Chapter Two:

If this is a Dream, Please, Don’t Wake Me

Dmitri

Once the day from hell was over I ended up in front of the dormitories, where I hitched a saddle onto my horse’s back. He was eager for a change of scenery, but was being particularly temperamental about the way the leather straps sat against his side, though he eventually gave in and let me win the argument. I was fastening my bag to his ancient saddle when Arthur and Caleb emerged from the dining room, waving to me warmly. “You headed out, Alex?” Caleb asked as I hoisted myself up onto Archimedes’ back. His tone was light and airy, as if nothing had happened earlier, and I knew he expected me to let by gones be by gones. In his defense that was usually how things went between us, as this was far from the first time he had put his hands on me.

“Going to see my aunt for the weekend,” I replied bitterly, and my tone made him wince.

“We didn’t know she was in The East; tell her we said hi! It’ll sure be quiet without you.” Arthur tried to casually laugh, though he ground his teeth at the awkwardness.

“As if he makes much noise anyway,” Caleb teased before sighing softly and setting a hand on my leg. “And, um… sorry, for what happened today. The pressure kind of got to me.”

I knew arguing with him would be pointless, so I sighed through my nose and rigidly nodded. “No harm done,” I shot back shortly before whistling twice. Archimedes started forward, trotting to the edge of the school line and leaving the boys frowning to themselves. I had no desire to entertain Caleb further than I had today, and was glad he finally took the hint. It felt good to leave with my head held high, and to not forgive him as openly as he wanted.

For a while we rode silently to my aunt and uncle’s summer home, which was hidden away in the upper corner of the Eastern Kingdom. I had to be extremely careful to not draw wandering eyes as I made my way up the winding hills, especially because Julia would wring my neck if I brought curious stragglers with me. I’d taken this trip around once a month as of recent, since Gerard and Julia were all but begging me to, but the change of pace was something I looked forward to. They were the only family I could communicate with as of right now, and though it was still awkward at times, the two welcomed me with seemingly open arms. Our visits, admittedly, helped fill the void of loneliness I often felt, and helped clear my head a bit.

Archimedes knew the way as well, so for most of the ride, he kept a steady gallop and lead the way without much direction. I continuously ran my fingers through his mane, wrapping the hairs around my hand to calm my frazzled nerves. This worked for a bit, but just as I was about to turn onto the main road, I decided to be a little risky and do something fun. I pushed my legs up and crouched on the saddle, gathered the reins and stood, catching my balance by digging my boots into the dents in the saddle. Archimedes picked up speed as soon as he felt me stand, as we had done this dumb trick many times. He ran down the bridge like a rocket, which made it creak and sway, and I laugh at the feeling. The rush of the wind soaring through my hair was exhilarating, and I was high off the adrenaline that came with it.

My fun only lasted a few moments; the sound of a creaking gate opened, and a set of ash brown locks bounced into view at the end of the bridge. “For the love of… Dmitri, what are you up to now!?” I heard my aunt call from up the road.

“Hi, Julia!” I called, waving cheerfully.

“Is there ever a dull moment with you? Get off that horse and get inside, silly!” She teased lovingly before going back into the house, shaking her head to herself.

I plopped down in annoyance for being caught and pulled Archimedes to a stop, though I was still giggling to myself. I led him into the small stable and grabbed a stool, placing it next to him while fingering through the bin beside us for a brush. His rich white mane was frazzled after our excursion through the woods, and I made sure to take extra care when combing leaves and such from the tangles. I looked around for anyone before I turned and kissed him quickly; he nudged his head into me so he could receive a hug as well. “Love you, buddy. Thanks for putting up with me.” I murmured before I closed the door and threw my backpack over my shoulder. “Hey, guys!” I called as I raced up the pathway, closing the gate firmly behind me.

“You’re getting the mud off of those boots!” Julia scolded as she looked me over, a habit of hers whenever I came for a visit. Her gaze fell on my bandaged face and blood-stained collar, which made her gasp dramatically. I immediately rushed to cover the shirt collar, furious with myself for forgetting to change, but I knew it was too late to try and save myself. “Must you always injure yourself, Dmitri!?” She snapped, and hit me on the head with a book she had been reading as if that in itself wouldn’t cause injury.

“Ouch! It happened during Cavalry tryouts, yeesh! I forgot to change before I left…?” I moaned childishly, which made her sigh in annoyance and hold her hand out.

“Give me the shirt.”

“Right here?” I squeaked, glancing out the window at the two young housekeepers that were watching us. Her eyes narrowed evilly; I scoffed miserably and wiggled it off before bolting to the guest room, slamming the door shut on her victorious laughter. “Thanks a lot! You love to embarrass me on purpose, don’t you!?” I yelled through the closed door as I blazed from the giggles the two girls were sharing outside.

“I have to get my kicks somehow; take a bath while you’re up there! I prefer a gentleman not soaked in blood to join me for dinner!” She called up the steps.

It was hard to stay mad at Julia, so in defeat, I stomped into the bathroom while grumbling to myself. The antiquated tub took forever to pump out warm water, but I finally was able to slump into the tub. In an attempt to relax, oddly enough, I slipped beneath the surface and allowed my body to succumb to the small ripples hitting the edge of the porcelain. The only sound filling the bathroom was the small droplets left behind falling down the neck of the faucet, and this silence lulled me into a state of serenity I desperately needed.

My mind began to wander toward my tryouts, and whether or not I performed well. Andrew watched me so intently that I could feel his gaze permanently glued to my body, so I must have made some kind of impression. Our interaction in the arena was slightly off-putting to say the least, and made me queasy when I thought about it. What exactly did he mean by asking such a question, and what did my answer provide for him that my performance could not? Was he honestly considering me, or was this all for show so I wouldn’t whine about not having a fair chance? Then again, did anyone, including me, believe I would ever complain about not getting a chance? I knew better than that, though secretly, it would have crushed my entire being had I not had the opportunity I had today. Though, did I waste it, or not perform to the standard Andrew was expecting?

Somewhere in this numbing string of thoughts, I had the brilliant idea of heaving a sigh while still underwater. Of course, this lead to me shooting up from the water with a violent gasp, where my coughs signaled my conniving aunt. She pressed against the door with a methodical cackle and knocked twice over the sound of me spitting out water dramatically. “Daydreaming again, little wanderer?”

“I forgot to come up for air…!” I choked, which made her explode in laughter.

╬

“Dmitri, dinner!” Julia called sweetly as I was finishing getting changed.

“Coming!” I yelled back. “Dumb sock…” I grumbled as I jumped around trying to put it on. I accidentally jumped one step too far and slammed into the dresser, which teetered hard before it began falling forward. My scream of horror echoed through the house, and before I knew it, there was a crash as all my pencils, books, and whatever else was on top came rushing down on me. I found myself trapped beneath scattered clothing, my miscellaneous crap, and somehow the quilt from the bed that had been crudely dragged into this altercation.

“What the…!?” Julia cried as she threw the door open in horror.

“Help…?” I whimpered in my pointy pencil prison.

“Wait, I see something fuzzy… I think it’s that crazy hair of his, but that might just be the mold!” She teased as she held a hand out.

I hissed at the light dramatically, “This is what happens when you whack me upside the head; you probably caused permanent damage.” I scolded, which made her laugh lightly and kiss my flushed cheek before I followed her out and to the dining room.

We sat at the long mahogany table as one of the girls from earlier put soup down, ruffling my hair once with a smile. Julia graciously thanked the two before asking for some privacy, and once the girls shut the dining room doors, an awkward silence enveloped the table. I watched the bits of tomato and chicken swim around my bowl, and giggled like a child at them. I picked up my spoon and pushed them around, imagining that they were getting attacked by a sea monster, and swirled the soup rapidly to simulate a whirlpool. “Why aren’t you eating?” Julia asked.

“I don’t think I’m that hungry…” I replied sheepishly. She nodded and turned back to her soup, her eyes fixed on the book she had abused me with earlier. “Roar…!” I cackled silently as the monster, my spoon, scooped up the chicken and pulled them into the murky tomato water.

“Dmitri, stop playing with your food, please? You’re almost eighteen!” She tried to scold, but was giggling behind her hand in spite of herself.

I grinned and put the spoon down, “Sorry, sorry...”

“Did tryouts go well today?” She asked to change the subject.

I gulped immediately following her question, my voice shaky as I answered, “I, well, I suppose it went well. Caleb kind of snapped on me in front of Andrew...?” Julia’s eyes widened at my comment; I shook my head wildly, “I didn’t overreact or anything, and he apologized for it soon after…?!” I stammered, gripping the edge of the table in fear that Julia would be disappointed in the fact I was involved in a fight.

Julia slammed her book shut with a scoff of disgust, “What an idiot; wonderful way to blow your chances. I swear, that roommate of yours is something else… I’m so glad you’ll be rid of him soon.” She simmered down slightly, and set her chin in her palm, “I haven’t had a chance to discuss the day with Gerard or the others yet, but I hope everyone did well.”

The stagnant and awkward air between us returned for a moment before I cleared my throat loudly, “Thank you for inviting me up to the house. It’s been a while since we’ve spent some time together, and I always look forward to it.” I interjected sheepishly.

My comment snapped her back to reality, “What? Of course! You’re cooped up in that dorm all the time, and since we’re staying this way to hire Cavalry, I wanted you to get some fresh air. I just wish your uncle would come home so he could see you too...” She grumbled before sighing painfully, “And, you’re sure you wouldn’t like to stay with us when you graduate…?” She tempted again in a defeated tone.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I’m quite certain, I’m afraid.” I tried to offer as gently as I possibly could.

“We’re surely going to miss you,” she whispered, leaning over the table to tuck a strand of my hair back before cradling my face warmly, “It’s been so nice to have you in The East.”

I didn’t really know how to respond at first. I was always so careful about how I spoke to Julia and Gerard, especially after all they had done to ensure I would be safe during my time at the academy, and I never wanted to offend them. Julia’s hand on my cheek was also a little off-putting; not many people touched me on a regular basis, and I still hadn’t become used to her gestures, but I knew I should try and reciprocate even a little. I patted the hand she had on me gently, “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, truly, I do. My time in The East has been incredible, and I will cherish every moment of it, but we all know I have a mission to fulfill. Hopefully, soon, I’ll be making my way to The North. Of course, that’s contingent on the fact that everyone trusts me enough to do so…”

She hesitated briefly, but chose to continue. “Gerard put in good word for you at the meeting. Andrew and Cerelia seem hopeful that you would do well, but they haven’t decided fully yet. It’s just a matter of time, I suppose… I trust they’ll make the right decision for all involved.”

“Do you trust me?” I cut her off abruptly, surprised myself by the outburst.

My question caught her off guard and made her stammer for a moment before she looked over her shoulder slightly. She then glanced back to me, her gold eyes burning with love, “I like to believe I do,” she finally said.

I realized how ridiculous my question was, and lowered my head in shame. “I know I can’t get a full answer from you, and I respect that…?”

“You didn’t let me finish. I suppose it is time we called out the elephant in the room, though…” she sat up and pushed her bowl aside, then moved to sit beside me carefully. “As much as the royal families do not want to admit it, you have given us no reason not to trust you. I speak for myself entirely here, but I truly do believe what you said to us when you arrived in The East. I know you want to fight, to protect England and lead us to victory, but I don’t think everyone realizes how stark your statement is.”

“Stark?” I questioned.

Her expression shifted to a deep sadness, “It’s agitating me, to be honest, how little consideration everyone has for your safety. They think that because you grew up in The West that you’re invincible or something. You are far from, Dmitri, far from.”

I picked my head up to stare at her openly, my jaw slightly slacked from what she had said. My hands were shaking slightly under the table, enough that she, too, noticed, and set her own on my knee to try and calm me down. “I just want to help…” was all I could say back.

“I understand that, but helping because of your guilt, and helping because you desire it are two totally different things.” She smoothed more locks of my hair behind my ear, “I can’t begin to imagine how stressed and miserable you truly are. Not only are you worried about the present, but the future holds agonizing weight, and you’re saddle-backing all of your trauma from the past.” She paused and waited to see if I was going to reply, but when I didn’t, she continued without missing a beat. “You’re barely eighteen, yet you’ve been through so much pain in such a short amount of time that I worry you’re forcing it down too much. When I look at you, I do see and respect the young man you are becoming, but the scared little boy within you is only but a step behind…” she fell quiet as she watched my expression morph entirely from her words. I was completely deadpan, so much so that she cringed, thinking she had gone too far.

I had nothing to reply with, and thankfully, I didn’t have to make something up on the fly. “Mommy, we’re home!” A young voice echoed through the house, followed by the doors opening.

Julia sighed in relief as Tyler ran into the dining room, panting and holding a long-wrapped box in his hands. He slammed it down before his mother, smiling ear to ear. “Well, hello there; what did you bring with you?” She asked, turning away from me hesitantly to greet her son.

“Dad and I brought something special for Dmitri!” He exclaimed excitedly.

“Did you…?” She asked through her teeth, trying to warn her husband, who had come up behind her, that things were a tad awkward at the moment. Gerard was a step ahead of her, and was watching me worriedly as Tyler nodded. “Well, maybe we should wait until after graduation?”

“This is the perfect time, though…!?” He whined in defeat.

Tyler was the youngest of the royal families’ children, barely ten compared to the rest of us, who were seventeen and up. He was the only heir to The East Kingdom’s throne, and our family’s pride and joy. His innocence always came first; we did our best to protect him from the cruel world around him for as long as humanly possible, especially since his kingdom was in the middle of a catastrophic war. He was the smile that satiated the seriousness, the hope for a brighter future than the ones my cousins and brothers had been forced to subject ourselves to.

Looking into his doe-like eyes, I felt incredibly guilty for hindering his excitement. “What did you bring, Tyler?” I asked emotionlessly underneath my hair, which made the couple jump and Tyler whip around excitedly.

“It’s a really special present! I asked Dad to help me pick it out, and I’ve been waiting forever to give it to you!” He declared with a delighted giggle.

“Oh, really?” I slowly lifted my head and forced a smile so hard that a tear rolled down Julia’s cheek for me. Tyler’s child-obliviousness shielded him from realizing how much pain I was in, and I was grateful for it.

He dashed to my side and set the box down, holding his hands behind his back as he bounced I tune with his excitement. I ruffled his hair before pulling the ribbon, and slowly lifting the lid. My eyes widened in shock, and made him squeal happily. “Do you like it!?”

“Like it…? It’s, beautiful, Tyler…?” Nestled into the blue satin lining was a templar sword. The blade was a pristine steel and glistened against the lights of the chandelier above us. The handle was made of silver and gold, and intricately hand carved. It had three gold medallions set into it, with the symbol of the God’s Sent on the very end. The scabbard was black, and the same extremely priceless pattern was pressed into a metal case that was on both the end of the holder and at the beginning.

I slowly pulled the blade from the box, balancing it lovingly on my fingertips. The reflection that stared back at me made my heart squeeze. My mahogany hair hung lifeless, and my blank brown eyes were full of immense pain. Since taking on the alias of Alexander Morgan I rarely looked in the mirror, because when I did, I couldn’t see myself in my own eyes anymore. I had buried Dmitri Mortimer so deep underneath this charade that even I didn’t think he existed, and when I looked at my new reflection, it made me feel like maybe he never had.

“Well? What do you think?” Gerard asked.

A small smile played on my lips as I let my fingers curl around the handle, “It’s gorgeous, Gerard, really it is. It must have cost you a fortune…?”

“Hardly; I'm very glad you like it. We wanted you to have something special as a graduation gift, and as a parting gift…” he whispered morosely.

“Parting?” I pressed as he nodded to the box. The envelope inside had a green seal holding it closed, with the symbol of the North Kingdom pressed into the wax. The stationary held weight, meaning it truly was expensive and directly from the source. I slid it open with a dinner knife, then pulled the finely hand-written letter out in awe. Gerard yanked Tyler into his side to give me some space, though Tyler still bounced in his father’s embrace.

Mr. Dmitri Mortimer,

To start, I am proud to call you once again by that name. With Secondary School concluding, I believe it is due time we let you be who you truly are, and allow you to hold a dignified name once again.

I would first like to commend your actions this morning in the arena. It takes a lot of self-restraint to control yourself with tensions as high as they were, and I am glad that you did not cave to acrimony. You acted as a level-headed young man should, and as I would expect from a graduate of any of England’s Cavalry Academies.

I nominated you for the Cavalry lineup for multiple reasons, Mr. Mortimer. Your academic record is spotless; you’re studious, and punctual. Through many hours of observation you have also portrayed vast amounts of talent when it comes to sword fighting, as well as many other types of combat. Physically, you appear to be a well-oiled machine, ready for combat; but being a Cavalry is much more than strength and academics.

I look for extremely specific things when it comes to my Cavalry. I am very particular, and take my time in my decision-making, which tends to slow down the process sometimes, admittedly. Nonetheless I am, if anything, thorough.

When choosing, I am looking for more than a fighter; I am looking for future companions, students who show that they are, well, human. It is more than obvious that the wars inflicting England currently are due to the acts of an inhuman, immoral, spoiled child, and the last thing I need is a replica of that coming into my home. Not my kingdom, my home.

I am not unaware of the price on your head, Dmitri, nor the consequences of inviting you into my home. It is something Cerelia and I have discussed so many times that it may be the only thing we talk about right now. At the end of the day, though, we realized something no one else seems to have just yet; you are just a young man caught in a disastrous web of violence. I, personally, do not think you are a product of Alexei’s kingdom. I think you are a victim of his tyranny just the same as we are, and I also think you have the right to prove this to us. Cerelia and I do not expect you to be perfect; we only expect you to be true to yourself and to us, to prove you are not the monster your brother is.

My philosophy entails one thing; balance. Humans have flaws, but humans of true worth know how to balance their flaws with their strengths. I do not want brainless soldiers who run into battle with swords high. I want men and women who show compassion as much as bellicose, who show they have something to fight for, and aren’t just buttering up to score some brownie points. It’s endearing when students tell me they want to make England a good place, but it’s something I’ve heard hundreds of times.

What you said to me in the arena was quite, different, though. Correct me if I'm wrong, “I want to give innocent people their lives back, and return their trust in the royal families name.” It, honestly, caught me off guard. You have proven vastly that you are not an ignorant man, so what would make you say such a thing? I ask because you and I both know that simply is not the truth behind your decision to join the army.

What, truly, makes you want to become a Cavalry? I doubt it’s for our family’s benefit. Maybe part of it is, and if so, even more commendable. But a man of your acuteness and tenacity surely shouldn’t be satisfied with twirling a sword for the rest of his life, even if it’s to save innocent people’s lives. If you wanted to save people’s lives, you could have chosen to be a doctor: make a fortune in a safe hospital and know that you’ve helped make a difference with each patient you see without risking your life to do so.

No, instead you’re choosing to, potentially, throw away an existence that is fueled by knowledge and talent, all for the name of a kingdom in which you don’t even reside? Let me ask you this, Mr. Mortimer; is that truly the only reason? Everyone wants to be a hero, but there is always something more. A reason why you get up every morning and push through life to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Revenge is an easy excuse to want to be in the army, but there is much more depth in your choices. I do believe there is more to your story than what you told me, and I must admit, I am quite intrigued to see its continuation.

I look forward to working with you soon. I have full confidence that you will make an amazing addition to the team. Enjoy your graduation; I cannot wait to hear your speech. And, again, congratulations Dmitri. There isn’t anyone else in the world that I would rather take the place of Cavalry Number Four for the North Kingdom.

Warm Regards, King Andrew

The room was so quiet you could hear a mouse run by across the road. Gerard and Julia were frozen by their anxiety, while Tyler impatiently watched me read the letter three times to myself, moving my lips to the words carefully to make sure I internalized them fully. “Well? What did he say?” Tyler snapped as his impatience won the battle. Julia smacked the back of his head for the outburst, and he yapped dramatically with a fiery blush.

“I got in,” I whispered finally, which made the family’s eyes widen in astonishment, “I got in… I'm Cavalry Number Four, for the North Kingdom…” I choked in disbelief.

A domino of reactions encapsulated the room. Tyler let out a victorious scream in my honor, and began running laps around the table. Julia sobbed happily for me into her hands, and Gerard rushed forward to hug me as close to his chest as he could. “I'm so proud of you…!” He choked, combing his hand through my hair to hold me even closer. I could hear his heart pounding in excitement through his chest; the sound beat through my ear like a soothing drum and made me reach up to clutch his arm back.

“Thank you…” I croaked breathlessly. The words were simple, but the meaning behind them was so much more complex. He understood that completely, and smiled with pride radiating through his touch. In that moment I thanked him for everything he had ever done, every moment I had spent in The East, every meal we had shared at this table. I thanked him for giving me a chance, for being my protector… for letting me live long enough to see my dreams become reality.