Blind to Men by Chris Lange

to be a difficult man, by any means, but she'd
never cease fighting for her beliefs. After his departure, she ran to the
window.
    From there, she could see
the main wing of the fortified stronghold. Servants were assembling a dais in
front of the entrance, probably for the king’s speech. Around the top of the
castle, she admired the battlement with merlons and crenels, the keep soaring
to the sky.
    Kylor was locked up
there, alone. If she knew him at all, he was wondering about her and what the
future held for her. She opened the window and craned her neck to look at the
vast courtyard leading down to the gateway, flanked by strong towers on both
sides of a drawbridge.
    Down below, past the gate
towers, she saw the inner and outer city of Palance. A powerful desire to walk
its streets swept her. She wanted to lay eyes on its houses and general architecture,
to touch its strong walls, speak to its people, and blend in its embrace.
    Apart from riders and
eventual visitors, she guessed the castle courtyard wasn’t a usual place for
people to gather. This day was uncommon though, a symbol for the people, a
long-awaited summer solstice that might still lead her toward freedom or death.
    Heralds marched the
streets all morning, escorted by men at arms and trumpets, loudly announcing a
royal proclamation at midday. Little by little, adults and children followed
them back to the castle, their growing numbers soon cramming the courtyard.
    She didn't think the
place would be big enough to welcome them all. Although vast, it wasn't
structured to receive the whole city and the last dwellers had to stand on the
drawbridge.
    They were well over two
thousand strong, give or take a few hundreds. Their chattering filled the air
with anticipation, their excitement rising as the sun reached its peak. She
closed the window when a servant brought her garment, yet she could still hear
them.
    The dress belonged to the
marvels of the Four Kingdoms. Having never worn anything of the kind, she
donned it with reverence, the long beautiful fabric flowing smoothly around her
body. A maid brushed and pinned her hair in an elegant bun, leaving curly
strands around her face.
    Observing her reflection
in the mirror, she wondered whether this pristine white gown was meant as a
reminder of her ingenuousness. She looked younger than her eighteen springs,
innocent and pure.
    A knock on the door
shattered her musings, and she joined her father in the hallway. Dressed in
rich dark green, a long white cape thrown over his shoulders, a thick gold
necklace across his chest and a broad sword strapped to his side, King Harfayn
represented majesty.
    Hard feelings or not, she
was going to accompany him in the best possible manner. She allowed him to
escort her to the main wing, her hand on his extended arm. Surrounded by a
dozen guards wearing ceremonial garb, King Harfayn and Princess Anya of Palance
made their entrance.

Chapter
Seventeen
    The royal court waited
for them in the reception hall. Standing in line, noble men and women bowed to
them with reverence before following in their wake. She spotted Xandor in their
midst just as the wizard winked at her. No doubt friendly, his gesture nevertheless
reminded her of Kylor locked up in the keep. A prisoner in his own city.
    Unaccustomed to such
grandeur, she tightened her grip on her father’s arm, awe and fright
threatening to overwhelm her. She took reassurance in the smile he bestowed on
her. At the main doors opening onto the dais and the courtyard, he whispered to
her.
    "Stay by the door
until I call you."
    She nodded but he must
have perceived her abrupt bout of shyness for he squeezed her hand.
    "Just wait for my
signal to join me. You are a brave girl, Anya. You will make a great princess."
    He left her to climb the
three steps of the platform rising above the level of his expectant subjects.
Heavily guarded on all sides, the dais and the soldiers around it blocked views
of the crowd.
    Without little else to