Escape the Woods

by Gabriella Catherine

  I looked up at her. “A ball? Here in Darrenberg?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  My father hadn’t held a ball in Darrenberg since before my mother died. He and my brothers went to balls in other regions occasionally, but I was never allowed to attend. In fact, I had never left Darrenberg in my life. My father seemed to try to keep me from most social gatherings, besides holidays. I was even forbidden to attend some of the small parties he held here at the castle, which was very rarely.

  “I have only been to one ball in my whole life, and it was marvelous!” Britta exclaimed. “You will enjoy it so much. I’ve already started on your dress. It’s a beautiful, sapphire blue with lace and … you know, I will let it be a surprise.”

  Britta helped me change out of the yellow dress, and I put on my mother’s old scarlet gown. I loved it. It was casual and comfortable, and I was told the color suited me. The sleeves and bodice were fitted, and the skirt hung freely with no under gowns or linings.

  Britta helped me let down my hair before she left my chamber. Alone, I sat in front of my window and looked out at the mountains beyond the village.

  I didn't go down to the Great Hall for the midday meal, so Jack brought a plate of food up to my chamber for me. “Are you glad to have Cordel back in Darrenberg?”

  To be polite, I picked at my food while I tried to muster an appropriate reply. The best I could manage was an expressionless, “Yes.”

  I could tell that he too was unimpressed with Cordel’s reaction when he saw us that morning. But he didn’t complain or appear to be shook by our interaction with him. Instead, he changed the subject. “Were you informed about the ball?”

  “I was. I’m sure you must be very excited.” I looked up at my brother and smirked. Jack was very popular with the ladies of Darrenberg. I told him it was because he was Duke William’s only available son — Cordel was already betrothed — but he claimed it was his good looks and chivalrous personality.

  “It looks like we’ll have to brush up on our dancing skills, won’t we?” He winked at me.

  “Jack, I’m afraid your dancing doesn’t need much work. Mine, on the other hand…” I cringed just thinking about it. It had been a couple years since I learned to dance, and I hadn’t gotten an opportunity to use the skills since I rarely attended social gatherings.

  “Don’t worry,” Jack said with a smile. “I’ll teach you everything I know.”

  Merida knocked on my chamber door. Because she was my closest friend, she’d received permission from my father to come to my chamber whenever she wanted to. Her father was a middle-class stonemason in my father’s service, which was how we met and became such good friends. Some said it was improper for a wealthy duke’s daughter to be so friendly with a stonemason’s daughter, but I liked Merida and couldn’t care less what her father’s occupation was.

  “My lord.” Merida curtsied to Jack.

  “It's good to see you again, Miss Merida. Your hair looks different today.”

  I gave my brother a quizzical look, but his attention was on my friend.

  “Well, I decided to try something different today.” She smiled.

  “It looks very nice.”

  If I wasn’t upset, I would have rolled my eyes at my flirtatious brother.

  “Thank you, Lord Jack.” Merida blushed and turned to me. “Are you well?”

  “I’m fine. I just ….” I took a deep breath. “I got disappointed this morning. You were right.”

  “I'm sorry.” She hugged me. “If you ever need some company, you're always welcome to come to my family's house.”

  “Thank you.”

  “When will you see your brother next?”

  “At dinner tonight.” I didn’t want to see him any sooner, for fear he would again react to me with disdain. My emotions were raw, bubbling near the surface, and I didn’t think I’d be able to control myself if that happened. I might end up saying something I’d later regret, and that wouldn’t help the situation.

  “Why don’t the three of us do something to take our minds off this morning?” Jack said.

  “What do you suggest?” I asked.

  “I bet I can beat you both at chess in the library.”

  I rolled my eyes and laughed. Chess was one of his favorite games, and he practiced all the time. He would beat us both — handily — but what else did I have to do? I wasn’t allowed outside without Sir Malachi, and I had been in my chamber for a while now. So I rose to his challenge. “I bet you can't.”

  “Let’s go, then!” Jack grinned like a little boy on Christmas Day.

  The three of us walked down to the library. As we talked and played chess, I thought about this evening’s dinner. For both my sake and Jack’s, I prayed tonight would go better than this morning in the village. Perhaps Cordel would warm up to us once he was a bit more settled.

  CHAPTER 3

  I entered the Great Hall with Jack to find Cordel already seated beside my father, who was at the head of the table. Cordel wore a red sleeveless doublet and white undershirt. I sat to Father's left, across from him, and Jack sat beside me. I tried not to look at Cordel, but could feel his gaze on me.

  “How are you today, mein Liebling — my dear?” Father looked tired, as he usually was at the end of the day. His thick, wavy black hair had the beginnings of silver streaks at the temples and he had soft shadows under his dark eyes. He was tall and muscular — like Cordel — but after two years of physical training, Cordel had become even bigger and stronger than him. Father was a great leader and a great man, but it seemed his son had grown into a worthy successor.

  “Ich bin gut, danke - I am well, thank you,” I replied.

  Cordel stared at me. “That's the Scarlett I remember.” He smiled — actually smiled — at me. “Hair down, red dress. Yes, that’s the Scarlett I remember. I almost didn’t recognize you this morning when you were all dressed up.”

  Jack said, “Trust me, she has not changed at all. She’s the same little scoundrel she used to be.”

  I glared at him, but he only grinned back.

  We ate in silence for a little while, and then Father talked to Cordel about everything that had happened in Darrenberg while he was away.

  Cordel replied with a recounting of his own exploits. He concluded with a report of his men. “My army of warriors is almost fully trained. I believe they will be strong enough.”

  Father gave him a firm nod.

  Strong enough for what? By the looks on their faces, they didn’t want me to ask. So I kept quiet.

  Both my brothers wolfed down their food. They always seemed to be hungry, but that was really the only thing they had in common. Cordel was fierce and brave and enjoyed danger. He invited danger. But Jack was sensitive, considerate, and sweet. True, Jack was a little cocky and thought every maiden in the region was in awe of him. But he cared about me much more than Cordel did.

  Even the way my brothers looked was very different. Cordel had brown hair, dark stubble, green eyes, and a broad chest and muscular shoulders. Jack had a lankier physique, with short red hair and dark blue eyes. Both boys were very handsome, and much taller than I. People said I was a combination of them both, having Cordel's dark hair and Jack's bright blue eyes. But most of all, people said I looked like my mother, Lady Isabelle Valesteine.

  When we finished eating, Cordel and Jack decided to go out to the archery field to practice. I ran up to my chamber and grabbed my bow and quiver of arrows. Then I watched out my window until Cordel and Jack crossed the courtyard, heading toward the archery field.

  I opened my door and walked quietly down the corridor. Sir Malachi never let me out of the castle after dinner, so I couldn’t let him hear me or he would surely stop me. I would simply go up to the archery field to be with my brothers, who were just as capable of protecting me as Malachi.

  When I stepped into the courtyard, the sun was setting, and my family's colors of bright red and gold flashed from the flags flying from the four large tow
ers of Darrenberg Castle, where they caught the last rays of sun. The large, circular courtyard was peaceful in the evening. My father’s guards were heading to the barracks for the night, and the nighttime guards came out to take their shift. I stuck to the shadows at the edges of the courtyard instead of walking across the middle, hoping to avoid Malachi. When the guards at the courtyard gate were deep in conversation, I slipped through the open gate and hurried toward the field.

  Cordel and Jack stood alone there, the sun setting on their backs.

  I stood behind them while Cordel loaded his large bow with an arrow. He pulled the string back like it didn't take any strength, aimed for a big target, then released it. The arrow soared through the air. It hit its mark on the red circle in the middle of the target — a perfect shot.

  He and Jack then said a few things I couldn't hear. I crept closer and stood behind a large target about my height. I was behind them, and they hadn’t seen me yet, so they kept talking.

  “And Scarlett!” Cordel said. “She has changed so much.” They both chuckled. “I hope I don't have to leave her again.”

  His words made tears come to my eyes. Perhaps Cordel did care about me. He said he didn’t want to leave me. But then why did he behave the way he did that morning?

  “She missed you terribly.” Jack picked up his bow and drew an arrow from his quiver. His shot skimmed the edge of the target and went flying into the woods beyond the archery field.

  “You'll get it one of these days,” Cordel told him.

  Jack shook his head. He was never any good at archery.

  As they resumed talking, I crept behind Cordel and Jack, stopped a few feet behind them, and pulled an arrow from my quiver. They still didn't notice me, and I loaded my bow and aimed for a target that was right beside theirs. Then I let my arrow fly.

  It landed near the center of the target, and though it wasn't as perfect a shot as Cordel’s, I was proud of it. My brothers spun around, startled by the arrow that had just flown past them.

  “Whoa, Scarlett!” Jack said. “That was you?” He smiled and laughed, looking impressed.

  I nodded, trying to suppress a smile at the shot I had just made.

  Cordel scowled and glared at me. “What are you doing, Scarlett?” The harsh edge in his voice caused my smile to fade. “You shouldn’t be here!”

  I could hardly bear his intensely bitter scrutiny, but I held my shoulders high and met his gaze. While he was away, I’d forgotten how easily he became angry. I forgot how hurtful his glare could be.

  Was this the same person who had just said he missed me?

  “Where is Sir Malachi?” he growled.

  I took a deep breath. Don’t cry, Scarlett. Cordel wouldn’t think well of that.

  Jack gave Cordel a look of disapproval, but he had never been brave enough to intervene on my behalf, and this time was no different — he remained silent.

  Cordel stared at me, waiting for an answer.

  The day he changed flashed before my eyes. I remembered it clearly. Six years ago. The middle of winter.

  I sat in the chamber that held my mother’s death bed. My brothers and I visited her every day. We watched her suffer. We watched the life fade from her eyes.

  Cordel was fifteen, Jack was thirteen, and I was nine. We were old enough to know what was going on, to know how sick she was, but young enough that we had hope up until this point. We cried out to God to save her. We didn’t give up hope until this dreadful day.

  The chamber was cold and dark, and the small fireplace struggled to stay alight. I sat on Cordel’s lap, clinging to his shoulders, my only comfort as we watched our dying mother.

  Her skin was pale, her lips colorless. Each breath she drew trembled, threatening to be her last. Her forearm was slit, and blood pooled and dripped into a bowl, but she wasn’t conscience enough to notice the pain. The salty smell of blood filled the room, and I felt sick.

  The door opened and the healer entered, followed by Father. My father hardly spoke a word anymore. Not even to his children. We felt alone.

  The healer began speaking softly, and Jack, who sat on the opposite side of the bed from Cordel and me, looked up. The movement caused one of the tears in his eyes to fall down his cheek. I’d never seen my usually jaunty brother looking so somber.

  I remembered only pieces of the healer’s conversation with Father. I tried to block it out and forget, but forgetting completely was impossible. This was the day that changed my family. I relived it more often than I would like, and it was always raw and vivid in my mind.

  “I’ve done everything I can,” the healer said to my father. “But she is leaving us. She will leave. Very soon. You must prepare your children.”

  As she spoke these words, sobs shook my entire body. I grasped Cordel tightly, my tears wetting his shoulder. I could no longer look at my mother. I couldn’t see her bleed out anymore.

  Cordel was completely still, but his body grew more and more rigid as the healer spoke. His arms that were wrapped tightly around my waist began to loosen. I heard Jack crying softly to himself, but nothing came from Father. His expression was lifeless. He knew it was over a long time ago.

  The healer left the room. A gust of cold air blew through my hair as the door closed behind her, and I squeezed my brother tighter. But his arms were sliding away, losing their grip. I was losing him.

  Cordel suddenly stood, throwing me aside violently. Anger flashed in his green eyes as he turned and threw open the door.

  “Cordel?” I sobbed. “Cordel, please!” But he slammed the door, shaking the room.

  My sobs became uncontrollable then. I grabbed my mother’s cold hand and pleaded. “Mama, please! You can’t leave me here. You can’t leave Cordel. Or Jack. Please, Mama, please wake up! Don’t leave me! I need you!”

  At the sound of my screaming, Father left the room, his expression fallen and defeated.

  Tears fell down Jack’s face, and a boyish sob escaped him. “Scarlett,” he rasped. “Scarlett, please. Let her rest in peace.”

  After Jack said those words, everything became a blur. I don’t remember what happened, except that I collapsed onto the floor, wishing I could die there.

  Our mother died that night. There was a funeral, but Cordel didn’t come. He locked himself in his chamber for weeks. He left Jack and I when we needed him most. That was when he changed.

  Now he stood before me, that same anger in his eyes as he glared down at me, waiting for an answer.

  I looked him in the eye. “I didn’t ask Malachi to accompany me. I came alone.”

  He strode quickly toward me, and for the first time, I feared he would hit me.

  “Scarlett.” My father’s deep voice came from behind me.

  Cordel stopped.

  Slowly, I turned around.

  He stood in the waning light, his black leather doublet cloaking him in the shadows. He dropped his bow and grasped both my shoulders. “What are you doing here? You can't walk around without Sir Malachi. What are you thinking?”

  At least, despite his aggravation, he spoke in a gentle tone. It was a courtesy and kindness Cordel hadn’t extended.

  “Forgive me. I only wanted to see Jack and Cordel. And practice my archery.”

  Father released my arms and looked down. “Did you speak to anyone?”

  Why was he so worried? Darrenberg had guards at every corner, keeping us safe.

  “No, I did not speak with anyone.”

  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

  “All right. You may stay.”

  I practiced shooting, and so did my father and brothers, although Jack mainly observed. Cordel stepped away and practiced on his own. He didn’t even try to spend time with his family after being gone for over two years.

  My quiver was nearly empty. I lined up my last shot, and my arrow hit its mark directly on the red bullseye. I looked up and saw Father and Cordel watching me.

  “You're better than your brothers now,” Father jest
ed.

  Cordel had wandered closer to us and was within earshot. “Well, she's better than Jack, that's for certain.” It was less a compliment to me than an insult to Jack.

  When it was completely dark, we walked back to the castle. Once inside, Cordel said, “I am going to my chamber for the night. I’ll see you all in the morning.” He nodded toward my father and brother, then at me. “Gute Nacht.”

  “Good night,” I replied.

  We all went our separate ways — Jack to the solar to read or play chess, Father to his study to write letters, and Cordel and I to our respective chambers to sleep.

  When I reached mine, I collapsed onto my bed, tired from the day’s events. I drew in several deep breaths, willing myself not to cry. Jack always told me Cordel wasn’t worth crying over, but something about how he treated me made me feel worthless. Jack knew how to handle the pain of rejection in a way that didn’t involve tears. But when Cordel looked at me with that cold glare, when he spoke to me like I was below him … it broke my heart. It made the memory of the day my mother died fresh in my mind again, stirring up all kinds of emotions.

  Exhausted, I didn’t even bother changing into a nightgown. I simply pulled a blanket over myself and drifted to sleep almost immediately, still wearing the red dress that belonged to my mother before it belonged to me.

  CHAPTER 4

  “A message from Lord Zachariah of Gorenhelm.” A messenger wearing royal blue and silver — the colors of Gorenhelm — stood outside my chamber door, holding a letter out to me.

  “Thank you.” I took the letter excitedly from his hand and closed my door. Then I sat in a large chair near the window and opened the parchment and read the words printed in ink.

  Lady Scarlett,

  Are you well? I have missed you very much. All is well here in Gorenhelm, although my father is not in the best health. But do not worry, our healer is taking very good care of him, and I am certain he will be fully recovered soon.

  How are your brothers? Is your father well and in good health? I was informed Lord Erguston is returning to Darrenberg, and I have been praying for his safe journey.