Chapter 4
CLANG!
Steel met steel in the training courtyard of Valla Palace.
Princess Alissa spun, her braid whipping behind her as she parried Adam's strike. She wore simple leather trousers and a linen tunic, her brow damp with sweat.
Across from her, Adam grunted, blade raised again. "You're holding back."
Alissa smirked. "And yet, you're the one losing."
She darted forward—feint, step, strike.
Adam blocked—barely.
Their swords locked.
Then, with a twist and a well-placed kick, Alissa knocked him flat on his back.
She pointed her blade at his chest. "Yield?"
Adam groaned, reaching for his fallen sword. "You got lucky."
She offered a hand. "I got skilled."
He took it, grinning. "You talk too much for a warrior."
"And you sulk too much for a knight."
Before he could reply, a voice cut through the air.
"Your Highness."
Alissa turned. Rose, the palace maid, stood at the edge of the courtyard, hands primly clasped. "It's time for your lessons."
Alissa groaned. "Must I?"
Rose gave a small smile. "The tutor waits."
Adam leaned close, smirking. "I can distract her. You run."
Alissa brightened. "Lady Elena's cooking sounds far better than politics."
He tossed her a cloak. "Then wear this. A princess shouldn't be recognized on the streets."
She grinned. "Lead the way, 'Sir Trouble.'"
---
The Market
The streets of Valla were alive—carts rolled by, vendors shouted their wares, and the air smelled of spice, smoke, and warm bread.
"Faster, Aliss!" Adam called.
She dodged through the crowd, hood low, heart light. They reached a familiar stall where an old man greeted them with a toothy grin.
"Back again, are you?"
"Always," Adam said. "Two loaves."
The vendor handed over warm bread. "Still causing mischief with the princess?"
Adam winked. "Would I dare?"
They started to leave—but Alissa froze.
Her eyes locked onto a figure across the square: Prince Alistair, her brother, speaking with a knight.
She ducked into an alley, dragging Adam with her.
"He'll send me back to lessons," she hissed.
Adam peeked out. "He hasn't seen you."
They waited until Alistair moved on.
Then—
A scream tore through the air.
A man collapsed in the center of the square.
Crowds gathered. Panic rose.
A young man knelt beside the fallen stranger, checking his pulse. "Poison," he said calmly. "He needs feverfew—now!"
He flashed a small iron badge. "I study at the Citadel."
Vendors scrambled. One produced the herb. The Citadel student mixed it quickly with water and poured it into the man's mouth.
For a breathless moment—nothing.
Then the man coughed.
Lived.
The crowd cheered.
Adam stared, wide-eyed. "He saved him…"
Alissa said nothing, eyes burning with a sudden spark.
---
Later
"I know what I want to be," Alissa said quietly.
Adam blinked. "You do?"
"I'm going to the Citadel," she said. "I want to become a maester."
He hesitated. "Only men study there."
"I'll be the first."
Adam chuckled. "That's a hard path."
"So is yours," she said. "Knight of the realm, remember?"
He grinned. "Then let's race to see who reaches their dream first."
She held out her hand.
He took it.
In that moment, two impossible futures began.