A Captive of Wing and Feather

by Melanie Cellier

  The sickening smile that accompanied his words made it clear that protecting the people had nothing to do with his real motivations.

  “Brock over there doesn’t look meek and mild to me,” I muttered. “I suppose you don’t care if he comes into harm’s way.”

  Leander laughed, and if I’d hoped to discomfort Brock, those hopes were thoroughly dashed. He gave no sign he had even heard me.

  “I assure you, Brock can look after himself,” Leander said. “As can all of my mercenaries. And if they can’t, well, they have some furry friends to help them.”

  His smile showed all his teeth, and I had to suppress a shiver. But he was giving me information, whether he had intended to or not, and I needed to use it to my advantage. As I strained to think of a way to subtly ask him how he had enchanted the entire kingdom, he frowned.

  “But really, there is no need for all this talk,” he said, and my heart sank. Apparently Leander had come to the same realization. “I have gone to a great deal of trouble to orchestrate this fine moment, and I would hate for you to miss it.” He gestured again to the window, but I refused to look.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked coldly.

  “Why, your young princely friend, of course,” he said. “Playing right into my hands.”

  “Gabe won’t come running in here after me, if that’s what you’re expecting,” I said. “He’s too smart for that.” It took every shred of trust I had to hold onto the hope that was true.

  “Oh, I should hope not,” he said. “But I’m sure he’ll do just what he’s supposed to.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, my stomach swirling as a sick feeling rose up my throat.

  Leander chuckled. “You must judge me a fool, Princess. Did you really think I would tell you the truth of your enchantment—especially with a young prince hanging around?” He regarded me with amusement. “Oh, don’t look surprised. Surely you didn’t think I would fail to notice the way the two of you have been sneaking around the forest—even into my own inner sanctum.”

  Anger crossed his face before it was smoothed away with a smile. “I told you exactly what I wanted the two of you to hear—and yes, I did know you were both there.”

  So he had known Gabe was hiding in the forest while he told me of the new curse. What else did he know?

  “You mean the curse can’t be broken by a declaration of love?” I was proud of how steady my voice sounded when inside, everything shook.

  “That part is true enough,” he said. “These sorts of enchantments are delicate matters, and it isn’t always safe to tell outright falsehoods where they are concerned. However, an omission, on the other hand…”

  He let his voice trail off, clearly wanting me to exclaim and inquire as to his meaning. I refused to give him the satisfaction, and after a moment he continued anyway.

  “If your true love stood before everyone and proclaimed his love and his promise of fidelity, you would be freed. But I left out a rather important point. If that same true love declares his love for another, you will die.”

  I pulled in a long breath, my churning insides slowly calming. I had come too far to give way at such an early test. I could trust Gabe with my life as I had already trusted him with my heart.

  “I don’t know what you think is going to happen, but Gabe would never do such a thing,” I said.

  “Ah, but did I not promise you a show?” Leander pointed once more to the window.

  This time I didn’t even try to resist, looking down quickly at the party. It took me a moment of searching, but I managed to locate Gabe, standing not far from the base of the Keep, half way between the tree where we had kissed and the door. The crowd that had blocked my way earlier had dispersed, somewhat, and he was looking all around, clearly searching for me.

  I frowned across at Leander, but his eyes were trained on the scene below with a self-satisfied smirk, so I looked reluctantly back down. My eyes picked out Gabe again, just in time for a change to come over his demeanor. He reached out both arms, and someone hurried toward him, placing two hands into his.

  I blinked and then blinked again, pressing myself up against the glass with both hands flat as I tried to understand what I was seeing. I was up here—watching the party from above—that much was unassailable. But somehow I was also down there. The same cream dress, the same winged wrap and swan mask. I could just make out the soft brown waves of hair, pulled loosely back in a simple arrangement.

  “I…I don’t understand,” I stammered.

  “Do you not?” Leander kept his own gaze locked on the scene below. “Personally, I have always found my servants to be perfectly amenable to my requests. You know, I wouldn’t have been able to arrange any of this if you hadn’t so helpfully sent your good friend into my Keep. But she has been so very helpful. She sent a message to recall the young prince when he nearly escaped. She convinced you to come. And she passed on the dress I provided—the one I had instructed to be made in duplicate. Gabe is not fool enough that he would think she was you if he had not already held you, and talked to you, and kissed you while wearing that ensemble.”

  Leander continued to watch the people below while Gabe led the now-brunette Audrey through the crowd.

  “It’s hard to tell up here, but it’s noisy down there. Noisy and crowded and dark. And one of the interesting things about having a distinctive physical feature—like your friend’s red hair—is that you become surprisingly hard to recognize without it.”

  “Audrey would never agree to help you,” I said, clinging to the hope that this was all part of some plan of hers.

  “No,” he said. “I don’t think she would have…which is very interesting. None of my other servants are so defiant. I think I will have to study her, when this is all over. But everyone can be persuaded one way or another.”

  “What did you do to her?” I asked, horror in my voice.

  “Why, nothing.” He sounded surprised. “Your friend is unharmed—as you can see for yourself.”

  I frowned back down, but it was too far to notice any specifics of her features.

  “You know, you’re a gift to me, Princess,” he said. “When your kingdom was first cursed, I was a little…distracted.”

  I fisted my hands into my skirts, fighting down my repulsion over his casual mention of what he had done to his father.

  “I didn’t recognize who you were immediately,” he said. “I didn’t notice you at all, in fact. And then my seeds bore fruit, and I was rather occupied ensuring the entire kingdom got to taste my fearsome harvest.”

  He smiled, clearly pleased with his word choice, and my stomach turned.

  “By the time I had leisure to look around, it seemed fairly clear you weren’t a threat. And then I received word about the unexpected new arrivals from the Old Kingdoms.” His face twitched.

  “You knew of the Old Kingdoms?” I asked. “I thought few even remembered them before the way was reopened. Surely you do not follow the ways of the High King and his godmothers?” The persistent question of my godmother’s intentions wormed its way back into my mind.

  “Ha! I should have known you would be one to believe in such fairy stories.” Disgust twisted his features. “You mark my words, there is no High King—just a bunch of women with too much power, using it to shape our world as they see fit. But if we’re careful and cunning, we can take that power and turn it back against them. And then we may shape the world as we see fit.”

  “I don’t wish to live in any world of your shaping,” I said.

  “How fortunate,” he said calmly, “since in a few hours you will be dead.”

  I followed his gaze to where Gabe had nearly made it through the crowd to the stage, Audrey trailing behind him, holding onto one of his hands.

  “But don’t worry,” Leander continued. “I won’t leave you alone to die. I’ve become quite fond of you in the two years you’ve been in my keeping.” He shook his head. “It is strange the whims of affection.”


  “I was never in your keeping,” I spat, glaring at him. How dare he suggest he had any affection for me?

  “Oh, but certainly you were,” he said. “Not at first, of course. The disappearance of Palinar removed our kingdom’s most valuable ally, and I was busy exploiting that weakness. It took time to properly set my plan into motion. But then news came of unexpected happenings at your brother’s Tourney. I have studied broadly, you know—much to my father’s disgust at what he called a waste of my time. I knew that the return of the Old Kingdoms would herald a return of the godmothers as well. And from there it was likely only a matter of time until Palinar returned to full power. Suddenly, I realized how fortuitous it was that I should have you on my doorstep. As long as I could keep you here, I would have a tool at my disposal if ever I should need to…dissuade your brother from involving himself in Talinosian concerns.”

  I was only half listening to him talk of his apparent brilliance, my eyes glued to Gabe, waiting for the moment when he realized it wasn’t me holding his hand.

  “Of course, the initial enchantment I used to bind you to the lake didn’t work quite as thoroughly as I had hoped,” Leander continued. “Which you no doubt noticed. But I am a meticulous man, and my plans are carefully laid. I had a backup enchantment with me, and I daresay you were still stumbling through the forest when I released it. I had to be sure you were fully ensnared.”

  He shook his head. “That one didn’t work exactly as I intended, either, but my brilliance soon saw the broader applications. Turning you into a swan would have trapped you at the lake, certainly, but connecting a person with a group of wild animals? Now that is truly useful. Once again, you had assisted me with your mere presence. It has taken me two years, but I have nearly built my army to the necessary size. And then you attacked my study.”

  His eyes narrowed. “No doubt you thought you had struck a blow against me, and I confess to being angry for a moment. But you had not invested the years upon years into studying these objects that I have done, and your efforts were in vain. I will admit, I had hoped not to have to release this second part of the enchantment that now binds you. But really, it’s all for the best. I could have killed the prince at this party, as I originally intended, but I can kill him later just as easily. No, my brilliant mind has found a far more useful role for him.”

  “And what is that?” I asked, the words falling reluctantly from my lips.

  He turned to beam at me. “Why, for him to betray—and, thereby, kill—you. I hear King Dominic is tearing Palinar apart looking for you. Do you think he will rush to Prince Gabriel’s rescue after he discovers what the prince has done to you?”

  Leander adopted a false expression of grief. “What kind of heartless man would woo a young girl without family or friends, make her love him, and then promise himself to another in front of everyone—leaving the girl to die alone?”

  “My brother would never…” My words trailed off.

  But would he? What did I know of him now?

  “Oh, I think he would,” Leander said. “He may even join me in overthrowing Gabriel’s family after this. And will the other kingdoms blame him when they see the disaster that Talinos has become?”

  Chapter 26

  Leander had claimed he intended to remain by my side, but a servant came looking for him, knocking tentatively at the door and ignoring my cries for help as he relayed a message to Brock.

  “I’m afraid I shall have to leave you, after all,” Leander said when he heard it. “It seems my people call for me.”

  “Good riddance,” I snapped, not turning to look at him.

  Leander merely chuckled, leaving me at the window. The door opened and closed, and I waited a moment before turning to check that Brock had departed as well. As soon as I saw I was alone, I raced to the door and tried to pull it open. It wouldn’t budge.

  The solid timber stood up to every assault I tried, and I quickly gave up and returned—drawn irresistibly—to watch the scene unfolding below. The dancing had stopped, and Gabe was speaking to one of the musicians. Audrey hung behind him, her face slightly averted.

  I sank to my knees and covered my face. I couldn’t watch. Even if I could break the door down, I would never get down all those stairs and out there in time to stop what was about to happen.

  And yet, I couldn’t sit here and do nothing, either. My mind flew from one hopeless thought to another, desperately grasping for something that might save me. But it would need the impossible.

  I froze. The impossible. That was the province of the godmothers. And I had one of those—she was the one who had precipitated me into this predicament by placing me in Brylee to start with.

  “Godmother!” I cried. “Godmother, where are you? I need you!”

  I had never tried to call on her before, and I didn’t have much hope of it working now—so I almost toppled over in shock when a voice spoke behind me.

  “These abandoned rooms always have a smell, don’t they? No matter how regularly they’re cleaned.”

  A short woman with steely gray hair and bright eyes surveyed the room from her perch on the bed. She might have been a guest at the Keep—someone’s grandmother, even—if not for the wings.

  “Excuse me?”

  For a moment shock drove every coherent thought from my head. She had actually come.

  And then my desperate need reasserted itself, and I glanced frantically back out the window. Gabe was on the stage now, coaxing Audrey up to join him.

  “I need help—”

  “Again?” The godmother regarded me with a mildly surprised air. “I put you right where you needed to be, you know.”

  I fought down a surge of bitterness. “I trusted you five years ago. And yet you placed me in the middle of danger. I’ve been cursed for two years…and now I’m going to die.”

  I glanced out the window. It was too late. Gabe was already speaking to the crowd.

  “Oh, my dear.” The godmother rose and crossed to place a gentle hand on my head.

  Her scent enveloped me, a smell I couldn’t quite place but that filled me with a peace I hadn’t expected. My pulse slowed, and my breathing calmed. Even my aching heart throbbed a little less. I would die calmly, at least.

  I looked up at her.

  “I can promise you that we are always working for good,” she said. “I placed you in the haven because I knew it was a place where a friendless thirteen-year-old would be safe and sheltered. But there were other such places. I chose that one because the plans I serve are bigger than you can see, and you are not the only person in the kingdoms.”

  The weight of her hand disappeared, and I looked up, intending to question her further, only to find myself alone. I looked back down as the whole crowd burst into applause. Their clapping hands looked like an undulating wave from this distance.

  I had called on my godmother, and she had come. But it had changed nothing. I was alone, and I would die.

  But the calm that she had brought with her had wormed its way down, taking root inside me as it changed into something else—determination. She had been cryptic, in the way godmothers were said to be, but I had understood her.

  She had placed me in the haven because five years ago Leander had already killed his own father and was on his way to introducing a great evil to this kingdom. She had placed me here so that I might grow old enough to do something about it. And, so far, I had done nothing but free myself from the lake.

  But it was not too late. I was not dead yet, and I was here, in the heart of Leander’s Keep. Earlier, at the lake, he had said the curse would make me sicken and die. And that meant I had time. Even as I weakened, I would keep searching. Audrey had used our search for the remaining object to lure me here, but she had not been wrong. If I could find and destroy it, it would change everything.

  As I pushed myself to my feet, I felt the change. I swayed slightly, my knees nearly buckling beneath me. There was no pain, just a bone-deep weariness that begged me to crawl onto
the waiting bed and close my eyes for a moment. But I turned my face away. If I lay down, I would not get back up.

  Grief tugged at my mind—for my own future, now gone, but also for Gabe and the horror he would feel when he realized the truth. It made my heart break to have to leave him like this. And Audrey. The thought of my friend almost made me double over. Leander had no doubt hoped her betrayal would be a double blow, a death to my spirit as his curse was death to my body.

  But now, when the moment came, I knew Cora had been right. Enough years had passed for my friends to earn my trust, and for all Audrey’s impetuosity, only the direst circumstances would have forced her to act in such a manner. I would not allow her mistakes to cloud my eyes to her loyalty and love. Just as none of them had rejected me for the mistake that had sent Audrey straight into Leander’s arms.

  And the more I considered it, the clearer it became that she was working with him unwillingly. She had done as Leander commanded in the areas he had named—influencing Gabe and me to be here and now taking my place. But she had not betrayed our various plans to him. He might have worked out our presence at the lake and in his study—but he had not been waiting for us in either place, nor had he prevented our freeing me from the first enchantment.

  A fresh wave of grief filled me. How she must have hoped that we would find a way to defeat him before today came. And how much it must have hurt her to be forced into such a position. I hoped I would have the chance to see her before I died, to tell her that I understood and didn’t hold it against her.

  I made no move toward the door, already knowing I would have little success with it, and instead examined the rest of the room. No other doors lurked anywhere, and I could see no possible exits. Next I examined the window itself, looking at it instead of through it this time. It opened easily which gave me a moment of hope, but when I stepped out onto the balcony, I could immediately see that there was no way either up or down from this vantage. I had no desire to hasten my death by falling to the ground below.