Casimir's Journey (24 page)

Hadden leaned back. He was too close to her.

“It is more difficult than normal to row tonight,” her escort agreed. “Perhaps it is hot.”

There was no more conversation until they reached the opposite shore. Hadden knew his mouth hung open as they approached. They were on the periphery of a beautiful castle, lit up for a ball.

Once ashore, the man stepped out, and helped Viviana out. Hadden waited so that his movement would be less obvious. He watched all the other princesses around him also being helped out of boats by their escorts. He stepped out carefully, hoping nobody would notice the ghostly movements of the boat as he did so.

He followed the couples up a pathway and into the castle.

The men were lively, chattering, the perfect courtiers, he thought. When he observed the princesses, they didn’t seem as engaged. That fact didn’t stop the men. They kept up their fine manners and gallant behavior. It was not normal. Something about this, other than the basic fact that it was taking place in the middle of the night below the court of Gallivas, he thought, was not normal.

Once inside, they went into a grand ballroom. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of candles. The sheer expense of it was staggering. He’d never seen anything so well lit.

After the last couple entered, music began to play, and all the men immediately led the princesses to the dance floor.

Then it dawned on him. He crossed his arms under the cloak. They were here at this magical ball under the castle dancing. This is how they ruined their slippers each night. He wondered how long it would go on.

He walked through the ballroom. The princesses and their escorts were the only people there. However, he had the impression there were more people. It felt very strange to keep thinking there were others there when he saw no one.

He kept his eye on Thea. She didn’t leave her partner’s side, and her facial expression hadn’t changed. Even though the man with her carried on enough conversation for the both of them, she seemed to barely tolerate the ball and him. Suddenly, she stopped, and moved her partner away from the dance. She put her hand on his arm, and walked towards one of the open doors. No one else had done so. He carefully skirted the other couples and made his way to the door.

It led outside to a tidy balcony with plants and a view of the lake they’d crossed.

“What do you want with me? I’ve done everything you asked.” Thea didn’t sound happy at all.

“Did you give your latest suitor the potion?”

“Of course I did. I want no more deaths. I am doing as I am told.” Oh, Thea was bitter.

The other person didn’t answer.

“What new game is this?” Thea asked.

He crept closer to the window, hoping to see the person with whom she was talking.

The woman was as tall as Thea, with dark hair. Suddenly, just as he’d found a good spot, she whirled about and marched to the door.

She was a pretty woman, an older woman. The expression on her face, however, was not pretty.

“Who have you brought?”

She turned back to Thea, hands on her hips.

Thea’s eyes widened, showing her surprise. “I brought no one but my sisters, as I have been instructed to do each night.” The surprise didn’t change her anger, Hadden could tell.

“There is another,” the woman muttered. “Where are you? Who are you? I know you’re here. Come out, and it will be easier for you.”

Hadden held his breath. He had to do that a lot this evening. He didn’t want to be on this woman’s bad side. She was angry, perhaps as angry as Thea. Unlike Thea, he found her terrifying. Her anger had the feel of a chained beast, kept civil only by shackles. If she let it loose, the damage would be tremendous.

“I will find you,” the woman said, and walked away from the door.

“You’re always mad, but you are more so than is normal even for you,” Thea observed in a snide tone.

“Go away, little girl.” The woman waved her hand. “We’re done for the evening. Go away.” She strode to the rail of the balcony, ignoring Thea.

Thea looked at her, and then shook her head, coming back into the ballroom. Her partner was waiting, and he lit up like a candle when he spotted her.

“There you are, my lady! I was beginning to worry for you. Are you well?”

“Indeed I am, my lord Roderick. Let us return.”

The man, Roderick, asked no questions, did nothing other than beam, and led her away.

Hadden leaned back against the side of the door. How had the woman known he was there? She must have magic, as Grizelle did. They said those with the gift saw with different eyes.

He stilled himself as he heard her footsteps come closer.

“Where are you? How did you come to be here? I will find you, you know. So were I you, I would leave as you came in and not return. This is not your concern.” She stood still, barely breathing herself. As a soldier, Hadden could tell she was listening, observing, and seeking him.

Who was this woman? Why did Thea speak so to her? Had she orchestrated all of this? She acted like a general, surveying his troops. This had to be her creation.

But why? How could he ask Thea about this tomorrow? One thing he’d noticed was that no one else came over to the little balcony. None of her sisters even looked over. Everyone seemed under the same spell of dance and made merry with no other thoughts. 

He walked away from the balcony, taking the opposite route he’d used coming to the door. He passed a footman, who, if his eyes didn’t deceive him, was transparent. Hadden snatched an empty cup from the tray the man—spirit?—carried. If he didn’t make it back, he needed to have some sort of proof. He hurriedly tucked the cup into the pouch under the cloak, not wanting to accidentally drop it and make his presence known.

He continued sidling along the wall until he reached the main doors that led from the ballroom. This would be the safest place for him until it was time to leave.

He settled in and prepared to wait.

And what a long number of hours it was.

They didn’t do anything other than dance. Like a child’s toy, each couple danced and spun, sometimes weaving in and out of groupings that were not there. Every so often, one of the men would get refreshment for himself and the princess he danced with, but other than that, the repetition nearly put him to sleep.

None of the princesses wanted to be here. They might have screamed it, it was so obvious.

Through some signal he couldn’t decipher, the men all stopped and applauded. For the musicians? He looked around. He didn’t see any, but in this place, that meant nothing. There was music.

The men began to lead the princesses towards the door. Hadden hoped with all his might that this was the end of the evening. He was irritable. Now he could see why the princesses might be, as well. He’d only done one night of this. He couldn’t imagine every night, day after day, week after week.

He could feel his anger fading. Someone was directing this, and it wasn’t the princesses. Not even Thea, in spite of her potion. She had no choice, based on what he had overheard. The challenge now was to get her to talk about it. He hadn’t seen any of the other princesses do anything other than dance with their partners.

He realized that everyone had left. He had to run to catch up—he didn’t want to be caught on the island with no way of getting back. He needed to be able to get in a boat—but whose?

He saw that Serafina was close, and once her partner had handed her in, he stepped in behind her. As with Viviana’s escort, the man rowing was working hard to keep up with the other boats. And just as before, this man didn’t complain, but rather put a cheerful face on it.

The men were so pleasant and perfect that it gave him the chills. It wasn’t normal. His mind turned over all he’d seen, and before he knew it, they were on the shore opposite the castle. He left the boat last, sliding out the other side from where the man stood, being careful not to jostle the boat next to him.

He moved to catch up to the princesses, hoping to hear something more from them. It might be optimistic, but he could hope.

“How long will we have to do this?” Mirabelle and Sybbl were in the rear of the group.

Sybbl said, “I wish I could say. I’m so tired of it. I think Thea saw her tonight.”

“What? Why do you think so?”

“She looks more upset than usual. And irritated.”

“She never looks anything but upset,” Mirabelle said.

“That’s true,” Hadden could see Sybbl lift a shoulder, shrugging. “But there’s irritation on top of the usual upset.”

He looked ahead of them. There was no way he could work his way to where Thea was. For whatever reason, she was the key to this. Or, at least, that is what it sounded like it from listening to her sisters. He stayed close to Sybbl and Mirabelle, but they didn’t talk again. He could understand. He was tired too, and he hadn’t even been dancing.

As they came to the end of the forest and the sisters lined up to go back up the stairs, he found he was anxious to get back to his room. Why had Roytsen not woken? Why had he been able to stay awake? What had he done differently?

He was so lost in his thoughts he nearly walked into Mirabelle. Only good fortune allowed him to stop himself before he ran into her. He held his breath, hoping she was too tired to notice him.

Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice anything. He looked at them all as they crowded up the staircase. They were exhausted.

Once they had all come back into their sleeping chamber, he hurried to get out of the stairs. He wasn’t sure how it opened and closed, and he didn’t want to be trapped.

Back in their bedchamber, he moved away from where a number of the sisters were standing, yawning and rubbing their eyes.

“Another night,” Adelaide said, speaking to Thea.

Thea shook her head. “I was hoping so very much that this Hadden would be different, but they were asleep as everyone else has been. He seems like a nice man. Oh, Addi, I can’t keep doing this! None of us can!”

“It’s got to end soon,” Adelaide said, trying to be soothing.

“I saw her again tonight, the hateful thing. She’s more insane than usual. She accused me of bringing someone with us!” Thea rolled her eyes. “After, of course, she made sure I was using the potion.”

“You could just dump it to the side,” Adelaide said.

“I’m afraid to,” said Thea quietly. “If I do something that angers her, she’ll kill one of you. Losing Casimir, and Ulric, and soon this poor knight—it’s bad enough. But one of you?” She sat on the bed now over the stairs. “I can’t bring myself to take the risk.”

“We’ll figure this out somehow,” said Adelaide.

On that note, Hadden stepped quietly away from the princesses until he was able to leave their chamber. He needed to try to get some sleep himself, and he couldn’t wait to tell Roysten what he had seen.

He made it to his room without seeing anyone, and once inside he heaved a sigh of relief. He carefully hid the branches from the three forests and the cup inside the cloak. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to follow them again, and he wanted to ensure he had the proof to keep his head three mornings from now.

His last thoughts as he fell asleep were of Thea. How could she send men to their deaths? He’d need to talk to her tomorrow. Gentle behavior be damned. This was his life, and he wanted to keep it.

When he woke, it was to a great crash. He fell out of bed scrambling for his sword. “Roys! Are we under attack?”

Roysten came towards the bed from the door. “No, but you will be. You need to get up. It’s after the noon meal. I’ve been fending off queries regarding your health all morning. What is wrong with you? You never sleep this late.”

“Did you slam the door?”

“I did. I’m tired of playing messenger with nothing to say.” Roysten was definitely grumpy.

“What time is it?” Hadden yawned, setting his sword down so he could stretch.

“It’s half past two in the afternoon! Why are you still abed?”

“I followed the princesses last night.”

“What? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Hadden shook his head. “I tried. I called to you, I pulled on your arm, called some more, and you didn’t stir. I don’t know why. But I couldn’t wake you.”

With Roysten sitting on the bed, he related all that he’d seen last night.

When he was finished, Roysten leaned back, thinking. “I still think she’s a cold fish, but you’re right. This is not of their doing. Who was the woman? Did Thea ever speak her name?”

“No, and that’s strange. None of them spoke her name. Just said ‘her’ in varying tones of disgust.”

“Why would someone go to all that trouble just to devil the princesses? It makes no sense!” Hadden could tell Roys didn’t believe him.

“I know, I know. I barely believe it, much less understand it myself. But I got proof.” He got out of bed, and went to his pack to pull out the bundle he’d made the night before. He carefully unwrapped it when he came back to the bed, handing Roysten the pieces of the branch and the cup.”

“You recognize the crest?” He gestured with his chin at the cup.

Roysten shook his head. “I don’t, but I can see if there’s a heraldic list anywhere. Perhaps if there’s a library? You need to hide these and get yourself out there!” He stood, handing the cup back.

Hadden re-wrapped everything and took it to his pack, carefully nestling it in the bottom. “Why? I’m tired. I’d rather go back to sleep.”

“Not a chance, Sir Knight! A number of the princesses have stopped by, and they are worried. Not sure why, but there you are. The king sent a steward as well, inquiring after your health.”

“Oh, hell,” Hadden said. “What did you say?”

“That you were still abed and I was unsure as to when you’d rise. Now that you’re up, I’m going to let the king know, and then you’re getting out there.”

He went to the door, calling for one of the guards as he opened it. Hadden could hear low conversation, then Roytsen was back, hustling him to the wardrobe.

“If they weren’t talking before, they will be in full tilt now. You need to be alert.” He dressed Hadden, taking time to make sure he looked perfect.

A knock at the door brought a message from the king. Roysten opened it, and scanned it.
“He says since you missed both breakfast and the noon meal, he’s sending a tray, and then you are welcome to join him at dinner. He mentions that his daughters are once again in the gardens.” He looked up. “There’s your marching orders, Hadden. Let’s get moving.”

The tray of food made an appearance shortly after. Hadden ate, his appetite suddenly present. Then he left the room to go to the gardens to see if he could catch Thea. It wasn’t going to be easy with Sebastian hovering over her, but he had to try. He had to know why she was hindering those who were trying to help her.

Once in the gardens, the princesses surrounded him, asking him if he was well and the like. He deflected all of their questions, sticking to the story that he was so enjoying his comfortable quarters, he had become positively lazy.

He kept an eye out for Thea, but she was, as he’d predicted, attached to Sebastian. To make matters worse, the prince’s men were about, glaring. He sighed. Didn’t they have anything better to do?

Sebastian broke off from Thea, and came to where Hadden stood with Esmay and Sybbl.

“My ladies, might I steal this gallant knight for a time?” Sebastian was all sweetness and light. 

Hadden’s eyes narrowed. What was this?

Both of the princesses nodded. “Would you speak with me, Sir Hadden?”
As though he hadn’t been trying to take my head off just yesterday
, Hadden thought.

They took their leave of the princesses, and Sebastian led him down one of the side paths. Hadden immediately noted that four of Sebastian’s men had taken up places surrounding them, and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Amateurs.

“You need to leave off your attentions to my betrothed,” Sebastian said without preamble. “She’s not yours, no matter how high you feel you might be able to go.”

“Let’s not pretend, my lord. Will you do me that honor? Shall we speak plainly?”

“Was I not?” Sebastian looked amused.

Hadden found this young man truly tiresome. “My lord, it is apparent to me that your heart is not in this endeavor.”

“How dare you? You have no right to comment on me or my concerns!” The response showed Hadden that he had pegged things correctly.

“My lord, while it is beyond me to meddle in the concerns of my betters,” how he’d said that without even the flicker of an eye, he’d never know, “I am trained to be aware and observant of my surroundings. What I see as the truth is not what is presented. As I said, I do not believe, and there is no disrespect intended, that your heart is in your present course. Should I succeed, I can help you achieve what it is you really wish for.” He waited to see if the man would pick up the boulder-sized hint.

Sebastian looked at him, not speaking. “I will not discuss my affairs with someone not close to me, but,” he stopped, thinking. “For discussion’s sake, let’s say your words might have merit.” He looked away, off into the distance. “How would you propose to manage…things as they are now?”

Hadden stifled a smile. This was not as hard as he’d thought it would be. Which meant that Sebastian was feeling the heavy weight of loving the sister of his betrothed. “My lord, I need to speak with your betrothed. I cannot tell you why at this point, but I need to converse with her. Perhaps one of your men could bring a message for her? About something she needs to return indoors for? And of course, her
sisters
would need someone to look out for them, what with their eldest sister not there to…” he trailed off, not sure why Thea needed to be with her sisters, or what Sebastian could do for them. He’d taken a wrong turn in the conversation.

But Sebastian leapt on his hint. “Of course. I could look after the other princesses. I think it’s a fine strategy.” His face clouded. “You have no ill intent towards her highness? I would not have her hurt.”

Hadden’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this from Sebastian.

“You have my word, my lord. I wish merely to speak with her, which is all. She may not care for what I have to say, but I have no intent of harm.”

Sebastian studied him for a long moment. Then without taking his eyes from Hadden, he gestured to one of his lurking men. “Go and find the Princess Thea. Let her know she’s wanted about some matter in her chambers.”

The man gaped at Sebastian, who gave him a look Hadden wouldn’t want to see on the face of any of his commanders. “Go. It’s most urgent.”

The man hurried away.

“Will that be enough of an opening for you?” Sebastian turned away, hands behind him. “I fear I am taking a risk I ought not to, for the sake of…”

“My lord, I wish for you to be content with matters. This is nothing more than a step in that direction.” He couldn’t come out and say he was doing the man a favor, and that the prince needed to chin up and get to it. He wouldn’t be a prince for all the gold in the kingdom. Much easier to be a simple soldier with the ability to speak plainly.

“I am trusting you,” Sebastian said, giving him the same look he’d just given his knight. “If you disappoint me, you will answer for it.”

“I thank you for your trust. The lady Thea might not be happy with me, but she won’t be harmed.” He bowed.

Sebastian looked up, made a movement with his chin. “There she goes. I’ll expect to hear from you once you’ve finished speaking to her.” He walked past Hadden.

Hadden wasn’t sure when he’d agreed to report to the prince, but clearly the conversation was over.

He hurried in the direction he’d seen Thea go. With luck he could catch up to her without too much trouble.

As expected, she was heading for her rooms, and he followed at a safe distance. Once she’d opened the door, he ran ahead and slipped in after her.

She was walking past his room when he spoke.

“I cannot tell how it is with you.”

She whirled around. Her face showed her shock, and she clutched at her throat for a moment. Hadden was glad she hadn’t screamed.

She took a deep breath, and spoke. “I don’t know what you mean, Sir Hadden. How it is with me? I am the same as ever.”

When Hadden turned to fully look on her, he could see confusion in her face.  “You do not tell me true, Princess. I know what your words say to me, but your actions say something else.”

She drew back. “Now it is I who do not understand you, Hadden.”

He closed in on her, backing her towards the door, herding her into a smaller space. She looked startled.

“I…I should go now. You are…you are apparently in need of more rest.” She reached behind her to grasp the doorknob. He could hear first one hand and then the other scrabble at the door. He smiled. She meant to hide in his chambers? Her eyes widened as he came within inches of her face.

He leaned in. Her lips parted slightly. He could smell something sweet on her breath, from tea earlier. He sneered as he thought of that tea. Had she added something before handing it to him?

“Tell me, Princess, of the jewel you wear. It’s lovely, to be sure, but it doesn’t suit you. Why then do you wear it frequently? Why do you carry it in your gown when you are not wearing it?”

Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her pocket. She did carry it with her. Until this moment, he’d only been guessing. He could hear the breath catch in her throat, and smelled her sweet scent once again as she attempted to calm her breathing.

“It is a family piece, and as, as…the heir, for the time being, I wear it.”

“Oh? So then when the riddle is solved, and the man who solves it picks a wife other than you, you shall surrender this jewel to the new heir?” Her answer didn’t resolve why she carried it everywhere.

“Gladly.” Her reply was firm and quick. 

That surprised him. He leaned back, giving her space. In response, she exhaled. Inwardly, he smiled.  He made her nervous and that gladdened him. It was not exactly appropriate given the present circumstances, but he was glad.

“Then set it aside now.”

“I cannot. Until this madness is over, I cannot.”  Her voice was not as firm as it had been just seconds before. There was also a note of panic. He stored that away to consider later.

“I know why you cannot, Princess.” As abruptly as he had cornered her, he stepped away. He noted she sagged against the door.

“Well of course you do. I just told you.”

“No.” 

“Do you call me liar?”

“I do. We both know why you wear that piece. It has nothing to do with being the heir, no matter what you might tell me.”

“For what reason do you accuse me of a lie?” She stood up from the door, drawing herself up. She was no longer nervous or scared. She looked every inch the heir of Gallivas, and the part of his mind that could not stop admiring her caught its breath.

“Because I know what is in that cursed pendant. I know what you do with what you carry within it.  I know that you and you alone are responsible for all this.” There, he thought. What say you now, oh Princess?

Her face paled, and then two red spots blossomed in the center of her cheeks, spreading outwards. She took a few steps towards him, now the stalker and he the hunted.

“You know? What do you know? You, a simple soldier, looking to try your luck and maybe lord it over us princesses while you do. So certain that you won’t die, that you’re smarter than the others who came before you? Certain that they were stupid, or unaware, or just not as all seeing as you?” She raised her hand up and for a moment he thought she would strike him, but she dropped her hand.

“You know nothing. I will be happier to rid myself of this thing,” she plucked her dress angrily, “Than anyone will ever realize. Do not presume to know me, Sir!” She let her eyes drop down him, and then slowly raised her eyes up his form. 

He felt naked and exposed. She finally reached his face, and he could see the scorn and anger, and lurking behind that, the hurt in her eyes. He didn’t think his expression changed but it must have. Her eyes, meeting his, hardened. 

“Being glad to be rid of a thing does not stop you from using it, does it? I’m sure you are most put out that your sorcery has not fooled me.” He took three steps towards her, determined to win this encounter.

“I had hoped you would be the one to puzzle the riddle to its conclusion,” Thea said. “I can see now that my hopes were in vain.” Turning her back to him, she moved gracefully, and her hand easily grasped the handle of the door.