Jack thought he would. He had taken a position in Stefan’s personal guard, something Anna appreciated because he would remain close to home, or at least close to Stefan. She saw Jack at meals, where he was welcomed at the royal table. Every night after dinner, Jack would invite Anna on a moonlit walk through the rubble. Though her father had assigned a few guards as escorts, they would keep a polite distance behind them. She would lace her fingers through his and simply drink in being near him. His presence alone somehow steadied her. She still had nightmares about the battle.
“Do you ever forget?” Anna asked Jack one night.
He cocked his head to the side.
“Their faces.” Anna gestured to her face. “Of the men I killed. I see them every night. I hear their screams in my dreams.”
Jack pulled her close to his chest. She could hear his beating heart. “I see them sometimes.” His voice was quiet. “But it gets easier over time.” He kissed the edge of her forehead.
She inhaled his leather and saddle soap scent. She could bury herself in his arms. She would be lost without Jack.
She also frequented the chapel these days, where the priest told her he’d never seen the flame of the Most High burn brighter. Indeed, the light from the flame on the throne seemed to fill the room. She gave her weapons to the priest for safe keeping. They were put on display behind the altar. King Vilipp saw they were bolted and locked, but opened the chapel to peasant and nobleman alike. Many came to see the weapons.
Anna spoke often to Priest Tobias, asking many questions about the Most High.
“If his light means love, how can it also be a flame that kills?” she asked one day. The men she’d killed still troubled her.
“How can love be pure if it allows evil?” Tobias replied. “Ah, that is the question of the ages. The great sages answer this question by saying there cannot be love without justice.”
“But he allows some evil to exist.” She wrinkled her brow.
“Yes, he is ever patient with his justice. Sometimes too much so, for our taste. But if he weren’t patient with the evil, he couldn’t be patient with any of us. For none of us is perfect.”
“But someday, everything will be made right?”
“That is our hope and belief.”
Anwar’s gems were even more troubling for Anna. Neither the priest nor King Vilipp wanted them in the kingdom as they had been used for such grievous evil. They proved difficult to destroy, even by burning.
In the end, Anna and Jack rode out in secret one day to dispose of them in a great lake at the edge of the kingdom. They paid a fisherman to take them to the middle of the lake. They mixed the gems in with several leather pouches of gravel and dropped them into the deep. Hopefully no one would ever find them.
Anna felt a little afraid as she watched them sink.
“Remember,” Jack whispered. “It’s not the gem, it’s the one who uses them.”
But these gems were evil. She knew it.
The next weeks ran together for Anna. The castle bustled again with people preparing food for all the soldiers, beginning repairs on the castle, and caring for the wounded.
Anna had never been happier with her family. She and Saira worked side-by-side nursing the wounded and bringing the castle kitchen back to order. Stefan didn’t miss an opportunity to tease her about Jack. One day at breakfast, he pounced.
“You never cease to entertain me, sister,” he said with a smile and raised eyebrows.
“Is that so?” she answered.
“The castle is wild with talk that you have found yourself a man—the same one who turned you down before.”
“I don’t see how this concerns you, brother.” Anna took a long sip of tea to keep from smiling.
“As the future king, everything around here concerns me.”
“Oh?” Anna said in mock formality. “I should think the future king should mind his own affairs and find himself a suitable future queen.”
He laughed. “Why would I do that when it’s so much more fun to watch you two in the courting business?” He turned to their sister. “Saira, do you know if Prince Lewis has a sister?”
“No, I don’t believe he does,” she answered.
“Such a pity. Now that would have been a good match.” He winked.
Saira’s cheeks flushed. She glared at Stefan.
“Come, on, Saira. I think the toast is a bit stale this morning.” Anna stood. “Let’s go.”
Stefan leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin.
“He can be insufferable!” Saira said, fuming.
“He’s just bored,” Anna said. “The battle is over. Now he can only entertain himself with teasing us.” She didn’t mind the teasing. Stefan would always be there for her.
The King tapped the girls to plan a victory celebration for everyone in a few days. Anna was relieved Saira took the lead and had many cattle slaughtered and huge pots of stew made in advance. Bakers prepared cakes and special breads and saved them in the cellars, along with apple pies and fresh cream. Anna became so consumed with the preparations she hardly saw Jack outside of meals, where he was uncharacteristically thoughtful. She so looked forward to the celebration where she’d be in his arms all evening.
The gardens were cleared, and tents were set up there for those who couldn’t fit in the castle. The king’s banners flew at every corner of the castle and flags flapped from long ropes running from the castle to the riverbank. Anna wanted every single soldier to feel special. Especially those from Durham who had come so far from home to defend their country.
Finally, the feast came. Servants set up tables, opened bottles of wine and barrels of mead. Women fussed over what they would wear. Good nurse Mary took Anna by the hand and made her try on a certain light blue silk gown. Anna loved the feel of it around her shoulders and how it gathered at her waist. It fit perfectly.
“It’s beautiful,” she said to Mary. “Where did you find it?”
“It was your mother’s,” she whispered. “She would have wanted you to wear it.”
Anna smiled tentatively at her reflection in the mirror.
The tailor examined the dress and decided it needed no altering. “You fill it out beautifully, my dear,” he said, smiling.
That evening, the food was set on a long table in the center of the dining room, with chairs throughout the castle open for seating. The king drew as many as possible into the ballroom for an announcement before the meal began.
“Thank you all for preparing this victory celebration tonight,” he began. “Our people have been preserved once more. In gratitude, we toast those who gave their lives so we might live here tonight.” Everyone raised a cup with him and toasted those who were no longer among them. “We will always remember them and the sacrifice they made that we might live freely on this land.”
Cheers erupted through the crowd, and King Vilipp continued.
“We also want to especially thank Prince Lewis and all his men for coming so quickly to our aid. If it had not been for him, we would certainly not be here tonight.” Louder cheers roared through the castle. “Where is Lewis?” yelled the king to the crowd. He was bustled to the front where he bowed before King Vilipp. “Prince Lewis, do not bow to me, for tonight, we bow to you.” The king lowered himself to one knee and the whole crowd followed.
“King Vilipp, you know it is our honor to join with you in protecting the northern kingdoms,” he said.
The king rose to his feet.
“Lewis, for your great deeds in aiding us, please name a gift you might take back with you,” said the king, bowing again.
“There is only one thing I might ask for,” he said. “It is the greatest jewel of your kingdom, the brightest gem, the costliest pearl,” he paused.
“Name it, Lewis and it shall be yours.” The king paled for a moment.
Not a gem of power?
“The treasure I would take home is nothing other than the hand of your daughter, dear king, that we may be joined
more than by friendship, but by family as well.”
“Ahh,” said King Vilipp with a twinkle in his eye. “I have learned that the best way to accomplish that is to ask the girl yourself.”
Prince Lewis looked a bit surprised. His eyes darted to Anna and then to Saira, standing next to her. Now he was walking toward them and seemed to be looking right at Anna. She scanned the crowd for Jack. Where was he? Not finding him, Anna glanced quickly at Saira and noticed she was glowing, no, blushing a deep pink. The crowd backed away, and so Anna retreated as well. The prince glanced at her and back to Saira with a hint of a smile. He took Saira’s hand.
“Princess Saira of Sunderland,” he began. The crowd was completely silent as if everyone had inhaled, waiting for the rest to come. “Many days I have longed to ask this of you. You are the light of my eyes, and tonight, I humbly ask you to join me as my wife, our princess, and someday the Queen of Durham. Will you marry me?”
Anna’s heart swelled. Through welling tears, Saira choked out her answer.
“Yes!”
The happy couple embraced. Cheers roared through the ballroom. Lewis and Saira met the king on the stairs, where he embraced both of them. Lewis was most welcome as a new son-in-law. Saira couldn’t have looked happier as she hugged her father. Anna couldn’t wait to congratulate them. The king turned to the crowd again.
“Let the celebration begin!” he boomed. It was time to eat.
A better party had never been thrown, thought Anna as she walked through the crowds of happy, feasting people, nobility and commoners together. Later string musicians played merry dancing tunes in the main room and on the castle grounds for all those who didn’t fit into the castle. Dancing began, led by the new couple. Anna scanned the crowd for Jack to no avail. Where was he? She stood at the side, truly enjoying this moment for Saira, until she was tapped on the shoulder for a dance.
She laughed when she found Stefan there. He scooped her up and tossed her on one broad shoulder and ran next to his father.
“Stefan! Stop!” Anna shrieked, holding on to his head. The music paused as everyone turned to watch the sibling spectacle.
“Ouch! Mind the hair, Anna!” he said under his breath. “Don’t forget Anna!” he shouted to the crowd. “My sister, Anna, slayer of Anwar, with more courage than ten men! Cheers to Anna!”
The crowd roared, “Cheers!” in answer three times.
“Come, everyone, dance!” he shouted as he whirled his sister down to the dance floor. When the first dance was over, another knight tapped her for a dance. She appreciated his kindness, but spent the entire dance looking over his shoulder for Jack.
Where was he? She bit her bottom lip. She had envisioned dancing the night away with Jack. Just Jack. Her stomach clenched, and she shoved the disappointment down.
She spun away from a young knight and spotted Jack whispering to her father.
Ahh. He’s not getting out of dancing now. But she lost him again in the crowd, and when the dance was over, she decided to get some air on the small balcony overlooking what once was the garden. Her face felt flushed and her heart was heavy.
Hundreds of lights scattered out through the grounds where people were eating, drinking and dancing. What a difference from just a few days ago! She heard footsteps behind her.
“Anna, do you know how beautiful you are?” He swept her into his arms and kissed her lightly.
Her face warmed, and her irritation melted away. He was with her now. “You look handsome tonight.” It was true. Wearing a sharp black tunic, he was clean-shaven and smelled of soap. “Where have you been all night?”
Jack tapped his fingers against her back. “I’ve been here, just didn’t want to be the center of attention.”
She wriggled free of his arms. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “I’ve danced with every man here except you,” she added with a sly smile.
“I’m going to have to put a stop to that,” he said, pulling her close again.
“Then dance with me. Please?” She pursed her lips. “Please?”
“I don’t feel like dancing.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Is your neck healing all right?”
“Oh, it isn’t that.” His words were rushed. “I’ve never been much of a dancer.” He pressed his lips together.
She waited for a better explanation. She knew that even as a young prince, he would have been schooled in the art of dancing. “I think you’re going to have to prove it,” she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the floor. She knew once people started noticing them, he would have a harder time declining her.
“All right,” he said under his breath. “But you are doing this at your own risk.”
Anna laughed. “You’re usually such a good liar. Besides, every other man here wants to dance with me,” she teased, “why not you?”
“I guarantee every other man here would prefer to have you alone on the balcony.”
Anna blushed a little as he put his hand on her waist and took her hand in his. He wasn’t truthful when he said he wasn’t much of a dancer. She’d never danced with anyone better. Smooth and graceful, he guided her with a touch on her back or a squeeze of her hand. She felt like an ice skater—spinning, twirling and gliding across the floor. He even seemed to be enjoying himself.
Finally they returned to the balcony. Jack exhaled deeply and leaned against the stone archway. She glanced up at the quarter moon just rising above the trees. The glow of the fires in the garden filled the balcony with a soft radiance. The early autumn air was still warm.
“I could dance all night long,” Anna said.
“I noticed.” He rolled his eyes.
“I knew you were lying. No man here can dance like you.”
“Only for you.”
Anna beamed. “Even with the sadness of losing so many men, this turned out to be an amazing night.”
“You think?”
“Yes. I love parties as much as any other woman—the dresses, the dancing, the music—everything.”
“But you’re no ordinary girl.”
“I’m not a boy.”
“I concur with that.” The corners of his mouth pulled up. He ran a hand through his hair.
“Did you even know Prince Lewis proposed to Saira?”
He nodded. “I’m sure they will be happy.”
“I’ll be sad to see her go. We were becoming friends,” Anna said.
“You’ll have time with her before the wedding,” he said.
“And I’ve never been to Durham,” she mused. “They say it’s beautiful.”
Jack grew quiet at the mention of Saira’s engagement and an awkward silence settled between them. Anna tried to break the tension.
“Look at all those people,” she said. “How different things could have been.”
He stepped close to her, brushing her hand. “We made it just in time.”
“You may not have been able to save your own family,” she paused as she looked over the hundreds of people, “but you’ve saved mine and my people as well.”
“They are my people now, too,” he said. “And besides, you were the important one.”
“If you hadn’t led us back here in time, all those people would have certainly died,” she said.
“And if you hadn’t lit the beacons, taken down the drawbridge, and oh—destroyed Anwar single-handedly, things would have been different.”
“I had a good teacher.”
He shook his head and laughed a little.
“Are you teasing me?” Anna frowned.
“Of course not.” His lips tugged up just at the corners.
“Then why the smirk?”
“I’m not smirking. I just think it’s amazing how the same girl who rushes to face danger without a second thought also loves gowns and dancing.” He gestured to the party.
She shrugged. “I’m odd.”
“You’re perfect.” His voice softened. “I have something for you.”
Anna lo
oked down and saw a white gold ring in his trembling hand. It was on a chain.
“It’s beautiful!” Her throat tightened. The stone, surrounded by tiny white diamonds, shone the deepest blue in the subdued light.
“This ring is the promise of our future. Wear it if you want to keep yourself for me.”
Anna gasped as she absorbed its beauty. The blue stone reflected his eyes, and the diamonds shown like tiny ice crystals. Was he proposing?
He read the question in her eyes.
“I could marry you tomorrow and be the happiest man on earth, but we don’t need to rush it. I want to make sure it’s what you truly want. If you like, wear it over your heart.”
Anna fingered the jewel and the chain. Her head swam as she tried to understand his words.
“It’s a promise ring. I promise to save my heart for you—it’s just short of engagement. And if you wear it, you’ll be saved for me.”
“But why not get engaged?” she asked.
“I want to make it easier on you if you change your mind about me.”
“I won’t. I can’t imagine ever being with anyone but you.” She slipped it over her head. The ring fell just level with her heart. She clasped her hand around the ring.
“Every time you feel it near your heart, you’ll think of me.”
Her hands went to his chest, and she slowly worked them up around his neck. Her eyes never left his.
“Thank you.”
His hands slipped to her waist, and he pulled her close. She trembled as his lips brushed hers, soft at first, and then deep and intense. Anna’s head spun as his lips moved to her neck. A thrill shot through her along with sensations she couldn’t explain. She’d never been kissed there. Her fingers found his chest, and she pushed lightly against him. As if sensing she was about to faint, he pulled back and quickly kissed her nose. He grinned as his finger trailed down her jaw to the chain around her neck, lifting the ring off her chest. Anna glanced down and imagined it on her finger.
“It’s so beautiful,” Anna said again.
“It was my mother’s.”
Gems of Fire: A Young Adult Fantasy Page 24
