Saffron's blue eyes grew wider as she was swept into the palace. The polished marble floors shone brightly under the myriad of candles glowing in the large chandeliers overhead. People rushed everywhere, servants in their neat robes, soldiers in their pressed uniforms, and nobles in their finest dress. Panic began to grow beneath her ribs as everyone turned to peer at her as she walked alongside Elric, terribly aware of her torn dress beneath the cape. "I just need to speak with Verita about making sure your rooms are ready. You weren't exactly expected so I want to make sure that the room isn't buried underneath a century of dust," Elric murmured into her ear. Saffron clutched at his arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve. She suddenly felt very alone amongst all of the people swirling around them. Elric led her down the large hallway. Saffron gazed up at the soaring cathedral styled ceilings. She had only ever seen the castle from a distance and now she was in its depths. It wa
Saffron's breathing had turned ragged as Elric pressed her hard against the bedpost. It dug painfully into her back, but she barely noticed. All she could feel was his lips and hands on her body. She had never been kissed quite like this before. She was right, she noted as he bit into her neck, he was rather experienced. Distantly, she knew this should bother her. That she wasn't his first but probably one of many but the way he was making her feel rendered the thought moot. She noticed his breathing had increased as well as his temperature; he was nearly hot to the touch. She ran her fingers down the back of his neck and felt…scales. Her hand froze. He pulled his head back to look at her. His eyes were the same…but not. They were more vivid green. Less human than a few moments before. He saw the startled look on her face and pulled back slightly. He adjusted the collar on his shirt and made to pull it closed. Her hand stopped him. "It just took me by surprise, that is all. It do
"Well, you came out of there relatively unscathed," Elric said to her as they walked down yet another unfamiliar hall. "I suppose so," she replied, her mind drifting back to the unsettlingly way the King had been staring at her. "Where are we off to now?" she asked, looking around. They were deep in the castle now, farther in than she had been before. "We are headed to the dining hall. Usually, I prefer to eat my meals in my rooms or outside, but since you have arrived, I have been instructed to eat with the family," he replied with a scowl. "Will the King be there?" she asked, dreading the response. Elric shook his head. "No, he and the Queen eat in their private dining chamber unless it is an occasion," he replied. Saffron felt relief surge through her. "Unfortunately, you'll have to meet my brothers and their insipid wives. Imagine you are standing amongst a pit of vipers. They are dangerous and cruel, but so dimwitted that they only bite each other," he said darkly. "So
"My apologies, I did not think that would take as long as it had. My Captain wanted to give me a full brief of what is occurring along the border," Elric said as they left the dining hall. Although he smiled at her, she could see the concern in his furrowed brow. "Are we at war?" she asked, realizing how far removed from the happenings of the capital she was in Gilramore, despite being only a day's journey away. "Not yet, but I believe we will be soon. No matter what my father says, there is unrest in our towns. There have been rumors of Udril soldiers raiding our villages," he said, his mouth pressed into a grim line. Saffron had heard of the fearsome soldiers of their neighboring country to the north. They were said to be a brutal country, carving out a life in the harsh frozen wasteland. Stories were told about these raiders to scare children into being home by dark. Saffron felt the familiar pang of fear listening to the real account. "That's awful. Will you have to fight?" s
Saffron had been in the palace for nearly two weeks when Verita came to get her to be measured for her wedding gown. She was sitting beneath a tree in the frigid garden, scribbling in her journal. While she knew most of the flowers that were grown here there were a few that she was unfamiliar with. Elric had informed her that he would be gone all day to oversee the training of some of the newer soldiers, so she had the day to herself. The past two weeks had blurred past her. Elric had sent a messenger back to Gilramore to collect her things and she was eagerly awaiting them. She thought that is why the unpleasant lady of the house was coming to get her now. "You're needed in your rooms," Verita said, giving no explanation. "One moment," Saffron said as she finished pressing the flower into the journal. Verita looked down her beaked nose at the girl's flower and ink-stained fingertips. "Wash up first. We don't want your filth getting onto the fabrics," she said with a sniff and
The butterflies threatened to creep up her throat as Saffron stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. Her face had been scrubbed clean, rouge rubbed into her cheeks and lips and her eyes lined with a thin stripe of black soot. She liked the look but found it unsettling. Even though it was not yet her wedding day she felt as if it were. The castle had been decorated a bit more festively than usual and the kitchen was churning out platters of food that could feed their entire army twice over. Mary was plaiting and twisting Saffron's long blonde locks into a complicated knot atop her head. All of the pulling was giving her a headache. She had already decided on the day of the actual wedding, she would be wearing her hair down. She did not fancy having to balance a large pile of hair, a veil, and a tiara. "You are set. Let's get your dress on now before Verita comes looking for you and we both get a scolding," Mary said and pulled the even
"I want to know who it was!" Saffron heard Elric's raging voice ring through the corridor outside of her room. She wearily opened her eyes. The drapes were drawn tight against the sun that she could see reaching around the edges of the thick brocade. It gave the room a suffocating feeling. She sat up, intending to open them a bit but her legs were still a bit shaky. She wasn't sure of the exact poison she had been given but she knew that it was the type to cause paralysis, judging by her weakened limbs and her previous difficulty breathing. It was nearly tasteless in her tea. Had it had more time to dissolve, it would have been impossible to discern. Whoever poisoned her did not have a strong background in the practice. Thankfully, her grandmother was a skilled woman who made sure to teach Saffron how to heal ailments of all variety, natural and human-induced. She took a swig of the water next to her bed after thoroughly checking its contents. She swilled the cool liquid around her
The rain came down harder as the carriage lurched to a stop in front of a small inn, the lit windows barely visible through the lashing rain. "We're going to have to make a run for it!" Elric said as he threw the door open. Laughing, Saffron joined him as they raced for the door. With a loud thud, they slammed it open and stood sodden at the entrance of the tavern. The few people sitting in the room turned to look at them but went back to their tankards. A small puddle began to form underneath them as they stood shivering. "I'll arrange rooms for us," Elric said, still smiling at Saffron. Despite the chill and her sopping wet cloak, she was in high spirits. They had been traveling for a few days now and this sudden storm had broken the monotony of riding in the carriage. She glanced around the large room while Elric spoke to the short man behind the bar. There were only about five others here and they appeared to be regulars, sharing a companionable silence in front of the fire.