Serine
One week later
I step into the carriage with a bit of help from my lady-in-waiting. I settle myself in my seat, making sure to be able to escape if I need to. A knight comes in. "Your Highness, I'm Theodore, and you won't be riding in the carriage." He tosses me some plain clothes. I look at the breeches. "These are for…?" "You need to change. You and I will be going ahead of the main carriage. To put off those who might want to get to you." "Fine. You may leave." The knight exits the carriage, and once the door shuts behind him, I change into the breeches and the loose shirt. I exit the carriage. "You might want to ruffle that hair a bit, Serine," a man behind me says. I turn and see my old friend Lakro. I smirk, "Long time no see, Lakro. Where've you been lately?" "Here and there. Heard you're marrying the big guy up north?" He asks, his head tilted slightly to the side. "Yes. Elaina is… I am marrying him. Reluctantly." Lakro stops questioning me, understanding what I meant. He nods, "So. We still need to talk about… that night." "Lakro. It was a simple mistake we made. No one found out either way." "But Serine, what will happen if they find out?" "Look, Lakro. We did nothing wrong besides-" "We did, Serine. We kept those seeds, and I don't even know what you did with them." "I got rid of them like you wanted." "How long ago…" "Like a few weeks-" "A few weeks ago?! You should've gotten rid of them years ago!" I roll my eyes at him. He is taking this to heart. Gods. "Look. At least they are gone now. Now shut up before someone catches on." "Fine. We have to get going anyway. Ruffle your hair a tad before we leave."
I ruffle my hair, letting it out of the complex ties and twists. Theodore helps me back onto a spare horse. "His name is Crepúsculo." I pat the stallion's mane before I jump on. I get seated on the saddle and thank Theodore. He hops onto his. We ride out before it's dusk. Lakro riddles behind me and Theodore up front. It's just us three.
An hour passes by, and I can feel my legs going numb. My back is aching and so is my arse. I stretch, still holding onto the reins, extending my back, trying to relieve the aching pain. Theodore chuckles at my groaning. Lakro just rolls his eyes, "It's not that bad." "Hey! This is the longest I've gone on horseback asshole!" "Princess, and yet she can't even ride a horse for a few hours." Theodore just chuckles and rides on. I hold back from trampling over Lakro when he hops off his horse as we arrive at a clearing.
After five days of non-stop travel, Theodore helps me down from my horse, my legs aching from the little to no rest they had, from alternating between my horse and walking on foot. I start rolling out a mat to lie on for the night. As Theodore starts the fire, I catch a glimpse of scars coming out from under his gloves. "What's that from…?"
"Ah…these?" He slides off his glove, showing off the scars that run from his wrist to his fingertips. They are a series of swirls and cuts, slashes, and… burns. "These came from… training… I'm a mage." "Oh! So those were… self-inflicted, then?" "No. No. Uhm. These are from… an old friend. We used to practice together." "His name?" "I don't remember… He had hair the color of a burning fire. And he was fairly tall, too. I believe black irises, too. No pupils whatsoever. We used to be close, but he had to leave…." My eyes widen at the description. That sounds a lot like… like him. "That sounds a lot like… an old friend of mine." "Oh… That is quite interesting…" I nod. I can't help but remember a time when I was fifteen or so. I met someone similar, he was just two years older. I can only remember his features, but no name, like Theodore. I look back up at him and just shrug. "Weird. Was his name… Casfen?"
He just nods and goes back to trying to light the fire, ending our conversation… but I was curious. Who else knew the boy from my past? I tried to go back and lay out the sleeping mats, but the thought of Theodore also knowing Casfen, of knowing him after I last saw him, plagued my mind. I shake the thoughts away, knowing there is no point in dwelling on the first love, or whatever I had felt once, I have to focus on the new obstacles. An engagement to a faraway king.
Ugh. The thought of marrying King Simon now replaces my thoughts, and it takes nothing to wonder what type of person he is. As far as I heard, mostly rumors and whatnot, he is a womanizer, a person of grace, and a cold-hearted man. The rumors of him having taken women to his bed. I wonder if, during the marriage, he will take in a mistress. His father did, and so did his father's father. I wouldn't mind. It's all part of the system. I would just have to lay out my duties as Queen, and also have a few aides.
Lakro clears his throat, and my mind snaps back to reality. "Yes?" I turn to face him, he is surrounded by men. Scratch that. We are all surrounded by men. "Who are you? I demand that you answer." "We were told to come here, your highness." Every word was dripping in venom. "So, kidnapping or murder?" "Either, as long as we get our money." "Oh, shut up, Indrif." I turn my head to the owner of the voice. It's Theodore. He looks at me, "I apologize about him, your highness. They are here to follow us for your protection. Not to kill or kidnap you." The man, Indrif, just snickers and goes back to the other men. Still wary of the situation at hand, I manage to keep a safe distance from the other men. Theodore and Lakro, on the other hand, joyously speak with them and exchange jokes. They soon start to wheedle out, fewer and fewer of them are in the clearing, until they all have bled in with the forest, and out of sight. "They'll be watching us from a distance to ensure nothing goes astray," Theodore reassured me. I nodded and went back to helping set up camp for the night.
~
As the dusk turns into the early hours of the night, I lie on my mat, trying to fall asleep, but all I can think about is what would happen if I were to deny the Bromithelian King's offer. I do not want to marry him. I do not want to die the same way my sister did. In vain and, probably, in a dark corner of the world, alone. No, I mustn't believe she is dead. She can't be dead. I shut my eyes tight, trying to soothe myself to sleep. But tears fall for what I know is gone, and sleep never eases its way through me until the late hours, when even my horse, Crepúsculo, had fallen into deep slumber.
In the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark, with only the stars and moon as a light source, I was awakened by the sudden sound of leaves rustling. "Lakro? Is that you?" "Yeh… Sorry. Had to piss." "Did not need to know that, but… alright." I get up and stretch, rolling my mat to put away, knowing I won't be able to sleep for a while. I crouch next to Theodore's sleeping form, gently shaking his shoulder with one hand. He awakens immediately, and I almost fall backwards as he sits up straight. He stood and caught me by the wrist. After I had straightened up, he finally asked, "Is it my turn?" "No. Lakro and I believe we should get a head start. Neither of us can sleep." He nods, sluggishly shaking away his palpable exhaustion. As we pack our belongings, he suddenly stiffens, whispering, "Someone is watching," and motions for me to stay still. I nod briskly as Lakro enters the forest to capture the one watching us. "He comes back with a young boy. "It was only a ten-year-old. No one important?" "I'm 15," He spits. I roll my eyes. Theodore takes control of the situation, "First off. Doesn't matter. Who sent you? Second of all, our men was supposed to be keeping guard of us three, so what the fuck did you do to them." "No one sent me. I just saw you all and wanted to say 'hi.' As for your men… let us just say they might not awaken for the next hour or so. And I am 15, still a child and minor, so you cannot hurt me, sir," his voice drenched with sarcasm, and he smiled mockingly. Theodore returned the smirk, "I do not care if you are fifteen or still a minor, but if you continue to act coy, I will have no problem cutting off your tongue," Theodore hissed at the child. I stare at him in shock, "No. No cutting anyone's tongue before breakfast, please." With the look Theodore had in his eyes, I knew he wouldn't stop at cutting the boy's tongue off, just to make sure we were safe, so I added, "Or any other type of act that results in someone's blood spilling."
Lakro laughs but then shuts his mouth at Theodore's cold gaze. Theodore then grabs the child from the back of the head, pulling his head back by the hair so the child could look into his eyes and see that he is not joking when he threatens others. A small wave of nostalgia goes over me, and I place a hand over my forehead. It was probably over my mother. Or that night. I shake my head and focus back on Theodore and his grip on the child. "Why are you following us, kid, and what did you do to my men?" he growled. The boy, once again, spits at his face, and I grimace when he grabs the child harder and then shoves the boy's face into the dry dirt of the ground. "You like to act like the enemy, then I'll treat you like the enemy, you bastard." He does not give in to the boy's desperate attempts to be free from Theodore's grasp. I place a hand on Theodore. "Release him and knock him unconscious. Then tie him to a tree with a knife, a flask of water, and a ration of food. We will leave before he awakens, so he does not follow us further."
Theodore nods, "Yes, Your Highness." The boy shakes his head, fear flashing through his eyes at the thought of being unconscious for who knows how long. "No. Please no. Not here alone. I'll talk. I promise. Just don't leave me alone. Please." Theodore doesn't release his grip on him. "Then speak, boy. If you have that much common sense." "I don't work for anyone. I didn't know this was some royal. Please. It was just me and my friends. We were hunting, and I left our campsite for a walk. It got dark, and I was going to steal some food. I never intended any harm." Theodore facepalmed, and I could feel his annoyance towards the situation emanating from him. "Get going, boy. Walk towards the western side."
Theodore shoves a round object. Ah. A foldren. "This will help you go West. Towards the nearest Strall & Iris Flower plantation. Someone will help you go back to your village." The boy nods and thanks us. After a quick prayer toward the god of Ishmaple and giving the young boy some food and a flask of water, he leaves. "You gave him the foldren with a light, right?" Theodore nods, "Why would I let him go without light, Your Highness?" Lakro snickered, and Theodore started to wonder what was funny. After some laughter, we got on our horses and rode off.
Lakro rode ahead of Theodore and me, making sure to get the brunt of an upfront ambush. Theodore, on the other hand, rode his horse beside me. After what seemed like hours, we arrived at a small inn. "This must be what Your Highness was talking about?" "Yes, this is the inn." We walk i,n and I take in the surroundings. There are many hanging lights and candles suspended mid-air. The Innkeeper emerges from a door that seems to lead to the kitchen. "Oh, hello there. I'm Dilla, and welcome to my inn." "Hello Dilla, this inn was recommended by someone you know." "Oh, my dear friend Ray? He's quite a blabber. But I'll express my gratitude to him for sending more clients. I believe you would like two separate rooms. One with a single, and the other with two beds?" "Yes." "That'd be the price of 100 Chatchin, or 277 Thatka." Theodore then slams down the bag of Chatchin and pulls out the needed amount. Dilla's eyes widened and then relaxed. He smiled and took the money. As we followed him to our rooms, I whispered to Theodore, "Is it only me, or is he quite… unsettling?" "It's not only you, Your Highness. I'll keep watch for anything." I nod and head into my room.
~
I wake up to the sudden sound of banging on my door. "Your Highness! Wake up! We need to leave now!" I throw my door open and am greeted by the unlikely sight of Theodore in only his trousers, looking as if he had barely woken up. "Sir Theodore, what is this ruckus!" "Your Highness, a group of men has entered the premises of the building, and seems to be part of a gang. I heard commotion downstairs and went to check. They have the marking of the Trinity on their forearm. We have to leave now. Lakro has already got the horses ready. So you need to get into some comfortable clothing, this instant." He turns and leaves me standing, slightly baffled by the sudden burst of information. After the loud noise of glass shattering echoes through my ears, I quickly dash into my room and throw on trousers and a shirt, discarding the nightgown to the ground and not bothering to pick it up. I need to find Theodore, I thought to myself.
I hear men running up the stairs and towards my room as I run down the hall. "In here. This is the room." A small shiver runs down my spine when I hear the innkeeper's voice. I understood in that moment how wrong we were to trust that man. I quickened my steps, determined not to be killed tonight. "She left her nightgown. Get the yerins here. Now." I freeze. I should have picked that shit up. I turn to continue running when they started to yell, "SHIT! WHY THE VENITA IS IT BURNING UP!" The smell of smoke comes from the direction of my room. A snort of laughter comes from behind me. I turned and almost punched Lakro, who had come to see if I was right. "Let's go. They are not going to find us…" I nod, a smile stretching across my face in disbelief. "Did you use a time spell or…"
"Timed spell. Seems like it worked. Usually, it does."
"Asshole"
"Snob."
"Touché…" I murmur as we enter the stables. Theodore helps me mount the horse, and I offer him a warm smile, which he accepts with a smile of his own. I watch as he mounts his horse, before speaking, "They spoke in Aslavin. Well, more like cursed in Aslavin…" "So Zarinoans?" Lakro asked. "Well, yes and no… Most of Trinity is from Zarinoe, but those inducted are taught Aslavin. Especially the children. In the meantime, we are not stopping for another night. We've had too many run-ins with different people, and I don't want to think of who we'll meet next." He looks at me for a second, and I catch some warmth in his gaze. A bit of "Ah… alright," Lakro nods, turning to look straight forward once again.
Theodore rides up next to me and gently asks, "Are you alright, Your Highness?" I turn my face, offering a smile, "I'm alright, Theodore… why do you ask, dare I say?" He chuckles lightly, the sound making my chest ache a little, "Well, you look quite… unnerved is all." I laugh humorlessly, looking away. He places his hand on my arm, "I did not mean to strike a nerve. I'm only worried, Your Hi-" "Theodore, call me by name. It's alright. Lakro does so." In a low voice, with his slight Eradian accent, since he was born in Bromithel, "Alright… Ruana. Then, call me only Theo," I blush lightly, not knowing that hearing another person say my name could sound so… wonderful. I look at him for a bit, my eyes flicking down to his lips as they curve up into a soft smile. Lakro eyes us both, smirking at my expression, "As much as I like the chemistry going on between you two love birds, but you better not let your future fiancé see both of you like this in the future." "Shut it, Lakro," we both growl at him, annoyed by his antics. He only snickered, "Well, I am not the one who looks like he has fallen for either of you." "Larkro!" I retaliated. "You should listen to him, I wouldn't like it if this continues any further, especially considering you are to be my wife." A low growl comes from behind us, and I understand my mistake.