Chapter 1
‘Princess!’
I groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers over my head and pretending not to hear my maid call me.
‘Princess!’ Greta called again, her voice not only closer but also louder.
‘Let me sleep,’ I mumbled, not wanting to leave the comfort of my bed. The pull of sleep that still hovered around the edges of my consciousness was strong.
It had been a late night. Completely self-inflicted, but I had no regrets. Finishing the book had been my priority and besides, I had nothing pressing to attend to—
I sat up, flipping the covers off. My dark hair was a tangled mess around my head and in my eyes. I brushed at it impatiently.
‘It’s today, isn’t it?’ I asked Greta who stood in the doorway with my morning tray.
‘Yes, Princess,’ she replied, walking in and setting the tray on the bed before arranging my pillows so I could sit back.
‘How late am I?’
‘Late enough,’ my mother said, walking into the room.
The queen was beautiful. Perfect posture, a serene smile on her lips even when she was anything but serene, and she moved with a grace that I would never achieve, no matter how many times I was forced to walk around the room with a stack of books on my head.
Greta put the breakfast tray on my lap and then brushed the hair out of my face as I reached for the tea and took a long, fortifying sip.
‘The dressmaker will be here in half an hour,’ Mother said, inspecting the space, opening the curtains, and adjusting things I had carelessly pushed out of place. ‘When you’ve finished with her, your dance instructor will be waiting in the ballroom. Then you have a lesson with Master Frances. After that—’
I held my hand up to make her stop. ‘Remind me again why you are going to all this trouble?’
‘You know why,’ the queen said, lowering herself into a plush chair beside the bed. ‘It is time you were introduced to the other courts.’
‘So I can choose a husband?’ I replied with a roll of my eyes.
‘No,’ my mother said. ‘But…’
‘But?’ I raised my eyebrow sceptically as I bit into a slice of crisp toast topped with mulberry jam.
‘But if you happen to meet someone you like…’ she shrugged as she trailed off.
‘A charming prince?’ I said with a scoff.
‘He doesn’t need to be a prince,’ she replied, brushing non-existent lint off her skirt.
Truth be told, I was excited for the upcoming ball, even if I feigned annoyance. The kingdoms of Fernweh were spread over the continent and travelling to those places was a long and difficult journey. One I had never had the chance to go on. For the first time in my life I would be meeting the other Lords, Ladies, Princes, and Princesses of Fernweh. My kingdom, Eudaimonia, was the largest and in my opinion, the best. But I might have been biased.
‘Why can’t I marry someone from here?’ I asked.
‘No one is saying you can’t,’ my mother replied. ‘But it doesn’t hurt to look at all the options.’
‘What does the mirror say?’ I asked.
My mother had an ability to see the future in an ancient mirror of unknown origins or age. It wasn’t always accurate and quite often what she perceived was nothing but a complicated riddle that didn’t make sense until after the fact. Occasionally, my mother would see the future with crystal clear clarity, but those occasions were rare. The ability, and the mirror, had been passed down through the female line of her family, but I was yet to show any aptitude for it. When I looked in the mirror, all I saw was, well, me and not very clearly at that. There had been that one time…but it was so long ago I was convinced I’d made it up.
‘The mirror has been stubbornly quiet on the subject,’ she replied, her face still a serene mask, but there was irritation at the corners of her mouth.
My mother was convinced the mirror had a personality of its own and liked to be ornery at times. Maybe it did and it was, and that was why it refused to show me anything. I wouldn’t be surprised. There was not much of my mother in me. I took after my father in many ways, ways in which perplexed not only my mother but also the palace staff. They all thought they would be getting a delicate princess when I was born instead of the rough and tumble rascal that I was. That’s not to say that I didn’t like all the pretty and shiny things that are usually ascribed to princesses. I liked sparkle as much as the next princess, but I was terrible at sewing and painting and dancing and would much rather lie on my couch with a good book than gossip over tea. Well…okay, maybe I do like a bit of gossip after all…and tea. Also I liked to shoot things, well targets…like archery targets. I’ve never actually shot anything living.
‘Why do I have to get married at all?’
At this my mother, Queen of Eudaimonia, rolled her eyes with exasperation. I fought a smile. Was it wrong that I got an inordinate amount of pleasure from ruffling her feathers?
‘Do I need to again explain your role as the only heir of the crown?’ the queen asked.
I opened my mouth to reply but Mother cut me off with a swipe of her hand and a narrowed gaze.
‘We do not have time to go into it now. If you are so keen to argue your point about your place in the monarchy then shall I set up a time for you to discuss it with your father?’
I slumped back against the pillows and shook my head as I chewed the last bite of toast.
The queen stood with a sharp nod and smoothed her skirts with a decisive whoosh of her hands.
‘Do not be late to your dress fitting,’ she said as she left the room.
I made a face at her back and almost got caught as she spun around and glared at me.
‘Yes, Mother,’ I said, arranging my features into a pleasant smile and trying very hard to hide the contempt I felt.
I was eighteen years old—nearly eighteen—and my father was hale and healthy. Neither one of us was prepared for a change in the status quo. I was not ready to be queen and my father was not ready to leave the throne. Besides, he was a good king. A strong king who was fair and just and generous. I was still a child who didn’t know what she wanted for lunch let alone what she should do for the kingdom.
‘Oh, I love it,’ I said as I twirled in the dress in front of the mirror—a normal mirror, not my mother’s ‘magic’ mirror.
The dress was red. Not blood red, but a deep garnet red. While other kingdoms might like to dress their princesses in pastel colours, my mother didn’t. All the dresses she had chosen for me for the upcoming summer balls were all jewel-toned; emerald green and sapphire blue, and a rich amethyst. The gown for the final ball was a glittering antique gold with a long cape that hung from the shoulders in a fall of the finest gossamer. Each of the dresses was cut slightly differently; the garnet dress had one bare shoulder, the emerald one had two with a sweetheart neckline. The sapphire dress had delicate puffy sleeves made from sheer fabric and the amethyst gown had a halter neck. The gold dress had a scalloped V-neck and a low-cut back with the same scalloped edge. All the dresses were studded with tiny gems in varying patterns. All had a princess bodice with a cinched waist and a full skirt for twirling. They were all stunning and I was eager to wear each and every one.
As much as I pretended to be put out about the balls in front of my mother, dressing up and dancing and going to parties and picnics and all the other festivities that had been planned was exciting. Sure, the palace threw balls frequently and seasonally, but they were only ever attended by the local peerage. People I had known all my life, or at least, people who had known me. And this time I would be treated like an adult. I would be allowed to stay up late and attend any and all of the events planned. I knew I was supposed to be searching for a prince to marry but…that part didn’t interest me all that much.
‘Princess, please,’ the dressmaker said. ‘I need to check the fit and the length.’
I stopped my twirling and stood on the raised platform trying desperately not to fidget.
‘You must be excited,’ the dressmaker’s assistant said.
She was a young woman, about my age. Her dress was plain but well cut and her hair was pulled back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She looked prim and proper but there was a sparkle in her eyes that I was drawn to immediately.
‘I am,’ I replied with a smile.
‘I hear the princes are all rather dashing,’ she said, her voice taking on a dream-like quality.
‘Meh,’ I responded with a twist of my lips.
I had seen portraits of the foreign princes. Paintings done by the artists of their respective courts, but I wouldn’t put much stock in that. No court artist who wanted to keep his job, and his head, would dare paint a prince looking less than handsome. Besides, I was more interested in who they were, not what they looked like. And if truth be told, I was more interested in getting to know the other princesses. I had friends, of course, but there was always a divide between us. None of the young women I grew up with could ever actually be themselves around me, nor me around them. But another princess? That would be a different story.
‘Done,’ the dressmaker said, casting a critical eye over me.
They helped me change out of the gown and back into my day dress. By the time I stepped out from behind the screen, my tutor was standing waiting for me. I held in a groan…just barely.
‘Master Frances,’ I said, feigning brightness. ‘Is it that time already?’
‘Past time, Princess,’ he droned in his monotone voice.
‘What about my dancing lesson?’ I asked. I wasn’t all that keen on going to it either but it was better than listening to Master Frances drone on and on.
‘You are already late for that,’ Master Frances replied. ‘It has been rescheduled.’
‘Why has the dancing been rescheduled instead of your lecture?’ I enquired casually.
‘My lecture was deemed far more important.’
I didn’t agree, not that I could voice that opinion out loud. I didn’t think it was all my fault that I disliked his lectures so much. Perhaps if he took any pleasure in his teaching I might have been more inclined to listen to him and less inclined to daydream. But Master Frances had been the royal tutor for my father and now he was mine. I had a sneaking suspicion he had also been the tutor for my grandmother too. He definitely looked old enough.
I sailed past him out of the dressing room and down the hall to the study. Not the study my father worked in, but the study set aside especially for me and my lessons. I assumed that if I had any siblings they would also have been subjected to Master Frances’ dreary lessons in the same room, but, alas, I was an only child.
Not for want of trying, if the palace gossip was to be believed. I did not relish hearing the whispers of my parents intimate encounters, although I was pleased that they still had them. My parents were in love, of that much I was sure. I just didn’t like hearing about just how much.
I was not innocent of what went on behind the doors of my parent’s bedroom. I’d been instructed on the mechanics of conception by Master Frances in that dry monotone of his. Admittedly, the lesson had been about the mating of horses, but I extrapolated how it applied to other species, humans included. My lady’s maids had filled in some more detail and of course there were the books I read. My mother would probably be horrified if she knew…or maybe not. The books had been smuggled to me by the very same lady’s maids who filled in the blanks of Master Frances’ lecture. And of course, I had kissed a boy…more than once and more than one boy. I was eighteen, after all. Or at least I was nearly eighteen.
The thought of finding someone to explore more of these intimate aspects of a relationship was tempting, I just didn’t think I would find that someone amongst the foreign royals that would be visiting our kingdom in the coming month.
‘Okay,’ I said, squinting at the map Master Frances had pinned to the wall of the study. ‘Let me get this right. No one has heard anything from Werifesteria for a hundred years? And no one has thought to check on them and make sure they’re alright?’
‘Of course the king has sent messengers,’ Master Frances said with a deep sigh. ‘And the queen before him and the king before her.’
‘And what? The kingdom is empty? There are no people there?’
‘We don’t know,’ Master Frances intoned. ‘Because no one has been able to get through the border.’
I crossed my arms and slumped back in my seat. ‘How come this is the first time I’m hearing this?’
Master Frances raised one eyebrow at me.
‘This is not the first time I’ve heard about this,’ I said.
Master Frances shook his head sternly. ‘This is not your first geography lesson, Princess,’ he replied.
How could I forget something like this? But, then again, how could I remember when everything that came out of Master Frances’ mouth was little more than the low drone of a bee? The only reason I was listening now was because I wanted to know who the people were coming to the ball. Who the princesses were. Of the five kingdoms, I was one of three female heirs. The others were from Werifesteria and Thalasso and apparently, the princess from Werifesteria wouldn’t be attending.
‘How do we even know there is a princess in Werifesteria?’ I asked.
‘There was, once,’ Master Frances said.
‘A hundred years ago? I don’t think she is still around,’ I replied sarcastically.
‘Nevertheless, we sent an invitation to her and until we hear otherwise, we will continue to do so.’
‘It seems a waste,’ I said. ‘Sending a messenger to a place we know we can’t enter.’
‘But one day we might be able to,’ Master Frances said. ‘How will we know unless we keep trying?’
‘And what of Thalasso? What of the princess from there?’
‘There are six princesses,’ Master Frances replied. ‘And they have all declined to attend.’
My heart sank. So much for finding a friend.
‘But Prince Granger from Thalasso will be here. Prince Char from Kairos will be in attendance, as will Prince Elil from Querencia. And of course, Lord Parisar.’
I waved the last name away like I would shoo an annoying fly. Lord Parisar was…a pain. His father, even more so. A close confident of the king, Lord Parisar’s father, Lord Adryon, gave me the creeps. I didn’t like the way he looked at, well, everything. He had a covetous gleam that set my teeth on edge…or maybe I just didn’t like him because I had once overheard him call me an unflattering name when he thought no one was around.
‘I thought this event—’
‘Your birthday celebrations,’ Master Frances reminded me.
I pulled my mouth into a grimace. ‘I thought my birthday celebrations were supposed to be a chance for me to meet the other nobles. A chance to meet possible marriage partners,’ I added with distaste. ‘It doesn’t seem like there is much of a choice.’
Master Frances raised his eyebrow again before he smacked his pointing cane against the wall and a scroll appeared, unrolling down the wall to reach the floor. It was inscribed with lines of names in the tutor’s tight, harsh scrawl.
‘Oh,’ I said softly as I tried, and failed, to count the names on the list.
‘Prince Granger, Princes Char and Elil, and Lord Parisar are the favoured choices,’ Master Frances droned. ‘But they are not the only ones who will be in attendance. Every noble throughout Fernweh was invited, regardless of their notoriety. Prince Granger has two brothers in addition to his six sisters. Prince Char has three. Prince Elil is the eldest of six, but his three brothers are much too young. His sisters will be in attendance.’
‘Prince Elil has sisters?’ I asked, sitting forward. ‘Princesses?’
‘Yes,’ Master Frances replied. ‘Naturally.’
‘What are their names?’
Master Frances sighed deeply. ‘Their names are not pertinent to this lesson,’ he replied.
I crossed my arms and pouted. ‘They’re pertinent to my interests,’ I mumbled.
‘They’re not pertinent to this lesson because they are not heirs to their kingdoms.’
‘None of them? What about the second eldest? After the prince? Isn’t she second in line to the throne?’
‘No.’
‘What?’ I asked, dumbfounded. ‘Why?’
‘Have you not listened to anything I’ve taught you over the years?’
‘Of course I have,’ I defended…lied.
‘Then you should know that Querencia only recognises male heirs.’
I turned this over in my head. ‘If they only recognise male heirs,’ I said thoughtfully, ‘then does that mean, if I married Prince Elil, I would have to give up my right to my father’s throne?’
Master Frances inclined his head. ‘You would move to Querencia to serve as their princess until the time of your father’s passing and then Prince Elil would become King Elil of Eudaimonia.
‘And what happens when Prince Elil’s father dies? Or I suppose King Elil, if my father passes before the Querencian king?’ The words left a bad taste in my mouth.
‘The two kingdoms would become one under King Elil.’
I frowned, looking at the map. If Eudaimonia and Querencia became one kingdom, it would be a strategic advantage over the other kingdoms on the continent. It would be the largest by far. Eudaimonia and Querencia shared a border—the northern border for Eudaimonia. Joining the two kingdoms would mean cutting a swathe across the entire continent and having the advantage of both eastern and western ports. It would also isolate Werifesteria from the other kingdoms and…if the prince had such illusions of grandeur…would give the new, united kingdom an opportunity to absorb Werifesteria without the other kingdoms even knowing anything about it.
‘Well, he’s out then,’ I said definitively.
Was that a smile on Master Frances’ mouth? It couldn’t be. I’d never seen the man smile. Ever. It must be a facial tick. Irys, Goddess of the Sky, knew I had never done anything to please Master Frances in all the years he’d been my tutor.
‘What of the other princes?’ I asked, interested now with the thought of losing my kingdom to another monarchy.
There hadn’t been a war in Fernweh since the kingdoms were established, and I had no intention of being the cause of one. Until this moment I had never taken the politics of the continent seriously. It was a world away from my daily life…but I was the only direct descendent of the king which meant I had a responsibility for the future of this kingdom.