An Escape Plan

Of course, Sune would be waiting for him. Right outside his father’s room, right when he would be the weakest, his brother wouldn’t miss the chance to catch him at his worst.

“Walk with me Aarni.” It wasn’t an invitation or a request. Aarni followed and they walked a while in silence, heading to the audience room that emptied of everyone but the guards as soon as they entered.

“Sune, I. . .” Aarni tried to bridge the harsh silence between them, but was cut off.

“Don’t Aarni.” His brother’s voice was harsh, and held the weight of a man who now held supreme power in Mnozimar.

“Don’t try to explain, apologize or make excuses, I don’t care, and I don’t want to hear it.” Aarni didn’t know if his brother was angry about what had happened, thought something more had happened than a single kiss, or if he was acting the part of the grieved husband to further some scheme of his.

“At his point I just want you gone.” His voice softened, sadness creeping into it. “But I’m glad to hear you are joining the army, I know you’ve always wanted to be a warrior, I know you’ve always looked down on me for not being like our father. . .” Aarni couldn’t believe what he was hearing, there’s no way his brother meant any of this. He had disdained the family legacy, openly mocked wounded soldiers as a younger man, whatever this was, it wasn’t real.

“I’m just trying to say, I hope you find what you are looking for, and get what you deserve.” There it was, his brother’s trademark. Saying something that sounds innocent enough on the surface, but to anyone who knew him well it revealed his true intent.

“I’m glad to hear that Sune,” Aarnie, as always, played along, pretended to be dumb, better Sune think he had the advantage then to reveal to him that he didn’t, “I won’t let you down.” Aarni took it farther, “I’ll make up for my mistakes here, I promise you, I’ll make you and Father proud of me.”

His brother faced him, standing tall, “I trust that you will. Good fortune to you, Brother” And with that his brother turned and left. Aarni took a moment to look around, the audience room was designed to be impressive, the high arching stone, the beautifully carved wood, the crystal windows painting the room with pale purple light, it was beautiful and daunting. But all Aarni could think was how clear it was now that his brother intended to have him killed.

Aarni had only one more thing he hoped to accomplish before leaving. He wanted to see Yrsa, he knew that was likely impossible, but he hoped to meet Tove, and at least say goodbye to her. Fortunately she was riding around in the fields behind the castle, not at all her usual ride, and as he left the castle to meet her he got the feeling she had been riding around in sight, waiting for him. She saw him and rode up to meet him, “Uncle Aarni!” she shouted. She rode up to him and nearly jumped off the horse to him. He caught her, spun her around, and set her down.

“Tove, it’s good to see you.”

Her face turned sad, “I know you are leaving, mom said it was her fault, that she messed up and now you have to leave.”

“It’s not her fault, Tove, she didn’t do anything wrong. You know I’ve always wanted to be a brave warrior, to help people and fight the bad guys, I’m going away to do that.”

Her small fists tightened and tears started falling down her cheeks.

“But you weren’t brave, you hid from the dragons, I had to help you. . . what will you do if I’m not there?”

Aarni laughed, he kneeled down, got down to her eye level, “I’ll remember how brave you are, even if I’m scared, or sad, I’ll think of you and I’ll be brave.”

“I don’t want you to be brave, I want you to be here.” She said quietly.

Aarni hugged her, “I know, we must both be brave Tove, I need you to watch out for the castle here, take care of your mother, she’s strong, but even strong people need help.”

Tove smiled, “She’s here, she’s not supposed to see you, but she’s with the horse princess, waiting for us.”

They walked to the stable, handed the horse off to Erna, she gestured subtly toward the back of the stable, and said with a wink “I’ll walk Tove back if you’ll put her horse away.” Aarni nodded, went back and tied up Tove’s horse, and in her stall, out of sight, he found Yrsa waiting for him.

She looked more beautiful than he remembered, her raven hair falling about her shoulders looked almost purple in the fading sun, her emerald eyes tore straight into his soul, he was sure she knew how he really felt, he had never said a word, but his heart leapt at the sight of her. She took his hand in hers, he could feel her tremble through her soft gloves.

“Aarni, I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“But I do, that morning I met you in your room, it was too bold, too reckless, and he doesn’t even know I kissed you like that.”

“Nothing happened Yrsa, nothing that is against our laws or the Goddess.”

“I know that, and trust me Sune doesn’t think we did anything either, I just fell into his scheme to get you out of the way.”

“But what for? If he’s not getting me away from you, why does he want me gone?”

“I don’t know, Mariss does, it’s probably some plot of theirs. Oh Aarni, what will you do?”

He wanted to tell her the whole story, his real plans. No, what he really wanted was to take her and Tove with him, away from the capital, away from this castle and his brother who didn’t appreciate this magnificent and beautiful woman.

“I wish I had been born first,” he said, looking in her eyes, letting his passion flow into his voice.

“Oh Aarni, to be that young again.”

“I mean it, I wish it was me, I wish I could treat you like the queen you deserve to be.”

“I know, Aarni, but that’s not our fate. I am content with what the goddess has for me, and besides, I have Tove, I wouldn’t trade her for the kingdom.” She straightened her shoulders, the sadness in her eyes replaced by resolve as she continued, “But we don’t have time for sentiment, Aarni, you aren’t safe, the way Sune is acting, I don’t think you are safe, even if you leave.”

“I know, and I have a plan, I’m. . .” he was cut off.

“Don’t tell me, I want you to be safe, but he is my husband and anything I know he might learn, but if I can help you without learning the details, please, whatever it is, let me know.”

“Actually, I could use a distraction, an alibi tonight so I can leave and get a head start.”

“That, I can help you with.” Yrsa said, then thought for a moment.

“You’ll need a horse and an opening to get out unseen, right?”

“No horse, I’ll go on foot.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of it, now go, talk to Erna and kiss her before you go back to your room. Eat dinner there, and I’ll set up what I can.” Her words, her poise, the strength of her resolve, Aarni couldn’t help but feel better about his chances, whatever Yrsa had planned, he trusted her.

Aarni went to the front of the stable, kissed Erna hard, throwing his frustrations and passions into it. She kissed him back and moaned softly into his mouth, her hands grabbing his hips and reaching back to his rear.

“Will I see you again, my prince?” Erna asked as they broke their embrace.

“I hope so,” was the best Aarni could offer her.