PART 2: Fiyero's Vinkus
Description: Certain things are best kept within families, but Fiyero wants to escape the constant hand-me-downs. Especially hand-me-down wives. Stuck in the shadow of his deceased older brother, Fiyero needs a way to reclaim his family's respect. But if getting it means losing his freedom to marry a Munchkin, for the greater good of his country, is it worth it?
"Hurry up, man! You're slowing down!"
"I'd keep up if I had a faster horse!"
"Your horse is plenty fast! You need to urge him more!"
"Run on!"
"Let's go!"
"Hyah!"
Four men on horseback raced through the gardens in their amateur steeplechase. Hoofbeats mixed with yelling and laughing overpowered the sound of the wind howling past their ears. As the finish line drew closer, the men urged their horses to go faster. They were tied, neck-and-neck, but one horse pulled through at the last second.
"Yes!" the rider shouted as the horses gracefully slowed to a stop. "Pay up, Fiyero!"
"Rematch, Kel! The sun was in my eyes!" Fiyero huffed, trying to catch his breath, pushing his locs from his face.
"The only thing in your eyes was the dust I was kicking up."
"Maybe it's getting too hot for this. June heat is a different breed." He dismounted and took his horse's reins, gently leading him around the pasture for a cool-down walk. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked beside his chestnut horse, patting and rubbing his back. He liked going for a run early in the morning before the summer heat set in. "Stay for breakfast, Nul?" he asked, turning to the rider behind him.
"A gracious invitation, but I must get back. Lourens will be awake soon, and she's at that age where she throws a fit if I'm not there when she wakes up," Nul said with a slight bow, catching up to Fiyero.
"What about you, Kel? Gyles?"
"I'd love to, but the last time I stayed for breakfast, I was so scared your sister would secretly replace my harissa with Nali hot sauce. If that spicy pepper hit my tongue, I would've died," Gyles said with a chuckle, handing his horse's reins to the waiting stable hand.
"The last time I stayed for breakfast, she actually did," Kel chuckled. "Her face turned redder than the sauce when she saw me take more."
"Hannalyn's face turned red because you said, 'I like my eggs how I like my women; spicy', and winked at her," Fiyero countered.
"Your father laughed!"
"But my mother didn't."
"But I didn't get banned. So I think I'm still good. I will accept your invitation, Fiyero. It's my turn for a royal breakfast, anyway."
"It's a casual breakfast today, I'm afraid," he chuckled, patting his friend on the back and waving to Gyles and Nul before leading Kel inside.
"Any summer plans?" Kel asked as Fiyero led him inside the castle.
"Nothing that I'm aware of. But I'm usually the last person to be informed of these things. I'll just be happy to survive it with my sanity intact."
The two young men reached the informal parlor, where the rest of the family was already gathered.
"I see a breakfast invitation was extended to Kel," the High Princess, Amalie, said, eying the guest with a knowing glance.
Kel clicked his heels twice and bowed deeply. "Good morning, Your Grandnesses."
"Good morning, Kel," the Chieftain nodded, gesturing to a floor pillow next to Fiyero's spot. "I trust you won the morning race."
"Yes, sir," the young man smiled as he sat and crossed his legs.
"By a hair," Fiyero said as he sat, nudging his friend.
"Good. I'm glad you're not going easy on Fiyero. He needs to learn that he cannot always win just because of his status," the Chieftain said, taking a long sip of strong coffee.
"Oh, I know, sir. I can keep His Highness's ego under control." He happily helped himself to the eggs on his plate, piling on the Nali hot sauce and ignoring Hannalyn's stare.
The conversation turned to summer plans, which mostly consisted of Fiyero having his plans dictated to him by his grandfather.
"Don't complain, Fiyero," his sister-in-law, Sarima, frowned. "It is your duty until Irji becomes of age."
Fiyero thought of his nephew, only thirteen, and completely unburdened with his future responsibilities. "I'm aware, Sarima. I'm just saying that it's a lot of work for just one person."
"It wouldn't be your job if you had been more careful."
"Now, Sarima," Amalie warned lightly.
"Apologies, Amma," Sarima said contritely. "But Eszno never complained about his duties, which means you shouldn't, either."
"I will get everything accomplished," Fiyero said, leveling a glare at Sarima.
"You don't have to start today, Yero," the Chieftess said. "Kháteryne is arriving today."
"She is?" the youngest princess at the table, Hannalyn, asked, finally finding a moment to speak. "How long is she staying?"
"The entire summer. I'm sure you all will want to catch up, so you may start tomorrow."
Kháteryne was the Chieftess's grandniece, who still lived in a small manor in Upper Fanarra that the Chieftess left behind when she married the Chieftain all those decades ago. Not being of royal blood, she didn't see her cousins very often, but she was a favorite when she was around. She was prim, proper, and girly enough for Hannalyn, and energetic, athletic, and adventurous enough for Fiyero, which made her the perfect mix of company for them.
"Can't wait," Fiyero smiled.
"You just want a work delay," Hannalyn teased.
"That too. And Khát owes me a rowing rematch."
Once breakfast was over, the Chieftain excused his family to their day's activities. Kel went home, promising to see the prince the following day. Since he had been excused from his royal duties for the day, Fiyero decided to take a walk through the gardens. It was late morning, but still cool enough to walk around.
"Uncle Yero! Uncle Yero!"
He turned, hearing his niece and nephews, but finding himself alone.
"Up here!"
He looked up towards the castle, and saw three heads sticking out of the window, followed by three arms waving frantically at him. "What are you three doing?"
"Looking for you!" the eldest, Irji, smiled.
"Nor, get back inside!" Fiyero called, seeing his niece trying to climb out the window. "Manek, help her!"
The middle child tugged his younger sister back inside, rather forcefully, and she fell back with a yelp. Pretty soon, they disappeared from Fiyero's view, and Fiyero could hear a scuffle and his niece squealing about her hair being pulled. Irji paid them no attention as he continued to try to have a conversation with his uncle. Suddenly, the fighting stopped, and Sarima appeared behind them. She glanced down at Fiyero before pulling Irji away from the window.
Fiyero sighed and continued his walk. He used to have a good relationship with Sarima. Or well, as good a relationship as they could since she was in love with him when she married his older brother. It was an arranged marriage, as was most of the marriages in the royal family, but there was genuine affection between the married couple.
He knew Sarima blamed him for Eszno's death, as did most of the family, and he partly blamed himself, too, but there was nothing he could've done. It had happened so fast. All the different scenarios he had played out in his head resulted in the same, or worse, outcomes.
He stopped at an oak tree by the far wall. He and his siblings used to spend many days out here in their youth. He tried to get his nephews and nieces to continue the tradition, but they had different interests, mostly involving indoor activities.
He didn't know how long he'd been out there, but the next thing he knew, a guard was hurriedly marching over to him, and announced that his cousin was arriving. He ran to the courtyard and met his family at the base of the steps. Irji, Manek, and Nor were also there, looking like they would rather be stuck in an erupting volcano.
"You're almost late," Sarima said as the carriage pulled through the gate.
"Almost late is still on time," Fiyero said as his mother tried to straighten his shirt. He gently pushed her hand away and fixed it himself, ignoring the look she gave him.
The carriage came to a stop and the driver stepped down, clicked his heels, and bowed to the royals before opening the door. "Miss Kháteryne Fyre of Upper Fanarra," he announced.
The young woman gracefully stepped down, her dark skin shining in the sun and her long, coily black hair falling behind her shoulders to her upper back. Her short sleeves exposed the golden infinity swirls in the shape of a flower on her right shoulder, a symbol of the Ugubezi tribe. She smiled as she clicked her heels and bowed to the royals.
The Chieftess stepped forward and gave her grandniece a soft hug. "Welcome, child," she said, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Hello, Auntie," she said softly, then greeted her uncle and cousins.
The children started fidgeting and poking each other, and Sarima dismissed them before they blew a fuse. She apologized to Kháteryne and marched after them, annoyed.
The young woman did a very good job hiding her surprise and let herself be whisked away by Fiyero. "I am glad to be back at Wistra Ir this summer," she admitted, walking arm-in-arm with him.
Having just had a walk, the prince wasn't very keen on another one, but once Kháteryne admitted that she was tired and only had energy for the one activity, he relented. "I am, too, Khát. There's so much I have to tell you."
"And I you. But first…" She hesitated. "I must tell you that this will be my final summer here."
He stopped. "Why?"
"I probably shouldn't tell you this early on in my arrival, but… I'm getting married in January."
He continued walking. "Oh."
"Oh. Not the response I was expecting."
"I just didn't picture you wanting to get married."
The young woman looked offended. "Oh."
"I'm sorry," Fiyero apologized. "It's just… so soon."
"Soon? Fiyero, I'm twenty-seven. Most women are married and have at least one child by now. You speak as though you expected me to stay single forever."
Fiyero rarely voiced his opinions on marriage, especially since no one ever asked him. He was just glad Eszno had taken care of producing an heir to the throne. At least that was one duty Fiyero didn't have to worry about. "I didn't. Have they chosen someone for you?"
"They gave me options, and I chose from them. He is very nice and handsome, and I'll have a good life with him." She turned to him. "You like being free. You like running and not being bound and tethered. I'm not saying that's what marriage is, but that is the general view of it."
"I am bound until Irji becomes of age."
"Which means it's not forever. But enough about future marriages or lack thereof. I believe you're overdue for losing another round of archery... and rowing, if I'm not mistaken."
Fiyero smiled at his cousin as he led her over to the field. She had more freedom than he could ever dream of, yet she still had the wisdom to understand his predicament. It was time like this that reminded him why she was his favorite family member, though he never forgot it in the first place.
After their walk and lunch, Khát insisted on visiting the castle owlery. Fiyero agreed, and Hannalyn insisted on coming with them. The three made their way to the top of the Far West Tower and pushed the large, door open.
The Owlery was a large, circular room with thick curtains that covered the open windows, which were holes cut in the stones only big enough for the owls to easily fly through. Currently, the curtains were open, allowing the sunlight through and the heat to escape. The floor was covered in fresh straw, and they figured the owl master had just changed it. All along the walls were thick holes carved into the first layer of stone where the owls built their nests.
The owls looked up as the human visitors entered. Some closed their eyes again, others stared, and a few flew down to greet them. The Owlery housed many different types of owls, from the hunting owls, messenger owls, eagle owls, and barn owls who alternated between the stable and owlery.
A small owl that was nesting flew over and perched itself on Khát's shoulder. The young woman smiled as she gently petted its dark brown feathers, making it chirp. "Hello. You're new."
"That's Remming. He's a Northern Saw-whet owl we rescued from poachers," Fiyero said.
"Hello, Remming. You're so cute."
Seeing the attention the other owl was getting, a few more swooped down and cooed for attention. The three sat down and the animals climbed all over them, nesting in their folded legs.
"I remember coming up here to hide when it was time for me to return home," Khát said.
"I remember the year the adults figured out that this was your hiding spot," Fiyero chuckled.
"I could've changed it, but I didn't want to."
"Why did you like it up here so much?" Hannalyn asked.
"I don't think I have a concrete reason, other than I think owls are cute." An owl at the top of the owlery screeched. "Well… I think most owls are cute."
They spent the rest of the hour there, before deciding they had enough of breathing owl air. Hannalyn ran down ahead of them, masterfully avoiding tripping on the stone, spiral steps. Remming had stayed perched on Khát's shoulder the entire time, and refused to leave her side. Eventually, he got the message once the young woman removed him from her shoulder for the fifth time (though she promised to return later), and went back to his nest, watching with wide eyes as she left.
"Fresh air!" Hannalyn cried as soon as they pushed the tower door open, and stepped outside.
They walked to the front of the castle and Fiyero frowned. "Why is the Magistrate of Kellswater here?" he asked, seeing a simple carriage bearing the state flag.
"I wasn't aware he'd be coming," Hannalyn said, also frowning.
"I was told I didn't have to work today."
"And if you did, we would've been found by now. Relax, Yero. I'm sure everything's fine."
"He normally doesn't come unless something's wrong."
"Okay, well, while you're worrying about it, I'll be in my room, not worrying about it." She quickly kissed her brother's cheek and hurried inside.
"I'm also going to rest," Khát said, following her younger cousin's lead, leaving Fiyero to stare and let his mind spiral to the worst-case scenario.
Fiyero's appearance photo is on my Tumblr and Twitter. And Northern Saw-whet owls are very cute. Highly recommend Googling them.
Here's the Tigulaar Royal Family Tree!
Chieftain Marilott Tigulaar of the Arjikis (83) + Chieftess Baxiana Tigulaar of Upper Fanarra (74)
1. High Prince Raal Tigulaar (51) + High Princess Amalie Tigulaar (née Skarrott) (53)
a. The Prince Eszno Tigulaar (Died at 30) + the Young Dowager Princess Sarima Tigulaar (née Elkbo) (34)
i. The Heir Irji Tigulaar (13)
ii. The Heiren Manek Tigulaar (11)
iii. The Heiress Nor Tigulaar (9)
b. The Prince Fiyero Tigulaar (25)
c. The Princess Hannalyn Tigulaar (22)