A Tale of Two Princesses (19 page)

     Raphael stood up. "This ain't your business, prince."

     "You have made it my business, sir." He motioned his hand toward Sienna. "Come."

     Sienna wiped her eyes as she sat up, holding her shirt together with one hand, but before she could climb off the bed, Raphael threw her back down. He spun back to Court, drawing a dagger.

     "You best get out of here, Prince. Prince's bleed just as red as thieves."

     "Sir, put up that blade or you will be hurt."

     "Like hell!"

     Raphael lunged, thrusting the knife. Sienna gasped. Court stepped aside, backing up, moving out of the room. Raphael was after him, brandishing the blade, thrusting again.

     "Don't hurt him!" Sienna cried. She ran at Raphael and beat her hands against his back. He shoved her away with his other arm and she fell to the floor.

     "You, sir, are a disgusting pig of a man!" Court shouted.

     "And you're a dead prince!"

     Raphael lunged again and Court caught his arm, struggling with the blade between them. Raphael shoved him forward, and Court lost his footing as he reached the staircase. Both men gave a shout as they tumbled down the stairs. Court ended up on top. He sat up, finding the knife in Raphael's chest.

     "Oh, my God."

     "Ah!" Raphael cried, looking down, trembling as he held the knife.

     "Sir!" Wellington shouted, hurrying to his prince, helping him up. The rest of the knights surrounded Raphael.

     Raphael looked up, his face showing his pain, his blood running off his ribs, pooling on the floor beneath him, his fingers trembling as he pulled the blade out. The moment it came away, his eyes fluttered and his body went limp.

     Court put a hand over his mouth. "What have I done?"

     "Sir," Wellington said, "what happened?"

     "I, I asked him to leave the stable girl alone. He drew a knife."

     "I'm sure you had no choice."

     Court kept his head down. He had never killed a man before. "Take the body to the sheriff. Let him know what happened."

     "Yes, sir," Wellington said.

     Court turned away, glancing at Banyan before ascending the stairs. Sienna was at the top. She dropped her eyes when he appeared. He paused in his doorframe.

     "Are you all right?"

     "Yes," she whispered. "Thank you."

     Court passed into his room and closed the door, falling heavily on his bed. He did not sleep that night.

Chapter Twelve

Fun and Flowers

     Princess Celeste passed into the royal state room, the usual guards present, as well as Vrine, and of course, the queen. Her mother was wearing the crown, shining so brightly on her gray head. Celeste's diamond tiara was in her golden hair.

     "Good morning, my queen," Celeste said, curtsying to her mother.

     "Good morning, Princess Celeste," the queen said. "Sit."

     "Thank you," she said, sitting across from her. "Tea, please, Vrine."

     Vrine made the tea, adding cream and sugar.

     "How did you sleep?" the queen asked.

     "Quite well, actually. Vrine was good enough to stay with me."

     "And you slept well despite all that transpired last night?" the queen asked.

     "Whatever do you mean, my queen? The storm? Yes, the thunder was rather loud, wasn't it?"

     The queen looked to the guards. "Leave us."

     The guards left, closing the door.

     Celeste stopped sipping her tea, putting it down. "Oh, you meant the imposter! Yes. I forgot about that."

     "Daughter, can you ever take anything seriously?"

     "It wasn't my idea, Mother."

     "No, but it was by your carelessness. You let that girl work here."

     "Homa convinced me."

     "And you lied to me!" the queen roared. "You passed her off as a mute. That was your voice, not Homa's!"

     "I was trying to be nice to her. I do regret it now."

     "And when you were feeling bad, did not my decree enter your mind? No maidens in the castle, yet there one was! You brought her into our home to mock me!"

     "Oh, Mother, you are positively distressing! What harm is there in a few young servant girls? Have you ever thought, even for a moment, that your daughter might enjoy the company of someone her own age? I am stifled here with all these old women! But, no, you're jealousy and the bitter taste of what my father has done has so scarred you, you cannot even look at a maiden anymore without anger."

     "You foolish girl," the queen said. "I did not cast out the maidens for my benefit. I did it for yours! One day, hopefully soon, you will marry, and as you age, you will find your king's eyes wander as they never have before, and when they have no where to wander but back to you, you will thank your mother for her decree!"

     "Perhaps I won't have to worry about marrying after what happened last night."

     "You may well be right," the queen said. "We have been made fools of, both here and soon abroad."

     "Yes, there's only one Princess Celeste, after all," Celeste said with a grin.

     "Your cavalier attitude tests me, princess," the queen said.

     "Mother, truly, what do you wish me to say? I had a drink. I had two drinks. I had three drinks. And then I had a few more and it was too much for me. I do apologize. I admit I was irresponsible."

     "We must work to salvage your good name with the prince. So greatly was he offended, he left last night during the storm."

     "Truly? That girl must have said something awful to him. What shall we do?"

     "I have dispatched a messenger to the lodge where he is staying with instructions to invite him to lunch. We will formally introduce you, and you will hope he reconsiders a union. We will also tell him you were ill last night, and so drunk with healing tonic."

     "You would embarrass me like that, Mother?" Celeste said, her voice rising.

     "It is a lesser embarrassment than him walking away from your hand and so sullying our name. If we can salvage this, if we can perform a union, the offense may be forgotten and our kingdom's name will be safe."

     "Mother, I do not wish to marry him at all. I have told you this over and over again."

     "You arrogant child. You do not see how good he will be for you. He will strengthen our kingdom by his name alone. Any sovereign power who would think of moving against us would just as soon move against Cross. That is the power he brings! Yet you cannot see it because you are a foolish girl chasing the dream of ruling alone."

     Celeste glanced at Vrine.

     "Do not look at her!" the queen snapped. "I see through you so easily, Princess Celeste. Ruling alone is nothing if you do not know how to rule, and you, child, do not know the first thing."

     "I do not need a man to stand in front of me, Mother! I want to rule! I want my own kingdom!"

     "You will have nothing if you do not marry him! The kingdom is not so strong as we appear to be. This union will bless our lands. But if you destroy the chance, in time we will fall to another power. The kingdoms are shrinking every day as more and more powers fall to one another. We may be next if we do not take part in this union."

     Celeste said nothing. She just turned her head. The queen stood up, coming over. She so rarely sat next to her.

     "Celeste, Celeste, Celeste," the queen whispered, "I do not do this thing to torture you. You are my flesh and blood. Everything I do, I do for you. You do not see it. You think I act for the kingdom, but I do not. I do it for you. Trust me, my daughter. He will be good for you, so very good. He is handsome, and strong, and he will make you stronger. You will be happy with him. Happiness, child, is not a luxury we who sit on the throne are often privy to, but I do think he could bring it to you, if you would let him."

     "Very well, Mother," Celeste said. "I will entertain him. I will make right what was put wrong. What else can a daughter do but obey?"

* * *

     "Your highness," Wellington called, knocking on Court's door.

     Court sat up slowly, blinking at the morning light. He climbed up, feeling so very sore, his back burning, his side screaming. He stumbled to the door and pulled it open.

     "Yes?"

     "Sir, the sheriff is here to speak to you."

     "I'll be down momentarily."

     "Yes, sir."

     Court dressed in the clothes nearest to him, the pants and shirt from last night, now dry. His jacket, however, still had a hole in the shoulder. He sighed, tossing it into the trash can. He would have to visit the local tailor, arrange for some new garments. Then he left, taking the steps slowly, looking at them, reflecting on what he had done. The bloodstain on the floor was gone, scrubbed clean. He wondered who had done the deed, probably the stable girl. He could not imagine her having to clean that up. How terrible.

     Everyone in the room bowed when he appeared, as they always did. It seemed such a waste of time, the whole thing. He waved his hand and they stood up straight. He did a double glance when he saw Sienna peeking out of the kitchen. She quickly closed the door. His knights were standing at attention. They had all eaten, as Mrs. Crockery was clearing up their plates. Another man was here as well, wearing a long brown coat with a medal on his chest and a mustache above his lip.

     "Your highness," the man said. "I'm the sheriff. How do you do?"

     "I've been better."

     "I understand, sir. We've talked to everyone regarding the incident, and it seems clear to me the scoundrel was in the wrong. Let me to apologize for what has happened."

     "Wait, what? Who did you talk to, the stable girl?"

     "No, sir, just your men and the tavern owner."

     "Then how do you know what happened?" Court asked.

     "We've got the gist of it."

     "For the record, I intruded upon him illegally. I ordered him to stop what he was doing, and he came at me with a knife. He died accidentally."

     "I see, sir. We'll put it down as a fair duel then. If there's nothing else, we only wish to extend our welcome to you, Prince Cross."

     "Thank you, but I do want to pay for any funeral expenses, and something extra if he has any family. Wellington?"

     Wellington handed the Sheriff a satchel of coins.

     "Very kind of you, your highness," the sheriff said, taking it and bowing. "I doubt anyone will come around for his burial, but I'll see to it."

     "Sheriff, has there been any other dragon sightings?"

     "No, sir. After we had word from your men, we scoured the countryside. Not a scale in sight."

     "I see."

     "If there is nothing further, sir, I must be off."

     "Of course. Thank you, sheriff."

     "Good day, sir."

     He bowed and saw himself out. Court sat heavily on a chair.

     "Would you like some breakfast, your highness?" Wellington asked. He lifted his hand to Mrs. Crockery. She hurried into the kitchen and returned a few moments later with eggs, bacon, and a glass of milk.

     Court shook his head. "I don't think I'm hungry."

     "Sir, you must keep up your strength. We have much to do today."

     "You're right," Court said, looking up. "We have to hunt that dragon to its den."

     "Sir, with all respect," Wellington said, "the Tempest Forest is vast."

     "What are you saying, Wellington? Do we let the death of three knights go unanswered?"

     "Never, sir, never! I merely mean to say we cannot simply trounce into the trees and hope to stumble across the monster."

     Court hung his head. "And I killed our only guide."

     "It was an accident."

     "And what do you suggest we do to rectify my accident, Wellington?"

     "I believe, sir, we should send the men out to make inquiries, see if there is another guide. For the moment, the dragon is quiet and we are not rushed. We should not charge in recklessly."

     "You make a good point," Court said. "Do it. Find another guide."

     "It shall be done. In the meantime, I have some news for you."

     "I doubt it's good."

     "You may find it so, sir. A messenger came from the castle. Princess Celeste wishes to see you for lunch."

     Court sat up instantly, his smile broad. "What? Really? She wants to see me?"

     "Yes, sir."

     "That's great news, Wellington! Fantastic!"

     Wellington chuckled. "I thought that might cheer you up, sir."

     Now, Court felt hungry. He dove into his eggs and bacon, washing it down with milk. "Did her messenger say anything else?"

     "No, sir, just that she requests you for lunch to apologize for last night."

     "Apologize? Oh, for running off without a word."

     "I should think so."

     "I'm glad she's willing to see me again."

     "Yes, sir. But do remember what I said. I know you are quite taken with her, but she is a rather odd sort. If you do not wish to marry her, do not do it merely for your father. I am sure he would understand if you refused, once we explain the circumstances."

     "I'll do what's right, Wellington." Court polished off the last of his eggs. "I'll also need something decent to wear. I only brought my travel clothes and one suit of formal attire."

     "Indeed, sir. I did warn you that you were under-packed. But, oh, how you insisted upon bringing your armor."

     "I may just need my armor after all, Wellington."

     "True enough. You may wear my suit to lunch, and we'll speak to the tailor in town about something else for the coming days."

     "Your clothes will be tight on me," Court said.

     "It'll make you look all the more strapping."

     Court chuckled. "All right. Thank you, Wellington. But there's one more thing I need. A gift. I want to bring Celeste something special."