Ceridor (Danubian #4)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

2431, 17 years before Lantern

Prince Johannes Ott, age 6

Regent Prince Christian Licht, age 18

East Helvetica, Helvetican Republic

"I will protect you, princess!" Magnus shouted.

"I'm no princess, and I don't need protection!" my twin Effie called back as they ran from an unseen foe. "I'm a warrior!"

"A warrior princess!" Magnus responded.

"Just a warrior!" she declared as they ran up the hill on the Lichts' land.

"Are you sure you don't want to play, Prince Johannes?" asked Christian.

"No, I want to stay here with you," I answered.

I turned to my most favorite person in the world other than my immediate family. Whenever my mother brought us across the border from West Danube, it was Regent Prince Christian Licht of East Helvetica who always watched over us while the queens chatted over tea. Despite being twelve years older and already an adult, Christian often joined in our games. His little brother Magnus was six, just like my twin and me. Magnus had grown up on Christian's hip, and for some reason I couldn't put my finger on, it made me jealous.

Sometimes I ran around with Effie and Magnus, but oftentimes I sat with Christian and asked him to tell me stories. Christian was destined to replace his father as Regent of East Helvetica, just like I was destined to become the regional king of West Danube. But Christian had quietly told me that his real dream was to become a traveling bard who sang the legends to the people. I'd thought we'd be kings together, but now I promised him that when I became king he could be my court bard and sing to me every day. That always got him to smile and pat my shoulder.

Christian had just finished singing part of the legend of Parzifal to me from Wagner's operas in the nineteenth century, but I couldn't help but notice as his gaze followed our siblings around in the garden, he seemed to be far off in thought somewhere. I was attuned to him, picking up on his moods just like with my twin sister and mother.

Hugging his knee, since I tended to sit at his feet, I propped my chin on the backs of my hands and looked up at him. " Alles okay , Christian?"

Christian seemed enormous to me, so tall and yet skinny, not as big as a bear like my father. Christian's hair was brown, but through the summer months it became golden, kissed by the sun. His face was often scruffy and I wanted to grow a beard just like him. I loved it when he grabbed us up and snuggled us. Effie always shrieked at Christian's scruffy cheeks, but Magnus and I laughed and went wild when Christian got silly and tumbled around with us in the grass.

Christian's sky-blue eyes found me as he smiled, but I could still tell he was worried about something. He patted the top of my head, ruffling my brown hair that was darker than his and that poofed out in curls that Christian had said were handsome.

"Don't worry about a present," warned Christian, which of course just made me worry, "but today is my eighteenth birthday."

I squeaked and bounced on my knees, clapping. How could I have forgotten?

" Alles Liebe zum Geburtstag! " I cried joyfully. "Next time we visit, I'll bring you a present!"

Christian laughed and hugged me back when I jumped into his arms. "Thank you, Prince Johannes. You've made my birthday a lot better."

A lot better? Was there something wrong?

" Was ist los? " I asked, hoping whatever it was, that I could make it better.

Christian's smile warmed me, but the worry still had not left his beautiful blue eyes. "Today is the day I come of age, which means Father can name me his successor as Regent. I plan to tell him tonight that I want to leave home and look for work as a bard. He's…I don't know whether he's going to take it well."

I'd hardly ever seen his father and knew almost nothing about the Regent, but I couldn't see how this was bad—Christian was following his dream.

"This is great!" I clapped, cheering for him. "You can travel the world, and then when I become King of West Danube, I will find you and you can be my court bard!"

Christian chuckled, bashful. "Thank you, Sweet Prince."

I hugged him again and soaked up all the warmth of his embrace. Christian always had so much more time for me than Father did. I loved how Christian held me as long as I liked, even if I fell asleep, just patting my back the whole time.

I had no idea how long it would be before I saw him again.