Chapter One

Preparations and Disappointments

"Thank you, once again, Lady Valkyra. We will never forget your kindness," the woman said to the young lady as she walked out onto the porch.

"It was no trouble at all, Akiko. Please keep me informed on Akira's health, and I will continue to do all I can to make sure she is returned to her former well-being. I will also do all I can to track down the demon that attacked her," Valkyra responded before she began walking out onto the street. The woman bowed and hurried back inside to watch over her injured daughter. She had been found in the surrounding forest with cuts and bruises covering her body. The only thing she had been able to say was that it had been some sort of demon that had attacked her while she was gathering herbs for Valkyra, who was gifted in the art of healing.

"Lady Valkyra! Lady Valkyra!" Someone cried as they ran toward her. She turned around to see one of the palace servants running toward her.

"Yes, what is it?" she asked as he finally reached her. His hair was out of place, sweat covered his face, and he was short of breath. It seemed as if he had run all the way to the village from the palace, which rested at the top of the nearby mountain.

"Your father wishes to see you, now. He did not give a reason. All he said was that you must return to the palace immediately. You are not to take your time. He expects you within the hour," he said to her after taking a long breath. Valkyra looked at him and nodded slowly.

"Very well," she replied before she turned and continued walking. She went straight to the stables where her horse, Fearnaught, was being kept. As much as she hated being told to rush home when she was down in the village, especially when her father knew that she was trying to help the villagers, she would rather not anger him again. He didn't take too kindly to his own daughter disobeying him, and it was becoming a more frequent thing. As she was walking she heard the servant turn and begin his journey back up the mountain. She would have no problem reaching the palace before him since she would be travelling by horse, and he by foot.

When Valkyra arrived at the palace, she rushed to the stables. As she dismounted a servant was there to take the reins from her. After she knew that Fearnaught was taken care of she began walking to the palace, knowing that as soon as she walked in she would be taken to see her father in his study. Mere seconds after walking through the large front doors she knew that she had been right. Another of the palace servants approached her and bowed before speaking.

"Your father is expecting you in his study, my lady. He does not wish to be kept waiting," she said while avoiding eye contact.

"Oh, you never fail to be completely predictable, Father," Valkyra thought as she nodded and began following the young servant girl. She was lead down the long hall, up the stairs, down another long passage, and finally to the grandiose doors that opened into her father's large study.

"I am sorry to disturb you, your Grace. Your daughter has returned from the village, and has been brought to you as you requested," the servant said as she opened the door and bowed. The King did not answer, but Valkyra entered the room anyway as the servant bowed again and closed the door. Valkyra listened as the sounds of the girl's feet faded away.

"You wanted to see me, Father?" Valkyra asked in a defiant tone. She had no intention of showing up and acting guilty. Being apprehended for her insolence was becoming such a recurring thing that she was actually getting used to this. Somehow he seemed more angry than usual, and that was slightly frightening. She would never let him know that she was scared. Fear was weakness in his eyes. Valkyra was the future queen, and therefore had to be a model of strength and wisdom.

"How many times have I told you that you must ask my permission before going down the mountain to the village, Valkyra?" he said without turning to face her. He was sitting in his large chair, which always sat next to the fireplace. The back of the chair was facing Valkyra.

"Father, every time that I do come to you and ask for your permission you do not give it. Even though you know how much I like to help the villagers," she answered, a little more timidly this time.

"Have you ever considered there was a reason for that? You, Valkyra, are a princess. They are much less valuable than you are. I do not like you going down there because it puts you in danger. There could be an attack while you are down there helping your precious villagers, and we could lose you. I am not willing to take that risk," he said in a low voice. Valkyra felt a shiver go through her body as she listened to him speak. She was beginning to realize what kind of man her father really was.

"You, of all people, should know that I'm more than capable of taking care of myself if someone were to be stupid enough to attack us. How much of my childhood was spent being trained to fight? How many hours have I spent perfecting the way to use my powers properly? It seems I would serve as a better warrior than a crowned princess. Given my talent in fighting, my strength, and my powers," she said. Her father shifted in his chair. Her insolence wasn't to be taken lightly anymore. She had gotten away with it for far too long. The servants were starting to whisper, and he was never to be known as kind or weak or forgiving. This had to be stopped immediately, or the consequences would be impossible to determine.

"I didn't want to have to do this, but you have given me no choice, daughter." Valkyra shivered again. "You are forbidden from ever going down to the village again. The only circumstance is if I do consent, or if you have protection from our guards. Also, it will not be on days such as this. Days when you know I have suitors coming for you and your sister. You should already be in your chambers getting ready, not down here arguing with me. Now, go where you are already supposed to be. And I do not suggest protesting at this point, Valkyra," the king said as he finally stood. Valkyra could see that her only option was to obey. The fierce look in his eyes told her that this time he meant every word.

"Yes, Father. As you wish," she replied curtly, bowed, and left the room. She hurried upstairs to where she knew her sister and their servants would be awaiting her arrival.

"Oh, Achika, you look beautiful," Valkyra exclaimed as she entered the dressing chamber. Achika looked up and smiled broadly at her elder sister. She was always so happy to see her. Ever since their mother had died Achika had only had her sister to look up to and take council from. They had grown very close over the years, and they were both grateful of that fact. It made dealing with their father much easier.

"Val, where were you? Father came to see me and had so many questions about where you had gotten to! He sounded so angry and I wasn't sure what to tell him," Achika said in her soft, sweet voice.

"Oh, don't worry, dear sister, he has already made me aware of how angry he was. I was called into his study once again, and he was furious to discover I had been down in the village," Valkyra responded as she looked more closely at her sister. Her black hair had been brushed so much that it looked like silk that fell down to the small of her back, while a little of it had been pulled back with one of their mother's hair barrettes that each of them had inherited upon her death. Her deep brown eyes were full of concern for her sister, and in that moment she was the spitting image of their mother. It was almost scary; as if their mother had suddenly risen and taken her place. She was wearing a beautiful dark blue dress that swept to the floor, and accentuated her curves nicely.

Before Achika could respond, Kasurin, the servant in charge of the girls, walked back into the room. As soon as she saw Valkyra standing there the expression on her face changed into one of anger and surprise.

"And just look at you, my lady! All covered in dirt and sweat! How am I supposed to marry you off if you keep coming back looking like this?" she demanded as she examined the princess. Valkyra's long hair was in a messy bun at the nape of her neck, her clothes had a hint of dust all over them from riding Fearnaught at such a fast pace for so long, and her face was sweaty, with a few strands of hair sticking to the side of her face.

Kasurin clicked her tongue in disappointment and motioned for two of the other serving girls to come over. "Take the princess and bathe her. Then you need to help her get ready, and this all needs to be done quickly! The suitors should be arriving very soon, and will be staying with us for some time. Now, off with you!" she ordered in an exasperated tone. Valkyra was led out of the room, and Kasurin returned her attention to Achika.

The warm water of the bath helped relieve some of the soreness in her muscles, and she was able to relax a little. The dirt and sweat was scrubbed from her body, and as she stood up to get out the servants were waiting with towels. She stepped into the dark purple ballroom gown that Kasurin had picked out for her. The beadwork on it was astounding, and was almost an exact replica of the dress Achika was wearing. Valkyra loved the way it looked on her, but hated how constricted she felt while wearing it. The servants brushed through her wavy light brown hair until it also shone as brightly as silk that fell to the small of her back. Instead of her own hair barrette from her mother that she usually wore, she was adorned with her crown. She was the princess, and the suitors were to be very aware of that fact. After the servants were done she turned to the looking glass and was taken aback by how much she did not look like her usual self. Not a single hair on her head was out of place, her crown was bright and sparkling, and her slender body had never appeared more curvaceous.

"Now, that's more like it!" Kasurin exclaimed as Valkyra walked back into the dressing chamber. She walked over to the princess and circled around her, making sure every detail was proper and perfect. "Also, such perfect timing, my lady; the suitors have just arrived." Kasurin turned to the girls and motioned for them to follow her.

They were taken to one of the sitting rooms on the first floor of the castle, and as they were walking Achika reached over and grabbed her sister's hand. They looked at each other and smiled little reassuring smiles. Their father and the suitors were to be waiting for them in this room and as they reached it, two servants opened the doors and bowed as they passed.

"My King, and his honored guests, may I present to you the Crowned Princess Valkyra and Lady Achika," Kasurin announced as the two girls walked into the room to greet their future husbands.