back. There was no sign of Minseo, Young, or Phillip in the sea of soldiers.
When we caught our breath, we raced through the corridor toward a tower staircase. The tunnels beneath the castle were our only hope now. I became increasingly aware of how empty the castle felt. Every guard had joined the battle at the front. I'd never seen the entrance hall so deserted.
An unfamiliar voice filled the hall. "Aye, you reckon we'll be heroes when we return home, mate?"
"You slob, the battle's not even over! Never count your women before they've been paid for." Laughter reverberated off the ceiling.
The enemy was inside the castle. I pulled Milly backward, now conscious of the scratchy chuff of our shoes on the stone floor. The Drethen soldiers were blocking our only way to the tunnels, and although I wasn't sure, it could've been the path they used to get inside. They were headed our way. I pulled Milly into the closest room, a medium dining room with a grand fireplace, and closed the door, locking it behind us.
The voices in the hallway grew louder. "Now what? We found a way in, so where’s the king? Bet you I’d be promoted if I was the one to take him down. No doubt hiding like a rat in this dump.”
“I heard we already got him. He came out to fight the battle and one of our boys got ‘im.”
Kingdom Cold Page 3