- Cahira's P.O.V
I stood, leaning against what I assumed to be a bookshelf. The duchess was droning on about the importance of understanding literature and finding the message hidden within, or something. I paid her no attention.
A servant burst into the library, flushed and panting. "Grand Duchess, the king requests a visitation with his ward. He asks that she joins him for lunch in the imperial pavilion."
Aithne sighed. "If that is what his majesty wishes." She then turned to me. "Your lesson is done for the day, don't keep him waiting."
I tried my best to gather up the overwhelming gown and make my way to the destination, where the king lied in wait. I soon had arrived; the servant had stopped far behind me as only the royal family and their personal attendants were permitted.
I let myself pull out a chair and sit down, admiring the artistry of the surrounding gardens. They had always been full of exotic flowers, ones I could never even dream of seeing in the Outlands.
"Your highness." I mumbled as a maid set a plate of food before me.
The scruffy middle-aged man just stared at me, a wicked pride filling his eyes. "What a beauty you have become my dear; tell me, what have you been doing as of late?"
"Not all that much aside from my lessons in etiquette. Though, Duchess Aithne has been requesting that I begin having a second lesson every week."
"I see no need for that, as your lessons will soon cease." He said, clearly scheming something.
I tried to push down my will to yell at or insult him, as he usually told me information while stroking his ego. "My king, may I ask why that is?"
"All in due time Cahira." He started preparing his utensils, that's when I noticed a third table setting. "Also, my son, Prince Eryx will be joining us."
That was it, the information that he had been holding back was something about the crown prince. Though my assumption was only a possibility, I have a strong feeling it's not.
It was then that I saw someone entering the pavilion's grounds. All I could make out was the silhouette of a tall man, obviously the prince.
As he grew closer, I started to see features I recognized, a sharp jaw, straight nose, muscular build, and blonde hair. I instantly realized that it was the man from yesterday, the one who stole my booze.
I just didn't want to admit to myself that he had been the crown prince, that I had insulted him. He sat down at the head of the table, almost opposite to me, as I was to the king's left. A knowing smile tugged on his lips.
"Your highness." He said to the king, before inclining his face to me. "My lady."
I just scoffed; all my inhibition forgotten. "Are you still drunk on my wine?"
"I'm afraid not Lady Cahira." He laughed.
"So, you have met. . ." The king grinned widely. "I was hoping that you two got along. As you will be seeing more of the crown prince."
I suppressed the urge to crush his head in and tried to speak as eloquently as I could. "Why is that, your majesty?"
"I am glad you asked my dear, he is to be your betrothed." The king was beaming at the notion. "It will be announced within the week."
I knew it, I had been right after all. Fury boiled in my veins, and I felt like anything I touched would burn and melt away. "Why was I not aware of this decision beforehand?"
"I was worried how you would react my lady, and I wished that you remain open to the idea."
"So, what? Am I to become a breeding sow for that pompous prick!" I spat, grabbing a steak knife and plunging it between two of the king's fingers, with perfect aim. One small motion to either side and he would've been cut. Eryx's eyes were wide, openly terrified by my reaction.
The king let out an awkward chuckle, taking a sip from his glass and removing the knife from between his fingers. "My lady, how about you take a moment to calm yourself."
"Why would I? So you can keep your tongue! You shouldn't be surprised after all-" I hissed, being cut off by the prince who just had watched in awe.
"Is it true that Outlanders lie with dragons?" He pondered, as if that was a normal question to ask someone. He probably was just trying to distract me to save his father's skin. Though the king choked on his gin, not expecting such a question. "So?"
I huffed. "Why does it matter to you? You plan to fuck one?"
The king looked as if he wanted to melt into the floor and avoid this conversation, but the prince still wasn't done. "It's just a question, I didn't think an Outlander would take offense."
"No. We don't lie with dragons; we lie with Ancients." I narrowed my eyes. He seemed taken aback, knowing how powerful Ancients were. They were god-like rulers of the fiery beasts that razed entire cities, but I wasn't done yet either. "So, if you're still interested in one, I can point you to Delvora's cavern, she does enjoy her occasional human lovers. If you can even handle it, she is rough with her playthings after all."
"Cahira! That is quite enough of that!" The king yelled.
"It's fine father. Though I did have something I wanted to ask." Eryx hissed. "I wanted to take the summer to go dragon hunting."
"Very well son, I will arrange a party of nobles to accompany you."
"I also wish that Lady Cahira come along as well. She is no newcomer, and can act as a guide considering that I haven't been before." He smirked, then he leaned over and whispered something in the king's ear. The king's eyes lit up, filled with wicked joy. Though I was just imagining it, being back home in Outlands. No stuffy dresses, or lessons in etiquette, and the chance to be in the open desert.
The king looked to him. "That is an excellent idea son, I will make sure that the lady accompanies you."
I just rolled my eyes, clearly the prince had said something that made him willing to allow me to leave, but I wasn't going to complain just yet.
"Also, I have heard some very concerning news from the prophets." The prince took a swig of his booze, as if he was anxious about the news. "They have had a premonition of a new dragon reaching maturity, one born of two Ancients; a Titan."
"Eryx, don't be ridiculous, Ancients cannot reproduce with each other; Titans haven't born in millennia." The king said.
"That is where you are wrong father, this titan approaches their 20th year and will mature soon. The prophets have given the name Windmere as their Ainori name."
The king sighed. "Well do indulge son, what else have our useless magicians told you?"
"They were born of an unknown male and Lyneri, and they are supposedly dwelling in the coastal regions of the Outlands, that's all they know."
The king just groaned in frustration. "Lyneri is the newest Ancient, she's barely 130 summers, how could she ever even bear an Ancient, let alone a Titan."
I barely paid any attention to them after that point, as they just argued back forth about semantics and danger; nothing that concerned me. In the meantime, I sat there, sipping whatever the booze was that sat in front of me.
"Lady Cahira. What is your take on this Titan?" The prince turned to me, catching me off-guard.
"I don't have a take I suppose, if a Titan is born, then that's all there is. Unlike you sword swingers I am favored by Ancients, and I don't have to worry." I said, boredom evident in my voice.
The prince chuckled. "Is that so? How are you favored by them when you dress like a noblewoman?"
"The Ancients can sense whether a human is an Outlander or not, as Outlanders are the children of Ancients, and they rarely matured into Ancients." I looked into my glass, trying to decide if it was ale or vodka. "I am a child of Aldor for example, and I am related to Baryaxes through my mother's side."
The two royals looked as if their jaws were about to unhinge, the prince even more so. "You mean to say that your father is an Ancient?"
"We call them sires, but yes, technically my father is an Ancient. It is the same for numerous Outlanders, one human parent and one Ancient parent. Though I will admit that it's rare for Aldor to copulate with humans, most other half-breeds have Theld, Ulmarin and Delvora as their parents."
"Well, I have to say that I did not expect that, that puts more faith in you as an Outlander." The prince mumbled. "I look forward to the hunt."
After that lunch soon finished up. I spent the rest of my day preparing for the hunt and requesting materials I'd need, as I only had a week until we'd leave.
I must admit, I was greatly looking forward to it, as I loved the Outlands, cruel as they had been as a child, when you grew older it became far easier to survive. I was most excited for the idea of seeing dragons again, it had been years since I saw one in all its glory. But I didn't know if I'd be able to watch; as they would be shot down and killed. That was the only thing weighing on my mind, but it was how life worked.
A/N Sorry I didn't update the past two days, I just wasn't really feeling it, but I hope you guys like this chapter and stay tuned for the next one