18 Musings

Before 

CASSADREI'S POV

I was sent away so that the Council members could talk. It felt a little insulting, after all I am the Crown Princess and I ought to know what goes on in these meetings. Normally, Mother would have been indulgent, but this wasn't exactly a normal situation. The word extraordinary won't even hold a candle to it. This situation was an unprecedented and impossible one. 

I still couldn't believe that Arphoelus had wanted to intensify our diplomatic relations. Arphoelus had never wanted anything other than a war and now, consciously making an effort to mend our relations isn't exactly their character. I'm sure that everyone was skeptical like me, but we couldn't possibly ignore the proposal. It was the first time an effort had been made by the Arphoelians towards peace, and to reject it would imply an eternity of brutal warfare and a string of widowers and orphans left in its wake. The last time Arphoelus and Mafhaelore had been at war, thousands had perished, an entire kingdom of Perclyses had collapsed and countless number of orphaned children loitered in the streets and dirty alleyways, unable to procure food due to the post-war inflation….lost amidst the masses due to their missing and martyred parents. Perclyses was one of our allies, the strongest of our remaining ports that could trade and allow our Capital to prosper. Losing Perclyses to Arphoelus was a savage blow, one that Mafhaelore had not been able to overcome yet. Trade has dwindled, our granaries keep emptying and market shoots higher, with poverty encasing the entire Kingdom. 

It is due to that reason, Mother had organised a big Harvest festival this year, to commemorate our good crops and to encourage further efforts in growing more indigenous produce. Trade had never been our strongest point, and now we would have to do with even less. With circumstances such as these, we simply can't afford to go into another war. 

I understand this. Mother understands this. But some of the commoners, whose families have been torn apart by Arphoelian cruelty, those who harbour an extreme hatred towards Arphoelus, won't relent so easily. Hence, the meeting….to pacify and postulate ideas of mobilising the mass. The last thing we want now is a full fledged mutiny.

A thunderous chime of bells resounded through the palace walls, it was almost afternoon. Suddenly, I remembered that I had an afternoon Fencing session for which I was already late. I rushed through the Palace, crossing the ornamented courtyard and reached the Palace grounds at the back. The Palace grounds were simply an extension of the forest that surrounded it. The grounds were kept for practice of the Battle Arts, a small extension of it running into the Palace itself as an elaborate garden, maintained immaculately by our Royal Gardener Imphis. 

When I reached the Palace grounds, Fiona was already waiting for me, thumping her feet impatiently on the ground. She is a fidgety little creature, tiny and well-built, with luscious blue hairs that are thicker than her body and sharp almond shaped eyes that missed nothing. She was our Fencing instructor, one of the finest in Mafhaelore….and today her hair was plaited and tied into an elaborate ponytail that hung high above her head and yet her plaits reached the floor. 

"You are late." Fiona said sternly. I liked her, but in moments of anger, she became very unlikeable. 

"I was..er...at the Court. Nasty affairs." I replied, solemnly nodding my head. 

Her expression changed. "So it is true! What they are saying, Arphoelus had indeed extended an offer of peace." She said. 

"I am afraid so. Mother and the other Council members are going over the terms as I speak." I replied, elated that I had been spared her wrath. 

Fiona frowned, she didn't think very highly of Arphoelians. However, it wasn't her place to question the Queen's decisions, so she replied, "Let's not waste time. Commence."

What followed was a flurry of Swords flying all over, a lot of leaping and squealing from my end, expert and precise moves from the calm Fiona. I was drenching in sweat by the time we had finished. Or, I was finished... clearly Fiona wasn't. 

"Come come Princess, it's unbecoming of you to give up so easily. We need to have few more rounds before you can retire for the day. Consider it a punishment for arriving late today." Fiona sneered. 

It was blasphemous, I was already panting like pigs and yet Fiona stood, solid as a rock...her elaborate ponytail firmly held in place. 

Fencing had never really been my strongest point. I was more interested in archery. 

"Now there, give this young woman a break!" A familiar deep baritone sounded from nowhere. 

Within seconds, he appeared….slick black hair and jet blue eyes, he smelt of firewood and inferni. Magnus.

Confusion shrouded Fiona's face, "Who are you? Are you even permitted to be within grounds?" She demanded. 

Then she saw the red half moon on Magnus' cloak and let out an audible gasp. 

"Stand back, Princess..He is an Arphoelian, let me handle this." Fiona said urgently, shifting her weighting between her feet, sword lifted in her hand. 

The soldiers surrounding Magnus were promptly back in position. A sense of desperation spread over me as I realised that Fiona was grossly outnumbered by them.

Magnus looked mildly amused. He swept his hands lazily, and his companions quickly retreated, bringing their weapons down. Then, he fixed his gaze upon Fiona and said, "Now now, I do appreciate a bit of courage, but is it worth your life young lady? I can easily take you down and I won't even require a sword for it." He smiled. 

Fiona flinched, but she stood her ground."I won't give in without a fight." She said, stoically.

"Alas! I am not here for one." He replied lazily, then he produced a sealed document from his pockets and allowed Fiona to see it. 

Her hostility was promptly replaced by an unreadable expression. 

" As you wish, General." She said tersely, and left….. leaving me alone in Magnus' magnificent presence. 

I realised that I was shivering. Ashamed of my condition, I stuttered and said," What do you want?"

A soft smile lingered on Magnus' lips as he spoke, "I was interested in seeing the beautiful Mafhaelorian Princess that everyone seems to go on about. I see their praise isn't ill-placed."

I felt myself blushing a little, and then I quickly controlled my emotions. I can't let my emotions cloud my judgement, not now when one of the most powerful members of an enemy kingdom stood before me. I had my dignity to maintain. 

I was staring at Magnus, unable to comprehend his intentions when he spoke. " Don't be so hostile now. I just wanted to meet all the members of the Royal Family before I went back."

"You are going back?" I said, and instantly regretted my statement. 

"Well, it depends" Magnus replied charmingly, then leaning closer to me, he said, "Depends on whether the offer will be accepted by your Mother. I do hope she has better judgement than her predecessor, last thing both our countries need is a war."

I agreed with him on this front. He did make sense, but that doesn't mean that I have to be friendly with him though. Did I want to be friendly with him? I didn't want to know the answer. 

"What do you think, Princess? What shall I call you? Your Highness, Milady?" Magnus taunted me. 

I felt affronted. "You can call me Cassadrei, please."I said tightly. 

"Cassadrei. A beautiful name for a beautiful lady!" Magnus replied with a twinkle in his eyes. 

I couldn't control my blushing as he knelt before me, took my hands and kissed them. I jumped and withdrew!

"What do you think you are doing?" I exclaimed frantically. 

"What do you think I'm doing Cassadrei? I am honoured to meet a lovely Princess and I am greeting you like a chivalrous gentleman should."

"I don't care for your chivalry! Arphoelians are anything but chivalrous. All of you people are just traitorous sorts.I don't want to have anything to do with you people." I retorted. 

The smile disappeared from Magnus' face, replaced by a stern look, "There's no need to be rude. I just wanted to mend our relations. I don't want another war, I had lost my father in the previous one. Don't you think it's time we are civil with one another to prevent another round of bloodshed? I am trying my part, it's on you to try yours. Or, do you want the annihilation of both our dynasties?" Magnus' voice was hurt and without any further speech, he went away as suddenly as he had appeared. 

I watched his retreating figure with a mixture of anguish, disappointment and guilt. I shouldn't have spoken like that…. atleast to a guest. Then, I wondered if he had really meant what he had just said.