dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon (22 page)

She leaned her head against the cold surface of the window, her breath creating patches of steam against the glass. It was slightly uneven, and she could feel the ripples beneath her forehead. Was it so terrible to be betrothed to Garrick? How many men truly loved the woman they married the way Garrick loved her? And she cared deeply for him. He had been her friend at Storbrook when she would have sunk into despair. He always treated her with dignity and respect – something that seemed to be lacking between so many couples. He was easy to talk to, and she enjoyed his company.

No, she decided, it was not a terrible thing to marry him. They could build a happy life together. He would not leave her when things became difficult, or turn away from her when she used careless words. He would stand together with her, and they would face whatever the world had to offer, together.

The sound of voices through the walls broke her reverie. The queen had been meeting with her secretary earlier in the day, consulting her calendar, and had now returned. Rising to her feet, Anna went to the next room.

“I am planning a ball,” Matilda said as Anna entered the room. “We will delay the winter ball until spring, and make a celebration of our victory in battle. We will invite the officers!”

“But the battle will not have been fought yet, my lady,” Anna said, cautiously.

“Oh, pish,” she said. “Victory is already assured. Alfred says that our forces are far superior to Terran’s, and Rupert has assured him that our men are quite ready to face the enemy.” 

“Well, I think it is a splendid idea, my lady,” Elizabeth said. She had followed the queen into the parlor. “We will have a military theme.”

“Yes! Yes!” said the queen. “All the ladies must wear red on their gowns to show their support of King Roderick – and Alfred too, of course – in this important mission. I will have a gown specially made for the occasion.”

When Anna saw Garrick again, he could not stop waxing lyrical about the superior forces he had joined. “The men train every day,” he told her. “I have been given command of a company of archers, and we spend six, seven hours a day in training.”

“Hitting targets with a bow and arrow for seven hours a day? That sounds exactly how you would like to spend your days!”

“I would like to spend seven hours a day with you,” he said, smiling down at her. They had left the courtyard and were heading towards the gardens, brown and dormant in the dull, winter light. The ground was damp from the rain that had fallen overnight, and the heavy bank of cloud left everything gray and colorless. “But I’m not shooting for seven hours. I am setting my men to marching, moving stones and digging trenches. They need to be strong and ready for a battle.”

“Oh. Well that might not be quite as much fun as playing at war.”

Garrick laughed. “I don’t mind. My muscles ache at the end of each day, but I am used to hard work.” He had pulled her hand through his arm as they walked, and he stroked the backs of her fingers where they rested in the crook of his elbow. “I wish there was somewhere we could go and be alone together,” he said softly.

Anna glanced back at the palace. “I know,” she said. “But I cannot be away for too long at a time.”

He nodded. “Have you written to your sister yet?”

Anna drew in a breath. “No, not yet.” She looked into his face. “I think we should wait until this war is over before announcing our news.”

“Wait? But why?”

“The queen may not let me stay if she knows that I am betrothed.”

“I see.” Garrick paused. “Very well. On one condition.”

Anna looked up at him, and saw a hint of a smile. “What condition?”

“You must give me a kiss.”

Anna glanced around in dismay. “What? Here?”

He grinned. “I’m sure there are some nooks and crannies that can give us a moment of privacy. Come!” He led her into the gardens, laughing as he dragged her along the paths. There was a small alcove overhung with vines that in the summer provided a leafy hiding place, but was now just a tangled roof of bare branches. There was no-one else about, however, and he led her beneath it. “Perfect,” he said with a smile. Placing a finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face. The dull day made his eyes seem darker, more brooding, and she stared up at him as he moved closer. He brought his hand to her cheek, then ran it along her neck to the base of her skull. He leaned a little closer, and she could smell campfires and damp earth. He brushed his lips against hers, a gentle touch like the wings of a butterfly. Her back was to the wall, and when he pressed closer, she could feel the cold surface behind her. He pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, and then his mouth was on hers, gentle at first, then becoming more demanding. She could feel his lips move against hers, and the brush of his tongue. It was startling, and she closed her eyes. He drew away, and she opened them to see his staring down at her. “I love you,” he whispered.

He placed his forehead against hers, and took her hands in his. He stood still for a long moment, then took a step back. “Shall we continue our walk?” he said. He pulled her hand into his arm once more and they continued along the path. They passed the place where Anna had first seen Max at court. The hedges, bare of leaves, no longer blocked the view of the intersecting pathway, but the spot still brought back memories. She seldom saw Max these days, and when she did, he never seemed to notice her. Which was just as well, she thought. It made her decision to marry Garrick so much easier.

“Do you remember the bird I found?” Garrick was saying. She nodded. “Its wing healed beautifully, and I released it a few weeks later. It returned later to nest in the same tree it fell from.”

“How do you know it was the same bird?” she said.

He smiled. “I could see it in her eyes. She looked at me without fear.”

Anna laughed. “That doesn’t mean anything. There is no creature that fears you.” But she knew, deep in her heart, that that was not true. Because she feared Garrick, and the love he had for her.

Kathleen and Elizabeth were sitting on a bench in the parlor when Anna returned, quilts covering their legs as their needles flew through the canvases they were embroidering. They were deep in conversation, but at Anna’s entrance, Kathleen looked up, an expression of dismay crossing her features when she saw who it was.

“What’s wrong?” Anna said. Kathleen glanced at Elizabeth, but remained silent.

“We heard a rumor,” Elizabeth said. “About the prince.”

“What about the prince?”

“It seems the king has threatened to send Rupert from court over an affair with a woman.”

Anna sat down heavily in the seat across from the two women. “What woman?” she whispered. Kathleen looked down at her needlework.

“We don’t know,” Elizabeth said.

“I’m sorry,” Kathleen whispered. “I know the prince was showing you his interest, and then to go off with someone else ...” Her voice trailed off as Anna stared at her friend.

“Did you think I would be upset?” Anna finally said. She laughed dryly. “You can be sure I have no interest in Rupert whatsoever.” She glanced back at Elizabeth. “How do you know this?”

Elizabeth lifted a shoulder. “I heard it from Mary, who heard it from Hindley. The whole palace is seething with the news.”

“The prince won’t be happy about that.”

“No! Mary said he’s in a towering rage over the whole matter. Whoever this lady is, she had better make sure she stays far away from the prince.” Anna clasped her hands together. She was shaking slightly.

“I’m quite sure,” Anna said, “that is exactly what she is doing!”

Chapter 30

Anna had spent the morning in the chambers with the queen, checking the guest list for the royal ball. The secretary had drawn up the list, but Matilda was not convinced it was accurate, and so she and Anna had gone through each and every name. Anna was finally dismissed from the queen’s presence when Denton presented himself. He had stayed away for a few weeks after the last play, but was once more a regular visitor to the queen’s chambers. The previous play had not been as successful as he had hoped, but this one, he knew with complete certainty, was going to enshrine his name as one of the greatest playwrights of his time.

“I was thinking the lady could use poison this time,” he was saying to the queen as Anna closed the door behind them. Her head was pounding from the lists of names and the stale air she had endured all morning. She slipped out a side door, avoiding the courtyard, and headed in the direction of the wilderness. She had heard that Rupert was inspecting the troops today, or she would not go outside alone and risk a chance encounter with him.

It had once again rained the previous night, but the sky had opened up to reveal a few weak rays of sun through a small patch of pale blue. Anna left the muddy path, instead picking her way over fallen logs and sodden leaves. In the distance she could see the low hills that lay beyond the wilderness, hiding at points behind curtains of mist. She rucked up her skirts and tucked them into her belt, revealing her booted feet. The forest lay before the hills, and then there was the brook. She had never crossed the stream before, but she knew that once she reached that point, the ground was flat until it reached the gently undulating hills. Arms swinging, she hastened her step, determined to reach her goal and return to the palace before it grew dark.

The forest smelt of damp leaves and mulch, a rich, earthy smell. A bird chatted in a tree above her and then fell silent. She could hear the fall of her feet against the soft forest floor, and the rustle of dead leaves when the air stirred slightly. A large bush of holly grew at the base of a tree, its crimson berries a splash of color against the gray forest. Anna remembered a time when she had collected holly with Keira to decorate the halls of Storbrook. Garrick was there, and they had a snowball fight. And when they returned to Storbrook, she had met Max for the first time. She glanced up at the sky, wondering if a dragon was circling overhead as he had been that time, but all she could see were gray clouds against the small patches of blue.

The trees started thinning and she could see the clear outline of the hills again. The stream was hidden from view, but she knew it cut across the flat ground a little beyond the forest. An eagle screamed above her, and she looked up to see it diving to the ground, then lift itself back into the air with a small animal in its talons, its strong wings carrying it towards the hills. She reached the stream, which was far wider than she remembered, swollen from the winter rains, and she paused at its banks, wondering whether she could ford the small river. A large rock lay in the water a little further upstream, and she walked towards it, looking at it with consideration. The distance to the rock from where she stood on the bank was about two feet, but from the rock to the other side was further. Stretching out her leg, she sprang from the bank onto the rock, tipping slightly as her foot touched the slick surface. She leaned forward, thrusting her arms out to regain her balance and twisting about as she found her footing. She took a deep breath and considered the opposite bank. It was a lot further than she realized. Lifting her skirts above her knees, she rolled the extra fabric into her belt. The rock was too small to take a step backwards, but she inched back as far as she could and pushed herself forward, stretching her leg as far as she could. Her toes touched the other bank, and she pushed her weight forward, falling onto the damp and muddy ground. Her back foot splashed into the water, and grabbing the weeds at the edge of the stream, she hurled herself forward. The water had not seeped into her boot, but beneath her knees her gown was muddy and wet. She pushed herself to her feet and shook out the grubby fabric, before turning to face the hills. They were still a short distance away, beyond a meadow of long, damp grass, and she set off once more, determined to reach them. The sun had disappeared behind the clouds while she was in the forest, but a few rays broke through, bathing the meadow in soft light.

By the time she reached the hills the sun was already halfway to the western horizon. She would not be able to stay long. But the low peaks were drawing her, insisting that she at least reach the first height. They were not very high, but even so her forehead and underarms were damp as she gained the elevation, and she was glad of the cool air. She had to scramble the last few feet, and she used her hands to haul herself up. She rose to her feet, turned and looked over the valley, rubbing her muddy palms against the soiled gown. The palace looked squat from this height, with thin trails of smoke rising from its many chimney stacks. The army camp lay a mile beyond the palace, a smudge on the horizon. Weaving its way into the distance was the river, separating the palace from the city, while closer she could see the shadowed forest and the narrow stream she had almost fallen into. There was a wide, low rock near where she stood, and she sat down, glad for a few moments of rest before she started her descent. She lifted her face to the weak rays of sun and closed her eyes, listening to her heart as it settled back to its usual pace after the exertion of gaining the summit.

A slight breeze blew over her as she sat on the rock, her eyes closed. There was a rustling sound, and she wondered what little creature was scurrying around. She was too lazy to make the effort to look, however. The sound came again, followed by the swish of something sweeping over the ground. She opened her eyes, suddenly concerned about the possibility of snakes, but what met her eyes was something quite different. A huge, bronze dragon was settling on the ground behind her. His tail wrapped around the front of the rock and rested against her feet, while his long neck stretched around the other side, his eyes locking with hers. She could feel the heat wrapping around her as she stared back at him.

“Lean back,” Max said softly. His huge body was pressed against the rock, his side a heavy wall behind her. She stared at him for a moment, then shifted herself and leaned her back against his side.

“I have to get back,” she said. “It will be dark soon.”