Chapter 2
Josie’s confidence weighed on me the entire first part of the afternoon. I tried to remain in the moments ahead, fixating on the Derby and considering the differences between Chalke and Oreia and their regard for horses, but it was short-lived.
Once I’d ventured past how Oreia did not have derbies like Chalke did, how I had never been to anything close to the same kind of event—except for the dressage portion of our Autumn games—there was little else to preoccupy myself with.
The Derby seemed to be remarkably competitive and a place where class had very little influence. Ladies, gentlemen, and the common man stood, in some places, shoulder to shoulder, as they marked their bets on which mare or stallion they felt would win their fortunes.
I twiddled my thumbs, glancing at the edge of my hat. I grew so weary with every face that passed by the Prince and me that they began to feel numb.
Yet, for as many attendees as there were, the one I wanted to cross paths with remained unseen.
He was perhaps not there after all. I worried we’d never meet again, and I was angry that my days would be so barren, but then I heard Miss Jocelyn’s advice—if he wanted to, he would—and I refused to hold Mr. Evergreen to that, and not myself.
So, I hatched a plan to find him. I wanted to, so I would.
Very determinedly, but I had to lose my royal shadow and search alone. I needed to find him; I needed a—
“Miracle,” Sam said.
“What?” For a moment, I feared I’d been thinking aloud.
“The horse I’ve bet on for us,” he beamed. “Though Cyrus preferred the other. What was the name…something about luck?”
I looked at the paper in my hand, the list of all the horses. “Blind Luck?” I asked. “Is she actually blind?”
“That’d be quite the race,” Sam said. “Anyway. Back to what I was saying. Do you have a preference?”
“On the horse?” I asked.
“No. The wedding, love.”
“The wedding?”
“Yes. The flowers. Across the altar?” His face shrank as Miracle fell behind another horse and lost. “Blast it. Oh well. Flowers. I was thinking of daisies, like the ones I had sent to you. Yes. That’s a pretty thought. A full circle moment, I think.”
Another race began.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the venue,” he said.
“The church?” I asked. “I haven’t been.”
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Cyrus didn’t take you there?”
“To the church?” I asked.
“Yes. On your rides, love. I thought that’s what he said you did all day. Visit sites.”
“I, uh,” I swallowed. “We’ve seen many things, but we haven’t been there.”
“A damn shame,” he said.
“And, uh, unfortunately, Mr. Ever—”
“I’m sure he just forgot I asked him to. You might remind him. He would love the honor.”
“Of taking me to our chapel?” I asked.
“Yes, of course, Svana,” he said. “We’ll be married there. Have him show you where to stand.”
Sam watched the horses speed past.
“That chapel marries all of us Azariis, you know? And quite a few of the locals. Nobles and commoners alike. It’s quite awe-inspiring with the lore, I suppose, despite how quaint it is.
That said, I had tried to influence Father to use a larger venue, but you can imagine how that went over with a man born in tradition.
I swear he may never accept the world as it changes.
The other day, he argued over the idea of building a university north of town. ”
Sam continued to explain, though I instinctively locked eyes with another face that had appeared suddenly, and at the end of the section, we stood.
“Cyrus,” I breathed.
“Yes, Cyrus, who else would I mean?” Sam asked.
“No. I’m sorry, I—”
Sameer followed my gaze. “Oh! You see him. Cyrus!” he called, waving. “Over here!” He laughed, nudging me. “Don’t be shy to flag him down for me, dear. Your voice is sharper.”
I felt the swordsman’s air of hesitation from where I stood, and when Sam repeated his request, I wondered if his friend would even comply. Though, whether reluctantly or not, he did.
The closer he came, the more my ribs bound tightly to my lungs. A short breath, and then-
“Your Highness.” Elías appeared beside me.
I gasped at his arrival.
“Are you well?” he asked.
“I—Yes, Ser. What is it?” I asked. “Lord. You just appeared like that.” I set my hand to my chest. “I think you stole some years.”
He nodded to the swordsman as he approached our group, and at the same time, the Prince stepped forward a few paces to meet his friend.
“Seriously?” I asked.
He ignored the comment. “Have you placed any bets?”
I scowled. “Ah, I see.”
“Ah, I see?” he asked. “A strange name for a horse.”
“Indeed. Must we play this game, Lord Commander?” I asked. “If you must blatantly impair my opportunities, be open about it at least.”
“Opportunity? Hmm.” He tsked. “Then you refuse to heed my advice.”
“Your advice,” I repeated. I formed a few agitated faces.
“Svana,” he whispered. “You do not need to speak with Mr. Evergreen.”
“Mr. Evergreen is my friend,” I said quietly.
“Friends do not put ladies in bad situations.” He pointed to the stallion he liked. “That one is doing well.”
My eyes wandered back, back to my Sword and the Prince, but Cyrus did not look at me. He only looked at Sam, and then a pair of women joined them. Lady Agatha and…my seamstress?
My breath was audible, and Elías was all too aware of it. He glanced between the party that had formed and me, but offered nothing for my concern. A difficult nerve climbed my throat as the tailor’s hand rested in the crook of Mr. Evergreen’s arm.
“What is she doing?” I hissed.
As unmoved as ever, Elías said, “Would you like me to retrieve the Prince for you?” I didn’t reply. “I agree, it is bold of Lady Agatha to be speaking with him so openly, and with you not so far away.”
I stared at the offense until, by some miracle, Evergreen stepped back politely from the girl, then excused himself and left. My heart raced as I watched him vanish around the tables of refreshments and into the fray of gamblers.
All the blood I carried rushed to my head, demanding that I act, and act then, and, like an uncontainable burst of fire, panic burned through my chest, and a mad woman’s voice in my head screamed for me to run after him.
“Ha-aCk!,” I choked, hands flying to my neck, suddenly born anew as a street merchant peddling her fares or a mercenary on the hunt. “I- Ack!” I sang.
“Svana?” Elías grabbed the meat of my arm, eyes wide. “What is it?” he begged. “Are you choking?”
“I-” I looked at him, scouring the yard for inspiration. “T-The humidity,” I croaked. “I-I need water.”
“Stay here,” he said. He started off. “I shall fetch you something to drink.”
“Aye,” I said. I coughed a few more times, just for the sale of it.
When he was far enough, I, a disobedient child, soared into a near-comical trot, skipping, gone before he had even disappeared properly into the crowd.
I could’ve fallen into the dirt a number of times with how quickly I walked, but by the end of the first row of seats, walking had evolved into a very deliberate stride.
I scoured each and every nook or cranny I came across for my Sword. Finally, I found him.
“Cyrus Evergreen,” I said.
He rested against a beam beneath the stands and audience. He rose from his perch at my voice. He was, without a doubt, a little shocked, but didn’t say anything. No hi, no goodbye, no weird confusion. Cyrus just looked at me like I was a stranger, like someone he’d never seen before.
“Svana,” I frowned. “A single fortnight to forget my name?”
“I didn’t forget your name, Svana,” he said, annoyed. He ran a hand over the back of his head, then grabbed me with the same, pulling me deeper, below the structure and into privacy. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“The Derby? It is a public event, is it not?”
His eyes were serious. “Where is your knight? I know he doesn’t know you’re here with me.”
“Do you?” I asked. “Do you want me here with you?”
“Where is he?”
“I’m so sorry,” I promised. “I never wanted-!”
He sighed, ruffling his wild hair a little more, and whispering back. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry for, Princess. I took advantage of you. Now go. You should not be found with me. Go before-”
“Do you not wish to see me?” I cut him off.
Mr. Evergreen’s deflated. “…Don’t ask me that,” he said. “You’re not an idiot, remember? You know better.”
My eyes closed, half in the weight of hearing his voice after so long, and half in dread of what his answer meant. “Then you feel it, too? The spark between us?”
“The spark?”
“Our spark,” I said.
He let go of me to cross his arms. “You’re young, Svana. You’re uneducated in sparks.”
I scoffed. “How dare you?”
“Yes, how dare I?” he muttered. “How dare I trap you beneath the seats to taunt you about things I know nothing about?”
“Oh! Forgive me, sir. I had not realized an education was required to feel whatever this is between us. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? If that were the case, the world would consist of nothing but virgins, for nobody would detect their attraction between themselves and others in the first place!”
“What?” he asked.
Cyrus threw his eyes over my shoulder at someone passing, scrambling to offer a convincing wave.
When the pedestrian had left, he locked onto the belt of my dress and dragged me off my center, replacing me behind one of the other pillars, further concealing us from the path. He loomed over me like a furious storm.
“I must ask, Your Highness, is it a personal vendetta of yours to get me murdered?” His hand hovered near my face. “We cannot be caug—”
“I missed you,” I told him.
Cyrus came to a halt. His expression darkened, as if it injured him to hear me speak.
“That is not something you should say to me,” he said.
“Why?” I asked. “Because you could not care less?”
“Because, Princess…” he started. “Because Sameer is my friend. My greatest friend. Never mind your fiancé.”
“Yes, Sameer. All hail Sameer and his goodness,” I said.