Christening
Alexandra slammed the door behind them in order to keep the snow out. Even so, a flurry of ice and wind coated the floor in white. She did her best to brush the snow off her cloak, but much of it had already frozen. She leaned against the door, massaging her fingers and nose in order to rub some warmth into them. As she did this, Alexandra glanced around the inn, surveying her new surroundings. She stood in a small, dimly-lit room filled with chairs and table. A fire roared in a corner, and the man practically ran to it. She watched as he huddled over the open flames, trying to absorb its warmth. She felt a pang of regret at dumping the ice water on him. It had been a foolish decision, one that she knew could kill the man, but in her haste had not thought it through. They had gotten him some dry clothes, but she could never let him know she was angry at herself for that. Just asking for his help undermined her authority.
Behind her, someone cleared their throat. Alexandra turned to see a disgruntled-looking older man with a long mustache, who must have been inn keeper. She plastered a smile on her face before speaking.
"Good evening, sir. My brother and I are looking for a place to stay during the night, and we were hoping that your inn would have a vacant room."
The innkeeper glanced at her "brother." He was a sickly, tall man with dark eyes and a beard the color of wheat beneath the filth. Alexandra resisted the urge to touch her black braids. The man sighed, but he nodded.
"I do indeed have an empty room. If you have enough coin to pay, you and your brother are welcome to it."
Alexandra turned away before pulling out a purse out of her boot. She paid, but parting with her money left a bitter taste in her mouth. The man grunted approvingly.
"Third door on the left."
The man moved slowly away from the blaze and crept up the small, rickety stairs ahead of Alexandra. Each step creaked. The man pushed open the door, as it squeaked in protest. He flopped down on the bed and curled up. Alexandra eyed him. She could practically see little black dots jumping on him already.
"I suppose I'll take the floor"
A noise of consent drifted up from the bundle. Alexandra bent to light the fire and muttered to herself.
"The fleas would eat me alive anyway."
"I wouldn't want to deprive them of a meal, Sorceress."
Alexandra turned around to face the lump of furs and cloth.
"I have a name."
"I don't care."
They sat in silence, Alexandra stoking the fire. The innkeeper's wife knocked on the door and entered with two bowls of barley and mushroom soup. She was a tad shorter than Alexandra, with a careworn face lined with years of labor. She smiled when presenting the wooden bowls that had steam rising from them.
Alexandra thanked her, and sipped the warming soup.
She turned to the bed, and poked the man.
"You. Wake up. I have food for you."
He rolled over.
"I have a name too. Alyen."
"I know."
He took the bowl. They started to eat, again lapsing into silence again. The fire burned down into glowing embers. They could hear the wind howling outside the wall. Alexandra stirred the cherry-red coals.
"Alexandra."
Alyen looked over at her.
"What?"
"My name. It's Alexandra."
"Oh." He paused. "Then, Alexandra, what is your plan to get my throne back?"
Alexandra stared into the coals.
"You won't be getting the throne back. At least, Alyen won't."
Alyen sat up, his pale hair shadowing his eyes.
"What do you mean, I won't be getting back? I thought that was the point."
"Prince Alyen will never be allowed to be to rule again. You know that. You drove your territory to ruin though sheer negligence and corruption!" Alexandra turned around, her eyes shining. "The next ruler must be a newcomer, someone clean. You must reinvent yourself."
Alyen leaned forward. They were almost nose to nose in the cramped room.
"A new identity. Who shall I become?"
Alexandra grinned slowly, showing all her teeth.
"I was thinking a hard-working and clever warrior that possess, above all, a keen sense of justice."
Alyen laughed. It was a painful sound, scratchy and deep.
"Me, a soldier? Me, hard-working, clever and having a sense of justice. You are mad, Sorceress." His face darkened. "You took my rightful place from me. You will get it back for me. Without any of this disguise nonsense."
Alexandra gazed without blinking. "Prince Alyen will never take the throne again. However, another will. That will be you."
His matted hair and frostbitten sharp nose belonged to a beggar, and his attitude to a bitter and arrogant man. Still, Alexandra would create an ideal warrior, and later ruler, out of him.
"Do I get to pick a name?"
She shrugged.
"I don't care."
He closed his eyes for a moment and tilted his head back. A few breaths later he opened his eyes.
"Sasha."
"That's fine. Is there any particular reason why?"
"None I"s care to share with you." He turned back to the wall.
Alexandra laid down, facing the embers. She wondered if the storm would let up by the first light. She wondered how Alyen's former kingdom was managing without anyone to guide it. Not well, or at least she had heard. She had only gone back once since deposing the prince. But most of all, she wonder how exactly she was going to accomplish her plan. She tightened her blue scarf and took a deep breath.
"We have a rough journey ahead. Do you know how much work we have to do?"
Sasha gave no reply. She glanced over at him. He was snoring softly. Alexandra smiled.
Author's Note: Now this chapter night not be terribly exciting, but it gets certain things out of the way, and the story can really get off the ground. Thanks again to coolcat12345 for the name, and please review!
