Heir

Chapter 2, Scene 1

Princess Carys was silent as she watched Deidra pack a small trunk with a few of her belongings. The agitation that the woman felt was obvious to the girl’s observant eyes. She had come into the Princess’ room just before sunrise, roused her, and gone immediately to packing without even helping Carys to dress. She sat on the edge of her bed, still in her nightgown, watching Deidra move busily around the bedchamber. The handmaiden had told her nothing, except that they were going to visit her brother, Prince Kylian.

“Milady, you may have to dress yourself this morning.” Deidra advised. “We have little time.”

A stream of thoughts filtered through Carys’ mind – the sudden trip to Darkmoor, her dream of the Royaland throne empty, her father’s failing health, her mother’s death. Her gaze was drawn instinctively towards the one black dress that hung in her wardrobe. Once her eyes had settled on it, they were nearly unblinking.

“What’s going on?” Prince Roan had appeared in the doorway, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“We’re going to visit your brother, Prince Kylian.” Deidra explained. “Now, go dress yourself. I’ll be in there in a moment to pack your things.”

Roan stood quietly. He looked at his sister who still sat motionless. He frowned. He didn’t know as much of the situation as Carys did, but he could tell something was wrong. He finally turned and went back to his own bedchamber.

Carys rose from the bed and stepped over to the wardrobe. She pulled down the black dress and laid it on the bed. Quickly swapping it for her nightgown, she began lacing up the front as she watched Deidra pack the last few items into her trunk. Deidra froze when she looked up at the princess. She hadn’t seen the girl wear that color since her mother died, nearly six years ago.

“I am to be an orphan, then?” The princess asked. Her words were flat. She allowed no emotion to break the surface. Deidra said nothing in response, but just looked at the girl, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Wait there.” The handmaiden instructed while she slipped through the doorway to her own bedchamber. A moment later she returned bearing a small wooden box with a hinged lid.

“Your mother wanted you to have this when you came of age, but I do not think a couple of years will make all that much of a difference.” Deidra explained as she handed the box to Carys. The princess ran her fingers over the smooth wood of the box, feeling the intricate knot work carved into the top of it. Gently, she opened the lid, revealing the contents to be a silver charm in the shape of a flat hexagon. A raised image of an eye adorned the charm, with a brilliant diamond as its pupil. The charm hung on a black leather cord. Carys recalled seeing the charm before. When she was a little girl she would climb into her mothers lap and the queen would cradle her in her arms. As she lay with her head against her mother’s chest her eyes would often be drawn to the unusual necklace that hung around her neck.

“Here, let me.” Deidra offered. Carys held her black curls off of her neck while the handmaiden drew the necklace around her throat and tied the two ends of the cord together in the back. Carys let her hair fall back over her shoulders and looked down admiringly at the charm once more.

“I promise that we’ll be alright.” Deidra said.

“Thank you.” Carys said, as she wrapped her arms around the other woman and began to shed just a few tears. Deidra returned the embrace.

“We must be strong for your little brother.” Deidra encouraged. “This is going to be especially hard on him.”

“Of course.”

*****