“Princess Ava, you are summoned to the throne room.”
Ava opened her eyes to find two guards before her. She bit her lip, forcing away the memories of the guards who’d escorted her back to the harem in her father’s palace, and rose. She had to almost run to keep up with the two soldiers whose strides were much longer than hers, and her racing heart wasn’t helped by the panic that engulfed her.
Had the Queen discovered Lagle’s injury and Ava’s marriage already? Ava couldn’t think of any other reason why she would be summoned to the throne room, unless the Queen or someone from her father’s court was here to punish her. Unless the Emperor knew that she and Yun hadn’t consummated their marriage.
Ava’s feet felt heavier with each step. She didn’t want to face whatever awaited her, but if she ran, where would she go? It was all very well to think brave fishy thoughts, but it was another thing entirely to take a leap into the unknown. Perhaps the Emperor wished to apologise to her for believing her to be a spy.
The guards escorted her to the foot of the Emperor’s dais, where she dropped into a deep curtsey before she could be commanded to do so.
“There’s the lying, traitorous slut,” Lagle said.
Ava gasped, raising her head to see Lagle seated beside the Emperor on the throne normally occupied by the Empress, who was nowhere to be seen.
“Bow before royalty, peasant!” Lagle ordered.
Ava couldn’t help it. She smiled. “You are well, sister,” she said. “Thank the ancestors that you have recovered.”
“You are no family of mine!” Lagle stormed. “Tell the king what you really are. Tell him you are my insubordinate maid who turned traitor the moment my guards were out of sight, making my horse throw me off then switching clothes with me while I was unconscious so that the king would believe you were his bride, and not me. Tell him how you stole my rightful husband, pretending to be a princess, when you were really sent here as my maid to serve me. Tell him why you’re here!”
Tears sprang to Ava’s eyes, but she struggled to speak before her throat choked up. “I’m here to seek peace between my father and the Emperor through a marriage alliance between his family and mine. When you fell off your horse, I lifted you back on and led you here, making sure you were cared for before I even saw the Emperor. I did…what had to be done. As my father’s daughter.” She swallowed. “I am a princess, the same as you.”
“You are not the same as me,” Lagle spat. “Guards! Execute her!”
A hand grasped Ava’s arm, dragging her to her feet. She opened her mouth to scream, only to discover that the hand belonged to Yun.
“A wife’s punishment is her husband’s duty,” Yun said dully. “Princess Ava is my wife, and no one shall touch her but me.”
He yanked Ava’s arm, dragging her out of the throne room. Too late, she realised that he was enveloped in a faint red glow – a curse, and one Ava recognised. She scanned the throne room, seeing the same glow emanate from Lagle, the Emperor, and the younger crowned men who shared the dais. Yun’s seven brothers, she assumed. All under the same spell.
The curse hummed with malevolence as Yun dragged her out the door, heedless of how much he hurt her. This wasn’t like him – the man who’d sworn not to touch her without her asking him to. Ava tried to concentrate on the curse to distract herself from the pain.
Red, yes, and filled with hate, it was a sort of seduction curse, which drew all men to one woman, slaves to her every wish. Lagle had somehow enslaved Yun, his father and his brothers with this curse. Ava had to break it or she would die, she knew. She cast her mind deeper into the magic, looking for the key to break the curse.
She gasped when she found it, for the solution was so simple.
But would it work?
Twenty-Nine
Punish your wives for being unfaithful, the witch's voice whispered in Yun's head. Put your children to death for being bastards. Then return to me and battle with your brothers, for the victor will have me and the throne.
Over and over, the words repeated, as he tried to shake them out of his head. He felt the compulsion to obey, but the thought of a woman as spoils of war turned his stomach.
And Ava…Ava…he took one look at her and the witch's voice rose in volume, drowning out Ava's sweet tones. A wife who had not yet given him children because he had not given them to her. The throne was not his. Never would be his. Leave it for his brothers to fight over.
Punish your wife! The witch's voice rose to a shriek in his head.
Yun took Ava's arm and repeated the witch's words. He would punish his wife.
Who had never done anything wrong. Staring into her eyes, he knew this with a certainty he could not deny.
Help her to fly. Open the gate.
In his head, Ava stood in the horse pen in his brothers' war camp. But where the other girls cowered in the corner, she stood tall. Reached down of her own accord and opened the gate.
"Better to fly than die," she said, echoing his own words. "I choose to be free. You must choose, too."
"I serve the Emperor's throne, and I will never be free," Yun told her. "But I will protect you, so that you may be."
Her fingers stroked his cheeks, her dark eyes burning with a passion Yun had never seen before. Her lips were warm and sweet, everything he had imagined she might be, and more. He pulled her close, determined to kiss her properly. To show her the depths of his passion. How much he longed for her, wanted no one else but her.
She let out a little sigh, parting her lips to tease him with her tongue.
No woman had ever tasted this good. Her very breath tasted like the nectar of the gods. He could drink her in and want nothing and no one else forever.
An eternity later, Yun pulled his face away from hers, gasping for breath. “Ava, my Ava,” he panted. “I love you so much. More than life itself. Please tell me you want me to kiss you again.”
If she refused, he would beg. On his knees, if it would help. He would prostrate himself before her.
Her whole face lit with a shy smile. "Yes."
Thirty
Ava paused to catch her breath after yet another blissful kiss from Yun. Somehow, they'd broken the curse.
Reality intruded on her euphoria. “The curse,” she said urgently. “Your brothers…the Emperor…they’re still under a spell. We must fetch their wives to break the curse.” Even as the words left her lips, her heart sank. She’d seen the other princesses in the garden, and their frightened reactions when any man, let alone their own husbands, entered the garden. None of the other princes’ wives held any feelings resembling love for their husbands. None of the princesses would be capable of breaking the curse. Perhaps a mistress or concubine…Ava’s thoughts flashed to her mother, and she had an idea. The Empress. Surely the princes’ mother held some love for her children. Perhaps even the Emperor, too.
“The Empress,” Ava said. “We must go to her and tell her what has happened. Perhaps she can help.”
Yun’s arms tightened around her. “Perhaps she can. I shall send a servant with a message to my mother. But as long as my brothers and my father are enslaved to that woman, you are in danger. Her hatred for you burns brighter than any torch. Imagine what she will do to you if she knows you can break her spell. No, you must be kept safe. I will take you to my chambers and guard you myself while we wait for word from my mother.”
Yun threw open the door to his chamber, gesturing for Ava to precede him inside. Ava took three steps into the room, then stopped dead. She dropped to her knees. “Empress.”
“Mother? What are you doing here?” Yun asked, closing the door.
“He’s finally done something so stupid it will cost him his throne,” the Empress said, resting her elbow on the ornately carved arm of Yun’s favourite chair.
Yun hastened to gather up his papers from the desk in front of her. Even his mother wasn’t allowed to read his poetry, it seemed.
Ava’s blood ran cold. “Who has, Majesty?”
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The Empress sighed. “It’s Imperial Highness, not Majesty, but it doesn’t matter. Get up, girl. You won’t do anyone any good down there on your knees.”
Ava summoned her courage. “But you can, M…Imperial Highness. Your husband and your sons are under a terrible curse that only you can break.”
“It’s too late for that. His witch of a mistress is far ahead of you. Even now, the pleasure gardens are awash with blood. First, she ordered my sons to kill their children. Then, their wives. Now, they are fighting each other to the death for my husband’s throne and the dubious pleasure of sharing her bed.” The Empress eyed Ava. “You must be a witch, too, that you are immune to the curse.”
“I’m not a witch. I only have the gift I inherited from my mother – I can see spells and how to break them. No more.” Oh, how Ava wished she was more. A powerful enchantress who could cast spells at will.
“Perhaps it will be enough. Will you use your gift to protect my son, keep him from harm, and ensure him a long life?” the Empress demanded.
Ava glanced at Yun “He is my husband. I am honour bound to care for him as a good wife.”
The Empress’s gaze seemed to see right through Ava to her very soul. “You also vowed to bear him sons.”
By the ancestors, she knew. Ava didn’t know how, but the Empress knew they hadn’t consummated the marriage.
“I will,” Ava said, vowing that she would give herself to Yun that very night. If his lovemaking was anything like his kisses, perhaps she might even enjoy it.
“I hope that’s true,” the Empress said. “For while my family paints the throne room walls with royal blood, there is an army camped outside the walls. If only my stupid husband had lived to see it, for he was right. An army led by your father, girl.”
Ava gasped. So much for the alliance Lagle had been sent here for. While Ava had pleaded for peace, her father had been planning war. Maybe even with Lagle as a pawn in the game. “I didn’t know. The Queen told me…”
“The witch queen whose daughter commanded the slaughter of my family?” the Empress demanded.
Ava didn’t know what to say, so she merely nodded. “She sent me here as a punishment, to serve Lagle, though I am my father’s daughter, too. Lagle was determined to be queen here.”
The Empress gave a little snort of laughter, that turned into a cough. “Yet fate has other plans. While my family lies dying in the throne room, an army waits to conquer this palace and all who live here. What will you do about it?”
Yun stepped forward. He bowed his head. “I will lead my father’s army to victory. I might be the youngest, but I am still a prince. They know me, and will follow me.”
“Don’t be daft,” the Empress snapped. “By the time the army gets here, the palace will be overrun. You can’t lead an army if you’re dead. You must flee to the Winter Palace, where you will be able to safely take the throne. Find a way to get him there safely, Princess. You are my son’s only hope.” She waved at a new chest that sat beside the table. “You will find your things in there. Two of the horses you arrived with are packed and saddled in the stables, waiting for you. Lose no time, Princess. Grandsons can wait until the throne is secure.” She grimaced, lifting her hand. It was covered in blood. “Swear on the ancestors you will do everything in your power to protect him.”
“Mother, we must find you a healer. Let me send for one,” Yun begged, reaching for a bell to summon a servant.
As Ava watched, blood ran down the Empress’s side to soak her skirt. She did not have long left.
“I swear by my ancestors and my life, I will save your son,” Ava vowed.
The Empress nodded and closed her eyes.
“Mother!” Yun howled, but it was too late. The Empress was gone.
Ava fell to her knees beside the chest, rifling through the clothes until she found the gown Bianca had made for her. It was the finest she had, in the style of her father’s court. As she stroked the silk, she began to have an inkling of a plan. It was risky, but it was all she had. If it worked, she could save both herself and Yun from her father’s army. But it would only work if she had the courage to carry it out.
With trembling hands, Ava garbed herself for battle.
Thirty-One
“You look like a barbarian princess,” Yun remarked, his voice muffled by his guard helmet as he rode behind Ava. “I’ve never seen a court dress made to be worn by a lady astride a horse.”
“I am a barbarian princess,” Ava replied. “And you’re supposed to be my bodyguard, so please keep quiet. If my father’s army knew you were the Emperor’s son, and the commander of the opposing army, they’d slaughter you on the spot.”
Yun sounded amused. “My sword isn’t just for decoration, Princess. I know how to use it. I might prefer poetry to swordsmanship, but I was a match for any man on the battlefield or in the practice ring.”
“There has been enough blood spilled today,” Ava whispered, fighting tears. “I won’t have you killing anyone else, for there are thousands of them and only one of you. I vowed to save you, and I will, but only if you can keep your sword to yourself!”
Yun chuckled. “Yes, mistress.”
Not for the first time, Ava regretted her decision to engage in this crazy scheme. But what other choice did she have, if she wanted to keep Yun alive?
None, Ava told herself, which is why she had to remind herself with every step that if her courage failed, Yun would die and his blood would be on her hands. So fishy thoughts were the uppermost in her mind as she guided her horse through the outskirts of the army camp. Though leaping to the top of a waterfall would be easy compared to her task today.
Row upon row of tents stretched as far as she could see, but they were nothing compared to the number of eyes staring at her as she passed. Her neck ached from forcing herself to hold her head high, when it felt far more natural to duck her head to whatever authority presented itself. Even her husband trailed behind her like a subordinate.
“Halt.”
Ava was almost grateful for the order, though she knew it would take an even greater act of courage to start her moving again if she stopped.
Nevertheless, the two armed guards barring her way gave her no choice but to rein in her horse.
“You go no further. No camp followers allowed into the main camp before nightfall and he’s not allowed in at all. He’s a palace guard.”
Ava’s horse tossed her head, and her mistress copied her. “I am Princess Ava, daughter of King Chinggis and wife to the Emperor’s son, Prince Yun Bataar. I was sent here by my father to secure a marriage alliance with the Emperor, and now I come on behalf of my father’s allies to bring him a message. A message I will only give to my father himself, so either summon him or let me pass.” She hoped they didn’t hear how much her voice shook. If she had to be any more overbearing to gain entrance to the camp, she wasn’t sure how she would manage it.
“Princess Ava? The princess who visited the soldiers’ swimming pool?” a voice asked eagerly. “Batu, is that really her?”
A soldier scrambled out of one of the tents to her left. His eyes widened and he dropped to his knees, bowing so low his forehead touched the dust. “Princess Ava! We are honoured.”
The other soldiers around looked from one another to the kneeling man before bowing just as low. “Princess.”
Ava wet her lips. “Please, I need to see my father.”
“At once, Princess.” The first man leapt to his feet, and Ava recognised him as the soldier who had returned her to the harem. “If you will follow me.”
She glanced at Yun. “My escort will come with me. He is my personal bodyguard, and I go nowhere without him.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Batu led her to a tent that was larger than the others, but that was all that distinguished it from the rest of the camp. He gestured for her to wait, before slipping inside.
Ava dismounted, hearing Yun doing the same behind her. A groom appeared to t
ake her horse and Ava allowed the animal to be led to the horse line that held her father’s own mounts. Beautiful creatures, all of them, just like Falada had been.
Batu backed out of the tent, and bowed low to the man who stepped into the sun. “Majesty,” Batu said.
King Chinggis ignored the soldier, for his gaze was fixed on Ava. “Sumi?” he whispered. “I thought you died. Is it really you?”
Thirty-Two
Ava didn't hesitate. She strode forward with her eyes downcast before prostrating herself before the King. "Father," she said. “I am Sumi’s daughter. She died giving birth to me, and I was brought up in the harem with your other wives and daughters.”
"You are my daughter?" he asked, sounding bemused. “You look just like her.”
"Of course, Father. I am Ava, the princess you sent with the Queen's daughter, Lagle, to marry into the Emperor's family and form an alliance, so that our peoples may live in peace." Ava did her best to keep her voice steady, so he wouldn't recognise the lie.
"The bodies in the throne room tell me there is little peace here," the King remarked.
So he already knew. The Emperor had been right about there being spies in his court.
"The Emperor would not agree to an alliance, though Lagle tried everything to persuade him. She took the only action she felt would please you." Or please the Queen, Ava thought but did not say. "With the Emperor dead, the throne falls to one of his sons. With one of them, an alliance can be made."
"My men tell me the sons are dead, too."
Ava stifled a sob. The Empress had been right. So much death. For all their faults, Yun's family didn't deserve to be slaughtered. Yun least of all. She drew in a deep breath, praying silently that her idea would work. "Not all," she said finally. "One survives, and he is a prince of peace, not war. I come to negotiate on his behalf, and all his people. He wishes to rule what lands he has left, without worrying about war. You have enough enemies, but what of an ally, a neighbouring emperor, who swears never to take up arms against you or yours, so that he might build a refined court the like of which the world has never seen before. A court that your grandsons will inherit."
Fly: Goose Girl Retold (Romance a Medieval Fairytale series Book 3) Page 9
