So, the next day, I set off on the journey. I bid a warm farewell to my parents, taking Zoriya with me, along with two guards from the king’s personal Guard—Zeydan and Jari—handpicked by Nazar himself to protect “his sweet girls.” He never made any distinction between Zoriya and me. The ambassadors and their entourage rode at the head of our caravan (oh, how I wished I could join them!), while Zoriya and I were given an entire carriage to ourselves. There, we could talk freely without fear of being overheard, since before we left, Azzam personally checked the carriage for tracking spells or suspicious artifacts. He found nothing, but just to be safe, he cast a powerful protective ward around it. Zeydan and Jari (who, I suspected, Zoriya had a crush on) brought up the rear of our small party, guarding the carriage from behind. Zeydan, besides his impressive military skills, was also a gifted mage, proficient in dozens of combat spells, and had long been officially assigned as my personal bodyguard. Jari, despite his youth, had already proven himself a masterful warrior. Among the ambassadors’ retinue, I also noticed a few warriors and one mage (well, Azzam pointed him out to me), and His Grace, the Duke of the Lynx Mountains, looked like he was no stranger to a sword either. So, we didn’t have to worry about an attack on the road. Hardly any fool would dare assault an armed and magically protected convoy from two kingdoms.
Of course, we could have used portals, which had become quite popular among the populace lately, but that method wouldn’t have been much faster. Portals only connected short distances, and not every town had a mage skilled and knowledgeable enough to open one. Plus, for many non-magical people, passing through a portal caused dizziness, nausea, and even fainting (as happened to me). After such an ordeal, a long rest and recovery were needed. If I had to go through a dozen portals in a row, I might not survive at all. So, the ambassadors’ comment during the audience with my father about the safety of travel had very solid reasoning behind it.
I cast one last glance at Anzud, the capital of the Eagle Lands, which we’d already left a fair distance behind. The city lay like a gem in the palm of the nearly barren desert, dotted here and there with scraggly shrubs and thorny bushes. It looked like a precious ornament, studded with colorful stone buildings framed by emerald trees, their lush foliage nourished by the spring around which the capital of the Eagle Lands was built. The magnificent Royal Palace towered over all this splendor like a giant pearl amidst a scattering of smaller jewels. A vague longing settled in my heart, as if I were leaving my home not for a month, but for a much longer time. I wanted to etch every detail, even the smallest, into my memory. Blaming it on missing the wind and speed while cooped up in the stuffy carriage, I turned to Zoriya and struck up a conversation to distract myself from these melancholic thoughts.
“What do you think? Who else will show up for the celebration? How many potential brides will there be?”
“The Southern Wastes will be there in full force, that’s for sure. So, that’s three already.”
“But Yasmini from the Windhawk Lands is only fourteen!” I exclaimed indignantly.
“She’s been fifteen for almost a month now. By our laws, she’s reached marriageable age.”
“That’s ridiculous! It’s high time to change these outdated laws and stop tormenting girls! Good thing in the Cat Realm, adulthood starts at seventeen! I hope Harald doesn’t get the idea to marry a child half his age.”
“Fifteen years isn’t a big difference for a royal marriage. But I hope, if he does choose Yasmini, he at least waits until she’s older.”
“I’d like to believe that. Especially since Father spoke of the prince as a decent man.”
“Mine thinks so too,” Zoriya nodded.
I pressed on with the topic:
“In the Northern Woodlands, the princess from the Deer Realm is just a little kid.”
“Yeah, and the prince is even younger. Plus, Queen Lynette is from there, I think. So, they won’t be coming. That leaves the Bear and Wolf Realms. Add two more.”
“What about the Eastern Islands?”
“There’s no princess in the Sturgeon Archipelago. As for the Shark Islands and Moray Isle, I’m not sure. They’re awfully far away.”
“I don’t know either. What about the Western Mountain Ranges?”
“The Bison Basin, Griffin Lowlands, Leopard Highlands,” Zoriya began listing.
But I interrupted her:
“The Griffin princess (what’s her name again?) married a local noble last year. Remember, they sent us an invitation, but Dad and Mom were in the Windhawk Lands at the spring.”
“Right! How did I forget? And in the Bison Foothills, there’s a prince. So, two more. And the Central Plains.”
“Veselina from the Salamander Clan and Kryzhena from the Gecko Clan.”
“You forgot Boyana from the Anolis Clan.”
“Is she invited too? I thought she took a vow of celibacy. And her age…”
“She did take the vow, but she’s only twenty-seven, so she still fits the selection criteria. Plus, the situation is similar to ours: if Prince Harald didn’t invite her, her king might take offense. By the way, we’ll be passing through their clan’s territory, and Princess Boyana will join our convoy.”
“Nazar told you again?”
“No, Jari did. He got chatting with Duke Valgard’s warriors.”
“And you two…?” I nudged my friend to open up.
But Zoriya stubbornly refused to dive into details about her relationship. Instead, she summed up:
“So, three more princesses. That makes ten total. Maybe two more from the Eastern Islands. So, no more than twelve princesses.”
I didn’t want to pry further, so I continued the topic of the celebration in the Forest Cat Realm:
“I wonder if they’ll invite princes from other realms?”
“I think so, at least for the main festivities. Otherwise, it’d look completely absurd!”
“Yeah, you’re right. This selection already doesn’t scream ‘refined event’!”
Zoriya laughed:
“Don’t you dare say something like that in the Cat Realm!”
“God, I’m not sure I can survive this month. We’ve only been on the road a few hours, and I’m already bursting from boredom.”
“If you’d learned to embroider or knit, you’d have something to keep you busy on the road,” Zoriya teased, pulling out a sewing basket from under the seat.
I couldn’t help but yawn, and my companion remarked:
“Or you could sleep—the carriage is spacious enough for you to stretch out on the bench without feeling cramped. It’ll make the time pass faster. Plus, a good nap does wonders for your complexion.”
“Sunshine and fresh air do wonders for your complexion!” I snapped back.
“The sun does affect your complexion. Just not in a good way! Have you noticed how tanned you’ve gotten?”
“My skin’s already pretty dark. So what if it’s a shade darker?”
Zoriya just shook her head disapprovingly and started fiddling with her needlework. I watched the changing landscape outside the window for a bit longer before finally drifting off to sleep.
* * *
Although the ambassadors had estimated the journey would take over a week, we managed it in six days. And all thanks to my unpretentious nature, matched by the temperament of Princess Boyana, who joined us on the fourth day. Riding astride in a man’s saddle, accompanied by just one guard, she was already waiting for us at a crossroads leading to the capital of the Anolis Clan. If Ingolv and Valgard were surprised, they hid it well, merely politely offering the girl a spot in our carriage. They received an equally polite refusal in return.
Seeing this, I groaned in frustration:
“Why didn’t I bring Agat with me? I could be riding alongside Boyana right now!”
“Because no one needs to know just how wild and uncontrollable the heir of the Eagle Lands is.”
“I’m not wild at all. Just free-spirited! Like Boyana.”
“Except Boyana doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. She’s not in line for the throne, she won’t be betrothed to anyone, and therefore, she won’t cast an unnecessary shadow on a future husband. You, on the other hand, no matter how you look at it, are tied to politics and absolutely must present yourself in the best light!” Zoriya lectured, sounding like a strict governess scolding a disobedient charge.
I actually had a governess just like that, proper to the tips of her toes. She saw it as her duty to raise me into a meek convent novice who somehow found herself outside the cloister walls. It ended pretty quickly once she complained to my mother. After a thorough discussion about the goals of my upbringing, the two wise women concluded that the governess would be better off leaving us. After that, my education was handled by a tutor…
What a relief that, according to Duke Valgard—who, along with Ingolv, always joined us for dinner at every inn we stopped at—we were expected to arrive in Maahes, the capital of the Forest Cat Realm, by evening. Yesterday, from the last inn, a magical messenger was sent to announce our imminent arrival. And though the journey, aside from the boredom, wasn’t exhausting at all, I was glad it was coming to an end.
During the trip, Boyana and I never really found common ground. As free-spirited and independent as I was, the Anolis princess outdid even me: she completely rejected male authority. Even her guard was female (though calling her a “girl” or “woman” felt wrong—her appearance was incredibly masculine: strong, muscular build, close-cropped hair, a tattooed face, and a chest hidden under armor. If there even was one, since I’d heard that in some tribes of the Central Plains, where women could become warriors, they simply cut off that part of their body, deeming it a burden). For me, the authority of a man—naturally wise and strong, not just physically but more so spiritually—was unquestionable. Having the shining example of my father before me, I fully understood that a true man would never abuse his power over a weaker woman and, of course, could overlook her small flaws. So, I struggled to understand my reluctant travel companion. And likely, she felt the same about me. Especially since I was putting on a show of a gentle, compliant nature, refined manners, and impeccable upbringing for everyone. Getting on your nerves yet?
After lunch, which Zoriya and I ate in the carriage while the riders snacked right in the saddle to save time, the clear horizon—visible for miles in the steppe terrain—revealed the blue outlines of mountains. Of course, as knowledgeable folks said, these mountains were nothing compared to the Western Mountain Ranges, but to Zoriya and me, natives of the sun-scorched plains who had never left the Southern Wastes before, they seemed incredibly majestic and awe-inspiring. I also noted with dismay that the air had noticeably cooled, reminding me of southern winters when I’d wrap myself in a warm, lacy wool shawl on chilly evenings. We’d been warned that it was still cold in the Forest Cat Realm, but I hadn’t imagined it would be this cold. Zoriya and I had to request an unscheduled stop to dig out warm stockings and hooded cloaks from the trunks strapped to the back of the carriage. Our fumbling drew knowing smiles from the flushed riders and a scornful snort from Boyana, who wore only a light shirt under which muscles—barely smaller than her guard’s—were visible. The guard smirked too. Laugh all you want, ladies. I’d like to see your sweaty faces on the hottest day in the desert of the Eagle Lands. We’re each accustomed to our own climate. It would’ve been foolish if we’d only packed light chiffon dresses, the kind we wear in our lands from early spring to late fall. Bundled up warmer, we continued our journey.
We arrived in Maahes just as it was getting dark. The capital was nestled in the foothills of the Lynx and Fox Mountains, as Duke Valgard kindly explained, noticing how curiously Zoriya and I peered out of the carriage windows as we approached the main city of the Forest Cat Clan. Maahes resembled a layered cake, its tiers gradually creeping up the nearest mountain to which this unusual cake seemed to cling. The buildings were made of the same stone as the mountains, yet the city didn’t look gray at all, as every house was framed by wreaths of trees blooming at this time of year. Narrow, winding streets were often interspersed with well-kept parks adorned with sculptures, mostly of cats. No surprise there. In our lands, they’d be eagles.
In front of the squat, sprawling palace—more like a castle with its towers and fortified walls—lay the main square of Maahes, from which several bustling market streets branched off. At the center of the square, impressing with its enormous size and grandeur, was a fountain illuminated by magic. It’s not that we didn’t have fountains in the Eagle Lands—sometimes their cool sprays were the only relief from the heat on a scorching summer day—but ours were nowhere near this grand. Unfortunately, we only caught a fleeting glimpse of this marvel as the carriage soon disappeared behind the wrought-iron gates that separated the royal palace grounds from the lively, even at this late hour, capital. Beyond the gates awaited another wonder: a vast, manicured park stretched out before the palace. From the square, it had seemed like the palace was small and just a stone’s throw from the gates. But as we drew closer to the royal residence, it became clear that the castle—undoubtedly a castle—was enormous, and the territory it occupied was staggering. How was this possible?
Duke Valgard, who had been riding alongside the carriage and observing the changing expressions on our faces, let out a chuckle. Catching my questioning look, he explained:
“It’s always fascinating to watch the reactions of guests seeing the palace from behind the gates for the first time. Its true appearance, so to speak.”
“But how is this possible?!”
“Illusion.”
Even though I wasn’t magically gifted, I had an idea of what even the strongest mage was capable of. And I couldn’t imagine anyone powerful enough to maintain such a spell. Constantly!
“Who’s strong enough to sustain it all the time?” Zoriya beat me to the question.
“No one,” the duke replied with a smile. He laughed again, seeing our astonishment. Was he just mocking us? I was about to make an irritated remark when the head of the Lynx Mountains continued with a sly grin (damn these Cats!):
“We got lucky. Our ancestor (yes, the duke was a close relative of the royal family of the Forest Cat Realm) built the castle right on top of a magical spring. So, by creating sufficiently powerful artifacts, we can use them indefinitely without worrying about them failing.”
Yes, in our lands, magical springs were discovered in some places. Neither the gifted nor ordinary people could use their magic directly, but at most, those living nearby enjoyed excellent health and longevity (I suspect the place my parents visited had magic in addition to healing waters, but the king of the Windhawk Lands didn’t seem inclined to confirm or deny it). Initially, people used such springs to boost their health, but later, they learned to craft artifacts that could be charged at the spring and then used for various purposes, be it magical mail or a magical fire in a hearth. But these artifacts consumed a tremendous amount of magic. Even the simplest ones came at an exorbitant price, and charging such a device wasn’t easy, even with unlimited funds, making artifacts rare. So, it was astonishing (and, I’ll admit, a bit enviable, since we had no such spring in the Eagle Lands) that the royal family of the Cat Realm possessed wealth far greater than gold or jewels.
“But why reveal the secret of your kingdom?” Zoriya again voiced the question on my mind.
“The existence of the spring isn’t a secret to anyone. Its location, however, is hidden by another powerful artifact. Only adult blood relatives of the royal family, up to the third generation, have access to it. For someone like me, related in the fifth generation, there’s no way to get near it.”
Smart, no doubt about it!
Meanwhile, we pulled up to the grand entrance of the castle, where servants led by the butler awaited us. Valgard dismounted and hurried to the carriage to help Zoriya and me out. My companion, who by etiquette must exit first and enter last, ceremoniously accepted his hand and gracefully stepped outside. I, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with impatience. If it were up to me, I’d have jumped out ahead of her without waiting for assistance. But no, I had to endure! There goes Zoriya leaving the carriage, stepping aside to clear the way for me. There’s the duke’s strong hand grasping my fingers. I step out and… my foot misses the step, and I tumble straight toward Valgard. Luckily, he catches me in time and manages to keep his balance. Zoriya fusses around me, muttering something about dizziness from the fresh mountain air, while behind me, I hear Boyana’s mocking snort.
Well, hello, Forest Cat Realm!