Sleeping Beauty

by K. M. Shea

  “Delanna, did you know about the ransacked village?” Briar asked.

  Delanna almost stopped in her surprise. “Ransacked? What village, and by whom?”

  “Two evil magic users, apparently.” Satisfied Delanna’s reaction was genuine, Briar relaxed slightly. “Apparently King Giuseppe, my parents, and the nobles conspired to keep such happenings from me.”

  “Perhaps they don’t want to worry you,” Delanna said.

  “I’m certain they don’t. But I am just as certain that worry was not their sole motivator,” Briar said.

  Delanna smiled sadly. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to think on that at another time. You cannot alienate the legendary knights—they are too important.”

  Briar sighed. “Yes, you are right. Thank you, Delanna. Please, lead on.” She spotted the knight—or knights, as it were—immediately.

  One was a whip-like older gentleman who was tall—though still shorter than Isaia—and lithe. His companion was younger—around Donaigh and Firra’s age—and sported a head of bright orange hair and dark eyes. He seemed quiet and watchful—perhaps even a little cagey compared to the genteel and dignified air of his comrade.

  “It seems one of our companions also succeeded in luring away a knight,” Delanna murmured. She fixed a smile on her lips as they approached the knights. “Your Highness, I present to you Sir Artemio—the Legendary Knight of the Mace—and Sir Lucio—the Legendary Knight of Dirks.”

  Briar recalled from her rambunctious youth that Isaia had explained dirks as thrusting daggers.

  Both Sir Artemio and young Sir Lucio bowed deeply. “It is our honor,” Artemio said with the sophisticated accent of nobility.

  “No, I believe the honor is mine,” Briar said. Eager to put her best foot forward—these men worked with Isaia after all—she smiled engagingly. “I have grown up on stories of your exploits, Sir Artemio; and I have heard much about you the past few years as well, Sir Lucio. I cannot tell you how glad I am to make your acquaintance.”

  Artemio smiled, making his eyes crinkle. “You are too kind, Your Highness.”

  Lucio snapped a nod in agreement.

  “You have grown so much,” Artemio continued. “When I last saw you, you were just a toddler.”

  “You were already a legendary knight then, weren’t you?” Briar asked.

  “Indeed, I was. It was I who delivered you to Sir Roberto. Sir Lucio helped train Sir Isaia.”

  Briar beamed at the younger knight. “I imagine he was a diligent student?”

  Sir Lucio spoke for the first time. “He was dedicated.”

  Briar waited for a moment, but no more information was forthcoming. I think I know where Isaia learned his taciturnity.

  Artemio nodded gravely at his quiet companion. “We have grounds and an administrative building where we hold training exercises every day. If it pleases you, Your Highness, would you join us tomorrow? We would be honored by your presence.”

  “I would very much enjoy that,” Briar said. “Thank you for your kind invitation.”

  Artemio bowed once more. “We shall look forward to the hour. If you would excuse us, Your Highness, ladies.”

  “Of course.” Briar smiled. “Have an enjoyable evening, Sir Artemio, Sir Lucio.”

  Feeling triumphant, Briar took her leave of the men. She had won an invitation to see the Magic Knights of Sole train. And due to the conversation she had overheard and intruded upon, she had quite a few questions for them.

  “Did you tell your parents we are visiting the Magic Knights today, Your Highness?” Silk asked.

  “Yes,” Briar said. “It was the only way I could get out of my lessons.”

  Firra, sauntering arm-in-arm with Briar, kept her eyes on Donaigh who strolled ahead of them. Together they crossed the palace grounds, heading for the Magic Knights’ training grounds. “Good girl.”

  “Is something wrong? You seem as though you are anticipating trouble,” Briar said.

  “No,” Firra said. “Well, yes, I assume there will be trouble—or, as I would think of it, fun. But I also assume Donaigh will be the perpetrator of said fun.”

  “What kind of magic does Mage Donaigh have?” Delanna asked.

  “He’s a war mage,” Firra said.

  “Really?” Delanna brightened. “What is his specialty?”

  “His core magic is speed and the creation of magic-powered shields.” Firra’s smile tilted with affection. “He’s crazed for weapons and was quite vocal in his joy when he learned you were going to meet the legendary knights, Little Rose.”

  Briar grinned at Firra, more because she used her nickname than due to her words. “I’m glad you two could join us.”

  “Of course.” As she used to when Briar lived in the cottage, Firra bestowed a sisterly kiss on her temple. “Donaigh is worried about you.”

  Briar laughed. “Whatever for? I’m as safe as I can be here in Ciane.”

  “Yes,” Firra agreed, though she spoke in a lowered tone, “but you are unhappy.”

  Unsettled by her keen observation, Briar squirmed.

  “Anyone who knew you before your identity was revealed could tell you are discontented,” Firra said. “We spoke to Sir Roberto about it, and even braved Nonna’s wrath for you—though she said she didn’t know the cause. Isaia must know—he was extra closed-mouthed and had that stiff look he gets whenever he feels someone is pressing you too much.”

  Briar was saved from having to respond by their arrival at the training grounds—which spanned an impressive area. The large stables stood on a green jousting field. An archery range backed up against the city wall, and a sandy ring lined with a wooden fence and racks of weapons lay adjacent to it.

  The “administrative building” looked more like a small cathedral, rectangular with a tall, central spire, and made entirely of white stone.

  In honor of Briar’s visit, a number of knights were lined up in front of the beautiful building, standing in orderly rows.

  When Briar, her ladies-in-waiting, Firra, and Donaigh arrived within speaking distance, the knights drew their weapons with perfectly synchronized movements, and bowed to them.

  Artemio stood at the front of the group with Lucio and two other men. “Greetings, Your Highness and honored guests. Welcome to the training grounds of the Magic Knights of Sole.”

  “Thank you for the invitation, Sir Artemio. It is our honor to be here,” Briar said.

  One of Artemio’s companions—a man in his forties who possessed the grace of a cat and an easy smile, turned around and waved off the stationary knights.

  Still as one, the men sheathed their weapons, then stepped out of their ranks and set off in different directions. Though Briar searched, she didn’t see Isaia.

  “Please allow me to introduce my companions, the remaining two legendary knights you have not met: Sir Virgilio, the Legendary Knight of the Lance; and Sir Jacopo, the Legendary Knight of the Saber.”

  Sir Virgilio—the knight with the easy smile—gave Briar a sweeping bow. “I am charmed,” he declared.

  Jacopo, closer to Artemio’s age, possessed deep smile lines and an untroubled disposition. “Good morning, Your Highness.”

  “Good morning,” Briar hesitated, wondering if she was supposed to introduce her companions.

  Jacopo rested a wooden saber on his shoulders and cocked his head at Donaigh and Firra. “You are the mages who watched Princess Rosalinda when she lived outside the palace, yes?”

  “Indeed, we are,” Firra said as Donaigh leaned back on his heels and adjusted his straw hat.

  Jacopo inclined his head to them. “Thank you for your years of service.”

  “Why of course. Anything for Little Rose.” Donaigh winked at Briar, who gave in to the impulse to scrunch her nose at him. “And it was a pleasure to be able to work with my sister.”

  Firra nodded her agreement, and the four legendary knights exchanged confused looks.

  “Sister?” Jacopo ventured.

  “I
ndeed—we so closely resemble each other, we may as well be twins.” Donaigh draped his arm over Firra’s shoulder and smiled winningly.

  Jacopo smiled slightly, but Artemio turned his attention back to Briar. “Would you like a tour, Your Highness?”

  The smell of hay and leather lingered in the air, reminding Briar of Isaia and making her feel more at ease. She allowed her shoulders to relax and said, “Yes, please.”

  Silk and Velvet fell in line behind her with a giggle they didn’t quell even when Jewel eyed them.

  Briar strolled with Delanna and followed Artemio past the jousting field. Several mounted knights careened towards each other on their warhorses, meeting with a great clash. A few others practiced thrusting their lances at targets as they zoomed past on their steeds.

  Knights were also deep in training in the sandy ring, practicing hand-to-hand combat or sparring with their weapon of choice.

  “I notice that the practice weapons are wooden.” Briar watched two knights with war axes battle it out. “Is that for safety?”

  “No,” Artemio said. “One can still be gravely injured with a wooden weapon; it is for the good of our magic weapons. They are quite expensive to purchase, and upkeep can be difficult. This being the case, we practice as much as possible with normal weapons and armor weighted and shaped to feel the same. Unless we are holding focused training sessions, most knights spend only a few hours a week practicing with their magic weapons and anti-magic armor. Whenever we are dispatched, however, the real thing is used.”

  “I see,” Briar said. When they strolled on, she tried to nonchalantly search the gathered knights for Isaia, but she still did not see him. By the time they reached the archery range, she concluded he was not present and focused on her companions.

  Donaigh lingered at the back—attempting to talk Virgilio and Lucio into letting him see their legendary weapons; Velvet, Silk, and Jewel were preoccupied with gazing at the jousting knights with big eyes; Firra chatted with Jacopo; and Delanna stared at the archery range with great longing.

  She inched towards the range, stopping near a barrel of fletched arrows stored just short of the practicing archers.

  Briar joined her friend, studying the green-feather fletching of the arrows. “You said the crossbow was your favorite weapon, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.” Delanna drew an arrow from the barrel and inspected it with the critical eye of a master. “I kept with it even after I realized it was impossible to become a Magic Knight of Sole. Hunting is an acceptable pastime for ladies, provided you wear pretty clothes and ride a mincing mare, so I used it as my excuse to practice.”

  “Even now?” Briar asked.

  Delanna’s sigh was pulled from deep in her lungs. “No. I’m afraid I had to officially give it up a year ago—my parents feared my passion would make me unmarriageable.”

  Briar snorted. “That seems to be a major concern for nobility. It makes me wonder what sort of weak-willed men they expect us to marry.”

  The pair exchanged looks of long-suffering sympathy.

  “Good morning, Your Highness, Lady Delanna!”

  Briar turned to welcome the newest member of their party, Franco. “Good morning, Sir Franco.”

  Franco joined them with a smile, though he tilted his head like a spaniel when he noticed Delanna’s grip on the arrow. “Lady Delanna, do you shoot?”

  “A little.” Delanna slid the arrow back into place. “Though I’m afraid my arrows and crossbow were never so fine as these.” She eyed the weapons carefully arranged on nearby racks.

  “In that case, would you like to have a go at it?” Franco asked.

  Delanna stiffly pushed her shoulders back. “You cannot be serious.”

  “Of course I am—or that would have been a mean-spirited invitation.”

  Delanna glanced at Briar for support.

  Briar nudged her forward. “I think you should try it. How many others could boast they shot weapons belonging to the Magic Knights of Sole?”

  “Indeed,” Franco said.

  “But…won’t the others mind?” Delanna asked.

  “Not at all. Isn’t that so, Sir Artemio?” Franco asked.

  Artemio bowed his head with as much dignity as a king. “If you wish to try, Lady Delanna, we will extend the invitation.”

  Delanna, her eyes anchored on a gleaming crossbow, nodded. “Alright. Thank you, I will take you up on your offer. I hope I will not embarrass myself.”

  Franco chuckled as he picked up a bow. “Worry not. I will shoot with you, and you will see these fellows put me to shame. I’m not such a good shot, as my weapon of choice is the halberd, but I’m proficient—you have to be, or they won’t knight you.” Franco winked.

  The expression was lost on Delanna, who was carefully selecting a crossbow.

  Feigning nonchalance, Briar picked her way towards Artemio. “Thank you for allowing us to come, Sir Artemio. I find myself reassured now that I have seen the knights myself.”

  Artemio blinked. “Reassured, Your Highness?”

  “Indeed.” Briar tucked a stray lock of her hair that had slipped from the artful braid behind her ear. She tried to appear carefree, instead of intense as she was feeling. This was the real reason she had wanted to come—to pump the knights for information. “I had heard rumors of two magic users terrorizing the countryside. I was nearly paralyzed with fright.”

  Artemio stood tall with straight posture, though his kind smile took some of the imposingness out of his figure. “Forgive me my words, Your Highness, but I have read the reports sent by Sir Roberto and Sir Isaia during your childhood. I very much doubt the news paralyzed you.”

  Briar let herself grin a little. “Paralyzed is a bit of an exaggeration,” she acknowledged. “But I did find it alarming. How close have the magic users come to Ciane?”

  Artemio raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

  “You may as well tell her, Artemio.” Firra leaned against a wooden fence and yawned like a cat. “If you don’t, Donaigh and I will, and who knows what sort of spin we’ll put on it.”

  Artemio frowned but was saved from having to reply when Franco whooped. “You shoot a little, yet you have put us all to shame? Well done, Lady Delanna.”

  Briar turned around in time to watch Delanna shoot her crossbow again, adding another arrow to the cluster dug into the center of her target. Briar smiled in pride, but forced herself to turn back to Artemio. “Well?”

  Artemio rubbed his chin. “They’ve kept their distance from Ciane—though they do seem to be drawing closer.” He hesitated, then added. “It’s been confirmed; one of the magic users is Carabosso—the man who cursed you.”

  Though she felt a stone drop in her stomach, Briar kept her expression passive. “And the other?”

  “A sorceress. I’m afraid we haven’t been able to identify her.” Artemio stared unseeingly at the archery range. “We’ve sent word to the Veneno Conclave, but it will take our riders some time to reach them, and I fear it will take even longer for them to dispatch help for us.”

  Briar cleared her throat and nodded.

  “We will do our best to protect you, Your Highness,” Artemio said. “Every effort will be made.”

  Briar watched Delanna put another arrow in the center of her target, though her thoughts were on her nightmare. She momentarily relived her horror as her body rebelled and reached for the spindle against her will. “But the curse may be inevitable.”

  Artemio bowed his head.

  Briar fiddled with the sleeve of her dress. That settles it. I will have to talk to Isaia about the curse as soon as possible.

  “Don’t lose hope, Briar,” Firra said. “Your curse is not a death sentence.”

  “Indeed,” Donaigh said. “The honorable Lady Enchantress Angelique is very powerful. Her magic will not fail you. Nor will we.”

  Briar smiled at them, but she was grateful for the distraction when five knights rode in on their prancing warhorses. They wore their charmed armor, and
their magical weapons were strapped to their sides and their mounts. Her heart thumped painfully when she spotted Isaia’s mare, Valor.

  His armor was white gold, accented with sky blue. Feathers were etched into the pauldrons, and gilded metal feathers were layered over his ears on his helm, making him look almost angelic. The Magic Knight crest was cut into his chestpiece, and he wore a blue cape decorated with silver and golden swirls. The armor was streamlined and light, and fashioned so beautifully it could be a work of art.

  Isaia dismounted Valor and handed her off to a stable boy. He bowed to Briar. “Your Highness.” Though his face remained calm, Briar could see the faint smile lurking in his eyes. He turned his attention to Sir Artemio. “The surrounding villages are clear, sir.”

  “Very good. Thank you, Sir Isaia,” Artemio said.

  “If the dog hasn’t come back to greet his master! Welcome home, pup,” Sir Virgilio said. The laughing knight turned to Briar with an easy smile in spite of the rudeness of his words. “Beggin’ your pardon, Your Highness.”

  Briar frowned slightly, and was unsurprised when Velvet, Silk, and Jewel suddenly joined her. “Excuse me? I don’t believe I understand.”

  Virgilio laughed and threw his arm over Isaia’s shoulders—though he had to reach up to do so. “This young lad is such an ardent supporter of yours, we’ve taken to calling him the princess’s dog—all in good fun, though!”

  Briar slowly curled her hands into fists and turned a mild gaze to Isaia.

  Isaia’s eyes still held his smile, and he seemed unperturbed by his nickname.

  Fine. That was just fine. Briar was offended enough for the both of them.

  Donaigh whistled. “If I were you, Sir Virgilio, I’d be careful of baiting ‘the dog’ in front of his princess.”

  “Come now, Her Highness must surely understand!” Virgilio winked. “We’re just having fun—there is no malice to our words. If he were bothered, he would hide his reverence a little better.”

  And this from a legendary knight. “I find myself unconvinced,” Briar said. “Isaia certainly isn’t reverent.”

  “You don’t see him all the time, Your Highness,” Virgilio said.