“Amáne, it’s Ansel. May I please come in?”
“No, Ansel. I don’t feel well,” which was the truth. Sick to my stomach over the announcement that despicable girl had delivered, I was not ready to face him and accuse him just yet. The pain was still too great. I needed to cope with my grief before I unleashed my wrath upon him.
“Can I get you something, or send the Healer in?”
“No. I just need to be left alone.”
“What’s wrong, Amáne?” A hurt tone in his voice. “You sound angry, not ill. Tell me, did I do something wrong? Are you mad because I couldn’t meet you at the outpost? Please, Amáne.”
I turned my back to the door and didn’t respond. Finally, I heard his footsteps retreat. A fresh batch of tears soaked my bedding.
A while later I was again startled awake with another sharp rap on my door.
“I told you to I wanted to be left alone!” I shouted.
“Mistress Amáne, please open the door this instant. This is the manor guard and you are under arrest.”
“What?” I leaped out of bed and smoothed my crumpled gown that Eulalia had lent me. It was more suitable for a guest at this manor than the two gowns I had brought from Dorsal. I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, then yanked the door open. But not before I’d drawn my dagger and taken a defensive stance.
Sure enough, there at my door were two guards in helmets and breastplates, swords and shields.
What now? I thought, as a weight pressed down on my chest. My mouth went dry, but I succeeded in forcing out the words, “Under arrest? For what?” I threw a silent plea to Eshshah.
“I’m with you Amáne. Please watch your temper. So far it has only been to your detriment.”
“For assaulting a guest,” one of the guards answered as he eyed my dagger. He held out his hand for me to relinquish my blade.
“I didn’t assault anyone.” I said, barely keeping an even tone. I realized that standing before the guards with my weapon drawn did nothing to sway them in my plea of innocence. My shoulders dropped as I handed over my dagger, hilt first.
“Please come with us.”
The two guards waited while I pulled on my boots. I closed the door behind me as I surrendered myself to them. They took an elbow on either side, escorted me to the main corridor, and then we turned left. My knees were weak, but I didn’t show any emotion. Will this nightmare of a day ever end?
Bile rose in my throat as up ahead in the corridor, Kalonice and a woman, who could only be her mother, stood in the doorway of their chambers. Her snide look and superior attitude sparked my rage. I lunged at her and growled. I had no intention of doing anything other than to lunge and scare her. A bit surprised at my unintended growl, I was nevertheless pleased with her reaction. She actually jumped back with a little yelp, and fear showed in her eyes. Her mother matched her actions. The guards tightened their hold on my arms, but did nothing more than to keep me walking past the two women. I looked over my shoulder and gave Kalonice a smug look as she seethed behind me.
We made a few turns and then headed down some stairs. After several flights down, the air began to get damp. My smugness had worn off, replaced by concern. Is there a dungeon here in the manor? Was that where they were taking me? What was the punishment for allegedly assaulting a guest?
They opened a low wooden door and ushered me into a dim and musty room. Then releasing me in front of a long table, they left me standing there. Without a word, they exited and locked the door behind them. I surveyed the room and found myself in a wine cellar. In addition to the table in front of me, and a large chair behind it, the cellar held a great number of wine casks, stacked to the ceiling.
A spigot on one of the barrels had been left partially open and made a splashing sound as its contents dripped steadily onto the dirt floor. It filled the room with the strong fumes of wine.
Uneasiness crept up on me. Finding myself alone, I reverted to my old habit of speaking to Eshshah out loud. “Now what, Eshshah? What kind of a retched situation have I gotten myself into?”
“I am just as baffled as you, Amáne.”
“How could he not tell me?” I tried to keep my voice even, but without much success. “I thought he was my friend. I’m furious — so hurt! I just want to strangle him, or at the very least knock some sense into him — maybe break his nose again.
“Eshshah, I just don’t understand. Regardless of how betrayed I feel, how could he do this to himself? What could he see in that cow that would benefit his throne? It’s a decision I’m sure he’ll regret. Oh, Ansel,” I whispered in despair. I closed my eyes as my heart bled for him ... bled for me.
“At least I don’t have to guard my heart anymore, Eshshah. There’s nothing left of it to give if I even wanted to — which I don’t.” Trying to forget my pain, I forced myself to think about the good of the kingdom. My duty remained to protect Ansel, even from himself. No matter the cost to me. I took a deep breath and made up my mind.
“I can’t let him do this, Eshshah. I have Aperio’s key with me.” This was a key made from a scale of the late dragon, Aperio, whose name meant ‘open.’ It would open any lock by merely repeating the dragon’s name. I kept it on a ribbon around my neck and was never without it. “I’m going to leave here, find him and tell him what a big mistake he’s making. Then I’ll meet you at the Arevale Outpost, even if I have to run all the way there. I wish I was back in Dorsal. This place and everything about this kind of life is not for me. If it wasn’t for the Rider’s Council, we would leave tonight. I’ll tell the Healer that I’m ill, which is the truth, and that I must stay at the outpost until the Council. We can leave right after.”
“Amáne, perhaps you just need a good rest so you can look at things with different eyes.” Eshshah suggested. “You’ve seen too much misfortune lately.”
“No, Eshshah. I’ve made a decision.” I took a deep breath. “It’s my duty. I have to find him and tell him to his face.”
Just then a voice came from the chair behind the table, “What is it exactly that you need to say, Amáne?” I hadn’t noticed that the chair faced the other way. It turned slowly, revealing its occupant.
“Ansel!” I jumped and grabbed the edge of the table as my heart stopped mid-beat. “What — why —” I sputtered but couldn’t get any words to leave my mouth.
His expression, turned from amusement to remorse as my anger took over — of course — and my tongue was loosed.
“Is this some kind of sick joke? Who do you think you are, treating me like this? Like a common criminal. Arrested? Did Kalonice and you plan this together to torture me? I ... I ... can’t even look at you right now, Ansel. I have to leave before I do something I’ll regret.”
I turned and headed for the door.
He jumped up and rushed around the table, repentance in his eyes. “Amáne, I’m sorry. Yes, I had you brought down here so I could talk to you, but —” He came up next to me and reached out. I deflected his arm roughly and shot him a look that warned he’d better not get any closer. He hurriedly continued his explanation, as he rubbed his bruised arm. “You wouldn’t see me when I came to your room, so I thought I would be creative. It was just a little joke.”
“A little joke?” I screamed.
“I received a report that Kalonice had confronted you. She made quite a scene. So, I thought I could use that, and I asked Calder and Avano to pose as guards and bring you down here. I didn’t intend for you to wait long. I was going to turn around sooner. Then you started talking to Eshshah. I’m sorry, I —” he stopped mid-sentence and his eyes and mouth opened at the same time, “— did you think I planned this with Kalonice?” The look on his face after he said her name was like he had just bitten into a worm-infested apple. “Why would I have any reason to do anything with the likes of her?”
His question puzzled me. I almost started to believe that he didn’t know what I was talking about. My fury rose. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I wanted to punch hi
m, or keep making my way to the door.
“Amáne?” He stood there with a bewildered look on his face. Hands out, palms up.
He was good — very convincing. I refused to look into his eyes and see the lie.
My decision made, I spun around and took another step to the door as I retrieved Aperio’s key. Unfortunately, the gown that Eulalia had lent me was too long. My boot caught on the hem and sent me sprawling to the ground. I didn’t bother to get up. Utterly defeated, I stayed in my prone position and sobbed, face down on the dirt floor.
Ansel rushed to my aid and tried to help me up, but I batted him away. After several attempts to get me to sit up and listen to him, he finally gave up and dropped himself down on the ground next to me. He began to stroke my hair, letting me cry while he whispered my name, along with countless apologies, and how heartless he was to pull such a prank.
I didn’t want him to touch me, to soothe me, to even be near me, but I was too traumatized to try to stop him.
After he let me cry for a bit, he said softly, “Please tell me, Amáne, how did I betray you? You know I would rather die than do anything that would ever hurt you. What did that __ say to you?” He used a word that was not in my vocabulary.
I didn’t look up, but kept my face buried in my arm and talked to the dirt floor. “You didn’t tell me about your arrangement.” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word betrothal.
“What arrangement? With whom?” He truly sounded distressed, but I couldn’t trust that assumption.
“Stop the game, Ansel! — With her.”
“Please stop talking in riddles,” he implored, “and just tell me what big mistake I’m about to make. Who’s ‘her?’” Frustration rose in his voice. He struggled to keep an even tone.
“Your betrothal to Kalonice that her mother was negotiating with you when I arrived, and the fact that you will be announcing it at the ball. Did you have to make me say it, Ansel? I didn’t think you were that cruel. I know she’s beautiful and I want you to have a beautiful wife, but she doesn’t deserve you. You’re making a mistake — and it’s my duty to let you know.” I felt as though a dagger had been thrust into my heart.
Other than the drip of the wine on the dirt floor, there was not another sound in the room. I kept my face down as my shoulders jerked with my sniffling — his silence, confirmation of my fears.
A strange sound came from Ansel’s direction. Was he crying, too? When I raised my head and peeked at his face, his mouth was turned up in an odd smile. At first he began to snicker. Then when he saw me eying him, he burst into laughter. I thought he had gone mad.
“Ansel? Are you all right?” He kept laughing. I sat up and put my hand on his arm, greatly concerned. I was ready to run and find the Healer.
“Let me understand this,” he said between laughing bouts, “You thought I had agreed to an arranged marriage with —? Now it’s my turn to be insulted. Please give me a little credit for my intelligence. What would ever make you come to that conclusion?”
Embarrassment crashed over me like a wave. “I don’t know. Her lies were so convincing. I was nervous about coming here, I felt so out of place — humiliated by my appearance. She’s a beautiful rich lady. I saw no reason for her to tell me unless it was true.”
My face reddened with shame. “Ansel, I’m ... I’m sorry I doubted you.” I put my hand to my mouth, mortified I had been so gullible.
“Beautiful and rich do not always make an honest heart. In fact, it’s a rare combination.” He said as he shook his head slowly. His face reflected his forgiveness for my brash accusation. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous the whole situation appeared. I found myself starting to giggle.
Eshshah relaxed her concern.
“Did you really try to murder her, Amáne?” Ansel asked, amused.
“No. I didn’t even draw my dagger. I only thought about it ... and ... well, maybe my hand did move toward it, but I only imagined I’d cut off all her golden locks, and that was all — except maybe her throat afterwards.”
“I was told the entire wing could hear her screaming that you were a murderer. I would love to have seen that. It was her demanding mother that kept me from meeting you at the Arevale Outpost. And just so you won’t feel you were completely duped, there was some truth to what that — he used the same descriptive word — told you. Her conniving mother actually did try to trick me into an arrangement.”
My eyebrows raised at that news. It did make me feel a little less gullible.
He smiled and traced my cheek with his finger, “Amáne, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. If I’d been available to greet you and escort you here like I should have, none of this would have happened. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“You don’t have to promise anything. But Ansel, you shouldn’t turn your back on that girl because, truthfully, she is not to be trusted. I caught her hand moving toward what I would guarantee was her dagger. And with the look in her eye, I’m sure she would not hesitate to use it — on anyone, at any time. Please be careful.”
“She and her mother are guests here solely for diplomatic purposes, otherwise I stay clear of them. The entire family is not to be trusted.”
“And speaking of trickery,” I said in mock anger, “if you ever pull a prank like this on me again, you’d better be in fear for your life.”
“I’m sorry, it was bad timing. I had no idea what she had said to you. But maybe next time I need to talk to you, you should open your door — especially now that you know that I’ll go to extremes to get your attention.”
Before I could respond, he said, “Let’s get up from this cold floor and find some sunshine.”
He jumped to his feet, reached for my hand and pulled me up. Facing me, he pushed my disheveled hair back, then took his sleeve and wiped my face. “You look like you’ve been playing in the mud.”
“Maybe next time I shouldn’t cry on a dirt floor.”
“I hope there’s not a next time that you have to cry because of me. Will you forgive me?”
“Maybe ... eventually.” I tried to sound serious.
“How about we start your arrival over again? I want to prove to you that this place and everything about it can please you.” He executed a low courtly bow. “Greetings, Amáne. Welcome to my home. Let me show you to your chambers, and then I’ll give you a tour of the grounds.”
He smoothed my hair again and then kissed my forehead. He pulled back and searched my face. His gaze rested on my lips — I knew where this would lead. This time I was ready. I gathered all my strength and took a deep breath, then put my two fingers on his lips to keep their warmth at arm’s length.
“Let’s go find some sunshine.” I echoed his words.
He gave a small nod, yielding to my unspoken request to keep his distance.
He went to the door, and trying the latch, found that it had been locked from the other side. “I don’t have a key for this door. — Avano ... I’ll strangle him.”
“Looks like your friends turned the tables on you. But you’re in luck.” I opened my hand to reveal Aperio’s key.
“Is that the key you had when you ... when I ...” He didn’t want to recall the nightmare we had lived through together in the tunnels of Castle Teravinea. Aperio’s key was what I used to get into his cell. It had unlocked his chains and all locks that had barred our way from reaching Eshshah and safety.
I nodded, then placed it in the lock and whispered, “Aperio.” The mechanism sprang and the door opened.
“How do I go about getting one of those?”
“You have to be a dragon rider.” I raised a shoulder and half smiled.
“Oh, wait, I almost forgot.” Ansel ran to the leaking cask and turned the spigot, stopping the noisy splash of wine on the dirt floor. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened when I figured out the reason for the dripping cask.
He grinned and shrugged, “I know how good you
r senses of hearing and smell are. I didn’t want you to hear me breathing or catch my scent when you entered the room.”
“You are evil!” I failed to suppress my smile.
As Ansel and I made our way back to my chambers, he asked, “Did you like my gift?”
“Your gift?”
“I had a package left on your bed. Wasn’t it there when you arrived?”
My face went red.
“Okay, let me guess.” He said, sighing, “You had just experienced that unhappy encounter and you were in a mood when you got to your room. In a fit of anger, you threw the package on the floor without so much as looking at it. Am I close?”
Close? He was uncanny. “Well, it was more like I tossed it across the room.” I gave him a small shrug.
Arriving at my door, I said, “I have a surprise for you if you’d like to come in.” He raised his eyebrows with a sly look.
I rolled my eyes, but continued without missing a beat. “It’s just a simple gift for your birthday and I want you to open it now because tomorrow you’ll have so many more extravagant ones. Mine will pale in comparison.”
I led the way and found Eulalia just laying down a tray of small cakes and some watered wine on the table in my chambers.
“Oh, Mistress Amáne, you’re back, I was wondering where you were. There was a rumor —” she turned toward me and abruptly ceased her conversation when she saw Ansel following behind. She executed a deep curtsy, her eyes full of admiration, but a bit flustered. She looked from him to me and my muddy condition, and then back to him and was actually at a loss for words. That must have been a first.
“Lord Ansel. Good day to you ... er ... If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving now.” She started backing toward the door.
“No, Lali,” I stopped her. “Please stay.” In fact I was relieved that she was here as it would make it easier for me. I wouldn’t have to keep my guard up.
I continued, “I came back to clean up. I seem to have gotten into some mud ... I ... um ...” Now it was my turn to be at a loss for words. How would my untidy appearance and muddy dress that she had lent me look to her as I walked in with Ansel.
Amáne of Teravinea - The Prophecy (The Teravinea Series Book 2) Page 8
