A New Era: Kalparainia Chronicles Book One

Chapter Two

The moment that I woke up, Celeste was having her own handmaidens pack my traveling trunks for me. She seemed to be tenser than she was the night before, which was starting to worry me. My previous anger at my older sister had vanished all together. Xander, on the other hand, was in a meeting with my parents. I already knew what it was about, thanks to Celeste and my brother-by-law, and I couldn't help but pray to the Gods that Xander kept to his word. After last night... after seeing the anger that he had... I kind of hoped that he'd also show that anger to my mother and father as well.

"So, Markus wanted me to prepare you for me coming to stay with you if he has to go to war with the kingdom of Dragoon," Celeste said suddenly, breaking the silence that she had been in since she stopped ordering her handmaidens around.

"You'll be coming to stay with me?" I frowned, not knowing what to think about that.

Celeste nodded, "Kyrain's castle is more fortified than Silverwood's. Markus believes that I'll be safer there if we end up going to war."

I bit the inside of my mouth as I ran my hands over the golden flower embroidered crimson dress, another gift from Celeste. Now I understood why she brought me crimson colored gowns and dresses. It was because crimson and gold were the colors of the Kyrain crest. A golden owl with a crimson background, with a golden boarder. I wanted to say something, but at the same time, I didn't want to make things awkward between Celeste and me.

"What's wrong?" Celeste asked.

"I... I felt as though you planned the whole thing out," I mumbled.

"What?" Celeste blinked a few times.

"I know that you didn't count on Father demanding that I marry Xander immediately, but... last night, that was how I felt," my voice was so small, I doubted that she heard me.

Celeste shook her head, "I wouldn't do that to you. I wanted you to marry Xander, because he's a close friend to Markus, and that would mean that we'd be able to see each other. Not only that, but his kindness seemed to be exactly what you needed after all that you've gone through with our mother."

I felt guilty for saying such things. I knew that I should have kept my mouth shut. Celeste had only been looking out for me, even if she hadn't known that I had my heart set on someone else, and that was something I was never going to tell anyone. Celeste had always tried to look out for me. It'd been that way ever since we were small children. No matter what, she had seemed to want nothing but the best for me. In all words, she was a wonderful older sister, and I was lucky that I had her.

"That's the last of it, Your Grace," one of Celeste's many handmaidens curtsied deeply. "Everything is out on the carriage as directed."

"Thank you, Gwen," Celeste smiled before she turned to me. "Shall we go see if our husbands are ready to leave?"

The only thing that I could do was nod. I followed Celeste through our childhood home and to the Great Hall, where my mother came up to me immediately. Her long shaped nails dug into my arm as she gave me a "loving" embrace.

"Jillian will give instructions to you and report to me. If you don't listen, then you and I will have a problem," she hissed into my ear as her nails dug into my skin even harder. "I will have no problem making your life a living Hell if you don't obey my orders."

"Queen Charlotte," Xander approached us quickly. "I do hope that you realize that our arrangement is you sending your servant with us. If I feel she is there to spy on my kingdom or my wife, she will be treated as a traitor to the throne."

Mother released her grip on me, and she gawked at Xander, "That wasn't the agreement we just made. Jillian is going to ensure that my daughter does her duties as a queen."

"If you're sending your servant with us, she will follow the laws of Kyrain," authority filled Xander's voice as he spoke loudly. "If she's there to spy on my wife for you, then you are sending her to her own execution."

Jillian, who was standing within earshot, suddenly went pale. Mother, on the other hand, just gave Xander a sweet smile. The same smile that she gave my father when she'd found a way around what he was telling her she shouldn't do. It was kind of frightening to know what that smile meant.

"Of course, I understand," Mother nodded, her smile was so sickeningly fake. My stomach turned as she left my side and crossed the Great Hall over to Jillian.

"Please, tell me if the girl says or tries anything in your mother's name," Xander rubbed my arm where my mother had dug her nails in. "I will keep true to my promise. Even if it means starting a war with your parents."

"Thank you," I felt myself blush. My voice was so soft, I almost doubted that he had heard me.

"Don't worry, we'll be out of here soon enough," Xander smiled. He straightened up and looked across the room at my mother and Jillian, "We're ready to go. If the servant girl isn't ready to leave, we're going without her."

"I'm ready to go, Your Highness," Jillian's voice came out strong and confident. Whatever Mother had said to her seemed to make her feel better.

Mother probably put it into her head that I'm easy to push around. I'm not going to let some glorified maid push me around. I could tell by the way Jillian now held herself, she didn't feel any fear when it came to her life. Either Mother had said something to make her believe nothing would happen, or she changed her mind about having Jillian spy on me. My gold was on her believing that nothing would happen to her. I really want to get out of here now.

Without saying anything to either of my parents, I walked out of the Great Hall. It wasn't like it mattered to either of them anyways. Father didn't even object, Mother had a cold smile on her face... the only daughter they truly cared for was Celeste. That much was clear when they stopped her from leaving behind me. The total realization that I didn't really mean anything to either of my parents hit me like a bag of bricks. I knew that I had wanted to leave, but... the fact that they weren't even acknowledging me to say "good-bye" hurt.

Xander and I had made it out to the courtyard when Byron came running out, "Alyse, wait!" My older brother jogged out of the castle and pulled me into a tight embrace before I could figure out what was going on. "I'm sorry that I wasn't a better older brother to you."

"Byron, you actually are a good older brother," I forced myself to smile. "It's... Mother and Father... they only wanted two children. I'm surprised that they didn't get rid of me sooner by sending me to serve as a lady-in-waiting to another queen."

"Maybe someday you'll find out why," Byron shifted uncomfortably. It was as though he knew something that I didn't.

"If you know something..." I started.

"It's not my place to say anything about it, Alyse," Byron stated firmly. I instantly knew that our conversation was over.

"Are you ready, my Queen?" Xander smiled sweetly at me as he held his hand out to me.

Without looking back, not even at my older brother, I got into the carriage and settled in easily. It wasn't like anyone was going to truly miss me. A part of me believed that Byron was only saying "good-bye" to make himself look good in front of the King of Silverwood and the King of Kyrain. Not that I could blame him, I was sure that our mother had put him up to this as well. i was ready to start a new life away from those who controlled my life for so long.

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I glanced out at the passing landscape through the carriage and let out a deep breath. Xander had exited and decided to ride horseback, leaving me to be alone with my thoughts. I knew how I felt was selfish, especially given the fact that Xander had been nothing but kind to me since we met. He was going to be a good husband as far as I could tell, yet part of me still wished that things had fully gone my way. Now, all because my father refused to alter his choice on who I was to marry, Kyrain, Silverwood, and Heartstone were probably going to be at war with Dragoon.

I bit my lip and shook my head. I needed to forget about Damien Rysse and accept the new life I'd been given. I couldn't complain about my husband. As far as I could tell, he wanted to ensure my happiness. At least for now. What did I really know about the king of Dragoon? I knew that he wanted me due to something I'd said at Celeste's wedding, but... apart from the rumors, I knew nothing of the man. I actually knew more about Xander than I knew about Damien in the day that I'd been married to him.

Who knows, I may grow to love the man. I let out a breath and found Xander smiling at me as he paced his horse beside the carriage.

"Markus and Celeste will be meeting us at the Raven's Nest Inn," Xander informed me. "After that, we'll finish our way to our home, you'll be crowned Queen of Kyrain, and then Markus and I will have to leave."

I felt rattled by his words, "Leave? Where?"

"We have to prepare for war," Xander looked as though he was sad about this. "I'm certain Damien Rysse is going to gather his army as soon as he crosses the boarder."

The Kingdom of Kyrain was in the center of Kalparainia. If my lessons had taught me anything, it was the largest of the twelve kingdoms that had claimed the land of Kalparainia. It also had one of the largest populations of people-matched only by the Kingdom of Dragoon. I believed that the only difference was the way the two kingdoms ran their militaries. I didn't think that they would be preparing for war so soon though. And over what? Because my father didn't want to back out of the betrothal he'd just made last night? I didn't understand it.

"You're upset with me?" Xander asked suddenly.

"No, just shocked you have to go to war so suddenly," I stated.

"Sadly, it can't be helped," Xander kept his horse evenly paced with the carriage. "Kyrain had been at peace with Dragoon throughout my father's reign, and his father before him as well. As soon as Damien took the Throne of Dragoon...he's attacked both Kyrain and Silverwood."

I looked down at my hands. That was actually something that I didn't know. When I had met Damien Rysse at Celeste's wedding to Markus Caynar and danced with him-I had thought that we had so much in common. He had claimed that before his father and brothers had died, he had been treated as the unwanted child, and I had been able to relate to that. Knowing that as soon as he'd taken the crown...I didn't know what to think. Was it something that should be respected? Feared? I wasn't entirely sure.

"I didn't mean to frighten you, Alyse," Xander sighed.

"I'm not frightened," I shook my head. "I just don't understand why anyone would want to go to war."

"Your father went to war with the Byrds for the Green River Kingdom when he was young, about the time your sister Celeste was born, Your Grace," Jillian spoke to me suddenly. It was the first time since we left Heartstone that she said something. "That's why there's no longer thirteen kingdoms of Kalparainia. My mother was handmaiden to the Princess of Green River. The Princess of Green River was...held in the towers of Heartstone until she died."

"So...to get more land?" I looked at Xander in confusion. Why wasn't I taught about my father doing such a thing?

"For Damien Rysse, it could be about the fight for all I know," Xander breathed out. There was a shout from one of the men, and Xander gave me a sad smile, "I'm afraid I have to take care of something, my dear. We'll speak later."

Why had I never heard about the Princess of Green River...or Green River itself? I glanced at Jillian, who seemed to be looking at me differently all of a sudden. It wasn't the contempt or indifference she had shown me most of my life. I cleared my throat, "Why was the Princess of Green River held in the towers of Heartstone? Why didn't my father just kill her?"

"That's a question you should ask your parents, Your Grace," Jillian bowed her head. "Just...know this-how I have treated you in the past had nothing to do with my own feelings. Queen Charlotte is an intimidating woman. May I ask that we start over?"

"We may," I nodded. "If you tell me what it was that she said to you."

"She told me that you'll obey her no matter what, and that I'm to ensure you obey every order she sends to me for you," Jillian answered quickly. "As my mother before me, my duty is to the one I serve. When Queen Charlotte sent me with you-I came into your service. And when I get my orders from her, you will be the first to know, my Queen."

"You'd switch your allegiance so quickly?" I frowned at her.

Jillian shook her head, "I-I don't want you to hear it from me, my Queen. Please. Queen Charlotte does plan on a visit. She will tell you why she hasn't been a mother towards you, and if she doesn't...I will. I swear on my life, my Queen."

"I'll hold you to that," I relaxed and looked back out the window.

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I spun around as a hand gently touched my arm. The young King bowed deeply and held out his hand. He was literally the only one who was offering to dance with me after my older sister had been married off to the King of Silverwood. I blushed, but bashfully accepted his hand. He skillfully whirled me onto the dancefloor, and then he pulled me close to him. Out of all of the women that were there, the King of Dragoon chose to dance with me alone.

"You're the bride's sister," he smiled brightly at me.

"I am," I looked away from him shyly.

"Tell me, Princess," Damien continued to smile at me, "if you could have anything in this world, what would it be?"

I could feel my face turn bright red. He held onto me tightly, not allowing me to back away from him. I took a deep breath as I looked into his sharp eyes, "If I could have anything in this world... it would be everything."

Damien laughed happily as he spun me gracefully around and pulled me back to him, "I want everything as well."

I twisted my hands together as I recalled that one moment over and over again. Is going to war with the other kingdoms what he had meant by wanting everything? I couldn't be too sure, but... I had a feeling that I had unknowingly encouraged the King of Dragoon to go to war. Yet, at the time, he had been King...and according to everything that I'd heard-he'd already been going against several other Kingdoms.

"Are you okay, my Queen?" Jillian asked.

"I'm just...worrying about the past," I sighed.

"There's nothing we can do about the past, but we can go to great lengths to change what the future holds," Jillian stated bluntly.

I was shocked by what Jillian had said to me. I had no idea what my future had in store for me. A strong part of my mind told me that I was going to be stuck making heirs for the Kingdom of Kyrain and raising my children. My mother didn't have much influence as the Queen. Everything ended up going through my father. What the King said was law. It didn't matter how kind Xander was-in the end...I was property. Property with a pretty title. As her words sunk deep into my mind, I realized that I didn't want my mother's life. I didn't want to be a trophy wife to a King. I wanted my life to make an impact on the Kingdom I was to help rule, and possibly...on the land of Kalparainia.