Faster.
Faster.
Faster.

The wind slapped Alleyni in the face, blowing her hair in every direction. She pushed herself harder and harder, feeling the momentum run like a tremor through her body. Her feet pounded across the grassy hills to the beat of her breathing. Her pace increased, and she gathered every ounce of energy and threw it into her body, hurtling forward as fast as her legs could possibly carry her. When her strength was finally spent, she launched herself onto the ground, rolling over and landing on her back, limbs spread apart. She breathed in deeply, the warm spring air rushing into her lungs.

The wind scattered her long pale blonde hair like a halo around her as she laid back, soaking in the warm sunlight, the sweet smell of fresh flowers, and the soft grass underneath her slender body. Freedom.

This freedom was small, for she was still imprisoned, but at least this gave her a semblance of freedom. Alleyni's cage, towering over her since birth, was the imperious castle. The shadow of the castle painted her in cold gray shadows, looming over her like her father—always there, always watching, always controlling. Somehow, lying outside in the sunshine was more like home than that dark, stoic castle would ever be. No matter how far she ran, however, she could never go far enough to be free of its shadow.

Alleyni lay back again, not wanting to think about her family or anything besides the sunshine and the grass and the blue, blue sky. She closed her eyes, relishing the quiet solitude.

"Hey."
Alleyni's eyes popped open to see Evyn sitting next to her. Her best friend grinned then leaned back to look up at the sky, his eyes nearly matching the light blue hues.

"You scared me." She scowled though a grin played at the corners of her mouth

"Sorry." His sideways smile spoke otherwise.
"Yeah, I'm sure."

Alleyni sighed as they both stared into the sky. These were the stolen moments that gave her just enough strength to endure the castle. It awaited her, and she could feel in Evyn's tenseness that her momentary liberation was drawing to a close.

"They sent me to get you. Your father and Lyssa want to talk to you."

"Lucky me." Alleyni smirked. "What is it this time?"

Evyn laughed. "Some scheme Lyssa's concocted."

"Oh, those are always my favorite; I can't wait."

An audience with Ghael and Lyssa was perhaps the exact thing Alleyni had been trying to evade. As they walked back to the castle, it seemed to grow in size as they grew nearer, swallowing them in its shadow. Alleyni ran her hand along the cold, damp stone and shuddered. Why do I live here?

"Alleyni," Evyn prodded.

She sighed, "I'm coming."

"No, you're putting it off as long as you can. Come on."

"You just want to see Lyssa," Alleyni scowled.

Evyn looked away from her and Alleyni tried to swallow her resentment. She tried to ignore Evyn's attraction to her younger sister and arch nemesis, but it festered inside of her like an insidious, jealous serpent. He's still my best friend, even if he does have inexcusable taste in women. She shoved the unwelcome jealousy into its home in the pit of her stomach.

After passing under the portcullis, they walked through the tall red door at the entrance to the palace courtyard, the inlaid gold designs glinting in the sunlight that leaked across the courtyard. Bypassing the myriads of servants and soldiers that milled throughout the courtyard, Alleyni and Evyn walked up the winding stone staircase to King Ghael's chambers. Two armed guards stood at the door and glared when Evyn tried to enter with Alleyni.

Alleyni noticed the foul looks and scowled, "Just let him through. He's with me, and you know that."

At the princess's command, they begrudgingly allowed Evyn to pass. Evyn was not of royal birth and merely a young, orphaned manservant brought up in the castle whom Alleyni had befriended and thus was received much ill treatment at the hands of the guards.

Ghael, king of Savyl, sat behind a mahogany desk. The windows were shrouded in dark curtains leaving the room in near darkness save one candle on the desk. His salt and pepper hair was looking more like salt than pepper these days, but the golden crown that circled his head bespoke his authority.

"Alleyni. Where have you been?" Ghael's dark features grew even darker as he scowled at her, taking in her disheveled dress and wild hair.

"I'm here now."

She cocked an eyebrow in challenge and felt her blood boil a little as she tried to keep her temper in check. Before Ghael could grant her a scathing rebuke, Alleyni's sister entered King Ghael's chambers.

Lyssa, honey blonde hair and luminous dark blue eyes, looked head-to-toe like a princess. She pranced into the room as if she were skipping across clouds. Her glowing eyes caught onto Evyn, and she murmured his name while running her finger across his shoulders.

Evyn's face colored a little as he glanced from one princess to another, finally casting his eyes to the ground. "Princess Lyssa."

But Lyssa had already moved to her next victim, diabolically eyeing Alleyni. "Alli! So good of you to come."

"Lyssa, always a pleasure." Alleyni frowned at her younger sister, impetuously placing a hand on her hip. "What do you want?"

"Alleyni, do not speak to me like that. I am your father," Ghael thundered, slamming his hand on his desk.

Alleyni raised an eyebrow flippantly. "I am all too aware of that."

Lyssa walked to her father and placed a hand on his arm pseudo-lovingly. "Father and I were talking this afternoon about politics and such. We didn't invite you earlier because we know you don't like to get involved and our conversation would only bore you." Lyssa smiled sweetly and curled a blonde lock around her finger.

"I'll say it again. What do you want?"
"Alli, dear, you know how busy we've all been, what with planning the arrival of your royal guests tomorrow."

Ah, yes, the day I've been looking forward to for so long. Alleyni closed her eyes.

"I've been trying to forget."
Tomorrow, men from the four corners of Zeina would show up at her front door, begging for her hand, or rather, her crown, in marriage. Alleyni had been dreading this day for over a year. The tradition was ludicrous, and she hated feeling like a piece of meat auctioned off to the highest bidder.

"Well, I know how much you have been trying to...evade your duties as the eldest princess to procure a suitable companion for your crown."

Lyssa acted as if finding a "suitable companion" was as simple as purchasing a sturdy horse or buying a gown for a ball.

Alleyni glared at her sister warily. "I'm sorry, I just think that choosing the person you're going to spend your life involves more than simply finding the bloke with the most money and power."

Lyssa laughed. "Alli, you're too funny. Of course, as your sister, I noticed your trepidation about your ensuing engagement, so I immediately came to Father."

Ghael looked up from his desk, and nodded his acquiescence. "Lyssa is looking out for you, Alleyni. We have found a solution that will suit you both."
A cauldron of dread stirred in Alleyni's stomach. Whatever comes next cannot be good. Anytime her father or sister said they were looking out for her, pure pandemonium ensued.

Lyssa smiled at Ghael again. "So Father and I agreed that it would be best for all of us if you and I switch places. We all know that you have no interest in marriage and are not likely to woo anyone with your current physique. So we thought you wouldn't mind if I started to court for a suitable husband instead of you."
Alleyni stared at her in disbelief, her jaw slowly dropping. Lyssa was a deceitful brat, but she'd never feared conniving schemes from her—at least, not of this nature.

"Father?" Alleyni pleaded, staring into her father's dark blue eyes and begging him to find any shred of compassion in his heart for her.

Ghael looked uncomfortably from one daughter to the other. "Alleyni, you know of our financial struggles of late. Quickly finding your sister a husband would certainly be the wisest move for Savyl politically and financially. If she can wed someone who can give a rich dowry and an even richer alliance, we can do very well. This is for Savyl, really."

Alleyni laughed humorlessly and shook her head in disbelief. "So this really is just about the money? You would sell your daughter for money?"

Ghael hesitated, "Not just the money. Your sister also has the desire to be wed before she grows...old. And what with your current behavior, it will save me the embarrassment."

Alleyni scowled, feeling her face stain red. She knew that many residents of Savyl thought she should be finding a husband instead of gallivanting across the countryside, so of course, Lyssa would be the hero, find a husband, and save Savyl from financial bankruptcy. Everyone loved Lyssa, even Evyn.

"So my rightful role as heiress and princess is to be disregarded, and I am to be left to rot away as a spinster because I'm unsuitable for marriage as an embarrassment to all of Savyl? Lyssa will marry someone gathered to woo me—"

"Oh, the suitors will be under no false pretenses. The invitations merely said 'Princess of Savyl'. I don't expect any complaints when they see me instead of you." Lyssa winked at Alleyni and laughed.

Everything inside of her was raging, boiling, threatening to spill over. Her heritage, her position, her crown, everything was being thrown aside to leave room for Lyssa. Any power that came with her position would be sacrificed for money and convenience. If Lyssa married before Alleyni, Alleyni would forfeit any chance of marriage. Any future outside of the castle of Savyl would be immediately forsaken. Her power would evaporate. Suddenly, the musty air felt smothering, and she frantically glared at the walls, wishing for escape. If the suitors held nothing else, they had taunted her with the chance to be free from this prison, and if the crown held nothing else, it was the opportunity to make a difference and act as her own person. All of that was gone now, destroyed in Lyssa's vie for power.

Finally, Alleyni cast her eyes to the ground. "I have little say in this, do I?"

"Lyssa can't proceed without your acquiescence, as you are her elder," Ghael answered slowly.

"Oh, Alli, you don't mind, do you? You have never much cared for men or politics anyways." Lyssa prodded, "You won't deny Savyl of the resources it so desperately needs, will you?"

Suddenly, Alleyni drew herself to her full height and stood, rigidly glaring at her sister. "Don't pretend, Lyssa. This isn't about Savyl. This is about you, and my opinion is as worthless as I am."

"Watch your tone, daughter," Ghael harshly rebuked, "I'm saving you from a fate you despise and giving your sister what she wants. Plus, we're saving Savyl. What more could you possibly want? Why must everything be about you?"
Alleyni felt her face grow hot at his rebuke, and she struggled to find words as she glared at both her father and Lyssa.

"I hate you both," she finally sputtered.

She turned to run out, but Ghael was at her side in an instant, grappling her arm tightly. Before she could jerk away, he slapped her across the face, "You would do well to remember who is in control here. You are an embarrassment to Savyl, and you are fortunate for the many liberties you've already been given. I would suggest you quietly enjoy them and stay out of the business of the country that you care so little about."

Alleyni willed away the tears that sprung into her eyes as she held her raw cheek, glaring at her father. He is a monster. Alleyni turned and sprinted out of the room, wishing she could escape the walls that were falling down around her.

~~~~~

And now you've met Alleyni? What do you think of her so far? She's certainly a little different from Kiva! How about her family?

I'd love it if you would vote or comment if you enjoyed the first two chapters, and be sure to stay tuned for the next chapters to be published on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

~ Hannah