"Momma, Momma look, Henry let me help wif da garden!"

Amaris finished giving instructions to the cook for the evening's meal a smile ready for Skylette. That is until she got a good look at her daughter. There were obvious stains on her gown where she had been kneeling in the dirt. Twigs and other debris littered her hair. How Skylette managed to undo the careful work of her nanny each and every day Amaris didn't know. It seemed no sooner had her daughter left her nanny's side than her hair looked as if birds had built a nest among the strawberry-blond tresses.

"Sky, sweetheart, what have you done to your dress!" she exclaimed as she picked twigs from her hair.

Sky shoved her hand under her mother's nose. "Look Momma, can I keep dem? Pwease! Henry says worms are empor ... emortent."

Amaris sighed. "Important, Sky." She shoved her daughter's dirt covered hand away from her face and scowled at the three worms among the filth in her hand. "How about we get you a kitty?"

Sky stomped a tiny dirt covered slipper. "No, I want dees! Dis is Pinky and Dinky." She held up each worm as she announced its name. "An dis one is the best, his name is Dave!"

"That's wonderful dear, but I really think you need to consider a different pet." The queen attempted to dissuade her from keeping the worms.

"No! What do wormies eat?"

"I don't know dear."

Sky looked down at her squirming pets. "Henry probably knows!" She hugged her hand to her chest briefly before pulling it back and beaming down at her new pets.

The queen tried very hard not to gag as her daughter carefully kissed each worm. "Sweetie, worms are not normally kept as pets."

"I is keeping dem!" She turned and ran off, hugging her new pets to her chest.

Amaris put a hand to her forehead. Skylette was proving to be everything a princess was not. Even at five, she had her own ideas about how to do things.

"What is it she has done now?"

Amaris stood and turned to face her husband. After embracing him, she stepped back and smiled while shaking her head. "Apparently she helped Henry in the gardens today and he informed her that worms are very important. I'm certain there was more to that conversation that she didn't bother to remember. Anyway, she has decided she wants to keep several as pets."

Alistair chuckled. "You had best let her have her way or we will be in for a tantrum. You do remember what happened when we wouldn't let her join Darrien when he had his studies with Mareon?"

She grinned. "Yes of course. She found out soon enough how much work his studies are."

"And she refused to return," he finished. "Don't worry she will realize soon enough that those worms aren't so easy to take care of and she'll move on."

Amaris sighed and looked off in the direction of the gardens. "She is forever in motion, isn't she?"

"So it would seem. She is so very different than Darrien."

She nodded absently, her mind obviously elsewhere. "Do you think the people will accept her as she is?" she asked worriedly.

"Of course they will she is their princess."

Amaris looked up at him. "But she doesn't act at all as one would expect a princess to act."

He leaned down and kissed her brow. "Sweetheart, don't worry yourself over it. Darrien will be king; it isn't as if Skylette will be on the throne."

She worried at her lip with her teeth. "I realize that, but still ... I worry for her."

He hugged her tightly. "Our little Sky is too strong to care much what others think of her. Stop worrying."

She clung to him. Skylette might be strong, but Amaris still worried that it would take only one small thing to tear down that wall and plunge her into darkness.

***

"Pwease Darrien!" Skylette begged as she pumped her little legs quickly to keep up with her brother's longer stride.

"No Sky, I have studies. I cannot play with you!"

She tugged at his sleeve. "You aweeze has to study! I wanna pway!"

He stopped and gave a small sigh. He loved his little sister but at times, she could be trying. Now was a perfect example. If Sky didn't get her way, she did one of two things. She would throw a tantrum or she would run off and do something she knew she shouldn't.

Like the time he had refused to let her ride his pony, she'd run off and attempted to ride one of the horses in the paddock out by the stables. If it hadn't been for the stable master, the large beasts would have trampled her, mostly likely.

He bent down to her level. "Sky, my studies are important and I can't skip them. I'm going to be King someday and I need to know everything before that happens. I can't try and learn it after the crown is on my head."

Without preamble, she dropped to the ground, fat tears falling from her eyes as she began wailing.

He threw his arms into the air. Turned and walked away, leaving her sitting on her bottom in the center of the corridor. A servant would hear her and come to the rescue. Probably by offering to take her to the kitchen for a treat, it was the usual method of distraction for one of her tantrums.

Darrien didn't have the time to attempt to calm her down; he was nearly late for his appointed time for his studies with Mareon and he didn't like being late for anything. Sky tended to appear just as he was heading off to meet with his teacher. It never failed.

Darrien smiled. As adorable as she was, it was tempting to indulge her at times, leave off his studies, and go play. He stopped and glanced out the window. So much of his childhood was learning this or learning that so he could someday be the king. He wanted to know it all, to learn it so he wouldn't disappoint anyone, including himself. He straightened his shoulders; he didn't have time to be as free as Skylette was he needed to remember what his future held.

Turning away from the window and the bright sunshine that streamed in through the perfectly clear glass, he continued down the hall to the classroom set aside for his studying.

***

"Yes, I understand." Alistair shook his head and accepted the papers the serving woman handed him. "Do you know who else made it out?"

"No Sire, I'm sorry. I left with the boy as soon as I found him. I swore to his mother I would keep him safe." She sniffled loudly and wiped at her eyes. "When ... I arrived they were already dead and Codey was huddled inside one of the cupboards in the kitchen. I snatched him up and ran."

Alistair shuffled through the papers, reading as he listened to the woman speak. The small bundle of possessions she had managed to bring for the boy before fleeing was little indeed he shook his head. It was a shame. "His father was a good man, loyal. I missed him a great deal when he chose to leave. I would be honored to have his boy here."

The woman seemed relieved that he had agreed. "Thank you Sire, I wasn't certain what to do once we had left. I have no means to support him now that Kingsley has been sacked."

He sent her a kind smile. Kingsley was a larger village near the border between Eliria and its neighbor Velash. He had been trying to broker a peace with its king for ages, with no luck. Velash's armies would creep across the border in groups of varying sizes and attack villages they deemed easy pickings. Eliria's military was superior which meant Velash wouldn't attack outright. They knew they had no chance of defeating Eliria.

"I should very much like to meet the boy."

The woman turned and disappeared outside to retrieve the child. She returned, towing him in by his hand. He was walking slowly, while looking around, studying everything. Alistair grinned; he seemed to be a curious boy he supposed that was a good thing.

"Codey, this is King Alistiar."

"Hello Codey, it's wonderful to meet you. I knew your father." He offered his hand to the boy, waiting while the boy decided whether to trust him.

"You did?"

"Indeed, he was a great man and I am saddened that he is no longer with us. You look a bit like him. Save for the hair, I can assume you have gotten that from your mother."

He smiled and nodded, the thick waves of sandy colored hair flowing with the movement. "Yes, Momma said we were cursed with it or blessed, depending on who you asked for an opinion."

Alistiar laughed. "I can see how that would make sense."

Codey reached out and took his hand, shaking it tentatively. "Am I going to live here now?"

"Yes, you are."

Codey looked around, wrinkling his nose. "I'm not going to have to be a prince or something, am I?"

Alistiar chuckled. "No, you aren't royalty so you aren't a prince. We'll find a place for you to fit in. Something for you to do."

Codey suddenly smiled. "I can work?"

Alistair had never seen a six year old become so excited about working. "If you wish."

The smile widened. "Yes, please."

"When you get a bit older we can also discuss whether you'd like to become a squire to one of the knights. I'm certain your father would approve."

The boy's chest puffed out a bit. "He would. I don't know if I want to do that or not, I'll think about it."

He grinned at the boy. "Well then we will leave that for a later date then, shall we?"

"Do you need anything more from me Sire?"

"No and thank you for bringing him to me. You are welcome to stay. I'm certain we could find a place for you here as well."

She smiled and shook her head. "I have a sister up north I think I'm going to go and visit with her until I decide what it is I'm going to do. There's going to be a period for the both of us," she glanced at Codey, "when we'll simply need to mourn those we lost."

"Of course I understand. If you find you are in need of anything please don't hesitate to contact me, it's the least I can do for you."

"Thank you, Sire." She curtsied, bid Codey goodbye and left.

"Well Codey, would you like me to show you about a bit?"

"Yes please."

He held out his hand and he took it, together they walked out the door. "Tell me what you like to do, Codey?"

As the boy began rattling off a list of activities, they crossed the castle grounds.

***

Skylette kicked her feet against the bale of hay she sat on as she watched the stable boy brush the horse. This was her favorite place to spend her time. No one demanded she keep clean or act like a princess. Most of all, it was fun.

Although, they still wouldn't let her ride the horses. On orders from her father.

It wasn't fair; her brother had his own pony.

"These are the stables."

With a happy little squeal, Skylette jumped from her perch and ran toward her father. "Daddy!"

"Hello Sky. What are you doing in here?"

"Watching, promise no riding." Her eyes moved to the boy standing beside her father. "Who's he?"

"This is Codey, he's going to be living here now."

She bounced excitedly on her toes. "Oh, oh is he going to be my new brother? Will he play with me? 'Cause Dari doesn't."

Alistair sighed and resisted the urge to send her back to her nanny. It would accomplish nothing since she'd only throw a tantrum. "No he isn't going to be your new brother. Codey's parents were killed when Kingsley was attacked. He's come here to live now."

She tipped her head to the side and watched as he tugged his hand out of her father's grip and walked past her. Twisting around, her eyes followed him as he walked to the horse the stable boy was brushing. He reached up a hand and the horse bent immediately so he could scratch its nose.

"Do you like horses Codey?"

"Yes, my father and I went riding a lot," he answered her father.

A loud ruckus from a nearby stall drew their attention. Codey left his new friend to see what had upset the horse in the stall.

"You don't want to mess wif dat horse, he's mean," Skylette told him.

The stable boy stopped brushing the horse when Sky spoke and looked over its back. "The princess is right. Lightning doesn't get along with anyone I'm afraid."

Codey ignored them and stopped before the door to the stall. The horse's head appeared over the door, staring down at the six-year-old. He studied the horse quietly. "He's beautiful," he whispered.

Sky stepped up beside him. "Yeah but he doesn't like no one."

The horse stuck its head over the door and whinnied. Codey reached up as far as he could and just barley brushed the horse's white nose. It snorted at him and shook its head. "Hello boy."

Sky's eyes opened wide. "How did you do dat?"

Codey didn't turn to look at her he continued to stare at the horse. "He's not mean. No one has taken the time to understand him. That's all." He looked past Skylette to the king. "Is it all right if I work here?"

"If that's what you want to do."

Codey nodded and looked back up at the horse. "Yes sir it is."

Skylette looked at her father. "Can I work in here too?"

He grumbled at her request. "No you most certainly cannot."

She stomped a foot. "Why?"

"Because, you're the princess!"

"Not fair!" She dropped to the ground and began screaming.

Alistiar scooped her up and turned to leave; he stopped and looked back at Codey. "I'm sorry our tour is going to be cut short."

Codey smiled. "It's all right; I think I've seen enough. I'd rather stay here anyway."

"If you need anything, find the stable master," Alistair told him before leaving with a screaming Skylette.

Codey barely heard him he was so enthralled with the white stallion. He studied the black stripe down its nose from just above its left eye, ending on the right side of its nose. "You aren't mean, I know it," he told the horse quietly.