Aris

The river was narrow and bordered by overgrown trees on both sidesthe branches were so
close that the blossoms could be plucked with minimal effort as the boat leisured along; the full
moon peeked out from behind clouds, but the night fell back into darkness as the clouds
swallowed the moon again. The only steady beacon of light was the lantern at the head of the
boat which only cast a glow perhaps five feet ahead of them. Aris watched as the man steered the
boat with a long pole, letting the gentle current of the water pull them forward. Her guards had
planned an extravagant entrance, banners flying, horns blowinghowever, Queen Aris preferred
a quieter approach, as her intentions for the visit were not quite what she had told the council.
She had chosen two of her most trusted men to meet her at the beach, to please the members of
her council.
The man pulled the boat to shore and held his hand out to assist Aris onto the rocky
beach; she accepted with a graceful smile and a slight nod of her head. As she straightened her
cloak and lifted a few silver coins from her purse, she cast a stern look at the man.
No one needs to know that I have arrived; no one is to be told that I came by boat, nor
that you ever saw me at all. She explained. The man shook his head furiously.
Of course, Your Grace. He held his hands out to accept the coins, but the queen kept her
eyes on him.
Oh, dear, you seem to be under the assumption that these coins are your paymentdear
me, I am so embarrassed. These are for the Ferryman as payment for taking your soul to the
Other-world. She explained, rolling the coins between her fingers. There was something about
the fear on the mans face, the fervent pleas for mercy and promises for his silence, that caused a
small laugh to escape the queens lips. She pulled a small dagger from her belt and placed a finger
on the tip of the blade. My dear man, this is non-negotiable. I cannot allow you to live, for
reasons you are not privy to.
Please, Your Grace, I wont speak a word to no one, I swear. He clasped his hands in front
of his face, praying. Please, Your Grace.

His pleas were unheard as Queen Aris lifted the dagger and plunged the blade into the
mans neck. Once the blade entered the flesh beneath the mans ear, his words gurgled to a stop
and his body fell to the sand. Aris wiped the blade on the inside of her cloak and re-sheathed it,
steadying herself. Death was nothing new to the queen, however the clean-up had never been her
responsibility. She wrestled with the fact that the man she had just killed was twice her size
around and at least half a foot taller than she wasit was impossible for her to lift him into the
boat and send it adrift on the waters. Aris stooped and searched the man for any valuables, but
only found a few copper coins in his jacket pocket. She tossed the coins into the river, along with
the two silver coins she had removed from her purse.
May the Ferryman deliver you safely to the Other-world. Queen Aris offered the prayer
to the breeze, the currents, and the moon above as she turned away from the scene and ascended
the derelict stairs that led up the side of the cliff. Two armoured guards stood watch as she
mounted the final step and stood between themshe straightened her cloak and adjusted her
hood, giving the men a slight nod of her head as she stepped toward the village.
There were plenty of shadows to cover her as they reached the outskirts of the small
fishing village that bordered The White Waters outer stone walls. Aris knew that it would be
better to arrive at the stronghold announced, rather than in the dead of night under cloak of
shadows. The queen stopped in front of a large building with a thatched roof and a sign hanging
out over the door. She moved to the side, putting her back against the wall.
I am wary from my travels, Ser Ryden, and I would like to sleep. The knight gave a nod
and entered the inn, leaving the other suited man, Ser Markas Darry, to watch the streets with a
wary eye. Aris removed a roll of papers from her cloak sleeve and untied the cord that bound
them. Her council had written the documents, and though she had already read through them
multiple times, Aris felt as though they had left something out.
Your Grace, Ryden peaked his head out of the doorway, the keeper has readied a room.
Would you prefer to dine in private, or in the common room?
Private, please, Ser Ryden. Aris stated, tucking the papers back into her sleeve. Ryden
held the door for her and led her to her roomit was a sad room, to say the least, with tattered
curtains the colour of fire smoke and dust lingering on every surface. She went to the window
and pulled the treatments away from the foggy glass and stared over the roofs to The White
Waters. The wind brought spray from the crashing waves at the base of the cliffs, and the drops
hit the glass like arrows of warning.
Queen Aris was not a fearful womanthere was little in the world that could frighten her.
Yet the howling wind that rolled through the streets from the ocean beyond The White Waters
caused her hair to stand on end, and a light shiver inched down her spine. Ser Ryden, his helm
removed and under his arm, stood by the door as a serving girl carried a tray of meats, slices of
bread, a decanter of wine, and a small dish of root vegetables. She placed it on the unstable table

in the corner, bowed to the queen, and left in silence. He saw the cold enter Aris, how it gripped
something within her that caused her to jerk in the slightest way, but he chose to keep silent
about what he saw.
She stared out the window and watched the dark shapes of men behind the battlements of
The White Waters. Rendal Tyde was a cautious man, and he demanded his men to be the same
they were willing to comply with his request, because though he was meticulous with his
dealings, he rarely led his men down the wrong path. Aris was grateful that Ser Rendal was on her
council, and that both the Tyde boys were serving in the fieldthere would be little help from
Aseos if she had not won their loyalties.
Leave me. Aris waved her hand to Ryden; he bowed and left the room as she eyed the
tray of food in the corner. She picked at the meat and bread, filled her glass with the sweet wine,
and unrolled the papers from her sleeve. There were four letters, in total, each addressed to a
different member of the Tyde family. Two of them, those addressed to Ser Rendal and his son
Brayan, were requests to have them attend her war council at the Dark Stronghold; the third,
addressed to Lady Luciya, was a list a suitors for the youngest Tyde, Reila. Aris had written Reila
separately, expressing her excitement to see the young girls demonstrations in a few daysthe
girl wished to join Queen Aris at the Dark Stronghold, not as a Lady but as a knight.
Aris pulled her cloak over her shoulders and lifted the hood to cover her head, tucking the
letters into her sleeve once again. She opened the door and stepped into the hall, aware that her
guards had retired to the common room for supper. She went the opposite way, up a steep flight
of stone stairs, to the loft where dozens of ravens and crows nestled and squawked. She chose a
fairly large raven with blue tipped wings and fastened the first letter to its leg.
The White Waters. With its destination known, the raven took flight from the window
and soared to the castle in the distance. Aris repeated the process with three additional birds, and
when they were all safely back in the loft, she made her way back to her chambers. It was another
hour before her guards returned; Ser Markas drew the first watch, and stood at her door, his hand
ready on the hilt of his sword. Ryden remained with Aris as she finished her sweet wine.
My Queen, are you truly considering the Tyde girl for knighthood? Ryden accepted a
glass of wine and a bite of meat as he sat at the table with Aris.
I cant say that I am considering her, nobut I am willing to witness her drills. There is
no harm in testing the girl, to see what she is capable of. Aris drained her glass and filled it
again. Have you heard the rumours about the girl?
Reila Tyde, the girl with a haunting intuition and near perfect aim with a crossbow. Yes,
my queen, I have heard the rumours. Do you believe there is any truth to these Bendir rumours?
I do not put much stock in rumours, Ser Ryden. I prefer to test the individuals myself
before making a judgement. She finished her second glass of wine and took a final bite of cheese

before standing from her seat. I will see you in the morning, Ser Ryden. We ride for The White
Waters at dawn.
Yes, Your Grace. Ryden bowed and took his leave, closing the door behind him. Aris
checked the locks and snuffed the candles that were placed around the room. In the darkness, she
could see that the clouds had dispersed, leaving thousands of stars dotting the sky over the crags
and hills between the fishing village of Dungannon and The White Waters. In the light of the full
moon, Aris removed a dark stone from the pouch that hung from her waist. She held it tightly in
her hands, close to her face. Annmhain, Lord of Darkness, lend me your strength in the coming
days. God of Shadows, the feared Black Dragon of Erenon, give me the courage and power to hold
the trials and do what I must. For the good of the realm, in your name, by your guidance.
A feeling a peace washed over her, settling her nerves and quieting the cold shivers that
had possessed her. She would ride to The White Waters at dawn, and she would judge the
youngest daughter of one of her most trusted knights.