The World of Rhune

Trei hopped down from Krenari and handed the reins to one of the handlers who had arrived at the scene only moments before. A handful of them were trying to calm the horse that had charged with Hannah. The handler took the reins and waited for orders. “We will no longer need our horses, though it is up to the guards, and of course, Prince Amir, if they wish to remain mounted,” Trei said to the handler. The two captains of each group of guards replied with a nod and yes. Amir let out a very audible sigh, getting him a glare from Hannah, but dismounted and handed the reins to a handler. ‘You always ruin everything, don’t you,” Amir said to his sister. “Oh, shut up,” Hannah said, biting her lip. Amir grinned, knowing she was keeping back a couple of words because of the company they were in.

“It’s not like riding one of the Hutans,” she added in her defense. “You mean it’s easier to ride a Kucing Hutan,” Trei took note of the name, “then to ride a horse?” Trei asked, incredulous. Hannah opened her mouth to respond but Amir beat her too it, “No, it really isn’t. This one is just horribly impaired when it comes to anything equine. Somehow though, she is quite skilled with the Hutans. Something is wrong with her; she just refuses to accept it and says something is wrong with everything else.” “I do not!” Hannah exclaimed.

Trei smiled at the pair of them. There was no doubting they were very close, even if they did have an antagonistic kind of relationship. He couldn’t help imagining them having a very close family. He was aware that their father, King Jacob, had died many years ago. Still he thought they would be a close family, not the kind Trei was used too. His parents were always a little distant from him.

Trei moved the thoughts to the back of his head and now to the moment at hand. He finally was able to get a good look at the Princess. The first thing he really noticed was that she was short. He knew that the people of Cancri were usually on the smaller side but he wouldn’t have really guessed that after seeing Amir. She wasn’t just short though she was small. Trei felt like he could rap a single arm around her whole waist, but the air of confidence she seemed to carry made her seem taller. Her hair was really quite stunning. It shined like gold with the sun against it and it hung down to hips, her tiara reflecting a thousand different facets of light, somehow it had managed to stay on her head even after being thrown. Her dress only hung down to mid thigh, strange in Andato where more dresses where longer. Trei suddenly had the urge to run his fingers through her hair and hold her close to him. He was a little embarrassed of himself, but he couldn’t help but think of how his mom very much wanted him to marry a princess.

Her face was angular, very defined features and high cheekbones. She turned to look at him and Trei got a good look at her eyes. He had thought Amir’s were astonishing but had not seen Princess Hannah’s yet. They reminded him of the eyes you saw peering at you through the dark, but at the same time they were nothing like that. At first Trei thought they bared a good resemblance to wolf eyes, but then corrected himself by thinking instead of a tiger or leopard. Except you had to take the golden amber a tiger’s eyes and make them twenty times brighter. They still held that feeling that there was cunning and power behind the eyes. They were also different though. At the same time they had an effect that made the Princess seem open, lively, and trustworthy.

All in all, Trei had thought of the various paintings of her and none really had captured her whole being and essence. “Well, the rest of the tour depends on you two,” Trei said, indicating the two Cancrinian royalty. “We can start wherever you like. The first, second, or third ring of Cittaluce,” Trei offered. The Princess, back to her diplomatic self, responded in kind, “Whatever you would suggest, Prince Trei.” Trei nodded and was about to reply when he glanced at the other Prince. A certain grin had appeared on his face, Trei had a suspicion that he was about to do something his sister wouldn’t like. His suspicion was confirmed when Amir stated quite loudly, “I would actually love to see the royal herd of Cavalli Volanti. It is well known no equine cavalry can quite match that of Andato. It would be a great pleasure for me to see the might of the army’s mounts.” Trei glanced at Hannah, who was biting her lip and shooting glances at Amir, who looked the other direction, pretending to be happily oblivious. Since Princess Hannah voiced no objections, Trei said to Amir, “It would be a pleasure to show you the royal herd. If you would follow me, we aren’t far from the pasture.”

Trei started off in the direction of the inner ring. Amir followed with a smug sort of look on his face and Trei thought he heard him say to his sister, “I won this one.” He hid a grin as the Princess retorted with a light shove to her brother, “Oh please, that didn’t count. I am merely being polite.” “I still won,” Amir replied, a smile in his voice. Amir strode up alongside Trei before she could say anything else and asked him, “So, how is the sailing around here?” Trei stole a look back at the Princess, who followed with a masked look of annoyance. Trei turned to answer the Prince.