Lady Alma

by A. G. Marshall

  “I am happy I was able to assist. I strive to use paint differently than my predecessors, but last night was the first time I used it as a weapon.”

  I grinned at him.

  “You are truly a master of your trade. But is this why you requested to see me? Not that I’m not happy to be here, but you said you didn’t need me to sit again. That all you had to do was copy.”

  “That was true. The quince portrait is finished. You may look if you like.”

  He gestured to a canvas covered with a dark cloth. I pulled off the cover and examined it. Alessandro had done his job well. My skin was clear, and my eyes were bright. My serene expression made me look like a woman content with her life. Like a perfect donna.

  And a complete stranger.

  “Wonderful,” I said without enthusiasm.

  I covered the portrait so the stranger would stop staring at me. Alessandro’s eyes creased when he smiled.

  “You don’t like it.”

  He sounded pleased, so I didn’t deny it.

  “As you said, all you had to do was copy what is already there. I might as well look in a mirror.”

  “You are wise, Donna Alma. I don’t pretend to understand the charm you wear, but I find the results a little bland. You were much more interesting without it.”

  I reached for my necklace.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to alarm you. I will keep your secret, but I would like to give you a gift as thanks for preserving the peace. A portrait.”

  “But you’ve already painted one.”

  I gestured to the covered canvas. Alessandro shook his head.

  “That must hang in the castle hallway with the others. I painted another.”

  “But each person gets only one. Even the king is only painted once.”

  “One quince portrait is the rule, but this is something entirely different. I saw a rather unique person last night, and I had to paint her. I can’t remember the last time I felt so inspired.”

  He pulled a small canvas from his pocket and unrolled it. I gasped.

  This was no stately court portrait. It was movement captured in paint.

  The girl in the painting wore a chemise and tattered ball gown. She held one hand above her head, ready to snap her fingers and work a spell. The other hand clutched a silver necklace. She was fully bloomed, and golden magic swirled around her. Her face was determined, joyful, exhilarated, breathless.

  I stared for a long time, studying every detail. The fierce joy on my full face. The way I radiated power and light.

  Finally, I turned to Alessandro.

  “You’ve captured a feeling I’m trying to forget.”

  “If it is so hard to forget, perhaps you should stop trying.”

  He rolled up the canvas and handed it to me.

  “A gift of thanks for your service to Castana. The country may never know what you’ve done, but I hope you will always remember. You are unique, Donna Alma. Something very special indeed.”

  I blinked back tears and tucked the canvas into my sleeve.

  “Thank you, Master Alessandro.”

  “Good luck, Donna Alma.”

  I curtsied and started to leave, but I stopped in the doorway and turned back to him.

  “Master Alessandro, did you always know you wanted to paint?”

  “No. I apprenticed first in the Blacksmith Guild.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  He chuckled.

  “I come from a long line of blacksmiths, but I spent far too much time staring at the color and texture in the metal to be a good apprentice. I ruined many pieces because I kept them in the fire too long or pulled them out too soon.”

  “So you changed guilds in the middle of your apprenticeship?”

  “I wanted to show the world the light I saw. Fires burn out. Metal hardens. Paint captures beautiful moments forever.”

  “You make it sound so simple. I’ve never heard of anyone changing guilds before.”

  He shook his head.

  “Don’t be afraid to choose a new path if you realize you’re on the wrong one.”

  His eyes held an expression I couldn’t quite interpret. I curtsied.

  “Thank you for the gift, Master Alessandro. I will treasure it always.”

  “It was my pleasure, Donna Alma.”

  He bowed and closed the door behind me as I hurried down the stairs. The fairy necklace bounced against my skin as I walked, and I tried to push aside the questions swirling in my head. I was a donna now. Could I really change my path? Rosa had been thrilled to lose her title. The punishment would let her become a doctor.

  But it had also cost us our home. We only had one estate left in the family. I paused to catch my breath, feeling trapped as reality sank in. If I revealed my magic and lost my title, my family’s property would be forfeit to the crown. As much as I hated the Garden District, I couldn’t take Father and Senona’s happy ending away from them. If I revealed my magic, they would lose their home.

  I stumbled the rest of the way down the stairs, fighting dizziness from the fairy charm. I flung the door open when I reached the bottom of the tower, and Prince Lorenzo jumped back to keep from getting hit.

  Chapter 44

  “Come with me,” Lorenzo said.

  He took my hand and led me to a part of the castle I hadn’t visited yet. He pushed aside a tapestry in an empty hallway, revealing a hidden door.

  A dark tunnel led to a small courtyard lined with rose bushes. Massive walls towered over us, and a tiny patch of sky formed a ceiling. A fountain bubbled in the corner. Sunlight caught the droplets of water and reflected rainbows on the walls.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said, watching the rainbows dance in light and shadow.

  “I thought we could use some privacy.”

  Lorenzo shut the door, and we stood in silence. Finally, he cleared his throat.

  “I went to bed early last night so I could talk to you with the Rosas Rojas. So I could apologize.”

  “I wanted to talk to Carlo.”

  Lorenzo sputtered for a moment, but curiosity won over indignation.

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing to deny his involvement. He’s afraid the guilds will be out of work if we import salt charms. He’s certain that others share his fears and will be willing to act.”

  “He may be right about the last part. His family led the movement, but others joined. It is difficult to know how far it goes. His sister has vanished completely. I’m afraid she may be plotting something.”

  I swallowed.

  “She isn’t. I expect she’ll stay in hiding until things calm down.”

  “That could take a while.”

  I nodded, distracted by wondering where Mirella had gone. The guards hadn’t found her yet. Did that mean she had made it to safety?

  “Renata is settled into the royal laundry,” Lorenzo said. “We had to arrest a few other members of your staff who were working with Beatrice. Your laundry won’t function well until you hire replacements.”

  “It isn’t our laundry anymore.”

  “Alma, please don’t be like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Mad at me. I hate it.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “Why would I possibly be mad at you, Your Highness?”

  “You think I wanted to take your home? Your family’s titles? I had no choice, Alma. You said you would support me. The king has to uphold the laws.”

  “Or you could change them.”

  “What?”

  I took his hand and twisted the fairy ring around his finger. He flinched but didn’t pull away.

  “What if you changed the laws? What if you allowed nobles to work magic again? They do it in Salaria.”

  “Have you studied history? Do you know why that law exists?”

  I glared at him.

  “I did more than practice dancing while preparing to be a donna. Guilds and the n
obility were established after the Great Tragedy, but that was a long time ago. Magic is safer now.”

  “Magic is still dangerous, Alma. We can’t risk someone important to Castana’s government dying because they tried to work magic that was too difficult for them. Not again.”

  “Do you expect me to believe that all the nobles at the ball last night are essential to Castana’s government? Or that I am?”

  “You could be.”

  I swallowed. Lorenzo wrapped his fingers around mine.

  “Alma, I can’t change any more laws right now. I’m only acting king until the Salarians leave.”

  “And later? When you take the throne?”

  He shook his head.

  “I can’t promise anything.”

  “Lorenzo, I know soul magic can be dangerous, but mine is something else. It’s different.”

  “It might seem that way, but we don’t understand the salt curse. Even Divinia didn’t. Please promise me that you’ll keep the necklace on.”

  “I can’t promise that, Lorenzo.”

  “Alma-”

  “We would be at war right now if I hadn’t used magic. I won’t be made helpless because of outdated traditions.”

  “You’ll have guards.”

  “You put entirely too much faith in your guards.”

  I paused to gather my thoughts.

  “I like working magic, and I’m good at it. I can do so much more. Be so much more.”

  “Alma, you can’t. You’re a donna.”

  “I’ll keep it a secret. I can practice by designing gowns.”

  “Gowns? You would risk working magic to make clothes?”

  “I like making clothes.”

  He stayed silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then he shook his head and looked into my eyes.

  “Do you know how I got my scars, Alma?”

  “At your birth. You told me.”

  “I didn’t tell you everything.”

  Lorenzo let go of my hands and stared at the fountain as he spoke.

  “Everything went wrong that night. Everything that possibly could. I was born too early. We had only one doctor in the castle, and a storm delayed the others. My mother was weak from a recent illness. We both should have died.

  “When I was finally born, I wasn’t breathing. The doctor washed me with wave after wave of magic. It covered my body with healing scars, but I still wasn’t moving. I barely had a heartbeat.”

  He shuddered.

  “She wouldn’t give up. When she exhausted her soul loop, she formed a link and used her apprentice’s. Finally, I started to cry. The doctor put me in my cradle and collapsed. She died a few hours later. As did her apprentice.”

  Tears glistened in his eyes. I took his hand.

  “I’m so sorry, Lorenzo.”

  “They knew they were pushing their magic too far, and they still chose to do it. They gave their lives for me because I am essential to Castana’s government. I can’t take their sacrifice lightly.”

  “I’m not asking you to.”

  “Yes, you are. You say magic isn’t dangerous, but it killed them. It’s killed others. I can’t risk upheaval by changing the laws. I have a responsibility to uphold them.”

  I shook my head.

  “You have a responsibility to take care of your people.”

  “And they want me to uphold tradition.”

  “Not all of them.”

  “I know, Alma. But I have to consider the consequences of my actions. I have to do my best to serve everyone.”

  I ran my thumb over his fairy ring.

  “You could serve them better if you had your full strength. We both could.”

  “If this is about designing those stupid gowns-”

  “It’s about so much more than that! You made peace with Salaria. Think what else you could accomplish if you had all your energy.”

  I pulled the ring off his finger. Lorenzo’s skin flashed gold and lit the courtyard. I smiled at his scarred face. It had so much more character than his enchanted one. His imperfect eyes stared back at me in horror. He grabbed for the ring, but I held it out of his reach.

  “You feel stronger like this,” I said. “Admit it.”

  “It’s the wrong kind of strength, Alma. You don’t understand.”

  “I do understand! You don’t have to be afraid of your scars.”

  “I’m not afraid. These scars are a constant reminder of my responsibilities.”

  “Lorenzo-”

  “You said you’d support me.”

  Tears blurred my vision, and I blinked them away.

  “I’ll support you, but I don’t care about supporting traditions.”

  “Please, Alma.”

  He held out his hand, and I gave him the ring. I wiped the tears out of my eyes. When I finished, Lorenzo was perfect again.

  “I haven’t explained this very well,” I said. “Working magic feels- It feels like this.”

  I pulled the scroll from my sleeve and handed it to him. Maybe the painting would help him understand my magic. To see it as something beautiful instead of a curse. Lorenzo unrolled the canvas and blinked at it.

  “By the roses! Is this by Alessandro?”

  “He gave it to me as thanks for saving the admiral.”

  Lorenzo crumpled the painting in his fist. I made a strangled protest and tried to retrieve it, but he held it out of my reach as he checked the courtyard to make sure we were alone.

  “How did Alessandro know it was you?”

  “He helped me last night. He promised to keep the secret.”

  I jumped and pulled the canvas from his hand. I smoothed it out, but the canvas was creased and the paint had cracked.

  “You ruined it.”

  Lorenzo met my accusing gaze with one of his own.

  “Alma, do you understand the consequences if your magic is made public? Do you realize how serious this is?”

  “Maybe I should leave now.”

  “Alma-”

  “Everyone thinks it was Renata, and I don’t have any magic while I’m wearing this necklace. No one will find out.”

  “Alma, please promise me you’ll keep the necklace on.”

  “I can’t.”

  We stood in silence, watching each other. In some ways, Alessandro was right. We were a matched pair.

  But in other ways, we were so different.

  “I should help my family pack.”

  “Are you moving to the Garden District with them?”

  “Where else would I go?”

  He swallowed.

  “You could stay here with me.”

  “In the castle?”

  “You’re noble now. You come of age soon. It is an option.”

  He tried to smile, and I tried to return the gesture. Neither of us quite succeeded.

  “You don’t have to answer now,” he said, “But think about it.”

  “I will.”

  I rolled the canvas up and put it back in my sleeve. It was damaged, but I couldn’t bear to part with it. Lorenzo’s smile faded.

  “I’m sorry I crumpled your painting, Alma.”

  “So am I.”

  Chapter 45

  I refused Lorenzo’s offer to escort me home and borrowed a horse instead. I tried to sort my thoughts as I galloped down the road, but I hadn’t made much progress when I reached the estate.

  A carriage pulled into the driveway as I dismounted. Ethan jumped from it and waved at me.

  “Rosa has been looking everywhere for you,” I said.

  I meant it as an accusation, but Ethan beamed.

  “She has? Where is she?”

  He grabbed my hand and dragged me through the house. We found Rosa in the dining room eating lunch with Father and Senona. She swallowed a bite of soup as Ethan barreled through the door. Rodrigo and the other footmen stepped back against the wall.

  “I have something for you,” Rosa said. “A gift since you’re leaving. I don’t know if it will work, but-”
>
  “I’m not leaving.”

  We all blinked at him. Rosa tried to speak but couldn’t manage it.

  “I’m not leaving,” Ethan repeated. “My grandfather and the prince agreed that someone should stay behind to teach you how to use salt charms.”

  “And they chose you?” Father said. He failed to keep the surprise from his voice.

  “The prince trusts me, and I’m experienced with salt magic. I’ll be representing the navy and the crown. Grandfather promoted me to lieutenant to make it more official.”

  “Can he do that?” Senona asked.

  “Princess Ingrid won’t care.”

  “So you’re not leaving?” Rosa said.

  She didn’t seem to have heard the rest of the conversation. Ethan grinned at her.

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll live at the castle as an ambassador and work with the Medical Guild to help them understand salt charms.”

  A smile crept across Rosa’s face. She stood up, spilling her soup in the process, and rushed across the room. Ethan wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

  Father and Senona watched with raised eyebrows. Finally, Father cleared his throat.

  “Will you join us for lunch, Lieutenant Ethan?”

  Lunch and the rest of the day passed in a blur. Royal carriages came and went, carrying the Salarian’s belongings to their ship.

  Hired carts took our things to the Garden District.

  My trunks sat on the floor in my room. Tía Teresa had packed everything, but we weren’t sure where to send them.

  “It’s no good,” I said, sitting on one of the larger trunks with a sigh. “I have to go somewhere.”

  “Surely the crown could let you stay here a few more days. You could ask Prince Lorenzo.”

  I shook my head. There was no point in staying. All my things were packed. The halls were empty. It was the same house, but it didn’t feel like home anymore.

  “I suppose we could send the older dresses to the Garden District,” I said. “I won’t need them.”

  “No need to be hasty about that. Perhaps your father would agree to rent a town house for a few weeks while we figure everything out.”

  “They’ve already sent their things to Senona’s estate.”

  “But what about your quince? They can’t mean for you to have it in the Garden District.”