Kastali Dun

Claire's frustration towards King Talon and their argument clawed at her heels, following her well into the next day. It remained fresh in her mind, as did her disappointment. She had been naïve to hope; King Talon's unanticipated reaction to her royal blue gown had led her to believe that an apology was in order. But no! He had not taken her into the garden to apologize. In fact, it seemed clear now that he had no intention of apologizing at all.

"You're brooding." Desaree gave Claire a gentle shove between her shoulder blades. "Still upset from yesterday?"

"I suppose." Claire glanced up.

"It does not do well to dwell," Desaree said, sounding far too wise.

Claire sighed and her frown deepened. "I just don't get it. Why is it so hard to say, 'I'm sorry' to someone?"

"We all have our weaknesses, Claire. No one is perfect—not even the king. How many mistakes have you made in your life? I have made several of note. I would guess the king has made just as many, if not more." Desaree gave Claire's hair a gentle tug and added, "Perhaps if you got to know him a little better, you might be more forgiving."

Claire snorted. She glanced up to find Desaree's eyes in the mirror's reflection. She sat at her vanity while Desaree worked on her hair. "I'm...I'm not like you, Des. You have such a kind heart and a level head when it comes to things like this. I'm way too prone to hold grudges."

Desaree barked a laugh and said, "As we each have our weaknesses, so too do we have our strengths. I may be levelheaded and kindhearted, but I'm not brave like you, or courageous. I could never have gone before the king like you did at your trial. No, I..." Desaree shuddered. "I could not have done that."

"It's just acting, Des. Most of the stuff I do is hardly courageous. In fact, a lot of it is rather stupid and dangerous, and I do it without thinking, which makes it more so. I'm surprised I'm not dead yet. But I can promise you this: I don't ever feel brave or courageous."

"But you are, as evidenced by all you have been through, your triumphs, your successes. I mean, look at you. You came from another world. You were an outsider—one who was lucky to have survived the laws of our land. Now you're royal. A transition like that...it's impressive."

"It doesn't come without its price. I mean, we both know what I have to do in the end." Claire's voice faded to a whisper and her chest tightened. It was the Promise's way of reminding her that she had a job to do.

"Yours is a heavy burden indeed," Desaree agreed. "All the more reason to forgive King Talon and move on, whether he apologizes or not. You owe it to yourself at least." Desaree paused, then said in more of a whisper, "Do not be like me—someone who spent too much time holding a grudge against Caterina. I may never heal."

Claire considered Desaree's advice. Forgiveness was probably the right thing to do, but her emotions made it difficult. She wanted to keep hating King Talon, yet, it was so exhausting. She already had enough on her plate as it was. "I'm not sure I can do it, Des. It sounds a lot easier than it is."

"Remember what I said: If you try to get to know him better, forgiveness will be easier. It's never easy at first. Will you try?" Desaree stopped fussing with Claire's hair to gaze at her in the reflection.

"I...I'll try. But I'm not making any promises. You know how I feel about him."

"Trying is better than nothing. And if you try half as well as you do at other things, then I am confident the results will be favorable. Public figures get very little privacy. There is plenty of knowledge out there about King Talon. Perhaps start there? Though, I suggest actually talking to him when the opportunity allows.

"Reyr told me a little about his younger years."

"You mean the time when he was handsome?"

Claire snorted. "Is that how his life is split? Into the days that he was handsome and the days that he became scarred?"

Color crept onto Desaree's cheeks and she did not look up from her busy hands. "I suppose it is. I have never really thought about it deeply." Her fingers continued to separate strands of hair into various ways as she pinned here and tucked there. "I once saw a picture of him, a painting from when he was young. It was hidden away in storage. Gods, he was a handsome young man."

"He still is, if one can see past his scars," Claire said. "All the same, it's hard for me to picture what he must have looked like younger, before the battle...Do you think the painting is still there? I would like to see it."

"I am sure it is. I can take you there later if you wish."

"I would like that," Claire said before falling silent. While Desaree worked, Claire's hands fidgeted with a jeweled hairpiece as she turned it in her fingers. The jewels sparkled in the light with each turn.

After some time, Desaree spoke again. "There was once a time when every woman in the kingdom dreamed of being King Talon's mate. Long, long before I was born, of course. This is all merely hearsay now."

Claire rolled her eyes. "I don't suppose that surprises me. A handsome young prince? Who wouldn't want to marry him?"

"He was a bit of a womanizer, you know."

"Yes, Reyr told me. He also told me about King Talon's parents, about how he got his scars, and about how he stopped pursuing women once he..." She trailed off. That part about him was all rather sad.

"Yes, it is common knowledge that he became a recluse. He stopped pursuing women and gave up looking for his mate."

Claire had always been a romantic at heart. Despite her dislike of King Talon, it did elicit pity to know he had failed to find his life partner. Now he was forced to rule his kingdom alone, when none before him had. The pressure resting on his shoulders was immense, no doubt about that. That was something Claire could easily relate to, having pressures of her own to deal with.

A loud knock brought their conversation to a halt.

"Coming!" Desaree called out of habit. She was adapting to her duties as Claire's handmaiden quite well. Claire sat listening as Desaree opened the door and greeted the person behind it. "A message for Lady Claire," came the female voice.

"Thank you, Anya. I will deliver it straight away."

A few more hushed sentences were spoken, then the door shut. Desaree turned to face Claire, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It has King Talon's seal!"

Claire felt the color drain from her face as she followed Desaree's movements across the room. When Desaree handed her a folded parchment, she slit the seal and removed the ribbon around the note. Then she unfurled the message, quickly skimming the contents with pursed lips. They were brief.

"Well?!" Desaree said, impatient.

"He...he requests my company for today's midday meal. He asks that I dine with him privately in his accommodations."

"The midday...but...but that is merely an hour away!" Desaree jumped to action, fervently fixing up the remainder of Claire's hair. "This is your opportunity, Claire! Don't you see? This is your chance to get to know him. What say you? Will you go?"

"I..." Claire didn't particularly want to. She considered the other things she had planned for the day. Perhaps it could wait. "Yes, I suppose I must."

Desaree smiled. "Good, then give me just a moment." She rushed away to Claire's writing desk, opened an ink bottle, grabbed a quill, and then scribbled a quick line in response to King Talon's invitation, hardly waiting enough time for the ink to dry. "Anya is waiting outside for a response," she called by way of explanation. Then she popped her head outside the door to speak to Anya, handed off the note, and returned.

This day was meant to be a rest day. Both Claire and Desaree had gotten a late start on the morning—a very late start. That was mostly due to Claire's frustration over her previous fight with King Talon. Sleeping away her emotions was always good medicine.

"Now, there is not much time," Desaree said. "We must hurry. I will make you look perfect. Your burgundy gown, that is what you will wear. And your hair net—the one that I got you. It will match well enough. Yes, I can put it on when I finish here." Desaree was mostly talking to herself, coaching herself through the process of preparing Claire for the king's company.

Claire hardly heard a word of her muttering. Her mind was too caught up on the note she held. She read its contents repeatedly, trying to determine any hidden messages.

"Well, you might as well read it aloud while you sit there," Desaree said as she fastened Claire's hair net into place.

Granting Desaree her request, Claire kept her gaze on the note as she recited King Talon's words. "Dear Lady Claire—"

"Oh, he is so formal, is he not?"

Claire nodded before continuing, "I admit that this is short notice. I would very much appreciate the honor of your company for today's midday meal—"

"The honor? Gods above!"

"If it is favorable, please join me in my tower promptly at noon. Yours truly, King Talon."

Desaree sighed loudly as Claire finished reading. "Yours truly...What do you think it means?"

"Maybe it means his ears were ringing. Perhaps he overheard us talking about him and wants to put things straight, specifically about the womanizing part."

The color drained from Desaree's face. "You do not think...?"

"Gods, no! I was only kidding." Claire hid her dismay behind jokes and light humor. Inside she was squirming. She wasn't sure what King Talon had up his sleeve, but she had something up her own—the Dragon Stones.

"There now, we must finish up quickly. Come along." Desaree led her over to the wardrobe where she helped her get ready for the unexpected occasion.

Not long after, Claire found herself standing before King Talon's tower guards. Now that she was here, she began to strongly regret agreeing to the invitation. Perhaps she ought to have declined. Given their track record, it seemed an argument was inevitable, even though she made a mental note to behave. She had told Desaree she would try. Chances of success were slim, especially considering what she carried in her pocket.

She nervously reached for the leather pouch with the Dragon Stones. It was warm to her touch. Since his return, King Talon had not requested them. She was curious as to why. Nonetheless, she feared the burden. The Stones belonged in the Gable Forest where they could be properly protected, and she hoped to convince King Talon of this. If he disagreed with her...

"Good Afternoon, Lady Claire. The king is expecting you." The guards at the door permitted her entry.

All too quickly she was ushered into the main living area of the king's tower. A quick glance told her everything had been meticulously cleaned after the Vodar attack. Not a single trinket was out of place.

King Talon strode into the room just as the guards closed the door behind her. "Lady Claire, welcome." He bowed. His facial expression was all business as usual, with no sign of emotion.

She gracefully curtsied before saying, "Thank you, Your Grace."

While she had grown accustomed to Dragonwall's formalities, she still struggled to be serious during them. As a result, she had to cement her lips tightly in place to keep from snickering at the flamboyant greeting.

"I appreciate your coming under such short notice. I am certain you have far better things planned today—"

That was an understatement.

"—so I will make our meal together short. This way, please." King Talon motioned for her to precede him through a door leading to a formal dining room. The long table was set with only two place settings, one at the head, and one beside it. She considered strutting to the head of the table and taking a seat. How funny it would have been! Instead, she took the place beside it.

The moment she sat, King Talon was behind her to push her chair in. A frown tugged at her lips. There was no need for such a polite gesture; she didn't know what to make of it.

Give him a chance to show kindness. He deserves an opportunity for redemption...

She rolled her eyes at Cyrus's aside, but otherwise remained silent. Sometimes, Cyrus sounded a lot like Desaree.

Instead of ruminating on the current awkward mood in the room, Claire took a moment to study her surroundings. The dining table seated ten. Aside from their two place settings, it was otherwise empty. No food had been brought forth as of yet.

The room itself was a bit too closed-off for her taste, but that was the way of castles. Fortunately, there were two large windows along the far wall. Because it was a tower, the outer wall was curved. The windows were situated such that they gave stunning views of the sea beyond.

The remainder of light in the room came from the wall sconces and an overhead chandelier. Her eyes traveled upward. The chandelier over the table was magnificent. Its multiple tiers were filled with candles, all lit, all twinkling down at her. She found herself gazing up, distracted, until King Talon cleared his throat.

Donning an air of politeness, she turned to him. "I find myself mesmerized," she offered by way of explanation.

"Indeed. It is easy to understand why. The piece is a work of art."

"Did you have it commissioned yourself?"

"Hardly! It has been here for years immeasurable."

"Like yourself," she muttered under her breath. She hadn't meant for him to hear—but naturally he did.

"I must seem quite old to you, no doubt."

"I—" She cleared her throat as heat flooded her face. "I forgot that you Drengr have superb hearing. Please forgive my joke."

King Talon's nostrils flared, but he did not laugh. "It is forgiven."

She glanced in front of her and was relieved to find that each place setting had been furnished with a goblet of water. She eagerly grabbed hers and sipped, allowing the awkward silence to lengthen. She felt King Talon's regard burning into her and was relieved when he finally broke the silence. "I have been largely unavailable to you lately. Recent events have garnished every spare moment of my time. Once you became my ward, I had hoped to check on you more often than I have. I have failed rather miserably as of late—"

Her coughing interrupted his final words. She had unintentionally choked on her water. She patted her chest several times before awkwardly apologizing and setting down the goblet. "Your duties are time consuming, Your Grace. I understand that perfectly well. You need not worry about me. I am used to taking care of myself."

"How are your lessons progressing?"

"Not as well as I had hoped."

"How so?" He tilted his head to the side.

She was initially taken aback by his desire to know more, but since he appeared genuinely interested, she spent several minutes bringing him up to speed. Once she got to talking, she found it difficult to stop. It didn't help that he proved to be a good listener, which rather surprised her. It also annoyed her because it clashed with how she felt about him.

When she got to the part about how uncomfortable and wrong magic felt, he stopped her to say, "I find it is rather upsetting that you are struggling with the language. It is my understanding that those who are new to magic often struggle for months. If you are certain that your struggle is abnormal, I will investigate the matter. I owe Marcel a visit anyway. Is that favorable?"

"I—yes. I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

"Good. And what about everything else? Your tutors are to your liking?"

"I suppose. I like them all except for Mage Targa." She covered her mouth. The words were out before she realized what she said.

Fortunately, King Talon took no offense to her bluntness. "Mage Targa's personality is uninviting," he said, all but agreeing with her. "Even I am not afraid to admit it. I can understand your intimidation for the man."

"Lady Caterina does not make things any easier," she darkly muttered. Merely talking about Caterina soured her mood. "The two of them play off one another to undermine me. I'm pretty sure they do it on purpose."

At this news, King Talon frowned. It was the first true emotion he had displayed since sitting down at the table. Earning his displeasure on the matter fortified her spirits. For once, she felt as if he was on her side. It was both unfamiliar and heartening to earn his agreement.

"Lady Caterina can be—" King Talon took in a breath. "—difficult."

"To say the least!" She agreed.

A flicker of a smile pulled at the corners of King Talon's mouth. "If Lady Caterina gives you any further trouble, come to me directly. I do not want your learning jeopardized in any way."

"I..." She hesitated. The idea of running to the king whenever Caterina misbehaved did not sit well with her. She was not a tattletale, nor was she a coward. Instead of agreeing, she steered the conversation in a different direction. "After my first lesson, Caterina told me to stay away from you. She threatened me and claimed that you belonged to her. May I boldly guess that it isn't true?"

She wasn't sure why she blurted it out. Perhaps part of her wanted to know what he would make of such news. Mostly, it was because she was curious to chip away at his façade. The real question was: would she find anything hidden beneath? Or would there just be more of the same?

"Lady Caterina. Remember, we must observe appropriate formalities. And, did she really?"

"Your feigned look of surprise does not fool me, Your Grace. I have heard the rumors. The popular one is that she wishes to be your queen. Therefore, I can only guess that she must see me as a threat to her livelihood."

"There is no fooling you, Lady Claire."

"Then the rumors are true? The two of you might become married despite—"

King Talon barked a laugh that nearly shook the foundations of his tower. "Married? Despite what?"

"Despite the fact that her father was a traitor."

Though he quickly schooled his features, King Talon's eyes continued to dance with mirth. "I agreed, in the presence of my Lower Council, to consider the marriage. It was done to silence certain lords. Since you have taken such an interest in me, I shall put your worries to rest. I can assure you, I have no intention of marrying Lady Caterina. That would be dangerous for everyone, myself included."

"You do not like her then?" She asked, just to be sure.

"Gods above! I do not have feelings of any kind for that wretched woman!"

As if on cue, a number of serving men entered the chamber, arms laden with silver platters of food. The conversation came to a halt as men in their livery began placing the food. These must have been King Talon's own personal tower servants because Claire didn't recognize any of them from her time serving.

Everything was meticulously arranged before the men stepped backward to line themselves against the wall. There they stood motionless like statues. Claire turned her gaze away from them and studied what was before her. It appeared that King Talon went above and beyond, given the feast he had ordered. But perhaps this was commonplace? After all, what could possibly be so special about a short lunch?

"Before we eat," King Talon said, their previous conversation forgotten, "I have something for you."

Her eyebrows pulled together as she looked over at him. Once again, his behavior surprised her.

"Stay here a moment, please."

As soon as he disappeared from the room, her imagination went wild. Fortunately, he returned as quickly as he had disappeared, but this time carrying a flat, black box. He sat down with it. She eyed the box suspiciously, drawing several rushed conclusions of her own.

King Talon broke the silence. "I wanted...I think..." He shook his head before falling silent. Then he thrust the box at her unceremoniously.

Her confusion increased. She struggled to keep her face neutral as she took it from him. "What have I done to warrant a gift?"

He sat rigid in his chair, studying her. "Please forgive me, Lady Claire. This...this is rather difficult." As he regarded her, he rubbed the back of his neck.

At that moment, something inside her clicked into place; everything sharpened into clarity. "You haven't apologized to a woman before, have you?"

He shook his head and his eyes fell to the table.

Was this really happening? She refused to get her hopes up this time. Still, she said, "I think the key is, don't build it up so much. Once the words are out, you will find it much easier than you realized."

He nodded, his gaze still intent on the table. "I should have apologized to you long before this. In truth, you are right. I have built the act up so greatly that the idea of confronting you..." He sighed. "My treatment of you since your arrival has been deplorable. For that, I can never forgive myself. I wish to say I acted out of grief, but that would be a lie. I am sorry."

After several moments that felt like a lifetime, he lifted his gaze to meet hers. She saw in the depths of his eyes that his apology was genuine. He really was sorry! She took a deep breath as if breathing for the first time. Something that had been squeezing her heart, choking it like a thorny vine, loosened its hold. The freedom left her smiling. She wanted to throw her arms around him, to hug him and thank him for freeing her, for freeing both of them. Instead, she remained calm and allowed him to continue for fear of ruining what was becoming a precious moment.

"I grow tired of fighting with you, Claire. It affects me deeply. I hope that we might come to a truce—you and me. That is the reason for my gift. It is a symbol, if you will, that from now on, I vow to treat you as you ought to be treated, nothing less."

This time, she was the one left speechless.

"I do not deserve your forgiveness," he went on to say, "yet I ask it all the same. No! I beg for it. I understand that it will take time, but I dearly hope to earn it. Is what I seek possible?"

Claire's throat was suddenly parched. She wanted to reach for her goblet of water, but she felt paralyzed. All she could do was nod stupidly. "I...I will try, Your Grace. I think it will take some time, but I promise that I will try."

King Talon exhaled loudly. This was clearly a weight off his shoulders too. Now she pitied him all the more. Seeing his struggle play out before her helped her to understand how ill-equipped he was at dealing with women and apologies. "Talon..."

His eyes locked onto hers, hungry, as if he desperately needed what she was about to say. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you. Thank you for apologizing. I cannot explain how much it means to me to know you are sorry."

"I am—truly sorry."

This turn of events, entirely unanticipated, left Claire slightly shocked. Suddenly shy, she looked down at the box. Her eyes watered with emotion, but she remained in control. The thin box rattled when she gently moved it. The sound confirmed her suspicions, but she said nothing. "Open it," King Talon prompted at last. So she did.

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