Princess of Darkness Read online

  Tourri waited for Seb to get ahead just a little, before she ran and jumped on his back. She tugged on the shoulders of his tunic and urged him to get going, letting out sarcastic ‘yah’s’ and ‘giddy up’s’. To her delight, Seb played along and neighed as he held her by the legs and pretended to gallop towards the ships.

  “Wow.” she whispered at the sheer sight of the ships Seb and his sailors had been working so hard on. She slipped off the Captain’s back and approached one of the fifteen ships in awe. It was so big and beautiful and terrifying, all at the same time. “Seb, you’ve outdone yourself. You and your men have done a truly remarkable job.”

  The Captain blushed at the compliments he was receiving. He placed a hand on the small of Tourri’s back and encouraged her to go aboard. “Wait until you actually get on.” he replied bashfully.

  Tourri couldn’t wait. She took Seb by the hand this time and hauled him up the gangplank, begging him for a tour. “What’s she called? How many men can she hold? Is she a warship or a cargo ship?” she asked him, her mouth a fountain of questions.

  Seb loved when she let her excitement for anything show. He took her aboard and showed her around every part of the ship; down to the very masts and wheel, the beautifully knotted ropes and the crew climbing ratlines. Seb even asked Tourri if she wanted to go up to the crows nest but, the girl admitted she was too afraid to go that high.

  “I tend to forget that Tourri Mar is actually afraid of things.” Seb laughed, as they sat with their legs dangling off the sides of the ship. “This ship is called Adelaide, by the way. Vestus had asked me to call her after the Princess, as a token of his respect and allegiance to the Redbanes – whether they choose to accept it or not.”

  Tourri looked his way and smiled. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” she replied. “You know, I’ve never seen you so excited about anything. You love the sea so I suppose it makes sense, being Captain of the Fleet as well as the main army. Do you reckon Vestus will want to find another Captain to help, eventually? Once we start growing to a point where you won’t be able to handle both?”

  Seb looked out over the sea and the sky, as it began rolling out dark clouds. It was going to rain, finally. “You could always help me with the fleet, be my ship mate.” he teased.

  Tourri snorted at that. “I hate the sea, you know that. Being aboard a stationary ship is as far as I’ll go, thank you. It’s not as though you’re not going to pick up some pretty whore or runaway barmaid on your adventures.”

  Seb felt embarrassed all of a sudden and he didn’t look at her as he replied, “I don’t want either of the kind.”

  There came a clap of thunder above both their heads and the first few drops of rain began to spit down on them.

  Tourri jumped back down onto the deck, looking in the direction of the castle. More rain began to fall, faster and getting heavier. “We need to go, before we get soaked to the bone.” she said. Running down the gangplank, with Seb in pursuit, she fought her way up the sand dunes – now even soggier from the rain. She urged the Captain to hurry, teasing him not to get tired already.

  Seb thought it a challenge accepted, and he picked up his pace, jogging past the advisor. He laughed when he noted how she pushed herself to go even faster and they ran back to the castle like that. By the time they had made it back to the castle and had slipped into Tourri’s room, they were both dripping with rain. The storm had picked up so suddenly, whipping against the glass of the windows.

  “Too bad rain is so important to nature, because I hate it.” Tourri called out, as she finished wringing out whatever rain she could from her hair in her bathroom basin. When she stepped out, she found Seb crouched beside her fire; poking at the small flame he had already started.

  “I reckon this storm will carry on until tomorrow morning, with no rest. We’d been expecting it for some time; a change in the wind is sometimes all you need to know when one is coming.” he said.

  Tourri stood rummaging through her rickety wardrobe. She couldn’t wait until the furniture within the castle was updated but, for now she supposed she had no reason to complain. “I can’t wait for some actual sun. The beach is a lot nicer when you can walk on it barefoot without fear of stepping on something brought in from the sea, thanks to these damn storms.” she pulled out a simple black dress, brushing just past her ankles and with long sleeves down to her wrists. Tourri hung it on the door of her wardrobe and peeled out of her soaking tunic.

  Seb finished prodding at the fire and returned the poker to its stand. As he rose, clapping any ash from his hands, he turned and blinked hard as Tourri stood with her bare back to him, slipping on her dress without any shame.

  “Would you mind cleaning up that puddle of drool by your feet before you leave?” Tourri asked. When she finally turned to face Seb, she placed her hands on her hips.

  Seb swallowed hard. “Sorry, I-I didn’t intend to stare that long.” he began.

  Tourri rolled her eyes, smiling all the while. She unbuckled the belt to her breeches and slipped them off underneath her dress. It felt good to be out of her soaking wet clothes. She’d have to change her boots too. “I don’t really care, you know I’m just teasing.” she laughed.

  Seb joined in, only to try to ease the heat rising in his face and to make it look like he wasn’t blushing at all. He just had to tell her, simple as. Seb had to just admit to Tourri that, after all these years of beings friends, he now wanted more than that. But fear of rejection took over him each time, and it kept his mouth shut from such conversations.

  “I need to go and check on Vestus. He would have finished his first set of treatments not long ago, hopefully the healers will be able to fill me in on how it went.” she finished fixing her hair up into a ponytail. Rushing over to Seb, she placed her hands onto his shoulders and kissed him roughly on the cheek. “Congratulations with your fleet, it’s really looking splendid. Knowing you, you’ll aim for fifty ships or more. Good luck.” she called out to him, as she ran around her room gathering up a fresh pair of boots and a shawl, for it was quite cold in the castle from the storm. She slipped her boots on and then blew a kiss at Seb before leaving her room for good. As she walked down the bare corridors of the castle, Tourri imagined what it might look like in a couple years time. She thought of banners with Vestus’ colours on it hanging down from the walls, portraits of the King and his future family; perhaps even shining suits of armour on display, in all their brilliance.

  Just like the King and his Captain, and pretty much everyone who had been brave (or foolish) enough to flee to this remote island with them, Tourri hoped for brighter things in the distant future. She wanted Skull Island to be a place she could finally call home – with no abusive father and brothers in sight. That was a life she had considered herself fortunate to have escaped from, all thanks to Vestus and Seb.

  It wasn’t against the law to abuse your children, nor your wives, and that made even homes; people’s safe havens, a daily danger zone. Tourri had faced the end of every stick or cane her father had used against her, should she have not finished her chores to his standards or, at times, for no reason at all. He hadn’t been a drunk. He just hadn’t been able to cope properly with the life of a poverty stricken family.

  From behind the doors of Vestus’ chambers, Tourri heard the healers talking amongst themselves; quietly, as though not to wake the King. Tourri let herself in and approached whichever healers had taken charge of his recovery after the treatment. “How did it go?” she asked, before scrunching the end of her sleeve up in her palm and pressing it against her lips. She usually did this when she was nervous.

  One of the healers took her to the side of the room, creating enough distance between them and Vestus so the King wouldn’t hear. “His body is trying to sweat out a fever, flush out any toxins. It means the inhalation had worked but, not to the extent that we had hoped. We’ll have to try something stronger, something more painful, I’m afraid.” the healer said. He sounded upset that the inh
alation hadn’t cured him. Then again, it was only an inhalation, and Vestus was coughing up blood. Clearly, that was an indication of an illness far more complex than any of the healers had expected.

  Tourri looked her King’s way and found him fast asleep still. She bit her bottom lip in worry. “Like what?” she eventually found the courage to ask.

  The healer tugged at the mask filled with herbs hanging around his neck. “Leeches. If we can try to get them to suck any potential humours in his body,” he began.

  Tourri’s face went white. “But, won’t that be uncomfortable? I know it’s for the best but, Vestus – will he feel any pain? Will you give him something to numb his senses?” she asked.

  The healer nodded his head furiously. “Of course, of course. We’ll try to make the procedure as painless as possible but, I’m afraid he still might feel something. If that doesn’t work either then I assure you we will continue trying other methods. We will find a cure.”

  Tourri could only nod. She knew the healers were trying their best, and she was grateful for all their efforts. It both worried her and broke her heart to know how much pain Vestus was going through and was yet to suffer. He needed to get better though, fast. If he didn’t, then who knew how long his reign would last.

  Vestus

  Through his blurred vision, his advisor sitting on the bed was the first thing Vestus awoke to. He rubbed at his tired eyes and beamed brightly at the young girl. “Hello, Tourri. When did you get here?” he asked. For someone undergoing a series of treatments, all with unclear outcomes, he seemed rather cheery. Vestus covered his mouth as a fit of coughs overtook him.

  Tourri handed him a handkerchief from his bedside table and he took it gratefully. “I thought you could use some company, if you ever decided to wake up. It seems you have.” she replied.

  Vestus looked to his bedside table at a jug of water. “Could I have a drink, please?” he asked. His eyes were sunken in, his skin frighteningly pale, and his voice was so hoarse from the coughing he wasn’t sure if his friend had even heard him properly.

  Tourri had understood well enough, and she poured him a drink, smiling as she handed him the cup. She was trying her best to be brave but, the last thing she wanted to admit was the treatments weren’t working and she was now worrying about how long her friend and King had to live. It was a horrible thought; she knew, yet at the same time it hurt her to know she had to be prepared for the worst outcome. It was for the good of Skull Island. Despite the odds seemingly stacking against Vestus, she still had hopes her dear friend would recover. She’d personally see it done – even if it meant travelling across the entire breadth of Iradas, in search of a healer capable of performing such a miracle.

  “How are you doing?” Vestus asked his advisor. Returning his cup back to the bedside table, he worked on making himself as comfortable as the pain all over his body allowed him to be.

  Tourri laughed lightly. “Oh, I’m fine. How are you, more importantly, since you’re the one undergoing all of these treatments?” she asked in turn.

  The young King rubbed at his eyes again. “I’ve seen better days. How are the treatments going? The healers refuse to say anything to me and I’m starting to worry that nothing is working. Am I not going to get better?”

  At that moment, Tourri’s heart broke. His tone and his questions alone, so young and naïve, it was enough to nearly bring her to tears in front of him. Yet, that would only make the boy-king worry even more. She forced herself to nod, and she took Vestus’ hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “The treatments are going well, Vestus. I-I don’t know what they’ll plan to do next but, they want to try a few others just in case, should they help you get better faster.” she replied. Tourri hated lying to Vestus like this but, seeing his face light up all of a sudden and seeing him smile the way he did now – full of hope and joy, two things he had been sorely lacking for sometime – she didn’t want to rob him of those feelings. He deserved it after all, to feel happy for once. Tourri held her tears in. “Seb is excited about his fleet. He showed me the new ships he and his sailors had built, including the one you named after the Princess of Iradas. They’re all so beautiful. You’d love them. Perhaps when you can get out of bed again, I’m sure Seb would love to show you them too. All fifteen of them, now.” she paused to laugh. “I reckon he’s aiming for at least fifty ships. He’d appreciate us cheering him on from the sidelines, motivating him to meet his goal.”

  Vestus had his eyes closed whilst she talked. He was listening intently and the young King smiled a genuine smile. It all sounded wonderful. “You and Seb are good together. It’s about time he told you his feelings for you.” his words were so mumbled, Tourri wasn’t too sure whether he had drifted off and was now talking in his sleep.

  Tourri gave the King’s hand a little shake. “Hey, Vestus. Do you need to sleep some more?” she asked. When all she got in response was the soft sound of Vestus snoring, she leant forward and pressed a kiss against his forehead. “Get better, for all of us. OK?” she whispered. Tourri rose from the bed and left the young King to sleep. When she was clear of his room, she buried her face into her hands and wept silently.

  Valerius

  “I thought you could use some fresh air, after your morning lessons.” Valerius said to Serendipity, once having found her in her chambers reading through a book her tutor had given her. She was doing a wonderful job with her reading and Valerius couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

  “You mean actually going outside? Away from the castle?” she asked the young Lord. The book she held in her hands dropped to the floor as she jumped up from her bed with excitement.

  Valerius scratched the back of his head. “Not exactly. I’m afraid you aren’t permitted past the castle gates after…recent events. The gardens, however, are still an option. Today’s lessons will just be a basic one, to get you comfortable riding a horse.”

  Serendipity was by her wardrobe, rummaging around for suitable riding clothes before he had even finished speaking. Her hands shook with both fear and excitement. “I didn’t think I’d ever be allowed out of the castle again.” she replied. Pausing, the Princess looked over her shoulder with a heavy sigh. “Was it stupid of me? To try to escape like that, I mean?”

  Valerius approached her carefully and placed a hand on her shoulder. He shook his head. “I think it was brave of you; and Evard’s fine, if you’re wondering. He’s just not allowed to be around you as much – for now. My father fears he’ll try to help you escape again.” the young Lord replied. To his own surprise, Serendipity rested her cheek against his hand and stayed there for a moment.

  “Why are you doing all of this for me? The tutor, the lessons; horse riding? I hardly deserve any of it.” Serendipity asked.

  Valerius turned her around to face him and he placed a hand on her cheek this time, giving her a little shake. “Don’t say that. You haven’t done anything wrong, you never asked to be taken, and you never asked to be a Princess. We just have to make do with what life gives us, for better or worse.” he smiled at her. “Now come on, we have a very important lesson to attend to.”

  *****

  Serendipity didn’t like the feel of a saddle but, bareback riding was a completely different sensation. She gripped the reigns of Valerius’ horse tightly and when she leaned over a little to look at the ground, she wasn’t sure she liked how high up she was. “I’m not too sure about this anymore.” she said nervously.

  Valerius ran his arm around her waist, pulling the Princess closer to him. He felt her jolt at this touch. “I’ve got you, don’t worry.” he reassured her.

  Serendipity looked over her shoulder at him and she gave him a half smile. Despite the light wind blowing any loose curls into her face, she was certain Valerius had seen her beam. “Don’t you need both hands on the reign, Lord Valerius?” she asked him.

  Valerius clicked his tongue and his horse went into a steady trot, causing Serendipity to look forward again a
nd clutch the reigns tighter. “With my years of experience, no. But it’d be safer for me to.” he replied.

  Serendipity laughed. “Well aren’t you rebellious?”

  “Rebellious?” Valerius asked her. “I haven’t even started trying to be yet.”

  As the horse continued to trot along, Valerius kept his arm around Serendipity’s waist. Looking over his shoulder for the occasional scanning of guards who might have followed after them, the young Lord deemed it safe to really be rebellious. He spurred his horse on faster so that Serendipity had to press herself against him, to know there was something or someone behind her to keep her from falling.

  “You cheeky bastard.” the Princess laughed, knowing exactly what his intention had been. When the horse only picked up its pace, she closed her eyes and let out a short scream. Yet, it wasn’t out of fear. It quickly turned into a whoop as her hair whipped around in its band and the wind pressed kisses against her cheeks as it passed by. They rode the entire breadth of the garden, laughing and cheering at the closest thing to freedom they could get.

  Valerius slowed his horse down as they approached a heavy oak tree, right at the end of the garden and he tugged at the reins in the direction of a secret garden, hedged off from the rest of the plot. As his horse continued to trot on, Valerius glanced over his shoulder one last time and found the coast clear. He moved his hand from Serendipity’s waist down to her thighs and then in between them.

  Serendipity let out a gasp, a little too loud for her liking, and she heard the young Lord chuckle behind her. She couldn’t help but lean forward as he probed a little deeper, his fingers pressing against the material of her breeches. Whilst Serendipity had shied away from Aderico, she found she had wanted to be close to Valerius. It almost embarrassed her to think she had wanted him to touch her like this. Then his hand was gone, back up to her waist before Serendipity could fully take in the pleasure of his touch.