The General and the Princess

Chapter 2 || Alleyni

Faster.
Faster.
Faster.

The wind slapped Alleyni in the face, blowing her hair in every direction. She pushed herself harder and harder, feeling the momentum run like a tremor through her body. Her feet pounded across the grassy hills to the beat of her breathing. Her pace increased, and she gathered every ounce of energy and threw it into her body, hurtling forward as fast as her legs could possibly carry her. When her strength was finally spent, she launched herself onto the ground, rolling over and landing on her back, limbs spread apart. She breathed in deeply, the warm spring air rushing into her lungs.

The wind scattered her long pale blonde hair like a halo around her as she laid back, soaking in the warm sunlight, the sweet smell of fresh flowers, and the soft grass underneath her slender body. Freedom.

This freedom was small, for she was still imprisoned, but at least this gave her a semblance of freedom. Alleyni's cage, towering over her since birth, was the imperious castle. The shadow of the castle painted her in cold gray shadows, looming over her like her father—always there, always watching, always controlling. Somehow, lying outside in the sunshine was more like home than that dark, stoic castle would ever be. No matter how far she ran, however, she could never go far enough to be free of its shadow.

Alleyni lay back again, not wanting to think about her family or anything besides the sunshine and the grass and the blue, blue sky. She closed her eyes, relishing the quiet solitude.

"Hey."
Alleyni's eyes popped open to see Evyn sitting next to her. Her best friend grinned then leaned back to look up at the sky, his eyes nearly matching the light blue hues.

"You scared me." She scowled though a grin played at the corners of her mouth

"Sorry." His sideways smile spoke otherwise.
"Yeah, I'm sure."

Alleyni sighed as they both stared into the sky. These were the stolen moments that gave her just enough strength to endure the castle. It awaited her, and she could feel in Evyn's tenseness that her momentary liberation was drawing to a close.

"They sent me to get you. Your father and Lyssa want to talk to you."

"Lucky me." Alleyni smirked. "What is it this time?"

Evyn laughed. "Some scheme Lyssa's concocted."

"Oh, those are always my favorite; I can't wait."

An audience with Ghael and Lyssa was perhaps the exact thing Alleyni had been trying to evade. As they walked back to the castle, it seemed to grow in size as they grew nearer, swallowing them in its shadow. Alleyni ran her hand along the cold, damp stone and shuddered. Why do I live here?

"Alleyni," Evyn prodded.

She sighed, "I'm coming."

"No, you're putting it off as long as you can. Come on."

"You just want to see Lyssa," Alleyni scowled.

Evyn looked away from her and Alleyni tried to swallow her resentment. She tried to ignore Evyn's attraction to her younger sister and arch nemesis, but it festered inside of her like an insidious, jealous serpent. He's still my best friend, even if he does have inexcusable taste in women. She shoved the unwelcome jealousy into its home in the pit of her stomach.

After passing under the portcullis, they walked through the tall red door at the entrance to the palace courtyard, the inlaid gold designs glinting in the sunlight that leaked across the courtyard. Bypassing the myriads of servants and soldiers that milled throughout the courtyard, Alleyni and Evyn walked up the winding stone staircase to King Ghael's chambers. Two armed guards stood at the door and glared when Evyn tried to enter with Alleyni.