Chapter 48
Building trust on Vows
"Astounding how the gods had made their kingdoms in their image. The Kingdom of Light—born to have the force of Apollo's blistering Sun. The Kingdom of Darkness—birthed to nourish the land in arrays of starlight and purple hues of the day by the Goddess Nocturna.
It seems like the Goddess has forgotten us and left Duvessa a kingdom of death and ruin."
Journal from a Duvessan refugee.
The tunic I wore felt easy to manoeuvre in, even in the blistering heat that the morning had brought. I felt envious that men had clothing that was by far, more comfortable than what was made for women. A small part of me wondered if Lorian would be attending the ball with his group.
The abraax demons.
I had felt like a complete fool for not having seen his true identity. Even though dangerous, the demon made immaculate clothing, but I was not too sure any longer if I still wanted him to create armours or dresses for me.
The castle help had brought breakfast into my room, not meeting my eye even when I had thanked them.
Was I truly that intimidating or was I not worthy enough to be acknowledged?
The food they had brought could have fed five more people.
The trays were filled with cakes, biscuits and tarts all the way to eggs, cheese and cured meats.
I swiftly downed what I could and was out the door before I could swipe an arm over my mouth to dust off the crumbs.
I needed to find Red, not only to ensure he was alright but because I would not have time to see him today.
Inanov and I would be going through the castle's prints, learning all the exits and entrances in order to do my job.
Akiel and Hulin no doubt would have made Red feel right at home but nevertheless, he was my responsibility and if anything had happened to him.
.. if anyone hurt him. They would face my wrath, not only for Kya but also for me.
I managed to find my way downstairs to the foyer where we had first entered the castle, with archways leading to the royal gardens in all directions.
I heard the sound of laughter and a clatter of other sounds echoing.
Wherever there was laughter there was Red, so I followed the sound only to find him holding a wooden sword against Hulin who countered with a step back on defence.
I folded my arms and walked around the ring, observing what the Apollons had taught him.
When Red noticed my presence he smiled, wavering his offence stance, resulting in Hulin hitting him.
"Ouch-shit," Red cursed out and held his head.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." I sternly scolded him before nodding to him. "Continue."
"You're giving the lad and myself stage fright," Hulin muttered before circling Red.
I noticed Akiel sitting on a barrel on the opposite end sharpening his knife.
He gave me a nod, I responded with a short smile and then looked back at the training in front of me.
Hulin struck first, Red's movements were slightly delayed, but he dodged it right on time.
I analysed Red's stance and how he held his sword, however he'd have another delayed response to a hit if he remained tense.
"You have to move around, Red, don't keep your legs so firm into the ground unless you are sure that your opponent will be on top of you in seconds," I commanded.
Red didn't protest and simply nodded, relaxing his stance and moving.
His sword caught with Hulin's and it was now a fight of who was swifter.
Red struck and did his best to get a clear hit on Hulin but even for a tracker he was fast and precise with his strikes.
Red did something jarring just then—he swiped under Hulin's legs.
Hulin expected this counter attack, so he avoided Red's swipe but was caught off guard when Red knocked the sword off his hand.
I beamed like a proud mother.
Red was a trickster, and slowly I realised that this was a similar move that I had used in one of my performances in the arena.
It was one thing to learn it but to master trickery as a strength in fighting would make a great advantage in any duel you encounter.
Besides that, it suited him, it made me see him in a different light even when he patted a scowling Hulin on his back and made his way to me.
I could see it then, with how his coppery brown hair glinted in the sun's glow, he looked like the fate of trickery come to life.
"Many thanks for the pointers you gave, Mor.
You still owe me an abundance of lessons, remember?
" he teased and hugged me. I tensed, wondering how long it had been since someone had hugged me.
As sad as it sounded, I missed the feeling gravely and suddenly hugged Red even tighter until he chuckled.
"Be careful, or your prince might think that I am trying to get into your pants.
.. not that he'd be wrong but—" I immediately swatted him on the head.
"There you go, ruining the moment," I groaned and pushed him back.
"Oh come on, Mor, it's been a while since I've tried shooting my shot."
"Yeah, perhaps that is because we have been too close to death's front door for you to have the chance to," I said it teasingly, and yet my words held an abundance of truth to it. Red smiled and then suddenly his smile was slowly departing from his face.
"What's wrong?" I whispered, guiding him to a swing where he took a seat, putting his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands.
"This journey, Mor... I have never felt so alive in my life even when faced with such deadly events.
It feels rhapsodic and just... amazing. I feel like a horrible person.
I miss Kya so much, every day. Am I a horrible person for being this free.
.. even when Kya is not?" My breath caught and my heart stung from his confession.
I sat on the swing next to him and caressed his hair, soothing it and making him look at me.
"In no world are you a horrible person, Red.
Your sister loves you, cares for you entirely with her whole heart and if she could see how much happiness you feel, how much you have experienced and the friends you have made.
.." I trailed off. "Then it would make her the happiest person on Terran.
Also... she possibly could be free right now as we speak.
I gave all of my coin to Ezra, remember?
" Red now sniffled and snorted at the mention of Ezra.
“And are you so sure that he has bought her freedom from Madam de Trix?"
I answered immediately, "Without a doubt." Ezra kept his promises and always stuck true to his word.
I couldn't help but think of how so much had changed from the start of the summer solstice to now.
Ezra had been making promises and trying to convince me to leave the arena to start a life with him.
.. perhaps a romantic one. It had not crossed my mind for one second that he had such incredibly deep romantic feelings for me.
He had not shown it all those years we had grown up together in the arena, and my last days there were beginning to slowly show the surfaces of his feelings.
He had nearly kissed me, and I suddenly wondered if I would have kissed him back.
I wasn't so sure, and I was even more unsure if I had retained romantic feelings for him.
Perhaps I had once when we were kids, but all those feelings were squashed when he showed his attention to other women, time and time again.
The jealousy I felt toyed with me, making me competitive and dismissive to the idea of him possibly having feelings for me which seemed unreal.
Despite that, Ezra was still my closest friend and he always had my back.
He would take a sword to the heart for me.
So it was beyond question when it came to Ezra using my money to get Kya out of that damned brothel—he would in fact do it.
"Is it safe to assume you no longer hold feelings for that dim-witted arena warrior because of your feelings for the prince?" I nearly recoiled from Red's question.
"What in Nocturna's name do you mean?" I put my hand on his mouth.
"Come now, Mor, it is as clear as day." He took my hands off him and sidestepped me before I could swat his head once more.
"I. Do. Not. Have feelings for the prince." My words were convincing and yet my heart stuttered.
"If you do not, he certainly does." Red nodded to something or rather someone behind me.
"No, he does not— "
"Morana." His voice caressed my name in the most startling way. The prince was looking devastating as ever and yet so very different. More casual, with the crisp white shirt and rich cream coloured trousers.
"Your Highness." Red made a bow which the prince ignored.
"We have plans today, join me in the foyer in an hour," he curtly stated before drawing away to Akiel who spoke with animated interest to the prince.
I looked back to Red who simply made a suggestive look with his eyebrows and nodded toward the prince.
I scowled and decided not to bid a goodbye to him.
***
I stood facing a golden mirror in the foyer where I strapped my blades in.
"You have no need for them today," the prince unexpectedly said.
I looked up to the mirror that showed a golden blurred view of the prince behind me.
The mirror made him look ethereal... like the potential fae he could have been if he had more of the blood in him.
I set the blades down on the tabletop and turned to see the true version of the prince.
I was grateful that he did not have more fae blood in him, otherwise he could very much look more like his fearsome father.
"Apologies, Prince, but how else am I to protect you, or even myself for that matter? My combat skills are good, but I prefer to get the job done quicker." I gave a slight smirk.