Emberly Dern stared at the small creek in the forest beside Northem Manor, her home. A light breeze flowed through the trees, gently pushing her auburn hair around, causing it to dance in the summer air.
A bittersweet feeling ignited inside of her. The forest was her home, the smell of trees around her was like the smell of freedom. This was home, but she was ready to return to training at Leighton Castle and the adventures she would find there once again.
By Etruscan law, all families were to offer up their firstborn son to fight in the never-ending war against Cyra. Sons of noblemen were sent to the castle in Central, Leighton Castle, to train for four years in order to become one of the King’s Knights. Only men were eligible to serve in the war. Women, on the other hand, were taught mundane skills and how to appear well in society.
A part of Emberly wondered how her father believed, for even a moment, this was a viable option for herself and her twin brother, Kyler. Kyler focused on striving to help people and learn the practical skills attributed to females. Emberly, in contrast, wanted to learn how to fight, to stand up for herself, not having to rely on a man, or anyone for that matter, to defend her when the situation arose. All her life, she wanted to learn how to fight.
It was this vital difference in their personalities which led to the deal they made. Emberly took Kyler’s place at knight training while Kyler went to the city of Verlent to apprentice as a physician. This deal was dangerous for both of them. Should they be caught for this deception, they would be executed.
As a requirement for their deception, Emberly dressed as a boy to join the knight's training. No one knew the truth about Emberly and Kyler, it was too dangerous.
There were a few people who knew of their secret, of course. The first was Kyra, Emberly’s very energetic maid and friend. Each squire, a knight in training, was allowed to have one servant to accompany them and serve them during training. Kyra went with Emberly to the castle the previous year, disguising herself as a boy as well.
The second person to learn the truth was Benedick Torpe, the Prince of Thieves. During her first year of training, Emberly was abducted in the middle of the night by the other squires, and left outside of Central, forcing her to walk back to Leighton Castle without her shoes and in her night clothes. Ben was the one to find her and help her back to the castle. Emberly considered him a close friend, someone who was there when she needed him. During their way back to Central, she explained everything about her training. He, unlike most people in Etrusca, believed that women were strong and should learn how to fight just as men do.
Emberly’s teacher, Lady Elizabeth, also knew the truth. When she learned the truth, Emberly did not know. She only left a vague message at the end of the school year.
Emberly’s own father, the Earl of Northem, knew the truth as well. Emberly had not learned this until she returned to Northem Manor at the beginning of the summer. He learned the truth during the Winter Festival, when he rushed to his mother’s for a few hours and realized Emberly only visited her grandmother a couple of weekends out of the month. He never told Emberly his personal thoughts on the matter, only that Emberly and Kyler were in too deep now to stop.
Prince William also knew the truth now. He stumbled upon it because of his complete and utter disregard for knocking on doors. The memory of her turning around to face him forcing him to tell the truth was playing on repeat in her mind all summer. He became her best friend at the end of their training. She even saved his life. He barely said a word to her when she explained it all. Instead, he murmured something unintelligible and raced out of the room, refusing to speak to her before she left the castle. He returned every letter she sent him unopened, he did not care at all what she wanted to say. She was nothing to him now, it seemed.
That was until today, of course.
Her father was widely unhelpful and unsympathetic to her problem all summer. He claimed it was Emberly's own fault for lying in the first place. But when he handed her the letter from Will, the only letter he bothered to write her all summer, her father was immensely nervous and worried. There was no telling what Will put in the letter, or who he told about this. Really, this was why she ran to the safety and comfort of the forest. She was terrified as to what she might find in that letter. More than anything, she just wanted them to return to the friends they had been.
It was close to evening now, and she still could not bring herself to open the letter. With it closed and sealed like this, there were infinite possibilities held in that single letter.
It could be a letter of apology for the way he left things.
It could be an order to return to the castle to be hanged for her crimes.
It could be a random explanation of the things he did over the summer.
It could be anything.
It could only be anything until she broke the seal and read the words. As this realization dawned on her, she carefully unpeeled the seal and read the words hidden inside.
Dear Lady Emberly,
Ben is currently looking over my shoulder to make sure I get this letter right. I’ve spent a lot of time this summer with him. He told me to tell you that he thinks I’m an i***t for not having read your letters before returning them to you.
I suppose I’m glad he knew the truth about you and Kyler. It gave me someone to talk to while I wrapped my head around this new knowledge. He’s right, you know. I should have just read your letters and I really should not have stomped away like a child when you explained everything to me only a few months ago.
I was never angry that you took your brother’s place. You must know that. I have met your brother and can easily understand why you would make a better fit for the position than him, even if it is against one of my father’s more explicit laws. Kyler will make a good physician and you will make a great knight. It only made sense to dress and act like Kyler in order for you to complete your training. This all, I can understand.
I felt embarrassed before you. This is why I stomped away from you like a child.
I do not know where I stand with you now. So, I think it would be best if I told you where you stand with me. I still want to be your friend, Emberly. Looking back, I feel horrid for how I treated you during our training together. I do not, however, regret those last few months that we were close. I hope that this friendship will continue.
In addition, you can rest in the knowledge that I will never tell your secret to my father. You were (you are) my friend. I will never betray your trust in this manner.
I hope this letter finds you before you leave for our second year of knight training. If it does not, then I will need to pluck up the courage to say this all to you.
Your Friend,
Will Orsino
She read the letter through a couple of times before folding it in the position she found it. A sigh passed her lips. She was grateful he wanted to continue to be her friend. The last few months of knight training were marvelous. Will was one of her closest friends and would be there for her when she needed him.
But the letter did not contain one word of the rather obvious flirtation and emotion which existed between the two. Perhaps he wanted the next year of their training to be one with the least amount of complications, and thereby, decided they should not move forward with those feelings at this time. Or, and perhaps more realistically, he simply did not want to be with a woman who could beat him in combat.
The soft wind caused her hair to dance and it was stronger now, bringing with it a slight chill. Emberly needed to return to the manor soon.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of trampling in the woods. Emberly rolled her eyes. She knew that sound. Amateurs were trying to find their way through the forest.
Emberly rolled her eyes. She rose to her feet as a tall man entered the scene. He had deep red hair. He had a confused expression on his face. How long had he been wandering around the forest like this?
“Oh…hello,” said the man with hesitation. “I…uh…”
“Are you lost, sir?” Emberly asked.
“Um…yes. I don’t suppose you could help me find my way?” He spoke as though he were from the southern regions of Etrusca. He was probably hiking through the mountains, something that happened periodically. Emberly thought nothing of it.
“The town of Northem is that way.” She pointed to her left. “Are you trying to get somewhere specific?”
“Just passing through on our way to Leighton Castle.”
“You must have come from the mountains. Did you say ‘our?’ You’re not alone, then? If you’re traveling with a large group, it would probably be best to go west first. Straight south from here is pretty difficult if you’re not used to the terrain.”
“Thank you for the advice,” said the man.
Once the man started off, Emberly returned to her spot. She continued to sit there for another hour, soaking up the wonderful freedom which existed in her forest and wondering what the future year at knight's training had in store for her.
—
The next morning, Emberly strode towards the carriage which would take her back to the castle in Central. Her father stood beside it, gentle tears falling from his eyes, trickling down his cheeks. Emberly threw her arms around him, wrapping her father in a warm embrace.
“Have a pleasant time at training,” he said, his voice was soft and quiet. Emberly stepped away from her father, tears forming in her eyes.
“I will,” she promised.
“You may be seeing me before you think,” her father said. The Earl of Northem’s eyes twinkled with sudden mischief. “I have plans to return to Central before the Winter Solstice.”
“Please do,” she said. Emberly quickly embraced him once more and climbed into the carriage, heading towards her future.