New Beginning

The blade swept through the evening air.

The leather grip was worn, threads unraveling where her hand held it most. It should have been replaced weeks ago, but the familiar wear felt right. A sharp pivot flowed into a killing thrust. The invisible enemy crumpled as the sword tip dropped back to her side.

"Still training, Elenore?" Adrian called out, stepping through the archway. "Thought you'd be done by now." He tilted his head toward the fading strip of sky above the walls. "Will you skip riding today?"

Elenore pulled off her gloves and flexed her fingers. "Not a chance." She sheathed her sword and headed for the stable doors.

Adrian walked alongside her. "Just keep in mind—Father specifically asked for us at dinner tonight. We can't be late."

Elenore quickened her pace. "Did you manage to find the horse I asked for?"

He sighed. "I tried looking for it, but my men couldn't find one in the empire."

"What about any other color?" he asked.

Elenore walked toward a horse and patted its head. "No. It has to be pure black. Completely black."

"But why do you need it? You already have Ginger." The chestnut-coated horse snorted at hearing its name.

Elenore stroked Ginger's neck. "Who said I'm going to replace Ginger? I would never do that."

"Then why?" Adrian asked.

Elenore's ears turned red. She glanced toward the stable entrance, then leaned closer. "I keep having this dream where I'm riding a black horse through the snow. There are bodies everywhere, covered in blood."

She paused, her voice dropping lower. "As I'm moving, my chest starts to hurt. I look down, and there's a large hole here—" She touched her hand lightly over her heart. "—and the pain is unbearable. But I'm still alive."

"That's when I wake up."

"A dream?" Adrian stared at her. "Elenore, you're asking me to scour the empire for a horse from a dream?"

Elenore's jaw tightened, her knuckles going white as her fists clenched. "I exist. And nobody, even in their imagination, would think someone like me exists. So why can't that horse exist?"

His mouth opened and then closed without sound.

Elenore knew he would not be able to deny her anything. He had always given her everything she asked for since they were children.

Elenore turned back to Ginger and stroked her neck. "I have to go today, Ginger. I'll see you tomorrow." She walked toward the stable exit without looking at Adrian.

"Wait! Elenore!" Adrian caught up to her. "I'm sorry. You're right." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you exist, why can't the horse? I'll find it. I promise."

They headed back toward the manor in silence. Adrian kept glancing at her, but Elenore kept her eyes forward.

When they reached her chamber door, she stopped. "I'll see you at dinner."

Adrian nodded. "I'll find it," he said quietly.

Elenore pushed open the heavy door to her chambers and closed it behind her. Maria, her personal maid, was already waiting with fresh water and towels.

Elenore used the wet towel to clean the sweat from her body, the coolness leaving a tingling sensation behind. She washed her face and hands thoroughly while Maria laid out a gown of deep blue.

Elenore stood still while Maria worked, brushing out her uncanny white hair and fixing the disheveled strands. Maria quickly fastened the gown's clasps and arranged the fabric properly.

The bell chimed from the main tower—the final call for dinner.

Elenore smoothed her dress and headed for the dining hall. Maria followed behind her.

Everyone had already been seated.

Elenore took her seat as Maria withdrew to stand with the other servants along the wall.

The servants began serving the food. After a couple of minutes of eating, the Duke set down his fork and looked around the table.

"We will be leaving for Bornia tomorrow," he said.

"We?" Mother asked, as if she hadn't heard correctly.

The Duke nodded.

"Why are we going to Bornia?" The Duchess set down her fork.

"Elenore's debut will be held there. During the festival in Bornia Market."

Silence fell over the table. Elenore stared at him—it was something she had never expected in her life.

The Duchess stared at him. "Her debut? You're holding her debut?" Her voice sharpened. "In Bornia Market, of all places?"

"Simone presented this idea, and it benefits both him and us." He looked directly at the Duchess.

"No." The Duchess's hands clenched. "Absolutely not. She's never left these walls. She's never been among strangers. You can't possibly—"

"Keeping her hidden forever is no longer an option." The Duke's voice was firm.

"Why not!?" The Duchess's voice rose, then quieted. "She's not ready for this. The world will tear her apart."

"Rumors have spread about her," the Duke said calmly, "and if we don't do anything about those rumors, we'll be under the suspicion of the whole empire."

The Duke whispered, "Especially his."

"But how? How can rumors have spread!" The Duchess's eyes widened. "It has to be him. He must have spies here."

"Well, it doesn't matter. The world gets information one way or the other," the Duke said, calming the Duchess down. "Now if we reveal information ourselves, it becomes our weapon rather than our weakness."

"Ridiculous, a weapon?" The Duchess looked across the table at Elenore.

As their eyes met, Elenore felt a sharp pang in her chest.

"I have already sent out all necessary invitations. Simone will help us reveal her in the best way possible," Father reassured.

Elenore did not know what to think—her whole life she had been unknown, and now suddenly the world would look at her.

He declared, "We will be leaving at noon tomorrow, so be ready."

Elenore reached for her water goblet. Her trembling hands knocked it over, sending water across the table and onto her dress. Maria rushed forward with cloths.

"Please excuse me," Elenore murmured, standing as Maria dabbed at her gown. "I should go prepare for tomorrow's departure."

Maria followed her out of the dining hall. Back in her chambers, Maria helped Elenore out of the damp dress and began preparing a bath. The warm water filled the room with gentle steam.

"Have you been to a festival?" Elenore asked as she settled into the bath.

"Yes, my lady. The festival that's held in the city every year," Maria replied, laying out fresh nightclothes.

Elenore was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "You know, I had always thought I would never go to a festival." She paused. "I even begged God to let me go to a festival. I thought it was impossible."

She ran her fingers through the water. "But I guess it's true—God listens. But he's just like a merchant."

Maria stopped what she was doing. "My lady..."

"He never gives without taking," Elenore's voice was barely a whisper. "So He made me the curiosity."

"My lady, don't be sad." She took Elenore's hand gently.

"I wanted to go. I wanted to see what everybody was curious about," Elenore said. "But he made me the curiosity."

Elenore got out of her bath and, after drying herself off, slipped into the nightdress and sat in front of her dressing table while Maria brushed out her damp hair.

Maria spoke softly, "You look like a fairy, my lady."

"You are the most beautiful creation of God that I have ever seen."

Elenore was caught off guard by that, her ears turning red.

Maria giggled.

Maria's eyes widened. "Oh my lady, I forgot—you have a letter."

"A letter for me?" Elenore wondered aloud.

"It's from House Serramar of the West," Maria said, handing her the letter. It bore a wax seal with a swordfish emblem pressed into it.

Elenore carefully broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.

"It's from Aurelia!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning the rest of the letter.

Elenore knew only one noble from outside—Aurelia Serramar, her cousin, and her only friend. She was also the only noble, including her parents, that knew about Elenore's bizarre appearance.

"She says she'll be coming to my debut in Bornia." A genuine smile spread across her face for the first time that evening. "Finally, something to look forward to."

Elenore folded the letter carefully and put it inside her drawer. "Thank you, Maria. Goodnight."

As Maria dimmed the candles and quietly left, Elenore lay in her bed wishing for the nightmare to be over before it even started.