The Arranged Marriage (4 page)

She made her decision and put on the
cloak. It would not take her long to move out of the castle
unnoticed and exit through the unmanned servant quarters this late.
No one would be expecting the Princess to be sneaking out as she
made her the way out of her chambers.

“And where are you going Miss?”
Rohesia heard the voice as soon as she reached the door that led
outside.

The tone was authoritative and she
immediately recognised it belonging to Dracheon, the castle
steward, a man she had nicknamed ‘Dee’ due to her being unable to
pronounce his name as a child.

“I was just going out to study the
moon on the eve back drop. I would like to paint it.” She advised
quickly as she straightened her shoulders to try and stand as tall
as Dracheon.

“Without a chaperone and a drawing
log?” He asked suspiciously.

“Dee, you are beginning to sound like
my father.” She announced sulkily.

“Speaking of your father he is looking
for you and wants to see you in the Throne room. I suggest you make
haste.”

She looked towards the doorway as if
making an inward decision of what to do next.

“I am sure the eve sky can wait until
the morrow Princess. Your father sounded pretty eager to speak with
you right away.”

She sighed at the choice evaporating
before her.

“Then I suppose I had better not keep
him waiting.”

“I suppose not my lady.”

“Good eve, Dee.” She politely advised
through gritted teeth. She loved him like a father but at times he
could be as insufferable as her real one.

“Good eve, my lady.” He replied, and
watched her storm away before summoning the healer,
Nani.

“Nani,” He shouted through to the
lodgings of the healer, not far from where he stood. “Better get
the king’s tonic ready, he has a meeting with his daughter and I am
certain she has sprouted horns at his request.” He added
jokingly.

Nani came running out of her chamber
and made haste with the tonic straightaway. She had sensed
something brewing all eve and now it was about to erupt. She
hastily started to make the brew of her own, praying silently that
the shouting wouldn’t be too loud this time.

“Father? Rohesia enquired as she
entered the Throne room.

“Come in Rohesia, I need to speak with
you.”

She approached her father who had
positioned himself in the largest throne located at the head of the
room. It was apparent he had been waiting for her.

She noticed how his expression looked
strained. He had started to allow his greying hair to protrude down
his back, and it hit her how much older he was starting to look
these days.

“Rohesia, my daughter.” He spoke as
she approached him. “I would like to announce that I have received
a proposal for your hand.”

She hid her smile, aware of what he
was about to say.

“I have declined it.” He said
abruptly.

“What?” She practically screeched as
the meaning of his words sunk deep.

“Baron Minley asked for your hand but
he is a stranger to Centurias and I have turned him down,” He held
up his hand to stop her interruption. “You have taken too long in
your choosing Rohesia, and now a situation has arisen where I am
afraid I have no choice but to revoke my promise,” He moved
uneasily in the large chair but continued quickly. “I have received
word that the proposal from another party is being considered and
he is to travel here as soon as possible. He will arrive here the
day after the morrow.”

Tears of anger burnt the back of her
eyes as she realised she would not be marrying Baron Minley; just
when she had started to get accustomed to the idea.

“Who have you arranged my marriage
too?” She asked nervously before letting go of her
temper.

“He is a man who is loyal and someone
I can trust.”

“Who is he father?” She asked through
gritted teeth.

“Your union with him will prove well
for Centurias and it will prove well for the future of this
kingdom. You have to understand that I have no choice in the
matter.”

She stamped her slippered foot on the
hard floor.

“King Argarth I demand that you tell
me who I am due to wed.” Her voice boomed with so much power that
Argarth had to take a moment as the pride ran through him. Then he
sighed and gave up on the introductory preparations.

“It is Sir Ison Mondar; King Roscaar’s
son.”

She stared at him for a few
moments.

“The Bloodhunter?” She asked in
amazement once she finally found her voice. “The bastard of a
king?”

“Do not call him that. He could become
your future husband if he so chooses.”

“If he chooses? So he has the chance
to see what he is getting into but I do not? I don’t have a
choice?” Her heart was beating so fast that all rationale left her.
“I had the chance at being married to a most amiable man and you
take that away in order for me to be wed to a rumoured ogre such as
Sir Ison. Do you detest me that much?”

Argarth shook his head and
sighed.

“You know I love you with all my
heart, and this is exactly why I am doing this. There are reasons,
good reasons why Ison is the perfect choice.”

“So disclose them.”

“I cannot Rohesia, and if you had not
tried to get out of marrying at all we may not have got to this
point, so do not try and make me feel guilty.”

“Guilty?” She cried as her cheeks
reddened with every moment. “You promised me that I could have my
own choice of husband, one that came from my dying mother, and now
you revoke it as soon as someone I like makes an offer. Did you do
this to teach me a lesson? To show me that no matter what passes
between us you will always be the one in control?”

“You are being ridiculous, and I will
have no more crossed words between us. Ison is making his way to
Ecripian as we speak and you will wed him upon arrival - if he
agrees,” He sighed showing regret of what he was about to say. “I
am afraid there will be no time for many preparations, but I vow to
give you the celebrations you deserve after the announcement of
your marriage has been made.”

She could not believe he was
dismissing her so easily.

“What will happen of Baron
Minley?”

“He has already been notified that the
proposal has been denied.”

She bit back the tears at the thought
of him waiting for her, confused at the neglect of his proposal.
She could not hide the hatred she felt at that moment. The hatred
for the laws, the hatred of all men, and the hatred of her
position.

“Do I have the time to talk to him?”
She asked quietly, her head held high.

“It is not suitable to do so until you
are wed Rohesia. The answer is no. I am sorry.”

She nodded as the indignity of what
was happening to her reverberated through her soul.

“And if Sir Ison does not wish to
pursue marriage?” She said, knowing the hope of that happening was
useless. Even being a Prince was a step up from what Ison was. Of
course he would agree.

“We shall act upon that if and when it
happens, but I doubt that will be the outcome,” He paused to look
at his daughter, still concerned by her earlier prejudice. She was
always going on about equality and balance between all men – and
women. “I didn’t think his status would be a problem to
you?”

“It’s not that,” She shook her head.
“That wouldn’t matter to me if love was involved, but it confuses
me of your intentions when you choose someone of Ison’s calibre
over the baron’s so coldly. I don’t like this father.”

“I know and I am sorry Rohesia, but
you must trust me in this. Please?”

She looked at him then, knowing he was
not going to move on the matter. Her heart sank down to her
toes.

“Very well,” She advised, trying hard
to keep her voice steady. “I will do as you ask.”

Argarth nodded.

“Thank you Rohesia. Ison will make a
good husband and a good king.”

She remained silent so Argarth
continued.

“None of what we have mentioned this
eve must leave this room, and I have to declare this as a royal
order, not just a fatherly one.”

She felt the last of her heartstrings
break as the decision of what she was about to do was made for her
in that moment.

“You have my vow of silence father. “
She replied, but not my vow of marriage, she thought before
curtsying to her him and leaving the room. Come the morrow they
will find her gone, and she will be on her way to the Foreign Lands
quicker than Sir Ison would be able to get the words ‘I do’ out of
his ogre of a mouth.

Chapter Three

The Loyal castle was an architectural
eyesore that had been built during the war of Quitize. It was a
place that had been built for strength, shelter and practicality to
house those loyal to the fight, hence the name. The breadth of the
lagoon on which it was built had provided them with a barrier to
avoid surprise attacks, and it had since become the property of
Ecripian.

Even though the castle was considered
a monstrosity by most, Rohesia loved it and considered it her own
place of solace when she needed to escape. She had arrived here
after walking through the eve, and would rest here until morning
when she would take passage through the Moors to Dondayas. Once
safely away from Ecripian, she would then get passage from Dondayas
port to Faudaga before her father even discovered her
missing.

She had made the decision to leave
before the conversation had ended with her father. She could not
have stayed to marry a man rumoured to be cold and heartless; not
when her father still had a chance of providing an heir to the
throne. She was so angry that her father and Roscaar had planned
for her to be sacrificed to someone who was obviously not capable
of loving her.

She looked up at the Loyal, relieved
to find the castle unlit. At least there were no travellers
temporarily riding through here. She hadn’t had the opportunity to
check the logs on anyone requesting permission to stay before she
left.

The dark building had an eerie appeal
about it, especially in the eve. But the soft glow of the moon
reflecting off the lagoon around its East borders made it feel very
romantic. She sighed, and embraced the sight before making the
decision to bathe in the calm waters. She could then dine on the
provisions she had brought with her and use the Loyal to rest. It
had been a trying day.

Ison had been pushing the men he
travelled with to ensure they made good time on reaching the Loyal
by dusk. They had travelled well but now he noticed his men were
beginning to tire; none of them were willing to show it.

They had made their way through the
Moors with no trouble, and Ison was glad they had not been hindered
with an attack from the Mookai. He was also aware of the importance
of getting the Mookai on his side if he decided to go ahead with
what the king offered. A fight with them would not help their cause
for unity.

As he looked to the skies he was aware
it was getting dark, and the Loyal was not far from where they
rode. He relayed orders to his men and it was only Josa who
announced his feelings aloud.

“We all thank you for the rest Ison,
for my ass is near killing me.”

He smiled at his friend’s crudity as
they motioned forward on their horses, with one steering the
travelling coach that held their baggage.

“I myself will be glad to make rest
before Ecripian my friend.” Ison said with a light sigh. “I have a
lot of questions to prepare for the king and his daughter. I do not
intend to do so it an empty stomach.”

“Questions?” Josa prompted. “I thought
it was definitely going forth?” He was careful not to use the word
‘marriage’ as they were all aware the forest was capable of hiding
spies.

“I will make my decision upon meeting
them. From then I will know what to do.”

Josa did not push further as they
jaunted ahead. He knew his friend well enough to when stop asking
questions.

“Very well, but there had better be
meat to hunt this eve Ison, because I am bloody well
starving.”

Ison kept his laughter quiet as his
spirits lifted. A good rest and some food would placate them all,
and he for one did not want to linger too much on the thought of
whether he was dubious about what lay ahead, or merely
bemused.

Rohesia did not feel cold as she
stripped her clothes to bathe without wetting any part of her
outfit. She placed her undergarments next to her large travelling
cloak before moving towards the water. She loved the magic of the
lagoon and let herself feel everything as she stepped into it, the
warmth created from the earlier Sun.

All of the burdens seemed to lift from
her as she waded in the water. She thought back to the times when
she would play with Fabian out here behind their parents back,
knowing full well that Ecripians and the Mookai must not mix. But
they had always found snatched moments to be friends until the day
Fabian became leader of the Mookai.