Kael Draven
The air was thin, cold, and damp, carrying the scent of wet earth mixed with the wild perfume of moss. Around me, only the constant sound of leaves dancing in the wind and the steady rhythm of my own training could be heard. Each strike of my sword sliced through the air with precision. The late afternoon light filtered through the treetops, casting long shadows on the uneven ground.
It had been ten days since I had settled there, on the edges of Cardan's lands, as part of the surveillance mission ordered by my brother. A simple camp, well hidden, with rationed supplies and enough shelter to withstand the freezing nights that were drawing near. We were at the threshold of Winter. I could feel it in my skin, in my bones. And in Espadaris, that meant isolation, biting cold, and constant danger.
When I heard the muffled sound of hooves on the narrow southern trail, I stopped immediately. I sheathed my sword and instinctively hid. Two figures emerged from the low mist, mounted and hooded, but I quickly recognized the silver emblem embroidered on their dark cloaks. Knights of Espadaris. Our own.
"Draven!" the first called, dismounting carefully. "We've brought supplies. And… a letter."
I stepped out to meet them. The younger one carried a small wooden chest with dried provisions, blankets, and jars of preserved herbs. The older one handed me an envelope bearing the royal seal.
"We have a letter from the King for you."
I took the letter and opened it immediately. The words hit like a slow, gentle blow to the chest:
'My brother,May the mountain winds bring clarity to your thoughts, and may the stars guide you on nights of doubt. I know how much you sacrifice in the name of Espadaris, and no glory can match your loyalty. Know that you are loved. By me, above all.Winter is coming, and I fear its paths may be buried before we can retrieve you. Remain strong. Take care. And remember: a loyal heart also needs warmth.'
I smiled, clutching the letter between my fingers. My brother was never one for many words. But when he spoke from the heart... it was impossible to ignore.
The knights left shortly after delivering the supplies. I, on the other hand, continued with my routine. Days turned into weeks. The monotony of the watch was broken only by training, mental reports, and the few times I managed to sleep without dreaming of the past.
Until, one starlit night amidst the mist, something changed.
The wolf appeared first. A howl, then a growl. I moved silently to the edge of the slope, sword in hand, and that's when I saw: a hooded figure on horseback, galloping along the narrow trail. The animal was startled by the wolf and slipped. The rider fell, rolling through branches and rocks. I ran down.
As I approached, my heart pounded.
Of all the people who could have appeared in that forest, she was the last I expected. Or maybe... the only one I feared to meet.
She was lying among the leaves, struggling to get up.
"Hey, easy! Are you alright?"
Her eyes opened. I saw the panic immediately.
"Don't touch me!" she whispered, trying to back away. Her ankle was twisted, swollen.
I raised my hands, feeling my stomach turn.
"I'm just trying to help. You fell. Your ankle… it's not looking great."
She looked at me as if I were a living trap. When she recognized me, her expression grew even more tense.
"You… do you know who I am?"
I smirked, trying to ease the mood.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Depends. Do you often capture unconscious maidens in the forest?"
"Only on Tuesdays."
She laughed, even through the pain. And I laughed too. But inside, I was burning. My duty and my feelings collided like thunder. I needed to protect her… and also keep my mission a secret.
She tried to sit up but groaned in pain. I stepped forward instinctively, but she recoiled.
"Don't touch."
Immediate retreat. Hands up. "Understood. Distance respected. I don't want to get stabbed."
"You'd be surprised what I can do with a stick."
Gods… she was exactly as I remembered. Stubborn. Proud. Incredibly alive.
I suggested we go to the cabin, and though hesitant, she eventually agreed. She leaned on me, but barely touched me—each point of contact felt like a battlefield. We walked slowly, and with every step, I questioned what I was doing.
When she saw the cabin, her eyes lit up, and that disarmed me.
"It's still here…" she murmured, enchanted.
I asked if she knew the place. Her reply was soft.
"My mother painted it. It was her refuge."
We went in.
Pointing to the sofa, I suggested she lie down and draped my cloak over her without thinking. A simple gesture, but for some reason, she thanked me as if it were something precious. I offered water and watched as she drank, and for a moment, everything was silent. I saw the tension in her, but also something else—a fragility I never imagined seeing in Violet of Cardan.
She asked if I was alright. I replied with irony, of course, but what I wanted to say was: no. I wasn't alright. That situation could ruin everything if it was discovered I'd taken in the enemy princess, alone, far from any witnesses…
Treason.
But when our eyes met, I knew there was something between us. Something old and new at the same time—a spark that burned low, but never went out.
I stepped outside for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. When I returned, she looked at me with a softness I didn't expect.
I treated her ankle with herbs the healers of Espadaris had taught me to use. That's when I asked if she had been dancing in the forest—her laughter was a reward I'd never admit to wanting.
As I applied the mixture, my fingers brushed her skin lightly—not out of malice, but necessity. Even so, my heart raced.
Why her? Why now?
Dawn was already painting the sky in golden and blue hues, and I knew we didn't have much time. I had to decide what to do. Send her back? Deliver a message to the King of Cardan? Take Violet with me and risk everything?
She stared out the window in silence. And I… I felt trapped between two worlds. Between my duty to Espadaris and something I couldn't yet name but felt growing inside me.
I, Kael Draven, the general of swords, the king's brother, the loyal soldier… was confused. For the first time in a long while, there was no clear path.
But one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same.
Not for me.Not for her.Not for Cartara.