“I’ve already got half of the guards protecting the nobles and the King, and the other half trying to subdue the incredulous amount of crime that’s risen amongst the commoners. I can’t spare any more for you. Besides, you are an Untainted, certainly you can protect yourself.” General Drax spoke, waving his hand to dismiss Soriya and her guards.
She didn’t know what she had expected to hear, but she was still disappointed at his words. It was ironic really, that a General sworn to protect Nightray citizens was less concerned of a potential Archdale attack than a General known for her insane bloodlust. But why wouldn’t he be? It was an attack on an Untainted, whom people believed to have the favor of the Olden on their side. Nothing bad ever happened to an Untainted, at least that’s what everyone believed, but Soriya knew that wasn’t the case. From the moment she was ripped away from her mother’s arms, she knew it was all a lie.
Carefully, she pinched the side of her thigh underneath her dress, holding it until she felt tears well up in the back of her eyes. If there was one thing Drax couldn't handle, it was a woman in tears. She had sensed his emotions, confusion, anxiety and worry dancing around him whenever a noble lady cried. Before a lady in tears, he was reduced to a frantic, desperate mess, doing everything in his power to stop them.
“Please General, I-I am in fear for my life. Without any guards, I am but a mere woman against those barbarous Archdaleians. I cannot possibly defend myself.” Soriya wept, holding her arms close, making herself tremble a bit for good measure. When he said nothing, a pang of annoyance sparked in her. Was this man so stingy he couldn’t spare her even one guard for protection? It was time to boost her performance for a bit.
Her knees sank gracefully to the ground, ignoring her guards words of protest as she did so. Light hitting her face perfectly, she let the sleeve of her dress come down a bit, tears still falling down. She looked up, catching the general’s face with her own, his eyes wide as she tasted cinnamon on her lips. He was anxious.
“Please General, you’re the only one who can help me. Save me from those Archdale warriors, I don’t know what they’ll do if they capture me–” The sound of the General's own knees hitting the floor told her that he had reached his limit.
“Lady Soriya please. I will definitely help you, I swear on the Olden. Now rise, I don’t want you worried about the Archdale anymore than I do.” He quickly offered his hand, helping her get up with him and shake the dirt off her dress. She smiled at his answer, giving a deep curtsy of gratitude in return. She could smell his relief, like fresh picked strawberries, and tried to hide her grin.
Once he had assigned her two extra guards for the next morning and left, she let herself fully grin. Even with the knowledge of her power, she had still led him along by the leash. Twirling around to face her guards, she smirked as she stood on her toes to pat their shoulders
“Isn’t it great? You’ll be having more friends talk to tomorrow.” Soriya told her guards, watching them roll their eyes beneath their helmets, used to seeing her persuade almost everyone she met with her powers. As she wandered down the halls of the palace, she looked up to the moonlit sky. It was evening already, and she was certainly late to yet another royal dinner.
The King had wanted her to feel safe in his palace, consider it like your new home he had said the first day she had arrived. Of course she knew that it was only so that she wouldn’t have incentive to leave, but nevertheless, she did quite enjoy his attempts to get her to stay. Extravagant baths, rare fruits available to her at only a moment’s notice, gowns and dresses only less than those of the queen. She was treated better than most of the nobles in this place, yet the one thing she dreaded was the royal dinner.
Suffocating was a light word to describe the event, surrounded by those of the royal family, all bustling with irrelevant gossip and rumors. It was a bore, extremely so, with almost every night riddled with Soriya having to demonstrate her power, reduced to nothing but a circus clown. Yet as she walked into the dinner hall, she was surprised to find more guards here than usual. Perhaps Drax had already fulfilled his promise? She didn’t know, and at the moment, she didn’t care. She was safe for now, no one would dare attack the entire royal family like this, though at times she wished someone would.
Dipping into curtsies until her knees ached, she finally made it her seat next to that of his Majesty’s and the 1st Prince. Before sitting down she went to her knees, bowing down to touch her forehead to the floor before raising her head.
“I thank Your majesty again for allowing me to eat at his table.” Soriya muttered, eyes trained at the floor like usual. Around her, the air was sweet with emotions, ranging from delight, contentment, and small hints of jealousy. Delight sprang most from the King himself as he asked her to rise.
“Always the most mannered of us all Soriya. How I wish my daughters were as humble as you.” Soriya curtsied at his praise, keeping eye to the side glances full of malice and smiles of agreement. It was best to know friend from foe in this kind of place, better to know who would keep your secrets and who would spill.
Once seated, she gave a quick head bow to Rowan, the 1st prince of the King. He nodded in response, midnight hair like her own glistening under the candle lights. He had the features of an Untainted, bronze skin and golden eyes. She wondered what gifts he was blessed with, they had never spoken long enough to get to know one another. Only small conversations at the dinner table and greetings around the palace. Untainted could not sense each other's powers and this made Soriya uneasy.
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The Untainted were few in number, and Soriya had only met one other in her lifetime. She had been a ruthless being, almost costing Soriya her life after she had tried to swindle a set of jewels off her neck. A simple no would have sufficed, but instead, she had been thrown through a wall, superior strength apparently the woman’s gift. She wasn’t particularly intent on letting an event like that happen again, deciding instead to tread lightly around Rowan.
“I hear you had quite a scare in the dungeons earlier, I pray you are alright?” The voice was deep, yet soft, and slightly recognizable. As she turned to her left, it took her a moment realize that it was Rowan that had spoken, and for a moment she wondered if he could read her mind. Shaking the thoughts away, she smiled at his words, keeping her eyes trained on his face, but never on his eyes.
“I am grateful for your highness’ concern. I am a bit frazzled, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle.” Soriya answered, accepting the red wine a servant offered her and taking a sip. She saw him nod at that, taking a sip of his own glass in response.
“I know.” It was all he said before silently eating his food. He was known by all to be like this, even nicknamed the Silent Prince. With an aloof aura around him constantly, he was someone Soriya had trouble figuring out. However, with a little observing in the last two months, she had picked up little things she didn’t need her powers to see. For instance, he was bad at conversations, so he wasn’t dismissing her here, he simply didn’t know what else to say.
“How are you then? I hear just last week you lead a successful attack against the Archdale forces in the east, that must have been a victorious moment for you.” She mused, watching his eyes light up at her words. She turned her own away when he looked at her, suddenly interested in the wine glass before her. Meeting the eyes was a sign of equality in Nightray, and she was still but a commoner dressed in fancy clothes. She didn’t want trouble, and knew that meeting the eyes of the prince would definitely make her the subject of yet another round of gossip.
“It was brutal, more bloody than the last attack. The Archdale soldiers were much more resilient, barely any went down without a fight.” The words were laced with pride, a citrus scent filling her nose. She wondered what the pride was in, the Archdale soldiers who fought valiantly to the death? Or for the Nightray soldiers who cut through the resistance?
“Well, I am glad you made it back alive.” Soriya replied absentmindedly, itching for another sip of wine but reminding herself of the image she had to keep. At this he raised an eyebrow, leaning a bit until his golden eyes forcefully locked on her own, his face giving no emotion away to her.
“Are you really, Lady Soriya? Whatever for?” It was a challenge, either questioning her allegiance to Nightray or her concern for his safety. She did not blame his caution. Soriya who had been forced from her pleasant life and caste into a new one, made to curtsy at every person and to use her powers in indescribable ways. Why would she care if Rowan had died on the battlefield? Why shed a tear if he fell?
“The Olden were creatures of bonds, and it is said that once a human speaks to another, they share a unique bond as distinct as snowflakes, never two the same. As you are a part of my life Rowan, part of our bond, I do not wish for it to break.” Soriya’s words came out slightly hushed, as if spoken too loudly the words would escape their conversation. She had just recited stories of the Olden learned as a child, a common folklore taught for kids to cherish their friendships. At her words Rowan seemed surprised, leaning back and regarding what she said.
“Never have I heard a children’s story spoken with such seriousness. They say you are outlandish, but I see that divergent suits you more.” His smile was small, but genuine, causing Soriya’s lips to turn up as well. Before long they were chatting the rest of the diner, exchanging ideas and surprising each other with revelations of just how different their personalities were from their initial appearances.
Apparently, while most nobles adored her, there were rumors that Soriya had been a criminal drug lord in the underground, using her powers to excel in her business. It was absurd and completely untrue, she hadn’t been selling drugs–that business was for much smaller criminals. Yet Rowan confirmed that he knew some nobles who truly believed it. It was her turn, however, when Soriya told him of his own rumor, to watch him laugh in shock. They said he was somewhat of a demon in war, an unyielding sign of death on the battlefield. Those against him spoke stories of “the grim reaper of Nightray” and swore he was the prince of hell itself.
When the dinner ended and it was time to head for bed, she let Rowan walk with her and her guards, enjoying the cool night air around them. Rowan was surprisingly down to earth, and she supposed war would do that to a person. She cringed at the idea of him acting like Prince Theo, who had gotten drunk and tried to court the Grand Duke’s daughter for the fourth time that month. The child was hopeless, lovestruck, and too privileged to understand that her love was not his to claim.
“It was a pleasure to speak with you Prince Rowan.” Soriya spoke, dipping into yet another curtsy despite her aching knees. Rowan smiled slightly in response, taking her hand before placing something in her palm. Curious, she looked down to peer at the object, only to find Rowan’s hands hiding it as they still clasped her own.
“I know that you do not trust us nobles, and you have every right not to. But your life is in danger Lady Soriya, and I too value our bond together. Take this, and if you ever need me hold this and call my name. I will come for you wherever you are.” He let go of her hands to reveal a claret stone, glimmering despite the night sky above them. Soriya rolled in her hands, examining its smooth surface and bird-like shape. It surprised her, the stone warm as if it was a living being.
“This is your power isn’t it?” Soriya asked with a questioning brow. If he knew she did not trust him, why show her his power? For a man known for his cunning strategies at war, this seemed like an awfully inopportune move.
“It isn’t. These stones were given to me by my father on my coming of age. He said that they would be able to guide me to my loved ones whenever they were in danger. ” He held up another stone, cyan and similar in shape.
“This is the other half to yours. Whenever you call, I will hear it through this and know where to find you.” He tucked it safely in his belt, bidding her goodnight before walking back the way they came. Now Soriya was truly perplexed, staring once again at the gem in her hand. Why did he care to give her such a valuable tool?
He said that they would be able to guide me to my loved ones whenever they were in danger.
She was not apart of his family, and they had only spoken a few times prior to today. Was this a tactic to coax her into staying in the palace? No, it was too genuine for that and held too much commitment as well. As Soriya continued to walk towards her room, she sighed. It was all too much, the precautions she had to take in this palace. Even with good intentions, she couldn’t trust Rowan completely, or even slightly. He was still a royal, and still tasked with doing whatever his father bid him to. Nodding goodnight to her guards she stretched the moment she entered her room. Quickly changing into her nightgown, she rolled the stone in her hands before setting it down on the nightstand next to her bed.
Whatever his intentions, she would deal with it in the morning. This day had exhausted all her energy, and she was ready to sleep. As she pulled her blankets over herself and sank into the bed, she closed her eyes and tried to will herself to sleep, focusing on the silence around her.