Chapter 2

Chapter Two

SIYANA

I tossed my sword onto the rack of practice weapons and a breath later had my cloak securely fastened around my shoulders and the hood drawn over my head.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Brenson,” I called out in a rush as he began to push to his feet, “I have a matter to tend to that can’t wait before my council meeting.”

I had to imagine his skull was still ringing from a mixture of that blow and the ale from last night. Telling him our session might have been witnessed by someone, despite him taking the early morning rotation where he would be responsible for monitoring the northern rampart wall that overlooked the armory, would not go over well. Best I handled this with a deft hand than to have a roaring commander alerting even more people to an issue.

He lifted a hand to wave me off. “Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow I’ll get redemption for this, so be prepared.”

His half-hearted warning made the corners of my lips pull up into a gentle smile. There were definitely days when he left me sore and bruised, but it had been a good bit of time since then. I wasn’t sure if I was improving that much or if, for some reason, he had begun taking it easy on me.

I took off in the direction of the stranger, hoping I was fast enough to catch up with them. If they were in a dress, it was likely they wouldn’t be running anywhere—that was highly frowned upon for the workers within the castle and would draw too much attention. It was still early enough that only the staff would be awake, though, and that might embolden the person.

I was more grateful than ever for my leathers at this moment, feeling my legs extend to their full stride without a dress holding me back. The brisk morning air whipped at my face as I pumped my arms to propel me faster. I had to catch whoever this was.

Anxiety swiftly pooled within my stomach and chest at the thought of our session being made known to the public. Had we gotten too lax in our routine, since it had been years and no one had discovered us?

My father only allowed Brenson and me to have these sessions under the strict rule that we were not to be observed, to prevent any rumors about my love of the blade from starting. Brenson had vouched that it would be his head on the line if we were ever discovered. As one of the youngest to rise to station of commander, he held a lot of respect, and in particular with my father, but this was a misstep that would not be tolerated.

I wiped at the bead of sweat trickling down my temple, the heat in my body rising with my anxiety and racing heart. I was willing to risk going against my father when it was just the chance of myself being reprimanded as a teen, but now that Brenson’s station and honor were on the line, things were drastically different.

Turning a corner that led to a wider corridor toward the kitchens and great hall, I increased my pace until I reached the end. It forked in two directions. My braid whipped me in the jaw as my head swiveled both ways and indecision plagued my gut. My fingers curled until my nails dug into my palms, the painful bite grounding me in the moment. Which direction, Sia? I couldn’t allow everything Brenson had worked so hard for to be thrown out because of me.

The tell-tale sound of a wooden door creaking open had my feet carrying me down the left corridor instantly. I ran toward the end of the hall before sliding around the corner, the flat bottoms of my boots not catching well against the smooth floor. The breath was knocked from my lungs as my shoulder collided with the wall for a brief moment, but my eyes locked onto the woman going into a room at the end of this hallway, and I grinned.

Found you.

I collected myself, steadying my breath as I walked toward the door. Now that I’d discovered her, what was I even going to say? My hand fell on the door handle but stilled before I could pull it open.

Would she want to be paid for her silence?

My brow furrowed at the scenarios rolling through my mind before a sigh puffed over my lips and my shoulders fell. Whatever she wanted for her silence, I’d have to give it to her. There were only two people I considered true friends, and Brenson was one of them. I’d not allow his life to crumble due to his support of my secret training.

I’d negotiate my way out of this. I was a lady raised in the political sphere, after all.

With a deep inhale, I pushed the door open and came face to face with a wide-eyed young woman I didn’t recognize. She must have been new, as I made it a point to befriend all of our staff. All that was in her small room was a small bed, a table with a steel pitcher and matching cup for water, and a small chest of belongings at the foot of it.

Her gray eyes darted behind me toward the door, as if she was contemplating escape. Absolutely not . Instinct came over me, and in mere moments, I had the dagger that was hidden in my boot pulled out and at her throat, trapping pieces of her straw-colored hair against her fair skin as I did.

I snarled as I closed the distance between our faces, “Tell me exactly what you saw back there before I cut into your vein and leave you to bleed out.”

Well, there went my attempts at a polite negotiation. I tried.

The girl's large eyes widened in terror, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Her voice shook as she stuttered, "I-I didn't see anything, Your Highness! I swear it!"

So, she knew exactly who I was, despite me not being in my typical royal attire. That would most certainly be a problem.

I pressed the blade harder against her skin before snapping at her, "Don't lie to me!” Her bottom lip quivered as I ground my teeth together and forced myself to take a deep breath. “I will ask once more…What did you see?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she trembled. "Please, Princess Siyana, I meant no harm. I was just delivering linens and I got lost. I heard the clash of swords as I tried to find my way. I...I was curious. I only watched for a moment, I promise!"

If the hay I smelled on her was any indicator, she’d also taken a trip to the stables this morning, which was nowhere near the training yard. That was a considerable distance to cross, and there were no linens to be delivered there.

My eyes narrowed. “Why do you smell like you’ve lain with the horses, if you’ve been delivering linens as you said?”

Her mouth popped open with a sharp inhale. Pink warmed the apples of her cheeks as she stammered, “I…I shouldn’t speak of such things with you, Your Highness, it isn’t acceptable.”

Color my curiosity doubly-piqued.

I studied her oval face, searching for any sign of deception that I might have missed. Finding none, I slowly lowered the dagger to my side, though I kept it clutched tightly in my hand. "What's your name?"

"Mira, Your Highness," she whispered as I took a step back to allow for the slightest amount of room between us. Her hand came up reflexively to smooth over the skin my blade had just been held to. There was no wound—I’d been careful—but it was natural to want to ensure your throat was indeed intact.

I gave her a moment to assure herself of that fact before I felt her focus entirely back on me. Slipping my dagger back into my boot, I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

“Well, Mira, as you just saw, I’m quite the fan of things that aren’t acceptable.” The barest of smiles turned her lips up at my words. “Humor me.”

Her anxiety was palpable from the rigid set to her shoulders and the way her tongue kept darting out to wet her lips.

“I wasn’t lying with the horses, Your Highness,” she answered, lowering her voice and dropping her eyes to the ground, “just the stableman.”

My eyes widened and I couldn’t stop the laughter from pouring out of me.

“Good for you,” I answered, composing myself. “Just a word of caution: Sebastian is known to not have the best loyalty when it comes to his partners.”

It was her turn to laugh, and I found a smile returning to my lips as she did. It was a sweet laugh that instantly put me at ease.

“I appreciate your honesty, Princess Siyana, but you don’t have to worry about that,” she admitted with a wink. “I don’t have all my eggs in one basket, either.”

My smile turned into a full-fledged grin. I officially liked her.

Her words seemed genuine, and if she was indeed new like I thought, the story of getting lost was entirely plausible—it wasn’t a small castle, after all. She was either a terrific performer, or I was a gullible oaf.

Despite my heart telling me she was being honest with me, there was still a matter to settle. One that I couldn’t let go so easily.

I stepped back to lean against the wall. “So, Mira, what do you intend to do with the knowledge that I was sparring? It isn’t common knowledge, and it needs to stay that way."

Mira's eyes widened as she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, a flicker of something I couldn't quite place dancing across her face. Why did she suddenly seem nervous?

"Do with it? Nothing, Your Highness. I...” Her eyes rose to meet mine, her shoulders rolling back as she admitted, “I admire you. The way you moved with that sword, it was like watching poetry in motion. I couldn’t look away until the dragon’s roar shocked me out of it."

I blinked, taken aback by her unexpected response. There was an earnestness in her gaze that gave me pause.

"You admire it?" I asked, incredulity coloring my tone.

Mira nodded earnestly, her earlier fear of me seemingly forgotten. "Yes, Princess. I've never seen anything like it. The strength, the grace...” She let out a soft sigh, “It was beautiful."

A warmth blossomed in my chest at her words, a feeling I wasn't accustomed to when it came to my secret passion. I had to temper down my inclination to want to preen like a peacock at her praise.

I felt my guard lowering despite just having met her. There was something in Mira's eyes—a spark of genuine admiration and longing–that resonated deep within me. I recognized that look. I'd seen it in my own reflection countless times when I thought of watching the new recruits train as a young girl.

"Tell me, Mira," I said softly pushing off the wall, "have you ever held a sword?"

A wistful smile played on her lips. "Only in my dreams, Your Highness." She hesitated, then the words tumbled out in a rush. "Ever since I was a little girl, I'd practice with sticks in secret, imagining I was wielding a real sword.”

Her confession stirred something within me, a kindred spirit recognizing another. This was a woman who’d join me in burning down the patriarchy, if there was ever a time for it.

I felt a smile tugging at my lips, unbidden. This girl's passion mirrored my own so closely it was almost uncanny. For a moment, I saw myself in her—that burning desire to break free from the constraints society placed upon us, to prove we were more than delicate flowers to be admired from afar.

"Mira," I said, my voice barely above a whisper in case someone walked by, "what if I told you that your dreams don't have to remain just that? Dreams, I mean."

Her eyes widened, a mix of hope and disbelief shining in their depths. "Your Highness?"

"I could teach you. In secret, of course.” My brows pinched together as I started to work out the details in my head. “It won't be easy–you'll have bruises, blisters, and aches in places you didn't know existed. But if you're willing to put in the work, I can show you how to wield a blade."

Mira's face lit up with an inner fire that I recognized all too well. But as quickly as it appeared, doubt clouded her features.

"But Your Highness, I'm just a servant. Surely I'm not worthy of such an honor. And what if we're caught? I couldn't bear it if I caused you trouble."

Her worry for me only proved I was right to like her. Here I was, offering her exactly what she wanted, yet her mind jumped straight to ensuring I wouldn’t get in trouble for it.

I waved her off, turning for the door. “Don’t call yourself just a servant, Mira. You’re a human, just like me. I don’t care much for titles.”

Pausing as my hand fell to the handle, I turned to look back at her. “Ask for Tillie. She’s my cousin, but also technically my lady-in-waiting. I’m supposed to have at least two, but until now, I’d never found someone else I wanted to fill that spot. If you’re sure this is what you want, I’ll inform the castle steward of your position change this morning, and that will give us the time together to train. Tillie will ensure you know your new route, so you don’t get lost again.”

My voice was light and full of mirth, poking fun at our unusual cause for meeting this morning. I expected to see glee on her face, so when tears brimmed in her eyes before a few escaped, trailing down to her jaw, I blinked rapidly at her.

“Mira?” I questioned, concerned I’d offended her somehow.

“That is the kindest thing anyone has offered me, Your Highness,” she admitted, lifting a hand to brush away the stray tears. “I don’t know how to repay you for this.”

My chest tightened with her display of emotion. Swords and crass words were my comfort zone, not this.

“Think nothing of it,” I reassured her, wondering if it would be rude of me to ask her to stop crying. I quickly came to the conclusion that it likely would be and swallowed the words. “You can repay me by continuing to be curious and open to what the world has to offer us. There isn’t enough of that around here. It’s refreshing and gives me hope.”

“Mira!” a voice yelled from the hall suddenly, though it was still far enough away that I had time to hide behind the door if needed.

It wouldn’t be unusual to see me down here with the staff, but the way I was currently dressed would be cause for far too many questions. Questions that would make their way back to my father.

Mira seemed to understand that and pushed me to the side before yanking the door open and sticking her head out. “Yes, Margaret?”

The head of the kitchen was a kind woman, but she scared me a little bit. You could regularly hear her barking orders at her staff from the level above. Through stone. I shuddered at the thought.

No one could say she didn’t take her job seriously, and my stomach rather appreciated it. Her food was a thing to be marveled over.

“I know you aren’t on my staff, but there’s an important meeting this morning, and the King has sent word that he wants us to prepare a large breakfast for his guest. Why he’d require so much food for one guest is beyond me, but that’s the king for ya,” she breathed out, voice clearly tinged with judgment.

She wasn’t wrong. My father often seemed to either forget, or blatantly ignore, we were heading for hard times. You’d never gather that, from the routine feasts he called for.

“I didn’t know of it until now,” Margaret admitted on a weary breath, “and I just got word from the castle guard that Leah was taken by a dragon this morning while foraging for herbs, leaving me short of a hand. Do you have any skill in the kitchen?”

My mind whirled. Leah was taken? Was it the dragon I spotted during sparring?

How could Margaret be so nonchalant about one of our own being snatched by a dragon? Yes, it was becoming more common by the week, but this was still a human being taken. Someone with a life, a family, and their own dreams. Had we really grown so complacent to the thought of being weak in comparison to the dragons that we simply no longer cared?

Fire built within my belly. They had to be stopped, and now more than ever I hoped this meeting was about doing exactly that. Nothing else mattered.

“I may not be trained, but I have enthusiasm and a listening ear, if you’ll instruct me,” Mira answered, making Maragret let out a huff.

“That’ll do. Please clean off quickly from your morning activities so that we keep the kitchen and food a clean environment.”

I thought back to Maragret’s other words, that a guest was arriving. I’d assumed that it would just be the usual council when my father had told me I’d been requested to attend the meeting. If that was the case, Margaret wouldn’t refer to any one of the councilmembers as a guest.

Who was visiting our castle, and why hadn’t my father told me earlier? Though I wasn’t welcomed into meetings, I was usually privy to the knowledge of any visits and told to brush up on the territory and the guests before they arrived. During the meals we had together, I was expected to make conversation with guests and make them feel at ease.

The door shut quietly as Maragret walked away, leaving Mira and me in private once more. I began pacing the small room, back and forth as I tried to piece together what was going on.

It would be one thing if my father just happened to neglect telling me about the visitor, but the fact that he hadn’t alerted the staff to be prepared for a guest until this morning…It was unheard of. He’d never risk Andrathya looking ill-prepared.

My gut churned. My unease over this meeting was rising rapidly. If he’d hidden it from everyone, that only meant one thing: whoever was coming would cause a large stir in our kingdom. Rumors would likely swirl if people were given prior knowledge of these visitors’ arrival.

I’d almost rather risk the wrath of the dragon from this morning coming to our castle instead of walking into that meeting later.

The sound of the door shutting snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Are you okay, Your Highness?” Mira questioned, reaching out a hand to my shoulder, startling me from my thoughts and determination to wear a path in the floor with my pacing.

I forced a smile to my lips and grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly to show my appreciation for her concern.

“Please, call me Sia in private, but, yes, I’ll be fine, thank you,” I answered, stepping around her toward the door. “I must leave and prepare for that meeting. When you’re done helping Margaret, go to the steward and he will escort you to your new quarters that are near my own in the west wing.”

She nodded, worry still ever present in her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? I watched you look every bit the seasoned swordsman this morning as you defeated a man twice your size, yet this meeting seems to have filled you with dread.”

My chest rose with a deep breath as I tried to paint my face with my proper princess facade. Her worry spoke to the good-nature of her heart, but it wasn’t something I needed to burden her with. “All will be well. I’ll see you later.”

I didn’t waste another second, knowing I was already pushing it with the time that was needed to bathe and ready myself for this meeting. Tillie was going to have her hands full helping me, and I prepared myself for a good chiding from her.

Ensuring my face was covered with my hood, I escaped to the back stairs that spiraled up to the west wing. Upon reaching my door and hearing Tillie letting out a string of curses about my absence, I settled the palm of my hand on my stomach and took deep, calming breaths.

Despite what I told Mira, I had a sickening feeling that this meeting was going to change everything.