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SORIN Something about the sunrise in Elvenspear could make even the most worried person in the world feel like everything was right with it. And Sorin could hardly deny the view. The expanse yawned on, the capital city before him, with shimmering buildings where the sunrays danced on their glass windows, bathing the streets below in a shower of orange, red and gold. Sorin came up here sometimes as it was a place of refuge when nightmares sent him straight out of bed in a cold sweat. The same dream, over and over again. But by the time he was out of bed and walking, he couldn’t even remember the details. Only the fear that lingered, the anxiety that haunted him. But the roof at dawn was enough to help him shake it all away. Though today wasn’t like most days, and tomorrow morning if he woke up in the same repeating cold sweat, he’d have no balcony to retreat to – only the deck of a ship sailing north. Sorin could see those ships now, gathering not too far off in the harbor. From here, he could see much of the island that compromised the city. Across the water were the smaller islands and the major city of Conquera which Sorin hardly visited. For all that could be said about Sorin’s life, it all took place on this island. And it didn’t really bother him. Not much did. The ships gathering in the city meant one thing. That he’d be leaving soon. Leaving soon with his grandmother Lilian and teaming up with the rest of his estranged family that inhabited the Illen Palace on the other side of the island. Even from afar you could see its towering marble columns drowning in the sunlight. Despite not having been there in longer than he could remember, the grandness of it stained his mind no matter how hard he tried to wash it out. The endless halls, the polished stone, the grand gardens and colorful flowers. Pure bliss as his grandmother called it. But Sorin and his grandmother did not live in that palace, despite technically having every right to. Sorin was the queen’s youngest grandson which meant she knew nothing about him. And for all that made Sorin and Lilian undesirable, they lived on Lilian’s old estate, unconnected to the royal family. Out of sight and out of mind. It was for that reason that Sorin didn’t want to attend the Dryad Festival. It was also because, as a true cynic, Sorin saw the whole thing as an exercise of hubris and status. A peacocking event for the world’s most wealthy and personally obsessed. Sorin didn’t feel connected to that world, nor did he want to. He could see through them. And he resented them more than anything. Sorin let out a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair, adjusting the knot it was all tied into. He kept it rather long, as many his age did, to at least look the part. His hair was a light gray blue, unusual in his family. His mother Aoibheann’s hair had zero color to it, and according to his grandmother, his late father was a deep gold. The blue came from somewhere, she said. Some old ancestor or other. Sorin didn’t like the blue. It made him look different, stand out more in the crowd than he already did. But he certainly couldn’t shave it, or he’d look like one of the many servants that attended to the royals’ every beck and call. At the least, proper clothes had been sent his way so when he boarded the ship with the rest of his extended family, he would look like he belonged. Sorin breathed in. Breathed out. Closed his eyes and looked up, letting the sunlight brighten his cheeks. It’s just a week. You can do one week. Resolved to continue, Sorin turned his back to the sunrise and descended the stairs. He was back inside soon and already preparations were being made for his departure. Food was already waiting for him too. It was nothing special, a quick breakfast of a duck egg and toasted grain bread. Enough to satiate. He ate it quickly and silently, hearing his grandmother Lilian rustling through her room just nearby. His mind kept slipping back to his dream and he shuddered. “Good morrow, Sorin,” his grandmother cheered as she made her way into the room. She was dressed elegantly, though she covered her arms and legs, and the skin that dropped from them. Her gown was deep blue with gold scrawl. It was similar to Sorin’s vest and pants. Sorin figured that they would all be dressed like that today, sporting the same blue velvet with gold trim. “The carriage will be on its way soon, my Lady,” said the servant. “We ought to prepare our bags then,” Lilian said. Sorin sat there while his bags were moved for him. “Did you have a restless night again?” Lilian asked as she leaned against the table next to him. When she placed her hand firmly on the table, Sorin could see the blue of her veins through her skin. They were getting darker, and her wrist looked like it was getting more swollen. The physicians were trying, and it didn’t look like their efforts were working, and each day Sorin grew more and more worried about her. “Conveniently so,” Sorin replied. “Great morning to be tired.” “Well, have some tea,” she said. “Hopefully the excitement of today will be enough to get you up and running.” She smiled. Sorin hoped she was right, but he knew she didn’t quite grasp how unexcited he was for everything today. When the carriage arrived, Sorin followed Lilian outside and they boarded. It was being carried forth by two beautiful white horses which were rare enough to see in the city. Walking was most common. Horses were reserved for the royals, and Sorin knew he and his grandmother would draw heads on their march toward the harbor. The carriage rocked forward slowly and soon they were off. “You should try and cheer up,” Lilian said. “It could serve you well.” “I thought we weren’t supposed to smile at formal events with the family. We’re supposed to look stern and collected.” Lilian laughed. “That’s what your other grandmother thinks. I disagree. Though I’m happy enough to be invited along, so if she wants me to scowl I will.” Sorin furrowed his eyebrows. “You’re entitled to come to this event. You’re part of the family.” Lilian said nothing in reply, she just silently looked to her right out of the carriage and kept on smiling. She did that often. When Sorin brought up an unfortunate truth she would look on in silence, refusing to engage. It used to bother him, but after all this time he had resigned himself to accept it. Soon the carriage arrived at the harbor and the rest of the royal carriages had too. Sorin knew which one belonged to the queen and her eldest son and heir because of how much bigger it was. It was fully gold, from the wheels to the roof. A shimmering golden cape followed it, dragging against the ground shining in the sun. The entrance to the harbor was a concrete monstrosity, anchored to the shore with thick pillars. The people stood around the short concrete wall, watching the royals leave their carriages and head toward the ships. The royal fleet was as grand as the golden carriages. The ships were beaming blue, with gold trimmed sails. Sorin knew that the sails were mostly for show, as the turbines under the ships directed them forward with rapid speed. It would only take about a week to make it halfway up the eastern coast. When Sorin and Lilian got out of their carriage, Sorin looked around him at his massive extended family. His uncles, the princes, stepped out with their wives and their children. Alistair, the eldest, stepped out with no one because he was still unmarried. Sorin saw young cousins running around their parents – cousins he had never had the opportunity to meet. There were so many of them. And then, not too far off, he saw his mother walk alongside Alistair. He wanted to run and greet her, yell at her. From here he could see that she had stained her pure white hair with light pink, something to make her look fresh. Add some life to her dull dead eyes. They all crowded together and Sorin and Lilian stood in the back. Not even one of them turned to look at them. Not even Alistair or his mother. Seraphina, the ruling queen, stared forward surrounded by no one at the front, not making a single glance back. Her former husband was long gone, sent away by her many years ago. Seraphina released no explanation for why he was gone from her life, and everyone was too terrified of her to ask. The whispers said that she sent him away because she was too jealous to share her power with anyone else. They were welcomed to the ships with a loud and proud captain clad in pristine blue, and Sorin and Lilian were assigned to the ship in the furthest back with some of the other lower royals and their servants who would be accompanying them. Sorin was unsurprised. The family broke apart with few words to one another and Aoibheann didn’t make a single look over to her son. Sorin so desperately wanted her too. And before Sorin knew it, he and Lilian were on a ship and the thing sailed forward. By now, it was late into the morning and the sun was shimmering bright against the sea. The wind whipped through his hair, and it brought a small smile to his face. He had always loved the ocean. He remembered he used to go to Summer Beach with Lilian as a child, and on one occasion Aoibheann and Alistair had accompanied the two of them. It was perhaps the only time in his life he had felt like his family was bigger than two. The day stretched on and so did the sea. And Sorin found himself downstairs and in a small bed before for too long, too tired to stand. He dreaded falling asleep, however, because there was nothing that terrified him more than waking up in a cold sweat.