Page 13 of Firebird

“Your Highness, I will lead you to the Great Hall,” he smiled.

We followed the squire. I had to admit I started becoming nervous. What was I thinking agreeing to this?

Suddenly, I wished I was marrying Cora. I did not love her, but at least I knew her. I did not know what Princess Luella was like. I could imagine turning around and returning to Prozeus, asking my father to marry me off to Cora. I could imagine his disapproval and Razuku’s laughter.

“You do not have to worry if you marry Cora, Your Highness. You can just lay down, and she knows what to do,” I could almost hear him saying.

It was tempting, but the call of the land was stronger. So, I walked on.

The welcome inside was surprising. I was almost embarrassed that we smelled like sea and sweat, but I reminded myself about who I was. I was a prince and their savior. My defensiveness lifted a little as I immediately liked the receiving party. It was not like me at all. I thought their magic was gone?

King Adrian seemed like a kind man, with a face open and a smile genuine. I heard that he had been ill for some time. His wife, Queen Soraya, was still beautiful and radiant at her age. I could only guess that the others were witches.

We settled quickly into conversation, something I did not expect. They were all very grateful that I had come. They were probably apologetic that I had to marry their daughter, who burned a lover a decade ago. Men would undoubtedly run off at the thought of being burned to a crisp, but I was not afraid. I knew it would never happen to me.

“We thank you again, Prince Metheus,” King Adrian said. “Our land needs help. The drought is spreading fast. And our Luella needs something secure. Someone who can protect her.”

“We will check the land as soon as possible, Your Majesty. We will prepare the soil for cultivation.”

“How do you do that?” he asked, genuinely amazed at what I was proposing.

“We brought some seeds from Arrowspear. We can start with plants that can grow even with little water. Then, we can look at the deeper problems with dryness.”

Suddenly, I felt more than saw the witches and even my crew members standing up. I stayed seated because King Adrian was still talking to me. I was curious. I knew that it had to be Princess Luella who entered the room. However, I stayed put and told myself not to get too excited to look at her. She was probably used to people scrambling to get a look at her face. Most people I had talked to about her had said she was well known for her beauty.

I focused on King Adrian. I saw surprise in his eyes when I remained seated, facing him. He also seemed pleased. Perhaps, our minds were operating on the same level. We were more interested in the business and political aspects of marriage. He probably also did not want to see me scorched.

Yet, a part of me was curious about my future wife. I glanced to my left, barely moving my head, and saw her walking. She looked at me, knowing who I was even before I was introduced. There was that recognition – knowing who she was betrothed to. She looked flushed.

When she sat down, I could swear she did not look as chilly and confident as I was told. She could barely look at me straight, but I watched her – openly stared. She was beautiful if you liked red-haired women with pink cheeks. A few freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose, and her eyes were emerald green. I had a few emeralds for her in my pouch, rolling with the rest of the gems.

I almost laughed at how she glanced at my chest and flushed. From what I heard, she was no innocent, having burned a man during a tryst. At that point, I had two advantages – two secret things I knew - over her: she had nothing to fear from me, and I had nothing to fear from her.

They sent me to bathe after the midday meal. I smelled terrible even to myself that I did not even put up a fight. My crew members also had baths in other rooms. I could still hear Razuku screaming in delight. He liked being extra loud for foreigners, just to test their limits. I settled in the tub and simply enjoyed the grime falling off my body as I scrubbed.

Clothes were laid on the bed in the room I was designated to. They were Mogochislenian clothes: embroidered tunic and breeches. I grimaced, but I knew I had no choice. I would have to use my regular clothes for farming, though. At least, that would make sense to them.

As I was dressing, somebody knocked on the door.

“You may come inside,” I said, almost forgetting I was no longer in my own palace.

The door opened, and somebody went inside. Then, the door closed.

It was her, Princess Luella. What was she doing here? Even in Arrowspear, royal couples did not meet in private like this – or did they? I would not know.

“What are you doing here, Princess Luella?”

“Well, you barely spoke a word to me during the midday meal. I want to invite you for a walk in the gardens.”

“You could have sent someone else here. You need to protect your virtue,” I was not sure I was particularly sincere.

“My family knows we can safely meet, and our marriage has been arranged.”

“Safely meet? As in you are not planning to kill me right now?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

“I know you will not try anything on my person, Metheus,” she said. Somehow, I liked how she used my name so familiarly.

“How do you know that…Luella?” I asked, half-teasing.

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