Hope is all he has left...
Prince Kian is supposed to be dead. He was only 8 years old when the Dark King came into his home and slaughtered his family. Now 21, he lives in hiding, grieving the family and the kingdom both lost. With no magic left...
"What are you up to?" I asked Areis as I fell back onto his bed, causing the thick blankets to scrunch up around me.
"Zora, I just made that," He whined from where he stood inspecting the contents of his wardrobe.
"You mean you watched the servant make it?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow.
"Whatever." he huffed, holding out a hideous, sparkly rose-colored tunic. "This is just insulting," He flung the shirt at my face.
"Ew! Get it off! Get it off!"
Cayra poked her head up from the book she was reading. "Areis, you monster! You know Zora is allergic to sparkles!" She quickly jumped off the edge of the window and removed the shirt from my head. She looked at her brother with a smirk, "Zora, I think this color would look really good on him, don't you?"
I grinned, "Only one way to find out!" Areis's face was a mask of horror as we sprung off the bed in his direction.
"No! Anything but that!" He cried, sprinting to hide in the bathroom. Luckily, he beat us there and locked the door.
"You can't stay in there forever, Areis," Cayra crooned.
"We can wait for hours," I added.
"If I go down, you better believe that both of you are coming down with me," Areis' grave voice sounded from behind the door.
Cayra shrugged and plopped back down on the edge of the window, picking up her book. I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
I shook my head with a smile, "Nothing." It was rare to see Cayra be anything but quiet and graceful. Only her brother could bring out this mischievous side. I lied down on the bed, content to get some rest before tomorrow. My nap was interrupted shortly after this, by Tyri's entrance. The young woman walked in with a huge smile on her face.
"What's that grin about?" Cayra asked.
Tyri sat down on the edge of the bed, "Nothing."
I snorted, "Whatever you say."
"Is that Tyri? Tyri, help! I'm being held hostage in my own chambers!" Areis called out from the bathroom. Tyri gave me a confused look.
"Why is Areis in the bathroom?"
Cayra and I looked at each other, "No reason."
Tyri shrugged, "Areis, come out you lune!" The door creaked open, Areis poked his head out.
"Truce?'' He asked, looking at me.
My mouth lifted in a smirk, "For now."
"I just came in to tell you kids to get some sleep, we're leaving for Stockgrove for tomorrow after all," Tyri said.
I frowned, "That is the exact reason why I won't be able to sleep."
"We should at least try," said Cayra.
"That's it, I'm kicking you all out! Go get some sleep!" Areis declared, ushering us towards the door.
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That night I dreamed of a raging fire, burning the throne room of the Drimorian Palace, of a brown-skinned girl dancing in the flames, of a blue-eyed boy with a bloodied dagger watching the chaos from the throne as if it were fascinating entertainment.
"Zora?" I woke suddenly to someone shaking my shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes.
"You sleep like the dead, for fate's sake woman! Wake up!" Stailon stood over me. I groaned and threw a pillow at him.
"Not cool," He said, catching it easily. I rolled back over and covered my face with the blanket.
"Hestia, a cup of cold water please?" He asked. A few seconds later I was wide awake and dripping wet.
"Stailon, I will kill you," I said, lethally calm. The man ran from my room faster than Areis ran towards a plate of pastries.
"In his defense, you were being rather stubborn," Hestia reasoned.
I shrugged, "Not an excuse."
"Kian wants everybody ready to go in an hour. Your breakfast is on the dresser. I would stay and help you get ready, but I still haven't finished packing my own things."
"I didn't know you were coming," I replied.
Hestia rolled her eyes, "I didn't find out until late last night, my mother was related to a seer so Kian thinks that I might have family in Stockgrove."
"Really? Do you know specific names?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
Hestia shook her head, "I don't know much, the plan is just to ask around and see if anyone knew my parents."
"Well, when we get there I'll let every seer in camp know to expect a visit from you," I said.
Hestia smiled, "Thanks, Zora."
An hour later I had made my way down to the main gates.
"Hey, all ready to go?" Kian asked me, as I approached.
I held up the small pack of my belongings, "Ready as I'll ever be."
"Don't be nervous, we're only taking a small group but some of my best fighters are coming. No one will be hurt on this journey or during the time we spend in Stockgrove," He assured me.
I gave him a tight smile, "I hope you're right."
"So, what's going to happen to your advisors? How do we know they won't have staged an uprising or something while we're gone?" Tyri asked, joining the conversation.
Kian smirked, "I've left Stailon in charge. Trust me, no one will try anything."
"He isn't coming with us?" Tyri inquired, her tone casual.
"He's the only person I trust to keep everyone in line while I'm gone."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense." She shrugged, pretending not to care. I could tell this revelation bothered her, which surprised me. I hadn't known that she and Stailon were close.
"Don't worry, hothead, I came to say goodbye." An arrogant voice called out to us, marking Stailon's approach.
"Pssh, I wasn't worried in the slightest," Tyri said, trying to keep a grin off her face.
"Hey, Kian, has that crystal always been there?" I asked loudly, winking.
He grinned, "I don't know, why don't we check it out?" He took my arm, steering us away from Tyri and Stailon.
"They'd be good together," I said.
Kian laughed, "Indeed."
"Are we getting out of here or what?!" Areis called, fighting Cayra's attempts to put a hand over his mouth.
"I guess, it's time to go," I surmised.
"It appears so." A pang of nerves hit me. How would my people take our news?
Sorry for the technical difficulties with this chapter, for some reason the ending was cut off when I published it. Everything is fixed now though.
