by Terry Spear
9
Sigrid returned to the chamber she was sharing with Tanya, and immediately, she sat up in bed. “Where did you go? I didn’t even know you had left. I thought someone was sneaking into our chamber to cause trouble for us.”
“I had to see Owen. He just arrived, and I wanted to hear how it went with his father.”
“Have you been watching out the window all this time for him?” Tanya asked.
“No. One of the maids the queen sent to serve us was watching for him so she could tell me as soon as he returned. Poor thing. She also had to retrieve the traveling gowns we borrowed from Duchess Kenmore. But the woman said she was happy to give them to us for our quest.”
Tanya settled against the bed. “Good. I’m glad she was happy to aid us. What did Owen’s father say?”
“It’s just as I expected. The king will do anything he can to kill me when the war is over.”
“Did he say he’d give up his throne?”
“Yes, and that I can wed Owen. But the prince said the king will want his throne back and me dead. And he’s offering his throne to Owen’s cousin Tarrant.”
“Oh, now that’s unexpected. I wonder if Tarrant will side with Owen, or with his father. Well, we can’t let anything bad happen to you.”
“He and his brother will have to be watched.” Sigrid climbed back in bed, thinking about marrying Owen on the morrow. Was that the best thing that could ever happen to her, or the worst mistake she could ever make?
Early the next morning, before Owen was really ready to get up, Tarrant was at his door. “The queen wishes you up, marrying Sigrid, and on your way. She is devious, you know.”
“The queen, or Sigrid?”
“Both, I would say.”
Owen quickly dressed. “Have you seen Sigrid?”
“No, she was getting ready even earlier. The queen said you could sleep for another hour, but that was an hour ago.”
“The queen knows I was up most of the night traveling to get back here, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, and she was glad to hear the news. Her advisor told her. I told her that your father intends to kill Sigrid.”
Raising his brows, Owen secured his sword.
“She said she knew that and that you would protect Sigrid with your life. She said so would my brother and I.”
“Even though my father would make you king instead.”
Tarrant smiled so deviously, Owen frowned at him. “I will undoubtedly have to fight my father on this issue. I don’t want to have to fight you also. And your brother.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t trust your father in the least. I could see him getting angry with me over something and then saying Connelly will have the throne. Or he will have another son, or a daughter, and that one would have the throne. My brother and I have always known you would be king next. And we’ve been best of friends. I would hope it would stay that way. As to your bride, you could do far worse. I’d say if I had been in the market for a wife, she might even have been the one for me.”
Owen snorted. “My father was going to have you wed to Princess Esmeralda.”
“The hawk fae princess? No way. She loves another.”
“That’s what he said he was going to do. But I told him she’d already left for home.”
“Good. You told Princess Esmeralda that you were ending the betrothal with her?”
“Yes.”
“I’m pleased for both of you.” Tarrant opened the door for Owen. “Not having any second thoughts about this, are you?”
“Not me.”
“I’m glad Connelly thought to bring us clothes for the affair. I’d hate to look like we were vagabond princes from the falcon fae kingdom.”
Owen smiled. “Though I would hope they would realize what a rush this all has been.”
They stepped into the corridor and came face to face with the queen’s advisor.
“Hurry. The queen is waiting for you. We must have this done at once, have a celebratory dinner, and dance, and then you’ll be on your way.”
Owen had expected to be marrying Princess Esmeralda and that would have taken months of courtship, months of planning the wedding, and days of feasting before and after. He never thought he’d be having a very quick wedding, unplanned, and quickly celebrated, and then return home where his people wouldn’t even know he’d been married. And that he’d actually be married to a falcon fae who had magic abilities, not a hawk fae who couldn’t shift.
Even though his father said he’d step down from the throne, he didn’t believe he would. He’d probably try to rule while Sigrid was attempting to save the kingdom. As to his advisor, whose side would he be on? Owen suspected Lord Benton wouldn’t wait to see how this all fell out. If Sigrid couldn’t fight the enemy’s army, he’d stick with the king. If Sigrid was successful, he would be loyal to Owen and Sigrid. At least that’s what Owen thought.
When he and Tarrant walked into the chapel, he was surprised to see it filled with courtiers. He’d halfway expected it just to be him and his cousins, the queen, her advisor, ladies-in-waiting, and Sigrid and Tanya. He hadn’t expected a larger audience.
Everyone was smiling at him as he walked toward the smiling queen and the minister.
“Are you nervous about this?” Tarrant asked. “I am.”
Owen smiled at him. Then Connelly joined them and when they reached the queen, Sigrid was being escorted by the queen’s advisor and looked exquisite in a gold gown trimmed in silver. She truly looked like a queen, and he thought if they could arrive in the Kingdom of Raymore with her on his arm wearing such a gown, the people would see her as the queen she would be. He hoped he could buy the gown from the queen so Sigrid could wear it home. That made him think he would have to outfit her with a whole wardrobe of gowns. She would no longer wear the kind of clothes she was used to wearing when people called her a witch while living in the cottage in the woods. At least, not unless she really wanted to. He had to change his thinking on what a queen should be like, look like, and the role she would serve. His mother had been no more than a beautiful woman in charge of the staff and social activities. That’s the role Princess Esmeralda planned to take on.
He suspected, if Sigrid could pull this off, she might want more responsibility in governing their people. He hoped they could agree on issues.
She finally reached him and smiled. She looked nervous, her hand shaking when she took his. They said their vows, and he hoped she hadn’t changed her mind about marrying him. Though he supposed this was so sudden for her too, that she was hoping she hadn’t gotten into something she would regret later. Maybe she was even worried about how she would deal with the mage of the other realm. And Owen’s traitorous father.
Owen pulled her close to kiss her. “You are beautiful, my princess, my future queen.” He wanted her to know this was real to him. That he truly wanted her for his mate. And that she would be his queen.
She smiled up at him, and then kissed him back, much more passionately than he had expected and he smiled at her exuberance. This was going to work. Everyone in the chapel cheered them. The queen was smiling, then gave her a hug, and then Owen, which surprised him.
“Come, let us break our fast, and then dance, and you shall be on your way to save your kingdom.” Leading the way, the queen ushered them out of the chapel ahead of the courtiers.
They were soon in the great hall having a feast that should hold them over until they returned home. The dancing was what he enjoyed the most. Sigrid seemed to enjoy it just as much as she swayed to the music in his arms.
“I want to ask the queen if I can buy this gown from her so that you can wear it at the coronation when we return to our kingdom.”
“She has given me a chest full of gowns, including this one. They’re packed in my featherlight bags already. She wanted me properly dressed so that your people will see me as a queen when they first lay eyes upon me.”
“Good. I didn’t want to offend you, but first appearances do make
a difference.”
She smiled. “You were afraid I’d look like a witch? I have worn black since my grandmother’s death.”
“I’m afraid I’ve offended you,” he said, frowning.
“No. It’s time for me to play a new part in the world.” Her wings fluttered, and he swore they were even prettier this morning.
His fluttered in response, as if he had no control over them.
“You are very handsome. I was afraid you wouldn’t have anything to wear but traveling clothes when you returned because you would be in such a hurry.”
“I knew I was marrying you and wanted to make myself as presentable as possible, though I have to admit I forgot to grab the clothes because I was in so much of a rush to return. Connelly picked them out for all of us.”
Sigrid smiled up at him and his heartbeat quickened. He truly wanted to dance the day and night away, but the queen sent her advisor to tell them they needed to leave.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said to her, bowing low. “You have made me an extremely happy prince.”
“A happy king, I should hope, soon.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sigrid said, “for everything.”
“Your friendship is enough thanks.”
Which meant they would have an alliance with the dark fae.
They were off after that, traveling first to the golden fae territory where Shane and his guard waited for her at Sigrid’s cottage. “The queen received her gold and is pleased,” Shane said. He glanced at Tanya. “You are not leaving too, are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“The queen has not agreed to your leaving for the falcon fae kingdom to remain with Sigrid.”
“She is going with me to help, if I need it,” Sigrid said, “and I’m married to Prince Owen, so it is Princess Sigrid to you.”
The guard’s jaw dropped. He glanced sharply at Owen as if he thought the prince would say she was just jesting, though he did eye her gown, and she suspected it was finally dawning on him what had happened. “She’ll be queen as soon as the coronation takes place,” Owen said.
Shane’s face turned pale. “You do not intend to return? That was not the deal our queen made.” To Sigrid, he said, “You were to return to continue to serve her.”
“If all goes as planned, I won’t serve anyone but my own people. Good day to you.” She dissolved the spell protecting her cottage and walked inside.
Owen said, “The queen can be our ally, however.” Then he joined Sigrid inside.
She packed some of her potions and went into the cellar to gather the nets. Owen went with her, not knowing what she was doing, but was eager to help. He couldn’t believe it when she waved her hand at the floor and a chest appeared. She opened the chest and he saw his and his cousins’ enchanted nets. He gathered them and glanced at Sigrid.
“Yes, I know an enchantment coats them. Maybe we can use them on the mage.”
“Which was my intent in the first place.”
“Until you learned about me.”
“My mistake.”
And then they left to go to Tanya’s place to pick up a couple of other items she wanted to take with her—a dream journal, for one. “I think we should tell Kayla what’s become of us. She will worry otherwise,” Tanya said.
“Yes, I agree. Do you mind if we drop by the dragon fae kingdom?” Sigrid asked Owen.
“No, that’s fine with me as long as we don’t stay for long.” When they finished at Tanya’s cottage, they transported to the dragon fae kingdom and Alton and Kayla’s castle.
Guards rushed to take the men prisoner, but Sigrid held her hand up to say no, and then explained they were married. “We wish to say good-bye to Alton and Kayla, if they are here.”
One of the guards escorted them inside the castle. Alton was gone, but Kayla was told they were there and she rushed to see them. “He found you,” Kayla said, sounding worried, glancing at Owen and his cousins.
“We’re married,” Sigrid said, smiling.
Kayla chuckled. “So he did love you and you were a runaway bride?”
“Hardly,” Sigrid said. “We decided it was to our advantage if I helped out the falcon fae, but only if there was something in it for me. I marry the prince and he takes the throne.”
Kayla’s eyes widened. “You mean you’re a princess and you’ll be a queen?”
“Yes.”
“But you have to fight the enemy using your magic? Will it be enough?”
“It will have to be.”
“If you need my help, I’ll come,” Kayla said. “You helped me more than I can say to find true happiness with Alton.”
“I’m going with her too,” Tanya said.
Kayla looked even more surprised about that.
“I tried to talk her out of it,” Sigrid said.
“We are best friends. And best friends help each other,” Tanya said.
“The same here. Just send word. I’m sure Alton will come too. Maybe even more of our dragon shifter friends.”
“Thanks, Kayla. We just needed to come by to tell you we were leaving the golden fae’s territory and if you’re looking for us, we’ll be in the falcon fae’s territory. We must leave at once. The war is imminent.”
“Of course. Send us word when you can of what’s happening.”
“We will.” Then Sigrid gave her a hug, and Tanya did too.
Then they were off for the falcon fae kingdom, and Owen prayed her powers could destroy the other mage, that he could protect her from his father’s vile plans, that his people would accept her as his wife, and both of them as rulers of the land.
10
As soon as Sigrid and Owen and the others reached the falcon fae’s castle gate, they smelled smoke and saw it curling into the air where fields of corn and wheat were growing.
“It appears someone has started to burn the fields,” Owen said.
“Yours or theirs?” Sigrid asked.
“Could be either, ours burning them so the enemy doesn’t harvest the wheat and corn from the fields, or the enemy burning them so our people can’t harvest the food.”
“I hate to see the hard labors of your people wasted, and the food too.” Sigrid flew above the burning fields and waved her hands, casting a water spell that created a rainstorm. A storm was brewing in the heavens also, but some distance away.
Owen watched in amazement as the rain poured down on the fields, not anywhere but just where the fires were spreading. She increased the rate of rain and smoke rose from the blaze, finally putting it out. Though she continued to watch it until she was assured no embers would start it up again. She’d saved most of the fields.
“Well done,” Owen said.
“I’ve had to conjure rainstorms for the queen when we’ve had hot, dry spells. Never for a fire out of control, so I was glad I could manage it.”
“Humility. That’s what you should have had when dealing with the mage. I bet she doesn’t believe she can win against him in combat,” Tarrant said to Owen.
“True. I have my doubts, but I look at it realistically. I’ve never faced a mage foe before,” Sigrid said.
“Now you tell us,” Connelly said, looking heavenward.
They moved toward the gate, but it was closed, which would be prudent if the enemy was attacking now. “Open up! It is Prince Owen, Connelly, and Tarrant, and my wife, Princess Sigrid.”
No one opened the gate, but he saw someone peer down at them from the wall walk. In fact, several guards were looking out at the some of the burned-out fields.
“Open up! Now!” Owen commanded, furious that the guards hadn’t already opened the gate upon seeing them and knowing who they were.
Owen suddenly worried his father had decided he’d rather fight their enemies on his own, than give up the throne to anyone. And wasn’t about to allow them safely inside the castle. Owen couldn’t see leaving here and letting his people perish because his father was too power-hungry to do what was r
ight.
“I can compel the guard to open the gate,” Sigrid said.
“I’d rather we use your magic against our enemies, not on our own people.” Owen didn’t want them to fear her, but to welcome her with open arms, to know she was their savior. “We could shift and try to fly into the courtyard, but we might be shot down in a rain of arrows. We couldn’t take Tanya with us either. If we used our wings as fae, we could take Tanya with us, but we’d have the same difficulty with dealing with archers.”
“We can return to my cottage and let them deal with this on their own then,” Sigrid said, folding her arms across her chest. “I’d much rather be there, than facing the enemy, while standing here outside the castle gates.”
“I wonder if that’s my father’s plan,” Owen said. “Leave us out here to deal with the menace and if we value our own lives and want to return to the castle here, we’ll have to fight to survive.”
“But we don’t have to. We can leave any time we want,” Sigrid said.
Tarrant looked at Owen, and he knew they didn’t feel as Sigrid did. They had to stay and help. “We’ll stay and deal with this on our own. We can’t leave our people to perish without our help, despite what my father is doing.”
“Or not doing. So, we have to camp out here with hostiles all around us?” Sigrid said. “Then I’m wearing this beautiful gown for nothing.” She opened one of her bags and then frowned as the men all watched her. Then she glanced at the wall walk and saw the guards observing too. “I, well, Tanya and I, will be right back.” She took Tanya’s hand and they transported into the woods.
“What are they doing?” Connelly asked. “Shouldn’t we be with them always to protect them?”
“I suspect they are changing out of their gowns so they can manage better in our current situation.” Owen watched the woods, but couldn’t see any sign of the women. He didn’t like it, any more than his cousins did. They could have at least provided a guard, their backs turned, while the ladies changed.
They waited some more.
