Short Story #3
Eventually, a new boy, Dominic, had begun classes with them. No one would admit anything, but Isolde learned it was her own half-brother, a bastard boy born to her father and a mistress. Even worse, he was almost two years older than her.
It’d caused quite the scandal, and her mother had been outraged.
Isolde had been taken out of the shared classes and moved to a new wing of the palace, where she was instructed by her own tutors that weren’t to be shared with her half-brother or cousins.
That had been over a year ago now, and while she didn’t miss the other pupils, she didn’t enjoy being instructed alone.
Her mother felt bad about it all, compounded by her failing health, which was why she’d finally agreed to let Isolde travel.
The palace was a hornet’s nest, full of her father’s supporters.
So, Isolde was to go out and meet more of her people, get to know them and win their hearts.
All so that, should the time ever come that her father attempted to usurp Isolde and name Dominic as heir, the kingdom would support her and not him.
Isolde sighed. “It’s been nice to get out of Gleanná, even if the reasons for it aren’t ideal. I love getting to visit the Darrowlands—mother lets me come every year now, and Lady Aislinn is good to me.”
Kiri managed to pick his jaw up off the rocks by the next time she looked at him. Enket at inan, how could someone as young as Isolde carry so much already?
“At least something good’s come out of it,” he said, his words feeling inadequate.
“Very true. I love getting to travel, it’s so freeing. If it’s the only freedom I ever get, at least I’ve had this much.” She smiled, even though her expression remained troubled. “I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone all that.”
“Why not?”
“I just…haven’t.”
“But you’re the crown princess. Shouldn’t everyone care what you think and feel?”
Isolde laughed once, humorlessly. “Apparently not.”
“Then why tell me?”
She peered at Kiri as though he might have the answer for her. “I don’t know. Maybe because you’re…safe.”
Safe. He couldn’t help preening a little hearing that.
That feeling deflated almost instantly when she continued, “And probably because I won’t ever see you again.”
Kiri sank quicker than a rock through water. Oh. That’s right, after today, what were the chances they’d ever meet again? Next to nothing, probably.
That made him feel sad, too. He actually…liked Isolde. She was clever and funny. Easy to talk to. She had good stories and knew lots of things. She was also…rather pretty.
He was grateful he had fur to hide his blush. Kud, he couldn’t let her see that.
Skipping a stone across the pond, he asked, “Well, what else haven’t you done before?”
Isolde turned wide eyes on him. “What?”
Kiri shrugged. “You’re here, no one else has to see. You can do something you’ve always wanted but never could, and only I’d know.”
He couldn’t quite say why, but it was important to him to give her good memories of today. That even if they truly never met again, she’d always remember the afternoon she spent with him, doing something for the first time.
Isolde turned her gaze out over the pond and considered. He knew she’d thought of something when color began to stain her cheeks.
“What?” he asked, leaning forward.
“Well…I’ve never really sworn properly. My father detests swearing.”
Kiri nodded enthusiastically. “Go ahead! The trees and I don’t mind.”
Her blush deepened, and she didn’t immediately start rattling off filthy words. Instead, she drew in a long, deep breath and said, perfectly polite, “Fucking shit.”
Kiri guffawed before falling back in a fit of laughter. “Again!”
“Fucking shit.”
“Louder!”
“Fucking shit!” she cried across the water, her words rebounding off the rockface.
Straightening, he praised, “That was great! How do you feel?”
“Excellent,” she confirmed.
Snapping his fingers, he told her, “I could teach you a few mantii swears, if you like. No one would know what you’re saying.”
Her eyes rounded, and she nodded enthusiastically.
Kiri whispered his favorites and she repeated them back, her accent horrible, but he didn’t mind. Within a few minutes, they were both cussing at the waterfall.
The water continued to roll down the rocks, unbothered by their curses and laughter.
“What else?” Kiri asked, jumping up from the moss. His heart felt too light for his body, like it wanted to float high above the treetops.
Isolde’s eyes glittered as she thought. “Well…” She looked up at him playfully. “I’ve never flown.”
He felt his pupils dilate. Oh, he couldn’t allow that.
Offering his paw, he helped her to stand. “We can fix that,” he declared, unfurling his wings.
Isolde marveled at them over his shoulder. “Are you sure?”
No, but that wouldn’t stop him.
Sure, he’d only gotten big and strong enough to fly by himself a few years ago. Sure, mantii usually needed to be as big and strong as his brothers to carry someone. But that mattered less to Kiri than getting to fly with her.
It wasn’t until she’d stepped closer and he’d drawn her arms around his neck that Kiri realized…just how close they’d need to be for this. As he leaned down to pick her up, Isolde letting out a little eep of surprise, Kiri’s heart thudded heavily in his chest.
Throat gone tight, he shook his head to dispel all the strange thoughts flooding his mind.
“Hold on,” he said, banding his arms across her back.
He heard her suck in a breath and hold it. Clenching his jaw, Kiri did too and then ran.
Three bounds, then he dug his claws into the rocky shore and leapt into the air.
His wings beat furiously, fighting to not just gain but maintain height. The world pulled at them for a horrible moment, Kiri’s heart dropping out of his chest as he worried he couldn’t hold them.
They were over water at least, but there was no way he’d drop the Crown Princess of Eirea into a pool. Absolutely not.
Fangs bared, Kiri fought and flapped, his body straining.
“Kiri…?”
He heard her uncertainty and flatly denied it.
With a grunt, Kiri broke free of the world and drove them higher.
They climbed through air with sheer will, Isolde clutching tight as they came upon the top of the waterfall. She gasped as the water sprayed their faces.
His heart thudded hard in his chest with the effort of keeping them aloft—but also the thrill of flying with a princess of all people.
The world below didn’t matter, only the strength of his wings and how she clung tightly to him.
He could feel her trembling against him, her excitement shining in her astounded face.
She was so damn beautiful, her smile lighting him up inside.
“You’re amazing, Kiri!”
Kiri grinned down at her, whooping in triumph.
“Fucking amazing!” she cried over the water.
He shook with laughter—and exhaustion. Kiri kept them aloft as long as he could, but it was quickly time to land.
He brought them in as gently as he could, descending back to the shore. The landing wasn’t as soft as he’d like, but at least they didn’t tumble over.
Instead, they staggered together, keeping each other upright and laughing wildly.
“I can’t—I can’t believe—!” Isolde smacked her forehead with a hand, pushing her hair out of her face. “Kiri, that was amazing! Thank you!”
Gulping down air, Kiri could only nod. Even if his heart and soul still soared above them.
As he caught his breath, he watched as she bit her lip and one thumb picked at the other. She didn’t seem uncomfortable or nervous—no, she looked wild still, her eyes and smile wide.
Stepping forward, her demeanor was almost frantic, yet when she spoke, her voice was so quiet he almost didn’t hear. “I…I’ve never kissed a boy before,” she whispered. “Have…you?”
“No, I’ve never kissed a boy before.”
Isolde snorted, hand flying over her nose to cover the sound. “That’s not what I mean!”
“I know.” He grinned to hide his sudden nerves. “I…haven’t kissed anyone.”
“Because manticores don’t kiss or because…you just haven’t.”
“Because I just haven’t.”
“Oh.” Her gaze fell to his lips and then bounced back up. “C-could we? Would that be all right?”
A messy purr caught in Kiri’s throat. He nodded jerkily, not trusting his voice then.
Thankfully, she seemed to know what she wanted to do. Stepping close to him, she took his face between her hands, so softly he almost didn’t feel her touch. He swore he could feel her heartbeat alongside his, though, and watched her pupils expand as her gaze again fell to his mouth.
He wanted to grab her, pull her closer, but he stayed perfectly still. Well, until he felt the request in her fingers. He bent down to meet her, but that was all, holding his breath as he waited…waited…for her to…
Her lids fluttered shut, and then Kiri felt her lips touch his.
It was the gentlest, most precious touch he’d ever felt.
He didn’t dare close his eyes, even if all he saw were her brows and forehead.
Her scent invaded his nose, her taste teased his lips.
Kud, he wanted to lick her.
He shouldn’t lick a princess, though. Right?
His paws twitched, and he mindlessly reached up to hold her.
Isolde pulled back, eyes opening.
A smile more beautiful than the dawn spread across her lips. Lips he’d just kissed.
“Thank you, Kiri.”
He opened his mouth, although nothing came out. He stood there dumbly, willing himself to say something smart, but nothing came.
The next one to speak was a deep, commanding voice that called, “Princess Isolde?”
The joy dimmed from her face, and her hands quickly let him go. Kiri made a desperate noise, wishing her back.
She didn’t seem to hear, her head turned toward the man who’d called.
“I’m coming, Gerhardt!” she replied.
When she turned back to Kiri, he could tell something had shifted. She looked…like a princess again. Not just a girl by a pool but a princess. Her smile was artful, her manner poised. It made Kiri’s heart ache.
“We’d better go back,” she said, already turning away.
Kiri watched her go, rooted to the spot.
Enket at inan, what was wrong with him?
It took another few moments before he could get himself moving. By the time he’d almost caught up with her, they neared the mouth of the path.
Standing waiting for her was the stern older night. His flinty gaze assessed the princess before flicking over her head to pin Kiri with a suspicious glare.
“Don’t frown, Gerhardt. It’s a lovely waterfall,” she told him, almost sounding blithe.
“You shouldn’t slip away like that, Isolde,” the knight scolded.
“I was perfectly safe with Kiri, I promise.”
Of course you are. Always. His turuk, usually an agreeable, mild beast, stood up, growling that anyone should think otherwise.
The knight sighed. “It’s time to leave.”
“All right.” Turning back, Isolde smiled one last time at him, and Kiri wanted to think it was genuine. “Thank you for everything, Kiri.”
He just managed a nod before she was turning away, the knight at her heels.
Kiri followed them more slowly, watching as they returned to the group.
The sun had fallen much lower to the tree line, telling him they’d been by the pool for quite some time. Rubbing at his chest, Kiri couldn’t help feeling different than he had before going to the pool. Strange.
The princess was bidding farewell to the others by the time he rejoined his classmates. Kiri hung around the fringes, feeling too raw to talk to anyone.
He couldn’t say why, but he watched Isolde as she was surrounded again by her knights and ladies, escorted to a handful of waiting carriages, and willed her to look back at him.
The carriage door opened. She took the old knight’s hand to step up into it.
She turned.
Her eyes found him. Her lips lifted, and then she disappeared inside the carriage.
Kiri’s heart jumped into his throat, as though it meant to go with her.
His wings trembled, and for a moment, he thought a feather might fall.
Then the carriages began to rumble down the lane, leaving just a plume of dust behind them.
Sounds came back to him one by one, excited chatter and feet pounding as children ran home with stories to tell. His bleary gaze cast about looking for—
There. Maeve stood with Soren and Briseis, talking animatedly about the visit.
Kiri rushed forward, needing to know.
This couldn’t be the last time. He had to see her again.
He didn’t stop until he stood right in front of Maeve. He might’ve been too close too quickly, as Soren reacted instinctively, paw landing on Kiri’s shoulder before he could crowd Maeve.
She stared up at him in astonishment. “Kiri? What’s wrong?”
“How do you become a knight?”
Maeve gaped. “Wh-what?”
“I want to become a knight,” he declared. “Will you help me?”