Chapter 13

Nikolai

Never had anyone seen the king rush past the palace halls with this much dedication.

The lapels of his jacket were lightly flying behind his straightened back, the flickering lights reflecting in his eyes. A stern look sat upon Nikolai’s face, his hands clutching the small velvet box as if his life depended upon it. Raphael made sure to get their horses back into the barns as their unsuccessful trip laid heavily upon the king’s shoulders. The lands were rotting. He suspected as much but he never guessed the rot to spread this fast.

It was his failure. He was the one responsible for this blight and knowing that his subjects would bear the consequences, hell, they already were, made him realise what he had to do. The tournament was ready to be held in a few days’ time, besides he still needed to carry out his duty.

Without knocking he burst through the doors, leading into the royal library to find his desired goal.

Princess Aileen-Akamu was perched on a red velvet settee, a book settled in her hands. She was dressed in the rich colour of honey, reflecting beautifully with her skin tone. The fabric wound around her body like a second skin, clinging to the lithe shape of it.

Her hair floated in its dark waves above her dainty shoulders and as she turned her head to look at him, the light reflected shortly in the ring perched in her nose.

“King Nikolai.” She quickly discarded her book on the settee, getting up to curtsey.

“There is no need for courtesy.” His eyes fled towards his sister, who was sitting in an armchair, already looking enraged by his presence.

“Tyra, you wouldn’t mind giving me a moment with the princess?”

It was formulated as a question, knowing his sister she would turn stubborn at a demand of him. He also tried his best at a genuine smile, even though it tore him apart to see the glance she quickly shared with the princess, before getting up.

“Of course I don’t.” She strode past Aileen, their shoulders brushing. He could see the princess swallowing hardly as her eyes followed his sister until she disappeared through the doors.

“Shall we sit?” She offered him the settee but he quickly denied it with a small smile.

“I feel I have my nerves better under control when I cover them with pacing.”

His words drew a gentle smile from her as she remained standing.

He drew a few steps closer to her, not knowing how to start this. How could he be so determined a few moments ago and now that he was in front of her, now that he saw her, he felt like he wanted to turn and flee from the place?

Princess Aileen-Akamu was a beautiful girl.

People argued she was the most beautiful out of her sisters. Not only her appearance was praised, but her gentle manner, her easy way of coping, and complying.

But it was not what he desired. He wanted to fight with his partner, to prove them wrong or be proven wrong. He wanted fire to curse up his lungs when he stared at them, wanted to feel the need to be around them, even if they drew him mad. But this was not about want. This was about duty.

And he was lucky, he certainly was, with a wife like Aileen he may find a friend in her. Nikolai knew they would not even graze the topic of being lovers, he sadly could see in Aileen’s eyes the same emotions that reflected in Tyra’s. And maybe he could do this for her.

Yes, he could.

He could marry Princess Aileen-Akamu and save his kingdom. He could let her stay at the palace where she could be with Tyra, where both of them could find a way of happiness.

He cleared his throat.

“Princess Aileen-Akamu.”

“Please, just…call me Aileen. Everything else seems too formal, considering the circumstances.”

Grateful, he smiled at her. She drew a few steps closer until they faced each other. He found that she had golden flecks in her dark eyes.

“Aileen,” he drew a breath and grabbed her hands in his. He found them cold and slightly shaking.

“I think it is overdue that we settle this, considering that you want to. Because we both know why you have been sent here and…can I be completely honest?”

She nodded. “Of course, you always can. You are the king after all, if not honesty is a privilege of yours, what else is?”

At that, he had to chuckle.

“You’re quite right.” He swallowed. “Well, I think we both know that I cannot offer you what a real marriage is supposed to bring to a person. I can promise you though, to be a friend, a loyal alliance, which you can always come to when in need. I promise you, to always watch out for you and respect your wishes. You can do whatever you want that makes you happy, I would never forgive myself for trapping you in a cage you have been forced into due to circumstances. Our marriage could be an alliance that benefited both parties.” He made sure to catch her gaze. “Most important, Aileen, you can say no. There will be no bad blood between Ka-Hema and V?re just because you do not want to do this. I will respect your answer, as any others I would. So please, do not do this out of fear of revenge. If there is one thing I will not stand by, is not accepting your answer.” He let go of her hands and slowly got down on one knee.

A terrible sweat clung upon him, his hands shaking as he tried to open the small box he needed to acquire this morning. He could not bring it over himself to use the traditional ring, which did not mean that he did not spend a good amount on this one, being worthy of its wearer.

Fumbling for a few seconds, he finally managed to open the box, revealing the golden ring. The band was woven like branches, racing to reach the rose-shaped ruby in the middle, glinting in the soft lights of the library. He let himself told that it was her favorite kind of gem.

“Princess Aileen-Akamu, will you do me the great pleasure of becoming my wife and the Queen of Oy Frossen?” His voice cracked at the end and he hoped she didn’t hear the pathetic sound.

Aileen’s eyes took in the ruby before she parted her lips to give her answer.

Noora

It was all over town.

Flyers stuck to the walls of buildings, wedged in between the pages of Old Town Avis, even the market was full of them. She had to pry the paper that was stuck under her boot, as the orphanage sisters made their way to church.

She cursed at the flyer, balling it up and throwing it into the nearest bin.

“What do you have against a tournament?” Lulva looked up at her, a few red strands falling into her eyes.

Noora brushed them quickly away. “Why do you think I have anything against it?”

“Because you just threw away the paper!”

Noora tried to look nonchalant. “I am not interested in it.”

“100,000 Gulls is a lot of gold.” Lulva’s hand brushed Nooras as they trudged along the group. She slipped her smaller hand into hers, swinging their arms lightly. She swung her blunt gray dress skirt front and back, her steps too bouncy for their destination.

Noora’s lips twitched lightly. “Don’t you say. What would you do with 100,000 Gulls?”

Lulva’s face scrunched up lightly, deep in thought. Noora didn’t push her, knowing the younger girl needed a bit of time to make up her mind.

They soon reached the church, girls gathering in the octagonal-shaped court in small groups, to whisper erratically. Even here, Noora wasn’t spared of the sight of the flyers. They were stuck to the doors leading into the church, announcing happily the upcoming tournament hosted by the royal family. Four contestants would be drawn by luck from the vessel, currently placed in the center of town. Every resident aged seventeen or older was allowed to put their name in. In a week’s time, the queen would draw the names of the four lucky stars, who were allowed to fight in a three-trial tournament for the 100,000 Gulls.

“I think I would give half of the gold to the town, they need it now that the harvest is not giving much food. Then I would spend some on the cherry-flavoured candy you bring from the market on the last day of every summer. We could use the rest to finally travel like you wanted.”

Noora looked down at Lulva. Her eyes were sparkling with the fantasy only a child could carry. She squeezed her hand. “Sounds like a really good plan, Freckles.”

She grinned up at her. “Then it’s a deal!”

Noora’s brows raised in surprise. “Listen Lulva, I will make sure to get you out of here, I promise. But this tournament…it is not the right way to do it.”

“Why not? You’re so good at shooting the animals and reading tracks, you know more than anyone about the plants and berries and the nature of Oy Frossen. You would win!”

Noora chuckled. “I’m grateful for your confidence but they did not say the tournament was about hunting or berries. And there is no way they will even draw my name. It is highly unlikely.”

Lulva’s eyes started to tear up, making a claw appear around Noora’s lungs, squeezing tightly.

“Oh. Okay.” Her small hand slipped out of hers and Noora already regretted her answer. Feeling the loss of that little hand made her world crumble apart. Lulva was the only pure and good thing in her life, she would not dare to risk losing it.

“Freckles—”

Before she could remedy the situation, she was interrupted by the matron.

“Everyone gather into their respective groups, mass is about to start.” Noora did not know how she managed it but somehow the elder woman found her in the crowd, to stare at her with a wicked sneer.

The girls scrambled into their respective age groups before they were let into the church. The younger girls always sat in the front rows, their na?ve minds still malleable.

Being one of the oldest, Noora slipped into the back of the wooden bank, ignoring the left side of the church which was reserved for the townspeople. She could feel their stares burning through her skin and she rather not know if Isak was somewhere in the crowd of them, his followers probably not far from their leader.

The priest soon started with his preach, the light of the midday sun shining through the coloured windows and reflecting ominous patterns along the listening crowd.

Noora’s gaze flew over the first rows until she caught Lulva sitting at the end of one, all alone, the other girls staying as far from her as possible.

Noora could not leave her alone.

Throwing her name into the vessel meant exactly that. She would need to stay at the palace during the time the tournament took place and Lulva would be exposed to any kind of danger. Who would protect her, if Noora wasn’t there? Her eyes quickly turned to Elise, who was sitting beside the matron, head bowed. Feeling eyes upon her she met Noora’s gaze, the latter tensing.

Her hand closed around the cold metal of the ring, still stashed in the pockets of her trousers. Her thoughts dove back toward Kai.

She could not bring it over herself to sell the ring. At the latest now he would have noticed it gone. It must’ve not been of much worth if he noticed his gold was gone but not the ring.

The lazy voice of the priest went on while Noora pulled out the ring, the stone glimmering in green as she turned it over and over. It looked like an expensive heirloom, which was odd as it belonged to a mere guard. As much as Kai vexed her, she found herself unable to get rid of the damned ring. Maybe it meant something to him? Wouldn’t he immediately notice it gone then?

A heavy weight sat upon her chest as she clutched the ring in her hand. She was growing soft, something she feared happening her whole life.

It was time to set her focus anew.

She slipped the ring back in her pocket and straightened her back. It was time to finally get out of this abyss.