Dracia walked down the stairs of the Fortress to the entry hall, holding a letter in her hands. She tried to appear calm and collected as she passed several Elites on her way down the stairs. They bowed slightly and moved out of her way as she nodded at all of them. She finally reached the front door and quickly walked outside and into the cover of the trees that separated the Fortress from the High Palace.

Away from the eyes of her Elites, Dracia let down her shield of control and sternness. She let out a loud breath and stomped her foot slightly, causing the sword at her side to sway. How dare he summon her after what he had done. He had gone over her head and contacted a potential novice, offering something that shouldn’t be possible. He hadn’t even discussed it with her first.

When Roderick had come back from visiting with his brother and told her about the message Galen had received, Dracia was very happy they were alone. She trusted Roderick enough for her to show her true displeasure with the prince. She immediately sat down and wrote the prince a letter, demanding him to write her back directly with an explanation.

Instead, he had sent a summons. He knew she could not come to him. She had told him she could not be in his presence, at least not for a while. All he had to do was write a letter back to her, explaining why he thought he could offer Galen something that was madness. She had written him back, telling him a meeting would not be possible. He had insisted. She ignored him and did not go.

Now he was demanding her to come to him, or he would come to her. He better pray to the king’s gods if he thought he could come to her Fortress without her permission. He would not come and destroy the peace she had found in the Fortress. She did not need him coming to her amongst her people, and destroying all she had worked so hard to build.

Dracia tore up the letter in her hand. She walked over to a small pond and threw it in the water, watching it disintegrate before her eyes. Finding a small stone bench by the pond, she sat down heavily and sulked. She wasn’t usually one for sulking, but she was in an awful mood. Not only was the prince a problem, but she had a large task in front of her.

Many of the older Elites had retired this past year. It wasn’t unusual for many Elites to leave service after the changing of the High Captain, but twenty five seemed a large amount to her. Some of the men weren’t even that old. She had a feeling the real reason was, they could not stand serving under a woman.

She had told herself over and over, it didn’t matter. They didn’t need such men as Elites. She would find new recruits who were more forward thinking. She was the High Captain, chosen by the previous captain. She knew she was qualified. She knew she was the best choice for the position. A small voice in her brain needled at her.

You know this was the king’s doing. It was too perfect of a way to find a place for you. It keeps you busy. It makes it almost impossible for you to ever hold any other position, let alone be a wife or mother.

Valian had told her that while the king was very enthusiastic about the choice, Valian would not have named her High Captain if she was not the right choice. She would have to trust she was in her position for a reason. She would have to trust she had made the right decision on accepting. She had spent the last year coming to terms that this was her life. She was the High Captain, and she would be for many years. Any other dreams she may have had or promises she may had made would have to be tossed away.

Dracia rubbed her forehead and then her temples. She had a headache. She touched her dark brown braids that laid on her head. Perhaps she had done them too tight today. She looked down into the pond before her to see her own reflection.

She was dressed in black and silver like she was almost every day. Her black dress emblazoned with the sigil of the Sentinel on the chest came to just above her ankles, with tight black pants underneath. She wiped a wet leaf off of her mid-calf black boots. She wrapped her black cloak with silver edging around her as a breeze blew across the pond, making her shiver.

She examined her face in the pond as the wind settled. She looked tired and irritated. She was even paler than usual with dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes looked dull and sad. Dracia looked away from her reflection and shook her head. It was not worth all this. He was not worth all this worry and aggravation, but even as she told herself that, she knew it wasn’t true. He was worth everything to her. He was everything to her, but it could not be. It felt all wrong, but she had to let him go. She was taken out of her thoughts by the sound of light footsteps coming her way.

“And here you finally are, Dracia. I’ve been looking for you for fifteen minutes,” said Princess Lexine as she walked up to Dracia.

Dracia stood and curtsied. “Your highness.”

She looked at Lexine to see her looking as lovely as always. Her curly, sandy blonde hair was piled on her head with a few curls framing her face. Her hazel eyes, that were a sure sign of one of the royal family, were framed in dark long lashes. Her pouty red lips were smiling at Dracia. She was fidgeting her gold royal ring that she wore on her right hand. She seemed nervous, and Dracia wondered why.

Lexine took Dracia’s arm and hooked it with her own. “Please Dracia, it is just us out here. Do not talk such nonsense. You have known me almost since I was born.”

Dracia nodded slightly, looking at the princess. “You were looking for me?”

“Yes, I wanted a chat with you. I have missed you, Dracia. I think of you as my older sister, but you rarely have time for me anymore. Will you walk with me?”

“I will,” said Dracia as she started walking slowly with Lexine around the small pond.

“It is still so strange to see you in this outfit. I know you have been a part of the Sentinel for several years now, but you used to have time for court dances and parties. I used to at least see you in your old dresses and hairstyles. Now you are always dressed in this frightening way.”

Dracia smile slightly. “I am the High Captain. To command respect from my Elites, I must always look the part, even when I do find a little time to attend court in some way.”

“When is the last time you came to a court event, Dracia?”

Dracia thought for a moment. “I came to the winter feast a few months ago.”

“You stayed barely long enough to eat supper. You didn’t even talk to me, you only curtsied and left. Do you have any idea how dull it’s been for me? Who can I talk to if I don’t have you?”

Dracia’s shoulders sagged. She knew Lexine didn’t have many friends in court. There weren’t many young ladies she did or should trust. Most would either try to befriend her to get closer to her brother, or they would try to push Lexine on their own brothers.

“I am sorry, Lex. I haven’t meant to neglect you. You have always been very important to me. I have missed you as well. We will have to find time and ways to talk more often.”

“You could come to court more regularly. I know you are busy, Dracia, but you must have some nights you could attend some feasts or dances.”

Dracia frowned slightly. It was true, she could come to court. As High Captain, she probably should make more of an effort to make an appearance amongst the lords and ladies of the kingdom, but she had avoided court as much as she could for a few reasons.

“It’s complicated, Lex, but it has nothing to do with me not wanting to be with you. I am very sorry. Please accept my apology and my assurances that I will do better.”

“I know it has nothing to do with me, Dracia,” said Lexine with a sigh. “I do miss you, but I understand your reasons.”

“And you do accept my apology?” asked Dracia looking at Lexine as they stopped walking on the other side of the pond.

Lexine too her arm away from Dracia. She leaned over and kissed Dracia on the cheek. “Of course, I do, Dracia. You will always be my dearest friend. I only hope you will forgive me as well. “

Dracia looked at Lexine confused when she felt someone grab her arm and pull her behind a group of dense trees. She heard Lexine giggle as Dracia was suddenly in a strong pair of arms, being kissed quite soundly. Dracia closed her eyes and sighed for a moment, leaning into the kiss, when she suddenly remembered her anger and annoyance.