Blood and Betrayal

-05-

Anthrea shivered as the ice-cold rain soaked into her bones.

The prince cantered up next to her. "Not used to the cold?" He sighed.

She shook her head and laughed a bit. "In Southern Neramme, it's almost always hot. The coldest it gets would be a thin sprinkle of frost on the top layer of grass."

He nodded slowly. "Well, I guess you'll kind of have to get used to it. Adronus is known to be kind of... cold."

Anthrea stared into the fog. "Yeah..."

An awkward sort of silence came between them.

Anthrea cleared her throat. "So, um, how's your family?"

Prince Ian glanced sidelong at her. "Strange question, coming from you."

"And why would that be?"

"Well, I've always thought of you as, well... kinda introverted."

Anthrea laughed. "You've only known me for a day- do you expect to know everything about me in one day?"

"What... are you suggesting?"

Her cheeks flushed. "Sorry. Wrong choice of words, I guess?"

"Ooh, what are we talking about here? Maybe gossiping?" Leila rode up next to them. "Or something else?" She drew out the final syllable with a playful tilt to her voice.

Anthrea punched Leila, urging her mare, Ralline, into a gallop. She inhaled, feeling the crisp autumn air deep in her lungs.

The prince caught up to her. "You know, if you look closely, you can see an outline of The Spire."

Anthrea turned to him, surprised. "The... Spire?"

He smacked himself. "I forgot you come from the southern areas of Neramme! Sorry, it's just a tall tale based on just a random tower."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I'd like to hear, if you don't mind."

Prince Ian, gazed towards the distant silhouette of the soaring column. "It's just a folktale, really, but if you want to hear it, I guess, sure."

By that time, Leila had rode up next to them.

Anthrea glanced over at her. "No sassy remark this time?"

She grinned. "You wish. Now if you would just shut up... I would like to hear the prince's story as well."

He shrugged. "Well-"

One of the men who had accompanied the prince on the journey cantered towards them.

The prince turned. "What is it, Parker?"

The person named Parker whispered something in his ear.

His Highness faced Anthrea. "Well, it turns out we're closer to Adronus than thought. I guess last night's storm washed away any remains of our bearings."

Leila scanned the horizon. "Is that... the wall?"

Anthrea leaned forward as they got closer.

The wall was a forbidding palisade made of stone, looming high above her head and disappearing into the early morning fog.

Then Anthrea saw the castle. Majestic towers rose to looming heights, with shining turrets and windows polished to the point where they could be mistaken for diamonds for the way they shimmered and sparkled in the sun.

The hedges were perfectly trimmed, with teardrop-shaped emerald leaves, and chocolate-colored branches.

Something bugged Anthrea, though- something about the castle that seemed a little too perfect.

--

Leila flopped onto the bed.

"Making yourself at home, hmm?" Anthrea chided.

"Well, technically this is my home if I ever want to take a break from Quibeo- my uncle and father live here, remember?"

Anthrea nodded slowly. "I almost forgot."

Leila stretched her legs and strolled over to her closet.

"You might want to be careful," Anthrea warned. "They might make you change your mind about which outfit is your favorite."

"Well, seeing as my old favorite is already ruined by someone, I probably will change my mind."

"Still focused on bugging the prince until his ears fall off?"

"Oh that'll be no problem, I imagine!"

The two girls turned to see a middle-aged woman standing in the doorway with a couple of towels.

She bustled in, heading for the bathroom.

"I presume you two aren't yet used to Adronus?"

"Uhh..."

"Oh no problem, no problem at all, my name is Denailla, your... how do I put it?"

Oookay. Anthrea leaned towards Leila. "Should I just set all people here to default weird?" She hissed.

Leila stared at Denailla. "Maybe you should." 

Word Count: 700

A/N: So sorry for the short chapter! I literally wrote half of this chapter on my phone while I was in bed :P The other half was just on my laptop and stuff.