I had backed Xander right into the stable wall, and he slipped before catching himself.
“And ogres don’t live long in fairy tales,” I warned.
Xander said nothing, just blinked at me in surprise as if I had grown horns. I was so angry at my feelings for him; even now, I wanted to both kiss him and slap him.
I regained my composure and calmed myself. “I will take my leave now and expect you to keep me up to date on Herez’s health.” Spinning, I walked out of the stable quickly, too scared to look back. Once I turned the corner, I covered my mouth, surprised that I had just reamed out the prince. I briefly wondered what repercussions would rain down on me for it. Who would bear the brunt of my harsh words—Rose, the servant, or Rosalie, his wife?
Chapter Nine
I made it back to my bed and collapsed. Seconds later, I heard the sound of my wardrobe opening and shutting as Gobbersnot snuck back in. My head was pounding, and I pulled the pillow over my eyes to try and soothe the oncoming migraine from using so much energy to recharge the wards.
Lorn was right. I constantly felt depleted and exhausted living in this kingdom, but it was a good ache, one that came from overworking muscles. Whereas my other sisters would complain, I knew the more I learned to draw from the earth and myself and not the ley lines, the stronger I would become. If I could just battle the headaches.
Thankfully, less than a mark later, I was asleep.
A loud, painful shriek startled me awake, but the room was dark. Pitch black. No, not black. I removed the pillow from my face and saw Pru standing next to the open wardrobe.
I had forgotten to warn Pru of my new friend, Gobbersnot, who at that moment was wearing dangly earrings I was pretty sure I’d seen in Yasmin’s lobes, his head and the tops of his ears wrapped up in a silk scarf like a turban. Pru’s shriek of surprise was mirrored by that of Gobbersnot, who quickly cussed her out and slammed the door closed.
“Th-that’s a… a….” She couldn’t finish.
“A goblin.” I smiled.
“What kind?”
“Not sure.”
“He doesn’t seem to have any manners.”
“I like him,” I said, and meant it. He amused me. “Although I wouldn’t trust him to braid my hair or help me get dressed in the morning,” I added.
I was careful to not bring up Herez’s attack. It seemed most of the servants had been told the girl had taken ill and was being sent home to recover. I knew it was probably to hide the presence of the beast. Why did they feel the need to protect it, or was it to prevent mass hysteria? Either way, I kept my mouth shut.
A mark later, a package was delivered to my room by way of royal page. He laid a jeweled box upon the table and announced, “Your ban has been lifted, granted as long as you have this.” He tapped the box, gave Pru a shy smile, and left.
“Who’s it from?” I asked, running my hands over the pearl-encrusted box. The silver latch was decorated with topaz. Never before had something so beautiful been in my presence.
“It must be from His Highness,” she replied.
A slow thump came from my chest. A present from the prince? Maybe my harsh words had gotten through to him.
My hands shook as I opened the box and took out the crisp white note card. His penmanship was fluid and neat.
* * *
So I never have to look upon your face
Wear this veil or leave this place.
I will not have you put me under a spell
And damn my soul straight to hell.
~Prince Xander
* * *
There was no admission of please or thank you, only a direct order—which rhymed, no less. Underneath the card was a thick white veil, this time with a headband full of combs instead of a tiara.
Those scripted words made each breath painful. My hand trembled as a tear fell from my eye onto the card, blurring the prince’s name. How dare he make me cry? Crumpling the card in my hand, I tossed it into the fireplace and watched as the note caught fire and burned, wishing I had tossed Prince Xander’s heart in the fire instead.
“My lady?” Pru stepped forward, her eyes going to the jeweled box. My head began to pound, and I rubbed my forehead, trying to ease the throbbing that was coming.
“I’m fine,” I answered. “Please bring me more silk and black dye.”
We spent the next hour dying the veil black.
“Did someone die?” Pru asked, holding the newly dyed veil in the air.
“I am,” I said. “A little each day that I’m here.” I placed the black veil over my head and adjusted the combs, then looked in the mirror and silently mourned my identity.
I donned a long black silk dress with matching lace sleeves. Gobbersnot didn’t seem to care for the dark colors and had left this dress fairly untouched. The veil fell to my waist, and I hid my anger behind the dark shroud. It was my new armor.
A soft knock came to my door. I opened it, expecting to see one of the servants, but instead it was young Ameline. Her hands were clasped together in nervousness, and when she looked up and saw me in my black shroud, she gasped and stepped back.
Darn the prince’s order. Quickly I lifted the veil and showed the child I was not to be feared. “It’s okay, sweetie,” I murmured, kneeling on the stone floor. “I’m not going to harm you.”
Her brave little shoulders straightened and her chin rose. “I know,” she said with false bravado. “My mother needs you. She’s ill. You must help her,” she demanded, then pulled on my hand to presumably lead me to her mother.
“I don’t think it would be wise for me to be near her.”
“Xander is wrong. They’re all wrong. The healers don’t know what’s wrong with her, but they’re not like you. You’re magic. You can fix her.”
I bit my lip in worry. Yes, I wanted to aid Xander’s mother, but any help I offered could be misconstrued, and I would pay the price. But I couldn’t stand idly by. Grabbing my small box of herbs from the bottom drawer of the wardrobe, I stood up.
“Okay,” I said, giving her my hand.
Her smile grew so bright with hope, and I prayed to the stars that I could do something to help her mother. Hand in hand, we left my room, and when the guard went to stop me, she put him in his place.
“Don’t stop me, Fagen. I’m on a mission.”
“But Your Highness isn’t allowed to associate with her.” Fagen moved to stop us.
“Obey.” I sent a whisper of compulsion his way. As soon as it hit him, he went back to his post.
We were quite the pair as we made our way through the palace to the main staircase and headed up one floor—a tall shadowy figure being guided by a joyous and pastel-colored child.
Ameline marched right up to her mother’s suite and barged through the double doors. The queen’s room was dark and stuffy, the long cobalt ornamental curtains pulled closed, keeping back the light. Strong incense assailed my nose, causing my eyes to blink involuntarily in protest. The queen looked like a child in the stately bed, propped up by at least six down pillows. Her eyes closed, her head crooked to the side, I was unsure if she breathed.
A strange man in green healer’s robes was sitting on a stool by her side, a bowl and knife in his hands. On the bedside table sat a jar of leeches, most already plump and full from feeding on the queen’s blood. An antiquated practice used against blood curses that could do more harm than good—and all of it wrong.