The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by K. M. Shea

  “Do you think we can safely get closer?” Roy asked. “The elves are our allies.”

  “Or are they?” Quinn rather grimly asked. It doesn’t look good—a secret midnight party with all the princesses here… It might really be a curse, but holding celebrations at night seems like an unusual thing to force upon them.

  “They’re elves, Midnight. They’ve stood with us for centuries,” Roy said. “We can’t doubt them just because of one night. That’s why we need to investigate. Let’s move in.”

  Together—still moving in synch—they edged around the perimeter of the meadow. The chorus of the song seemed to beckon to Quinn, urging her to tap her foot and clap in time with the rest of the dancers who clapped their hands over their heads in a pattern as they whirled and danced.

  Quinn caught sight of Alena, Carril, Cassya, Diana, Ellena and Eva. Each twirled through the meadow on the arm of a handsome male elf, laughing with delight as they danced.

  There was something about the music that beckoned Quinn to join them, an urge that was surprisingly difficult to push off.

  “What a celebration, eh?” Roy asked as they stopped between the western gazebo and the pavilion. “All that food…”

  The scent of honey bread, herbal cheeses, and roasted meat filled the air, making it rather hard to think. There were sugar spun deer and flowers placed next to steaming mugs of a drink that smelled simultaneously sweet and nutty.

  “It is impressive.” Quinn forcibly turned her head from the banquet tables of food spread out before them. What is wrong with me? I ate dinner just as Roy did. The food may be elvish fare, but we are in a perilous situation. We are trained to be better than this! She rubbed her forehead and tried to clear the fog from her mind.

  Roy tapped his foot in time with the beat. “The elves are our allies.”

  “You said that earlier…I think?” Quinn grimaced, struggling to recall any bits of conversation from before entering the meadow. Not that it matters. This is a celebration. Nothing to be on guard against.

  “But if they’re our allies, then they’re our friends,” Roy pointed out. “I don’t think they would mind us joining in. Do you?”

  “No…” Quinn said haltingly. “The princesses have joined in.” …I feel like there is a reason that alone should cause concern…. The smell of baked apples shoved the thought clear out of Quinn’s head as the music seemed to move in time with her heartbeat. “Why are we hiding anyway?”

  “I don’t know,” Roy said. “I was going to say we should join them. Are you game?”

  “Yes,” Quinn said, even though she blinked in surprise. Am I really game?

  Together they started to shrug the cloak off, making the spell slither off them. Quinn barely felt it fall because the meadow was so thick with magic, it felt like a single feather brushing her arm while floating in a lake.

  Just as Quinn took a step forward, she replayed the thought in her mind.

  Wait, magic!

  Chapter 4

  The Curse

  Muttering oaths under her breath, Quinn turned her back to the meadow. She hooked Roy around the throat with her arm and yanked him down while throwing the magic cloak back over them with her free hand.

  “Midnight!” Roy complained.

  “Quiet, and think for a moment. Why are we here?” Quinn asked.

  “To join the party.”

  “No, we followed the princesses from the palace. We’re trying to find out how they dance their shoes to bits every night,” Quinn said. The more she thought about it, the clearer her mind grew. Though the music was still sweet and the food smelled delectable, it was not nearly as tempting. It didn’t feel like the celebration was reeling her in like a fish anymore.

  “I forgot about that,” Roy said. “You’re helping me, and I’ve been pretending to be the gardener’s assistant.”

  “Yes,” Quinn said.

  Roy sat down on the ground. “That was magic, wasn’t it? I forgot about everything and just wanted to join in the fun.”

  “Yes. Magic is quite thick here.” Quinn readjusted the cloak and tried to smile at Roy, even though she wanted to go running from the meadow. Any magic that is strong enough to strip away our inhibitions and dull our minds like that is powerful and dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s about all I can tell. To discern any more, they would need a mage present…

  “Thanks, Midnight. That could have been disastrous.” Roy said. “Do you think anyone saw us?”

  Quinn glanced around the meadow. The gondoliers and other Farset humans had joined the princesses in dancing, though a few hung back with the younger princesses and nibbled on food. The elves ignored the human intruders for the most part and seemed pre-occupied with dancing. The only elf who did not appear to be having the time of his life was the masked male sitting in his chair on the pavilion. He was slumped, and his head was tilted up to the sky.

  “I think we’re fine,” Quinn said. “We would have to make quite a racket to be heard above the music and laughter, and we were visible for only a few seconds.”

  “What do we do?” Roy asked.

  “Princess Diana said not to drink…but after that experience, I think we should stay away from consuming anything at all and take in as many details as possible. Tomorrow we can sort them out with the rest of Gallant.”

  Roy nudged her. “I’m glad you came with me.”

  Quinn smiled slightly. “I always will.”

  “Gallant for life,” Roy agreed. “Come, let’s see if we can get closer and overhear any conversations.”

  They silently approached the gazebo where the younger princesses had chosen to sit rather than join the dancing.

  Lady Llyr stood with them, a slight frown on her lips as she watched the elves laugh and twirl. “I hate this,” she announced as Roy and Quinn settled next to the gazebo. “I hate feeling powerless.”

  Reeves sidled up to the noble lady, his arms folded across his chest. “Can you imagine how they feel?”

  “They are of an ancient race far more powerful than our own.” Lady Llyr tapped her fingers on the gazebo railing. “They will likely last through this better than we.”

  “I beg to disagree,” Reeves said. “I think it is rather the opposite.”

  “Regardless, I do not like that darkness festers in the woods, and King Dirth is unaware of it.” Lady Llyr turned and looked out into the forest, momentarily upsetting Quinn’s heartbeat when she glanced in their direction.

  Enough. She doesn’t really see us. We’re invisible!

  “I wish the princesses would make a bigger effort to out-smart the curse and communicate to their Father what it is they do every night,” Reeves said.

  “I wish the princesses would actually do something instead of coming here night after night, giggling and dancing,” Lady Llyr snorted. “The younger girls I can understand, but the older ones? Ridiculous.”

  “The magic of an elf gathering has always been enticing. Even now after months of celebrations, I still feel its call.” Reeves leaned against the thin railing of the gazebo. “But I am most disappointed in Alena, Carril, and Cassya.”

  “What of Brittany?”

  “Undecided as of yet.”

  Lady Llyr sighed. “Come, we may as well eat.”

  Reeves offered the lady his arm. She took it, and together they trotted down the stairs.

  “Will you join the elves and partake in the ètonse philtre?” Reeves asked—barely audible over the laughter and shouts.

  Quinn strained her ears and could barely hear Lady Llyr’s response before they fell out of hearing range. “No. Things have not grown that bad…yet.”

  Roy tapped on Quinn’s arm, and they retreated to the shadows of the forest. “What do you make of that conversation?”

  Quinn rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not certain.”

  “Reeves said the princesses are cursed! So they aren’t at fault,” Roy said.

  “He also pointed out that the princesses have more leeway. F
or whatever reason, it seems Reeves and the rest of the humans are stuck here whereas the princesses only come at night,” Quinn said.

  Roy made a noise of disbelief in the back of his throat.

  Quinn shrugged. “Keep moving?”

  “Keep moving.”

  * * *

  Together they made the rounds, trying to overhear conversations whenever possible—though none of them were as informative as the brief exchange between Reeves and Lady Llyr, and it seemed like the elves spoke of nothing besides banal chatter.

  Roy watched the elves with great fascination. “Too bad we’re just lowly soldiers, or we might know who some of these elves are.”

  “It doesn’t matter; we shouldn’t reveal ourselves.”

  “Well, yeah. But when we try to free the princesses, they might be able to help us.”

  Quinn’s constant smile flickered for a moment as she noticed all the princesses but Carril and Cassya gathering in the gazebo. Are they preparing to leave? Quinn let her gaze wander across the meadow. It is the first time they have gathered in one spot…

  Quinn’s thoughts died out when she looked to the pavilion and her eyes landed on the masked elf. He still sat in place, his face pointed in their direction. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she could swear she felt his gaze sweep over them. Does he see us?

  “Roy?” Quinn asked.

  “Hm?”

  “I think we need to get back to the boats.”

  Roy turned and peered at the gazebo where the princesses were gathered. “Ah. I think you’re right.”

  Together they hurried around the edges of the meadow, making for the footpath that led to the river. They reached it just as Princess Brittany retrieved Carril and Cassya from the crowd of dancers.

  “We’ll sit at the stern again, but we’ll have to jump off before the princess or gondolier can disembark, or they’ll trip over us,” Quinn said. They hustled down the path—silent in spite of their hurry.

  “That’s fine,” Roy grunted. “I’ll grab a large rock and drop it over the side, and you can throw another rock at whatever princess we ride with. If we can spook her enough to rock the boat, no one will notice us.”

  “Agreed.” They reached the sandy shore, and Quinn grabbed a few pebbles as Roy snagged a rock. “I think when we return next time, we can swim across if need be.”

  “What? It’s getting cold!” Roy said.

  “I said if need be. And it is, but the meadow was unnaturally warm.” Quinn climbed onto one of the middle gondolas with Roy right behind her. They had just enough time to settle precariously on the stern—balancing each other’s weight—before the princesses and the gondoliers appeared, traipsing down the path and across the beach.

  They had, apparently, chosen the gondola of Princess Gianna. The young girl sat down quietly on the bench, her hands folded. It was hard to see in the darkness of the night but Quinn thought the girl’s fingers trembled.

  “Princess?” the gondolier—a handsome young man—murmured.

  “It’s nothing.” Gianna lifted her eyes and stared at the far side of the bank.

  “But you seem upset.”

  “I’m only tired and wishing. It does me little good, for wishes will get me nowhere,” the young girl said ominously, sounding more exhausted and defeated than any girl her age had a right to be.

  Quinn’s heart squeezed in sympathy for the young princess. Perhaps Roy is right…perhaps this is not a curse of their own making.

  When they finally bumped the shore, Quinn would have toppled over the side if Roy hadn’t grabbed her by the arm.

  She struggled to maneuver the cloak so Roy could drop his stone, but their plan was unnecessary.

  Gianna stood so the gondolier could get past her, but she slipped and almost fell, making the boat rock violently.

  Quinn and Roy slipped off the boat, making for the path the princesses would take back to the castle. They reached it, and Roy tugged Quinn on, pulling her down the path.

  “Shouldn’t we wait to let them catch up?” Quinn asked.

  “No. We haven’t the time.”

  Quinn picked up her pace so the two jogged through the darkened forest, fast approaching the glittering trees. “Ahh, I had forgotten we’ll need to arrive at the castle before them and pry that secret passageway open so you can get back to your room on time.”

  “That too,” Roy said. “But what I really want to snatch up first is some proof.”

  He skidded to a stop when they burst into the grove that held the glittering trees. “Could I borrow your knife?”

  Quinn popped her military-standard knife off her belt and cut a twig from the silver tree, then passed the knife over to Roy. Roy also cut off a twig, gave the knife back, and shoved the twig down his shirt.

  They ran from the grove, the twinkle of the trees swiftly fading from sight. They were forced to slow down as they made their way—in the darkest hours of night—through the forest.

  They arrived at the base of the hill and had to search for several minutes for the opening. They found it just as they heard the princesses’ chatter drift in their direction.

  They darted into the secret passage. Roy charged ahead, heedless of the cloak, and Quinn followed swiftly behind him as they trotted up what felt like an endless number of stairs. Eventually they reached the Y intersection in the tunnel, and back tracked down the smaller path all the way to the secret door that led to the princesses’ rooms.

  “Almost there,” Roy grunted as they lunged up the last few steps.

  “I imagine they will go slower on the stairs,” Quinn said, “given their worn slippers.”

  “Good.” Roy pushed against the seemingly dead-end wall, which gave easily and opened up into the princesses’ bedrooms. “I need to wipe my forehead—or they may wonder why I sweat in my sleep.”

  Quinn laughed as she shut the secret passageway, drawing a grin from Roy. They strode through the sitting room, and Roy burst into the maid’s room, though Quinn opted to remain standing and pressed against the wall this time. She adjusted the magic cloak as Roy rubbed his face off on his shirt then re-arranged himself into a sprawl across his bed.

  “Thanks for your help, Midnight. I couldn’t have done this without you,” Roy said.

  “Of course,” Quinn said.

  “You’ll have notes drawn up in time for our breakfast meeting with the rest of the group before our patrol starts?” Roy asked.

  “I think so.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. I’ll still have to give the princesses their daily bouquets in the morning, so I might be a little late.”

  “I did not know it was so imperative that you be the one to hand off their flowers,” Quinn teased.

  “Naturally! I need to see more of the princesses so I can decide which one of them I’d like to marry!” Roy scooted into a more comfortable position and winked at her.

  Quinn felt the corners of her smile freeze. She shifted and made herself say, “Yes. I suppose you do…”

  A few moments later, Quinn heard the creak of the secret passageway open. “They’re here,” she whispered to Roy.

  The sounds of rustling skirts and the scuff of worn slippers being dragged across the floor punctuated the air as the princesses soundlessly trooped into their room. Quinn could see their open door from her position on the wall and watched the girls pull pins from their hair and collapse on their beds. Princess Alena alone left their bedroom. She removed her worn slippers as she crossed the sitting room and poked her head into the maid’s chamber.

  Roy snored, his head buried in the pillow.

  Satisfied, the oldest princess returned to the sisters’ bedroom, softly closing the doors behind her.

  Quinn waited for another moment or two before she allowed herself to sink down in a sitting position. She leaned her head back against the wall and rubbed her gritty-feeling eyes. So we’ve witnessed the mystery…. Now how do we explain it?

  * * *

  Emerys stared at the empt
y meadow of Brandy Crest as the blush of dawn stained the sky. Most of his people—exhausted from their drink-induced night of dancing—staggered off to sleep, but a few of those who were less affected by the drink milled around the meadow in a poor attempt of cleaning it up.

  What is the point? We will merely use it again tonight.

  He curled his hands into fists, the desire to shout in rage simmered in his gut. Today, he promised himself. Today I’ll test the boundary and see if I can get around this blasted curse!

  Once upon a time he had hoped the humans would be able to help. Surely with Farset’s best and most cunning warriors tracking the princesses, one of them would be smart enough to see what was going on. (It was the only positive he saw in entertaining the royal daughters!) Unfortunately, he had overestimated their abilities, for all of the humans had failed.

  There were a pair last night, though…. It was the first time Emerys had seen more than one scout at a time. Perhaps they were finally getting smarter…but no. It’s better not to hope. I’m so sick of being let down.

  To be fair, it wasn’t only the humans of Farset who had disappointed him. The Veneno Conclave had, as well. Emerys had thought they would have sent an envoy by now, but alas, the Black Swan Smugglers were the only outsiders the elves ever saw.

  He sighed, rose, and swept across the meadow. Evariste…if only you had not been captured.

  * * *

  Quinn blinked in the sunlight that sliced through the mess hall, trying to clear her blurry vision. She had managed to lightly sleep during the few remaining hours of the evening, but unfortunately, her eyes felt gritty and still ached.

  “You gonna be okay for patrol this afternoon?” Leigh asked as she gnawed on a garlic-herb roll.

  Quinn sipped a mug of Arcainian breakfast tea. “I’ll manage.”

  Kenneth studied the silver twig Quinn had passed off as soon as she had arrived at the mess hall. (In the sunlight, it was even prettier than Quinn had imagined.) “I’ve never seen a tree like this before.”

  “Makes sense. The king doesn’t often let outsiders—much less soldiers—tromp through the royal forest.” Guy munched on a piece of bacon and licked his fingers off with a smack.