Of Snow and Blood

by Kris Black

  “Are you all right?” Felix asked as he moved closer. Alina put up her hand to halt him as she took a minute to catch her breath.

  The faerie had been right. She had done that without thought; her body reacted on instinct

  That had been exhilarating. Never had she felt so close to nature, to the earth and the magic and power it held within it. She looked back to the willow. Although it was still healthy and singing, it seemed a little duller now - like it had given most of its own energy. Alina touched it gently with one hand, probing to make sure it was all right and hadn’t spent itself completely for her.

  Alina breathed a sigh of relief to find that it was still healthy. She whispered a prayer of thanks to the great willow, before stepping back. Then she reached out to the next tree. It was easier this time, to get the rush of energy it willingly offered to her. She judged when to pull back, when to take just enough and to give thanks. She had more control now that she was in charge of her senses and not energy-deprived.

  “What are you doing, Princess?” Felix inquired, in awe as he watched her regain her balance, the flush leaving her cheeks.

  “It’s not me. It’s them. The trees - they’re sharing their energy with me.” There was a sensation of flying like she was part of the earth and the sky and nothing this mortal body could do would hold her back from being one with nature. Alina felt invigorated. Powerful.

  Alina left the trees, almost skipping to the flowers. The sun hadn’t yet made it fully up into the sky and a few were still opening their buds, ready to absorb the nourishing rays. Alina grinned, reached out and touched one. The bud sprang to life, opening wide to the energy, to the power.

  “That’s amazing,” Felix whispered, awed as he reached out and touched the bloom.

  Alina tried to check herself, but couldn’t help reaching out and touching more flowers, sharing her power with them. Soon, the whole bed in front of them had not only opened their petals but were noticeably larger and healthier. It was electrifying, sharing energies. Her body urged her to dance under the sun and bask in the surrounding life.

  “Alina?” Felix’s voice jarred her from her reverie and suddenly she remembered herself.

  She remembered herself enough to remember that someone had tried to murder her the night before.

  She remembered herself enough to remember that the potential murderer was still somewhere in the castle.

  “I’m all right. Sorry.” Dirt and plant-debris covered Alina. She stepped back onto the path, trying her best to wipe off the soil and ignore the looks and whispers of the court. They buzzed around the gardens more than a hive of bees.

  “Perhaps we should go to sit?” He offered.

  Alina agreed and followed him to the nearest bench. “Felix, what do you know about the line of succession here?”

  “You’re the heir apparent. You’ll be the next queen.” He said as he leaned down to smell one of the newly energized flowers.

  “But if something happens to me - who will rule?”

  Startled, Felix stood straight and looked at her. “If something happens to you?”

  “Hypothetically, of course.”

  “Of course.” He furrowed his brow. “Well, we don’t really have another plan of succession, that’s why when you returned it was a blessing from the gods. The king has no other family, no siblings and no close cousins. It would have been a battle between the dukes on who would rule next.”

  The dukes. Alina counted all the ones she remembered from her briefing with Ella. Eight. There were eight dukes that would have to use their wealth, power and people to fight over the crown. One of which was Felix’s father. Would he believe he stood a better chance since Felix was a Ward of the King?

  But Felix’s father wasn’t at court. He was in Northurst at present. Possibly one of the other seven dukes had done it. She was sure they weren’t happy that Alina had shown up and stolen their chances at the crown.

  “But we don’t have to worry about that because nothing will happen to you,” Felix said firmly.

  If only Alina was as certain as Felix.

  Even if not for attempted murders, perhaps the curse would still get her in the end.

  Rhys had returned to the garden, with Thomas in tow, just as Alina and Felix were leaving.

  “Your Highness, Milord.” Rhys and Thomas bowed. “Your Grace, His Majesty said that he has time now to meet with you if you please.”

  “Right, yes.” Belmont was a busy man and Alina didn’t want to keep him waiting on her. “If you’ll excuse me, Felix?”

  “It’s not polite to keep the king waiting. I’ll catch up with you later.” He bowed his head and continued on his trek out of the gardens.

  “Lead the way.” Alina motioned to her guards. Rhys guided her through the castle while Thomas trailed closely behind them.

  They entered the royal wing and stopped at a door Alina had never entered. Thomas knocked on the door before being bid to enter.

  “Your Majesty.” The guards bowed deep and Alina curtseyed. The king dismissed the guards with a wave of his hand and they shut the door as they left.

  “I heard you needed to speak with me.” Belmont sat and motioned to the couch opposite him. It took Alina only a few moments to sit across from the king. It was a relief to sit for a moment. Although the trees and the plants restored some of her energy, she found the longer she was away from them the more tired she felt. “If you ever need me, I’ll always make time for you.”

  “Thank you, Belmont. I hope I interrupted nothing important.”

  He scoffed. “Paper pushing. In all honesty, I welcome the break, for my eyes if not my sanity. And I always welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Now tell me, what is it you need to talk to me about?”

  Alina worried her hands in her lap. She wasn’t sure where to begin, how to begin or even if she should.

  Belmont frowned as she gripped her dress in her hands. “You don’t have to worry. Whatever it is, I’m sure we can solve it.”

  “Someone poisoned me last night.”

  Whatever Belmont had been expecting, it didn’t appear that was it. He stood suddenly, looking around the room as if the assailant were about to appear. His hands clenched into fists, the skin becoming a stark white at his knuckles.

  “What do you mean someone poisoned you? Are you alright? Who did this?” His breathing was ragged as he barked out his questions. “Why wasn’t this reported to me immediately?”

  “My guard didn’t realize. It all happened so fast.” Alina attempted to calm the king. “I had an anonymous gift given to me - a beautiful comb for my hair that I admired when the queen and I went to the market together. A footman dropped it off on a pretty pillow. They had coated it in what I suspect was a quick-acting contact-poison.”

  “Who was this footman? If it was a fast-acting poison and your guards were none-the-wiser, how are you sitting before me now?”

  “You might want to sit down first. Please.”

  Belmont hesitated for only a moment before returning to his seat. Alina went through the events of the night, including the faerie man who had come and saved her.

  “Two guards. Permanently.” Belmont ordered. “I’ll assign one of my men to look into this incident. It cannot stand. We will find the culprit and they will rue the day they thought of this scheme.”

  “Do you think it has anything to do with the curse?” Alina asked, watching as the king - as her father - seethed at the thought of her being harmed.

  “Doubtful. More likely an enemy of mine, or of yours. Few are happy that the throne now has a direct heir. So it was imperative to make you legitimized immediately. But I will renew my efforts to locate the scroll with the curse.”

  “Thank you, Belmont.”

  “I’m increasing the number of guards around the entire royal wing as well. No one will give you any gifts if we do not vet them first. I’m assigning a taste-tester to you too. I should have thought of this beforehand.”

  “A tas
te-tester?”

  “In case someone tries to poison you again, through food or drink this time.” Belmont’s right leg was bouncing, and he ran a hand through his thick, chestnut hair graying at the sides. “I won’t be so lax from now on. Your safety is imperative to me.”

  Alina saw that her father was more shaken than she had expected. Slowly, she rose and joined him on his sofa, sitting beside him.

  “You’re sure you’re okay?” He asked, turning to her.

  “Other than being exhausted, I’m fine,” Alina assured him.

  “Then I shouldn’t keep you. Get some rest. Your guards will escort you to your rooms. Don’t worry, I’m looking into this.”

  Alina reached out and took one of his large, calloused hands into her own, squeezing it reassuringly. “I won’t worry. I know you’ll protect me.”

  And she did. She knew that Belmont would protect her with his life.

  Chapter Eleven

  The Rewoven Curse

  Alina spent the next few days almost entirely in the greenhouse, surrounded by guards. One of her normal three who had come to the castle with her - Rhys, Henry and Thomas - and more whose names she had yet to learn. They all wore the same uniform, that of the King’s Guard. It was enough to scare off any noble or courtier. Other than the guards, she managed some company. Sometimes Ella joined her, sometimes Brigit joined her. But mostly, she used the time to rest and try to heal. As the days passed, she found she was borrowing energy from the plants less and less - a sure sign she was healing.

  The more time she spent in the gardens, the more she tried to convince herself it was because she was still healing, or because she was testing out her powers. She needed time to think alone.

  In reality, though, she had to admit near the end she was avoiding her family.

  Her father, Edward, had been distant. She had seen no sign of him in or around the castle since he found out the news that she wasn’t truly his. If only she could say the same of her sisters.

  They meandered around the castle, dressed up like peacocks and ready to flirt with any man (young or old) who looked as though they had more than a penny to their name. We’re the princess’s sisters, they claimed with joy, as though Alina was their precious little sister they had protected and loved their whole life. As though they had cared when anyone drove her from their home - either time, with Christian or with Belmont.

  Her brothers were having time to enjoy life and not work in the fields. To make connections without utterly embarrassing their family in the process. Meek Elliot was shyly making his way around and being welcomed by new friends. George was trying his best to keep their sisters in line and make alliances to benefit the whole family.

  And Charles… Charles would undergo his first cursed shift in Christian’s castle in only a few more days. A shift that not everyone survived.

  But he would. Alina was sure Charles was strong enough, that Christian had the skills to help him, even just enough to get him through this. She had to believe that. The last thing that they needed was Alina checking in on the mirror, Alina breaking down and telling Christian about the poisoning attempt.

  No. Christian needed to focus on Charles and get him through his ordeal.

  She would figure all this out on her own. She packed the soil she had been working on harder than she had meant to, almost beating it into place. It wouldn’t help the small buds she was about to transplant.

  She picked up a small tiller, let out a long sigh, and began to loosen the soil up.

  “I thought I might find you here.” Belmont interrupted.

  Alina laid down the tool and stood to curtsey. “Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise.” The king’s advisors flanked him.

  “I always found your mother covered in soil and debris,” Belmont mused, smiling brightly at his daughter. There was a somber pause as Alina stood there, wiping her dirt-covered hands on the dirty apron she wore.

  “I wish I knew more about her.” She confessed as she stared at the dirt under her nails. She had been curious, wondering what her mother was like - other than that she was a faerie, loved gardening and looked just like her.

  “Perhaps we can sit down and talk about her. It’s been so long since anyone has mentioned her around here, I think it’s time that we remember her better.” Alina looked up at her father. The king moved his gaze from his daughter to the domed glass ceiling.

  “I’m not sure Queen Calista would like that.”

  “Perhaps not, but she will become accustomed to it.” The king sighed at the mention of his wife. “I’ve come to inform you I’ve found the copy of the curse I’ve been searching for.”

  “What?” Alina breathed out. She began to untie her apron. “We should go now, then.”

  “No, we can’t. I’m attending a meeting first that can’t be delayed, and you must clean up before you handle the parchment.” He motioned at her hands, still covered in soil despite her efforts. “It will be there tonight. I will send for you. I need to be there when you read it.”

  “But why?”

  “I need you to remind me why Breena did what she did. Of why I missed so much time with you.” Belmont reached over and rubbed a smear of dirt from his daughter’s face, a face so similar to his wife’s he briefly wondered if faeries simply copied their forms into their children. “Perhaps you will find answers to who your mother was. Maybe her end will tell you more about her beginning.”

  “Your Majesty, I’m sorry to interrupt, but the duke-” One advisor cleared their throat.

  Belmont ran his hand through his hair, looking tired. “It seems that I am already running late. Until tonight, Alina?”

  “I’ll see you tonight.” Alina placed her hand on top of her father’s tan, calloused one and squeezed it. “You probably shouldn’t keep the duke waiting.”

  “No, indeed,” Belmont said grimly. He hesitated for only a moment more before squeezing her hand back briefly and turning towards his advisor and leaving the gardens.

  It was strange, having a father. Alina couldn’t recall the last time that Edward Everston had acted as a father towards her. George had always been more father than big brother. Yet here, she had her real father showing her true affection. He had wanted her, loved her mother, and she had been missing for most of her life.

  Her chest swelled, a little like hope and a little like love, but too soon for her to think of either.

  Alina had quickly left the greenhouse after her father. Once back in her room she immediately drew water for a bath. It took longer than expected to scrub the dirt from her nails, hands, and hair. The water had turned murky as she finished toweling herself dry.

  It was almost time for dinner when the summon came to meet the king in the royal library. Ella had told Alina that the only people granted access to the books within had to be within the immediate royal family. It was still odd to think of herself as royalty. But standing in the private library, across from the king who called her daughter, it was hard to deny.

  It also surprised her that she hadn’t been to this library before. Or that she hadn’t known about it until today. Only a few moments after stepping inside and the musty smell of the ancient books had her swooning. This definitely would not be her last visit to his majestic chamber with towering bookcases touching the ceiling. And with only a few people, including herself, allowed inside it was the perfect place for solitude.

  “It took a little while for me to find it,” Belmont greeted Alina as her two guards shut the doors behind her. “After your mother… well after your mother left us, it was too hard a reminder and I hid it in here. As you can imagine, I have had almost two decades to forget where I put it.”

  Alina said nothing, her throat parched as she stared at the aged scroll in his hands, rolled up neatly and tied with a bow - something so innocent containing something so deadly. A curse that affected so many lives dramatically.

  “Before I hand this over to you, I need you to heed me,” Belmont said and didn’t continue un
til Alina looked from the scroll to his face. “I don’t want you to dwell on any of this. No one has found the boy mentioned within here. I’ve sent parties out to search, and all have come back with nothing to report. So, regardless of what this says, I want you to live your life to the fullest.”

  Alina nodded dumbly and reached her hands out. It was almost a magnetic draw. She had to read what was written on that paper. Her eyes blurred and focused only on the scroll, phasing everything else out. Belmont hesitantly placed the scrolls within her open palms. A blast of energy shot from the scroll into Alina, nearly knocking her over. Belmont reached out quickly, grasping her shoulders and steadying her.

  So much magic contained within the words, she tasted it, smelled it. The acrid stench of dark magic churned her stomach.

  “Thank you,” she told her father and moved to one of the sturdy wooden chairs by a small table.

  With a deep breath, she pulled the string on the scoll and gently rolled it flat. The writing was neat and cursive, almost a deception considering the evil it foretold.

  Hitherto let it be known

  That in these kingdoms of anger, sewn

  The heir apparents’ thrones of woe

  Be cursēd forevermore

  The first, a beast of heart and mind

  Whose darkness doth his beauty hides

  What was masked, now outside

  Set upon the eve his mother died

  The second a maiden, beloved of fae and men

  Shall ne’er grow old enough to wed

  For on the eve of moonlight flowers bloom

  She shall prick her finger and be doomed

  Thus, the kingdoms warring cease

  When two heirs’ lives release

  Fee for all the blood that was paid

  On their heads and deaths, be laid

  Alina’s hands were shaking as she released the page, it’s ends furling once more. She brought her hands down, away from the paper as though it burned, rested them in her lap, folding them over each other to stop the quivering.