Hadion sailed his longship into port and attracted a small crowd. He wanted to jump onto the dock and gather everyone into a bear hug. The last two years were rough in Shadow, but they had made him strong and wise. But, was he strong and wise enough to face his mother after two years gone?
“Hail, Prince. Tis a mighty fine ship you have. Who is the Boatwright?” The Captain of the Docks greeted him.
“Hail, Captain M’rie!” The glee of being home bounded through Hadion’s voice. “Thank you. She was a gift from my aunt on my father’s side. I was not able to learn the Boatwright’s name. Though she is as sturdy as any craft I have ever been in. Has my mother been made aware of my return?”
“Aye My Prince.” Then he whistled. “Her mood hasn’t been the best this last year. Glad I’m not the one heading up there.” He helped Hadion tie off the ship and gave him a hand unloading.
Travel to the castle took four times as long as normal. Hadion felt obliged, and desired, to stop and speak with his people as he passed. Guards called greetings and then saluted him as he entered the castle. Even ‘those who wear tiaras of ice’ smiled at him, which unnerved him – those witches never smiled. Courtiers and the bureaucrats were crammed in the hallway outside the throne room, something that he had never seen before. The High Chamberlain opened the door as he approached and everyone else became silent and found other places to look.
Fifty paces and the only noise was the click of his boots on the marble. His mother, Brenna, sat resplendent upon the throne. She wore white and ice-blue. Her hair was that of the raven and it cascaded in ringlets down to her waist. To her right stood an elderly hag with a tall tiara of ice about the size of Abraham Lincoln’s hat.
The Old Hag stepped forward, “Who is it that comes before the Queen of the Ice Realms today?
“It is I, Crown Prince Hadion, the son of Queen Brenna. It is good to see you again Old Hag, for you I have kept my voice loud in case you hearing has gone like your vision appears to have.” Hadion’s voice boomed throughout the hall.
“Insolent snot-noised child! I could freeze that tongue right out of your mouth.”
Hadion weighed his options: His mother was either glad to see him, or she wasn’t, but either way he couldn’t let this shriveled hull of an old woman treat him like this. “Old Hag, I have traveled far to see my mother. But, if you cast a spell on me I will give you a gift beyond your dreams.”
“Ha! What gift do you think you could give to me, child?”
“The second after you cast a spell on me, I will cleave your head from your body and you will see your head roll to the floor as you die.” Hadion prepared to counter her magic.
They stared at each other for a long quiet minute then the Old Hag inclined her head ever-so-slightly and stepped back into her place.
“You may approach us and attend us, my son,” said his mother.
Was that a smile at the corner of her mouth? As he approached she stepped down of the dais and they embraced. Memories of his youth in Nord flooded through his him. For that moment everything was perfect.
“You look well, Mother.”
“And you my son. I see something in you that wasn’t before. It’s a good look on you.”
“Thank you, Mother. My training has been intense, yet rewarding.”
Queen Brenna looked back at the old woman, “Resume court and have a banquet prepared for tonight. I will walk with my son.”
“As my Queen commands.” The Old Hag bowed.
The Queen held out her arm and Hadion took it then escorted her out of the throne room and into the gardens. Hadion took a minute as they entered the gardens to feel the ebb and flow of magic that kept the area warm and the plants in bloom. It had been a wedding gift from Bleys to Brenna. Hadion had no doubt that his father had done it just to gall ‘those who wore tiaras of ice’. It had worked. Their tiaras melted in the sub-tropical heat of the gardens. Hadion mentally identified the plants and flowers as they walked around.
“How was your time with your father? I must admit that when I made him the deal that he could have you for two years after your sixteenth birthday, I hadn’t realized that it would come so soon.”
“He took me to Amber where I was taught the magic of his family. Then I traveled on my own. Though other Amberites came to visit me while I traveled.”
“I hear you have a new long ship?”
Hadion smiled, “Aye, Mother. She is a sturdy vessel that can handle anything.”
“I had hoped to hear you say that about a woman soon.”
Hadion choked and then coughed.
“Yes?” She asked.
“Mother. My legs have only been on land for a few turns of the glass and you ask me this?”
“Yes. Both as your mother and as the queen it is my duty. You are now well old enough to be married. Since you didn’t bring a wife home we will find you one here.”
“I don’t need a wife. But, thank you for the offer. I must decline. I am perfectly capable of finding one when I do want, or need, a wife.
“Good to hear you say that, my son. We can let that topic rest for now because I have a little favor to ask of you…”
Hadion groaned on the inside. “Yes Mother, what is it?” He kept his voice neutral.
“Tomorrow, after your party tonight, I need some Pure Snow from Mt Thoringard.”
“My party? Really? Pure Snow from Mt Thoringard? The same Mt Thoringard with the ice drakes, snow snakes and the ice that attacks? That Mt Thoringard? Well at least it’s not a large favor.” Hadion resisted the urge to do a face palm.
Hadion had to walk around the block of her home four times before he found her. Thallia came walking down the street with fresh baked loves in her arms. She ran up when she saw him and Hadion wrapped her in a huge hug trying hard not to break the bread. She stood tall, he only had a few inches on her. She smelled of wildflowers and, of course, fresh baked bread. Her locks were so black that ravens envied her and her eyes were the crystal blue of sky after a storm. Hadion was immediately aware that there were even more curves than the last time he was home. She wouldn’t let go of him the first time he tried to let go of the hug, she made him give her another.
“Up for a go at the practice fields? Or has all that travel made your arm soft?” She winked at him as she spoke.
They exchanged pleasantries while she dropped off the bread and then walked around the town all the while heading towards the practice grounds. She picked out a light weight sword and a medium shield. He purposely picked the most cumbersome wooden sword he could find. She cocked an eye at him. He shrugged a response.
She cleared the main fighting circle. It drew a crowd of people cheering. Thallia had been able to best him seven of ten times before he left. Hadion didn’t have any doubts that she would never land another blow on him now. Two years of war, attacks by bandits at night, duels and brawls in bars had honed his skills sharper than any weapon would ever be.
Had Hadion picked a decent weapon the fight would have been over in seconds. Thallia came in low and swept at his knees, which are always venerable to a tall man. Hadion jumped over her shield arm and swapped the weapon to his other had in-flight and delivered a backhanded blow that Thallia caught on the side of her shield. It shattered the top corner of the shield and sent her on her butt. Hadion backed off two steps to all her to regain her feet. The crowd had hushed. Thallia, daughter of the Master of the Fighting School, didn’t get beat at hand-to-hand combat. Thallia stood and shook the sand off then gave Hadion a look.
“You’ve changed.” She said while circling him.
“You noticed.”
“I thought to take you down with my first strike. Two years ago I would have.” She said.
She attacked seven more time and seven times Hadion parried at the last second. She stopped and leaned on the wooden sword. “I can’t believe this. You can beat me.” The wonder was evident on her face.
“I’ve come into my own, you could say.”
She dropped her sword, pivoted then left the field at a sharp clip. He returned his to the rack and head after her. Out in the street he caught a glimpse of her jogging towards the north beach. By the time he made it through the crowds and reached the beach all he could find were footprints going north. They showed him she was running now. Running and crying. He could tell by where the droplets had pulled together the sand. He followed her into the caves at the bottom of the cliffs at the end of the beach.
The light ended just inside and Hadion slowed to a walk and counted his steps. Seven then right, four then left another right after three and then ahead into the pool of light. Where Thallia stood facing away and catching her breath. Hadion stopped, he didn’t need to catch his breath. He didn’t want what was going to happen to happen, yet he did not know how to stop it. With a sigh he walked forward and touched her arm. She spun as fast as an asp strikes and drove her dagger towards his chest.
Hadion grasp her wrist with his hand. “Now, don’t be putting a hole in my shirt.”
“You’re not Hadion. What are you? A demon?”
A quick twist and the dagger tumbled to the sand. “Why don’t you think it’s me?”
“You came back too perfect. You’re taller, faster, stronger and you have muscles on top of the muscles you had. I’m a good judge of warriors. Scratch that, I’m a great judge of warriors. No one gets that good in two years. No one human, that is.” Her voice went from shrill to cracking and she was hysterical. “You’re better than my father now.”
Hadion opened then closed his mouth. He repeated this several times not sure what to say. Thallia was a dear friend, too good to lie too. “Yes. I have changed, but I don’t understand why you don’t think it’s me.” He wanted to shake her.
Why was she questioning him?
Her eyes twitched, she was shaking and shivering. So he did the only thing that made any sense. He kissed her.
“Oh Hadion! It is you.” She buried her face in his shoulder and hugged him.
“So now you believe me?”
“Yes. You still can’t kiss.” She hugged him again.
“What!”
“You’re human, if everything had changed about you I would have known you were a demon, but you can’t kiss.” She was dancing around with excitement.
“You always told me I was a great kisser!” Now he was shaking. Shaking with anger.
“We were sixteen. Of course I told you that. I fancied you, you dolt. Do you think I would tell you that you were a worse kisser than Jeremy?”
“What!” Spittle came out of his mouth.
Thallia realized what she said and clamped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes went wide.
“Hadion, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.” She reached out towards him.
He pulled back from her grasp and turned to leave. Her words rang over and over in his ears. She hadn’t said them in malice, that made them hurt all the more. She was about to attack again, he could feel it. He let it play out. She hit him low in the back with her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him and tackled him to the sand. He rolled with the hit, she had expected that and grabbed his arm thus turning him around. Thallia bounded on top of him and he let her. He knew of at least six ways to hurt her if he decided to.
“Don’t be such a thick stump. I never gave myself to him – only you.” She leaned down and kissed him then started undressing him.
Later as they were leaving he asked, “Can you come to the party early? Otherwise I will be forced to dance with every ugly maiden in the land.”
“I won’t be there, Hadion. And those maidens aren’t ugly.” She had looked away.
“What? Why?”
“Mother got sick and I sold my dress last year to buy her medicine.”
“How is she?”
“Fine now. Though we don’t have the extra that we used too. And those dresses were for girls anyway.”
“Oh. Okay. I understand. Do you mind if I stay to watch the ships coming in? I miss the view.”
“Sure. I have to go home though.” And she left.
The moment she was gone he got to work and grabbed a Trump, “Aunt Flo, are you busy? Great! I need your help. It’s a matter of life and fashion.” To his utter amazement she trumped him back in an hour and passed him through a dress, which was all bagged.
“Don’t be stopping at the pub for one with the boys. Get this to her right away Hadion. It needs a few hours to be fluffed. Do you need clothes too? Also, the dress cover is sealed and black for a reason. No peeking.”
“Thank you. You are the BEST! No. Thanks though. I shifted my clothes back new.”
“Do that too much and they will fall off your back one day.” And she was gone.
He dropped off the dress with Thallia’s mother and headed back to get ready.
The party was magnificent and Hadion had not been surprised to learn that it had been prepared for a year and a half and kept on mothballs, so to speak, until this morning. No wonder everyone was walking around on egg shells awaiting her reaction to his return. His mother had tried to object to his traveling clothes, but Hadion had shifted them to a perfect condition and thus made her argument moot. Most guests did not wear arms so Hadion had compromised on this, and left his axe in the room, and only wore the sword at his side.
It appeared that every eligible girl in the realm was here tonight. Their beauty and dresses took his breath away. Parents had likely saved for years to buy the gems, lace, beads, and stuff. Even being a guy, Hadion knew that formal dresses were a booming industry and it had gone as far as bloodshed for the best seamstresses. He smiled, greeted guests, dancing with pretty young woman and did all those things that were required of a Prince.
Where was she?
Hadion was dancing when she arrived; everyone stopped and stared. When the musicians stopped Hadion turned. She was gracefully walking down the stairs, her long black hair in spirals, her lips were full and a dark ruby red, and she looked beautiful. Her dress was beyond words. What had he started? His current dance partner bowed to him, acquiescing the rest of her dance.
As he approached her took a good look – there was something he was missing. Her colors didn’t match his, they were completely different. He had on high tan riding boots and she had on Forest Green heels. He had on crimson breeches with a thick tan belt, while she had on golden leggings that barley peeked out hem of the dress, which rose ever so slightly to show off her shoes. Hadion’s shirt was silver and styled like a classic pirate’s shirt, Thallia’s dress was buttercreme with crimson ruffles. It had a sheer black lace inlaid with mother-of-pearl, crystals and crimson garnets. Her earring were strings of five pearls going from small to medium to large then back again: tan, silver, crimson, silver, tan. There were matching combs with the same pearl combinations in her hair. Her dress and ensemble put every other dress, except the queen’s, to shame.
Then Hadion found what he was missing as his eyes found her neck. Thallia wore a band of rich tanned leather inlaid with silver knot work. Hadion restrained a gasp. Oh what had Aunt Flo done? Why didn’t she just brand Thallia, with his symbol, on her arse and be done with it? Everyone in the realm would be talking about this tomorrow.
“Lady Thallia, welcome. Upon seeing you I realize that our language lacks the proper words to convey your beauty.” Hadion said as he bowed.
“I hope my prince approves.” Thallia replied.
Was she being coy? “Why of course I approve. I am a lover of the arts; especially the art of beauty.” He held out his hand. “Would you do me the honor of granting me this dance?”
“As my Prince commands.” She replied.
They moved to the dance floor and Hadion nodded to the musicians. The music started and they danced.
“You look so beautiful, Thallia.” He stared into her eyes.
“I had a very hard time deciding if I wanted to thank you for this dress or stab you in the eye.” She whispered without moving her lips.
He tried not to let the surprise show on his face. “And you decided?”
“To let the prince have just what he wanted.”
He didn’t understand, but kept her talking. “What did the prince do?”
“Well everyone in court knows my mother was sick. Everyone in court knows that I sold off my dress and our family sold off extras to buy her the rare medicines she needed. So what do you think everyone in court thinks of me now?” She whispered sweetly. “Especially since you saw fit to put your mark around my neck like you were branding a cow!” She hissed.
“I didn’t…” What didn’t he? Think? Plan? Use common sense?
“You didn’t what, Hadion?”
“I didn’t think. I was careless and only thought that you should have the best dress.”
“Look into the mirror as we dance, Prince.”
Hadion looked and then he saw it. While their colors didn’t exactly match they looked like they were made together. They blended, flashed and complimented each other
perfectly. Oh my.
“Do you like how the Royal Harlot looks, Prince Hadion? Are you pleased with your toy?” She whispered in a mocking tone.
Hadion felt his stomach falling and falling and falling. What had he done? Everyone in court would think that she was his now. That wasn’t what he had meant to do. What could he do now? If he told her he didn’t mean it, it would hurt her and ruin her in court as a discarded plaything of the prince’s. If he kept her then she was, well, kept. He mentally noted the pun.
They were at the end of four dances. If they danced another it would be considered rude on Hadion, as a host. After bowing at the end of the dance he took her elbow and said, “You look good in my collar, though I should have put it on you myself. You will be available for dances later as my schedule allows. Of course you already know where you will be after the party tonight.”
“You presume a lot.”
“I presume nothing. You wouldn’t have put on the outfit and collar if you didn’t want this. I’m glad you made the correct choice in doing so.”
She lowered her eyes and smiled, “As my Prince wishes.”
Later Hadion noted that his mother had a very long conversation with Thallia. Thallia nodded and curtsied a lot during it. He ran into Thallia’s Dad, who was there in his capacity as Master-at-Arms.
“Prince Hadion, you should know, before you go breaking my daughter’s heart, that the dress arrived when she was crying into her pillow because she wouldn’t be at the dance tonight. So bully for you for bringing the dress so she could come. But, son, putting her in that dress sent quite a message to court. I hope you are man enough to back what you did.”
“Sir. I have always held you and your family in the greatest respect. The skills you taught me on the field have saved my life many times. Nothing has changed and nothing will.” Thallia’s dad just nodded and left him alone, apparently satisfied.
Thallia had left early in the morning and Hadion didn’t have time to go after her. He packed to leave for his mother’s favor and was heading out of the castle by first light. Thallia was awaiting him by the gate.
“Why didn’t you just stay if you were going to meet me here?”
“You are a thick stump.” She reached around the corner and grabbed her pack.
“Um. No. Go back to bed.”
“Yours or mine, My Prince?”
“Not the time to be coy, Thallia. Where I’m going is dangerous.”
“Hence why your mother, the Queen, is sending me to aid you… and since I’m the Royal Harlot now, undoubtedly to keep you warm at night.”
“Quit saying that.”
“As my Prince commands.” She curtsied.
Hadion had no choice, but to allow her to come. She was safer with him than without. He had a great time on the two week trip. They talked, walked, made love, climbed, and fought off monsters in no particular order. The battles were fierce, but Hadion and Thallia were two of the best fighters in the realm and even the dreaded ice drakes fell before their swords. The last day coming down the mountain ended in tragedy.
Hadion was lowering Thallia down a sheer cliff face when the rope snapped. She screamed. He screamed. She fell and it made a sickly sound then there was silence. Hadion scaled down the cliff in record time to find an ice stalagmite had pierced her breast. She was gasping for air. Hadion was good at first aid and using local herbs, but this was beyond him. He knew enough not to remove the lance of ice through her breast. He tried to stop the bleeding without moving her.
He grabbed a trump at random, “Can you help me?”
“Pull me through.” Fiona stood there with an oversize pack. The pack had a red plus sign on it. She tossed it to Hadion. “She is bad, Dear. You had best get started quick.”
“What do I do?”
“Well fix her.”
“I don’t know how. I thought you were a doctor.”
“I am, Dear.”
“Then help her.” Hadion screamed.
“My services don’t come free, Hadion. Fix her yourself or pay.”
“What! What do you want? I will pay it. Just fix her.” He ran his shaking fingers through his hair.
“Hear and understand the price, Hadion. You will wrap up here then go back to Shadow Earth and enroll in a medical program and complete it until you become a fully licensed surgeon. It will take you ten years.”
Thallia tried to reach out to him, but couldn’t raise her arm. She feebly shook her head, “No.”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I love you, Dear. Every Prince and Princess of Amber is a surgeon. You will be one too.”
Hadion turned and looked his aunt in the eyes. “Make sure she lives, and is healed. I will pay the price. You have my word as an Amberite on it.”
Fiona cast several spells, never touching the pack. In moments Thallia was bandaged and off the lance of ice. Fiona got in the bag and drew medicine into a needle. “She will be fine. Here is your first modern medical lesson. Give her this shot for the pain.”
Fiona took Hadion’s hand. “Do you understand? I can pop in and cast a spell or two and save her because I am a surgeon. I have the skills in medicine to make magical medicine spells. I won’t always be there when you need a doctor.”
Hadion was shaking, for so many reasons. “I understand. It was my lack of knowledge that would have killed her. I was planning on going to medical school. I just wasn’t in a hurry. Now I know why I’m in a hurry. I just have to get this snow back to mom.” He patted his side and the container was gone. “No. All this for nothing. I will be weeks getting more snow.”
“There is snow all around us.” Fiona said with a smile.
“No. Not snow. Pure snow.”
Fiona scoped up a handful of snow. “So make it pure.”
“It doesn’t work like that. It has to be gathered from a special place, deep within the mountains.”
“Does it?”
“Yes!”
“You mean mortals have to gather it from a special place, deep in the mountains.”
Hadion stared in wonder and the snow in Fiona’s hand became pure snow.
“You will have to walk around, Hadion, while you shift it.”
Hadion did a palm to the forehead. “I could have done that from the beginning, couldn’t I?”
“You will enjoy medical school. And remember, you are an Amberite, A Prince of the Universe. Think like it. Act like it.”
After Fiona left he helped Thallia the rest of the way home. They didn’t speak along the way. Thallia sobbed, but refused more pain medicine. Hadion explained everything to her mom and dad, he thought that he owed them that. Thallia confirmed everything and that seemed to settle them down. Finally it was time for Hadion to go.
“I have to go.”
“I know.” She didn’t look at him.
“It will be for…”
“10 years.” She finished the sentence for him.
“Medical school is tough. I don’t know when I will be back.”
“I guessed. Even through the pain I heard your aunt.” She looked at him and took his hand. “You didn’t have to make that promise for me.”
“She shouldn’t have…”
“No. Hadion, promise me you will not blame her. I heard her and I understand. You need this training. She just made sure you understood how much. Thank you, Hadion.” She rested her head on his shoulder. She sobbed and he felt each tear as it soaked through his shirt and into his heart.
“I love my aunt. It was a harsh lesson.”
At the castle things went better than he had expected. He explained his promise to his mother. She flew into a rage at first and was going to declare war on Amber. Hadion calmed her down by giving her Pure Snow and offering to come back and make as much as she needed when he could. She was appeased and calmed down. She did request that he leave her a room full of Pure Snow. He laughed and said, “No.” he would leave her a backpack full, but not enough to war with Amber. There was no need to rub it in that she couldn’t find Amber if she tried.
He decided to go back to Hawaii for Medical School, since he was already familiar with it and liked the place.