“Ah, well, I’m happy you’re here. I hope it does not bother you that I’ve brought my mistress. She brings me joy, unlike your mother.”
“Don’t worry, I understand perfectly,” I reassured him. “You should go fetch her before she gets away. Happy Noctis De Celestia, Father.” I smiled again.
He gave me a quick hug. “Happy Noctis De Celestia, my dear daughter.” He released me and disappeared into the crowd of people in search of his mistress.
A servant circled the room with a tray of Celestia Sanguis. I accepted one of the tiny crystal goblets. Placing it to my lips, I tilted my head back and felt its warm red contents trickle across my tongue and down my throat, warming me from within. Thankfully, it took some of my nerves away. I set the empty goblet down on a table as the horn sounded, and the doors burst open.
Everyone turned to face the stairs, a hush falling over the room. The herald’s voice sounded, carrying throughout the great hall, “Ladies and gentlemen, Queen Adelaide of Solis!”
And there she was, and my, did she look stunning. The skirts of her exquisite gold-spun gown seemed to float around her as she descended the steps. A cape of red silk rested like a blanket on her shoulders. Gold earrings with peridots embedded in them to match her eyes hung from her earlobes. A matching choker rested on her neck. She wore her shiny golden hair down, her pointed tiara sitting upon her head. I warmed with pride.
Spotting me, she drew near and asked, “Lady Zephyra, would you join me?”
I knew this was a formality for the public eye. I had to be invited by our queen to sit with her. Otherwise, I would’ve had to sit with someone from one of the three other kingdoms, as was custom at Noctis. With the whole hall bearing witness to her invitation, there would be no question. No one could accuse me of breaking the rules.
I curtsied, stating the obvious. “I would be honoured, Your Majesty.”
She winked at me before kissing my cheek. I followed her to the dais, my Aunt Faya and Uncle Bardin trailing us. I had failed at not drawing attention to myself, for I was up on a pedestal to be viewed by all… the price of sitting with my beloved cousin. I did my best to ignore the watchful stares as Adelaide downed a goblet of Sanguis.
Setting her empty goblet down, she clapped her hands together. “Greetings to all. First, I would like to thank those of you from afar for travelling to our kingdom on this night of Noctis De Celestia to celebrate with us. And to my own kingdom, I thank you as well for sharing this night. I wish you all a joyful Noctis De Celestia. Let us feast!” She spread her arms wide before lowering herself onto the throne.
Everyone cheered and rushed to find their place at a table while the servants began to bring out the scrumptious meal, filling golden plates with roasted hen, sweet potatoes, warm bread and fresh vegetables. More Celestia Sanguis was brought around for us to indulge. I started to feel more comfortable—or perhaps it was the Sanguis making me feel so.
I listened in on the cheerful conversations of people from near and far while we dined. Musicians played a low, quiet tune in the background that added to the merry atmosphere. I finally understood why so many loved to celebrate on this night. It was all quite glamorous.
Once only scraps of food covered our plates, and the servants had cleared them out, we turned out attention to a bard, who told stories of our kingdom’s past. The beautiful harpist played a quiet tune while he spoke, her delicate fingers plucking glimmering strings as she swayed. It made me think of the gift my grandmother had given me, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Adelaide gave me a gentle smile and touched my hand. Once the bard was finished his tales, he bowed, and the musicians launched into a catchy tune, our que to dance… my least favourite part of any celebration.
I spotted Peyton and thought mayhap I’d dance with him, when I noticed a couple of boys around their decade age, poking at another boy and pointing at me. The chubby lad with a ruddy face looked like he wanted to disappear. I knew that feeling all too well and resolved to approach them. “Good evening, sir. May I be so honoured as to have this dance with you?” I said to the ruddy boy, offering him a reassuring smile.
He stared up at me, his eyes wide and his mouth open. The other boys looked almost as shocked as he.
I gave him a wink.
“Y—yes, milady. I—It is I who would be honoured.” He bowed, and I led him to the dancefloor.
The other boys were left standing with dropped jaws, looking like a bunch of fish.
“Don’t let others get to you. They are cruel. You shall grow older someday, and they won’t matter anymore.”
“You truly think so?”
“I know so,” I said, lowering my gaze to his level. He’d not yet reached full height and was much shorter than I. “I was teased and tormented when I was your age too, but eventually it stopped, and now, here I am—dining with the queen.”
I scanned the room as we twirled around and spotted my father dancing with his mistress. My eyes moved to find Peyton chatting up another lad, but where was my mother?
“That’s good to know, milady. Not good that you were teased, I mean,” he added quickly, his eyes widening at his own words so much that I had to bite my tongue to suppress a snicker. “Good that you are here on this night with the queen and look so beautiful. I doubt anyone would tease you now.” His face turned bright red.
“You are too kind. And I hope no one would. However, I am close with the queen. People are jealous of that.”
“I see.”
I guessed he didn’t know what else to say, so I laughed merrily and danced on.
When the song finished, I kissed his cheek and said, “Go, tell the other boys how I told you what a great dancer you are.” I’d be damned if I’d let them little scoundrels ruin his night, much like many of mine had been ruined at his age.
Satisfied by my good deed, I turned and saw a man closer to my own age with a slender build and a pretty face approaching me. He reminded me of a big cat, sleek and elegant. His hair was the palest shade of blond, and he wore a light blue tunic with a purple cloak that was clasped between his collarbones with an amethyst encrusted silver brooch, causing me to assume he hailed from Ventosa, the Kingdom of Air.
I didn’t want to dance with anyone else, save Peyton or my father. I squirmed at the thought of dancing with a stranger.
Too late. I saw no escape.
I averted my eyes, pretending not to see him as he neared.
“Good evening, may I have this dance with your fair self?” His cool, liquid voice was smooth… caressing, like the soft touch of silk.
Celestia help me, I thought, feeling myself blush. “Y—you may,” I answered, cursing myself inside for stuttering. How unladylike. I wasn’t used to being given this type of attention by strangers.
He pulled me close, and we danced to a slower song played with tambourines and a harp. I tried not to stumble on my own feet—or his.
“I must say, I’m a lucky man. A goddess has favoured me with a dance on this night.” He peered into my eyes, his gaze so crystal blue.
My face turned hot again. “I’m no goddess, only a mere lady of the court. To say I’m so would put me above Her Royal Majesty, and that is blasphemy.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Be that as it may, you look like an image of Celestia in that white gown. I wonder. What kind of a lady does it take to wear white on this night, when it is not a colour of her kingdom?”
Brushing off his flattery, I felt determined to make him see reason. I squared my shoulders and pulled away, forgetting the dance. “When I was a child, my handmaiden taught me that on Noctis De Celestia, we wear white.”
He scoffed, making anger flare up inside me. “Priestesses and servants might, but surely not ladies of the court. Why would someone of high status listen to a handmaiden, anyways?”
I burned up inside at his proclamation. How dare he speak of Gisela that way! I took a deep breath to calm myself before saying, “Perhaps, my lord, you shouldn’t judge things
you do not understand.”
His eyes widened before he grinned. “Then perhaps, my lady, you should tell me about that which I do not know,” he replied in a condescending tone.
Enough, I thought. I had to get out of there before my anger bubbled up to the surface. A beautiful man he might be, but that didn’t give him the right to act like he was better than everyone else. “Thank you for the dance, milord,” I said, ignoring his last comment and stepping back.
“But wait, you didn’t tell me your name,” he called.
Ignoring him, I rushed into the crowd so he couldn’t come after me. I scanned the hall and found Adelaide, in all her glory, dancing with Peyton. He looked quite majestic himself. Happy to see them together, I surmised she no longer needed me. I exited the great hall with haste.
I’d done my part. It was time to thank Celestia in my own way. And what better place to do it than in the solar at the top of the palace?
I leaned against the stone wall outside of the great hall to catch my breath. I closed my eyes, relief melting away my anger. My nerves calmed. I could breathe again, away from the suffocating amount of people.
“Are you all right, milady?”
I opened my eyes to see a guard in a red uniform with the symbol of Solis, a yellow sun, embroidered on its chest. He contemplated me, a line between his brows.
“Yes, I’m well enough. Thank you, sir. I’m wary and shall retire to my chambers,” I answered.
He bowed as I pushed off the wall and marched away.
I didn’t want to go empty-handed to give thanks to Celestia. I knew it would be difficult to attain water and earth at this time of the night, so I decided it would be appropriate for me to at least offer my own kingdom’s element of fire. I remembered the few unburned candles I kept in my chambers. I picked up my skirts and rushed up the stairs and down the hall, my silk slippers silent on the stone floor.
Inside my chambers, I saw that Awyn had left my night dress out for me to change into, as promised. I decided I would wait to undress until I’d given my thanks. I went to my wooden chest and opened the lid. Digging through its contents, I came across the white candles I’d left inside. I pulled one out, closed the chest, and grabbed my tinderbox.
As I hurried back down the hall toward the winding staircase that would take me up to the solar, I passed some of the guest chambers. I knew most of them would be occupied by guests from the celebration later, but as I walked on, the sound of voices floated toward me from within one of them.
Growing closer, I realized I recognized one of the voices. I crept closer so I could hear better. The door was open a crack, so I halted right outside. I knew the guards would think it unsafe for a lady to wander the palace unescorted with all of the visitors present, but at that moment, I didn’t care.
“Can we go over it again? What is it that you’re going to do? I want to be sure you don’t mess it up and fail,” a feminine voice clipped.
I gasped and quickly covered my mouth. The voice belonged to my mother.
The other voice was a man’s I did not recognize. “Yes, milady. I’m to put a drop of this poison on my arrow and hit the queen from afar on her next hunting trip.”
“Yes, but you must not be seen. That is very important if you want to be given a higher position. Else you will be executed. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
“No, milady, of course not! You promise you’ll be able to get me a higher position once it’s done?” he replied, his voice holding a note of skepticism.
“With my daughter on the throne, and my husband as grand master of the royal army, there is nothing I shall not be able to do. Zephyra isn’t fit to rule. She’ll have to turn to me for advice. Solis shall be mine in all but title.”
My grip on the white candle loosened. It fell to the floor, bouncing against the stones before rolling into the wall. In a panic, I bolted back to my chambers. I couldn’t believe my ears! My mother was planning to kill my beloved cousin, her own niece, to put me on the throne? And if that wasn’t enough, she believed she’d be able to do whatever she pleased under my rule. I knew she could be a horrible woman, but this—this was pure insanity. I refused to let this happen.
I slammed my door shut and leaned against it. Sinking down to the floor, I put my head in my hands. Think! I told myself. What do I do now? I couldn’t allow my mother to arrange this assassination.
After what felt like eons of breathing deeply, I came up with the only plan I could think of. I knew the hunt wouldn’t take place until sometime after the coronation, meaning I had time to warn Adelaide. It was also clear to me that I needed to remove myself from the kingdom to ensure my mother’s plans to have me become queen never came to pass. With me gone, the next person in line for the throne would be one of our distant female relatives who shared the Caldura bloodline. Surely that wouldn’t suit my mother’s plans.
I found my feather pen and ink pot and wrote to Adelaide, scratching the words fiercely across the piece of parchment with haste.
Dearest Addy,
I write to you to tell you that I’m sorry. I have learned of a horrendous plot, and I cannot stay here, because otherwise, you are not safe. I cannot explain, but please, do not trust anyone except Peyton. I also beg you to not go hunting ever again! To do so could mean your end. Get crowned, get married, and have a daughter as soon as possible. Mayhap one day, when I know you are safe, I shall return. Know that I love you and always will. And please, do not worry or look for me. I shall be all right.
Your dear cousin, Zephy.
P.S. Burn this once you have read it.
I went back and forth about revealing it was my mother who plotted against her. Treason was punishable by death. In the end, I couldn’t do it. As much as I hated the woman who’d given birth to me, I couldn’t bring myself to end her life. Besides, I didn’t know the name of the man she spoke with or if anyone else knew of her plans. My only hope was if I warned her to trust no one but Peyton. Once I removed myself from the kingdom, my mother would have no way to the throne. No one had to die.
With the letter clutched in my hand, I squeezed through the tight, secret passageway between Adelaide’s and my chambers. Being full grown made it much harder than I’d remembered.
Inside her bedchamber, I slipped the letter under the covers on her bed, ensuring only she would see the letter should any of her ladies enter her chambers.
Feeling satisfied, I stole back into my own chambers and contemplated what to do next.
Chapter 11
I had to get away from the palace before people began retiring to their chambers. My reflection flashed in the mirror inside my dressing chamber. I couldn’t wear this gown. It’d give away my status. Anyone who saw me could figure out I was an escaped royal. I went to my dressing chamber and began rummaging through my wardrobe. I spotted an old, worn brown riding gown. I snatched it and tore the material a little on the sleeves and at the hem of the skirt, making it shabbier. Perfect, I thought, holding it up. That would do. I hurriedly undid the bow on the back of my dress, my fingers shaking, and pulled the laces loose.
I shrugged out of my beautiful gown and hung it up before donning the old one, tucking Adelaide’s gift under the collar. I took off the rest of my jewelry and pulled the pins out of my hair, the twists falling out and tumbling down my back. I ran my fingers through it, and then I tied it back with a simple ribbon.
The midnight bell struck, sending my heart racing in my chest. I rushed to my bedchamber and found the little wooden box with hearts etched on its surface. I dug the five gold and eight silver pieces out of it and shoved them in the pocket of my dress. I decided to leave my slippers on. They were a quieter choice than shoes or boots.
I inhaled in an attempt to steady myself. It was time to leave the palace. If I had a moment to ponder I may have lost my nerve—but I didn’t.
I slowly opened the door to my chambers and peered both ways down the hall. I didn’t see anyone. My best bet would be to head down to the kit
chens. There was a small door down there where the servants and cooks threw the daily compost. Supper ended quite some time ago. All of the kitchen staff would be in bed or with their families.
I grabbed a torch off the wall and descended the dark, narrow staircase down to the lower level. My torch the sole light as I crept around a corner, told me I’d guessed right; no one currently occupied the kitchen.
I spotted a servant’s black cloak hanging on the wall beside the door inside the room. I shrugged into it to help hide my identity. The hood would hide my face and hair, and the wool material would help keep me warm from the night’s chill. I passed two empty cauldrons and a large stone sink as I searched along the wall near the back of the kitchen. Feeling with one hand I found the small door with an iron latch near the corner of the back wall.
The latch creaked open, and the horrible scent of rot hit me like a stinking wave. Taken aback with the stench, I pinched my nose with my fingers to block it and breathed out of my mouth. Stepping carefully over slippery, rotting vegetables and animal guts, I cringed. At least my slippers won’t look so new, I thought as I tried not to fall into the squishy mess. I managed to make my way through the compost and looked around at my surroundings.
I couldn’t take Nova. Serell’s grooms would be stationed at the stables. Besides, I couldn’t be sure she’d make such a long journey at the pace I needed her to go. She was no longer young and full of spark. No, I would have to make this journey on foot.
A village called Lottenheim lay just beyond Solis. I’d try to find passage to Terra from there. Perhaps some lord or lady in the Kingdom of Earth would employ me as their servant, a perfect disguise. I nodded in conclusion and trudged off toward the woods.
I came across a line of bushes and knew I’d reached the end of the palace grounds. I pushed through them; their tight branches scratching at me like an old hag’s finger nails trying to hold me back. I put my arms in front of my face to protect it from injury, ignoring the scrapes dealt to my flesh. Clearing the bushes, I fell forward onto the grass, my chest burning from the exertion. Tears blurred my vision as I tilted my face up to the sky, sucking in deep breaths.
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 9