10. Collaboration
COLLABORATION
“They’re druids,” Prince Jarrick answered. “Naturistic rebels with unrealistic ideals.”
Aaryn's heart sank at the venom filling his words. She’d heard of druids, of course. Their lineage dated all the way back to the very creation of Rishika.
“They take and they use magic at their own discretion with disregard for everyone else around them.”
“But magic is scarce,” Aaryn said. Centuries ago, all the magic in the land had been taken, harnessed in order to end a curse on their lands, and even now, magic was concentrated to keep it at bay. Magic was not intended for the public, for personal use.
He gnashed his teeth. “Exactly. They care not for how their proclivities put the rest of us in danger.”
“Why are they coming after the dragons? The Tethered?”
Jarrick shrugged, frustration lining his features. “They’re Evergale's greatest defense. Maybe they seek to weaken us.”
“For what purpose? Are they planning an attack?” Aaryn asked, fearful. This felt bigger than Thea. What did Aaryn really know of all this?
“None of us know their next move, or what exactly they hope to accomplish. But they’re moving in. If she could get to you in the orchard, maybe they’re already here and we just don’t know it.”
Aaryn must have made a noise, because Jarrick shook himself. “Sorry, I don’t mean to frighten you. Maybe this was too much—“
“No!” Aaryn interjected. “I just have never had to think about these things before. I would rather know than be caught unaware.”
When he didn’t answer, Aaryn continued, afraid that her involvement would end here. “The first step to defeating an enemy is knowing who the enemy is, yes?”
His gaze gleamed. “I suppose you’re correct,” he acquiesced, and began returning books to their proper places.
“I want to help more,” she said, resisting the urge to follow on his heels, and instead watching him move from shelf to shelf.
“You’ve already helped more than anyone expected you to. You should rest, take care of yourself.”
Aaryn sighed. “I will positively lose myself if I have no way to fill my time. Luckily for you, I’ve already figured out how I can do that,” Aaryn told him.
The curl to his lip was… something else. “Lucky me, then. Care to enlighten me?”
Aaryn braced herself. “I’d like to fight.”
He thumped a book back onto a shelf and spun to face her, eyes wide. “Fight?”
She was standing tall, and yet she felt exceptionally tiny as she faced off with the prince of the kingdom. “Yes. I’d like to be trained as a guard. Or a knight.”
He tilted his head, looking unconvinced. “Well, that’s—“
She talked over him, which was possibly rude, but she needed him to understand that lying idle was not in her blood. “Prince. I have no dragon to care for. I am adrift. I need something to fill my day and do not—“ she interrupted his parted lips “—tell me to go to the markets for shopping.”
He closed his mouth and studied her.
“I will do anything to free my dragon,” she vowed. “And you can place guards around me at all times of the day, but wouldn’t it be better if I could protect myself? Better yet, if Thea attempts to meet with me again… I could do something about it. Something that mattered.”
Jarrick at least had the decency to look thoughtful. “I don't want you to put yourself in more danger."
"The danger is in not knowing how to protect myself," she argued.
He sighed and spread his fingers on the desk as he considered. "The Tethered are of such high honor. To train one of you as a knight…” His lip curled. “It would be dishonorable."
Aaryn's heart fell.
"So it would… have to be a secret. Perhaps one we couldn’t trust anyone with but ourselves.”
Aaryn’s lips popped open, surprise filling her. “Prince. I wouldn't want to impose myself, or distract you from your duties.”
He stopped before her, and tilted her chin up. Her breath caught. “Aaryn, the Tethered are my duty. And you are a Tethered. If this is what you need to feel safe in my kingdom, I would be honored to provide it.”
She hesitated to agree. Would placing herself so near the prince draw ire from those around? The Tethered, his guard, or, scales forbid—the king?
“If what makes you hesitate is the murmurs of those around, feel assured that they would dare not speak against me.”
“Would the king approve of this?” she asked.
“I believe so,” he said, lips twitching. “Shall I ask and report back to you?”
Her cheeks colored at the idea of a prince reporting anything to her. But it would alleviate her worries. “Is it frustrating if I say yes?”
“Only because it delays our time together,” he said.
Aaryn’s heart flipped. Was the prince… flirting?
Great scales, her mother would just perish if she knew.
“Alright,” she agreed, and nodded, breaking the eye contact. “It would be an honor to be trained by one of such high status and sure ability.”
“You flatter me,” he murmured, leaning closer.
Aaryn was suddenly aware of the dark lighting, the privacy of the library. The locked door. The lack of guards.
She hated that this was exactly what her mother had asked of her, and she hated that apparently, it was working.
Dark skies, what was she doing?
“Training starts early, yes?” she interjected, feigning distraction. “Just how early should I expect? And where should I report to?”
The prince nodded, his expression sliding back into one of authority, and not…
Well, Aaryn didn’t want to look too closely at the other emotion.
“Bright and early, Tethered Aaryn. Just after sunrise. Why don’t you report to…” He hummed. “We have plenty of space to utilize—I’ll find somewhere safe. Shall I come collect you on the morrow?”
Aaryn’s heart thumped. How scandalous.
For Starspark.
“I look forward to it,” she said.
“Excellent,” he agreed, nodding his head in that polite manner. Aaryn had successfully broken whatever mood had overtaken the room. “Let’s return you to your quarters. You’ll need plenty of rest before tomorrow.”
The prince returned her to her rooms, and grabbed a guard on the way. Aaryn was relieved to note it was the same one who’d been assigned to her door.
The prince ordered her to stick to Aaryn’s side until the following morning, when he would return to dismiss her.
With a hand pressed to her heart, the knight nodded, leaving her head bowed until the prince bid them goodnight.
“Thank you,” Aaryn told her.
“It is my pleasure, Tethered.” Which is what she always said.
She appreciated her dedication, but did not look forward to walking the dining hall with a shadow.
But walk the dining hall she did.
The hall was full, as usual, and as Aaryn walked through the tables toward the Tethered, she was painfully aware of the stares she received.
She was in her favorite dress, comfortable and pretty, in a deep blue that contrasted with her pink hair.
It was nothing she hadn't worn to dinner before, and yet eyes lingered.
She prayed to the Great Dragon they were more focused on the knight keeping close at her heels than anything else.
The Tethered saw her coming, and instead of smiles and greetings, she was met with silence. The conversation previously carrying on at the table halted, and all of their eyes glanced at the guard at Aaryn’s back.
It was clear she was not welcome, but… where else would she sit?
“The prince no longer hosting you at his table?” Carissa sneered.
Aaryn hesitated with her hand over the back of a chair. “Uhm… Is something the matter?" she asked, seeking Rose's gaze. She shook her head in a minuscule motion, but Aaryn was already sinking into her seat.
“Tethered, I’ll be just back here,” Runa informed her, before stepping away to stand against the wall with a few other guards.
The silence persisted, and Aaryn’s skin was practically crawling from the tension. Shall she draw even more attention to herself by leaving the hall altogether, skipping dinner? No.
Aaryn had missed the other Tethered, but this energy was… not welcoming.
Thankful for at least the illusion of privacy, Aaryn lowered her voice to speak to her friends. “Even if I do not have a dragon to tend to, I am still marked the same as the rest of you,” she said, confused as to why they were being so cold.
Some of the Tethered shared a glance, and some even strayed directly to Aaryn.
“We are grown women, are we not?” Aaryn asked, her frustration present in her tone. “If we need to have a discussion, are we not mature enough to broach a hard topic?”
Carissa’s glare could’ve been a slap for how quickly she turned it on Aaryn. “Maybe we grow tired of our conversations reaching the ears of those who are not present.”
Aaryn’s eyes widened in understanding. The prince must have begun interviewing the guards the Tethered had been… intimate with. He was supposed to keep her involvement quiet, but she supposed it didn't take a genius to deduce who the information could have come from.
“My heart hurts for you, for Starspark," Carissa continued. "But I request that you keep your nose out of my business, and keep my business out of the ears you suddenly have the ability to bend,” Carissa snapped. “And I think that goes for all of us.”
A few of the other Tethered nodded, while some remained silent, which was just as hurtful.
“I understand your frustration,” Aaryn said.
“I did nothing none of you would have, were it Nightspike who had gone missing,” she directed toward Lucille, a dark-haired, often grumpy but secretly soft Tethered.
“Or Firelight,” she spoke to Wilma, who looked guilty.
“And in case you thought otherwise, none of my own life has gone without deep inspection.” Annoyance flared.
“Should we risk the safety of the kingdom by feeling precious over… gossip?” Aaryn asked.
Carissa stood, and the scrape of her chair drew the attention of a few surrounding tables.
“I find it deeply offensive that a friend would equate my life and who I choose to share it with to gossip,” she hissed. “Enjoy your dinner, Tethered. I suddenly no longer have an appetite.”