Downfall of the Curse

by Deborah Grace White

  Some people wore clothes similar to those she had seen in Balenol. She even saw some gowns reminiscent of those packed in her own trunk, the style popular in the North Lands.

  But most wore clothes of an unfamiliar fashion, the colors as bright as the Balenans’ clothes, but the fabric more sheer. The women’s clothes were more covering than the equivalent in Nohl, but the fabric was still light. And the men weren’t confined in the stiff unyielding clothes that Balenan men wore. Many of them—men and women—wore loosely fitted pants that floated around their legs in bright cascades. The garments looked both comfortable and practical, and Lucy found herself wanting to try one herself.

  Among all the different outfits, Lucy took note of how many uniformed men seemed to wander the streets, some appearing to be on duty, but many just moving about the city like all the other pedestrians.

  She turned to Rasad with a frown. “Are all these soldiers from the camp outside the city? Are there always so many troops garrisoned in Thirl?”

  “Your eyes are sharp,” said Rasad approvingly. “There are a great many soldiers here in the capital at present, and no, that’s not usually the case. They’ve been here for some weeks, and they will be here a few weeks more. The muster occurs annually, and it’s a chance for the king to inspect his troops, and for large scale training drills to occur.” His face relaxed into a smile. “It’s also a chance for the men to enjoy themselves. We often hold festivals while so many are gathered.”

  “I’m sure they appreciate it,” said Lucy politely.

  They had almost reached their destination, and she turned her eyes forward. Unlike in Nohl, the palace at the center of Thirl didn’t open directly onto the city’s streets. It was surrounded by a stone wall, with large gates currently standing wide. Even the wall itself was only a partial visual shield, the stone intricately carved with lattices, so that those outside could see glimpses of the palace gardens beyond.

  As at the entrance to the city, the guards at the palace’s gates sprang to attention at Rasad’s approach, and the group passed through into the grounds without check. Lucy barely took in the elaborate gardens, complete with enormous fountains and beautifully manicured walkways, before her attention was captured by the palace itself. Rising up before them, it was breathtaking in its intricacy, its jeweled surfaces sparkling in the morning sun. It seemed like the opposite of the castle at Nohl, which had clearly been designed for functionality, with hardly any thought for beauty. The Thoranian royal palace, on the other hand, overflowed with unnecessary but delightful embellishments. A sign of wealth, Lucy supposed.

  They rode almost to the doors of the palace before servants appeared to take their mounts. They were then ushered up the broad carved staircase by more servants. Lucy would have liked to have fallen back a bit and walked beside Jocelyn, but somehow she found herself remaining at Rasad’s side.

  Despite the short morning ride, she felt travel worn and weary from the day before, and she was alarmed to realize that they were being led straight to the throne room. She hardly had time to catch her breath before she found herself entering a long hall, lined with beautifully carved pillars rising in two rows from the smooth stone floor. At the end was a raised dais in the same sandstone as much of the city, with a gilded throne perched on top of it.

  The group was obviously expected, because the throne was occupied. King Abner of Thorania was middle-aged, considerably older than both King Calinnae and King Giles. Somewhat to Lucy’s surprise, he wasn’t decked with jewels or finery. He wore the unfamiliar Thoranian fashion Lucy had observed during their ride through Thirl, but other than the simple circlet on his head, he looked more or less like an ordinary person.

  He smiled in greeting as they approached, making Lucy feel more at ease despite her conspicuous position at the head of the group. But even the king’s apparent approachability wasn’t enough to prevent Lucy from feeling bewildered and overwhelmed by Rasad’s presentation.

  “Your Majesty,” the Thoranian said, executing a flawless bow. “Allow me the honor of presenting to you Luciana and Matheus of Kyona. And also their companion, Cody, who has accompanied them in the role of protector.”

  “Ah yes, I received your express regarding the addition to our guests, Rasad,” said the king placidly. He once again directed his smile to Lucy and Matheus. “You are very welcome. I understand you are related to Balenol’s new king?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” said Lucy, sweeping into her best curtsy. “Our mother is first cousin to King Giles.”

  “Good, good,” said the king. “And I trust your cousin’s coronation went smoothly?”

  The image of the balcony disappearing beneath King Giles’s feet sprang unbidden to Lucy’s mind, followed swiftly by the silver flash of the Kyonan guard’s dagger slicing through the air on its trajectory toward the monarch’s heart.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” she said, after only the slightest of pauses.

  “I’m pleased to hear it.” With a nod, the king dismissed her, turning his attention to the others. With all due ceremony Rasad proceeded to introduce the royals and Lord and Lady Rodanthe.

  Lucy stepped back beside Matheus and Cody, trying to melt into the background. And trying to avoid locking eyes with Lady Rodanthe, whose eyebrow was ever so slightly raised. It was a mercifully brief interaction with the king before the guests were shown out of the throne room. Rasad followed them to the door, bowing over Lucy’s hand as he bid them farewell.

  “I must give King Abner a report on the delegation’s time in Nohl,” he explained. “But my people will show you to your rooms, and I will speak with you again soon.”

  “Thank you,” said Lucy awkwardly, hurrying gratefully from the room in the wake of the others.

  “Well,” said Jocelyn mildly as they followed their guides down a light stone corridor. “The king was very welcoming.”

  “Yes,” said Lucy tonelessly.

  Jocelyn might be too polite to say it, but Lucy knew everyone was well aware of how unusual—and pointed—it had been for Rasad to introduce the untitled add-ons to the party before Kyona’s crown prince and a prince and princess of Valoria. She knew she was unfamiliar with Thoranian customs, but it was hard to believe that such behavior was normal here when it would be considered extremely inappropriate in every other court Lucy had visited or heard of.

  It soon became clear that once again Lucy, Matheus, and even Cody were being accommodated in the same elegant wing of the palace as the royal and noble visitors. The same consideration had made Lucy feel touched and grateful in Nohl, but somehow in Thirl it made her feel embarrassed.

  Nevertheless, she was grateful for the chance to settle in. Her room was beautiful, the decor simple but in excellent taste. The floor was a smooth polished stone, and the bed was hung with the same kind of gauzy material she had seen the wealthier Thirlians wearing. Double doors opened onto a lovely interior courtyard, the portal hung with the same sheer and colorful fabric. The air was still moist, but without the canopy of trees, it wasn’t as suffocating, somehow.

  They weren’t expected to be available for anything formal for some time. As glad as she was to rest, Lucy was hardly going to sleep so early in the day. She wandered idly to the canopied bed, stretching across it comfortably. She drew the slim journal from her pocket and flicked through it, skimming over Haydn’s descriptions of life in the jungle, the arrival of the community’s first baby, Haydn’s pride in his first success at shooting down a monkey, and other such adventures. She was feeling disenchanted with Balenol, and not especially interested in learning more about the place. She wanted to know about Thorania.

  She tossed the journal aside with a sigh. If she wanted to know more about this new kingdom, she would find it on the other side of those doors, not in the pages of an ancient Balenan journal.

  She changed quickly into a fresh gown, pushing aside the fleeting wish that she could don one of the comfortable-looking outfits the local women wore. She had taken note of which room
was Jocelyn and Kincaid’s, but she hesitated before going out into the hallway. Perhaps they wouldn’t want to be disturbed. Lucy wanted to finish telling her friend about her unnerving dream, and find out what Jocelyn made of the dragon-ruler’s unexpected offer. But she didn’t especially want to discuss it in front of Kincaid. It was easy to forget that the princess wasn’t exactly free to go carousing around with her friend anymore.

  She supposed Cody would expect her to alert him if she wanted to explore the city, but she had no desire to repeat her misstep from Balenol the moment she arrived in Thorania. She opened the door of her suite absently, still debating whether to get Matheus to go with her or to try to slip out of the palace alone.

  But she had only taken half a step out into the corridor when she stopped short. It seemed the decision was made for her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Rasad,” said Lucy, unable to hide her surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  The Thoranian raised an eyebrow. “I came to see how you had settled in, Luciana. Is there some reason I shouldn’t be here?”

  “Of course not,” said Lucy quickly, trying to cover her confusion. “I just didn’t expect you.”

  Rasad ignored her comment, taking in her change of outfit with his eyebrow still raised. “You appear to be preparing to go somewhere. I hope you’re not displeased with your accommodations?”

  “Not at all, they’re beautiful!” said Lucy sincerely. “I just…” She hesitated, but Rasad was still waiting expectantly, and she found her words tumbling out in a rush. “The truth is I’m not tired, and the glimpse of the city we saw on our way in fascinated me. I was hoping to explore a little.”

  Rasad brightened, looking genuinely pleased by her answer. “I’m glad you liked what you saw. I would be honored to show you around the city.”

  Lucy hesitated again. Rasad’s escort was not what she’d bargained for. She wanted to wander, not get a formal tour. But as the silence stretched out, she realized that her reluctance wasn’t exactly polite.

  “That’s very kind of you,” she said at last. “I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

  “No trouble,” said Rasad, that open and attractive smile back again. “I would love to show you my city. I’ll have horses readied for us.” He gave a barely perceptible nod, and a servant whom Lucy hadn’t even noticed hovering against the wall gave a small bow and disappeared down the corridor.

  “Well, if it really is no trouble,” Lucy said lamely. It seemed there was little else to say. Her eyes traveled involuntarily to the door of the double suite Cody was sharing with Matheus. It wasn’t entirely clear to her whether she was still supposed to be alerting Lord and Lady Rodanthe to her movements, but she knew without doubt how Cody would feel about her taking off without telling him.

  “Do you need to alert your minder?” asked Rasad, amusement clear in his voice as he followed the trajectory of her gaze.

  “Of course not,” said Lucy, lifting her chin slightly. “I’m free to come and go as I please.”

  “I should hope so,” agreed Rasad politely. But he still sounded amused, and it irked Lucy. Not least because she hadn’t been entirely truthful. She remembered her father’s words to her before she left Kyona, and she knew Cody wouldn’t be thrilled about her leaving the palace without him. But if she asked him, and he said no, it would be more humiliating than she could handle right now.

  “Shall we?” she asked majestically, turning from Rasad and sweeping down the corridor in what she hoped was the right direction. She hadn’t made it far when her progress was interrupted by the sound of a door opening.

  “Lucy! I thought I heard your voice. I was just coming looking for you. You never told me what—oh.” Jocelyn’s stream of words was cut off as she noticed the man behind Lucy. She bobbed her head politely, but her eyes returned quickly to Lucy, and there was a question in them.

  “I didn’t feel like resting,” said Lucy. “Rasad has kindly offered to show me around the city a little.”

  At Jocelyn’s appearance, Lucy had felt instantly contrite for doubting her friend’s interest, and her willingness to ditch her husband in order to finish their interrupted conversation. But still, she met Jocelyn’s look with a hint of defiance, sure she could read disapproval there. If Joss was thinking that Eamon wouldn’t like Lucy going exploring with Rasad, the princess would do well to remember that there was no reason in the world why Lucy should answer to him. The fact that Cody wouldn’t like it either was none of Jocelyn’s concern.

  “I see,” said Jocelyn politely. “How kind of him. Perhaps we could join you.”

  The words didn’t sound much like a request, and Lucy sent her friend a dry look. Jocelyn smiled back blandly.

  “Of course, Your Highness,” said Rasad, his smooth voice giving no hint of disappointment at the interruption to the intended tête-à-tête. “You would be most welcome.”

  “Excellent,” said Jocelyn brightly. She turned her head, calling back into the suite. “Kincaid! We’ve been invited to explore the city a little with Lucy and our host.”

  “What?” Kincaid’s voice sounded muffled, and when he appeared in the doorway a moment later, he looked slightly groggy, as if he had been resting. Lucy barely suppressed a grimace. It was abundantly clear that the Valorian had no desire to join a tour of the city at that moment, but she doubted his wife was going to give him a choice.

  “We’ll meet you at the entrance to the palace in a few minutes,” Jocelyn said brightly, apparently oblivious to the admonishing look Lucy was directing toward her. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Jocelyn to come—quite the opposite—but she wished it didn’t have to be so painfully obvious that Jocelyn was inserting herself because she thought it was inappropriate for Lucy to go alone.

  It was considerably more than a few minutes before the couple appeared in the gardens. The only reason Lucy wasn’t mortified by then was that Rasad kept her occupied with a smooth stream of casual conversation, leaving her no time to dwell on the awkwardness of Jocelyn forcing herself in as a chaperone. Lucy was at least relieved to see that none of the others in their traveling party had managed to tag along uninvited.

  The four of them proceeded out of the palace gates, accompanied only by one servant, and the Valorian couple’s few personal guards. They made their way down a busy, well-kept street, pedestrians stepping respectfully aside when they saw the identity of the man leading the little group. The riders had naturally fallen into two pairs, Lucy riding alongside Rasad, with Jocelyn and Kincaid behind. Any attempt to speak with the Valorians would be impractical. Lucy could see she would need to confine her conversation to her host.

  “You travel without guards, usually?” Lucy asked him curiously.

  “One of the advantages of not being royal,” he said conspiratorially, with a glance back at the Valorian couple and their shadows.

  Lucy smiled. She couldn’t help but agree, remembering all the times she’d wished Eamon’s guards would give them a moment of privacy. It was certainly nice to speak freely, with no other listening ears.

  “I noticed there were a number of Thoranian guards on the journey to Thirl,” she prompted.

  “Sometimes I travel with guards,” Rasad agreed comfortably. “Certainly when I’m leaving the kingdom, and usually when traveling to my home in the north. But not within Thirl. At least,” he smiled, “not in any part of the city I would take you to see.”

  Lucy returned his smile, but inside she felt a little disappointed. It seemed they were to stick to the wealthier, more ordered districts, close to the palace. But it was the bustling chaos of the ordinary people that fascinated her. She had explored just about every corner of Kynton with Jocelyn and Eamon over the years. Always with guards in tow, of course. But Kyona’s king and queen encouraged their children not to completely distance themselves from everyday people. Probably because of their own less than royal upbringing, they wanted the prince and princess to have at least a small understanding of th
e realities of life for peasants.

  “So you gave your report to the king?” she asked, turning the subject. “It doesn’t seem to have taken long.”

  “I did,” Rasad confirmed. “There wasn’t much to report. He was pleased to hear that the coronation was a success, and that the relations between the Balenan royals and their visitors from the North Lands were positive.” He glanced sideways at her. “At least for the most part.”

  Lucy sighed, tired of dancing around unpleasant truths with polite words. “If you’re referring to my experiences,” she said frankly, “they’re completely irrelevant. I came because of the family connection between the new king and my mother. I have no part in any negotiations or formal relationship between the Kyonan crown and the Balenan one.”

  “You underrate your own importance, Luciana,” said Rasad. To Lucy’s irritation, he looked amused. “I assure you, my king did not consider you irrelevant. In fact, you and your brother hold a unique position. Few others could claim to have such a strong connection to and understanding of both Kyona and Balenol. Thorania is delighted to welcome you here, and you are every bit as honored a guest as the princes and princess.”

  Lucy frowned, struggling to understand what interest Thorania’s king could have in her mixed heritage. Especially since it generally seemed to do her no favors in either of the kingdoms to which she could actually claim kinship.

  “Do you mean the fact that I have both Kyonan and Balenan blood?”

  Rasad raised an eyebrow. “Your situation is far more unique than that, Luciana. You are closely related to the Balenan monarch, and you have a longstanding personal connection with the Kyonan royal family as well. Who else—beyond your family—could make such a claim?”

  For a moment Lucy was silent, taken aback by this summary. It didn’t escape her notice that Rasad seemed to be better informed about her family’s relationship with Kyona’s monarchs than he had previously implied.