Neytiri

The King meant what he said. He wanted to get away. An escort has been arranged, but not at the front of the kingdom. At the back of the castle.

"I will miss you," Ismena says as she pulls me in for a warm hug. I hug her back enjoying the contact. In all honesty, I don't know if this will be my last time to see her. I don't know the king's plan, or his men's orders. This may be a mission to kill the last Ikniri when she's least expecting it. But then again, Cassian did say he wanted me alive.

I look around at the entire castle staff who have come to see me off. Some out of respect for their master, and others out of curiosity. Rumors of the Ikniri have been circulating the halls for weeks, and with the castle being so big only a handful of staff have seen me. I turn away from Ismena and see Caius coming towards me with a soft smile on his face.

"The King is waiting," he says. I look around for Cassian, or even what I might imagine him to look like, but see him nowhere. My gaze shifts back to Caius when I hear soft chuckles. He has a blindfold in his hands, and motions for me to spin around.

I wait patiently as he fastens the cloth around my eyes. I know this is the normal routine so I try and reign in my patience and Cassian promised that once this was over he would reveal himself.

"Don't be nervous," Caius whispers behind me. I know he has walked away from me when I feel the absence of his heat. I know the exact moment Cassian sets foot on the grounds. It's as if the quiet murmurs, even the breathing stops as they take in their king. Something that they don't realize is a privelage in itself.

His footstpes come towards me and I hear Ismena take in a soft breath as she backs away. I can feel the moment Cassian stands in front of me. His hand gently presses against my cheek earning a small gasp from my lips.

"Neytiri. You look radiant," he says softly. I can practically hear the smile in his voice.

"Thank you," I murmur.

"I see everyone turned out to see the legendary Inkiri depart," he chuckles placing his hand in mine.

"Come."

He gently leads me toward the waiting carriage, helping me the entire way as I step inside taking a seat. The cushions are soft and feel like velvet against my skin. I can hear him murmuring to someone, but I can't make out what he's saying because it's so low.

So, I focus on my breathing. I'm scared, I'm not afraid to admit that. He's taking me somewhere that could possibly mean my death and when I think about it, I know next to nothing about Cassian himself, only the terrifying rumors that circulate his rule.

I feel a dip as he steps into the carriage with me, and the doors are closed, shutting me off from the rest of the world, locking me away with Cassian.

The first half of the trip is suffocatingly silent. Only the random whinny of the horses or passing over deformities in the road fill my dark world with sound and proof of existence. Cassian doesn't seem inclined to start the conversation, so I take it into my own hands.

"Where are we going?" I ask, breaking the deafening silence.

"Neighboring kingdom," he says.

"Why?" I ask.

"I have business there, and I enjoy the pleasure of your company. Besides, I fear if I left you in that castle longer than necessary someone would fill your head with the wrong ideas about me. And, that's the last thing I want from you," he says.

I shake my head.

"So you want to keep an eye on me," I clarify. He laughs softly at my response and I hear the sound of him shifting.

"Among other things. I do enjoy the pleasure of your company. I always have."

I lean back in my seat. I know that if I ask what he means he won't tell me. No one under his order will. So I change the subject.

"How long is this trip going to take?" I ask.

"To get to Holstead will be two days," he says simply.

"And what business do you have?" I ask.

"I have major plans for the kingdom that I am currently occupying and I need to make sure I have the support of a friend," he says. I sense a sinister undertone in his statement.

"What are your plans?" I ask. I jump when I feel his finger tracing my cheek.

"That's not for you to know, Neytiri," he says low. I open my mouth, but close it immediately. He may have been kind to me up to this point, but I hear the warning in his tone. He wants me to stop asking questions.

"I just want to understand," I say.

"I know. But trust me, everything will come to you at once. And by that time, the last thing you'll want is to understand. My only regret is that it's you," he says. I want to ask him to elaborate, but I know he won't. So I lean back in my seat, closing my eyes for the remainder of the ride.

The trip really does take two days. Cassian let me take off the blindfold when we made random stops, but he always made sure he was nowhere near when I did so, and that Caius was around to watch me. I'm sprawled out over my seat when I feel a light shake on my shoulder.

"Neytiri. We've arrived." I know that voice, and it isn't Cassian. I slowly sit up, pulling the blindfold off of my eyes, squinting from the light around me. Caius has his hand outstretched for me to take ahold of, and I do, using him to balance as I step out of the carriage. The castle is magnificent. And made of white stone. I look around the courtyard and take in the similar image that was waiting for me when we left the kingdom. The castle staff are surrounding the area, gazing at me in open wonder and amazement.

I see some whispering to each other, and placing their hands over their mouths in shock, but I keep my gaze level, and make sure that I don't show any weakness or fear. Caius steps next to me silently, and I take notice that he lets go of my hand, immediately dropping to one knee bowing his head. I look at him in confusion but my question is answered when I realize a man is walking towards me dressed in all black. I immediately recognize who he is. He was one of the kings that came to the castle. The youngest one that didn't speak.

"What an honor it is to be in the presence of an Ikniri," he smiles as he takes ahold of my hand, placing a soft kiss on it. His grip on my hand tightens.

"Legend has it that just being in the presence of an Ikniri brings good fortune. I wonder what Cassian of all people's purpose is for the last one?" he says with an evil glint in his eyes. He obviously knows something that I don't, and that makes me uneasy. I gently pull my hand out of his grasp stepping towards Caius.

"Don't fill her head with your speculations, Rykun. Legend also has it that you don't want to be on their bad side," he says through grit teeth. The man he called Rykun stares at Caius for a long time, before a smile graces his face.

"My apologies. I'm sure the king wouldn't appreciate me making his prized possession feel unwelcome," he says. He snaps his fingers and the servants move towards me.

"Take the Ikniri to get cleaned up and dressed appropriately. She must be exhausted from her journey." I look at Caius in a panic but he says nothing, his expression filled with anger as he lets Rykun's servants take me away.

I sit quietly as the women around me place cloths covered in suds over my skin. The water is warm, and soothes my aching muscles from the journey, but I still find myself uncomfortable with the temperature.

I flinch when one of the servants brushing my hair pulls a strand to tight, her apologies filling the air. Other than he blunder, no one says a word, some even trembling in fright. What I don't understand though is why they would be afraid of me.

After I'm cleaned, they dress me in colors similar to the castle that I am in. Black. It's a beautiful gown, but I hate it. I have a strong dislike for the dresses. But I know it would be disrespectful if I do what I've done to every gown I was given at Cassian's castle.

The women bow once they finish their jobs, and leave the room giving me the opportunity to look around at the scenery. This castle is different than the one I've grown accustomed to. But just like Cassian's, it is completely different from the forests I grew up in. If Cassian thought I would feel more comfortable at this one then he is mistaken.

I take a seat on the edge of the bed kicking through the bottom of the dress's fabric. Cassian didn't let know where he was going or when he would be back. He left me without a word. It makes me wonder what kind of role he plays in my life. And why him and Caius claim to know me so well, yet I have no recollection of them.

"I thought I'd have to die to be able to see an Ikniri again." I turn quickly to see Rykun standing in the doorway of the bedroom. He has his hands crossed in front of him eyeing me mischievously. He steps into the room and begins making his way towards me.

"Yet here you are, in my kingdom. Sporting Cassian's mark of all things." He stands in front of me reaching for my face and I immediately step back. I tense when he lightly traces his knuckles down my cheek.

"How, did you come into his possession?" he asks. His eyes are boring into mine and he seems to be searching my eyes for something. Something that he finds.

"It seems you've been tampered with. What has Cassian done to you, poor Ikniri?" His smile is wide and unnerving and I feel my skin beginning to crawl from my unease.

"Rykun!" I jump when I hear Caius's voice in the doorway but Rykun keeps his gaze locked to mine.

"I wish I could see the moment you come to, Ikniri," he says, "but alas... I don't think I would survive it," he chuckles stepping away from me. He makes his way towards Caius and I can tell by his expression; he's angry.

"Don't worry. I was only teasing her," he says as he steps into the hallway. I watch him as he leaves, trying to put everything he said together, but none of it makes sense.

Caius pulls me out of my thoughts with a worried expression as he stands over me.

"Are you ok? He didn't hurt you did he?" he asks. He reaches out to touch me, but I pull away looking at him in anger.

"I don't want to be alone. Not here. Not ever," I say expressing my fears. I look at the open door that Rykun disappeared through. He scares me. Something about him is screaming at me to stay away with all my might, but he knows something about me, even Caius knows it. And I can tell he doesn't want me to know whatever it is.

"Of course you have my full support, your majesty. And I hope that you will consider keeping my kingdom under your protection, as well."

"Of course, Rykun." Cassian's voice is cold as he speaks. They've been talking for the past hour about everything. Whether it's military, slaves, crops, or just their kingdoms. I have my back to them as they speak. I already know that I am not to turn around. Not while Cassian is in here, but I am pleased that Caius honored my wishes.

"She's so well-behaved, Cassian. How did you ever manage to train her?" Rykun's voice is back to that troublemaking tone.

"I didn't," Cassian says. Rykun laughs.

"You do know who you're talking to right? The Ikniri were never so tame," he laughs. I tense, but listen more intensely to his words. Cassian continues to speak as if I'm not here.

"She came to me in chains. Her people turned on her and her adoptive mother. She was raised differently than the Ikniri in the history books," he says.

"That explains why she doesn't have a sword to your thr-"

"Enough, Rykun." I jump from the scrape of the chairs. I want to turn around, and see what's going on.

"Caius, take Neytiri to her quarters. I need to remind Rykun of his place," he growls.

"Yes, sir," Caius says before I feel his hand on my arm as he pulls me gently from the room.

We walk in silence along the corridor of the castle.

"What did he mean by my sword being at Cassian's throat?" I ask. Caius tenses in front of me, but keeps walking.

"I told him not to come here. I told him Rykun would be up to no good, but he didn't want to listen to me," he grumbles.

We make it to my room in record time, mostly due to the fact that Caius seemed to be ina hurry. He stands by the door waiting for me to go inside, but I don't. I cross my arms over my chest meeting his gaze.

"I want to know what is going on," I say. Caius narrows his gaze at me, and shakes his head.

"It's not my place," he says. I drop my hands by my side, and take in a deep breath before I storm away from him in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going?" he shouts. I hear his footsteps coming towards me as calls my name.

"To ask Rykun. I'm sure he would be more than happy to let me know the very thing that everyone is so keen on keeping a secret from m-" I'm cut off as I run face first into a hard, solid wall of muscle. I stumble back from the force of impact, tripping over the long fabric of this damn dress, but before I can fall two hands reach out to steady me.

I instinctively look up to apologize for my lack of attention, but my voice catches in my throat as I take in the stranger before me.