Silence Reigns

Chapter 2

The sun lit the castle with brilliant white light.

Dressed in a riding frock and coat, with boots and a hat to cover her hair, Erielle glanced out the window and then turned back to the mirror. The ghost of last night stared vacantly back at her: slim body—almost too thin—tired, flat blue eyes that she thought might have sparkled at one time, and small facial features. Her nose was thin; she followed its convex outline down and touched her lips with two fingers, drawn thin and tight against her face. She supposed that they should have smiled more, but she couldn't remember the last time they performed that function naturally. Her ears were slightly pointed at the tips, and combined with the sharp lines of her eyebrows, prominence of her cheekbones, and fair skin, gave her a sharp edge that would have aided her once she became queen, if not for her hair. Erielle frowned and tucked a few wayward reddish-gold strands back in her riding cap. According to records, she was the only red-haired royal in the family for generations. She wondered who had given her such a fate as to have red hair. Not even her sisters had a single red hair in their locks.

Maybe I should dye it, she thought dully, then discarded the idea. Everyone would notice, and they would talk.

Outside, the clock tower clanged the seventh hour. Erielle checked herself over one last time and dashed out the door.

"Lovely, dear," said the queen when she arrived in the stables. "This becomes you." An approving glance over her attire made Erielle's cheeks warm with satisfaction.

"Thank you, Mother." Erielle planted a kiss on her mother's cheek. "Shall we?"

"Indeed. Pontius? Shall we go?" The queen looked to her husband, who stood to the side conversing with one of his senators. He did not immediately look up, but continued the discussion until it was finished, and the senator stepped back. Erielle recognized him as Lord Parrier, the only noble member of Senate. He and her father grew up together, and he was one whom the king trusted. As Erielle had suspected, it was discovered that he was soon to receive a promotion. She was pleased; Lord Parrier was a good man—and an honest one, at that. It was beneficial to her father to have such a dependable man close to him.

Pontius nodded to his queen, his face as unreadable and emotionless as it always was. "Let us depart."

The saddle boys brought out the horses, settling a mounting block beside each of the women's horses. Anabelle and Constance came running in, stumbling over each other's riding skirts and giggling madly.

"Late, as always," Erielle muttered beneath her breath. They could have been twins, those two, with their matching dresses, identical personalities, and...immaturity. Of course, minus the hair. While Anabelle boasted luscious, rich brown curls, Constance's hair was blond and straight as bamboo from the North.

"Hello, sisters," she called when they were in hearing range. She brightened her tired face and painted a smile on it. "I see you are looking well this morning."

Anabelle cocked her head and flipped her curls, a dreamy smile in her eyes. "Oh, yes. Jimmy—I mean James—called last evening while you were away and I think he's really taken a liking to Connie. We could hardly sleep last night, talking about the way he looked at her," she said, leaning toward Constance and giggling with her.

"James, the cobbler?" Erielle asked incredulously. She looked at her youngest sister. "Connie, I do hope you're not serious. You know what Father"—she threw a glance at him and lowered her voice— "thinks about that."

Constance's golden head dipped, her bright smile fading. "I know, Eri. I just...I think I love him. Is that so wrong?"

Erielle was about to reply when their father's strong voice echoed in the courtyard from atop his white horse. "Let us tarry no longer."