First Light

by Michele Paige Holmes

  “Go on,” I said, nearing the tree where he’d first found me.

  “My mother wanted to negotiate— not apologize or anything of that sort,” Hale hastily added. “But she tried to figure a way for a marriage between the princess and me to still be arranged. Of course it wasn’t.”

  I detected a trace of bitterness in his voice.

  “Cecilia and I had a few minutes together in the garden. She was very quiet and shy… and kind.”

  “She is kind,” I agreed.

  “She wasn’t disgusted by my leg,” Hale continued, warming to his story. “But she asked about it. She wanted to know if it pained me much, and she was impressed I could walk and ride and do some things close to a normal man. ”

  Hale’s voice was filled with loneliness and yearning, two things I well understood. I waited, wondering if he would say more.

  “I’ve never forgotten that day,” he said at last. “I came tonight because I wanted one more chance to be with her. I wanted to see if she was as kind and lovely as I remembered.”

  “And?” I prompted.

  “She was even more.”

  Long after Hale had succumbed to a drunken slumber, I stayed in the clearing, wide awake, a tumult of thoughts churning through my mind. While I reflected on the strange night it had been, I started a fire and kept it going so we both wouldn’t freeze before morning.

  It seemed as if days had passed since I’d kissed Cristian in the hidden garden. Since then, my world had been turned even more upside down. And all because of the man sleeping a few feet away.

  I watched his steady breathing and felt the same surge of sympathy I’d had when first seeing his deformed leg the night he stole the pearls. My pearls. Why are they mine? The longer Hale and I had talked, the more convinced I’d become that he spoke the truth about the bracelet. Had I been wrong to leave the castle with it— especially with the princess’s life in such imminent danger?

  Only four more days, I thought, both relieved for Cecilia and sad for myself. Once she and Cristian exchanged vows, she would be safe and the prophecies would begin to be fulfilled.

  “Thought you were going to leave.” Hale leaned up on one elbow and gave an enormous yawn.

  I turned away, repulsed by his stubby, blackened teeth. “You might have frozen to death. Someone had to build and keep a fire.” Never again would I leave one unattended.

  “I always heard tell that freezing is a nice way to go— certainly better than what I’m facing. But I thank you for the warm rest, little maid. And now we’d best part ways. I have an execution to look forward to, and you have a home to return to in…”

  “My home is gone, and I don’t understand why you’re so bent on self-destruction.”

  Hale raised his arms above his head, stretching. “Told you. I don’t want no one else involved. You remember those other fellas who were with me the day I took your pearls?”

  I nodded warily.

  Hale drew his hand across his throat. “Mother wasn’t too pleased when we returned without the bracelet.”

  “That you returned is the problem,” I said, trying not to think of the other two, rather pathetic outlaws, meeting their demise at least in part because of me. “Don’t go to Baldwinidad. Return to the castle with me. Together we can protect the princess until her wedding.”

  Hale threw back his head and let go a loud, hearty laugh. “You think they’d let me in?”

  “I—”

  “No.” He held up his hand. “Even if they did— which they won’t— I’d be no use to the princess, none at all.”

  “You were at the ball,” I insisted. “You held her life in your hands and not only spared it, but gave her warning of the danger she’s in.” That Hale had defied his mother so bravely was, to me, a sign of an inner goodness, and I saw no reason for him to return home to certain death. My father had taught me much about being a good judge of character, and I relied upon that counsel— and my instincts— now. Though Hale’s identity alone should have made me afraid, I was not and could not deny my intuition telling me that he was much more— much better— than he appeared. “Couldn’t you get word to your mother that your first attempt to get Cecilia’s heart failed, but you’re staying behind to try again? If you could persuade her— if she thinks you’re going to kill the princess— she won’t send anyone else to do it.”

  “Mother would never believe it. She’d know they’d never let me near the castle looking like this.” Hale cast a rueful glance at his leg. “Last night I was under a spell, and I appeared as a normal man. Not the beast I am,” he added quietly.

  “You’re not a beast.” Though as I looked at him, I saw his point. Even if speaking Merry Anne’s name earned me entrance to the castle once again, I wasn’t at all sure the guards would let Hale through as well. Aside from his leg, there were the matters of his ragged clothes and unkempt hair and person.

  I brought a hand to my chin, considering.

  He gave a dark chuckle as he rose from the ground. “Mother’s finally going to get her wish.”

  “What wish is that?” I asked, thinking of Cecilia. If I was any sort of decent person I’d already be on my way to her side, ready to be loyal and do my duty.

  “When I was born and my mother first saw me, she cursed me to hell. That’s how I came by my name. Only my nurse’s kindness— God rest her sweet soul—” Hale placed a hand over his heart and looked briefly to the sky— “spared me from being called such.” I detected the hurt beneath his words.

  “You’ll go no such place,” I said. “What you did last night was noble and brave.”

  “And well worth it.” He opened the box containing the lock of hair Cecilia had given him.

  I noticed the reverent way he looked at it. Do his feelings for her run as deeply as mine for Cristian? I sensed they did. Perhaps that was why I wished him to accompany me to the castle. Loath though I was to return and face Cristian, I knew what I had to do— protect Cecilia at all costs so she could marry him. Seeing them together would be beyond difficult. If Hale was with me, I might find in him an ally and someone who understood my pain.

  I stared at Hale now, really looked at him. His eyes had softened, and the planes of his face no longer seemed as hard. A definite goodness radiated from his being, his devotion to Cecilia at the root of it.

  To be sure, the repulsive outlaw still stood before me, but I saw much more than that now. Beneath his crusty surface, there was a good man inside, dying to come out.

  A sudden idea struck me, one that might possibly save him from dying. Before I could change my mind, I followed the impulse, reached in my dress, and removed the strand of pearls. Hale took no notice, as he was bent over, attempting to pull a boot over his misshapen foot.

  I slid a pearl from the string and placed it on my upturned palm, rationalizing that if I used it to transform Hale then he could help me protect Cecilia. I recalled Merry Anne’s instruction that I save the pearls for times of great danger, and I knew this did not qualify. But this will help him, and what could be wrong about that? Nothing, I quickly decided.

  “I wish…” I began, then paused, thinking through with care exactly what I must say.

  “Hmmph.” Hale grunted as he continued struggling with his boot.

  Raising my voice loud and clear, I began again. “I wish the man before me, Hale, Prince of Baldwinidad, to be returned to the vigor of his youth—”

  “No!” Hale shouted, a horrified expression on his face as he stared at the glowing pearl in my outstretched hand.

  “Strong in body,” I continued without a breath, “with limbs straight and sure, healthy teeth, clean hair, a clear face reflecting his inner strength and goodness. I wish him a courageous heart, and the effects—” I sent Hale a disparaging look as I added the last— “of too much ale ceased.”

  “No— no,” he half shouted, half groaned, ducking as the pearl flew from my hand, headed straight toward him. It burst into hundreds of tiny shards, streaming over his body
like an unexpected cloudburst.

  I held a hand to my face, squinting my eyes nearly shut against the glare before me. I could hear Hale’s groans, and I hoped the magic wasn’t hurting him too much. I still remembered, with great clarity, the way the pearl had burned my finger when I was in the gypsies’ wagon. I could only imagine the agony Hale must be feeling if the particles raining down on him each held that same, intense heat.

  “I’m sorry if it hurts,” I called. “It won’t last long. I only wanted to help.” Hugging myself, I waited as the stream gradually became a trickle and then a mist. After a few minutes, that, too, dispersed, and a clean, handsome, exasperated-looking young man stood in the clearing.

  “Adrielle— why?”

  Seeing his pained expression, I felt awful— for a split second. And then a smile broke out on my face. He was wonderful. Wavy, brown hair fell across his brow in a boyish sort of way, and his eyes were clear and bright. Not a wrinkle or blemish was to be found on his face. Even his teeth were restored. He was taller, broad and muscular. He—

  “Didn’t anyone tell you?” Instead of looking happy, Hale appeared distressed. I saw why as he started to limp toward me.

  “Your foot,” I gasped, looking down at the limb— as deformed as ever. It’s my fault. I did ruin the magic somehow. I won’t be able to use the last pearl to protect the princess.

  “Magic doesn’t work on it,” Hale said. “No magic, not even a charmed bracelet, has the power to change things from how they were when they entered this world. There is nothing that will ever mend my leg and foot.”

  “But you said last night—”

  “Black magic. And temporary. Even that cost my mother dearly. But at midnight the spell was broken. And I was as you saw me— wretched as ever.”

  “You aren’t wretched now,” I said, refusing to be sorry I’d used the pearl. “Your outward appearance is now as good as the inner man.”

  “Inner man? Have you any idea of the things I’ve done?” His face filled with agony. “What do you know of my soul?”

  Without a trace of fear, I walked to him. We stood, almost as close as Cristian and I had in the garden, facing each other. “I know it is good. You’re good.”

  It was then the lone pearl began to burn against my skin.

  “There it is. There’s the fire!” The shout echoed through the trees, disturbing the stillness and peace of the moment.

  I swung around as riders stormed into the clearing. I recognized Gemine at once, followed by several other men from his band.

  “Adrielle, we meet again. How fortunate.” His voice was as smooth as ever, but this time I refused to be charmed by it.

  “For whom,” I asked, eyeing the whip in Gemine’s hand.

  Behind me, I heard Hale’s shocked voice. “Gypsies.”

  “Told you,” I whispered. Beneath my gown the pearl was practically scorching.

  “I see the company you keep hasn’t improved much.” Gemine jumped down from his horse. “Do you know who he is?”

  “Yes—”

  “He’s the son of Queen Nadamaris of Baldwinidad,” Gemine said, not giving me a chance to finish my answer.

  “I know,” I said coldly. “And I well remember what a snake you are.” I whirled away from him, sending a quick, pleading glance Hale’s direction. “Let’s go.”

  “He’ll take you to the queen. He’s intended that since he met you here.” Gemine’s hand gripped my arm. I tried, unsuccessfully, to shrug him away.

  “Let her go,” Hale said.

  Gemine laughed. “And you’ll make me?”

  Hale’s fist connected with Gemine’s face a half second later. Hale glanced at me as I jerked free of Gemine’s grasp. “Run, Adrielle. Back to Castle Canelia as fast as you can.”

  I hesitated, unwilling to leave my new friend. It was a noble, though costly move. One of Gemine’s cohorts grabbed me, twisting my arms painfully behind my back. Two others attacked Hale, kicking his gimp leg out from under him.

  “Stop,” I cried as he crumbled to the ground beneath their blows. “You’re wrong about him. He’s not who you think he is. He isn’t bad. He wouldn’t harm the princess.”

  One of the gypsy men grinned at me, his teeth flashing close to my face. “Of course he wouldn’t. But we will.”

  Exhausted after traveling all day and night and most of the following day, I stared up at gloomy Baldwinidad Castle, visible above the surrounding trees. Dark gray stone matched the clouds gathered overhead, and a labyrinth of twisted turrets sprang out of the ground at odd angles.

  We were almost there.

  Gemine’s horse had gradually slowed the past half hour so that we now hung considerably behind the group. I wanted to believe he was as reluctant as I to arrive, but I knew better. Though he hadn’t been the one delivering the blows to Hale, he’d not protested and had, once again, taken me against my will.

  “Listen to me,” he hissed in my ear.

  “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” I purposely kept my gaze straight ahead, my back stiff. Earlier I’d fallen asleep and upon waking had been appalled to find Gemine’s arm around me and my head nestled against his chest. Since then I’d kept as much distance between us— little though that was on the same horse— as possible.

  “You want to hear this,” he said. “Your life may depend upon it.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Because I’m trying to help you.”

  “By taking us to the queen?” I shook my head. “I still haven’t forgotten how much help you were the last time we met.”

  “I’m sorry,” Gemine said. “About that— and this. But I had no choice today. Nadamaris found out that we knew who you were and that we’d let you escape with the pearls. She was going to kill my mother and sisters if we didn’t find you and deliver you to her.”

  Remembering how his mother had treated me and the curse one of the other gypsy women had cast upon my legs, I felt no sympathy for his cause. “You know magic, too. Why not curse Nadamaris or put a spell on her or something?”

  “Our abilities cannot touch hers,” Gemine said. He ceased talking as one of the other men glanced back at us. We were nearly to the castle, and I couldn’t imagine what Gemine might tell me that could somehow save my life. I decided to listen anyway and turned my face slightly toward his.

  “There is a shallow cave on the north side behind the castle.” His lips hardly moved as he spoke; his voice was a mere whisper. “One of Canelia’s fairies risked her life coming here to charm it, so that Nadamaris cannot see or hear anyone hiding there.”

  Zipporah. As the fastest, the task would have fallen to her. I prayed she was all right, that she had made it home safely.

  “When you escape, go there, and you will be well until nightfall, when you can travel under cover of dark.”

  “When I escape—”

  “Shh.” He silenced me with a look. Up ahead the gates swung open. “She hears exceptionally well,” he whispered.

  Gemine nudged his horse and caught up with the others. I dared not say another word but concentrated on observing everything around me.

  When you escape… I didn’t trust Gemine, but his words lent hope. I was not finished yet. I had my wits about me, and beneath my dress, I had one pearl left. Though were I to use it here, I should certainly wish myself much farther away than a supposedly enchanted cave behind Nadamaris’s castle.

  The gypsies delivered Hale and me to the guards at the tall, spiked gate, where I watched as bags of gold were exchanged. As Gemine took a bag of gold, fresh doubt sprung up in my mind. Where were the women he’d said were held prisoner? Has he lied yet again? Have I been betrayed for a few bags of gold? I hated him even more than when I’d been a prisoner in the gypsy camp. Seething with anger, I gave him one last glare.

  “You’re despicable. A snake and a— a coward.” I would have spit at him, but one of the queen’s guards turned me roughly around.

  The gypsy horse
s thundered off, and the gates swung shut. I looked to Hale, hoping we might speak freely now, that he might have some idea how we were to get out of this mess. After all, it was his home.

  But a pair of guards took him one way and pulled me the other.

  “Hale,” I cried. He didn’t answer, and the guards soon had me out of shouting distance. Doing my best to conceal my fear, I walked between them as they led me through a tall door of a side tower.

  Steps wound upward in a dizzying spiral, and it took what energy I had left after the long ride to place one foot in front of the other and climb. But I refused to be dragged. Finally we reached the top landing and another door— this one made of iron.

  One guard inserted a key and swung the door open. I was pushed into the darkness and heard the finality of the metal thudding closed behind. The cool air of the chamber enveloped me, sending a shiver down my spine. Forcing myself to stand perfectly still, I waited patiently for my eyes to adjust. Gradually the choking darkness lightened enough that I was able to make out the shape and details of the circular room.

  Thick stone walls made up the narrow space. There were no windows in the walls, no bars on the door that had shut behind me. Save for the faint waft of air beneath the door, I was entombed.

  There was no furniture in the room that I could tell, but there also didn’t appear to be any rats or other creatures inhabiting the space. Giving into my exhaustion, I slid to the floor, curled up on my side and fell asleep.

  Sometime later, an agonizing scream awoke me.

  I sat up, cold sweat breaking out along my forehead and gooseflesh on my arms as the grisly scream came again. Pulling my knees to my chest, I buried my head and covered my ears with my hands, but I could not drown out the sounds— torturous, grinding noises followed by continuous, blood-curdling screams.

  Someone is being murdered.

  I thought suddenly of Hale and his casual remark about his heart being good enough for his mother to take her temper out upon. Is that— I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to think of him laid out on a table, a blade plunged repeatedly into his chest.