Just Call Her Syndre

Chapter 4 | A Chance to be a Bride

"Please," the man waved the crowd inwards. Sasha and I stepped closer. "Lend me your ears for a moment. For I have the most wonderful announcement to make."

The crinkling of paper began again and he lifted it up a little higher to catch the rays of sunlight, bathing only half the square in warm light. I grinned while I watched him. He was being over dramatic, building the crowd to momentum as they waited for his announcement. Sasha stood next me, practically bursting with excitement.

"Ladies, Gentlemen and children of all ages. I bring to you an announcement from His Royal Majesty Silver Oliver Octavius and our Queen Millian Hadover Octavius, they would like to invite you to a momentous occasion.

Our High Prince Valor Augustine Octavis turns 25 on August 1st and will be choosing a bride. This bride, our next queen, will be chosen from the maidens in this kingdom. All maidens between the ages of 18 and 25 are, by law, ordered and commanded by their king and queen to appear in New Haven on August 1st to the 5th. 

All men, women and children are invited to come, but any maidens not found within the gates of New Haven for this week will be hunted down and brought before the court on counts of treason. 

Thank you for lending me your ears, BrunHilde." The man finished his speech and looked up from his paper, staring dead at me. "We look forward to seeing all maidens from BrunHilde at the ceremony and ball."

He disappeared from the podium and into the crowd. The microphone was cut off and dismantled, before being packed on the back of a carriage that sat just off the side of the square. The man sent me a soft smile before stepping inside the carriage and leaving my view. Sasha bounced next to me in excitement.

"The High Prince is giving a ball!?!" She practically shouted into my ear canal. "Do you know what this means?"

I turned, yanking my arm from her firm grip and covered my aching ears. It was so nosy in the square, people running to and fro, trying to get to the dressmaker as fast as they could. She still stood next to me, staring at me with her sad, green eyes. Tears were gathering at the edges, threatening to soak her cheeks. 

"I'm sorry, Sasha." I reached towards her, pulling her into a tight hug. "My ears were hurting and you were yelling into them." 

She gasped, hugging me tighter. Her voice was whisper soft in my ear when she spoke, "I didn't realize. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." My gaze was caught by the pregnant clouds in the sky and I took on a brisk walk back towards Butterscotch. Sasha stopped my progress, "what do you think about the ball?"

I grimaced, "just sounds like a bunch of horny teens and twenty- somethings getting together to have an excuse for sex." 

"Oh, come one, Syn!" The eye roll I gave couldn't be stopped. "How can you not be excited about the chance to meet the High Prince? I heard he's gorgeous."

I laughed at her giddiness and took her warm hands in mine. "When he chooses you, you have to make me a promise..."

"What promise?"

"That you won't ever return to this town. That you'll turn this country for good and get me a nice, hot duke to have ball slapping sex and two children with." Sasha's face fell in embarrassment and reddened to top off her feelings. Her hands yanked from mine and she stuck out of her hand.

"You've got a deal, Syn."

"Good." We shook hands for a moment and let out short laughs. Our journey resumed, weaving in and out of groups of people bubbling with excitement, even the men looked over the moon about the ball. A grunt came from me at the thought of having to deal with that sort of excitement at home.

"What makes you think that though, Syn?" The sound of Sasha's voice broke through my revere. "Hmmm?" I hummed low in my throat at her question.

"What makes you think he could choose me, Syn?" I laughed, branding her with a look of lunacy. "How could he not choose you, Sasha? You're the most beautiful girl in the world."

Her head was shaking before I could get the rest of the sentence out. "I don't think so, Syn. You're the beautiful one. The men - they all stare." I shook my head this time, poking her in the shoulder. "Nope, they are looking at you, best friend. Not me."

Her carriage met us at Jerry Dymer's, it gleamed under the sunlight partially exposed by the clouds. I stared at it, my eye clinging to solid gold carriage decorated in winding vines and the house colors of Elliot, white and periwinkle. The driver, Nic, jumped down from the seat and opened the door, letting the two steps drop down to the ground. Sasha took a step towards him, leaving me next to a happy-go-lucky Butterscotch. My hand was moving up and down her neck in a soothing rhythm. "You're crazy. It's going to be you, Sash, and I expect full payment when you're married."

A look passed across her face, doubt maybe, before she took a determined step towards me. Her hand was out in front of me, ready for a second shake. I took it and shook her hand, a smile tugging at the edge of my lips in victory. But her determined gaze was one that robbed me of feeling superior for a moment, then her words dragged me down further.

"I wager you are wrong, Syndre-Lynn. I wager that the High Prince will fall in love with the hidden jewel of BrunHilde. I wager, that you'll be his wife and then you'll be the one lining up a sexy duke for me to have," she cleared her throat and glance around, her voice lowered, "ball slapping sex with and tons of children." 

I frowned, trying to yank my hand away. Sasha tightened her grip and gave me a hard look. Gulping, I nodded my head and grasped her hand tighter for a strong handshake. She obviously approved, and slipped her soft hand from mine and turned to her carriage. I muttered out to no one in partially as she pulled from the curb.

"You're wrong." My resolve hardened. "There's no way that Prince is falling for me and I'm going to make sure of it."