Of Roses and Thorns

Before the Year of the Wakening

The girl trembled. She clung to the reluctant arm of the captain. "Please, please. I beg you," she whispered, lip trembling. "Do not leave me here with her." She eyed the glass coffin.

The captain drew her arm away. "Do not be foolish, learner. There is nothing to be frightened of. The princess will grow with you and be a companion-much more suitable than that cat." Her eyes sliced to the obsidian feline perched on the windowsill above the sink of the small cottage. He ignored them.

"His name is Sheu," the girl said. She did not look away from the coffin.

Despite herself, the captain felt a distant pity for this child. She was not even a young woman yet; she would not have a mother to guide her when puberty hit. She wouldn't have anyone.

But she is dangerous, the captain reminded herself as her companions scooted the laborious coffin into the corner of the foyer. I do not want such an unpredictable wretch running about in a world Edna is about to enter. There was no other place to put the coffin: it was three sizes too long for the slumbering princess and took up the entire right half of the entryway. The princess' family was quite tall, and her parents hoped she would inherent their height. Only time would tell: the princess was fourteen and had already grown a few inches. Her slim, earthy ankles peeked from beneath the blue of her gown.

"But she cannot speak or laugh with me; she cannot even hear me. That's what the healers told me," the girl said, jolting the captain out of her reverie.

She glowered at the wretch. "And whose fault is that?"

The girl's face, which was soft-featured and pale from fear, restored its tan color. Her eyes, which swept up the slightest bit at the corners, flashed. "I did not do it on purpose. I do not know how I even did it."

"You are frightfully standoffish-though I should not be surprised, coming from a wretch." She stalked to the door. Her companions had their hands resting on the glass lid of the coffin as they gazed at the smooth face and ringlets surrounding.

"We must go," she said quietly. Though the princess could not, as the girl had said, hear any of them, she did not wish to disturb the heir of the North Kingdom.

The men and women nodded their heads, whispered tender goodbyes, and departed-though not without a few throwing daggered glances at the girl in the kitchen. She returned their favors with a fiery black look. The captain stood at the door, the hair on the back of her neck rising at the forest sprawled out before them. It would be terrifying for her, an experienced soldier and survivalist, to remain out here alone; it would be ten times worse for the wretch. The cool air that slithered into the otherwise stuffy cottage spoke of winter coming.

"Make sure you stock up on plenty of wood and food, learner. You are no good to anyone dead," the captain said.

Her response was a fierce scowl. "I know how to take care of myself; I've been here alone for two years. I know the forest better than anyone."

"I am merely trying to help, wretch."

"This isn't help. It's mockery. Get away from here," her tone cut through the homeliness of the abode. She sounded like a disdainful adult.

The captain raised her chin. "Learn to curb that mature tongue of yours and you may find a friend amongst those who will check on the princess."

"Get. Out."

"Good luck to you then, wretch," the captain said flatly before closing the door with a soft bang.

The girl listened to the fading hoofbeats and rattle of the wagon wheels until she heard them no more. The cat, Sheu, hopped down from the windowsill. He sat on the counter right to the side of the girl. Her shoulders jumped up and down. Bits of dust swirled in the rays of sunshine falling on the coffin in the silence. Sheu heard the rumbling right before the explosion of thunder.