Peasant’s POV

Throughout the short trip, I only caught little bits of conversation between Queen Kira and Andrei. It was only enough to catch the gist of what was going on. However, I couldn’t have an opinion. ‘I’ve still got to figure out who the hell I am and what I’m going to do once the Queen gets rid of me.

‘In fact… without them, I’m going to be hopeless. No food, water, or way to defend myself. I better do my best to stay on their good side. Feliks is the way for that right now.’

Mentioning Feliks, he had been talking nonstop. I wasn’t at all bothered though, I learned a lot, and it was distracting. My entire end of the conversation was “yes”, “mhm”, and “wow!” 

“And I remember watching Gavrie hanging just off the banister! My father made him clean the entire throne room as the servants all watched. It was perfect. Fyodor and I could not have stopped laughing if we tried our hardest.

“And then there was another time Fyodor ended up riding backwards on a horse the first time he tried. I never saw it myself but Gavrie always teased him about it.”

“Ah.”

“Gavrie is magnificent! The best big brother there could be. Fyodor is fun, but I want to be like Gavrie. Father loves Gavrie. He’s strong, tall, brave, and handsome. Who needs anything else?”

“You’re very right.” Though internally, ‘I hope he also has a brain. I distinctly remember some stereotype of royals… though I wish I knew from where that came. Princes without brains are frightening.’

“I watched Gavrie fight several times before. He’s never lost once! You know Fyodor says that Gavrie is one of the strongest swordmages in the empire!”

Finally, something that caught my interest.

“Swordmage?”

“Oh come on—” He paused. “You really need another name besides Peasant. My sister might think it’s funny, but it’s absolutely terrible to say. You can’t take her seriously. She will stare daggers into you and tell you to walk off a bridge without breaking a sweat but I swear she just likes getting a reaction out of people. And I can tell she’s nowhere near done with you, especially with how boring you’ve been so far.”

I blinked. “Boring?”

“Yes, boring! She will only keep testing you until you do something to retaliate, you know. She did it to us quite a few times. I once threw a snowball at her head and well, it did not end happily for me. I was shivering the rest of the day. She just needs a reason to be mad sometimes.”

“You know, you’re frighteningly well spoken and intuitive for someone your age, Prince Feliks.”

Feliks shrugged, “I am a prince. I have taken endless lessons on how to speak properly. Also, I love to read. It’s taught me a lot of words. And as the youngest, I get to hear all the things my parents say about my siblings, so I get some inside information. 

He lowered his voice suddenly, getting on his tip-toes to whisper to me. “But we’re getting far from the point. Just be careful around my sister. Once you snap, it’ll be over for you. Especially for you. She is very suspicious. So, consider it a repayment for saving my life earlier, but be very careful around her.”

I nodded. “I’ll keep that well in mind Prince Feliks.”

“You know, for a peasant, you speak really well. So I’m starting to suspect there’s more to you than that. But I won’t say a thing to—”

“For the love of the gods, will you two be quiet for just a moment? I’m sure your talks are very important but unless we’d all like to be publicly executed this evening, I would like to complete my ritual.”

I quickly firmed my lips together, looking back at her sharp glare. It was but a moment before she turned back and sat down. Andrei seemed to have left at some point.

Queen Kira began chanting something but I couldn’t recall her words. The whole world was spinning quicker and quicker as something changed in the environment.

Whispers flew through my ears, and I strained to hear them. They weren’t speaking to any of us though. They spoke to each other. “Run, scurry, faster, quicker. Chill, cool, rush. Raise, blind, freeze.”

My mouth fell agape as it felt like a vortex of energy was lifting me, rushing about me. Just as when I had first woken up alongside the road, it was an onslaught of stimulation. 

‘What is all this?’ I asked myself. But inside, I think I was slowly beginning to realize.

‘This is magic.’

Little pulses of energy that shook the very air. A sixth sense had awoken in me and I became acutely aware of all the power surrounding me. ‘This is amazing and frightening all at once. Is this really what magic is capable of? Or is this just the power of a queen?’

I was snapped back to reality by a tug from Feliks. Andrei had returned and he was speaking with Queen Kira. The snow was whirling this way and that, but we had a perfect orb of visibility that protected us from the fierce winds.

“You seemed lost. My sister is pretty cool right?”

I nodded.

“She was taught magic really early because she’s always been good at it. My entire family never shuts up about it, but it’s why…” He trailed off for a moment, lost in thought. “She’s a great mage.” He repeated quickly.

“I can tell. I feel it. It’s scary.”

Feliks chuckled. “Scary is right. And this is just easy stuff for her, but even easy stuff takes focus. I wonder…”

I tilted my head. “Yes, prince?”

“You really lost your memory?” He asked the question genuinely.

I nodded again. “No doubt. No name, no parents, no reason why I’m here. All lost. Don’t know how it all happened. I know I had limbs.” I moved the stump of my arm a little to emphasize the point.

“I see. Then you might really not know what you are, or what you were.”

“You’ve said that before. That you know what I am.’ Prince Feliks, what exactly did yo—” Before I could finish, the peg I had fashioned got caught and I felt myself tumble forward, right into Queen Kira.

Without a second’s delay the rather easygoing atmosphere I had been in turned into a fight-or-flight situation.

I was on the ground. The Queen was glaring down at me, and I swear, that for a split second, there was a honed killing intent, an insurmountable pressure, all aimed at me. My breath caught in my through before the Queen sighed.

“I hope you weren’t staring again and got distracted again. I understand how difficult it can be, but you really must restrain yourself, or you might find that I won’t be able to do that myself.”

With that, all the weight of the world came off my shoulders and I could breathe again. Even though Andrei already had his sword in hand, ready to execute me on sight, I felt safe again.

“I am very sorry Your Majesty, I won’t make a fool of myself again.” I bowed to her, feeling blood rush back into my face.

She quickly disregarded me with an insult as I freed myself, and began relaying her plan for scouting the homes for a way into the residences.

It seemed she trusted me enough to stay alone with Feliks, or perhaps Feliks was just as dangerous as her. Though he knew his sister well, Feliks seemed so nonchalant that I knew he did not sense the same pressure of her anger as I just had.

Our search was fruitless when it came to open doors or any basement entrances. Everything was locked or no one was home. However, that’s not where the real fruit lay anyways.

“As I meant to say, Prince Feliks, you know something of what I am?”

Prince Feliks took on a very analytical pose, chin in hand, as if trying to appear older than he was. “Now, I want you to think. Strongly. It might be hard, but… are you an undead?”

He had a dead serious look on his face.

“Me? Undead? Excuse me for my language, Your Highness, but why in the hell would you ask this?”

“You used your teeth to kill a man, savagely, without any hesitation. If that’s not the sign of an undead, I don’t know what is. And I wonder what land you’re from where you say ‘hell.’ It’s hells. Not ‘hell.’ Everyone East of the Great River knows that. And while you look so foreign you could be from the West, just why are you all the way out here?”

“First, prince, look at me.” I waved my lack of limbs towards him. “I don’t have much besides my teeth. Second, how would I know where I’m from, considering I don’t even know the name of any country, this world, or the proper dialect of this region.”

“And you use the word country, a trait that comes from the Central Kingdoms. Maybe you travelled a lot, since you were very young. You’re not that old looking though.”

I shrugged, at a loss at this point. “You’d have better theories than me, save for the undead.”

“It was worth a shot! It’s something. They said in the stories I read that undead can’t think, and don’t know they’re past lives. That fits you pretty well.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Your Highness, though I’d like to think I have more merit than that. And that you’d hopefully not base your observations off fairy tales.”

This time, Feliks shrugged.

Just then Andrei’s large figure appeared from the white winds whipping about us, and he gestured behind him. “Found our place for the night.”

It felt like only moments and we were all crowded around a small table as an older woman worked calmly in the kitchen as her husband looked as if he might faint from our presence. 

He sat with us, constantly rubbing his knuckles. I could’ve sworn I saw a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. ‘Have I really been traveling with people that have this much of an effect on a grown man?’

The Queen was swirling tea in her cup, staring intently at it. “How has the recent occupation been?”

The man was startled at her sudden question, but quickly regained himself. “I-it’s been unexpectedly peaceful. They haven’t caused any problems that we expected. Everyone has been accounted for. We have a curfew, and must always leave with a guard if we leave the house. There are r-random inspections as well, so…” He slowly trailed off as his eyes wandered over us.

“I suppose that makes us a burden. Unfortunately, it’s for the good of our empire, so you’ll have to do us this favor. I’m sure we’d both hate if the last living royalty of our empire died in the frost.”

Andrei coughed, and I couldn’t make out his expression. Meanwhile the man nodded rapidly, getting more nervous.

Before he could stutter anything out, the woman chimed in as she handed out bowls of porridge at the comically overcrowded table, “Of course we won’t have you out. I speak for both of us when we say that we’re happy with everything Emperor Aleksander Harkov’s done for us. After he unified the tribes he’s been trying to defend us from all threats, but no one has ever stood up against the Drakeclaw and seen anything but their land burned to ashes. Though I hate to say it…” She didn’t continue.

I was rather lost in all this, having no idea of any military history whatsoever, but Queen Kira seemed really attentive to the woman’s words.

“Well, you may as well speak. Even if it’s unpleasant, some things must be said.” The Queen’s words may have been inviting, but her sharp tone meant that she just wanted to hear what came next.

“Perhaps it would be best if a surender was made.”

It seemed like even the vicious wind had quieted itself after that. There was not a sound, and even the great Andrei looked tense in my eyes. I observed Queen Kira, as she swirled her tea. Her face showed nothing, and she remained focused on the cup in her hands.

“Perhaps.”

No other words. That was all she said, in a cool, soothing voice no less. Then, she simply took a sip of tea and relaxed.

“We’re travelling to the Alliance Embassy to request a royal tourney to decide our victor. If all goes as expected, the challenge will be taken by the Drakeclaw. Their pride won’t allow for anything else.”

The man nodded, finally recovering from his stunned silence. “S-stubborn is what they are. They’ve been growing larger and larger these past few dec-decades.”

Andrei grunted his agreement as well, and it finally seemed like the tense atmosphere had relaxed. I finally felt safe enough to take a spoonful of porridge. It was rather bland, but warm all the same, a welcome feeling after the freezing cold.

Feliks did the same, and nothing else eventful happened throughout the rest of the dinner. It actually remained rather quiet until the man escorted me to their drawing room.

“I’m afraid it isn’t much, but we’ll bring some sheets to you.” He seemed uneasy, still rubbing at his knuckles. I could see his eyes shifting over my stubs, eyeing where there might have once been limbs. 

“Anything will do. Thank you.” I bowed my head awkwardly, trying to be polite. In reality, I was becoming uncomfortable with the looks. 

Once he had left, I was on my own for quite some time. I fidgeted with my makeshift prosthetic, as the spot was becoming itchy. The wound could not be kept clean like this, and I’m sure it might become infected. I was just too afraid to mention it to anyone else.
‘Who knows if they can even do anything about it? Or maybe that’ll be the reason for the queen to get rid of me. I’ll shut up about it for now.’

Interrupting my late night thoughts, Andrei’s lumbering figure came in. He seemed quite solemn, and I was quite sure everyone else had gone to bed by now.

Without a word he laid on the floor, as far as possible in the room from me, and prepared for sleep. What I had expected to be a loud and slow process was swift and quiet as a mouse.

“Best get to sleep now. Any longer and you won’t get any at all.” He said nothing else.

It felt only awkward after that. I wasn’t sure I could get to sleep. I hadn’t had the time to process everything that had happened in the day, and it all was flooding my mind.

The first images that rushed in were of the man’s remains, his throat torn by my own teeth. ‘I really killed someone. But, there’s nothing. Just an empty hole in my chest where I might feel something. Was it because I needed to? Was I already a killer?’

‘I want to feel something. I don’t want to be alright with killing someone. So why am I? When I know I should feel this horrible guilt, why do I still feel okay?’

I heard a snore, Andrei had fallen asleep, and as his consciousness faded, so did my dark thoughts. Next, the magic.

‘I’ll have to ask Feliks about mages again tomorrow. He only began mentioning them before we were sidetracked. That feeling when the queen used her spell was amazing. Can everyone use magic? Can I? If I could use magic then I wouldn’t have to worry about my arm at all. That would be nice. I would love to be as strong as the rest of them…’

With that last thought, I felt my eyelids begin to droop and slowly I faded into a deep sleep.