Opening the book, he flipped through to a marked page. “There,” he said, pointing to a certain passage. “Start reading here.”
“What is it?” she asked, not really looking at the page.
“Read it for yourself. There it is right in front of you—proof of who we are. It was written by the court historian.”
Alexandra looked at the page. It made no sense to her.
“Read it,” urged Taleon.
Alexandra lowered her eyes to the floor, and they filled with tears. “I can’t read. My father wouldn’t allow it.”
Taleon spun her to face himself, lifting her chin, so her eyes met his.
“You can’t read? A woman like you, of your rank, can’t read?”
“No,” she answered, shame filling her as she looked away.
“Can you see how desperately he wanted to keep you in the dark? I can read it to you, but you may never know if it was the truth. I could easily be making it up as well as reading it. Do you even know your letters?”
“I know them and a few small words, but not many, not enough to read anything.”
Taleon took her hand beneath his. Extending her pointer finger, he placed it on the page.
“You still won’t know if I am making it up, but it is worth a try.” Taking a deep breath, he started.
While King Aric was away at war, he was overthrown by his younger brother Prince Archibald. Returning to Chambria, he was surprised to find that Prince Archibald sat on the throne, and had declared war against him. King Aric’s wife, Queen Serena, was slain as she tried to take their daughter Cassandra to safety in King Aric’s ranks. Defeated, but not conquered, believing that his wife and child were dead, King Aric moved his forces into the unsecured stronghold of Raven Castle...
Alexandra watched as the words passed before her fingertips. Memories were bursting from the past.
She pulled her hand away. “Stop it, stop reading!”
“What is it, Cassandra?”
She turned away, holding back her tears. “I don’t know!” Alexandra cried defiantly, trying to shut out the feelings that were bursting on her, the memories that spoke the truth that she wanted to defy.
He touched her arm.
She curled away from Taleon.
“No! I hate it! I can’t! I won’t!”
“Cassandra?”
“If I do...If I do. That means everything I have lived, loved, and believed for the last thirteen years of my life has been a lie, Taleon. All of it a lie. I can’t be what everyone wants me to be; I don’t have it in me. I don’t. I can’t be what everyone needs me to be. I look into those people’s faces, and I know the whole world rests on my shoulders if I accept what you are saying. Down in the valley, they were not the problem...”
There was a long pause as she took a deep breath, tears filling her eyes.
“It was me.”
“You understand?” he said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.
“I have understood for a very long time. I have tried not to. I don’t want to understand everything. Everything that my uncle has put my country through—the torture, the agony, the pain of these people is his fault, and I have stood by and let it happen. I remember everything. I was an idiot. I am...” She stopped. What did I just say? Of all people to tell, why did it have to be Taleon? Why!
He stood there, looking at her half-expectant, half-puzzled. “Did you hear what you just said?”
“I know what I just said. Now go away. I don’t want to talk to you.” Cassandra turned to run, but he caught her wrist. She was torn. Did she fight him and run away, or stay and listen to what he had to say? She was tired of fighting, tired of trying to make the world seem perfect, but if she didn’t, what would happen? What would change?
“Cassandra.” He said her name softly.
She closed her eyes, trying to fight. She had already conceded so much to him. To admit more would be torture.
“What is it you remember? Tell me.”
“Everything.”
There was a long pause. She fought back the words, but they came anyway. They were dying to escape, to help her be set free.
“My mother didn’t die shielding me from a rebel sword. I was torn away from her arms by Uncle Archibald. I cried for her; I screamed; I threw a fit in his arms, but he wouldn’t let me go. I cried until I didn’t have any tears. He wouldn’t let me go until I called him father. I remember. I remember! Now you are going to hate me?”
“Why would I do that?” he asked, closing the wide distance she was keeping between them, still wanting him to go away.
“Because I hate myself. I am so, so...” She burst into uncontrollable tears.
Taleon pulled her close. Cassandra was too confused and frustrated to fight him.
“It’s all right, Cassandra.”
“No, it’s not. I have been so stupid.”
“Just think how happy your father will be when he returns.”
“He’ll hate me for it.”
“Why would he do a thing like that?”
“Because he’ll be ashamed.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I have been a fool. An unforgivable fool.”
Taleon lifted her chin to look into his gently smiling face. “I think you will be the only person who can’t forgive yourself. Your father is dying to love you. I don’t think he’ll care a bit as long as you know the truth and accept it.”
“But Taleon...I’ve made a huge mistake of everything.”
He laid a finger over her mouth. “Shh. There is nothing that can’t be fixed.”
“How can you be so forgiving?”
Taleon’s face softened. The smile disappeared. “If you could see the tortured look in your eyes, even you could forgive yourself.”
She pulled away. “Will he forgive me?”
“He is your father, Cassandra.”
“Taleon,” she said, turning to him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. “That means nothing to me. Uncle Archibald is the only father I have really ever known and had I done something like this to him, I would be close to dead.”
“He will love you, Cassandra. He loves you now more than anything in the world. He has waited thirteen years for you to come home.”
Cassandra burst into tears. “I don’t deserve it. I don’t.”
“Someone who has lived in the house of a tyrant for most of their life deserves all the love they can find.”
“Oh, Taleon, how can you?”
Taleon smiled at her. “You finally get it.”
Chapter 16
Cassandra looked up at Taleon. Her whole world was changed in an instant, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
“What is going to happen now?”
“Well, I don’t need this anymore,” he said, producing the key from his pocket. “So now it is yours.”
“Are you sure you can trust me?”
He narrowed his eyes and looked her over. “I’ll risk it because I think I can. If you break it, well, then you’ll have worse things than just a locked door to worry about,” he said, placing it in her hand.
“Thank you.”
“Would you like a tour of the castle? So I can stop taking you in circles.”
“You have been taking me in circles?”
Taleon nodded.
“Why on earth?”
“Just in case. It took me a lot longer to do anything, but the castle has to be protected because of the people in it. I couldn’t risk you escaping your room and hiding. If I kept you confused, the more likely it was that you wouldn’t try anything on your own.”
“You really didn’t trust me, did you?”
Taleon laughed. “Maybe, maybe not.”
“If you don’t mind, I would like to take a rest for a while. Everything is so—” she shook her head.
“I understand. Rest well, Cassandra,” he said, leaving.
Cassandra smiled. There was no sound of the door locking. She liked her name. Going to the doo
r, she locked it. She wanted to be utterly alone—to let the reality sink in.
Going over to the book that Taleon had left, her finger traced over the words. Doubt rose in her heart. What if he was just lying? Her hand fell over her mother’s name. That one she knew. The memory of Archibald seizing her from her mother washed over her powerfully, sending a shiver up her spine.
Raven Castle is where I belong. King Aric is my Pappa. She started crying. He is my Pappa; he is my Pappa, she repeated over and over again, making her heart thump in her chest. Going to the window, she leaned out and breathed deeply. She threw back her head and laughed.
“I am Cassandra, the daughter of King Aric of Chambria,” she shouted to the mountains across from her. Then she laughed with bubbling joy. Pulling back into her room she twirled round and round on her toes across the floor. Spreading her arms out, she felt as if she could fly. When she stopped, the cat brushed against her legs with a purr. She scooped it up and held it out before her.
“I am free, kitty. Free.” And she whirled back across the room.
To say the least, the feline was not fond of this treatment and yowled.
“Well, since I am free, I don’t have to keep you anymore, do I? Taleon no longer controls what comes in and out of my room.”
She unlocked the door and shoed the kitty out, who left with a joyful meow and flaunted its tail in the air. Just as she was about to close the door, a man came around the corner. She faintly recognized him as one of the first faces she had seen upon her arrival. He had been sitting around the fire. His armor and clothing, though not fine, bore the symbol on his left shoulder said that he was a man of rank.
He bowed at the sight of her. “Princess Cassandra.”
“My Lord?” she answered with a nod of her head.
“Taleon told me of your choice.”
“Oh,” she said, with a blush rising on her cheeks. She had been so foolish, she really didn’t want anyone else to know, but of course, everyone would have to eventually.
“I wanted to say welcome to Raven Castle.”
“Thank you,” she said, opening the door a little wider. “May I ask who has honored me so?”
“I am Lord Keenan.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Keenan.”
“Likewise your highness,” he said with a bow and turned to leave.
“Lord Keenan.”
“Yes, your highness.”
“Have you heard from my Pappa lately? Is there any news of where he is or when he may return?”
Keenan shook his head. “We hear very little from your father while he is in the valley. It is for his own safety as well as those whom he helps. The last thing we want is Archibald to get his hands on information that we don’t want him to have.”
“Of course. I should have thought of that.”
“Are you eager to see him?”
Cassandra nodded. She could feel her eyes light up at the thought of him. It excited her.
“Would you care to go for a walk, your highness?”
“I would like that very much, I think.”
“Come then.” And he offered her his arm.
Finding her arm tucked safely under his, her hand resting on his chainmail, his sword ready at his side, gave her a comfortable feeling she was safe here, protected, and maybe eventually she could be loved. It was so different from her last encounter in the valley, a carriage ride with the Imposter. The thought sent a shiver up her spine. That had been an unpleasant ordeal.
“How long have you known my father?”
“Almost my whole life. He and I were boys together.”
“What was he like?”
“Your father was a gentle man and a good sport. He never minded losing as long as everyone did their best. He was an amazing man even then.”
Shyly she looked up at him, wanting to ask a question but not daring.
He looked down into her face and laughed. “You want to know what Archibald was as a young man?”
Cassandra laughed and blushed. “Yes, I would like to know what you thought of him.”
“Well, when he wasn’t winning, he was nowhere to be found. He had to be the best at it, or he wasn’t around at all.”
“Why did he turn on my Pappa?”
“No one really knows. All seemed to be going well, but when your father left for war, everything changed. He amassed a second army “just in case, ” and when we returned, we found ourselves attacked by our own flag. Then he raised his new standard, and we knew we were at war with our own people.” He seemed to shiver at the memory.
“Keenan? Keenan! There you are; I have been looking for you everywhere. Your opinion is wanted.”
“May I leave you here, your highness?” asked Lord Keenan before releasing her arm.
“Yes, you may. Thank you so much, Lord Keenan.”
“It was my pleasure, your highness.” And with a slight bow, he left.
Cassandra looked about her. He had taken her to the garden. The flowers were beautiful, and, after the turmoil of the day, it was wonderful to be in a place of beauty. She wandered happily and aimlessly about the garden until she came into a sunny corner where a woman sat sewing a thing of glory: King Aric’s standard, the flag of Chambria.
The woman dropped the needle and let out a sound of frustration.
“What is the matter?” asked Cassandra, coming to the woman’s side.
“My eyes aren’t what they used to be. I just can’t seem to stitch this right. It is King Aric’s battle standard, and I can’t sew like I used to. My fingers just won’t do what I want.”
“May I please?”
“Can you sew finely?”
“Yes, I can.”
“Well, I guess you can give it a try,” said the woman, surrendering to her the needle.
In a moment, Cassandra had undone the tangle and had stitched neatly through the problem and continued on.
“You sew so well. Who taught you?”
“My nurse.”
“Nurse?”
Cassandra nodded.
“So you are a noble?”
“You might say that,” said Cassandra with a blush, looking down at her clothes. There was nothing about her garments to distinguish her from a person of any level.
“Who is your father?”
Cassandra bit her lip. “His name is Aric.”
“King Aric?”
Cassandra nodded, happy to claim such a precious man as her father. But can I live up to his name? Can I make him proud? Will he truly forgive me for my stubborn, stupid, willful disbelief?
“Oh, your highness, I should do this; it is...”
“Please,” interrupted Cassandra, “Allow me to do this for my Pappa. It would please me very much if you could trust this beneath my hand.”
“I can trust it beneath your hands, your highness, but do you mind such work?”
“Not in the least; I am quite used to it. I have missed it since I came up here.”
The woman watched as the tiny straight careful stitches flew from Cassandra’s fingers. “Well, it is obvious you don’t need me to watch you sew this. If you don’t mind, I’ll sew something else.”
“Oh, please do, and don’t mind me.”
For a while they sewed together mostly in silence, then the woman was called away.
It was strange to find relief in such work, but Cassandra found it eased the pain in her heart and strengthened her belief with every stitch. King Aric was her Pappa, and somehow that was all that mattered in the world.
How will I tell him when he returns? Will he understand? Will he forgive me? Her heart fluttered in her chest. Did she dare hope for forgiveness and love all at once? He had been so willing to give it when they met the first time but to shut him out like that so cruelly—Cassandra realized how much her heart craved it.
Time passed quickly with her thoughts, and she felt a steady gaze looking at her. Timidly she glanced up.
It was Taleon leaning comfortably in the a
rchway, a contented and pleased smile on his face.
“Well, isn’t this a sight. One I thought I might never see.”
Cassandra blushed, and her eyes dropped back to her work. He came and sat beside her on the bench, watching her careful stitches intently.
“Stop staring.”
“Why?”
“Because it is the way of it. You watch too long and too intently and I will make a mistake.”
“Really, who says?”
“I don’t know. I think it is some freak of nature.”
Taleon threw back his head and laughed.
Cassandra looked at him for a moment. Taleon had never really laughed in her presence. She had been there almost three weeks, and now, for the first time, she heard him laugh wholeheartedly. Cassandra decided she liked the sound of it and turned back to her sewing. Taleon continued to watch intently.
“There you made me do it. See?” she pointed to the queer uneven stitch.
Taleon leaned closer, looking over her shoulder at the misbehaving thread. “I don’t see what is so bad about it.”
“I do. It will have to come out and be done over again,” she said, picking up the needle she had put down in her moment of frustration.
Taleon’s hand over hers paused her attempt to remove the mistake. “Leave it, please.”
“Why?”
“Nobody is perfect.”
“This is my Pappa’s standard.”
Taleon swallowed before speaking. “I know, but when I am following this flag, I would like to know that that stitch was there.”
“Why on earth would you want to be thinking of that?”
“Because it was the day King Aric got his daughter back.”
Cassandra moved the needle and made a new stitch. “It’s a good thing to remember.”
Chapter 17
The next month passed quickly. Cassandra found herself slipping into the lifestyle of Raven Castle. For the first few weeks, she helped Taleon with the refugees until they were well enough to take care of themselves; or moved on into safer realms far from Archibald’s grip but not too distant to be at the call of King Aric.
In the afternoons, she instructed young girls in fine sewing, from a pile of things to sew and mend. In the evenings, Taleon was helping her learn to read, and she was progressing quickly. At last, she was able to read books entirely on her own, Cassandra devoured everything she could get her hands on.
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