The Exiled King

While the others waited in the antechamber, Lirya entered Lord Rowan Throeyns’s familiar study and looked around. Everything was exactly as it had been the last time she had been there. A large polished wooden desk dominated the centre of the room. Towards one side, the entire wall was lined with bookshelves and the other side of the room held some comfortable chairs and a small table. Small glass cabinets decorated the wall near the chairs and held artifacts and heirlooms.

One such heirloom was a broadsword—named Echozar. The handle was made of fine leather bindings and the hilt held a shimmering ruby. The cross-guard was golden and had precious gems decorating it. The broadsword was sitting in its scabbard, made of hardened leather and then coated with a sheet of gold. The scabbard, too, was adorned with beautiful emeralds and amethysts. The sword was a treasured family heirloom bestowed upon the Throeyns family by the royal Blackroses for their contribution to the war efforts during the demon war.

Another artifact on display inside the glass cabinets was a delicate circlet, forged in the likeness of the ones the Guardians wore. It was fashioned out of sapphire—the crystal of the Guardian of Sanobar, the human kingdom—and had intricate gold embellishments curling over the solid glistening blue. While the Guardian circlets were beautiful and decorated, they were no less practical—they were made from the fine crystals mined deep within the dwarven mines under the island kingdom of Westik and were durable enough to withstand even the most devastating blows from the finest of weapons and spells.

At the back of the room, large windows offered a view of the sprawling mountain range and glittering sea beyond that. The sunlight streamed through the glass panes—the top windows were open to admit a light breeze carrying the scent of flowers, shooting intricate elongated shadows across the floor. The shadows of a rather large pine tree that stood outside the window swayed ever so slightly and a faint rustling sound could be heard as the bright green leaves brushed against one another.

“Lirya, I heard about the kidnapper,” Lord Rowan said pleasantly, bringing her attention back to him, “I shall deal with him myself. I am glad to know you are well, as there is something of utmost importance that I wish to speak to you about. Would you kindly wait for me while I deal with the kidnapper first? Our own squire, I heard… most regrettable...”

Lirya nodded but said, “Jason was really nice, though. I don’t think he meant anything bad…. So don’t be too harsh on him, father.”

Lord Rowan gave a small nod and Lirya left, satisfied. Jason entered Lord Rowan’s study a moment later with a blank expression that betrayed nothing. The doors were firmly shut behind him and he flinched slightly.

He had never actually laid eyes upon the lord of the castle until this moment—he had answered to one of the knights in the castle and had been paid by the castle treasurer.

Lord Rowan Throeyns was a man that towered above all others, with sharp green eyes and a large hooked nose. He’d been handsome in his youth and the years had done little to dim those looks. A few lines under the eyes and an extra notch in his belt was all that had changed over the course of his life. His close cropped auburn hair had, over the years, attained grey strands mingled in with the brown.

Lord Rowan sat at his desk and opened one of the drawers, grabbing a pair of delicate reading lenses and perched them on his nose. His white silk shirt rustled as he adjusted his reading lenses, frowned, and then shuffled through some papers. He cleared his throat, the sapphire brooch fastened at his neck sparkling, and spoke.

“Your name is Jason, right? Jason Vern Kainley, then adopted son of the Kainley family. Currently working as a squire to one of my knights—Leyol, I believe? And now here you are, standing before me with the accusation of having kidnapped my beloved daughter. What do you have to say for yourself?” Lord Rowan asked, directing his stare at golden haired youth.

Jason stood silently, contemplating his options. The reason we did this was to get Lirya to see her father, right? She has seen him, so there should be no reason to keep up the charade. I could confess the plan and walk free.

No… something isn’t right. Lord Throeyns didn’t have much time to speak with Lirya before he summoned me. Perhaps he is waiting until after he handles me, the supposed kidnapper, before he speaks to her? In that case, I cannot stop pretending yet.

I will keep up the act for just a bit longer, Lirya, so have a proper conversation with your father!

Having made up his mind, Jason brought his hands behind his back and pinched his hand hard enough to bring tears to his eyes. Ah… it hurts my pride a bit to do this...

He fell to his knees and pleaded, concealing his rapidly reddening palm from the lord, “Please, my lord! I didn’t know! I w-was short on money a-and… and those men came to me! They told me there was good money to make, if I would j-just bring the… the girl out of the castle!” He cried and repeated, “I’m sorry! I’m s-so sorry!”

It was a brilliant performance and Lord Rowan stood from his chair and peered down at the now-sobbing mess that was Jason. This boy… he walked in with a blank expression that was just hiding this… this coward?!

Lord Rowan scowled and removed his reading lenses. I don’t have time for this… he is coming over soon…

“Stand up like a man!” He barked at Jason’s cowering form and grabbed one of Jason’s arms, hauling him to his feet.

“Which arm did you touch my daughter with?” Lord Rowan demanded.

Jason hung his head and sniffled convincingly, “I-I… d-don’t know! I’m s-sorry!”

Lord Rowan’s frown deepened and he grabbed Jason’s collar and pulled him closer, “You don’t know?!” He took a deep breath and calmed himself, “The price for laying hands upon nobility is execution—you know that, of course. Now, I’ll be merciful—I will not kill you. I will simply take your hands—both, since you don’t know which one you used to lay your peasant filth on my daughter—and brand you with the hot iron. Naturally, you are not to set foot within the Throeyns territories again on pain of death.”

Lord Rowan raised his voice and called for the guards, telling them to take the young squire to the dungeons and prepare the hot iron. Take him and begone already, Lord Rowan thought, He will be arriving presently and I must inform Lirya before that...

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As soon as Jason was dragged off, Lord Rowan invited Lirya back inside his study.

“Lirya! Now that the filthy peasant boy has been dealt with, I have something of utmost importance to inform you of. Today we will be graced with a visit from a distinguished person and I will expect you to be on your best behaviour.”

Just like that, she forgot her original purpose in coming to meet her father and simply nodded, “Of course, father.”

His absence had hurt her more than she cared to admit and had caused her to grow rebellious. His reappearance into her life again had stamped out any resistance on her part and reverted her behaviour to what she had been moulded into—a ‘perfect’ lord’s daughter. She was a bird that knew how to do nothing but return to the hand of the person she was most familiar with—she could not run free even if she had wished to. Her father had lavished love and attention to her, but had also demanded strict obedience and would not tolerate mistakes.

She glanced at him and he gave her a small smile. He smiled… I did well! She thought.

At that moment, a loud knock echoed on the large doors.

“Here he is now… come on in!” Lord Rowan said, carefully undoing Lirya’s braid and smoothing the curls in her hair.

The doors to the study were opened and a young man strolled in. He had pale—nearly white—blonde hair that was tied back out of his face and bangs that were swept to one side and brushed his eyes. He wore expensive silks and was clearly a noble, but his was not a face that Lirya remembered from any of her extensive classes on the high noble lineages. His striking hair colour would have been memorable even as a tiny portrait in a textbook. One of her mother’s frequent lessons was how to conduct herself if she was in the presence of any of the current leaders of the noble society.

Lord Rowan smiled widely and gestured to the young man, “ Lirya, this is Leus Ravenstorm—the heir to the Ravenstorm empire!”

Ravenstorm! She thought, and instantly her mind flashed back to her mother’s lessons.

1. Politely introduce yourself and smile at all times.

Lirya stepped forward with a smile and curtsied to Leus, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Leus. My name is Lirya Throeyns.”

Though her attire was still entirely unsuitable for an encounter with high nobility, Lirya curtsied with the grace of someone extremely practised in the movement. Her long auburn hair, still slightly curled from being in a braid for the best part of a day, slipped and obscured her eye. Leus Ravenstorm took a step towards her and brushed her hair out of the way with a small smile.

“Indeed, you are beautiful. Even in these rags, you are stunning. In a gown, you would be positively radiant!” He looked at Lord Rowan, “ I agree with you, sir! I think she would be the perfect match for me.”

Perfect match… what is he talking about? Lirya thought, her smile turning a bit strained.

Leus looked at Lirya again and spoke, “As you are to be my future bride, I would ask that you please wear a gown next time we shall meet.”

Future bride?!

2. Always keep a soft and soothing voice. Never raise your voice.

“Future bride?! What is going on, father?!” Lirya burst out, shocked enough to forget her crucial lessons.

Leus had turned to Lord Rowan at Lirya’s outburst and said accusingly, “You did not mention that she had no say in this! You implied that she was willing, even eager, to marry me and that she had the best interests of both of our houses at heart!”

Lord Rowan answered, “Please do not concern yourself with those words, Leus. I assure you, my daughter is willing and will marry you, regardless of what she may have said in the heat of the moment. Would you be so kind as to allow me a private word with my daughter alone?”

“Of course,” Leus nodded and exited the room.

When they were alone and the study was once again silent, Lord Rowan spoke, “Lirya… you know it is your duty as a high noble to marry and produce heirs to continue our lineage. It is inevitable that you will marry—so why do you make it so hard for yourself?” He sighed, “Leus is a spectacular young man. He has everything—a prestigious family, outstanding talents and impeccable manners! Even his looks are not to be frowned upon—tell me, Lirya, does he have any faults that you can identify?”

Lirya hesitated and finally shook her head, “I just don’t want to marry someone I don’t know or love! I do not want to be shackled to them for the rest of my life just to form an ‘alliance’,” She cried.

Lord Rowan’s face blackened and the next thing Lirya felt was a burst of pain as her head snapped to the side. He had slapped her.

“You are a high noble! You will not shirk your duties. Stop daydreaming! Do you really think that nobles get the privilege of a marriage out of love? No! Consider yourself lucky you are marrying a handsome young man from the Ravenstorm house! You could do a lot worse. Now… need I remind you that the snivelling squire you called your ‘friend’ tried to kidnap you and will be sentenced to die for it? If you willingly marry Leus Ravenstorm, I will be merciful in judging the punishment for him. How you were charmed by that coward, I do not know, but it’s all up to you! I’ll even inform him of your decision. Whether he lives or dies… it all depends on you! Whether he thanks you or curses you is all your choice!”

“What…?”

Father wants me to choose…? Whether I condemn Jason to death or shackle myself to that Ravenstorm boy for life? What am I supposed to do???

“I will give you a day to consider… I do hope you will choose wisely—after all, there is a life at stake here…” Lord Rowan said, then left.

Lirya remained with unshed tears of frustration in her eyes as she gritted her teeth at her sheer powerlessness in the situation.

3. Remain calm under all circumstances. Emotions must always be kept under control.