A Stroll On Castle Grounds

It had been a month.

A month and counting since she last saw her mother and father, a month and counting since the last time she was in Dragonsbane. A month and counting since she had gotten here. They said she was important to the kingdom of Astaroth but they had not told her anything more than that, not the reason she was here or how and why she was important, just that she was.

At least now she had the freedom to move about with the castle grounds, maybe because they knew she would not escape, or that she could not escape. The castle was not fully guarded whenever Ryder was around, that was something she had observed, he was probably capable of protecting himself and the people in the castle, and just like Tezani had told her, he had killed three soldiers with a wave of his hand instantly, chopping them into large pieces. Lyra had listened to her for the sake of her company, not that she believed it.

“I’m telling you that it happened.” Tezani defended, continuing in her tale as she walked with the princess. She had decided to take a stroll around the castle because she had been bored, and she had requested for Tezani’s company and she had been all too eager to comply to the princess’ request.

“I want to believe you, Tezani,” Lyra chuckled. “But what you say is preposterous. No man can chop three soldiers into chunks with just a wave of the hand, even sorcerers don’t do that.

“Well Lord Ryder isn’t a sorcerer…”

“That’s for sure.” Lyra added under her breath.

“...he’s more than that. He is an Axeris, and a powerful one too.

Lyra smiled, she would agree to that one, that was the only thing about himself which he absolutely loved to show off. The power and arrogance. “Yeah, that he is.

“So you believe me?

She smiled and turned to face Tezani but didn’t stop walking. “Yes, I’ll believe you. But I would also like to see it for myself, did you see it yourself?

“Well,” Tezani slowed down. “I didn’t see him do it, but I saw when the chunks were being cleaned up and I tell you, princess,” Her vigor returned and she grabbed Lyra’s hand. “It was gruesome and bloody, I tell you. I have never seen so much blood in my entire life! And the pieces of… human remains…” She shivered and gagged.

Lyra chuckled and pulled at Tezani’s arm. “Okay stop now. No more, I believe you.” she smiled and looked ahead. “I feel comfortable around you Tezani, and I enjoy your company the most.

“I could say the same about you, Princess.” She smiled.

“I have told you to stop calling me that,” She sighed sadly. “I do not think I am a princess anymore, trapped in here and getting told I am someone important and special but not seeing that.

“But you are, my Lady.” Tezani squeezed her arm gently. “You are.

“But how?” She said, frustrated. “Maybe I am, but that is only because they believe I am Khione and that I have some sort of connection with the year of Osyron or whatever they call it.” 

“The year of Osyron.” Tezani repeated.

Lyra hummed and nodded, then faced her. “Do you know what that is about?

She shook her head. “No, not exactly, only that it is an important event in the royal house and they take it very seriously but it doesn’t come up that often.

“Okay, but what has that got to do with me?” She stopped and sat down on a low stone fence. “A princess of Dragonsbane.

Tezani bet down in front of her. “Not just a princess of Dragonsbane, My Lady, but a Khione princess of Dragonsbane.

“Mavrek had told me to find my truth and I had gone into the study…”

Tezani gasped. “You went into the study?! but… but that’s off-limits my Lady.

Lyra sighed and rolled her eyes. “Not like I got what I had gone in there to get. I saw the books but I will still have to go back in there someday.

“Lord Ryder never allows just anyone in there, no servant dare go close to that place or it would be certain death.

“Lord Ryder.” She scoffed. “How I would love to rip his arrogant face right off his body!

Tezani chuckled. “Hush now, my Lady, you would not want the Lord hearing that.

“And what should I care?” She scoffed and pulled up the dress which was slightly bigger than her, since she got here, she had had to make do with whatever dress they provided but she would never wear anything belonging to Iris again. She had learned. And speaking about Iris…

“Tezani, pray tell, who is Iris? And what is she to Ryder?

Tezani balanced in her squatting position and placed both hands on Lyra’s knees. “She is the Lord’s wife to be, she has been betrothed to him for centuries since they were both little, so I have heard.

Lyra’s eyes widened in surprise. “Betrothed? Betrothed to marry?

Tezani nodded and kept quiet.

“But why have they not yet been married? What are they waiting for?

“Maybe they have been waiting for the year of Osyron, my Lady. Maybe that is the importance of the year?

“If that is so then of what use am I?” She frowned and then fixed her eyes on Tezani’s. “If the year of Osyron is a  marriage year, then of what importance am I to them? Or what has it got to do with me?

“Err…” Tezani stuttered. “Perhaps a concubine, my Lady?

“Preposterous!” She stood up forcefully, knocking Tezani to the ground and causing the poor girl to land on her back. She quickly stood up as the princess strutted away in anger. “How would I, Lyra, princess of Dragonsbane be made to become a concubine! And to a Lord such as him?! it will never be!

“My Lady,” Tezani ran up to her. “Or maybe not my Lady, remember these are just assumptions, nothing more. Please be calm.

She took in a deep breath and stopped in her steps. “I am calm. I am perfectly calm. I just…” She looked around where they were and spotted a carriage not too far ahead then she turned back to Tezani and spoke. “I just need a bot of distraction.

“What are you thinking my Lady?” Tezani asked, worry on her face.

Lyra set her chin up before speaking. “I will be going for a ride.

“But my Lady, we are not allowed out of the castle.

“Says your Lord,” She said and made her way towards the carriage. “But I am no one’s slave. And I will do as I please.

“My Lady…” Tezani started in protest, following the princess closely behind.

“Princess Lyra!” Someone called out to her and both she and Tezani spun in the direction of where the voice had come from. Lyra smiled on seeing Xanth approach them and Tezani could not be more relieved, she would get to keep her head on her body for a little longer.

“Xanth, you’re here.” Lyra said with a smile.

“I could not find you in your room and you were not in the castle.” His face was soft and he did not look one bit vexed. Lyra counted this as a good thing, and so did Tezani.

“I needed some air and wanted to distract myself.” She paused and looked to the carriage before turning to face Xanth, “I was thinking of going for a ride, past the castle grounds of course.

Xanth looked at her in awe and mouthed an “ohh?”, then turned his attention briefly to the servant girl beside Lyra, she lowered her head immediately and remained slightly bowed in his presence. He half smiled and looked back at Lyra as she came to stand in front of Tezani, wanting to shield her in case he wanted to blame her for it.

“Ah,” She smiled. “Do not blame Tezani, it was my idea to go sightseeing. It was because I could make do with the distraction.

He shook his head at her and waved a hand. “Oh no no, it is actually a good thing, and anyway, the reason I wanted to find you is something similar.

She raised an eyebrow and Tezani’s head lifted slightly. “It is?” Lyra asked.

“Ryder has ordered me to get you into some new dresses, and I would implore you to come with me for the fitting, Princess.

Lyra’s face instantly lit up and she turned to Tezani who also had a smile on her face, then she turned back to Xanth. “Right away and without delay. I would love for Tezani to come with.

He smiled and bowed slightly, pointing his hand in the direction of the carriage. “As the princess wishes.

“Where are we to go, Xanth?” Lyra asked as he helped her into the carriage.

“To the village in the heart of Kilead. It was not made the kingdom’s capital for naught princess.

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