Rainah stared at the huge horse in front of her. It was a tall black stallion, deeper than the darkest night with eyes like shadow. The horse was 16hh at the withers, but that wasn’t the only thing that made it huge, it was built massively, like the warhorses of old. Rainah stepped lightly on her feet, listened to the air, became one with the horse, just waiting for his move.
She was dimly aware of Fionnlagh at her side. His sword was out and glinting in the sun. His short, curly brown hair was held out of his eyes by a band of cloth tied around his head in the custom of his people, dyed green to show his rank in the Queen’s Guards. His shirt was deer hide; the sleeves were cut off to leave his muscular arms free for more efficient fighting. The sword in his hands was a blade master’s sword. He was young to be a blade master, yet talented enough to be one. The hilt of the sword was a dragon, its tail curled and wrapped around its body. Its wings were stretched out straight and the blade was etched to look like flame coming from the dragon’s open mouth. Fionnlagh flexed his muscles, anxious to fight, and the golden eagle tattoo on his right arm moved as if in flight.
The wind moved through the small clearing they were in, blowing Rainah’s silver-gray hair across her face. She pushed it out of the way impatiently. She had forgotten her headband. Her blade master’s sword lay unnoticed on the ground, with her cloak and her rope. She had been chasing this horse for three days, and she wanted the satisfaction of catching it without any assistance.
She closed her forest green eyes and visualized the horse in her mind. She saw him standing before her, a graceful image of power and beauty.
I am Innominabilis. You are the one for which to serve. You shall defeat the one called Lucifer, a voice said inside her head.
Rainah’s eyes snapped open and she looked at the horse in front of her. He was looking at her with what was clearly a calm and knowing look.
“Did you just speak to me?” Rainah asked the horse shakily. The horse tossed his head in a way that left no doubt that he was nodding.
“So…are you some kind of special horse then, that you can speak to humans?”
Yes, and no, Innominabilis said. I am special among my kind, but the ability to speak to you is your doing, not mine.
Rainah was heartily confused. She had no idea what this horse was talking about, much less how it was talking.
“Rainah,” Fionnlagh whispered with a note of concern in his voice, but she wasn’t listening. A sense of calm had begun to wash over her, and she thought of what Innominabilis had said. You are the one for which to serve. You shall defeat the one called Lucifer. Everyone in Tien knew the story of Lucifer, but she had no idea what that had to do with her. Lucifer had been King of Tien a few decades before. He had been a kind and benevolent ruler at first, but greed and a thirst for power crept into his heart. Over the years everything that he once had been vanished and he became a monster. His wife was forced to banish him from the kingdom, and swore that if he ever returned he would be executed. Lucifer wandered Ghen for nearly 15 years, gathering followers as he went. He finally settled in Tien’s sister country, Zien. His blackness spread all across the country, and was even starting to seep into the southern parts of Tien. There were whispers that he had a foothold in the Four Points to the north. The rumor was that he wanted to take back Tien. But all this had what to do with Rainah? She would defeat him? Defeat him at what?
“Rainah!” Fionnlagh’s shout pierced through her reverie, she had collapsed on the ground without realizing it. She tried to shake the feeling that was gripping her, but it was like struggling a few inches below the surface of the water. She could feel the air above, could see it, but she was having trouble reaching it. She blinked back the overwhelming drowsiness and got shakily to her feet.
“Fionnlagh no!” she cried, for as she rose she saw him dart toward Innominabilis with his sword drawn, clearly perceiving the horse as a threat. Innominabilis reared, his hooves flashing menacingly. Fionnlagh ducked beneath him with his sword swinging. Rainah didn’t hesitate; she rushed forward—her head swimming—and knocked Fionnlagh away from the horse. The force of her push took him farther than she had intended, sending him into a tree—where his head slammed against the trunk with a sickening clunk—and then he slid to the base and lay still.
Rainah’s dizziness caught up with her and she collapsed as Innominabilis’ hooves came down right beside her. As her vision began to dim and she lost hold of consciousness she heard him speaking in her head.
I must go Horsemaster, but you will find your true purpose before we meet again.
* * *
Fionnlagh sat by Rainah’s bed watching her chest rise and fall in the slow rhythm of deep sleep. His head was wrapped in a heavy bandage that had nonetheless turned red on the right side. He was back in the noble clothes worn in the Queen’s Court. Rainah’s sword and warrior’s clothes were hidden deep in her wardrobe and she was wearing a long white nightgown.
Fionnlagh reached over and picked up her hand in his. He moved to sit on the bed right next to her. As he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, the door flew open and Queen Latiera stormed in. Fionnlagh instantly let go of Rainah’s hand and stepped away from the bed, he did not want to incur the queen’s wrath, though it seemed he might anyway.
The queen’s white blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun that her crown rested against. Her deep russet gown reflected the anger emanating from her face. The necklace she wore had a gold eagle flying over a green field, the sign of Tien. Her hazel eyes were looking daggers at the handsome young soldier before her. Her gaze shifted from him to the twenty-year-old woman lying among the silk sheets, then back to Fionnlagh.
“You will notify me when she awakes,” she said curtly and she spun on her heel and disappeared through the door.
Fionnlagh let out a relieved sigh and sunk down onto the bed. He glanced over his shoulder at the slumbering girl beside him.
“So you were awake weren’t you?” He glanced back over his shoulder and saw a smile peeking through her façade. Finally, she could keep it in no longer, and a huge grin split her face. “Very funny.”
Her eyes snapped open and she sat up. “You heard her. She was furious. I didn’t want to handle that.”
“Gee,” said Fionnlagh, turning to look at her. “I wonder why she was angry.”
Rainah smiled slyly. “She never said I couldn’t go horse tracking just that I shouldn’t.”
“I believe her exact words were: ‘Rainah, you are not to go after that horse today, it’s too dangerous.’ And she was right wasn’t she?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rainah said indignantly.
“Rainah, come on. That horse almost killed you. What happened out there?”
Rainah thought hard, trying to recall. Then all at once a voice popped into her head. You are the one for which to serve… “He didn’t nearly kill me. He was trying to show me something.”
“Rainah you were in a heap on the ground, nearly unconscious.”
“He was trying to show me something Fionnlagh.”
“Show you something how?”
Rainah took a deep breath. “He spoke inside my head.”
Fionnlagh gaped at her. “He spoke to you?”
She nodded.
“Oh Rainah, I don’t think that can be good.”
“No, it was. He was trying to tell me about my purpose.”
“Your purpose?”
Rainah took another deep breath; she knew he wouldn’t believe what she had to say next. “He told me I would defeat Lucifer,” she said in a small voice.
Fionnlagh’s mouth dropped open so far he looked like a frog catching flies. “Rainah have you gone crazy!?”
She glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked sharply.
He sighed. “You keep saying that.”
“Well I want to know.”
“Rainah, you do remember who Lucifer is, right?”
“Of course I remember,” she snapped.
“Well then you know that he is merciless.”
“He has to be stopped, Fionnlagh.”
“And you think you’re the one to stop him?”
Before she could respond there was a tap on the door and a stunningly handsome young woman with honey-brown hair and fierce brown eyes entered.
“Hello cousin,” Rainah said.
“Catriona,” Fionnlagh inclined his head.
Catriona gave a weak smile. “She wants to see you, now,” she said.
Rainah looked back at Fionnlagh with apprehension. “This can’t be good.”
* * *
Rainah stood outside the huge gold doors. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, her silver curls falling down her neck. A tiara more silver than her hair rested lightly on her head. Her green dress had a high collar, no sleeves, and a v-neck that exposed the Eagle of Tien choker she wore. The eagle on the choker matched the eagle tattooed on her right arm, just below the shoulder, and the gild eagle in flight on the dagger buried deep within her voluminous skirts.
A breeze from outside blew through the open window across Rainah, ruffling her hair and bringing her the smells of outside. She looked out the window at the miles of mountains that surrounded the castle. Tien was a country of mountain people. The only flatlands were miles to the east, right on the border with Bricidion, a land that was all plains.
Rainah closed her eyes and pictured the rolling plains she had seen when she was young. She wished she could be riding Midnight, her mulberry mare, through the tall grasses instead of being here. She could almost feel the wind whipping her hair around, the steady motion of the horse beneath her.
She was brought back to reality by a gong sounding behind the doors. She opened her eyes to see the huge gold doors opening before her. She stepped through the doors and looked around.
The marble columns along the walls reached high up to a ceiling she could barely see. The red carpet she was standing on led to a large gold throne that was nearly fourteen feet tall that was placed on a raised dais. The woman sitting on the throne was the definition of radiance. Her blue dress was full and long. The train flowed down the steps to rest on the red carpet. The bodice of the dress glittered and sparkled with diamonds, and her many-layered skirt was varying shades of blue, from baby blue at the waist to the deepest navy at the bottom. Her sleeves came down to points on her hands between her middle and ring fingers. On each of her fingers was a ring, but the most vibrant, the most ornate ring rest on her left ring finger. A large diamond surrounded by emeralds. Her crown glittered in the sunlight from the window. Her face was young, but weary. On her right side, standing next to, and a little behind her, was a handsomely clad man. His face was wrinkle free but his graying hair showed he had many years under his belt.
On both sides of the queen’s throne, were two, slightly smaller, silver thrones. Seated in the queen’s right-hand throne, on the other side of the man, was a young girl. She looked about 12 or 13. Her long, bushy blond hair fell over her shoulders and was laced with honey-brown ribbons. Her dress was the same honey-brown color. The collar was squared and bordered with deep green ivy vines. Her belt was also made to look like ivy vines. The sleeves hung down about one and a half feet at the wrists. Around her neck hung a necklace like Rainah’s and the queen’s. Her blue eyes glared at Rainah with anger and hate. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were big and red and puffed out in a pout.
Servants scurried around the Great Hall, setting the huge tables for the lords and the ladies. Their uniforms were dirt brown, with the Eagle of Tien embroidered on the chest.
Rainah took a deep breath and walked towards the golden throne. She dropped to her knees in a curtsy when she reached the foot of the dais.
“Get up,” the queen snarled. Rainah straightened but continued to look at the floor.
“Mother...” she began, but Latiera cut her off.
“I don’t want to hear it. Look at me!”
Rainah reluctantly raised her eyes to meet the queen’s glare.
“You disobeyed a direct order, and I was right was I not? Those horses are too dangerous.”
“Mother…” she tried again.
“No. What is done is done Almeara.”
Rainah stiffened. She hated that name. Her official name was Princess Almeara Tien but her “unofficial” name, her true name was Rainah. It was the name that her father had given her, the name she loved. But that didn’t change the fact that her mother called her Almeara in public.
The girl to the left of the throne giggled and shot Rainah a dirty look.
“Quiet Tzaria,” Latiera said crisply.
“Yes mother,” the girl said.
“Almeara,” the queen began harshly, but seemed to think better of it because she started over in a softer voice. “Rainah, I don’t know what to do with you. You continually flout my authority. Don’t you know how that looks to the people?”
“Mother I…”
“That was a rhetorical question, Rainah.” Latiera sighed and placed her head in her hand. “Just take your seat, dinner is about to begin. And Rainah,” she added, “just know that you drove me to this.”
With that puzzling statement ringing in her head Rainah took her seat on the right side of her mother as the doors opened and the lords and the ladies flooded in. Rainah caught Fionnlagh’s eye as he walked through the doorway. She smiled to see that he had his sword belt around his waist once again. Out of the corner of her eye Rainah saw her mother glaring at Fionnlagh disapprovingly.
Fionnlagh made an elegant bow when he reached the end of the red carpet. Rainah caught his eye again as he rose to his feet and nodded.
He sighed, but she knew he had understood that she wanted to go out again that evening, and even though he disapproved he would go along with her decision. But soon it became clear that riding was going to be out of the question, dinner was lingering and Rainah knew that her mother must be up to something.
The sun had just begun to sink beneath the mountains when a brown-clad servant came and whispered something in Coriar’s ear. Coriar then bent and relayed the message to the queen. The queen stood and the Hall fell quiet.
“As you all are painfully aware we live in hard and troubled times. It becomes difficult to distinguish ones friend from ones enemy and nations are drawing in on themselves, cutting the ties that bind. It gives me hope that even in these dark times small rays of friendship can be discovered, and rekindled.”
Rainah’s heart was sinking. She had heard the gist of this speech before, and she hadn’t like it then as it was accompanied by a threat. Fear gripped her at the possibility that her mother had indeed carried out that threat.
“With the bonds that have been formed between our nation and the great nation of Kanai I know that we can continue to hold the darkness at bay. To irrevocably seal those bonds it gives me great pleasure to announce,”—there was a slight trepidation in the Queen’s voice and a quick glance at Rainah that made it clear she was not pleased, but had no other choice—“the engagement of Prince Donovan Islay Kanai and our own Princess Almeara Rainah Tien!”
Rainah felt as if she had just been struck on the head, and judging by Fionnlagh’s face he was feeling the same way. The hall was full of cheering nobles, calling for more wine. Out of the corner of her eye Rainah could see Tzaria barely maintaing her giggles. Rainah turned away from her sister and caught her cousin’s eye. Catriona—whose anger lay just below the surface on a good day—was shaking so much Rainah could see it from 20 feet away. Her normally beautifully tan face had turned a red so deep it was almost purple. Rainah caught herself smiling for a brief second at the fact that her cousin was still so fiercely loyal after all these years.
The mirth was quickly wiped fro her face though, as a trumpet sounded in the hallway and the golden doors opened for the procession. Donovan—still handsome in his haughtiness—halted before the thrones and dropped to his knees in a bow. While still on his knees the Prince began speaking.
“My Lady,” he nodded to Tzaria, “Your Highness,” he nodded to Rainah, “Your Majesty,” to Latiera. But the prince got no further. Rainah got to her feet—the picture of indignation—and marched out of the Hall, closely followed by her cousin and Fionnlagh, leaving Donovan still kneeling and looking quite uncomfortable, and Latiera sputtering like a fish out of water.
* * *
The door to Rainah’s room flew open, banging off the wall, and she stormed in. Fionnlagh stood in the hallway, hand on his sword. Catriona followed Rainah into the room, smoothing her cream-colored dress in anger. Once inside Rainah slammed the door, making Catriona jump. A black-and-orange brindled cat sat up on the bed, yawning from being awoken. Rainah plopped down on the bed and the cat jumped off, mewing angrily.
“Oh shut up Fireball,” she said to the disgruntled cat.
Fireball stopped mid-stride, turned, and leapt into Rainah’s lap, where she lay down and began purring contentedly. Rainah pet the cat absently as she stared at the door. Out of the corner of her eye Rainah saw Catriona standing by the fireplace, still shaking.
“Cousin, in all of my twenty years, I have never known you to hold your tongue when you are angry. Why start now?” She gave a small wave of her hand as if to say “proceed.”
Catriona took a deep breath to steady herself then stepped forward. “I don’t even know where to start Rainah. She acts as if you are a piece of meat to be sold at market. If your father were here—” She broke off with a very uncharacteristic squeak and threw her hands over her mouth.
Rainah dumper Fireball on the floor and stood up slowly. “Catriona? If my father were here what? Surely nothing you were about to say could warrant this reaction.”
Catriona dropped her hands to her sides and tried very hard to look inconspicuous, but the damage was done.
“Only something serious would have caused you to bring him into this. What is it?”
Catriona sighed. “Fine, but you must understand that I kept this secret for so long only because it was not mine to tell, but after that I don’t feel much like keeping her secrets anymore.”
Rainah’s eyebrows quirked up in interest, but she said nothing.
Catriona sighed again. “The reason why I had no problem bringing up your father is because; well…Lucifer is not your father.”
Rainah’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, but Catriona rushed on before she could speak.
“When your mother was your age she was sworn to Lucifer Tien, and she was appalled and she ran away. She was gone so long that people of this country were talking of war against hers, when suddenly she appeared. They were married within a week, and roughly 8 months later you were born. The midwives hushed up the ‘premature’ birth by hiding you and your mother away for a month. No one questioned that you were Lucifer’s child, except perhaps Lucifer himself, but he loved you as his own.”
Rainah looked down at the floor, then quickly back at her cousin. Catriona answered the unasked question.
“Latiera confessed everything to my mother, her sister, and I overheard. My aunt and mother were none too pleased with me, but agreed that as your playmate and companion I should know, in case one day I needed to tell you.” Catriona took another deep breath. “Your mother fled to the east and stumbled upon the Wood of the Lost Elves. They took pity on her plight and allowed her to stay. While there she fell in love with an elf, and he with her. But their Elder’s council did not approve, apparently he was an elf of some import. When they learned she was pregnant they whisked her away before she could cause any trouble. She had no choice but to return here and hope that she could pass you off as Lucifer’s child. But you weren’t. You’re half-elf Rainah. You belong with them as much as you do here. More so, even, for you arte not the real heir.”
Rainah was dumbstruck. She didn’t know what to say, where to begin. To her great surprise she found herself rising and turning to her cousin in determination. “I am going tot hem, but not for the obvious reasons.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean there had to be a reason my mother and I were sent away. I can’t think of a better time to go find out than right now.”
Catriona chuckled. “And the fact that you’ll escape your mother’s wrath is just an added bonus, is that it?”
Rainah smiled weakly. “I will, but you won’t.”
Her cousin quirked an eyebrow questioningly.
“Catriona, I have to make a request of you, and you’re not going to like it.”
* * *
In twenty minutes Rainah’s evening dress was hanging in her wardrobe with her other fine dresses and she was wearing a simple white riding dress with a silver cloak that matched her hair. Her saddlebags and sword sat waiting for her on her bed.
There was a light tap at the door and Fionnlagh entered. She took one small step towards him and faltered, staring into his stormy gray eyes. She ran to him and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight to her. She felt his arms around her and she hugged him tighter. She turned her head and kissed him.
The kiss was like every memory, good and bad, that she had with him all rolled up into one moment. All of the passion, the sorrow, the joy, the hope, all of the emotions washed over her. For a thousand years and more she kissed him, and then, it was over.
A single tear rolled down her cheek as she stepped away from him. He caught her left hand and she felt the cold of metal being slid onto her ring finger. She looked down and her breath caught. More tears followed the single one as Rainah saw the glittering red stone on her finger.
She pressed her face into his chest and cried, she cried harder than she had ever cried before. She felt his arms around her again and she let the tears rain down her face.
“Let me come with you,” he whispered.
She shook her head and cried. She didn’t know how to explain to him what had happened to her in the last half-hour. There was another tap on the door and Catriona entered. Rainah stepped away from Fionnlagh, drying her eyes. “Run through it again so I know you know what to do,” she said to her cousin.
Catriona sighed. “Phillip has prepared both Midnight and Rogue. You will take Rogue and ride as fast as you can east while I, on Midnight dressed like you, ride south, towards Telsu, with Fionnlagh, on Ares. We will deliberately let someone see us, to draw them away from you. Are you sure about this? I mean, wouldn’t you rather take Wind? She’s smaller and faster than Rogue.”
“No, Rogue is always disappearing. By the time they catch you and realize I took Rogue, it’ll be too late. Taking Wind would be a red flag. Did you get all the supplies I will need? Food, weapons, and such?”
“Yes, they’re packed and on the horse, whenever you’re ready I’ll be in the stables. But I suggest you go soon. I have word that the Queen is almost done seeing our guests settled, and then…well, you don’t want to be here for the ‘then.’”
Rainah watched her close the door, then sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands. She felt Fionnlagh sit down next to her, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
He took a deep breath. “In all my life, which admittedly has not been long, I’ve never been truly sure of anything, except for you. I love you, more than I have loved anything, or will love anything in my life. And I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Rainah just sat there with her face in her hands. “Now would be the time to say something. Rainah, are you okay?
“You just had to make this harder didn’t you?” Rainah said through her hands.
Fionnlagh staggered as if she had hit him. “What do you mean?”
Rainah abruptly stood up and walked to the door. “Just let me leave, okay?” She glanced back at him, and her heart broke at the look on his face. It had to be done, she told herself, but she wasn’t sure she believed it.
