Book One: Throne of Cinder and Shadow

C H A P T E R T W O: Dare

Darragh Haelic crouched low in the hayloft, the familiar earthy scents of straw and leather mingling with the musky warmth of the horses below. The stables had always been his refuge—a world of simplicity and order, where the only sounds were the soft snuffling of horses and the rustle of hay in the wind. Here, he could lose himself in the comforting rhythm of daily chores, a far cry from the intrigues and whispers that filled the castle halls just beyond.

His father had built this stable with his own hands. Dare could still remember following him around as a boy, watching in awe as his father tended to the horses with a gentle touch, always knowing exactly what they needed. The bond his father had with the animals was something Dare had inherited—like the very blood that coursed through his veins. But now his father was gone, and the weight of that legacy rested squarely on his shoulders.

Dare didn't mind the work—it kept him grounded. There was no room for grief or self-pity in a life like this. He had taken over as stablehand the moment his father had drawn his last breath, and from that day on, the rhythm of his life had changed. The castle might buzz with rumors, and the world might shift outside these walls, but here in the stables, things stayed the same. The horses needed tending, the stalls needed mucking, and the saddles needed care. It was simple. It was enough.

A sharp knock at the stable door broke the stillness, and Dare's attention snapped back to the present. He descended the ladder from the loft with ease, landing lightly on his feet. Wiping his hands on his trousers, he opened the heavy wooden door with a creak.

A young soldier stood on the other side, framed by the soft morning light. His armor was new, the polish still gleaming as though it had never seen battle. The impatience in his stance, however, was unmistakable.

"Haelic," the soldier said curtly, as though the mere mention of Dare's name was a bother. "The royal horses need tending. Prince Marek has returned from his ride."

Dare nodded, already reaching for his worn work gloves hanging from a nearby hook. He didn't need to hear the soldier's haughty tone to know his place. While Dare cared little for the castle's noble lords and ladies, he had nothing but respect for the horses. They were innocent in all this—caught in the whims of their riders and the power games that surrounded the court. If anyone deserved proper care, it was the horses, not their spoiled masters.

Without a word, Dare followed the soldier across the courtyard. He kept his eyes down, his thoughts inward, as they crossed the cobbled path that led to the royal stables. Even in the early morning, there was a buzz of activity around the castle. Servants bustled about, soldiers patrolled the grounds, and all around, the air hummed with tension. Rumors had been spreading for years about the death of King Elias and Queen Castalia—whispers of treachery, rebellion, dark forces. Some even dared to speak Eadric's name in hushed tones, accusing the current king of his brother's murder. Dare had no interest in such things. He was just a stablehand. His world was here, among the horses and hay. But sometimes, even he couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something that would change everything.

As they reached the royal stables, Dare could hear the familiar snorts of the horses cooling down after their ride. Marek had pushed them hard today, the prince's growing impatience no doubt tied to his impending marriage. Dare had seen the look on Marek's face when the subject of the wedding came up—tense, brooding, as though he were being led to the gallows rather than the altar. The court saw Marek as the perfect heir, the model prince. But Dare knew better. Marek was restless, driven by something darker than ambition.

When they entered the stables, Dare spotted the prince immediately. Marek stood tall, his broad shoulders squared as he handed the reins of his mount to one of the younger stableboys. He looked every inch the prince he was—handsome, strong, commanding—but there was something off about him today, something simmering beneath the surface. His jaw was tight, and his eyes, usually sharp and focused, flickered with an unease that didn't belong on a man of his station.

Marek muttered something to the stableboy before turning sharply on his heel and striding toward the castle, not sparing so much as a glance in Dare's direction. Good, Dare thought. He didn't need the prince's attention. He didn't want it.

Once Marek was gone, Dare stepped forward and took the reins of the prince's stallion, Vex. The black horse was magnificent, its muscles still quivering beneath its sleek coat, nostrils flaring as it blew out heavy breaths. Vex had been ridden hard, far too hard, and Dare could feel the tension radiating from the animal's body. He ran a calming hand along Vex's neck, murmuring soft, soothing words as he led him into the stable.

"You ride him too hard," Dare muttered under his breath, knowing Marek would never hear it. "You're lucky Vex tolerates you."

The stallion snorted, shaking its head as if in agreement, and Dare couldn't help but chuckle softly. There was a strange bond between him and the horses—one built on trust, not commands. After securing Vex in his stall, Dare began the familiar process of brushing him down. The repetitive motions, the gentle tug of the brush through the horse's coat, always calmed him. It was his escape from the world outside, a way to lose himself in the simplicity of the task.

But the peace didn't last long.

The stable door creaked open again, and Dare tensed. He didn't need to look up to know who it was. He had felt her presence before she even entered.

Garnet.

"Hard at work, as always," came her soft voice, laced with a teasing tone that always seemed to make his pulse quicken. Dare glanced over his shoulder and saw her standing in the doorway, her red hair catching the morning light like flames against the muted colors of the stable.

She was one of Princess Mhyrra's ladies-in-waiting, but she didn't act like the others. There was something different about her—something wild and untamed, hidden behind her quiet demeanor. Her eyes, a striking shade of green, always seemed to look deeper than anyone else's, as though she could see the things he kept buried inside.

Dare turned back to the horse, hiding the faint smile that tugged at his lips. "Someone has to take care of the horses," he replied, his voice gruff but not unkind. "They're the only ones worth caring about in this place."

Garnet stepped closer, leaning against the stall door with a secret smile. "You always say that, but I don't believe you. I think there's more to you than horses and hard work, Dare Haelic."

Her words, quiet and casual, struck something deep within him. Dare's hands froze for a moment, the brush still against Vex's coat. He kept his eyes down, unwilling to meet her gaze. Garnet had a way of unsettling him, of making him feel like she saw something in him that even he didn't understand.

"You sound like my father," Dare muttered, his voice low. "He used to say the same thing."

"Maybe he was right," Garnet said softly, her voice closer now. "You feel it, don't you? Something is coming. Something bigger than this."

Dare didn't respond, his chest tight with a mix of emotions he didn't care to name. She had touched a nerve, whether she meant to or not. He didn't want to think about what she was saying. He didn't want to acknowledge the truth of it. But he couldn't deny the sense of unease that had been growing inside him, the feeling that the world was shifting beneath his feet.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said gruffly, forcing himself to continue brushing the horse.

But Garnet wasn't deterred. She reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm, and Dare stilled again, his heart pounding in his chest. When he finally looked up, he found her watching him with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.

"You will," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Soon."

And with that, she turned and left, disappearing into the light of the morning, leaving Dare standing there, staring after her, his thoughts spinning. What did she mean? Why did he feel like everything was about to change?

He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand, but even as he went through the motions, her words echoed in the back of his mind. Something was coming. Something big.

And whether he liked it or not, Dare Haelic was going to be a part of it.