Smeared Writing

I was a goldfish in room of piranhas. A very well-dressed goldfish; silky blue dress with an ankle-length skirt slit up both sides to my knees to make it possible for me to walk. Stiletto style heels ruined that, giving me a ridiculous five extra inches.

I glanced across the room to the raised platform, with the intricately crafted mahogany throne surrounded by five immaculately beautiful women. King Dustin Amarius sat on the throne, staring with striking blue eyes beneath wavy black hair. He wore a militaristic suit with a silver overcoat, only a simple steel crown marking his station.

He, of course, didn’t even glance at me. I had only ever seen him from a distance, and it was unlikely that was going to change much after tonight.

As of today, I was officially an adult. That in and of itself wasn’t much of an accomplishment. Didn’t take much effort to get older. But adulthood marked the end of my Statius Probatum, my six-thousand day trial, starting at my birth, that tested if I was a viable candidate for Heir. I had passed, making me the fourth out of the ten children of Dustin Amarius. Three had not yet finished their SB, and three others had failed. They now lived in exile on the outskirts of Simayel in secluded estates. Honestly, I envied them their freedom.

Dignitaries from all the kinglands attended the celebration. I was largely ignored, despite the purported purpose of the gathering being my elevation. I knew from rigorous political training that the real reason for this gathering was to facilitate interaction. It was a subtle game meant to wrangle out trade deals or spread particular rumors. I just happened to provide a convenient excuse.

All I had to do was wait to be announced. Then I could go find a seat and a servant would bring me dinner. Then I would spend the rest of the time in solitude, avoiding interaction with anyone conniving enough to try to manipulate the greenie.

A server walked by with a platter of small plums, pitted and stabbed with a small wooden stick. I snatched one up, idly popping the plum into my mouth. And then nearly choked. I placed a hand over my mouth to stop the fruit from flying out.

Directly in front of me, a short man with a long beard and garish green robes stood beside a woman that stood taller than me by several inches even in my stilettos. She also wore a robe, purple and of a silky material, tied at the waist with a silver sash. It looked like something I would wear after getting out of the bath. They both wore expressions like they were sucking on lemons.

They were the most powerful people in the room, excluding King Dustin himself.

What in the name of Herscha is the Monarchy of Beridia doing here? Sometimes the rulers of lesser kingdoms would come in person, but the monarchs from the High Seven always sent representatives. Why-

Someone approached the Beridian monarchs holding a glass of Verdan wine. The type that felt like swallowing molten lava and tasted about as good. Not that I would know from personal experience, since I was too young to drink the stuff. Ahem.

The newcomer was male, maybe three years older than me. He also wore a robe, but it only came down to his mid thighs and wasn’t tied shut. Underneath he wore a tight black shirt and stiff black trousers. His expression was more like he had been forced to eat cow dung than suck on a lemon.

So, not only had the Beridian King and Queen come in person, they had brought their heir.

The heir, Prince Caldon, was exactly what all the rumors had said. Tall, like his mother, with broad shoulders and a sharp, angular face. Dark wavy hair that reached to his chin, with nearly black eyes to match.

He glanced my way, his gaze icy. I realized I was standing in the middle of the room, forcing people to walk around me awkwardly. I quickly strode away.

I tried to dredge up memories from my political training. There had to be a very good reason for the entire royal family of Beridia to show up at my Elevation.

My thoughts were cut off by soft ringing. The entire room fell silent. I turned towards the raised platform. A servant wearing a stiff blue suit stood to the side of the platform, holding a small bell.

“Honored guests,” the servant said, his voice enhanced by the specially designed acoustics of the room. “The Grand King of the First Kingdom, Dustin Amarius, announces the acceptance of his third daughter, Kadylin Aris, as his fourth qualifying offspring. From henceforth, she is Princess Kadylin Amarius.”

And then it was over.

I made my way to a table and sat with relief. Someone immediately approached. It seemed the servants had been told to watch for me, so I was being afforded a small amount of courtesy at least.

“I’ll take the least messy dish you have,” I said, watching the guests. “Nothing with gravy. And no wine. I saw the dish cleaner you people have been passing around.”

“I knew that First Kingdomers were arrogant, but I didn’t realize their disrespect extended quite this far.”

I frowned, turning to the servant.

Who was not a servant. I probably looked like I was gaping, but it was only because I had frozen with my mouth open in preparation to issue a reprimand. However, upon consideration, I decided it best not to chide the heir of a powerful foreign kingdom.

“My apologies,” I managed.

Prince Caldon stood imperiously, studying me with cold eyes like pools of dark liquid. I maintained his gaze and mostly didn’t squirm.

“May I offer you a seat?” I finally asked, as he didn’t seem inclined to explain his random visit.

“You may,” he said. But didn’t sit.

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. No way was I playing this game. I wouldn’t let him lead me by the tongue.

He seemed mildly irritated by my silence. I smiled pleasantly. A group of string instruments began to play a soft melody. People started to move away from a section near the raised platform, creating a dance floor.

“Actually, I have been sitting far too long, riding in a carriage to reach your kingdom, princess,” Caldon said. “Would you care, instead, to join me for a dance?”

I blinked. Hadn’t he just called me arrogant? And disrespectful? Did he really expect me to dance with him now?

Yes, I thought. He expects me to act like a proper princess. Turning him down in a room full of important, scheming politicians would start rumors spreading faster than fire on oil.

Still, I looked around desperately for an escape. I did not want to dance with him. I noticed the other three potential heirs, my half-siblings, sitting nearby. They chatted, looking bored but composed. Facing me, Marial sat primly in a sleek silvery gown, her luscious blond hair cascading down her back. I tried to catch her eye. She was very good at drawing the attention of men, with her slender figure, large eyes, and smooth olive skin. She noticed my stare, cocking on eyebrow lazily.

I gave her a pleading look. She glanced from me to the prince, then smiled knowingly. She rose from the chair with intentional grace, showing off every curve of her body. More than one head spun to watch her pass. Prince Creepy, unfortunately, wasn’t facing her.

“You Majesty,” I said quickly, knowing I had already waited too long to respond to his request. “This is my sister, Marial, the second potential heir.” He halfway turned, looking towards her.

“Prince Caldon,” Marial said in her smooth, sonorous way. “I must say, it is quite a surprise to see you here. The rumors do not do you justice.” A calculatedly seductive smile curved her lips.

“Princess Marial.” Caldon bowed shallowly. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

She stepped closer to him, then leaned in so her lips nearly touched his ear. She spoke in a loud whisper that I could barely make out. “Why don’t I explain it to you over a dance?”

He hesitated briefly, but then lifted his elbow for Marial to take and escorted her onto the dance floor.

I held in my sigh of relief. It only took about half a minute before a server came over to ask me if I would like my meal now or later. I gratefully took it now.

He brought out a plate of thinly sliced carrots and tomatoes on top of a pile of weeds. No dressing either, likely because I’d asked for something not messy. At least there was a small dinner roll on the side. No butter. I sighed. When I’d said ‘not messy’, I meant I didn’t want a greasy hunk of rare steak. I hadn’t meant I wanted rabbit food.

“Looks tasty.” I glanced up as a voluptuous figure slid into the seat across from me. Marial had apparently finished her dance.

I poked at a green stem. “I’m not positive this is safe for human consumption,” I said skeptically.

She cocked a perfect eyebrow. “We have a royal food taster, you know.”

“Yes, I’ve seen him. I’m pretty sure he’s part bear, so he doesn’t count.”

She laughed. “You’re a dear.”

I snorted, eating a carrot slice. “No, but I can see how you would make that mistake. I am a big gangly and awkward looking, and my skin is kinda splotchy.”

She frowned. “You…what?”

“You said I was a deer,” I pointed my fork at her. “They are funny lookin’, spindly legs, splotchy fur.”

She gave me a bemused smile. “That’s…not what I meant.”

“Oh,” I said, shrugging. “I thought we were talking about what animal people resemble.” I paused. “I think you would have to be a leopard or something.”

“Why?” she asked. “Because they are majestic and stunning?”

“No, because despite their beautiful appearance, they will tear your head off if you get too close.”

She looked aghast. “Why, Kadi, how insulting!”

“But untrue?” I asked, pointedly arching an eyebrow.

“Yes,” she said, snatching a glass of wine off the tray of a passing server. “I wouldn’t tear someone’s head off. That would be improper.” She took a sip, head cocked contemplatively. “Poison, on the other hand…”

I rolled my eyes. She grinned, leaning in.

“You know, I believe you are the only one who doesn’t think me an idiot,” she whispered conspiratorially. She was a brilliant schemer, and her tactic was pretending to be the gorgeous but daft socialite. So people told her things they probably shouldn’t.

“At least they think you’re an attractive idiot,” I said wryly.

She chuckled, taking another sip of wine. “And what animal is he?” she asked, nodding towards Prince Caldon, who was mingling again with his parents.

I tapped my chin, considering. “A rock?” I finally said.

“Dear,” Marial said, “I know I have a reputation for stupidity, but I’m fairly certain that is not an animal.”

I shrugged.

“Why did you try to dodge his attention earlier?” she asked curiously.

“He’s powerful and creepy,” I said. “Not an appealing mixture.”

“He’s the heir to a kingdom,” she said, “and a very attractive one, I might add.”

She wasn’t wrong. He was perhaps the most sought man in all of the kinglands, said to be among the most refined, skilled, and, yes, attractive of eligible bachelors.

“I’m too young for him,” I said lamely. She shrugged, finishing her wine.

“Well, if you’re not interested, then…”

She trailed off, staring towards the raised platform. “Well, what is this?”

I followed her gaze. The King had risen from his perch. “Potential Heirs, come forth.” I gaped. He never spoke during these gatherings. He was too far above most people in this room.

Dazedly, I followed Marial to stand before the king along with two of our half-brothers. We all went down on one knee.

“You four,” he said, voice echoing in the silent chamber, “are in a unique position.

“I have just received word that your three younger siblings have been found dead. The cause of death is unknown.”His voice betrayed no hint of sadness or anger. He could’ve been discussing a supply shortage of breakfast pastries.

“This, in addition to other events, has me convinced that there is a traitor among us, very likely someone in this very room. As such, none will be allowed to leave the First Kingdom until the culprit has been found. Potential heirs, you will seek this criminal. The person who succeeds in finding the traitor will be named my heir.”

*

By the end of day two, I was convinced the foreign dignitary were about to start tearing each other’s throats out. Investigation was nearly impossible in the hostile, distrustful environment. I had made absolutely no progress towards finding this mystical ‘traitor’.

I pushed into my room, exhausted. I left the door open and collapsed onto a plush chair, letting out a very undignified sigh.

“So. This was the plot all along. Lure us here, then trap us?”

My eyes snapped open and I swiveled around in the chair to face the open door. The blinking Prince of Beridia loomed there.

“What is your game?” he continued, taking a step into my room. “Ransom? Blackmail? Threats?”

I frowned. “Pardon,” I said testily. “But I don’t remember inviting you in.”

His eyes went hard and cold. “No, you locked me in.”

I blew out a long breath. “Actually, my father did that. So why don’t you go invade his room?”

In response, he walked slowly towards me, each stepped accentuating his lithe, muscular form. His open fronted robe fluttered dramatically around him, his undershirt pulled taut against a chiseled chest. And his endlessly dark eyes... I suppressed a shiver and stood. He would still tower over me, but at least he wouldn’t be able to loom quite so effectively.

“So what is your father’s plot?” he asked coolly.

I snorted. “You’re right, of course. He killed three of his children and sabotaged his own shipments of grain and cloth, just to grab a bunch of spoiled aristocrats.”

His eyes narrowed, lips drawn to a thin line. “Do you realize where those shipments came from?”

I didn’t, so I said nothing.

“Beridia sent those shipments. When then didn’t arrive, the First Kingdom refused to pay, claiming the ships had gone down on our side of the river.”

I folded my arms. “And you’re claiming they didn’t?”

He smiled humorlessly. “No.”

I smiled back. “I’m sure. That would be why you came in person, to demand payment. King Dustin could dismiss a servant, but not the monarchy.”

His expression darkened further. He stepped closer, leaning down so that his face was only inches from mine.

“Careful,” he whispered. “We may be trapped, but don’t forget that we are trapped with you.” He spun on his heel, robe snapping against me

Creepy fellow.

*

I lay awake long into the night, troubled. King Dustin was gambling. By holding the foreigners captive, he made finding the supposed saboteur easier and ensured that everyone saw he was not to be trifled with. He also put us at odds against every other kingdom within a one-thousand mile radius. The First Kingdom was powerful, but even it couldn’t stand against the combined force of the kinglands.

I didn’t like it, but my opinion was irrelevant. The only thing I could do was fulfill the King’s wishes as quickly as possible in order to avert a tragedy.

But there were too many details floating around in my brain, many that didn’t seem to add up. My father claimed the shipment of cloth and grain had sunk before reaching First Kingdom territory. That meant it had been Beridia’s responsibility to protect and care for. Dustin had no obligation to pay for lost goods, and Beridia was obliged to send another shipment as per previously agreed terms. But Prince Creepy insisted that the ship had been on First Kingdom territory, which implied that Dustin had to pay the Beridian’s and should not expect a replacement shipment unless he paid for that one also. Who was right? I had no doubts that both Beridia and Dustin were willing to lie in order to gain economic advantage.

But this was a distraction. I didn’t need to find out where the shipment was sabotaged, I needed to discover by whom.

Unless…

Beridia was the second most powerful kingdom in the kinglands. That being said, it was still far below the FK. Over the past years, it had been steadily and subtly trying to accumulate power and wealth. Dustin had allowed it thus far. But what if Beridia could discredit him somehow, or push him to act rashly?

It was clever. The Beridian monarchy sets up a shipment getting lost, then blames it on the FK. When their pleas are ignored, they come in person to beg. In return, they are kidnapped and held hostage. And if the Beridian monarchs had come themselves, it was because they had needed to be in the city. A missing ambassador was cause for angry words. But the royal family? That would mean war. And with so many other kingdoms angry at Dustin’s siege...

We were in serious trouble.

*

I had only made it about ten paces down the hallway when I ran straight into Marial. I squeaked in alarm, then blushed furiously.

“What are you doing out here?” I hissed, humiliation disguised as irritation.

She held up a piece of paper, one that I couldn’t read in the dim hallway. “Someone slipped this under my door,” she said, shrugging. “Figured I should check it out.”

“What does it say?”

“It’s from our dear Beridian Prince. He says he’s willing to talk, and that I should meet him tonight in the courtyard.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “It’s a trap.” I quickly explained to her what I’d discovered.

“We need to go to the King,” I said. “Now.”

*

Dustin nodded thoughtfully, the slip of paper in his hand. “Yes. That does seem possible.” He frowned. “But why summon Marial?”

“Maybe he planned to kill her, like…” my voice cut off and I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Perhaps,” he mused. “Maybe he planned to frame someone else. But then he would’ve put someone else’s name on the letter…”

His words troubled me. Why had Caldon put his own name on the letter? It was a blatant condemnation. Of course, he could easily have destroyed the evidence afterwards.

The doors to the conference chamber opened. A chagrined guard poked his head in, followed by an angry pair of Beridian monarchs.

“What have you done with him?” King Arkone demanded.

“Our son is missing,” the Queen said, eyes burning. “Where did you take him?”

Dustin’s gaze was icy steel.. “Guards, take these two and lock them into solitary confinement. And find the heir, wherever he is hiding.”

*

I wandered back to my room in a surreal haze. I had cracked the mystery. So was I…the heir?

A hand wrapped around my mouth and a strong arm jerked me back. I tried to scream, but that is hard to do when one cannot breathe.

“Shhh,” someone hissed. “I’m going to let go. Don’t scream. If you do…” I felt something sharp press against my back. I gulped and nodded slowly. My captor released me.

I turned slowly, unsurprised but still slightly terrified to see Prince Caldon.

“What is happening?” he hissed, glancing about furtively, clearly agitated. I would be too, if Dustin was hunting me for the murder of his children.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I said coldly.

He held something up in front of my face, so close I had to lean back to see it properly. I frowned. Paper?

“I found this in my room. It’s from your sister, claiming she wants to talk in the courtyard. Except no one is there. I finally came back, only to discover that my parents are imprisoned. So I ask again, ”

I snatched the paper from his hands, examining the letters smeared slightly from a hand passing over ink before it dried. My heart skipped a beat.

“Caldon, do you write with your left hand?”

“What?” he asked. “No.”

I felt cold. Only someone writing with their left hand would have smeared the words like that. And at that moment, I realized that I recognized this handwriting.

I cursed. “We have to go.” I took off at a dash. Fortunately, Caldon didn’t protest. Also fortunately, I was wearing my night clothes, which were much easier to run in than a gown.

We made it to the stairwell that led up to the conference chamber when Caldon grabbed my arm.

“Do you hear that?” he whispered.

“What?”

Instead of answering, Caldon spun, unsheathing a long, dark blade. In the near blackness, there was a clash of steel on steel. Someone had leapt from the shadows behind us, sword in hand.

“Guards!” I cried, but then cut myself off. Idiot. If the guards come, they’ll attack Caldon.

The two dark figures exchanged blows, awkwardly fighting within the narrow corridor. I had to end this, quickly.

I ripped an unlit lantern off the wall-the closest thing to a weapon I could see-then paused. What did I think I was going to do with this? The other two had blinking swords.

The attacker backed Caldon against a wall. I panicked, but then realized that this put his back to me. I ran forward, raised the lantern, and slammed it into the back of his head. He lurched. Caldon shoved him away and, with brutal efficiency, brought the handle of his sword down on the man’s head. He crumpled.

Caldon breathed heavily, eyes wide, looking at me.

“Thanks,” he said breathlessly.

“Sure,” I replied. “Now let’s go. We-”

He stepped forward, taking me by the shoulders with surprisingly gentle hands, looking into my eyes. Then started to lean towards me.

Wait. What? I managed to get a hand up and place it against his chest.

“Flattered, but we’re in a crisis here.”

He frowned in the darkness. I got the distinct impression that he was not accustomed to women turning him down. I took a bit a pleasure from that.

Now, it was time to face the King.

*

Dustin was very grave as Marial explained what ‘she’ had discovered. Dariance, our oldest brother, was left-handed. His hand had left smeared writing on both false notes, meant to frame Caldon for the murder of Marial. He had been setting Beridia and the First Kingdom against one another all along, although we weren’t sure why. Fortunately, Cladon had left him alive-if concussed-for interrogation.

I watched Marial, Caldon standing stiffly a few feet away. I pointedly ignored him. Maybe he wasn’t a murderer, but he was still creepy. Besides, turning him down was probably one of the best things anyone could’ve done for him.

Marial turned as she finished, giving a rare genuine smile. She came and took both my hands, squeezing gently. “Good work, little sister.”

I had made the decision while hurrying to the King. Marial was a political genius who liked people, scheming, and being in charge. I was a clever analyst who secretly preferred hiking boots to stilettos. She would make a far better Queen than I.

I smiled. “Congratulations, Heiress.” f