Chapter 1 - Three Friends

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15 Years Later...

Year 4237 of the Second Calendar, 9th cycle of Elaina

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The tiny red dot in the distance flared like a brilliant beacon. An evil spirit's eye. It stared back at the girl, antagonizing her, causing her to grit her teeth and puff up her cheeks. She scowled. The red speck seemed to grow larger by the second as if to taunt her. Her scowl deepened.

"Come on! What are you waiting for?" Elizia asked, hands on her hips.

Emeria breathed in, then exhaled through her mouth. A strong wind blew back her long and bright hair. Every ounce of her focus pierced the red dot. It still angered her. The breathing technique was not of much use. Regardless, she had stood in that fixated position long enough. Convinced that she had the right position this time, she let her fingers slide back from the bowstring and watched the arrow fly, watched as it slowly veered off course, causing lines of frustration to reappear on her face.

The arrow fell flat over ten meters short of the target in length and half that distance in width. "No way. It should have been perfect this time. I had the distance measured and position corrected since—" she stopped herself, not wanting to let the other girl know that she had been up for half the night practicing the shot, blisters on her fingertips.

Elizia laughed. "It's not just about the measurement, silly. You have to factor everything in and let yourself become one with the arrow. Feel yourself pierce the target and the projectile will fly true!"

"That doesn't make any sense. This isn't magic. There's always technique and skill involved. Practice enough times and you get better."

"Well of course there's skill involved. You didn't account for the wind. It was blowing to your southeast when you loosed. You should have aimed slightly higher and more to your left."

Emeria twisted her mouth and dropped the bow. She rolled down the sleeves of her laced white shirt. "This is stupid. Swordsmen are much better than archers and the skill and technique involved is also much higher. A good swordsman will always be able to block an incoming arrow."

"You'd have to be a legendary swordsman to block an arrow from a good archer. And even then, an arrow in the back won't do a sword wielder much good," Elizia said. She tied her chestnut hair into a bun and nocked an arrow. She drew back to her chin, her buttoned shirt folding at the back as it flexed, and effortlessly fired an arrow which pierced its mark. Sunlight shone on her olive skin and touched the edges of a honey smile, painting a triumphant picture.

Emeria bit her lip, jealous. She muttered something under her breath as she walked away from the open shooting range.

"Such language and demeanor is unbecoming of the royal heir," someone said as she turned the corner. Azurus, a pale-blue eyed knight —her assigned knight— and Queen's Guard to be, stood with his arms crossed, longsword at his waist. His normally unruly tanned hair had been combed neatly, and navy blue uniform, buttoned up, fitting tight. "Even an average fighter can block arrows from a legendary archer if he had a shield."

Elizia turned the corner as well. "We're talking about which is the greater weapon and obviously, it's the bow. How come you're always taking Emma's side, Azurus?"

The sudden accusation caused his face to colour, if only a little. Emeria opened her mouth to respond to the provocation but was cut off by a tall, dark haired woman who approached from behind Azurus.

"Now, now, every weapon has its use. No single weapon is superior to the other. Although, preferences may vary," the woman said. There was a slight accent to her voice.

"Mother!" Elizia exclaimed as she rushed to hug her.

"Lady Sar'tara," Azurus said, nodding his head and keeping his gaze at his feet, though struggling noticeably. Sar'tara's garments were not like those typical to noblewomen of Xenaria. Around her shoulders hung the fur of a great grizzly and her breasts were covered with a leather band made of deer skin. Regardless, it revealed more cleavage than necessary and everything down to her navel was completely exposed. Soft lines of her carved abdomen contracted and expanded with her graceful steps. Her breeches were a tight fit, revealing the shape of her well trained legs. Emeria elbowed Azurus in his side and his eyes snapped back to the ground.

Sar'tara laughed. "Would you like an outfit similar to mine, Emma? It is good for mobility and makes bows and knives easier to use."

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Emeria blushed. She didn't like being teased but dared not say anything against the duchess, a woman she respected much like her own mother.

"Come along now," Sar'tara said. "It is far past noon and the three of you haven't had anything to eat yet, I'd wager." Azurus opened his mouth as if to protest but closed it. "No excuses now." Elizia and her mother left down the corridor, passing by a quad of soldiers with the eagle of House Serene on their cloaks.

"She doesn't miss a single detail," Azurus mumbled.

"And neither do you, I suppose? Exactly what were you ogling at?" Emeria demanded.

"I most certainly was not!" he protested, but she was already leaving. "Flames scald my soul. I'm a man, Emma. You can't not expect me to look when she's dressed like a—"

Emeria whipped around. "Like a what?" she glared. "She's just as much my mother as Queen Dahlia. I don't want to hear any ill of her!"

"Forgive me, your highness. I over spoke."

"And oversaw! Keep your eyes glued to the ground next time if you can't look anywhere decent!" Emeria marched off. She made her way to the mess hall. A vast room with rows of benches and tables and chandeliers holding orange luminite hanging from above. Sounds of laughing soldiers and clacking tankards could be heard from the corridor outside the hall. Many were still sitting and eating. There was never a shortage of hungry bellies at the Arcaeus Peak garrison, whatever the time of day may be.

Elizia was already seated at the edge of a long table and waved when she saw them arrive. She'd undone her smooth hair again, letting it hang over her right shoulder. "Took you two long enough," she said. "Want to compare maps after?"

Emeria seated herself opposite her friend, her knight sitting beside her. "You're just desperate to gain one victory after another, aren't you?" she accused, eyes narrowing. She and Elizia had been competing with each other to see who could better draw a complete map of the fortess' interior.

"Of course. Force of habit. And besides, last we compared, you'd made greater progress than me. There's no way I'm letting you come out on top!"

"Why don't we just have a duel? Do you think you can match me in that?"

Elizia giggled behind closed lips. Her sweet face made it all the more insufferable. "And why exactly would I do that? Even Azurus has had difficulty against you in the past. I've already acknowledged that you're a better swordsman than me but you can't seem to accept who the better archer is."

"You girls are still bickering about that..." Sar'tara said, stepping with purpose, one foot before the other like a prowling predator, and without noise whilst somehow holding three plates of food in two hands. "You two should act more like your age. And you young woman," she said, setting down each plate and then pulling on Elizia's ear, "stop trying to start arguments."

Elizia pouted and puffed her cheeks but that didn't soften her mother's glare in the slightest. "Mother, isn't this too much food?" she asked, as if trying to change topics.

"Nonsense. You're all growing children. You need to eat. The garrison has more than enough food than can be had and it's going to rot if no one eats it. Your father is a stubborn man when it comes to rationing provisions."

"This is a frontier garrison though. Keeping the place stocked is a natural thing to do, no?" Azurus asked.

"Natural? Yes. That it is," Sar'tara agreed. She plucked a gravy glazed carrot slice from her daughter's plate and popped it in her mouth, audibly suckling on her index finger. "But we're hardly under siege and it'd be far more sensible to keep non-perishable foods. Instead the fool insists on flaunting Metsiphon's wealth and keeping this place stocked with exotic goods. Our funds could be better spent elsewhere. It's spoiling the soldiers as well."

"You can hardly blame me when the crown princess spends most of her time in the garrison," Elizia said, mimicking her father's deep voice, causing the group to laugh.

"And what is my daughter and the royal heir doing eating in the mess hall, Sar'tara?" a deeper voice asked. Elizia's eyes snapped back to her plate at the sight of Duke Serene. Seeing her shrink like that caused Emeria to smirk.

"Why mocking you of course, dear husband."

"Sara we can't—"

"Don't call me that. How many times do I need to repeat that?"

"Right, sorry. As I was saying—"

"You were saying nothing!" Sar'tara snapped. "You are disturbing her highness' meal, isn't that right Emma? Please leave."

Kalin stood mouth agape, as if searching for something to say in return.

"It's quite alright, Your Grace," Emeria said. "I have no qualms with eating here. It hardly matters as long as mother doesn't find out. And even if she does, I'll take care of it. Promise."

"Right. You heard the princess. Now get along. Your presence is spoiling the food," Sar'tara said as she made a shooing motion with her hands. Elizia had a hard time suppressing a smile. As daughter to the duke, she was Xenaria's 'Second Princess', as Emeria had no other siblings. The duke gave his daughter a hard look before he left, grumbling a retort about having spoiled her and her mother both.

"Spoiling cabbage and Brussels sprouts..." Azurus muttered. Emeria dug her elbow into his ribs again.

"Is there a problem with the food young man?" the duchess asked, and Azurus vigorously shook his head. "Good. Well I'll be off then. Empire sappers are trying to build an unauthorized bridge at the narrow crossings of the Cinder River under cover of darkness and trees. Scouts have reported heavily armed footmen overseeing the operation. Those fools continue to poke and prod without ever learning a lesson. Your father has tasked me with driving them off and I'd just come by to say farewell. You two behave yourselves. Oh and Azurus, you are sixteen already by the lunar years of Elaina. Well into the age of adulthood where I'm from. As excellent a swordsman you may be, you need to show a little more backbone when taking part in conversations with women."

Azurus' flush deepened, Emeria and Elizia giggling.

"Farewell lady Sar'tara. May your arrows soar high like the silver eagle of House Serene and rain fear into the hearts of your enemies from the sky above," Emeria said.

"Farewell to you as well, Emeria Lakris, future shield and guiding hand of Xenaria."

"Come home soon mother!" Elizia chimed in.

"As soon as I can, child," Sar'tara said as she rose from the table. She pressed a kiss to Elizia's forehead and then Emeria's as well before walking away.

"Sho...mapsh?" Elizia asked after a short period of time, mouth full of food.

Emeria shook her head and sighed. "Fine. Maps."