Flight of the Five Swans
Fate Chapter 28

Ayden

For thefirst time, Ayden regretted his position sitting behind Svana on the horse’sback, as he couldn’t see her face at all. He knew that she had been surprised when the townspeople had referred tohim as “Your Highness” when they had passed, and to be perfectly honest, he hadno clue how he would go about explaining whyhe had kept that particular subject to himself for the past several days.

In fact, hedidn’t rightly know himself what his initial motivation had been for keepinghis identity—or his title, at least—a secret. Perhaps suspicion? After all, he had found her travelling alone in theforest close to the border, with only a couple of pet swans for protection.

‘Overprotection,more like.’ Ayden thought to himself, ruefully picturing the many bruises thathe had accumulated over the last several days as a result of the swans’ viciousbites.

But whilehe may have initially suspected Svana and her pet swans to have some nefariouspurpose for travelling from Deturus into Ithcar, this fear had not lastedlong. The longer he accompanied her onthe road, the more Ayden had become convinced that the only thing that shesought in coming to Ithcar was help—thoughhe did not know for what. And the moretime Ayden spent with her, the more hewanted to be the one to help her.

Which might have become even moredifficult, now she had found out that he had been lying to her about hisidentity—or at least, withholding the truth.

Aydennodded cordially to the guards who greeted him at the entrance to thepalace. Erol and Jarryd were bothfriends from Ayden’s childhood, having been among those to tutor him in the artof swordplay as a boy. In fact, Aydenknew many of the guards by name, as well as the majority of the servants whoworked in the palace. As a child, Aydenhad been encouraged to mingle with the palace staff with the expectation thathe would report any hint of sedition overheard to his grandfather, KingMikal—though Ayden never actually did. Amost suspicious and paranoid ruler, the now late King Mikal had not been knownfor his mercy. Following Mikal’s deathand the ascension of his son—Naaman, Ayden’s father—to the throne barely twoyears prior, the genuine friendships that Ayden had cultivated as a child hadfinally been allowed to blossom openly and genuinely. Though strict in many ways, Naaman was alsoconsidered to be a just ruler, and was far less paranoid than his father hadbeen.

ReiningUndertow to a stop in the middle of the courtyard, Ayden dismounted and thenturned to help Svana down from the saddle as well. He marveled at how natural the action felt,especially seeing as how he had not been allowed to touch her—or even approach her—for the first two days oftheir acquaintance. Her swans had seento that.

He lookedup at the birds now, grinning as he saw them all circling and preparing to land. Despite everything, Ayden felt a certainsoftness towards Svana’s pets. He didn’t blame them, really, for theirprotectiveness. If anything, he found itto be endearing, almost…human.

And they didappreciate good music.

There was asmall ruckus in the courtyard as the swans descended. A number of people rushed to move out of theway of the large, flapping white wings. Ayden glanced down at Svana, and saw that her eyes were wide andfrightened. She barely seemed to noticeher beloved pet swans as she looked at the bustling people around her, and atthe palace towering over her. Clearly,the girl was not used to seeing such grandeur.

Aydenplaced a calming hand on her arm, and Svana’s anxious gaze fixed on him.

“Come.” Hetold her gently. “I’ll show you to a room where you can…ready yourself to face my father.”

Svana’seyes widened even more, if that was possible. Ayden could have bitten his tongue clean off. Why hadn’t he told her before—warned her—that he was the prince? She seemed overwhelmed and intimidated byeverything now, even him.

He gesturedto several servants to approach. Theydid so eagerly, grinning as they stared between him and Svana. Ayden’s mouth quirked to the side, amused. Knowing the staff as he did, he had no doubtthat rumors would soon be flying around the palace about the strangely-dressedgirl that he had brought home with him. He knew that he would have a lot of questions to field that evening fromseveral of the servants.

Not to mention from his mother,Queen Melani.

Ayden felt Svana’s arm shake almostunperceptively as he spoke to the servants.

“I will show the lady to the westcorridor guest chambers,” he said. “If you would please see that the propergarments are delivered to that chamber, so that Lady…Svana can address the kingas soon as possible.” Ayden hesitated ather name, only just remembering that it was not, in fact, her real name. He mentally kicked himself for not pressingSvana to tell him her actual name that morning; he had a feeling that, had heremembered to ask, she just might have written it down for him at last. Now, it would be more difficult—andawkward—to explain his ignorance to his parents.

Ayden shrugged it off, and thennodded his head towards Svana’s swan companions. “Oh, and please show the lady’s…retinue…to the castle gardens. I’m sure that they will enjoy the sizablelake back there.”

Ayden did not stick around to seethe servants’ reactions to this strange request. Tugging Svana gently forward, he mounted thesteps to show her to her chambers. Svanaglanced behind her at her swans, her expression alarmed. Ayden patted her arm reassuringly.

“Don’t worry.” He told her.“They’ll be fine in the gardens. Infact, I’m sure they will be more than happy there. And you can visit them just as soon as you’veseen the king—it’s custom not to keep him waiting too long.”

Ayden left Svana in her newchambers with the promise to send someone to fetch her directly once she wasready to greet the king. He then hurriedto his father’s chambers, thinking to prepare the king for the subsequentmeeting as well. He was determined toensure that it would go as smoothly as possible.

Knocking lightly on the door, Aydenentered his parents’ bedchamber with the same anxious anticipation as he alwaysfelt. His worry faded, however, at thesight of his mother sitting upright in her bed. Queen Melani’s face was tired, but her eyes were clear save for only ahint of pain. She was clearly having agood day.

Sitting in his usual position athis wife’s bedside, King Naaman rose to his feet on seeing Ayden enter throughthe doorway. Relief filled his face atthe sight of his son.

“Son!” he exclaimed, striding overto the door and embracing the prince. “We’d been wondering where you’d got to!”

Queen Melani beckoned to the twomen to come closer to her bed so that she could grasp Ayden’s hand with herown. Her voice was surprisingly strongfor her appearance, with a hint of the same humor that Ayden had inherited. “Yousee, Naaman? I told you there was nothingto fear!”

Naaman let out a dry laugh.

“‘Just a couple days,’ you’dsaid! It’s been a week, at least!” He held his son by the shoulders. “Did yourun into trouble? Get lost? You are your mother’s son, after all.”

Queen Melani laughed at that as well. Ayden’s sense of direction was the best inthe kingdom—yet another trait that he hadinherited from her, in fact. However,the king’s skills at navigation werea different story, not to mention a poorly kept secret.

Ayden smiled and shook his head at thetwo of them. “Nothing like that.” Hesaid. “I just…I got tied up as an…escort of sorts.”

Queen Melani cocked her head to theside and looked at her son. Despitebeing bedridden for the last decade or so, her eyes had lost none of theirsharpness; they missed very little.

“Escort?” she asked. “To whom?”

Ayden hesitated slightly. “I met her close to the Deturian border. I believe her to be Deturian, as well.”

An appraising look came into thequeen’s eyes at Ayden’s use of the feminine pronoun. The king, however, seemed to consider thenationality of their visitor to be more relevant.

“Deturian?” he musedcuriously. “We have no quarrel withDeturus. Our citizens have alwaystravelled freely across the border there. Has she a specific purpose for coming here?”

“I…don’t know.”

At this, both Naaman’s eyebrowsshot up. “Don’t know?” he asked his son,surprised. “Hasn’t she said? Haven’t you asked?”

Ayden shook his head. “She’s mute.”

Queen Melani let out a tiny sigh ofcommiseration. Ayden was encouraged atthis sign of compassion, so similar to his own feelings in regards to Svana’ssituation.

“She has been shown to the westcorridor chamber.” He said, addressing both of his parents, but keeping hiseyes fixed on his mother’s. “I believeher to have been travelling a great while, all alone.”

Queen Melani seemed to understandexactly what Ayden was trying to say. Her eyes softened, and her expression became knowing.

Naaman huffed, considering. “I suppose I can send for a scroll and quillwhen she presents herself.”

Ayden shrugged noncommittally.“Thus far, she has refused to write anything down. I’m not entirely sure she can.”

The king’s brow furrowed at thisnew complication. Ayden watched with aslightly anxious expression as his father began to pace the room a bit. He stopped and faced the prince one more.“Have you at least found out her name?” he asked.

Ayden coughed slightly, embarrassedthat the question had arisen so soon, before he could remedy hisignorance.

“Well, I’ve been calling her Svana.” He told his parents.

“Svana?” His mother sounded curious. “That’s a lovely name. But is it not her own?”

Again, Ayden shrugged helplessly.“I don’t know.” He said. “I don’t thinkso. I named her that because when I mether, she was travelling with…swans. Fiveof them. I’ve asked for them to be shownto the pond in the gardens.”

Ayden thought that if his parents’faces became any more surprised, their eyebrows would disappear forever intotheir hairlines. King Naaman opened hismouth several times as if to speak, but seemed to be at a loss as to what tosay. Finally, he seemed to come to adecision.

“Well.” He said at last. “I’ll send for the quill all the same. If she can write enough to answer ourquestions, so much the better. If not…”he shrugged, and then exited the room, kissing his wife on the forehead beforeleaving.

Ayden made to leave as well,thinking to be present at the meeting between his father and Svana, so as toprovide the girl with a familiar and friendly face. He also noticed with a slight hint of alarmthat tiny lines had appeared between his mother’s eyebrows—a sure indicationthat the ever-present pain with which she dealt was worsening once more. He kissed her forehead as his father haddone, feeling the slight heat of fever and the saltiness of sweat on his lipsas they made contact with her skin. Making a mental note to send the court physician to his mother’schamber, Ayden strode across the room to leave.

“Ayden.”

At his mother’s voice, Ayden turnedto face her once more, his hand resting on the hard wood of the door. Her voice was slightly weaker than it hadbeen before, but the tone was as firm as ever—almost conspiratorial.

“Try to learn the girl’s name—her real name. That’s always a good first step.”