Trapped

Astrid bit her lip nervously as she walked across the large stone wall surrounding Starfell Keep, trying to convince herself that tonight would be different. The last time she tried to venture into the city, her father had locked her in the bedroom for a week. Even so, she couldn't resist the call of the moonlit trees and sparkling village lights.

Once she'd gotten far enough along the wall, Astrid took in a deep breath and began to climb down the outside of it. The cracked stones made the climb a treacherous one, but she gritted her teeth and continued downward as quietly as possible.

Though she was shaking by the time her feet touched the ground, Astrid didn't dare stop and rest. She looked around once more before gingerly creeping towards the lights of Silverdale, the town surrounding her father's keep.

"Out for a midnight stroll, I see," a voice said from the darkness.

Astrid froze, then turned slowly to see a shadowed silhouette leaning against the wall behind her. The figure stepped forward and pulled down their hood, revealing a raven-haired woman with a long silver scar marring the left side of her face.

"Heeey, Meridia," Astrid said, trying to feign casualness. "I was just...well..."

A smile touched the corner of General Meridia's mouth. "Be back before sunrise. Your father wouldn't be happy if you missed his arrival in the morning."

A surge of excitement coursed through Astrid’s bones and she threw her arms around Meridia, coaxing a full smile from the older woman. "Go, little star," she said in Astrid's ear. "Enjoy your night out, but be careful."

"Thank you," Astrid breathed. She pulled away and couldn't resist a delighted laugh as she jogged away from the stifling presence of Starfell and into the cool night air.

Silverdale was even better than she had imagined. Though most shops were dark, there were a few still bustling with people. Astrid stopped at a stall selling paper lanterns and paid for one eagerly, grateful that she had thought to bring her money pouch, then made her way to the docks where a crowd of people milled about, laughing and talking.

Astrid lit her lantern and gently pushed it up into the sky, watching as it spiraled lazily up into the night sky to dance with the other lanterns in the moonlight. Astrid grinned; though she had watched the town do this before, it was magical to finally join in. They did this every time Lord Ewan was away at the Summit as a prayer to Shiara, the ancient goddess of protection.

Astrid eventually made her way to the Starlit Dove, the main inn and tavern of the town. She pulled her hood closer around her face, though she knew that everyone in town was unlikely to recognize her. Her father had kept her locked inside the castle for most of her life and no one would expect to see the lord's daughter dressed in a rough tunic and breeches. Even so, many of the patrolling guards knew Astrid well and she was unwilling to push her luck.

She stepped through the door and strode to the back, briefly making eye contact with the matron behind the bar. The tavern's dining area was quiet, with only a few patrons milling about, making it easy for Astrid to take the table most shrouded in shadow.

The serving girl was at the table in a matter of seconds, grey eyes alight and sparkling. They reminded Astrid of a stormy ocean landscape that Meridia had painted for her, and it made her smile. Though she had never seen the ocean, it held a special place in her heart. It was wild and free, two things she had always craved.

"What can I get you?" the serving girl asked, eyeing Astrid curiously.

"Just some cider and chicken, please," Astrid replied. She smiled nervously, unsure of how much it typically cost for a meal here, and reached into her money pouch to pull out a large handful of shining gold coins.

The girl's eyes widened at the sight of the gold and immediately stammered out, "N-no, the food isn't worth that much!"

"Then the extra is for you," Astrid said evenly, trying to hide her embarrassment. She resisted the urge to hide away the extra money, as the girl's broken shoes and worn clothes hadn't escaped her notice. Astrid was not set to inherit the realm of Starfell, but she was determined to leave it better than she found it, regardless of her station. "What's your name?" she asked, trying to diffuse the awkwardness both women were feeling.

"Lyra," the girl replied, taking the coins with shaking hands. "My name is Lyra."

"It's wonderful to meet you," Astrid said, smiling.

The two were distracted by the sound of the tavern door opening, and two soldiers stepping inside. A star was carved into the chest pieces of their armor, and Astrid immediately shrunk back into the shadows, praying they wouldn't notice her.

Lyra smiled and waved at the soldiers, thankfully drawing their attention away from Astrid. "I'll be right there," she called. Then she was skipping away, seeming eager to pocket the extra gold.

Once Astrid had received her food, she ate it as quickly as possible, desperate to get away from the soldiers without drawing too much attention to herself. At one point, she thought she heard the guards mention her name and froze, trying to shrink into the shadows and listen to their conversation. If they knew Astrid was missing from the castle, she wanted a head start.

"I hear the Shadow Guard are recruiting," one of the men was saying. "I think I might try for it."

The other snorted. "They don't accept just anyone into the order, Jayson. The only person I know that has any chance of making it in is the general, and you don't hold a candle to her fighting ability. Do you even know where they're holding the Trials?"

"Calbern," the first answered. He shoved a bite of chicken into his mouth. "At the king's palace, like it is every time."

Astrid turned her head slightly, curiosity piqued. She'd read about the Shadow Guard, a group of elite warriors who patrolled the barrier between this world and the Night Realm. Unfortunately, the books she'd read were all extremely vague on what it took to be inducted, so she knew little else about them.

Once she'd finished, she slipped outside and wandered the cobblestone streets, trying to think about her next move. She'd spent so long dreaming of escaping the castle walls, but now she had no idea what to do with that freedom.

A crackle and peal of giggles caught her attention and she turned to see a group of people standing on a hill just outside the town, their silhouettes illuminated by the burst of colors exploding in front of them. A figure stood to the side, tossing something into the air to create the fiery colors.

Astrid moved closer, watching from the shadow of a building. It was simple magic, used by enchanters to entertain people. She knew that her mother, Sylvia, had loved magic before her death, and invited enchanters into Starfell Keep nearly every day. But Astrid herself had no memory of what that was like, just as she had no memory of her mother. Lord Ewan wouldn't let any kind of magic into the castle and reacted badly at the mere mention of Sylvia’s name.

Astrid watched, entranced, as the colors turned into an image of a knight sitting atop a rearing battle horse. The enchanter tossed a handful of powder into the sky and a fierce dragon seared its way into the sky, tail wrapped around a tower. A maiden waited in the window, reaching out to the knight.

The sun began to break over the mountaintops just as the stories were coming to an end. Astrid crept to the back of the crowd and dropped several gold pieces into the small hat next to the Enchanter, then made her way back to the castle.

"Cutting it a little close," General Meridia commented as Astrid arrived at the gated entrance. "Your father sent a message; he'll be here within the hour."

Astrid glanced around, but no other guards were in sight. "Thank you for letting me go out," she said. "It was amazing."

Meridia's icy blue eyes softened. "Of course," she said quietly. "I'll let you out of training today, but we'll pick it up again tomorrow. In the meantime, you'd best be off. Your father will arrive in a few hours."

*****

By the time Lord Ewan reached the castle, Astrid was standing in the throne room beside General Meridia. Astrid wore a long forest green gown and a golden circlet on her brow, the picture of a graceful noblewoman if not for the muffin she was stuffing in her mouth. Despite the late-night adventure, she didn't feel tired. In fact, Astrid was buzzing with energy, feeling far more alive than she had in a very long time.

"Ah, it's good to be home," Ewan's voice boomed as the doors swung open and he strode inside. He was a tall man, with a mane of brown hair and glittering hazel eyes. A smile spread across his tired face as his gaze lit on his daughter.

Meridia glanced at Astrid and pointed to the young woman's chin, stepping forward to intercept Lord Ewan. Astrid hurriedly gulped down her muffin and wiped the crumbs from her face. Her older brother, Caleb, smirked from behind Ewan's back.

She made a face at him and he laughed, jogging over and pulling her into a fierce hug. "Blazes, it's good to see you," he said.

"How was the Summit?" Astrid asked eagerly, staring up at him. "Did anyone get into a fistfight this time?"

Caleb’s smile faded. He glanced at Lord Ewan before lowering his voice and saying, "There have been Fiends spotted along the border between our lands and Lord Herrin's. We'll be riding with Herrin tomorrow morning to confront them."

A chill raced down Astrid's spine. "Are the Seals-" She couldn't bring herself to finish. The thought of even one broken Seal was horrifying. The great magical crystals were the only things keeping the Fiends, monstrous creatures born of magic, trapped in the Night Realm. Even the Shadow Guard would be unable to stop an invasion if the barrier collapsed.

Caleb shook his head. "We haven't had any report of a broken Seal," he said encouragingly. "They're virtually impossible to shatter. Lord Herrin says that there are times when the space between both realms is thin, allowing a few of the Lesser Fiends to slip through. We'll be perfectly fine; his scouts report only a small number, and nothing as powerful as an ogre or demon."

"Are you quite finished?"

The two siblings froze, then turned to see their father watching them with his arms crossed. "I told you to keep this quiet," Ewan said evenly. "Is there a reason you chose to disobey me as soon as we stepped foot in the castle?"

"I pushed him to tell me, father," Astrid blurted, glancing worriedly at Caleb. "It's not his fault."

Ewan barely glanced at her, keeping his cool gaze locked on Caleb.

"She has the right to know about things happening in our territory," Caleb said after a tense pause. "How long are you going to keep her locked up inside the castle? She hasn't set foot outside the gates since we were children."

Astrid looked up at her brother, shocked. She had never heard him speak to their father like this, and gratitude bloomed in her chest at the unexpected gesture.

Ewan's face, however, had clouded over. "It isn't your place to decide what's best for her. It's mine," he snapped. His tone left nothing open to negotiation.

Caleb sighed and nodded, stepping back in submission.

"Actually," Astrid said, gathering courage from the freedom she’d experienced last night. She kept her back straight and voice even, relying on her diplomatic training as her body trembled with nerves. "It should be my place, father. I haven't been a child for some time, and Caleb is right. I need to know about these things if I'm ever going to be an asset to our realm."

Lord Ewan’s gaze hardened. Out of the corner of her eye, Astrid saw a few of the senior servants urging everyone from the room, shaking their heads. She saw the steely glint in her father's eye and swallowed nervously, knowing the tongue lashing she was about to receive.

Unlike the rest of the keep's staff, General Meridia leaned against the wall, watching the conversation with a slight smirk. Seeing Astrid's gaze, she nodded encouragingly, and Astrid drew strength from the small action.

"Starling," Ewan said tightly, moving forward to take both of her hands in his own. "I know it's difficult to stay inside, but it's where you're safest. Someday you will be wed to a nobleman, and then you can leave here."

"Or I could be a soldier," Astrid suggested. "I could serve under Meridia and protect the realm."

Ewan's eyebrows knit together. "Absolutely not," he said. "Your duty is to get married and give your husband a son. In fact, I gave my permission for a few noblemen to visit you this week."

A tense silence fell. "No," Astrid said quietly. "That's not an option I'm comfortable with."

"Please, starling," Ewan said. "Most women in your position are married by sixteen. I've allowed you a few extra years to grow up, but this is an opportunity for you to-"

"To what?" Astrid snapped. Ewan stepped back, startled. Astrid had never raised her voice, had never shown the fire she was channeling now. She took advantage of the opportunity to step closer. "To be trapped in a different castle? To be a trophy rather than an equal? I'm not doing it, father."

Ewan lowered his voice and spoke evenly, despite the anger Astrid could see boiling under the surface. "This is not a request," he said. "I know that you haven't been happy with the way I've done things, but you've remained safe, and that's more important than any feelings you have on the matter."

Astrid's jaw tightened. "Fine," she muttered, realizing there wasn't any chance of winning this.

Ewan nodded approvingly before looking at Caleb. "You'll be staying here tomorrow."

"What?" Caleb looked dumbfounded. "But I'm-"

"My heir," Ewan finished. "If something happens to me, you need to be here for the Starfell Seal to bind to. Besides, Meridia and I can handle a few Fiends. It's not the first time we've done so."

Caleb's mouth opened and closed with no sound, then he straightened up. "As you say, father."

"We'll discuss any complaints later," Ewan said. "It's been a long journey. You're both dismissed."

Caleb and Astrid exchanged grumpy looks. "I'll take you up to the library," he said. "You have lessons today, right?"

"All the time," Astrid sighed. She took his offered arm and let him lead her through the castle. "Can you tell me anything more about the Summit, or were the Fiends the only interesting part?"

Caleb hesitated, as if something weighed heavy on his heart. After a moment, he finally spoke, voice quiet and reserved. "All I can tell you is that when the Fiends do come, our lives will never be the same."