Chapter 2 Caring for Her

• I had no idea how important the girl was to me until that day next to the river. She was about fifteen, and I only a few years older, when she burst from the trees to interfere in our day of training.
• Roger and I were practicing swordplay next to the rushing water. Enjoying the added stimulation of birds, calling insects, and the whistling of the trees rather than the silence of the Training Yard.
• Archer was circling around us. Giving pointers to us both as we moved forward and back. Metal clanging between us.
• When Fiere burst from the leafed branches. Surging over the distance to toss her arms around Roger. “Don’t let them get me!”
• He turned with her still dangling off his back, his sword lowering.
• A huddled group of angry boys appeared behind her. Glowering at her hatefully.
• “What did you do?” I asked her. Sure that she had earned whatever seething annoyance they were giving her.
• She’s always into something.
• Always stirring up trouble. I groaned inwardly.
• She was huddled against Roger, peering around his elbow.
• “They wouldn’t let me play in their mud fight.” She mumbled sullenly.
• “So, what did you do?” I called her out. Knowing she was far from as sweet as her brother seemed to think.
• “I hit them with a bit of horse-.” She started to admit over her shoulder. Blinking huge green eyes at me as her brother’s chiding cut her off.
• “Fiere!” Roger objected. But there was the hint of mirth in his voice.
• He coddled her. Thinking everything she did was adorable.
• I supposed it was because she was a handful of years younger than us, and he’d never guessed he’d have another sibling.
• “You made your mess. You have to clean it up.” I told her impatiently. Pointing my sword to the boys.
• She glowered at me a moment before rolling her shoulders. Straightening she walked to those boys as regally as any princess should. But upon reaching them she shouted.
• “You deserved it! You should’ve let me try to.”
• “We don’t want know fancy pants Princess blaming us for her pretty hair getting dirty!” One of the boys said snidely.
• I found myself taking a step forward. My hand gripping the sword. That seemed a bit unnecessary.
• I was highly annoyed that the common boy would talk to his princess so cruelly.
• But Roger’s hand on my arm stopped me. “They’re just children, Brother. Let them be. She must learn she can’t be so cruel either.”
• Doubtful she’ll ever learn that.
• “She’s a heathen, Roger.”
• “I know.” He beamed proudly. Crossing his arms over his chest.
• “You’re nothing but-” She shrieked, dropping her head like a bull and charging him.
• He stepped aside and shoved her. Which sent her stumbling sideways several steps.
• She teetered at the river’s edge and we all lurched forward.
• Roger, Archer and I.
• “She can’t swim!” Roger cried.
• “I know.” I passed him. Reaching her just as she fell. I snatched her arm from the air. Using my superior Eternus reflexes to snag her while Roger was still only two steps from where he’d been.
• Archer was at my side. “Good catch.”
• He turned to glare at the boys.
• “That’s how you treat your princess?” He demanded.
• Fiere was blinking at me with those huge green eyes. Her face soft and the hint of fear dancing over her eyes.
• And in that moment, I knew I’d have lost my mind, if she’d drowned in that river.
• I’d never have let her. I’d have gotten her out. One way or another.
• She clawed the bank with her free hand. Long red hair straight down her back to circle around her upper legs. She was tiny framed. Thin and narrow but beautiful, nonetheless.
• I lifted her onto the bank, and she caught me in a violent hug. Pinning my thick arms to my shoulders. Snuggling her cheek into my chest and clinging to me as though I were the greatest hero to walk on two feet.
• I cleared my throat. Giving her a hard look as she turned her head up to me.
• “What?” She blinked.
• I nodded toward her hug.
• She smiled unabashed, dropping her head back against my head. Clearly with no intention of letting go anytime soon.
• I looked across the grassy bank to Roger.
• His expression turned from thankful to amused.
• I grunted. Shrugging her off and walking back over to pick up my discarded sword.
• Archer was there, to coddle her. Pulling her before him to inspect her from head to toe. “You okay, Girl.”
• She nodded. Smiling softly. “Thanks to Jacks.”
• “Jackson.” I corrected. Posing for further swordplay and not sparing her another look.
• “That’s what I said.” She stood there at the edge of the clearing. Watching us the remainder of the day.
• Archer had successfully chased the boys off.
• But I found my eyes continually returning to her. Worried that she might stumble again.
• Or get into some other kind of trouble.
• That was the first day that I realized how much she meant to me.
• ***
• It wasn’t much more than a year after that, that she showed up in my chamber.
• Madder than a hornet because of something I’d said earlier in the day.
• I’d taken to calling her Baby Girl, as her brother did. Because I could tell it annoyed her when I did. And I thought, in the back of my mind, that it might dissuade her following me about.
• But it didn’t.
• Instead, she’d showed up at my chamber door in the dead of night.
• I often stayed at Pyre Castle despite that I resided in Eternus.
• It had been an agreement by our fathers years ago. A way of allying the countries. We couldn’t do a wedding because my father, King Eternus had said that it was too dangerous for an Eternus to be engaged to a Skin when he might kill her.
• He meant me.
• Engaged to Fiere, was an impossibility.
• King Pyre had agreed.
• So, the negotiation was made that I would be leant to King Pyre to train with his men and learn the ways of his knights and warriors and to befriend his children.
• So, we all grew up together. Learned loyalty to each other to continue peace between the kingdoms.