‘How does this work?’
Oriana passed the disc from hand to hand. Experimentally, she released it in Hashir’s direction and it hit his throat, opening upon impact. He blinked as the ring encircled his neck.
‘I can guess what you’re thinking,’ Oriana said. ‘Why don’t I just kill you? No, that would be too easy. I want you to suffer like you and your family made my people, and countless others, suffer. I am now the queen of this realm and I am claiming it.’
Taking the golden key, and a lantern, Oriana left Hashir locked in his own body, and moved through the rooms, unlocking the rings around the people she passed along the way. In a cavernous room grander than all the others was a golden cage, and within the cage Vilas sat with his legs crossed, head hung low.
‘Oriana?’ he asked in wonder as she unlocked the cage. ‘Am I dreaming?’
Oriana took his hands in hers. ‘No, Vilas, you are not.’
Vilas looked worried. ‘You must run, save yourself before Hashir finds you. Your friend was right about him. I was blinded all of this time. I was a fool—a stupid, dumb, order following, idiot.’
‘No, you believed in what you were taught as a child. You are not a fool, Vilas.’
‘I am so ashamed you have had to rescue me. I have failed you.’ Vilas shied away as Oriana reached for the ring around his neck.
Holding the key against it, for there was not an actual lock, the ring sprung open and slipped from his neck, turning once more into an innocuous looking metal disc.
Vilas reached for Oriana’s hand as he rose to his feet. ‘We must hurry. If Hashir finds us together he will kill me for sure this time. He knows what happened at the farmstead…he knows I slept in the same bed as you—the princess he will take as a wife!’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with Hashir.’
‘What do you mean, dealt with Hashir?’ Vilas stretched his neck from one side to the other.
‘It’s better if I show you.’
Oriana led Vilas back to the room where Hashir lay. ‘I infected him with water from The Pool of Youth from my father’s ring. He will remain a prisoner inside his own body.’
‘You should have killed him, it’s no less than he deserves!’
‘I couldn’t kill him, I didn’t even know if there was any water inside my father’s ring but it was the only chance I had to defeat him. If I’d tried to kill him and not killed him instantly, I would have ended up with a ring around my neck and we’d both be prisoners now. I wanted to free you.’
‘And I appreciate it.’ Vilas touched a hand to Oriana’s cheek.
His touch was instantly comforting and Oriana covered his hand with hers.
It was as if his hand was made to fit with hers, as if he was made to be part of her. She shook her head. That was a stupid thought! He may not even feel the same way!
‘No, I can’t let him live!’ Vilas pulled away from Oriana and wrenched Hashir’s sword from its sheath, pushing the tip against Hashir’s neck. ‘I will kill him. He lied to me for years. I thought we were friends but he was just using me, the same as he used everyone else. The same as he would have used you, Oriana, for your hair...he would have bred you as if you were nothing more than a prize cow!’
‘I’m flattered you were offended for me!’
‘If he hadn’t put a blasted ring around my neck I would have strangled him there and then when he spoke of you in such a way.’
Oriana blushed. ‘You can’t kill him now. Being trapped in his own body is a fate far worse than death and no less than his entire family deserve. There will be no more collections, no more collectors of people. The tradition will be buried forever with Hashir.’
‘I can kill him so the tradition can die with him not just be buried!’
‘No.’ Oriana took the sword from Vilas’ shaking hand. ‘No mortal can ever kill him now. We must bury him deep in the ground so no-one ever finds him and awakens him. We can put him inside one of the golden coffins from the castle’s vaults.’ She twisted the pendant from her necklace once more and held it out to Vilas. ‘I offer you the choice to live with me and watch over Hashir to make sure he does not rise. All you have to do is drink a small sip of this.’
Vilas took it. ‘What is it?’
‘Water from The Pool of Health. Whomever sips the water will live forever and never age. I have already drunk from it. Don’t drop it, it is all I have and we may need more in the future. I’ll understand if you don’t want to. For ever is a long time.’
‘Not want to?’ Vilas echoed. He allowed a droplet from the contents of the pendant to drip onto his tongue. ‘How could I not want a life with you? Being in this castle brought back memories I had almost forgotten, pleasant memories which were stifled by my life living in Acapf’s castle. I know we have seen each other before, Oriana. Many, many years ago. At least I have seen you. You were the young girl I caught glimpses of when I came to school in the castle before I was taken away. You have always been like a dream to me and I want nothing more than to be able to hold you, my dream, in my hands.’
Oriana screwed the pendant back onto her necklace. ‘Oh, Vilas,’ she replied, a warm feeling growing inside of her. ‘Stop trying to charm me, there’s really no need.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’ve already fallen for you, Vilas the commander!’
‘I’m not a commander anymore. I will not be a soldier again.’
Oriana was hesitant at first as Vilas grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, not wanting to hurt his still raw burns. Vilas’ lips were soft, searching, as they explored hers. She could taste a hint of the water from The Pool of Health as they kissed. His taut body felt the perfect match for hers as they moulded together and she kissed him like she had always dreamt of kissing the man who held her heart.
‘So, you don’t mind that I’m not Maerie the farmer’s daughter?’ she teased.
Vilas’ voice was husky when he spoke. ‘You, Oriana, could call yourself by any name and I would still fall under your spell.’
‘I bet you say that to all the women!’
‘No,’ Vilas answered. ‘I most certainly do not. I can’t believe you want me. You are to be Queen and all I have is all I am. I stand in front of you, Princess Oriana, as just a man, damaged by fire, and I offer you the only thing of any importance I hold and that, my love, is my heart. I offer it to you completely and without reservation...and before you ask, I have never, nor would I ever again, say that to anyone else.’
Tears welled in Oriana’s eyes, but this time they were tears of happiness. ‘Vilas,’ she whispered, tiptoeing to kiss him. ‘Your love is the most precious thing in the whole world to me and you’re not just a man damaged by fire. You are a brave, kind, and handsome man and I love you, I really do!’
‘I should hope so,’ Vilas said with a laugh. ‘If the water is for real we’ll be stuck with each other for an extremely long time!’
Oriana laughed, grabbing Vilas’ hand as they headed out of the room and into the tunnels. ‘First we free everyone Hashir and his father had imprisoned—’
‘Already on it,’ Vilas interrupted. ‘I sent soldiers to bring back the imprisoned from Acapf’s castle.’
Oriana squeezed Vilas’ hand. ‘And you say you’re not a commander anymore. That is the action of a soldier in charge.’
Vilas shrugged.
‘You’ll be King don’t you know?’ Oriana laughed at the look on Vilas’ face. ‘Or don’t want you to marry me?’
‘Marry you?’ Vilas’ voice echoed in the tunnel. ‘Are you honestly proposing to me here in this gloomy tunnel?’
‘I suppose I am!’
Vilas lifted Oriana off her feet and spun her around. ‘You, Princess, are impossible. It is supposed to be me asking for your hand in marriage, not you throwing it around like it’s something casual. You may as well said something like “we’re having cake for dinner, is that okay?” for all the importance you placed on it!’
Oriana was unsteady on her feet when Vilas
set her back down.
Instantly he dropped to one knee and looked up at her, taking her hand in his.
‘I am doing this properly,’ he said. ‘Princess Oriana will you do me the great honour of agreeing to be my wife, for now and forever?’
Oriana giggled as Vilas kissed her fingers. She curtseyed, pretending to be wearing a dress and satin slippers instead of the dusty, crumpled trousers and flat boots she really had on.
‘Vilas The Charming, I accept!’
Chapter Fourteen
Vilas
Vilas smoothed his amethyst coloured, silk neck tie and studied his reflection in the mirror. Touching the damaged side of his face, he sighed. It was not painful now, just puckered and shiny pink in places with raised silvery-white ridges.
It was hard to accept she loved him.
Oriana.
Queen Oriana.
Outside, the castle’s bell was ringing continuously and people bustled around the central courtyard, and maze of corridors.
Could wear a mask, Vilas thought, leaving the room and turning out into the busy corridor. A half mask to hide his ugliness.
He stepped aside as several young women carrying huge floral arrangements staggered past him.
The woman at the back, a pretty brunette with large, appealing eyes, glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled.
He smiled back.
The woman placed her flowers on a windowsill and sauntered over to Vilas.
He groaned.
Beautiful. He could smell the scent she wore before she reached him.
‘Vilas,’ she said, boldly running a finger over his left hand. She looked up and down the corridor. ‘We’re all alone, shall we slip back into your room for old times’ sake?’
‘Yes,’ Vilas mused, suddenly remembering the young woman. ‘Suleena, we are all alone.’
They had met in a tavern, last year when he had passed the outskirts of Oriana’s lands. Suleena’s father owned the tavern and Suleena had been more than accommodating. He could remember how she had felt beneath his hands, how hot her lips had been as she’d kissed him. He could even remember her moans of pleasure as they’d made love.
Suleena opened the door to the room Vilas had just left. ‘Quick,’ she whispered seductively, already unlacing the ribbon at the bust of her bodice.
Vilas reached her in one step. The scent she was wearing was heady, intoxicating. He could feel the heat radiating from her body as he moved closer. She simpered as his arm brushed against her as he leant forwards and pulled the door shut behind her, bumping her with it.
‘What are you doing?’ Suleena adopted a wounded expression.
Vilas smiled.
That was easier than he had thought it would be. It just felt right.
‘This is my wedding day, Suleena.’ He could not help smiling.
And he was to marry the woman he loved. His Oriana.
‘And?’
‘I’m not the man I was when we met last year.’
‘You make it sound as if it was a one-time thing...you lay with me three times!’
‘I told you I was just passing through and needed a bed for one night.’
‘So you don’t want me now?’ Suleena placed her hands on her hips and made a snorting sound. ‘I don’t believe you’ve ever turned a single woman down in your whole life!’
‘Do you have cloth in your ears?’ Vilas demanded, becoming frustrated. ‘I am getting married. To the queen. To your queen.’
‘What, and you’re not going to have a mistress or ten?’ Suleena laughed. ‘I don’t believe it!’
Vilas smoothed down his neck tie again—it was annoying him but Oriana had insisted he wear one for the ceremony—and strode off in the direction of the ringing bell.
‘Just take your flowers and find someone else to seduce, Suleena,’ he said without looking back. ‘There are plenty of soldiers to choose from and I’m sure a beautiful woman like you won’t be short of offers!’
Rows of seats stretched from the altar to the double doors at the opposite end of the chapel. Every chair was occupied, some even holding an adult with a child on seated lap. Everyone was dressed in cream and gold just as Oriana had requested, from women in floaty dresses, men in waistcoats and dress jackets, to babies in embroidered bonnets. Tall bouquets of vibrant flowers stood at the end of each row of chairs, feathery green foliage fluttering in the slight breeze coming through the open windows. Incense burnt in ornate holders at the rear of the chapel, its grey-white smoke dancing notes of lavender on the air.
Vilas stuffed his hands in his pockets and glared down the aisle.
Where was she?
In the seats in front of him, people talked in hushed tones and Vilas could not make out what they were saying from his elevated position. He tugged at his neck tie again.
Why was it so damn hot?
The hands of the gilt, grandfather clock crawled. Vilas swallowed nervously. There was an uneasy feeling in his stomach he could not quell no matter how many times he told himself there was nothing to worry about.
‘Queen Oriana is twenty minutes late,’ the priest hissed in Vilas’ ear.
‘You think I don’t know that!’ Vilas snapped. ‘I’m counting every agonising second!’
The priest shrank back, disappearing inside his ceremonial robes which were already too large for such a tiny man. ‘It’s not like the queen to be late.’
‘I know.’ Vilas’ lips tightened into a thin line. ‘I’ll be damned if I’ll stand here waiting around. Tell everyone to stay put, I’m going to the queen’s quarters.’ He made to stride off. ‘And silence that blasted bell, I can’t think straight with it clanging!’
The bell had ceased ringing by the time Vilas reached Oriana’s quarters. After she had claimed the throne and been crowned Queen, Oriana had moved into her parents’ quarters. Vilas shared the rooms with her at night but kept the separate bedchamber further down the hall as a pretence they were abiding by modesty rules. The secret passageways came in handy for concealing his exits and entries to Oriana’s chambers.
The doors to her rooms were shut. Vilas tried the handles to find them locked.
‘Open the doors,’ he said to one of the two guards standing outside the doors.
The guard smiled apologetically. ‘No can do, we don’t have a key. Only the queen does.’
Vilas hammered on the doors. ‘Oriana,’ he hollered. ‘Open these doors!’
There was no response.
Vilas tugged at his neck tie, pulling it off, and tossed it on the floor. His throat constricted making it hard to breathe. After waiting an impatient minute, he spoke again to the guards. ‘Have you heard from the queen recently?’
Both guards shook their heads. ‘We took over our shift an hour ago and haven’t seen the queen today,’ replied the second guard. ‘The door was locked when we arrived.’
‘We just assumed she was preparing for the wedding,’ said the other guard. ‘Should we be worried?’
Vilas nodded slowly; dread creeping like a suffocating blanket over him. ‘I need to get in there.’
The guards lay down their swords and stepped back. ‘With your permission, Vilas, we’ll kick the doors in.’
‘Do it.’ Vilas clenched and unclenched his fists.
The guards kicked and kicked, their actions doing little to break down the doors. Vilas’ eyes darted up and down the corridor. Spying a suit of armour on a wooden stand Vilas raced over to it and frantically pulled at the armour. As he had hoped the wooden stand had a strong supporting pole erected from the base. Grabbing the pole he dragged the stand back to the guards.
‘Help me with this,’ he said, puffing. ‘We can use it like a battering ram.’
After three attempts at ramming the double doors the wood finally gave way and broke. Wiping sweat from his forehead, Vilas nodded his thanks to the two guards.
‘Wait here.’ Vilas stepped through the broken shards of the doors and into the first room. ‘If I shout, s
ound the alarm. No-one comes in or out of this room unless they’re with me, understand?’
‘Yes, Vilas,’ chorused the two guards.
Vilas moved quickly through the first two rooms, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. The door to Oriana’s bedchamber was closed and Vilas stopped in his tracks, not wanting to open the door. Forcing himself to move, his hand trembled as he reached for the handle.
Oriana’s golden lace wedding gown hung on a satin hanger from the large mirror above the dressing table. The gown’s sheer flowing skirts cascaded over the edge of the dressing table and reached to the floor. Light caught the delicate, gem encrusted lace of the gown, making it sparkle. The gold slippers to match the dress sat next to the dressing table on a stool, neatly placed next to each other, and an amethyst cape lay draped across the bed.
Vilas moved across the room, stopping suddenly as he felt something crunch underneath the sole of his shoe. Bending down he retrieved the item and squeezed it in his hand until it hurt.
Oriana’s pendant. She never took it off so what was it doing on the floor?
Examining it, Vilas saw the chain was broken.
Pulled from her neck.
Running his hand along the chain he swayed forwards, suddenly sickened.
Blood.
Oriana’s blood.
Vilas stopped breathing. Unable to even blink he stood there, staring at the bloody smear on the floor next to the bed for a long moment before sharply taking in a much needed breath.
How had Oriana disappeared without the guards seeing her?
There was only one way.
The secret passage.
‘Guards!’ Vilas bellowed so hard the veins on his neck popped out. ‘Guards!’
Striding over to the bedchamber door he stuck his head out and shouted again. When the guards burst into the adjoining room he held up a hand to stop them from coming any closer.
Always Golden Page 14