Benjamin stood in his chambers, staring in the mirror. I should have gotten a hair cut like Mother suggested, he thought, running a hand through his shaggy black hair. His sister, Miranda poked her head in the door, her auburn hair braided, swinging over her shoulder.
"Are you done primping yourself for the princess?" she asked. Benjamin frowned at her taunts. She knew that he didn't want to be forced into a marriage with an Aribran princess. She- despite being the oldest daughter of Raymen royalty- had avoided an arranged marriage. Benjamin, on the other hand, wasn't going to be so lucky.
"Mir, do you really think that I should do this?"
Miranda shrugged. "I hear that Princess Elizabeth is very pretty."
"Just because she's pretty doesn't mean that she's nice, or that I'll be attracted to her." He turned back to the mirror, straightening his coat.
"Benji, don't worry. If you tell Mother and Father that you don't want to marry her, they won't make you. But, keep in mind that you might not find another wife so well connected."
"How is it that you've been able to avoid marriage so far?"
Miranda grinned. "That's my personal little secret. Maybe I'll tell you when you settle down. Mother said that you should be ready in five minutes." She ducked out of his chambers, leaving him alone. He stared at his black eyes in the mirror. You're as ready as you'll ever be, he thought, straightening his coat one more time. He turned toward the doors and walked out of them. His entire family was waiting for him. His nieces and nephews lay cradled in their parents arms, most still too small to walk. The two that could walk ran in circles around their parents, Nigel- his brother- and his wife, Sonya, Caidarak's first Princess.
"Good luck, Brother," Nigel said, clapping him on the shoulder with his free hand. His occupied hand held a wide-eyed, crazy haired little girl in a miniature dress. His other siblings gave him similar good wishes, touching him gently on his arm or shoulder. He thanked them, then got to his parents.
"Oh, Benjamin," his mother said, rushing forward to hug him. Her tiny arms only wrapped halfway around his waist. Her mass of curly blond hair reached up to his chest. "This is a wonderful day. You should like this one a lot. She's beautiful, and very nice, according to her servants." His father nodded, his short salt-and-pepper hair flopping in an unruly way as he did so.
"Miller will be going with you, as well as Miranda," he said. "The Linders are having a grand party this evening. She might find a man that she fancies." Miranda stood beside him on his right side, and on the other, Miller Keris, an almost seven foot, white haired, black eyed man; his father's manservant. He was a frightening sight, as if Death itself had chosen to take a human form. "Your favorite horses have been readied, and they await you on the courtyard. You will be staying there for a week, associating with the Linders and when you return, we can discuss if you wish to marry Princess Elizabeth."
"Farewell, Mother. Father. I will do you proud." Benjamin cringed inwardly as he recited the customary royal departure phrase.
"Farewell, Son," his parents chorused. "May Skyrider guide your blade and Stormwalker give you smooth passage. Miranda said her goodbyes in the same fashion. Miller remained silent, but bowed when they left the passageway, leaving their children and grandchildren to say their goodbyes. Those were nowhere near as formal. Some of his siblings hugged him and handed him children while others did the same to Miranda. Miller loomed silently behind them. When they were finished- after Benjamin had reminded them that they were only going to be gone a week- they all walked out of the castle that was nowhere near as grand and beautiful as the Royal Palace in Aribra. Or anywhere else, for that matter. Its gray stone walls looked imposing against the blue sky. The Royal Gardens sat off to one side, looking oddly bright blooming for spring. The Gardens were rather practical, not meant to be beautiful or decorative, but to provide food. The gardeners worked, pulling weeds and digging irrigation ditches. Benjamin thought that those were silly. They would wash away when water from the Silver River came rushing down through them. Miranda, on the other hand, thought that they were useful; the workers wouldn't have to carry water from wells. They would only have to open a floodgate and all the plants would be watered within minutes.
