Once
Page 50
At once, Amyot’s face changed into an expression of complete disbelief. He looked down and Benedict realized that his own stomach was being poked—just slightly—by sword that had gone straight through the captain’s body. The sword was pulled out by an unseen hand, and Amyot fell over with a small gasp, clutching his stomach as he breathed his last.
Benedict gave a sigh of relief mixed with joy as he saw who had come to his aid. “Father.”
The sounds had stopped. Nella hadn’t noticed at first. She had been holding Persephone tightly to herself, praying and feeling helpless. Her body was overwhelmed with weariness but she could not sleep.
She realized then that the loudest sounds she could hear were nothing more than the chirpings of birds and the croaking of a frog. She set Persephone down and crawled up to the ridge to peer over into the battleground below. The fighting had stopped, but the sight was still gruesome. Moving slowly, she stepped down the hillside, her eyes searching frantically for any sign of Benedict.
“Nella?”
Nella’s steps stopped abruptly and she turned. He was a mess. Bleeding. Torn. Dripping with sweat. She didn’t care. She ran into his arms.
And as she stood in Benedict’s embrace she realized that she had never felt safer.
XI.
Epilogue
Three weeks after the battle, Benedict and Nella rode back to the tower. The rope ladder that Nella had left hanging upon the balcony had fallen down, and she picked it up.
“Do you think you could climb?” she asked Benedict, looking up at the place she had called her home for twelve long years. He took the new ladder he had brought over his shoulder and obliged. He threw the ladder over the balcony and she climbed up.
It felt strange to be back at first, but as Nella opened the doors of her home and walked through the empty halls, she realized that she didn’t want to leave again. The smells of her herbs and spices, the feel of her cushions and the sight of her books—it was her home, and she loved it.
But she looked back at Benedict. She loved him, too. And she loved him more.
“Let’s go out onto the rooftop,” she said suddenly. “I’d like to see my garden.”
Weeds had found their places in her raised beds of vegetables and herbs. She plucked a sprig of the lavender she grew around the perimeter or the roof and smelled it. Home.
“Why, Leo!” she exclaimed. “And Cassiopea!” Two of her birds had returned to their nest and were fluttering about her rooftop garden. “I didn’t expect to see you again.” She extended her hand and Leo flapped his wings and descended upon her. She smiled at the familiar feel of his small talons grasping around her fingers.
“We can always come back, you know,” Benedict reminded her as he took her arm. “Like them.”
Nella looked up at the man who she now called husband and smiled. “Perhaps,” she said. “But not for a while. I must learn to love my new home, and I fear that this place will continue to trap me. I must break myself of it. And I cannot leave you—I cannot leave our people—now, when we must be strong.” Their war was over, but another, larger one was threatening the entirety of the Holy Roman Empire as France and Italy remained at odds. It would not be long, she feared, before they would be forced to take part. For once, she realized, her days spent pouring over texts of politics and governments were given some use. Odd but strangely fitting that the education her grandmother had insisted upon had prepared her for the role she’d found herself in.
Nella and Benedict collected the few things she wished to bring with her, and she comforted herself with the fact that she could still garden at the palace. And she had help now—Silvana. Orlando’s wife, had latched on to her immediately, thrilled beyond belief that her brother-in-law had married at last. She was congenial and seemed genuinely interested in Nella.
Nella had not had a friend like that since she was ten years old.
Orlando seemed to like her as well, as he contentedly found himself back in his role as second son rather than heir apparent. The queen had taken a bit longer to come to terms with her son’s choice of bride, but a few words from the king, who was still recovering from his wounds, had managed to shift her perspective. But even with their approval the court still intimidated Nella, and Benedict had spent more than one night holding her in his arms to help calm her anxiety.
She was easing into her new life gently, but her tower still called to her, tempting her back to isolation and safety. To a place with nothing to cause her attacks.
But perhaps with nothing to cause her happiness, either.
“Are you ready?” Benedict had packed her things onto their horses, which stood off to the side of the woods waiting for them.
Nella looked up at the tower one last time. “I am.” She turned to him and put her hands in his as they walked quietly away, with no noise accompanying the sound of their footsteps but the song of a single bird, aloft in the trees as its melody spoke of a freedom found at last.
About Hayden Wand
Hayden Wand is the author of the indie title Hidden Pearls as well as the novella The Wulver’s Rose, which was published in the Five Enchanted Roses collection. A Christian and a 2012 homeschool graduate, she currently attends a local college where she studies history and haunts the campus library.
Connect with Hayden
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
Other books by Hayden Wand
The Wulver’s Rose
A life is a high price to pay for stealing a rose. Nevertheless, Bonnie honors her father’s agreement and travels to the remote, ruinous castle wherein dwells the legendary creature known as a wulver—half man, half wolf. Though he is monstrous to behold, this beast is oddly gentle, tenderly caring for his beautiful rosebush, which blooms out of season. Is there more to the wulver than meets the eye? Is he somehow connected to the frightened child who visits Bonnie in her dreams?
Free on Amazon!
Hidden Pearls
When an unexpected letter sends Constance Steele on a voyage across the Atlantic, her adventure affects more people than she ever could have realized. A regency romance with a high seas twist.
For Elise
The aspiring author bought the “haunted” house to stoke his morbid imagination. Unfortunately, the house is having none of it.
Table of Contents
Once
Preface
The Mountain of the Wolf
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
About Elisabeth Grace Foley
She But Sleepeth
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Historical Note
About Rachel Heffington
Rumpled
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
About J. Grace Pennington
Sweet Remembrance
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
About Emily Ann Putzke
Death Be Not Proud
I.
II.
III.
IV.
About Suzannah Rowntree
With Blossoms Gold
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
About Hayden Wand
Table of Contents
Once
Preface
The Mountain of the Wolf
I.
II.
III.
IV.
<
br /> V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
About Elisabeth Grace Foley
She But Sleepeth
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Historical Note
About Rachel Heffington
Rumpled
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
About J. Grace Pennington
Sweet Remembrance
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
About Emily Ann Putzke
Death Be Not Proud
I.
II.
III.
IV.
About Suzannah Rowntree
With Blossoms Gold
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
About Hayden Wand