by Ashenden, V.
"Take off that mask!"
Sienna did, quickly.
"And the wig! Now!"
"That's my hair," she said. "It doesn't come off."
"What?" Vrine came back, her long fingers grasping Sienna's hair. Sienna cried out as Vrine yanked on it, pulling her so hard, Sienna stumbled.
"Ow, please, ma'am!"
"Is it dyed?"
"No, ma'am. It's just my hair."
"Who are you? Where did you come from?"
"I'm just a servant. The princess let me come and work in the kitchens."
"You're the mute!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Not so mute now." Her hand pulled back and then flew forward, slapping Sienna. Sienna cringed, but she did not move to block the blow, simply took it. She was used to Mrs. Crockery slapping her anyway. And then Vrine ripped the royal tiara from her head. "I will have you hung for this outrage."
Sienna pinched her eyes shut. "I'm sorry."
"Who helped you? Homa? Betilly?"
"N–no. I did it all on my own. It was my idea."
"Oh, you stupid girl." Vrine turned and marched to the door, pulling it open. Homa and Betilly were waiting. "Get in here!"
They stepped in, seeing Sienna's face uncovered.
"Madam Vrine," Homa began, "we acted only to spare the princess and the queen embarrassment."
"It is not for you to decide what would embarrass the queen! This is high treason! You will all hang for this! Get her out of the princess' dress. Now!"
Homa and Betilly hurried to Sienna, pulling on the ties in the back. Sienna was shaking even as she tried to push it down, stepping out of it, still in her slip.
"Cut her hair," Vrine said.
"What?" Homa said.
"At the ear. Cut it."
"Why?" Homa asked.
"Because we cannot have a child with the princess' hair running about! Cut it!"
"Let her keep it, please," Homa said. "We will send her home this evening, and no one will ever see her hair."
"The only place she is going is to the gallows, and you with her, and it is there she will not care about one lock on her head. Cut it!"
Sienna whimpered as they sat her down on the chair. Betilly came with scissors, giving them to Homa.
"Child, I am so sorry."
"Cut it!" Vrine roared.
And then Homa began cutting. Sienna cried, covering her face as the sound of the scissors echoed in her ears. Her hair had not been cut in five years, not since her mother had died. And now, it laid on the floor like trash, forming a pile, the new ends tickling her neck where it hung.
"Please, Madam Vrine," Homa said as she cut, "do not send her to the gallows. The child is blameless. It was I who sent her out."
"And you will be punished."
"But pray, do not punish her. She begged not to be sent."
"You have taken her down with you, Homa. I'll see you at the end of a rope."
Then, there was a knock at the door. The guard on the other side shouted, "Open the door! The queen is present!"
"The queen!" Homa whispered.
Sienna closed her eyes. She was definitely dead now. That was it, hung by the end of the night, maybe even within the hour. Well, at least she had experienced her first kiss, and Homa had been right. She could not ask for better than to be kissed by a prince, especially Court.
Vrine came to the door, pulling it open, bowing at the waist. "Your majesty, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Where is the princess?" the queen demanded. "I am made out to be a fool in front of my guests, in front of Prince Cross, in front of the entire kingdom!"
The queen strode in, the anger on her face turning to confusion, seeing her daughter undressed in bed, seeing Sienna there with her hair cut, a pile of golden locks at her feet, Homa standing with scissors, Betilly holding the princess' dress.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Your majesty," Vrine said, "I am sad to report you have been the victim of an imposter, sent by Homa."
"What?" the queen said, coughing. "Explain this immediately."
"I came in and—"
"Not you, Vrine!" the queen snapped. "Homa, speak! I have known you for thirty years, and yet you stand here with an imposter? Do you mean to say my daughter has been in her chambers this whole night? Speak, Homa!"
"I beg the queen's forgiveness," Homa said, putting down the scissors, falling to one knee. "The princess was...inebriated. I had no solution but to spare your majesty, the kingdom, and the prince, the embarrassment of her behavior. This girl is the one who the princess brought to serve in the kitchens. It was the similarity of her golden hair that brought on the princess' attention. We hid the hair and told her to remain mute, so as not to offend your decree, but when the princess was unable to attend the ball this evening, I foolishly, of my own thinking, not the child's, not Betilly's, only my own, asked her to don the princess' dress just long enough to pass the ball. I am so ashamed for what I have done, and so have earned your wrath and my punishment, but I beg you, I plead with you, I beseech you, spare the child. She is innocent in this and only obeyed my commands, as did Betilly."
The queen was quiet as she stared, and then she looked at Sienna, who scrunched up her shoulders, and then her eyes came to Betilly, who had her head down, and finally to her daughter, who let out a snore and turned in bed. "Homa, I am so sorely angered with what you have done. You have committed high treason upon me. You have removed the princess and placed another in her seat. You have dared to place the royal tiara on the head of a peasant. You have sullied her name. And for that, you will be punished."
"I accept it willingly."
The queen looked at Sienna. "What is your name?"
"Sienna, your majesty. I'm so sorry for what I've done."
"Why has your hair been cut?"
"I had them cut it," Vrine said. "I did not think it would do to have the townspeople see the princess' hair flying from the noose."
"You would hang this girl for obeying a command she could not refuse? Or would you hang her because she was born with golden hair?"
"She has offended the throne, your majesty."
"Homa has offended the throne. I want this child out of the castle this very moment."
Sienna whimpered, looking up. "Thank you, your majesty."
"Do not thank me. You are fortunate you are blameless in this. As it is, you have made a fool of me, and should I ever see you again, I do not think I will be as forgiving. And should you ever breathe a word of this, that you so impersonated the princess, I will have you hanged. Is that understood?"
"Yes, your majesty. I'll never speak of it. Not a word. Ever. To my grave, I promise."
"Betilly?"
"Yes, your majesty?"
"Dress her and get her out of here. Hide her hair. No one is to see her leave."
"Yes, your majesty."
Betilly hurried to bring Sienna's clothes, helping her put on the blouse and vest as she stepped into the skirt. Sienna secured the bonnet over her short hair. They both bowed to the queen before they scurried out of the room, Vrine's glare chasing them away.
"Oh, Homa," the queen said. "I am so disappointed. Whatever shall I do with you?"
Homa did not speak. She remained on her knees. The queen looked at Vrine.
"Put her in the dungeon. I'll decide what to do with her when my anger rests. No one, no one is to speak of an imposter. The damage of such a thing would be greater to our kingdom than I could imagine. Indeed, the prince would be so offended he may very well return to his father and beseech him with war. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your majesty," Vrine said. "What of the princess?"
"Stay with her until she wakes," the queen said. "I will dismiss our guests and apologize to the prince."
The queen glanced at her daughter, shaking her head before she left. Vrine motioned to the two guards outside.
"Arrest Homa and have her taken to the dungeon."
"Yes, ma'
am," the guards said, picking Homa up off the floor and dragging her away.
Vrine closed the door after them, looking down on Celeste's sleeping face. She returned to the table, picking up the scissors. As Celeste slept, Vrine snipped one lock of hair from her head. She placed it on the table. Then she took a basin and filled it with water, setting it beside the lock of hair. She took a vial from her coat, tilting her hand to let two drops fall, turning the water red. It bubbled. Then she took Celeste's lock of hair and cast it into the basin. It sizzled and vaporized. From the floor, Vrine took a lock of Sienna's hair, casting it in afterward.
"Simmer, toil, bubble, and burn,
"Reveal to me the truth I yearn.
"Are these two kin, either blood or stone,
"Show me the face of the one unknown."
Vrine lowered the candle's flame to the red water, letting it lick the surface. She pulled her hand away, holding her breath as she waited. Nothing. No sooner had her breath escaped then the surface ignited with a whoosh, sending up a cloud of smoke, taking the form of a face. Vrine gasped.
"His Majesty!"
Vrine hurried to Celeste, taking out another vile, this one with a blue liquid. With a steady, steady hand, she brought it to Celeste's lips, letting one drop fall into her mouth. Then she put the vial away.
Vrine crossed the room, snatching up a handful of Sienna's fallen hair, coming to the glass door, yanking it open and stepping out onto the princess' balcony. She withdrew from her pocket a whistle and blew. Her eyes searched the dark sky, falling on the distant Tempest Forest. A burst of flame flickered in the clouds. Vrine took out yet another vial, smashing it against the ground, a gust of black smoke rising. She cast Sienna's hair into the smoke and it caught flame, burning as it fell to the floor.
"Dragon of the sky, wake and crow,
"Your duty to me, perform, bring death and woe!
"Take the scent of the one I show,
"Devour this girl and rid me of my foe!"
Chapter Ten
The Dark Dragon
"I'm so sorry, Madam Betilly," Sienna said, wiping her eyes. "If I had done better, none of this would have happened."
"Dear, you did your best. Poor thing, it was such a burden." Betilly hugged her. "You just stay safe on the road. I'm sorry we can't take you home."
Sienna sniffled. "Is Madam Homa gonna be okay?"
"I hope so, dear. The queen has known her for so long. I do hope so." She stroked Sienna's short, golden hair. "You just go home and put this all behind you, all right?"
Sienna nodded. "If Madam Homa is okay, tell her how sorry I am, and tell her how thankful I am for letting me stay and be a princess for a night, even if I turned out to be a terrible one."
Betilly kissed Sienna's forehead. And then she took out a small leather pouch, handing it to her. "A pittance for what you've done, but your pay, six hundred silver coins."
"I don't deserve it," she said, looking up.
"You do. And I fear if you don't bring it home, your uncle will be quite sore with you."
Sienna nodded. She knew it was true.
"Off you go, dear. Safe journey."
Sienna sniffled. "Bye, Madam Betilly. Thank you for everything."
She turned and walked along the stone bridge, the towering castle doors growing smaller behind her, guards posted on either side until her feet touched dirt and a road took over. She took one last look back, seeing the great doors close, and then she was alone.
She stumbled as she walked, the ground blurry. And then water fell on her head. She looked up at the night sky. Thunder suddenly clapped and a rumble ran over the land. She gasped as a swift downpour overtook her. She took a few steps as if to run, but then, why bother? The town was a league away, and her uncle's tavern another league beyond that. She hung her head and let the rain assault her.
Bits of golden hair fell off her head, rinsed free of the tangles that held them. She raked her fingers up the back of her neck, through her hair, feeling its length, letting out a quiet sob.
The rain seemed so angry tonight, as if it was after her, but she put her head down and walked on. The road soon became muddy, surpassing the barrier of her new shoes, sinking through to her feet, making them filthy. What did it matter?
She had cried herself out by the time she reached town. It was not very late yet, just after sunset, but the rain was keeping everyone inside. Even those who normally prowled the streets were hiding indoors, which was perhaps a good thing. She held her silver coins a little tighter, as if to shield them from anyone looking out the window.
When she reached the outskirts of the town, she stopped in place. It was the sound she heard first, coming from far off. A roar. She looked back, the town lights dim, and then she looked forward, the road stretching on with nothing in sight. Perhaps the sound was only thunder.
She began walking again, faster now, her feet splashing the mud across her bare legs. And then the lightning flashed, smashing into a tree in the field. She gasped, watching the tree burn before the rain put it out. And there it was again, a roar, a little louder.
She started jogging, hoping to get home and put the rain behind her, but then the lightning crashed, lighting up the sky, and she saw it. It was black as night, a silhouette of wings stretching so far apart, with a long tail following in its wake. But as the lightning passed, she lost sight of it.
Her jog turned into a run, her heart smashing into her chest, her feet slipping in the mud, stumbling. Another roar and she was sprinting for all her might, her breath rushing to get out of her mouth.
"Oh, no. Please no," she whispered. "Mama, if you can hear, please save me."
* * *
"Sir, please stop pacing," Wellington said. "It is so unbecoming of a prince."
"She practically said no, Wellington. She did say no. No! I thought she felt something. I know I felt something. Am I deluded?"
"She needs time to get to know you. And with all respect, I am relieved."
"Relieved?" Court said, stopping and turning.
"She was so...unladylike. Clearly, the kingdom of Avelot does not care to educate their royalty upon the customs you and I have practiced and hold so dear. If her behavior was seen by King Cross at court, he would have been embarrassed to think you married a woman who behaved in such a way."
"I liked how she behaved. I like that she's not, not like us! She's fun, she's relaxed, and she makes me feel at ease. She's not judging what I say. She's not looking at my posture. She's not expecting me to act proper."
"Your highness, why are you so distressed? This is a good thing!"
"Good how?"
"You did not want to marry her. Now, we can return to Cross and tell the king about her behavior, that you proposed and she refused. He will release you from the burden. He would not have you marry such a woman, and you can do as your heart desires, travel, hunt, find adventure. This is what you wanted!"
"I wanted it before I met her!"
"Sir, I am so confused. She has no redeeming qualities. What do you see in her?"
"You are so stiff, Wellington, you cannot see past the bridge of your nose!"
"I do not find it appealing when a woman talks like a peasant, eats cherries off the floor, and rides a horse like a harlot."
"Watch your mouth, Wellington!" Court snapped.
"Sir, with all respect, if you want a peasant, they are lined up around the door, for that is what she might as well be, but for the title her birth has given her. I daresay she acted this way only to offend you, so that you would leave her in peace, and when you so asked, she had to refuse you out of hand. That is what is clear to me. Yet she did not know, nor did I, that it takes a commoner to hold your interest."
Court turned away, crossing the state room, opening the window set against the wall. The landscape stretched before his eyes. The thunder suddenly clapped and the rain fell. He took the flower still pinned to his jacket, pulling it away, twirling it between his fingers. He sniffed it once more and th
en threw it outside, the petals scattering on the wind as it fell.
"Gather the men and the horses. We're leaving."
"Now, sir?"
"Now."
"But the rain."
"I am a knight. Rain is nothing but something to wet my lips when I am thirsty. I will not stay in this castle and wait for it to clear. Get the men and the horses."
"Our departure may offend the queen."
"No more so than she has offended me! If you're right, if the princess did act only to reject me, then I will give her what she wants and I will leave."
"Yes, sir."
Wellington disappeared and Court leaned against the window frame, the water hitting his hands. "Celeste. What spell have you put me under?"
* * *
"Sip slowly, your highness," Vrine said.
Celeste nodded, sipping the hot coffee slowly. She settled back. "I cannot believe Homa could do this."
"Believe it, your highness."
"The girl has left the castle?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And the prince?"
"Her majesty dismissed her guests and invited him to stay in the castle until the rain had cleared. He was given the state room for his comfort."
"I must speak to him before the night is out and...apologize for my behavior."
"Best to let it wait until tomorrow, your highness."
"I am ashamed of myself, Vrine. I should not have allowed myself to drink so much."
"It is a trying time for you, princess."
"Goodness, what he must think of me. He will likely dismiss our courtship in the morning."
"Likely, your highness. But at least you'll get what you want."
"My mother will be furious."
"There will be other princes."
"None with the name Cross. He'll sully my name across his kingdom, won't he?"
"Yes, probably."
"There may not be any other princes after such a report."
"Then you'll truly get your way, your highness."
Celeste smirked at Vrine. "Oh, Vrine, you are so cruel."
* * *
Court rode across the stone bridge, reaching the muddy road, the hooves of his horse thundering even louder than the sky, the rain hammering into his back, running down his face and neck. He felt possessed, an invisible force willing him away from the castle, away from that girl who he had so foolishly given his heart to for a moment, only to have her drop it on the floor and trample it as she ran away.