Next to it was another room. As I pulled back the heavy, emerald-green curtains that separated the rooms, I gasped. The room beside the bathroom was just as large and filled from top to bottom with some of the most beautiful clothes, slippers, and boots that I had ever seen. I looked up and down at the endless rows of clothes. They were just too beautiful and all my size. There were gorgeous silk dresses, exquisitely adorned with flowers, butterflies and vines and stunning pale chiffon dresses, which were worn with long fitted coats that were buttoned down the front but slit open from the waist, so that the swirling chiffon could be seen.
I ventured further into the vast closet, touching all the clothes with the tips of my fingers as I admired the wonders I had just discovered. I had never seen such wonderfully crafted, soft leather boots. Some were for riding and others were daintier and could be worn under dresses. There were also riding clothes, breeches, and long-sleeved doublets specially made for women. Plainly put, it was everything that I could ever need if I lived here.
“The duke will be expecting you in the great hall soon, milady,” said Herring.
I was so taken aback by everything that I didn’t have time to process all that had happened. It was only when I soaked my tired body in the huge bathtub that I thought about what this all meant.
Everything had changed. This wasn’t like going off to boarding school or to college. There were no rules to follow, no way to know if what I was doing was right. Who to trust? Who should I stay away from? My granduncle seemed nice enough, and later that night I would be meeting other members of my father’s family, my aunt Serena and young cousin Erien.
I wondered if they would they like me. Was Uncle Gabriel going to tell them I was a fae-mage?
There were just too many things to think about, so I quickly got out of the tub, dried myself off with a thick and extremely soft muslin cloth that Herring had given me as a towel, and hurriedly dressed myself in a simple, rose-pink silk gown. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever owned.
Avalonia didn’t seem so bad after all, I thought, as I studied myself in the mirror. I had let Herring have her way with my hair since she insisted on doing it up for me. She had seemed distraught that I wanted to do my own hair and dress myself. I was pleased that I had let her do it in the end; it made a real difference to my appearance.
The rose-pink dress fit me perfectly, and it was bound about my waist with a thick gold sash weighted on the ends with real rubies. My dark hair, usually straggly and tied roughly in a ponytail, was washed and combed and held back from my face with elegant pins, and small, white flowers had been artfully woven into it.
I could hardly recognize myself.
Aunt Serena came to see me in my room. She was tall and beautiful with warm blue eyes and long hair the color of fresh honey. She immediately came up to me and hugged me fiercely, then looked me up and down and hugged me again. I have to say I was secretly happy with all the attention.
“I’m so glad that the clothes fit you,” she said warmly. “My father kept my whole room and wardrobe intact when I got married. None of it fits me now, so I’m happy someone can make use of it.”
“Thank you, Aunt Serena,” I said. “The clothes are really beautiful. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all, my dear,” she said, giving me a big hug. “That’s what family is for.”
I was touched. She had only known me for a few minutes, but Aunt Serena treated me so kindly.
“My father told me what happened to you,” said Aunt Serena in a softer voice, after she had dismissed Herring. She looked at me in wonder. “I can’t believe it, Azaren and Elayna’s daughter, and a fae-mage on top of it all. My father was right, you do look a lot like Azaren.”
I smiled at that. Aunt Serena was cheery and warm. She seemed a wonderful person, and I already felt quite at home.
“Well, it appears that you have been a busy little lady since you got here,” said Aunt Serena, smiling and putting her arm around my shoulders. “Father says your story is very intriguing. You can tell me all about it while we go down for supper.”
I nodded and accompanied Aunt Serena down the castle corridors to the main hall where a feast was being held.
The great hall was massive and filled with people. Long wooden tables and benches lay interspaced across the room. The hall was packed to bursting point, and raucous laughter and the clink and tinkle of plates and mugs filled the air. There were people eating and talking, and a scruffy looking group of musicians were playing a lively melody in one corner of the vast room.
I followed Aunt Serena to the other end of the hall, where a wooden dais stood. Uncle Gabriel was already there. Sitting next to him, on his left, were two men I had never seen before, and the duke introduced them to me.
First I met Lord Larney, the thin one who looked like a crow. He had oily, black hair, which was thinning at the temples, and his nose was pointy and reminded me of a beak. The second man, who had not looked up from his food, was Sir Gothero, and I thought that he looked like a fat, angry toad. His face was red and splotchy, and he ate his food with his hands, oblivious to the droplets of sauce dribbling down his massive double chin.
I disliked them both at first sight.
Uncle Gabriel introduced me as his ward, who had come to visit from another kingdom. He had explained to me earlier that no one must know who I really was. The two men got up and bowed, first to Aunt Serena.
“My lady,” said the one who looked like a crow, in a slick voice. The fat, toad-like fellow mumbled something incoherent and planted a sloppy kiss on Aunt Serena’s hand. She had to discreetly wipe it on her skirt. Aunt Serena nodded at them and sat down on her father’s right, with me seated next to her.
I smiled and nodded at the two already drunk men. They didn’t seem to be too interested in me, and I was thankful for that.
I glanced at Uncle Gabriel. He had given up listening to the ramblings of the insipid Lord Larney, and was busy eating his food, spearing the contents of his plate with a small, sharp dagger.
I looked down at my plate. I was famished, and Aunt Serena had piled my plate with everything that the blue-and-gold-liveried pages were serving. It included small game pies with golden crusts, fresh breads, sliced meat, and cheeses that were quite different from those I had eaten before, but nonetheless quite delicious. There was a fish dish in a citrus sauce, roast duck and venison with some delicious looking vegetables, and a whole roast boar, which was carried through the hall by four plate bearers. I wondered how I was possibly going to eat so much food, but I was quite happy to give it my best shot.
Suddenly, a handsome young boy, slightly older than me, arrived huffing and puffing. His fine, blond hair kept flopping onto his face as he pushed it away irritably only to have it fall back into his heavy-lashed, blue eyes all over again.
“Sorry I’m late, Mother,” he said and sat down next to me.
Aunt Serena gave him a fierce look. “And where have you been, young man?”
My blond cousin laughed jovially. “Oh, just catching up with some old friends,” he said, as he started eating immediately.
“Can you at least have the decency to greet our guest before you stuff your face?” said Aunt Serena, softly but sternly to Erien.
He turned, embarrassed. “Greetings. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady,” said Erien formally, suddenly remembering his manners.
So this was my cousin Erien? He was tall and lanky, but he ate like a big, burly man. I smiled back at him. I was not sure if Aunt Serena had told him who I was, so I didn’t say much.
Aunt Serena just shot him a withering look. Erien probably thought the admonishment was over, but I had seen that look before. That was the same look my adoptive mother gave me when she was in company and couldn’t shout at me. Poor Erien was going to get an earful after dinner, I was sure of that.
It was a dark night, and storm clouds thundered above the castle as I hurried down long stone hallways after dinner, search
ing for my room. I wished I had asked someone to show me the way instead of wandering aimlessly through the corridors for an hour, trying to find it myself.
I made a few turns that turned out to be dead ends or locked doors, when I noticed a figure crouching near one of the doors at the end of the corridor. The door was ajar, and the figure was obviously spying on someone.
My heart started hammering in my chest, and I inched closer to try and glimpse who it was. Suddenly, the figure turned just as lightning flashed outside. I breathed a sigh of relief; it was Erien. But what was he doing listening at open doors?
He waved me over and put his finger to his lips. I moved closer and crouched beside him, listening.
“I told you, Gothero, we must inform the duke,” a voice I didn’t recognize said.
“He will throw us in the dungeon as soon as he knows,” said Gothero, his deep voice distinctive. “We cannot defy Morgana; Lucian will hunt us down. It’s better we do what she wants. Silverthorne will forgive us eventually.”
“Dead men don’t forgive.”
“I was joking,” said Gothero.
“Well, it’s not funny,” the other man said.
I moved closer to Erien and the door. Candlelight flickered and I could see into part of the room. Gothero was sitting at a table holding what looked like a small green bottle, and Lord Larney was pacing up and down the room, quite visibly upset at the whole situation.
“Morgana is paying us very well,” said Gothero, putting the green bottle down on the table in front of him. “All we have to do is make sure the duke drinks this. He will be dead by morning, and we will live in comfort for the rest of our lives.”
Erien slid his sword out of its sheath, and I tried to grab his hand to prevent him from doing something stupid, but he jumped up before I could stop him.
“Erien, no,” I whispered, in my last attempt to hold him back.
“Traitors,” shouted Erien as he rushed into the room, brandishing his sword at the two startled men.
I ran into the room after him. “Erien, please be sensible,” I said, trying to calm the situation. What was he thinking? He should have called someone instead of rushing into the room like that. If these men were contemplating killing the duke, they must be very dangerous, and there was no telling what they might do.
Gothero laughed and got up from his chair. “What are you going to do about it, boy?” he said, unsheathing his sword as he moved—which was surprisingly fast for a man of his size.
Erien stopped and prepared to defend himself. The other man, Lord Larney, was inching towards me on the other side, his sword already in hand. I looked around, frantically searching for some sort of weapon I could use to defend myself.
“I will make sure you hang for this,” said Erien to the traitors.
“You and whose army?” Gothero sneered, inching closer towards us.
“I don’t really think they need one,” said a familiar voice behind me.
Larney’s and Gothero’s eyes widened at the sight of the person behind us. I didn’t turn; I didn’t need to. I knew exactly who it was.
“The Black Wolf, here! In the castle?” said Larney, recognizing him. “How? Where are the guards?”
Erien laughed when he saw Rafe. “Looks like you two might as well give yourselves up now,” he said to the traitors.
“Put down your swords,” said Rafe, coming up to stand beside me, “and you might get a fair trial.”
“You can’t do anything to us,” said Lord Larney, slowly moving backwards. “You’re an outlaw, wanted by the queen.”
“She’s not my queen,” said Rafe, inching closer and repositioning himself slightly to shield me from them.
“Catch him. Morgana will reward us well for capturing the Black Wolf,” said Gothero, glancing at his companion.
But before they could decide what to do, Rafe raised both his hands in front of him. Two bolts of white light shot out of his palms and hit the traitors in the chest. They collapsed on the white stone floor, in disheveled heaps.
“Are they . . . ?” I said, hesitant to finish my sentence.
“Dead? No,” said Rafe, walking further into the room and bending down to bind the wrists of the fallen man. “They are merely stunned.”
“So will they be all right?” I asked.
“Well, enough to stand trial, that’s for sure,” Erien answered, walking up to Rafe and helping him. Rafe finished tying up the men, got up, and clasped Erien’s forearm in greeting.
“It’s good to have you back in Silverthorne Castle, my friend. What brings you to these parts?” said Erien with a genuine smile on his face.
“I came by to see if the young lady got here safely,” said Rafe, glancing at me.
“Ah, yes, Mother mentioned that you found her and sent her to us,” said Erien. “You must tell me all about your adventures while you’re here.”
“I’m afraid I can’t stay long,” said Rafe. “People will recognize me soon enough. I’m sure the Lady Aurora will regale you with stories of our daring escape.” He smiled at me, and I knew I was blushing.
Erien laughed. “I look forward to it. But right now I’ll go and get Captain Declan to remove these men to the dungeons until my grandfather decides what to do with them.”
“I should leave before he gets here,” said Rafe with a grin. “I don’t think the captain of the guard likes me very much.”
“Probably a good idea,” said Erien, chuckling and running off to summon the guards.
Rafe came over to stand in front of me. “We should get out of here before the guards come to take away the prisoners.”
I nodded. “Thank you for saving me once again,” I said, smiling up at him.
“It seems to have become a new job of mine,” Rafe said, his lips quirking up in a suppressed smile.
I laughed at that. “Sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be. I’m not complaining,” said Rafe, winking at me and walking out of the room where the two stunned men were tied up.
I smiled and followed him into the shadowy corridor where half-burned torches lined the white stone walls. The thunder had abated, and shafts of muted moonlight sauntered in through the massive windows.
“Come,” said Rafe, “I will escort you to your room.”
“But I don’t know where it is,” I said, biting my lip and feeling very silly as I said it.
He stopped walking. “So how were you planning to get to your room tonight?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
“I just thought I would find someone who would be able to tell me where it is,” I said, trying to explain my apparent stupidity but failing miserably. “But then I got lost and saw Erien spying on those men, and, well, you know the rest.”
Rafe started laughing, a deep, warm sound. “You really are very amusing, Aurora. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun as I have since I was fortunate enough to stumble across you in Oblek’s dungeon.”
“Fun!” I said. “Are you mad? I’ve been almost killed three times since yesterday, and you think it’s fun?”
Rafe nodded. “Except for the Shadow Guard in the forest, you weren’t really in much danger. Oblek’s guards are useless, and Larney and Gothero are fools. I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you, Aurora,” he said, more seriously. “I really wish you would trust me.”
“I do trust you, Rafe,” I said. “It’s just that there is so much that has happened, I really don’t know where to start.”
“I met with your granduncle when I got here,” said Rafe as we resumed walking, “and he told me what he discovered about you.”
“He did?” I said.
Rafe nodded. “Your granduncle knows that your secret is safe with me.”
I was surprised. Uncle Gabriel had expressly told me not to tell anyone who I was. Secretly I was relieved that I didn’t have to lie to him.
“What will happen to Larney and Gothero?” I asked.
“It depends on your granduncle,” said Rafe, “but I susp
ect they will be made examples of and hanged as traitors.”
“Hanged!” I was horrified. “But they didn’t actually kill him, they were only planning to.”
“Yes,” said Rafe, “but what if they had succeeded? This way it will deter anyone from trying to plot against the duke again.”
I was unsettled. The justice system here was swift and cruel. One mistake, and you could be hanged the next day. Not that I didn’t think what they did was wrong, and they should be locked up and made to pay for their crimes. But hanging? I thought it was a bit harsh.
Rafe stopped outside a stout oak door. “The kitchen is through here,” said Rafe. “I’m sure you will manage to find someone to show you where your room is.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved.
“I will take your leave now, Aurora,” said Rafe.
“You’re going right now?” I asked tentatively.
Rafe nodded. “I cannot take the risk of anyone seeing me. Although most here are loyal to the Duke, there are also those who would sell me out to Morgana in a heartbeat.”
“Who are you really?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Rafe grinned. “It’s better that you don’t know for now,” he said.
“Better for whom?” I asked, crossing my arms across my chest. He was really good at evading questions about himself. He now knew everything about me, who I was, and that I was a fae-mage, but I knew absolutely nothing about him. “How come you’re always in the right place at the right time?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Just luck, I guess,” he said nonchalantly, but his eyes held a trace of humor.
He still hadn’t answered any of my questions, and my mind started wandering.
“How did you get here so fast?” I asked. “I just got here this morning, and I was traveling on a flying horse. Kalen said it would take five to seven days to travel over the mountains.”
“There are shortcuts through the mountains if you know where to look,” said Rafe, smiling mysteriously.
The Last of the Firedrakes Page 10
