Red Sorrow

Chapter One

Nannika:

No one noticed how this man just crushed my red braid in his hand, before he showed it to the exultant masses outside the castle balcony. I was just a sacrificial goat in an arranged marriage, just to keep the peace. This man hated me maybe more than I hated him.

The roar of the people grew louder, and he looked at me with cold, hard eyes.

This was my wedding to Prince Rend from our neighbouring country, Cirinta. He was tall and with black, long hair that he kept loose. It was well kept, and shined in the sunlight.

Eriah in the north and Cirinta in the south was two neighbouring countries on a small island, and with only factor alone, it was already built for disaster.

For 200 years, the flames of war had been burning.

Oddly enough, they held one particular thing in common. Those who boasted black hair reigned as nobility and royalties, while those with brown and blonde hair where commoners. Red was a rare color, that seldom was seen anywhere.

And then there was the demi-humans with the ears and tails of beasts, an underclass that worked as slaves, and with senses that surpassed humans, demi-humans also fought in the frontlines of war.

Cirinta was blessed with nice weather and fertile soil, a contrast to Eriah in the north, with bitter winters, and little crops.

However there was the river Manels, which flowed from the north of Eriah to the south in Cirinta. Eriah could dam the waters, to strike an attack on Cirinta.

When the flames of war grew to intense, a royal marriage was agreed upon, to mend the rift, and stand as a peace treaty.

But such peace seldom lasted longer than five to six years.

Even so, this did not deter the two countries, and the futile attempts of peace was continued.

And so it was with that, second born Pince Rend of Cirinta, and I Princess Nannika, of Eriah had an arranged marriage, as a symbol of peace for the countries.

At home I was a contrast to my family that had black hair, and I was a shame for my grandfather, the king. Usually I was kept away from people, and I seldom got to go out.

Our ceremony was now over, and when we got inside, Cain grabbed my braid, and tugged it until it hurt. "Some princess they sent me. What's with your hair?" I turned my head a little, so I met his eyes. "Is it your custom in this country? Grabbing women's hair without permission?" His face grew menacing. "Make no mistake. You are my property, and I'll do as I please with you." He tugged it so hard that tears sprang to my eyes.

"Unhand my Lady, please." Cain, my servant, came around us, and Rend sneered at him.

Cain didn't bother with Rend, and met my eyes instead. "It was an beautiful sermony Princess Nannika."

Rend stepped away from me, and looked Cain up and down. "A single demi-human servant? Oh, how they pamper you princess. Is that dog ears? Ha. An ugly redhead's bestfrie-"

Rend didn't have time to continue the sentence, since Cain had drawn a dagger in an amazing speed, and put it against Rend's throat.

Behind us, a male servant that I'd often seen with Rend, approached, and several guards that was guarding the hallways, drew their weapons.

"You do realize killing Prince Rend would mean your death? You should be executed for this action alone."

Cain didn't even look at the servant, he just stared at Rend, and held a firm grip on the dagger.

"You don't understand. I don't care if he's the Prince of Cirinta, and Princess Nannika's husband. No one insults my mistress."

Rend scoffed. "So the dog hasn't been house trained. Or maybe he has a reason to die?"

The situation grew more intense, and I went between them, and Cain took down his dagger.

I turned around and slapped Cain hard. "Whatever he may be, this man is my husband. That makes him your master as well. Now apologize!"

Cain bowed low. "I am sorry. Forgive me." He said in an indifferent tone and Rend bursted out in laughter. "Ha! Maybe your royalty after all! At least you know some manners!"

I turned around and hit him as hard as I could with my fist. He fell over with a baffled expression.

"Cain. Disciplining my husband is my duty. As for you, Rend, you should be ashamed for how you treated Cain. As royalty we should treat all our subjects equally."

Rend jumped up and grabbed my throat, pushing me up against the wall.

He looked down on me with a blank expression. "Watch your tongue. Or else I'll send it back to your country with the rest of your head."

I met his eyes, and pushed my throat harder against his hand. "Do it. My red hair, you enjoy mocking it so much don't you? Do you know how much I've suffered because of it? Your country or mine, the only difference is where I die."

He let go of my throat, and took a step back, looking like he was looking for something to answer.

A a sudden flash before my eyes, made me fall sideways, and the last thing I heard was Cain calling out my name, before all faded to black.

Rend:

I watched Cain as he caught her in a fluid movement when she fell, without any effort.

It angered me a little that they seemed to be so close. "Some princess there. Hitting me in one minute, and passing out the next. Take her to her room."

I started walking, and my servant Bane came laughing beside me. "She's quite a lady, eh? Knocking you off your feet! You have to admit that she keeps things interesting."

I scoffed and walked a little faster. "You must be really bored if you find useless pawns interesting."

Bane laughed loudly. "Pardon my rudeness. It was vulgar. But my interest in that spitfire princess has deepened."

I growled. "Forcing me to marry that ugly redhead, and using me as a tool to get peace, makes me sick already. Having to see that face every day, god help me, that's going to be a bother."

Bane walked me back to my quarters, and left me alone.

"What in the world were they thinking?" I spoke loudly to myself.

"How is this going to give peace to the countries? At least they could have sent a little sexier one, not a wild girl, with no respect."

I kept on walking back and forth until it was time for the family dinner to start.