Hot sand blistered my feet as I walked along the shore. I gathered the shells poking out of the sand like buried treasure. Father and I kept all of our shells on display in the dining room. Dannamore was known for the overabundance of shells and many believed it was good luck to take them from our shores. I wasn’t sure if I believed in the superstitions, but Father did so we continued to gather as many as we could, thanking the goddess of Earth for her blessings. Samson appeared in my peripheral as I leaned over to pick up a small pure white shell. No imperfections. I placed it in my pocket. 

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I asked him. I raised my hand to shield the sun out of my eyes. His eyes conveyed worry but when did they not? He always complained I spent too much time outside, however, I disagreed. Castle walls were not my safe space. Samson was my father’s personal guard, but with my father falling ill a few months ago, well Samson transitioned into being my own guard and parental figure as Father grew weaker. 

“Yes, Duchess. I do have word regarding your Father.” Samson said, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. Sweat pooled on his brow. It was abnormally hot for our shores. Normally, a chill carried in the breeze, even during the summer. I didn’t mind, but I couldn’t help to wonder how our farmers fared in the grueling heat. 

“Please, Samson, be honest with me. Is he doing any better?” I raised an eyebrow in question.

“The physician said there’s nothing more he can do. Your father would like to speak to you about Dannamore and your future. He’s called a meeting with your Aunt Clarissa and Leighton as well.” Samson replied. 

I nodded. Samson began his retreat, understanding I wanted a moment alone, but he stopped. He didn’t turn around, but I heard him loud and clear as he said, “Please, do not start a fight with your aunt. We’re still repairing the west wing from the last one.” 

A smile tugged on my lips as he retreated into the sunlight turning into a shimmering black blob. Castle walls eventually engulfed him as I turned towards the sea. The island of Montcroix was visible from this side of the walls. They were our closest neighbors and allies. My dearest friend, Lilianna ruled alongside her father and the elder chiefs of the island. She shared the love of the sea with me as well as her respect of the dragons who clouded our skies. We kept them safe within our shores but if a rogue raider or the King’s guard decided to form a hunting party there wasn’t much we could do for them. Shajurn, my own dragon, attempted to keep them at bay with the help of Lilianna’s dragon, Nesbith, but even their attempts remained futile. 

Turning away from my friend’s home, I began the trek back to Night Well. It wasn’t long. One gate then I was inside the safety of my Father’s domain. People bustled around the common grounds, some stalls were set up to give our workers grain and their weekly coin. Many stood around chatting, nodding as I passed before returning to their conversations. 

Night Well had been built by my Father when I was a child. He was the First Duke of Dannamore while I would, hopefully, become the Second Duchess of Dannamore upon his passing. However, I didn’t imagine it would come so soon. Tears threatened to spill over onto my cheeks but I brushed them away as I entered the halls of my home. Servants stopped to greet me, dipping their heads in respect before carrying on with their duties. 

Finally, I reached Father’s bedroom. Clarissa’s shrill voice reached my ears as I entered. Servants were milling about cleaning what little dust had gathered the day before. Two of our knights stood posted on either side of the door but without the threat of an attack their posture stayed relaxed. 

“Her? A girl? Brother, I am married. I have already produced one heir and am already pregnant with another. Name Leighton your successor.” Clarissa’s hands rubbed at her swollen belly. She would be entering confinement soon and I hoped she returned to Leighton’s lands to do so. 

“Clarissa, sweet, dear, Clarissa,” Father, ever gentle, took her hands into his, “Please, understand this is my decision. I lost three sons and I will see one of my children as the next Duchess. Isn’t it fashionable to see women leading nowadays?” 

“Only when she has a husband at her side.” Clarissa retorted. Leighton sat behind her, bored. He always looked bored. His nose was long and angular where he had to look down at you through it. He could be tolerable after a few drinks but the only love between the two was ambition.

“Father, you asked to see me?” I asked.

“Ah, yes, my dear girl.” He took his hands away from Clarissa and reached for mine which I gladly took. They were worn from his days in the military and age spots were beginning to dot them. 

“I have come up with a compromise that will hopefully solve all of our issues.” Father said, addressing only Clarissa and I. He shared the same disdain for Leighton as I did. “Clarissa, Avalon will rule when I die. I have the king’s signature in promise, however, she will have a husband. Her husband will not take the title of Duke because he will already have a title of his own.” 

“Who?” Clarissa and I both asked, leaning forward. It was not uncommon for arranged marriages. I expected it because of Father’s illness, but I didn’t imagine him to work so quickly. 

“The Prince.” Father smiled, leaning back in his pillows, content with his plan. 

Clarissa and I stared, shell-shocked. My mouth fell open as I attempted to keep breakfast down. Jacques, the Crown Prince of Lyier and my friend, would be my husband? Surely, Father, with his sense of humor, was kidding. I shook my head, “No, no, no, anyone but him.”

“So she will be queen and duchess?” Clarissa asked. 

“I believe so.” Father closed his eyes. He would be asleep soon, leaving me alone with Clarissa and Leighton. I missed when we had visitors so I could easily avoid them. 

As Father drifted off into his peaceful slumber, Clarissa stood to leave the room. Leighton followed after her without a word and I was left alone with Father and the couple of servants still milling about. I hadn’t seen the prince since we left the capitol when I was a teenager. He attempted to keep correspondence for some time but I never had the heart to respond. While we grew up closely together, I also couldn’t ignore his support of the colonization of Montcroix or his father’s hand in the northern wars. 

However, Father could have chosen worse for a future husband. 

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Dinner was quiet as I took it alone in my room. Father had given me one of the larger rooms in our wing of the castle following the deaths of my brothers. He wanted to give me space and I appreciated it. When Father became ill, I couldn’t stand to sit in the dining room with Clarissa and Leighton. My aunt was always sure she would be Duchess of Dannamore. I don’t know why. Grandfather, or Papa as my brothers and I called him, wasn’t even a lord. Dannamore was gifted to Father by the king. Clarissa needed to learn her lines of succession. 

Samson eventually came to sit with me. He gave me updates regarding the wars and I nodded, following along easily, but it always made me sick to know we were still sending our sons to die for something so needless. My brothers died in the wars, each alone on a different front, and away from Dannamore. 

“He’s in better spirits, the Duke?” Samson said.

I laughed, raising my glass of wine to my lips nodding my agreement. “I’m sure you know why?” 

Samson’s eyes betrayed him. He looked down like he felt sorry, “Yes, my lady, I do know. I promise he did not come to the decision lightly. He always promised you love, but you need to be secure when he finally goes. I believe he is afraid of what would happen if a power vacuum were created.”

“Clarissa and Leighton aren’t smart enough to gather an army. Besides neither of them have a claim, nor do they know the people of Dannamore. I do.” I took a bite of my stew, potatoes melting in my mouth, and I had to remember to go and visit the cook in the morning to thank her for making my favorite dish in the heat of summer. 

Samson smiled, “Nobody can deny the attachment the people of Dannamore have to you. I think they also enjoy when you bring the dragons to the square. It reminds them of the time before magic was outlawed. However, I’m sure you’ve heard what has happened in Adraelith?” 

Adraelith was our neighbor to the south. Mother’s family had lived there before leaving to come to Dannamore when the first wars of magic began. Our immediate world was small so it was easy for political affairs in other countries to make their way into our own politics. 

“Their new queen is a healer, wields the power of water, correct?”

“Yes, she does. Even more importantly King Casper has overturned the old laws.” Samson stared at me pointedly. I knew what he was hinting at. The wars to our north were now going to be seen as pointless. The Gaterlunds, who we were at war with, never adopted the laws Adraelith just overturned. Our war was a front for the mass genocide of those who had fled to the Gaterlunds as refugees. Even worse we were directly in the middle of both countries. We were a sliver of what the rest of Lyier was. A sea divided us from our mainland and capitol. It took a month on good seas to get a letter there and back. If another war began on our shores, then we wouldn’t have reinforcements. 

“I am sure the king is aware of this. What news do we have from the capitol? I personally haven’t received a letter in a long time.” I replied. 

Samson let out a weary breath, his shoulders drooping forward in the process. His bulky figure was strange in my dainty feminine chairs. “As cruel as it is to say, my lady, I believe the king is waiting for your father to pass before he makes any decisions regarding Adraelith and the Gaterlunds.” 

My cheeks burned red. I slammed my bowl down on the table, raking my fingers through my dense curls. Hair hung from my fingertips and I flung it off as I asked, “Did father leave a detail about my impending marriage out?”

Samson opened his mouth before quickly closing it. He mulled over his next words for several seconds leaving me alone to think about the possibilities. Finally, he sighed in defeat, “Jacques is on his way to Dannamore to make your engagement official. He has been in the Gaterlunds negotiating with Prince Luca about a possible treaty but I haven’t heard any news regarding this treaty since King Casper overturned the laws against magic. Knowing what we know about Prince Luca I can’t imagine it ended well. The king and your father are hoping you and Jacques can smooth tensions between all three countries. You train and ride dragons, a magical beast, making you sympathetic to their cause while Jacques will become king on his twenty-first birthday. It’s a win-win from all sides.” 

I didn’t argue with Samson. I knew what he was saying was right. Of course, I didn’t have to agree with it either. Father could have at least let me in on my own engagement. My fingers drummed against the table as I thought about Jacques. We hadn’t seen each other since we were children, barely fourteen. The apple orchards surrounding the palace were our choice for a playground. Workers didn’t mind us weaving around them as we played war or imagined what it was like to rule our prospective homes. Jacques always believed in my ability to rule even before I lost my brothers. 

“When will he arrive?” I asked. 

“Tomorrow. A letter arrived from him today. Your Father asked that I wait to give it to you until tonight. I think it’s because he didn’t want to deal with your temper in case it upset you.” Samson placed a black envelope with the royal seal enclosing it on the table before he left my room. Father was right to ask Samson to wait. The old man knew he would be fast asleep by the time I opened it. 

Tentatively, I reached across the table, encasing the rough paper in my hands. It wasn’t the nice kind we normally kept. Jacques must have sent this before he started his journey but after he left Prince Luca’s castle. I broke the seal and pulled out the dense contents wondering exactly how much he wanted to tell me. Would he apologize for his hand in our engagement? Or did he recognize it as a duty? We parted as friends but after almost seven years we were strangers. 

My hand began to shake as I unfolded everything. His handwriting was hard and fast, nothing like our tutors in the palace taught. I brought the candle on the table closer and began to read. 

Lady Avalon Loch,

Am I still allowed to call your Ava or do you prefer Avalon now? I hope by now your Father has disclosed the information regarding our engagement. He was always an honest man so I trust his judgement on when to tell you things. I cannot wait to see both you and him. He always treated me like his own when Father would be off to war or in another country. I always cherished our time together. 

I will be arriving in Dannamore within the next five days. We are riding most of the day and only stopping at night for a few hours. I wish to be rid of the Gaterlunds. The men and women are frigid, nothing like the warm people of your home. I look forward to a much needed rest. I will also admit I look forward to your company. If it is not too bold of me to say, but I have missed you. You made the palace bright and loving. After the departure of your family, even under the most horrible of circumstances, well the capital became almost as cold as the Gaterlunds. I can only hope and wish you are as excited to see me as I am to see you. 

Please convince your Father to not make a huge fuss surrounding my arrival. I want to enter Dannamore without a wasted parade. I don’t see it necessary. However, I do know the ordeal he will have surrounding the engagement ball. Neither of us could stop him from throwing the largest party of our time. The king wishes he could be there to attend but he has been ill as of late. Mother cares for him as best she can but I don’t believe she has her heart in it anymore. 

I’m not sure when you will receive this letter so I will part you with my utmost affection and admiration. 

His Royal Highness Jacques Alexander Marat

I stared down at the paper, rereading the words over and over. His excitement shocked me but Jacques was always determined to stay positive. Maybe we would learn to love one another and maybe we would learn to be friends again, nevertheless, I would have to face him tomorrow. I moved into my bedchamber, setting the letter next to my bed before my maids came in to clear my dinner away and help me prepare for bed. Eventually, I fell asleep, dreaming about the apple orchards of my youth.