A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

PART I: THE LAND OF ASSASSINS KATHARINE ARATHORNE She was never a morning person. Everybody knows that. But today, for some reason, she was woken up by one of her handmaidens because her father called for her. She doesn't have any idea what her father needs at this hour. The lamps plastered on the columns of the hallway are still lit with fire because the morning sun is still not out. And her head is still spinning. Damned wine. "It's only 6 o'clock in the morning for goodness' sake," maktol niya habang binabagtas ang pasilyo. The handmaidens on her sides are both quiet and just followed her to her father's office kung saan siya nito ipinatawag. She stopped in her tracks when she remembered something. The two women stopped on their tracks too. "Is there something wrong, Your Highness—" "Did one of you tell my father where I was last night?" She faced the two handmaidens who are now pale as paper when the fire in the lamps suddenly became brighter. "Talk," she demanded as she crossed her arms. She could feel the surroundings getting hotter as the flames were getting bigger. "You were in your room last night, were you not?" The flames immediately went back to normal as she whirled and saw her father standing in the middle of the hallway. She gulped. One thing being a Princess of Terrasen is she can't roam around freely without any knights. She has to be escorted with knights wherever she wishes to go. And she is sick of it. That's why sometimes, she sneaks out in the middle of the night and wanders around the busy streets of the city. Just like what she did last night. She looked at her father. He moved his head slightly to dismiss the maidens behind her. They immediately scuttled away. "Were you not in your room, last night Katharine?" "I was," she lied. Praying she doesn't reek of whatever she drank last night. Her father didn't say anything at hindi niya alam kung mabuti ba iyon o hindi. "Come with me," her father said and started walking. She sighed and followed, maintaining a safe distance. "What is it, Father?" she asked when they arrived at her Father's office. Her father looked at her with those kind eyes she never got. She would often hear people say she looked more like her Mother. But she never had a chance to see her. Her Father is kind, gentle, and is loved by his people. She's the exact opposite. To be her Father's heir was a lot of pressure at first but she figured she shouldn't really care. She can be the kind of Queen she wants. She looked at her Father. He's getting old. She doesn't even remember when was the last time her father held a sword. In fact, she doesn't remember her father to be a violent person. Kung madadaan sa usapan, they'll settle with that. Which is good but only to a certain extent. "I know you've been sneaking out late at night," her father started. She mentally cursed and bit her lip. "You always have that wild spirit in you, Katharine." She cleared her throat. She figured her father already knows everything. Including her consecutive wins at the underground battle arena. "I apologize, Father—" "And you'll do it again anyway." He waved an elegant hand. "I am not in a position to stop you from doing what you love to do," Her brows furrowed. What is her Father saying? Normally, he would look at her disappointingly if she did something that does not approve her Father. But her father looks ... serious. Is he fed up with my stubbornness? "I will send you to train in the South, the land of Assassins." She blinked. She opened her mouth but closed it again. Not knowing what to say or how to respond to her father's words. She doesn't hate the idea. She doesn't particularly like it either. She never thought of going out the walls of the city, much more to the Land of Assassins. And to train there? What for? So she could win her future battles at the Arena? "Why so sudden, Father?" He stood from his chair and turned his back against her as he looked at the window overlooking the whole city. "Terrasen is a peaceful kingdom. And I want to keep it that way. Soon, I am going to step down from the throne," He faced her and walked towards her direction. "You're my daughter, the first in line to the throne, you'll be the next ruler of Terrasen." He rested his hands on her shoulders. She doesn't understand where this is all coming from. She just stared at her father, not able to move. "You are powerful unlike me, Katharine. I don't possess any magical power like you and your Mother." "Yet the people loved you," she continued. Her father chuckled. "They do. And that was only possible because—" "—you're kind-hearted and peace-loving." And I'm not. Dugtong niya. She's the exact opposite of her father's gentleness. Her father merely smiled. "To be a good ruler, your loyalty must lie to the people." Her father caressed her cheek. "Despite the swagger and your arrogance," her father let out a chuckle, "you have a good heart. You have to use that and you'll be a great Queen. Don't let anything taint that." *** That's what her father said before he sent her on a journey to the land of Assassins. There was nothing left in the world except sand and wind. At least that's what she thought. She muttered a silent curse as she remembered what her father said. You must get there on foot. That's part of your training. "And why does this land have to be in a desert? In the f*****g Cidarian Desert." She muttered another curse as she stood atop the dune and gazed across the desert. Cidarian desert is the home of some deadly creatures and if she doesn't get to her destination before sundown, she'll be the livestock of these creatures. Even with the wind, the heat was stifling and sweat made her layers of clothing cling to her body. "Damn these clothes," she muttered as she removed her cape, regretting her choice of clothing. But sweating, one of the locals she asked had told her, was a good thing—it was when you didn't sweat that this desert became deadly. Sweat reminds you to drink. She wasn't really expecting to be traveling on foot. And she doesn't really understand what her Father was saying and where it all comes from. "Is he stepping down?" She kicked the sand and continued to walk. "It's not like he's dying or anything—" she stopped realizing what she just said. She shook her head. She's not sure why she thought about that. Oh, the miserable heat. It doesn't bother her since she is a fire user herself but that doesn't mean she doesn't sweat. The heat in the Royal Capital had been nothing compared to this. She would give anything just for a whiff of cool breeze! She stopped on her tracks and inspected her location. The Fortress of the Assassins should be far ahead. The legendary Assassins are the ones she's going to train with. "To learn obedience and discipline," her father had said. But he failed to add she'll be training in the height of summer in this desert. It feels more like a punishment for sneaking out of the palace every night. Maybe her Father was just sugarcoating his words telling her this is to train her and he's letting her do what she wants. If that is the case, then this is by far, the worst punishment she had. And she couldn’t do anything about it. * * *