by Amber Jaeger
“And what happened next?” Lian prompted.
“He gave me things to help me survive in the woods and I ran. After a time I found some people to help me,” she said, not fully revealing the truth.
He seemed to read her hesitance. “And you have been in the woods ever since, hiding? It is a wonder no one recognized you.”
“I have not had much contact with others,” she said carefully.
“I see. Well, it is enough that you are alive and that you are here. I feel an alliance fast forming.” He gave her a genuine smile, flashing his even teeth, but it did not make his seem less frightening.
“An alliance? Between us?” she repeated slowly.
Lian pushed his plate out of the way and leaned over the table towards her. It was not a big table and she had to force herself not to move back. “What better people to form an alliance to oppose her? She took both our families from us and I am King while you are the rightful heir to the Forest throne.”
“I am not the heir,” Katiyana exclaimed. “Sula gained the throne on my father’s death and any child she has will rule after her.”
Lian’s jaw tightened and flexed. “She murdered your father and in doing so forfeited rightful ascension. The throne is yours.”
Katiyana stood and backed away from the table, knocking her chair over in the process. “I do not want it! I could not be a queen, I just want to live my simple life.”
The table groaned as Lian leaned on it to stand. “And that is all your people want as well. But under the Queen, they cannot. Come, I will show you things you should see. And you should meet my staff. They will have much to share with you about how Sula has treated your kingdom and people in your absence.”
She shook her head. She was just a girl, practically a forest sprite. The Princess Katiyana had died a long time ago and the girl she left behind knew nothing about thrones or how to rule a kingdom from one.
Lian took a slow deep breath and she could tell he was trying to control his temper. “Let me show you, then decide. This vendetta against the queen is not just my own. She has hurt many, many people. You more than anyone should be convinced of her evil. She should be hung from one of those apple trees your people love to grow.”
“Apple trees are neither tall nor strong enough to bear a weight like that,” she mumbled, her thoughts elsewhere.
The roar of the king’s laughter made her jump and that made him only laugh harder. “I fear I do not understand you,” he said, wiping a tear from his eye. “You are the daughter of a king, clever, fearless and crafty. And yet at times you jump like a frightened kitten.”
“It is very bright here, and you are very loud,” she accused. “I have been surviving in the dark, quiet woods. This place, all of it, is like another world, one I do not fit into very well.”
The king gave another chuckle and opened the door wide, ushering her out. As bright and loud as the palace was, she had to admit that it was also very lovely. The golden hued stones were almost exotic and the amount of light seemed to buoy her spirit a bit. Everything was open and the ceilings were far above her head.
Lian slowed his pace, allowing her to grudgingly admire the sights as they passed. As they came through the giant front entry, her eyes lowered from the ceiling and locked with feral eyes set above a horrible mouth of teeth.
Katiyana screeched and jumped, grabbing hold of the nearest stair bannister and vaulted up to a higher one, only to spring up into an alcove high above the taxidermied animal that had frightened her so badly. Lian’s laughter boomed up and he reached a hand out to stroke the stuffed monster.
“Come down,” he said, through fits of laughter.
“What is that thing?” asked, peering down.
A shrill tittering echoed through the room. “Whatever are you up to, my lord?”
Katiyana looked around to place the obnoxiously proper voice and saw a willowy woman with flowing corn silk hair glide into the room.
“Oh, Wilemina, I was giving a tour,” Lian said.
“Why, whoever to?” she tittered as she settled a hand on his forearm.
The king slid his arm from under her hand and stood back to peer up at Katiyana. “This creature is not alive, it is merely stuffed. Please, come down.”
The lady tilted her head up to look as well and even from as high up as she was, Katiyana could see her wide eyes narrowed with distaste. It was the only thing unattractive thing about her. Embarrassed and feeling less than ladylike, she gave a little sigh before leaping down from the alcove.
Lian and the woman both gasped as she landed at their feet. “I thought you would come down the way you went up!”
“Why? It was easier this way and I am good at landing on my feet.”
The woman’s nose crinkled daintily and Katiyana turned her back on her. “What is that thing?”
Lian turned to take in the beast proudly. “It is called a lion. My great grandfather hunted and killed the beast many years ago and brought it back to be a symbol for our line.”
She glanced between man and beast. “I can see the resemblance.”
The king’s chest puffed out just a little.
“I can as well,” Wilemina interjected. “Such strength and majesty.”
Katiyana rolled her eyes. “I was going to say you have the same hair color and both seem angry.”
Lian glared but said nothing. “I think I am going to call you Tree Girl from now on.”
Wilemina eyed the two of them. “I have been gone for such a short time, I am surprised to find someone I do not know.”
Alma appeared at his elbow. “You are running late, my lord. Everyone has assembled.”
Lian gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Alma.”
Katiyana let him lead her away. She bit her tongue against asking who the woman was. Living in the forest had let her forget how beautiful a woman could be when she did not have to solely concern herself with surviving.
The doors flew open and the king strode into the room Katiyana had first seen him in.
The soldier who had captured her and brought her in stood from the long table with his hand on his sword. “I see you found your mystery girl,” he said, his voice dark and low.
Lian waved him to sit. “Calm down Bennet, she is not a threat,” he said, pulling out a chair for himself. Katiyana stood awkwardly next to him until he looked up and kicked out the chair next to him.
“How is she not a threat? She came out of the forest, was arrested and then escaped.” He did not relax, nor did he sit.
“Bennet, she is an ally, I assure you. Now sit. Valnore, do you have the reports we received last spring?”
The older man’s furry eyebrows jumped up. “I do. But they were of no help then, I do not see—”
Lian growled and slammed his hand down, palm side up, across the table. “Report, now.”
“Of course,” the man said under his breath and dug in a pile of folders, finally selected one and placed it in the king’s outstretched hand. Without a word, he handed it to Katiyana.
“Who is this woman?” Bennet demanded.
“An ally. And that is all I will say on it.”
Bennet opened his mouth then took in the kings dark eyes. Friends or not, he was still king. He bowed his head slightly then turned to study the curious girl. Her dark chocolate eyes flashed up to his and she tilted her head to hide her face behind a tangled curtain of nearly black hair. She opened the folder as carefully as if it had teeth and began to inspect the sheets inside.
He knew every paper in there and had them memorized. They were sketches and reports from spies that had made their way as close to the castle as they dared. Drawings of thin and hungry people living in muddy shacks and of fat royalty that had taken over all the nicer homes that had previously belonged to the people. One of the papers reported on a man hanged for speaking out against the queen for taking his home and leaving him to find a roof for himself and pregnant wife. Bennet knew she had gotten to it by her wince.<
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He was not the only one silently watching the girl flip paper after paper over. Lian had leaned away from her in his chair to watch her reaction. To the average eye, she gave nothing away. But the king saw the faint wrinkle between her eyebrows, the tightness in her jaw and the way her hands were slowly curling into fists.
There was a danger in allowing her to see the file, allowing her to know that they had sent spies into the queen’s kingdom. But the king was a shrewd man and he knew even if she did not stay, she would not be going to the queen with this information.
He nearly purred at the idea of having someone like her on his side against the queen. He had rallied against her for so long and had not been able to prevail. He did not know how he would use the step daughter against her, yet, but it would be good when he did.
Finally Katiyana turned over the last paper, closed the file and slid it back to the king. “The queen’s people suffer greatly,” she said quietly. “They did not want for homes or food when my f- before the king died.”
Bennet did not miss the slip. He raised an eyebrow at Lian who nodded slightly and put a finger to his lips. Bennet nodded back. Alma watched on with great interest and when the king looked to her, she nodded as well.
“So you can see how important it is to remove her from power,” Lian said.
“I do. But I do not know how I can help with that,” she said sadly.
“Let me think on it, I am sure I can come up with something,” he said, a savage grin on his face.
“Will the young lady be staying with us long?” Alma asked.
“For as long as she likes.”
“I will help you, if I can, but first I must do something and I will return in a few days,” Katiyana said.
“What? No,” Lian argued.
Katiyana turned to glare at him. “Yes. I must go but I will return.”
“Absolutely not,” he thundered. “You must stay here, where I can protect you.”
“I have protected myself well enough these last few years, thank you. And I will be going. Unless you plan on locking me in your flimsy dungeon again?” she asked sarcastically.
“That is really not the tone you should address the king with,” Valnor said quietly, eyeing the very angry Lian.
“He is not my king,” she said sharply. “I am going and I shall return.”
Lian clenched his fists. “Fine, but you will take a routine of guards with you.”
“No. I will go alone.”
“Then at least tell me where you are going,” the king said in a strained voice. His servants eyed him warily, hoping he could keep hold of his temper for once.
Katiyana just shook her head. “I will return in two, perhaps three days,” she said, and strode from the room before he could argue more. She heard a fist slam into the table behind her and walked a little faster.
A hand at her elbow made her jump but it was only Alma. “He has quite the temper,” Katiyana noted.
“He does,” Alma agreed. “And you seem to enjoy goading him.”
“I do not,” Katiyana protested. “But he is not going to order me around. I said I will return and I am true to my word.”
“Will you at least take some food and a horse?”
Katiyana laughed. “Food, yes. A horse, no. I do not trust some lumbering beast to carry me around.”
Alma sighed. “Fine, then wait here.”
She returned with a large sack filled to the top with dried fruits and cheeses and meats. “How much do you think I need to eat?” Katiyana asked, peering into the bag.
“Perhaps whoever you are going to see would enjoy it,” Alma said with a blank face.
Katiyana bit her lip.
“Do not worry, I will not share my observation with the king. Your secrets are your own.”
“Thank you,” Katiyana said meaningfully.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Katiyana made the journey back home more quickly than she had thought, despite the heavy bag. She was excited and nervous and anxious and the exercise helped wear her mind down. It was nearly dawn when she made it back to the hut.
All three girls were up and crowded around the table when she entered.
“Katiyana!” Adora cried, throwing her arms around her neck. “We were so worried!”
She returned the hug before slinging the sack up onto the table.
“What is this?” the nameless girl asked. “And what happened?”
“The king knows who I am,” she said.
Cidra gasped. “You told him?”
She shook her head. “No, he guessed. Apparently he has been at war with her for several years and knows much about her.”
“Why is he at war with her?”
Katiyana slumped into a chair, suddenly tired. “She is much more evil than I had ever thought. She murdered his family in an attempt to gather more power. And she murdered mine as well,” she added sadly.
Adora put a hand on her shoulder. “I am so sorry, Katiyana.”
“I think I always knew, I just did not want to believe it. But Lian showed me sketches and reports, told me of the magic and poison she uses to hurt and control people.”
“That is awful,” Cidra murmured.
“That is not the worst part. The entire kingdom is suffering under her. The people are homeless and hungry, they are being killed and punished if they try to fight for a better life.”
“Can he stop her?”
“I do not know. I hope so. He thinks that perhaps I can help him.”
“How?” Cidra asked.
Katiyana threw her hands up in the air. “I have no idea. No one, except for you and him, even know I am alive. What could I possibly do?”
“He said she was using poison? Unless it is very basic, she must also be using magic to create it. Maybe it will just run out and she will be powerless. I truly cannot believe she was able to find any,” Cidra said.
“It is still out there,” the nameless girl said quietly. “Sometimes I can feel it. All she would need to do is find one untouched source, one spring, one lake, to get more.”
“People have been searching for years and have not found any, I doubt she will either.”
“When I was little,” Adora said thoughtfully, lost in her memories, “my father told me of a race of people that carried it in their blood.”
The nameless girl shifted uncomfortably and Cidra snorted. “They went the way of the unicorn a long time ago, if they even really existed at all.”
She gave a small smile and shrugged before turning back to Katiyana. “So what will you do?” she asked.
Katiyana sighed. “I am going to go back. If the king can find a way to rid our land of her evil, then I feel I must help him.”
She expected an argument but got none. “When do you leave again?” Adora asked sadly.
“As soon as I have rested.”
Cidra poked the sack on the table. “When do we get to look in here?”
Katiyana laughed and dumped it out on the table. Adora squealed in delight and Cidra’s eyes popped wide open. “Where did you get all of this?”
“Alma, his servant, gave it to me. She guessed that I was leaving to see someone and must have judged by my looks that it would be appreciated.”
“It certainly is, look at all this cheese!” the nameless girl said.
Adora went to her trunk and pulled two things out. “This for Alma, in thanks,” she said, handing Katiyana a finely crocheted shawl. “And this is for you, in case you get homesick.” Katiyana took the small, framed needlework from her and felt tears prick her eyes. It was a scene of their home, the hut hidden artfully amongst the trees and delicate flowers. There were even wildlife depicted.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick. “But I promise, I will not be gone forever, I will return.”
“Maybe. Or maybe you will find the life you were always meant to lead.”
The journey back to the Sun King’s palace went a little more slowly. Katiyana walked slowly, taking
in all the trees and the twittering of the birds. She would miss the woods terribly but the idea of a new life, a new adventure, was so wonderful she felt guilty. The girls had assured her they would be fine and she had promised to return often to visit. As she walked, she made a mental list of the all the things she would bring back as gifts.
No one questioned her or barred her entry when she made it back to the palace. Servants scurried about but no one paid her any mind and so she stood awkwardly in the main entrance for a long while, eyeing the stuffed beast.
It made her a little sad, knowing the mighty creature had been hunted and killed just for its pelt. It would have been more majestic alive and in the wild where it belonged.
“You are back so soon,” Alma said, surprised to see the wild looking girl in the middle of immaculate entrance.
Katiyana shrugged. “I said I would return.”
“And so you have. We shall have to find the king and see what he would like done with you.”
She could hear his angry yelling before they even got near the meeting room. “I did not approve such a large amount of men and such a long time for them to be away from their other duties!” he roared as they slipped in through the door.
Alma ignored his raging and tapped him on the shoulder. “What, woman?” he yelled. She did not even flinched.
“The young lady has arrived, what would you have me do?”
“Can you not see I am busy here?” he shouted, slamming his fist on the table, knocking over a cup and saucer. Alma sighed and leaned around him with a cloth she pulled from her pocket and sopped the mess up. Katiyana had to admire her courage. She did not think she would want to speak to him, much less brush up against him in one of his rages.
“Then perhaps I should find her a room and some, um, more suitable clothes?”
Katiyana looked down at her outfit. It was perfectly sensible for someone surviving in the woods and had suited her well. But a look at Alma’s clothes told her she was out of place.
“Fine, fine,” the king said, still fuming. “But I want her next to my rooms.”
“My room is next to your rooms. You want her to sleep with me?” Alma asked dryly.
