As they passed Alexandra, the little girl looked at her shyly, putting a finger in front of her mouth asking her to be silent.
Alexandra giggled, and then her face became grave. When is the last time I laughed like that? Her mind searched for an event, a time, a place, but could think of none in her recent past.
“Have you see Amy?”
“Have I seen Amy?”
A small face peeped out behind his back, shaking her head and mouthing, “Don’t tell him.”
“Well, I have seen her, but I am not telling you where.”
“You and Amy have a secret?” he sounded incredulously offended but, his eyes were teasing. “Now I am jealous.”
There was another giggle from Amy.
“Amy, Amy, where is Amy?”
“Here I am,” she said, bursting from behind his back.
“There you are,” he said with a smile, then, sitting on his heels, he turned her to face Alexandra. “I would like you to meet Princess Cassandra.”
A wave of shyness overcame the girl, and she buried her head in his shoulder. He only smiled and put his arm around the girl, drawing her close.
“Do you like being shy?” he whispered in her ear.
Amy shook her head, then after a moment nodded it in contradiction.
The smile grew, but he didn’t say anything.
Alexandra never knew what came over her, but in a moment she was kneeling on the floor across from Taleon. There was something about the girl that appealed to her heart.
“How old are you, Amy?”
“Eight,” was the muffled reply from Taleon’s shoulder.
“Eight. When I was eight, I was dreadfully afraid of having to meet new people. My...” she halted just as she was about to say, father. A reference to him had gotten a bad reception earlier, so she had better hold her tongue on that subject. “The king in the valley was going to hold a grand banquet, and I would have to come walking in all by myself in front of all these strange people. I was so scared; I told my nursemaid that I couldn’t walk in all by myself, in fact, I wouldn’t. I didn’t care what my...the king said; I would not. So you know what she told me?”
Amy barely peeked up from Taleon’s shoulder but shook her head.
“Judith told me that she would put a special pearl in my hair that would make me unafraid of anything I ever had to face. So that night when I went down to dinner, just before the doors opened, I touched my hair, and I felt several in my hair. I wondered which pearl was the special one. But the doors were opening, and I had to be ready and hope it worked. And you know what?”
“What?” said the face, peeking up from the shoulder.
“That night I wasn’t scared at all, and I talked to all kinds of people and did everything I was supposed to. Which is a miracle because the last time I went to a party, I had forgotten everything I was supposed to know and I made a huge mess.”
“But you had the pearl.”
“You are right. But do you know what? That night when I told Judith what that pearl had done for me, she pulled it out of her pocket and told me she had forgotten to put it in my hair.”
Amy looked at her with horror. “No.”
“Yes, she had forgotten to put in the pearl, and that is when I realized I didn’t have to be afraid or shy as long as I thought I could.”
“Are you still shy?”
Alexandra blushed. She was still shamefully shy when it came to one-on-one conversations or small groups of people; but in front of ambassadors and important people, never.
“Not as much as I used to be, but I still like to wear pearls in my hair.” She reached over onto her dressing table and picked up one of the pearls she had combed from her hair the night before.
“See? Isn’t it pretty?”
Amy nodded.
“Would you like it?”
Her eyes grew large.
“Would you?”
“I might lose it.”
“Well, what if we put it on a string to wear around your neck? That way you couldn’t lose it too easily.”
“I’d like that.”
“Someone left a thread basket in my room,” she said, rising and going to the small work table. “What is your favorite color?”
“Red.”
“Oh, there are lots of reds. You better come show me which is your favorite.”
Hesitantly Amy left Taleon’s shoulder and crossed the room. Alexandra placed the basket on the ground and sat beside it. Amy knelt down a little distance away, but in a few minutes was rummaging through the basket without a care.
When Amy had picked out the thread, Alexandra threaded it through the pearl’s small hole. Then, tying a firm knot, put it around Amy’s neck.
“There.”
“It’s so pretty,” she murmured softly.
“Amy,” it was Taleon calling her attention.
She turned her head to look at him.
“I have some things I have to do. I’ll be back in a half hour.”
“Okay.”
“Teach her how to braid, all right?”
Amy looked curiously up at Alexandra, wrinkling her little nose. “You don’t know how to braid?”
“No, I don’t. I can sew, draw, sing, and play the lute, but I can’t braid.”
“I can’t do any of those—well, I can sew a little, but Mama says my stitches aren’t very fine.”
“You will learn eventually how to make them fine and straight.”
Amy muffled a laugh behind her hands. “How do you know they aren’t straight?”
“’Cause mine weren’t straight and fine either when I was your age.”
Amy giggled.
The time passed swiftly, and before either knew it, Taleon had entered once again.
“Back so soon?” whined Amy.
“Yes, you have been here more than a half hour, and your mother wants you, so it’s time for you to go.”
Amy skipped across the floor to Taleon’s side.
“Bye, Cassandra,” she said with a wave of her hand as she disappeared through the door.
“Bye, Amy.”
Taleon closed the door, and Alexandra heard it lock. Being all by herself was lonely. Her hair was braided and tied with a ribbon that matched her dress. She was pretty as a picture with no one to admire it, and staring in the mirror wasn’t much of a comfort. It only reminded her how alone she was.
Going to the work table, she searched for something to amuse her hands. There was no fancy work or embroidery. Just the lonely thread basket, and she couldn’t do anything with that.
She walked around and around the room, wishing for something to pass the time. There was nothing to do but stare out the window and think—think of everything she had been told.
Taleon’s words ran through her head over and over again. “Puppets only do what their masters think, say, and do. So far that is all you have done up here. What are some of your own ideas?”
What are my ideas? What do I think? Someone is trying to control me. But who? The rebels, my father, or both?
Chapter 6
Later that day Taleon appeared with another tray of food, much more substantial and palatable than the last tray he had brought her.
“The councilmen and I have been talking. After what happened with Enid this morning, the council thinks it best for you to stay here until your father returns, and he will decide what should be done with you.”
“Are you are afraid I will turn the people against him?”
Taleon smiled. “No, more afraid that you will be black and blue.”
“Is Enid all right?”
Taleon sighed. “You caused quite a problem for yourself. Thankfully she isn’t much of a gossip. The council has heard her grievance against you and has—well, she will be talking to your father when he gets back. Enid has promised to hold her peace until then.”
“And when will that be?”
“What?”
“When will he come?” she asked, unsure exactly
how to address him.
“Your father?”
“Yes, him.”
“He’ll be here within the week.”
“Why isn’t he here now?”
“He is taking care of people in the valley. We can get grain from over the mountains, and he takes it to the people below, so they don’t starve from your uncle’s treatment.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call him my uncle.”
“Then what would you have me call him? The tyrant, impostor...”
“Stop that!”
Taleon shook his head. “Have a good night, your highness.”
“That’s it; you are just going to leave me in here?”
“That is the general idea.”
“It’s quite maddening that there is nothing to do.”
“Well, I am sure once your view about us changes, your view on that will change as well.”
“Very clever of you, but I am not amused.”
“I am.” And without another word, he walked out the door and shut it behind him.
“I have never met a more vexing person in ALL MY LIFE!” fumed Alexandra.
“Don’t forget your dinner is getting cold.”
Alexandra let out a cry of frustration. She could just imagine Taleon laughing on the other side of the door as she heard him walking away. If I could get my hands on him I’d...I’d. Oh, I don’t know what I would do. Too bad the river isn’t closer.
Chapter 7
The hours passed. Night came, and Alexandra wasn’t tired. She listened to the castle slowly grow quiet. Being alone was driving her mad. Taking a long needle from the sewing basket, she went to the door.
“I don’t know if this will work, but it might be worth a try if I can only get out of here for a little bit.”
Alexandra knelt near the door and fiddled with the needle in the keyhole. Several minutes went by.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” she said, resting her hand on the doorknob. To her surprise, it twisted. With an eager pull, she opened it.
There was Taleon, elbows resting on either side of the door frame, his head leaning on his fist. The other hand hung loosely downward. His feet, crossed, resting in one corner of the doorway.
Alexandra’s jaw dropped in dismay. She let out a cry of surprise.
“I was wondering when you would figure out I had forgotten to lock it.”
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Just long enough to know you were fiddling with the lock, too bad it didn’t work. If it had, you would have saved me having to lock you in.”
Alexandra slammed the door.
Taleon opened it.
She shoved her feet against it, holding it shut.
He pushed hard.
Alexandra found herself losing ground as she slid across the stone floor.
Propping himself in the doorway, he held the door open with one foot.
“I was actually wondering since it is dark and almost everyone is sleeping, if you would want to go for a walk?”
Alexandra looked at him skeptically.
“I am not teasing you. Do you want to go or no?”
“It would be better than sitting here all night.”
“Very good. Come, I’ll take you to the top of the castle.”
Alexandra rose to her feet without waiting for his assistance. He motioned her to pass through the doorway he was standing in.
“You aren’t going to tie my hands?”
“No,” he said with a smile, “I am pretty sure I could outrun you if you took to that fancy.”
She shot him a brief glare as she passed him. He closed her door and nodded to the right. “This way.”
In a few minutes, Alexandra found herself panting as they climbed the stairs. Taleon stopped at a window to look out. She took that moment to sag against the wall and catch her breath.
“Can’t see it from here; we’ll have to wait till we reach the top.” He sighed and kept going.
By the time they had reached the top, Alexandra was panting, but Taleon took it all in stride.
Turning to look at Alexandra he smiled. “It’s the mountain air; you’ll get used to it eventually.”
“I can hardly breathe.”
Taleon shrugged and looked around as if trying to gauge his bearings, even though he had been up there hundreds of times. Unexpectedly he took her hand.
“Come on; I want to show you something.”
They soon stood at the far edge of the castle, facing the valley that shone in the light of the moon. The wind was strong and cold, sweeping Alexandra’s skirt and hair about her.
“Do you see the lights down there?”
Alexandra searched the landscape but could see nothing.
“No.”
“It’s very faint, but if you look just to the right of that tree...” he said, pointing with one eye shut.
Alexandra gasped. “It’s...”
“The heart of Chambria, its capital of the same name. Creative people, our ancestors.”
“It’s so small,” she murmured with a shiver as the wind blew with a chill over her.
Taleon nodded. “It is a whole new perspective. It’s almost an entirely different world. Being up here gives you an idea how small everything really is.”
Alexandra realized the wind had stopped blowing with such force. She glanced to her right where Taleon was standing. He was blocking the wind with his back and was facing her. The moon fell and shone brightly on half of his face.
“We see things differently up here. I hope you’ll see that in time. Everything here will be contrary to anything you have learned down in the valley. We don’t fit in down there. Not until things change and until it changes...”
“And if it doesn’t change?”
“We’ll have died trying.”
A chill ran up her spine. “Take me inside. I am cold.”
Taleon didn’t speak another word as she followed him. As they came around the corner, the wind struck her with its full force. She stopped. It felt as if it was trying to take away her breath.
Why is it so fierce up here? Who will protect me when I am so alone?
Taleon stopped, waiting for her to catch up. In a moment she moved on. When they were inside the castle, she was grateful that she was no longer in the grasp of the cold wind. Taleon could not get her to her room fast enough.
Alexandra was surprised to find herself happy that the door was locked behind her. The world that wanted to change her was outside it. Everything seemed to happen so quickly, yet she did not alter. What was there to change about her? Everything, yet nothing.
Going over to the door, she pushed it to reassure herself that it was locked. Yes, it was. The world that threatened hers’ was sealed out, but it still held the key.
The next few days passed quietly for Alexandra.
Taleon was surprised to find her less eager for anything. She did not complain about the food that he brought her. Oftentimes she refused to even acknowledge his presence as he opened the door. She would go to the window and look out until he was gone.
After the third day, Taleon had had enough. The first day it had annoyed him, the second he had tolerated it, but the third day was the last straw.
“What is it, Cassandra?”
She turned her head away from him.
“Was it something I said?”
Alexandra glared at him over her shoulder.
“So I said something, and you won’t tell me what it is. This should be an interesting conversation since it will be one-sided.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes and turned back to the window.
“If you want me to be sorry for what I said on top of the castle, I can’t. I am sorry that it offended you. But I won’t be sorry for what I said. We want you on our side. Your country needs you.”
“My country needs me where I belong, and that is down in the valley—a proper princess—not captive of a pack of rebels.”
“And eng
aged to that insipid second prince of Shalsburg, I suppose?”
“He’s not insipid!”
“How do you know? Have you ever met him?”
“No.”
“How can you defend a man you have never met yet turn your back on the people of your country who have stood in this very room? They need your help. Open your eyes.” Taleon turned to leave.
“They are open. You know what I see?”
“What do you see?” Taleon asked, turning around.
“I see people who have abandoned their country for a reckless cause that will never win. You will never ever get the power to attack us below. Your numbers are too few. So you sit on the mountain and crow your useless cause hoping that some miracle will happen. You don’t help; you only tear my country in half.”
Taleon’s demeanor was frighteningly calm. “We are ready. We’ve been waiting for you. Your father wouldn’t attack until he knew you were safe because the last time he attacked, you weren’t. Your mother died; you were the only thing that stood in the way of our attack. Chambria needs an heir. There is only one. You. When your father is done with his fight, I hope you are ready. He’s been waiting for years.”
“Your king is not my father. He never has been and never will be.”
“Just the same, the throne will be yours. Whether you deserve it or not.”
“I—I!”
Alexandra looked into Taleon’s face, but words wouldn’t come. She was so confused.
“I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t have to. Your father will be here in a few days, and he will explain it all to you whether you want to believe it or not. It is the truth.”
“And how do you know he isn’t lying to you?”
“It happened when I was a boy of seven. I am older than you, you know. Even if you don’t remember, I do.”
Alexandra’s hand moved to strike him. Taleon stepped out of reach and shook his head.
Alexandra burst into tears. Why does this place have to be so, so horrid and confusing?
Turning, he walked away, closed the door, and locked it firmly.
Chapter 8
Alexandra stood at her window trying to dream of something else—anything to get where she was out of her head—but they always returned: questions, asking like a disease in the back of her mind, eating away at her.
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