by A. J. Medina
“I’ll check the washroom,” Davina said, and went in to take a look.
When Aednat opened the next drawer she found a small piece of paper. On it was written, Potion of Manipulation Antidote and a list of ingredients. Aednat quickly slid it down and into the side of her boot.
Davina exited the washroom.
“Did you find anything in there?” Aednat asked.
Davina shook her head.
“Did you find anything in here?” Davina asked.
“Nay,” Aednat answered. “Check under the bed.”
Davina lifted the covers that draped over the edges and checked under the bed.
“Nothing under there,” Davina said, and then took hold of the covers with both hands and yanked them with one pull and tossed them onto the floor.”
“What are you doing?” Aednat asked.
“Just checking if there’s anything hiding in the sheets.”
Aednat wondered if Davina had any brains behind that pretty face. “Who would hide something in their sheets?”
Before Davina could answer, Princess Evelyn entered the room.
“Aednat. Davina. What are the two of you doing in here?”
“We were tasked with searching the palace for Alora and Neala,” Aednat said.
“The two of you are making a mess. Please leave immediately.”
“But Princess,” Davina said.
“I will not hear it. Please leave at once.” The princess stepped aside and held her hand out directing them out of the room.
When Aednat was about to pass the princess, she stopped and asked her a question. “Princess, do you know where or why Alora and Neala would leave the palace?”
The princess searched her mind for the words. “All I know is that Neala was badly injured by my mother.”
Neala was close to Alora. Very close. On the journey they became even closer. Alora would’ve been upset. That could very well be the reason for them leaving.
After not finding anything, and the princess asking them to leave Alora’s room, Aednat and Davina went to Alora’s workshop. They searched her closet and found nothing of value. They searched her desk—nothing.
When Davina opened the small metal door on the wood burner and peeked inside, Aednat knew for sure they were clueless.
Alora wasn’t stupid. If she left, she wouldn’t leave any clues behind for them to find. Aednat knew this, so why didn’t the king?
Where she had gone was a simple question to answer. Silas, her love, had escaped and she wanted to be with him. She wanted to be with him even more than she wanted to serve her king.
What saddened Aednat was that Alora left her behind.
“Let’s report back to Ser Hector,” Davina said.
Aednat nodded and the two of them left Alora’s workshop to report what they had found—absolutely nothing.
Later that night, Aednat, Davina and Ryanne climbed out of the bath and while Branna helped Davina dry off, Aednat dried herself. When she was dry enough, she wrapped the towel around herself and left the washroom. To her surprise, Genevee, the princess’ maiden stood waiting.
“Forgive me my lady, but King Remi has a request. He has sent me for you.”
“For who?” Aednat asked.
Davina and Ryanne both exited the washroom.
“For each of you,” Genevee continued. “Today one of you will go to the king’s chambers. Tomorrow another. He has told me to pick one of you, but please my ladies, don’t make me choose. Someone please volunteer.”
Aednat couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Only slave girls like Neala were sent for by the king. How... why was he sending for them?
“Is anyone willing to volunteer?” Genevee asked.
“What’s happening?” Branna asked as she emerged from the washroom fully dressed.
“The king has sent for one of us?” Aednat said.
Aednat watched the others. They all looked down at their feet as they walked over to their beds. Each one wrapped in a towel, sat down on the edge of their own bed. Aednat’s eyes met Branna’s and then Genevee’s. Genevee saw she was the only one not looking down.
Genevee’s eyebrows lifted. It was an inquisitive look.
Should Aednat volunteer herself? She pondered over the decision. The king no doubt had made up his mind.
“And if we refuse?” Aednat asked.
“I hope non of you dare refuse the king,” Branna said as she waited to see the outcome.
If the king wanted them, then he would of course have them. Aednat wondered if she should go first. Should she get it over and done with? Or should she wait until she was forced to go? Which would be worse? The dread and suspense of being last or the sorrow of going first?
Aednat had decided. She didn’t want to hear the others talking about it. She didn’t want to sit in fear or anticipation of what was to come.
“I volunteer,” Aednat said.
The other girls didn’t even look up to thank her.
“Oh thank you, Aednat,” Genevee said sounding relieved that she wouldn’t have to decide who went first—at least for tonight.
“Come, let’s pick out a dress,” Branna said.
Branna and Genevee opened Aednat’s closet and pushed around the four dresses that hung there. A gift from Princess Evelyn to all the girl knightlys so they could dress appropriately at feasts and balls.
“Aednat, how about this one?” Branna asked.
Aednat was still focused on the two girls that hadn’t said a word or moved an inch. They just sat on the edge of their beds staring at the floor. If Aednat couldn’t see their chests moving, she would swear they were dead.
“Aednat, how about this one?” Branna asked again.
It was an amber dress. One like all the rest. Long sleeves, tight on the torso and then free flowing from her hips, or lack there of, to her feet.
“Fine,” Aednat huffed.
Genevee took Aednat’s towel while Branna helped her put on the dress. When they had slipped it on and tied the back, Genevee and Branna had her sit on her bed so they could slide on her shoes.
“Ready?” Branna asked.
She wasn’t. She wasn’t ready for this at all. She had not been expecting this to happen. Not now, not ever really.
Aednat’s hands began to sweat.
She wished Alora was there at her side. She wished Alora was there to help her. To protect her. Why did Alora have to leave?
Branna slid on Aednat’s winter cloak and buttoned the front.
Genevee then took a hold of Aednat’s hand. Aednat didn’t pull it away. Genevee led her out of their room, down the winding staircase, across the balcony, down the second winding staircase, and out through the guard’s wing courtyard.
Next stop, the palace and the king’s chambers.
All the way there, Aednat held onto Genevee’s hand. She wasn’t going to let it go, because if she did her feet would stop moving. Genevee was in fact leading her more than they were walking together.
Before Aednat knew what had happened she was standing in front of the king’s chamber door.
Genevee, still holding Aednat’s hand, knocked with her free one.
King Remi’s voice beckoned from the other side. “Enter.”
Genevee pushed the door open and led Aednat inside.
Aednat was amazed at the size of the room. It was at least ten times the size of hers. To her left were two chairs and a table in the center of them. The floor was covered in fur rugs and the king was standing next to his king sized bed. A bed big enough to hold at least twelve Aednat’s.
The king wore a red sleep shirt that hung to his knees as he strolled closer.
“Your Majesty,” Genevee said. “I present to you, Aednat.”
King Remi observed Aednat who was still holding Genevee’s hand. His eyes met hers and then they traveled down her body to her feet.
The king shooed Genevee. “Leave us.”
Genevee pried her hand free from Aednat’s, curtsied, and
then shut the door behind her.
— — —
Princess Evelyn lay on Alora’s bed, the sheets still resting on the floor where Davina and Aednat had thrown them.
If Alora had truly left with Neala then she would probably never see her again and that made the princess sad.
Alora was the only one that had ever treated her as... well, as not a princess.
Sure she had to show her the respect that one showed royalty, but Princess Evelyn felt Alora treated her more like a friend.
And now her friend might be gone forever.
Before Alora’s arrival, the princess hadn’t known how she would react to the new girl knights that were going to live in the city. She knew she was excited, secretly wishing she could become a knight herself, but her mother, the queen, always told her to put that silliness aside. She was a princess who would one day become a queen.
But she didn’t want to be a queen if it meant becoming like her mother—jealous of every pretty girl in the kingdom.
How could she have done that to Neala? Destroying her beauty by cutting her face like that.
Would her mother one day turn her jealousy against her own daughter? Would she hurt Princess Evelyn the same way?
The princess took one last look around before leaving Alora’s room. She shut the door and went back to her own chambers.
In her chambers, the princess undressed and opened her closet. Inside was her interpretation of the knightly’s second skin. Sure it wasn’t a real wizard suit, but she could still imagine that it was. She slipped the black soft material onto her legs and then slipped her arms through the sleeves. Lastly, she tied a bow at the back of her neck.
“On guard!” she yelled as she swung Alora’s practice sword to and fro. She slashed down, across, and stabbed forward just like Alora liked to practice—barefoot.
When she had enough of the sword play, she leaned it against her closet and began dancing. She tried to mimic the hip movements of the dancers that entertained at celebratory feasts. She was never very good. Mother had told her that when her hips began to take a woman’s shape that she would be able to perform it much better. They were, and she wasn’t.
When she was done, she sat down on the fur on the floor that peaked out past the edge of her bed. She leaned her back against her bed and shut her eyes. Every memory was of Alora. Her hair, the color of fire. Her strong legs. The two of them running barefoot through the garden.
Princess Evelyn made a promise to herself right then and there. She would find out why Alora left the castle city and why she took Neala with her?
Chapter 4
Queen Rosaleen had spent a few nights coming up with her plan. Remi would not listen to her. He still didn’t believe that Alora was capable of becoming his biggest threat. She was powerful, much more powerful than The Apprentice. And now, she most likely ran off to be with him. The two of them would be hard to defeat.
The queen addressed the girl standing in front of her. “You say Alora is capable of building walls in the blink of an eye?”
“Aye, My Queen,” the girl answered.
“And she can ride on top of the water, create ice bridges, and even bring things to her using her mind?”
“Aye, My Queen.”
Queen Rosaleen walked around the girl, studying her body. Why would the king call this one to his chambers? If not for her feminine voice, the queen would’ve mistaken her for a boy.
Once again the king had set his sights on those he shouldn’t have. Her immediate desire was to kill this knightly, but she mustn’t let her jealousy get the best of her—at least not yet.
“Since my husband has already called for you, he will most likely call for you again. Would you rather perform a task for me? Or would you rather do what he wants?”
“He is...” the girl paused. “He is king. I must do as he commands.”
The queen planted her feet in front of the girl. “I will speak with him and he will most certainly agree to what I propose.” The queen gently tapped the bottom of the mug the girl was holding. “Please, drink. It’ll make you strong.”
The girl lifted the mug to her lips and drank some more of the queen’s elixir.
“When the time comes, you will insight rebellion amongst the female knightlys. You will convince them all to leave the castle city and journey across the land to find Alora.”
“And then what?” the girl asked.
“That is not your concern. Just do as you’re told.”
“Aye, My Queen.”
The queen stepped away from the girl and studied her own reflection in the mirror. “You said the king is calling all of the female knightlys to his chambers?”
When the girl didn’t answer, Queen Rosaleen turned around to face her. The girl stared at the floor.
“It’s Alora’s fault you know,” the queen said.
The girl’s eyes focused on the queen.
This one was strong. For her to even make eye contact showed she was not as weak willed as the others. Strong equals dangerous as far as the queen was concerned.
Queen Rosaleen continued. “She left all of you alone here. With her gone, the king was sure to call you to his chambers. He no longer has to worry about upsetting his precious wizard.”
The girl returned her gaze to the floor.
“You will make her pay won’t you?” the queen asked.
“Aye, My Queen. She will pay for this.”
The queen could see the fire of hatred beginning to burn. She had planted the seed in the girl’s mind and it would take root and grow soon enough.
The king was foolish and if not for his queen he would surely fall. Without her at his side, he would not have been king for so long. These plans of hers are what keep him in power.
“Leave me. Send in the other girl.”
“Aye, My Queen.”
The girl bowed her head, turned, and left the queen’s chambers.
When the next girl entered, the queen’s chamber maiden shut the door and stood watching them.
“You sent for me, My Queen?” the knightly asked.
“I did.”
The queen knew her maiden’s were loyal, but she couldn’t take any chances. Not if this plan was to succeed. “Leave us,” she told her maiden while shooing her with her hand.
After the maiden left and shut the door behind her, the queen addressed the knightly. “What has the king, my husband, been up to?”
“What do you mean, My Queen?”
“I hear he has been enjoying some of your company. Is this true?”
The girl thought for a moment before answering. Perhaps she was going to lie. There was no point. The queen already new all the answers to her questions.
“King Remi sends for us, My Queen.”
Queen Rosaleen stared at the girl, studied her. When she didn’t say anything, the girl looked up at her. Their eyes met for only a second before the girl looked back down at the floor.
“Forgive me, My Queen.”
Normally Rosaleen would have been upset hearing this news, but what the girl said didn’t bother her as much as it should have. The queen had bigger things to worry about. Her jealousy would need to wait, at least for the moment. And besides, this girl knightly would learn soon enough how jealous the queen could be.
“Have you ever told the king that you weren’t comfortable doing what he asked?” Queen Rosaleen asked.
“I cannot refuse my king.”
“But have you tried refusing him?”
“Nay, My Queen.”
Her voice grew louder. “Then how can you say it’s his command that you follow?” Rosaleen recomposed herself and spoke gently again. Gently, but with a hint of hatred. “Perhaps if you refused him, he would simply send you on your way.”
“I dare not refuse him.”
“I am tired of you. Of all of you. You are all weak.” The queen spoke to the shadows. “Have you seen enough, Genevee?”
The girl turned her head in time to see the p
rincess’ maiden, Genevee, nod in agreement.
“Don’t look at her!” Queen Rosaleen yelled at the girl.
The girl returned her gaze to the floor in front of her.
Genevee paced slowly, circling and studying the girl. Her hand slid down the girl’s arm feeling the material of her wizard suit.
“Expansionem!” Genevee shouted.
The girl looked up, surprised, before remembering her place and staring back down at the floor once more.
Genevee grabbed the material and slid it down the girl’s body. “Step out of it,” she commanded.
The girl did as she was told.
“This one is so young... so beautiful,” Genevee said as she draped the wizards suit over her arm and then reached out and yanked a hair off the girl’s head.
The girl flinched, but didn’t cry out.
Before the girl knew what was happening, the queen’s dagger entered her spine.
“You should’ve at least tried to refuse him,” Queen Rosaleen whispered in her ear. “Then maybe you would still live.”
The queen pulled her dagger out of the girl’s spine and thrust it back in, over and over, until the girl collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
After stepping over the knightly’s dead body, Genevee used the queen’s glasses and mugs to mix her potion. When she was done she added the knightly’s hair to it. Stirring it, she turned to the queen. The queen nodded in approval and Genevee drank down the potion of deceit. She was now ready to take her place among the knightlys. The next part of Queen Rosaleen’s plan had been set in motion.
— — —
Queen Rosaleen must think so little of Aednat to try and turn her against Alora. Against her only other friend besides Davina. There was no way she would turn against her. Aednat had learned a lot by watching Alora and listening when she spoke to Neala as if no one else could hear. Aednat wasn’t stupid.
She had drank the antidote she created from the recipe she found in Alora’s drawer. The queen’s elixir had no effect on her. For the queen to say it was Alora’s fault that the king called her to his chambers was ridiculous. That was no one’s fault but the king’s.
