Alliar

I stayed in Jonathan's room, outside the glass doors, watching the waves crash into the rocks and reading a book. The quiet and isolation does me good. It helps me think and process the recent events. At home my maid Jennifer would pester me whenever I asked her to leave me alone. She would poke and prod, constantly asking me if I wanted something and telling me I shouldn't be down even when I wasn't. In the end she would run off and tell my mother my mind was ill. It appeared I had to be ill to want to be left alone in the silence. My new maid that cleans my room and helps me dress has a similar attitude and refused to leave me when I asked her to leave me. So instead, I picked up my skirts and retreated to the one place I knew I would never be disturbed - or, at least not for a time anyways. Jonathan's shadow knight Duncan was watching his door during the day as the two typically there - Horick and Gillian - were resting. Duncan stepped out of the shadows to introduce himself to me and told me to call out if I needed anything before opening the door and allowing me through.

There was a knock on the door and it opened instantly without waiting for a reply. Duncan walked to the door of the porch and caught my attention. "Little Miss," he bowed. "Princess Ashiar wishes to see you in the library."

I nodded my thanks and put my book down on the chair and made my way towards the library. As I entered I was shocked to find the Princess seated on the couch with the rest of the girls.

"Oh Miss, join us." She waved me over and the girls made room for me.

Hesitantly, I took a seat and threaded my fingers together before placing them in my lap.

It was a strange mixture of reactions from the girls. Many paid me no mind as if I were completely irrelevant, some freely glared in my direction, while others blushed and looked away as if they were embarrassed for me. I knew some of the girls had spoken to Jonathan. I had heard their giddy voices as they spoke, telling the other girls they had a lengthy conversation and he showed genuine interest in them. I also know from Nicolai's inability to shut up that those lengthy conversation were filled with clenched fists and eye rolls.

A part of me felt sorry for the girls. They were trying to win the affections of a man who I've concluded has the emotional range of a flee. Basic and primal and nothing more. But another part of me hoped they wouldn't give up and that one of them did win his affections, then maybe he would let me go and I could find my way back home. Sure I would be a ruined princess, but then I would be with my family have the chance to make a life for myself, a happy one. Maybe I would teach my nieces and nephews how to ride a horse or how to evade their guards? I smiled at the idea.

"Now ladies, I'm sure you've all heard." Ashiar began. "We will be holding a ball here at the end of the month and I thought you ladies would enjoy helping me with some preparations."

I internally groaned and tried my hardest not to roll my eyes. I had done plenty of these before with my mother and it seemed I would never escape them, even when I was no longer even a princess. The last ball I had helped plan, I had tripped over one of my more extravagant dresses and fell into a row of materials that then continued to rip and fall until the last one fell out the window it was once leaning against. My mother had never asked me to help again.

I wondered if Princess Ashiar would learn the same lesson a similar way?

The girls around me all smiled brightly and gushed at the prospect of a ball. Maybe there was something wrong with me? Maybe it was a womanly ability to enjoy a ball and I had somehow displaced it?

"Is there a particular reason for the ball, your Highness?" Bethamy questioned. "Like an engagement of some sort."

A few girls gasped and covered their mouths while other openly gossiped. Was she anticipating a proposal? If Jonathan was going to choose anyone of these girls I prayed it wasn't her.

"No." Ashiar answered but there was a sternness to her soft tone that made me think this was a warning. It didn't appear she appreciated Bethamy's comment. "This is a ball to celebrate the King's birth twenty-five years ago."

"Then it should be grand." One of the other girls added in.

"Oh we should have something fun."

"We could all wear masks."

"And use the house colours!"

"And have his favourite foods."

"Soup!" Another girl screamed with excitement. "We should serve soup."

I bit my tongue and looked down at the mention of soup, trying to hide my smile. Should I? No I'll let him suffer through the entire evening with nothing but soup. It will be a gift he would never forget. I smiled at the evil plan in my head.

"Now, now girls." Ashiar hushed us all. "I was thinking we could all cover different aspects of the ball."

"I'll cover the decorating." Bethamy raised her hand, volunteering.

Ashiar let the corner of her smile drop ever so slightly. "I was thinking it was only fair to randomise the selection. Sir Fisher." Ashiar called and an armoured guard stepped forward ready to serve her. Sir Fisher held a small sack in two hands. "Everyone is to take a task out of the bag and work with each other to make sure everything is running smoothly."

Sir Fisher began to move around the circle of girls, pausing for everyone of them to take a piece of parchment. Some girls sat up a little straighter and smiled as they read their task while others sagged their shoulders and sighed.

Sir Fisher paused in front of me and I held up a hand. "I don't - "

"Yes you do Little Miss. You must start earning your keep around here." Ashiar nodded encouragingly.

I suppressed a deep sigh and angrily put my hand into the sack and pulled out a piece of parchment.

Catering.

I pressed my lips together. If I served him soup, he'd know it was me and that it was on purpose. Did I want to risk that? A part of me smiled and nodded yes.

"Okay now if you would all begin. I'm here if any of you need anything."

I searched the room as girls jumped up and started grouping up with others who pulled the same task out of the sack. Standing I walked over to a girl who was one of the only ones still seated. She had short white blond hair and was dressed in a light grey dress with a full skirt and a neckline reaching all the way up to her neck.

"Catering?" I asked her.

She nodded yes at me and stood up from her seat. "I'm Ira Dolan."

"Little Miss." I gave her a weak smile and gestured to the seat. "Shall we?"

Taking a seat I took note of her awkwardness.

"Is that really your name?" She asked me, her eyes lacked the judgement the other girls had when they looked at me, they were just curious.

"That's what the king calls me."

"But you had another name, before."

I nodded slowly. Where was she going with this?

"Does it pain you when they call you that? Little Miss?"

I stopped for a moment, thinking about it. Not as much as it should, but I knew as long as they called me Little Miss, they weren't calling me Alliar which meant my life was still safe. "Not as much as I thought. I've grown used to it."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I don't think I could do it."

Hearing a giggle, I turned my head to see Bethamy and two other girls eagerly discussing the decorations.

"I'm sorry about the way she spoke last week. That was cruel of her."

Turning back to Ira I shook my head. "I've had worse." It was true, worse meaning Jonathan himself.

"Are you from the North?"

I shook my head no not wanting to give the question more than a bare minimum answer.

"I'm from the Kings isle. My father is the commander of the golden army." She blushed lightly.

"I've heard of the golden city. I've always wanted visit there but - well, I've never had the chance."

"It's beautiful." She nodded encouragingly. "It's a rather stark comparison compared to the dark walls of the North but I suppose each one serves a purpose. The North was meant to blend into the night, invisible to ships passing but stand out to wonders by foot from the heavy winter snows. The golden city turns almost invisible under the summer sun, the whole thing lost in a glare."

I smiled. She was intelligent.

"I'd imagine past histories is your favourite company?"

She looked down a little embarrassed. "Yes. I find them fascinating. What about you?"

I shrugged a shoulder rather un-lady like. "I enjoy tales of history but I much prefer the tales of magicians and dragons."

She giggled, quickly putting her hand in front of her mouth as she tried to stop herself. "You mean children's stories?"

"And where is it written that such stories are only fit for children?"

"I must remember to ask my mother, the woman has an answer for everything."

"All mothers do."

Ira gave a soft sigh. "It is hard being away from family for so long. I missed them even before I left."

"It gets easier so I'm told, although I haven't felt it as of yet."

"Is this your first time away?"

I nodded. "My brothers and I were never without each other. My mother would leave on a trip occasionally, but never for too long."

"My brother joined the army and so they all go on marches regularly but they return within days." Ira wiped a stray tear away. "But the distance makes everything that much harder."

"That it does."

We both shared a wanting look and parted ways as unlikely friends. I walked back to my room hoping for a moment of solitude before dinner in the Hall and I had to suffer through conversation and un-entertaining entertainment. As I worked into the room I excused Henrietta for the night and sat on my cushioned chair by the window, staring out into the courtyard and watching each person rush about. I listened to the chatter of the people, the squeaky turn of the wheels on horse drawn carts. The sounds stopped my mind from wandering too far from the present.

I jumped hearing a lonely scream travel up from the square. I kneeled upright on my chair and looked out the window, gasping at what I saw. My hand flew to my mouth and I felt the sudden urge to hang my head out the window and be sick.

The first thing I saw was Jonathan. He stood with his light-armour fashioned to his shoulder and one arm with his belt full of daggers and his long sword, but what had my attention was the blackness in his eyes and the way they danced as he stared at his work of art.

The work of art on the other hand had his eyes rolling back into his skull as he screamed through the pain. I wanted to be able to describe him, to say that he was tall, short, thin, muscular, but I couldn't. I couldn't even tell the true colour of his hair as black ash and blood stained it a deep red.

The man was strapped to a T shaped beam, his hands and feet held to it by leather cuffs. His fingernails were missing as was three of his fingers. His head bowed showing a missing ear while the words 'traitor' was carved into his chest to brand him before his death. Blood dripped, covering every inch of his flesh, but yet he was still alive bringing pain with each breath he unwillingly took. His shoulders were bent at an awkward angle and spread wide at level with his head to keep his arms up against the horizontal plank. His left leg was twisted and I had to look away for a moment. The people didn't seem to notice, though, I really couldn't believe that. They knew, they just didn't care. I noticed Jonathan move, a sinister smile on his lips as he stood behind the man and flipped a dagger between his hands. I watched him unable to tear my eyes away as he began carving at the man's back, slowly stripping the flesh from his muscles and dragging it back to rest on his shoulders.

The man screamed with every movement and cut that Jonathan made. Jonathan paused for a moment and stood back letting the light cold spring breeze get at the cuts and making them sting even more. I dropped to the floor and leaned against the chair not wanting to look anymore.

But that didn't stop me from hearing his screams.

I can't believe I had been so naive. It was almost as if I had forgotten the sinister look in his eyes, the way he beat me and forced himself on me, the way he cut men in half in the open field by the lake. The way he demanded, threatened, and sent chills of fear down my spine. Had I forgotten the way he used me? Held a dagger to my throat that shameful first night and cut me ever so slightly - how could I forget, my body still held the scar. How he threw me into a carriage and sent me on my way to be tortured and silenced forever? How had I let all of it slip?

I was a fool.

He was a monster. Cutting down people as if they were nothing but a rat at his table, torturing them and killing them in the harshest of ways he could think of. He was the Reaper King - sending more people into an early grave than a grim reaper. How long was his list of victims?

I thought of Jacqueline and how she payed for his secrets with her life.

How had I forgotten?

I felt sick as I moved across the floor, clinging to my chamber pot I gaged with the overwhelming feeling of needing to be sick.

Emptying everything I had eaten since this morning, I coughed vigorously and tried to stop myself from gagging again. My head spun making me dizzy. I needed air. Pulling myself to my feet I ran for my door and stumbled out of my room, continuing to stumble towards the main gate. Feeling the dizziness surround me, I stumbled unable to keep control of my feet. I hit one of the doors in the corridor and it gave way under my shoulder. I fell through the door and into the room, only this wasn't a room. It was one of the trap doors and I was falling through it.

The darkness enveloped me as I fell feeling the air leave my lungs leaving me gasping for something I could never quite reach. The sudden force of a hard ground struck me, shattering bones with a crunch sound. My head bounced off the ground and mind went dark.

***

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