A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2)

by Caylen McQueen

  As he slung his shotgun over his shoulder, Kieran said, “Well, at least the bastards are gone now. I do so enjoy being the hero.” He paused, amused by the sight of Lyneah fussing over Tobias. The boy's wound was hardly severe. He thought she looked like a mother, panicking over a son's skinned knees. “Oh, and by the way... the hovercraft's working again.”

  8

  Kitt found it difficult to rise each morning, especially after getting so little sleep. After waking at nearly noon, she stayed in bed for over an hour—nearly two. Her prolonged rest was finally interrupted by the arrival of one of her handmaidens, who insisted on helping her dress for the day. Kitt usually insisted on dressing on her own, but on this day, she didn't have the energy to protest. Grumbling, she held her arms over her head while Aislainn, her handmaiden, pulled on her shift.

  Kitt was usually the friendliest with Aislainn; the girl was easily her favorite handmaiden. They were of a similar age, with Aislainn being only a few years older. For that reason, she was the only handmaiden with whom Kitt had actually bonded. Aislainn was a lovely, good-natured girl with gorgeous tawny skin and curly dark hair. When they were standing side-by-side, Kitt checked their reflection in the looking glass. Next to Aislainn, Kitt thought her own face was laughably plain.

  “Have you heard the news about Prince Lysander?” Aislainn asked as she tightened Kitt's corset. As it happened, corsets were yet another reason why Kitt favored Aislainn. She was the only one who didn't tighten them until it was impossible to breathe.

  “Prince Lysander...” Kitt quietly repeated. She hadn't even heard the name before, let alone, heard any news about such a person. “Um... no. I don't think I have.”

  “Oh dear. Then you had better be seated for this, Your Highness.” Aislainn escorted Kitt to the nearest chair and encouraged her to sit. “I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, my lady, but Prince Lysander has been imprisoned.”

  “Oh no!” Kitt feigned surprise. Had she known anything about Prince Lysander—or had even the slightest shred of knowledge about him—she might have reacted more genuinely. “That's... terrible.”

  “My heart hurts to think of it,” Aislainn said with a sigh. “Your uncle has always been very kind to me. When I was much younger, and he still lived in the castle, he would always give me sweets.”

  Uncle? Kitt wasn't even aware that Lyneah had an uncle. “Um... do you know why he's been imprisoned?”

  “I'm afraid I have no idea!” Aislainn shook her head and shrugged. “Forgive me for saying so, Your Highness but... when your mother imprisons someone, she rarely requires a rational reason. Perhaps...”

  “Perhaps what?” Kitt pressed.

  “I'm... I'm not sure I should say, Your Highness.”

  “No, please.” Kitt beseeched her. “If you have any thoughts on the matter, I would like to hear them.”

  “Well...” Even though she was given leave to speak her mind, Aislainn still struggled. “I think... perhaps... Queen Loreina sees him as a threat to her rule, just as she sees you as a threat to her rule. That's why she's marrying you off as quickly as possible.”

  “Hmm.” Kitt's eyes narrowed as she tried to process Aislainn's opinion. She didn't doubt that Loreina was dangerous—but how far would the queen really go to dispose of her? That thought never left Kitt's mind. “Thank you for your insight, Aislainn. I really appreciate it.”

  “Do you think...?” For a second time, Aislainn failed to complete her thought.

  “Do I think... what?”

  “Do you think we could visit Prince Lysander in the dungeon?” Aislainn asked. “I know it is a lot to ask, Your Highness, and I have no right to do so. But... as I said, the prince was always very kind to me. It would ease my mind if I could know he wasn't suffering.”

  “Of course!” Kitt exclaimed, hopping from her chair. The topic of Prince Lysander had aroused her curiosity. “Let's go see him right now!”

  Aislainn looked surprised by the princess' willingness to fulfill her request, but she didn't complain. “Alright.”

  “Lead the way to the dungeon, Aislainn!” Kitt said, mainly because she couldn't remember where the dungeon was located. She followed the handmaiden through the door and into the hallway, at which time the guard at her door abandoned his post and followed them. Kitt couldn't go anywhere without being tailed by guards. If she ever tried to escape the castle, their constant presence would certainly make it difficult.

  “I'm... allowed to visit the dungeon, aren't I?” Kitt asked. She realized it was probably an odd question, since it was something Lyneah would already know, but she had to ask.

  Despite the strangeness of the question, Aislainn answered kindly. “Of course you're allowed, Your Highness! You're allowed to go anywhere in the castle... although Loreina would likely discourage you from visiting a place such as this. I, on the other hand, would not be allowed in the dungeon... which is why I have asked you to accompany me.”

  “Alright.” Kitt nodded. “Thank you for always being polite, Aislainn, I appreciate it.”

  “Of course I am polite, Your Highness. Why would I not be polite to the princess?”

  Kitt kept forgetting that people were paid to be nice to her. They were required to be nice. For that reason, it was impossible to know who actually liked her. In the castle, it was impossible to know who was a friend and who was a foe.

  Before they reached their destination, they encountered Queen Loreina in the hall. She looked as gaudy and unpleasant as ever, and when she saw her daughter heading in her direction, she sneered. “Ah... Lyneah.” Loreina's greeting could not have possibly sounded less enthusiastic. She didn't even pretend to be happy to see her daughter. “How lovely to see you. Your day has been good, I hope?”

  “Truth be told, I only rose from bed a moment ago,” Kitt confessed. “But other than that, my day has been pleasant enough.”

  “Ahh. You're still such a slugabed! You'll never change, will you?” Loreina was wearing a burgundy wig, which she haughtily tossed over her shoulder. “And why are you in the company of this girl?” She turned her attention to Aislainn.

  “This is Aislainn. She's one of my handmaidens.”

  “Ha!” Loreina's fake laughter echoed down the hall. “I know who she is, you dolt. I wanted to know why you're wasting your time with a handmaiden!”

  “We... we're going for a walk, Mother. A walk in the garden.”

  “You're avoiding the question, dear. Open your ears and listen. I wanted to know why you are spending time with a handmaiden!” Loreina exasperatedly tutted her tongue. “I know you're always trying to befriend these girls, and while they are passable ladies of quality, they are not suitable companions for a princess! If you desire a companion so very badly, why not invite the Duchess of Bahth to the castle? You used to be such good friends!”

  “I'll... consider it.” When the queen wouldn't budge from her path, Kitt subtly attempted to sidestep her. She was dying to escape the uncomfortable encounter. No matter how many times she spoke to Loreina, the queen never failed to intimidate.

  “Well, if you won't summon the Duchess of Bahth, then perhaps I shall!” Loreina hissed. “Now, I'll let you be on your way. Enjoy your time in the garden with your lowly friend.”

  As soon as they were freed from Loreina's company, Kitt turned to Aislainn. “I'm sorry. She's so obnoxious.” With a groan, Kitt added, “And noxious, now that I think about it.”

  “I've heard rumors that you disagree with your mother on a great many things,” Aislainn responded quietly. “But I never imagined the rumors were true.”

  “I have yet to find something Loreina and I do agree on!” Kitt hoped it wasn't too odd that she referred to the queen by name. Her tongue always rebelled against calling her “mother.”

  When they reached the dungeon, the guards seemed reluctant to let them enter, but they eventually stepped aside. As Kitt and Aislainn walked past the many cold cells, some of the prisoners shouted profanities at them. They made lewd sug
gestions, and a few of them even made dirty remarks about the ladies' private parts.

  Aislainn's gaze dropped to the ground. “I'm sorry I asked you to come here, Your Highness. I'm ashamed. A princess should not be subjected to such... indecency.”

  “It's no big deal,” Kitt assured her. While working at Lucky's, she had been exposed to every imaginable depravity. A few obscene catcalls from sex-starved prisoners weren't going to bother her. If they wanted to get under her skin, they would have to try harder than that. “Just ignore them.”

  Kitt had no idea who they were looking for, but she hoped her handmaiden would recognize him. They made it all the way to the end of the hall before Aislainn finally turned to one of the cells and exclaimed, “Prince Lysander!”

  Though Prince Lysander looked up, he didn't speak until he saw Kitt appear at Aislainn's side. “Lyneah...” he whispered his niece's name.

  “Hello, Uncle.” When Kitt's hand grazed the bars, she was surprised by how ice-cold they were. “I'm sorry to see you like this.”

  Lysander didn't respond, he simply shook his head and closed his eyes. Kitt squinted, trying to get a decent look at him, despite the darkness of the dungeon. Lysander was a handsome man with dark brown hair, possibly in his forties. There was a bit of gray around his temples, deep lines across his forehead, and he hadn't shaved in some time. He looked haggard and weary, like a man who had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  “Your Highness, do you know me?” Aislainn asked. “My name's Aislainn Cumberland. When I was a child and you were a young man in his twenties, you used to give me chocolates. Do you remember?”

  “Why would I remember that?” the prince asked with a snort. “I've encountered many people throughout my life... and because I'm a prince, they tend to remember me far better than I remember them. Why would you expect me to remember a random child?”

  “I'm... sorry... Your Highness...” Aislainn said with a sigh. When she turned away from the bars, Kitt saw the deep disappointment in her eyes.

  “Aislainn said you used to be kind to her!” Kitt spoke up on her friend's behalf. “It's unfortunate that you'd want to alter her good opinion of you now.”

  “Forgive me if I don't feel like being kind while I'm imprisoned.” With a low grunt, Lysander turned his back to Kitt. “And unless you're thinking of a way to get me out of here... I have nothing to say to you either. Go away, Lyneah.”

  “But!” Kitt started to speak, but she didn't know what to say. He seemed determined to greet her as frigidly as possible.

  “Go away, Lyneah,” he repeated. “You are your mother's daughter, and I have no desire to look upon your face.”

  “I'm not asking you to be kind, but you don't have to be rude! Whether you know it or not, we're on the same side.”

  Lysander shook his head at her words. “We'll only be on the same side when we're on the same side of the bars. Now go.”

  Aislainn took Kitt's wrist and, as gently as possible, proceeded to guide her away from Lysander's cell. “I'm so sorry, Your Highness,” she apologized again. “We should have never come here. I should have never asked you to come.”

  Kitt wanted to say something else to Lysander, something to make him change his mind about her. Whether he believed it or not, they were on the same side. She didn't like Queen Loreina any more than he did. She wanted to convince him of that, and the words were on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't put her thoughts into cohesive sentences.

  “Clearly, he's no longer the kind man I remember,” Aislainn said. “Again, I'm really and truly sorry.”

  “You don't need to apologize,” said Kitt. As they walked past the cells, the lewd remarks of prisoners started again. This time, Kitt was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to hear them. “And I bet he is the same man he used to be, he's just... dispirited.”

  There had to be a way to make him warm up to her, but Kitt didn't know how to begin.

  9

  When Lyneah dipped her hand into the pocket of the fallen attacker's breeches, her fingers brushed against something slick and slimy. Tobias saw her nose wrinkle with disgust, so he asked, “Wh-what is it?”

  “I just touched something wet,” Lyneah reported with a groan. She pulled her hand out and brought it to her nose. Fortunately, it didn't have any discernible scent. “Disgusting.”

  “I still can't believe you're picking their pockets!” Tobias exclaimed, grimacing as he studied the corpses of his three attackers. Lyneah had only pickpocketed one corpse so far—the rest were still to come. “I can't imagine picking the pocket of a d-d-dead man.”

  “You never know, they could have something valuable on them, or something we could put to use!” Lyneah stuck her hand in the second pocket, and when she did, her eyes lit up. “Aha!” She pulled out an ovular gold pocket watch and held it up for Tobias to see. “Look!”

  “That's n-n-nicer than my watch!” Tobias extracted his tarnished pocket watch from his tatty vest and showed it to her. “But mine has sentimental value, so maybe it's not so b-b-bad.”

  “Did it belong to your dad?” Lyneah made a guess.

  “No. My grandfather. He gave me his pocket watch before he passed away.”

  “Here.” Lyneah suddenly tossed him the dead man's watch, which almost slipped through his fingers as he attempted to catch it. “You keep that one too.”

  Tobias opened the pocket watch and gently stroked its face with his thumb, then he checked the hands. 16:00. They had been in the desert for over two hours now. “Are you sure you want me to keep this? This one looks a lot more valuable than the one I own.”

  “No, keep it. I want you to have it! After what almost happened to you, a new pocket watch is the least you deserve!” Lyneah hopped to her feet and went to one of the other corpses. From the first pocket, she extracted a half-eaten sandwich. With a shudder, she tossed it aside.

  “D-do you think we should get back to Kieran? I wouldn't want him to leave without us!”

  “I don't think he'd do that. He's a bit of an ass, but I doubt he'd abandon us.” Lyneah checked another pocket, but found only lint. “Damn, this guy didn't have anything.”

  “You're really b-br-brave, you know,” Tobey complimented her. “I doubt I would've had the guts to stand up to those guys like that.”

  “Well... I couldn't let them rape you, could I? I had to do something.”

  Tobias blushed at the bluntness of her words. “Do you really think they would've done that? R-R-R-R--”

  He couldn't say the word, so Lyneah finished for him. “Raped you? Oh, there's no doubt in my mind. That was certainly their intent.” She checked the corpse's coat pocket, and a second later, she reported with a sigh, “More lint.”

  As she searched for more pockets, Kieran suddenly pulled up in his hovercraft. By some miracle, the engine was running much more smoothly—they didn't even hear him approach. “Hey, kids! Get your ass in the craft before I lose my patience and leave you behind!”

  “Oh, alright!” With a grumble, Lyneah abandoned the dead bodies and leapt to her feet. Tobias followed her to the hovercraft, and when they were both inside, Kieran immediately set off toward Dovyr. The hovercraft made such a sharp turn, Tobey nearly toppled out of the vehicle. Lyneah had to turn around and grab his shirt to keep him seated.

  “If you're going to turn so abruptly, do you think you could give me some w-warning?” Tobias begged the driver.

  “Just sit your ass in the seat and hold on tight, then I won't have to coddle you.” Kieran was rolling his eyes as he chided the younger man. “Honestly, boy, you're a bit dense. If it wasn't attached to your neck, I'd probably have to tell you to hold onto your damn head!”

  “Tobey's not dense!” Lyneah defended him. “He's very kind.”

  “Your argument is worthless. He can be kind and dense.” Kieran squared his shoulders, leaned over the wheel, and forced the hovercraft into its top speed. It might have been a risky maneuver, since the craft had recently broken down.
But Kieran was desperate to get to Dovyr and free himself of the princess and her young cohort. The sooner, the better.

  Tobey wondered if Kieran had a point. Maybe he was just dense. Unlike his two companions, he forgot to lower his goggles before the hovercraft took off again, which meant he spent half the trip blinking sand out of his eyes. Because of his stutter, he had been called dense before. Growing up, other kids had many colorful names to call him, and no matter how often he heard them, every insult stung.

  After a surprisingly uneventful second half of the journey, they finally reached Dovyr. Kieran parked his hovercraft in an abandoned garage on the outskirts of town, where he claimed to store his vehicle the last time he crossed the desert. As the three of them climbed from the hovercraft, Lyneah asked, “Will you stay and help me find Rory, Kieran? You're the only one who might recognize him.”

  “Ah, but that wasn't part of the deal, was it?”

  When he started to walk off, Lyneah seized his arm and pulled him back to her. “No, please... don't go! It was part of the deal, actually! You were supposed to help me find Rory!”

  “And now you're just making things up, love.” Kieran pulled his flask from his pocket and took a swig. If he had to deal with the princess, he was going to need a lot more whiskey than he had on his person. “As I recall, I was only supposed to get you across the desert. Which I've already done.”

  “But I gave you a lot of money!” Lyneah squealed. “Surely I paid for at least a bit more of your time?”

  “Good god, stop your shrieking!” Kieran covered his ears and leaned away from her. “If I could tolerate your voice, I'd be less inclined to ditch you.”

  “Please.” Lyneah softened her voice and tried again. In the corner of her eye, she could see Tobey shaking his head and frowning deeply. He must have thought it was pitiful to see her beg for Kieran's help. “Will you stay for just a bit? You're more familiar with Rory McCray than I am. Perhaps you know where he likes to go... or what pubs he likes to frequent?”