A Darkness Found

by T K White

  Grishelda shot up in bed. Was that today?

  As if reading her mind, Persia tsked, shaking her duster and releasing a puff of everything she had dusted into the air. “You didn’t forget, now did you? It’s the princess’s birthday!”

  She had forgotten. The truth was, over the past few weeks, Grishelda had been so busy learning the intricacies of court life, she hadn’t even realized she was about to miss the girl’s most important day. Since they met, her interactions with Snow had been frosty at best. Grishelda couldn’t blame her. The young girl missed her mother and saw Grishelda as a threat. If Grishelda was going to survive as queen, she needed the girl’s approval most of all. The subjects of the kingdom might not be enamored with their king, but young Snow was a different story. Apparently, she was the spitting image of the late queen, and her personality was just as charming. If the subjects were going to love their new queen, they would love her because of Snow.

  King Theo, with his good looks and charming manner, had predictably wormed his way into Grishelda’s heart. She found herself thinking more and more that being queen in Chionti might not be the worst thing to happen to her. The constant thoughts of Mageia had tempered. With time, she realized might actually fit into her new home. Maybe she could even perform her magic—which she missed dearly—and could do good with it.

  Her bare feet touched the heated floor as she slid out of bed, easing herself into the new day. “It slipped my mind.”

  Once she tested the warm floor, she raced to her wardrobe and flung open the oak doors. What could she possibly wear today? What were they doing again?

  “I don’t think a dress would be appropriate for horseback riding, Your Majesty,” Persia said as Grishelda fingered a velvety soft dress.

  Oh, right. Horseback riding. Despite Grishelda’s mention of her dislike of riding horses, Snow had insisted it was her favorite activity, so that’s what they would do for her birthday. Grishelda understood. Snow had been through a lot and Theo was trying his best to make life easy for his heartbroken daughter. Snow mentioned her mother every chance she got, always comparing Grishelda to the late queen. But there was no comparison. Not in Snow’s mind, anyway. The king had told Grishelda to just give it time, and so she would. Apparently, horseback riding had been Snow’s favorite activity with her mother.

  Persia paused in her dusting. “Oh yes, those riding pants with that tunic look quite impressive. I’d wager the king won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  A blush rose to Grishelda’s face. She and the king had grown closer over the past month she had lived at his castle. It was easy to forgive him for the mistakes he made in the beginning of their relationship. He was so earnest, so eager to please.

  But he still hadn’t asked her to move into his chambers or share his bed. Unlike his daughter, Theo never mentioned the late queen. Grishelda wondered if she still had a hold over his heart, like she seemed to over everyone else’s.

  Out in the courtyard, a sudden clattering of hooves caught Grishelda’s attention. “What is that? Do we have visitors?”

  Grishelda and Persia rushed to the window and watched as Theo and Snow rode away, without so much as a second look back.

  12

  The next night, Theo insisted on dinner in his private quarters, just the two of them. Probably an apology for leaving Grishelda behind. She’d never been in his bedroom before. She couldn’t stop staring at the opulence of it all. A white canopy topped his four-poster bed, billowing around it from the breeze of the open window. A gold chandelier hung from the ceiling, holding eight candles that burned brightly. Maroon stripes plastered the walls. Gold-rimmed crystal goblets sat next to silver plates on a little round table.

  After a moment of taking in the rich surroundings, she decided it could do with more decoration. The walls were bare save for a single painting of a rose. An elegant oak wardrobe and the small dinner table and its accompanying chairs were the only furniture beyond the bed. Grishelda imagined it needed a woman’s touch. She wondered when the king would invite her to give the room her feminine notes.

  Thoughts of decoration fled as Theo lifted the bell-shaped top of the serving dish. The salty aroma of spiced fish and minced pies tempted Grishelda to forgo manners and snatch a piece of flaky fish meat. She resisted the urge, and Theo served a hearty helping while silence fell, heavy with anticipation of words unspoken.

  After what felt like a lifetime, the king spoke. “Grishelda, I cannot apologize enough for what happened yesterday.” His kind eyes conveyed just how sorry he was, but she couldn’t forgive him so easily.

  “You just left me, Theo. How am I ever going to gain Snow’s trust if you give in to her every whim?”

  He sighed, setting his white cloth napkin on the table. “I know, you’re right. It’s just, it was her birthday and she begged me for alone time. Before I could give her an answer, she shot off ahead of me. I had no choice but follow.”

  It was so hard to stay mad at Theo with those dimples and the way his bottom lip puckered, ever so slightly. It was especially hard when it was his daughter who wreaked havoc. Grishelda sighed. “I just don’t understand why she hates me so much.”

  Theo reached across the dimly lit table and grasped her hands. “She doesn’t hate you. She misses her.” It wasn’t even necessary to say her name. “Her” perfectly relayed who he spoke of. “You have to be patient with Snow,” he pleaded. “She’s just a little girl who’s crying out for her mother.”

  “Which I’ll never be.”

  “Give her time.” He cleared his throat, a dashing smile lighting his face. “You know, I’ve never seen you ride a horse. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about it yesterday.”

  “Why? I can ride a horse! You don’t think I’m a proper lady, is that it?” Grishelda had the urge to throw her fork at him, which would most certainly prove how little of a lady she was.

  “No, it’s not that, it’s just . . . it didn’t seem like your mother cared about much other than training you to be some magnificent witch.”

  Grishelda stiffened. This was one of the few times Theo had mentioned her magic or her mother.

  “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to,” he hastened to add. “You just don’t mention her very often.”

  “There’s nothing to say. She’s evil, and my entire life has been about making sure I am nothing like her. I’m afraid . . .”

  Setting down his napkin, Theo motioned for her to continue. “Go on, you can tell me anything.”

  “I’m afraid she’ll come here and ruin this too. When I first arrived in Chionti, I was determined to run away. I didn’t want to give this place, or you, a chance. But, in my time here, I’ve received nothing but kindness. Something I’m not really used to. I really like it here, Theo. And I want to earn Snow’s respect and love.”

  Theo stood and walked around the table. He placed his hands on Grishelda’s shoulders. His thumbs delved into her muscles, which relaxed under the pressure.

  “You will, Grishelda,” he murmured in her ear.

  She had to admit, it was all very romantic. The glowing chandelier, the intimate meal, the gentle massage. Was this his way of showing how he truly felt?

  “Does that feel good?” The deep timbre of his voice lulled her.

  “Mmmmm . . .”

  He turned her chair around to face him and kneeled in front of her. For a moment, all he did was stare into her eyes. The kindness fled from his gaze, replaced with something else. A crackling desire. “May I?”

  Grishelda didn’t know what he was asking permission for, but whatever it was, she would grant it.

  Leaning in, Theo closed his mouth over her own. His pillowy lips met hers with a vulnerable sensitivity. He was laying himself bare, ready to let his wife in. Soon, the tender kisses became deeper, more urgent. His hands weaved through her hair, and she twined her arms around his neck.

  Theo broke away, a smile playing at his lips. “That was wonderful.”
>
  Yes, so why did we stop?

  As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  “Theo, I wasn’t—”

  He took her hands and pulled her to her feet, leading Grishelda toward his door.

  “Wait, Theo—”

  Before she could voice her protests, Theo captured her mouth once more. “We’ll have to do this more often. Much more often.”

  Grishelda felt the brief warmth of his body pressed against hers, and then she was left in the cold hallway as the door closed in her face.

  As she walked back to her own quarters, Grishelda touched her lips and wondered why Theo hadn’t wanted to continue. Over the past month, they had grown closer, but there was only so much talking that could be done. Grishelda was tired of their deep conversations and their intense staring contests. She was falling for Theo, of that she was sure. But she wanted more. She didn’t want him to feel like a friend; she wanted him to feel like a husband.

  Mind made up, Grishelda marched herself back to Theo’s room, determined to finish what they had started. They were man and wife, after all. It was time they began acting like it.

  This time, instead of being firmly closed, the king’s door was ajar, just enough so Grishelda could peek inside. Theo and Snow stood by the abandoned dinner table.

  “What you did yesterday was wrong, Snow.”

  “I know, Father, I’m sorry.” Her head hung low, and she actually sounded apologetic.

  Grishelda felt a little sorry for the girl. All her life, Grishelda had wished to be rid of her mother once and for all. She had no idea what it was like to have a nurturing and loving mother, nor could she imagine what Snow must be going through, having lost such a caring parent.

  Theo rested a hand on Snow’s shoulder. “You have to make more of an effort, or else this was all for nothing.”

  Grishelda’s breath caught in her throat. What was all for nothing? Marrying me?

  “I really will try. I-I won’t exclude her from our outings anymore.”

  “That’s my good girl.”

  At least this was productive. It sounded like Snow wanted to make a genuine effort to welcome Grishelda to their little family.

  “Once she trusts us, once she belongs to us, that’s when her magic will become useful.”

  Her stomach lurched, insides twisting at his words. Her magic. Was that the only reason he had married her? It wasn’t uncommon. Many princes and kings were marrying peasant women, simply because they had magic. Magic was worth more than any dowry. It had caused an outrage throughout the realm of Neleque. Noblewomen and princesses were upset that their fiancés were breaking their vows and fleeing to witches and sorceresses. It was even causing wars among some kingdoms. But Theo had said he wanted to marry her for who she was, not for her magic.

  “I know, Father. I know how important she is to you.” With that, Snow came toward the door and Grishelda flattened herself against the wall. The princess walked the other way, not sensing her stepmother’s presence. An ache filled Grishelda’s heart. Just like her mother, Theo only cared about her magic. The truth tore at her soul, reopening wounds that Theo’s kindness had only just begun to repair.

  Pushing away tears, Grishelda shook her head. She wouldn’t let this happen. Theo would come to see that there was more to her than her magic. And when he did, he would come to love her for who she was.

  13

  It was a lovely day for a stroll. At least, that’s what Theo claimed. It was actually a bit overcast and chilly, but Grishelda wouldn’t turn down an invitation from the king. Not now, when she felt the urge to keep him close.

  The conversation she had overheard the night before had given Grishelda permanent shivers. Every so often, the unbidden image of Theo and his daughter would rise in her mind and she would start to shake again.

  On the one hand, Grishelda didn’t like being used for her magic. Especially when she had no idea what Theo wanted with it. On the other hand, she knew Theo was a good man. A kind man. Maybe he had chosen her for her magic after all, but that didn’t mean he was bad. A queen had other duties as well. He was just being strategic in picking his bride. And he had even encouraged Snow to change her attitude toward Grishelda.

  That was why Grishelda hadn’t been surprised when she met the king at the castle gates and found a somewhat agreeable Snow waiting with him.

  “Ready for our walk?” The little girl smiled sweetly.

  At first, Snow’s presence nagged at Grishelda. She was looking forward to getting Theo all to herself. But she realized she did need some bonding time with Snow. How could they ever learn to get along if they didn’t spend time together? This would be a good thing, she decided.

  Theo grabbed Grishelda’s hand, and she sneaked a peek at Snow to gauge her reaction. The princess didn’t seem to mind or even notice.

  Squeezing her hand, Theo said, “You know, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you as my wife.”

  Unsure how to respond, she let him lead her into town. They walked along the streets, admiring the vibrant storefronts. Each business was decorated with bright colors. Azure blue, daffodil yellow, grassy green, and burnt orange. It was quite a contrast to the sullen stone courtyard and plain white castle.

  Theo holding her hand was a sweet gesture, but it tore at Grishelda’s heart. Did he really mean what he said? Was he happy to have her as his wife, or was he happy to have her magic? Stop it, Grishelda. She had to remind herself not to assume the worst of everyone. That’s something her mother would have done. And Grishelda was nothing like her mother.

  Giving Theo a bright smile, she told him, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to be your wife.” She looked over to Snow. “And your stepmother.”

  “We are . . . very happy to have you here.” Snow practically choked on her words. But she was making an effort. Grishelda appreciated that, at least.

  “Go back to where you came from!” The shout shattered the peaceful day.

  Grishelda’s body stiffened and she released the king’s hand, ready to defend herself from any objects that might be coming her way. But no produce flew through the air. Instead, something more surprising happened.

  Snow marched up to the man who had spoken and stood nose to nose with him. “How dare you address your queen in such a way!”

  The man cowered, dropping to his knees and stammering out his answer. “I-I am s-sorry, my princess. It’s just, well, we all miss your mother so much.”

  Grishelda’s heart sank. She would always be seen as an outsider in this kingdom.

  Snow shook her finger. “That’s no excuse! This is your new queen, and you need to treat her with the respect she deserves.”

  The man bowed low. “Yes, Princess Snow.”

  “Now, go and apologize.”

  He rose and walked toward Grishelda. She stood a little straighter.

  His gaze remained fixed on his feet. “I am sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. You miss your late queen. Everyone does. And that’s okay. But I deserve a chance to be the queen you want and need.”

  The man met her eyes and nodded, a hint of admiration reflecting back toward Grishelda.

  The clanging of metal and rumbling of carriage wheels filled the streets and people scrambled to dive out of the way as the guards barged through.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Theo bellowed, bringing the procession to a halt. He raked his fingers through his thick hair, something he did when he was nervous. “You should know better than to bring your cavalry through the town streets. Someone could’ve been hurt!”

  The guard in front offered a bow. “We’re sorry, Your Majesty. But we have a high-priority prisoner.” He lowered his voice when he said “high-priority”; Grishelda leaned in closer to hear him. She had never seen a prisoner before, let alone a dangerous one. She was oddly drawn to this mysterious person locked in the carriage.

  “She was caught on
the outer edges of our kingdom, dealing dark magic,” the guard continued. “We confiscated all the magic she carried, but we feel it is best for everyone if she is locked away as soon as possible.”

  Dark magic? Grishelda had learned about dark magic through whisperings and rumors at Mageia. It could only come from dark fairies, and they were a rare breed.

  From the carriage, the prisoner stuck out her head and yelled, “Once I get my magic back, you’ll be sorry. Every one of you will pay dearly for this!”

  “Shut it, filth!” a guard yelled and pushed her head back into the carriage.

  Eyes fixated on the carriage’s empty window, Grishelda’s jaw hung open in shock. The prisoner was Kal.

  “Something wrong, my dear?” Theo put his arm around Grishelda as the carriage and the guards rolled down the street at a slower pace. When she didn’t respond, he continued, “It’s really nothing. Just a prisoner. We get them every once in a while. Our dungeons are well fortified. She’s of no threat to you.”

  Normally, Grishelda would have savored his arms around her as long as she possibly could. Contrary to what she wanted to do, she wriggled free and backed away. “I’m not feeling well.” She put her hand over her stomach and squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Do you need to go see our healer?”

  What Grishelda needed was to see Kal and procure an explanation for what she was doing here. “No. Really, I’m fine. I just need to lie down, get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. Snow, my king, enjoy the rest of your walk.”

  Both of the royals stared at Grishelda as if she had grown two heads, but she didn’t give them a chance to ask any more questions. Spinning on her heel, she followed the carriage as closely as she could back to the castle’s main entrance. Neither of them followed, thankfully. Once in the courtyard, the guards opened the carriage door. A foot hit one of them squarely in the chest.

  “That’s enough out of you!” Another guard grabbed Kal by the hair, dragging her out of the vehicle.