The Crystal Heart (25 page)

When I woke I thought at first that I was dreaming, for I was no longer in the watchtower, but in my own room in the Palace. And Kasper was nowhere to be seen. Terror-stricken, I jumped out of bed, and saw Glarya dozing in a chair by the window.

‘Where is he?' I shouted at her. ‘What have you done?'

She scrambled up, startled. ‘Nothing, my lady. He is in the room next door. You were still both so deeply asleep when they brought you and …'

I didn't wait to hear the rest. I raced out of the room and down the corridor to the next one, pulling open the door with such force that it crashed against the wall, waking up Amadey with a jump. Kasper was lying in bed, white as the sheets around him. My heart missed a beat, from fear, because in that first moment I could not see him breathing; and then it missed another, from joy this time as he opened his eyes and sat up. Uncaring of Amadey's confusion and Glarya's twitterings behind me,
I flew into Kasper's arms and we hugged so tightly that the breath was nearly squeezed out of us both.

Presently, we drew apart enough to ask a blushing Amadey how we came to be here. He explained to our astonishment that it was three days since we had fallen asleep in the watchtower, and that that first morning my father had come with a detachment of Marshals to fetch us back.

‘But still you slept on,' he said. ‘It was as though you had not slept for a hundred years.'

Kasper laughed. ‘It certainly felt that way.'

And I saw the last shadow lift from his eyes, the last of the fear that my father would try to keep us apart.

There was a knock on the door. It was Lord Parigan, looking as sour as ever. Casting a disapproving glance at Kasper, he said, ‘His Royal Highness awaits you both in his study after breakfast.' He paused. ‘And may I say, Princess, how glad I am to see you safely back where you belong.'

‘Why thank you, Lord Parigan,' I said demurely, ‘both for that kind sentiment and for understanding that where I most belong is by the side of the man I love.'

He made a little harrumphing sound, but bowed and left. When he'd gone, Kasper turned to me and smiled. ‘I rather think you shocked the good Lord Chamberlain, Princess Izolda.'

‘Well, then all's right with the world indeed,' I answered lightly, and we all laughed.

When we came into my father's study, the first thing I noticed was my mother's portrait. Was it my imagination,
or were her lips curved in a smile I was sure had not been there before? But I did not have much time to think about it, for the three men in the room rose to greet us – the Erlking, the Grand Duke of Almain and my father, looking drawn and paler than usual, as though he had not slept at all. He came towards me, ignoring the others, and enfolded me in his arms.

‘Oh, my daughter, I thought you were lost for good,' he murmured. ‘They told me … he had planned to take you to the abyss and …'

I hugged him back, crying, ‘But he did not, we got away from him, Father. I'm fine. Oh, I'm sorry, Father – the spell – I did not even know it was coming. I did not mean to hurt you but, you see, I had to do it or –'

‘I know,' he said tenderly, stroking my hair. ‘It's quite all right. You don't need to explain, it is over.' His eyes shone with tears. I'd never seen him crying before. Then he looked over my head and said in a different tone, to Kasper, ‘You never give up, do you?'

‘No, Sire, I do not,' Kasper replied, steady and calm.

My father detached himself from me, and I thought for one terrible instant that he was going to attack Kasper again. I stepped between them. ‘No, Father! To hurt him you must hurt me, for he is the man I love, the man I will spend the rest of my life with, whatever you do. If I have to choose, I will do so without a second's thought or one look back. Do you understand?'

‘I certainly do,' said my father, and a strange expression crossed his face. I would almost call it sheepish if such a thing were possible in such a proud man.

Behind him, the others were watching; the Erlking with an amused half-smile, the Grand Duke with a sympathetic expression.

‘But there is no need for such words, my dearest Izolda,' he went on. ‘I did not intend any hurt. I intended only …' He broke off, seemingly lost for words, before swallowing visibly and starting again. ‘I was intending only to say how thankful I was that he had never given up.' He turned and faced Kasper directly. ‘I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kasper Bator, and to say that the debt I owe you is greater than I can ever repay.'

It cost him to say that, and in front of witnesses, too. The black
feyin
eyes were fixed on my face, and I felt a little catch in my throat as I replied, ‘There is no debt to repay, Sire.' I took Izolda's hand. ‘But if you will give us your blessing, I will count it an honour.'

The Prince was silent a moment, looking from me to Izolda, his expression clearly showing his inner struggle. He knew he could not part us and he did not harbour any ill will towards me, not anymore. He was genuinely grateful. But he was a Prince, and could not wholeheartedly approve of this match.

The Grand Duke looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. It was the Erlking who spoke up. ‘In the Lady's name, Caraden, what are you waiting for?' he drawled.

It was the first time I had ever heard anyone address the Prince by his name. I did not even think I ever knew his name. I would say it humanised him, if he weren't a
feyin
. It certainly disarmed him. He gave a little shrug and smiled. ‘It seems I have no choice, Kasper Bator. You will do what you will do, with or without my blessing. But for what it is worth, you have it, and gladly.' He paused. ‘On one condition.'

‘Father!' Izolda cried. ‘There are no more conditions that you can impo –'

‘Wait, my daughter,' he said, holding up a hand. ‘Kasper Bator,' he went on, turning to me, ‘you are a man of Krainos. You love your country, and I understand that. Indeed, I respect that. But one day, the throne of Night will pass to my daughter I want you to agree that when that time comes, you will not try to prevent it, but will be by her side, and help her in every way that she needs.'

I looked him straight in the eyes. ‘I promise, Sire, by all that is holy – by the love I bear for the Princess – that I will do my utmost to keep that promise. I also swear this: I will strive by any means in my power to ensure that peace between Krainos and Night will never be broken again.' I looked at the Grand Duke and the Erlking. ‘And with your support, Your Royal Highnesses, I think it can work.'

‘Indeed,' said the Grand Duke, gravely. ‘Indeed. You will have our full support, Kasper Bator, however you need it.'

‘And ours,' said the Erlking, ‘even if it only amounts to my reminding Caraden that revenge rarely solves anything, and certainly not a broken heart.'

Over his shoulder, I glimpsed the portrait of Izolda's mother. The Prince saw the direction of my glance, and smiled a little sadly. ‘You are quite right, Florizel,' he said to the Erlking, ‘as always.' Then he held out a hand to me. ‘Shall we pledge to a new beginning?'

‘A new beginning,' I echoed. As I shook the hand of the man who I once would have considered my bitterest enemy, I could not help thinking of what would be waiting for us in the future. I had made promises I intended to keep. I vowed to be up to the task, whatever came.

‘Now, then, Lord Parigan and the Archbishop have been planning a grand thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate your safe return and welcome our guests from Almain,' the Prince said. ‘And I know he will be most anxious that it not be delayed. But, if there is truly to be a new beginning, then there is one more thing which must be done first.' He clapped his hands, and at once a giant Marshal appeared. ‘Bring the prisoner in,' he said. ‘We will decide his fate right now.'

Even though I knew who it must be, it was still a shock to see him being dragged in, his hands bare and covered in cuts, his face bruised with one eye closed. Yet his one good eye still glared proudly. With his face expressionless, he stared straight ahead not saying a word, as Izolda's father began to speak.

‘He was caught just as he tried to escape through the Lake,' said the Prince. ‘He fought like a demon and it took the Marshals a good while to subdue him. We informed the Supreme Council of Krainos immediately and demanded an explanation. It seems there was none – that is, the Council had no idea he was here and certainly had not authorised his actions in any way. They were panic-stricken at the thought of how we might react. We reminded them that such an incursion was a serious breach of the terms of peace, and they agreed with us. They have washed their hands of him now and will accept
whatever we choose to do with him. Oh, and we have negotiated better peace terms.' He smiled thinly. ‘So his fate is entirely in our hands. His crimes are grave and he does not deny them.'

‘What is the sentence, Father?' Izolda said haltingly.

‘I have not pronounced it yet. For it seems to me that it is you, my daughter, and you, Kasper Bator, who were most injured by his evil dealings,' said the Prince. ‘Both of you should have the last word on it.'

I wanted the Commander to look at us, to hate us with his eyes. I wanted to think only of what he'd done: how he'd stolen me as a child, forced me to endure ten long years in the Tower and planned to kill me on my eighteenth birthday; how he'd coldly overseen the torture of Kasper, body and soul, for two years; how he'd nearly turned Kasper into a killer; how he'd intended to kill us in the abyss at the end of the world. I wanted to condemn him to, not the peace of death, but to a world of endless suffering.

But there was no hate in my heart for him, only bewilderment and confusion. I had to have some answers. I had to try to understand. ‘Commander Los,' I said, ‘I know why you hate Night so – but why us? Why Kasper and I?'

He didn't turn his head when he answered. ‘You have it wrong,' he said with a shrug. ‘I don't hate either of you. I did only what had to be done. The Chief Magus disowned his own prophecy, for it seemed the magic had died in you,
but I knew that one day your power would become too great to check. Bator coming here would be the test, the trigger. And so I resolved to destroy you once and for all.'

He said it so coldly, so plainly, that there was no doubt in my mind that it was the truth. And yet I still couldn't grasp it. ‘I know it was on your orders that I was treated as well as I might be, given I was a prisoner. You were never unkind to me in all those years, not even when you told me what was to happen on the day of my eighteenth birthday. But you were prepared to kill me. I don't understand.'

‘You don't have to,' he said. ‘It just is as it is.'