CAZine

by: Umo

He led me out the creaking wooden door, into the night. I had hastily thrown on a simple dress the color of wine and unbraided the hair I had so carefully worked with before. Whenever we passed through the light thrown by a lantern or the windows of a tavern, I tried to get a look at him. I couldn’t. I could only see his mouth gently smiling down at me as he talked to me of life at the Keep.

“I think you’ll get along very well with Lady Patience,” he said, inspecting me again. “She’d love to pamper you.”

“What? You mean Lady Patience, he wife of the dead Prince Chivalry?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I don’t think I’ll please any of the women at court. I am a rustic girl, and I am to take on a man’s profession from my father.”

“And from your Master.”

“And from my Master,” I added, seeing that there was no arguing with this man. “Is there any reason why I might have been chosen for this job?”

“Many. The first of them being that your mother is my wife.”

“Huh?” I couldn’t help but be confused. Sure, I’d never met my mother, but this was too much.

“And you are my daughter,” he continued on. “We decided to send you away for a while, to the blacksmith, because he had no child to take his trade. But in this time of need, we need you at the Keep.”

“But, tell me, who are you?”

“Your father, Prince Verity.” With those words, he removed his hood and smiled.

All I could do was to stand there. I was a princess?

That night, he led me to a warm chamber of stone, a bedchamber fit for a royal. Then again, I was a royal. He chuckled at my “oohs” and “aahs” as I walked around the room and admired the furnishings and crafts that decorated the walls and floor.

“Sleep well, Loyal,” he said and walked from the room. Loyal, I understood, was my name here in Buckkeep. I found an elaborate wooden chest near my four-poster bed and rummaged in it. There were gowns of silk, satin, velvet, and lace. Near the bottom, I found a very comfortable nightgown. It was soft and warm and the rich burgundy color pleased me, as it was my favorite. I settled in the warm, heavy blankets and finally drifted to sleep.

I woke before the sun rose. A pale man had cautiously roused me. I curiously studied him. Against his colorful clothing, his skin looked like paper. I glanced at his hair, which wisped out from under his cap. His colorless eyes stared down at me.

“H-hello,” I managed.

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Is there any reason why you are in my bedchamber?” I asked incredulously.

“Mistress Hasty will barge in, in a few minutes to measure you for your normal garments. She lives up to her name, I warn you. Now get something good on.” He then walked out my door leisurely. I opened the chest and pulled out the first thing I found. A gown of blue silk and lace. I put it on with much trouble, trying to tie the ribbons over my white chemise. I found a headpiece wrapped in it. I brushed my hair and coiled the long strands into the lace sack that hung from the headband. I secured it on the top of my head and smoothed out my garments. A split second after I had finished, the door opened.

After a long, and tedious measuring, I was allowed to be led to the dining hall, where I was shown a seat near the top of the table. I had learned that the higher you sat at the table, the more important you were. The seat given to me was right next to my father, the Prince Verity, whom I later learned from that he was King-in-Waiting. That meant that I, the only child, was heir to the throne after him. Oh, Eda! How was I to survive this?

It was the most delicious food I had ever eaten. Not that I’ve had many options in my life, but the bread and fish that we ate at home, in the forge was coarse and hastily made to feed, not to please. My life had changed drastically, and so far, I liked it.