A Darkness Found

by T K White

  Eva opened the front door to their humble home. “Well, well. Look who’s home. You couldn’t even manage to stay in school. Really, Grishelda, you are the most disappointing thing I’ve ever created.”

  Grishelda thought about running after the carriage and begging for a ride to somewhere, anywhere but here. But it was too late.

  “Oh, wipe that pathetic look off your face. You’re lucky your mother is so resourceful. While you were at school, I was working to ensure your family has a future.”

  “What are you talking about?” Grishelda pushed past her mother, just wanting to find some food and a bed.

  “I found something better than Mageia. I found you a king.”

  9

  The clouds above didn’t hold any shapes today. No dragons, no witches, no apples. They were puny wisps in the sky. That only made Grishelda angrier. Her mother was forcing her to throw away her life so Eva could live vicariously through her daughter. This time, there was no escape in sight. She lay in her mother’s apple orchards, plump and red apples filling her view of the sky. And reminding Grishelda of her mistakes. Poisonous apples. How could she have been so stupid?

  It would be okay, though. One year. One year was all Grishelda had to wait before she could return to the school she loved so dearly. But her mother had different plans. Grishelda was to marry King Theo of Chionti, a neighboring kingdom. Horrified by the idea, she refused to go along with it. That had earned her a new black eye, multiple bruises, and the threat of worse if she didn’t comply. She would marry this king, and she would earn her family the power her mother craved.

  It wasn’t fair, none of it. Grishelda didn’t want to marry some old king. What did he want from her, anyway? Yes, she was beautiful. She always had been. But she was only a step up from a peasant. She had nothing to offer. No riches, no goods, no exceptional skills. There was so much about all of this Grishelda didn’t understand.

  She lay underneath the orchard and made a vow to herself: she would find a way to return to the school. Marriage or no, her mother couldn’t control her when she was an entire kingdom away.

  King Theo had visited a few times since Eva’s announcement of her intention to marry off her daughter. Despite Grishelda’s cold demeanor and sullen disposition, the king seemed absolutely enchanted. He must’ve been delusional.

  “I cannot wait for you to come to Chionti,” the king had told her upon their first meeting, after deeming her appropriate to marry. “You’ll love our kingdom. It really is beautiful, and just think, you’ll be queen!”

  Why did everyone think that would appeal to Grishelda? She didn’t want to be queen. She didn’t want to marry some old, widowed man. She had to admit that at least the king was nice to look at. Though twice her age, he hadn’t yet grayed. His hair was auburn, like the color of falling leaves, and his chiseled jaw and firm mouth spoke to a strong stature. Grishelda had been just a little breathless the first time they had met.

  In all honesty, despite his attractive looks and kind demeanor, she didn’t think she could fall in love with this king. Not only was he ruining her plan of becoming a professor at Mageia, but her heart still pined for Bastian. She knew his feelings for her. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if she did graduate from Mageia, if she did get the position of professor, then maybe Bastian could love her the way she loved him.

  However, the biggest reason Grishelda opposed this union was simple: her mother wanted it so badly. It was clear this was just another way to control Grishelda. Her mother would probably insist on coming to the castle, and there she’d watch her daughter’s every move, reprimanding Grishelda every time she wasn’t “queenly” enough to meet her mother’s ridiculous standards.

  Shuddering at the thought of her mother joining them, Grishelda decided she would speak to the king privately about it if she got the sense that was her mother’s intention. None of it mattered, though; whether or not her mother was there, Grishelda would find a way to escape and get back to Mageia. One year. She just had to last one year.

  “Grishelda!” The voice was a barb, jabbing her skin. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

  Eva yanked Grishelda to her feet, squeezing just a little too tight. Not tight enough to bruise, though. Not today. For today was Grishelda’s wedding day.

  It was a grim affair. The king insisted they be married at Grishelda’s home. It was to provide her some comfort, he said. She guessed he had picked up on her misgivings. Which couldn’t have been hard, considering that every time they met she practically spewed daggers at him.

  Crowds of townsfolk gathered outside the cottage to watch the ceremony. Her father, her sweet father, walked Grishelda down the aisle. He squeezed her hand with the tenderness of a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  The ceremony passed in a blur, and Grishelda could only remember King Theo’s steady grey eyes, willing her to be calm. Imploring her to trust him. If Grishelda had learned any lessons from her time at Mageia, it was to not trust anyone.

  A roar from the crowd jolted Grishelda from her thoughts. King Theo leaned down to give her a quick kiss on the lips. Nothing. No jolt of electricity, no blossoming of heat; she felt none of the things she had when Bastian held her in his arms.

  The king regarded his new wife with creased eyes, his cheeks dimpling as he frowned. “You’re unhappy. Maybe I can help with that?”

  “Doubtful.” Grishelda turned on her heel and walked down the aisle without him. She willed herself to not break down and cry in front of everyone like she very much wanted to.

  10

  A bump jolted the carriage, slamming Grishelda from her peaceful sleep back to reality. King Theo watched her, curiosity written across his face. Not wanting him to think she returned any of that interest, Grishelda turned her gaze out the window.

  His warm hand touched her knee. “Grishelda, won’t you even look at me?”

  “I don’t think I can look upon the face of my captor without being enraged. It’s better for both of us if I just look out the window.” Part of her tensed, expecting punishment, though she had answered him honestly.

  “That’s what you think of me, then? I’m just your captor?”

  Sliding her knees to the side, out of the king’s reach, Grishelda continued to glare at the passing mountains. “This, by my definition, is a forced marriage. You and my mother conspired with no thought to what I wanted. I don’t even know why you wanted to marry me, though I expect my mother somehow found a way to blackmail a king.”

  “Your mother? Blackmail me?” He sounded incredulous.

  Grishelda snorted. He didn’t know her mother. “My mother would go to any lengths to get what she wants. And what she wants is power. By marrying her daughter to a king, I’m sure she believes she’s now all powerful. Through me, of course.”

  At least Eva hadn’t joined them, like Grishelda very much suspected she wanted to. The king had showered her family with gifts. Her mother had barely waited for the wedding to be over before she commissioned a new home to be built, one much bigger and grander than the hut Grishelda had grown up in. After the home was finished, Eva would travel to Chionti to see how her daughter fared. Grishelda planned to be long gone by the time her mother reached the wretched kingdom.

  “Your mother had nothing to do with my decision to marry you,” King Theo insisted. “Do you know what I wanted? I wanted a kind and loving queen. Someone who would help me lead our people to prosperity and happiness. To be honest, when your mother first sought me out, all she could talk about was your magic and how powerful you were. I guess she thought that would be impressive to me.” The king’s voice softened. “But what really made you stand apart from the flock of women clawing at my throne was your father’s description of you.”

  That caught her attention and Grishelda’s eyes sought the king’s steely grey ones. His words begged her to listen, to understand.

  “Your father told me that once, when you were just a girl, you found a baby rabbit, alone and
dying. Your mother insisted your family needed it for food, but you protected it with your life.”

  Grishelda remembered the rabbit well enough. She hadn’t let anyone else touch it. Not even her father.

  “You tirelessly worked to nurse the little creature back to health. But it didn’t work. It died.”

  She wished he would stop talking. It was just a stupid bunny, and yet, she had loved it. Her heart ached at the memory of finding it, still and cold, in the blanket nest she had created for it.

  “And when it died, you mourned the rabbit. You buried it.”

  None of that sounded all that spectacular to Grishelda. She had just been a stupid girl seeking love.

  “But then, you set out to save more rabbits.” His voice grew passionate and Grishelda once again forced herself to meet his gaze. This time, she saw admiration shining like a bright beacon.

  “Chionti needs a queen like you. Someone who doesn’t give up in the face of hardship. Someone who will be strong despite setbacks. I believe you will be that queen.”

  The knowledge that her mother had had no influence over the marriage lifted a weight from Grishelda’s shoulders she hadn’t even been aware existed. King Theo wanted her because of who she was. The thought was almost comforting. Still, she didn’t speak.

  “Even more than showing me you might be the queen I want for my kingdom, your father’s story reminded me a bit of, well . . . me.”

  The carriage hit a bump and Grishelda bounced in her plush red seat. The distant kingdom of Chionti came into view, reminding Grishelda of her reality. She tore her gaze away from the scenery and back to the king. He was manipulating her, just like Kal had. Just like her mother had her entire life. Oh no, he wasn’t going to get her this way.

  “Every story your father told me, I felt like he was describing someone I already knew. I guess I had a head start in our relationship. I knew so much about you, and you know nothing about me. It’s not exactly fair. But at least give me that chance. You’re not a prisoner. If you hate it here, if you hate your life as queen, as my wife, then I won’t force you to stay.”

  Then, again, maybe he wasn’t like her mother or Kal. It was a comfort knowing that she had a choice. She could live with that. For a year. No more.

  King Theo swept her hand up in his and kissed it ever so gently. “I think you’ll fit in perfectly in Chionti. I hope you come to love it as much as I do.”

  “My king . . .” Grishelda started.

  “No, please. Call me Theo. We’re married, Grishelda. We’re equal partners now. There’s no need for formalities.”

  She acquiesced and bowed her head, wishing his eyes didn’t bore into her like a stake through the heart. If she made the mistake of staring back, she might find herself lost in that gaze forever. The carriage came to a rolling stop.

  “We’ve arrived. Just please, remember why I chose you. Remember, I believe in you.”

  Wondering why those words harbored an ominous weight, Grishelda stepped out of the opened carriage door.

  It wasn’t long before Grishelda discovered exactly what the king meant. As she left the carriage for solid ground, something soft and squishy hit her squarely in the chest. She looked down to see a pulpy red stain splotched across her new dress. Another tomato struck Theo next to her. People were throwing their produce, their actual produce, at them. He was king. How could something like this be allowed?

  Shouts came from the gathered crowd, who filled the cobblestoned road.

  “Take your whore back to where she came from!”

  “We’re still in mourning! How dare you bring her here!”

  “Mourning?” Grishelda ducked as something else flew past her head and splattered the carriage behind her.

  Sorrow filled Theo’s expression, and his shoulders sagged. “My former wife . . . the people still haven’t gotten over her death.”

  It seemed as if the people themselves were the ones who lost a spouse. They might as well have had pitchforks, ready to attack.

  “She’s not our queen, and she will never be!”

  I don’t want to be your queen anyway. The young witch wished she could scream her thoughts at them. But that might lead to them really attacking her. Fighting the impulse, she stayed silent beside the king.

  Theo held out his hands. “My people, please.”

  As he spoke his angry subjects down, Grishelda’s thoughts raced through their conversation in the carriage. She clenched her fists, trying to calm the waves of anger cresting inside of her. The only reason the king wanted her by his side was because he thought she could handle facing a horde of angry subjects. And he was right. But she wouldn’t make this easy for him.

  “That’s why you chose me. You knew your people would hate me. ‘Someone who doesn’t give up in the face of hardship,’” Grishelda mocked. “That’s what you said to me.”

  Although the angry mob had settled down, returning to their business lining the road, Grishelda picked up her skirts and marched herself right back into the carriage. Theo followed.

  “Grishelda, please.”

  She whirled around and pushed him back out. “You lied to me. You let me walk straight into a den full of wolves with no warning, no preparation. I’m humiliated. You said we were equal partners. But partners don’t lie to each other. They don’t withhold important information from the other.”

  “If you would just let me explain—”

  “You can walk home.” And with that, Grishelda shut the door in the king’s face.

  It took much longer than Grishelda expected to arrive at the castle. The throngs of people blocking the carriage, shaking it, yelling obscenities at her, didn’t help. Apparently, this dead queen was loved. Very loved. The king didn’t have their loyalty; the queen did. And now she was gone. Grishelda very much suspected Theo hoped he could win over the people with a new queen. It was a lot of pressure, and it made her furious.

  Over the course of the ride, her temper calmed a bit, and she wondered if the king could have her punished for forcing him out of his own carriage. Maybe he would revoke her queenship. That would be fine by her. She would run away. Far away. Find a place to survive the next year, and then go back to Mageia, where she truly belonged.

  As the carriage ambled into the castle territory, giant gates creaked open. When her ride finally came to a full stop, she opened the door, surveying her surroundings before stepping out. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of the first greeting she’d received. She would be more cautious this time. The servants might be loyal to their former queen, as well.

  As luck would have it, servants bustled about her, grabbing Grishelda’s bags or introducing themselves before going about their daily tasks. Magnificent fountains filled the courtyard. Fountains of dragons spewing water instead of fire. A princess carrying an overflowing bucket. There was even a fountain in the shape of a ship, with water coming out of holes in its hull. In reality, that ship would have sunk straight to the bottom of the ocean. She admired the fountains, but missed the grassy expanses and leafy trees of her home. Here, it was all stone and drudgery. Perhaps she could change that.

  The castle loomed beyond the courtyard. It was tall and built of an alabaster stone, white and gleaming under the bright sun. The forest green rooftops almost blended in with the green mountains framing the background.

  A thundering of hooves heralded the king’s arrival. He rode straight toward his stubborn wife. He reined in his mount and hopped off. Grishelda flinched as he came toward her, raising his hand. But he didn’t strike her as she expected. Instead, he laid his palm against her cheek and forced her to look at him.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You were absolutely right. I should have told you everything. I wanted to protect you from our people’s anger.”

  Grishelda supposed she understood. But Theo needed to realize she was not some delicate girl who needed protection. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself and she as much told him so.

  He n
odded in response. “I know. I should have realized how strong you are. I won’t make the mistake of underestimating you again.”

  That was enough to satisfy her. Still, she was determined to not like this castle, the kingdom, and certainly not the king. She would bide her time until she could leave for good. Things could be worse, after all. Grishelda could be stuck with her mother for the next year. Instead, she would get to play queen. This might even help her be accepted back to Mageia. Not only would she not use dark magic, but she could use her power to do good. She would impress Mageia into letting her return.

  “In keeping with our new pact of honesty,” Theo added, “there is one more thing I must tell you.”

  “Father?” A girl about ten years younger than Grishelda flew across the courtyard, tears brimming from her eyes. “Oh, Father, you’re finally home!”

  She ran straight into Theo’s arms and he wrapped her in a tight hug, kissing her head.

  Grishelda bit back a grimace. Great. Yet another surprise. When would they end?

  Theo looked up, beaming. “Grishelda, this is my daughter, Snow White.”

  11

  The harsh morning light was not shy in waking Grishelda from her slumber. The deliciously soft beds cradled her body, providing a comfort she’d never experience before.

  A gentle knock sounded at the door and Persia, her serving maid, entered, perky as usual. Persia’s soft, brown curls bounced as she walked with a hop in her step. Everyone at the castle had been so kind to Grishelda since she had arrived a month ago. It almost made up for the way her subjects had treated her. Almost.

  “Good morning, m’lady!” Persia bubbled as she dusted tables, windowsills, even Grishelda’s head. It had the intended affect.

  A smile formed on Grishelda’s face as she giggled and swatted away the duster. “Stop that!”

  “It’s time to get up! You have a very special outing with the king and Snow today.”