Blinding Beauty (3 page)

“
If he loathes me so much,” Ever
scowled, “then why does he insist on spending so much time
here?”

“
You never had a brother or
sister.” Isa shook her head affectionately, wrapping her arms
around his shoulders where he sat. “The ties are... inexplicable.
My brother is a part of me, and he always will be, whether I like
it or not. He wants to protect me.”

“
How does he honestly expect to do
that? He can barely lift a sword without injuring
himself.”

“
You were powerless against
Nevina,” Isa reminded him quietly. “Yet you still tried to save
me.”

Ever stopped trying to read the
parchments and stared listlessly out the window. He didn’t like
talking about the part he had played in the Fortress’s curse,
particularly not the last night, when the greedy Tumenian princess
had nearly caused Isa’s death.

“
He stays because he loves me,”
Isa said. “Isn’t that worthy of some respect?”

Ever stared at her for a long time
before his eyes softened. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

CHAPTER THREE

Flat Side of the
Blade

“
I don’t want to do it,” Launce frowned at
his sister. “I am not a member of the court. There is no reason for
me to know swordplay.” Launce
had
been enjoying the second day of
their ride east. They were traveling through an exotic canyon with
walls made of red sandstone and small scrub brush bushes at the
bottom. A river snaked down the canyon floor, filling the air with
a constant rushing sound of busyness. Admiring the scenery and
watching for rattlesnakes in this strange little canyon had done
everything Launce had needed it to and more to help distract him
from the thoughts that constantly plagued him back in the city
these days.

That was, until Everard had
announced to Launce that they were practicing swordplay that
night.

Isa stared at her hands as she
fingered her left wrist the way she always did when distraught. “I
told you, he’s just trying to help.”

“Look, I don’t want to! What is so
hard to understand about that? Why do you always have to
take
his
side?”

“
I am not trying to take sides! I
love both of you!”

A movement from the camp caught
their attention when Cerise, Isa’s lady-in-waiting, glanced at them
in concern before meeting their eyes and quickly looking away. Isa
took a deep breath before lowering her voice and speaking again. “I
need both of you. I just happen to think he’s right in this
instance. It would be safer if you learned—”

“
Why did you even bring me out
here if you were just going to side with him?” Launce glared at her
through the quickly thickening darkness of the evening.

“
I wanted to see you.” Then, in a
smaller voice, she added, “You’ve been avoiding me
lately.”

“
I’ve been busy with Blanchette.”
He folded his arms and stared out into the blue, orange, and red
layered depths of the skies, hoping she wouldn’t call his
bluff.

“
No, you haven’t!” Then her tone
softened as she looked up at him with a pitying expression that was
annoyingly close to their mother’s, something he’d seen all too
often as of late.

“
And how do you know
that?”

“
Mother told me...” her voice
trailed off as she fingered her red riding dress. “All I want to do
is spend time like we used to. I know things are different
now—”

“
Different is an understatement,
Isa. He’s done nothing but make you miserable your whole life!
First he ruined your ankle and wrist. Then he threatened to kill
all of us if you didn’t come live with him all alone—”

“
The servants were
there.”

“
We didn’t know that! He kept you
there for months without so much as a message to let us know you
weren’t dead, or worse! And then you married him!” Launce didn’t
realize he was shouting until Everard looked up from where he was
talking with his guards and stood. Launce thought he might lose his
mind if he had to face his brother-in-law at that moment, but Isa
shook her head at her husband. The king hesitantly sat down again,
but not without glaring pointedly at Launce, a look Launce did his
best to ignore.

“
I’ve told you, it’s hard to
explain, but he’s different now. And I didn’t bring you along to
talk about this. I want to talk to you. I miss you,” she finished
in a quiet voice that threatened to soften his heart.

“
Well, that’s too bad.” Launce
turned away from his sister’s pleading eyes and began to walk away.
“Because you made your choice.” Part of him felt terrible as he
left his sister standing alone. But he was too angry to apologize
for his words. They sounded cruel, but they’d made perfect sense
the countless times he’d practiced telling her exactly what he
thought. He had waited five months to tell her what he thought of
her marriage, so when the opportunity came, the words had spilled
out of him like a bowl with too much broth, haphazardly and without
order.

As he stomped over to his horse
and pulled the waterskin from his pack, Isa silently returned to
Cerise and picked up a set of knitting needles, which she began to
use in exaggerated, dangerous motions. Everyone else seemed
suddenly very interested in their own pursuits. The servants cooked
supper over a large fire, the guards swapped what Launce guessed to
be embellished feats of victory, and Everard was already examining
his sword, a sign of the dreaded practice sure to soon
come.

It was difficult for Launce to
look at the king without suppressing the desire to sneer at him.
And as far as Launce could tell, the feeling was mutual.

Everard had approached him the day
before, just before their party had set out for Cobren. Though it
had still been dark out at the time, the servants were already
running about like frenzied ants to make sure the king and queen
were well prepared for their journey, and Isa was busy exchanging
goodbyes with their parents and little sister when the king had
pulled him aside.

“
I gather that joining us on this
journey was not your idea.” Everard had given him a hard look.
“You’re coming because Isa asked you to?”

“
Yes,” Launce had answered him
evenly, trying to match Everard’s unmoving expression.

“
If it will make her feel more
comfortable, then I am grateful for your help. But-” The king had
fixed his burning eyes on Launce in such a way that Launce had to
fight the need to squirm. “I need your word that you will obey me
without question should the need arise.”

It had galled Launce that his
brother-in-law would treat him so. Launce wanted to reply that what
he did was his own business, but he’d bitten his tongue just in
time. Relative or not, Everard was still the king, something
Launce’s father reminded him often. The Maker had seen fit to make
it that way, although Launce often found himself wondering
why.

“
If you need an incentive,”
Everard’s words had been low and dangerous, “and you are not to
repeat this to a soul, not even your sister, something is amiss in
Cobren. I’m allowing you to come because I know you care for Isa,
and I need to know someone is watching out for her when I’m not
around. Can you swear to me that you will obey me for your sister’s
sake?”

The words had surprised Launce so
much, he’d nearly let his mouth fall open. Everard had never given
him a secret before. And though he still hated being ordered around
like a child, he’d finally nodded, a sliver of unease rippling
through his body at the disquiet in Everard’s voice. If being near
Isa might keep her safe somehow from whatever had the king on edge,
Launce would endure it for her sake.

But that did not mean he had to
like it.

While the others waited for supper
to finish cooking, Launce walked past the clearing they had camped
at to stand on a wide bank just beside the small, swift river they
were following through the chasm. Everard was no longer watching
him, talking quietly instead with his personal guard, Norbert, and
Isa was still intent on stabbing the life out of whatever she was
knitting. Launce almost felt guilty for making her so angry. She
hated knitting.

As he stared up at the stars that
were slowly appearing in the twilight sky, Launce had to wonder
again at Everard’s choice to use him to help protect Isa. Launce
had seen the king’s skill with the sword, as with other weapons,
and he had to admit that no one he’d ever seen could compare. The
only thing Launce could imagine himself doing to remotely protect
Isa was saving her from herself. Of course, that alone would be no
easy task.

Of course
, a small, annoying voice in his head prodded,
it might be easier if you admitted you were just
a bit jealous as well.

Nonsense. Nothing could serve to
make him jealous of his sister. And yet, the hole Blanchette’s
missing company had created was most assuredly there. Had she still
lived in Soudain, he would have asked to bring her, too. Launce
could imagine her sitting beside him, raising her head towards the
blackening sky, saying all the right things, flipping her goldenrod
hair from her face in that adorable way she did.

But she wasn’t coming back, and
Launce didn’t even know where she was or what she was doing, aside
from what the note had said. He was tempted to take it out of his
pocket and read it again. It wouldn’t do any good though. He
already had it memorized.

Launce,

Blanchette is safe, but you need
to know that my daughter is no longer to be your concern. You are
living a new life now, but it is not the life best for her. Do not
search for us. We have begun our own new life, and Blanchette is to
be married in a week’s time. He is the son of an old friend, and
she is happy. Please do not dash her happiness by searching. You
would only cause her heartache.

John Guerin

Launce knew that John couldn’t
read or write, so the letter had to have been written by
Blanchette, which made it all the more painful. Launce had taught
her to read and write, so reading the letter in her hand was like
hearing the words directly from her. She could have written
anything, and her father wouldn’t have known. She could have given
him some hint as to where she was or that she didn’t want to be
married. And yet, she hadn’t, so after two years of courtship, he
had naught to show for it but the yellow, wrinkled
letter.

“
Supper is finished,” one of the
servants called. Soon, everyone except the two guards on watch was
huddled around the fire. Launce ate his supper quietly as he
listened to the group’s hushed conversations, which seemed to have
recovered from his argument with his sister. Only Isa still looked
unsettled. After finally giving up on her knitting, she’d snuggled
up against Everard with his cloak drawn about her, exhaustion heavy
on her face.

The savory food Launce had been
enjoying felt dry as he swallowed. His intention hadn’t been to
make his sister unhappy. But just knowing that it was Everard she
had chosen, who had caused her fourteen years of pain, felt like a
stab in the back.

“
Alright, Isa.” Everard stood and
looked down at his wife. “Let’s have a round before we turn in for
the night.” A nervous smile lit Isa’s face as he helped her stand.
Launce groaned inwardly. He had been dreading this activity since
they’d set off. His brother-in-law seemed incapable of missing a
practice session no matter where they were... or who wanted to
participate.

They had gone through such
practice the night before, so Launce knew what to expect. It would
begin with Isa, who no matter how tired she was, couldn’t resist
anything involving movement since her ankle and wrist had been
healed. It would end, however, with everyone but the servants, and
sometimes even them, having a round with the king. Launce had
managed to edge his way out the night before, but he was sure
Everard wouldn’t let him off the hook tonight.

Everyone settled in to watch as
the king and queen faced off. As they moved, Everard gave
instructions, praises, and critiques. Isa began the match with the
same look of weariness she’d worn since the argument, but as she
got deeper into the movements, the fire in her eyes grew brighter,
and she focused more. She was improving in form to be sure, but
Launce couldn’t help noticing that there was no blue light tonight
that flowed from her hands. He wondered whether that was by choice,
or if she simply didn’t have any to give this time.

It wasn’t a secret that Isa’s
power was flailing instead of growing as it should have been, but
it was a topic that wasn’t widely discussed either. Everard made
sure to silence all idle tongues in his court when it came to Isa’s
abilities, and commoners in general didn’t discuss their monarchs’
power at all. Still, somehow, everyone knew that the queen was
struggling. It didn’t trouble Launce much, if he were honest. In
fact, it made her seem a little more like the sister he knew. But
she was obviously bothered by it.

“
That will be enough for tonight.
You did better on the second form this time,” Everard announced.
Launce watched incredulously as Isa beamed at Ever, in spite of his
stern tone. How could she stand to be treated so callously? He
didn’t have much time to wonder at his sister’s madness, however,
because Everard was suddenly looking at him.