And Casimir! The way he’d looked at her when she and Sebastian had approached him. She could tell that he thought she’d known and not told him. That she’d been leading him on. She had heard the anger behind his words. It was subtle, but she was so attuned to him that it had felt like a slap.
She headed for her chambers. She had to talk to him, to make this right with him. Then they could work together to find a way to change her father’s mind. She pushed away the thoughts of how this might hurt Sebastian. He would be further hurt to be married to someone who loved another, who was not a true partner.
Stopping in front of the doors to her chambers, she took a number of deep breaths, and used her handkerchief to gently dab at her eyes. She didn’t want to involve her sisters in this mess. She squared her shoulders and reached for the door handle.
The hand over her mouth choked off her scream.
“Shhh! Thea, it’s me.”
Thea whirled around to see Casimir. She threw her arms about him, and for the first time all evening, she felt safe. The feeling was momentary as she felt him pull her arms away.
She leaned away from him. “What—?”
“Tell me, did you know?” His hands gripped her shoulders, his face hard. “Did Sebastian speak the truth?”
“I did not know! Could you not tell? It was all I could do to not run screaming from the room! Do you know me so little?” Thea whispered angrily.
Casimir didn’t answer, but folded her into his arms as she’d wished for earlier in the evening. “I did not think you knew. I was afraid you did, but didn’t want to think you did. I ask your forgiveness.” He buried his face into her hair.
Thea could see a shadow move closer to her as she looked over Casimir’s shoulder. She waved a hand behind him. She had nearly forgotten Archibald. Of course he would be there. Casimir was lucky that Archibald hadn’t brained him for sneaking up on her.
She let his head rest against her, feeling secure in the warmth of him. “What are we going to do?” She asked him, her voice muffled.
“Thea, I must be honest with you. I do not wish to cause you further discomfort, but I cannot hide this from you.”
She pulled back from him, afraid of what he would say. “No matter how painful, I would you be honest with me.”
Casimir sighed. “Sebastian knew. He knew of my feelings for you. Perhaps not the depth, but he knew I care for you. He has known for some time.”
“What?” Thea’s head whirled. She thought back to when she was standing between Casimir and Sebastian, wishing the floor would swallow her. “Is that why you were so harsh when we stopped to talk to you?”
“Yes. I feared he had taken you into his confidence, and that you played with my emotions.” She could hear the hurt in his voice.
Thea threw herself at him. “Never. There has never been anyone but you, Casimir. I’ve had suitors for my hand since I was sixteen, and never until I met you did I have any interest in a man.”
He drew her closer to him, holding her tightly. “We will speak to your father together.”
“I’ve already talked to him.”
Casimir drew back, looking down at her. “What did you tell him? That we wished to marry?”
“No. I told him I cared for another, and that I did not wish to marry Sebastian.”
“What said the king?”
“He berated me for not alerting him to my preference. I did the same regarding his decision to not consult me once Sebastian approached him.”
“How did you end things?”
“He roared at me, and I slammed out of the room.”
“Thea, that…”
She put her hand to his lips. “Do not chide me. I know I didn’t make our situation any better.”
A noise further down the corridor made them both still. Thea held her breath. Someone was opening a door. She could see the torch flames flicker as the air moved.
“Let us go to the woods so we may talk more freely,” Casimir whispered.
“Will we be safe?” Thea couldn’t help but be worried. While they’d snuck a few moments together as groups of courtiers walked through the woods, it had always been during the day. The thought of the woods at night scared her a little.
“I shall allow no harm to come to you,” Casimir said, stroking her face. “Please.”
“There is a staircase that will put us close to the edge of the woods,” Thea said. She took his hand and pulled him with her, away from her chambers. The corridors of the castle looked eerie with only the torches to light them. The arrow slits above that provided dusty sunlight during the day were invisible in the inky blackness above them. She hurried, but trod lightly, not wanting her steps to be heard.
Finally, they reached the little staircase, and Thea opened the door, moving slowly so as to make no noise.
“Do not latch it,” she said. “It will allow us to return with greater ease than any other entrance.”
Casimir nodded. As they entered the stairs and he slowly closed the door, Thea stood still, letting her eyes adjust to the darker environment. There were a few torches, but the closest one was further down the stairs.
“Follow me. I know this stairway well,” she said.
Casimir held her hand to his lips and kissed it. She moved quickly down the stairs, wanting only to be alone with him where they would be able to talk without fear of discovery. She stopped when she reached a small door. Again, she quietly lifted the latch and opened the door. “Hurry,” she said to Casimir. He moved through it, and she followed.
Once outside, she inhaled. The smell of the roses from her mother’s garden was strong. The night sky was clear, full of sparkling stars, and a nearly full moon shone overhead. She pushed the door almost closed, leaving it open a tiny bit to be sure it would not latch, whispering up the stairway so Archibald would hear her. “I’m fine. Please follow us discreetly.” She’d rather not have him present, but that wasn’t possible. She also knew he wouldn’t tell her father what she’d been up to. If he was going to, he would not have let them leave. She turned to Casimir.
“This way.” She looked around, finding the small path and, taking his hand again, moved forward through the gardens and into the woods. Finally, she reached a point where a small bench sat alongside the path. “Let us sit. No one will interrupt us here.”
He sat down, and pulled her onto his lap. The intimacy of the gesture startled her. They had not done more than touch hands. Now, to be this close to him, to feel herself almost as close as could be, overwhelmed her. She put her head on his shoulder, breathing in his spicy scent. He put his arms around her. They sat silently for a time. Thea could feel herself relaxing. He had that effect on her, just as easily as he made all her senses run wild. The noises of the woods, which had stopped as they came in, gradually returned. The crickets and other denizens of the night began to move once more.
“Thea, we cannot sit here all night, much as I want to,” Casimir said gently.
“Can’t we just run away?” Thea asked.
“I would love to. We can’t, however. You know this. Neither of us could abandon our duty to our families, to our kingdoms.”
“I don’t care!” Thea cried out. “I don’t want to live with someone else! For the rest of my life? No, I won’t!”
“I don’t think it needs to come to that,” Casimir said, stroking her hair. His hand stopped, fiddling a little with one of her decorations. She sighed, remembering when her hair brilliants seemed important.
“My father is resolute. He said that he gave his word and intends to honor it. I do not think he is being a tyrant, if I am being fair.”
“What do you mean?”
Thea sighed. “He did seem to regret that he didn’t know that I cared for you—for someone else.”
“Did you tell him it was me?”
“No. I don’t think he wanted to know, in truth. Nor did he wish to take responsibility for the error of not asking me about Sebastian. It’s very strange,” she said, as
a thought struck her. “He’s always asked me before. I wonder why he didn’t this time.”
“Have you turned down many before this?”
Thea nodded. “I always told Father it didn’t feel right, though I could not give a good reason as to why. Father never reprimanded me too harshly. He wanted me happy with the man I chose.”
“Sebastian and I have been friends for a long time,” Casimir said. “When he is determined on a course, he does not deviate, not for anyone. Perhaps he persuaded your father to see what he wanted to.”
“That is most unchivalrous!” Thea exclaimed, sitting up. “Why would he do that?”
Casimir laughed without humor. “You’re extremely intelligent, but you do not see your own worth, my love. Gallivas is a fine kingdom, very rich and prosperous. Your father has increased that. You, yourself, are lovely, and if he marries you, he will be a king in two nations. Can you not see the appeal of that?”
“That horrible man,” said Thea. “He tried to tell me he thought love could grow between us!”
“I have no doubt he cares for you, and does indeed wish to have love grow. The base side of me must remark on how much easier it would make his life. But you are not just an addition to an attractive match, Thea my love. You are your own attraction. As he well knows.”
Thea paused for a moment, thinking. “Wait. You said before that he knew of your affection.” Thea said, facing him.
“Indeed. I was circumspect, not having spoken to your father at that time. But, he knew. He knew when he stopped in front of me tonight. He is not a bad man, Thea, but he is determined, and he likes to win.”
“I am not some prize to be won.”
“No, you are far more than that, but you are a prize. I consider myself extremely fortunate that you care for me.” He kissed her forehead.
The kiss distracted Thea. Until now, Casimir had not done anything other than hold her hand. He had been most strict in regards to propriety. Sitting in his lap felt scandalous, but she was so happy to be close to him. His kiss thrilled her, as she had known it would, but it scared her, too. Why would he abandon propriety now when being caught carried even greater danger than before? She shoved such thoughts aside. This chance might not present itself in the future.
“Kiss me again,” she said quietly.
Without words, he leaned in, cupping her face between his hands. Gently, he put his lips upon hers. Instinctively they leaned into one another, and Thea felt as though stars exploded behind her closed eyelids.
He deepened the kiss, pulling her closer to him with one hand, the other still cradling her face. Thea felt herself falling into him, lost forever.
“Well, well, well! What is going on here?”
They sprang apart, both standing up, and noticing the old woman holding a small lantern. She had a gleeful grin on her face, showing a gap-toothed smile.
Thea recovered first, falling back on years of training, just as she had earlier when learning of her engagement. She smoothed her dress, trying to be calm.
“Who are you to be walking the king’s woods at night?” Fright at being discovered gave her a haughty tone.
“A good citizen of Gallivas, all of whom may use these woods, as a princess of Gallivas should well know,” said the crone.
“Mother, we will be on our way,” interrupted Casimir. “We meant no harm to anyone, nor, I am sure, did you. We bid you good evening.” He stood, gently taking Thea’s hand as he spoke.
The old woman smiled at Casimir, and Thea noted that her smile now seemed genuine. “You are a good and decent man, for all you’re a prince, Casimir,” said the crone. “Your father be the same way. Good to all, no matter who they may be.” She turned her gaze to Thea, and Thea could feel her scorn.
“Now, good dame, none of us is at our best when given a fright,” said Casimir with a small laugh. “Particularly when—”
The woman cut him off. “When one is betrothed to another?” She cackled, and Thea cringed at the malice she could hear.
“What would your father say, Princess,” the woman emphasized the word, “If he could see you here, now, after his triumphant proclamation only hours ago?”
“What he would say is none of your concern. Casimir, let us return. You,” she said, glaring at the woman, “Ought to be off before I set the guards upon you. Freedom or no, you have no call for sneaking about the castle grounds.” Still holding Casimir’s hand she made to leave.
The old woman laughed behind her, and the sound frightened Thea. Frightened her more than it ought to have, but it echoed round the small clearing. She noticed that all the normal night noises of the forest were silent, as if they too felt the threat of the old hateful woman. If she kept cackling, she’d wake the castle!
Whirling around, Thea hissed at the woman, “Be silent, you awful, old hag! Be silent and be gone, or I shall—”
Whatever she had planned to threaten the crone with died on her lips as she fell to the ground, clinging to Casimir’s hand, blinded by a light that appeared to emanate from where the old woman stood.
Chapter Two
Thea opened her eyes. Where was she? She could feel scratches on her hands, and her knees ached. Frightened, she saw that she was no longer in the forest behind the castle. Where was she? Where was Casimir? And the old woman? She closed her eyes and took a breath to steady herself.
“You really ought to get up. It’s not dignified to be on your hands and knees.” said the voice of someone Thea couldn’t see. Feeling like a small child who had misbehaved, Thea stood, brushing off her dress, and rubbing her hands lightly together. They were scratched, small lines of blood where the stone floor of the room had scraped them.
“Where am I?” Thea asked, struggling to keep her voice steady, looking for the owner of the voice. It looked to be a tower room, as it had rounded walls and small, high arrow slits for windows. There were several towers in her father’s castle, even one in the group of rooms she shared with her sisters. They used it to read and hide away from everyone. The servants were not allowed in unless invited. This room did not have the same warm, friendly feeling of her tower room, though.
There also seemed to be no door. Panic washed over her anew. There was no door. How would she get out of here? The crone had to have done this, but how? By magic? Thea had heard much of magic and all that it could do. Although she believed a great deal of what she heard to be tall tales made bigger, she didn’t discount that there were things that could not be explained that she thought could be attributed to magic. And where was the crone? She pushed these thoughts away and looked around the room again.
The walls radiated cold. A fire burned in the fireplace, but no warmth made it to where Thea stood. She turned, slowly, afraid of what she’d see. To her surprise, it was not the old crone. Only a woman.
Taller than Thea, the woman had dark hair pulled back and woven throughout with…Thea peered more closely. They appeared to be twigs, although she hadn’t seen twigs so pliable. Her gown, although simple in cloth, had a similar cut to those presently being worn in court. She seemed to shimmer, her face and hands having a golden glow. The woman was, Thea realized, the only thing that looked warm in the room.
“There now,” the woman said. “Mustn’t be undignified.” Her crisp tone did not match her warm appearance.
“Where am I?” Thea asked again. “Who are you?”
The woman smiled, and the smile made Thea afraid. “I am Catrin,” she said. “While you, no doubt, do not know me, I have long known your family.”
“Then you must know that they will not appreciate my removal to wherever this is,” Thea said. She knew she sounded haughty, but something told her not to show fear with this woman.
Catrin laughed. “No, they will not. Not when your good father has just made such an auspicious match for you. And your prince! Whatever will he think?”
“My entire family will be concerned for my safety, Madam. Please return me to my friend.”
Catrin laughed
again. “Your friend? Or the Prince Casimir? I tell you Thea, I had not expected such from you! I ought to have, though.” She turned towards the fireplace revealing a table, built with a curve into the wall of the tower room and covered with books, parchments, bowls and vials. Catrin picked up a bowl from the table and leaned in closer to the fire stirring the bowl’s contents.
Thea quietly took a step away. “What do you mean, you ought to have known? What are you doing? Are you a witch?” Thea’s voice rose on the last word. She didn’t know why the accusation burst forth in such in a manner. Catrin didn’t look like the way one normally thought of witches. The crone in the woods fit that mold.
Catrin whirled around. “A witch? You would think so. Very well. Yes. Yes, I am. Are you afraid, Princess Thea?” Her voice mocked Thea. She showed no signs of being offended at Thea’s question.
Thea couldn’t help shrinking away slightly. Catrin seemed much taller.
“Should I be?”
Catrin stepped back. Amazingly, she smiled. “That is the first thing you’ve done to make me think well of you. Fear is not a bad thing. Cowering is.”
“Why have you brought me here?”
“I have brought you here to teach you a lesson. Are you aware of how truly arrogant and selfish you are?”
“How dare you speak to me in that manner?” Thea felt her anger rising. She’d been calm, and polite to this madwoman, but enough was enough.
“I, too, am a princess, Thea,” Catrin said. “I may address you as I wish.”
A princess? Who might also be a witch? Thea racked her brains. She could remember no one in the neighboring realms who fit such a description. Nor anyone who had married into a court.
“You lie. There is no such person as you.”
Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) Page 3
