EARDENAVER’S EMPRESS

The young girl looked at the young man in servant’s livery, under her eyelashes. He did not act like a normal servant should, he never did. He held a tray half full of glasses filled with wine and fruit juice. He wore the formal dark green habit of servants that served at parties and official functions. He had brown hair and brown eyes, which lazily scanned the Ballroom for pretty maidens.

She knew his name was Benchio and had no business to know it. He was after all a mere servant, a cheeky one at that too. Solsetta dela Bekarachino del Piñata sighed inwardly wishing she was as courageous as her cousin, Saliko dela Temarcio del Piñata. She had told her he was a good kisser and a passionate lover. She felt a twinge of jealousy that her cousin could get away with sleeping with a man whereas she was not even allowed to kiss one, not with two bodyguards that followed her everywhere but the privy and the bath.

It would have been so nice if, for once, she could actually have something to look forward to, like the company of this young man. But no, she had to stay and be bored out of her mind at a ball that as far as she knew was thrown for no good reason. In fact, she could not remember hearing a reason for it, which meant she was suffering for no reason.

She hated being a noble, and as if someone had played a horrible joke on her, she was born a princess. Life is so unfair, she thought moodily.

She continued to watch the young man, who stood not far from where she was at the buffet table, under her lashes. She wondered what his kisses would feel like. Then he turned his eyes on her and winked slyly. She blushed, realising he knew she was watching. She looked down at the glass of juice she held in both hands and attempted to drink from it when she cast a quick glance under her lashes again. He was still looking at her with a slight grin. She turned her back on him, flushing even more.

‘Are you all right, dear?’ a cool hand found her forehead, ‘you’re face is flushed. Are you coming down with something?’

Solsetta groaned silently to be caught in such a state, blushing because a notorious flirt noticed her. She needed to get a life or a lover.

‘I’m fine,’ she answered her aunt, Princess Mauricia dela Piñata , ‘just feeling a little hot.’

Mauricia pursed her thin lips, ‘A little more than a little, dear. I want you in bed, now.’ She whiped her head to look for someone, a grey lock escaping her neat bun. Solsetta watched her aunt’s lovely face and thought how sad it was that she never married. She was not very old, late forties, her brown hair greying at the temples. Her chiselled features were still strong and beautiful. Many men have proposed to her, and still did, but she refused all. Her only regret being she had no children of her own. She loved children, particularly Solsetta, always looking out for her.

Watching her, Solsetta wondered for the umpteenth time why she had never married.

‘You, young man,’ her aunt was saying, ‘yes you. Come here.’

Solsetta looked around her aunt to see who she called and nearly died of embarrassment; it was Benchio.

He bowed, ‘My lady, I’m at your service.’

‘Take my niece to her room, she is not feeling well,’ commanded Mauricia.

He bowed to the two ladies and offered his arm to Solsetta, whose face was scarlet. He kept a straight face as he led her out of the ball and down the hallway. She looked resolutely ahead, head held high. She thought she would hear something from him, actually hoped she would. But he said nothing, steering her quietly to her room. When they were at the door, he bowed respectively and straightened. The grin on his face was anything but respective, making her flush. Then he schooled his face to one of respect and turned to nod at her guards and left.

She watched him go with regret, wondering what, if anything, would have happened had her guards not been there.

XXXX

It was late afternoon, the next day when Solsetta looked up at a cry from the sky. A large bird soared screaming overhead. A breeze gently wiped a lock of her brown hair across her face, which she wiped back with a swift hand. She glanced around to see her father talking with her eldest brother, the heir to the throne, Michaelo del Bekarachino. Next to them, standing with the hounds jumping all over him, the second in line to the throne, Roberto del Bekarachino.

She strode over to her father and Michaelo, petting the hounds affectionately as she passed Roberto.

‘We should go back,’ the 20-year-old Michaelo was saying, ‘it’s getting late.’

The family had gone off hunting for the day, as they do every Sunday. Their prey, an antelope, had seemed to simply disappear into the thick forest. They had stopped to look at the tracks of the animal to determine which way he had gone. Seeing that it led deep into the forest, a path too thick for them and their mounts, the prince insisted that they call it a day and go home. The Emperor Bekarachino del Piñata was all for going after the antelope, adamant that they could catch it before long.

‘See how it trashes along,’ the Emperor pointed to the crushed, soiled bushes, ‘he is tiring and bleeding heavily. He has not gone far.’

As he said that, he straightened and beckoned for his mount. He mounted gracefully, pulling his sword free from its scabbard. Before he could charge into the forest, Solsetta grabbed the reins of the horse and said quietly,

‘Father, perhaps we should go back. Sent some of the servants to bring it back, but we should be heading back; mother will worry if we are late.’

Her father smiled down at her, then patted her hand.

‘Very well, Setta,’ he addressed her using her childhood nickname. She smiled back—he had never as far as she could remember, ever denied her a request. He beckoned to a group of servants, all dressed in the same drab brown shirt, tunic and breeches. Four of them trotted over to be instructed to go after their wounded prey.

Solsetta was not paying attention as her father spoke with the servants. Her eyes were narrowed at someone in the drab clothes of the servants chatting with another. Benchio. She wondered what he was doing here. He always seemed to be everywhere, dressed in every outfit for a servant. This was the first time she had noticed him at a Hunt.

‘Right, then,’ her father’s voice carried easily across to their small diverse group of servants, guards and few nobles. ‘We are going back to the Castle—it is getting late.’ He grinned sheepishly at Michaelo. Then he straightened and trotted his horse to the head of their party, in the opposite direction than the one the hunter servants took.

Solsetta went over to her mount and accepted it from Ben, one of her guards, with a nod of thanks. He fell back behind her on his mount, trotting after her.

She smiled at her father as they set off, flashing her teeth.

‘Race you,’ she challenged.

He laughed and shook his head, ‘You and your races.’

Solsetta was known for her love of horse riding, and was famous for both her skill at archery and on horse back. In reply to her father, she took off down the road cut between the thick forests. She did not look back to see who was galloping behind her but whooped instead and urged her grey mare to go faster. The normally quiet 14-year-old always came alive in the saddle. She was a completely different person, feeling as if she was one with the beast.

She had been riding hard for sometime when she chanced a look back, her face one of pure joy. She saw her two guards and someone else behind them, all riding hard, but could not see who it was. She faced forward, laughing ecstatically when her reins slipped from her hands. She grabbed her mount’s mane lying low over the horse’s back keeping herself from flying back. Trying to grab the reins, her normally gentle mare came to a hard stop, rearing on her hind legs. She came crashing down on her front legs, with the terrified princess clutching her mare’s neck. Sugar, her mare, tossed her head forward, flipping the reins out of the princess’ reach; she took off again at a gallop.

As Solsetta hung on, frantically trying to not fall off, she had missed her guards, first slump on their horses, then falling off. Feeling the pounding through the body that clung on to the horse so tightly, it escaped her notice that her, and the rider that charged after her made no noise. Or the magic that enveloped them both. She also did not notice that her mare had taken a different course than the one they had originally been on. She just kept praying that Sugar would tire soon and stop.

Solsetta shut her eyes as she became dizzy from the rushing of greenery. She could feel the sweat on her mare, but Sugar refused to slow down, making turns that the princess could not see. After an hour or so, the mare started to slow down. After a few minutes, she came to a stop. Her rider, grateful that the charring movements had stopped, slide down the horse’s back.

Her legs refused to hold her and she sank into the grass. Sugar walked over to a river that Solsetta had just noticed when someone led another horse next to her. The princess was too tired to care who it was, she just assumed it was her guard, Ben or Ron. She lay on the grass, enjoying the feel of solid ground under her.

After a few minutes she heard the horses come back her way, and she peeked to make sure they were not close enough to stumble on her by accident. She nearly screamed when she saw Benchio.

Him again, she thought furiously. She straightened up and looked around for her guards. They were no where in sight. She frowned. They always stayed with her, no matter what. She wondered where everyone else was and where she was. She bit her lip and wondered what to say to her servant, who now had finished tying the horses to a low tree branch. He strode over to her, hands on hips, head slightly cocked to the side.

‘Well,’ he said, eyebrow up, ‘can you get up?’

Solsetta stiffened and got up. How dare he? She thought outraged at his tone. She thrust her chin out and looked him in the eye, ignoring the blush creeping into her cheeks as he looked her over.

‘Where are my guards,’ she demanded.

He ignored her question, his eyes on her cheeks. The slow, sardonic smile playing on his lips, he looked her over again, much slower than the first time.

Solsetta smacked him hard, thinking her face would explode from the heat of her blushes, now more from anger than embarrassment. To her horror, he laughed, letting his eyes linger on face.

‘Your father will have me beheaded if he ever finds out,’ he said before swooping down on her lips. She pushed him back, and smacked him again.

‘You insolent….’ She was so angry she could not think of a scathing term, ‘horse dung!’

He threw his head back and laughed at the darkening sky.

‘Is that the best you can do, princess,’ he said when he calmed a little, ‘horse dung.’ He laughed, shaking his head.

‘I will have you beheaded for your impudence, Benchio.’ She nearly bit her tongue for letting his name escape her.

‘So you know my name,’ he chuckled, ‘yes, I thought you wanted me.’ Seeing the disgust on her face he grinned, ‘I’ve seen you always sneaking glances at me when you thought no one was looking. It’s nothing to be ashamed about, princess. You are, after all, a human being and few find me unattractive.’

‘You are a conceited pig,’ she glared at him, ignoring her racing heart as he looked her over again, one hand thoughtfully holding his chin.

He grinned, ‘I’m a fully red-blooded male, it is against my nature to ignore so much beauty before me,’ and with that attacked her lips again. Pushing him away this time was harder. She did not bother to slap him, knowing her hands would betray the sudden weakness in her limbs. She settled for a glare instead, hoping it looked fierce and foreboding.

‘Well,’ said Benchio cheerfully, ‘we have work to do princess.’ And turned around, walking towards the horses. He reached his black gelding, petting him affectionately; he reached into a bag that hung on his side from the saddle. He pulled out two brushes and threw one back at Solsetta who had not moved from her spot.

‘Always look after your mount before you relax, princess,’ he called back to her. Then he started to unsaddle and groom the big horse. She watched angrily as he worked for a moment before picking up the brush on the ground and making her way to Sugar. She watched the young man work out of the corner of her eyes and copied him once she removed the saddle. After a moment, he glanced at her, ‘You’re missing spots, princess. Do it properly.’

She stopped and threw the brush on the soft grass. ‘Who do you think you are, ordering me around?’ She demanded, hands on hips.

Without stopping or looking up from his work, he answered calmly. ‘If you expect any living creature to do your bidding, without question, you must show it kindness.’ He walked around the gelding to do the other side. ‘That beauty there,’ he nodded towards Sugar, ‘just bore you about seven miles, galloping all that way. She deserves to be rubbed down in kindness and sheltered from the wind, not have her mistress childishly throw tantrums. I believe your parents brought you up better than that.’

Solsetta’s cheeks burned before he was half way through his lecture. She picked up her brush and silently began to groom the mare. They worked in silence, Benchio coming to do the other side of Sugar once he was done with his own. When they finished, he went into the bushes and a few minutes later came back holding two rough blankets. He draped the horses and left them to graze on their own. Then he went back into the bushes and came back carrying a small bag.

‘Where did you get those?’ Solsetta asked suspiciously after he arranged the contents of the bag—bread, cheese, stripes of meat, pastries and two apples—on the ground between them. ‘You look well equipped for someone who came after me on the unexpected event of my horse bolting.’

He just smiled innocently and began to help himself to the food. Seeing that she was not likely to get an answer from him anytime soon, she began to eat herself, surprised to see how hungry she was. She looked around, it was now after sunset, their surrounding shrouded in darkness. She has never been outside the Castle without her guards or after the sun had set. She felt the May evening go cold and wished she was in her own room now. They sat there in silence until it was completely dark. Once the last trace of light had left the horizon, Benchio got up and left to go back into the bushes. He came back with two sleeping rolls and blankets for them.

‘We will sleep here for tonight,’ began Benchio when he heard Solsetta draw in a gasp. He chuckled, ‘we’re not sleeping together; don’t let your wild imagination get the better of you. Even I’m not so daring as to seduce a child of the Emperor.’

He threw one of the sleeping bags at her feet, followed by her blanket. He turned his back on her and began to arrange his bedding.

She did not move, watching his silhouette work, glad he could not see her crimson cheeks in the dark. She was wondering where she could relieve herself but did not want to ask her impertinent servant. She stayed quietly till he finished and looked at her.

‘You should get to sleep soon,’ he said into the dark, ‘we will be leaving early in the morning. You can relieve yourself behind those bushes, but do not stray far. Dig the earth a little and make sure you bury everything with the dug out soil. Then cover with leaves and twigs.’ With that he turned his back to her again and disappeared into the night.

Solsetta rubbed her arms to warm herself, wishing she had thought to get a cloak when she had left. She waited until she heard Benchio’s steps and saw his figure climb into his bedding before she got up to relieve herself. By the time she came back, everything was silent, the night sounds of the forest around them loud. She quickly bend over her sleeping bag and opened it, shaking it out. She pulled her riding boots off and wriggled into her bed, dragging her blanket over herself.

She turned and tossed all night, not being able to sleep. First she was uncomfortable on the hard ground, then the insects were too loud, then the arm she rested her head on got crammed. She finally fell asleep well past midnight.

XXXX

Someone was shaking her awake. Solsetta opened one eye to see the culprit and nearly jumped at the sight of Benchio. She sat up, glaring at him, as she remembered the events of the previous day.

He greeted her glare with a cheerful smile of his own, ‘Come on princess,’ he said in a disgustingly cheerful tone, ‘we’ve got to be on our way. Everyone will be wondering were we disappeared off to.’ He then bounced off, whistling to himself as he gathered his things.

Solsetta got up slowly, eyes half shut; she was not at her best in the morning. Now more than ever she wished she was in her nice bed, sleeping until the sun was high up as she always did. Here, the sun was not even up yet. Ridiculous, she thought as she rolled her blanket in her sleeping bag. She left to relieve herself then trudged over to splash water on her face and yelped.

‘What?’ Benchio asked, eyebrow raised.

‘It’s cold,’ she mumbled as she braced herself and scrubbed her face and brushed her teeth with her finger before she became numb. That done she turned to the young man to see what he did. He was standing next to his mount, staring at her.

‘What?’ she demanded.

‘What are we going to do with that face of your?’ he mussed more to himself than her.

‘What’s that suppose to mean?’ she asked defensively, ‘What’s wrong with my face?’

He stopped staring into space and grinned at her before turning back into the bush and coming back with two cloaks.

‘You had a cloak all along and didn’t bother to bring it out till now?’ she grabbed the one he offered and wrapped it around herself while he watched.

‘I forgot,’ he shrugged carelessly. ‘Let’s go. Make sure you keep your hood up.’

‘Why should I?’

‘Are you always this difficult?’ he asked calmly getting on his horse. ‘Oh I forgot you’re always grumpy in the morning.’ He looked at her expectantly.

She felt cold. ‘How do you know what I’m like in the mornings? Have you been watching me?’

‘Oh yeah,’ there was a wicked glint in his eye, ‘you would remember, but, like I said before you’re not a morning person. Always grumpy, like a bear with a soar nose.’ He grinned down at her. ‘Hurry up, please, we really should be going.’

He indicated her saddled horse with her sleeping bag tied at the back of the saddle. She hesitated only for a moment before she hurried and got up on her mare.

Benchio led them south at a brisk walk. He offered her some bread and cheese as they travelled but she shook her head—it was too early for her to eat. They travelled till the sun was high over head before Solsetta broke the quiet.

‘This ground doesn’t look familiar,’ she had rarely been outside of the Castle, and whenever she did go, it was only on the outer fringe of it. She had kept quiet in the beginning because she thought they had passed this way yesterday and that the reason she did not remember it was due to her having shut her eyes. But they had been travelling at a brisk pace for about four hours now. They should have been home by now, or at least had a glimpse of the Castle.

He did not reply but looked up before he offered her some bread and cheese again. She took it, and repeated her question.

‘We’ll be there soon,’ was all he said.

‘Where is ‘there’,’ she persisted, ‘and why are we walking in the forest instead of the road?’ She was frowning at her meagre meal.

‘You were always so quiet,’ he sighed, ‘why must you start being so talkative now?’

‘Because it looks like you’re kidnapping me, that’s why.’ She retort.

He turned and gave her a toothy grin. ‘Still grumpy I see. I was hoping some food in your guts would lighten you up some.’ He shook his head, ‘shame it didn’t work.’

She glared at him, ‘Are you going to tell me where we are, or shall I scream blue murder?’ she demanded.

That wiped the grin off his face, ‘No. We need to be quiet, your highness,’ he looked serious, ‘we don’t want to stumble into enemy arms out here.’

‘What enemy?’ she tried to scoff and failed. He was scaring her.

He pursed his lips and looked up again. Then he faced forward again before urging his mount to go a little faster. They stopped at noon to let the horses rest and for their riders to stretch their legs. Solsetta relieved herself, remembering to cover after herself though she did not know why. She was loath to ask him now though.

They stayed for a little while before Benchio indicated that she mount her mare. He put a finger to his lips, showing her he wanted silence. She opened her mouth to ask rudely why she should be quiet but no sound came out. He glared at her, finger still on lips. She nodded to show she would obey and silently got up on Sugar.

They trotted off quietly. Too quietly. Solsetta noticed that the horses’ feet made no sound. She looked at Benchio, who either scanned around them or kept looking in the air. She felt the spell cast in the air, surprised that he was a mage, wondering why he felt the need to be quiet. He was so serious now; the laughing, teasing, cheeky young man was gone. As far as she could tell, there was no one and nothing near them. She listened quietly and noticed that she could not hear the normal forest sounds. No bird calls or insects chirping. Nothing moved in the trees or bushes.

Goosebumps flushed down her back, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Then Benchio signalled for her to be silent and to follow. He led them to the road, feeling a stronger spell around them. He indicated that she come next to him and she did. He pointed straight ahead and touched Sugar’s rump. The mare reared back, front legs pawing the air, mouth agape—Solsetta guessed that she was kept quiet by Benchio because she could feel the mare scream inside as she grabbed her neck and held on. The mare bolted, with Benchio right behind them. They made no noise, galloping at break neck speed down the road.

Solsetta was feeling annoyed; why did not Benchio simply tell her he wanted them to gallop instead of shocking the poor beast. Why the secrecy and stealth? Then she glimpse movement ahead of them, in the forest. Someone in full armour was starting to cross the road. She managed to swerve the terrified beast around him, but barely. She was feeling cold. That man had been wearing her uncle’s colours and House Tokens.

She glimpsed more movements in the trees, sunlight glinting off armour. They galloped past the last of them ten minutes before they slowed down. When they came to a stop in the shelter of the trees, deep in the forest, Solsetta was feeling sick with dread.

She slid off the horse, stumbling over to where Benchio stood removing the saddle off his gelding.

‘What was that?’ she panted.

‘Remove the tack from Sugar first,’ he said quietly, panting slightly himself.

‘Answer me, damn you,’ she practically shrieked, ceasing him by the collar and shaking him. He dropped the burden he had gently onto the floor before he pried her fingers, gently.

‘I have already explained to you,’ he said calmly, moving her away from his frightened horse, ‘everything else must wait. Reward your tired, fearful, obedient servants before dealing with anything else. It will help you calm down as well.’

She stared at him and was about to shout at him, but he turned back to his horse.

‘There, there, Lightning,’ he cooed gently to the gelding. ‘It’s alright.’

Solsetta stood with her arms wrapped around herself, shivering when she looked back at Sugar. The mare had foam around her mouth and her body was streaked with sweat.

‘Oh the poor thing,’ she thought, hurrying to remove the tack and rub her down. Then she led her to the river to have a drink next to Lightning. When Benchio pulled his horse from the river, she did like wise and tethered her near by.

Then she turned to Benchio, hands on hips, ‘What’s going on?’ she demanded.

‘That was your uncle’s men,’ he said quietly, pulling some food out of the small bag.

‘What was he doing, Benchio,’ she was trying to talk normally, but her voice shook, ‘we must have passed about 500 men, just now. Uncle does not need to travel with so many or in stealth.’

He looked up again instead of answering her. Then he got up, stuffing everything back into the bag.

‘We’ve got to go,’ he passed her by, grabbing the animals’ tack throwing it on Lightning's back. ‘I’ll explain later, I promise.’

He grabbed the reins and guided the gelding along. Solsetta stopped the urge to scream and grabbed the mare’s reins instead. They walked along the river for sometime before Solsetta opened her mouth to speak. Benchio glanced at her quickly and put his finger to his lips. She glared at him, but followed.

They walked for most of the afternoon, nibbling on bread as they did. Solsetta’s feet were aching from all the walking and just wanted to sink into the ground and never get up again. She kept quiet because she was afraid her uncle, Papalos del Martino’s, soldiers might hear them.

Finally at dusk Benchio led them to the bottom of a hill. He stopped and looked at her. ‘We’re going up that and we’ll rest soon after.’ He turned abruptly before she could reply and started to lead Lightning. She followed, thinking that she would not make it all the way. They climbed up for about five minutes before the ground levelled off. The ground here was flat, with the river on their left and ahead of them, about half a mile away there was what looked like a mountain. Only when they were right in front of the wall, did Solsetta notice that there was a hole in the mountain near where the river gushed forth. Her muddled brained realised it was the entrance to a cave.

She began to sink to the floor when Benchio pointed towards Sugar. She glared at him, but went to remove the tack and rub the horse down. Then she led her to the river, pulling her back after a few minutes. She tied her to a tree, a little further from the cave’s entrance. Then she sank into the ground at her hooves.

Benchio glanced over at her then went off into the woods after tying Lightning next to Sugar. Solsetta lay down on the grass to rest and wait for Benchio.

There was a crunching sound and the princess’s eyes flew open. She realised she had dosed off. She wondered where the intruder was. She was so tired she did not care who it was as long as she could go to sleep in peace.

Benchio walked into the line of her sight and disappeared again. There was the sound of sticks being arranged and then the crackling of fire. She turned to her other side with a groan to see a nice blaze next to the cave’s entrance. How she longed to sleep next to it, she thought lazily, but was too tired to lift a finger. She contended herself with watching it from her spot next to the horses.

Benchio disappeared off into the cave with the sleeping bags and she fell asleep before he emerged. He looked at the sleeping girl then went back into the cave and got a blanket and covered her with it. Then he sat in front of the fire with a piece of toast and cheese and settled down to relax, checking the sky once more.

a/n new story! well, i've noticed i made mistakes and have corrected them now. this story came into being late last night. i slept somewhere in the wee hours of the night. hope u all enjoy it.