Chapter Five

The recruits brushed their horses down, having just returned from their daily ride. The moment they’d entered the stables, Conor had begun praising Sover, much to the amusement of the others.

“Alright,” said Karel, flicking back his hair as he straightened up. “Tell us. Why is he so wonderful?”

“There has to be a reason?” Sover feigned injured pride and was buffeted with more laughter.

Leah glanced up but it was the sight of Artur smiling at a blushing Nadeen that caught her attention instead.

“If it wasn’t for Sover I would be deprived of the company of a goddess,” said Conor.

Leah stopped moving.

“Goddess? What goddess?” Karel’s full attention was now on Conor as the others gradually straightened also.

Karamay rolled her ivy-green eyes; it was no secret she found her brother’s obsession with women tiring.

“Sover knows a goddess?” asked Jessalyn.

A lopsided grin on his face, Conor replied, “Veha. A vision of complete loveliness, total perfection.”

Leah hurriedly fixed her gaze on her horse’s flank, intent on rubbing out a blemish visible only to her.

Karel stared at Sover. “Why haven’t you introduced me to any such visions?”

“I hadn’t planned it. Conor happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Alright, that decides it. Wherever you go, Sover, I’m coming with you.”

“What a thrilling thought.”

“Karel...”

“What?” He faced his sister with an expression of complete innocence.

“You’re so... embarrassing.”

“But I... I love women.”

“Exactly.” Karamay shook her head at Jessalyn who grinned in return.

Fighting to keep her expression neutral, Leah silently willed Conor to stop talking. She couldn’t believe the pain that was piercing her heart... didn’t know that such agony was possible. She wanted to press her hands against her ears so she wouldn’t have to hear how stunning, how perfect this Veha was. Breathing deeply to steady her nerves, she forced herself to look up. And stared as Artur’s hand hesitantly covered Nadeen’s which was resting on the back of her horse. As Artur and Nadeen gazed as if seeing one another for the first time, Leah had to turn away. 

*          *          *          *

Warrior-master Fredrik stepped back, his arm raised, palm facing Leah. Panting, he silently indicated that it was time for a rest. Resembling a man-shaped slab of stone, he wore his long, lustrous blond hair swept back in a neat ponytail. Yet not one thread of hair grew on the arid plain of his rough face.

Leah let her practice sword fall to the dirt floor of the training compound, and a small cloud of dust puffed up in reply. She bent over, the muscles on her damp, bare arms visibly hardening as she rested hands on knees. Sweat-drenched hair was plastered to the sides of her face. She and Fredrik had been training together for over an hour. When she finally straightened up, she noticed her master observing her curiously. “Well? How did I do?”

He didn’t answer immediately, seemingly deep in thought. Leah was about to repeat her question when he began to nod.

“Having one-to-one sessions with me was a good idea, Leah. In barely fourteen days, you have improved greatly.”

She allowed herself a satisfied smile. “And we can continue?”

Struggling to mask his surprise, Fredrik nodded.

They made their way to the water bucket, the young princess whose demeanour had taken a serious turn of late, and the experienced warrior turned tutor.

“May I ask, Leah, why this sudden eagerness to hone your sword skills?”

Leah lowered the cup from her lips, relishing the feel of the cool water as it cascaded down to her belly. She scrutinised him carefully like she was trying to study his mind. “Can this be purely between you and me?”

“A secret?” He raised his brows as a small smile played on his lips.

“Please?”

The smile disappeared. “Of course, Highness. Forgive me.”

She glanced around, but they were still alone in the vast compound that normally echoed with the sounds of practising recruits.

“Come...” He beckoned her to sit on the raised rim that bordered the training area.

When she spoke her voice was soft, thoughtful. “In the years before Evalan was born, I was groomed and taught to be my father’s heir. I accepted it and never gave it much thought. Then Evalan was born, everything changed, and I’m no longer the heir. But that’s why I’ve decided I want to be the best warrior there is. If I can’t be the heir then, by the gods, I will be the best commander my brother could wish for.”

“Then, Highness, I will do all in my power to help you become that commander.”

As she made her way to the baths, Leah felt the now-familiar heaviness settle around her heart once more. She hadn’t told Fredrik the other reason she craved the hard, physical exertion of practice. It seemed to be the only thing that helped numb her bruised, aching heart. To give up being royalty and everything that went with it... to be a merchant’s daughter instead, if it meant having Conor’s love. 

*          *          *          *

Leah exited the baths, damp hair swept back from her face, knowing the warm weather would dry it quickly enough. As she made her way down the wide steps, she noticed Jessalyn walking away from the barracks. Head down, hands behind her back, the tall blonde seemed unaware of her surroundings.

“Jess.” Leah hurried to catch her up. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere, really. I was trying to catch up on some reading but couldn’t concentrate. Thought a walk might help...” She glanced towards the baths. “Where have you–?”

“Let’s go to the gardens.” She’d deliberately interrupted her friend, to allay any unwanted questions; she did not want to make an issue of her training sessions with Fredrik.

“The garden behind the training–”

“No, the palace gardens. It’s peaceful and quiet.”

“Oh, yes please.” Standing on her toes, Jessalyn lightly clapped her hands together. “I’ve never been in the palace gardens before... or the palace.”

Leah grinned at her friend’s excitement.

“That was a bit of a surprise,” said Jessalyn after a momentary silence. “Nadeen and Artur, I mean. Did you know about it?”

Leah nodded. “She told me a while ago; apparently she’s liked him for almost four years.”

“Lucky for her.”

“What do you mean?”

“That he... feels... the same...” Jessalyn’s voice faded as they approached the substantial palace doors. She stared, visibly awe-struck at the sight of the massive, heavily studded doors. Leah waited for her at the top of the stairs, and she quickened her pace to catch up. The guard saluted before pulling open the smaller door within the doors.

They paused in the entrance hall, Jessalyn staring open-mouthed at the wide stairs that ascended majestically to the first level. No carpet adorned the stairway, but the deep brown wood of the balustrade was kept highly polished so as to shine with reflected light. In the entrance hall itself, drapes and hangings in vibrant, jewel-bright colours softened the brusque practicality of the palace.

“We’ll go out through the music room, it’s less busy.” Leah led the way, walking past the dining hall, sniggering as her wide-eyed friend paused to peer in. The hall, with its long tables, was empty, save for a few servants; still Jessalyn murmured in wonder.

The door to the music room had been left slightly ajar; Leah pushed it open slowly, but it was empty. The young women walked past chairs arranged in a semi-circle, and odd shapes covered with large sheets of fabric, to the ornate doors that led out into the garden.

They strolled along the paved walkway, Jessalyn marvelling at the precise laying out of shrubs and trees, the immaculately cut lawn... the dazzling bursts of colour from myriad flowers that were laid out to complement one another. “I wonder how long it takes to keep all this neat and ordered.”

Leah shrugged. “Sometimes I think the head gardener must know magic. I never actually see anyone working here, but the place is always tidy.”

They approached the oval pond, set in the centre of the garden flanked by stone benches, sunlight sparkling on its still waters. “Mother told me that this is where Father kissed her for the first time... by the pond on a starlit night when the moon was full.”

“So, anyone special in the life of our princess?”

Leah stared at her. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, all this talk of love and the like.”

The dark-haired woman shook her head, hastily averting her gaze. “No one, not really…”

“Try to sound a little more convincing when you say that.”

“Jess...”

“Sorry...” She held her hands up in mock surrender. “Just saying, that’s all.”

“What about you then?”

“Me?” She jerked back. “Oh no! No, no men for me, thank you.”

“That’s a bit of a decisive stand to take.”

“I don’t trust them, Leah, simple as that.”

They continued around the garden in silence, Leah wondering at Jessalyn’s words, her distrust of men. She didn’t know much about Jessalyn’s past, no one did.

The daughter of a brigand, Jessalyn barely remembered her father for her mother had left him, taking her only child to Orenheart to begin a new life. But she couldn’t hide the fact that she’d been a brigand’s woman. And their kind was not welcome in the city. She’d endured a hard, thankless life only to die young, leaving her daughter alone in a hostile city. Jessalyn had taken to hanging around the barracks, by the palace, where she’d felt relatively safe. It was where Leah had noticed her. She’d befriended the orphan and, in time, had suggested that she become a recruit.

Leah regretted that she’d not taken the time to get to know Jessalyn better. For the more time she spent in her company, the more she felt like she’d found a true friend. Determined to be as good a friend, she said, “You know, Jess, we haven’t really spent that much time together–”

“That’s alright,” she said with a smile. “I know you and Nadeen are close–”

“That doesn’t mean there’s no room in my life for another good friend. I want you to know if ever you need someone to talk to, share your troubles with, I’m here. Sometimes it helps, you know, sharing your troubles with someone else. Talking about it, having it out in the open. It doesn’t seem so bad then. Somehow, I think it seems easier to deal with when you know someone else knows.” She glanced back when she realised Jessalyn had stopped a few paces behind, staring unblinkingly at Leah. “What’s wrong?”

“That’s the first time...” she said softly before her voice faded. Tears filled her ink-blue eyes as her lower lip quivered.

Leah hurried to her side. “Jess, what is it? Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean–”

She shook her head as her tears fell. “No, you’ve only said everything right. That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me since... I don’t know when.” She wiped her tears on her sleeve.

“Oh, Jess...” Leah rubbed Jessalyn’s arm as tears pricked her own eyes. “I hope you will think of me as the kind of friend you can come to for anything.”

She nodded. “Thank you, Leah, that means so much. I don’t find it easy to trust people. After Ma died, you were the first person to treat me like I meant something... like I was worth something.”

As she returned Jessalyn’s shaky smile, Leah realised that a large part of the young woman’s gregarious nature was a mask that hid unfathomable frailty, and it strengthened her resolve to be as true a friend to Jessalyn as she was to Nadeen.