Three Fates Bound By Scars

Predators become Prey

Lenai had spent the better part of a week in unsettling ease, she'd never found herself so calm at court. At home things were dire for her small country, things had grown increasingly impoverished over mother's time. Mother was intended to marry a wealthy royal but the deal had fallen through, Lenai had never been told who he was to be. Her father was a lazy glutton who mother had only picked for the trace of oracle's blood he carried. Oracle blood, unlike others, had the interesting caveat that it could be present but dormant, and stay so throughout your life.

Lenai had been born unlucky, her blood was gray and she'd never seen evidence of another color in its tinge. She hadn't even inherited mother's lesser dominion over air which had come as a shock given its veracity. This past week she hadn't had much time to reflect on the poor quality of her blood though. Her time had been filled with correspondence home and Elias, thanks to a soul enchanted item her letters arrived near instantly.

Dear Lenai,

Continue on your course with the prince, though I am incredibly disappointed by your lackluster performance with the King, this could be of use. Elias can still be an avenue to Arryn if only through mutual closeness, or other means. Keep me informed of how you spend each day, I have already sent your handmaiden to join you.

Your mother, Reyla Sylvan.

The rankle of mother's disappointment stung less when Lenai couldn't suffer the consequences that came with it. Her instinct at the letter had been overwhelming fear, before she realized her mother was too far to lock Lenai in her chambers for three weeks.

News that her handmaiden was to join her had lightened Lenai's mood significantly, she missed Noelle dearly even with Kaya beside her. In truth, she'd learned much of Elias this week and her sympathy had grown immensely. She was being careful not to let feelings overwhelm her, mother had drilled that into her.

Reyla is calculating.

Reyla feels only what she needs when she needs to.

If people could not be used then they were to be gotten rid off.

Lenai recited those mantras to herself anytime she felt she was becoming too comfortable with the crown prince which had become distressingly often. Elias was courting other women too, though he spent less time with them than he did with her. Somehow by some incredible coincidence he always ended up just nearby enough to quirk his mouth up into a smile where she could see.

The prince had begun meeting her outside the music room, he had invited her for a stroll in the gardens. Elias had asked her simply to enjoy the breeze before sitting down with some parchment and quill to sketch her. Lenai had collected four different sketches from him; he always gave them to her after he finished.

On a particular afternoon, Elias had invited her to the training area of the grounds where some guards were sparring. Lenai had asked earlier that morning about the first sketch he'd finished, if he even remembered it. Much to her surprise he'd told her the first sketch he'd truly finished was one of two boys sparing. It was clumsy and badly done but he cherished it, then Elias had told her to meet him by the training ring.

Lenai was watching the guards in loose blouses and dull trousers lunge at each other with blunt wooden weapons. They parried and sidestepped, dodged blows and countered them with marked ease. On the hard packed earth, the brittle ground of cold Verona made it a challenge to engage in combat even in summer. Playful insults and jesting were as common as the thuds of their harmless weapons.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around to find Elias grinning down at her, dressed in the same garb the guards were wearing. He bent down and teased,