Keepers of the Realm

Klea

The royal carriage rumbled down the mountain road, accompanied by galloping horses with guards atop them, holding the Blackmon banner aloft. On either side of the carriage, they rode with fierce determination. "I still don't see why Father is in such a rush to marry me off," Klea said, her voice laced with sadness. "My brother is three years my elder, and he's never been asked to marry!"

Jerys twiddled his thumbs as he replied, "I don't think your brother would stand for it if the king commanded him to marry. No doubt, his would-be betrothed would come down with a mysterious sickness."

Sarah, her handmaiden, tried to hide her smile as she looked down at her feet. "You look astounding, Princess," she said, trying to reassure her friend. "Any sane man will make it his life's work to keep you happy."

Sarah squeezed Klea's hand tightly, and the two shared a hug. As much as she tried to hide it, deep down, Klea was excited to meet her future husband. She had spent hours before they left, picking out her blue silk dress and styling her long, black hair to perfection.

Klea looked through the window of the carriage and saw massive, snowy mountains ahead, touching the clouds, with a great stone castle the shape of a triangle looming in the centermost mountain.

"That'll be your home soon, Princess," Jerys said.

Klea was lost in the awe of the castle when, all of a sudden, a great bellowing roar shook the carriage, shrouding them in darkness for a moment. The carriage came to a stop as Klea and her handmaidens cowered in the corner. The door opened, and Ser Hywen, a grim-looking man with a scar from eye to mouth, spoke.

"A dragon, Princess. Don't worry. Beasts much prefer goat to humans". Ser Hywen shut the door, and the carriage continued on its way.

"I did the same thing the first time I came to Newstar, Princess," Jerys said, trying to reassure her. "You'll get used to it, no doubt."

Klea had read about dragons, and she barely remembered sighting a baby one as a child, touring the realm. But she had never encountered one so large that it cast a shadow on the land beneath it.

"Lord Jerys, how do the people of Newstar deal with them? Do the dragons not attack them?" the princess asked, her face still flushed red with fear.

Jerys replied, "They did, a long time ago. But the Aynes have lived in these lands for a thousand years, Princess, and they got pretty good at killing the beasts. They seem to be smart enough to stay away from castles and towns and keep mostly to the mountaintops."

Klea's awe of the place only deepened after the whole experience. She was afraid, no doubt, but dragons and mystical castles trumped such fears.

"We're getting close now, Princess. Look here, you can see the castle gates," Jerys said, signalling for Klea to come to the window once more.

Ser Hywen had ridden ahead and informed Lord Randylph of the princess's arrival. As her carriage approached the open gates, Lord Randylph, his two sons, and his wife gathered in the courtyard to greet her. The carriage came to a stop inside, and Ser Hywen and the other guards dismounted their horses.

Jerys exited the carriage and announced the princess. "It is with great pleasure that I introduce the Princess Klea of House Blackmon." The Aynes all knelt at once as Klea walked onto the courtyard, her pale white skin at home in the cold climate.

"Princess, please accept my apologies for the sorry state of the castle," Lord Randylph said, still on his knees. "I did not expect the honour of your presence!"

"Rise, my Lord," Klea replied, her voice filled with grace. "There is nothing to apologize for. Newstar is as beautiful as the stories promised."

The lord's son and Klea's soon-to-be betrothed was noticeably absent from the courtyard, however.