A Tale of Two Princesses (36 page)

     "Dragon of the sky, wake and crow,

     "Your duty to me, perform, bring death and woe.

     "Take the scent of the prince below,

     "And burn him alive from head to toe!"

     The dragon leapt into the air, its neck pulling back, its jaw opening. And then the fire exploded. Court ran and dove over the nearest pew, the flames encompassing the entire church.

     Vrine seized Wellington's moment of shock, rushing away from him. Wellington leapt after her, grabbing her arm. She spun around, pulling a vial from her robe. Before she could throw it, he cleaved with his sword. She cried out as the blade struck her down, her head rolling across the aisle.

     The dragon began howling, turning away from Court, jumping up and down, clawing at its head. Wellington hurried to the front of the church, slipping between the burning pews, grabbing his master and helping him to his feet.

     "Wellington?" Court said, turning to look at the dragon.

     "Sir, I believe it has been freed of Vrine's hold."

     "Perhaps it will fly away," Court said.

     But then the dragon turned around, hissing, its mouth opening, looking at the closest targets, Sienna and Celeste.

     "Perhaps not, sir," Wellington said.

     Celeste yanked Sienna to her feet, using her as a shield. The dragon's mouth opened, and fire began to glow from its throat.

     Court and Wellington ran toward the church altar, but the guards charged at them, cutting them off. The nearest one to Court attacked, thrusting with his spear. Court grabbed the shaft, struggling for it. Wellington was at his side, cleaving with his sword, slaying the guard. Court claimed the spear and turned it around, aiming for the dragon, throwing it. It sailed through the air and pierced the dragon's neck.

     The dragon jerked, its fire breath blazing past Sienna as Celeste hid behind her. The dragon hissed and its neck spun to Court. It leapt at him, trampling over the guards, swiping with its paws, striking Court and throwing him clear across the church. Wellington ran after him.

     Sienna was holding the noose, her fingers under the rope, desperately trying to loosen it enough to take a breath. Celeste held it tighter, throwing Sienna from side to side. She shoved her hard to the floor, her knees coming down on Sienna's back as she pulled on the rope.

     "Die, you peasant!" Celeste hissed. "I gave you so much! Saved you from that scoundrel's bed! Took you into my castle! Lied to my very own mother for you! And how do you repay me? By taking my husband's heart! For one brief moment of insanity, I actually thought you could be a sister to me! This is the lesson you have taught me: never be kind to anyone!"

     The guards had lost all interest with Court. They were fighting the dragon now, using their spears. The dragon chomped at the nearest one, biting him and tossing him aside. Another guard came at the dragon's back, spearing it in the hind leg. The dragon spun around, its long tail turning into a mighty flail, mowing down everything and everyone in its way. There was only one guard left now. He dropped his spear and turned and ran from the church.

     Court sat up slowly, blood running from his ribs, his white suit ruined. Wellington quickly knelt beside him.

     "Sir, you're wounded! We must retreat!"

     "Not without Sienna!"

     Court and Wellington looked to the altar. Celeste was still on Sienna's back, strangling her, lost to rage, shouting and cursing, oblivious as the dragon stepped up to the altar. Its jaws began to open.

     "Celeste!" Court shouted. "Behind you!"

     Celeste turned her head, screeching as the dragon's neck snapped forward. Then its teeth clamped down around her waist. She cried out as it pulled her away, holding on to Sienna's rope in desperation. Court climbed up and charged, his ribs aching from his wound, but the dragon seemed to have had enough. It leapt away from him, jumping up to the window with Celeste. Sienna was yanked along by her noose, her whole face purple.

     Court grabbed Sienna around the waist, holding onto her as the dragon stood on the shattered window frame, Celeste's legs pinched between its teeth. It gave a tug and Celeste cried out, wrapping her hands tight around the rope. Sienna's eyes were flickering. Even her fingertips had gone white under the noose. Then Wellington came, crashing into Court's back, holding onto him as he held on to Sienna.

     "Let her go!" Court shouted at Celeste.

     "Court!" Celeste said, her voice filled with terror. "Don't let him take me! Please, you saved her. Save me."

     Court grabbed the rope, pulling on it, but Celeste held it tight, would never let it go. The dragon gave another tug on Celeste's legs, its wings opening, flapping.

     "Court!" Celeste cried. "Please!"

     Court met her eyes. "I'm sorry, Celeste. I'm so sorry. Wellington! Cut it!"

     Wellington released Court and picked up the sword.

     "No!" Celeste screamed. "No! I am your wife! Please! Do not choose this peasant over me! Court, I love you!"

     "Cut it!" Court shouted as Sienna's head dipped and her body went limp in his arms.

     Wellington cleaved with the sword, and the rope snapped. The dragon slipped from the window frame, his wings taking hold of the wind, flapping as he turned, Celeste's screams echoing until they faded in the distance.

     Court desperately pulled the noose from around Sienna's neck. "Sienna? Sienna? Sienna! Wake up!"

     Wellington came to Sienna's other side. He and Court stared down at her for a moment, both holding their breath, waiting for her to take one. And then she let out a little cough. She rolled over on her side, coughing louder, her eyes opening and then closing in exhaustion.

     "Sienna," Court said, his hand resting on her back, "thank God you're okay."

     "I...I didn't...didn't kill the queen," she gasped.

     "I know, Sienna," Court said, his hand passing over her hair.

     "Sir!" Wellington said.

     Court looked up, seeing guards pouring into the church. The two men stood up, looking at each other.

     "Wellington, we may not get out of this one alive," he whispered.

     "I shall be proud to perish at your side, my prince."

     The guards reached the altar, stopping. Many of them were trying to put out the small fires around the room. The captain of the guard stepped up.

     "King Cross, where is the queen?"

     Court glanced up, as if reminded that he were wearing the crown. "Oh! Uh, the queen?"

     "The dragon has taken the queen!" Wellington jumped in. "It has carried her away into the sky, broken through the window! We must organize a party and search for her!"

     "Indeed!" the captain said. "King Cross, will you lead the party?"

     Court looked down at Sienna, who still had her eyes closed as she took in deep breaths.

     "Yes, I will lead the party," he said, looking back. "Bring someone to look after this girl."

     "Your majesty, is not that the girl who was accused of killing Queen Friora?"

     "She was accused, yes," he said, "but we have learned it was Vrine who poisoned the queen and blamed this girl. I have pardoned her of all crimes."

     "I see, your majesty," the captain said. He motioned to a pair of his soldiers. "Take this girl to the infirmary."

     Court watched as Sienna was carried away. Then he looked at Wellington.

     "We will search for Queen Celeste," he said. "If I can, I will save her. I owe her that."

     "Do you think we will find her, sir?"

     Court hung his head. "No, Wellington, I don't."

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Stable Girl

     Sienna rolled over, her eyes blinking as the world came into view. Straw was all around her. She was back in her stall. She sat up slowly, her neck stiff, still black and blue from her ordeal. Had that only been a couple of weeks ago?

     She dressed in her white blouse, her black vest, and her black skirt, a reminder of her time as a servant in the castle. She took her brush out from under the straw, running it over her head. Brushing her hair was easier these days, never took as long, more time to clean.

     Then she took out her gold coin, looking at Court's image, her thumb crossing it. She gave it a kiss and then put it away under the straw, climbing up. Her leg tingled as she limped out of her stall, reminding her she was still recovering.

     "Morning," she said to the two horses in the stables. "Did you guys sleep okay?"

     The mare nickered and the stallion whinnied.

     "Aw, did he tease you all night?" she asked the mare. "You tell him you're a good girl and he's a bad horsey."

     She stroked their muzzles and then came to the cow, milking her.

     "How's your baby, Mrs. Moo? She looks so big. Uncle Banyan will be bringing a boyfriend around for her before you know it."

     After the milk, she picked up her basket. It was dark outside, the sun barely breaching the sky. She walked to the henhouse, didn't skip, opening the door, saying hello to all her hens.

     "You guys are getting lazier and lazier," she complained as she collected their eggs. "Don't start squawking, Henrietta."

     She took her milk and eggs into the kitchen, leaving them there as she went back out for water, bringing in a bucket. Then she began washing down the counters and scrubbing the dishes left over from last night. By the time she finished, her uncle had come downstairs. He began preparing breakfast.

     "Morning, Uncle."

     "Morning," he returned.

     "Where's Mrs. Crockery?"

     "The bar," he said. Those two guests are leavin' after breakfast. Are their horses ready?"

     "Yes, sir. I took good care of them."

     "Good. Get on up there and clean their rooms. There might be a guest coming in this afternoon. Make sure the stalls are clean afterward."

     "Yes, Uncle," she said. "Do you need anything else?"

     "Nope," he said.

     She started toward the door, but her uncle called to her.

     "Sienna," he said, "I know I never said it, but this place runs better with you here. While you were gone, ah, heck, I didn't know what to do with myself."

     She smiled a big smile. "Thank you, Uncle."

     He nodded. "Just don't get lazy because I said that!"

     "No, sir!"

     She passed into the bar, finding the two guests there, talking to Mrs. Crockery, laughing and telling stories. Sienna snuck by, going up the stairs, opening the bedroom doors. They had left their things here, but she cleaned around them, hurrying to finish before they finished breakfast.

     By the time she came back downstairs, they were ready to set out. She hurried ahead to the barn, saddling their horses. It was only a moment later before they came and took them, thanking her, tipping her uncle.

     And then she was alone again, her only friend Mrs. Moo and her baby. It made her sad, but she put herself into her work and pushed the feelings away. Raking straw and manure was always a good distraction. The smell never let her mind wander too far.

     Suddenly, a horse whinnied and she looked up, her eyes flashing. Striker was standing in the doorway, and Court was holding his reins. He was dressed as a king, with a crown upon his head and a long red and gold mantle on his back.

     "Oh, my God," Sienna whispered.

     Court cleared his throat, taking a step forward. "I spoke to Banyan about a room. Are you the stable girl here? He said I could leave my horse with you."

     Sienna looked down, staring at the forks in the rake. She did not want to play this game. "What are you doing here?"

     "Looking for a place to stay the night."

     "You have a castle. You don't need a tavern." She turned away and began raking again.

     "I do, just for the night, before I head back."

     She couldn't speak to him, didn't know what to say.

     "Are you going to take my horse or not?"

     She took a deep breath, putting her rake aside. "Yes, your majesty." She came over and bowed at the waist before taking Striker's reins, tugging him into the nearest stall.

     "I don't like that stall," Court said. "I want this one, here on the end."

     "Please, your majesty," Sienna whispered. She closed the gate.

     "I said I want this one," he said.

     "It's taken," she said.

     "By whom?"

     "By me," she said, looking up at him. "Why are you doing this? Why are you here?"

     "Why did you leave the castle before I returned?"

     "Did you want me to stay? What did you expect me to say to you?"

     "I don't know. I thought we might start with hello, how are you, I had fun dancing with you at the masquerade ball."

     She swallowed. "So, Wellington told you?"

     "He didn't have to. I figured it out."

     Sienna picked up her rake, returning to her work.

     "Sienna, talk to me."

     "I never asked to be put in that dress, wear that mask, dance with you. I was told to."

     "But you don't regret it. I know you don't, because you told me."

     He came up behind her, reaching his arms around, taking her rake and putting it aside, his mouth hovering behind her ear.

     "I don't regret it either," he whispered.

     "Please, your majesty—"

     "Don't call me that. Call me Court."

     She moved out from his arms, turning and backing up into the corner of the stall like a caged animal.

     "What did you come here for?" she asked. "To remind me of how I feel? I haven't forgotten. You didn't need to come and mock me."

     "Is that what you think I'm doing, mocking you?" he asked.

     "You're married."

     "I'm widowed."

     "She's still missing. She might be okay."

     "Do you want her to be okay?"