Sitnalta reached the stables but found no one around. Frustrated, she climbed into the loft and lay down. The sweet smell of hay blended with the horses’ musky scent. Her long blue hair mingled with the golden hay, and sunbeams danced through the slats of the roof to sparkle in her amethyst eyes. She felt drowsy, but peaceful as well. Every breath warmed her from head to toe, and she closed her eyes.
She dreamed of freedom and of faraway lands, of lost cities and treasures. In each of these visions, her mother was the heroine. Tall and strong, she would come and rescue her daughter, taking her on wild adventures. They were strong warrior women, whom no one told what to do. These were the secret dreams of Sitnalta. Dreams she could never share with another living soul. Not even her beloved Aud.
In her dreams, she and her mother ruled a magical kingdom at the bottom of the ocean, with tall golden buildings that reached towards the surface. They had gotten there after a daring escape from Colonodona, during which her mother had disguised herself as a foreign male delegate who actually wore trousers in the castle! The Queen had kidnapped her Sitnalta and scaled the castle walls on a rope ladder. Together, they had spirited away into the night, swimming for their new home after reaching the beach by moonlight.
Loud footsteps jolted Sitnalta out of her reverie. She stood up and dove behind a haystack, listening carefully to the footsteps, trying to determine if she could safely reveal herself. Two people, she thought, one big, and the other scared and walking fast to keep up. Sitnalta held her breath. If they were the two stable boys then she’d be fine. Harold and Jess were her friends. They would gladly play, or let her help them with the horses. But anyone older would surely disapprove of her being in the stables and tell Aud, meaning Sitnalta would be in for another long lecture. But it could not be her friends. The leading steps were much too loud and sure-footed for it to be them. She decided to stay hidden.
“I want you to take this summons to King Gerald of Sarrin immediately,” a voice said. Sitnalta froze to her spot. She knew that voice—she’d feared from a very young age. Her father had entered the stables. His words were followed by the sound of a scroll being slapped roughly into an open palm.
“Y-y-yes, Sire.” Sitnalta heard a second voice say. Sitnalta recognized it as well, in spite of its quivering with fear. It was Jess, and he sounded petrified. It sounded as if her father was sending Jess on an errand, but to where, and for what? In spite of herself, Sitnalta was curious.
Jess continued speaking. “But, Sire, what if King Gerald wants to know what this is about before opening it? What should I tell him?”
Sitnalta heard a sharp intake of breath, as if Jess was bracing himself for a hard blow from the heavy-handed ogre king. She prayed her friend would not be hurt. But no blow came, and both she and Jess let out mutual sighs of relief.
Supmylo’s voice took on a sneering quality. “Just tell him that my letter contains the terms of my daughter’s dowry. I’m sure that the feeble old fool will consider them more than satisfactory.”
Sitnalta felt a wave of nausea cascade over her.
“Now take the white mare and go,” Supmylo snarled.
Sitnalta shifted in her position to peer around the hay. Surely, Jess would not run this errand—he would not see her sold off to a feeble old man? But she watched Jess assemble his tack and saddle on the mare, and ride out of sight. She swallowed hard, and watched her father stroll out of the stable, apparently confident that he had just acquired a royal son-in-law.
Sitnalta crept out of the loft and left the stable, not even bothering to acknowledge the horses. She didn’t care that her carefully combed hair was now fully tangled, with bits of straw poking out in all directions. She cared even less about what Aud would say upon seeing her in this state. Sitnalta’s mind reeled from what she had just heard. Marriage? Her? But she was barely fifteen! And from what she’d heard, this King Gerald sounded like the last man she would even consider marrying! All her life she had dreamed of princes and romance. She’d dreamed of marrying for love, not being sold off to the man with the largest piece of land. Sitnalta resolved that she would not stand for this. She would not sit back and let her father sacrifice her life. But how could she escape this fate? She had to think of something—and fast.
Chapter Two
Sitnalta entered her room a tattered and filthy mess. Aud heard her and bustled in, gritting her teeth at the girl’s disheveled appearance. Sitnalta paid no heed to her caregiver’s agitation. She made no sound upon being placed into a tub of scalding bathwater, nor did she complain while her hair was roughly brushed free of tangles. It was only when she was being buttoned into her dress in preparation for dinner that she broke her silence.
“Aud, sweet Aud, dear darling Aud,” she intoned.
Aud merely grunted in reply.
“Beloved, wonderful Aud,” Sitnalta continued.
“I do not know what exactly you have in mind, but I want no part in it!” Aud snapped.
Sitnalta looked into the mirror at her reflection. Her shiny hair flowed down her back in waves. She wore a silky, sky blue dress; its bodice studded with pearls. She looked every bit a princess, and would have been stunning, if she had been smiling. But, instead, dark eyes glared out from an angry, sullen face. She turned and locked eyes with Aud.
“I don’t want to go down to dinner,” Sitnalta said.
Aud frowned. “You know the rules, Princess. Every night you must join the King for dinner. I know you do not like it,” or him, she added to herself, “but there is no getting out of it.”
Sitnalta stalked over to her bed and sat down heavily. She gazed down upon her hands, which were folded in her lap. “Aud, if I ask you something, will you answer me truthfully?” Sitnalta looked up expectantly.
Aud glanced around hesitantly, then sat on the edge of the bed, and stroked Sitnalta’s hair. “What’s bothering you, child? Tell me.”
“Did my mother want to marry my father?” Sitnalta asked, peering at Aud.
Aud sighed, and was quiet, unsure of how to handle the question.
“Answer me, Aud,” pleaded Sitnalta.
“Truthfully—no—she did not,” Aud confessed.
“Then why on did she marry him?” Sitnalta asked.
“It’s complicated.”
Sitnalta glared at Aud in frustration. “I am not a baby anymore,” she said evenly. “I can understand things. If you don’t tell me, I will just find out somewhere else. You know how stubborn I can be. Tell me Aud. Please tell me.”
Aud closed her eyes, resigned to grant the Princess her request. “She married him because she was a princess, and she had a duty to her people,” Aud began slowly. “The marriage was supposed to bring her parents’ kingdom the peace and prosperity they sorely needed.”
Sitnalta encouraged her to continue, and Aud released her burdens unto the young Princess. Sitnalta finally understood the circumstances surrounding her parents’ marriage. From stories she’d overheard as a child, Sitnalta had envisioned a Queen of unsurpassed kindness and beauty. But she had never known why someone so pure, and good, would be wed to the monster Supmylo.
The story took a long time to tell, but finally Aud reached the conclusion—Sitnalta’s birth. By the time Aud had finished speaking, the gong had sounded for dinner, and Sitnalta had to run to the dining hall so she would not be late. As she watched the Princess rush off down the hall, Aud felt a weight settle around her heart.
“I hope I was right to tell her the truth,” she whispered to herself. “She needed to know. I know she did, but I hope she can live with it. She is a strong girl. I just hope she is strong enough.”
Chapter Three
Supmylo sat in his place at the head of the table. He had already emptied his goblet of wine three times, and was halfway through his soup before Sitnalta arrived for the meal. She entered the room as quietly as she could and sat in her place to the right of her father. She picked up her spoon and began to eat in her most ladylike manner.
&nb
sp; “What kept you?” he glowered at her angrily.
Sitnalta gritted her teeth at the sound of her father’s voice. She was unsure of how to respond. The conversation she had overheard earlier in the day still weighed heavily on her mind. She did not wish her voice to betray her apprehension.
“I asked you a question, Sitnalta. I expect to be answered.”
“I’m sorry, Father.” Sitnalta tried to keep her voice from shaking. “I got myself quite dirty this afternoon. I—tripped—while walking in the orchard. I thought it best if I cleaned up before dinner. I did not think it fitting to dine with you in the state I was in.” She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that she sounded calm. Supmylo simply snorted in response.
“You have far too much freedom in this castle, Sitnalta, growled Supmylo. “Aud is nowhere near strict enough with you. Princesses should not be in the woods unescorted. It’s decidedly unseemly behavior, and it will not do to have a future queen behaving in such a manner.” He returned his attention to his bowl, “If it happens again that you are late, do not bother coming down to dinner. You simply will not eat that night.”
Sitnalta sat with her head down and stared at her soup. “Yes, Father,” she said quietly.
“What was that?” Supmylo hissed.
“I said, ‘Yes, Father’,” Sitnalta repeated a bit louder.
“That’s better,” said the King, as he went back to his meal.
The rest of the soup course went by in relative silence. When the bowls had been cleared away, and the next course served, Supmylo addressed his daughter once more.
“You will tell Aud that in about a week’s time, she will prepare you in your finest,” he slurped between bites of braised rabbit. “We are having a guest then, and I want you to be at your best.”
Sitnalta felt her heart sink. She knew exactly what he was talking about, but she still did not want to believe it.
“May I ask who is coming?” she ventured. “I imagine Aud would like to know what kind of guest she is preparing me for, so she can do it properly.”
“Tell her King Gerald of Sarrin will be visiting,” replied Supmylo. “I hope Aud can actually make you presentable.”
“Yes, Father.” Sitnalta sat poking at her food, pushing it about her plate, and drawing designs in the sauce. “Why is he coming?” she asked, hesitantly.
“It’s none of your concern, and stop playing with your dinner!” Supmylo reached over and snatched the fork from Sitnalta’s fingers, slamming it down onto the table. She winced in pain, but did not cry out. She knew any sound would encourage him.
“Sorry, Father,” Sitnalta said, removing her hands from the table and placing them on her lap. Her heart raced. She realized, now, that she had but a week before being sold to King Gerald. A week before her father’s kingdom would grow, and she would be trapped in a loveless marriage—just a pretty bauble for a feeble old man. She had to prevent that from happening, but she needed a plan. Unfortunately, her mind was drawing a blank.
Chapter Four
The week flew by too quickly for Sitnalta. The entire staff chaotically prepared the castle for King Gerald’s visit, and she was still at a loss as to what to do about it. Jess had returned with the message that King Gerald would indeed accept Supmylo’s invitation. This meant, Sitnalta assumed, that Gerald also had accepted the terms of her dowry. If the news of his impending arrival was not enough to confirm her beliefs, then the pitying looks she was receiving from Jess and Harold certainly were. Sitnalta could not tolerate their pity. She studiously avoided the stable all week, and all the people associated with it.
Instead, Sitnalta wandered through the orchard, imagining Queen Learsi storming the castle with her soldiers, and sweeping her away to safety. Or, in another dream, King Gerald arrives and Sitnalta discovers that he’s actually her mother in disguise—her impending marriage merely a clever ruse to rescue Sitnalta from the clutches of her former husband, the ogre King Supmylo.
But Sitnalta knew in her heart that these were just dreams, and that the only person who could save her from this mess was herself. Unfortunately, she felt weak, and trapped.
~ ~ ~
The day finally came—King Gerald would arrive at any moment. Sitnalta sat in her room with Aud fixing her hair. Various brushes and combs lay strewn about the room, as Aud tried to make Sitnalta look every inch the Princess she was. Aud peered at her charge in the mirror, and her heart broke when she saw the despair in Sitnalta’s eyes. She twisted yet another braid into the complicated style she was attempting, and secured it with a pearl comb.
“What’s the matter child?” Aud asked.
Sitnalta sighed. She knew that Aud could not help her no matter how much she might want her to. And if Aud tried, Supmylo’s wrath would be harsh and swift. She would not put her beloved Aud in that position. No matter how much she wanted to be able to tell someone her troubles.
“Please, Sitnalta, tell me what’s troubling you,” Aud tried again.
“I just despise these diplomatic affairs,” Sitnalta lied, hoping with all her heart that Aud would believe her. “And, I dislike having to dress up and parade around like some doll on display. It’s just so tedious.”
“Yes . . .” Aud sensed there was more to it then that, but left it alone. She knew that when the Princess wanted to confide in her, she would. “Well, there you are. All ready,” Aud said, putting the finishing touches on the Princess’s hair.
Sitnalta gazed at herself in the mirror and was amazed at the transformation. Aud had braided her glistening hair into tightly wrapped bundles, and tamed it with pearl combs. Her dress was woven from deep purple silk, and it brought out the violet in her exquisite amethyst eyes. Aud had really outdone herself. Sitnalta truly was a sight to see, and she realized with sorrow that King Gerald also would find her so. She sighed once more, and rose to go down to dinner.
The royal dining hall had been thoroughly prepared for King Gerald’s visit. The chandeliers had been highly polished, and the statues cleaned with such vigour that anyone would be hard-pressed to find the smallest speck of dirt on a single one of them. The tapestries had been taken down and beaten, and the floor scrubbed to a lustrous shine. The one thing Sitnalta felt the room lacked was flowers. Her father loathed them with a passion, and would not have a single petal anywhere in his sight. He felt they represented everything that was weak and useless. He preferred to surround himself with symbols of strength and masculinity. Sitnalta surveyed the room, mourning beauty’s absence. Anything that would have made this evening even the tiniest bit more bearable would have been welcome. But comfort was nowhere to be found.
The Princess entered with her head held high, refusing to show anyone how truly scared she was. She saw Supmylo and King Gerald already seated at the table. Gerald was the first to see her enter the room. He rose and bowed in her direction. She curtsied back getting her first look at the man her father had chosen to be her future husband. Sitnalta’s first impression was that he was old enough to be her grandfather. He was stooped and balding with wisps of hair floating atop his head. His posture gave him the appearance that the slightest breeze would topple him in an instant. And yet, his eyes were bright and intelligent. He had an aura of warmth, and Sitnalta was sure that under other circumstances she would have liked this man. She approached the table, and took her seat opposite King Gerald and to the right of King Supmylo. Her father acknowledged her with a nod of his head. A servant approached and filled her goblet, then retreated to the shadows of the room.
“So you are the lovely Princess Sitnalta,” King Gerald addressed her. “Tales of your beauty have reached even my kingdom.”
“Thank you, Sire, though I assure you they are quite untrue,” replied Sitnalta in a low voice.
“My dear, do not be so modest,” said King Gerald, turning to Supmylo. “My lord, your daughter is charming, especially for someone so young. I did not realize—how old is she? She cannot be more than fourteen?”
“Fifteen,” answered
Supmylo. “Though she is older than her years, I assure you.”
“Of course,” said King Gerald hesitantly. “My dear, tell me about yourself.”
“Why, there is not much to tell,” Sitnalta replied, eyes downcast.
“Nonsense. I do not believe you,” he said with a low chuckle. “Tell me everything. What interests you? What do you do here at the castle?”
“Why are you so interested in me?” Sitnalta asked, feigning innocence. “I am sure there are much more interesting things for a man such as yourself to talk about.”
King Gerald laughed at the girl seated across from him. “My dear Princess. Did your father not tell you why I am here?”
Sitnalta shook her head trying to look as innocent and confused as possible, hoping it would seem as if she truly did not know. “No, Sire, he did not.” She turned to look at her father who was smirking into his wine.
“He has arranged for you to become my Queen. You are to be my wife. I cannot believe you were not told any of this.” King Gerald looked startled.
“But I do not love you!” Sitnalta blurted out.
Supmylo choked on his wine. Sitnalta’s eyes flew wide open. She did not believe she had said that. True, it was how she felt, but she knew her father would now be furious. King Gerald, however, found the entire idea highly amusing.
“My dear child,” he said to her. “I did not come here expecting you to love me. I came here to meet you. To get to know you before we wed. I am sure, after the wedding, we shall grow quite fond of each other in time. I am not so bad, I have been told. My first wife once said I could be quite charming if I tried.”
Sitnalta (Sitnalta Series Book 1) Page 2
