Swords Against Swords

Chapter Five

While I walked to the throne room, I assessed the state of my clothing and breathed a sigh of relief when I noted that there were no glaring earth stains and no drops of blood from Samuel's wounds. I smoothed down the front of the silk garment wishing that I would have had time to change into something more appropriate since I was summoned to the throne room. Usually that meant the matter to discuss was either very serious, or we had a visitor.

I straightened my shoulders and back and clasped my hands in front of me with my chin forward as I approached the sentry at the door. He announced my arrival and opened the door for me.

As the oaken panel cleared from my sight revealing the figures in the room, I saw my mother and father sitting in their places on their gilded thrones before a young man. They paused mid-laughter as if they were just in the middle of a joke and settled their attention on me. As the boy turned, I took in the head full of short black hair and golden brown eye upturned with amusement and was delightfully surprised to see that it was my friend Armaand.

Father beamed, "Ah, my dearest daughter, come in. I'm sure you remember Armaand, Prince of Larrington? I believe he studied in the same school as you, yes?"

"Of course." I replied, a smile of my own coming to my lips. "It's wonderful to see you again so soon, Armaand."

Prince Armaand was the second closest confidant I had in Larrington—after Nancy of course. Because of our similar status, we often spent much of our time together at the parties and balls held in the castle from time to time. In fact, I could pleasantly recall escaping from them together when we were younger.

Armaand shared my interests in medicine and was the one who offered to let me join him in his studies of it.

He was the first prince of Larrington and its heir.

"It's always a pleasure, Clarisse." He grinned in that lopsided way of his with one corner of his mouth quirking up higher than the other. It always struck me as handsome in a way. Armaand took my hand into his and kissed it. I was reminded that this was the second time today that a man had kissed my hand. It was a first for Armaand, but I supposed he did it because we were in the presence of the King and Queen.

Mother positively beamed in the background seeming like she knew the biggest secret in the world and was finding it difficult to contain herself. Sometimes she still acted like a young girl at heart rather than the gallant Queen she'd come to be. "Quite the gentleman, isn't he?" Her praise was directed at Father as if she was looking for his approval.

"Quite, indeed." Father nodded in return. "Daughter, why don't you take Armaand around the castle for a stroll? He's been looking forward to seeing you since your departure from Larrington."

I hiked my eyebrow up and fixed Armaand with a suspicious look. "Is that so?"

Our relationship in Larrington was comfortable to say the least, however, Armaand has never been one to share his feelings readily. I remember having to coax answers from him when he was saddened after a scolding from his father, the King of Larrington. Little Armaand then was only ten years of age, and we had been together for three years already, yet he still wouldn't reveal himself to me unless I forced it out of him.

I was actually quite proud of my ability to get him to speak to me when others couldn't make him do the same.

Armaand shrugged as if he had no idea what my father was talking about, and I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Father was just exaggerating. No matter how much Armaand would have wanted to see me, I knew he would never breathe a soul about it.