Casimir's Journey

by Lisa Manifold

  There was silence after he left, and then Thea reached over and touched Lisette’s hand. The hum of conversation went higher, and with a lightness that wasn’t there moments before.

  “Why does he cast such a shadow?” Hadden said aloud.

  Everyone turned to look at him. His mouth went the wrong direction again.

  “You are speaking of a prince and my intended,” Thea said, although there was no heat in her words.

  “That is all well and good, but it doesn’t mean that he has to make everyone else unhappy.” This was common sense to him.

  “Where is that footman?” Lisette asked, looking around.

  “Sir Hadden, would you walk with me? I fear I’ve sat still for too long.” Thea stood, brushing off her gown. “Lady Lisette, will you accompany us?”

  “Of course, my lady.”

  Just then the footman ran to them, tray in hand.

  “Shall we take refreshment, Sir Hadden?” Thea asked, taking a cup for herself.

  “If you would like, yes,” he took a cup. “Your wish is my command. Lead on, my lady.”

  Everyone made to stand as Thea walked away, but she waved them back with a hand. She moved towards the opposite end of the garden. Hadden could see she expected him to catch up.

  He did. They walked in silence for a few moments. Unlike when she’d joined the party, she was not as lost or sad looking.

  “You should not devil him, sir,” she said. She didn’t look at him, nor did she break stride. “He is not a good person to cross.”

  “Then why do you keep the engagement?”

  Lisette muttered something behind them. Hadden couldn’t tell what it was, and decided he probably didn’t want to know.

  “You think I have any say in the matter?” Thea was clearly bitter. Now she did look at him. “I have absolutely no voice in my engagement, Sir Hadden.”

  “Would you have married Casimir?” He could tell that the question bothered her. His estimation of her rose, ever so slightly.

  “Had my father instructed me to do so, yes.” There was a tone in her voice he couldn’t understand.

  “Do you really have so little input over your own life?”

  She turned and looked at him with ancient eyes. “Welcome to life as a royal daughter. I have less freedom and input, as you call it, than you do as a soldier. I am more at the mercy of my father than you are to your commander.”

  “Do you want to marry Sebastian?”

  She looked away, and her face was contemplative. “I thought he was a nice man, before I knew he’d asked for me. I thought he was kind and caring. I think it’s more of an act for him than not, at present.”

  “You know his affections are elsewhere?” No sense in being shy about it.

  She smiled at him, really smiled. “I have been…encouraging of such.” Then her face fell. “Casimir told me I was being unkind, raising the hopes of my sister.” She lapsed into silence again.

  He needed a break from Prince Casimir. He was everywhere, like a heavy cloak that everyone wore. The sadness surrounding him every time he was mentioned was disconcerting. Hadden felt that he never made any progress that wasn’t negated by something Prince Casimir had said, or done, or not done. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the itch there.

  He looked at Thea, who was lost in her own thoughts again. “My lady, I never met Prince Casimir. He sounds, however, a good man. An honorable man. He would not, if he loved you, wish to see you suffer like this. I cannot say for sure, of course, but it is my feeling.”

  Her head whipped around to him. “You’re right. It doesn’t help, however. I can’t believe he’s gone. I dream of him all the time. Lately, my dreams are changing, he is changing, and I feel like I am losing him for good!” Her voice rose, and he could see that others nearby looked over to see what they were talking of. The pain was evident not only in her words, but in every aspect of her.

  Watching her, his heart jumped a little, and he felt his empathy reach to her, wanting to…help? Hold her? He shook his head. Something. He was unsure of what.

  Her lady-in-waiting moved closer. “Perhaps, my lady, this is not the best—”

  “No!” Thea brushed her off. “I’m tired of never speaking of him or speaking of him only in whispers. He’s gone, but it’s not a crime to speak his name! I miss him.” She stopped at a small bench and sat, looking up at Hadden, eyes pleading for understanding.

  He sat next to her, not taking his eyes off her. This was a different woman than he’d seen, thus far. He felt drawn to her in a way that really had no basis. It didn’t matter. She drew him.

  “My lady, you are welcome to speak of what or whomever you wish to me. Loss is something we must all handle in our own way. No two people address loss and grief the same way. If you must marry my lord Sebastian, how will you live?”

  She looked at him, her eyes both ancient and sad again. “I won’t. I am fairly certain I shall waste away.” She turned away to look across the garden. “Here he comes now,” she said in a dreamy, vacant voice. “It’s easier not to fight him, but he takes so much. He doesn’t seem to notice or care.” She sighed. “Poor Addi. She’d be so much better for him, but…” her voice faded. “Thank you for the conversation, Sir Hadden. Lady Lisette, I wish to retire to my rooms. Let us be on our way.”

  With a speed that belied her state, she and her lady-in-waiting left. Hadden sat, watching the two women hurry away.

  Why did she affect him so? She was lost and becoming more lost. His job was to save all of them, not just one. Right now, however, all he wanted to do was save Thea.

  Why? It made no sense. Several of her sisters were more attractive, and most far more merry and engaging, even under their sorrow. Yet he felt drawn to her, to Thea, to the cold fish, as Roysten kept calling her.

  Roysten joined him. He’d been trailing them discreetly. “You’re just heading right into disaster,” he said quietly. “Sebastian hates you. He was ranting about you to the men you bested before he brought Thea out here. And now, since you were last with her, I suggest we find somewhere else to be, somewhere where he won’t make much of a fuss.”

  “That’s a good idea. Do you think her pretty?” He was still watching Thea.

  “What? You’re going daft, man. Have you had too much sun? It doesn’t matter if she’s pretty. I can’t have you being skewered before you ever get a chance to solve the mystery! Pull yourself together!”

  “You’re right,” he looked back at Roysten. “Let’s go be charming some more. See if you can get me seated by her tonight, though” He turned back the direction he and Thea had walked, intending to join the princesses again.

  Even as he sat down among them once more, he still felt the eerie calm and the sad acceptance of the eldest. It haunted him.

  Chapter Eleven

  He laughed, and chatted, and could see why so many thought the princesses worth the risk. They were a delightful family.

  But they were not Thea.

  “Don’t mind our sister,” Isobel said in an undertone. “She is melancholy. She has good reason,” She looked off across the gardens.

  “I would agree with that assessment, my lady.” He watched Isobel carefully. There was something there. “It seems, from what I have heard, Prince Casimir was a great favorite.”

  Her eyes slid towards him, although she didn’t move. “He was, indeed. With us all.” He could swear there were tears in her eyes.

  “Do you hope to be saved from this?”

  “From what?” Her voice was a harsh whisper, and now she did turn her head towards him. Her eyes were angry—and afraid.

  “From this great evil that is upon you.” He wanted to see if she would react as Adelaide had.

  Her eyes grew wide. “There is nothing I can tell you, Sir Hadden. I am sorry.” She got up, and went over to one of her sisters. Sybbl, he thought.

  He leaned back on his arms, thinking. She’d said the same sort of thing that Adelaide had. It had to be something the
sisters all knew about if they were saying the same thing and behaving like spooked horses in response.

  He hoped, once again, that Grizelle had not led him wrong.

  ***

  The rest of the day passed by, and he found when he’d gone to dinner that somehow Roys had managed to seat him next to Thea. As Sebastian sat on the other side of her, she was not very talkative. Hadden found himself struck once more at the sadness in her, and even more so his desire to help her, to lift that sadness from her.

  Esmay sat to the other side of him, and she sparkled like a clear stream in the sun, but she was not as captivating as her quiet sister.

  He was puzzled at his growing preference for her.

  Before he could think too long on it, the king rose. “Sir Hadden, it is time. Daughters, if you would retire, please.” He waited as all twelve of the princesses stood and hurried from the room. Then he turned to Hadden again.

  “Now you will go to your chamber and see if you can discover the truth.” Aland sat down heavily.

  Hadden stood and bowed to the king and queen. He could see worry in the queen’s eyes. He bowed to the hall at large, and with a glance at Roysten, left the hall.

  “This is it, Hadden. Are you ready? You don’t seem as focused as I’d like to see,” said Roysten.

  “I keep thinking about Princess Thea.” He didn’t want to tell Roys, but he didn’t lie.

  Roysten shook his head. “That is a dog that will not hunt for you, son. I hate to be the continuous specter at the feast, but she is engaged. Betrothed. Promised. Going to marry a Crown Prince! You’re a finer man ten times over, but this it what is!”

  Hadden sighed. “I know. You’re right. So. What is our plan tonight?”

  “To stay awake all night and see where these mad girls go.” Roysten sounded gruff.

  “You’ll have to be nice to one of them, at least, when I succeed,” Hadden said, laughing. “I won’t push for all twelve, but at least one.”

  “Let’s get through the first night, shall we?”

  They reached their chambers and the surly guard saw them in, even shutting the door to their room once they’d entered.

  “Means business, doesn’t he?” Roysten nodded at the door. “Not the lot I’d put on guard for my daughters.”

  “I would. They’d kill us soon as look at us.”

  “Then how are we supposed to watch the princesses?”

  “The cloak, remember? And don’t drink anything or take any food from them tonight. That’s what Grizelle said.”

  Roysten shuddered. “There is something truly bad at work here, Hadden.”

  “I know. The sisters I ask about it directly get this startled rabbit look and parrot the same words while doing their best to end the conversation.”

  “The girls who serve the princesses don’t like it. They say they are bewitched at night because anyone who is assigned to stay in chambers sees and notices nothing, and yet, the slippers are still ragged.” Roysten’s brow was furrowed. “I’d say they’re not wrong.”

  “Grizelle said that, said it was a curse. Curses usually are put one party by some other party. So we’ll see what—”

  His words were cut off by a knock on the door. Roysten went to it, and opened it. After a moment, he opened the door wide, and bowed.

  Thea came in.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I have come to ask you if you would care to join us in some wine before bed,” she said. Her face was pale, and she looked as though she might be ill.

  Hadden slid his eyes to Roysten. Just as Grizelle had warned them about. “I thank you, my lady, but I fear I might have indulged overmuch this evening. I shall pass.” He smiled, not wanting her to know that her words had just sent a chill down his spine.

  It was true. The princesses were involved.

  “It’s a tradition we have,” she said, not giving up. “Perhaps your man can come and get a cup for you.” She smiled, but it looked very forced. “It’s right out here,” she turned and spoke over her shoulder as she walked away.

  “Well?” Roysten mouthed at him.

  “Go get it,” Hadden hissed. “Don’t let it touch you!”

  Roysten walked carefully out the door, leaving it open. Hadden moved to the doorway, wanting to see what happened.

  Thea stood in front of a cabinet on the far wall of the solarium, her back to the room, and to him. She was pouring wine from a pitcher. Her head moved a fraction over her shoulder—someone not watching carefully wouldn’t have seen it, but Hadden did. Then her hand went to her pocket, and she took something from it, quickly passing it over the cup. He squinted his eyes, wanting to see what she was about.

  It looked like—like a large jewel? It winked in the candlelight like a jewel. Even more quickly than she’d taken it out, she put it back in her pocket. As Roysten came closer, she turned around.

  “Here is the wine for your commander. May I pour you a glass, as well?”

  “I thank you, my lady, but I have work to do before I am abed.” Roysten bowed his head. Hadden could tell that he was struggling. He must have also seen her add something to the wine.

  Thea smiled, and again it was the forced, almost painful looking smile. “Of course. I shall not keep you from your duties. Pray give this to Sir Hadden with our compliments.”

  Roysten took the cup and bowed, returning quickly to the room. Hadden had stepped inside the room so that he wasn’t seen peering out the door, and within a moment, Roysten was back in, closing the door.

  “Did you see that? She added something to it!”

  “I saw. What did she pull from her pocket?”

  “It looked to be a large jewel with a chain,” Roysten shook his head. “I’d have not believed it had not I seen it myself. I’m afraid for you, Hadden. She’s evil.”

  Hadden shook his head. “I don’t think so, but you’re right that something evil is afoot. I’m betting that whatever she added is supposed to make me sleep. So let’s dump out half of the wine and get in bed, and we shall see what happens.”

  “What do you expect?”

  Hadden grinned. “Do any of these princesses seem powerful strategists to you? They seem like scared and upset ladies, to me. Which is exactly what they are. So what are they scared of? That’s what we’ll discover. I would guess they are afraid we’ll be awake. Why would that be? They are unhappy about the deaths, you’ve heard that as well.”

  Roys nodded.

  “So why add a potion? To keep us asleep. Why would they do that? They are afraid of the person or persons telling them they need to ensure we’re asleep. Let’s pretend, and I shall wager we see one or more of them popping a head in here to see if we are, in fact, asleep.”

  “I’ll not take that wager because I think you’re right, although I think we’ll see them gloating. Vultures, all of them.” Roysten crossed his arms, disgusted.

  Hadden shook his head. “I don’t think so. Although if you’re right…”

  “We’ll be picking up the pieces of you,” Roysten finished.

  “Let’s hope you’re wrong then.”

  They didn’t speak as they readied for bed. Finally, Hadden took a single candle, and set it on the small table near his bed. “All right. No matter what, pretend you’re asleep.”

  Roysten didn’t reply, although Hadden could hear some mumbling as the other man got into his bed.

  He woke suddenly, wanting a sword.

  The candle was guttering out. He listened, trying to determine what had woken him. Then he heard it. Small, scratching-like noises near the door. He tilted his head so that he could watch the door, and slowly the handle turned. The door opened, and a head came into view.

  He heard whispering from outside the door, and then the head spoke. “No, he’s asleep. I believe they both are. I was hopeful it would be otherwise.” She sounded sad. He thought it was Thea.

  “I know. Let us go.” The head sighed and disappeared. The door shut, with less caution than it had been opened.
>
  He lay still. When he felt sure they’d moved from the door, he slid out of bed, and rearranged the cloak on his shoulders. He’d not wanted to leave it out in the open, and so had put it on before getting into bed. He crept to where Roysten slept. He shook him but Roysten didn’t stir, didn’t wake, and showed no signs of awareness. He shook his shoulder again. Still no movement.

  Something was wrong, but he didn’t have the time to figure it out. He had to get moving if he was going to see what the princesses were doing.

  He pulled the hood of the cloak up onto his head and looked down. He was invisible. Looking at the cloak, Hadden realized he probably ought to have tested it prior to right now. For the umpteenth time, he thought, I really hope Grizelle is right. The level of sorcery involved in this ought to scare him, but he was too concerned about losing the princesses.

  He went to his door and slipped out. He stood, listening. He could hear voices further down the hall, where the princesses’ chambers were. Stepping lightly, he hurried down the hall into their sleeping chamber, where it appeared as though all of them were gathered around a bed. He had to clasp his hand to his mouth, nearly giving himself away, when he saw the bed move to the side. One by one, with Thea in the lead, the princesses disappeared into the floor.

  He put aside his shock, and concentrated on following them. He waited behind the last princess, who was Viviana. Once she’d begun to descend, he was able to get close enough to see the stairway that lead down under the bed. He followed after her. Good thing he’d moved swiftly. The stairway opening closed behind him, nearly hitting his head. He put his hand up instinctively, and knocked against the top of the now closed stairway.

  “What was that?” Viviana turned her face upwards, and it looked as though she was looking right at him. “Thea! Did you hear that?” She called ahead.

  The line stopped moving. Thea inched along her sisters. “Vivi, it was nothing but your imagination. Let us go. We can’t be late. You know that.” There was worry in Thea’s voice.