by Janeal Falor
“Adelei, stop.” Robert’s voice is quiet, but full of warning.
I halt, being pulled out of my wistful thoughts and look around. A ways down the beach is a row boat. A ship is anchored behind it in the water, and though no sails are unfurled, a warning fills my chest.
Robert motions back toward the castle, and I trail after him. Looking back one last time, I stop.
“Wait. I think I see two people,” I whisper.
“No, Adelei. It’s too dangerous.”
I know I should heed the warning, but we need more information. I silently creep forward, remaining hidden in the foliage. Both of the figures look familiar, but I need a closer look to know who they are. Worry fills my chest.
Hoping my eyes are deceiving me, I squint trying to get a better view. The voice carried by the wind rises, making the words almost distinguishable. Captain Smythe. He is one of the men, of that there is no doubt. All of me goes cold just thinking it. His mammoth body is easy to spot even with only the faint moonlight.
The two were talking. I struggle to hear over the crashing waves. Even though I thought they might be at the beach, seeing them here is something else entirely.
I struggle to hear the conversation over the crashing waves. To give meaning to their words. The second man is hiding from the milky moonlight, in the shadows. Captain Smythe storms away from the trees, and the man in the shadows moves out, his huge figure coming into view.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
“How could you lose her again?” Octavian’s voice fills the air with rage as it drifts to us. “You were supposed to kidnap her, and you couldn’t. Tonight I give her directly to you, and you return with only a bloody, broken nose. You’re supposed to be the most fearsome pirate.”
Captain Smythe’s temper looks like it’s on the verge of boiling over. His fists are clenched, his body shaking, but his face is hardened with resolve, and he gains his composure.
All the while, Octavian stares him down, eyes bulging out of his head.
When Captain Smythe speaks, the words are loud and surprisingly clear. “Tonight, I went myself, to make sure the job was done. You said she’d be easy to get once the guard was taken care of. Too bad she was already on her way out. You also said she’d be on Sulamay Island with no guards. You were right about the guards, but she was gone too.”
Robert places his hand on my shoulder and pulls at me, eager to leave. Yet we both stay and listen while the drama continues to unfold, intrigue pulling us in. I scoot closer to him, warmth comforting my otherwise rigid body.
“Your excuses are worthless. I told you to leave the castle intact and not hurt anyone. All you had to do was grab the princess and leave. This is going to be my castle. My things. And you stole my tapestries. You turned an easy job and easy money into a catastrophe that will get you little.” Octavian’s voice quivers with anger. “You will go find the princess and bring her to me now.”
“Your misinformation has done nothing but add danger for me and my men. I must insist that I get the human servant, Adelei, on top of my full pay, upon the princess’s delivery.”
Robert’s hold on me tightens, and he moves between me and the two men, though they are still unaware of our presence. I want to laugh, and would, if it wasn’t for the gravity of the situation and the fact that it would give us away.
“Full pay is out of the question. And what are you talking about, you stupid pirate?” Octavian sneers. “Who is Adelei?”
“She is Princess Arabella’s servant. A human girl more beautiful than any I have ever met. I will be taking her with me if you want the job done.”
“You bumbling idiot. The Princess has no servant by the name of Adelei. The only human servant she has is Jocelyn, though you can have her if you wish.”
My throat constricts.
“No one calls me an idiot. I met her and saw her with my own eyes. You won’t pretend she doesn’t exist and secret her away for yourself. I will have Adelei. She was one of the servants at the castle, and I know they have returned. You will give her to me with all of my pay, or you can start doing the dirty work yourself.”
Octavian slapped his jeweled fist into the captain’s shoulder and with a venomous voice says, “You fool. Adelei must be Princess Arabella. That’s why she has turned into a homely creature. Go find her, whatever she looks like, and I will double your pay. But you won’t be taking her with you. And do not threaten me again, filthy scum.”
My hand flies to my throat, and my mouth goes dry. I glance at Robert, wondering what he may think of the news. He is staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. I hate myself for not being able to tell him the truth. I wish I told him as soon as we arrived at the castle.
Whatever my feelings, it won’t be long before Captain Smythe and Octavian find me if we don’t get somewhere safe. With my secret identity revealed, my only recourse is finding a well-protected hiding spot. What I was supposed to have in the first place. I need to return to the castle and tell my parents the identity of the insider. They will be distraught over the news.
Robert whispers in my ear, his voice a state of awe, jolting me out of my trance.
“Adelei, is this true? You are the princess? I can’t believe this. How can you be?” Robert whispers in my ear, his voice full awe, jolting me out of my trance.
I wince. “I’m sorry about the lies. It was necessary.”
Robert runs his hand through his hair. “I just can’t believe it. You—”
Before he can finish, I realize the captain and Octavian are headed for us. I motion to Robert, who nods with understanding. We edge back deeper into the forest, and I feel the ground with my bare feet. Octavian and Captain Smythe stop to argue again right next to where we were a few moments ago. I don’t bother to listen to the new quibble.
Once we are out of ear shot, Robert and I run to the castle.
“Adelei—I mean Princess Arabella,” he says between huffs of breath, “you said you were promised to another, but to Prince Phillip?”
“We’ll talk later,” I puff out and open the entrance that we arrived at. “I need to warn my parents. Lord Octavian is one of their most trusted advisers. My father, he gave permission for Octavian to marry me. He won’t be far behind. We must tell them before they do something even more dimwitted.”
I slip through the door, and Robert follows after. Navigating the hallways, I head toward my room. I let the magic spell fizzle with a cry, revealing my new face.
I open the door leading into my washroom. A bright light and worried voices greet me. We both step into the bathroom and then out into my room. My parents and personal servants stand conversing, their faces scrunched together in worry. When they register my presence, the frantic conversations cease.
“Arabella, we thought something terrible happened,” Constance calls to me as she runs to greet me. Lovingly, she wraps her arms around me for the first time ever. “Where did this jacket come from? How did this blood get on your robe? Are you hurt?”
Constance checks every inch of me, looking for the wound.
“My Lady, I’ve been so worried about you. I’m so relieved to see you are well.” Jocelyn looks like she wants to say more, but after eying the King and Queen, says nothing else. Emeline stands next to her, brows drawn together.
My mother speaks, drawing everyone’s awareness to Robert. “Who are you?”
He’s staring at me so intently I don’t think he even heard the question.
“Constance, everyone, I’m fine. If you give me a moment to explain. It’s very important.” I turn toward my mother. “This is Robert. He saved me from Captain Smythe just now. He was the one that escorted us from Port Varas.”
Mother’s eyes jut out at Robert. “This common sailor has no business being with you.”
He holds her gaze, jaw clenching.
“Your Majesty,
now isn’t the time for this discussion,” Constance says firmly.
Mother’s eyes narrow. “Mind your place, Constance.”
I interrupt in an attempt to divert my mother’s attention. “Why are you all gathered in my room?”
Mother doesn’t take her gaze from Constance, but Constance replies, calm as ever, “A servant found Stewart unconscious in the hallway. Someone hit him hard, but he should be fine. We were all distraught and trying to figure out what should be done when you came. What happened?”
I glance at Stewart with concern. It dawns on me he’s sitting in a chair when he always stands, a damp cloth on his head. Even though he’s pale and looks miserable, he smiles at me. Feeling at least a little better, I rehearse my tale.
“Captain Smythe came in here trying to find me. Luckily, I was already awake and heard him enter. I escaped through the servants’ entrance, and he followed me outside. I ran into Robert and asked for his help when the Captain skulked up from behind and grabbed me. Robert was kind enough to break his nose, but I fear the blood will not come out of my robe.”
Constance shakes her head, but doesn’t interrupt the narrative.
“We ran through the woods, coming out by the sea, making sure that we were not followed. We were about to return when we noticed a ship anchored in the bay. I was drawn to it, so I got a closer look. It was Captain Smythe’s ship. He was standing on the beach not far off, conversing with Octavian.”
My parents’ expressions fall slack. My mother sways, and my father gently helps her get to a chair while I continue.
“It was him all along. He must have used his charm to convince you both to have me sent to the island so no one would know where I was. I remember now that it was his idea to begin with. He must have had the guard killed so they could not be there to protect me when his pirate friend came. I do not know what madness has consumed him, but something must be done quickly.”
The room remains silent for several moments as everyone digests the news. Betrayal at the highest level permeates the air around us. The King shifts his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
“Well, Arabella,” my father says. “Let’s get you somewhere that’s actually safe while we deal with Lord Octavian. It won’t be an easy task, but it must be done. I don’t want you near while we are dealing with him.”
“I can take her to the servants’ quarters,” Emeline offers. “He wouldn’t think to look for her there.”
“That should work,” my father says. “First, Arabella, why don’t you go ahead and get changed and cleaned up? Do it quickly, though.”
Constance opens the door and ushers the men into the sitting room, including Robert. She and Jocelyn help me clean up while Emeline fetches some new clothes. Constance takes the dress from Emeline and helps me put it on. My mother sits in a chair by the fireplace, watching the women hurry about. While we work, I listen to the conversation taking place in the sitting room.
“Your Majesty, I agree. Something must be done about these pirates as well. They are anchored too close to Amara. It will be a fierce battle unless something is done to stop them.”
“Yes. Most of my men are still out looking for Arabella, and the best of them were killed by Lord Octavian’s treachery. It will be a while before we can get enough men gathered together to battle against them. They may even slip through our fingers before anything can be done.”
“If I may be permitted, your Majesty, our merchant vessel is well-trained. With all the pirates that roam the sea, we have worked hard to magnify our fighting skills. I would be honored to go to the Captain of our vessel and ask for our assistance on your behalf. We can hold them where they are until your men can be gathered. Then, if some of them need to help you search for and detain Octavian, you will not be spread so thin.”
“Yes, I think this is a fine plan. I honestly do not want to accept your help, but there is no other choice if we are to stop them. I will not have you do all this work without—”
“Jocelyn, you will go with Emeline to help,” Constance says, pulling me from the conversation in the other room. I nod, thank Constance, and leave out the servants’ entrance without a word from my mother, who is still sulking in a corner. Emeline leads the way with me following and Jocelyn coming up from behind.
“You both stay here,” Emeline says when we reach the entrance to the servants’ quarters. “I will check that it’s safe.”
Feeling jittery, I wait in the small dimly lit hallway with Jocelyn. The hairs on the back of my neck rise more with each passing second. Jocelyn places her hand on mine and gives me a warming smile. Returning the smile, I try not to worry. Against my will, my hand knots in the folds of my dress.
“Someone has been looking for you,” Emeline says on her return, eyes wide. “I was mistaken about this place, but I know an empty guest room where we could go that will be safe.”
“Maybe we should go back,” Jocelyn says. “Then we can let those we trust protect her, or at least tell them where we will be. I don’t like that someone has already been down here to check on her. We don’t even know who they are. Why would they have come here? Are they trying to help or not? I can even go back by myself if you want. It may help us know what to do.”
“No. We were told to take her some place safe, and so we shall. You can tell them where we are once you see the room I have in mind.”
Not wanting to add tension between the two girls, I remain silent. It’s been a long night already and I’m in no mood to argue. Plus, the closer I become to them, the more I loathe ordering them about. If I do speak, they’ll have to follow my words.
“That should work,” Jocelyn says. “Lead the way.”
Emeline leads us back through the passages, twisting and turning. After a long walk, Emeline finally comes to a door. Instead of checking this one out to see if it is safe, she walks right in. I follow her into the dark room, Jocelyn right behind.
“We should light a fire,” Jocelyn says.
My mouth opens to respond, but a sickening thump next to me chokes the words in my throat. Before I can process what happened, something hard bashes into my head. The blackened room fills with stars as I sink to the floor.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
With a buzzing head, I wake. I lay on a hard, uneven floor trying to remember how I got here. A rough rope tightly binds my hands and feet in front of me. The hot room is unnaturally silent, like something waited to pounce on me. The stench of expensive pipe smoke fills my nose, making me want to gag.
While my watering eyes adjusted to the dim light of the fire, I realize Jocelyn is next to me, still. Wanting to make certain she’s not seriously injured, I scoot toward my friend. She has to be all right. She just has to.
“I would not do that if I were you.” Octavian’s voice sends a chill through me, stopping my actions. I turn to glare at him. Emeline stands next to him with a smirk on her face. I stare at her, trying to fathom how she could possibly be here and not tied up.
“Em—Emeline?” My mouth goes dry.
“Ah, yes,” Octavian responds. “Emeline has been of great use. Though she would have been more useful if she told that pirate you were pretending to be the human, Adelei.”
Emeline’s smile turns to a scowl. “I told you, Constance or Stewart was always hovering over me. I never had the opportunity.”
“You should have found a way to leave them.” His voice is sharp. “The thickheaded pirate couldn’t follow orders either. That castle was going to be used for my vacations. I explicitly told them not to destroy anything while they were there. No matter. I’ll get what I want out of them. Things have not gone quite as planned, but they will still work out.”
“You boar! My parents trusted you. How can you turn on them like this?” I jerk around with the force of my words, but it does no good to my bonds.
Octavian howl
s, saliva spewing from his gaping mouth. “My dear, it was all too easy. Easier than you’ll ever know. And I’m about to be rewarded for my work. I’ll begin building my army soon, and then I will attack the humans. It won’t be long before I have control of them. I’ve always wanted slaves at my command. Soon, I will.”
“You can’t do this! The humans have done nothing to deserve it. You make me sick.”
“Nothing? They exist. Every breath they take pollutes the air. You should be grateful that I even allow them to live.”
“How can you say that? I’ve been among some of them. They are no different than elves. They are a better people than you will ever be.”
Octavian rests his closed fist under his chin with one finger extended over his cheek. “Some of your fellow elves used to think like that as well. When you were yet a child, about the same time you threw mud at me.” His eyes glared at me accusingly. “I started placing rumors of swindling men. I even found men willing to tell other men of the evil nature of elves. It’s turned out rather grandly, don’t you think? Two nations on the verge of war will be pushed over by the precipice from your broken betrothal.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I narrow my eyes at him. If he can tell me all this, what use will he have for me later? My muscles become ridged.
“Husbands and wives don’t keep secrets. Besides, I know how much you just love your humans. It’ll be great for you to have so many of them around all the time. Though I find it quite disgusting that you’d stoop to such a level as to take on their appearance. You’re paying for it now, though. Such a shame to waste your beauty. I will miss it.”
His words sting my tongue into action. “It’s not yours to miss, and it never will be.”
“It’s time to stop playing these games. You will give into me soon enough.”