Heir

Chapter 1, Scene 2

Ashlin perched at the edge of the Silvervale River, peering at her reflection in the glassy water. Grabbing a handful of her tawny hair, she gripped her iron dagger in her small fist and began cutting feverishly at the strands she held taut. Having cut free the entire handful, she stared at it for a moment, half disbelieving what she had just done, before dropping it into the water and starting again with another handful of hair.

“What are you doing?” Came a voice from behind her. Startled, Ashlin turned quickly to see who had snuck up on her. It was Meical. Loud and obnoxious, he was certainly the most annoying boy she knew. At fourteen years old, he was only one year older than her, but he loved to lord it over her. The two of them had been in constant competition almost since she was born.

“I’m cutting my hair.” Ashlin said curtly, as she went back to work.

“Why are you doing that?”

“It’s annoying. It gets in the way.”

“Won’t your mother be upset?”

“Probably.”

“Is that why you’re doing it out here instead of in the castle?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you trying to look like my mother?”

“No.” Ashlin cut free the last clump of hair from her head and let it drop into the river. She watched for a moment as it was carried downstream. She heard Meical barely stifle a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” She snapped at him.

“You look hilarious!” He couldn’t contain his laughter anymore. Ashlin looked down at her reflection again and blushed with embarrassment. The short hair on top of her head was standing on end and the rest was sticking out every which way.

“Urg! You’re so annoying!” Sheathing her dagger, Ashlin turned and lunged at Meical, hoping to pounce on him and knock him to the ground. Expecting as much, Meical took a quick step backwards and turned on his heel, causing Ashlin to miss her mark and land on all fours.

“Why are you angry with me?” Meical mocked her. “You’re the one who cut your hair.”

“I’m gonna whip you!” Ashlin roared as she scrambled to her feet.

“You’ll have to catch me first!” Meical challenged as he turned and ran along the river towards the castle. Ashlin gave chase. There wasn’t another child in the Silvervale that could run as fast as Ashlin and Meical. They argued amongst themselves over who was faster, but the truth was that Meical would win any sprint race, while Ashlin would beat him over long distances.

“You just wait till I get a hold of you, you lubber! You’ll be sorry!” They ran up the rocky beach until the forest met the water and their chase brought them under the canopy of the great birch trees.

“I don’t think so, Snot-Face!” Meical called back as they were breaking the tree line. They ran up the grassy hill towards Silvervale Castle. The tall outer walls of the fortress loomed above them. Meical began to loose speed going up the hill. Ashlin, who had been pacing herself, put all of her energy into a sudden burst of speed and was suddenly on his back. They both fell and went tumbling over each other. As they were both getting up to their knees, Ashlin saw that she was close enough to take a swing at Meical. The first blow glanced off his shoulder, but he grabbed hold of her wrist and stifled her next swing. She swung at him with her left hand, but he grabbed hold of her other wrist. She tried to head butt him, and they were soon tumbling over each other in the grass again.

“You two had better be fighting.” Boomed a voice above them. They both looked up in surprise and Meical was off of Ashlin and on his feet quicker than a bolt of lightning. Ashlin’s father, Prince Aldric, towered over the young teenagers looking as stern and imposing as the castle behind him.