“Corinna?” her mother’s voice called from within.
“You two come inside before you freeze,” her uncle echoed behind her.
Corinna rubbed fiercely at her eyes and willed herself to stop crying. She couldn’t go inside with red eyes and wet cheeks. She didn’t want to answer questions or explain herself. She just wanted to be alone for a little while.
When she was certain her emotions could be held back, she stood up tall and took a deep breath. She just had to go inside and excuse herself to her room. Her mother was leaning in the hall when she stepped inside and set the door shut behind her. Helen smiled and then furrowed her brow.
“Is Alastar not coming in?” she asked. Corinna smiled and shook her head.
“No,” she said and cleared her throat. “He said he wasn’t feeling well and took off for home.”
“Well that was silly,” Alvar grumbled. “I’m a doctor, am I not? No place better to be when you’re ill than at the doctor’s house. Oh well. I suppose I may check on him tomorrow then.”
“Good idea. But he really decided to run through the ice?” Helen asked.
Corinna shrugged. “It’s beginning to lighten. We can go on your walk in an hour or so, I’d wager. But um… I’m feeling a little frozen. I think I’ll go curl up under my blanket until the walk. Come find me before you go, alright?”
“Alright. Don’t catch a cold,” her mother said and pat her shoulder, then she smiled. “Rest up. We’ll be walking until one of us can’t stand.”
-- -- --
When the ice was gradually melting on the Faune farm’s enchanted soil, Helen and her daughter stepped out into the sun and began their walk. With no walls or furniture to steady herself with, Helen Faune moved slowly and stopped regularly. Sometimes she played it off as admiring the scenery she’d missed while bedridden. Other times, she bent over and supported herself on her knees and asked for just a moment to rest.
Corinna watched her mother carefully, ready to help support her or even half carry her back inside should she become too weak.
Her mother stopped by the fence and gripped it with a hand that grew stronger by the hour. Corinna leaned beside her, her back to the field beyond and looking back at their modest home. Her finger tips felt charged, and she drummed them against the weather washed wood behind her. It felt like magic, the same as when she’d lit the candles in the dining hall or called up a breeze. She wasn’t practicing magic right now. Why was this tingling sensation making its way up her arm?
“Oh, I think I can see Alastar out in the field,” her mother commented. Corinna grunted, still focusing on the corner of the house and following the tingle in her body. She felt it all the way up to her elbow, but it was strongest on the wrist. “Looks as if he’s talking with a woman. My, she’s very beautiful.”
A tingle on her wrist.
Corinna’s eyes widened and she spun around to face what her mother saw. Alastar was indeed in the midst of the trees, withered from winter, and standing before an elegant and beautiful blonde. She was speaking, but it was impossible to tell what she was saying. Her hair fell in ringlets down her back, and she wore a blood tinted gown that stood out like a fresh scar among the landscape.
“Morgause,” Corinna breathed out.
“What was that, darling?” her mother asked. She was glancing over at their fields now, not aware of the dangerous witch so close at hand. Corinna couldn’t bring herself to answer.
Morgause reached out and put a hand on Alastar’s cheek. They were too far to see specifics, but it seemed like Alastar was being sweet with her. He said something to her, and she smiled. She dropped her hand from Alastar’s body and turned around. For a moment, Corinna thought the witch was looking right at her, but then Morgause began to walk away from the house, through the field… and Alastar followed her.
“Mum, I’m sorry, can we cut this walk short? I think I need to have a talk with Alastar. We ended on bad terms yesterday,” Corinna said, taking a step back toward the house and keeping her eyes on Alastar’s diminishing form.
“Oh? Sure. Alright. We’ll continue this tomorrow then,” her mother said.
Corinna felt her legs itch with the need to move quickly, but her mother was still slow on her feet and she stayed by her side the whole way back to the house. Once the front door had closed behind them, showing signs of its temporary hinge failing, Corinna dashed for her room and snatched up the magic mirror.
“Alastar,” Corinna said in a hurried murmur, though she knew no words were necessary to make the magic work.
Alastar appeared in the mirror, saddled up and riding into the forest at an easy trot. He had on peasant armor, thick clothes of leather, and there was a sword at his side. His eyes were a misty white over their usual brown, and he seemed to be riding unconsciously. Corinna’s hands shook and dropped the mirror on her bed. Alastar was enchanted and riding into the forest. Nothing good could come out of this.
Corinna threw her sheets over the mirror and ran through the house. She burst through the front door, effectively snapping the false hinge, and continued on for the stables. Archimedes was already shifting in anticipation within his stall. Corinna didn’t bother with a saddle, but she did hook a rope rein over her horse’s head. As she pulled herself up into the saddle, her uncle came running out to meet her.
“You broke the door again,” the old man said.
“Right. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it properly when I get back, but I have to go,” Corinna said.
“I know. Just make sure it isn’t five months before you return again,” Alvar said. He tossed a coat up to his niece and then stepped out of the way.
“Thank you, Uncle Alvar,” Corinna said, nodding to him and pulling on the offered coat.
Then, without another note of hesitation, Corinna urged Archimedes onward and they bolted down the road as though destiny itself was nipping at their heels.
Chapter 25 – Beauty’s Sacrifice
The forest was a blur of darkness. The animals were missing, and Archimedes’ galloping rang out like thunder, so loud that it bounced off the normally muting underbrush. Corinna kept her head low, moving too fast to properly watch out for low branches. Archimedes snorted and crashed ahead, needing no support from his rider. The horse, as usual, was drawn toward their destination as by an unseen magical thread of fate.
“Alastar!” Corinna called out into the forest, but her voice, unlike the hoof beats, was lost in the leaves.
Steam from Archie’s breathing wafted back in the air and shown like little clouds. Corinna squinted at them as they flew past and then directed her eyes skyward. The tops of the trees seemed to have thinned out. Light was stretching out in the darkness, thin strings of frosted shine. It was odd. The trees seemed to have shifted apart.
Archimedes turned sharp, and Corinna saw the house laid out before them. The front gate was open wide. There was a fallen tree across the opening, keeping the magical fence from closing. Corinna nudged her steed on and they leapt the trunk easily. Corinna pulled back on the reins after they landed and coaxed Archie to a stop. Both of them breathed in heavy gasps as Corinna took in the sight of her temporary home.
The front door had been shoved open so hard that the handle had broken and the door still swung gently back and forth in the chilled breeze. Alastar’s horse stood idle by the withered side garden, nibbling on the remains of the bushes. Corinna let out a shuddering breath, and Archimedes whinnied loudly. Without another moment of hesitation, Corinna slid from Archie’s back and hurried for the front door. When she arrived, Belle was heading out, and they collided in the doorway.
“Corinna!” Belle exclaimed and wrapped her arms around Corinna tightly. “Thank the heavens!”
“Belle, where’s Alastar?” Corinna asked. She gave Belle a brief hug and then pushed her back. Belle shuddered.
“Alastar? Is that his name? He’s terrifying. Gavin opened the door and was hit in the stomach. He’s recovering in the kitchen,” Belle said. Corinna
shook her head.
“Where did Alastar go?” she asked.
“He grabbed Veronica and had her lead him to Alexander. Their out back,” Belle said and pointed straight back. “Why is he doing this?”
“Don’t hold it against him, Belle. He’s enchanted,” Corinna explained as she hurried past her and toward the back door. “Go tend to Gavin and don’t come out until we come to get you!”
Alastar was under some spell by Morgause. Anyone in his way would be an obstacle that his previous training would give him plenty of skill to defeat. He had already wounded Gavin with a single blow. Corinna feared what could become of Veronica, as fragile as she was. Worse yet, what was Morgause’s plan with Alastar? What was he going to do to Alexander?
The back yard was open and white, clean and fresh save for a single line of footprints from the back door to the yew tree and then to the stables. Corinna hurried out across the snow for the small group of people in the distance. Alastar had Veronica by the wrist, and Alexander was up in arms about it. What was he saying? As she drew closer, Corinna watched Alastar toss Veronica across the distance between himself and Alexander. The prince reached forward to catch the servant and keep her from falling, and then he put the servant behind him. Corinna strained her ears for any semblance of spoken word.
“Get off of my property,” Alexander was growling. Corinna pressed her lips together. She was much too far to hear them, and yet she could tell exactly what they were saying. “You have no right to be here.”
“An’ you have no right ta harm those outside of here,” Alastar grunted. He slid a small dagger Corinna hadn’t noticed until now back into his belt.
“I have no power outside of my home. I have harmed no one,” Alexander said. Alastar laughed hollowly.
“You have harmed a family very dear ta my heart,” Alastar said, and he almost sounded like he was growling in the same manner as Alexander. “Corinna is lost because of ya.”
Alexander took a step toward Alastar and reached his hand partially out for the other man. Then he stopped and stepped back. Alastar’s hand snapped to the hilt of his sword.
“Corinna is… still dying?” Alexander asked. Corinna tripped in the snow and fell. She held her stomach and felt her body spasm. Pain seared from her head and her fingers snapped around it. Pained tears stung at her eyes, like the kind that came with harsh fevers. What was happening?
“Nah,” Alastar grunted, and the pain lessened in Corinna’s head enough for her to see clearly again. “Corinna is alive an’ takin care of his muther.”
“Then how is she lost? I returned her to you,” Alexander said. Veronica stepped to the side of him and looked over at Alastar. She placed a hand on Alexander’s arm, but he ushered her to stay back.
“You did not return her ta me!” Alastar yelled out. “Ya sent her home, but under some kind of spell.”
Corinna pushed herself up to her knees and grunted. She was only at the yew tree. They were still half of the yard away. She huffed and squinted her eyes against the pain. She had to stop Alastar before he committed an act he’d regret.
“He speaks only of you,” Alastar said, voice laden with emotion. “He won’ stop.”
“Really?” Alexander asked, taking a step forward. Alastar nodded and drew his sword. Alexander grit his teeth and clenched his fists. Corinna’s head relaxed to a dull throb, and she stood up. The snow seemed startlingly bright, but she tried to ignore it as she ran forward.
“Corinna’s heart was mine,” Alastar said. “She was gonna be with me, and then ya enchanted her.”
“I did no such thing,” Alexander said, but Alastar shook his head and gripped his sword with both hands.
“The only way ta break the enchantment is ta kill you,” Alastar said. “If yer dead, Corinna will forget about you and be mine again. Sorry, but I can’ let her be a prisoner to you forever.”
Alastar charged for Alexander, sword held at the ready. Alexander took a step back and then turned and grabbed Veronica. With the strength only a beast could have, he tossed her to the side, landing her in a pile up of snow that had built up over leftover hay by the stables. The prince then turned to Alastar and tried to deflect the blow. Instead, a roar ripped from his throat as he was caught full in the left arm.
“Alastar!” Corinna shouted, coming to a stop about six feet from the battle. Both men stopped and looked over at her. Alastar pulled his sword back from Alexander’s arm. Corinna’s eyes watched the blood escape from Alexander’s body and drip down into the snow. Her insides shivered.
“Corinna,” both nobles said and then glared at one another.
“Alastar, stop this,” Corinna said. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“No,” Alastar said, shaking his head and raised his sword toward Corinna. “Yer the one that doesn’ know. Yer enchanted, Corinna. When this angsty, self-absorbed royal is dead, you’ll see.”
“Don’t point that thing at her,” Alexander growled, reaching out and gripping Alastar’s wrist.
“Don’ touch me, monster!” Alastar shouted, snapping his other hand on Alexander’s and heaving him overhead and away with strength no human possibly hand. Corinna’s eyes widened. Morgause really meant for Alastar to kill Alexander. She’d given him every weapon he’d need against the beast: hatred and strength.
Alexander hit the ground hard and sent a vibration through the ground like the rumble of an avalanche. Clumps of snow dropped from trees surrounding the fence and a pack of crows took off into the sky. Alastar flipped his sword around as Alexander jumped to his feet. Corinna shook her head. The two men ran at each other, and Corinna grabbed at her temples.
“Stop it!” she screamed, but they were deaf to her call. Alexander caught Alastar in the shoulder and Alastar’s sword tasted the flesh of Alexander’s torso, grazing his side. Alexander stumbled back, but Alastar seemed impervious to the pain. He braced his sword at the back, and his glossed eyes narrowed at Alexander’s image.
There was a clang of swords, and Gavin stood between Alastar and Alexander. The sword in his hand was recognizable from the armory. Corinna gasped. How had he gotten out here so quickly?
“Stand back,” Alastar growled. “I am not here ta fight you.”
“I am a knight,” Gavin declared, pressing against Alastar’s sword until it was pressed up flat against Alastar’s chest. “I will not stand by and watch my king die.”
“Gavin!” Belle called out, stopping by Corinna. Her breathing was heavy. “Don’t fight.”
“Listen to yer woman,” Alastar said. “I won’ hold back.”
“Neither shall I,” Gavin assured.
They pressed against each other and slid back in the wet earth. Both men held their swords high like practiced swordsmen and charged with a determined fury. Gavin glanced Alastar’s sword off in all directions, keeping the noble from hitting him at all, but his own sword nicked Alastar on both arms. Alastar set his jaw and spun his sword in his hand, catching Gavin’s at an angle. Gavin held firm and locked the swords in a stalemate once more. Alastar tensed, and for several long moments neither man moved past the slight shake to keep the pressure up against the other.
Suddenly Alastar relaxed and dropped his sword two inches. Gavin gasped and stumbled off balance, the resistance to his force removed. Alastar smirked and dropped his sword from Gavin altogether before kicking his leg up and catching the skilled peasant in the side of the head. Gavin fell to the side and slid in the snow.
“Gavin!” Belle cried. Corinna bit her lower lip. Alastar was too good. He’d had too much proper training, and Morgause had given him extra strength to back it up. Not to mention, Alastar was street rough and sly. None of them could stop him. None except…
“Stay down or I’ll try fer real,” Alastar threatened. He turned his sword in his hand and returned his concentration to Alexander. “Prepare for yer end.”
Alastar raised his sword, ready to pierce the heart of his enemy in love. Corinna’s heart sped to the
rate of a bird’s and she felt a dizzy rush from the force.
It was fast. Alastar took a step forward, and Corinna eyes glistened a brilliant gold. She placed one foot in front of the other, moving away from Belle, but it felt as if she were sliding through the snow toward her destination instead of walking. Alastar took another step, fierce and calling out. Alexander raised his head to look at his opponent, a determined heat to his eyes. His face was scarily human in the presence of his enemy. Corinna took her last few steps and snapped her hand down on the blade of Alastar’s sword.
The Rose Chateau Page 33
