The Shadow Prince

5.
Kian followed two elderly Voidari women through the halls of Duskcliff. The women had tended to his wounds far better than any Imperial medic had in his entire life. The women were discreet, efficient, and kind to him, despite not knowing a single word in the common tongue. He wasn't accustomed to people being kind to him. Usually, people feared him.

The Black Knights had their reputation as being the deadliest warriors in the realm. They were often sent to do The Chancellor’s dirtiest and deadliest deeds. It was not a work that Kian particularly enjoyed doing, but it was the only work he was allowed to do. He was a man trapped in a particularly torturous position.

The blood that flowed through Kian’s veins gave him the right to the Baccorian throne. His very existence was a threat to The Chancellor’s power, yet, The Chancellor chose to keep him alive. Toying with him, taunting him, keeping him as a prisoner purely as a flex over his adversaries.

The halls of Duskcliff showed their age, the fortress as ancient as Baccora, if not even older. The stone steps that Kian was led up had dips in them from the centuries of feet that managed to carve their way into the stone. Despite the fortress’s ancient history, Kian couldn't help but notice the warmth that radiated from it.

It was decorated with fine art and rich tapestries. Fragrant candles were lit here and there, and despite the setting sun, natural light filled the interior, radiating in from skylights and ornate windows. A far cry from the cold, damp, and dirty fortresses of The South that he was accustomed to.

A large wooden door opened and the two elderly women led Kian inside. He realized he was in private sleeping chambers, and at the center of the room a large copper bathing tub, filled with steaming water had been prepared for him. From the far side of the room, Kian heard a familiar voice, Lady Anya’s. She spoke directly to the women in Voidari. The elderly women bowed to Kian out of customary respect before departing.

“I had a bath drawn for you and the linens on the bed refreshed. Dinner can be brought to you tonight if you are hungry, but I suspect after everything you are going to want to rest.” Anya said to him.

“I will take dinner,” Kieran said.

“Very well, I will have a kitchen attendant bring you a tray. Feel free to make yourself as comfortable as you wish. I had some clothing brought up from the armory for you to change into. It is here on the bed.” She said, placing a hand on a neatly folded pile of black fabric.

“These rooms are grand,” Kieran said, looking around and noting that the chambers’ decor was far grander than any typical guest chambers.

“These are my personal rooms. They are yours for the night while the guest rooms are prepared for you.”

“I told you that would be unnecessary. I can sleep in the stables.” Kian said, recalling their previous conversation.

“That would be unnecessary.” She said with a coy smile, “Please, make yourself at home. Do not be afraid to ask for anything.” She said before curtsying and leaving the rooms, shutting and latching the door behind her.

Still dumbfounded over the small amount of kindness he was being shown, Kian walked over to the copper bathing tub and dipped his hand into the hot water. It had been possibly months since he had a warm bath. For so long he had been in the wilderness, bathing in rivers and streams, the copper bathing tub suddenly became an absolute luxury.

As he turned to undress and enjoy the water while it was still hot, he caught a whiff of something in the air.

The water in the tub was scented with lavender.

***

Anya’s hands shook as she descended the staircase leaving her personal chambers behind, and the guest that now resided in them. It was one thing to have a Black Knight under her roof but to have the stolen Prince? Anya felt like she needed to walk on eggshells.

She had heard stories of how the Black Knights would roam the wilderness doing The Chancellor’s bidding and then taking whatever they wished by brute force and tormenting their loyal hosts. She half believed those stories to be untrue, yet in these times of war and uncertainty, it was hard to decipher truth from fiction. She hoped that showing generosity and hospitality somehow would protect them all.

Being the Wardoness of Duskcliff was not an easy job. It technically wasn't even her job, to begin with. Her father, Otto Harrell was the real Warden, but he was too busy kissing The Chancellor’s boots at Stonefort and The Capitol to be bothered with the small affairs of villagers, nomads, and Voidari in the north. So he left his daughter to see to it all. He left his daughter when she was only seventeen, and for eight years she saw to every small detail that came with the responsibility.
Other young women of her age and station were either already married or living in The Capitol, parading around like prized trinkets to be bartered and sold for the betterment of their families. As much as Anya wished to see more of the realm, she was at least grateful her father didn't use her for his own advancement.

“Mistress, a cot has been prepared for you in the library. Are you sure that is all you need, a room can be done up for you?” One of the maidservants said to Anya as she entered the main hall of the fortress.

“No. It is too late in the day and I could not possibly ask that of anyone at this hour.” Anya said, taking the maid’s hand and squeezing it tenderly. The maid curtsied to her mistress before disappearing to attend to her other duties. The day was drawing to a close, and since Anya always rose with the sun, she decided to eat a simple dinner in the kitchens before slipping off to sleep on that simple cot in the library.

***

Kian woke slowly the following morning. A ray of sunshine from the nearby window warmed the side of his body as he rolled over in the bed. He had just had the best night's sleep he’s had in a long while. The bed was plush and welcoming, the linens soft and buttery against his skin, and the entire atmosphere was filled with inexplicable tranquility. He sat up in the bed and looked toward the window.

He could hear birds singing outside as well as the faint sounds of people milling about. Getting out of bed, he walked over to the window to gaze down into the courtyard below. From the room, he could see the kitchen gardens, the main courtyard, as well as the main gate of the fortress. Imperial soldiers milled about on the battlements, women carrying baskets of vegetables and other goods could be seen coming and going from the fortress gate, and children could be seen playing with a small pack of dogs in the main courtyard.

It was as if war didn't exist in this part of the realm.

Kian felt a dull ache, both in his stomach and in his shoulder. He had eagerly eaten the dinner that was sent up to his room the night before, before falling asleep, and now he was eager for breakfast. Hearty meals were hard to come by while living in the wilderness.

He dressed in the clothes that Lady Anya had readied for him, and for the first time in a long time, he felt unsure of himself as left those chambers to try and navigate the halls of the fortress. With his hands clasped behind his back, Kian wandered the halls. The entire interior of the grand fortressed looked completely different in the gentle morning light.

Coming to the top of the grand staircase, Kian looked down into the main hall below. Standing with her back turned to him was Lady Anya. She stood in a simple white dress and a sky-blue shawl draped between her arms. The dress was cut and tailored in such a way that it hugged her torso before the fabric of the skirt flowed delicately away from her lower body. The sleeves of the dress too hugged her biceps before flowing away at her elbows. Her icy blond hair was intricately braided into several braids, some held close to her scalp and others cascading down her back.

From the few brief interactions Kian had had, he could tell that Lady Anya was not like the noble ladies in The South. Ladies in The South, specifically, ladies in The Capitol, often covered their hair with long pieces of white silk or linen, they wore expensive fabrics dyed with rich colors and embroidered with the finest jewels and beads, and they painted their faces with rouge and accentuated their lips with dyed wax. Lady Anya did none of that.

Anya was completely unaware that she was being observed. She stood reading a letter that arrived from her father in one hand and a cup of steaming hot tea in the other. Her eyes were fixated on the handwritten note that came from her father’s posting at Stonefort.

As Kian continued to observe her, he began to feel slightly ashamed at staring at her for so long. So after one more moment of quiet observation, he loudly cleared his throat.

The sound echoed loudly through the main hall, startling Anya for a moment. She quickly turned and looked at the top of the staircase to where Kian stood, her green eyes catching the light.

“I’m so sorry. I wasn't aware that you were awake.” Anya said as Kian slowly began to descend the stairs.

“No apologies necessary.” He responded. Now that he was freshly bathed and well rested, Anya couldn't help but note just how handsome the Knight was. His dark hair had been combed back slightly and his skin washed clean of dirt which made his intense hazel eyes pop in the morning light. He paused momentarily on the last step, the added height making him tower even more than he usually would over Anya.

“Breakfast is ready in the kitchens. I don’t hold any formal meals here since it’s just me. So you’re more than welcome to eat whatever you desire. Just tell the cook and she will have it ready for you.”

“Thank you. I… just need directions back to the kitchen.” He said with a slight smirk. The way the left corner of his mouth angled upwards and how he rolled his tongue in his mouth caused a flurry of butterflies to suddenly appear in Anya’s stomach.

“Well fortunately for you, I am heading that way.” She said, tucking the letter into a pocket in the skirt of her dress. Kian took one last step down onto the main floor and began to follow his hostess through the halls of the fortress.

“Did you sleep well?” Anya asked him.

“I did. Better than I have in months actually.” He confessed, flashing her a smile, and taking note of how the fabric of her dress fluttered on the air as she walked.

“Good. I am glad.” She responded with a coy smile.

“I have some maids working on preparing rooms for you today, they will be ready this afternoon. I also have word from our armorer about your armor and I have news about your horse from the stables.”

“What about my horse?!” Kieran said, not prepared to have news about the only living thing that has been his only constant loyal companion for the last two years.

“You’re horse is in fine health. Nothing to worry about, but our farrier took a look and has some concerns about his hooves.”

“Oh… of course, I suppose it is time for his hooves to be checked.” He said, his heart calming. He hadn't realized how attached he had grown to the beast that constantly carried him the length and width of the realm. He was so lost in his thoughts about the animal that he misheard what Anya asked him next. Did she just ask him what his name was?

Black Knights of course had their own given birth names. But due to the secrecy at which The Chancellor expected them to work, and the lore that surrounded them, it was forbidden to know their given names. It could even be considered a huge insult to ask a Black Knight what their name was, not to mention it was treason to even utter Kian’s name.

“My name!?” Kian said a bit taken aback.

“No! Of course not, Sir,” Anya began, nervousness flooding her body, and her cheeks growing rosy, “Your horse’s name.”

“Oh… Onyx… his name is Onyx.” He responded, even flashing her a half smile to ease the tension

“Have you ridden him long?” She said, smiling back.

“Two years. The Chancellor gifted him to me after my last horse was killed in battle.”

“I”m so sorry. I know how attached one can get to one’s horse.”

“Thank you. Good horses are hard to come by. Especially in my line of work.” Kian said as they entered the kitchens.

The aromas of fresh food cooking filled their noses, and the sounds of pots and pans clattering filled their ears, and a mixture of common tongue and Voidari could be heard spoken by the kitchen staff. One would think that the kitchens were preparing for an elaborate feast, but Anya explained that the kitchens in the Fortress also fed the needy and elderly in the village in addition to the Fortress staff and Imperial Soldiers.

Anya and Kian sat at a humble table in the busyness of the kitchen and ate while chatting about life at Duskcliff. In all the years Kian was forced to serve The Chancellor, this was the farthest north he had ever traveled. After breakfast, Anya offered Kian a tour of the entire fortress, which he eagerly accepted.

Duskcliff truly was a beautiful fortress, although it was more of a regal castle and estate than a critical military fort. Built into the foot of the Sharpstone Mountains, it had the security of the mountains as a wall as well as thick, tall, stone walls encompassing it. The keep, or main living area that the Harrell family called home for the last thousand years, stood high with tall slanted roofs and spires.

Everywhere Kian looked, he saw that there was a blend of traditional Baccorian culture and Voidari. Compared to Voidari culture, Baccorian culture seemed stiff and unyielding. The Voidari leaned heavily on nature and natural beauty, whereas Baccorians leaned on man-made strength and ingenuity. The most perfect representation of which was Anya herself.

Ever since she had revealed that she was half Voidari, Kian couldn't stop seeing it. He had been accustomed to seeing men and women from The Southern Isles with their rich ebony skin, and their lush coarse hair that curled into perfect spirals. He was used to seeing the occasional Western Islander too, with their pin-straight black hair, slanted eyes, and ivory skin. People south of Duskcliff weren’t afraid to travel, so seeing features different from his own was not unusual. He just had never seen Voidari features so up close before.

As a child, The Voidari were painted as heathen nomadic tribes from the north. Their green or ice-blue eyes, olive-toned skin, and icy blond hair made them out to be some sort of mythical creature. Now, Kian could see that that wasn't at all the case. He had been led to believe that all of The Voidari were driven north, past the Sharpstone mountains, when clearly, many still lived on the south side of the vast mountain range.

How wrong he was.

After being led through just about the entirety of the keep side of the fortress, Anya led Kian out towards the armory where soldiers and private Duskcliff guard kept their post. Kian had to admit that Anya was an exceptional leader for someone with no formal military training. He was, disappointed, however, at the state of the supplies the fortress kept.

As he looked over the men and their armor and weapons, he shook his head. For many, their armor was dated, and their weapons past their life expectancy. The Imperial soldiers were a joke too. Many Kian could outright tell were the sons of wealthy southern lords who paid for their boys to be sent North in order to avoid the actual war.

“The armor some of these soldiers are wearing, it’s older than me!” Kian exclaimed

“Some are older than both our ages combined,” Anya said.

“Absolutely ridiculous. This is an Imperial Fortress worthy of the latest in Imperial goods. When was the last time a supply shipment arrived from The South?”

“Not since before I began acting as Wardoness…” Anya sadly said.

“Which has been how long? A year?” Kian asked, to which Anya started laughing.

“No, Sir, it’s been three years, possibly four since the last time a supply shipment arrived.”

“Absolutely ridiculous. I have the ear of The Chancellor and General Hess, I will ensure supplies are sent immediately.”

“You don’t need to, we manage just fine here.”

“It’s your right as an Imperial Fortress.”

“I would hate to take critical supplies away from a fortress that is closer to the war front.”

“Nonsense…” Kian wanted to continue but he was distracted by the newest location they had arrived to. It seemed as though they had entered some sort of secret garden. A bubbling spring of water sat at the center and all around them flowering trees and bushes were planted. At the very center of this unique garden stood an awe-inspiring tree, unlike any Kian, had ever seen.

“This is the Sanctuary Garden. It is a sacred place for both my family and The Voidari. It was here that my ancestor Jacen Harrell swore an oath of allegiance to King Luke during the Great Unification. King Luke stood there to the left, and Lord Jacen stood to the right. They bound their hands together with rope, as is custom for Voidari oaths, and the allegiance was carved into the bark of the Sagra Tree.” Anya explained. Kian grew quiet and took a few steps to the left, towards where Anya said King Jacen once stood. Here… in this garden, his own ancestor once walked.

Kian had come face to face with his family’s history more times than he could count. He walked the halls of The Crown Hall, climbed the steps of Stonefort, and looked at men who had previously sworn allegiances to his Grandfather, but none of that compared to this. For some reason, this place felt holy. It felt like he could still see the imprints in the grass where King Luke once stood.

Kian gazed in awe at the massive tree. Its trunk was thicker than any other tree he had ever seen in his life. Out of the ground its roots occasionally jutted out, and high above them, ancient and old branches reached for the sky. The bark of the tree was snowy white and its leaves were fire red with golden veins. Into the tree, just as Anya had said, was the official alliance between the Harrell family and the Garai royal house. The bark had long tried to heal itself, but what remained were red scars in the tree’s flesh, marking the alliance in perpetuity.

Silence passed between Kian and Anya as Kian read the alliance. Did she know? Did she know who he was? She had to know. She had to have guessed. But, he couldn't entirely know for sure. Why had she brought him here? Finally, he looked up at her with anger on his face.

“And now that alliance is broken.” He bitterly said.

“My grandfather never broke the alliance, he was executed for trying to maintain neutrality just as Lord Jacen had,” Anya explained.

“And what of you? Where are your allegiances?” He said, taking a hasty step towards her, his fists balled in anger.

“My allegiance is to Duskcliff and to the people here.” She calmly said. Kian locked eyes with her and held her gaze. He usually could read people very well, he could tell when they were lying. Anya spoke with no fear, only truth, and compassion. Despite his reputation as a Black Knight and his obvious identity, she was not afraid of him.

“This garden is my favorite on the entire grounds, I find it to be peaceful here. I often come down here to read. Perhaps you might enjoy it too.” Anya added.

“Thank you.” Kian found himself saying.

From the garden, Anya led Kian back into the main keep. They climbed the grand staircase and Anya explained that rooms for him were ready. The rooms that were to be his were notably different from Anya’s, which she had kindly granted him the night before.

His rooms were notably more masculine with more Baccorian features to them. They still boasted many amenities that would make his stay one of the most luxurious he had ever had, but after having a taste of Voidari culture, he was taken aback by the lack of coziness that the room had.

“Thank you, these will do nicely.” He said, not wanting to come off as ungrateful.

“These actually are my father’s rooms, he hasn’t been back to Duskcliff in three years and has shown no signs of returning, so they are yours in the meantime. I’ll leave you to rest before dinner. I have a few obligations I need to attend to.”

“Will dinner be brought here?” Kian said, suddenly feeling disappointed that she was going to be leaving him. Her company was very calming to him

“If that is what you want, otherwise I normally eat in the dining hall, you’re welcome to join me.” She said.

“I think I would like that very much.” He said with a genuine smile. At seeing the sight of his smile, Anya couldn’t help but smile herself and feel a lightness in her knees.