For everything I worked for to decay is unacceptable. For my visions to be realized, I must construct a kingdom, a culture, a machine which produces exceptional humans, even long after my death.
-Harald Erling, as dictated to Leif Olander
***
The knocking on Leif’s door was insistent but quiet. The small rappings clustered together didn’t sound like Vigo. When Vigo knocked, he pounded as if he didn’t care if he woke the whole palace. It was not yet first light and Leif couldn’t figure out who would want to speak to him at this hour.
Perhaps it was a mistake.
The fireplace smoldered so it wasn’t quite complete darkness but Leif lit a candle before he crept to the door. The rappings began again and Leif unlocked and opened it.
Magnus pushed past him into his room. Bloody hell. Leif should leave. He should wake Vigo. Leif stood in his own doorway watching Magnus who now stood in the center of his room. Despite the early hour he was fully clothed and wore a heavy cloak.
“I’m not here to kill you, Leif. If I was going to kill you here you’d already be dead. We will not violate Harald’s rules under his own roof. Like it or not, we need him more than we need you dead.”
Leif didn’t respond. He watched Magnus from his own open doorway.
“I am here on behalf of my mother. And myself. I want to make something very clear in case it isn’t already; we have your father. We could have your mother and sisters. You step out of line and some very bad things will happen to them.”
Leif’s mouth tightened but he said nothing.
Magnus walked slowly towards him and came to stand just before him. Too close. Leif channeled is magic. Power and heat flooded into him. His hatred and anger were enhanced and surged inside of him. He felt that if he opened his mouth fire would surely burst out of him. The magic coursing through his veins begged to be used. His fingers twitched. He met Magnus’s eyes but the Maedish prince remained unthreatening.
Magnus spoke through a heavy sneer, “I expect you to stay away from Karalee. She is mine. I’ve seen the way you look at her though I don’t expect she’ll even notice you.”
“Get out of my room.”
Magnus’s sneer turned to a smirk. Leif stepped out of his way and the Maedish prince walked past him into the hallway. “Don’t think you’re rid of us yet, Leif. In a very short time we will be back.” He winked at Leif before leaving.
***
Leif waited in Harald’s office for the king to arrive. He was resolved to never be late for these meetings and Harald had invited Leif to wait inside if the king himself was ever delayed.
Despite the ominous threats Magnus had delivered earlier, Leif was in a good mood. Magnus and Isabella had sailed to Maedelund on the morning tide. He knew they would be returning soon but for now at least, he was free of them.
Leif perused the wall of books behind Harald’s table looking for a title he recognized.
“Do you enjoy the classics, Leif?”
Startled, Leif turned to Harald standing next to him. Harald continued before he could answer, “this one is my favorite. There’s a room at the top of the tower at the other end of the hall. Perfect reading room. You should go see it following this morning’s session.”
Leif considered telling the king about Magnus’s visit but thought better of it. He didn’t want to set his own problems at the king’s table and he imagined Harald had enough to occupy him, if not trouble him. He would tell Vigo though. If Vigo chose to share it with his father-in-law then so be it.
“Perhaps I will,” Leif responded as he sat at the writing desk with paper, ink, and pen.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
***
Leif climbed the tower steps with Harald’s book in hand. The cover read, “The Way of Sigiwald.” He had heard of it before but never read it. It detailed the adventures of some seafaring captain and his crew on their hunt for a famous treasure. He wasn’t sure how long he would read but thought he would follow Harald’s recommendation for a short while at least.
He pushed the door open to a small room. Windows filled the cozy space with natural light, but several candles were lit and a small hearth crackled warmly. There were several shelves of books between the windows. A plush rug covered the floor beneath a heavily cushioned couch, beside which sat a table with a teapot. A thin swirl of steam coiled upwards from the spout.
Curled up in the corner of the couch was Karalee.
Her legs were buried beneath a blanket, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. A book sat in her lap. She looked up at him in surprise.
“Apologies my lady. His majesty, your father, suggested I read here. I did not know the room was occupied.”
A confused look came over her face. Her brow furrowed but Leif noted that she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
“Oh it’s fine. There is more than enough space to sit. Normally I’d be going for my morning walk now but there was a chill in the air. So this seemed the perfect alternative.” She took a sip of tea.
Leif fidgeted with the book in his hands, “I’m afraid this doesn’t feel…appropriate my lady.”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“Of course not! I will find somewhere else to read.” He stammered it out and turned to leave.
“My father asked you to come up to read, and so you should. I, however, just poured this delightful tea and am quite content so I will not be going anywhere.” She lifted her teacup and blew gently over the steaming tea to cool it.
Leif stood in the doorway feeling foolish. Unsure of what to do.
“Well you can’t just stand there in the doorway. You’re letting all the cozy warm air out.”
“Of course not. I’ll just be - “
“Come, the couch is very comfortable.”
Oh bloody hell. “My lady, you missed your morning walk. How about you finish your tea, then we find you the thickest cloak in the castle, and we walk?”
She smiled a happy smile at that and considered. She looked at the tea in her cup, and sighed before she tipped the cup back and gulped it down.
“Not like that!”
She coughed and sputtered and laughed. “Come,” she said with a smile, “let’s walk.”
***
There were still residual traces of early morning mist throughout the garden. Rays of dawn showed through a sky of thick clouds. Even in the gray light the gardens were beautiful. Karalee, smothered in a large fur coat, walked with her hand pressed against the neck of the unicorn. Leif walked beside her.
“I burned my mouth to be here, Leif. Your duty is to provide good conversation. It’s the least you can do.”
Leif chuckled, “And how did the princess come to befriend a unicorn?”
She smiled, “Daddy found her. Danzle had injured her leg but wouldn’t let him near her. So he called for a healer. She wouldn’t let him close either. Estrid and I asked him if we could try. She let us approach. At the healer’s direction we nursed her back to health. She can come and go from the stable and she occasionally does but she returns almost every evening. I think she likes our little walks.”
“She’s beautiful. I’m grateful to meet her.”
They walked in silence for a moment. Despite his thundering heart, he felt energized by her presence. He was far more comfortable, he realized, now that he wasn’t in a secluded tower alone with the king’s daughter.
“Do you have a lady at home, Leif?” Her manner and smile and beauty enchanted him.
“Oh yes, many. It can be so tiresome at times.”
She laughed and slapped his arm. “Well what do you want in a woman? In a wife?”
“Oh she must be a great beauty of course, and I expect her to bear more children than the notoriously fertile King of Danaria. I have a competition going with him that he doesn’t know about yet.”
She laughed, “In that case I hope you find her soon. You’ll need to be getting started.” After a pause she continued, “Magnus told me he would write me letters.” She said it with a small, shy smile which left her face quickly, “I don't think mother and father approve of him. But I believe that’s mostly due to their objections to Isabella.”
Leif wished they were talking about anything else, “what are their objections to Isabella?”
“Oh, just in a general sense. Father very plainly doesn’t like her but he hasn’t said anything specific to me. I understand it though, she is…unpleasant. Things just feel a little strange, since the wedding.”
“I hope at least that Vigo and Estrid had a good time.”
She smiled and nodded. “Father seems to have taken a liking to you though, Leif. Perhaps you could talk to Magnus. Or you could even talk to father and…perhaps gently share that Magnus is worth considering for my hand. You’re related after all!”
Oh bloody hell. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t be comfortable getting in the middle of it, Karalee. Besides, Magnus and I are cousins but we seldom had the opportunity to…interact. I don’t think I’d be much help.”
She sighed but let it go, “Well, at least you’re providing some good company for this walk. You shall have to accompany me more often now that Magnus is gone.”
“I shall have to check my very busy schedule of course, but I’m sure I can find some time to accommodate you.” He chanced a wink at her. She rolled her eyes and smiled.
