Princess Rivalee (Part 1)
As Riva closed the door behind her she sighed loudly and gazed happily around her study. Dropping the lady-like air, she flopped on to the large cushions stationed in the center of the room. Reveling in the silence, she lay gazing at the stone walls and ceiling. Boredom quickly set in and she sat up, unsure of what to do. Her chest felt empty and knotted at the same time.
Abruptly she stood, casting around for something to distract her. She tried embroidery but her mind wandered too easily, so she turned to the one thing that could calm her: Studies. She moved over to her desk to finish the assignments she had been given that day. Protocol, etiquette, dancing, singing, embroidery etc... consisted of her day to day lessons, and she had perfected everyone of them by the age of ten. Some she had had to practice over time to keep in pristine condition, but in general she could recite every lesson by heart.
She felt secure, completing what was expected quickly and efficiently, containing any and all information the first time. Her speed, however, gave her a large amount of free time; it would take less than an hour to finish all of her assignments.
Riva would spend hours in the library, trying to find something interesting to fill her time. No one bothered to tutor her in the things she found important and at the moment magic was her newest subject.
Unfortunately, the Royal Library did not have a wide selection on her chosen topic.
She had pinched several books from the Court Magician's personal library, not an easy thing to do as he was after all a magician. Riva had had to wait for the precise moment to shove the door open (it had been particularly difficult) and slip in and out with a book under her arm. Riva prided herself in being a strong reader but from the Royal Library, she had found that many authors idea of magic was jumbled, conflicting and not in any way enlightening. So she had been forced to turn to a new and more reliable source. According to many books the Art of Magic was inherited by blood and birthright and very few could do it.
Riva however had no interest in actually performing magic, she was simply curious. The fact that the Court Magician had worked magic on her study made her uncomfortable. She wanted to understand what he had done, how he had done it, and if she had a say in the matter. Riva grinned as she read; if it was unknown she would be the first to know it.
At least that’s how it was supposed to be.
Riva threw herself on to the soft sofa, practically screaming in frustration. The books were so technical! Many expanded on meaningless ingredients, rituals, ancient language and times. The reality that she had no experience in the area did not make it any easier; she had to guess on what the images the books were trying to create. After countless hours of discontent and confusion, she finally found an author whom she could connect with.
The Inner Workings of a Mage had been written by Kadric, a mage who had traveled to several countries, and written about a fabled “Universal Magic.” Apparently he had found a connection between every countries’ type of magic. According to Kadric all magic stemmed from energy inside of the caster, after that it depended on the form desired. Mages would also use objects, words, plants or even animals to assist them in their spells. The only flaw with Kadric were the many ‘therefores’ and ‘hithertos’ in his writing. This encouraged Riva to take notes, so she wouldn’t have to read the book twice.
Riva stood, stretched her stiff muscles and fingers, and gazed outside.
The sun was setting. Already so late? The orange light shone through her glass balcony doors and onto the stone floor and walls; it made the room look warm, a writing desk in one corner with ink and quill, a large sofa in front of the fireplace, large tapestries and rugs and a large chest tucked away.
It wasn't really a study, more of a safe haven, a place where no one could touch her. The Court Magician and the King were the only other people who had access to her room and they had never bothered. After the age of six or seven, there was no need to babysit her anymore and although she was formally known as the Crown Princess Rivalee of Alsteare, she never did many duties around the castle. There was no need and no desire from any party for her to do so.
Pushing these thoughts away she turned to the glass doors and pushed them open rather dramatically. Part of her mind told her she was being silly, but she didn’t care. If she felt like being dramatic then she would be. As she sun set she sang, it was from an opera where the heroine loses her love and is mourning his death. In an eerie way, it belonged with the setting sun.
The soft melody melted away with the wind, and as the last rays fell, the song ended.
Glorious silence.
“You sing beautifully. What is that song called?” a voice whispered behind her.
Riva’s heart lept so violently against her chest, she thought it might have left a bruise. “Who- who are you?” She was so used to being alone in her study, that this new contact shattered her sense of security.
Leaning casually on the balcony, as if he had nothing to do with her panicked heart, was a young man with dark cropped hair, cloudy eyes and a one-sided boyish grin. Straightening, he bowed. “I am Glen, Captain of the Third Company in his Majesty’s Army. And you must be Princess Rivalee.” He was completely at home, polite-yes, but entirely comfortable talking to a princess.
Riva found it a little unnerving.
Realizing he had asked her a question, she nodded stiffly in response. He cocked his head to one side when there was no audible answer. “The song? What was it?
Shock and embarrassment flooded her face, feeling very self conscious she found her voice and continued to explain the opera along with the translation of the song.
Glen listened with polite and quiet interest, sighing when she finished. “I haven’t seen many operas. When the war is over I’ll have to see that one.”
Riva nodded. She’d heard about the coming battle, a war to end all wars. Sealidan and Alsteare had been at odds with each other for over a century and the battles between the two countries were on and off all the time. Her father had gathered enough men to penetrate deep into Sealidan and take the capital, hopefully end the war. With the King of Sealidan off the throne the nobles would be more willing to surrender to a new monarch.
Pushing those thoughts away, she asked, “What operas have you seen?”
Their conversation lasted well into the night; they talked about the arts, books, or poems. For a soldier she found him surprisingly well educated. He admitted that his mother had died when he was young and most of his childhood had been spent begging. Recounting several stories where he had almost been caught stealing, describing the hunger and his conditions. He didn’t find this embarrassing or too delicate to speak about. Riva found it refreshing and insightful- if somewhat horrifying, she couldn’t believe some of the conditions peasants had to live in. No one had ever bothered to tell her about the lowlifes of the palace or the city.
Silently Riva thanked him for his honesty, at the moment she was no longer ‘Princess Rivalee of Alsteare’ and just ‘Riva.’ “How did you get into the army?” Riva asked curiosity peaked.
Glen laughed as he recalled memory. “I took a dare from one of my friends and tried to steal from a soldier—” Riva’s eyes widened and Glen chuckled at her expression. “Not a good idea, that, and of course I was caught. The soldier turned out to be a fine and good man and he saw something in me.” His voice softened as he continued, “He pulled some strings and got me into one of the best barracks the Palace can offer. There I not only learned how to be a soldier but how to read and write. I showed some capability and so they trained me to be a commander. Anyway thanks to the army I made a little money and could actually try out some of the things that I’d— ” A cool night breeze made Riva shudder and Glen smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Princess. It’s getting late and I should take my leave.” He bobbed his head quickly and turned to leave.
Before Riva could stop herself, she said, “Wait!” Glen stopped with one leg over the stone railing. Riva couldn’t help but grin at his position and the blank look on his face. “You’ll come again? I really enjoyed talking with you.”
Glen bowed graciously. “As my Princess wishes,” he murmured, grinning devilishly. Without a second glance, he slipped over the edge and into silence.
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