Blinding Beauty (50 page)

“
That’s why you had to bring your
own mirror. The Fortress will not let you travel within its glass.
In fact, I will venture to guess that you’ve even tried on more
than one occasion, but after you had failed enough times, you had
to come up with an alternative plan.” When Bronkendol still didn’t
answer, Launce allowed himself an acerbic smile. “You think you
know the Maker’s will, and you think you know the Fortress. But the
Fortress never chose me. And, it would seem, it never chose you
either.” With that, Launce stalked away.

CHAPTER FIFTY

Bruises

As soon as
Launce was able to leave Bronkendol behind, he hurried to the
king’s quarters. Frustration swelled inside of him as he knew he
only had a few minutes before the enchanter sent someone to either
interrupt or keep an eye on him.

Everard had to have blank
parchment in his room somewhere. He was too preoccupied with his
work not to have writing materials somewhere at hand.

After a minute or two of tearing
the room apart, Launce finally found some parchments tucked behind
a pile of books on the large desk in the corner. He snatched up the
nearest quill he could find, but his hands shook at he tried to
sharpen it, breaking the nib off completely. Disgusted with his
clumsiness, Launce grabbed another quill and began to sharpen this
one also, more careful this time.

He still wrote too quickly,
smearing the ink beneath his hands as he held the paper, but at
least his words were legible. After writing only the salutation,
however, he stopped. He would have to choose his words with care.
If this letter fell into the wrong hands, Bronkendol would not
leave his family unpunished, of that he was sure. It would have to
read like a letter any absent son might send his family. And yet,
his parents would need to understand that something was indeed
wrong.

Dearest Mother and
Father,

Please accept my apologies for
staying away for so long. I’ve had a series of unexpected, and yet
delightful happenings that have gone on as of late. I am not at
liberty to discuss them now, but I can promise you, they will be
spectacular.

I must admit, however, that I am
most sorely homesick. While on the way to Cobren, I was talking to
Isabelle, and we were laughing about our old escapades. We were
wondering, though, if you could resolve a disagreement between us.
Father, do you remember the place Isabelle used to hide in when she
was small, each time you would return from trading? She believes
that they did not bother to fill it in, but it has been my
impression that the spot is now paved, and completely useless. If
you can, end this disagreement we’ve had. Isabelle desires greatly
to clear it for a place to picnic. I have told her, however, that
such an idea is worthless if the place is no longer in
existence.

Alas, I must remain absent for a
little while longer. I am needed here at the Fortress. Isabelle has
taken a bit ill, but we have high hopes for her recovery, so Mother
needn’t worry. The Fortress has been closed off from visitors until
the sickness is gone, as it seems quite catching. It is midday as I
pen this, but we hope by tonight’s highest moon for Isabelle to be
in better health and spirits. You know Everard will have her on her
feet in no time.

Your devoted son,

Launce

The letter was rubbish, of course.
Launce had never in his life called his sister by her full given
name, nor, in his wildest dreams would he have ever penned anything
with the words delightful or spectacular. The Launce his parents
knew would not have given Everard so much credit, even when it came
to healing. At least, not in writing or aloud. And while there
truly was a spot on the side of the road where Isa had liked to
hide as a little girl, it would have made a ridiculous spot to
picnic.

But Bronkendol didn’t know
that.

Launce just hoped his father would
understand the hidden message, where Launce begged him to meet at
Isa’s hiding place so he could ask for advice. He was desperate for
someone, anyone to talk to who wasn’t bound by the enchanter’s
power. Had Garin been present, he would have been Launce’s first
choice, but at this point, Launce would have gladly consulted even
with Everard.

If his father could understand the
meeting place and time, just before midnight, when Isa was supposed
to be in better health and spirits, Launce could have just a few
moments alone with him. Ansel might not have unique healing powers
of Everard, or generations of experience with the Fortress like
Garin, but he was the best man Launce knew, and his heart was pure.
Ansel would help him sort things out.

Launce went back to the door and
peeked out into the hallway. To his relief, the enchanter was no
longer hovering about outside of his door, at least for the moment.
And to his surprise, no one else was there either. With the
parchment folded neatly in his pocket, Launce began to walk towards
the servants’ quarters.

He wasn’t sure who he might send.
Everyone he saw had been touched by the enchanter’s powers. The
violet glimmer in their eyes signified that. But surely there had
to be someone who had escaped!

After scouring the kitchens, the
stables, and even some of his childhood friends’ quarters, Launce
had nearly given up when he spotted a small, barefooted girl
playing in the tomato garden, just outside the servants’ kitchens,
and he gave a sigh of relief. If anyone was likely to have missed
the glass shards, it would have been her.

Launce had seen her enough times
during his time spent at the Fortress that he’d taken a liking to
her, perhaps because she reminded him a bit of Isa. The first time
they’d met, Yasmina had placed a burr on his chair at the dining
hall. Her mother had been horrified, but since then, Launce and the
child had taken to trading pranks whenever he would visit. He
prayed now that she wouldn’t think this was a game.

He pulled a sugar lump from his
pocket, the kind he often kept there for his horse. It wasn’t the
best payment, but perhaps for a child, it would do. As he stepped
outside, he could see that again, to his relief, she was alone. He
would have to be fast.

“
Yasmina,” he called softly. It
took a few tries before she heard him, so deep was she immersed in
whatever game she was playing in the mud. When she did finally turn
and see him, her brown eyes lit up without any hint of a violet
glimmer, and she bounced over immediately. “I have a job I need you
to do for me,” he said, holding up the sugar cube so she could see
it in his palm.

Her eyes grew wide, but then she
blinked and shook her head. “No. That’s not nearly
enough.”

Launce frowned as he dug his hand
back into his pocket for another lump. Was he truly negotiating
with a child for the balance of the kingdom?

She looked at his new offering and
pursed her lips for a moment before reaching for the treats, but
Launce closed his hand.

“
Hey!”

“
You can have them, but I need you
to agree to accept my job first. Only good workers get paid two
sugar lumps. Do you understand?”

Impatiently, she nodded and
reached for them again, but Launce kept his fist closed.

“
I need you to deliver a letter to
my parents back in Soudain. Do you know the way?” She raised an
eyebrow, and he had to laugh. Of course she did. All children
raised in the Fortress knew the way to Soudain. In his own
childhood, his friends had shown him a number of ways to sneak in
and out of the Fortress without even having to use the
gates.

“
Their names are Ansel and Deline
Marchand, and they have a mercantile in the city square. If you get
lost, just ask for the queen’s parents.”

“
I know,” she said with a dramatic
sigh, tossing her stringy blond hair. “I’ve been to their shop
before.”

“
Good. This is very important.” He
bent down to look her straight in the eye. “I mean it,” he said in
a softer voice. “This is so important that I need you to promise me
you’ll give them this letter. But you can’t tell anyone
else!”

When she had promised, he finally
handed her the sugar. She tucked the parchment into her apron, and
he watched her as she sprinted off towards the forest.

He allowed himself half a smile.
No child ever used the road to reach the Fortress or the town when
traveling between the two. He’d never questioned the oddity of
children being able to come and leave the Fortress at will, when
many adults tried and failed in the same way. But now that he was
older and more familiar with the Fortress, Launce wondered if the
children were given special permission by the Fortress itself,
simply because it loved them. It appeared that way at least, which
was why he had chosen a child to be his messenger in the first
place.

“
You’ve certainly been busy since
we last spoke.”

Launce jumped at the sound of
Garin’s voice. Turning, he found the steward leaning against the
wall with his arms folded, as if he’d been there the whole time.
Never had Launce been so relieved to see anyone in his
life.

“
Where have you been?”

“
A certain someone sent me an
invalid queen and her cheeky personal guard.” Garin raised an
eyebrow. “Apparently, sending a travel party was easier than simply
sending me a messenger bird.”

“
I’m sorry. I tried, but
Bronkendol wouldn’t let me get near the birds. I’d hoped Kartek and
Apu would explain what he was up to but...” Launce shivered. “I
didn’t know he had planned for us to come here.”

Garin nodded once. “I had thought
as much.” He straightened himself and gestured towards the trees.
“Come. Let’s not linger where they might see you.”

“
See me?” Launce laughed, but he
followed Garin anyway. “And where might you be?”

Garin only gave him a sly grin
before heading quickly up the brown fields towards the edge of the
Fortress land. Of course. Launce should have known Garin would be
hidden from others. Little the steward did surprised him
anymore.

They walked until they were deep
inside the trees that edged the Fortress’s back lawn. A wide
assortment of fruit trees had popped up here, which, according to
Garin, were due to the pieces of fruit Everard had loved to toss on
the ground as a boy. Now, the two men settled under a grove of
orange trees. The branches were bare, but the trees themselves were
thick enough to shield them from prying eyes up in Fortress tower
windows.

“
I hear you will be gaining a new
title soon,” Garin said.

Launce blanched. “I have told
Bronkendol repeatedly that I want no part in this!”

“
And yet,” Garin raised his hand.
“Here you are.” The steward’s tone was conversational, but Launce
knew there was a purpose to Garin’s visit. He hadn’t sought Launce
out to chat about orange trees.

“
They have Olivia... Princess
Olivia, from Cobren. My family is still in town, that I know of.
And just this morning, I found out that Isa is being kept in the
dungeons.”

A flash of something dangerous
crossed Garin’s eyes at the mention of Isa, but he didn’t
interrupt.

“
I need to be here for them. I
need to do something. I just don’t know what that something is.” He
sat down on a large boulder. “I know you aren’t like Everard, but
can’t you just... make them go away?”

Garin laughed. “No, my power isn’t
like his. However, I do believe that you have a decision to
make.”

“
What do you mean? I’ve already
told you I won’t accept Bronkendol’s offer.”

“
So if this coronation I’ve heard
about is still on by tomorrow, you’ll refuse?

“
What am I supposed to do, Garin?”
Launce was exasperated with the steward and with himself as the
truth came spilling forth. “If I refuse, my sister, my family, even
Olivia could die. If I accept, I will be defying the Fortress.”
Launce stood and began to pace.

“
I think you know what you should
do,” Garin said quietly. “But your fears are telling you
otherwise.”

“
Look, I am trying. I even sent
Yasmina with a letter to my parents to ask my father to help.”
Launce paused, suddenly worried. “You’ll make sure no one harms her
along the way?”

“
The Fortress will see to that.
You have no reason to worry.”

Launce let out a deep breath,
greatly relieved her hadn’t just sent a little girl to her death.
He stopped pacing and looked up to ask Garin another question, but
the steward was gone. Annoyed, Launce trudged back to the Fortress
to wait for the night.

Perhaps his father would have some
advice that was a little less cryptic.

***

Launce
pulled the borrowed cloak tightly around him as he waited for the
bells to ring the hour. Using Everard’s clothing was hardly ideal,
but Launce’s cloak wasn’t nearly as thick, and the night felt as
though it would be exceptionally cold.

Just a little longer, and he would
be with Ansel.

Launce’s years might have made him
a man, but at the moment, all he could do was think of how safe it
would feel to be in his father’s fierce embrace once more.
Sometimes it would be easier to be ten than twenty.