Chapter 5: Willing sacrifices

The stables have been a heaven for the Prince since forever. It was an escape from the annoying Princess and all people who are attached to her like flies.

Drystan owned a mare. An amazing creature to behold. He called her Daffy, short for Daffodil. Years ago when he had just turned ten, his mother surprised him with the flutterhorse. The king had encouraged him to choose a powerful name with meaning but Drystan could only think of a yellow flower which brought him joy.

He gently rubbed her muzzle while she stood relaxed, leaning her chin on his shoulder. Drystan was listening intently as one of the stable boys reported, " Nightshade is bein' transported this very moment. The boys are workin' diligently, yer highness."

Drystan nodded, his eyes still settled on Daffy's face. "Tell them to bring in the other poisons. Small portions. We do not want to overload and end up caught."

"Your highness!" hollered another stable boy, "The princess is heading this way." The prince rolled his eyes, waving the men off. Not long, Drystan's little troop of handy helpers buzzed about to return to their (ordinary) work — brushing horses and mucking out stalls.

Annoyance pricked at Drystan. He was about to give out other orders to his handlers. He had developed his own community within the stables who did dealings under his supervision. Of course, Riona was not to discover this. Poisons were illegal in the kingdom and supposedly rare. She would have a panic attack if she were to realise that they had been right on the castle grounds and were as a matter of fact common, thanks to the Prince who just wanted to mock her rediculus ruling abilities.

The thud of someone landing hastily could be heard, followed by angry footsteps on gravel. Riona appeared from around the corner only to meet a calm Drystan petting his horse. "What has gotten you so worked up?" he asked, eyeing her disgruntled appearance. Her ears were red, yet her face pale. An odd combination that Drystan was yet to desypher.

To his luck she answered straight away with most anger laced with panic, " Your spy has returned wounded. He said the Moths are at our borders. Why did you not tell me!"

"Which spy?" He asked, his posture tense all of a sudden, "What did he look like?"

"I didn't care to analyse him! Dark hair with blood covering his face and a chipped green wing. Now answer me: Why. Did. You. Not tell me?"

"I am not all knowing about what happens on the other side, harpy," he countered. "I must leave at once."

"To where?" shrieked Riona. Drystan only sent her a glare before he turned towards the doors. His priority was to make sure his friend was all right.

Riona was left with no words and undoubtly no ounce of relief. Her hands balled into fists. 'How dare he! This kingdom is as much his as it is mine, how dare he just walk away!' she fumed silently.

Though in all anger she slumped against a stall door. She had to fight back tears. It was frowned upon to cry openly in the butterfly world, so she choked back her sobs. 'The kingdom is in danger...' She thought, 'I cannot wait for my brother to tell me what the next move is... I have to act myself.'

She stared at her fists. Her lips pressed together tightly as her head nodded slowly. She had to find Vance immediately.

*°*

She flew to the castle. He would be there, waiting to question the spy. That was exactly where she found him, pacing in front of the infirmary of Doctor Eisenbach, a European butterfly who had fled and found herself safe in their kingdom.

The moment Vance's eyes settled on the princess he rambled, "Your brother is a twat, you know that? I escort the soldier to the infirmary to only be chased off by the prince! You better have a word with your brother about this. I shall not accept being pushed aside!"

It was surprising to Riona to find Vance in another state that wasn't calm, playful or annoyed at his father. She simply shook her head, reminding herself why she was there, to begin with. "Vance, I need to talk to you," she started, snatching his focus, "I cannot let the kingdom fall under early attack and... We need time."

He looked at her confused. "What are you trying to say?"

"What I mean is, I am willing to go to the borders and hold the Moths off for another week. That should be enough for the castle to prepare and the other troops to arrive. Amateur soldiers need more training and I suggest you allow your father to tutor them. You'll be too busy after all..."

"What are you saying? 'Hold the Moths off'?"

"Yes," she repeated, looking him directly in the eye. "I am going to the border with other three men and we will do whatever we can."

"You are surely insane," snorted Vance, resting his hands on his hips, much like how his mother scolded them in their youth. "You are required here. At my side. Not on the borders."

Riona felt offended. Was he not as desperate as she was to defend their land? Nonetheless, he was only an knight, who was he to tell her what to do, beside as a friend?

She sneered, "I am going, Vance. If you're so keen on keeping me close, then why don't you join then? Your father is here anyway so what shall it be? I am going one way or another." Vance blinked dumbfoundedly. She would talk back to her brother but never him. He cleared his throat, "If you insist, then I shall join."

"The thing is, I don't insist. I was only merely offering you to fill the spot out of your own free will," she said. He blinked once again. "Have I upset you with my worry?"

"Yes," she answered snappingly, "You have, because the kingdom comes first before our friendship."

"I would like to argue that your safety comes first before the kingdom."

"I would have considered that offer if the rest of the army wasn't so maladroit. Think of Casper. If he were sent into battle, the Moths would surely drown him in his own blood."

Vance was now silent.

"You should surely be on your way then," he said relatively bitter, "You wouldn't want the Moths crossing the borders because the little princess has kept them waiting." Riona was about to return a snarky comment but Vance had already been marching down the corridor.

"Great work, harpy. You've peeved your only friend," mocked Drystan who was unmistakably listening in from the infirmary. Riona held a deep breath. "Recount me where I went wrong, dear brother," she said tightly. For a brief moment, he pulled his lip up but settled it back. Putting a finger to his chin he raised both brows, answering scornfully, "What a brilliant question, harpy. Perhaps when you presented such a preposterous idea?"

She glared at Drystan with all the disdain she could muster. He plainly stared back. She raised two hands to smooth over her hair and he watched as Riona put on a mask of calmness. "I wish to talk to the spy," she announced, raising her chin with some authority. Drystan shook his head, disagreeing and denying her request, "Out of the question."

"I shall repeat," she said, "I am going to talk to the spy. Move. Aside." Riona stepped towards the doorway where Drystan was until she stood toe to toe with the young prince. "Move," she commented and for a brief moment he averted his challenging gaze but he moved eventually. Her legs carried her towards a bed, occupied by a darkly dressed butterfly who's head was bandaged and arm put in a sling. The man had already been watching the doorway, though he immediately looked away once he noticed it was the princess.

Riona halted. "Which side are they and how many of them?" she asked without any greeting. It hadn't gone unnoticed by the man so he replied, his face still dropped to his lap, "What a rude way to start a conversation with a wounded butterfly, your highness."

"Answer the question," she urged rolling her eyes. "I do not have time to waste."

"That was two questions, princess, and I've noticed you like wasting time. Your brother certainly does too."

"Do not speak so freely if you favour your tongue. But do continue insulting me. My dagger is in my right boot and I will remove it with pleasure," she said with a straight face. To the spy, it was threatening but to Drystan, it was more a joke. Who was she to threaten a spy of the shadows who had been raised an assassin? An oblivious little princess with a knife in her pocket.

The man raised his hands his face raising to meet her eyes. "I apologize. The Moths are more to the north side of the meadows. It is an army I fear."

Riona glanced the spy up and down. His eyes were familiar. She must have seem him before but she couldn't place a time or event. She nodded. "See, an answer wasn't that challenging."

The princess turned to leave. As the spy said, she tended to waste time and time seemed to run after her realisation that they weren't as prepared as she had thought.

Drystan plopped down on the foot of the bed when Riona was out of sight. He seemed tired too, worried even. "Spunky, why are you so kind to Riona?" asked Drystan, "You shouldn't have answered her."

"Oh, Drystan, your sister would have pierced my tongue for real. She is the princess who lead the attack on the south side pixies after all. She destroys armies," chuckled Spunky, leaning back on his pillow. Drystan sighed, reaching for his dear friend's hand. "She is bad."

Spunky hesitantly shook his head. "She is neither good or bad, it depends who you ask. She might be your rival yet she could still be someone else's world."

Drystan sucked in a breath. "I will never grow to understand you. But rest, you did well."

"I can sleep when I am dead," replied Spunky laughing which earned him a smile from Drystan.