My father pulled me into a hug. “You look beautiful. Where did my baby girl go?”
With gleaming eyes, my mother touched my cheek with the back of her fingers. “Yes, so grown up.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” the boys shouted, pushing each other.
“Settle down,” my father said, flicking both of them on the nose. Father slid an arm around my mother’s waist and nodded toward the door, a subtle gesture to tell his children to get moving. “Madison told me that the sparring tournaments have been postponed another month. She and the other instructors think that the Hesstian and Collweyan students aren’t ready to compete with us.”
I nodded. “They’re not, besides a handful but they will be soon.” Here at the castle, weekly or bi-weekly tournaments were held and usually it was boys versus girls. “Personally I’m ready to take on some Wargon trolls.”
Laughing, my father shook his head, and my mother shot me a glare.
My brothers pulled out their play swords made of white wood and started fighting. “I’m ready for a troll too!” O’Syrus said, swinging with all his might.
“None of you are fighting any trolls,” my mother said, firmly.
“She will in year seven,” my father said, gently patting my mother’s back. “By then she’ll be ready.”
“Boaden.” My mother pursed her lips. “Fighting them is life or death. Last year three students died in the arena. I want to disband the practice.” Both of them had their run-ins with the ugly things in the past.
“She and all academy students are training to be warriors, ready for battle.” Father’s voice was even, calm. If my mother put it up for a vote to the thirteen warlords, they’d never agree with her, they’d side with Father. “Stopping practices that are dangerous could cost them their lives and our freedom in the future.”
We stood before the ornate doors to the grand ballroom, when panic shot through me. “Wait! I need my gloves.” I’d forgotten them in my room and I’d surely be shaking many hands tonight.
As if she’d heard me, Bindy appeared. “Your gloves, Visteal.”
Holding out my hand, I sighed in relief and slipped them on. The black silk, different from my everyday gloves, reached just over my elbows, and with that, my mother said to the guards, “Open the doors, please.”
My brothers straightened up, walking like perfect gentlemen before the three of us. They knew better than to act foolishly in public. When we paused at the top of the staircase, the man who announced the arrival of important families and people said, “The royal family of Delhoon.” He paused making sure everyone turned their attention to us. “Queen Daelyn, King Boaden, Princess Visteal and Princes O’Syrus and Tyrus.”
The entire crowd bowed in hushed silence. They did so out of respect not fear. Everyone in Delhoon loved my parents, the couple who’d freed magic across the land. Their Queen, the most powerful magical being in our history. If I ever became their ruler, I hoped they revered me even half as much as her.
After five long seconds, we descended the steps and the crowd of at least two hundred broke into chatter. My family and I took our spot on an elevated platform where we always greeted people for half an hour. Then I would be free to roam around and have fun.
The aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin floated toward me. The tables off to the sides of the room were full of fall desserts, and the pile of shiny red apples looked most delicious. A pixie the size of my hand flew across the room carrying a glass of red liquid. Several of them buzzed around in fact. They were easily bribed with wine, no doubt that’s why they helped. Normally they were proud, biting little buggers.
The ceiling was enchanted with shifting colors of burnt orange, browns, and black. Almost looking like an ocean wave but with rolling fall leaves instead of white foam.
I placed my hands behind my back, eyes scanning the crowd. I spotted Queen Saveena of Hesstia, Collweyan born. Her long black hair, piled high on her head in lush curls, surrounded a small gold crown. She had pale skin that bronzed a little in the sun, and was devastatingly beautiful in the royal blue gown that hugged her curves. Zyacus had her coloring but his face more resembled his father, King Enden who stood beside his wife. A hand possessively on the curve of her lower back. Naturally, I looked for their son and other children but didn’t see them nearby.
My group of friends gathered around a drink table, laughing, and I wished I could join them. Aric stood beside his King, Faustus, the gruff bearded man was bent over in a roaring laugh. Probably already drunk.
Father’s best friend Rorin approached us first, he pulled me into a hug. “How’s the little princess? The boys at the new academy better be treating you well.”
I smiled as he pulled away. “Of course or they’ll learn a hard lesson.”
He grinned, flashing his pretty teeth. “No doubt.”
With a wave of his hand, a glass of honey-mead appeared and he handed it to my mother, then one to my father. “Thought you might want a drink.”
“Thanks, brother,” Father said, taking a sip.
I looked at him expectantly. “Where’s mine?”
His eyes drifted to my mother, who said, “One glass, Visteal.”
Rorin handed me the bubbly honey-colored drink. “I better not catch you with another one. I know you and Legacy like to ignore the rules.”
I put a hand to my chest in mock offense. “Never in my life have I broken a rule, Rorin.”
Everyone laughed at that, but my eyes grew wide and I stiffened when I saw Aric making his way toward us. Rorin noticed my reaction and turned around, stilling when he saw what I did. He looked at me then Father. “Why is my son here? And why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t planned but Visteal invited him and I couldn’t say no without possibly offending Collweya,” Mother said softly. “But you should take advantage of the surprise. You haven’t seen him—”
“In ten years,” Rorin finished. “If Kyria—”
I cleared my throat. “Ekarius gave him permission to be here. Kyria doesn’t even know.”
“Hello, Faustus,” Father said loudly, silencing the rest of us as King Faustus and Aric walked up the three steps to greet us.
Swaying up the last step, Faustus grinned. “I was just telling my grandson what great parties you throw here. And of course he’s interested in a tour of the castle. His mother used to rule Delhoon, after all. It’s a shame she couldn’t come.”
One thing I knew about Faustus was that he usually said borderline inappropriate things and I was never sure if he was trying to get a rise out of us or he just didn’t care.
“She earned her banishment, trust me,” Mother said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Hello, Prince Aric,” Rorin said and it made me sad that he couldn’t even hug him. “I don’t know if you remember me—”
“I do,” Aric said, holding out his hand. “When you and Boaden came to Collweya to earn a dragon.”
They shook hands and Rorin nodded, and I got the impression if he spoke, his voice might break from sadness.
I turned away. I desperately wanted to get out of my royal duty to stand here and greet those who deemed themselves important. I hated the petty games that were played. I hated that Rorin couldn’t say who he was to Aric. I hated that everyone paraded around our castle in fancy clothes, drinking cocktails and yet most of them didn’t know my family or me at all.