“Absolutely not,” King Theodore yelled, his face turning as red as the sunset in the background. “I don’t know what has gotten into your head, Madeline. We’re waiting this out. Prince Paulsen will be gone before you know it.”
“What if he’s not? What if he holds out for the winter? What happens to our storage of food or to the villagers camped in the main square?” Madeline demanded, pointing down at the scattered people. “He has already ruined our fall festival; don’t let him ruin our lives. Yes, I’m sure we can survive this way for a while, but is there another option? I think there is, if you just let me try,” she implored.
King Theodore shook his head. “My dear daughter, you speak with your heart, and I applaud you for trying to find a solution. But this matter is settled.”
“Shouldn’t we be answering his demands? Shouldn’t we put a stop to all this madness?”
“We will, daughter, in due time. Right now, we give time for the snow to freeze him out. What you’re suggesting is too dangerous.”
King Theodore gave Madeline a tight-lipped, definitive smile and walked away.
She muttered under her breath, “I tried, Father, I really did. The risk of doing nothing is higher than you think, and I can’t allow that.” The wind blowing through her hair, the chill of the snow cooling her skin, and the howls from Prince Paulsen’s men below made her answer clear. She was going to put a stop to this.
Focused on her destination, she didn’t see Daniel until she turned the corner. “Madeline,” he said gently, reaching out to touch her arm.
“Oh, Daniel,” she said falling into his arms, seeking his comfort and warmth. “What’s going on here?” she asked.
“I don’t know, Madeline, I don’t know. But you are safe. He can’t hurt you,” Daniel said, his voice strong and sure.
“Daniel,” Madeline started, “I have a plan.”
“Don’t worry, Madeline, we have it taken care of. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I do worry, though,” she said softly.
“We’ll get through this together,” Daniel assured her with a smile. “No one is taking you from me.” He lifted her chin into a kiss.
The sun went down over the kingdom. Madeline and Daniel stood arm in arm, watching the blood-red horizon turn dark.
A couple of hours later, as the men continued to stand guard on the castle walls, Princess Madeline hesitated at the opening of the tunnel in the catacombs. Dressed in her wool cape, with her bag on her shoulder, she took a deep breath and pushed the tunnel door open.
“Wait,” a deep voice whispered behind her.
Madeline’s heart fluttered, her breath stuck in her throat.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” the voice said.
Madeline whirled around. Emmett and his brothers stood in the shadows. “You can’t go without us,” he said with a shy smile.
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“No,” he said, shrugging, “but who is?”
She felt some of the weight lifting off her shoulders. “Let’s go,” she said, pushing the door open and taking the first step into darkness.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The tunnels had not been used since before the exile, and sixteen years of disuse had not been kind to them. The air was cold and musty, and the rancid smell made Madeline’s stomach tighten up. She ducked to avoid a dusty cobweb and nearly tripped over a broken cobblestone. It wasn’t an inviting path, but she knew they needed to take it.
They moved quietly, as if breaking the silence might shatter the magic. Madeline’s thoughts raced back and forth between her visions of Prince Paulsen leering up at her, the women and children ‘left cold and homeless in the castle square, and the dark vastness before her.
The cobblestones only lasted for a short distance in the tunnel. Soon, the pathway turned into a rocky floor, littered with large boulders and haunted by dark shadows that seemed to reach out at her. Her heart beat a little faster. She had never been enclosed like this before and didn’t like it. Not at all. The weight of the tunnel seemed to constrict her throat.
Sparing a quick glace around her, Madeline took courage. She had not anticipated having company, but Emmett and his brothers proved to be helpful companions, moving rocks that had fallen into the main path, carrying the torches to light their way, and cheering her up with the jovial spirit that they exuded.
Her heart kept pace with her toes: the further they stepped, the faster it pounded. She walked on the balls of her feet, leaving the smallest of footprints, almost as if to hide their tracks.
What was she doing? Worry snuck into her mind. She was a princess. Never before had she been to battle, let alone tried to devise a strategy. What if she was endangering herself or her friends needlessly? She bit her lower lips as she stole a glance at the men helping guide her through the tunnel. She pushed the thoughts to the side and wiped the hair and sweat from her face.
There was no room for those thoughts now. The four of them were on the move, and if she stopped to think about it, she might turn around and return to her father. She felt in the pit of her stomach that this was the right path. It was time to move forward.
As they rounded the next corner, their feet stopped in their tracks. Princess Madeline lifted her hand to her chest, taking a deep breath as something clicked into place. The brothers stood to the side, mouths agape.
“Emmett,” Princess Madeline squealed. “Look at this, all around!” She twirled in awe, looking at all the openings before them. They had entered what seemed to be the main chamber, a circular room with at least ten entrances evenly spaced along the edge of the room. The cobblestones that made up the floor were arranged in a circular pattern around the room, spiraling in toward the center. The walls were smooth, and there were marble markers outside each opening.
Princess Madeline ran to an entrance and stroked her fingertips on the smooth face of one of the placards. All at once the dust disappeared, and the sheen of the marble sparkled in the torchlight. Magic filled the air, waiting to be enchanted again.
Emmett pointed to the placard in front of him. “This one looks like a tree, Princess, come look!” He waved her over with his arms. His brothers dashed from doorway to doorway, awakening each slab of marble with their touch.
“This must take us further into the forest,” Princess Madeline said. She ran to the next, “Look! This one has an arch; it must be the path to Dragons Gate. And here, the symbol for water. This must go down south to the bay! We’ve found them!”
“Which one do we take?” asked one of Emmett’s brothers.
“Follow me!” She lifted the hem of her dress and took off down the path marked by the tree.
The brothers could barely keep up as Madeline ran ahead, her heart now pumping more with anticipation than fear.
They wandered down the new tunnel for hours until they noticed the path around them starting to get lighter. They were approaching the end of the tunnel and saw the forest in the early morning light.
Princess Madeline approached the edge of the tunnel cautiously, listening for any noises as she peeked outside its rocky edge. The cool breeze blew against her face, bringing the sweet smell of pine and fresh dirt and lifting her hair. Her stomach tightened. They were here.
“Princess,” Emmett said, breaking her thoughts. “What now?” His hands and face were covered in dirt and soot. His attempts to wipe them only smeared the grime into his robes.
Princess Madeline looked from him to his brothers and took a deep breath. “Wait here,” she said, smoothing out her dress as she stepped forward. The linen dress was now more brown than white, and her braid had fallen out some time ago, leaving her hair cascading in loose waves down her back. Her cheeks were smudged with dirt. But in spite of the journey, she stood with her back straight and tall. Emmett thought she looked more like a princess than she ever had before.
Her mind turned with each step she took. Each tree she passed seemed
a bit more familiar, each rock more recognizable. A tingling sensation grew in the pit of her stomach, a nagging thought that she had been here before, a whispered memory of dancing around these trees. Looking back over her shoulder, she half-expected to see someone watching her.
As she turned around, her eyes focused on the opening to the tunnel. From this angle, it looked exactly like the cave from her dream. She had been here before, and she was exactly where she needed to be.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The sun rose slowly on the third day of battle, as if it dreaded what it would see. Prince Paulsen’s men stood at the base of the castle walls, unable to break their defenses. The king’s knights were in full-scale defensive mode, alternating groups to stand guard day and night. Daniel watched Prince Paulsen’s every move. Their weary eyes met often, their gazes waging their own battle of dedication and desperation.
Prince Paulsen was unnerved. As a prince and soldier, he was mentally prepared for the long haul. His soldiers were also aware that sieges could take time. His new recruits, however, were losing their focus. They wanted their reward now. The grumbles that they were still there became more prominent as their beards froze and their toes turned blue.
“Sir,” Prince Paulsen heard from behind him. He turned to see the forest man, Roone. “You called for me?” the mercenary asked, one hand on his sword hilt.
“Yes, yes, thank you for coming so quickly,” Prince Paulsen said. “It seems some of the men are growing restless. It’s time to put our plan into action. This is a special assignment, specifically chosen for a man of your skills and temperament. Do you think you’re up for it?” he asked, tilting his head.
“Yes sir,” Roone replied, standing taller.
Prince Paulsen nodded. “Good, good.” He patted him on the back and handed him a letter. “You’ll deliver this to the messengers at the gate and then return to the far side of the castle and wait. Beyond that ridge is a small grouping of trees that will make an excellent hiding spot. Wait there until you hear my call. They’ll never know what happened,” his laughter rang out as he clasped arms with Roone and handed over the message with his seal.
The king’s messengers raced into the main hall, their armor clanking as they knelt before the throne. King Theodore jerked his head up, surprised at their sudden appearance.
“What is it, my good knights?” he asked. His arms gripped onto the edges of his throne.
A knight stepped forward. “Your Majesty, we received this at the gates this morning. It was delivered by one of Prince Paulsen’s men.” He brought the message forward and knelt.
“Let’s see what we have here,” King Theodore said, reading through the note. His face turned red as he shook it in the air. “This is outrageous!” He clenched his teeth. “Braden, read this,” he said, tossing the message toward him. “Guards, bring in Sir Daniel. He is being requested.”
The guards hurried out as fast as they came in.
Nervous tension filled the hall as Prince Braden looked over the message. King Theodore continued to mutter under his breath, rubbing his hands together, frustration evident in the furrows of his brow.
“Father,” Prince Braden said, finishing the message and handing it back to the king. “What does this mean? What is his plan?”
“This,” the king said, “is the request of a madman.” His face shook as the grand doors opened and Daniel approached.
Daniel’s face was flushed, his skin smeared with dirt, sweat, and grease, and his hair slicked back. His eyes were red and weary but still focused as he knelt before the king and prince, his helmet in one hand and the hilt of his sword in the other.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” he said, approaching the throne. “Is there news?”
“Sir Daniel, you are always prepared to take action. Your position as Knight Champion shows your valor and strength, and I am proud that you have been chosen to protect Princess Madeline for life.” King Theodore stepped down from his throne and approached him where he knelt.
“It seems, Sir Knight, that someone else wishes to take your position.” King Theodore dropped his arm and held the papers out to him. “Prince Paulsen is requesting a man-to-man contest to end this stand-off.”
“A man-to-man contest?” Daniel asked, looking over the letter. “Is this our next step?”
“Yes,” said the king, letting out a deep sigh. “I think this has to be, for the sake of the villagers. I think we must resolve this quickly.”
“As Your Majesty requests,” Daniel said, bowing his head deeply. “I’m ready.”
The courtyard was silent in reverence for Daniel as he put on the remainder of his armor. His fellow knights patted him on the back and crossed their swords with his in a gesture of luck and goodwill. The women in the square crossed their hearts and blew him kisses to send him off with strength. Some of the children hid while others, out playing with their wooden swords, stopped to watch Daniel pass.
The steel gates creaked as they opened to the outside. The quiet reverence quickly gave way to raucous mocking.
Prince Paulsen’s men had been moved back according to battle etiquette and were barricaded on the edge of the village. Prince Paulsen stood directly in front of Daniel, his sword dangling in one arm, leaning on the edge of his shield. He looked Daniel up and down, trying to find weakness, a fault he could prey upon. Sir Daniel stood tall, strong and firm, knowing that he was ready.
“You called for this contest,” Daniel said, his voice clear and powerful.
“That I have, Sir Knight. You stole the prize the king promised to me, and now, to get it back, I must take care of you.” Paulsen pointed his sword at Daniel.
“Princess Madeline is not a prize, Prince Paulsen. She is our princess, the jewel of our kingdom, and a woman to be respected,” Daniel said firmly. Raising his arms, sword drawn and shield in position, Daniel clenched his jaw and set his feet, prepared for Paulsen’s attack.
The top platforms filled quickly as the crowd ran to get a better view of the battle. King Theodore, Prince Braden, Elias, and the knights stood in the front, watching the events unfold below. Prince Braden gripped the edge of the stones, fingers sore from clutching so tight. King Theodore stood back, watching stiffly, knowing it should be himself engaged with Paulsen below. Elias stood by the king’s left side, closing his eyes as the wind blew through the air, feeling the movement in the shifting air patterns.
“Now we wait, we watch, and we wish, Your Majesty,” Elias said, keeping his eyes focused. “We watch,” he repeated to himself, “as the lion attacks the dragon.”
Daniel and Prince Paulsen’s arms swung hard and fast, metal banging on metal as their swords dancing off the edge of each other’s shields. Daniel pounded Paulsen hard: thrust after thrust, bouncing off, attacking, and engaging. Paulsen counter-attacked, pared off rocks, and pushed back. They seemed to be evenly matched, sword thrust for thrust.
After what seemed like hours of fighting, Paulsen’s foot slipped through the muddy snow, and he fell hard onto his back, snow and mud splashing out from underneath him. His head bounced off the ground, his shield swung off just out of reach. A chill crawled down Daniel’s spine as Paulsen’s helmet fell off, revealing crazed madness in his eyes.
Daniel reached his arms up to the sky and braced for the final strike, hesitating. Paulsen rotated his sword horizontally and blocked the downward strike. Daniel gritted his teeth and leaned forward, pushing with all the intensity he could muster. Paulsen spat up in his face and hurled insults between breaths as the sword slid closer and closer to his throat. The metallic reverberation filled the air around them as the swords connected. His mouth soured with the sweat dripping from Daniel’s cheeks.
Pure and utter madness sounded in the air as Paulsen began to laugh shrilly. “You made one fatal mistake, Daniel,” Prince Paulsen said, sneering at him, holding his sword in two hands and pressing back up at Daniel.
“What’s that?” Daniel asked, pushing harder.
“Y
ou thought that I would play fair,” he said. Prince Paulsen threw his head back and yelled into the air. A madman appeared from beyond the bushes, wild-eyed and ready to attack.
Daniel looked over his shoulder just in time to see a massive warrior running toward him with his sword drawn overhead.
Daniel jumped back, allowing Paulsen to scramble to his feet and reposition his sword. Now the two men stood in front of Daniel, their swords dancing from hand to hand as Daniel looked on with new fear entering his eyes.
Prince Braden jumped up, eyes bulging as he saw the man running in from outside. “Father,” he yelled, “look at what’s happening!”
“This is an outrage,” King Theodore sputtered, his nostrils flaring, hands gripping the tower walls. “He is defying every rule of battle protocol. Braden,” he said, pointing to the rest of the knights. “Get out there and protect Daniel. Let’s end this battle now!”
Elias raised his arms and pointed out over the field. His eyes still focused on the battlefield. “Your Majesty, wait,” he demanded, motioning to the far edges of the field. “Paulsen’s men seem to be heading back to the forest. Why are they leaving when they have now taken the lead?”
King Theodore turned back and looked over his shoulder to the field where Elias pointed.
“Men, wait!” King Theodore said. “Something is happening.” He gazed into the distance. Turning, he looked Elias and Prince Braden straight in the eyes, frustrated that he didn’t know the answer. None of them knew.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Madeline stared hard at the tunnel opening. “Yes,” she thought to herself, feeling a wave of relief and confidence roll over her. “This is where I am supposed to be, just as I saw. Now, if I only knew exactly how I was supposed to do this.”
She paused for a moment, letting the cool breeze brush the wisps of hair out of her face. The cool temperature cleared her mind and allowed her to focus for a moment. Her eyes shifted up. She gazed over the trees, their soft and vibrant greens filling her mind with peace, the soft chirps of birds easing the knot of fear in her stomach. Even the dirt offered her comfort, the aroma of a fresh morning, pine needles and morning dew, the sweet smell of life. It was a vast difference from the musty containment of the tunnels, and a huge departure from the smoky destruction of her village.
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