Daughter of Amberanian

Escape from Amberanian

21 Rigel of the year 13098

"My lady," Telyn curtsies as I walk into my room. 

"Telyn,"

I close the door behind me and remove my cape. Telyn takes it and hands me my inside slippers—the pink ones. I slide my riding boots off and slide my slippers on. 

Telyn looks pale. Why is she pale? Her skin usually glows with her beauty. Something has her troubled. I place a hand on her elbow and guide her to my bed. "What's the matter?"

"It's not my place," Telyn says as we sit on the edge of my bed. 

"How so?"

"I...I can't,"

Why can't she tell me? Is it that bad? What is this about...who is this about? It could be about me. With how she's acting, I wouldn't be surprised if it was. 

"Does it have to do with me?"

"Yes, my lady,"

"Does this have to do with my dancing lessons?" I promise I've been practicing. I need a partner who's taller than me. All the males I've been practicing with are shorter than I am. To improve, the male has to be taller. 

Oh, Eli, if only it was about our dancing. That would have been preferable to what Telyn was about to say. 

Telyn shakes her head slightly. "No, my lady,"

"Then what is it about?"

"King Valarion has decided you are to marry Lord Maddox of Caister,"

There it is. My doom, or so I thought. What happens twenty-seven years after is much worse. The things males will do to hold onto power. It's downright despicable. 

"What?" How could he? Does he have no care for my happiness?

That's not a far cry from Valarion's intentions.

"I told you, my lady, it's not my place to say," Telyn sniffs quietly. She 

"When, did you overhear when?"

"In three months,"

Three months. Three months. He expects me to marry Lord Maddox of Caister in three months. I don't think so. I was promised to no one. Father promised I could choose who I married. I was to choose. Not him.

Too bad Father went back on his word. This could have been avoided if he had only let me choose when I was ready. But no, he had to have control of the females in his life. His mother killed herself after a long fight to regain control of her mind. 

"Leave me," 

Telyn nods. She stands up, bows and leaves. 

What to do. What to do...I can leave, just like how Bianca and Queen Mari left. I am going to Kaliste. The king and queen would give me asylum. If they are anything like how Sol tells the tale, they should. 

I list what I may need to pack in a bag. I come up with a dress, riding boots and money. It's not much, but better than nothing. 

So that is what I do. I grab an out-of-fashion dress that's easy to get on by myself and a stash of money I have piled under my bed—the boots I can wear. Once I have everything asked into a bag, I shove it under my bed. 

Hours go by. I keep to myself. I eat dinner with Father. Mother doesn't come. Father grills me on proper dancing and dinner etiquette. I greet Sol when he informs Father of the meeting he's to attend in a few hours. When dinner is over, I head back to my room, faking a headache.