Rows of ornate chairs were arrayed around a golden harp, and a stool was propped beside it. Courtiers, some of whom I recognized as scions of the Twelve Great Houses, milled about chatting.
“Prince Layton! Well met, brother!”
I turned towards the owner’s voice. Layton strode across the room to Prince Adair. They clasped hands and embraced, patting one another on the back. My stomach gave an unexpected leap.
“Well met, brother. How goes your hunt?” Layton asked with a tilted smile.
“Very well, I’d spotted a doe, and I was about to administer the kill shot when you walked in.”
He raised a brow and tilted his head towards a knot of women, who watched him without disguising their interest.
Layton clapped his friend on the shoulder. “The tall one, with the come-hither pout?”
“You know my type, my friend.”
I scowled. I had not expected the prince to be quite so lascivious. I was disappointed to see Layton encouraging the behavior. Hilliard’s warning made more sense now. I wondered if the pair of them often hunted women together as one would game.
“I shall leave you to it, then.”
Prince Adair bowed, exaggerating the extension of his arm. “Thank you, Your Highness.” They both laughed. “Your grace, milady.” He bowed to Damara and me, and we returned it with a deeper one. He did not seem to notice either of us before he turned with a smirk and strode over to the clustered group of young women. The tallest among them watched him over her fan while the others giggled as he approached.
I had been so concerned with the prince’s morals I had neglected to make an introduction.
Despite his questionable treatment of women, he was one of the keys to unlocking this mystery.
My gaze slid back to Layton.
He and his mother strode before me, chatting heads tilted towards one another.
Perhaps I could ask Layton to win me an audience with the prince. I would have to tread carefully, however. I did not trust Damara enough to reveal my desire to draw closer to the prince, lest she use it to her own ends. Something about their exchange troubled me, in retrospect.
“He called you your highness,” I remarked as Layton showed us to our seats.
“Yes, it’s a bit of a joke between us. You see, I am technically a prince of the blood on my mother’s side. She is the daughter of King Dallin’s mother’s sister. And Queen Idella is my father’s sister.”
“I beg your pardon?” My mind stalled on the revelation. Layton had spoken as if everyone had blood ties with the throne.
I turned to Damara, who shrugged. “’Tis true, though my lady mother and her descendants were stripped of the royal title.”
“It’s not so strange, really. Most of the people here can claim some right of kinship to the royal family,” Layton added. I replied somewhat I cannot recall and slumped into my seat, wondering about this new development.
Damara, as a direct female descendant of the Danhadine royal family, made Layton a candidate for king in an open election. But there had not been one in centuries. Now kings named their nephew as heir. It insured the royal line stayed pure. Damara taught me that. I watched her sidelong and wondered if she thought the same. Where I fit in, I could not say. Their plot had begun to take form.
I decided to wait before approaching Layton as an ally. If what I suspected were true, Damara had plans to put Layton on the throne. It made sense; what mother would not want that for her son and the right to stand by his side?
When she spoke of the old days, I thought she meant the days when my family advised the king, but perhaps she also had in mind a time when the people had a right to choose their king.
I looked up to where the king and queen sat at the front of the room before the dais where the harp awaited the harpist. Did the queen, too, desire her brother’s son on the throne? Why not her own daughter sent away to Neaux?
Princess Sabine and her ladies entered, and I watched their progress. I had spent so long watching her, it was as if I sensed her presence. She wore a gossamer gown that gathered beneath her breasts and fluttered under the feeble breeze. I envied her, sweating in my linen gown. Lady Braun and several of Princess Sabine’s ladies-in-waiting passed by, and a chill crept up my spine.
I had often seen Lady Braun working in the princess’s service, which concerned me because I could not be there to protect her. They took their seats, and Lady Braun took the place nearest to the princess. She glanced over her shoulder, and I followed her gaze. Count Braun sat in the back of the room, arms at ease at his side. He nodded towards his daughter, who smiled and turned back to the concert.
A hush fell as the harpist gained the stage, and a crescendo of notes reverberated off the high ceiling.
I glared at the back of Lady Braun’s head, halfway expecting her to remove a dagger from her bodice and plunge it into Princess Sabine. A thin line of sweat rolled down my back as I shifted to find a comfortable position. Lady Braun seemed at ease as she fanned the princess with a decorative fan made of carved wood and colored paper. On stage, the harpist’s hair clung to her neck in thick tendrils, and perspiration dripped from her forehead and onto her hands as she plucked the strings.
Damara fanned herself with a fan to my right. On Layton’s brow, a sheen of sweat glistened. The combination of heat and music had an intoxicating quality. I squinted as I stared at the princess and Lady Braun. My head dipped, and my eyes drooped. I jerked my head up and towards Princess Sabine. She remained unharmed. The music swept over me, and the heat seemed to seep out my energy. I let my lids fall, I can close my eyes just for a moment, I reasoned. Nightmares still haunted my nights, and I got little sleep.
Damara nudged me awake. I jumped.
“How long was I asleep?” I asked.
Damara smiled. “Just for a moment, the concert has ended. Maybe you’d like to rest in your chambers?”
The offer was tempting. I peeked over to Princess Sabine’s empty chair. Realization hit me like a blow to the stomach, and I spun on my heel, searching for her. I came up empty handed. Lady Braun and Count Braun were also missing. They’ve made their move. I have to stop them.
“Maea, where are you going?” Damara shouted after me.
I headed for the door and ignored her distressed call. I exploded out into the hallway. It, too, lay empty but for a surprised maid emerging from a hidden passageway. I ran over to her.
“Have you seen Princess Sabine come by here?”
She shook her head whilst biting her lip as if holding back.
“If you have seen her, you must tell me!” I shouted. I must have appeared half mad because she trembled as I gripped her shoulders. Seeing the passageway, I recalled my first night in the palace and how I wandered the servants’ passageway until they led me to the diviner. I brushed past her and down the rough hewn halls.
A moan echoed along the hall, and I darted towards it, my shoes slapped on the stone beneath me. I flung open a door, hoping I wasn’t too late. A pair of bodies, limbs entwined, and a lady’s skirt pulled up greeted me. I paused, shaken for a moment. The man glanced at me over her shoulder. He grunted and then shoved the woman off him. The woman stumbled and attempted to cover her bare breasts with the folds of her gown. She scowled at me, and I recognized her as the woman who had watched Prince Adair from across the room. I lifted my head to meet the amused gaze of Prince Adair, who pulled up his breaches but remained shirtless.
“You’ll have to wait your turn, my dove.”
A blush stained my neck and face, and I fumbled to find my words. An image of Princess Sabine, hands about her throat, flashed before my eyes, and I found my resolve.
“Your Highness, I’m looking for Princess Sabine. It’s very important that I find her.”
“And why would you search for her down here?” he asked. He hooked his thumbs into the hem of his pants. I averted my gaze to the wall.
“I believe someone has tricked her and led her down here,” I said. Now w
as not the time to be squeamish of a bare-chested man.
“Adair, don’t listen to that harlot. She’s trying to steal you from me.”
He looked me up and down, and I got the sense he was weighing me against the woman he had just been rutting. The idea made me blush, and I turned towards the door. I should not have wasted my time here. He responded to her, but I was already hurrying out of the room.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.”
I ran down the passageway blind. The servants’ passages were more complicated and numerous than the palace halls. I fumbled about, unsure of where to go and hoping I was not too late. Then I heard a howl of alarm. I hurried towards it.
I saw him first, one of Princess Sabine’s guards slain and lying in a pool of blood. I paused over him with shaking hands, searching for a pulse. There was none. I choked back the fear threatening to swallow me, and I headed for the open door nearby. I must save the princess; I would process the death later. I burst into the chamber.
“Stop!”
Princess Sabine, her hair disheveled and her dress torn, stared at me, desperation in her dark eyes.
Count Braun loomed over her, sword drawn. He turned, and I realized too late how foolish I had been. Why did I not heed Damara? At the very least I could have told Layton!
“Grab her.” A pair of rough hands grabbed me and pinned my arms behind my back. I struggled against my captor, shouting and kicking. He laughed and pulled me against his chest. He leaned in, and his putrid breath filled my nostrils.
“You can’t do this,” I screamed, “it’s treason.” I was grasping, desperately hoping to buy time on the slim chance Damara had sent Hilliard or one of the other guards after me. They would have caught up with me by now.
“Shut her up!” Count Braun snarled. The man wrapped my wrists in one of his massive hands and clamped the other over my mouth. My screams were muffled and ineffective. I swung my legs, trying to find purchase, but the skirts of my gown impeded my efforts.
Count Braun, back turned to Princess Sabine, glared at his men, shouting orders and sending one man out to intercept any further interference. Over his shoulder, I caught Princess Sabine’s eye. She nodded towards the count’s sword hand. I understood her meaning and redoubled my efforts to escape, in a desperate ploy to distract them.
“Take her out of here before she reveals us all!” Lady Braun said. I had not seen her, as she stood behind my captors. She came out, and our eyes met, and recognition dawned on her. “You.” She pointed at me. Just then, Sabine grabbed a hold of Count Braun’s sword arm and attempted to wrench it from his grasp. He tossed her aside as easily as a child’s toy.
“Don’t touch me, you filthy daughter of a whore.”
Sabine glared up at him, smoldering. “May the spirits of my ancestors haunt your nightmares and seek my vengeance,” she hissed in Neaux, which to my surprise, I understood.
He smacked her once more hard across the mouth. “I’ll silence that filth from your mouth.”
“Her too, Father,” Lady Braun said. “She’s one of her agents. I saw her in the Hall of Entertainment with some of her men.” She motioned for them to bring me forward.
“Another one of Damara’s damn spies.” He grabbed me by the hair and forced me to the ground alongside Princess Sabine. “I’ll take care of you both.”
He raised his sword, ready to strike; it glinted in the dim candlelight, deadly and beautiful. Is this how I’m going to die? I thought. I closed my eyes, lamenting my lack of foresight and my rash decision. I waited for the killing blow. Instead, I heard a crash and the sound of many feet racing in. Count Braun grunted in pain as his sword fell to the ground with a clatter. I opened my eyes. Layton and the count faced one another. Layton swung, and his fist caught the count on the chin. The count feigned attempting to land a blow on Layton’s abdomen, but he dodged it easily. He spun around and grabbed the count by the arms, wrenching them back and forcing him to kneel on the floor.
Layton smiled at me as he subdued the count. “You shouldn’t run off like that.”
“But how—” I said.
Behind him, Prince Adair helped Princess Sabine to her feet.
The count’s men and his daughter were also kneeling before the palace guard as they shackled their hands. The princess rose to her feet, and her eyes met mine. She shrugged off the prince’s hand and came over to me.
“You saved my life.”
I bowed to her. “I did, Your Highness. I am sorry if I came nearly too late.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “How could you possibly have known? I did not except—” She glanced over to Lady Braun, whose smoldering gaze would wither a weaker man or woman’s confidence, but the princess stared without flinching. It was then I knew she was made of stronger stock.
“I trusted you,” she said to Lady Braun.
Lady Braun turned away without comment.
I thought to slip away. My duty done, I did not want to press the princess after her trying experience, but she caught me by the wrist, and I turned to face her.
“Do not leave yet. I must know how you did this.” She swept her arm around the room towards the incarcerated villains. The prince and Layton looked on with curious gazes, as did the guards.
I replied without thinking, hoping a hasty answer would end the stares. “Your Highness, I saw it in a vision.”
I was wrong. It was only the beginning.
Chapter Six
Word of my vision spread through the palace like wildfire, passed from mouth to ear by anyone willing to listen. I became an overnight, unwilling celebrity. Many came to call, some under the pretense of visiting with Damara, even more making overt requests for use of my powers. Damara denied them each in turn and kept me well out of sight. I grew restless and bitter towards her for caging me like an exotic animal. It was my fault, not that I would admit it aloud. Had I not saved Princess Sabine, we might have entered another century of war with Neaux. Though at the time, I did not realize it. I thought to save her life and had not considered the widespread repercussions had I not been successful.
I spent my idle time wondering about the first diviner’s cryptic message. I had saved the princess, and yet I was no closer to solving my own mystery. Who took my memories and why? I spent much time contemplating Damara’s motives. Would she betray me simply for the opportunity to put Layton on the throne? I thought I had known her once, but perhaps what I thought I remembered of her had been fabricated as a distraction.
I was awakened late at night, as I often was, by my nightmares. I lay staring at the canopy for a few moments, hoping sleep would claim me once more. After a few minutes of tossing in bed, it became apparent sleep would elude me once more this night. The others would be abed, judging by the glowing embers in my fireplace.
I was considering sneaking into the receiving room and reading by candlelight when a thought occurred to me. With the house asleep, now would be the perfect time to snoop and perhaps find some answers.
I threw on a housecoat and grabbed a candleholder from the table beside the door. I lit it with the embers of the dying fire and slipped out into the hall. A balmy breeze blew through the empty corridor. I peered in both directions, towards the bedchambers and towards the gathering areas. The servants had gone to bed as well; it was the chance I had been waiting for. I crept down the hall, careful about my foot placement as to not creak a floorboard and send the alarm that I was sneaking about.
I made it to Damara’s study when raised voices reverberated from beyond the door. I froze and flattened my back against the wall, thinking Damara or Johai would burst out at any moment and send me back to bed like a wayward child. No one emerged, but shadows disrupted a thin shaft of light escaping from beneath the door. Already in the habit of eavesdropping, I pressed my ear to the door.
“She’s not ready for this. We need the right allies, ones we can trust,” Johai said.
“It’s too late for that; the die has been cast,” Damara replied.
“It can’t be too late. There has to be another way.”
“There’s no other choice. We both know that time is running out.”
They were both silent, and I heard feet scuffing across the floor. I imagined Johai pacing before Damara.
“The way she looks at me, it’s as if I were the embodiment of her hatred. I do not know how much longer I can stand by and watch.”
It surprised me to hear Johai speak thusly. I thought he loathed me as much as I did him, but perhaps… I shook my head. I refused to acknowledge my next thought, though at the back of my mind I knew I would need to face it at some point.
A chair scraped across the stone floor. “We decided this is what’s best for her. You cannot change your mind now; it would destroy her.”
“She’s pulled away from me, and I have only myself to blame.”
The raw emotion in his voice was unlike anything I had heard from Johai, and it perplexed me. What if I had been wrong and he did not hate me? What if he felt something quite the opposite? A searing pain shot through my skull at the thought, and I doubled over from it. Starbursts formed behind my lids as I collapsed to my knees. I must have called out because Johai and Damara ran out of the study.
I felt Damara’s hands upon my face and heard her beyond the pounding of the blood in my head. Johai loomed over her shoulder, and the candid expression of pain on his face was too much for my pain-addled mind to comprehend. He pushed Damara aside and scooped me up in his arms. The pain did not fade, but I found my sense and breathed through the pain. His expression returned to a neutral indifference, but I knew what I had seen and heard. I was just not sure what to think about this new development.
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