13 Savarine Ward

_Savarine Ward_

Savarine was beginning to get used to court, though she was no lady so she didn't get as much special treatment as the other girls in court. She couldn't quite bring herself to care, however. She was used to being a buzz in the background since her father was usually preoccupied with her two older brothers and her mother, her two younger siblings. As the middle child, she was normally free to do as she liked.

She had a couple friends back in Fordorne, mostly boys, who she would spend time with. Here she had no one, so she had to find things for herself to do, especially since she was not being tutored why she was here. Her mother had had a fit about that part. It had taken a while to convince her that she was far more educated than she needed to be for their status, but eventually her mother allowed it.

However, the people at court were much more educated than her, and they liked to flaunt it around. She was best with a sword so the fancy talk was difficult, and she was feeling rather intimidated. Like a dove in a nest of crows. Never in her life did she think she would willingly seek out a library to educate herself but the pressure to do so was there, and here she was, navigating the long castle hallways by herself in search of one.

Perhaps it wouldn't do much to read a couple books, but if she could at least understand a fragment of the things these noble's talked about, perhaps she would not feel so irrelevant or stupid. Where better to look for information than in the capital, anyway? She had heard of this Denheim castle library and she wanted to see it, to read the books from it. It was not the biggest library in the world, but it was damn near full from floor to ceiling with thousands of books. How many books were in Fordorne? Certainly not as many as there was in the castle alone.

And suddenly, for the first time since she arrived here, Savarine was full of wonder for the capital. With thoughts of the library came the realization that there was real opportunity here- her father would have been daft to decline the invitation here. Suddenly again, she was coming to terms with just how fortunate she was to have come.

Not fortunate enough however, seeming as she struggled to find this library in the maze of castle hallways. She had been in the Fordorne castle before, but it had not been nearly as big as the Denheim castle, nor had it been nearly as ancient. Wandering the hallways proved to be a mistake as soon she was lost, seemingly walking around aimlessly. At some point, she had found a window. Approaching the window, she looked around to see if she could locate her position in the building- but it was to no avail. She did not know what she was looking at. Perhaps one of the many courtyards the capital palace had to offer.

With a sigh she drudged on, not feeling so wondrous anymore but more confused and irritated now. The place seemed deserted. Were there really not enough rooms for her to have her own? This place was massive, surely they had hallways upon hallways of free rooms. The balls never had more than a hundred people attending- well, not most times she was told. On holidays there could be up to a thousand, but there was not a holiday here for a while.

The waist of her dress was rubbing uncomfortably against her. Why did court fashion have to be so unbearably tight? It was as if everyone here enjoyed suffering. It was ludicrous the things that nobility did, and to think, her family was going to be accepted in? She doubted it. The nobility were old, snobbish families. Her family might have been fairly old but they certainly were not of noble blood, but rather hard work. What had these nobles done to gain recognition? Anyone could be born naked and crying into this world, but not everyone could make a name for themselves. And that was the real gem.

She picked at her waist, trying to stop the uncomfortable chafing that was occurring, but to no avail. Oh how she wished to be in men's clothing, but she had been instructed to stay ladylike outside of training, which was proving to be a real pain with her injuries. Still, she would not verbally complain. God help a man who could read minds, though. That thought brought a small smile to her face.

Her smile instantly faded when she came to the end of the corridor to a pair of closed, thick, wooden doors. There were planks covering the doors, nailed into the thick wood. She wondered why this doorway, which from the looks of it, lead into a whole other wing, was locked away. Walking down the corridor further, she found that again, there was another door that was blocked off. She wondered why these two wings were locked away- it certainly explained why there was limited rooms in the capital but now she had more questions.

Her hands traced over the barred door inquisitively, following the thin patterns in the wood.

"You shouldn't touch it," A voice told her.

In fright, Savarine flinched, throwing up her arms defensively at the person who had caught her off guard. After a moment she relaxed, seeing as it was just some boy. "You really shouldn't sneak up on a woman," She scolded, vaguely posh.

He smiled at her, hazel eyes seeming to twinkle just a little. "Quite flinchy aren't you? What happened to your face? Are you alright?" He asked her.

She instantly looked away from the brown haired boy, who's hair was greased and combed back nicely. Was she blushing? She hoped not. "My face is fine- I am fine." She claimed in the best confidence she could muster. "It is not polite to ask such questions so blatantly," She told him now, her eyes peeking over at him.

His brow's raised and he held up his hands in either defense or surrender, she could not tell. "I do apologize, people don't often correct me so I'm afraid I can be offensive at times."

"It is alright, I am much worse than you, I'm afraid."

"So I have heard," The boy said with a chuckle.

"You have heard?" She repeated. Savarine did not think she was popular in court, and this random boy knew who she was?

"I pay attention to things, I suppose." He explained.

Savarine wasn't sure what to think and crossed her arms. "It is not polite to watch someone," She tried now. "Have you followed me?"

He chuckled now and shook his head. "I have not. I was merely walking through and saw you. Neither have I watched you for long. I did not know it was impolite to notice people at formal gatherings."

"It... is not..." She admitted with a blush, trying not to make eye contact. Was it really so hard for Savarine to be polite? "What is your name?" She decided to ask him now.

He gave her a short bow as he answered her. "Devrish Voryva,

He said, looking up at her with charming eyes.

Savarine could have eaten her own slippers right then and there. "Voryva?" She repeated, before immediately curtsying in the most professional manner she could muster up. "Prince Devrish, I do humbly apologize for my poor attitude, I did not know-"

He let out a long sigh. "And now the magic is gone," He said with a partial frown.

"Pardon, your grace?"

He seemed to cringe at the title. "Please, Devrish is fine."

"I could not possibly address you as such- I- you, you are the heir to the Ashmore kingdom,"

He shook his head and ran a hand down the side of his face. "I know, and I do wish people would stop reminding me,"

"I did not mean- I was only trying to-"

"I know what you meant," He said with the dismissive wave of his hand, charming smile never leaving him. "I liked you before, when you were more honest tempered."

"Honest tempered?"

    "Before you know who I was. You treated me like a normal individual."

    "Oh..." She wasn't quite sure what to say to that.

"When you are a prince, all people do is treat you as propper as they can, and look up to you as if you are this great person to behold. And well, it is all very nice, but it is most times not very true to how they feel. And as I can see here, you are much more expressive when you do not know me. A bit accusatory perhaps, but it is an amusing difference."

Savarine gave him an odd look. "Amusing?"

"I did tell you I easily offend people,"

Savarine smiled now. "Aye, you did."

"Much like a baby," He made fun of himself now, chuckling. "I say this and that and people only coo and awe without correction."

Savarine laughed at him. "So you are a baby now?"

"If I need to be," He said cooly. "If it means one person will talk to me normally."

"You will find that I am not so nice,"

"None of us truly are,"

"That is quite the deep thing for a prince to say,"

"Ahh is it?"

Yes, but I did not mean-"

He chuckled at her and she looked away from him, flustered. "Look at you, swooning already."

She looked back at him, appalled. "Me? Swoon?"

"Savarine Ward, was it?"

She gave him a curious look and nodded.

"Would you be my friend? I'm afraid I do not have many of those." He admitted now.

Savarine was not sure how to answer at first. Taken aback by the odd question. "I am not so sure that is how it works..."

"Is it not? Then how do I become friends with you?" He asked her now.

Savarine had the faintest feeling that he was flirting with her, pr working his way there. This was a cause for alarm however, because she did not wish to be anyone's romantic interest- least of all the prince's. "I- er... I do not know, really... it just sort of happens" She said, coming up short of a proper answer. "Before I am truly friends with anyone I suppose we spend time together and if we enjoy each other's company then it just goes along from there..." She thought out loud.

"I see then. I have nothing going on today, so we shall spend time together."

Savarine's eyes widened at his lack of... well his lack of something. "I did not mean-"

"So it is a no then?" He teased.

"No- I mean no- yes-" She panicked, unsure what she was saying now.

The prince laughed out loud and hooked her arm in his, leading her down the hallway. "I will just take that as a yes to spending time with me. Let's go on a walk, shall we?"

Numbly, Savarine followed along. "Alright," She found herself saying. The girl had heard many things about the prince, and she was surprised she hadn't recognized him. But it was understandable wasn't it? During the balls he was all the way in the back of the throne room with his father and other special nobility as everyone else mingled about. She had never seen him this up close before.

They had walked a bit before either of them spoke again, just admiring the hallway, perhaps both stuck on what to say.

"Do excuse me for asking a second time, but I really must know..." Devrish started, glancing down at the ground before meeting eyes with Savarine again. "What happened to you that gave you all of your bruises?" He asked her.

Savarine sighed, her eyes looking away, refusing to meet his any longer. "You watch me occasionally, yes? You should have some idea,"

"I am afraid I do not,"

    She was silent.

"You worry me,"

    She let out a single laugh, like that of a scoff. "It is not any sort of abuse, rest assured. I merely do not wish for you to laugh or criticize me."

"Laugh at you? My lady, I could never," He said with a teasing smile.

"Oh you definitely could- and I am not a lady."

"All women are ladies," He pointed out.

"Aye, perhaps. But not here in court- that word carries more weight in a castle."

"I suppose that is true... still, I am curious about your face."

"Why? Is it that ugly?" She teased.

Devrish laughed now, shaking his head. "Not at all, purple and green is a great color for you," He received a slap on the arm for this. "If you wont tell me how you got it, then I'll just have to guess," He decided.

She merely hummed in response.

"You..." He thought for a moment. "Fell down some stairs!"

She shook her head. "I did no such thing," She said with a wry smile playing at her lips.

"Hmmm," he hummed out, thinking again. "You fell off a horse!"

"Tch, I am betting that I am a rider than you, so no."

"You are clumsy," He said now.

    "Mmmm, something like that," She admitted now.

"I am getting closer!" He exclaimed now. "Just tell me what it was, I am a terrible guesser!"

    It was as if Savarine forgot she was in the company of a prince, because next, she was groaning and looking up at the high hallway ceiling. "You are not going to approve," She told him. "You'll think me silly,"

    "I could not possibly," He attempted to assure her.

    "I got it because I was practicing the art of swordsmanship." She admitted to him, watching for his reaction.

    All he did was stare at her. In fact, they had stopped walking now and he kept his hazel eyes to her blue ones, just staring blank faced at her. She began to feel uncomfortable, glancing away from him. "I told you." She said to him finally.

    With those words, a wide smile made it across his face and he tilted his head back with laughter. "I know," He said.

    "Yeah?" She said with a sour face.

    "No, I mean I knew,"

"You knew?"

    "Yes,"

    "You knew I train with my father?"

    He laughed a bit more, but less intensely this time. "Aye, I did"

    "You pompous ares!" She smacked him on the arm.

He gave her a mocking serious look, laughing a little more. "That is your prince you are so brutally mistreating, swordswoman!" He said humorously.

Savarine couldn't help but smile a bit now. "Why did you ask if you already knew?" She asked him now.

He seemed to think about his answer for a moment. "Well, I suppose I wanted to know what you would say about it. You already get foul words for it, don't you?"

"Aye, I do."

"I think it is remarkable,"

"You think it is?"

"Why wouldn't I? Because you are a woman? You have two hands don't you? I get told I cannot do things all the time, because of my position. I cannot walk the streets of my own city, but you, my lady, can."

"You might be the first person who has taken me seriously..." She said now, her face falling into one of grim, yet pleased, realization.

"You are one of the only people who has attempted to act normal with me," He told her now.

"Attempted?"

"You hold back, I see it."

"Surely you understand why,"

"Aye, that does not mean I like it. Just another reminder of who I am and who I am going to become." He said with a sullen face.

"You don't sound pleased with your position," She said now.

"Am I supposed to be?"

She tilted her head. "Wouldn't anyone be?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I suppose we are all different. However, for me it is a daunting responsibility. Heavy expectations on my shoulders. If I fail, the only person blamed is me."

Her brows raised in realization. "I suppose that does take the magic away from it."

He chuckled at her, "Magic? I recall saying something similar earlier."

She wrinkled her nose in fake detest. "Oh no, i am starting to sound like you,"

Their conversation carried on for quite some time.