Misha the Beast Tamer.

It was late afternoon of my fourteenth birthday. I had washed and now I was rushing around my room. I struggled with making the decision of what to wear. As time ticked by so did my panic I decided upon a gold dress with a white lace bodice and white lacy sleeves. I tied my hair with a gold ribbon. I wasn't fully satisfied but I had ran out of time.

My Father waited for me, patiently at the entry to the hall. He smiled widely and ushered me into his embrace, he smelt comforting with his usual woody perfume. As he held me in his embrace, he whispered

"You're a woman already, it seems only yesterday I was holding you in my arms merely minutes after you were born, you were strong back than and are stronger now my love. Misha, where does the time go? Are you ready to go inside?"

I smiled as we broke our embrace,

"Yes, Dad, let's go." I replied.

He held my hand as we were announced, David had already been announced and uncle Stefan was the one that escorted him into the hall. We swapped every year, this year it was my turn with our Father.

The night wore on and my excitement had turned to disappointment and sadness. I had not seen or heard from Zac. I scoured the crowd desperately looking for him to no avail. I danced out of politeness with those who asked, I tolerated small talk even though it made me feel worse. I couldn't wait for the night to end, next year I will not participate in another birthday ball.

The night was a few hours from finishing. I sat at the table I shared with Dad, Stefan, my brother, Mother and nobleman Elbi.

However, my Father was not there, he was standing in a corner having what appeared to be a very heated and serious conversation with an older man. The man had a long black beard with streaks of white and grey littered through out. He was wearing strange clothes and was leaning on a wooden, twisted, well-used walking stick. I watched them and noticed that the older man would look over at me intermittently. My observations were interrupted by Stefan,

"Are you not having fun tonight, Princess? You seem distracted or bored."

"No I'm not. Zac promised me he'd be here tonight but I haven't seen him and I've been searching the crowd all night. I'm disappointed in him."

Stefan sighed, and pulled me in for a cuddle. I let some tears fall freely down my face. After I let out the disappointment that plagued me. I looked over to the corner, Dad and the older man were still deep in conversation.

"Who's that man talking to Dad?" I asked and pointed towards them.

Stefan looked over to them and sighed,

"Why is he here? Of all the nights he could talk to Luca, he chose tonight. Why couldn't he wait until tomorrow?"

"Who is he, Uncle?"

I repeated. Stefan sighed again,

"His name is Bourdon. He is a well-known tamer of animals. He has no affiliation with your Father, our kingdom, you or anyone. We have no animals in need of his skills. Why is he here? Why is he talking to your Father? I must investigate. Wait here."

Stefan ran over to them. All three of them were now in deep conversation. I decided to wait for them so I had a chat to my mother. She also seemed uncomfortable with Bourdon's presence as she talked to me, I saw her quickly look over to the corner every so often. I found as I followed my Mother's gaze that the conversation between my Father, Uncle Stefan and Bourdon was becoming very emotionally charged. I knew this as Stefan was throwing his hands around. The conversation lasted another ten or so minutes, Stefan came over to me his face red and his voice flustered,

"Bourdon wishes to be introduced to you. Come with me, my beautiful."

I took Stefan's hand and let him lead me through the crowd. Once we arrived Bourdon smiled,

"Good evening you must be the beautiful Princess Misha. My name is Pierre Bourdon, but I'm known simply as Bourdon." He extended his hand in greeting, I placed mine in his.

After I did this he addressed my Father and Stefan.

"I would like to speak to you both further. I know my presence here is making your guest's uncomfortable. So out of the respect for the Prince and Princess I will no longer ruin their birthday. Please meet me at the Stables once the celebrations have finished and we can discuss this further."

Bourdon was close to leaving the hall, before my father piped up.

"How about the library? I prefer to keep this meeting inside the castle, who knows who will hear us at the stables."

"Agreed, your Highness." He faced his attention away from Dad and back to me.

"It was nice to finally meet you, my Lady."

Bourdon left the hall and waited patiently for the ball to end.

I was overjoyed once the ball finally started to wind down. My eyes felt heavy and the waves of pain that hit my stomach came close to making me vomit. I needed more of Uncle Stefan's special tea. I wanted to sleep, but I was curious as to what made my Father and Stefan so angry and uncomfortable with Bourdon's presence.

I pretended to go to my bed chamber, I kissed Stefan and Dad good night. I hid near the library entrance hidden in a dark opaque shadow cast over a small corner. I crouched and waited for them to arrive.

It seemed like hours before I heard two pairs of footsteps echo around me. It was Dad and Stefan, they opened the door and went inside. Not more than ten minutes later another set of footsteps echoed on the slate floor and came closer. It was Bourdon. He opened the door, I snuck in just before the door closed. I leaned up against the wall to the right of the doorway. The cold, rough stone bruised my back as I leaned against it as hard as I could. I saw my Father, Stefan and Bourdon sit at a round table, their silhouettes dark against the soft yellow candle light. I got as close as I could using the shelves of scrolls and books as my camouflage.

" Your Highness, further to our conversation I am confident she is perfect for our academy." Bourdon said

"No! I will not let her, your line of work is too dangerous. She is a Princess not a beast tamer. She should marry a prince and birth him many children." Dad said his tone quiet but forceful.

Bourdon scoffed

"Just like marrying a Princess did for you huh? Does she know?"

"Know what?" Dad answered bitterly.

"That she is not of your blood and was conceived through an act of betrayal between your wife and a long term friend and guard. That she was conceived as a reward for murder? The murder of the love of your life, her name - sake, Micah?"

Dad stood up, I could tell from the stiffness of his body. He was angry. He reached over and grabbed A hold of Bourdon's collar, and pulled him in close. His voice was low but filled with anger.

"How do you know? No-one other than Annika, Samuel, and Stefan know of Misha's history."

Stefan came to Bourdon's aid and rested his hand on Luca's arm.

While this unfolded before my eyes, I had to sit down. It was too much, I wanted to cry, burst out of my hiding place and confront all of them. How could they hide my own history, my story from me? It was mine not theirs and I should've been told as soon as I was old enough to understand.

Bourdon ignored my Father's question.

"She meets all of the criteria to enter the academy. She was born from betrayal and murder but was raised in love and forgiveness. She is strong and is now a woman. It is her time to leave and join the academy."

I saw Stefan wipe a tear from his eye, he knew what Bourdon said was true.

"She has no powers, Bourdon. She is just a normal kid. She has no special way with beasts. She is not the one Bourdon." My father said trying to remain calm.

"How do you know, Your highness? You don't let her leave the castle grounds without you or Stefan.

The only contact she's had with beasts was from a carriage, you did not even let her have a dog.

Instead of teaching her to fight, like you've taught her brother. You've kept her in the castle being taught how to drink tea like royalty, sew, make polite conversation.

You've wasted her potential, she is not supposed to be locked in a castle, forced to give birth to heirs like a broodmare, she is a beast tamer. If you don't let her choose what she wants, or refuse her choice I will claim her for my bride and teach her what you could not, my liege."

It was like Bourdon knew what I had felt inside, ever since I was four years old. I didn't understand how he knew. I waited for my dad's reply.