Below the Peak (Sola)

  Below the Peak

  Copyright © 2017 by Juliet Lili

  Published by Juliet Lili

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  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or redistributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Contents

  Copyrights

  Part One

  Part Two

  Part Three

  Part Four

  Epilogue

  Part One

  Chapter One

  At thirteen years

  Nara

  “King Azulé travelled with the army to the western border that separated Murisa and old Moren to negotiate peace with Roma, the king of Moren. Unbeknown to King Azulé and his entourage, the other king had planned to kill him that night, despite both kings to have sworn to no blood shed during the days of negotiations.” Rohi, the middle-aged scholar, paused to catch a breath. He looked at the sons and daughters of lords as resentment flashed in his eyes as it was quickly hidden. Most of them were not paying attention to the history lesson he was giving, not even matters concerning their kingdom, the kingdom that their lofty parents were already grooming them to fill their positions soon. The girls sitting near the library’s window giggled loudly, parroting about expensive clothes and jewellery their father just gifted them from faraway lands and if they would be accompanying their parents to the upcoming ball hosted at the king’s palace as the boys cracked at some crude joke.

  Rohi scowled yet refrained from putting a stop to the loud chattering. He could not risk being summoned to the king’s court again, knowing the consequences it would bring. He had been warned what would happen if he was reported again for scolding the chief treasurer’s son Bas. ‘You are a hired help. You can be replaced any moment’ He was nobody of importance who had no right to chastise the children of the most highs. He might be a brilliant scholar who studied and could talk about historical events until his tongue and lips swelled and cracked, yet that is what he was all going to ever be in this society. All his passion wasted on spoilt and over-privileged brats. Rohi fisted his hands behind his back in anger. The thought of quitting came to his mind. He had thought about it often and yet here he still was because of the money he got paid for his service and fear of what would happen if he did quit. He cleared his throat and got back to the great tale of history.

  “Can any of you tell me what happened?” He asked in a lifeless tone, missing the enthusiasm that managed to slip in his voice whenever he spoke of the favourite subject.

  “Can any of you tell me what happened next?” he repeated sourly.

  No one bothered to answer. One red-haired girl named Helle lifted her eyes to him, breaking from the conversation her friends were having and stared at him for a second. Her lips twitched and parted. Just when he was hoping she would answer, she turned her attention back where it was first. He sighed and let out a little-agitated sound. He moved his eyes over the room while thinking he should end the lesson early. The lessons always ended at noon, marked by the city bell. His eyes stopped at the girl sitting in the middle row. Her dark neatly braided head bent down, and hands tucked in her lap as she chewed her bottom lip repeatedly. If she kept that on, he feared it would start bleeding.

  “Lady Nara, do you know what happened to King Azulé when he met with the king of Moren?”, He asked after a moment of cautious hesitation. She lifted her head and looked above his head, never meeting his eyes.

  “Yes, I know”, the girl replied flatly.

  There was a long pause between them that would not necessarily be there if the girl wasn’t so odd and understood the unlearnt cues of a good flow of a conversation that another person would pick up quickly. He cleared his throat and chose his next words carefully, “Please tell me what happened to him.”

  “King Roma sent the Red assassins to the resting grounds of King Azulé at night, and they murdered the king” she replied.

  “Yes, you’re correct” he nodded. He could always count on Nara listening even when she appeared distant, quaint with head bent down or looking out the window with a lost expression.

  Very shy and peculiar.

  “The Red assassins killed the king and his men except one who got away to report back to Vessener” he continued. I might wait till the bell ring after all. He decided.

  “The soldier used a messenger bird to deliver the black scarf of death back to the castle”, the girl corrected directly, with a chastising frown on her brows. He shifted his eyes around; his lips pulled into an awkward twisted smile which resembled more to a grimace than a smile while his face became red and flustered from the forthright correction.

  ***

  That was not very kind. Nara slightly frowned as she picked apart the teacher’s expression, the flush on his cheeks, the cast down of his eyes and the awkward smile. He was embarrassed. Sometimes she forgot to speak more politely or in consideration of another’s feelings. She wasn’t very good at understanding others’ feelings. Her shoulders cringed in self-chastisement. Nara looked top of his curly hair, feeling sorry for him to be often on the receiving end of her incompetence. A few days ago, Nara had criticised his clothing and told him without a second of thought that they were unflattering, too big for his gangly frame. She had been angry that day; everything was out of order since morning. The cook had not baked the cheese bread because there was no cheese left and instead served her the regular crusty bread. She’d cheese bread each morning as far she could remember and not having some that morning had thrown her off. Despite being upset about the sudden change, Nara had tried to remain calm and reasoned with herself that it was a good change and she would have cheese bread tomorrow, even making the cook promise ninth times. Telling herself, it was a good change didn’t help her when Ingrid accidentally poured milk on her just when she was about to leave for the lessons. Nara hated being untidy. It would’ve been so simple if the only thing she needed to do was get dressed in another clean tunic and get over it but it wasn’t just about changing, it was about choosing the right clothes to its colours and how it matched to each piece she put on from head to foot. That’s why she always planned beforehand, so she would not be rushed or look untidy and be late for that matter. Hence, when Nara had gotten to the library upset, and briefly glanced at the teacher and saw what he wore, anger got the best of her, and she let her tongue run rudely and humiliated him to the rest who were present in the library. Soon after, she felt extremely terrible and ridden with guilt. Why was she short tempered?

  “Apologies, to be more precise, the bird used to carry the message was a Falcon.” He mumbled awkwardly interrupting Nara’s thoughts and continued. “The queen was devastated by the news, but his son Prince Einarr was enraged that he marched the very same day to war against King Roma. Einarr, a great warrior of his time killed the traitorous king and his soldiers at the border. He continued to march with his finest battlers to Moren and invaded its capital city while the rest of the army scoured the towns and villages. This victory marked the rise of Murisa as a powerful kingdom.”

  Her brows drew and twitched painfully. The voices were getting louder; everyone was talking beside and behind her, making it hard for her to listen. It irritated her that they wouldn’t shut up. It made her temples throb. Nara squeezed her hands between her thighs, fighting the need to press them to her ringing ears. I’m not going to lash out, I’m not goin
g to lash out she repeated the words in her head. Just breathe and count

  Nara sucked a lungful of air and counting to ten slowly while she ignored the eyes of the teacher on her face that felt like a hot poker rod.

  “Prince Einarr did not take Moren’s princess and prince as captives, he executed them together with the rest of royalties,” she added, her eyes bright with genuine interest, a clear contrast to the almost flat tone of her voice. Nothing captured her attention and interest like war stories. She was impassioned about them, every single detail which included the personal stories of leaders of armies and their causes, strategies and the weaponry used.

  “A good move to ensure no rebellion would arise once he ruled Moren under Murisa”, the scholar stated with a hint of admiration in his voice.

  “He hung them at the city square for everyone to see” Nara added in affirmation, absorbed in the retellings. Rohi nodded in confirmation.

  “Here she goes again talking about war. It’s all she ever talks about”, some girl whispered loudly behind her causing others to snicker. It was Lilia. Nara gritted her teeth but said nothing.

  “She is obsessed with war stories and even wears men’s clothes. Such behaviour is unfit for a lady”, Rosa who sat beside her commented, giving her a mean sidelong glance.

  Something poked her back. Nara held still and ignored it. The finger dug deeper on her spine that it hurt.

  “Stop it!” Nara twisted harshly, knocking her elbow on the edge of the table.

  “Ahhh!” she gasped, her face contorting in pain. She stared at Bas angrily for a second before dropping her eyes down, but not before missing the faint cruel twist of his lips.

  “Are you a lady or a lord, Nara?” Bas jeered as he pulled the sleeve of the white tunic she wore.

  “Do not touch me!” Nara yelled and pushed the unopened leather book on his table to the floor. The girls gasped in shock and glared at her in disgust at the unruly behaviour.

  “I am Lady Nara and not a lord, a girl, not a boy. I wear trousers because I have horse riding lesson after!” Her face flushed in anger, hating she had to explain and defend herself for no reason.

  “Come on now, no need to be angry” Bas chuckled as he lifted both hands, palms open in mockery of surrender.

  “Here’s another fit of hers!” Rosa hissed.

  Nara ignored the stares and the murmurs, kept her head down while she crossed the room past the teacher who just held his tongue and did nothing. She walked out of the library and closed the door with a bang.

  She breathed harshly, her chest heaving.

  Why don’t they like me? Tears of anger and embarrassment aimed more toward herself gleamed in her brown eyes. I could’ve just held it together!

  Nara hurried down the long hall, the walls echoing the sound of her polished black boots. If she had her way, she would not attend the lessons with them, but she had no choice. She had promised her father she would try. He said she needed this for her sake. Being alone all the time is unhealthy were his words. She should make friends her age. Being weird and far from normal wasn’t easy especially around people. He didn’t know she got teased here. How it hurt when people treated her like a dimwit and called her a freak, and moron. They did not need to remind her she wasn’t normal; she knew that better than anyone, she liked the things other girls hated, and the boys found strange that a girl would find interest in such things. Hence, Nara kept to herself most of the days. She enjoyed the solitude but somehow loneliness managed to creep on her some days too, and in those days, she gave the effort to get along with others only to be made a fool by Rosa and her pack and left to befriend the likes of Helle. “Nara” the voice rang down the hallway.

  “Nara stop” a voice called. Nara didn’t listen and kept going. She heard the quickening footsteps behind her.

  “Please” Fingers grabbed her wrist lightly.

  “Do not touch me!” She shook the hold on her hand as she turned and glowered at Helle. The only person she considered a friend. Well sometimes.

  “Don’t let them get to you Nara”, Helle said quietly, looking at her with concerning eyes.

  Nara sniffed as tears brimmed in her eyes.

  Helle let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Bas and Rosa are both stupid bullies who got nothing but mud in their thick heads. Too dumb they don’t know how to tell a girl from a boy.”

  “Trust me; they are fools.” Helle insisted when Nara didn’t say anything.

  A weak, small smile stretched on Nara’s mouth, softening the impasse expression she had.

  “I am sorry I did not stop them. It doesn’t make me a good friend, only a coward” Helle muttered somberly after a quiet pose.

  “Yes, it does not. Good friends stand for each other” Nara shifted her eyes to her face, letting her friend see how much she hurt her the most for just standing there when Bas and Rosa made fun of her.

  “I am sorry” Helle mumbled, looking apologetic.

  “I forgive you, but this is the last time I do,” Nara replied and meant it. Too many times Helle had disappointed and hurt her in a similar situation. Despite not having that many friends to choose, she’d rather not have one that is ashamed of her in front of others. She was not going to be desperate.

  Helle nodded, her freckled face heating in guilt.

  “We can ride together today” Helle suggested warily, sounding more like a question.

  Riding always calmed her. Nara understood Helle was trying to make up it up to her.

  “No, I want to ride alone today” Nara replied curtly, her thoughts already moving to which horse she would ride.

  Helle nodded in understanding.

  “I’m leaving,” Nara said and left.

  ****

  Chapter Two

  Nara

  Warm sunshine warmed her face as she hurried home. There was no commotion in the streets inside the King’s Wall except for few nobilities conversing and guards patrolling. It was the usual quietness with the chirping of birds here and there that surrounded the inner city. The king’s palace stood tall over other luxurious houses that scattered around it while pruned gardens and lavish fountains boasted the king’s wealth. Only the king and his royal subjects resided in the inner city and not more than three overpriced merchant stores. The King’s Wall separated the Royals from the middle class and commoners. The middle class lived inside the second inner wall which separated them from the marketplace and other businesses. The city’s military base in the fourth wall protected the capital city.

  Her father’s manor was at the far end near the King’s Wall. Nara strolled along a path woven around the front garden of white and red roses and jasmines to the back of the house where Lucky awaited. She found the stable boy carrying a stack of hay to one of the horses’ stalls.

  “Lady Nara” Oto stilled and bowed his head lightly. Oto was slightly older than her about three years. He had curly chestnut hair and narrow face with warm blue eyes. He was tall too with a healthy body from lifting, fixing and taking care of things around the stable.

  “Oto” Nara acknowledged him as she walked to Lucky’s stall. She stepped in the opened stall. The brown stallion with white spots drew closer to her and nudged her hand with its head. Nara smiled fondly and patted his forehead.

  “Has he been fed?” she asked as she continued to stroke the horse. The act both soothed her and the steed she loved to ride.

  “Yes. I fed Lucky first” Oto replied.

  “Good, I’m going for a ride with him” She informed him while she put the reins on Lucky. Once she was done, she guided Lucky out of the barn.

  “You need not accompany me,” Nara told him as she mounted the horse. Her father never liked her walking or riding alone in the city. He made one of the maids or Oto accompany her when she rode if he was not there to do it himself. But when she was in one of her moods, the maid or Oto turned a blind eye and let her be. And looking at the way Oto just stood tentatively without a word, he’d figured what kind of mood sh
e was in. She twisted the reins in her hands, dug in her heels and galloped. She used the open green field behind the manors to her pleasure. The sunlight heated her back, warm air washed over her face down her neck, finding its way into her chest. Nara exhaled.

  Adrenaline pumped through her blood. It was exhilarating, feeling the strong muscles of the majestic beast expand and contract beneath her own tightening thighs. She felt Lucky’s excitement too as he picked up speed. She closed her eyes briefly, trusting entirely he would go the right way and enjoyed the intoxicating freedom of riding alone. Pain and worries all seemed to be picked up by the wind, leaving her chest light of hurt and mind blank. She felt serene. She opened her eyes when she felt Lucky slowing and heard voices coming from nearby. She halted a few distances from where three soldiers dressed in cerulean armour stood in front of the gate that divided the higher class from the rest. She looked at them in admiration and respect for their courage to protect them. They stopped talking and turned their gaze toward her.

  One of the soldiers greeted. “My lady.”

  “Gentlemen” Nara dipped her head, her voice sounding more mature than her age. Fear and excitement rushed through her as a crazy idea entered her mind. “I wish to go to the market, would you let me through?” Nara requested, keeping a calm look despite the jittery going on in her stomach.

  “Are you going alone without an escort?” The soldier looked behind her then back at her.

  “YE-yes” her voice shook slightly. She cleared her throat and said more confidently. “Clearly I am as you can see.”

  The soldier looked at her doubtfully, his eyes narrowing. The soldier was unconvinced, no noble lady or a daughter of one walked without a servant or two hovering their back. He looked her over, noting her white tunic neatly tucked in black trousers and her polished riding boots. Her clothing making him more suspicious.

  Her posture stiffened while a guarded look descended on her face from his perusal.

  “Pardon me lady, what is your name,” the soldier asked, standing more upright, his shoulders square to intimidate.