Heart of a Diamond: A Rakta Diamond Story

A New Home

Rakta could never forget when he first saw Avinos. It was his most important memory. The thing that had changed his life so radically before it had been shattered into echoes and smoke.

He'd been found late. His mother had hidden him from the Queen's men for seven years, but she had always been a sickly woman. When she'd died, Rakta had gone to the only place he could think of that might offer him a new home. He'd known what he was in a way most children his age never could. The mark on his neck had shown him who he was and the path he was to take.

So, when he'd shown up on the steps of Diamond Castle, it had felt completely natural to say, "I am your new Ace."

He'd been taken in hastily and cleaned up before being ushered into the throne room with a whispered word to make sure he bowed low.

He hadn't—not at first—his attention caught by a little girl about his age who sat next to the Queen's throne, curiosity evident on her face. He hadn't known it until it was too late, but that's when he'd fallen for the Diamond Princess. With her sitting there, lovely as a sunset, and interested in him.

The Queen cleared her throat and Rakta—snapped back to his senses—scrambled to bow, bending almost in half as he struggled to make up for his late response. He heard her chuckle before she said, "You may rise."

Rakta looked up, sneaking another look at the girl before he focused his attention solely on Queen Mielas Diamond. She watched him, a considering look on her face. "We have been looking for you for quite some time, Ace," she said softly. "What are you called?"

"My mother named me Rakta, Your Majesty. But you can call me what you want." He tacked the last on hastily, afraid to presume to tell this lovely, imposing woman anything.

She smiled at him. "Rakta." She seemed to taste the word. "That has rather a nice ring to it, wouldn't you say, darling?"

Rakta risked another peek at the small girl, who nodded at her mother and in a clear, sweet voice answered, "It's better than other names, I suppose."

The Queen shushed her daughter gently before turning her attention once more to Rakta, who had to resist the urge to stick his tongue out at the princess. Mielas looked at him for a long time. Rakta just looked back, discomfort making his skin prickle, but he didn't know what else to do.

He started slightly when the Queen said, "Avinos, take him to Masuta. He'll know what to do with our new Ace."

Rakta shifted nervously, her words sinister to his ears as he wondered just what that meant.

He looked around to try and find the person who was supposed to take him before they found him, then jumped when a voice next to him said, "Well? Aren't you coming?"

Rakta's jaw dropped as the princess beckoned for him to follow her. He looked uncertainly at the Queen, who just smiled and gestured for him to follow her daughter. He swallowed hard before squaring his shoulders and following the girl through what appeared to be a forest of people, out of the throne room.

They walked in silence for what seemed a very long time to Rakta. He spent the time craning his neck around, trying to look at the crests, tapestries and paintings that decorated the walls of the castle. He was so busy looking around that he wasn't paying attention to anything else, and startled badly when he bumped into the princess, who had stopped walking for some reason.

Automatically his hands came up, ready to fight.

She glanced at him conspiratorially. "I bet you're hungry."

Like her words had conjured a monster, Rakta's stomach chose that exact moment to growl so loudly that they both could hear it. He dropped his hands, embarrassed by his hunger.