I ran through the study the side door led to and down the hall. My heart pounded against my chest and my legs shook. Stopping near the staircase, I pressed my back to the cold stone to steady my breathing.
"Evelyn?"
I jumped and spun toward the voice. "Charlene! Hello."
"What's wrong?" she asked.
I shook my head at her. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. I'm okay."
"You seem out of sorts."
"Not at all. I was actually looking for you and Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth is outside with a young noble. She seems rather preoccupied with him."
"Oh. Well I hope he's pleasant." I grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the side door. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"I need to show you something."
At the door, James popped up seemingly out of nowhere. "What are you ladies doing today?"
"James! Hi. We're going for a ride. I need to get out of the castle for a bit."
"Is that wise, Evelyn?"
"I'll have Charlene with me. I'll be fine."
"A ride? Tha-” I nudged her in the stomach with my elbow and smiled at James.
I maneuvered around him and headed for a smaller building beside the dragons barn.
"I wonder what's in there," Charlene said as we passed it.
"Probably nothing. Just stuff the servants' use I imagine," I muttered.
"Why are we going for a ride? What do you want to show me and where?"
"Never mind. I just need to go for a ride. There are entirely too many people around here," I grumbled, walking into the small barn.
Our horses pawed at the ground, anxious to be free of the constraints. I stroked my Friesian's neck, soothing her. "I know. I feel trapped everywhere as well."
I led her from the stall and brushed out her fur.
"Princess Evelyn? Please allow us to do that for you." A man attempted to grab the brush from my hands.
"No. Thank you. I can brush out my own horse, thanks."
"But, Madame."
"Please. Allow me to do something for myself. Everyone does everything for me. I enjoy taking care of my horse."
"Very well, Madame. If you need anything we will be in the back."
"Thank you," I called as the man and boy walked away from us.
"Evelyn? What's wrong? You seem very anxious today."
"I'm fine, Charlene. I just need some time alone, well, with you. Just away from other people."
I grabbed my saddle and placed it on Guinevere's back. I finished strapping and hooking everything while Charlene continued to stand there.
"Are you coming?" I asked.
"No. I wish to remain here. You need to clear your mind, Evelyn. Get your mind together and come back ready to interact with others and be a proper princess. Remember this is supposed to be a peace keeping progress. You are to keep the peace between Scotland and England. You need to be here and talking with others."
"Yes. I know. If James looks for me tell him I'll be back shortly."
I nudged Guinevere into a gallop and held on as she ran down the long drive and into the town below the castle. People stopped to stare as we ran straight through. At the edge of town, I pulled the horse to a stop and turned, looking up at the magnificent castle.
That's going to be my home. This is going to be my country.
My chest grew heavy and it became difficult to breath. I struggled with things from my parents pushing me into marriage, constantly watched by everyone, attempting to get some privacy, and now being a dragon rider. There was no way it would be able to stay a secret. Someone would find out. When I turned to continue along the road, we came face to face with a team of brown steeds pulling a beautiful black coach.
"Whoa there. Princess Evelyn?"
"Andrew." My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach.
It was the English royal carriage.
"What are you doing down here?" my mother hollered. "Without an escort?"
"Mother. Why are you here?"
"James invited us for the king's birthday festivities."
"Of course he did."
Captain Blackstone appeared from behind the carriage on his large, black horse.
"Why is he here?"
"I fought with the king in many battles. I've come to pay my respects to him on such a joyous day."
"Turn Guinevere around immediately."
"Mother! I've been fine here."
"For now. What if the Guild finds you and you're alone?"
I sighed heavily. I wasn't prepared to fight them. At least not alone. I turned Guinevere around and walked back through town toward the castle.
At least I got freedom for a short while.
Captain Blackstone rode beside me and took the reins from my hands.
"Sir! I can direct my horse on my own."
"I will not have you running off as you do to your mother."
"I'm not going to run off. I am going in the same direction as you. If you please, stop treating me as a small child."
"Then stop acting like one," he hissed while leaning toward me.
I sucked in a deep breath and puffed out my cheeks.
That cheeky bastard!
James stood on the lawn as tents constructed around him. A distance away various activities took place amongst the lords of the land. I stared as a man picked up a large caber, ran a few feet, and threw it. Another man held a small boulder, spun in a circle and released it. It soared through the air before landing with a thud. The men and women erupted into cheers as the lord who threw the boulder grabbed a mug of ale.
My eyes grew large at the sight James. He'd donned a dark green doublet, black chemise, and dark green breeches and hose that formed to his body accentuating the musculature of his legs and thighs. His ornately decorated garter seemed to be part of his leg. My gaze drew to his broad shoulders, which held the black and green cloak nicely.
He didn't look happy and I knew it was because of me.
"Go into the castle, Princess Evelyn," Captain Blackstone said.
I pressed my lips into a thin line, climbed off the horse, and stormed inside. I could hear James greeting my parents and excusing himself.
I opened the door to my chambers and slammed it behind me. I removed the gown and hose I wore, digging around for something more festive. The door to my room flew open and James stood there in a rage. He shut the door behind him and crossed the room to where I stood never once caring I was without clothes
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Or worse in trouble with your mother? They are going to think I am incapable of keeping you safe!"
"James. I'm not wearing clothing."
He tossed me a robe and paced the room. "Evelyn. Stop running off. It's one thing when you're with Draco and invisible it's quite another when you're on a horse and alone."
"I was fine. What is going to happen?" I inquired.
"One time you won't be fine. One time someone will be working for the Guild and will recognize you and kill you."
"Highly unlikely," I mumbled.
He grasped my shoulders and pulled me close. I could smell the spicy scent he'd washed with, it was intoxicating. "No it's not. I don't want to lose you, Evelyn. I've grown quite fond of you."
"You have?"
"Yes. Despite your fierce need to rebel against everyone and everything, you are endearing. I do believe I may be falling in love with you."
"I see."
"Change and go see your mother. She's asking for you. Her rooms are on the second floor, third door on the right."
I nodded and watched as he left as quickly as he'd come in.
He loves me?
I pulled on a brown dress with long trumpet sleeves turned up revealing the gold under gown, embroidered with gold thread. I tucked a silver and pearl tiara into my curls and pulled the brown and gold
hood up before heading toward my mother's rooms.
I knocked on the door before I opened it. "Mother?"
I stopped and gasped in shock at the sight of her. She decided to change from her gold travelling gown. I'd never seen her bare skin before. Scars covered her body.
"Evelyn!"
"What happened to you?" I asked.
She sighed heavily and pulled a red gown on. Her lady-in-waiting tightened the stays on the gown before adjusting the squared neckline, which was adorned in rubies and diamonds.
"This is what I don't want to happen to you," she said while peering in a mirror, ensuring her scars remained hidden.
"I don't understand."
"The scars are from injuries I received in my time as an assassin. A few of them nearly killed me."
"Why haven't you ever shown me before?" I asked.
"I don't want you to end up in the life I did. You are a princess. I want you to live the life of a princess and then a queen. Not an assassin."
"Then why did you train me?" I continued questioning.
"You should be able to protect yourself if you ever are attacked. But taking unnecessary risks, like running off on Guinevere alone in a strange country, is not how you go about being safe."
"I'm sorry, mother."
"I know, my sweetheart. Come here."
I ran into her outstretched arms. "I don't mean to be naughty. I just want my freedom."
"Oh my own dear heart, you are so much like me when I was young. I tried so hard to deny it, but you are."
"I am?" I sniffed, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"So much. I didn't get along with my mother at all. All she cared about was marrying me off to the highest nobleman."
I looked up at her, arching my eyebrows at her.
"Which is exactly what I'm doing to you. So I am sorry."
"I understand why you want me to marry James. He is a good man and he can protect me. He said he loves me."
"He did?" she asked.
"Yes. Just a short while ago. I believe he cares for me."
Mother took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If you don't want to marry him you don't have to."
"But I think I do."
She cocked her head to the side and looked confused.
"He really is a good man. He's been so kind to me, and I believe I can grow to love him."
"You want to go through with the marriage?"
"I do. Once I return to England we shall announce the engagement."
"Very well. If that is what you want."
"It is."
She hugged me tight and led me from the room once her lady was done fussing with the mess of curls she had. We really were similar.
Chapter Twelve
The tents in front of the castle were beautiful. Reds, golds, and greens were scattered about. The largest in the center hosted the king, prince, and other higher nobles of the country and foreign lands. We walked through the front and it felt like I'd walked right back into the palace.
"Cassius?" my mother called.
"Over here, sweetheart." He waved from an elegant table adorned with platters of delicious looking foods.
Mother sat beside my father and I sat beside James. He smiled over at me before standing.
"I'm sorry gentlemen but I require use of the tent for a bit. Please go, enjoy other parts of the festivities while I discuss business with the king and queen of England."
A few of the nobles looked in our direction with confusion. James motioned to his guards who helped everyone leave the tent. I looked at James and chewed my bottom lip.
Don't you dare tell my parents about Draco.
"Cassius. Joselyn." He paced around the table as we stared up at him.
"What's wrong, James?" my father asked.
"There is something I need to talk with you about."
"What?" my mother asked.
"It's about Evelyn."
"James. Don't," I hissed at him.
"They need to know. This is something major."
"What?" My mother stood and slammed her hands on the table.
"There is something I never told you or any other dignitary."
"What?" My father sat back in his chair, apprehension plastered on his face.
James took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You've heard legends of the dragons from times of old?"
"Of course, but they're just that, legends."
He shook his head. "No. They are very much real and live here. In Scotland."
"So the rumors are true?” my mother asked.
“Rumors? You’ve heard more than the fairy tales?” Father questioned.
“Yes, the guild talked about dragons but only in rumors. They never had solid proof that the dragons were real. I always assumed they weren’t.”
Alastair stirred next to me. His eyebrows arched as he struggled to speak. Nothing ever came out.
"It's okay." I rubbed the old king's arm as James looked from me to him.
"It's true."
"Whether it's true or not, what do dragons have to do with Evelyn?" my father asked, staring at me.
I stood next to James and grasped his hand. "What he's trying to say is I'm a dragon rider."
My mother said nothing. She closed her eyes slowly and opened them back up.
"Don't look like that, mother. It's not very queen-like."
"Do you have any idea how insane you sound?" she asked.
"Show them," I said to James.
"Show them?"
"Yes. They need to meet Draco to understand."
"Draco?" my father asked.
"My dragon that I bonded with, his name is Draco."
"It has a name?"
"He. He has a name."
I moved away from the table and out the tent. My parents and James followed close behind. At the large barn we had all those there for festivities removed from the area. A few guards stood around the building to ensure nobody would enter.
"Draco?" I called.
We were met with silence.
"There is nothing here, honey," my mother said. "Perhaps we should take you back to England."
"Stop it, mother." I moved forward, looking toward the rafters. "Draco, please come down. I need you to meet my parents."
My mother opened her mouth to say something when a gust of wind rushed around us.
"What is this!" she shouted.
Dust blew up as impressions of large, clawed feet appeared in the dirt before us. The corners of my lips twitched up as the shimmer of visibility took over Draco. Within a few seconds a large dragon stood before us, menacing as ever. Smoke billowed from his nostrils, his lips curled back over sharp teeth, and a light grew in his throat.
"This is Draco."
My mother shouted and fell backwards, landing on her backside. My father gasped and stepped back into the wall. I walked forward, stroking the top of Draco's snout. The smoke dissipated and he relaxed his mouth.
"Draco, this is King Cassius and Queen Joselyn of England."
"It's my pleasure," he said in his thick Scottish accent.
"You're a...the rumors are true." my mother stuttered for the first time since I could remember.
"A dragon, Madame."
"A polite dragon," my father said, stepping forward.
"Yes, majesty."
"And you speak," he continued.
"We all do," Draco informed him.
"All? Ho-how many are there of you?" mother asked.
"Our numbers are not quite what they were at one time, prior to the great hunting, but we are growing."
"Great hunting?" my mother asked.
"Knights from times past hunted my kind for sport. Our heads adorned their walls, our claws used as trinkets. It was a dark time for all dragons."
"I'm sorry," my father said.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You can not be faulted for what your ancestors did."<
br />
"No. I suppose not."
"How did Evelyn end up as a 'dragon rider'? That's what you called it right?"
"It really was quite remarkable. Typically we bond with our riders as hatchlings and young dragons. My first rider died over a hundred years ago. My elders said I must not have properly bonded and when Evelyn came along, we did bond. And now we are one."
"What does a dragon rider do?" my father asked. "It isn't dangerous? She is the princess of England."
"We fight in the Scottish king's army."
"I'm sorry, what?" my mother asked.
"We fight in the Scottish king's army."
Mother held her hand up, glaring at James.
"Don't look at him, mother. James had nothing to do with it. This was entirely my doing. I asked Draco to take me for a ride. He did. So don't blame James or Draco."
"Why would you do something so irresponsible?" my mother asked.
"Irresponsible? I'm doing something great. I am going to have meaning in my life now besides a princess who can't do anything. I will be remembered for being a warrior. A warrior princess."
"Uhm, soon-to-be queen," James reminded me.
"Yes and eventually a warrior queen," I added.
"I don't think you should do this. I don't think the wedding is a good idea."
"It's no longer your decision mother. I am tied to Draco and to James. I am not returning to England."
She sucked in a breath and pursed her lips into a tight, thin line. She pressed them together so hard the edges of her mouth turned white.
My father put his hand on her shoulder and leaned in close to her. Mother shook her head and continuously repeated no.
"What?" I asked.
"I'm simply reminding your mother about her past and how it affected us. She shouldn't want to become her own mother."
"I am nothing like that woman."
"Let Evelyn make her own decisions. She's right. She is tied to this country now. We can't forbid her marriage simply because we don't agree with what she wants. How did you feel when your mother told you not to do something?"
"Angry," my mother said relentlessly.
"I'm not a small child anymore, mother. I can do this. You trained me to be an assassin, and now Draco is training me to be a rider."
"I'll listen to my husband this time," my mother said. "You are almost eighteen Evelyn. You are old enough to make this decision on your own."
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 8
