Chapter 14 - Idynn

We arrived in Sonera after three long days of travelling.

By day, Safine and I sat in the Prince's carriage. By night, we would disembark; the two of us would have our own separate, smaller tent while the Prince stayed alone.

The carriage rides went something like this:

In the morning, I made an attempt at conversation: 'Your Highness, it is lovely weather we are having.'

'...'

If I was lucky, he would nod or shake his head, or he'd make a vague noise and then immediately resume staring out the window. If I wasn't, my question went unanswered. I stopped after the third try. It did not seem wise to push; from the incident with the chieftain and the elderly tailor, I didn't want to see that icy veneer crack to reveal the stormy sea beneath it again.

So, over those many hours in that small carriage, I came to terms with it. He barely acknowledged me. A servant, a princess—it did not matter. If I couldn't be a worthy princess and wife, the least I could do was make myself as small, as quiet, and as out of the way as I could.

It seemed to be what he wanted. That, I could do.

After these long, tense silences, I was grateful when the sun finally crawled to the end of the horizon. The carriage would stop, the Prince would leave first, and then Shen would help me down and show Safine and I to our tent.

Shen was friendly, occasionally coming by to check on us, but it seemed she was a guard and the Prince's servant. I hadn't seen any other guards around--not even the fearsome Prince's Blade, who was supposed to be his personal bodyguard. I'd heard rumours about that knight, of the black armour they wore and their prowess in battle, but there was no sight of them at all.

Maybe they were still in Sonera? Small mercies, I suppose. I'd gotten used to the Prince's silence, but the thought of a massive armoured knight constantly hovering over his shoulder set my teeth on edge.

Shen never stopped by to change the bandages again. Safine took over that duty, and she sighed and snapped at me when I squirmed too much. T

he cut on my forehead healed well, leaving a small, jagged scar over my eye. My arm did, too.

The day we arrived at Sonera, all the guards and diplomats and soldiers buzzed with excitement. Shen, especially, seemed excited.

The Prince seemed to be sleeping worse every day. The circles around his eyes deepened and darkened, and once or twice, he dozed off in the carriage.

'My Lady,' said Safine and drew the curtain on her side of the carriage, 'look!'

As we crested the hill, a massive, sprawling city came into view. Four concentric circles, each bigger than the last--in the middle was a dazzling palace.

As we crested the hill, a massive, sprawling city came into view. Four huge concentric walls circled and divided the city--in the middle, the dazzling palace, then what must be the houses of the nobility, then the merchants, and finally, the common people.

Outside, I heard Shen's voice call for a rest. The carriage halted and the door opened. The Prince alighted immediately. Shen helped him from the carriage, then aided me and Safine.

The guards, diplomats, and servants were abuzz with excitement. Several of them were smiling as they went about with their chores filling the waterskins from a nearby creek and distributing rations. A guard passed, bowing to me, and whistled a cheery tune.

Everyone was glad to be home.

There was the last of the dried elk meat and bread, now a little stale. I devoured it hungrily. Safine picked at her portion and gave it to one of the guards.

A few small tents were set up. Diplomats entered and emerged with different looks. White and gold clothes, with hair neatened or combed. Those with long hair swept theirs up and stuck hairpins in them.

I changed from my dirty travelling dress into one that the Navhëlm seamstresses made: it was white and dark blue, with snowflakes and oak leaves decorating the bodice and sleeves. It was lighter and had no fur, as Soneran weather was nothing like the North's. I scrubbed Mirea's--no, it was mine now--silver crown with a sleeve and put it on.

Then I saw what the Prince was wearing. If his travelling cloak was already fancy, I wasn't prepared at all for how he looked now. He emerged wearing a smartly tailored uniform, completely black and hemmed with gold. The collar of his shirt was a dark crimson, like blood.

But what made me gasp and my mouth go dry was the sight of the person who emerged behind him.

A tall guard covered in pitch-black armor, the crest of Sonera engraved on the shield they carried. Their helmet was in the shape of a snarling cat-like creature and completely obscured their features. The sword at their side was massive, a two-hander at least.

This was none other than Prince's Blade.

I saw the Prince lift his chin and mutter into their ear. The knight nodded curtly, then they both looked at me.

Oh, so the Prince changed his mind about the alliance. Did I pester him too much in the carriage? Where had the knight been this whole time? Was he now ordering them to kill me?

I forgot to breathe. Beside me, Safine muttered a string of very unladylike curses.

It took every bit of willpower I had not to turn around and flee. The knight fully towered over me; they held out their hand and after a terrifying second where my arms refused to move, they said: 'My Lady. The carriage?'

It was Shen's voice.

I nearly jumped out of my skin with fright. Slowly, hesitantly, I placed my hand in her gloved one.

She led me to the carriage and helped me up. I took a deep breath and said, 'Sh-shen?'

'Yes, My Lady?' Up close, the snarling cat looked even more terrifying, the metal teeth deadly sharp.

But I saw Shen's eyes in its open mouth, the same friendly cheerfulness I had come to know over the past few days. It gave me enough courage to ask. 'You never told me you were the Prince's Hand.'

'Forgive me, My Lady, but you never asked.'

'Your name isn't Shen, is it?'

She tilted her head at me. 'I would never lie to you, My Lady. 'Shen' is part of my name, but you may call me Morghen.'

Did she just... wink at me? I boarded the carriage feeling slightly dizzy and somehow calmer. Safine sat down next to me. 'Idynn,' she said under her breath, 'I really thought we were going to die back there. Did you know that guard was the Prince's Blade?'

My reply came out strangled. 'No.'

The Prince came in behind us. The horses whinnied and our carriage jerked forward. The next time I'd set foot on soil again, it would be in Soneran territory.

As we neared the city, the huge white walls grew larger and larger. A horn sounded--high and piercing, nothing like the Navhelm horns whose sound sank deep into your bones. This one made me grit my teeth. I heard a guard bellow, 'HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE ADENOS HAS RETURNED.'

A pair of massive gates swung open and we entered.

The Prince had had a chance to freshen up. He looked less tired but his brows were drawn into a tight frown, his body tense and his fists clenched at his sides.

When Safine tried to open the curtains a little more, he said, 'Keep them closed.' His were completely drawn, and for the first time during the whole trip, he sat back and closed his eyes instead of looking out the window.

She obeyed. I contented myself with peering through the crack in the curtains.

The first ring held the commonfolk, people going about their day-to-day activities. They looked up with excitement as the carriages approached, but when they saw the drawn curtains and what I imagined was Morghen in that recognisable black armour, their faces fell. Some of them ushered their children away, while the bolder ones simply glared.

One brave soul boo-ed, which caused a ripple of fear and revulsion in the crowd.

I knew why the Prince chose to keep the curtains shut now.

We continued to the second ring, where the wealthier people resided. The clothes of these upper-class citizens fit better and were less threadbare. They were more silent in their terror of the Prince's reputation; the streets emptied quickly when we passed by.

Same for the nobles in the third ring, their attire colourful and extravagant, except they tittered behind their fans or whispered into their friends' ears as they caught sight of the carriage.

Then the final ring: the palace.

These gates were gilded, the most ornate of all. A huge tree with massive branches was carved into it, creatures frolicking in its branches. They creaked open, welcoming me to my new home.