Acadara: Chapter 1

Beginnings

Written by cg-in-burns

“Daran! Get back here this instant!”

“Sorry Father! Adventure calls once again!” Running down the front stairs of Corhall Castle, the dark-haired culprit jumped onto his black horse and galloped towards the gates.

“Close the gates!” bellowed a stately man at the head of the stairs. “Don't let him get away this time!” Soldiers hurried to carry out his orders, trying to trap the fleeing young man. In response he dug his heels into his horse and swept past the men and out into the city.

As the gates clanged shut and his father's bellowing faded behind him, the young man threw his arms in the air. His dark eyes laughed as he gripped the reins with one hand and patted his horse with the other. “Free again, my friend, free again.”

Click-clack click-clack Hooves beat against the cobble stone road.

“Who is racing his horse down our street at mid-day? Everyone knows better than that.” A thick armed woman leaned out her front door to look up the road. She shaded her eyes from the sun and squinted up towards the castle.

“Prince Daran, no doubt. He's been up there for two days without even being in the city; it's about time he left again,” a voice from behind the woman said.

“Right again.” The woman watched the prince race by and out of the city. “How did you know it was him this time?” She turned to the girl sitting behind her, weaving.

The girl finished her row before answering her mother. “Only Daran would be brave enough, and crazy enough, to race his horse down one of the main roads at mid-day on one of the longest days of the year.” Her hands traveled to the piles of yarn surrounding her. “Mother, which is the gray?”

“Back to your right three piles, back one more; there you go dear.” Tears filled the woman's green-gray eyes as her daughter began to weave another section. Blind as a bat but talented in spite of her disability. With long chestnut colored hair and bright blue eyes blind to the world, she was beautiful too. The woman cried for the girl who would never see the colors of her world.

“Mother, you're crying again. I may be blind, but I'm not deaf. If you keep crying no one is going to want you as their laundress; no one wants a laundress who cries all the time.”

“Huff! You can't do any better.” The laundress dried her eyes with a prim white kerchief.

A smile pulled at the girl's mouth. “You know that's a lie, mother dear. I can do just as well if not better than you. And I'm blind!”

“That may be true, but don't be calling me 'mother dear' until you're married, girly.” It was the girl's turn to tear up. They spilled from her sightless eyes onto the wavy hair that draped over her shoulders. She dropped her tools and hid her face, urging the flood to stop. She felt her mother's arms come around her and her gentle fingers pet her hair. “Shh. Calm down and breathe. I'm sorry I brought it up.”

“B-but who would want to marry a blind girl like me? All the other girls my age are either married or betrothed; even Beth the Slow is engaged. No one wants me as their bride, nor will they ever.”

“Nonsense, I'm sure someone in this city will love you.” The woman settled down beside her daughter on the hard dirt floor. “I'm sure he's someone who's handsome, kind, generous—”

“Good at cooking?” the girl interrupted, drying her tears with the backs of her hands.

“Of course, my dear, the best around. And he'll be someone who will take you for you, blindness and all, naturally. You'll see just believe in fate and it will work its magic in time.” The girl smiled at her mother's dreaming. “That's my girl. Now what shall we have for dinner?”

“Beans and bread, I suppose. That's all we have after all.”

“Ah, but what do you want? Use that brain of yours and tell me what you really want. Then, when we're eating, pretend what you want is what it really is; got it?”

“Yes Mother.”

“So, what is it you want?”

“Well,” she thought, “roast turkey, like what they get up at the castle! And, um, fresh bread, cheese, warm apple pie, fresh apple juice, ham right out of the oven.” Her voice went dreamy as she imagined the things she named. “And one nice ripe apple; that's what I want most. Apples are my favorite fruit, but you knew that.”

“She may have but I didn't, though I do now.” The girl and her mother jumped at the new voice.

The woman scrambled to her feet and dipped into a deep curtsy. “Queen Shannai, you grace us with your presence. What, may I ask, is the purpose of your visit?”

“Our laundress at the castle has been forced to resign in favor of arthritic hands. I have been told you are the best in the city. Is this true?”

“Not quite, Your Majesty.” The queen's brow rose at the remark; the flustered woman motioned to her daughter at her feet. “My daughter here and I are the best. She is the best help one could ask for.”

With eyes like her son's, Shannai looked down on the blind girl. She took in the patched blue dress, the bare feet, and the carefully kept hair. Then she saw the eyes as they shifted around, jumping to trace the source of every sound. She carefully picked up her skirts to crouch and see the face more clearly. “What is your name young lady?”

“Acadara, Your Majesty.” Her voice was shy, with the strength that was confidence behind it.

“Interesting name, Acadara.” Gentle fingers tilted Acadara's chin up so her azure eyes were more visible. “Why are your eyes so strange? They are clear and clouded at the same time.”

“I'm blind, Majesty; I always have been.” Acadara tried to be as quiet as possible with out offending the monarch.

Shannai pulled her hand away and stood once more. She moved her attention from Acadara at her feet to her mother standing close by. “Now I know your daughter but not you. What would your name be?”

“Leidra, if it pleases you.” The woman curtsied again.

“Leidra, will you take the position of royal laundress as long as it may last? It and all the responsibility that may accompany it?”

“It would be an honor, Highness, but what of my daughter? She cannot stay here alone.”

The queen's eyes gleamed softly, a slight smile appearing on her face. “I have a different plan in mind for her. She will come to the castle where I will relate to her the extent of her duties. I'm sure the both of you will find it agreeable and possible; at least, I hope it is possible.” A look of forlorn flicked over her features before she smiled again. “Gather what you think you'll need and come out; we'll begin at once. Don't dally to long.” Shannai swept regally through the door before either mother or daughter could react.

“Well! That's a definite change from normal. What are the chances of that happening?” Leidra wondered.

“About the same as Prince Daran staying here, by choice, for more than a week or me being married off before I turn eighteen.” Acadara mumbled to her mother.

“Hmm, a pretty good chance then, on your part at least. Let me grab our good dresses then we'll be off.” Leidra pulled two dresses from a small chest, one dark red and the other pale green. She was rolling them up and placing them in a brown sack as Shannai stepped back in.

“Ready Leidra? Acadara?”

“Yes, Majesty. Acadara, come along dear.” Leidra touched the girl on the shoulder as she passed on her way to the door.

Acadara reverently undid the waist strap of her loom and set it on the floor; she touched it as if she was losing a dear friend forever. She stood, careful not to step on her skirt and walked to stand by her mother's side.

Shannai saw the sadness on the girl's face then looked down on the tapestry. The subject amused her. “If it means so much to you bring your loom with you; it is small and will not take up much room. Besides, it is not good to start something and not finish it.” Acadara's face brightened at the offer before she hurried to pack it neatly away and return. She held it as if she would something dear to her heart.

Shannai took hold on one of the girl's hands and led her to the waiting carriage. Leidra gasped at the coach before climbing in after her daughter, who felt something special in her future.