Swallowing hard, I nodded. My heart hammered in my chest for a million different reasons, and for none at all.
“The first time I took your hand, that night in the stables shortly after I came home, did you feel anything…” He paused and considered his words. “Unusual?”
My face heated at the memory. “I…” Words disappeared as quickly as they formed in my head. “Unusual?” My voice cracked on the question, embarrassing me further.
His eyes lit up. “You did feel it, didn’t you?” he said, suddenly excited. “Like this.” He pressed our palms together, his familiar, tingling warmth immediately shooting up my arm.
“This is how I know, Rae,” he said as his dark eyes pulled at my gaze. “This is how I know how lucky I am to have found you. No one else eases my heart with nothing more than their presence. No one else can warm me with a single touch.”
Stunned beyond rational thought, I struggled to speak. “But… Is this not how everyone feels around you? I assumed it was simply in your nature.”
Lowering our hands, he entwined our fingers. “My godmother, Aurelia, she used to tell me stories. Once, she spoke of twin souls, two who were made to match. I asked her how it was possible to know such a thing, as the idea of missing that was far more terrifying to me than her stories about dragons and trolls. Do you know what she said to me?”
I was far past retaining the ability to speak at that point, and I shook my head, mute.
“Warmth on the coldest of nights. Courage in the face of any fear. Drawn to one another as though all of humanity has vanished. All of those things, Rae, this is what you are to me. Will you tell me true? Am I alone in these feelings?”
In my heart, a battle between hope and fear tore at me. Twin souls? The idea seemed ridiculous, and yet, everything he said felt true. I couldn’t lie to him, but the thought of being that close to someone…
“Why are you crying?” he whispered as he brushed a tear from my cheek.
I hadn’t known I was. Closing my eyes against the desperation in his gaze, I tried to think clearly.
“Am I alone in this?”
I exhaled slowly, gently shaking my head. “You… you are not alone.”
His hands lifted, gently encircling my face. I stared up into his eyes, watching as he inched closer to me. My pulse raced. My lungs constricted. A sudden, primal fear blasted through my head as images of another man contorted his features.
“I can’t!” I said, breaking away and standing, turning my back to him as I trembled. “I cannot do this. Please.” Unshed tears gripped my throat in a vice, painfully holding me hostage.
He stood behind me, lightly touching my back. “Rae, why—”
I shrugged off his hand and stepped away, back towards the house. “Please. If you care for me…” Taking a deep breath, it was all I could do not to run. “Please just let me go.”
Hurrying back, I took the stairs to my room two at a time. I did not want to see his eyes full of sadness. Even more, I didn’t want him to know how I came to be so broken a creature, unable to stand a man anywhere close to me. To be looked at with pity…
I could not bear that from him.
Chapter 10
Shortly before midnight, I was awoken by unsettling feelings. Something was amiss, but I couldn’t determine what. Looking around in the dark, neither Farah nor Belinda were in their beds, and low voices drifted up from the floorboards.
Cautiously, I crept downstairs to see what was happening.
“Give them some time, Leo,” Adelaide said. “They’re searching every mirror in the palace for the most helpful one.”
“What are you doing?” I said from the stairs, pulling my wrap tighter around me.
Farah looked up at me from her seat on the floor to the left of the fireplace, her golden brown hair dancing at her shoulders, every part of her burnished gold in the light. “Building a strategy,” she said softly, then extended a hand to pull me down beside her. “They’re searching the mirrors of the palace for hints about what he intends to do.”
Looking around, all my sisters were gathered in the common room, focused intently on the rectangular mirror between Clarice and Delphine. Prince Leopold sat cross-legged to one side, and I jumped a little when I caught his gaze. Flushing in the firelight, I looked away.
“Focus, Leo,” Delphine said, not taking her eyes from the mirror. “You must guide us in this. Worry about the rest later.”
He straightened immediately and returned his attention to the looking glass.
“The study in the west wing, second floor, eight doors down on the right,” he said. “He takes meetings there.”
From where I sat, I saw nothing but a faint glow on the mirror’s surface. My sisters pressed their fingertips along the edges of the glass, bent over it, and exhaled in low, warm breaths, clouding the reflection. They remained there, hovering over the scrying mirror, for a very long time. I knew enough to keep quiet for these workings, lest any noise disturb their magic. Whatever the mirror showed, Prince Leopold shared the vision, his eyes taking on a hazy quality as he stared at scenes transpiring on the other side and listened to conversations that took place days or weeks prior.
Suddenly, all three jerked backwards, my sisters shaking with fear. Alarmed, I rushed to Clarice, taking her hand. Rarely had I seen her so afraid, her pale complexion drained of what little color she possessed.
“What’s happened?” I said. “What did you see?”
She shook her head, terrified. “It is not what we saw, dearest one.” Clarice trembled in my arms, and I held her tightly. “It is that now he has seen us.”
I froze. “What? Who?”
“My stepfather,” the prince said as he stared at the mirror from afar. “His eyes looked right through me. He knows I’m alive.”
“And us as well,” Delphine said as she hugged her knees. “He’s seen us and knows we live.”
In that moment, I realized how bad this was for all of us. Once Alder had a quarry in mind, he refused to let it go. So long as my sisters and I lived, we threatened his claim to the throne of Bern.
Prince Leopold rested his forehead against the palms of his hands. “I’m so sorry I’ve brought this on you all. If I’d seen his true nature sooner…”
Delphine laid a hand on his arm. “This isn’t your fault. The evil in that man knows no bounds. You had as much control over this as we had our own situation ten years ago.”
“But you lived in peace until I brought him to your doorstep,” he said as he looked at my sister. “Had Rae not interfered on my behalf, you would still be safe.”
Erata leaned forward in her chair, eyes narrowed. “But you’d be dead, and a second kingdom would fall to his wickedness. We’ve sat idly for long enough. Together, perhaps we can bring an end to him for good.”
“But how?” I asked. “We’ve no allies but each other, and we’ve never attempted anything like that. I’ve caught a glimpse of that man’s magic, and that alone we might be able to fight between the seven of us, but what of those who defend him? He’s surrounded himself with nobles both of Bern and Sericea, not to mention the troops in Bern at his disposal, to further his pursuit of power. We have no army to counter that.”
“Actually,” Prince Leopold said, a spark of hope in his eyes when he looked at me. “We might.”
“What?” I scrunched up my face, confused. “What army is that?”
He stood and paced the floor as he spoke, as though he were thinking out loud. “I spent four years with the Sericean army. I built solid relationships with the commanders and the regular servicemen alike. If I call upon them, I know where their loyalty would fall. They loved their queen dearly, and I fought alongside them. They will remember, and they will help us.”
“But can you be sure?” Belinda asked. “Men can be like magpies, always drawn to the next shiny thing.”
“They remember who treated them well and saved them from needless battles,” he said. “They’re good men, loyal men.
The fate of the kingdom rests in their hands. They won’t let it go without a fight.” He stopped pacing and faced us. “If you fight with me, I’ll see you restored as Bern’s rightful rulers. You’ll never have to fear him again.” Looking at each of my sisters in turn, he stopped when he found me last. “I swear on my life you will know peace.”
There was no doubt in my mind he meant every word. If it was within his power to do so, my sisters and I would be princesses of Bern once more.
“You know the game is outside the bounds of the wards,” I said to Adelaide. “And you wish for us to stray beyond that safety for the sake of meat at dinner?”
She yawned, exhausted. “Supplies are needed for the journey, and we must prepare for that. I don’t like it any more than you do, but there’s nothing for it.”
“But couldn’t Belinda—”
“I couldn’t ask her to call an animal to slaughter, Rae,” she said. “You know how that pains her.”
“She understands the circle of life as well as any other,” I said with a grimace. “She’s asked for volunteers to help preserve us before.”
Adelaide nodded. “Yes, but the need was very great then, and she wept a full day over it. Better to not involve her if it can be helped.”
“Very well,” I said, pushing away from the table. “I’ll leave shortly and return when I’ve plenty for all. Perhaps there’s deer nearby, drawn by your greenery.”
“I should think so. Best take Leo with you to help carry. Perhaps find him materials for a new bow, as he’s without that now.”
“Take him outside the wards? Don’t you think—”
She silenced me with an impatient look. “The rest of us have chores to do, and you’ll need his strength. No more arguments. Off with you.”
Summarily dismissed, I skulked from the kitchen. Donning my cloak and taking my rope, bow, and quiver, I stepped outside to collect the prince that had brought me nothing but trouble and bothersome feelings since I met him.
I came to an abrupt halt a mere ten steps from the door. Down to his tunic and breeches, the prince hefted an axe, bringing it down with a mighty blow to split a log in two. The morning sunlight glinted off the sweat on his brow, his muscles visibly moving through the thin fabric of his shirt as he repositioned a piece to split again. Transfixed by his graceful movements, it took me a moment to find my voice, at last clearing my throat when he’d finished with the log.
“You’ll need to get your things for a hunt this morning,” I said when he turned to me. “We’ll collect items for a new bow as well.”
He studied me for several seconds, but didn’t argue, instead leaning the axe against the house before going inside. He returned shortly, fully dressed and cloaked, his sword hanging loosely at his side.
“Where are we going?” he asked as we headed towards the boundary of the ward.
“Ready for another brush with magic?” I said. “Most animals steer clear of this property, so we need to go past the ward to hunt.”
“I suppose if I made it through before, I can manage again. It’s easier to bear in your presence.”
Frowning a little, I kept my gaze trained on the path we walked. Charging through the ward was considerably less difficult at the touch of his hand, but saying as much felt like admitting defeat. I’d done everything on my own for so long, outside assistance was a betrayal to my own abilities. And relying on a man…
No. My strength allowed me to help others while giving me freedom to control my own destiny.
At the edge of the ward, he stopped. Turning to him, I tried to offer him some reassurance. “It’s less difficult going out than in,” I said. “There’s immense relief at leaving the perceived danger, rather than terror at charging into it. You’ll be all right.”
The prince took a deep breath and readied himself to run. “Shall we then?”
“On my count.” I turned back to the unseen field before us. “Three… Two… One!”
We sprinted through the ward, immediate fear propelling us onward, followed by comfort the farther we ran. Once clear of the spell, we paused to catch our breath after the quarter-mile sprint.
“See?” I said between gulps of air. “Much easier.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Easier, but still highly unpleasant.”
Barely allowing him time to recover, I headed deeper into the woods, bow at the ready.
“Are we safe out here?” he asked. “Does King Alder require a mirror to—”
“You mustn’t!” I hissed at him, but too late. I rubbed at my forehead with the back of my hand. “Do not so much as whisper it outside the wards. He has ways to hear when an enemy speaks his name.” I looked around, but not even a bird was in sight. Still, that meant little. Even trees and insects could share secrets. “And no, we aren’t completely safe. We need to move quickly.”
After a good half-hour of silently trudging through the woods, I cast him a glance. I felt badly for reprimanding him so harshly, as he had little knowledge about magical workings.
“Winters are hard out here,” I whispered, easing into conversation, “but Adelaide alleviates them some for the animals with patches of greenery. We should be able to find a sapling for a bow and potentially a deer or two nearby. It might be tough, but there could be flax to make the cord as well. Stay alert. I don’t want to be out here longer than needed.”
We crept through the underbrush until we came to the first clearing. He sucked in a gasp as he took in the sudden appearance of green grass and flowers blooming as though spring were fading into summer. The place was shielded from the chill of winter thanks to Erata’s conversations with the winds, keeping the worst of the weather from touching the small haven. Remnants of the hot spring trickled through on the far side, but only a solitary rabbit lingered there.
“We might be too close to the ward still. Animals spook easily and might be farther out than this,” I said, not at all hopeful about our prospects.
“Or,” he said, lifting his hand into a beam of sunlight breaking through the leaves above. “Perhaps if we wait a while, we’ll have some luck.”
Remaining in any one place for long sat ill with me, but a good hunter was a patient hunter. “Possible, but we’ll need to conceal ourselves.” I scanned the trees, looking for an ideal spot. Crossing the clearing, I stared up into the branches of a large maple. “This should do well,” I said, turning to him. “Would you give me a boost?”
“It would be my pleasure,” he said with a flourishing bow before sinking to a knee before me. He looked up at me, smiling, and offered his hand.
Spirits take him, my heart hammered as though he offered me far more than a step up into a tree. With a frown, I took his hand and set a boot against his thigh, launching myself up to grab the lowest branch. Two good swings, and I curled a leg over, pulling myself into a seated position. I untied the rope around my waist, letting it fall to my ankles. One strong knot later, and Prince Leopold had a means to join me as I took to a higher branch.
From our perches, there was little to do but wait. Even quiet conversation could spook an animal. It seemed that no matter how much rest I got, I was always tired after nearly seven months of little sleep and endless work. Eventually, I dozed with my back up against the wide trunk of the tree.
The snap of a twig jarred me, and I sat up so abruptly I nearly fell. Bow at the ready, I scanned the area for the source of the noise.
When I saw him, my stomach leapt into my throat.
Prince Leopold crept across the clearing, entranced. A break in the clouds allowed a wide beam of sunlight to shine directly on a patch of ground. There, flax as golden as a crown swayed in a gentle breeze, tempting him onwards, but I knew it for what it was.
As quickly as I could, I clambered from my branch, sliding down the rope to the ground. I ran for him, calling a warning for him to stop, but he didn’t so much as pause. The world slowed to a crawl as I stretched out, my legs pumping through the immovable jelly of time.
&nb
sp; He reached, grabbing a handful of the thin stems. Instantly, the flax sprang to life, entwining his arms, pulling him closer. Struggling with my cloak, I fumbled for my knife. Barely a strangled shout escaped him before the golden flax wrapped itself around his neck.
Giving up on the knife, I ripped the prince’s sword from its sheath at his belt and hefted it high above my head. I tore through the murderous plants in a single swing, but I hacked and slashed until Prince Leopold rolled free, gasping and choking in the grass. I dropped the sword and fell to my knees beside him, turning him over to see if he was still breathing.
“Speak to me,” I said, my hands clearing the remaining strands of flax from his throat. “Leo, say something.”
Still coughing, he reached up, lightly brushing my face with his fingertips. “Twice over now,” he said hoarsely. “I owe you my life.”
I covered my face with trembling hands and sank back on my haunches. “You stupid man. What were you thinking? You could have… You could have been…”
My voice gave out on me, and I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. The terror of the moment became suddenly, violently real, and I shook as I realized how close he’d come to death.
He pushed himself to sitting and pulled my hands from my face. “I may be stupid, but I’m lucky. You weren’t too late, Rae. You’ve bested him again.”
“Had I warned you before about speaking his name, I wouldn’t have needed to. It was a careless mistake. I assume too much.”
Touching my chin briefly, he smiled when I met his eyes. “You carry too much weight on your shoulders. Let me bear at least some responsibility for my foolishness.”
“It’s the duty of the wise to guide and protect the ignorant,” I said.
“Did your father teach you that?”
I shook my head. “I was little more than a baby when he died. My mother taught my sisters and me.”
“I think she would be very proud of you.”
I shrugged. “Perhaps. I accept my failures, but I wonder if I live up to what she wanted her daughters to be.”
Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) Page 10
