Book One
The King's Pretense
by V Dayne
The King of Gharine has to request the aid of his estranged childhood sweetheart in order to save his life.
Can he keep his feelings hidden long enough for her to find the would be killers?
Or will he try to win her heart one last time before she leaves again forever?
An exerpt from chapter one:
“Do you remember Jedda? From when we were younger?” Finn asked. He flipped his head around as he heard Ewan crash into a flowering bush behind him.
“Jedda? Yeah, she’s hard to forget.” He snapped, recovering quickly to grab Finn’s offered arm. “I also remember when she left.”
Finn scoffed, almost touched that Ewan was being bitter on his behalf. But his unkindness was more likely related to how Jedda always beat him in sparring matches. “She left, yes. So did you for a while, right?”
Ewan followed closer to Finn’s side now. “Yes, but I wasn’t your girlfriend.”
The affronted sound Finn made caused the birds in their vicinity to scatter. “She was not- That was not- I- … Shut up, Ewan.”
“Why are we trying to find her?” Ewan asked. He gasped suddenly, making Finn jump. “Is the solution true love’s kiss?!”
For the love of Pselmos. “No, you sea slug. She could kick your teenage ass when she was only seven cycles old. She went off and started her own guild of magic users and strong folk. She calls it an Adventurers Guild.”
At Ewan’s curious look, Finn put his hands up. “She kept in contact with my siblings, not me. I have not seen or spoken to her since she left.”
They walked in contemplative silence for a bit, Ewan obviously digesting the news. “That’s why you didn’t want anyone coming with you.” He said after some time. “Don’t worry, your Highness. As soon as I know you’re safe, I’ll leave you two alone to talk.” He asserted with a nod.
They continued to trudge through the forest for over an hour, trying to keep a straight line. They might make it to the other side and end up on the coast before finding her. Maddock was the one who told him to walk in a line, and Finn always listened to them. He figured the advice had to be sound.
“Your Highness.” Ewan said carefully.
Finn groaned in frustration. “I know, I know. We have to head back.”
“I’m sorry.” He responded. “But we told Alder we wouldn’t be more than three hours and it’s a long way back.”
The trees around them were quiet, and Finn took a few moments to scan the shadowed branches one last time. The disappointment in his gut simmered painfully. “You’re right, let’s go.”
They both turned, Ewan leading this time, to head out of the forest. Finn was despondent, his fists clenched at his side. He really thought she could help him. Or that he might get a second chance. What a stupid idea.
Something thunked onto the top of Finn’s head, bouncing to the ground and covering itself in crushed maroon leaves. Without hesitation, Ewan drew his sword, twisting around to scan the trees. With careful steps, Finn looked down at the offending object. Once he realized it was a slice of apple, he couldn’t help the smile that split his face. He scanned the treetops looking for her; she was always good at camouflaging. A flash of movement and another slice of apple flew towards him, identifying her hiding spot. She sat in the junction of two branches, extremely high off the ground and swinging her feet cheerfully.
His breath caught in his throat and he felt fifteen all over again. She looked nearly the same as she did back then. Rich, dark skin, waves and waves of black curls that tumbled down her back. She always did prefer to wear her hair unbound. Her golden brown eyes glimmered with amusement when their gazes met.
He threw her a suspicious look, but it only made her grin wider. “How did I know I’d find you the moment I decided to give up?” He complained, kicking the apple slice she dropped on him.
She cut another piece of apple with her dagger, popping it into her mouth. Ewan sheathed his sword and took on a much more relaxed posture once he realized who Finn was speaking to. The melodic laugh she devolved into was harmony to his ears. She twirled the dagger around two fingers, just to show off. “Because I’ve always loved tormenting you?"
Her voice echoed in his ears, warming him from the inside out. He didn't realize how starved he was for her until this moment. How much he missed her voice, her wit, and her teasing. He tried to keep the tepid glare on his face as he desperately wrestled with his tongue. Ewan saved him from the winding silence and spoke up. “Your Highness, I'll give you some privacy. I will be no more than twenty paces away should you need me.” He announced.
That was the most formal Ewan had acted the whole trip. He bowed to Finn and tipped his head up to Jedda. “Jeddy Teddy, great to see you.”
“Don’t call me that stupid nickname!” Jedda tossed another slice of apple at Ewan as he walked away, laughter ringing out as it plonked off his armor.
“Why are you in a tree?” Came out of Finn’s mouth without his permission. He was never the best conversationalist, and Ewan laughed from behind a copse of bushes.
Her only response was to mouth around a bite of apple. “Why aren't you in a tree?”
Ewan’s laughter sounded farther away, like at least this time he thought to smother it as he listened in. Finn opened his mouth to speak, but Jedda chimed again. “Why are you looking for me, Finnaeford? Running an entire country not entertaining enough for you? Need me to bring a little bit of chaos to your life?” She kept the smile on her face, but her eyes were serious as she twirled the dagger, switching between each hand.
Finn fiddled with the navy buttons on his tunic and looked away, his mouth twisted in uncertainty. “I’ve dealt with enough of your dramatics to last a lifetime.” He muttered.
“Dramatics?” She drawled threateningly, stabbing her dagger into the tree. She sat forward, her eyes narrowed.
“Yes, dramatics.” He began, holding his arms behind his back, stepping from side to side. The way she swayed up in that tree reminded him of a viper observing its prey. It made his skin prickle with anticipation. Riling her up was something he was extremely skilled at, and it was satisfying to know he still could. It was his second favorite childhood pastime.
“Take that time you lost our fishing competition and pushed me into the river.” He bantered, heart swelling as he watched her face squint in that adorable way.
“I told you, that was an accident! I wasn’t angry, even though you cheated.” She snapped.
“How did I cheat?” He asked.
Jedda pulled her dagger free from the bark, carving another slice from her fruit after wiping it on her trousers. “You caught more, but my fish were far bigger.”
“If I recall, we agreed to a competition on how many fish we caught, not how big-.” He began.
“Therein lies how you cheated! How was I supposed to know you would take a bucket to a school of minnows?” She snipped, pointing at him accusingly.
Finn laughed hard, reliving the memory of that Harvest season so long ago. “That was just wise thinking.”
“That’s not what I would call it.” Jedda muttered in irritation.
“You know what’s not wise? Letting a King wander through this spooky forest for hours. Why couldn't we get a more accurate location to meet?” Finn asked, crossing his arms and waiting to reprimand her.
“You poor thing.” She cooed, soft black hair falling before her face like a veil as she tilted towards him. One of her hands reached up and brushed the hair back behind her pointed ears. A beam of sunslight trickled in through the thick canopy, dripping a gold glow upon her dark skin. Age had only made her more ravishing and he was having trouble concentrating as she spoke. “Considering I head an Adventuring Guild that focuses on intelligence, don’t you think secrecy is of the utmost importance?”
“Is that what we’re calling bodyguards for hire and shifty cutthroats?” Finn joked, head feeling light and thick like molasses at the same time.
Jedda lobbed the apple core straight for his head and he barely avoided getting smacked in the face. “That is the proper term! We gather information and protect people. We only hurt others if we have no other choice.” She said haughtily. “I need to keep our camp a secret, especially in a place we stay quite often. So no sending letters with precise locations. Now, for the last time, why are you looking for me?”
Finn sighed. Back to it then. “I have a business opportunity for you.”
“Business? Now you have my attention.” Jedda chirped.
“Can I have your attention on the ground? My neck is getting sore from looking up.” He complained, rubbing at his shoulder for emphasis.
Jedda’s voice was positively dripping with feigned reverence. “Is that an order, your Highness?”
He attempted to ignore the racing of his heart. “It can be.”
She tucked the dagger into her leather armor, disappearing somewhere into the shark hide. Hopping from the upper branches, she flipped once in the air before landing on powerful legs. She bowed mockingly, deep and languid. Dramatics, just as he said.