Aries and the Prince No More, page 25
“Wow, wasting no time, are we?” he said, laughing before making his first move.
She hadn’t had the chance to play much chess once she moved to Fairfield, unless she played with her father or Kristoff, but she loved the game, and she felt confident that she would be able to beat him.
Typically, she found it difficult to focus on one task for a long time, but chess was one of the activities that got all of her attention and, in some regards, too much of it. She would become so fixated on the game that on her turn she sometimes forgot to breathe until her body reminded her of its need for air.
Moving her pieces took a long time because she tried to play several steps ahead and consider what may result from her choices. Lee, on the other hand, moved quickly and efficiently, while he used conversation to distract her, something she had not encountered in a game of chess before since it would be considered rude in the Apex, but she felt confident that his tactic wouldn’t work on her. It was obvious from his quick actions and casual demeanor that he didn’t take chess as seriously as she did, and she knew she could easily beat him in just a few moves. Move after move, she progressed her strategy and she felt as if the game was all but won. But on the turn before she guaranteed her victory, she heard, “Checkmate.”
She looked up to see him smirking in a very irritating way. She at first thought he must have been talking about her next turn and accepting that he was about to lose, but the smile on his face made her realize he had won.
“You can’t be serious. How?” she asked, trying to hide her frustration at not seeing her defeat coming. But after she looked at the board, she saw that he used his bishop and knight to secure checkmate. She knew that utilizing the knights for a checkmate was a sign of an advanced player, and she had assumed, which seemed foolish now, that he wasn’t good enough to do such a thing.
“Wow—okay,” she said, nodding, impressed by his skill. “Well done. Okay, again. This time I’m white.”
“Boy, you take chess serious, don’t ya?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Okay, but the loser has to pick up the pieces, house rules and all that.”
“House? More like carriage rules,” she replied sarcastically.
Lee laughed at her insult. “There’s that fiery spirit we all know and love.”
The game was much more intense this time because she knew what she was up against. Neither of them could gain an advantage as they continued to foil one another, and eventually they reached an inevitable stalemate.
“Well, a tie. Satisfied?” he asked in a tone that she classified as smug.
“One more game, and if I don’t win, we can stop,” she replied coldly, still hyper-focused on identifying the best way to beat him. “But this time, you go first.”
“You sure, love? That is giving me the advantage.”
“I’m sure,” she replied flatly.
Once again, the game started and they played with more focus than either of the previous games. Lee remained silent. There was a flurry of moves in which they both traded off several pieces, but Aries finally secured a checkmate. She used one of her pawns to cross the board, and right after it became a queen, she placed Lee’s king in checkmate.
“Cheeky, very cheeky, but I love it! Good game,” replied Lee happily.
“You didn’t let me win, did you?” she asked, eyes narrowed. “Because that would be really insulting of you.”
“No, of course not! You have my word. I haven’t lost a game of chess in years, though, so I am impressed, and a little scared to be honest. You got all intense and quiet, and for a split second, I thought you may physically harm me,” he said, laughing.
“I thought you Romani were fearless,” she retorted, forcing a smile, struggling to snap out of the trance she entered during the game.
“Nah, we fear plenty, but nothing I have ever encountered is as terrifying as you playing chess. Even scarier than when you tried to knock my head off.”
Aries and Lee continued to talk about the tourney and whatever else popped into their heads. Before they knew it, the light from the candle had shrunk, telling them how much time had passed.
“Wow, I didn’t realize we had been talking for so long,” said Aries struggling to keep her eyes open in the dim light and feeling like she could sleep for an entire week.
“How about them conversational skills now, eh? Told you I have quality conversations.”
She was beginning to love how annoying he was when he was being arrogant. Without saying anything, she gently pressed her lips against his. Keeping them there until it felt just right, then she turned over, made herself comfortable, and in a sarcastic tone, she said, “Night, mate.” A devious smile spreading across her face.
Chapter 22
The next few days passed quickly, which shocked Aries since, from her experience, long trips were full of monotony.
The beauty of the Southlands continued to astonish her. After they left the lush, grassy plains they had been traveling over, they found themselves approaching the foothills of the Romani Mountains. Unlike most mountains she had seen. These were covered in pine trees, and it was common for a lingering fog to blanket them. Aries wondered how effective the fog would be in deterring an airship attack, pondering if that played a role in why the Apex never sought to colonize the South.
When she became bored, she imagined what life would be like living in the mountains. Lee told her that the Romani had inhabited the mountains and the foothills beneath them since the beginning of time. He told her how his ancestors used the mountains to survive and how nobody had conquered their homeland because of the terrain.
Reaching the safety of the mountains was something Aries longed for, yet she worried that the happiness she was feeling would be ripped away from her. All she could do was hope that whatever forces were after her and Kristoff wouldn’t discover their location.
“Not much longer now. Maybe a day and a half before we reach our village,” said Lee, who seemed to sense the stress Aries was feeling.
She smiled gently, grateful for his effort to distract her. “You said the mountains were safe against invaders, right?’
“No safer place in the world, save for the Soulmi lands, but the snow and wilderness there is more deadly than any living enemy,” he replied, smiling at her.
“I hope you are right. I haven’t heard much about the Soulmi. What is their story?”
“They tend to keep to themselves, but we trade with them often and have always helped one another. About the closest thing a clan could have to an ally. If we were under attack or in need of food, they would gladly come to our aide, and vice versa. They value the old ways more than any clan. To them, survival and being in tune with the spirits of the land are valued above all. And that makes sense given that they tend to live in places exposed to harsh cold and all manner of fierce beasts.”
“Sounds like it would be the safest place from the Apex or whatever new regime will be ruling the North.”
“What’s the matter? Don’t you think I can keep you safe? Although, truth be told, I don’t think you need much protection in the first place, judging by how hard you hit. I mean for a girl, that is,” he said jokingly.
Aries punched him in the shoulder, and he rubbed his arm. “See what I mean.”
“What do you think will become of the North if the Apex has fallen?” she asked, still deep in thought.
“Same thing that happens when an empire falls: chaos. Eventually, someone will take power for themselves and start up a new rule that is more of the same. Hopefully, the North continues to fight amongst themselves and not pay us Southerners any mind.”
“I just feel bad for the people. The Apex was oppressive and needed to change, but without them, there will be widespread chaos amongst all six of the realms. I doubt Carthage has a plan to govern such a vast network,” she said pessimistically.
“Not much we can do about it either way. I hate it for the common folk. The good thing about the Southlands is that there are no monarchs or nobility. Everyone here is a free person and treated as an equal. If a member of our clan isn’t able to make it, we all help so they have what they need. And, if you want to make a name for yourself, you have to earn it. You can’t just be born into it. Honestly, having a famous parent makes life even harder because you are judged twice as hard.”
It must be nice to have a community that actually looks out for one another. This was something that she never witnessed in Fairfield, although she couldn’t blame the people since they barely had enough for themselves. “What about you?” she asked cautiously. “We’ve never really spoken about your parents.”
“Not much to be said really, my mum loved to partake and drank herself into an early grave. My dad died in a duel with a member of the Guul. My dad was a great fighter whose best years were behind him, and the man who challenged him knew as much and took it as an opportunity to make a name for himself.”
“That is horrible—I am so sorry,” she replied, not sure how to respond.
“Why are you sorry? Did you help the bloke kill him?” he said lightly. Aries usually loved his dark sense of humor, but she was afraid to laugh.
“So, what happened to the man who killed your father? Was he arrested?”
Lee laughed. “People don’t really get arrested much down here. Even if it was a violation of clan law, in this case, he was within his rights. Of course, good ole dad could have refused the duel, and no harm would have come to him, but he was more prideful than smart.”
“So this man killed your father and got to live his life?”
“Well, yes and no. He got to live his life, or what was left of it, but let’s just say it was cut short after my dad’s son got word of what happened. He traveled all the way to the Guul lands and challenged Foy to a duel, which he tried to refuse until his chieftain stepped in and told him that refusing a son the right for vengeance would result in banishment.”
“Do you have a brother?” she asked.
“Sure don’t,” he said.
Aries laughed. “Did you really just refer to yourself in the third person for that entire story?”
Lee smirked. “People usually like when I tell the story that way. Makes for a more dramatic delivery than just saying me and some of my lads traveled for weeks just to goad an old man into fighting me.”
“Now I see why you’re so popular. It’s your great storytelling, isn’t it?”
“It sure ain’t my cooking skills, that’s for certain.”
“I can vouch for that,” she said with a short laugh. “Sorry for all of the questions, but were you and your dad close?”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind talking to you. After all, you shared a lot about your past and what brought you here. But no—we weren’t close, really. Truth be told, he was a bit of an arse. Well-liked by our clan, but hated by the other clans. Not many people were as skilled as my father, and he knew that, so he would often pick fights and make enemies that didn’t need to be made, especially if they were Guul. He was also awful to my mum, which didn’t help with her drinking. Although once he died, the drinking got worse, and it didn’t take long before she joined him in the next life. It never made sense to me.”
“How old were you when she died?”
“I was fifteen.”
“Wait, so you were only fifteen years old when you dueled your father’s killer?”
“Not hard to do when you’ve been raised to fight your entire life. If you think I am good with a wooden dagger, you should see me with Romani steel,” he said, sounding overly arrogant. The smile he was trying to force told her he was attempting to lighten the mood. She knew he tended to do this when things got too serious. It was something she recognized easily since she was the same way.
“So, if you didn’t like your dad much, why try to avenge him? Especially when you could have easily died yourself?” she asked, curious about the customs of the Southlands. Admittedly, she was a little jealous. She wished that she could simply challenge the person responsible for killing her and Kristoff’s parents—not only the revenant but whoever was controlling it.
“I never really gave it much thought, if I’m honest. It’s just something you do. A duel to settle an argument is usually fought to first blood or fought similar to the tourney. Instead, Foy insisted that he and my father fight to the death. Foy had many opportunities to challenge him while my father was still in his prime, but instead he waited until my father’s best years were behind him. A nice way of saying he was an old drunk who was very out of shape. Foy did what he did, knowing I would have to retaliate or risk a clan war. So, I figured I would give him what he asked for.”
“That makes sense, but didn’t you worry that giving him what he wanted only helped his cause? Imagine the clout he would have had if he killed not only your father but you too. And I am sure over time, in telling the story, his clan would neglect the part about you being fifteen years old. Or what about if Foy had a son? Wouldn’t the cycle of revenge just continue?”
“Welcome to the Southlands,” said Lee laughing. “That’s the way it is here. Blood feuds and revenge are a way of life. Back in the day, the land was in constant war. Entire clans and families were wiped off the map on a whim. Sometimes a war could rage for years, all over a simple argument, so imagine what it would be like if someone killed someone they shouldn’t have. I don’t know if it was because of the glory war brings, or if it was to avoid appearing weak,” he shrugged. “Either way, that’s how things were back then, well, before Clan Harald started to mediate clan interactions, which helped put an end to it. Oh, and he did have a son. You met him and crushed his soul harder than I ever did.”
Aries eyes widened when she realized who Foy’s son was. “Wolfe?! Why hasn’t he tried to avenge his father?” Aries asked, still shocked by the revelation.
“He’s probably just waiting for the right time. The Guul are even more barbaric than the rest of us when it comes to revenge. Meaning his lot doesn’t respect him much since he hasn’t made a move to avenge his father. I think that is why he works extra hard to show everyone how strong he is. Hate and vengeance are powerful motivators, but if a person is a coward at heart, it won’t make them crazy enough to face certain death.” Lee looked at Aries for a moment. “You probably think we’re all barbarians like they told you, huh?”
“No, not at all. I wish the North was the same way. If it was, I would challenge everyone who played a part in my father’s death.”
“Their time will come, I give you my word,” replied Lee, who was looking directly at her with a serious expression. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, her breath catching in her throat. Anytime they touched, it made it hard for her to breathe. Aries didn’t know why she found herself so into Lee, but her feelings were growing stronger by the day.
They rode on in silence for a little bit, and Aries thought about what Lee had said, wondering if she would still seek revenge if she knew that it would kill her. Only a week ago, she would have said yes without question. But now that she felt some semblance of happiness, her answer wasn’t quite as clear.
“Would have been nice to have you to talk to back then. Maybe you could have talked some sense into me. If I’m honest, though, I’d have done it all the same, I bet. Nothing like winning when the odds are against ya. I bet you can relate to that. Look how well you did in your first tourney, even having never been to the Southlands or seeing how we fight. All of the others have seen each other fight for years and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Not to mention being a girl from the North can have its own disadvantages.”
Aries knew he was complimenting her but it was hard to take it that way. “What do you mean ‘a girl from the North’?” she asked.
“You have that scary look in your eyes again,” he said with a giant smirk, staring at her in amusement. “Just saying, how many girls up North train to fight?”
She couldn’t help but see his logic despite disliking being judged on her sex and where she came from. She knew he was right though; even the girls in Fairfield weren’t trained to fight. In fact, the High Apexian Church viewed self-defense as a male responsibility, and thus forbade women from learning any sort of defense since it was deemed acting in a manner reserved only for men.
Aries was lucky her father viewed the religious edicts as bullshit. She remembered what he said to her when she had stopped training so she could be more like the other girls: “If you are attacked, do you think one of those priests in their fancy robes or the One True God will come to your aid?”
Aries lost herself in thoughts about her father and her mother and how much she missed them both. She was grateful that she had been taught to take care of herself. There wasn’t much she could be thankful for as of late, but she knew things would be much worse for her and Kristoff if she let herself be like one of those Northern girls.
Chapter 23
Before Aries knew it, she was being nudged awake by Lee, who told her that they were near one of their main camps. He had explained to Aries that Romani don’t have cities, but camps. As far as she could tell, this wasn’t much different from a small village, but it was far different than that of an Apexian City, with its large stone structures.
The road cut through the hills with many forks and paths that broke off and led into dense forest. She wondered how anyone could possibly remember how to navigate the roads without getting lost.
Talking to Lee and learning about the Romani lands had made the trip enjoyable and she would have loved the journey to go on longer, but she changed her mind as they grew closer to their destination. Her excitement increased dramatically and she couldn’t wait to get off the road.
“How much longer is it?” she asked, trying to look for evidence of a village in the distance, but her view was obstructed by the large pine trees and foothills of the mountain.
