Willem sat and awaited his sister’s incoming compliments with a pretentious grin.
“Oh, Prince Willem! I must say that you are quite the swift lad! So fast, you could outrun a hawk! This, I do declare to all who care to listen!” The siblings laughed to themselves at Katryna’s attempt at sounding regal in such a ridiculous manner.
“How much trouble are we going to be in, do you think?” Willem asked, lying on his back under the radiant rays of the sun.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s worth it, isn’t it? We never get to do what we want.”
Willem agreed. It was nice for them to have time to themselves, away from their studies, their chores, their responsibilities. As they grew older, they were spending less and less time with each other.
This was the first quality time they had had together in quite a while.
Their father had sought out the teachings of the Magister’s Imperium to help tutor the twins. Three strange, old men in long robes arrived at Castle Bower several weeks before to teach them history. They reeked of death and dust and carried strange black vials around their necks.
Something about being taught the ins and outs of Camridian law and tradition had hollowed out her desire to learn. What little girl wants to be told she will never ascend to any real position of power? That only in the most drastic of circumstances can a woman rule in her kingdom?
It had been an exhaustive time. Katryna and Willem only shared dinners together, and then it was always off to bed.
They were aching for more time together.
“That was fun,” Willem said.
“You know what else is fun?” Katryna asked.
She jumped into the creek, still with her dress on. The water splashed around her; it was so refreshing, like an instant burst of cool relief.
The creek was peaceful, surrounded by a rocky bank with insects buzzing about and tall, green reeds. It was just deep enough that in the deepest parts, she could barely feel the sandy bottom under her toes.
“Now you’re going to be in super big trouble,” Willem laughed. “Mother’s going to kill you!”
Katryna shrugged. “She might. But who cares? Why let that ruin my fun right now?”
“But your dress!”
“I have lots more dresses!”
Willem paused and thought about it, scrunching his face up.
“Come on!” Katryna insisted.
He couldn’t resist. Willem stripped off his tunic and shoes, hanging them on a low branch. The sun was quite warm, and all that running had exhausted him. He couldn’t say no to cooling down in the rush of pristine water.
Willem looked around him to make sure no one was nearby to catch him, before running to the bank of the creep and leaping into the air. He held his knees in his crossed arms and landed in the cool water with an all-massive splash!
As he surfaced for air, Katryna slapped some water into Willem’s face. This was met with Willem laughing as he chased his sister through the water. Katryna took off her dress and threw it to the bank, swimming freely in her underwear without the weight of her waterlogged clothes slowing her down.
The pair played in the water for several minutes, washing off their worries in the cool, crystal water under the blazing sun. No one was around to tell them otherwise or to bark orders.
Away from everyone else. It was bliss.
“Father says you have been skipping your lessons with the new matron,” Willem said, running his fingers through his wet hair.
Katryna nodded. “Matron Tenessa is so boring. She literally puts me to sleep. I have no choice but to go off and find other things to do, lest I be bored to death.”
“Anything that involves reading or following rules will put you to sleep.”
“This is true.”
“You should do as father says, though, Kat.”
Katryna rolled her eyes. “And why should I?”
“Because the more defiant you are, the less time we get to see each other.”
Katryna lowered her head in shame. He had a point.
“It’s easy for you to say- you get to have all the fun lessons. Swords, horses, politics. Meanwhile, I’m stuck learning how to smile properly.”
Willem chuckled as Katryna peeled her lips back an obscene amount to completely reveal her teeth. “Very good looking, sis.”
“I want to do what I want to do, not what I’m forced to do.”
Willem patted Katryna on the shoulder before scruffing up her hair.
After a quick contest to see who could hold their breath the longest underwater, Katryna had an idea to get the adrenaline pumping again.
“How about another race?”
“Another?” Willem complained.
“Just one more. This time, the winner can be crowned the fastest in the kingdom, a title they keep forever,” Katryna said.
Willem rolled his eyes. “Alright, then.”
The two hopped out of the water and stood on the sandy bank of the creek in their undergarments. Katryna pointed down the creek towards an area of rocks along the waterside, some fifty feet downstream.
“How about, first one from the oak tree to those rocks down there?” Katryna said.
Willem nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The siblings stood side by side next to the thick trunk of the old oak tree. Both locked their eyes on the rocky outcrop on the banks of the creek.
Katryna did her usual callout. “Ready, set, go!”
The two shot off from their starting position, but Katryna was instantly taken aback by what her brother did.
Rather than rush straight ahead, Willem took off to the side towards the creek bank. He dove, arms out, straight into the deep section of the water. He was going to swim and let the rush of the water take him to the finish line!
Bastard!
