by J. B. North
“Wait,” Grix said. “I have to come with you.”
I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “Stand outside the door as if you’re still guarding me. If I’m caught, I’ll tell them I escaped from my window.”
Grix looked uncertain. “I don’t know—” he said, but before he could protest further, I was already out the door and halfway down the hall.
When I rounded the corner, a crowd came into view, all gathered around a man who read words off a piece of parchment. My feet faltered.
“The royal wedding is in a week’s time,” he said over the noise of the crowd. “All servants are expected to help in the setting up of the ceremony and the dinner afterward, in one way or another.”
Everyone seemed confused.
“Didn’t she just get here?”
“A commoner princess!”
“Only a week?”
They were so absorbed in their conversations that I was sure I could get away…until I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Did you think you would sneak off without anyone noticing?”
At just the sound of his voice, my shoulders lost their tension. I turned to Ayon, and smiled with relief. “Thank goodness it’s you.”
He didn’t reply, but instead looked at the crowd and pushed me forward gently. “I think we need to talk.”
“That’s why I was headed to the stables,” I replied as he led the way out. “I wanted to find you.”
After descending several steps, Ayon stopped and turned to me, eyebrows shadowing his deep blue eyes. “Is all of that true? You’re going to marry the prince?”
I looked around. Along with the guards stationed at the door, there were also a few people wandering along the gravel path. I kept my voice down to make sure no one heard. “I had no choice,” I finally answered. “The king wouldn’t take anything other than a yes.”
He clenched his jaw. “Is that what I should have done? Bullied you until you said yes?” He winced after the words came out.
Even though I knew he regretted saying them, they still stung.
I tightened my hands into fists, and hissed, “No, it’s not. Because I’m leaving.”
“Leaving? To go where?”
I shrugged. “Onwin, I guess. That’s where I’ll learn the entire prophecy. I’ll learn what my destiny really is instead of what King Giddon thinks it is.”
“What are you saying? Destiny?”
“There’s a prophecy written about a phoenix,” I explained. “Everyone seems to think I’m that phoenix.”
He rubbed his forehead, eyes pressed closed. “I’m supposed to believe that there’s a prophecy about you?” He looked up. “I grew up with you, Ivy. I’ve known you since you were a little girl, and now you’re supposed to save the world?”
I couldn’t hold back a smile. “You’re the first one to think about it like I do.”
A sad look passed over his face as he dropped his hand back down to his side. “I just wish things were back the way they were before all this happened.”
“Believe me, I do too,” I replied.
We paused when the door behind us opened and a handful of servants came out, deep in conversation. When they saw me, they lowered their voices, but I could still hear them.
“Is that her?” one whispered.
“I think so,” replied the other. “I heard she had red hair like that and green eyes.”
Even after they’d descended the steps, they kept shooting looks at me.
“I don’t envy you,” Ayon said after they’d gone. “If the entire kingdom wasn’t talking about you before, they certainly are now.”
“Great,” I said under my breath. I leaned against the wall, and shook my head, ready for a change of subject. “How’s Emillia?”
“She’s settling in. It’ll be an adjustment to get used to castle life.”
I nodded. “When did you get here? I expected it to be a lot longer before your arrival.”
He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and shrugged. “As soon as I got back to Emillia with the news, we saw no reason to delay the wedding any further than the next morning. Neither of us know many people and we couldn’t afford a big, fancy wedding anyway. I promised my mother I would visit and then we left.” He gestured up to the castle with a jerk of his head. “And now we’re here.”
“Did Emillia handle all the traveling well?”
“She’s surprisingly a good traveler. Being a horse, I was our main transportation. I carried us each day as long and as fast as I could. Didn’t want to get caught by bandits, you know?”
Like the ones I’d run into.
He continued. “Luckily, the only trouble we had was pulling together enough money to afford a ship to get to each island, and eventually, the mainland.”
“Looks like you did a pretty good job.”
He smiled. “Mother lent me some money. Anyway, what about you? Anything happen after I left?”
I opened my mouth to reply just as the door opened again. Princess Cecile stepped out, seemingly in deep thought. She didn’t even look up from the ground until she was only a few feet away.
She paused for a moment, her face pleasant at first. Then, her mouth pinched into a frown and her eyes darkened in anger. “You,” she hissed.
She glanced at Ayon and struggled to smooth over her features again. She plastered on a fake smile and said, “Lady Ivy, would you accompany me to my quarters?” Then, without another word, she started back up the steps.
I don’t know why I did it—perhaps because of curiosity—but I gave Ayon a nod and followed the princess back through the door.
We skirted around the few remaining servants in the hall and turned a corner. Her door was the first on the right, painted red. She turned the handle and stepped inside, her purple-ish eyes glinting as she waited for me to follow her.
Hesitantly, I did, but I never turned my back on her as she shut the door behind us.
With the door closed, she rounded on me. “What are you thinking? Didn’t I tell you that the prince and I are the only way Onwin and Leviatha can form an alliance?”
I crossed my arms. “I was under the impression that our kingdoms were already allied. Is Onwin planning on joining sides with Ginsey now?”
She glared at me. “We’d rather side with Ginsey than be obliterated by them.”
I let her steep in her anger for a moment before I said, “You’ll be happy to hear that I’m not going to go through with the wedding.”
Her face morphed from angry to surprised to disbelieving. “What do you mean? I thought—”
“King Giddon forced me into the betrothal. So I’m going to run away the day after tomorrow.”
She lifted her delicate eyebrows. “Run? Where?”
“To Onwin, I guess. I’m tired of hearing about a prophecy I still don’t know.”
She stared at me for a moment. “Really?”
I nodded.
She played with her sleeve, her face screwed up in concentration. “You’ll have a hard time getting into the Black Fortress… I’ll have to come with you.”
“I can’t be slowed down—”
“My second form is a swan. We’ll be able to fly out of here in the middle of the night and get about a seven or eight hour head start. Even Leviatha’s best flyers won’t be able to catch up before we cross the border.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What about your mission to marry the prince?”
“That can wait until his father stops obsessing about you,” she said. “If the king doesn’t like our union, it won’t happen.”
“Should we meet somewhere?”
“The palace gate. Midnight. Don’t be late.”
I nodded and stepped toward the door, but she caught my wrist as I reached for the handle.
“This better not be some joke,” she said, her eyes narrowed.
I pulled out of her grasp, cold dislike coiling in my stomach. “Believe me. It’s not.”
-Chapter Nineteen-
Apparently, Prince Matthias wasn’t required to attend. I wrestled back my jealousy as the seconds ticked on.
“Lady Ivy?”
I looked up, caught by surprise.
“Your favorite flower?” prompted one of the decorators.
“Um…” I wasn’t exactly certain, but I thought back on the last memory I had of my mother. Of the fire flower she’d put in my hair. “Which ones have red, yellow, and orange, like a fire?”
“There are many kinds, but you may be thinking of Blazeblossom.”
I nodded my head. “Right. That one.”
The king hefted a sigh and sat back in his throne. “She can have that in her bouquet, but I truly insist on using roses throughout the room.”
I pursed my lips. Calm down, Ivy. There won’t be a wedding anyway.
I waited in silence as the rest of the meeting dragged on.
When it was finished, Grix, who had stood by my side during the entire meeting, escorted me out of the room behind the king. I was relieved when he turned the opposite direction of my room.
“So…” I said once Grix and I were out of earshot. “How are you doing?”
He snorted, shaking his head. “I feel like I know more about wedding planning than I do fighting right now.”
My laugh rang through the hall. “You’re not alone.”
I was in surprisingly good spirits as we continued on, but when Sir Lochlan rounded the corner followed by Prince Matthias, my smile faded.
“Ivy,” Matthias said as he stopped in front of me, his gray eyes taking me in. “How are you?”
I shrugged and pasted on a fake smile. “Good, I guess. What about you?”
“Overwhelmed, as I’m sure you are,” he answered.
I nodded and shifted my feet as silence stretched on.
The prince bowed his head, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “Well, I’ll leave you to…whatever you’re doing. If I don’t see you beforehand, I suppose I’ll see you at the betrothal dinner tomorrow night.”
“Betrothal dinner?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “Didn’t Father tell you about the dinner?”
“He may have, but I must not have been listening.” If the dinner lasted too long, it could delay the plans to escape.
“It’s just a formality. A few noblemen and women will be attending, but nothing huge,” he said.
I struggled to keep my face from falling. Why do nobles have to have so many meetings and dinners?
Matthias stepped to the side. “Until then.”
I glanced at Sir Lochlan, who dipped his head and followed the prince, avoiding my gaze. Normally, he was cold and put together, but today, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
Had Lochlan known the king’s plan?
* * * * *
The rest of the day was pleasant. I was left to my own devices, except when Dame Guthrie came to give me the dress for the betrothal dinner. She fluttered around me like a plump peacock in her purple and green monstrosity of a gown, repeating how excited she was for the wedding. Knowing she’d already been told to make my wedding dress before she had me fitted, it was hard to be polite in her presence. I was relieved that she didn’t stay long.
Grix and Alyss were able to eat lunch and dinner with me. We read books, played card games at the table, and relaxed until Grix’s shift was over. He’d just stood up to leave when three loud raps came at the door.
Grix cracked the door open to look out, and upon seeing the visitor, swung it open the rest of the way, enough for me to see Sir Lochlan and another guard.
I stood. “Yes?”
“Ivy,” Sir Lochlan said as he led the other guard in. “This is your new night guard, Jake.”
The name sounded familiar. I studied the man. He was older than Sir Lochlan and had the beginning of crow’s feet around his eyes. His hair was already balding, though it kept its dark brown color.
Then, it hit me. “Your brother?”
He nodded. “And the only other person I trust to keep you safe.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Did you tell him—?”
“He knows everything,” Sir Lochlan said.
Jake held his hands behind his back. “It is a tragedy that the youngest and brightest of our siblings is no longer with us, but I know that isn’t your fault. I will gladly serve my future queen.”
Guilt coursed through me. I’ll never be anyone’s queen. But I forced my mouth into a smile. “Thank you, Jake.”
He gave me a grim nod and turned to go back out the door.
“Sir Lochlan,” I called just before he followed after his brother.
Lochlan turned back and raised his eyebrows.
I glanced at Alyss, who’d already stood and was making her way out the door. I don’t know how she could tell, but she threw me a look that told me she knew I needed a private conversation. She grabbed Grix’s hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do and led him out the door behind her.
I looked back at Sir Lochlan.
He stood stock still, hands by his sides. “What is it?”
“Had you known?” I whispered.
“Known?” he asked, but his countenance betrayed him. He knew what I was talking about.
I crossed my arms and waited for him to explain.
He turned his head toward the window, hazel eyes so like Roland’s now that his expression softened. “Yes. I’d known.”
“And that’s probably why you hated it when I ran off,” I concluded.
He wouldn’t look at me. “The king told me before we left that my mission was to get you down here, even if I had to tie you to the top of the carriage to do so.”
I winced. “That’s a bit harsh.”
Sir Lochlan glanced nervously at the door, where his brother stood with his back toward us. “He can be that way.”
“And the prince knew, too?” I asked.
“He knew,” Lochlan said as he looked back at me. “He took the softer approach.”
I stared at him silently. Although he may feel guilty, telling him my plan to run again would most likely get me caught. He was too loyal to the royal family, despite their faults.
“Thank you for telling me,” I finally said.
He nodded sharply and fixed his face back into an emotionless mask. He stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
That night, I tossed and turned, too busy thinking about what could be happening just twenty-four hours later. Knowing I would need it, I willed myself to sleep, only to be met with nightmares. In one, I wore a wedding dress, but the veil clouded my vision. When it was lifted back, I found not the prince standing as my groom, but King Giddon.
The thought kept me shuddering throughout the next day until my maids came in to get me ready for the dinner at only four o’clock. I’d just finished lunch less than three hours before.
However, I have to admit, it was nicer than the previous time, when they’d hurried frantically through every step. I didn’t particularly like being made up, but at least I got to relish the time I had before dinner.
As always, Grix was my escort when the time came to leave my room. The maids laid the make-up on thick and teased my hair up into an absurdly high bun. By the end, I wished I could stick my head in a bucket.
The dress Dame Guthrie had left for me wasn’t much better. It was all white with silver beading, but the skirt poofed out and the sleeves wrapped around my arms too tightly.
The fact that Grix stifled a laugh when he saw me didn’t make me feel much better.
“Oh, laugh it up,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’ll never feel more ridiculous than I do r
ight now.”
He shook his head with a grin. “You don’t look ridiculous. You just look nothing like Ivy.”
When the open ballroom doors came into view, I cringed at the crowd gathered around them. At first, they continued on with their conversation, but as more and more people became aware of my presence, the talk quieted down. Some people stared openly and others were satisfied with little glances. I slowed to a stop, unsure of what to do until I saw the prince waving me over to where he stood next to Sir Lochlan.
“Ivy, I don’t think you’ve met Lochlan’s fiancée, Celia, have you?” he asked as I approached. The woman he gestured to was tall and strongly built under her armor, and though her face was heavily freckled under short black hair, she still had an unusual beauty about her.
I was slightly perturbed by her stature compared to mine, but I managed to say, “No, I haven’t. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She dipped her head into a slight bow. “The pleasure is mine.”
Sir Lochlan looked past me into the ballroom. “As soon as the king finishes talking with the duke and duchess, we should be able to get inside.”
I followed his gaze, and now that there wasn’t a door blocking the way, I could see the king’s bright face as he talked to an older couple. As we watched, the duke bowed his head and the king gave a nod before they continued into the room.
Like Sir Lochlan said, the crowd diminished quickly after the duke and duchess were through, and we inched forward with everyone else until it was our turn to be greeted by the king.
“Ivy, Matthias, welcome,” he said, not even taking into account Grix, Sir Lochlan, or Celia. “Your table is on the platform.” He pointed to a small table, raised higher than all the others.
As we continued on through the ballroom, I asked Prince Matthias, “Are we expected to sit at that table alone?”
He nodded. “Yes. Our guards will sit at a nearby table.”
I cringed inwardly. “And the king, your brother, and his wife?”
“They’ll sit at the table next to us.”
The placement seemed a little odd to me as we climbed up the stairs. “Is this usually how betrothal dinners work?”
