Of Blood and Deceit

by Rachel A. Collett

  The Wraith Queen and her demon hordes destroyed small towns like these, reducing them to stubble. With barely any protection at all, they were as good as dead against her force.

  Unaware of my grim thoughts, the children stopped to wave to their prince then resumed their games, their laughter echoing through the streets. Others recognized Castiel and came offering drink, which he took with warm smiles of thanks. I, too, was offered refreshment, which I refused as kindly as I could.

  They surrounded him, inquiring after the honorable king, of the rising Captain Melia, and other kingdom gossip.

  Tiny fingers pulled at my clothes, asking questions I could not hear over the ruckus. They received me, a stranger, as warmly as they did the prince without a second thought.

  Well, most of them did. The younger ladies watched me with pointed looks, jealousy brimming from beneath fake welcomes. I smiled at them all, enjoying their discomfort.

  Since when was I so petty?

  The prince descended his horse. He held out his hand to help me but did not touch me yet. I took his offering, his fingers warm against my cold skin, and slid from my horse. When he caught me, his thumbs dug into my rib cage as he transferred me from Amaya to the ground with ease. He released me and instantly, we were swarmed by men and women offering drinks, baskets full of baked treasures, and sweet candies.

  “You’ve made it!” A man entered the circle of admirers and clapped the prince on the back. The newcomer’s clothes were ragged and dirty. Blondish-red hair fell to his shoulders. Freckles spotted a handsome face. He appeared to be Castiel’s senior by roughly a decade, but the sun-worn wrinkles on his skin could have added several unfair years, impairing a proper guess.

  The men hugged, and my mouth fell open.

  What prince hugged a commoner? I shook my head, not sure why I was so surprised by what he did. Besides, was there anything truly wrong with such a display?

  Again, the man beat a friendly hand on the prince’s back. “Just in time, my boy. Just in time. We were waiting for you.” Soft brown eyes found me over Castiel’s shoulder. “And what beautiful creature have you brought to our town?”

  My face heated crimson at the compliment. In Eira no one had ever dared to compliment me. My uncle taught that such attentions were considered ill-bred and they were not allowed. Despite my raising, I found myself almost enjoying the attention.

  Castiel turned. “This is Lady Anna. I hope you will welcome her as you do me. Lady Anna, may I introduce the leader of this town, Mayor Ashley Belau.”

  I curtsied the best I could in the ensemble given but felt foolish for doing so.

  Ashley smiled and wiped the dirt from his hands on his pants. “I hope you wouldn’t even question that, my prince.” In a grand sweep he bowed like I was royalty, although I was sure he didn’t suspect the truth.

  In Eira, when presenting themselves to myself or the king, mayors and alders put on the façade of pomp and wealth. They simpered and preened, they bowed, and they kneeled, prostrating themselves to the almighty king and his lineage. It was disgusting.

  “Welcome, Lady Anna,” Ashely said, then suddenly, he clasped my hand in his and kissed one of my knuckles. “And might I add that I could get lost within your mesmerizing eyes forever.”

  I gasped. “Oh!” I barely restrained myself from pulling away.

  “Alright, alright,” Castiel said, nudging Ashley away with a peevish smile, but the twinkle in Ashley’s eyes made me laugh despite my previous discomfort.

  I clenched my hands together, fighting the desire to wipe away the remnants his kiss may have left on my skin. I swallowed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mayor—”

  “Ashley. Just Ashley, my lady,” he said with a wink.

  “Very well. Ashley. Can you tell me why I’m here today? The prince has been quite hush-hush about it.”

  He turned to Castiel in dramatic awe. “You haven’t told her?” But without waiting for a response, the town leader looped his arm through mine and swept me away. I was too busy concentrating on not falling to bother about the contact.

  Laughter sounded behind me. Castiel trailed at a leisurely pace, conversing at ease with several townspeople. More stopped what they were doing and followed us with their baskets and drink. Children ran ahead, racing to beat us to our destination.

  “Lady Anna, today is the first harvest. A grand day of celebration.” Ashley pointed to an orchard. The trees were towering giants with big, dark leaves, their limbs thick and strong, and heavy leaden with plump foreign fruit I had never seen before. Workers busily laid blankets beneath the larger ones. The townsfolk waved as we drew near. These were Castiel’s people. This was his life. This was real. Castiel was real.

  The mayor continued. “It’s the best day of the year, when we reap what we sow. We work hard, but we also eat, drink, dance, and if we’re lucky, regret our decisions the next day!”

  First Harvest

  A nervous breath bubbled to my lips, but I managed to contain the near-outburst. Ashley’s affable humor was catching.

  “It sounds as if you’ve already starting the drinking, my friend. Perhaps a tad too early,” Castiel said from behind. Several people laughed at the comment.

  “Not a drop, my boy.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially and leaned toward me. “But that will come soon enough, my lady. And as I said, you’re just in time.” He stopped, releasing my arm with a smile and another deep bow.

  Castiel reclaimed his position next to me. His eyes searched mine, and although his smile was genuine and warm, apprehension shone through.

  I nodded to ease it, a smile tugging at my own lips. I could almost see the energy the people emitted, feel the glow of their auras without the need of Melora’s potion to aid me. Their enthusiasm intoxicated, overwhelming my anxiety, and I found myself more curious to see what would happen next.

  “Attention!” Ashely’s voice rang over the rest, silencing the crowd. “Attention my people! Once again, the good prince has graced us with his presence and his assistance. The time has come!”

  With growing excitement, men, woman, and children ran to the orchards and picked up the blankets beneath them at the corners, spreading the material wide like a net.

  They looked to Castiel, barely containing their glee. I didn’t understand why until the prince lifted both hands high into the air. He paused and gazed over his shoulder to me, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, increasing the dramatic intensity.

  I shook my head at his childishness but smiled nonetheless.

  Closing his eyes, he twisted his fingers as though wrapping around an invisible object, then pulled down. Trees shook, almost violently, and fruit fell from the branches in a downpour.

  Shrieks of joy filled the air.

  Seven trees had been affected by Castiel’s powers, and now seven groups competed at a frantic speed to collect their spoils into a makeshift net. The spectators clapped and called out wild instructions to the participants, watching their women giggle and fall. With the fruit gathered, the fastest of them raced to the waiting town leader and the prince, but such a task did not appear easy.

  I clasped my hands to fight the desire to join in the fun, my competitive nature boiling to the surface.

  Four men in the lead dragged the overladen sack of produce, along with a mother and child that had collapsed on top in fits of glee. They tugged and grunted while all else cheered for their chosen team.

  Ashely howled at the sight. When the competitors arrived, he took one of the leader’s hands and held it up. “The winners! Go collect your spoils!”

  The men fell upon the sack with the woman and child, heaving great breaths of air.

  Ashley playfully pushed one man to the side to open the net and grabbed a deep-red fruit the size of a fist. He lifted it high. “To the first harvest of the season!” Then he tossed the offering to the prince.

  Castiel caught it and sank his teeth into its flesh, biting off a chunk. Mouth partially full, he too raised
it to the sky. “To the first harvest!”

  The crowd cheered, and I couldn’t help but join in the celebration.

  I glanced to the prince. “That was—that was amazing,” I said, wonder in my voice.

  Castiel chuckled. “That impresses you?” he asked, speaking around his mouthful.

  I rolled my eyes to hide my smile and turned to the mayor.

  “What is it?” I asked, gesturing to the celebrated fruit.

  Ashley’s head twitched. Confusion marred his expression. “It’s—it’s a ruby-sweet. Named for its dark red color. You’ve never—”

  “Of course,” I said, grasping my mistake. “I didn’t recognize it. I’ve never been to a harvest.”

  He gave Castiel a strange look but shook it off. “Well done, my prince. As always, well done.” He handed him a goblet of amber liquid. “And here’s to another prosperous year!”

  The prince drank deeply, then offered some to me. And how could I refuse?

  I downed the remaining liquid. All the while, Castiel watched me, a curious expression on his face.

  “Some of the best mead in the kingdom, my lady,” Ashely said, with another wink. He claimed my cup just as a woman passed with a basket of baked goodies. He traded the goblet for a slice of bread and shoved a bite in his mouth. “I remember a day when we couldn’t keep both princes away from a harvest.”

  I could understand why. All around us the townsfolk ate, drank, and picked the remaining fruit the prince’s power had been unable to harvest. I had never witnessed something so amazing as this small town’s festivities.

  “Where did you say you come from, my lady?” The question shocked me from my good mood.

  Before I could even think of a lie, Castiel answered for me. “Lady Anna hails from near the north border, which is why her skin is so frightfully pale.”

  Ashley laughed at the comment and at my offended gasp.

  “And it’s also why we must get some more sun on that skin. Come, my lady.” The prince held out his arm, another offering. “Our time grows short before we must go.”

  I threaded my arm through his.

  “Very well, Castiel, but one minute—” Ashley skipped to a table where yet more drink lay waiting. “For the journey,” he said, handing me another wooden goblet of mead. “And to your good health, my lady.”

  I looked to Castiel, wondering if such a genial toast bothered him, that Ashley paid such attention to me. He only smiled… and the whole world slowed. His warmth matched that of the sun, and he cast that light upon everyone who surrounded him. His people.

  Had I done that for my own people? Did I deserve equal praise from Eira, a kingdom I had never served, never loved, never saw past my own afflictions?

  Castiel leaned forward to whisper in my ear, effectively jolting me from my sullen thoughts. “He’ll only ply you with more if you don’t drink now.”

  Ashley shrugged. “Tis true.”

  I chuckled and took a long draught. We left the mayor to his mead and meandered farther into the orchard. The prince plucked an empty basket that lay against an abandoned tree. As we walked, I handed him my remaining drink. He took it without question. Though the effects of the mead numbed my anxieties, worry still managed to seep through.

  “Will you tell Ashley of the king’s suspicions. Of the Wraith Queen?” I asked.

  The lines between his brows deepened. The desire to smooth the worry from his face nearly overtook me, so that I had to look away.

  Finally, he answered. “No. Until our suspicions are confirmed it wouldn’t do any good to worry them.”

  I nodded, watching children weave in and out of the orchard in a game of cat and mouse. Castiel worked his magic on several more trees as we went. Ruby-sweets littered the ground, waiting their turn to be collected in baskets—not that the individuals within the orchard cared much. Most of the families stayed to the outskirts closest to the town, near the activities, while couples meandered the fields. They held hands and sometimes snuck additional privacy behind the trunks of the trees that towered above them. They didn’t worry over the improprieties of being caught wrapped in each other’s embrace, but why should they?

  I blushed at the intimacy of it, my heart racing. Should I go back? And what did the prince think? Did he worry about the rumors that would start if we were seen alone, unescorted, in a secluded part of the orchard?

  But Castiel didn’t seem to notice.

  “Here we are,” he said, interrupting my thoughts.

  “What?”

  He released my arm. “This should do nicely.”

  My face heated. “For what?” I asked again, my voice harsher than I intended.

  He placed the basket beneath the tree then glanced to me. “For practicing, of course.” He shifted to pull something from his pocket and held it out to me. Melora’s potion. “Willing to give it another go?”

  A breath whooshed from my lungs. “Oh.”

  “What did you think I brought you out here for?”

  “I—” Was that laughter in his eyes? “Never mind.”

  One side of his lips quirked up. “Indeed.”

  I shuddered at the thought of another drink of Melora’s brew. “I thought we were supposed to be helping the town.”

  “I can’t do every tree. That would sap my strength. Besides, this has been done for hundreds of years without my help. They can handle it on their own.” He wiggled the vial between his fingers. “It won’t be as bad this time. Just a sip. Only enough for an hour or so.”

  “Fine.” I snatched the bottle from his grasp and uncorked it. The mead had made me brave. I plugged my nose to the taste and sipped, then stole the remaining mead as a follower.

  Castiel jolted a step. “Wait—”

  But he was too late.

  I swallowed hard against the combined taste then tossed the empty cup back to the prince, followed by the potion. He easily caught both, pocketing the vial.

  “You might regret that.”

  The mead dulled the burning effects of the potion and quickened its decent. “That poison needs a chaser. It’s terrible. You’d think the all-powerful Melora would make it taste better.” I rolled my neck, concentrating on the movement instead of my stomach.

  Castiel grimaced, putting a finger to his lips. “You probably should be careful of—”

  “Getting drunk?” I asked with a smile.

  “No, saying her name. But yes, that too.”

  “She’s not a wraith, remember?”

  He rolled his eyes but smiled.

  “Besides, I was reared in my uncle’s militia from the age of twelve. I can hold my own. Just don’t let me fall asleep in the saddle on the way home.”

  His brows raised high as he considered me, but I only wiped any remnants off with the back of my hand.

  “The amount you drank is too small to truly affect you.” He jumped to grab a high, thick limb then heaved himself to it. The leaves rattled when he tossed a leg over to straddle the branch. His strength was impressive.

  Who was I fooling? Everything about him was impressive.

  His legs swung playfully. “You did well today.”

  I hummed, leaning against the tree for support. The world was tipping. “I didn’t have much of a choice, did I.”

  “Yes, you did. You almost seemed at home.”

  I didn’t answer. A deep longing nearly overwhelmed me, and I suddenly regretted my earlier statement. More than ever, I wanted to find home. I wanted to leave, start over in some new place where no one had ever heard of Eira, of Princess Ilianna or the Demon Daughter. I could serve the people and work as the king and prince did. But Anolyn was not that place.

  He gazed into the canopy of leaves. A snap sounded just before a ruby-sweet fell into his waiting hand. “Hungry?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Very well.” He tossed the uneaten fruit into the empty basket and gave me one of his most rewarding smiles. “Now you try.”

  “We’ve been over
this.”

  He cocked his head to the side. His blue eyes captured mine and I had to look away.

  “Fine.” I scanned for the nearest ruby. Melora’s potion was working. A hazy cloud emitted from the tree, and I focused on it. The afternoon heat beaded on my forehead as I squinted and glared at the object until my teeth ground against each other. I released the effort with a sigh and shrugged.

  “Come, my lady,” he said, reaching to me from the branch.

  I slapped away his hand. “I don’t think so.”

  He appeared offended. “That’s not a request. It’s a direct order.”

  “You don’t say.” I scanned for a better branch to climb, preferably one a little closer to the ground.

  His voice whispered close to my ear. “Ilianna, come join me.”

  I inhaled and jerked away, shocked by his sudden closeness. Except that he wasn’t close at all. He was in the same place he had been before. “How—how did you do that?”

  “Parlor trick.” A devilish smile lit his eyes.

  I narrowed my gaze. “If I fall and break my neck, I’m returning as a wraith to haunt you in your sleep.”

  “Who says you don’t already?”

  My breath caught in my lungs, but I pretended not to hear his comment. What did it mean anyways? Did he worry I would escape? Did I give him nightmares? And why did I blush the way I did when he watched me like this?

  His aura shone like the moon from his skin. It was beautiful. He was beautiful.

  Castiel laughed, then reached for me. “Do you know how to climb a tree?”

  I shook off the effects and snorted. “Of course.”

  “Well, this will be the easiest tree-climbing you’ll ever do. Take my hand.”

  And I did. He pulled, but it was more than his strength that lifted me from the ground. His magic cocooned me in a soft glow, allaying the strain of my body against gravity. I felt light, like the clouds hovering in the distance.

  He guided me to a place next to him and I settled the best I could on top, grateful for the first time today for Sameen and her choice of breeches instead of a dress. My nerves balanced like I did on that branch, and carefully I moved a few inches from him, my fingers clutching to the limb.