Rain splattered on the glass panes that looked over the verdant plains now soaked by the storm. Alleyni's eyes were heavy from crying too much and from spending the last day curled up in her room. She could hardly process her feelings as they came. For brief moments, she could almost see clearly, she could almost stomach the betrayal, but despair continuously returned, lapping over her like the immutable tide. Sometimes she could hardly breathe as it erupted from inside of her. She hugged her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth. I love him. I love him. I love him.

The light flickering across his face as he kissed the unknown girl replayed over and over in her head. Every heart-wrenching detail had been etched indelibly on her heart. She had not realized—had not known—how deeply he had enraptured her. And now she had nothing.

Evyn had tried to give her solace, and she knew that she still needed to publicly break the engagement, stormy affair though it would be. Her father would be furious, her sister would be elated, and Kyald...well, Kyald was no longer her concern. Between the hurt and despair and brutal truth, horrible gusts of anger tore through her. Nothing seemed real except the pain and anger that were burning inside of her. I wasn't enough for him. I wasn't enough.

That afternoon, Alleyni managed to dress herself and dry her eyes. She needed to end the engagement, to stand up for herself before it was too late. Looking in the mirror, her eyes were dead with shadowed bags underlining them. She tucked her unruly hair behind her ears and adjusted her dress with as much care as she could muster. The door of the grand hall stood closed, and her heart began to tremble. She did not want to face Kyald. But something in her did...what if I imagined it? What if this isn't real, and he's still there, he's still mine? As the door swung open, she closed her eyes and counted to three before walking towards her father's throne.

Per usual, Ghael, Vinrys, and Luiz were in conversation as nobles milled about and servants came at their beck and call. Kyald was among the nobles, and Alleyni's eyes were drawn to him immediately. He was smiling at one of the lords, who was telling some grand story that sent them both into hysterics. Alleyni froze and stared at him, then up to her father. Ghael noticed her lurking at the doorway, and called out to her.

"Alleyni! Come here, daughter."

Alleyni stared at him, her jaw dropping as she tried to form words and every eye in the room turned to her. Evyn, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared at her side. He took her arm and pulled her forward, escorting her to the front of the room. Alleyni could hardly feel her feet move and felt her face go white.

"Al, it's going to be okay. Just make the announcement. We'll get you out of here, I swear," Evyn beckoned to Varyn, who lurked in the shadows and offered her a nod.

Alleyni looked from her best friend, to her father, and then again to Kyald. She finally walked forward until she stood before her father and Vinrys. Ghael's eyebrows were etched with worry as he eyed the unhappy couple.

"Alleyni, what's wrong? What have you done?"

"Father," she paused, and met his eyes with all the bravery she could muster, "I must end my engagement with Prince Kyald."

Although she had spoken the words tremulously, the entire room quieted. Before her father could protest or silence her, she turned and faced the hall.

"I am ending my engagement with Prince Kyald of Sari."

With her words, disillusionment rushed through the room in loud whispers and gasps. Ghael was on his feet and had her arm in his hand. Kyald had joined them and was staring at her with fear and regret.

"What have you done, child? How can you do this to me? What could ever possess you to end your engagement?"

Alleyni looked from the two kings to Kyald. As near as he was, his eyes were bluer than the sky and they pleaded with her. She wanted to betray him, to expose his infidelity and bring shame down upon him. But she could not betray him the way he had her.

"Irreconcilable differences, Father."

"Irreconcilable—girl, have you gone daft? What are you thinking? You will marry Prince Kyald, and I don't care whether you want to or not."

"I will not, Father. In this country, one must have consent from both parties, and I will never marry him. You can torture me or lock me up or kill me for all I care, but I will not marry him."

Ghael raged on but said nothing when Vinrys spoke, "The girl has backbone, Ghael, you must give her that. You would do well to learn from her example."

Vinrys's sharp glare was not for Alleyni but for Kyald. Alleyni turned to go, her body shaking from head to toe as the courage began to seep from her blood. She quickly made her way to the end of hall where Varyn and Evyn awaited her expectantly, but she was stopped by another hand on her arm. She recognized the soft, strong touch. Only a few nights ago, it had held her close.

"Let go of me," she whispered, unable to protest as Kyald stood over her. His gaze was warm and firm in her eyes, every bit as strong and overpowering as it had been only hours before.

"Alleyni, thank you. For not telling my father. You are too good for me," he smiled a little.

Alleyni felt tears rush into her eyes but burning rage held them back. "You're right, yes, I am. Never come near me again. I would have been true to you for all the days of my life."

She held his gaze for a moment longer, and as his hand dropped in surprise from her arm, she whirled past him and marched out of the hall. Kyald called after her, but Alleyni ran forward to hide under Evyn's protective arm, and Varyn stood in his way, hand on his sword.

"Prince Kyald, I don't mean to impose, but the lady does not wish to speak to you." Varyn's voice was nearly as sharp as his sword. Kyald growled at Varyn and tried to push past him, but Varyn grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, growling, "Don't go near her, or I will cut every bone out of your body one by one."

Varyn released the prince, and he fell backwards, staring at them all in utter shock. The trio rushed out, leaving a disgruntled court and a rueful traitor.

Alleyni slammed the door to her father's council chamber and stormed away, furious from their private meeting. As she tried to keep from sprinting down the hallway, she heard him raging after her.

"The demise of our kingdom will be at your hands, you irresponsible, selfish, unscrupulous harlot!"

Alleyni looked back once to see Ghael standing in the doorway, a reckless storm terrifying to behold written in his broad stance and furious expression. His judgment and Kyald's betrayal and her feeling of being utterly alone collided, and she threw off her shoes and sprinted down the hallway to her chambers, dodging maid, guard, and lord alike. Once in her room, she slammed the door close and leaned against it, her chest heaving with heavy breaths of devastation.

I should never have dared. I should never have tried to manipulate my country and my father and everyone. But the blame could not only rest on her but on Kyald. Horrible, lovely Kyald. Alleyni leaned against the door and slowly sunk to the floor, resting her head in the crooks of her arms. She could not cry, or think, or even consider what to do next. Breathing itself was taking all of her strength. In their private conference, her father had condemned her with a diatribe heard throughout the entire castle and demanded to know her reasoning. Her refusal had only instigated further rage.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door and she bellowed, "Leave me alone. I do not wish to hear another word from anyone right now."

"Al?" Varyn's resonant voice vexed her from the other side of the door.

Alleyni took a deep breath, trying to recall his recent kindness towards her and the way he had defended her from Kyald before she opened the door. He stood in the doorway, his emblematic pretension absent. His eyes, aphotic and unfathomable, peered at her.

"Alleyni? Can I come in?" Before she could answer, he stalked in. "I heard your father yelling through the hallways. He's a tyrannical dictator. I'm so sorry. This is all—I just, if I could, I would—it's horrible."

Varyn paced in front of her, anger inscribed in his furrowed eyebrows, indiscriminate frown, and clenched fists; he was action imbued into a man, incapable of remaining still.

"Are you any better?"

"I...I'm trying. I really am. I just let my entire country down and I was stupid; I was so foolish, Varyn. I was so foolish." Alleyni slid back to the ground again, putting her head down.

Varyn crouched next to her, his hand on her shoulder, "You weren't stupid. You may have been foolish, but you were foolishly brave, can't you see that? To even try? To be so unapologetic? You have nothing to be sorry for. I only wish you wouldn't waste all of this on him. Can't you see? He's not worth it. He'll never be worth it, Al."

Alleyni sighed, and sat in one of the chairs in her chamber, leaning her head against the wall, "I know that now. But, Varyn, I need to thank you for defending me. I don't know why you've been so kind and even loyal to some bullheaded princess you owe nothing to."

Varyn tilted his head and looked at her quizzically. "Have you not suspected?"

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, her mind failing to comprehend his words. "What? What are you talking about?"

The mysterious sword for hire continued his pacing, and his words came quick and low, "I'm afraid that what little you know of me is largely a false pretense. You've thought me an arrogant miscreant who cares only about the cheapest girl and cheapest liquor. I can't claim that I'm good, for I am obviously not. I'm a sword for hire; morality has no impact on me. However, the way I have treated you since the day we met is something I...I deeply regret. I'm so sorry. I was churlish and ignorant, and no better than the fiend prince himself. But Al, there's more. I'm more than a sword-for-hire. I'm..."

~~~~~

Anyone else want Varyn to cut all of Kalyn's bones out of his body? And what do you think Varyn's secret is? 

Out of curiosity, which perspective is your favorite so far? Kiva or Alleyni? I like them both for different reasons, but I'm curious what you think!

Thanks so much for reading; please vote and comment!

~ Hannah