Chapter Two.

ALONE.

~ Twenty years ago ~

Minerva is about seven years old. The girl she is with, around nine, looks just like Horus. Freyja has a mischievous smile on her face, and she gives Minerva a little shake.

FREYJA: Ready? You promised!

MINERVA: No. I don’t see why I should have to do this.

FREYJA: Climbing is fun. There’s all sorts of things you can find and learn from climbing. You get to go places most humans don’t go. Come on!

MINERVA: …What if I fall?

FREYJA: You won’t fall! Just follow my lead.

Freyja begins to climb. They’re out in the hills, away from the castle, facing a slanted rock wall. It is steep, but not too dangerous. Minerva reluctantly follows her, matching every step. Freyja helps her up a couple times, and eventually, they make it to the top, panting as they reach flat ground once more. The pair collapse and look out at the view.

MINERVA: That was scary. I don’t know if I can get down. Aren’t you scared to fall?

FREYJA: Never. I’m never afraid of falling. You never climb unless you’re sure it’s safe, and you never take a risk. I’ve climbed everything within my reach, and when I’m older, my arms will be longer, and I’ll be able to climb everywhere. No mountaintop will be too tall for me. And I’ll never fall.

And don’t worry about climbing down. I can carry you. I’ve carried Horus before.

MINERVA: You have?

FREYJA: Yeah. He’s afraid of heights, so I’m teaching him.

MINERVA: …He’s turned into a real jerk since his birthday.

FREYJA: I agree. Let’s just ignore him. He’s out of nursery now, so it doesn’t matter. Come on, follow me! There’s some berries over here. You can only find them up high!

Freyja jumps up and runs away without Minerva, who peers cautiously over the ledge before turning and hurrying to follow.

~

Minerva stands before the very same cliff. It’s changed somewhat, but still recognisable.

MINERVA: If I could do it at seven…

She begins to climb and makes it to the top with ease. She’s not afraid this time. When she looks over the horizon, only the trees are taller, nothing else.

MINERVA: They told me you fell, Freyja. You told me you could never fall.

*✧₊ ༉✧*‧₊˚✧

Ares is leaning beside the window, smoking. Behind him, an empty duffle bag on an unmade bed. Primrose is nowhere to be seen. Osprey enters a moment later.

OSPREY: Good morning, Ares. Oh, has Primrose gone downstairs already?

ARES: *Good* morning, is it?

OSPREY: …how are you feeling?

ARES: Primrose just walked out of here crying about fifteen minutes ago, so that’s got a lot to do with how I’m feeling.

OSPREY: I’m… sorry, Ares. I came here to pack, but should I let you be alone?

ARES: No, please. I could use the company.

OSPREY: I didn’t know you’d started smoking again.

ARES: I didn’t.

This is just for special occasions. Don’t tell Primrose.

OSPREY: You won’t be gone long, Master. Don’t fret. Just focus on being well… how are you since that night?

ARES: I’m no more interested in talking about it now than I normally am, and before you ask… no, I still don’t know who Lumos is.

OSPREY: …alright. Hopefully you don’t have visions of him again, then.

You’d best go down and eat something. You’re due to leave in under half an hour.

ARES: I hope you know I don’t want to go. If I felt like I had a choice…

OSPREY: I know, Ares. It’s alright. Just so long as you take care of yourself, which you can make a start on by putting out the cigarette and going down to eat.

ARES: Yeah… okay. You’ll take care of Primrose, right?

OSPREY: Certainly. After tea I’ll be taking her and Danielle to ride.

ARES: Yeah, she’ll like that. Alright, I’ll go eat. Thanks for helping out.

OSPREY: Of course… but Ares? Please. Look after yourself. Seeing how you were…

ARES: It’s just because I was out of practice, and I was tired from all the travel. I’ll be fine after a couple nights on the road.

OSPREY: If you say so, my lord. I just don’t like seeing you that way.

ARES: Trust me, it’s not so nice being that way, either. I still feel groggy from Minerva’s potion. Hope it wears off when I get to capital in a couple days.

OSPREY: I’m sure your sister wouldn’t give you anything that would harm your performance.

ARES: You obviously don’t know her like I do.

Ares makes his way downstairs and to the breakfast room where Minerva and Horus are already waiting.

ARES: Where’s Primrose?

HORUS: Good morning to you, too. Your sister made your wife cry.

ARES: Seriously?

MINERVA: I didn’t do anything! I just told her I hoped she didn’t find it too cold at night now, you know, with you being gone and all.

ARES: Where is she?

HORUS: She went to the library, but she said she’d be back. Sit for a moment.

You must be looking forward to visiting the capital. Anyone you’re planning to visit?

ARES: Nope, no time to visit anyone. Do you know if Icarus—

HORUS: Still fighting orcs in the mountains. He’ll be home for Solstice.

ARES: Right…

Minerva, can you please be nice to Primrose while I’m gone? She’s important to me.

MINERVA: I’m going to treat her exactly like I treat anyone else.

ARES: What, terribly? Good to know you’ll have my back, Min.

HORUS: Hey, quit with the tempers. Ares, you know we’ll take care of Primrose. Osprey is staying behind specifically to keep an eye on her. Don’t you have bigger things to worry about right now?

ARES: …No, Horus, I don’t have anything bigger to worry about. Primrose is the most important person in the world to me, and now I’m going to leave her alone with… you guys.

MINERVA: If I had feelings, Ares, they’d hurt. You know no-one told you to fall in love with her.

HORUS: Stop it, Minerva. You’re being excessive. Ares, I promise I’ll look after Primrose. She and I are both leading dynasties, which is more in common than I have with most people. Now please, calm down. You need to keep your emotions at a steady—

ARES: Too late for that. I’m going to look for Primrose.

Ares storms out. Horus watches the door for a moment, then looks accusingly at Minerva.

HORUS: That was kind of mean.

MINERVA: You’re always mean.

HORUS: You know, you do have feelings, Minerva.

MINERVA: I know.

HORUS: So… he hurt them?

MINERVA: A little… I’m not that awful to everyone.

HORUS: Yes, you are. We both are. Meanwhile, Set and Ares can talk to anyone. I don’t know how they do it, especially Set, seeing as he never goes to school.

MINERVA: Maybe they take after Mama.

HORUS: Oh, yes. She was always the life of parties. Remember?

MINERVA: No. She died before I left the nursery.

HORUS: Right, of course. People practically lined up to speak with her.

You know, I was really glad when you turned ten. I was always so awkward around all the other kids, and I still don’t know how to talk to the adults.

MINERVA: You’re good with adults now. People would rather talk to you than they would father, at least. Speaking of people, I suppose you’re in charge of planning Solstice.

HORUS: Yes, want to help?

MINERVA: No.

I’m busy. I have other projects.

HORUS: More chemistry, I suppose.

MINERVA: Chemistry is always only half of what I’m doing. You’re working too hard if you don’t know that.

HORUS: Alright, then tell me now. What else have you been doing?

MINERVA: Oh, not much… just teaching myself to climb.

HORUS: Climbing?

Minerva, you aren’t serious.

MINERVA: Why wouldn’t I be serious about that?

HORUS: You’re forbidden from climbing.

MINERVA: You’re forbidden from telling me what to do. The climbing gym is completely safe. Climbing is a huge part of our heritage.

HORUS: Uh-huh, and what’s the real reason you’re learning to climb?

MINERVA: That is the real reason. Besides… I think it will honour Freyja’s memory.

Just don’t tell Dad, alright? It’ll only freak him out.

HORUS: With good cause. She fell, Minerva. To her death. I don’t want you to fall, too.

MINERVA: I’m not going to fall. Not now my arms and legs are long enough.

HORUS: Every five years or so you do this. Freyja fell, Minerva. I saw her fall. Let it go.

MINERVA: …you’re lying.

HORUS: You might have feelings, but I’m not convinced you have any empathy. Let’s go outside. It’s time to say goodbye.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

…I miss her too, Minerva. But she’s been dead twenty years. Let her go.

Horus leaves the room. Minerva’s eyes well with water and she gets herself under control before following. Outside Ares and Primrose are already waiting with Ares’s loyal goat Venus, his most trusty steed.

Usually, goats aren’t chosen to ride, and people favour horses instead. However, the mountain goats offer many speedy passages through the mountains that are otherwise inaccessible. Goats are slower and considerably more unpredictable but they’re also good for wars, so the people of Cragg have always ridden them. Ares is the most adept rider of the family.

ARES: Ready for a ride, little Venus? Who’s a good girl?

PRIMROSE: You’re really okay for her to scale you up the cliff?

ARES: Yeah, takes a lot of abdominals, of which I’m not short, and a lot of guts, but it’s safe if you know how. Plus, it’s a lot faster to take the goat trail.

PRIMROSE: And… it’s just ten days, right?

ARES: Hopefully less. I’ll write once I know more. See you soon, alright?

HORUS: Ares. Safe travels. And don’t worry about Primrose, we’ll take care of her.

ARES: Yeah, thanks. Where’s Set?

SET: I’m here! Sorry, I was finishing with the dogs.

ARES: Set! Keep Kahmen away from Venus! Gods…

Where’s Dad?

HORUS: He isn’t coming down. Said his back was hurting.

ARES: …right.

Well, see you all soon.

PRIMROSE: Be safe, Ares. Don’t worry about me. I’m a tribal leader, I’ll be fine.

ARES: Yeah. Okay.

…Look after her, alright?

Ares mounts Venus and gives Primrose one last look, then trots off without another word. Horus and Set go their separate ways, but Minerva and Primrose stay outside, Primrose watching after Ares, and Minerva eyeing Primrose.

Eventually, Minerva calls out to her. Not realising she wasn’t alone; Primrose jumps about a mile in the air.

PRIMROSE: Oh, sorry Minerva…

MINERVA: …are you crying?

PRIMROSE: A little. Sorry.

MINERVA: He’s coming back. It’s just Capital…

Have you been into the village yet?

PRIMROSE: Here? No, not yet.

MINERVA: Come with me. I have a couple things to pick up, and I don’t fancy sending a servant. It’s not too long a ride.

PRIMROSE: I’d love to come. I’ll just go get my coat…

MINERVA: Have your maid get it for you.

PRIMROSE: Danielle is my assistant.

MINERVA: Ah, I see. And what will she be assisting you with?

PRIMROSE: I’m…not too sure, yet. I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing.

MINERVA: You’ll figure it out. My advice? Take up projects. You’ll need an excuse to have your time occupied.

The girls get a couple horses together and ride out with Python and Danielle, Python and Minerva on the horses and Primrose and Danielle in the back on a small, open carriage.

Built into the unwelcoming hillsides, the houses of Cragg reflect the people who live there. Rough, battle-worn, wind-bashed, unyielding. Though the mountains of Cragg are susceptible to earthquakes, the houses hold strong, blending into the natural environment with ease. Despite being a town of significant historical significance, it holds little tourism appeal, in part due to the dangers of travelling the mountain paths, but also due to the aggressive nature of most folk who live there. Mostly miners, soldiers and monster hunters, the people of the mountains were some of the few left in Hituh that still spoke the ancient language. Their patriotic nature has always been evident as they resist change and offer distrust to anyone who has lived another life.

The townspeople stare directly into Primrose and Danielle’s eyes as the carriage passes them by.

PRIMROSE: Why are they staring at us like that?

MINERVA: Why do you think? The Tijoran princess is here. Of course, they’re going to stare.

PRIMROSE: Am…am I safe?

MINERVA: Probably. People weren’t so happy with the idea of my brother marrying a Tijoran.

PRIMROSE: It was hardly our choice. Surely they can understand that?

MINERVA: You can hardly blame them. We came here from war. It was only a few months ago that your people were killing my people.

PRIMROSE: It wasn’t my people. I’m from an entirely different state, and my people had nothing to do with it. Besides, your people did their fair share of killing. And I believe your people started it.

MINERVA: Well, Queen Jade did. And you can see her point. The land has a lot of mountains that are sacred to people.

PRIMROSE: And the waterfalls are sacred to the water people. You don’t have claim over every mountain there ever was, you know.

MINERVA: Let’s not get into it, the whole thing is resolved now, right? Besides, the peasants are listening in. They don’t need any extra incentive not to like you.

PRIMROSE: …so, where are we going?

MINERVA: Keep a secret for me?

PRIMROSE: Of course.

MINERVA: I need to purchase some climbing gear.

PRIMROSE: I see… may I ask why it’s a secret? Isn’t climbing, like… a big part of living here?

MINERVA: It’s a little complicated. My sister Freyja died when she was ten years old from a bad climbing accident. We all swore not to go climbing after that.

PRIMROSE: Yet here you are.

MINERVA: Yes, here I am. Promises have expiration dates.

They arrive at the shop and go inside, leaving Danielle and Python with the security accompanying them.

MINERVA: Excuse me, sir. I need a few things.

VENDOR: Certainly, my lady…

MINERVA: Don’t look at her. I need shoes, ropes, hooks, the lot.

VENDOR: Let me bring you a few packages. One moment…

PRIMROSE: …I’m sorry to hear about your sister.

MINERVA: Thanks. Freyja was really important to me and Horus. She was the positive, happy influence we both needed in our lives. She used to talk down Mama and Dad when they got hysterical. It was a big shock when she died such a sudden, preventable death.

PRIMROSE: I see… I guess I understand why it’s a secret, but why are you learning to climb if it holds such trauma for all your family?

The Vendor has gathered the packs together at this point and is standing back idly, listening to the conversation. Minerva narrows her eyes at him.

MINERVA: I’m sorry, do you think you’re invited to this conversation?

VENDOR: N-No! I just—

MINVERA: Leave, immediately. Imbecile. Anyway, climbing is a tradition Cragg has always practiced. We’re the first family of Sabers who haven’t taken to it. It’s… important to me. Culturally.

PRIMROSE: That, I can understand. I hope you’ll be careful.

MINERVA: Of course. Most of my family will be against it regardless, so I want to keep it secret for as long as possible.

PRIMROSE: I imagine Ares would side with you. He’s pretty free-spirited.

MINERVA: Yeah, well. He’s complicated. He always sides with us, until father doesn’t.

PRIMROSE: What do you mean?

MINERVA: Well, let’s take his marriage with you, for example. I suggested he run for the mountains, get away for a few years until things settled down. He was all on board with the decision until father talked him around.

Minerva finally diverts her attention from Primrose to talk to the vendor. Primrose glances over her shoulder to Python and Danielle, where a small crowd has gathered. Primrose points it out to Minerva once she’s unoccupied. While Danielle bears the thousands of eyes on her, Python beams and chats pleasantly with the civilians around her.

MINERVA: Hm? Oh, yeah, people love Python. You will, too. She’s my best friend for a reason. Not to mention, Danielle is beautiful. They’ll probably be asking questions about her clothes. How much for this one?

VENDOR: Twenty crystals.

Minerva picks up the pack and together her and Primrose return to the carriage. Some peasants scatter at the sight of them. A few others linger. Minerva eyes them coldly.

MINERVA: Time to go, princess. Hurry up…

PEASANT: My lady, please forgive me for speaking out of turn—

SECURITY: Back off, peasant!

PEASANT: Please, it won’t take a moment! My daughter desperately needs a hospital bed, but they have no room for her there. We need a bigger hospital…

PYTHON: Remove yourself before consequences befall you.

PEASANT: My daughter is dying, while your family spends a fortune on weddings! I’m supposed to stand by while you sit in your marble tower and do nothing?!

Within seconds, Minerva has her sword drawn and is pointing it towards the peasant’s face. Everyone freezes in place.

MINERVA: Say anything else out of line, and I’ll cut out your tongue personally. Or maybe you’d like to offer me your eyes? I can make a healing potion using human eyes. Is that what needs to happen to stop you from bitching about your daughter? Shall I take your eyes?

After a brief pause, security intervene and shove the peasant, who staggers backwards and says nothing else. Minerva pulls herself up on her horse and without another look, kicks the horses back towards the castle.

PRIMROSE: Minerva… you wouldn’t really take his tongue, would you? I mean, his daughter doesn’t have a bed…

MINERVA: The hospital and all things relating to the town are Horus and father’s problem. If the peasants are stupid enough to speak to me then they deserve to have their throats cut. Don’t let their little cries fool you — this city is full of violence and corruption waiting to break free. All it takes is one kind leader to bring out the worst in peasants. I suggest you try changing your inclusive thinking if you want to win my father’s favour.

PRIMROSE: …

Can you really make a healing potion using human eyes?

MINERVA: Theoretically, yes. You can make all sorts of potions using human parts.

PRIMROSE: Isn’t that technically alchemy?

MINERVA: …technically, maybe.

PRIMROSE: Is that another secret, or…?

MINERVA: I’m not doing alchemy. Knowing how to do alchemy and actually doing alchemy are very different things.

PRIMROSE: May I ask you something?

MINERVA: I suppose.

PRIMROSE: Ares and his magic… what’s he like?

MINERVA: Powerful. Incredibly powerful. It’s saved him countless times, but he struggles to access it unless he’s in real danger. I wouldn’t worry about Ares, Primrose. He’s like… a little invincible.

Minerva kicks the horses up a notch, and Danielle and Primrose grab hold of the carriage to steady themselves. Danielle leans over to whisper to Primrose.

DANIELLE: I’m not worried about Ares. I’m worried about you.

PRIMROSE: …I think I’m worried for both of us.

*✧₊ ༉✧*‧₊˚✧*

Later, Primrose and Danielle are walking around the gardens alone. The gardens are quite vast, but reasonably barren of flowers given the harsh climate temperatures. As such, it’s mostly shrubs and topiary designs.

DANIELLE: Surely, we’re far away enough now no-one will hear anything.

PRIMROSE: Hm. I suppose.

DANIELLE: So… what do you think of the Sabers?

PRIMROSE: …Danielle, I can’t tell you how surprising this is to me. Ares and I had a wonderful time while we were away. I really fell in love with him. He warned me his family were a bit strange, but he never mentioned how cold and…scary they are. I don’t understand. He seems so normal.

DANIELLE: Sometimes kids turn out good despite insane parents.

PRIMROSE: Let’s do a quick recap of everything that’s happened so far. Kur didn’t say hello to me when I arrived, didn’t speak to me until dinner where he made passing statements about my culture and the physical differences of the class system…

DANIELLE: The servants all have evidence of lashings on their arms and work fourteen-hour days, minimum,

PRIMROSE: And he asked me to smile less! But it isn’t even just him, Danielle. Minerva is borderline psychotic, and Horus seems to be exactly like his father.

DANIELLE: The servants hate Set. Apparently, he shares his father’s views regarding them.

PRIMROSE: Yeah, I don’t think we should stay here for long.

DANIELLE: I would have already left if you weren’t here, Primrose.

PRIMROSE: I’m not forcing you to stay.

DANIELLE: I’m not leaving you here alone! I’ll be staying put until you and Ares are sailing away into the sunset.

PRIMROSE: Thank you, Danielle. Really. I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I feel like I need you here.

DANIELLE: Of course. Marsden keeps asking about me starting work, by the way…

PRIMROSE: Who is he, again?

DANIELLE: He’s Lord Kur’s squire, and the estate steward. A lot of the other servants refer to him as ‘boss’.

An estate steward is a position considerably higher than that of other servants. They greet guests, represent the family when the nobles are away (such as when they went to Tijora for Ares’s wedding) and generally are in charge of everything related to the house — cleaning, repairs, security, purchases.

PRIMROSE: Right. Well, I don’t have work for you to do.

DANIELLE: I think they’re hoping I’ll help them out with their work.

PRIMROSE: How do you feel about that?

I’m not going to force you to do anything.

DANIELLE: It’s alright. I can help out here and there, Elizabeth, she’s the housekeeper, seems really nice. Maybe tell him to have me work with her?

PRIMROSE: Sure. But don’t work yourself too hard.

DANIELLE: Honestly, I think they’re starting to resent me for not working. A bit of work will be good. I might go tell him now, if that’s alright?

PRIMROSE: Go, go. I’m going to wander the gardens a while, then see if Osprey can help me find some warmer clothes.

DANIELLE: I told you; you packed too light.

PRIMROSE: We were travelling. I’ll have my stuff sent from Tijora once things have settled.

Go on. I’ll see you later.

Danielle leaves and Primrose continues around the gardens for a bit when all of a sudden, she is barrelled over by one of the dogs. It pins her down and growls loudly in her face until Set is heard calling it off a moment later.

SET: Shit, I’m so sorry, Primrose! Bad dog!

PRIMROSE: What the fuck, Set?

SET: They’re still trying to figure out when it’s acceptable to attack a stranger or not! I’m sorry, okay? Don’t tell my father. I’ll make it up to you. Shit, don’t tell Ares, either. Bad fucking dog!

PRIMROSE: Don’t blame the dogs! You trained them to be like this. It attacked because I’m a foreigner.

SET: I don’t exactly have foreigners lying around I can train my dogs with. They attacked because they don’t know you. Calm down, will you? You can’t be hurt from that. He didn’t bite.

PRIMROSE: Sorry if I’m not accustomed to being attacked by dogs. I guess you’re right, I’m not hurt. You might’ve made more of an effort to make sure I was okay.

SET: But you are okay, right? So there’s no need to tell Father.

PRIMROSE: …I’m not going to tell on you, Set. We’re siblings now. Doesn’t that mean we’re supposed to look after each other?

SET: Depends which sibling you’re talking to. Ares will be pissed at me, too, so don’t tell him either.

PRIMROSE: I will definitely be telling on you to Ares the second he gets home.

SET: So much for looking after each other.

PRIMROSE: What have you done so far to look after me?

SET: …I’ll give you my dessert.

PRIMROSE: No thanks.

SET: What do you want, then?

PRIMROSE: …I need help getting along with your Father. He scares me.

SET: He scares everyone. I’m not exactly an expert at being on Father’s good side, but… sure. I’ll give you a hand with that. I’d give anyone a hand with that, honestly. First of all, you need some new clothes. He’s weird with stuff like that. I’m not even allowed to undo my top button in the summer.

PRIMROSE: Oh, is it like a no-skin thing?

SET: Yeah, something like that.

PRIMROSE: Where did that idea come from? Seems a bit outdated, doesn’t it?

SET: It’s complicated. Dad comes from Daegon, right? Well, he moved here when he was a kid and all the temples constructed for Dae were created by people from Kindling. My dad is a weird blend of both styles of Dae’ism, but mostly, we’re New Age Daes, not Traditional Daes. New Age is where the idea of chastity and covering yourself up comes from.

PRIMROSE: Right. I’m no stranger to the variations of religion. People who follow the teachings of Jora are all vastly different in their worship and traditions to Her.

SET: Yeah, I guess.

PRIMROSE: Anything else I should know about Lord Kur?

SET: …do you know how to fight with a sword?

PRIMROSE: I know all about the importance of steel to this family. The Saber’s are historically known for their elemental bond with steel and how it can translate to swordplay. He’s not a stone elemental, though.

SET: Yeah, but he’s really good with a sword. He dedicated his life to learning how to be good with a sword so he could help Mama uphold the family name. “There’s no excuse.” Why do you even care?

PRIMROSE: I want to stay away from his bad side, that’s all.

SET: You’re already on his bad side.

Don’t get me wrong. Everyone is. That’s just what he’s like. He’ll take any excuse he can get.

PRIMROSE: What’s that supposed to mean?

SET: Just… don’t ever talk back. If you have a problem with him, go to Ares, or even Horus. He likes the silent type who dominate rooms with their eyes. Shit, I don’t know.

PRIMROSE: That’s alright. You’ve been a little helpful, I suppose. Just keep the damned dogs away from me from now on.

SET: Sorry. It was an accident. This won’t be the last thing to frighten you, though. Careful of the ghosts!

Set runs away before Primrose can say anything else, taking the dogs with him. Primrose puts her hands on her hips and groans to herself.

PRIMROSE: Damnit. I hate ghosts.