‘The Grand Duke!’ Izolda and I echoed.
‘Amadey told us about how you’d once tried to seek the protection of Almain,’ said Glarya’s uncle. ‘And so we thought it necessary to mention this to our kinsman. Relations between feyin and humans are warm in Almain.’
Izolda stared at him. ‘Then does that mean …?’
‘Yes, Princess,’ he said cheerfully. ‘The Erlking has not only released you from any binding to his son, he and the Grand Duke are willing to speak on your behalf, to both your father and the Supreme Council of Krainos.’
Glarya’s aunt smiled at us both. ‘Our kinsman’s heart was touched by the story of your suffering and your courage. He is a good man, not one to let pride stand in the way of what is right. Now it is up to the Prince. But I do not think he will stand in your way, not anymore.’
Izolda’s voice shook a little as she answered. ‘I hope – I do so hope that you are right.’
‘Whatever happens,’ I put in, ‘we are eternally grateful to you.’
‘Oh, absolutely,’ said Izolda, and I saw the shine of tears in her eyes. ‘So grateful, always. To be safe amongst such good friends – you cannot imagine what it means …’
‘Then we are glad, very glad,’ said Glarya’s uncle, gently, and the others nodded.
‘But will you tell us what happened?’ said Glarya. ‘How did you get out? Where have you been?’
And so we told them, each of us taking up different parts of the story. The strange thing was that, though it was clear this was all news to them, and though they were astonished by a good deal of it, I got the sense that one thing at least was not a big surprise for Glarya’s aunt and uncle, as they exchanged a glance. It was like a vague puzzle at the back of my mind, something that didn’t quite make sense, and suddenly it clicked.
Izolda saw the glance too, and it was she who said, ‘You suspected the Commander had feyin blood, didn’t you?’
‘Well –’ said Glarya’s uncle Darag, uncomfortably, ‘not what you might call a real suspicion. Only a very vague notion that he seemed to have come out of nowhere – and that during the war he had shown uncanny skill in understanding how feyin think –’
‘I thought perhaps he must have had training with some solitary,’ said Glarya’s aunt Karin. ‘It’s happened before. But now …’ Her face darkened. ‘How could a man turn so against his own people?’
‘Who exactly are his people?’ I said. ‘It is Krainos he betrayed first and foremost, with the tissue of lies by which he made us live.’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Karin, gently. ‘He betrayed all of us.’
‘I wonder if my father had any such suspicion,’ Izolda mused.
‘We do not know, my lady,’ said Darag. His voice was a trifle dry. ‘Of course, we are not in the Prince’s counsels, but it seems to me that the Prince would have dealt harshly with such a renegade, if he had any certain knowledge of this thing.’
‘That’s true,’ said Izolda. She pointed to the longvoice. ‘May I send a message to my father so he knows I am safe?’
I watched as Izolda wrote her message on the tablet and pressed it on one of the fine sheets. She placed it onto the box, and the opal wires lit up, the sheet melted, and then a grainy voice coming from the box repeated the message Izolda had written on the sheet. But, though one part of me was awestruck, in another I was simply exhausted, unable to take in anything anymore.
The Prince’s reply came swiftly: Do not leave. You must wait till morning. Sleep well, my daughter.
Izolda’s face lit up like a lamp, and I did not have the heart to say that I was not sure that her father had changed his mind. Well, it was more than I could think about, all I longed for was to lie with my love in the nest of blankets Glarya arranged for us at the far end of the room.
I do not even remember falling asleep, only taking Izolda’s hand and holding on to her as we drifted off together into blissful peace and silence.
Izolda
When I woke I thought at first that I was dreaming, for I was no longer in the watchtower, but in my own room in the Palace. And Kasper was nowhere to be seen. Terror-stricken, I jumped out of bed, and saw Glarya dozing in a chair by the window.
‘Where is he?’ I shouted at her. ‘What have you done?’
She scrambled up, startled. ‘Nothing, my lady. He is in the room next door. You were still both so deeply asleep when they brought you and …’
I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I raced out of the room and down the corridor to the next one, pulling open the door with such force that it crashed against the wall, waking up Amadey with a jump. Kasper was lying in bed, white as the sheets around him. My heart missed a beat, from fear, because in that first moment I could not see him breathing; and then it missed another, from joy this time as he opened his eyes and sat up. Uncaring of Amadey’s confusion and Glarya’s twitterings behind me, I flew into Kasper’s arms and we hugged so tightly that the breath was nearly squeezed out of us both.
Presently, we drew apart enough to ask a blushing Amadey how we came to be here. He explained to our astonishment that it was three days since we had fallen asleep in the watchtower, and that that first morning my father had come with a detachment of Marshals to fetch us back.
‘But still you slept on,’ he said. ‘It was as though you had not slept for a hundred years.’
Kasper laughed. ‘It certainly felt that way.’
And I saw the last shadow lift from his eyes, the last of the fear that my father would try to keep us apart.
There was a knock on the door. It was Lord Parigan, looking as sour as ever. Casting a disapproving glance at Kasper, he said, ‘His Royal Highness awaits you both in his study after breakfast.’ He paused. ‘And may I say, Princess, how glad I am to see you safely back where you belong.’
‘Why thank you, Lord Parigan,’ I said demurely, ‘both for that kind sentiment and for understanding that where I most belong is by the side of the man I love.’
He made a little harrumphing sound, but bowed and left. When he’d gone, Kasper turned to me and smiled. ‘I rather think you shocked the good Lord Chamberlain, Princess Izolda.’
‘Well, then all’s right with the world indeed,’ I answered lightly, and we all laughed.
When we came into my father’s study, the first thing I noticed was my mother’s portrait. Was it my imagination, or were her lips curved in a smile I was sure had not been there before? But I did not have much time to think about it, for the three men in the room rose to greet us – the Erlking, the Grand Duke of Almain and my father, looking drawn and paler than usual, as though he had not slept at all. He came towards me, ignoring the others, and enfolded me in his arms.
‘Oh, my daughter, I thought you were lost for good,’ he murmured. ‘They told me … he had planned to take you to the abyss and …’
I hugged him back, crying, ‘But he did not, we got away from him, Father. I’m fine. Oh, I’m sorry, Father – the spell – I did not even know it was coming. I did not mean to hurt you but, you see, I had to do it or –’
‘I know,’ he said tenderly, stroking my hair. ‘It’s quite all right. You don’t need to explain, it is over.’ His eyes shone with tears. I’d never seen him crying before. Then he looked over my head and said in a different tone, to Kasper, ‘You never give up, do you?’
‘No, Sire, I do not,’ Kasper replied, steady and calm.
My father detached himself from me, and I thought for one terrible instant that he was going to attack Kasper again. I stepped between them. ‘No, Father! To hurt him you must hurt me, for he is the man I love, the man I will spend the rest of my life with, whatever you do. If I have to choose, I will do so without a second’s thought or one look back. Do you understand?’
‘I certainly do,’ said my father, and a strange expression crossed his face. I would almost call it sheepish if such a thing were possible in such a proud man.
Behind him, the others were watching; the Erlking with an amu
sed half-smile, the Grand Duke with a sympathetic expression.
‘But there is no need for such words, my dearest Izolda,’ he went on. ‘I did not intend any hurt. I intended only …’ He broke off, seemingly lost for words, before swallowing visibly and starting again. ‘I was intending only to say how thankful I was that he had never given up.’ He turned and faced Kasper directly. ‘I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kasper Bator, and to say that the debt I owe you is greater than I can ever repay.’
Kasper
It cost him to say that, and in front of witnesses, too. The black feyin eyes were fixed on my face, and I felt a little catch in my throat as I replied, ‘There is no debt to repay, Sire.’ I took Izolda’s hand. ‘But if you will give us your blessing, I will count it an honour.’
The Prince was silent a moment, looking from me to Izolda, his expression clearly showing his inner struggle. He knew he could not part us and he did not harbour any ill will towards me, not anymore. He was genuinely grateful. But he was a Prince, and could not wholeheartedly approve of this match.
The Grand Duke looked like he wanted to say something, but didn’t. It was the Erlking who spoke up. ‘In the Lady’s name, Caraden, what are you waiting for?’ he drawled.
It was the first time I had ever heard anyone address the Prince by his name. I did not even think I ever knew his name. I would say it humanised him, if he weren’t a feyin. It certainly disarmed him. He gave a little shrug and smiled. ‘It seems I have no choice, Kasper Bator. You will do what you will do, with or without my blessing. But for what it is worth, you have it, and gladly.’ He paused. ‘On one condition.’
‘Father!’ Izolda cried. ‘There are no more conditions that you can impo –’
‘Wait, my daughter,’ he said, holding up a hand. ‘Kasper Bator,’ he went on, turning to me, ‘you are a man of Krainos. You love your country, and I understand that. Indeed, I respect that. But one day, the throne of Night will pass to my daughter I want you to agree that when that time comes, you will not try to prevent it, but will be by her side, and help her in every way that she needs.’
I looked him straight in the eyes. ‘I promise, Sire, by all that is holy – by the love I bear for the Princess – that I will do my utmost to keep that promise. I also swear this: I will strive by any means in my power to ensure that peace between Krainos and Night will never be broken again.’ I looked at the Grand Duke and the Erlking. ‘And with your support, Your Royal Highnesses, I think it can work.’
‘Indeed,’ said the Grand Duke, gravely. ‘Indeed. You will have our full support, Kasper Bator, however you need it.’
‘And ours,’ said the Erlking, ‘even if it only amounts to my reminding Caraden that revenge rarely solves anything, and certainly not a broken heart.’
Over his shoulder, I glimpsed the portrait of Izolda’s mother. The Prince saw the direction of my glance, and smiled a little sadly. ‘You are quite right, Florizel,’ he said to the Erlking, ‘as always.’ Then he held out a hand to me. ‘Shall we pledge to a new beginning?’
‘A new beginning,’ I echoed. As I shook the hand of the man who I once would have considered my bitterest enemy, I could not help thinking of what would be waiting for us in the future. I had made promises I intended to keep. I vowed to be up to the task, whatever came.
‘Now, then, Lord Parigan and the Archbishop have been planning a grand thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate your safe return and welcome our guests from Almain,’ the Prince said. ‘And I know he will be most anxious that it not be delayed. But, if there is truly to be a new beginning, then there is one more thing which must be done first.’ He clapped his hands, and at once a giant Marshal appeared. ‘Bring the prisoner in,’ he said. ‘We will decide his fate right now.’
Even though I knew who it must be, it was still a shock to see him being dragged in, his hands bare and covered in cuts, his face bruised with one eye closed. Yet his one good eye still glared proudly. With his face expressionless, he stared straight ahead not saying a word, as Izolda’s father began to speak.
‘He was caught just as he tried to escape through the Lake,’ said the Prince. ‘He fought like a demon and it took the Marshals a good while to subdue him. We informed the Supreme Council of Krainos immediately and demanded an explanation. It seems there was none – that is, the Council had no idea he was here and certainly had not authorised his actions in any way. They were panic-stricken at the thought of how we might react. We reminded them that such an incursion was a serious breach of the terms of peace, and they agreed with us. They have washed their hands of him now and will accept whatever we choose to do with him. Oh, and we have negotiated better peace terms.’ He smiled thinly. ‘So his fate is entirely in our hands. His crimes are grave and he does not deny them.’
‘What is the sentence, Father?’ Izolda said haltingly.
‘I have not pronounced it yet. For it seems to me that it is you, my daughter, and you, Kasper Bator, who were most injured by his evil dealings,’ said the Prince. ‘Both of you should have the last word on it.’
Izolda
I wanted the Commander to look at us, to hate us with his eyes. I wanted to think only of what he’d done: how he’d stolen me as a child, forced me to endure ten long years in the Tower and planned to kill me on my eighteenth birthday; how he’d coldly overseen the torture of Kasper, body and soul, for two years; how he’d nearly turned Kasper into a killer; how he’d intended to kill us in the abyss at the end of the world. I wanted to condemn him to, not the peace of death, but to a world of endless suffering.
But there was no hate in my heart for him, only bewilderment and confusion. I had to have some answers. I had to try to understand. ‘Commander Los,’ I said, ‘I know why you hate Night so – but why us? Why Kasper and I?’
He didn’t turn his head when he answered. ‘You have it wrong,’ he said with a shrug. ‘I don’t hate either of you. I did only what had to be done. The Chief Magus disowned his own prophecy, for it seemed the magic had died in you, but I knew that one day your power would become too great to check. Bator coming here would be the test, the trigger. And so I resolved to destroy you once and for all.’
He said it so coldly, so plainly, that there was no doubt in my mind that it was the truth. And yet I still couldn’t grasp it. ‘I know it was on your orders that I was treated as well as I might be, given I was a prisoner. You were never unkind to me in all those years, not even when you told me what was to happen on the day of my eighteenth birthday. But you were prepared to kill me. I don’t understand.’
‘You don’t have to,’ he said. ‘It just is as it is.’
Kasper
My mind was whirling with unexpected thoughts and disturbing images. I wanted to look at the Commander and see him for the killer, liar and deceiver that he was. Instead, I saw myself, a battered, bruised prisoner, trying to face his tormentors with as much pride and belief as he could muster. I saw myself in a mirror. Back then, it had been Commander Alek Los who had looked at me coldly from across the room, while the goons of the Supreme Council beat and humiliated me. The tables had been turned, and I should have thrilled to the sweet revenge. But unease mounted within me, and now it burst out in words I had never planned, words that came from I know not where. ‘But the truth is you weren’t prepared to kill Izolda – not back then – were you?’
The Commander turned his head, fixing me with a cold blue stare. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I think you know. It was not the crystal heart that transmitted the warning to me that day on the island, the day I went up the Tower and found Izolda – it was you.’
I heard Izolda gasp, but my eyes did not leave him. His face was changing, but not with softness, not with remorse or regret. It was harder than ever, more contemptuous. ‘Me? Transmit a warning?’ he said. ‘How could I do such a thing?’
‘The dreams,’ I said. ‘You had been in and out of her room in the Tower for long years and you are feyin. You could no
t see them all, just glimpses – enough to show you that somehow we were connected. Enough to show you that here was a chance you must take. You’d chosen me for the Tower Guard because you’d seen something in me that might be useful to you. You just didn’t know why – until the day you saw my face in Izolda’s dream.’
He gave a bitter laugh. ‘What a pretty tissue of fancies you spin, Kasper Bator! Even if I could do such a thing, why in the name of all the demons would I? If you think I felt something for the spawn of Night, just because she was a pretty young thing, then you truly are a fool – and a sentimental one at that.’
‘Later, you told the Prince we had escaped,’ I went on, ignoring him. ‘You did not try to find us on your own. You could have done – and killed us both in secret, but you didn’t.’
He stared at me and shrugged. ‘We were not ready for war.’
‘That is also why you transmitted the warning to me,’ I said. ‘Because Krainos was not ready for war. At least, that’s what you told yourself.’
‘Oh? Pray explain,’ he sneered.
‘You think you did this thing – you think you transmitted the Council’s intentions to me about Izolda to prevent a war you couldn’t yet win. But it wasn’t that, not really.’ I took a deep breath and drew myself up. ‘Why would a man go against everything he’s ever believed in? Because at the core of him is something else, something buried so deep he doesn’t even know it himself.’
There was dead silence in that room. Everyone was staring at me. Then the Commander said, harshly, ‘Enough! Do what you will. I expect no mercy. But I would ask only one favour – that you exact justice swiftly.’
It was such a strange thing. Alone and friendless, abandoned by the very same men who had ridden to glory and power on his back, left to his fate in this alien land, he had proudly confessed to all manner of crimes – crimes of which he was undoubtedly guilty. That same dreadful pride would not allow him to admit this one beautiful thing he’d done. That he had done it, I was absolutely certain. But it was clear he saw it as a moment of weakness – something to be ashamed of, dismissed. And it had not stopped him from trying to kill us later. I had no doubt that if the Commander had his way he would not hesitate to try again. Yet it wasn’t fear or anger or even pity that flooded through me at that moment. It was sorrow. This man was already in a greater hell than any of us could ever devise for him.
The Crystal Heart Page 22