Chapter 11 - Idynn

We would not be staying for the feast.

The wedding was just a formality, after all. The treaty that would govern Sonera and Navhelm's relations for the next few years was the priority.

My things—though I still thought of them as the Princess's things—were packed into the carriages. There were a total of four: three carrying diplomats and servants and one for the Prince.

The Prince left first to oversee the packing of his belongings while I stayed behind to change into more comfortable clothes. When I took off the dress, I hung it in the same spot where I had first seen Mirea's dress for the welcoming. That had only been a week and a half ago and it felt like a lifetime away.

A guard came to escort me to the King.

He was in his study, ledgers and papers spread out over the table.

I knocked on the door. 'Your Majesty, you called for me?'

'Idynn,' he looked up and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. 'Take a seat.'

I obeyed. The King examined me. It felt different from when he first did it. Before, it had just been to compare me with his daughter. Now, it felt more personal, like he was weighing my worth alone. I prayed he would not find me wanting.

'You are to go to Sonera today, yes?'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

He sighed and sat back in his chair. Weariness sunk his shoulders and gave his cheeks a pallor. I realised I had never seen the King of Navhelm look so tired before.

'Idynn, I must ask of you one more thing.'

I nodded mutely.

'I need you to become a spy.'

What?

The King continued, 'I have connections in Sonera, but none of them are even remotely in as high a position as you will be. Sonera is... expanding. Once it is finished with its war with Vlaraskivat, there is no telling where it might turn its ambitions to next.' He frowned. 'Maybe they will eventually grow more attached to our fleets and decide to take them for themselves. They have the manpower for it, but nothing is certain at the moment. I do not know.'

He leaned forward. 'Which is why I need your help. My connections will contact you when they can. Until then, all I ask is that you keep your eyes and ears out for anything of interest.'

'Your Majesty, i-is there anything else you can tell me?' Anything that will keep me from getting killed, I wanted to say.

King Odern shook his head. 'The less you know, the better. I did not want to put you any more in harm's way but the circumstances have changed. Just be ready when the time comes.'

He returned to his papers, and I left, numb. It was one thing to marry the Winter Prince, but to spy on his family? I would be dead within the week if I was caught; maybe I'd be lucky to have a public execution, but it was more likely that I would be careless enough to be caught in the act and the Prince would behead me himself.

Safine and Mirea (who was still in the guise of a guard) were waiting for me by the castle exit. As I approached them, my walk quickened into a run which turned into a full blown sprint.

I barrelled into Mirea. She caught me with an 'oomph!' and laughed.

I could practically hear Safine's eyeballs roll in her head and I did not care.

'Mirea!' There was so much I wanted to say and no time for any of it. I squeezed her tighter and said her name again.

Finally, she held me at arm's length, the smile on her face tense. She peeked down the exposed hallway to see if anyone could see or hear us, and relaxed when she saw that it was empty.

Mire cupped my cheek in the same place the Prince had. I leaned into her touch.

'I don't want to go,' I said, my voice cracking.

'I know.'

'But I'll do it for you.'

Mirea's eyes shone. She pressed a hasty kiss to my forehead and murmured, 'I'll find a way to write to you.'

I nodded tearfully and hugged her one last time. I watched her go. Some loose strands of her hair escaped the helmet and trailed down her back.

Safine raised her eyebrows at me. 'Finished?'

I nodded, too sullen to jab back at her, and headed out of the castle. To my surprise, Safine followed.

'Aren't you going with the Princess?' I asked.

She shook her head. 'I'm coming with you.'

So I wouldn't have to be alone after all! I wondered if I was supposed to contact Safine, but it seemed unlikely since she wasn't also summoned.

Safine narrowed her eyes when she saw my face. 'Don't hug me,' she warned, 'someone had to follow you and no one else wanted to go.'

Still! I wiped the back of my hand against my eyes, so touched that I sniffled. Safine shot me a look.

The carriages were in sight. Soneran diplomats and guards in uniforms were gathered around, the former boarding the carriages while the latter tended to their horses. They all looked plain nondescript, but the one in front had better craftsmanship—not too grand, but noticeable.

'My Lady!' One of the guards came up to me and bowed. 'Your carriage is this way.'

They lead me to the second carriage in the procession. Something nagged at me, something about their voice that sounded familiar. Distracted, I asked another question that was on my mind, 'Will the Prince be joining us?'

'No, My Lady. My instructions were to bring you to this one. I could ask His Highness--'

'That won't be necessary,' I said quickly. 'I do not want to bother him.'

They nodded and offered their gloved hand to help me in. I took it—and paused. The glove's material…

'Is there a problem, My Lady?' I stared at the guard. They were wearing a helmet that obscured most of their face, so there was no use delaying any longer.

Maybe I was imagining things. 'No, it was nothing. Thank you.'

I boarded the carriage, Safine right behind me.

There were two people seated inside. From their smart clothes and jewellery, I guessed that they were diplomats.

One of them, a lady with light-brown skin and a striking nose, looked up when I entered. 'My Lady,' she bowed her head, 'my most heartfelt congratulations on your union.'

The other diplomat was a man, lighter skin, with jet black hair and a scowl on his face. 'My Lady,' he said curtly.

'Thank you.' I remembered my manners. 'Might I ask your names?'

The lady introduced herself as Laine Osivas and her companion, who remained silent, as Garo Katolla. Safine and I did the same and greeted them both, and we settled in for the long journey back to Sonera.

The horses whinnied, the carriage jerked, and we were off.

I watched the castle that had been my home for nineteen years shrink into the distance. We passed by towns and villages, and the further we got from the castle, the poorer its people seemed. A washerwoman with dirt on her face scrubbed at clothes in a wooden tub; children played on the streets in worn and ill-fitting clothes; a drunk lay in a ditch, passed out on the roadside.

I knew I was fortunate to have been taken in as a ward of the castle. I was supposed to serve these people by preserving the peace, but a selfish thought that wormed its way into my mind demanded otherwise.

Why did I have to give up my life for them? Who was I doing this for?

A smaller, quieter voice in my head reminded, 'Mirea.'

I ducked my head down and squeezed my eyes shut, willing the tears away. I would not cry.

Soon, these sights and thoughts faded. We were entering the forest.

The man, Garo, sneered at the sight. 'Glad we're finally leaving this cursed country.'

Laine nudged his knee sharply. Safine and I pretended as though he had not spoken at all.

Everyone in Navhelm knew of the thick forest that separated us from the rest of the world over land. Back when small magic used to be, well, big magic, people would disappear in these woods all the time. There was talk of strange lights and sounds luring travellers away from safety.

The forest was still dangerous these days, but it held more bandits than mysterious magic. Everyone was on edge regardless.

Outside, the horses whickered nervously, their riders leaning over them to pat their necks in reassurance. But they must have been nervous too—I heard some guards chatter among themselves.

The forest was quiet. The only noise made was our own.

It would take a full day to cross it, and the sun was close to setting. We would have to stop to rest.

After an hour, I began to doze off. The stress of the day had gotten to me, and my eyelids felt heavy. Next to me, Safine was also fast asleep, her long eyelashes dark against her cheeks.

Laine smiled and gave me a reassuring look. I shifted to a more comfortable position and allowed myself to doze off.

When I opened my eyes again, it was to the sound of a piercing scream.

The carriage was shaking. I grabbed onto Safine, who looked around in alarm. Guards shouted. The clash of steel filled the air, and something thunked against the side of the carriage.

'What's happening?' Garo yelled. His face was red with panic, and he pulled at the door handle.

Suddenly, we were thrown back in our seats—the horses screamed in fright, jerking forward and dragging the carriage behind them.

'Help!' Laine cried out.

Then the world yanked sideways, my head slammed against the carriage door, and I plummeted into darkness.