She heard them walk away from her bed. That was good. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. Once she knew no one was near her, she pulled down the covers and lay on her back. She wanted to sleep badly, but it wouldn’t come. Her mind felt as though she were on a horse in a never-ending race.
Her sisters began to drift in to lie down before it was time to go below. Thea pretended sleep again. She closed her eyes and thought of Catrin. Doing so seemed to bring an appearance. She might as well tempt the old dragon.
A maidservant came in and lit candles for the lady-in-waiting. Thea rolled in her bed, watching the girl. She couldn’t be more than twelve or thirteen, and looked frightened. To be expected, she supposed. She saw the girl scurry out, and a lady-in-waiting come in, and sit, and she rolled over and went back to sleep.
***
Thea got up, and lighting a candle from one near the maid, she went and dressed. Without thinking, she stomped her feet as she moved back and forth in front of the maid. The snores continued.
Thea woke her sisters. Serafina was the first up.
“Thea, why didn’t you tell us you were going to confront Father? What did he say after you left hall?”
“Oh, the usual. Our honor, his honor, Ulric’s honor. A word couldn’t be broken. My compassion was nice. He didn’t yell as much as I expected, however.”
“I was very proud of you.” Serafina smiled.
“Did the rest of you stay after we left?” Thea asked.
“We did. Adelaide tried to lead us out, but everyone swarmed like mad bees, asking questions. You were much admired.”
“I didn’t do it to be admired. I want Ulric to live.”
“I’m sorry,” Celestria said, coming to stand near Thea. “I wish Father had gone along with your request.”
“We both do,” Thea said. “Well, I am not defeated. I am hoping that we see Catrin tonight.”
“You mean you,” Esmay said. “I have yet to see her.”
“Count your blessings, I never come out better than I started with her. Ever.” Thea said grimly. “She’s maddening.”
“What will you say?” Isobel asked. For the first time in ages, her words were not laced with animosity.
“I don’t know yet. But I am not going to let Ulric go without a fight.”
“Have you formed a tendre for him?” Emaline asked as she passed.
“Heavens, no! I might turn to him and brain him with a platter if I were married to him,” Thea said, laughing. “But it’s not a reason for him to die.” Her laughter faded. “I am sorry, sisters. I can’t believe I am joking about such things.”
“I think, sometimes, if you cannot find a light, the darkness can overwhelm you,” said Sybbl.
Thea noticed that everyone had crowded around Serafina’s bed. “We need to get ready. Come, sisters. Let’s see if we can beard the dragon in her den.”
They hurried away. In short order, everyone filed down the stairway.
Thea smiled, and made the appropriate comment when Roderick spoke to her. She had no clue what she said. It didn’t matter. Roderick wouldn’t care. If she said something out of turn, he’d smile and smooth it over.
After dancing with him for a few songs, she asked him, “Is it possible to step outside for some fresh air?” In all the time they’d been coming down here, she’d not been outside the ballroom.
“Of course!” Roderick beamed at her. “Right this way. I do apologize if I have overtaxed you this evening.”
“Not at all, Roderick. I just find it crowded this evening.”
He looked around with a fond expression. “It is, isn’t it? The Lady’s balls are always well attended.”
Thea looked around. She saw her sisters and their partners, but as always she didn’t see anyone else. Yet the way the princes led her sisters, it was obvious they danced around others. The scope of the magic made her shudder.
“You are cold, my lady!” Roderick had noticed. “After the heat of the ballroom, it’s to be expected. Let me fetch you a shawl.” He hurried away. Thea walked out onto the balcony. The ballroom overlooked the end of the shore where they landed. She could see the opposite shore with its glittering forests in the distance. Everything looked lovely.
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Catrin glided up beside her. Thea hadn’t heard her approach.
“The beauty is only on the surface as it comes from you,” Thea responded.
“Now, now, Thea. Let’s not start with the insults. I know you want to speak to me.”
“How do you know?” She really wanted to know what Catrin would say, if she would share how she knew.
“Your father has condemned poor, hapless Ulric to die. Your dinnertime pleas did not sway his decision. Of course you are angry with me.”
“I am tired of dealing with you,” Thea said calmly, knowing the insult would hit the mark as Catrin was raised in court.
In terms of what bothered Catrin, Thea felt she’d succeeded. Catrin looked at her with a raised brow. “Thea, I am surprised you would say such a thing.”
Thea shrugged, being equally rude in gesture. “It’s true. You are a treacherous liar and it’s very tiresome.”
Catrin didn’t speak. Finally, she said, “You do not do well under pressure. Poor Gallivas. More doomed than I had thought.”
“I will not pretend I see you as anything more than what you are.” Thea kept her tone level. “However, I will ask that you spare Ulric.”
Catrin laughed. She asked, “Why would I spare him?”
“Because your quarrel is with my father, or my parents, and me. Not a young man who wanted to better himself.”
“Quite the champion,” Catrin said with a sneer.
Thea turned as Roderick came towards them. He stopped, frozen in time, mouth opened to speak and a shawl held up, as Catrin waved a hand at him. In the ballroom, she could see her sisters still dancing, completely unaware that she and Roderick were not among them.
“I am. At least I do not have to rely on tricks to control and manipulate people. But since you do, why don’t you practice on my father and spare Ulric?”
Catrin laughed again. “If I didn’t think it would dull the novelty, I’d force you into conversation more often, Thea. You always manage to surprise me. If your father lets Ulric live now, he looks a benevolent monarch, as you told him. I have no wish to make him look like anything other than what he is. While my quarrel is indeed with you, I have waited some years for your father to expose what he really is. I shall do nothing to stop it.”
“Do you hate Ulric’s parents as well as mine? Do they also deserve to lose a son merely to satisfy your sense of revenge against another?” Thea struggled with her temper. Why did everyone see Ulric as nothing more than cannon fodder for their ends?
“No, I do not hate his parents. They are friends with your parents, however, which is a major mark against them. Ulric is the price they will pay for being so greedy. They have a kingdom and it’s prosperous and happy. Do you think Ulric just hared off one day for Gallivas? No. His parents discussed this with him and gave him their blessing.”
“Yet you think they will hate my father for this?”
Catrin laughed once more. This time, it was mocking. “Yes, they will. Knowing something can happen and having to face that it has happened are two different things. They will blame your father, as do you, for not showing mercy."
Thea was shocked. “How many do you harbor a grudge against?” She asked in a whisper.
Catrin’s face shifted, and Thea could see the old, deep anger she’d seen before. “There were many who followed the cruelty of your parents, Thea. Many. Very few would stand up against him, or speak out for those he hurt. Vengeance is so eagerly sought by the young. What you do not realize is that it is best savored when the coming of it has taken some time.”
“So you have no pity for those you condemn? Do you want others to suffer as your parents did?”
Thea could not have predicted Catrin’s response. The wo
man gasped, and turned and raised her hand to slap Thea, but lowered it at the last moment.
“How dare you speak of things you know nothing about?”
Thea could see she’d actually rattled Catrin. For the swiftest of moments she debated whether this was a good idea. Then she threw caution to the wind.
“Did your father want to keep you from society because you are so mad that he had no choice? Is that why your tower room has no door?” She couldn’t keep the scorn from her voice.
“My father was given no choice, because of—” Catrin stopped, and turned away from Thea slightly.
Thea felt a surge of pleasure that she’d finally gotten to Catrin. The thought came and went that she would pay for it, but the satisfaction of inflicting some of the hurt she’d dealt couldn’t be denied.
“Very good, Thea. I am impressed. You have been looking into history.” Catrin recovered herself.
“You didn’t answer the question. Do you want others to suffer as your parents did?” Thea put her hands on her hips.
Catrin didn’t look at her, but at the view from the balcony. When she turned to meet Thea’s eyes, her eyes were deep wells. “Yes.”
Thea drew back. There was nothing she could think to say to such a thing.
Catrin looked at her for a few moments longer, and then said, “Enjoy the day tomorrow, Thea.” She turned and walked to the doors of the ballroom, waving her hand at Roderick, still frozen, as she passed him.
“There you are, my lady! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long!” Roderick was at her side in a few steps, wrapping the shawl around her shoulders.
Thea nodded her thanks, looking over her shoulders. Unlike the last time, Catrin didn’t just disappear. She stood outlined by the lights of the ballroom. Then she, too, looked over her shoulder, and met Thea’s gaze.
Thea blinked, and Catrin was gone.
***
Thea shrugged off the hand shaking her shoulder.
“I’m sorry to bother you, my lady, but you must rise. The king is asking for all of you to attend him.”
Thea rolled over to see the anxious face of the lady-in-waiting who’d been on watch the previous evening.
“Thank you,” Thea mumbled. While not quite awake, it seemed to be the required answer, because she smiled briefly and hurried away.
This was not going to be a good day.
Chapter Twelve
The steps creaked as she walked behind her parents up onto the grandstand. It didn’t sit as high as the one used for tournaments. There was enough room for their family to sit. The members of the Privy Council had already arrived, standing at the back of the box looking grim. Thea wasn’t sure there was another way to look on a day such as today.
Sebastian and Casimir were part of the group in the grandstand box. They were not seated, however. They stood with the members of the Council. Neither smiled. Thea met Casimir’s eyes. She could see the love in them, although his face didn’t change. Sebastian stared straight ahead, not meeting anyone’s eyes. That suited Thea fine. She had no strength to deal with him today.
In spite of the gloom of the proceedings, the day itself was bright and sunny. The sky was blue, and there were no clouds to be seen. The scaffold in front of the grandstand box looked as though it had been newly built. The execution block upon it looked old and weathered. Thea had never seen an execution. The block made her shiver. It seemed to exude evil. There was a basket in front of the block. Thea was about to ask her father what it was for when she realized on her own.
It wasn’t fair, but the executioner who stood near the block seemed evil, as well. He was dressed in black, slender and tall, with large arms that looked ill-fit to the rest of him. The hood over his face made him look sinister.
The courtyard was crowded. Nobleman and commoner alike stood shoulder to shoulder. The crowd murmured, and Thea could hear the hawkers proclaiming their wares along the outer edge of the crowd. She’d heard that executions were seen as a jolly event, but presumably that was when the person about to die had done something to warrant it. There was, thankfully, no air of festivity today.
Once they had all seated themselves, the guards marched out forming a phalanx around Ulric. He was dressed as though for court, and the seals of his rank glittered in the sun. It didn’t seem somehow right that he looked so splendid.
She looked around. She didn’t see his retainers anywhere near. No doubt her father had them held somewhere.
The group of guards reached the scaffold. The men in the front moved to the side, and the two near Ulric took his arms and walked with him up the scaffold steps. Another guard followed them. Did her father suspect he’d try and bolt?
The two guards moved away from Ulric, and he walked to the block. He ran his hand across it. A priest hurried up the steps and went straight to Ulric. He nodded at the priest who took his hands. Both men bowed their heads, and the crowd went silent. The priest said loudly, “Amen,” and Thea could see Ulric mouth the word.
Ulric turned to face the king. “Sire, I would thank you for your gracious hospitality.” He swept into a deep bow. When he stood, Thea could see strain on his face. The thought of him thanking her father brought tears to her eyes. She was afraid to move or do anything that would mar the brave face he put on.
Ulric continued. “Sadly, it is not ending the way I would wish.”
The crowd laughed, some of them cheering his words.
He then bowed to either side of the grandstand box, looking at each of the princesses. “I thank you, ladies, for making my last days merry.” He grinned at them, but Thea could see he was not happy. He then turned and waved to the crowd. They cheered again.
They would have to see this last, undignified moment with Ulric. She exhaled deeply. If he could bravely stand in front of them knowing his life was about to end, she could watch and allow him to do it with dignity.
The crowd catcalled, and Ulric actually laughed, blowing a kiss to someone. It made the people in the crowd cheer more loudly. Then he knelt down behind the block facing the grandstand box.
He looked for a long moment at everyone in front of him. Thea met his gaze, determined that if he wished to end it in this nonchalant fashion, she would go along with it. He held her gaze so long she began to feel uncomfortable.
“All this for some slippers,” he said. Thea heard gasps around her, but she agreed with him. The guilt weighed on her. She didn’t look away from him because she deserved this. Even though it made her feel ill, she deserved this. She was glad he spoke the truth.
Ulric turned to the executioner. “Strike true,” he said, and laid his head down on the block.
So quickly that she didn’t even realize, the blade of the axe flashed, glittering like the seals Ulric wore. She heard a thunk as the axe came down and then Ulric’s body slid to the side of the block. Thea couldn’t even look at the basket.
She hid her face in her hands, and let the tears fall.
***
Thea closed her eyes as Lisette came into the room. After the execution the previous day, Thea had returned to her room and hadn’t left her bed since. She didn’t want to see anyone. Well, she would have liked to have seen Casimir, but given the state of things, she didn’t see how it was possible.
Last night, Sebastian had come to the door to see Thea. She’d had Lisette tell him she was sleeping. The irrational part of her was angry that Casimir had not sought her out when Sebastian had, even though her head knew he could not be so open.
Having to go below to the castle was physically painful. She barely spoke to Roderick. Not that he’d noticed. She didn’t care. This would be her life forevermore. No one would ever seek them out again, not after her father had someone put to death. Catrin had not shown up, and Thea was glad. She wasn’t sure how she would have reacted with Ulric so recently gone.
Lisette was fussing over something, although Thea couldn’t be sure what. Or why. When her mother entered, she knew.
“Mother.”
Thea rolled away from her mother. “No. I will not.”
Ceridwen pulled her back. “Yes, you will. This will not bring him back. Additionally, you bring comment upon yourself as to why you mourn him so greatly.”
“Mother, I do not care. If people ask why I mourn, I ask why they do not.” She yanked at the blanket Ceridwen held.
“Again, darling, none of this helps you. In any fashion.”
“You mean none of this helps you, or father, or the court, or whatever it is you are concerned about. I don’t care. I don’t wish to be part of ignoring the death of a decent man. You may do without me for whatever it is you imagine you need my presence. There are eleven more girls, after all. I am sure you can muster up a show of family without me.” She pulled the blanket over her head.
“You. Will. Get. Up.” With each word, Ceridwen yanked some of the bedclothes, not only off of Thea, but off of the bed itself. Thea sat up, glaring. Ceridwen was standing, and glaring back at her.
“This will not solve anything, nor will it change what has happened. Besides, you are needed, Thea.”
“Why?” She rolled away from her mother.
“Thea, you must get up!” Ceridwen’s voice held panic. Her mother rarely showed excitement, believing she needed to be the calm to Aland’s temper.
This made Thea sit up again. She noted that she and her mother were alone in the sleeping chamber.
Ceridwen sat down, and Thea saw that her mother looked tired.
“Tell me what’s happened, Mother. I won’t be awful any longer. Tell me.”
Ceridwen looked away, and Thea could tell she was thinking about what she wanted to say.
“Last night, Sebastian insisted upon a meeting, as your soon-to-be husband, with your father and the Privy Council. Your father didn’t have the heart for a fight, so he agreed. Sebastian pushed for Casimir to be sent to the Empress of Samir immediately to start the journey discussed before Ulric came.”
Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) Page 23
