The Triad

Chapter One

The sun was high over the Upper City dock as the crowds pressed in to try and get the best view, anticipation thick in the air. A raised dais stood empty on the waterfront surrounded by members of the court, with guards creating a solid buffer between them and the unwashed masses pressing in. It seemed like the whole city had come out to watch the arrival of the foreign princess engaged to the crown prince, including the three ladies of the Triad. Annabelle, Vanessa and Corinne were perched in a window of a warehouse directly behind the dais, watching and waiting from the empty room. This building was meant to be closed off for ‘security’ but Vanessa’s skills with a lockpick meant that getting in was easy and they had the perfect position to not only see the new member of the royal family arrive, but in the lulls of noise from the crowd they could hear snippets of conversation.

“The royal guard really should do a better job” Anna muses as she looks down. “If I were so inclined, I have a clear shot from here. I could take out the entire royal family in less than a minute and they wouldn’t even know.”

“Then it’s a good thing for them you don’t want to kill the royal family.” Chuckled Vanessa as she eased open the window, letting a breeze work its way into the room and stirring up the dust.

Corinne had a strange expression on her face as she looked down at all the grandeur.

“Are you okay?” Vanessa asked, gently wrapping her arms around her friends shoulders.

“Yeah, it all just reminds me of my parents. If things had been different I would be sat down there today” She gestures at a group of noblewomen gossiping as they sit on ornate chairs, surrounded by guards. “Instead, I’m up here. And while I wouldn’t trade you for the world, I still miss them”

“That’s understandable sweetie.” Anna makes her way over and joins the hug. A trumpet blast breaks them apart and they watch the crowd part as the royal procession makes its way down towards the water. Bobbing heads obscure the view for a moment and then King Alexander, Queen Marion and the two eldest princes stand on the dais. The King and Queen wave half heartedly at the waiting crowd while the princes keep their eyes on the water. One of them points out towards the large ship slowly making its way in to port and claps his brother on the back.

“So which do we reckon is the lucky Prince James?” Vanessa giggles. Anna and Corinne roll their eyes, before Corinne leans over. Vanessa was only fifteen, and despite seeing first hand some of the harshest aspects of life, she still believes in true love.

“That one.” Corinne says pointing to the prince with blonde hair. “The other one is Prince Lucian, the middle brother. Prince Benjamin isn’t here, but that makes sense, he’s only twelve”

“Focus ladies, I think her highness is coming ashore” Anna interrupts gesturing at the ornate rowboat being moored below them.

“She’s so beautiful!” Vanessa squeals loudly, prompting a guard to glance upwards. Thankfully the window ledge hid the three from view.

“Goodness sake woman, how are you a master thief and so loud at the same time.” Anna laughs, but is quickly hushed by Corinne who is in work mode, craning her neck to listen for any useful scraps of information. Most of those below us are whispering about the new arrival, and a just one piece of bad blood now could become blackmail material in time.

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Down by the water, Prince James was fiddling with his sleeves and mouthing the formal greeting he had to deliver when Princess Helena came ashore.

“Are you nervous?” his brother teased, dark blue eyes sparking with mischief.

“Of course, I haven’t seen Helena since the engagement when we were six. What if we don’t get along? Worse, what if she’s ugly?”

“If that’s the worst of your worries, you truly are blessed.” Lucian chuckles

“It’s not. The worst of my worries is the fate of the bachelor party. The Upper City is so dull, nothing ever happens”

“Boys.” The King snaps, forcing the smile from their faces. “Now is not the time.”

As the formal greetings were carried out, Lucian looked around at the crowd pressing against the solid barrier of soldiers. Most of those craning forwards were lesser courtiers, all vying for the attention of the royal family, several lords pushing their daughter’s forwards trying to catch his eye. As the second son, his future bride was meant to be his choice but ultimately, like his brother, the final decision would come down to political alliance. He sighed and turned back towards the unfolding formalities. The young princess stands shyly beside his brother while the two sets of parents exchange gifts, Helena’s father gesturing grandly at each item of her dowry as it comes ashore. Sighing he once again glances back towards the crowd, seeing for the first time beyond the courtiers and guards to the common folk craning for a look. A small child wriggling between legs to get through the crowd catches his eye. The boy’s clothes are good quality and his hair clean, but everything seemed a few sizes too big for him. Slowly, the little boy takes a piece of paper from one of the guards, waves once at the warehouse behind them and disappears into the crowd. Out of curiosity, Lucian tries to spot the child again but he seems to have completely vanished. Instead, he turns his attention to the warehouse and the high window, but there is no sign of movement. It was almost as if the whole exchange hadn’t happened.

‘Luca! We’re moving off” James hisses at him, bringing his attention back to the formal affair. Indeed, the talking had finished and his father was leading the way back towards the carriages waiting to take them up to the palace again. He sighed, and stole one more glance up at the window, in time to see a flash of pale skin and red hair disappear from view.