A story
The high priest signaled the release of the doves, bringing about the last steps of the fortnights ritual. His voice rang clear, the royal family and the noble houses standing quietly, bustle of the city below drifting into the air. A gust of wind took the priests high white headdress into the crowd below, and his voice never faltered, as a true man of Laran. His duty was not to maintain his physical appearance, but to maintain the appearance of devotion, which is what his people required, and what King Hetzer had always expected of the priests that came to wear his vestments. But even he knew that no noble truly came to the ceremony for religious worship, each one knew the blessing of Laran always came to them. No, they came because there was no other time when every family joined together, and gossip could be so easily exchanged. The raping of the holy ceremony was something that only bothered the priest slightly for he had come to understand the only thing the people had was their gossip and intrigue. A few words would be said about the loss of the garment, but the commoners would return it during their ceremony, and most of everyone’s attention would be on the king's missing second son, and the first daughter of the Fren house, their seats had been empty all morning. Rumors of the courtship between the two would fly; how Aims had presented her with flowers and a royal stone, and Kiri's clearly cold but respectful rejection. Some said it was just a ploy by the Fren daughter for more favor, and some, like her twin brother Alec, knew much better. In their many conversations, Kiri had made it so crystal clear that the interest bordered on obsession, and that she was afraid of the king’s second son, always having known he was not half as noble as the king himself. Her absence combined with his absence worried Alec, but on a day as beautiful as this, nothing too horrible could have happened.
The services concluded as the king stepped forward, a drop of holy water splashing upon his forehead. He never stayed to partake in the gossip, it was above a king to stand around and worry about the petty affairs of his people, and anything he needed to know would come to him far quicker sitting on his throne. If anyone could have gotten it out of him though, the king knew more than the most knowledgeable of his subjects. As his crown disappeared down the hill, everyone erupted into banter about the events of the past two weeks, and just as had been expected, everyone wanted to know the ins and outs of Aims and Kiri. Alec listened to a few stories, shaking his head and laughing a few times, everything always became so much more important than it had been while it was happening. He excused himself from the group, looking for his younger sister, Jensen, who was becoming more and more of a spiting image of his twin sister. Her eyes were bright as she smiled at him, engaged in a game with Collette, the king’s daughter. It was his belief that his eyes played tricks on him when it came to the two of them, for they looked alike, which everyone attributed to their likeness in age, less than a week apart. He swooped her up in his arms, setting her atop his shoulders. The day before they had decided all together that it would be a day for the market, but one party was missing; Jensen had bothered Alec much about Kiri being away from services, but had stopped, knowing her older brother could provide no answers on the location of Kiri. Indeed it had almost stopped bothering her entirely. The sun was warm, putting the inevitability of winter farther away than it had been for the past month. Kiri must be out ending whatever false hope Aims had, and she would just join them later at the fountain where they always met.
Ironic that the room Kiri was stuck in had been full of sun, but she could not see a single ray. Blankets covered most of her body, but nothing could stop how cold she felt inside. For a second she tried to roll over, but realized that Aims was still lying beside her, and if she moved the ropes would move. The blindfold had loosened slightly over the night, but she could still see nothing, only feel his strange warmth and the soft bed. She had shaped herself as a ball, and not truly moved since he had fallen asleep, half for fear of waking him, and half out of inability; nothing in her body wanted to move, for the events were still too fresh. His warmth was sick, and though skin was not touching skin, his presence was more than enough. She bit the tie around her mouth, knowing any sound had always been inadvisable in the situation she found herself in. So she merely lay quietly, unable to distract herself, but finding no tears to wet eyes. Again the play came to the first act, actors taking their places on the stage, and it felt like the ropes cut deeper into her wrists each time.
What Alec had thought was largely true, the day was far too nice for anything horrible to happen, but the day was not in question. The night previous had been a breeding ground for misfortunes. With air cold and no moon in the sky only the stars’ twinkle could have lit the world, and they were muted by clouds. Kiri had been walking before nightfall and gone out beyond her normal path. Her family hoped she had stopped at the inn for the night before all the gates closed and watch guards came out to patrol the empty streets. She had rounded the corner to her house to find a hand clutching her arm. The defined features of Aims had met her fearful eyes, which brought out even more terror. Sanity was not on the top of Aims’ list, and this seemed to come out in her presence more and more as her rejections became stronger and stronger. Since her last and most forceful no, she had seen him only once, and the insanity in his eyes had inspired a kind of unease she had not known before. This fear resurfaced as his hand slid over her mouth, thin voice whispering into her ear, “There is nothing you can do.” He did not need to say anything more. He began to move away from the road, pulling her along with him. Despite all her training, Aims’ strength far bested her own, and his position as prince prevented any other arguments. In the face of justice, she could never win, right or wrong.
Blocks passed, the guards making their rounds, paying very little attention to the prince and his catch. Kiri could not help but think this was not the first time they had seen Aims walking at night, pulling someone along. They nodded as he passed by, exchanging a few words, none of which included a discussion on the girl in tow. Her eyes were pleading for help, but none of them noticed, or cared. Their salaries came from the pockets of the family this boy was of, they were content to let him do whatever he pleased if it meant no interruption of pay. The king would have been greatly displeased, but Aims was sly, and knew how to win the favor of people who were weak minded, or at the very least, greedy. There was a reason Kiri was so wary of Aims, a good snake could draw its prey in. Their path changed a few times, but Kiri always knew where they were headed; towards the castle sitting high on the hill, where she had spent many afternoons, but always her family found their way home before dusk. It was far later now and the road ahead was lit only by lamps hanging from window sills. No face darkened the glass panes, all sleeping quietly on mats or feather beds. The air smelled wet with dew, threatening to fall from the otherwise still heavens. Dirt paths seemed of mud, Kiri dragging her feet as they climbed the last few paths. The great castle looked over their fair city from a mound once flattened by an ancient people.
Trumpets sounded to signal the time when no man was to be out, regardless of circumstance, and also heralded the return of the prince to his home. The halls were quiet, almost everyone in bed, and the castle staff busy attending to the cleaning and their own affairs. No one saw the figures as they came to the wing Aims’ had claimed as his own. It was in the back of the castle, where he felt he could plot without anyone’s prying eyes, and he was right. The servants were terrified of him, and his father spent more time fawning over Duncan and Collette than himself.
Not once did he light a candle through all the rooms, blue eyes picking up all the light he needed, and knowing the halls like his hands meant he needed very little anyway. Kiri kept her eyes closed the whole time; she did not care to know where she was, or where she was going. She did not care to know what would happen, though in that she had no choice. He would do what he wanted, and fighting would only make things worse. The clicks of their feet and the echo left behind was the only thing she could hear, and how they changed through the domed ceilings and narrow passages, when they came to the largest room of all their speed changed. He held her wrists, tying a rope tightly around so that she could not move them from behind her back. Though she had not opened her eyes once, she felt a piece of fabric tie tightly around her eyes and another which he pulled into her mouth. There was nothing to cut the silence now except his breathing, which was heavy and rough, as if they had run the entire way. Aims did not want anyone to see them. He threw her onto the bed and she curled up slightly, his movements following the outline of the bed, undressing as he stood over her, each article falling to the floor without a sound was another deep dark silence to stand upon her mind.
There came a knock then, far toward the entrance to his wing, and a slow steady creak as the joints moved the door open. “Aims! Are you here my son?” The king called down the first long hallway. Kiri’s eyes snapped open, as had Aims’. The daylight had not awoken him from his exhausted slumber, but fear did so easily.
The same thin voice whispered into her ear, “Say anything and there will be one more body hidden in the gardens.” He rolled her over onto her stomach, and rested his back along hers, as if he had arranged his pillows. Eyes turned toward the distant entrance of his suite, the figure of his father came into view, joints squeaking the same. “Yes father, I am here.” His fear was clearly masked with weariness, and in his own mind he had every excuse to skip the holy ceremonies, as he always believed he did.
The strong features glanced around the room, and seeing nothing out of place he felt there was very little to say. His son had slept through yet another ceremony, as he tried to so often. “Is it asking so much to simply show your face? Your mother would be horrified if she knew that you disgraced Laran as you do.” There was a kind of weariness in the king’s voice as well; tired of fighting with his second son.
“But mother is long since dead.” There was no sorrow, simply a flat statement, yet another affirmation that he did not care. “And why should I show my face where the lower class gathers to gossip? There are more important things at hand.” He adjusted a bit, now resting his head on his hand, still hiding the lifeless body that breathed beside him. “Is that not what you say after all?”
There were so many arguments that his father could pose, but none seemed to matter. It was a long time since his son had stopped listening, and the things that kept him in these halls were the riches and freedoms that he could abuse. There was a sick sort of contentment his son had radiating about him this morning, “You show no respect, even for the dead…” The wise man shook his head and turned to leave. “Decency should not be so rare in this household.” The scarring words rolled off Aims’ back like water, nothing his father said could affect the always second son.
“Send the servants with a large breakfast.” The apathy dripped from his tongue, and the door closed behind his father, echoing the way everything else had. He turned to look at the figure beside him, her hair knotted and dented. “You are far more intelligent than I would have anyone believe.” He of course meant her lack of sound, though his father would have taken her side in a heart beat. Kiri knew, however, that the king could have done nothing. In the face of snakes, even the most honorable could be defeated; for there are many levels to which good men will not go. “Now the question is what should I do with you?” He leaned up, grazing her side with his cold hand. He had partially ordered the large breakfast, which he knew was coming, for him, but also for her, though he knew she would not eat a bite. Pity. His fingers ran through her hair, up to the blindfold which he untied. Weight shifted towards the edge of the bed as he placed his bare feet on the wood. Would he circle around so she could see him? He had yet to decide. There was much to think about, and little he cared to decide thus far. Instead he sat for a bit, considering the choices to let her go without a word, trusting his influence to keep silence, or to scare her a bit more. For a second he considered untying the gag as well, but he ultimately decided against it because the servants had yet to deliver his breakfast.
He stood up from the bed, pulling over his head the gown that lay on the ground all night. Her figure was sweet, and he stood and gazed at it before crossing toward his chamber pot. No point in formalities, this day was not part of the written record, and he certainly did not care to keep up appearances. Today would consist mostly of an excuse as to why there was a girl in his end of the castle, and perhaps a game of tennis. There were many things that he could say that would destroy Kiri’s most wonderful reputation, the least of which was to say she came to him late in the night, but he needed something more likely, and even his arrogance would accept that. Though coming up with an excuse was more or less a joke to pass the time, for he had one ready. With gloved hands he moved his chamber pot to the door, the servant who brought him breakfast would deal with it. They would not notice the girl, and they would not make eye contact with him. More than one had scars across their backs or stomachs as payment for curiosity, or simply a dark mood. The knock came as he approached the bed. “You may enter.” And slowly a figure came in with a large tray, which he sat on the table closest the door. Not once did his eyes move from the floor. He said his kind words to the prince, and carried his chamber pot out; closing the door in the same manner he had opened it. Kiri saw the elderly man come in and out, recognizing him from many previous affairs at the castle. As far as she could tell he was a head of sorts, and not even he would look Aims in the face.
Though Kiri had always known there was some flaw in Aims’ character she had never realized the extent. She watched him as he pulled the tray from the table, and carried it to the bed. He grazed, eating many things that Kiri had never seen before, despite all the royal feasts and her own standing. Perhaps that was what he meant about lower class. He offered a piece to her, which she rejected as she had always rejected his gifts. There was still no regret in her eyes about her choices, as there never would be. He could exert all the power he wanted, but a powerful mind was something he would never change. That, Kiri did not realize, was a piece of why Aims continued his advances. Aims was a man of strong features, as attractive as his older brother, and his father in his younger days, he could have had any number of women in his court, but he always chose the ones that were not so easily won. He ate a few more pieces of cheese and set the tray next to his bed, leaning back against the head board and musing about the evening and the day to come. The gag was still in her mouth so she could still say nothing, not that she wanted to say much at all. Her mood was the same as it had been the entire evening, though the sharp aches had gone away. Now there was only a dull pain, something inside, something that she knew would not go away. A kind of distraction, she took notes on his room, which was as extravagant as the rest of the castle, though gold dominated the scheme, where as platinum was more common through out all the other wings. She had never seen a royal bedroom, as she assumed the majority of nobles hadn’t. This was a true fact, as the rooms beyond the grand wing were reserved only for the king and his family. In different circumstances, Kiri would have loved the chance to see the castle beyond prying eyes. Circumstances as they were, there was nothing more she wanted than to be untied and at home. His hand slid through her hair again, pulling the gag loose in the same way he had the blindfold, and now the only bind left was the one around her wrists. It sent a cold shiver up her spine, but finally she could speak, but how much was there to say? She moved her jaw a little bit, and leaned forward, arms argumentative toward the movement, sore from being in such an awkward position for so long. Of course she could still barely move them; it felt almost as if they were breaking. She wanted to cry for more than one reason, but that fact was the one she wanted to keep closest. It was physical pain and could be remedied with very little time. It was something to keep her occupied through the day, up until finally, there was nothing left. He cleared her hair from her face, and held her chin up a little bit, meeting their eyes squarely. They had not locked eyes since he had grabbed her arm late the night before. It lasted only a second. Kiri refused to maintain any sort of communication with this man, least of all in the form of something so personal as eye contact. The man followed her eyes as best he could, but to no avail, she was stronger than he, save physical prowess.
“Goodness, my lady.” There was nothing more he needed to say, dropping her chin and pacing around toward his bay windows and the sill that underneath held many secrets. He hopped up onto it, pacing around staring out the window toward the bubbling river. “You know that nothing you say or do could win you the favor of the people. They would not believe you, and it is not as if you are royal.” He gloated, voice coursing through her like sickness. “And there is nothing much to be done for you. The people would throw you to the dogs, those less than commoners.” He came full circle, staring straight into her eyes, “Not that you are much better than they.” Crooked smile, and eyes staring with his egotism. And Kiri knew that he was right. What was there to say? He had done what he wanted to, and he knew he had gotten away with it. The people loved both princes, beacons of royal society, one for his kind guardianship of the people, and the other for his extravagance and dramatic dealings. What was she to the others of her class? Cared for, yes, looked to as a role model, yes, but this was Prince Aims Hetzer, a man the people flocked to. “What would the people say about your family after all? ‘Look at the Fren daughter, my what a mess she became. Jensen will probably turn out the same way, poor thing.’” He mimicked the voice of the Dumac wife, so active in gossip was she that most believed she started everything. “And what would they say about your brother?” He had already earned her silence, but he was enjoying this speech. “The fine knight, with the sister who besmirched the royal family’s name… that’s not a making for a general.” He hopped, down, visioning himself a great orator who had concluded words to move the nation. “Now perhaps I should finish untying you, after all, I know you wouldn’t run, and you would have screamed by now if your judgment was at all impaired. Yes, you are definitely more intelligent than I would have anyone believe.” He paused as he walked back towards the bed, playing with his prey like a cat. “Or you could magically disappear.” His hands waved like the priest’s, as if everything had become the religious ceremony they had missed. “No one to ever see you again. But then what kind of person would I be?” There were many things that Kiri could have answered with, but none of them would be a good idea, and Aims was right, she was far smarter than he would have anyone believe. She would stay quiet, just as she had, and would, about the topic. His hands slid down her arms, untying the last bind; the last cold shiver, she hoped, went up her spine, rubbing her discolored wrists with discolored hands. “Almost all free at last.”
He of course meant that she was still in the castle, and he certainly couldn’t have her leaving through the main gate, after all, no one knew she had been here at all, why would he want to change that? Although some of him wanted things even more complicated. After all, what was there to pass the time but intrigue? In some ways he liked being the second prince. Oh but he had his aspirations, like any good man. If he had his way, she would be part of his aspirations. So much to plan, and far more than enough time.
“So, I think it is just about time for you to find your way through areas of the castle that not even my father knows about. Goodness, I don’t think even the servants know about it.” He mused to himself a little bit, believing his passage had been lost in the history of his kingdom. Part of him believed it had been formed by the people who had flattened the hill their castle now sat upon. The architects of the empire his father carried on had noted it and built a small entrance, which was never documented in any of the papers on the castle. It was as if history had forgotten it, and however many others had been formed. Often Aims had passed the time, trying to find others, but had only located a few, and each one the servants passed through as he traced it to its source. They certainly knew more about passages than any of the royalty. “It is my place. Perhaps I should have left the blindfold on while I led you out. Don’t want you sneaking in for a late night visit.” His twisted imagination made visions of the woman dressed in little, coming through the passage, and into his room, waking him from a deep slumber. “But maybe I would like that.”
The sun was coming onto down in the sky, approaching late afternoon, and Aims knew his game must be over, or raise more suspicion than should be allowed. He reached for her hand, but found nothing, only the girl standing, and watching his movements. Her body was sore, resistant to the change, but freedom was pushing her forward. Deliberate movements put him behind her, pushing her forward without touching her, towards the hall which she had now forever painted in her memory. Calloused hands covered her eyes. “I will not let you see the entrance.” Down the length of the hall, and through passages of a number he did not wish to count. “But you would not be able to find it regardless.” But she was smarter than he would have anyone believe, and he didn’t like to take chances if he didn’t know the payback, not when it came to his status.
The voice he had not heard for days rang clear. “I do not care to see it regardless.” Underneath his hands her eyes were closed, and she sought to forget it, like she sought to forget so much now.
They had wandered the length of the market streets, close by the stone cliffs on which the castle sat. The stalls were done with their rush, tying fruit and spices into sacks, their destination in cellars and to the lands of which they came. Some as far as the ice lands to the south. They came in their caravans, nomads, which did not exist within the borders established by King Hetzer. The warmth of the climate had established cities along the rivers and oceans, between the groves of trees and flat lands. Some established by ruins from kingdoms come and gone, and some new, only built as outposts for the marches by knights carrying their armors and weapons towards the battles that kings orchestrated; Across hills and into their valleys, coming across villages controlled by lords both loyal and rebellious to the crown. Times now had changed, all united beneath one, as had been intended from the start. Alec and Jensen had wandered through these stalls, smelling ice salt from the coldest borders, and tasting jerky from meats they only knew from books. This was the weekend of the last market before winter set in and the cellars below were the only sources of food. It had been a plan of the siblings to enjoy the last days of this season with the sort of things that Alec and Jensen had done, but Kiri had not found them at the fountain, and Kiri had not met them at their favorite stall, and Kiri had not emerged from the inn, though they had stopped their to see if she had simply continued to sleep, a privilege that they very rarely had, and abused at every chance. Indeed, no one had seen her, and their fears were growing. The sun was not near setting, but they were approaching the end of activity for this day.
Alec took Jensen’s hand, and they wandered back toward the fountain near the center of the market square, knowing still that if Kiri was to meet them, it would be there. In the distance Kiri was coming through the ends of the passage. Deep inside the earth where the only light was a candle which Aims had lit, and a glow which came from the sun as it shone at an angle into the entrance. Never did the sun shine straight in, for they had designed it to hide in all ways from everyone who did not know already of its existence. If her siblings faced toward the north, looking only for her figure, they would see her after many steps.
Aims removed his hands as they stepped out into the brush, from the edge of the stone cliff they emerged, and Kiri found herself standing alone less than a mile from the market place. Her legs wobbled beneath her first free steps, hoping that it was real, but waiting for the same hands to take her back into the dark passage. She was quiet on her steady march toward the fountain, not meeting anyone’s eyes as they passed by. Familiar faces that might have received a glowing hello received barely a nod as they made their way towards their homes, her own path taking her toward the only place she believed she would find her family. The stalls had largely been broken apart, a few hollow shells lining the paths, reflecting pieces of her soul. The sound of water moving came closer, drowning the ever present sound of the river with the sound of splashes and droplets dancing. Jensen bounced along the shallow end, dancing as the sun came farther down, hiding behind the hills to the west. Her figure was a diminution of Kiri’s own, playing in the water the same way Alec and herself had at that age. She paused to watch her younger sister, seeing as the sun lit her hair to a color of gold from a shade of dark blonde. Kiri did not want to move, just watch her brother and sister play. Alec splashed Jensen with a handful of water and Jensen turned to splash back, and saw the figure of her sister standing beside the edge of the last stall row, and she bolted from the fountain toward her sister’s arms.
Kiri could barely move as Jensen wrapped her arms around her legs, holding tightly. A voice in her head screamed to pry the little girl away, but the love of her younger sister fought back just enough that she could only stand still. Alec made his way toward his two sisters, finding it more than just strange that Kiri was not holding her younger sister, and there was a kind of war he had never seen in her eyes before. Alec stood a few feet away, observing his sister, and finally she leaned down, running hands through Jensen’s hair, and shaking slightly as his hands went through her own. Jensen pulled away, smiling up at her most loved sister, and where Kiri might have scooped up Jensen just as Alec had, she instead only pulled a smile, and said nothing.
The services concluded as the king stepped forward, a drop of holy water splashing upon his forehead. He never stayed to partake in the gossip, it was above a king to stand around and worry about the petty affairs of his people, and anything he needed to know would come to him far quicker sitting on his throne. If anyone could have gotten it out of him though, the king knew more than the most knowledgeable of his subjects. As his crown disappeared down the hill, everyone erupted into banter about the events of the past two weeks, and just as had been expected, everyone wanted to know the ins and outs of Aims and Kiri. Alec listened to a few stories, shaking his head and laughing a few times, everything always became so much more important than it had been while it was happening. He excused himself from the group, looking for his younger sister, Jensen, who was becoming more and more of a spiting image of his twin sister. Her eyes were bright as she smiled at him, engaged in a game with Collette, the king’s daughter. It was his belief that his eyes played tricks on him when it came to the two of them, for they looked alike, which everyone attributed to their likeness in age, less than a week apart. He swooped her up in his arms, setting her atop his shoulders. The day before they had decided all together that it would be a day for the market, but one party was missing; Jensen had bothered Alec much about Kiri being away from services, but had stopped, knowing her older brother could provide no answers on the location of Kiri. Indeed it had almost stopped bothering her entirely. The sun was warm, putting the inevitability of winter farther away than it had been for the past month. Kiri must be out ending whatever false hope Aims had, and she would just join them later at the fountain where they always met.
Ironic that the room Kiri was stuck in had been full of sun, but she could not see a single ray. Blankets covered most of her body, but nothing could stop how cold she felt inside. For a second she tried to roll over, but realized that Aims was still lying beside her, and if she moved the ropes would move. The blindfold had loosened slightly over the night, but she could still see nothing, only feel his strange warmth and the soft bed. She had shaped herself as a ball, and not truly moved since he had fallen asleep, half for fear of waking him, and half out of inability; nothing in her body wanted to move, for the events were still too fresh. His warmth was sick, and though skin was not touching skin, his presence was more than enough. She bit the tie around her mouth, knowing any sound had always been inadvisable in the situation she found herself in. So she merely lay quietly, unable to distract herself, but finding no tears to wet eyes. Again the play came to the first act, actors taking their places on the stage, and it felt like the ropes cut deeper into her wrists each time.
What Alec had thought was largely true, the day was far too nice for anything horrible to happen, but the day was not in question. The night previous had been a breeding ground for misfortunes. With air cold and no moon in the sky only the stars’ twinkle could have lit the world, and they were muted by clouds. Kiri had been walking before nightfall and gone out beyond her normal path. Her family hoped she had stopped at the inn for the night before all the gates closed and watch guards came out to patrol the empty streets. She had rounded the corner to her house to find a hand clutching her arm. The defined features of Aims had met her fearful eyes, which brought out even more terror. Sanity was not on the top of Aims’ list, and this seemed to come out in her presence more and more as her rejections became stronger and stronger. Since her last and most forceful no, she had seen him only once, and the insanity in his eyes had inspired a kind of unease she had not known before. This fear resurfaced as his hand slid over her mouth, thin voice whispering into her ear, “There is nothing you can do.” He did not need to say anything more. He began to move away from the road, pulling her along with him. Despite all her training, Aims’ strength far bested her own, and his position as prince prevented any other arguments. In the face of justice, she could never win, right or wrong.
Blocks passed, the guards making their rounds, paying very little attention to the prince and his catch. Kiri could not help but think this was not the first time they had seen Aims walking at night, pulling someone along. They nodded as he passed by, exchanging a few words, none of which included a discussion on the girl in tow. Her eyes were pleading for help, but none of them noticed, or cared. Their salaries came from the pockets of the family this boy was of, they were content to let him do whatever he pleased if it meant no interruption of pay. The king would have been greatly displeased, but Aims was sly, and knew how to win the favor of people who were weak minded, or at the very least, greedy. There was a reason Kiri was so wary of Aims, a good snake could draw its prey in. Their path changed a few times, but Kiri always knew where they were headed; towards the castle sitting high on the hill, where she had spent many afternoons, but always her family found their way home before dusk. It was far later now and the road ahead was lit only by lamps hanging from window sills. No face darkened the glass panes, all sleeping quietly on mats or feather beds. The air smelled wet with dew, threatening to fall from the otherwise still heavens. Dirt paths seemed of mud, Kiri dragging her feet as they climbed the last few paths. The great castle looked over their fair city from a mound once flattened by an ancient people.
Trumpets sounded to signal the time when no man was to be out, regardless of circumstance, and also heralded the return of the prince to his home. The halls were quiet, almost everyone in bed, and the castle staff busy attending to the cleaning and their own affairs. No one saw the figures as they came to the wing Aims’ had claimed as his own. It was in the back of the castle, where he felt he could plot without anyone’s prying eyes, and he was right. The servants were terrified of him, and his father spent more time fawning over Duncan and Collette than himself.
Not once did he light a candle through all the rooms, blue eyes picking up all the light he needed, and knowing the halls like his hands meant he needed very little anyway. Kiri kept her eyes closed the whole time; she did not care to know where she was, or where she was going. She did not care to know what would happen, though in that she had no choice. He would do what he wanted, and fighting would only make things worse. The clicks of their feet and the echo left behind was the only thing she could hear, and how they changed through the domed ceilings and narrow passages, when they came to the largest room of all their speed changed. He held her wrists, tying a rope tightly around so that she could not move them from behind her back. Though she had not opened her eyes once, she felt a piece of fabric tie tightly around her eyes and another which he pulled into her mouth. There was nothing to cut the silence now except his breathing, which was heavy and rough, as if they had run the entire way. Aims did not want anyone to see them. He threw her onto the bed and she curled up slightly, his movements following the outline of the bed, undressing as he stood over her, each article falling to the floor without a sound was another deep dark silence to stand upon her mind.
There came a knock then, far toward the entrance to his wing, and a slow steady creak as the joints moved the door open. “Aims! Are you here my son?” The king called down the first long hallway. Kiri’s eyes snapped open, as had Aims’. The daylight had not awoken him from his exhausted slumber, but fear did so easily.
The same thin voice whispered into her ear, “Say anything and there will be one more body hidden in the gardens.” He rolled her over onto her stomach, and rested his back along hers, as if he had arranged his pillows. Eyes turned toward the distant entrance of his suite, the figure of his father came into view, joints squeaking the same. “Yes father, I am here.” His fear was clearly masked with weariness, and in his own mind he had every excuse to skip the holy ceremonies, as he always believed he did.
The strong features glanced around the room, and seeing nothing out of place he felt there was very little to say. His son had slept through yet another ceremony, as he tried to so often. “Is it asking so much to simply show your face? Your mother would be horrified if she knew that you disgraced Laran as you do.” There was a kind of weariness in the king’s voice as well; tired of fighting with his second son.
“But mother is long since dead.” There was no sorrow, simply a flat statement, yet another affirmation that he did not care. “And why should I show my face where the lower class gathers to gossip? There are more important things at hand.” He adjusted a bit, now resting his head on his hand, still hiding the lifeless body that breathed beside him. “Is that not what you say after all?”
There were so many arguments that his father could pose, but none seemed to matter. It was a long time since his son had stopped listening, and the things that kept him in these halls were the riches and freedoms that he could abuse. There was a sick sort of contentment his son had radiating about him this morning, “You show no respect, even for the dead…” The wise man shook his head and turned to leave. “Decency should not be so rare in this household.” The scarring words rolled off Aims’ back like water, nothing his father said could affect the always second son.
“Send the servants with a large breakfast.” The apathy dripped from his tongue, and the door closed behind his father, echoing the way everything else had. He turned to look at the figure beside him, her hair knotted and dented. “You are far more intelligent than I would have anyone believe.” He of course meant her lack of sound, though his father would have taken her side in a heart beat. Kiri knew, however, that the king could have done nothing. In the face of snakes, even the most honorable could be defeated; for there are many levels to which good men will not go. “Now the question is what should I do with you?” He leaned up, grazing her side with his cold hand. He had partially ordered the large breakfast, which he knew was coming, for him, but also for her, though he knew she would not eat a bite. Pity. His fingers ran through her hair, up to the blindfold which he untied. Weight shifted towards the edge of the bed as he placed his bare feet on the wood. Would he circle around so she could see him? He had yet to decide. There was much to think about, and little he cared to decide thus far. Instead he sat for a bit, considering the choices to let her go without a word, trusting his influence to keep silence, or to scare her a bit more. For a second he considered untying the gag as well, but he ultimately decided against it because the servants had yet to deliver his breakfast.
He stood up from the bed, pulling over his head the gown that lay on the ground all night. Her figure was sweet, and he stood and gazed at it before crossing toward his chamber pot. No point in formalities, this day was not part of the written record, and he certainly did not care to keep up appearances. Today would consist mostly of an excuse as to why there was a girl in his end of the castle, and perhaps a game of tennis. There were many things that he could say that would destroy Kiri’s most wonderful reputation, the least of which was to say she came to him late in the night, but he needed something more likely, and even his arrogance would accept that. Though coming up with an excuse was more or less a joke to pass the time, for he had one ready. With gloved hands he moved his chamber pot to the door, the servant who brought him breakfast would deal with it. They would not notice the girl, and they would not make eye contact with him. More than one had scars across their backs or stomachs as payment for curiosity, or simply a dark mood. The knock came as he approached the bed. “You may enter.” And slowly a figure came in with a large tray, which he sat on the table closest the door. Not once did his eyes move from the floor. He said his kind words to the prince, and carried his chamber pot out; closing the door in the same manner he had opened it. Kiri saw the elderly man come in and out, recognizing him from many previous affairs at the castle. As far as she could tell he was a head of sorts, and not even he would look Aims in the face.
Though Kiri had always known there was some flaw in Aims’ character she had never realized the extent. She watched him as he pulled the tray from the table, and carried it to the bed. He grazed, eating many things that Kiri had never seen before, despite all the royal feasts and her own standing. Perhaps that was what he meant about lower class. He offered a piece to her, which she rejected as she had always rejected his gifts. There was still no regret in her eyes about her choices, as there never would be. He could exert all the power he wanted, but a powerful mind was something he would never change. That, Kiri did not realize, was a piece of why Aims continued his advances. Aims was a man of strong features, as attractive as his older brother, and his father in his younger days, he could have had any number of women in his court, but he always chose the ones that were not so easily won. He ate a few more pieces of cheese and set the tray next to his bed, leaning back against the head board and musing about the evening and the day to come. The gag was still in her mouth so she could still say nothing, not that she wanted to say much at all. Her mood was the same as it had been the entire evening, though the sharp aches had gone away. Now there was only a dull pain, something inside, something that she knew would not go away. A kind of distraction, she took notes on his room, which was as extravagant as the rest of the castle, though gold dominated the scheme, where as platinum was more common through out all the other wings. She had never seen a royal bedroom, as she assumed the majority of nobles hadn’t. This was a true fact, as the rooms beyond the grand wing were reserved only for the king and his family. In different circumstances, Kiri would have loved the chance to see the castle beyond prying eyes. Circumstances as they were, there was nothing more she wanted than to be untied and at home. His hand slid through her hair again, pulling the gag loose in the same way he had the blindfold, and now the only bind left was the one around her wrists. It sent a cold shiver up her spine, but finally she could speak, but how much was there to say? She moved her jaw a little bit, and leaned forward, arms argumentative toward the movement, sore from being in such an awkward position for so long. Of course she could still barely move them; it felt almost as if they were breaking. She wanted to cry for more than one reason, but that fact was the one she wanted to keep closest. It was physical pain and could be remedied with very little time. It was something to keep her occupied through the day, up until finally, there was nothing left. He cleared her hair from her face, and held her chin up a little bit, meeting their eyes squarely. They had not locked eyes since he had grabbed her arm late the night before. It lasted only a second. Kiri refused to maintain any sort of communication with this man, least of all in the form of something so personal as eye contact. The man followed her eyes as best he could, but to no avail, she was stronger than he, save physical prowess.
“Goodness, my lady.” There was nothing more he needed to say, dropping her chin and pacing around toward his bay windows and the sill that underneath held many secrets. He hopped up onto it, pacing around staring out the window toward the bubbling river. “You know that nothing you say or do could win you the favor of the people. They would not believe you, and it is not as if you are royal.” He gloated, voice coursing through her like sickness. “And there is nothing much to be done for you. The people would throw you to the dogs, those less than commoners.” He came full circle, staring straight into her eyes, “Not that you are much better than they.” Crooked smile, and eyes staring with his egotism. And Kiri knew that he was right. What was there to say? He had done what he wanted to, and he knew he had gotten away with it. The people loved both princes, beacons of royal society, one for his kind guardianship of the people, and the other for his extravagance and dramatic dealings. What was she to the others of her class? Cared for, yes, looked to as a role model, yes, but this was Prince Aims Hetzer, a man the people flocked to. “What would the people say about your family after all? ‘Look at the Fren daughter, my what a mess she became. Jensen will probably turn out the same way, poor thing.’” He mimicked the voice of the Dumac wife, so active in gossip was she that most believed she started everything. “And what would they say about your brother?” He had already earned her silence, but he was enjoying this speech. “The fine knight, with the sister who besmirched the royal family’s name… that’s not a making for a general.” He hopped, down, visioning himself a great orator who had concluded words to move the nation. “Now perhaps I should finish untying you, after all, I know you wouldn’t run, and you would have screamed by now if your judgment was at all impaired. Yes, you are definitely more intelligent than I would have anyone believe.” He paused as he walked back towards the bed, playing with his prey like a cat. “Or you could magically disappear.” His hands waved like the priest’s, as if everything had become the religious ceremony they had missed. “No one to ever see you again. But then what kind of person would I be?” There were many things that Kiri could have answered with, but none of them would be a good idea, and Aims was right, she was far smarter than he would have anyone believe. She would stay quiet, just as she had, and would, about the topic. His hands slid down her arms, untying the last bind; the last cold shiver, she hoped, went up her spine, rubbing her discolored wrists with discolored hands. “Almost all free at last.”
He of course meant that she was still in the castle, and he certainly couldn’t have her leaving through the main gate, after all, no one knew she had been here at all, why would he want to change that? Although some of him wanted things even more complicated. After all, what was there to pass the time but intrigue? In some ways he liked being the second prince. Oh but he had his aspirations, like any good man. If he had his way, she would be part of his aspirations. So much to plan, and far more than enough time.
“So, I think it is just about time for you to find your way through areas of the castle that not even my father knows about. Goodness, I don’t think even the servants know about it.” He mused to himself a little bit, believing his passage had been lost in the history of his kingdom. Part of him believed it had been formed by the people who had flattened the hill their castle now sat upon. The architects of the empire his father carried on had noted it and built a small entrance, which was never documented in any of the papers on the castle. It was as if history had forgotten it, and however many others had been formed. Often Aims had passed the time, trying to find others, but had only located a few, and each one the servants passed through as he traced it to its source. They certainly knew more about passages than any of the royalty. “It is my place. Perhaps I should have left the blindfold on while I led you out. Don’t want you sneaking in for a late night visit.” His twisted imagination made visions of the woman dressed in little, coming through the passage, and into his room, waking him from a deep slumber. “But maybe I would like that.”
The sun was coming onto down in the sky, approaching late afternoon, and Aims knew his game must be over, or raise more suspicion than should be allowed. He reached for her hand, but found nothing, only the girl standing, and watching his movements. Her body was sore, resistant to the change, but freedom was pushing her forward. Deliberate movements put him behind her, pushing her forward without touching her, towards the hall which she had now forever painted in her memory. Calloused hands covered her eyes. “I will not let you see the entrance.” Down the length of the hall, and through passages of a number he did not wish to count. “But you would not be able to find it regardless.” But she was smarter than he would have anyone believe, and he didn’t like to take chances if he didn’t know the payback, not when it came to his status.
The voice he had not heard for days rang clear. “I do not care to see it regardless.” Underneath his hands her eyes were closed, and she sought to forget it, like she sought to forget so much now.
They had wandered the length of the market streets, close by the stone cliffs on which the castle sat. The stalls were done with their rush, tying fruit and spices into sacks, their destination in cellars and to the lands of which they came. Some as far as the ice lands to the south. They came in their caravans, nomads, which did not exist within the borders established by King Hetzer. The warmth of the climate had established cities along the rivers and oceans, between the groves of trees and flat lands. Some established by ruins from kingdoms come and gone, and some new, only built as outposts for the marches by knights carrying their armors and weapons towards the battles that kings orchestrated; Across hills and into their valleys, coming across villages controlled by lords both loyal and rebellious to the crown. Times now had changed, all united beneath one, as had been intended from the start. Alec and Jensen had wandered through these stalls, smelling ice salt from the coldest borders, and tasting jerky from meats they only knew from books. This was the weekend of the last market before winter set in and the cellars below were the only sources of food. It had been a plan of the siblings to enjoy the last days of this season with the sort of things that Alec and Jensen had done, but Kiri had not found them at the fountain, and Kiri had not met them at their favorite stall, and Kiri had not emerged from the inn, though they had stopped their to see if she had simply continued to sleep, a privilege that they very rarely had, and abused at every chance. Indeed, no one had seen her, and their fears were growing. The sun was not near setting, but they were approaching the end of activity for this day.
Alec took Jensen’s hand, and they wandered back toward the fountain near the center of the market square, knowing still that if Kiri was to meet them, it would be there. In the distance Kiri was coming through the ends of the passage. Deep inside the earth where the only light was a candle which Aims had lit, and a glow which came from the sun as it shone at an angle into the entrance. Never did the sun shine straight in, for they had designed it to hide in all ways from everyone who did not know already of its existence. If her siblings faced toward the north, looking only for her figure, they would see her after many steps.
Aims removed his hands as they stepped out into the brush, from the edge of the stone cliff they emerged, and Kiri found herself standing alone less than a mile from the market place. Her legs wobbled beneath her first free steps, hoping that it was real, but waiting for the same hands to take her back into the dark passage. She was quiet on her steady march toward the fountain, not meeting anyone’s eyes as they passed by. Familiar faces that might have received a glowing hello received barely a nod as they made their way towards their homes, her own path taking her toward the only place she believed she would find her family. The stalls had largely been broken apart, a few hollow shells lining the paths, reflecting pieces of her soul. The sound of water moving came closer, drowning the ever present sound of the river with the sound of splashes and droplets dancing. Jensen bounced along the shallow end, dancing as the sun came farther down, hiding behind the hills to the west. Her figure was a diminution of Kiri’s own, playing in the water the same way Alec and herself had at that age. She paused to watch her younger sister, seeing as the sun lit her hair to a color of gold from a shade of dark blonde. Kiri did not want to move, just watch her brother and sister play. Alec splashed Jensen with a handful of water and Jensen turned to splash back, and saw the figure of her sister standing beside the edge of the last stall row, and she bolted from the fountain toward her sister’s arms.
Kiri could barely move as Jensen wrapped her arms around her legs, holding tightly. A voice in her head screamed to pry the little girl away, but the love of her younger sister fought back just enough that she could only stand still. Alec made his way toward his two sisters, finding it more than just strange that Kiri was not holding her younger sister, and there was a kind of war he had never seen in her eyes before. Alec stood a few feet away, observing his sister, and finally she leaned down, running hands through Jensen’s hair, and shaking slightly as his hands went through her own. Jensen pulled away, smiling up at her most loved sister, and where Kiri might have scooped up Jensen just as Alec had, she instead only pulled a smile, and said nothing.