The Stolen Jewel

by Lisa Dawn

  It felt wonderful not to be surrounded by uptight strangers congratulating me on a marriage that I neither planned nor wanted. I leaned against the railing of the balcony and inhaled the scent of freshly blooming petunias. The cold metal bars pressed against my gown, causing the rune to jab me in the chest. I yanked on the long gold chain around my neck and pulled it out. My back was turned toward the ballroom, so I wasn’t at risk of being seen.

  “You’d better behave tonight,” I said to the shimmering jewel. “I’m counting on you.”

  “It would appear we both had the same idea,” said a voice from behind me.

  I nearly blew my cover. In one foul swoop, I stuffed the rune back into my bodice and turned around to face my transgressor. Prince Braydon. Just the person I didn’t want to see.

  “It’s rude to sneak up on people, you know!”

  “My apologies, Princess. I know all too well what it feels like to be surrounded by stuffy nobles,” he replied. His gruff voice sounded suspiciously sincere.

  “If you’re so bored, why don’t you go ask Lady Krystal to dance?”

  I felt the energy emit from my rune. That was a sloppy waste of its magic. I’d have to choose my next words more carefully.

  “I’d much rather get to know my future wife.”

  “Would you? Or are you actually here to see if the rumors are true?”

  That time, I felt the magic fizzle out before it reached him. Was he unaware of what people were saying about my aunt and me? The rune should have worked.

  “Which rumors are you talking about?”

  “I’m not naïve. I know what people are saying about how our monarchy is in shambles with a weak regent.”

  “I don’t believe in hearsay.”

  So, that was it. If he didn’t follow rumors, the rune had no source of knowledge to tap into. He’d get along horribly with Lily. She lived for gossip. I worded my next question carefully.

  “Did you think that Klingland was ripe for the taking? That we wouldn’t fight back?”

  This time, I felt the gentle magic shockwaves flow to him as his eyes lit up in the moonlight. I tried to block out my thoughts of how handsome it made him look.

  “My father may be interested in politics, but my only concern is the well-being of both our kingdoms.”

  It sounded like a well-rehearsed diplomacy tactic, but the magic told me otherwise.

  “You really just want what’s best for our lands?”

  “This alliance was not my idea,” Braydon responded. “In fact, I was adamantly opposed to it until now.”

  It’s amazing what you can learn about someone when they’re forced to tell the truth. This rune could be a precious resource in uncovering traitors and spies if my plan to restore magic was successful. I was beginning to think I wasn’t a very good judge of character without it. I thought Braydon and Mercer tricked my aunt into the alliance, but it sounded like Braydon was just as much a pawn in all of this as I was.

  “Forgive me, Princess. That was inappropriate.”

  His eyes went downcast again. Braydon was surprisingly shy for a prince. He didn’t even try to kiss my hand despite the Dorranese custom.

  “No, I’m glad you told me,” I assured him. “I was against it as well.”

  “You’re not what I was expecting.”

  That made two of us.

  “What were you expecting?” I asked.

  The magic surged into his eyes, glistening beautifully in the moonlight.

  “Another prissy swooning maiden obsessed with appearances.”

  I stifled a laugh. That sounded exactly like Krystal. Despite what she’d told Lily and me, she didn’t seem like his type at all.

  “Is that what you’re used to?” I asked.

  I felt him attempt to fight the magical impulse as he attempted to control his words.

  “Yes.” He blinked and shook his head. “No. Sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me today. I don’t usually say things like that. At least not out loud.”

  I wanted to reassure him, but I had asked too many questions. I felt color drain from my face, and I was overcome with dizziness once again. I grabbed hold of the railing to prevent myself from toppling over. Braydon placed his arm around my waist. He had a strong solid grip. If it hadn’t been for his help, my night may have ended right there before I even had the opportunity to interrogate King Mercer.

  “Whoa, easy there,” he said. “Have you eaten anything today?”

  After the flurry of activity throughout the day, I hadn’t even had time to think about food. It was thoughtful of Braydon to be so concerned for my wellbeing. Perhaps I’d been too harsh in drawing conclusions about him before I’d actually spoken to him. I looked back through the glass doors and saw Krystal glaring at what surely appeared to be Braydon embracing me. When I felt my strength returned, I broke out of his grasp, not that I wanted to.

  “We’d better get back inside.”

  “Of course,” said Braydon.

  Was that disappointment in his voice, or was I only imagining it?

  Chapter 8

  Krystal latched onto Braydon the moment we came back inside through the glass doors. He looked like a damsel getting kidnapped for ransom. Part of me wanted to rescue him, but I had a far more important task to complete. Besides, Krystal deserved a moment of happiness too.

  “Charlotte, come give a proper welcome to your future father-in-law,” said my aunt as I approached the head of the room.

  For the briefest moment, I thought I saw her eyes shift the same way Braydon’s had when I used the rune with him on the veranda, but the color was wrong. Instead of the bright yellow hue of the truth rune, her green eyes become more hazel, almost crimson. Perhaps it had something to do with the lighting from the chandeliers that had been set up for the ball, but I couldn’t help suspecting it was something more sinister. I was probably being paranoid.

  “Here she is, the woman of the hour,” said King Mercer.

  His rich voice oozed with arrogance as he bowed and kissed my barely extended hand. It took all of my willpower not to gag as I curtsied reluctantly.

  “I do hope you had a pleasant journey,” I said. “We wouldn’t want any unfortunate accidents.”

  “We won’t have to worry about that anymore now, will we?”

  “We may be safe from magic, but there will always be greed and hypocrisy in the world.”

  “Manners, Charlotte!” Aunt Denise snapped at me.

  I thought I was being discreet, but apparently my hatred was reflected in my tone.

  “I never said I meant him,” I said defensively.

  “I can assure you those days are far behind me,” said Mercer.

  “So tell me, sire, what inspired your decision to cast away our supply of runes?”

  This was it. I was finally about to get the answer I needed to prove to my aunt that this whole thing was a farce. Then she would understand and call it off. I felt the familiar tingle under my bodice as Mercer’s eyes lit up.

  “They might interfere with my plan,” he said.

  “Kindly enlighten us,” I goaded. “What plan might that be?”

  My heart pounded as I felt the magic flow through me into Mercer. I wasn’t sure if the feeling of lightheadedness that overcame me at that moment was from overuse of the rune or my own fear of something going wrong at the last second.

  “The plan to take the—”

  His eyes squinted shut as his face contorted with rage. Before the next words could escape his mouth, Denise glared at me.

  “Charlotte, this is a celebration, not an interrogation!” my aunt interrupted. “Apologize to our guest.”

  “Didn’t you hear that?” I asked her. “He’s hiding something!”

  “I am beginning to have second thoughts about our kingdoms working together,” said Mercer.

  That made two of us. I could hear the fear in his voice, though he hid it well. Maybe he knew more about the runes than he let on.

  “C
harlotte,” said my aunt. “Apologize.”

  “Not until I get a straight answer.”

  I was so nervous I didn’t even notice when Krystal and Braydon walked up. Braydon was doing everything in his power to get away from her. I wondered if he had even written her those letters she’d been boasting about.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your father, Braydon?” asked Krystal.

  “Hello again, Princess Charlotte,” he said in a tone that begged to be rescued.

  “Oh, hi, Prince Braydon,” I said absentmindedly.

  How had this plan gone so wrong?

  “Charlotte, how are your plans for the evening going?” asked Krystal.

  I became increasingly aware of a hand on my shoulder and the sharp twinge of my gold chain digging into my neck. She had activated the rune again. I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she wasn’t aware of her actions, but a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that she knew exactly what she was doing. The energy surged from the chain through the rune and into me.

  “Not as well as I’d like,” I said. “The spell was interrupted.”

  Please tell me I didn’t just say that out loud. The horrified looks of Aunt Denise, King Mercer, and Prince Braydon told me otherwise.

  “Charlotte? Krystal? What’s going on?” asked my aunt.

  I felt a new pressure on my other shoulder. Krystal was now touching my necklace with both hands. I continued to silence the whispers of betrayal in my mind. Krystal was my cousin. We grew up together. She knew how much I loved Klingland. There was no way she would intentionally destroy my life.

  “Oh dear, did I activate?” she asked. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Yes, you did,” I said, helpless to defend myself against the intensity of the magic and anxiety coursing through my veins.

  “Activate what?” asked Denise. “What is she talking about?”

  “Nothing,” I cried helplessly. “I—”

  Krystal’s grip on my shoulders tightened, and I choked on my words.

  “It’s just a little game we were playing,” she said. “Why don’t you tell her about it, Charlotte?”

  Tears burned in my eyes as they glowed with the rune’s magic. My body acted of its own accord as I pulled on the gold chain under my bodice and showed the majestically glowing jewel to the entire court. It felt as though I was watching myself from a distance.

  “I took this truth rune so I could get Mercer and Braydon to reveal their true intentions and break up this ridiculous alliance!”

  The pressure on my back released as Krystal took a step back. I was done for. This was the end of everything I had ever believed in.

  I willed myself to wake up from this nightmare. I closed my eyes. I pinched my arm. I counted backwards from one hundred in my head. I awaited Elsie’s comforting knock on my door to pull me from my slumber. Anything but face the truth. Yet, the nightmare continued all around me in a dreamlike blur from the tears that filled my eyes.

  “High treason!” shouted an enraged King Mercer. “You expect my son to marry this witch?”

  “There must be some sort of explanation,” Denise pleaded. “She is well aware of how dangerous magic is.”

  My aunt looked at me as if I could somehow make everything okay again, but there was nothing I could do. I had already disgraced my royal title beyond redemption, and I knew it.

  “I’m so sorry,” was all I could manage to say.

  “This is an outrage!” Mercer rambled on. “Blatant abuse of power. The girl should be executed for her crimes.”

  “She’s still young,” said Denise. “She doesn’t know any better.”

  “Come Braydon, let’s leave this cursed kingdom to crumble.”

  Braydon looked back at me with pity in his eyes and Mercer pushed him toward the door. At least they were leaving. Now maybe Klingland would be safe from Mercer’s greed.

  “Wait!”

  Denise wheeled herself toward them. Why was she so set on this alliance?

  “Surely there’s a way to fix this little mishap,” she said.

  “Unless you can somehow procure another princess to marry Braydon by tonight, there is nothing you can do.”

  Denise wheeled her chair over to Krystal.

  “My daughter, Krystal, can take Charlotte’s place as crown princess and marry Braydon.”

  Was that Krystal’s plan all along, or was it just a lucky coincidence? After what I’d done, she was probably more deserving of the role than I was anyway.

  “It would be my honor,” she said with her best sweeping curtsy.

  “Braydon, what do you say?” asked Mercer.

  “What will happen to Charlotte?” he asked.

  Why did he even care? Didn’t he realize I had manipulated him and his father?

  “She will be excommunicated from the castle to live as an ordinary citizen,” said Denise.

  “That sounds much too kind,” said Mercer. “We will not be privy to anything short of imprisonment.”

  I probably deserved worse.

  “I’ll do it,” said Braydon.

  “You will?” asked both Mercer and Denise.

  “I’ll marry Krystal if it means Charlotte won’t be harmed.”

  I tried to ignore the rush of warmth I felt from his feeble attempt to help me. It didn’t stop my tears from pouring down my burning red cheeks.

  “She’s bewitched you, boy!” shouted Mercer.

  “Then it’s settled,” Denise said calmly. “Charlotte, give me that weapon and go pack your things.”

  Chapter 9

  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. A proper queen knows the law better than anyone. If you can’t follow it, how can you expect your own people to? Not even your own family wants you here after what you’ve done. You don’t even deserve the mercy of the dungeon to reflect on your crimes. You have disgraced your parents’ memory. Imagine how disappointed they would be if they saw you now. All those years of training had been wasted on someone who never truly deserved the crown to begin with.

  I spent my final night in the castle crying until my eyes ran dry and screaming into my pillow at the top of my lungs until I could feel the feathers inside poke my mouth through the soft fabric lining. How could I be so stupid? Was there a rune that could turn back time so I would have never attempted my awful plan in the first place? I was only days away from saying the words I had practiced for years and accepting my place as queen. Now, I never would. How could I have failed so spectacularly?

  It was just as well. I didn’t deserve to be queen. Queens don’t make mistakes. Queens don’t humiliate themselves in front of the entire court. And queens certainly do not steal their own kingdom’s resources. Klingland was better without me. At least Krystal would be happy. She was getting what she always wanted. My actions had no effect on Henry and Lily’s happiness either. Plus, Aunt Denise got her last wish granted. Her daughter was marrying a prince. The runes from the catacombs were to be tossed out at sea while I disappeared from the only life I knew. It seemed like everyone was getting their happy ending but me.

  I barely heard Elsie’s light knock as she entered my room for the last time.

  “I packed some of your favorite dresses for the road,” she said softly. “Maybe you can trade them for food. Is there anything else you wanted to take with you?”

  “Oh, Elsie,” I sobbed, my voice cracked and dry from screaming all night. “What’s to become of me?”

  Elsie dropped the clean shift she’d brought for me onto the bed and placed her arms around me, letting me sob into her chest.

  “Dear Charlotte,” she said, patting my hair, “Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Now you’ll have a chance to see the world.”

  “I never wanted to see the world,” I sobbed. “I just wanted to stay here with you and Lily and Krystal and Henry and do what I was born to.”

  “Nobody gets everything they want. Not even princesses.”

  “I’m not a princess. I’m nobody.”

  El
sie pushed me a few inches away so she could see my face.

  “Who told you that?” she asked.

  “I’ve been trained my whole life to do one thing, and now that’s the very thing I can never do. What good am I anymore?”

  “You’re smart, kind, resourceful, and charming. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

  “Except the one thing I’ve always wanted.”

  “You’ve still got your whole life ahead of you. This isn’t the end.”

  Elsie helped me into my traveling dress and a beautiful double-sided cloak with embroidered black velvet on the outside and red satin on the inside. Before we left, I opened my desk drawer and removed my journal containing all of the detailed notes I had written about the runes.

  “I’d like to take this with me,” I said.

  Elsie placed in my sack. There was nothing left to do now but say good-bye to life as I knew it.

  Aunt Denise could not be there to see me off. She was needed on the ship for the ceremony where they would cast away the runes forever. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see her after the way I’d disgraced myself anyway. She had only seen me on my best behavior. Krystal was on the ship with her as well. Soon she would be crowned as the new princess of Klingland. Lily and Henry chose to stay and say good-bye to me. I loved them both dearly for being there during my darkest hour when they could have just as easily gone to celebrate with Krystal.

  The sky was covered in ominous gray clouds as the drawbridge lowered for my departure. I shivered under my cloak, as I wondered if Klingland had always been this cold in the winter and if I was only noticing it now. Elsie handed me my sack and gave me one last hug. I never wanted to let go. Then it was Lily’s turn. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. My life would be empty without her playfulness. She pulled me so tight that I thought I might snap in two. Then she shoved Henry toward me. He gave me a quick hug, but I could see he was trying to hide his emotions under his protective façade.

  “Good luck out there, cousin,” he said.