Excerpt includes: Chapters 2-3

 

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Chapter 2

A Façade

 

            “I can’t believe I agreed to this.”

            Two young women walked with feigned dignity into the nation of Arek’s finest dining hall for the rich and privileged, located in the upper district of the kingdom’s capital, Areks City. The northern wall of the hall opened to a view of the kingdom’s main castle, tucked halfway up a mountainside, looming above the town, and standing tall in glory for all to praise, admire, and fear. Diners usually loved to gaze out at this magnificent view during their meal, but all eyes moved toward two young women currently being seated at a table.

          They appeared normal enough, though they moved rather awkwardly in their fancy blue and pink poufy, laced dresses. Lace was a rare luxury that only the exceedingly wealthy or royalty could afford these days. Surely these two young ladies were of great importance and should be treated as such. The diners all sat a little straighter as they ate their food, as if the king himself was present.

            A young man with coffee-creamed hair and a strong, clean-shaven jaw sat at the most elaborate table in the room. He ignored his dining companions as he observed the two girls, sensing something different about them, something the rest of the diners could not see as they turned back to their own meals and hollow conversations. As the girls were seated at the table nearest his own, they scooted into their chairs rather clumsily, something bulky hidden beneath the layers of their skirts.

            The young man studied the back of what looked to be the younger of the two. Long, golden curls fell gracefully upon her back, though bits of twig and rock could be spotted between the strands. He could see the face of the older girl, noticing her presence was much different than her companion’s. Her hair reminded him of dark chocolate, pulled into an unpracticed fancy bun. Her posture was sharp, unlike the blonde, whose back rested lazily against the support of her chair. The young women engaged in conversation. He leaned in closer to listen.

            “How did you talk me into this again?” the elder of the two said, gritting her teeth like she was about to endure torture.

            “Calm down. These dresses finally fit us. Well, you more than me,” the younger admitted plainly as she looked down at sagging material over her chest. “But I’ve been wanting to wear Mama’s old dresses out in public for the longest time. And just look at all of the beautiful, important ladies around here! All of them dressed so elegantly, as if they have no real problems to worry about, except for which ribbon goes best with which dress. Oh, how I wish I were a lady!”

            The blonde placed her elbow on the table and leaned her head upon her hand, gazing wistfully at the courtiers.  

            The brunette scoffed. “These women are no more important than you. Fretting about ribbons is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Real problems in the world exist out there, and these people have nothing better to do than pamper themselves and wish their lives meant something. The poor aren’t even allowed to dine with them, as if they are worth less than the rich. It makes me sick.”

          “It’s like that in every country. It’s not a new concept,” the younger girl replied defensively. “Our home is the same way. We never got to eat in the upper part of town.”

          “And it was a horrible practice there too.” The brunette lowered her voice and the young man leaned in closer. “Besides, who wants to get this dressed up every day? I like being able to do what I want, whenever I want, without having to worry about messing up what I’m wearing. Mama’s gowns are gorgeous, but I can see why she gave up this life.”

            The younger girl took her elbow off the table and stared hard at her companion. “Mama gave up that life to be with Father, not because she hated it.” She sighed, adding wistfully, “And maybe I’d like to live the sort of life she left behind. It wouldn’t be nearly as complicated as ours. I’m sure these people don’t have to wonder if they’ll have enough food to eat for the day. Or have their parents murdered and their brother missing with no one to help them look. They could send a servant to find him instead of losing the only home they’d ever known.”

            The elder of the two shushed her companion. The young man quickly looked away as her eyes combed for any eavesdroppers. She spotted him with his ear leaned toward them and eyed him suspiciously. The young blonde ignored the tension and continued.

            “Maybe you’re right. But still,” she said thoughtfully, “it is fun to pretend every once in a while.”        

            “You mean only once,” the older reminded. “I promised only to do this one time with you. As soon as we finish our meal, we’re out of here and back to searching for Aiden.”

            The young man leaned back in his chair, pondering what he’d overheard. He rubbed his smooth chin slowly as he continued to discreetly observe. An unusual feeling formed in his gut that he needed to get to know these girls, though he could not explain why. They possessed a certain beauty that would draw in any young man, but it wasn’t that incentive which guided his feelings. Something else lay hidden in their presence, as if they stood on the precipice of an important event that was yet to happen. He determined to find out what before the day was done.

          The girls received their meal, smiling knowingly at each other while they ate. The young blonde gently patted her lips with her cloth napkin in imitation of the brunette, but then burst in a hushed fit of giggles before setting it back over her lap.

          They clapped gracefully with white lace-gloved hands along with the rest of the dining guests when a quartet of musicians took their seats in the corner of the hall. A note strung as the quartet began their first set of songs with a quick waltz. The young man stood up and walked purposefully to the younger of the two girls, perceiving she would be easier to befriend. He held out his hand.

            “May I have this dance, m’lady?” he entreated. Now that he saw both of their faces clearly, there was no denying they were sisters. The younger girl looked to her older sister in alarm. The brunette’s full blue eyes opened wide as she shrugged her shoulders. The two girls appeared to be having a silent panicked exchange.

            Sensing the hesitancy, the young man swiftly assured, “I cannot allow myself to let such a pretty young lady sit when music is playing. Please, allow me this dance?”

          The blonde reluctantly placed her hand in his and conceded as the young man pulled her out of her seat. He smiled reassuringly, drawing a wide, nervous grin from her, while he led her to the open space in front of the musicians. A number of couples already lined the floor, the men holding the women in their arms as they moved across polished marble tiles.  

            “I’m not very good, I’m afraid,” the younger sister said as she placed one hand on his shoulder, another in his palm. “For some reason, my feet never follow what I tell them to do. I’d watch your toes if I were—”

            His left foot crunched beneath her own. Her cheeks bloomed faintly pink as he grunted involuntarily. She muttered several apologies after each painfully awkward moment when her feet repeatedly stepped over his.

            “I’m not sure why you wanted to dance with me. I don’t think this a good idea.”

            She started to pull away. The young man laughed as he gently brought her back into position.

          “You are trying too hard. You must trust where I lead you. Relax and follow me along with the music.”

             The young blonde mumbled an affirmative as the couple took their next steps. The first few remained rough.

          “You can do this,” the young man said assuredly. The girl looked hard at him with piercing sky-blue eyes, a determination entering her gaze. After a few more crunched toes, they soon moved together across the floor as if they’d become two graceful porcelain figures dancing inside an ornate music box. The girl grinned despite herself, feeling safe in the arms of her partner. She hadn’t felt like this for a long time, not since her father used to dance with her, though his style had been significantly simplified compared to the fancy footwork of this great hall.

          Their surroundings faded away as they spun together in synchronicity. They could have floated into the skies, waltzing on the clouds for all she knew, as the young girl lost herself in the dance and the strong arms of her partner. Only did she come back to reality when the song ended and everyone politely clapped for the musicians.

            The couple stood still, staring curiously at each other for a moment, like trying to remember each other from a past dream. Then with a small curtsy and a murmured thank you, the young blonde shuffled away briskly, grabbing the brunette’s arm before flinging themselves across the room and out the grand double doors of the hall. The young man remained standing in the middle of the floor in a daze, staring after the girls’ retreating backs. He shook off the curious feeling and ran out to follow them, leaving his own company shocked and confused at his sudden departure.

 

~*~

 

            “What was that!” the older sister grinned as the double doors to the dining hall shut noisily behind them.

            The younger girl pushed past her sister and raced toward the wash rooms by the stables, her face a bright cherry red, contrasting against her long, blonde hair. She quickly pumped water into the basin and splashed her face in its cool stream.

            “Get a grip, Haylia, this was your idea,” the brunette lectured as she caught up. “Let’s just get back on the road and forget about all of this, okay?”

            Haylia paused with her hands halfway up to her face, sighed, and then drained the basin.

            “You’re right. I’m sorry, Lera. I guess it was a pretty stupid idea. I just get tired sometimes of wandering from place to place, looking for that which feels hopeless. I want to find our brother quickly and go back to the way things used to be. I hate feeling like I don’t belong anywhere. I miss Mama and Father. I feel lost without them. Maybe if we really were ladies, we wouldn’t have all of these problems.”

            “You don’t want to be like them, Hay. Those kinds of people just like to make everyone else think their lives are perfect, but life never is. No matter what.”

            Lera came up behind her sister and linked her arm around Haylia’s small neck, pulling her down in a brotherly fashion as if to start a wrestling match.

            “Besides, even without these fancy dresses, we are irresistible.”

            “Irresistible?” Haylia scoffed, pushing Lera away gently. “You’re crazy.”

            “It’s true!” Lera retorted. “It’s no surprise that guy you danced with seemed completely mesmerized by you.”

            Entirely scarlet now, Haylia replied hastily, “Probably because he was horrified at just how awful looking I am that close.”

            Lera sighed as the two girls walked out of the washing room. Both halted when they saw the same young man from the dining hall walking around outside, peering up and down the road. Not many people roamed the streets, as most were enjoying overpriced meals at the moment, so sneaking behind others on their way out was not an option.

            Lera bolted behind the stable doors before he looked in their direction, pulling Haylia along with her since she seemed too stunned to move by herself.

            As the young man’s eyes darted from side to side, his demeanor tried to remain cool, but he was clearly anxious about something. Lera didn’t have the patience for this. Maybe they could heckle him with a nice threat and be on their way. Lera hiked up her skirts, roughly pulling out a concealed sword. She bent over in pouncing position.

            “No!” Haylia cried. “Let’s just out ride him.”

            “But I can take him,” Lera said. She eyed Haylia suspiciously. “We’ve beaten loads of snodrags. Why don’t you want me to fight this one? I could just give him a good scare so he leaves us alone.”

            Haylia wrestled to keep her sister down. “Please, let’s just get out of here.”

          Exasperated, Lera hiked up her skirts again to sheath her sword before following Haylia to their horses waiting in the stables. As they quietly mounted, Haylia attempted scoping out a way out that would be inconspicuous, but the stables led only to the main road, and the young man stood directly in their path, apparently determined to wait there until they showed up. Haylia moaned in frustration.

          “Okay, I’ve had enough of this guy,” Lera said. “If he’s going to ruin my dinner, we’re at least going to leave in style.”

          She abruptly shouted a battle cry and both girls flew to the main road. The young man spun around as galloping hooves sounded behind him. His eyes widened when the girls rushed toward him on horseback.

          “Thanks for the dance!” Haylia squealed as she laughed while speeding by, not seeing Lera smack him in the back of the head with her bag.

          The two young women galloped down the main road to the outer rolling green hills east of the capital city, screaming and yelling with glee. The young man watched them race into the distance. He smiled briefly before rushing back into the dining hall, calling out to his company as he yanked open the doors.

 

~*~

 

Sure that enough distance was between them and Areks City, the girls slowed their pace and rode side by side. Lera stroked the back of her horse’s mane soothingly. She noticed the bottom inch of her dress was stained with dirt the colors of bronze and cinnamon. She frowned slightly as Haylia rode beside her with similarly filthy hems.

            “Are you mad at me?” Haylia asked, instinctively looking down at her own dress to spot a small tear at the bottom, widening with every mile they rode. Lace was breathtaking in its intricacies, but too delicate for their lifestyle on the road. They should never have worn them.

          One entire bag was devoted to carrying the dresses since they were so poufy and awkward to pack. Without their horses, there’s no way they would have been able to carry the necessities and the dresses, but they hadn’t kept much from their life before, and these were too special to part with.

            Lera shrugged her shoulders. “Mama would have wanted us to wear them. At least we can say we had a great time in them. Food finally not cooked over a camp fire, dancing with a handsome man, and an exciting escape, all in one day. That’s got to be a first for these dresses.”

          She laughed, but it sounded hollow. Haylia frowned, pulling on the reigns to stop her horse just as the rolling verdant hills leveled out to a flat grass field in front of a line of trees where the forest started. Lera paused before she got too far ahead, turning back to look at her younger sister. Haylia stared hard at her hands, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

            “I wanted you to have fun for once, but it seems I only made things worse,” Haylia mumbled. “You’ve been acting extra worried lately. Tell me what’s bothering you. Are you giving up?”

            Lera’s body went rigid, her throat tightening. “Never.”

          They gazed knowingly at each other, as only sisters can, when body language is as expressive as words. They were each other’s lone support since their parents’ murder. The journey to find their little brother had been a thrilling quest at first. It gave them hope for better days ahead. That fixing a small part of their lives was possible. The open road called to them like a promising sunrise on a clear morning, but now the expedition had grown lonely and tiresome. Each other’s company was the last thread holding together a fragile, unraveling tapestry.

          An understanding passed between them.

            “I know I’ve wavered in the past, Lera, but I won’t anymore, I promise. Aiden is alive. He’s got to be. He’s probably even giving his captors all kinds of trouble until we come to the rescue.”

            Haylia grinned mischievously, recalling all the times she and her brother ended up in a pitiful hitting match over who got to eat the last piece of pie. Lera choked out a laugh herself as a mental picture of their little brother kicking the shins of huge, scary men caused her to smile, despite the desperation rising in her throat.

            Taking a deep breath, Haylia squared her shoulders, sitting taller in her saddle. “I was the one who gave up when Mama and Father were reported dead, destroyed with the rest of that village. But it was you who pushed us to find Aiden when we heard about that young boy held captive by raiders. You believed in our family.”

          Haylia held back tears threatening to shoot out like a geyser as she recalled the face of her loveable, lost Aiden. In truth, he hadn’t been so bad of a little brother. They argued as siblings do when they’d been in the house together for too long, but ultimately he’d been a sweet kid. Quick to observe and fast to forgive. Easy to get along with because of his gentle nature. Except for when it came to the last piece of pie.

          Haylia shuddered when she thought about how terrified he must be in the hands of his captors. If he was the kid from the rumors, what did these people want with him? Why would they even keep a young boy alive after murdering everyone else? Surely a young kid meant nothing to them.

          She pushed those thoughts from her mind and forced herself to continue. “You believed it was him straight away. Something inside of you shouted it so strongly that I believed it too. Don’t stop hoping now. Please…I can’t keep going if you give up. I need you. I don’t know where else to pull strength from, if not from you.” Haylia paused, her cheeks fully wet now from the tears that wouldn’t stay hidden. “You’re all I’ve got now.”

            “Enough of that, Hay,” Lera said, but with warmth in her tone. “Come here.”

          They dismounted their horses and pulled each other into a tight embrace. Lera stroked her little sister’s golden hair soothingly as Haylia released a fresh surge of tears filled with loss and despair.

          Lera didn’t know how much longer she could act as Haylia’s rock. She was still trying to figure out how to get through this ordeal herself. She tried her best, but she didn’t know what she was doing. All she wanted was whatever was left of their little family to be together. They couldn’t move on from what they’d lost until then.

          Lera hated that their parents had to go away in the first place, but their estranged grandfather who they’d never met had suddenly requested his daughter’s presence in an unexpected letter that arrived one day. It revealed his location in Areks after he’d been hiding from them for so many years. Until the letter, Mama had never spoke about him, and refused to when any of her children asked. But the urgency in their grandfather’s words reawakened their mother’s desire to see him.

          Father refused to let Mama travel alone though, not with the brutality often associated with Areks, the totalitarian kingdom south of their beloved home in Lux, with its history of ruthless takeovers of neighboring nations. So he insisted on going along, leaving Lera in charge. Haylia was still recovering from a nasty virus that had affected a large number of the village’s younger children then, and even though she had turned a corner and looked to soon be on the mend, travel was still out of the question. The girls can manage the farm while we’re gone, Father said. We’ll be back before the harvest.

          Mama couldn’t bear to leave Aiden behind because his age left him the most vulnerable for catching the virus, so their parents took him along. Lera, and Haylia after she’d fully recovered, managed the family farm fine on their own in their parents’ absence. The farm wasn’t entirely large, consisting of twenty or so acres filled with crops, a herd of cattle, some chickens, and a grove of almond trees. The work was hard with just the two of them, but a letter from their parents gave them a boost to continue working until their family reunited again.

          In the letter, their parents also wrote that while on the road, they were able to gain the company of a traveling merchant caravan who were headed to the same town in Areks. The extra numbers allowed Lera and Haylia to breathe a little easier; the road was always safer in a larger group.

          Then one day while Lera worked on harvesting almonds from the family grove, a lone man with a bald head that strongly reminded her of a thumb puttered over to her, his hat in hand and his head bent low so that the setting sun shined off the top of his large forehead. He gave her the news that the merchant company and her family had reached the designated town safely. Despite the heavy rains that night, her parents and brother said their goodbyes to the merchants and searched out the cottage of the grandfather the moment they entered town.

          Not long after the merchants restocked their supplies and were getting ready to find an inn for the night, giant flames rapidly rose around them as roof after roof caught fire. Soon the entire village was up in smoke and flame, and no amount of rain or counter measures could put out the blaze. Only about half the town was able to escape with their lives. No one was sure how the fire started or why it couldn’t be put out. When the fire eventually ran out of things to burn, it finally tapered out and left charcoaled, ashen remains. Lera’s family was not found among the survivors.

          The man, still holding his hat in one hand, handed her a scorched brown bag with the symbol of a horse imprinted on it. The symbol was barely visible, as the bag barely hung together by its threads. He mentioned it was found outside of a cottage burnt to the ground. He recognized it as her father’s, so he felt the need to return it to his remaining children, and to give them the news.

          Lera nodded her head slowly, still in shock, as she looked over the bag in her hands. She recognized it as well. Her father never left home without it. The contents of the bag were mostly charred and unusable, except for a small dagger. Its outer casing was corroded from the fire, but miraculously the blade survived. Lera placed the handle of the dagger next to her heart as she watched the man whose words destroyed her life walk out of sight.

          Lera and Haylia mourned for their lost family for several days, until hope of their brother’s survival reached their hearts when they heard rumors of a strange young boy traveling with a band of thieves. Lera knew immediately that she and Haylia needed to leave and find out for themselves who this boy was. It was a long shot, but the possibility that Aiden could still be alive would not leave their minds, as if calling to them until they answered.

          Lera and Haylia decided to sell the family farm to earn enough money to travel so they could search for their little brother; however, they had no idea where to begin looking. Their mother had taken with her the letter from their grandfather mentioning his exact location, so all they knew was to look somewhere in Areks. And following rumors of a band of thieves that never stayed in the same place for too long became a guessing game. Lera and Haylia traveled from town to town, asking around about the gang and the boy, but either the thieves hadn’t been in those areas for some time, or the people were too scared to talk. Occasionally the sisters found information to point them in a certain direction, but nothing super specific.

          Weeks soon turned into months, and the sisters felt no closer to finding Aiden than the day they set off from Lux. The thought entered Lera’s mind more than once that they were chasing rumors that had never been true, but a part of her, a loud and obnoxiously insistent part, wouldn’t let her stop looking. She’d search every inch of Areks before allowing herself to return home.

            But each day the search continued, Lera knew the chance of locating her brother became less likely. This thought ate at her heart and she physically felt her strength decline when she dwelt on it. And though Haylia depended on her, she barely had enough courage left for herself, let alone lending some to her sister. She looked down at Haylia as those innocent, bright blue eyes pled for the same comfort that Lera longed for herself. She was the older sister, and the matriarch to the family. Her job was to pull courage from nothing.

            Lera leaned away from her sister slightly so she could look Haylia firmly in the eyes. “I will always be there for you, but you need to learn where your own strength lies. I know you’ve got it, Hay. It’s in there somewhere with all your day-dreaming and stubbornness.” Lera gave Haylia a playful nudge. “Maybe it’s somewhere around the part of you that actually succeeded in suckering me to play dress up with you.”   

            “Ha, like it was that hard. When we stayed at the inn at Cross, I saw you trying a dress on, admiring yourself in the standing mirror when you thought no one was looking.”

            “That’s because I thought you left to check out the market!” Lera fumed. “Why did you spy on me?”

            “Because I already finished, and had too much fun silently laughing at you,” Haylia smiled. 

            Lera hiked up her skirts and yanked free her sword from its sheath. She held it straight in front of her while Haylia struggled gathering the material of her own dress in her arms. The young blonde grunted while clumsily tugging at the hilt until the sword tumbled to the ground. Haylia pounced, jumping back up in a frenzy of pink lace, her sword finally held to the ready. Their horses lazily watched the two sisters start an all-out battle for a reason neither sister would remember later.

            “Don’t we look like ladies now!” Haylia squealed with delight as she drove in her sword, only to be blocked skillfully by her sister. Lera had always been better with the blade, but that didn’t stop her from trying.

            “Yes, I’m quite sure that dashing young man from the dining hall will come riding in on his horse and be swept away by your charm and grace,” Lera retorted as she jumped behind Haylia. The young blonde turned to face her sister, but lost her balance halfway around. Lera spotted the opportunity and smacked the hilt of her sword on Haylia’s rump, sending the blonde somersaulting to the ground. Lera gave a little curtsy as she laughed, her little sister’s giggles joining in with her.

            Just as Haylia returned to her feet, the whinnies of strangers’ horses echoed through the hills. Both sisters scanned the horizon, the sun sinking behind the mountains as it cast an orange glow in the sky. A group of horses and their riders peaked over a far-off hill, headed in their direction. The coffee-creamed hair of the young man from the dining hall stood out as the front rider. Haylia’s body stiffened in horror, her jaw dropping as she looked to her older sister. They resheathed their swords, Lera helping Haylia with her skirts, before darting to their horses.

            “I was just kidding,” Lera puffed as she swung her leg up on her saddle. “I didn’t expect him to actually show up.”

            The two sisters bolted across the green field, but no matter how hard they rode, the young man and his company gained on their trail.

            “This is annoying,” Haylia grunted.

            “Oh yes, dear, don’t we all hate being pursued by attractive men.”

            “Remind me to hit you when we’re not moving so fast.”

            The two sisters reached the tree line and entered the forest off trail, hoping to find cover in the density of the trees. Their horses panted heavily as they darted left and right to throw off their pursuers. The canopy of leaves grew thicker, the twilight sky quickly dissipating, until they were almost completely immersed in the darkness of the forest. Lera spotted a dense cover of foliage and led their horses in that direction. Behind the wall of leaves was a sizeable dip in the land, the perfect spot to hide until the threat passed.

            Both sisters descended into the natural slope, stopping behind the wall of foliage. Lera dismounted, landing firmly on her feet, as her little sister tumbled off behind her, landing in a soft pile of litterfall. They waited in silence, stroking their horses to keep them quiet, until their pursuers came into view. The young man and his company appeared a comfortable distance away, riding past the sister’s hiding spot. The young man hesitated just a moment, glancing briefly in their direction, before rushing forward. 

            The sisters waited in silence for at least twenty minutes. Lera held her breath, not daring to believe they were safe yet. But after a few more minutes, a twig snapped to her right as Haylia climbed up the slope, apparently reaching the end of her ability to stay quiet. As she crested the slope, she tripped over a branch and went toppling out, with her feet rolling over her head. She lied on the forest floor, letting out a loud laugh as she gazed over at Lera with a wide grin.

            “Whoo! What—a—day! Oh, and about hitting you, how about I fulfill that promise later? Because I am starving and I need sustenance, like, now. We didn’t get to eat much at the dining hall before everything turned into chaos.”

            “Fine, but it’s your turn to make dinner. We still have some potatoes left you could boil, so we’ll need some water. I want to set up the rest of camp and get a fire started before it’s too dark,” Lera said as she easily climbed out and grabbed the reins of their horses. She walked a hundred yards deeper into the forest and settled on a nice, open spot surrounded by thick trees for them to camp for the night.  

            After they tied the horses’ reigns to tree trunks, the girls set to unloading their bags. A patch of orange and pink twilight found its way through a small hole in the canopy of leaves. Lera gazed upward to enjoy the colorful view when a dark cloud suddenly rolled into place, blocking the sky. Lera determined to see how bad the storm was going to be for the night and grabbed hold of a low branch, swinging herself up into the height of a tree.  

          When her head finally popped up through the tree tops, she saw clouds as black as night gathering from all directions, almost as if to a central point up north. She’d never seen clouds move like that before. Haylia sprang up through the leaves beside her, causing Lera to jump and release her grip momentarily, almost falling from the canopy. She glared at Haylia as she caught herself, but Haylia didn’t seem to notice. 

            “Since I’m the chef, I call the last sweet biscuit, so don’t even think about it.”

            They climbed back down and finished making camp. After Lera completed building a shelter for the upcoming storm, she watched without seeing as Haylia prepared their food. An icy breeze woke her up from her stupor, and she drew her arms closer in to her body, attempting to rub away the rising goosebumps. Everything boded a rough night ahead.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 3

The World Changes

 

Propped up against the trunk of a tree, their tarp strapped to the branches above to create a shelter, Lera thumbed through pages of maps, trying to figure out which area to search next for their brother. A chilly wind rustled the paper as she flipped back and forth. She pushed her long dark hair, now out of its elegant bun, over her shoulders so it could rest on her back instead of in her way. Light from the fire danced over the paper surfaces while she poured over each page. Occasional strong bursts of wind made her slam her hand down on her lap to keep the maps from blowing away.

          Their several month-long search produced little results so far. They’d traveled through a number of towns in Areks, learning all they could about different gangs of thieves, trying to determine which one might hold their brother. One group sounded the most promising, called the Shadows. They were best known for their pillage-then-burn-down-the-village tactics. According to word of mouth, their numbers grew every day, and they’d methodically taken over several sections of land, though no one knew where the Shadows’ home base was located.

          This ruthless gang had turned less from thievery and more into an army with a government unto themselves. Attacks on villages grew greater in number, yet their endgame remained unknown. Many villages surrendered themselves to the rule of the Shadows without a fight to avoid being burnt down, because who could resist such a powerful, expanding army? Their vicious style of attacks, including the use of fire in each one, led Lera to believe they might be the right one.

          But how to locate them? Their strikes appeared random. They named themselves the Shadows for a reason, as they completely hid in the shadows when not attacking, but it was the common belief that they remained only in Areks so far.  

          Lera hadn’t cared much for the country of Areks since they’d entered its territory. It was a much crueler place than their home country of Lux. Traditions and cultural variances in the kingdom left a sour taste in her mouth. With a strong caste system that dominates society, unforgiving punishments for lawbreakers, and an unwritten mandate to intimidate or completely take over surrounding countries, it was no wonder the Shadows emerged from this place. Lera wanted to leave Areks as soon as possible, but it wasn’t a small country. Its territory extended farther than any other in the land after several takeovers in the last fifty something years.

          So many towns the sisters had searched, yet so many still to go. The more they traveled, the less hope they carried. And what if they found the Shadows and Aiden wasn’t even with them? Then they’d risked putting themselves in a dangerous position for nothing.

          Lera tried to push these negative thoughts from her mind. She couldn’t think about that possibility right now. She needed to hold on to the faith that Aidan still lived, and that the Shadows were her best chance at finding him. It was her only lead, and she had to believe it was the right path.

            Haylia lied on her stomach beside the warm campfire, watching Lera’s nightly struggle with the maps. She carelessly wriggled her tongue against the side of her molars, trying to free whatever dinner stuck between them. Feeling comfortable at last in some normal clothes, her stomach filled to bursting, Haylia stretch out onto her back in the tall grass, rubbing her stomach happily.

            She gazed through the tree tops at the moon, shining its familiar waning crescent silhouette. Several stars peeked through sporadic moving clouds. A mass of dark clouds had passed over them during dinner with winds so incredible that the fire kept threatening to blow out or catch surrounding trees on fire. But now it seemed as if most of the stormy weather had blown right past them to dump its rain somewhere else. Right now the stars twinkled and smiled down on their little part of the world, and Haylia felt that the lights shimmered just for her tonight.

          She rolled onto her side, flashing a smile bright enough to rival the glory of the moon and stars. An invisible protection extended from the starry sky down to her single position on the earth, like an enormous security blanket engulfing her in its warmth and light any time she felt lonely. The peace it brought was more consoling than anything the world could give her, because at least this one comfort would never change. It wouldn’t die and leave her alone. The stars would shine for her every night, and remind her of the beauty still left in the world. It was a sight she could count on, even relied on.

          Everything could be going wrong in her life, but when she looked up at the heavens and its endless beauty, her problems suddenly felt so small. Then she knew she could get through anything. The light of the stars provided her with all the answers she needed, even if it just meant to hold tight and wait for the sun to rise the next day. Start the day fresh and make it the best she could. All would be well again.

          Sadness and pain filled the world—Haylia tasted her share of it after losing her parents and brother—but she had an older sister who loved and cared for her, and a hope that their brother could still be alive. They were a broken family, but not ruined. Everything they’d gone through brought Lera and Haylia closer together, and Haylia felt grateful for that blessing hidden within a nightmare.

          She also would always have her stars to gaze up at every night. And she knew somewhere in the world, perhaps even close by, her brother lied under the same stars. Maybe he was looking at them right now too. The thought warmed her body, despite the cold wind that blew heavier again, rustling the leaves in the trees.

            Her thoughts strayed from the stars and family to the young man from Areks City. Who was he? Why did their dance touch her heart so much? Why did he care to follow them, and where was he now? Not that it should matter. She doubted she’d ever see him again, but something about his presence stayed with her.

            Haylia’s fingers played subconsciously with the grass in front of her as she tried to forget about him. Maybe Lera was done looking at maps for the night. She looked over hopefully, then sighed as the tip of Lera’s nose seemed to move closer to the wrinkled paper. No, not yet.

          Sooooo, what to think about now? Biscuits. Always a welcome topic. Buttery goodness. Warm. Inviting. Pleasant. Haylia blushed as the image of the young man’s pleasant face forced itself again to the front of her mind. She decided that anything strong enough to overpower the thought of biscuits was worth dwelling on…perhaps for just a moment.

          The young man was a little too old for her, yet she couldn’t help but remember every feature of his kind face. The brilliant shade of his emerald green eyes, bold yet compassionate, told her she could hide no secrets from him. That she didn’t need to.

          Men in Areks wore their hair shorter than men in Lux, and this young man’s short, medium brown hair suited him nicely. From the time they’d spent in Areks, it appeared as though the upper class kept their faces clean-shaven, and the lower classes often wore scruffy beards. The young man’s face had been smooth as butter, and he’d dined at a seemingly important table in the upper class’s dining hall. His hands were rough and worn, like a soldier’s, but they’d clasped her own gently throughout their dance.

          Haylia tried to think of a word that described how she felt about this total stranger. Safe. Yes, that was the perfect word. He made her feel safe, like when life used to be less complicated and she didn’t have to live out of a travel bag. How her father used to make her feel when she’d run to him for comfort during a lightning storm.

          Lera would laugh if she knew what Haylia was thinking about, and she was glad her thoughts could remain private. Lera obviously thought very little of the mysterious man. Haylia supposed he had been their obnoxious pursuer just a few hours before, but that encounter didn’t change how she felt about him. Their dance had set everything into motion, and she had the impression that they were supposed to have crossed paths at that time. A strange sensation crept into her gut that told her it wouldn’t be the last time they’d see each other. He was meant to be in their lives.

            Haylia glanced casually over to her older sister, only to realize Lera’s gaze focused squarely back on her. She tried to look innocent, careful to hide her thoughts from Lera’s critiques. She expected Lera to look angry, as she often did when Haylia day-dreamed about what Lera considered trivial things. Lera called her “unrealistic” and incapable of grasping the important issues on more than one occasion, especially in terms of survival.

          Instead of anger, however, Lera’s face revealed only sadness and isolation. Before Haylia could ask anything of her sister, several shadowy figures burst through the trees and surrounded the two girls.

          The largest of the figures yelled in delight. “Oho! Look here boys. It appears we found a couple of lonesome girls in need of protection from the filth who wander these forests. Luckily we’re here to help before they find themselves in some real trouble.”

            The rest of the men consented with a sickening cheer, the smell of liquor strong in the circle that formed quickly around the sisters.

            One of the smaller, yet still alarmingly large, figures reached out a hand eagerly to touch Lera’s long hair, only to find it slapped away with extensive force. Lera’s eyes blazed, her senses sharp as she eyed each circling figure. She took a step closer to her sister, grabbing a hold of her hand. Haylia’s fingers trembled between hers.

            “This one’s feisty!” a voice catcalled.

            Vile jeers and laughter erupted through the group. Lera and Haylia stood frozen, both minds racing to figure out a plan of escape. They faced road bandits before, but none nearly as numerous as this group. At least twenty men surrounded them.

            The circle tightened around the girls at an alarming rate, the jaunts growing cruder. Lera reluctantly released Haylia’s hand to reach to her side and withdraw her sword. But a hefty, broad blade of one of the intruders quickly smacked it from her grip. Her sword dropped with a dull thump, disappearing into the tall grass.

          The largest man spoke once more, his tone dangerous. “Perhaps this one wants our help first.”

            Lera pulled out her father’s dagger next and held it toward the closest figure. She jabbed at him with the speed of a rattlesnake, drawing blood as she sliced near his rib cage. The man howled, falling back, while two more jumped into his place. She deflected their attacks, but when Haylia screamed behind her, Lera’s concentration paused long enough for one of the men to grab her wrist. His grip tightened painfully as he shook her hand until the dagger fell free, causing the group of men to snicker with delight. Firelight flashed across the closest man’s face, revealing a terrifying, leering smile. With no other options, Lera tightened her fist that was free of the man’s grip and slammed it into his face as hard as she could. That was all the encouragement the men needed.

          They jumped onto both girls, knocking them to the ground. Lera punched and bit down wherever opportunity arose. Several hands flipped her on her back and held her down, while others pulled at her clothes and hair. The man she punched gathered her hair in his fists and tugged it until it was tightly drawn, daring her to rip free. When she fought against him anyway, he pulled out a long, thin blade and sliced across behind her head. Lera screamed angrily, tears building up in the corners of her eyes, as the man held her severed long, dark walnut locks triumphantly in his fists like a trophy.

          “That’ll teach you to fight back,” he hissed. “But we’ve only just begun.”

          Haylia kicked with all her strength as she felt her own hair ripping at the roots from pulls and tugs in different directions. Cheers rang louder the more the girls struggled.

            Haylia sobbed until the wandering hands abruptly left her body. The predators’ excited jeers turned into panicked shouts as a barrage of arrows whistled through the air. Haylia cradled her head beneath her hands to protect herself from the fray. Their attackers fell rapidly to the ground around them while newcomers raced into the encampment to run off the remaining predators.

            When the sounds of battle began to subside, Lera chanced standing up and found Haylia lying motionless on the ground only a few feet behind her. Lera rushed to comfort her sister when horses from the rescue party cut her off. One of their rescuers dismounted and strode over to Haylia’s huddled form. His face moved into the fire’s light as he neared the young blonde still whimpering on the ground, her eyes clamped shut. Lera gasped when she recognized him as the young man from the capital.

            His expression softened as he knelt next to Haylia, placing his hand gently on hers. She immediately withdrew deeper into herself, her eyes remaining shut. The man kept his hand back this time, but spoke softly. His voice was formal, yet soothing.

            “It is all right. Those men are gone. We have driven them away where they cannot harm you again. Are you injured? I mean you no evil, little one.”

            Haylia’s hands covered her face. She peeked through the cracks in her fingers. “I’m not little. I’m fourteen years old. Almost fifteen, actually.”

            She squinted at the face of her rescuer, trying to pick out his features as shadows mixed with light from the oscillating campfire, ultimately concealing his identity. Then the flames popped and his face became completely illuminated for just a moment. Haylia unsuccessfully tried to hide the deep grin that spread from cheek to cheek when she recognized him. She shyly accepted his outstretched hand in greeting, but then abruptly leapt into his arms and squeezed her own around his torso as tightly as she could. She let out tears and dramatic gasps of air as the built-up adrenaline from the traumatic attack worked itself out of her body. The young man looked taken aback, patting the top of her hand awkwardly with one hand as she let out her emotions.

            Lera cleared her throat and marched over to them. She tore Haylia’s grip from around the young man and pulled her sister in close to her, wrapping an arm around Haylia’s shoulder. Grateful that he had rescued her and Haylia from a terrible fate, Lera curtsied respectfully. She was not, however, ready to be friends. She glared at him to leave her sister alone. It surprised her that the man’s expression revealed embarrassment and bewilderment, but then he quickly regained his composure.

            “I am sorry, m’ladies.” He bowed, his voice taking on its formal tone again. “Forgive me. I am Prince Luke Jordan of Areks, and these are my soldiers. We have been venturing through the kingdom for quite some time, tracking a group of vicious vagabonds who think themselves above the king. They call themselves the Shadows. I gather you must be visitors to this land. My people know to stay away from this forest, especially at night. I am afraid you unknowingly entered into the Shadows’ favorite hunting ground. They like to think they can control an area so close to the castle. We have worked to clear it out, but many of the Shadows still manage to elude us.”

            He paused, his features softening as he spoke again. “I hope you two are not hurt.” The prince’s gaze moved over their torn clothes and newly formed bruising and cuts. His emerald eyes darkened to a deep shade of avocado when they rested on Lera’s badly chopped hair. “When you left Areks City, I feared the Shadows would hurt you. I know I gave you a scare, but I had to follow you to make sure you would be okay; however, I lost your trail when you entered the woods. We searched endlessly until we found you. I am sorry we did not reach you sooner.”

            Haylia opened her mouth to speak, but Lera cut her off. “There is no need for your apology. You saved us, and we are most grateful for your help.”

          With another curtsy, Lera grabbed her sister’s arm and turned to gather their things and break down camp. It would be better to leave tonight and search the woods for Aiden in the morning, when daylight would be on their side. If those were indeed members of the Shadows, then they were closer than ever to finding Aiden. Lera tossed her maps into her travel sack and started to rip down the shelter she’d built for their sleeping area.

            “Wait!” the prince called out. “I am curious as to why you have come to Areks. May I ask your names?” He held out his hand. Lera grabbed on to the back of Haylia’s tunic dress as her little sister stepped forward to take the prince’s hand. Lera thrust Haylia’s pack into her arms instead, hoping that would keep her sister’s arms busy.

            When the prince insisted, Lera’s face tightened, though politely replied, “Lera and Haylia Rainer. We are from the kingdom of Lux, just north of here, and we are only traveling to visit family. Again, thank you for your help, but as you said, this forest is not safe and we must be on our way.”

          Prince Luke motioned to his company with a wave of his hand, and they immediately began to load the sisters’ gear and sleeping mats onto their own horses. The soldier nearest Lera doused the fire.

          “We cannot leave you alone tonight, not after that attack,” the prince said kindly. He glanced again at Lera’s uneven, unwelcomed haircut. “Come stay at the castle. You can rest there safely tonight as my guests, and then continue on your way tomorrow to…visit family?” He ended doubtfully.

          Lera briefly touched her hair self-consciously before ripping her sleeping mat from one of the guard’s saddles. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I assure you, we will be fine. We entered these woods unknowingly, but thanks to your advice, we will not do so again. Thank you, but no thank you.”

            Lera ignored Haylia’s pleading looks, moving against her instincts to accept shelter when the Shadows likely lurked nearby to seek revenge. But this prince, Luke Jordan, was unusually friendly in an unfriendly country, and she wasn’t ready to hand her good faith over to him—especially since Haylia seemed to have forgotten their horrible experience with the Shadows too quickly by explicitly giving this man her trust. He was the prince of a famously savage country. Surely he, as the prince, was similarly as cruel as the reputation of his own nation. What did he have planned once he’d led them back to his castle? They may never be able escape. Lera scowled when one of the guards moved to take back her bed roll.

            The prince’s features hardened, though he appeared tired. “You are in my land, and as the prince, I order you to accompany us. It is for your own good. Now, it has been a long day for all of us. Grab your things and mount your horses. We are leaving at once.” He turned on his heel and marched to his own horse.

            “We are not citizens under your rule, thus not your people to order around. I must insist that you allow us to go on our way.” Lera glared, grinding her teeth. Haylia clasped her hands over her mouth.

            Prince Luke paused with one foot on the stirrup, his shoulders stiff. “It is my duty to protect all the innocent within my borders, and you are currently in Areks, m’ladies. Lackles, Forge,” he called out as he mounted. “I give you charge of making sure these ladies come peacefully with us. Gold Troop, I want you to scout ahead to make sure our path is clear. Silver Troop, ensure that we will not be followed. Arrest any Shadow on sight.”

          The soldiers saluted their affirmative and directly followed orders. Two men moved toward Lera and Haylia, motioning for the girls to mount their horses. There was no way out of this. They’d exchanged being prisoners of one group for another. Hopefully they wouldn’t live to regret it.

          Haylia hopped up onto her horse while Lera moved more reluctantly. The soldiers broke camp quickly and worked on covering the group’s tracks. As the prince rode off through the trees, Lera glared at his retreating back, determined she would forever hate this royally pompous snodrag.

 

~*~

 

Haylia rode next to a grumpy Lera for the next half hour. The two men the prince called Lackles and Forge rode behind the sisters while another ten guards surrounded them on all sides. Prince Luke rode at the head of the group, his black stallion standing out amongst all the soldiers’ white and brown steeds.

          Everyone rode silently as the massive silhouette of the castle loomed larger and larger under the moonlight. It didn’t help that the storm clouds seemingly gathered just behind Areks City like an omen of their fate within.

          Haylia yearned for conversation to kill the awkward silence, but was unsure of the level of Lera’s anger at the situation to engage in anything. Haylia accepted her sister’s need to brood and stayed quiet, which was much more difficult than one might expect.

          Instead, Haylia thought back on the last words the prince spoke coarsely to them before riding off. He’d been so gentle in the beginning. He hadn’t acted so haughty when she danced with him, or when he rescued them from the Shadows. Did she read him wrong? Was he really safe to trust? Her gut told her yes, but then why did he act so rudely? Probably because Lera challenged him in front of his men, Haylia thought. Men never act themselves when their pride is hurt.

            After a while they turned onto a less traveled road that lead up to the castle in the mountains, allowing them to skip town. Tiny lights in cottage windows shined below on their left, soon to be extinguished as tired peasants rested before another day’s work. The storm clouds gathered behind the city created a central mark like the eye of a storm. Though she couldn’t make out the shape of any clouds above, a strange blackness moved in front of the moon that had been straight ahead, covering its light. But thankfully in the sky directly overhead, to Haylia’s delight, several stars remained visible, seemingly brighter without the moon’s light overpowering their own brilliance.

          She gazed up at them once more, as if she were lying in the grass peacefully again, lost in her own thoughts. She poured her heart out to the gentle, happy twinkling above her. What a terrifying experience in the woods. And what luck that the prince followed and located them just in time. She couldn’t understand why Lera acted so cantankerously to their rescuers. Wasn’t this new situation a good thing? Haylia smiled excitedly as the castle drew closer. They’d get to sleep in real beds tonight! Just like princesses. No way could Lera be unhappy about that. Once they got to lie on fluffy beds, surrounded in magnificent opulence, her older sister would see how fine everything was.

            Haylia turned her attention to the soldiers surrounding her. Some looked about the age of her father, but then others appeared awfully young, perhaps not much older than her sister, now seventeen years of age. Lera was still a teenager, but she displayed a strength years above her age; she was wise and confident in who she was becoming as a young woman. Haylia felt completely the opposite—infantile, clumsy, and unsure of herself. She didn’t like to disappoint others, but recognized it happened often.

            Lera had taken on the role of mother when they lost their own over a year ago, caring for her younger sister the best she could. Haylia frowned as she thought about the burden she must have become on her older sister when Lera inherited the role of prime caretaker and provider. Lera even took on most of the work at the farm so that Haylia could still go to school.

          All of that was for nothing now, with the journey to find out if Aiden was really alive. So with a chance for repairing a part of their little family, Lera and Haylia both forgot their dreams and innocence and left their familiar hometown to mend what they could.

            Lost in her thoughts, Haylia only realized they reached their destination when she received a sharp kick in the leg. Lera had guided her horse next to Haylia, now dismounting and grabbing her things. The main castle of Areks loomed above them as servants immediately emerged from the gate to help the prince inside.

            A leather gloved hand appeared to her right, held out to help her down. Haylia noticed the face of the prince shining up at her, smiling his perfect smile. Confused again at his turn of kindness after coercing them to accompany him, Haylia decided to take her sister’s lead and simply ignored the prince’s outstretched hand while she climbed down from the horse herself. A shadow stole across Prince Luke’s face before he regained his composure. He drew himself to his tallest height.

            “Place their things in the guest quarters and show them to my drawing room after they have a chance to settle in. I will be along shortly.”

            Lera made a face at the back of the prince as he strutted away. She handed her belongings to the servants and then the two sisters were ushered into the extravagant castle while their horses were led to the stables. They entered through massive, wooden doors that shut noisily behind them with a boom suggesting they’d never leave here of their own freewill.

          Dim lighting and countless polished weapons lined the hallways. Elegant tapestries picturing war and glorifying the mighty power of Areks hung on the stone walls. They passed a particular tapestry which depicted a lone man with lightning emanating from his head. Concords of people bowed to him, their faces in anguish. Haylia visibly shuttered.

          The atmosphere changed as they passed into the prince’s wing of the castle. It was lit by a more amiable amount of candlelight that gave the otherwise bleak castle a more comfortable and welcoming impression. While the main part was drafty and cold, this section was uniquely warm and cozy. The girls stared open-mouthed, baffled at the contradictions. Why did the castle project two completely different personas? It was as if the prince and the rest of the castle belonged to two separate kingdoms.

          Servants led them to the guest chambers first. Elaborately painted walls and large four-poster beds filled the rooms. The girls bathed and changed into fresh clothes, lady servants waiting on them for every need. Lera and Haylia couldn’t remember the last time they’d enjoyed a warm bath. With bubbles. The latter was probably never, until now.

          Haylia wandered into Lera’s room while her sister continued to fix herself up after living so long on the road. She peaked in as Lera sighed heavily while inspecting her haircut. The lady servants did their best to fix the Shadow’s jagged hack job, but it only served as a long-term reminder of the awfulness that almost happened. Lera’s dark chocolate hair rested gently just above her shoulders now, with layers cut into it to blend away the brutal slice. It hadn’t been this short since Lera first grew it out as a very small child. Lera smiled warmly as she noticed her little sister in the room.

          Haylia skipped up happily, inspecting several ornate bottles lining the vanity mirror. She sniffed the top of a violently violet bottle before spraying an enormous amount over her entire body. Lera waved away the fumes, coughing deeply.

          “Geez, Hay. Are you trying to make it last all year?”

          Haylia set the bottle down and grinned.

          “Perhaps I went a little over the top, but this sure beats sleeping in the woods any day. And I finally don’t smell like it either.”

          Lera picked up a forest green bottle and sniffed, immediately setting it back down with a sour face. “The perfumes in the bath soap almost knocked me unconscious. I think I’m good.” More servants entered the room to take them to the drawing room. Lera rolled her eyes. “Come on, I think we’re expected to indulge the prince tonight.”

          Haylia nodded, running a jeweled brush through her hair one more time. The bristles moved easily through her now silky smooth hair, cascading it gently across her back in gentle waves, a glorious scent emanating from her. Yeah, that would never get old.

          They followed the servants down a long hallway lined with suits of armor and more weapons, though displayed less menacingly than the rest of the castle. When they finally entered the prince’s drawing room, a gold room with remarkably plushy seating and beautiful landscape paintings greeted them. A couple of servants worked on lighting a fire in the ornate fireplace while others finished setting out trays of food. When flames roared behind a long ivory mantle, the servants bowed their heads and quickly exited the room.

          Alone at last, the sisters took their seats and couldn’t help but giggle with glee as they sank dramatically into soft plush and cushion. They laid back for a long while, staring around in awe at the myriad of beautiful furniture and lavish decorations. Haylia helped herself to the meat and cheese plate on the side table. Lera mentioned the deficiency of potato options, which clearly showed a lack of taste, and scanned the available selections with a scowl.

            “Can you marry the prince so we can live here forever?” Haylia laughed as Lera choked on the grape she’d just popped into her mouth.

            Lera scowled. “Say that again and we’re sneaking out of here the first chance we get.”

          Haylia shrugged. “Well, I could definitely get used to this.” She smiled as she shoved her mouth full, allowing herself to slouch further into cushions, sinking into a fabric ocean of pure bliss.

            “I am delighted to hear you say that,” a voice came from the back of the large room. The prince walked in and made his way over to them. Guards stood at the doors.

            Immediately Haylia stiffened and tried to sit as rigid as her sister, though the amount of plush swallowed her back up and she sunk even deeper into the cushions. The rehearsed stiff lines of Prince Luke’s mouth turned into a slight smile as he took a seat across from his company, settling himself into a relaxed position. His clothes had changed from soldier’s armor to a dark brown long-sleeve cotton shirt with a casual emerald tunic buttoned over it. Though the tunic displayed exquisite needlework along the hems and middle, it wasn’t overly exuberant or calling out for attention. Certainly not the garments of a grand and snobby prince.

            They stared at one another, Lera with tough eyes and Haylia still trying to unsuccessfully free herself from the cushions. As silence pursued, the prince fidgeted uncomfortably. He straightened his back and placed both feet firmly on the ground. Then he rubbed his smooth chin uneasily.

            “Look, I feel I need to explain myself to you. I am sorry I had to force you to come and stay here against your wishes. You must understand, I did it in your best interests. You do not realize how the Shadows work. They never leave their prey alone, especially escaped prey. I had to get you two out of that forest. I could never live with myself if I left you to their mercy.” He spoke the last sentence with a gentle urgency, one Lera could not deny sounded truly sincere. She reluctantly nodded her acceptance.

            Smiling warmly, the prince ordered his guards to leave and turn in for the night. At this request, Haylia gave up fighting the cushions and plush and allowed them once more to blissfully engulf her, but not before grabbing one more handful of food.

            “I would ask you both to call me Luke. I do not much like the title of ‘prince’ among my friends. Including new friends.”

            “Except for when you’re giving orders,” Lera snapped, unable to control herself with his ease at calling them friends. They would not part as such, that was to be sure. But to her surprise, Luke looked shamefully down at his knees.

            “I am truly sorry for that,” he replied, “but I cannot pass over a threat on anyone’s safety, and sometimes that means having to use my title to do it.” He paused slightly before continuing. “I will not lie. I am grateful I have never known an empty belly, or the uncertainty of a failed crop and livelihood. But I have seen my share of sorrow, and all I really want is to help my people. I would never shirk that duty.” He hesitated before continuing. “My father feels it is a waste of time. That the people he rules over are indebted to him in some way, for his protection over them…but I feel it is the other way around.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably, like he’d spoken out of turn in front of the king. “Please forgive me. I am not sure why I told you all of that. It was out of place. My father is the king and ruler of this land. We…just do not see the world the same way, if you know what I mean.”

            Lera took a long sip from a golden, jeweled goblet. She set it down carefully as she considered his words. “You can help people without the use of force. It certainly would’ve allowed me trust you better.”

          Luke scratched the back of his head anxiously, running his fingers through his hair a few times before returning his hands to his lap. He didn’t seem to know what to do with them, and it was amusing for Lera to watch. “I am afraid my father’s methods have rubbed off on me more than I care to admit. I apologize for my behavior. You and your sister deserve better.” He smiled sheepishly, his eyes searching for their approval.

            Lera’s cheeks grew warm. Luke was a lot more open than she had expected. He was easy to talk to, and his sincerity left her feeling as if she could somehow trust him. Certainly not what she expected to feel only moments ago. She looked down at her own hands as her fingers fiddled with each other.

            “I think you owe it to yourself to rule Areks as you would like when the time comes, not as your father would. It might soften the image the rest of the world has of your people, which could only be a good thing.”  

            Luke eyed her curiously. “I would like to hear what you have observed around the kingdom. An outsider’s eye would certainly give me a more accurate viewing on the state of things. How about we—” 

            Before he could finish, a violent tremor shook the ground. Furniture and antiques crashed onto the floor. They looked at each other with wide eyes, not sure what to expect next. Just as Luke opened his mouth to speak again, another vicious shock vibrated beneath their feet, this one even stronger, as it momentarily lifted them into the air, and grew quickly in force.

            As they landed back in their seats, the cushioned lounge that held the Rainer sisters tipped backward with a violent jerk. Lera jumped off just in time, but Haylia cascaded back with plush and pillows. Lera and Luke stumbled through the shaking to where Haylia disappeared, only to find her buried in large cushions, desperately trying to free herself as moderate to furious shocks continued to vibrate beneath their feet.

            Lera grabbed the only part of her sister she could see sticking out from amongst all the plush—her small left ankle—and tugged hard. Just as Lera pulled Haylia free, a third and strongest tumult hit. All three smashed into furniture while objects in the room became projectiles that flew hazardously from one wall to the next.

            “I..think…I..enjoyed..my..last….landing..better,” Haylia said between shakes. She strained as she struggled to pick herself off a side table. It proved impossible though as the third tremor refused to cease in its violence, releasing cruel jerks every few seconds. Powerful vibrations continued to throw them around like rag dolls in separate directions.

            Lera groped around for her sister, anxious to not be separated in case the room split apart. The walls couldn’t possibly hold out much longer under this kind of strain. Alarmingly large pieces of ceiling fell around them. It was difficult to stay upright as the tremors jilted them not only upward and downward, but sideways as well.

          Lera tumbled hard to her knees and palms, letting out a cry as she hit the stone floor. A hand enclosed around Lera’s shoulder, revealing a wide-eyed Haylia behind her.

            “Let’s get out of here before we’re buried alive!” she screamed.

            Lera nodded, firmly grasping her sister’s hand before maneuvering her way around debris to cross the room, her kneecaps throbbing. Luke made his own way toward them, avoiding splitting furniture and cascading stone columns. He reached for Lera’s hand while another quake bounced them up and down. She stretched out her own, but was afraid debris would come rolling between them and take her arm with it. So as soon as their outstretched fingers touched, they pulled together uncomfortably close, holding desperately onto each other.

          Lera maneuvered Haylia in between herself and the prince to better protect her younger sister. Haylia gripped onto Luke’s arm like a wet cat clinging to the banks of a rapid river. In a slow-moving, tightly clumped group with Luke leading, Haylia in the middle, and Lera in back, the three made their way to the large fireplace.

          Luke pressed in a stone hidden within decorative embellishments on the mantle and the fireplace’s backing slid out of sight as a doorway appeared behind the fire. He stood in the corner of the hearth and helped Haylia past the crackling flames and into a hidden passage. When he reached out for Lera, a sudden lurch set her flying in the direction of the booming fire. His hands wrapped around her waist, catching her less than an inch from the flames. Luke immediately pulled her tightly into his chest to stable their footing before pushing her to the open doorway. He then entered himself, quickly shutting the faux wall behind as a sizeable stone barreled its way toward them.

          They sprinted down a narrow, dark corridor, thrown several times into the stone walls with each tremor. Finally they made their way outside the castle through a single door at the end of the passage. A storm raged in the skies as thunder boomed and lightning flashed dangerously close. Strong winds and blazing fires surrounded the countryside. They could see multiple volcanoes erupting across the land. Frightened people and animals ran in every direction.

            “Where can we go!?” Haylia cried. She pressed her forearms into her stomach like she was trying to prevent herself from throwing up. Lera felt her stomach churning with motion sickness as well.

            “We need to find higher ground!” Luke bellowed over a particularly loud thunder clap.

            “This is your land,” Lera said, pushing short, disheveled hair out of her face. She took a couple of steps to catch herself as the force of the wind almost knocked her over. “We’ll follow you.” 

            With a slight nod, Luke led them to the nearest mountainside, working hard to keep his balance and avoid flying debris and boulders. Trees uprooted themselves as they passed by, one nearly crushing Haylia and she scrambled to retreat from its fallen path.

            Reaching the top point of a lower hill on the mountain, a small cave revealed itself on their right. The top of the cave didn’t extend as far out as the foundation, giving them a small lip to take shelter, but out of harm’s way if the cave proved unstable. They quickly climbed and dropped to their hands and knees right on the natural platform at the mouth of the cave.

          Luke tucked Haylia safely under his body like a baby calf as Lera huddled next to them. He placed one arm securely around Lera’s waist to keep her with him amidst the jolts. Ash and small debris swirled around them in chaotic circles. The world ripped violently apart below, the ground and sky screaming together in a terror of clapping thunder and falling rock. The three of them huddled together, waiting out the disaster for what was surely hours.

            When the major tremors ultimately ceased, small shakes continued across the land for a few more hours. Then, at last, the ground finally calmed with one final deep groan. Sporadic firelight shone in the distance and an eerie, thick silence settled in the air. Escaped ash from recently quieted volcanoes floated lazily onto their petrified forms like opaque snowflakes.

          Haylia began wailing with shocked, terrified sobs while silent tears flowed down both Lera and Luke’s cheeks. They didn’t understand what had happened, only that many people surely lost their lives that night. Thick dust and ash filled the air, making it impossible to see the aftermath of a world ripped apart. They weren’t sure they were ready to witness it yet.

          Eventually Haylia’s cries died down to reveal once more the deafening soundlessness of a ruined world. Their bodies ached from being thrown about. With Haylia refusing to move and all three emotionally and physically drained, they quickly fell into a restless sleep. Strangers only hours before, the three survivors slept huddled closely together under a soiled blanket of falling ash.

 

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If you would like to read more, please consider supporting indie authors and purchase Starlight! 

Paperback      –      Kindle ebook      –       Audiobook (coming soon!)

 

*All written words, ideas, and artwork for Starlight belongs to Laurie Duersch.