by Rachel Angel
“Oh, I did too,” Lucinda said sarcastically. “So, what else is new?”
I looked at her with all the fear that dream had left me with, and her sarcastic grin disappeared.
“Oh, honey,” she said more tenderly. “You had a nightmare?”
I nodded as I clasped my hands over my lap and stared blindly at my fingertips.
“What happened?”
“I died,” I murmured softly.
She was silent for a long moment. “How?”
“Prince Axel,” I said. Taking in a deep breath, I looked at her. “He was angry and wanted revenge. I went to him, to calm him and tell him that I loved him. He was there… in front of me, so real. It was all so real.”
“Then what happened.”
I shrugged as I brought my troubled gaze back to my hands. “I don’t know where it came from… who shot it, but I felt an arrow go through me.”
She took my hand and I reluctantly looked up to her with tears in my eyes. I hated crying in front of her. I hated crying. I was not the type easily given to crying. I was strong.
Wasn’t I?
“It felt so real,” I said. “It hurt. It burned. And as my blood soaked my clothing and then pooled on the ground, I grew cold.” I looked at her. “I was so cold, Lucinda. I shivered until I was weak, until I was nauseous. Then everything faded to nothing. Just nothing.”
“But you are alive and well now,” Lucinda said very matter-of-factly. “Why are you so upset? Surely this isn’t the first time you have a nightmare.”
“No, it’s not the first time, but it’s never felt like this.”
“You mean real?”
“Yes. Absolutely. It all felt so real. Too real.” I looked into her eyes.
A small, knowing grin came to her lips. “There’s more to it than just that, isn’t there?”
I looked up to the sky, blinking back the tears.
“I know it sounds absurd, but I think it might be a sign of things to come.”
Lucinda patted my knee. “Well, you are the Kingmaker’s daughter,” she said. “There is the strong possibility that you’ve inherited your father’s gifts. Then again, it may simply be that you are too concerned about Prince Axel. Many times our dreams are reflections of our emotions. They are mirrors, at times distorted mirrors, that show us all our joys and sorrows.”
I nodded and forced a smile.
“You have to be careful, dear,” Lucinda said. “You must learn to discern between a mere dream and a true vision of what is to come.”
From where we sat, we had a view of the window to my bedroom up on the second floor. Beautiful and delicate vines climbed up the wall and surrounded my window, framing it with small white and pink flowers amidst the dark green foliage. I stared at the glass of my window that reflected the bright blue sky dotted with a scattering of pure white clouds.
It was a beautiful day, one that promised to be warm with a gentle breeze. Yet, I felt so awful… suddenly so vulnerable. A dark and rainy day would have suited my mood better.
“Despite being so troubled by your dream,” Lucinda said, “you had a very good training today.”
I chuckled. “You hit me three times.”
Lucinda laughed. “Yes. I did. But considering how you are feeling… Well, I will try to be understanding.”
I knew what she meant. Forever she had been telling me to keep my emotions separate from combat. Whether it be sadness or anger, bringing the emotions to battle was rarely effective.
“I’ll forgive you if you want to leave a little early.”
I looked at her with surprise. I knew her work ethic and knew that finishing our training session early went against that ethic. “Promise you won’t tell Father,” I said.
“I won’t tell him, if you are here an hour early tomorrow morning to make up for it.”
I stood. “You drive a hard bargain, Lucinda.”
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “And that’s what you love about me.”
I grinned and put an affectionate hand to her shoulder. “Thank you,” I said. “Thank you for listening. I needed to get that out of my system.”
“Any time.”
I left her and meandered around the grounds as I tried to clear my head. The mood of the dream stayed with me, refusing to be shrugged off. I soon found myself in one of the many gardens around the castle; the rose garden with its pretty statues of children. One plucked a rose, while another child chased a dog. Yet another one sat peacefully among the rose bushes.
With the scent of the delicate pink rose in my nostrils, I slowed down and fingered the soft petals. A couple of white doves pecked at the ground nearby. Looking at them, I suddenly envied them. They had an easy love relationship. They just went around, pecking the ground together. Then they would fly off together. Did they argue about which way to go? Did they negotiate when they should take flight? They no doubt shared the same nest, and tomorrow they would spend the day together again. Was that all filled with anxiety and apprehension or was it really as simple as it seemed?
So simple. No jealousy. No complicated decisions.
I walked on and entered the shade of the forest of tall oaks that filled the north eastern corner of the castle grounds. Squirrels chasing one another crossed the small pebble path in front of me and a deer grazed quietly in the distance.
As usual, I found soothing comfort in the natural surroundings. The numerous animals that shared the castle grounds had often been responsible for making me smile when I was down or upset. They lifted my mood without even trying… without even caring about how I felt. Just by being.
I took the path that looped around and led back to the vegetable garden behind the kitchen. Spotting a juicy red tomato on a weighted plant, I plucked it and took a big bite as I headed into the kitchen.
“What are you eating, child?” Rosie said. She looked at me with big, scolding eyes.
Taking another juicy bite, I smiled. Rosie was always checking out everything I put in my mouth.
“It’s just a tomato,” I said, holding it up for her to see.
“You’ll ruin your appetite,” Rosie said.
I hopped up onto the counter and took another bite, careful to not let the juices drip everywhere. “What are you fixing?”
Rosie looked at her team of efficient and hard-working cooks. “Stuffed goose, leg of lamb, roast pork, sweet carrots, seasoned snow peas, yams, pound cake, mashed potatoes.”
“Are you expecting the whole village for dinner?” I said.
Rosie looked at me and pursed her lips. “You might put it that way. You know darn well who is coming to the banquet tonight. Every king and queen from all surrounding kingdoms.”
With my mouth filled with tomato juice, I stared at her. “Oh, my God. The banquet. The Choosing.”
“That’s right.”
I’d been so caught up in the feelings my dream had left me that I’d come to believe the Choosing had been postponed.
But the nightmare was over, and I was right back to reality. The Choosing would happen tonight. And as neutral ground to all kingdoms, it would happen right here. A long time ago, my father, Kingmaker Killian Kingsbury, had established it as the central place for negotiations, treaties and peace.
Tonight.
“If you don’t mind, Violet, I could sure use a hand,” Rosie said.
“Well, of course, Rosie.” I mentally went through all the things I had to do to be ready for the evening’s affair. Bathing and washing my hair. Putting my hair up. My dress. If all went well, I should have more than enough time to help Rosie. “What can I do to help?”
“I was down in the wine cellar earlier this morning. Darn it, that place is so big. I almost lost my way in that labyrinth of Bordeaux, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chianti. But, with all that, there is not a drop of Chardonnay. And you know how Queen Penelope is about her Chardonnay. Would you mind terribly running into town to get some?”
I hesitated. Going into town was a little more than I had
expected. I suddenly felt like I had so much to do in so little time. “Sure,” I finally said. “Anything else?”
“Well, now that you ask,” Rosie said with a smile. “We have plenty of cheddar, but we have no brie or provolone. Could you bring back some. And while you’re at it, I really could use five more apples, three peaches and a small cantaloupe.”
I nodded and took a final look at the large kitchen bustling with culinary activity. “I’ll be back soon.”
I grabbed a handful of grapes and headed out through the dining area, also alive with much activity. The formal dining room had already been scrubbed and cleaned, and a small army of workers were bringing in large potted trees, flowering shrubs and delicate flowers.
And as I passed the grand ballroom, the preparations for the night ahead continued, with workers draping gold, silver and copper silks from each corner of the vast room to the center. Others worked tediously on a garland of ivy and purple roses that would later be draped over the arches.
Outside, more workers milled around tidying up the main entrance to the castle, trimming hedges, cutting dead branches and sweeping fallen leaves from the long path that led up to the castle moat.
“Good morning, Miss Violet,” a worker said as I passed.
I nodded and smiled in return.
“I hear we are to choose a new king,” another said as he took a few paces alongside me.
Again, I nodded and smiled. I knew better than to discuss these matters with anyone. Many were curious and eager to learn of the new king, but it wasn’t my place to comment.
Besides, there wasn’t much I could say. Father had refused to tell me who had been chosen.
Chapter 2
Violet
The village, tucked into the southeastern foothills of the mountain on which the castle was built, was calm and quiet this morning. There was the scent of reverence in the air, as though everyone held their breaths as they awaited news of the new king.
People walked the streets, going about their business of purchasing food, or clothing or tools, but they spoke in hushed tones, hoping, wishing, debating.
As I walked down the main street, men and women looked at me, the question in their eyes; did I know the name of the chosen? Would I tell them who was to be the new king?
I walked by Miss Tisdale’s fabric store and slowed down to admire the beautiful embroidery on the silk by the window. Then I walked on past the sausage maker, the iron works and the brewery.
Every shop in the village was designed to entice buyers. There was a cohesiveness to our quaint little village. Villagers were not permitted to let rubbish accumulate on their lots. Unattractive decorations, aberrations or eccentricities were frowned upon. Trees and shrubs had to be neatly trimmed, and everyone was encouraged to grow beautiful and fragrant flowers, whether it be in gardens or window boxes. Homes and businesses were required to be clean and appealing. Animals had to be properly tethered or fenced in, and definitely picked up after.
While a few had complained when Father had first decreed his new law, it quickly became evident why it was necessary. The village was now the envy of all the kingdoms, always attracting buyers and visitors from neighboring villages that had been allowed to fall into disarray.
Just to wander aimlessly through the village was a pleasure, and almost always resulted in the purchase of something or other.
Finally, I arrived in front of the cheese shop and went inside.
“Good morning, Violet,” Mr. Godford said. “How lovely to see you this morning.”
I heard in his greeting the same question everyone else had and smiled. “I need a well-aged sharp cheddar, some provolone and a nice, soft brie.”
Mr. Godford put a large wheel of cheddar on the counter, then brought a large chunk of provolone and a smaller piece of brie. “Will that be all, Miss?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“All for the Choosing tonight, I assume,” he said with an interested gaze.
“I assume,” I said as I placed a gold coin on the wooden counter.
“Would you like me to have this delivered, Miss? The cheddar alone is twelve pounds.”
“No,” I said, looking at the large wheel of cheddar. “That’s all right. I should be able to handle it.”
Mr. Godford wrapped everything up in a large cheesecloth and I picked it up to sling it over my shoulder.
“Are you sure you’ll be all right with that?”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
I headed out and quickly made my way to the winery. Already feeling weighed down by the cheese, I set my bundle down by the door. “Miss Chase?” I called out.
“Yes, dear,” the white-haired woman said as she came out of the backroom with a wooden crate filled with bottles of red wine. “What can I do for you?” She set the heavy crate on the counter with a clang.
“I need a few bottles of your finest Chardonnay.”
She nodded and disappeared into the backroom again, emerging moments later with two bottles. “This is all I have left.”
“It should be sufficient,” I said, placing a gold coin in her hand.
Miss Chase looked at my bundle by the door as she put the two bottles of wine into a cloth sac. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like me to have young Josh help you with your packages?” Miss Chase said with concern. “He’s out filling our cart for a delivery. I’m sure it wouldn’t be any trouble for him to bring you home.”
“I’m fine. Really,” I said with a confident smile. “Thank you anyway.” I took the sac, then slung my bundle of cheese over my shoulder and headed out.
My last stop was at the fruit stand where little Caleb was in charge. With all of his nine years, he looked at me as I approached.
“What can I do for you today, young lady?”
I hid my amusement at the adorable little man. “I need five apples, some peaches and a small cantaloupe, please.”
“Right away, madame.” He picked five apples from a bushel and tossed them into a cloth sac, then added a few peaches.
“Wait,” I called out as he prepared to toss a cantaloupe over the ripe peaches. “Maybe you should put that one in a separate sac.”
He looked at me confused, then shrugged and put the cantaloupe in another sac.
“I’ll have to charge you extra for the second sac.”
“That’s all right,” I said, thinking of the pureed peaches I would have brought to Rosie if I hadn’t caught him in time.
“Will there be anything else, young lady?” he said.
“No, thank you.” I held out a gold coin. “Will this cover my purchases?”
His eyes wide, he took the coin. “Cover it? Hell, yeah, it will cover it.”
“I beg your pardon,” I said, feigning offence at his harsh language.
“My apologies, young lady. I was just overtake with enthusiasm.” He suddenly lost his big man persona and took on the look of a young boy. “Wow. Mother is sure going to be happy.”
I smiled as I added the two new sacs to my other purchases. It was a heavy burden, and I walked through the village streets as quickly as possible, hoping to reach the castle walls before my hands bled through.
“Here,” a strong male voice said. “Why don’t you let me help you with that?”
I gripped the sacs and bundle of cheese more tightly, my pride refusing to allow a man to help me. But then I looked up to see it was Prince Avery, his shining copper hair tousled and falling so wildly in his strikingly handsome face. I was so taken with him, I almost dropped my bundles.
“You’ve got enough things here to weigh down a mule.”
“I’ve got everything under control,” I said.
“Look, I know you’re strong. You don’t have to prove anything to me. But you’ve still got a long way to go before getting home.” He reached for the sac of wine. “Let me just take this one.”
Reluctantly, I let go of the bag. Truth be told, I would have prefer
red he’d taken the bundle of cheese and the fruits.
“It’s a beautiful day to be running errands,” he said, reaching for the cheese.
I shot him a glare, but relented and let go of the bundle, silently sighing with relief. “It is. I think Rosie underestimated how many people would be in attendance tonight.”
The path that led up to the castle was wide and gently graded, making the walk up a little easier, but a lot longer. But as we headed higher and higher, the view of the surrounding villages and distant kingdoms across land and sea came into view, something I never tired of seeing.
“It’s going to be lunchtime by the time we make it all the way up,” I said. “Do you have time to stop in and stay for lunch?”
Smiling, he looked at me. “It would be my pleasure.”
Midway up, Avery stopped. “Let’s take a breather.”
I set down the sac of fruit and looked out to the sea that smacked up against the western side of the mountain, slowly chewing it up. Below, boulders that had been victims to the erosion lay waiting for more to join them.
“It certainly is beautiful where you live.”
I smiled. “I know. I’m very fortunate. I know that.”
“I’m glad to see that you appreciate what you have. Many don’t.”
I nodded. “We’d better continue on if we want to be there in time for lunch.”
We arrived at the flat tabletop on which the castle was built. The magnificent structure could be seen from miles away, reminding all the surrounding kingdoms of the peace and unity it represented.
Made of pale granite speckled with pink or blue or green, the castle’s south east side was almost completely covered with vines, while the north western side glistened brilliantly.
We crossed the drawbridge over the moat, lingering over the clear running water that surrounded the castle. More decorative than protective, it was filled with brightly colored fish.
I stopped to look down as a small band of vivid orange tiger fish zoomed by. “They’re the latest addition to the fish Father likes to collect,” I said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Avery looked directly into my eyes. “They certainly are.”
A mass of butterflies fluttered in my belly as I looked up at him. He was almost too handsome to be real, and yet there was something so humble and unassuming about him.