Heir of Nothing (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, # 1)

One

Fourteen years later...
"There you are!" exclaimed Miles in exhaustion. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Eighteen-year-old Calista Pyro tore her head away from the view of the city and glowered over at Miles, the Hand of the Queen.

"I am not going to court," she snapped. "All of the other lords are mindless political bigots. And they only argue most of the time."

"You will be working with those 'mindless political bigots' everyday in eight months."

Cal rolled her green eyes. "Fine. I'll go to court, but no promises on whether or not I will pay attention," she seethed, reluctantly turning away from the balcony.

She and Miles walked side by side to the council room. They passed painting of the landscape around Lucis, most of which were different locations throughout the kingdom.

Miles opened a large oak door, and let Cal through first. Cal walked to the far end of the long table to where the queen was supposed to sit. She sat to the left of where the queen was supposed to be, and Miles sat across from her.

Miles looked down the table to the other lords. "Alright, men," he said. "Let's begin."

Cal rested her head on her hand, staring blankly at Miles. He looked like Matias, the Captain of the Royal Guard. Both had dark hair, olive skin, and the same grey eyes. The only differences were that Miles's hair had hints of grey, and that he had a haunted, tortured look in his eyes.

Cal closed her eyes for a minute when she felt Miles kick her under the table. She sat ramrod straight, wide awake. Miles narrowed his eyes in disapproval.

The noise at the court was drowned out as she stopped paying attention to what the bickering lords argued about.

Miles's hands started to shake, his breathing starting to pick up. "Let's put it to a vote and be done with the matter," he said, his voice surprisingly steady. "All who vote for higher taxes and more services, say I."

More than half the room raised their hands, including Miles—his hands visibly shaking.

"The matter is settled. Court dismissed," he said, hurriedly rising from his seat and striding from the room. His whole body was shaking at this point.

Cal jumped from her seat, following Miles. "Miles!" she shouted. "Miles!"

He didn't listen. His stride turned into a run. Cal turned a corner and collided with a guard.

"Sorry, Matt," she said hurriedly.

She went to move past Matias to run after his father when he grabbed her arm.

"Leave him alone," he said quietly.

"Someone needs to see if your father is okay," she told him, trying to break her arm free. "Your father isn't okay, Matias."

"He'll be fine, Calista," Matias said sternly. "Just leave Miles alone."

Cal peered past Matias, but Miles was nowhere to be seen. Matias put his arm around her, and led her in the opposite direction Miles went in.

"Why don't we go to Roman Novels like we did when we were younger?" he asked.

She contemplated this. "Fine."

Matias pretty much jumped up and started whooping. Cal couldn't help but start laughing.

"You're such a brat, Matias," she said through her laughter.

"I know, and you're friends with it," he replied with an impish grin.

She glanced over at him, and she couldn't help but adore the boyishness about him.

He can get a girl, she thought. Who wouldn't want the Captain of the Royal Guard to be their husband?