by J. M. Miller
Wings flapped in the air and a streak of muted black cut across the vineyard’s horizon, ending my moment of silence.
The raven landed on the top of the closest vine post, head cocking first at Leint then at me before releasing a screeching caw.
FIFTEEN
“Haidee,” I whispered, moving hastily to her side as soon as the prince and princess were mounting the steps of the chateau, the final rays of the day’s sun slicing through the fog and projecting sporadic specks onto their backs. “Tell Captain Baun that the princess should have one of ours to guard her as extra security. Suggest me. Leint and you are plenty for Caulden, and he can always pull others.”
“Why?” she replied in a whisper over her shoulder.
I glanced around, checking for prying eyes but finding most had scattered about their duties—the stable boys leading our horses around the chateau, the sentinels stepping back to their stations after we’d arrived. “I need to be near her. To listen.”
Her head twisted backward, eyes widened.
“Yes,” I answered her silent question. “There’s no chance to get the queen. But the princess could still give me a chance to overhear something. So I need you to recommend me for her detail. And if Caulden happens to be around when the captain starts our debrief, it’ll be even better mentioned in front of him. I’m fairly certain he’ll agree should the captain need added affirmation.”
“All right. I hope you know what you’re doing, Vala,” she said, taking longer strides to catch up with the prince.
I pinned my eyes to her, watching the bundle of thin plaits shift back and forth between her shoulders with each of her steps. I hoped I knew what I was doing too.
The queens were in the main sitting area of the chateau, apparently each awaiting their child’s arrival.
“Did you have fun, darlings?” Queen Meirin called cheerfully, standing from her seat not far from the large hearth of the burning fireplace, her hand wrapped around a goblet while strands of long hair slid off her shoulder to her back, like shifting rays of sunlight.
The fire hummed to me, stealing my attention for a moment. I stared at the flickering flames licking the air. Do they know how the flames speak to you?
“Everything’s fine,” Princess Anja replied to her mother, moving toward her and kissing her cheeks.
I noted Captain Baun’s eyes as they snapped to Haidee, his chest puffing out with an expectant inhale. Haidee met his stare, shaking her head the slightest bit. The captain’s chest deflated, realizing The Shadow hadn’t been caught or killed.
“The tour was lovely. Lord and Lady Wyntor were very kind to show us inside the manor. They also took us down to the cellar to taste some of their best.”
“Caulden?” Queen Havilah took a step closer to him, worry straightening her back and flaring her tiny nose. She folded her hands in front of her to maintain a calm appearance, but was unable to fully hide her nerves as her fingers twisted together.
“Mother, it was a fine trip. No one showed up. There was no threat,” he replied, casting a glance toward me then Haidee. A few drops of sweat glistened on his forehead and I wondered if he had exerted a fair amount of energy during the ride or if the room was too hot.
“Haidee,” she said, ignoring Caulden’s answer. He looked at her incredulously, but her focus has already shifted to his lead Guard.
“Your Majesty?”
“I’m not getting the honest answers I’d prefer to hear. So please tell me what happened,” she said with a smile.
Haidee swallowed, knowing there was no use backing the prince in a situation like this. The queen’s ability to pick up on things was an art form. During our time on his detail, there had been a fair amount of cover-ups on our part, keeping his little secrets from his mother. Most were inconsequential. Some weren’t. Haidee had seen me handle enough to know this was one of the latter. “The raven appeared.”
“Raven?”
“It’s believed to be the same one we saw on Trader’s Row when The Shadow showed.”
“I see,” Queen Havilah said. “But he didn’t appear this time, correct?”
“That’s why I said nothing happened, Mother,” Caulden said, shaking his head as he walked toward the wine table. “It’s a stupid bird, probably someone at port’s travel pet.”
Queen Meirin’s eyes and Princess Anja’s met briefly, some unspoken connection.
“If I may, Your Majesty,” Captain Baun interjected. “The prince is right that it could be nothing. But I’d still like to take precautions.”
“Yes, yes,” Queen Havilah said, her gaze sweeping from him to me then over to Queen Meirin. “Shuffle the Guards, Captain, and pull whomever you need from the port. I want that Shadow caught, but I refuse to lock us all up for even a single more day of their visit.”
Queen Meirin nodded her head. “We’ll remain cautious. If there’s no reason to travel, we won’t. This island is so small as it is. We’ve already seen much of it.”
I glanced between the queens, watching everyone else do the same.
“Yes, well, it’s a good thing, I suppose, that we have wonderful food and wine to keep us entertained.”
“Indeed,” Queen Meirin replied, scooping her hair onto her shoulder before grabbing her daughter’s arm. “Come, darling. You’ll have to tell me all about your visit while we get ready for dinner.”
The room was silent as they left.
“If there’s nothing else, Captain, I’ll take my leave,” Queen Havilah said.
Everyone bowed and waited for her to disappear out into the hall, four sentinels leaving their posts with a nod from Captain Baun to follow her.
“The bird,” the captain said as heads turned, facing each other again. “We have found no information about ravens used in Islain, only the stories of their connection to Craw and Vaenen.” I stilled at that. I had never known. What was the connection? Had it crossed as Xavyn had? Or was it Xavyn’s bird? It had never been seen on the island before. The captain continued, “So we’re back to focusing on the actual threat.”
“Captain, I’d like to suggest something,” Haidee said.
“Yes?”
“I’d like to suggest that one of ours be assigned to the princess. I realize that they brought a fair amount of Islain guards, but I think it would be in our best interest to protect her with one of our own. Vala is my recommendation.”
Eyes cut to me. Even though it probably wouldn’t matter if they’d discovered that I’d made the suggestion, I still widened my eyes the smallest amount to show some shock without anger.
“I don’t see that as necessary,” Caulden said, biting his bottom lip the slightest bit with a swift glance my way. “The princess is safe.”
“With respect, Highness, you’re covered well enough. I think it’s our duty to focus on the guests, whether they are within the safety of the chateau or not,” she added.
“I agree that it would be a wise decision to take more precautions, especially if the queen wants everyone free to wander,” Captain Baun said, and I half wondered if the queen wouldn’t mind The Shadow meeting her guests. Their deaths would likely start a war, some other courtier staking claim to the throne there and laying waste to our kingdom anyway. In some facet, death could be more appealing than surrendering Garlin over to become Islain’s slave. “Highness?” the captain questioned.
Caulden nodded without a word then took a drink from his wine goblet and walked to the fireplace, keeping his back to us.
“Vala?” Captain Baun addressed me then, raising a scarred eyebrow.
“It would be my honor,” I replied with an honest nod.
-|————
Princess Anja and Queen Meirin entered the dining hall not long after, refreshed and ready for dinner. Princess Anja had traded in her plain attire of the day, choosing to wear a dress of green silk for the evening, possibly to honor Garlin’s colors or perhaps she had brought enough colors to go through them all. Dinner conversation had died conside
rably each evening since their arrival. The queens chatted more about trade, finding that to be the most neutral topic aside from that of their children, which always seemed to be the topic left for last, when the carafes had all been emptied and the plates had all been cleared.
“Can I walk you to your room?” Prince Caulden asked the princess when the queens both retired.
“I’d love that,” she replied.
Haidee and I allowed the princess’ guards—Transton and Prins—to follow first and we fell behind them, keeping a safe enough distance to whisper while still monitoring the conversation up ahead.
“Captain Baun informed the queen of your new detail before dinner,” Haidee said, her voice barely heard over our footsteps.
“I’m guessing it went well enough since I didn’t get new orders.”
“She wasn’t happy. He seemed a little shaken by their talk, actually.”
“Really?”
“He probably shouldn’t have been so forthright with me, but he told me that she had asked him all sorts of questions about it. Like whose idea had it been? His, Princess Anja’s, or Caulden’s. He explained that I had thought of it as an extra measure for safety, and she still seemed thrown off by it all, not behaving like herself. He said she looked nervous. And that she had asked about you too. How you’d been handling everything.”
“Really? That is curious.” Too curious. Why would the queen ask about me?
The prince turned the corner and held his arm out for the princess. “Thank you for joining me today,” he said, breaking the silent start to their walk.
“It was really lovely, the vineyard,” she replied, looping her hand up through his arm and taking hold.
“Yes,” he agreed. “I like to visit them sometimes.”
“I bet you do,” she teased with that melodic laugh.
“What? Do you think I overindulge?”
“Well, you tell me about Prince’s Night and then about special princely visits to the vineyard. What am I to think?”
He laughed a laugh I’d heard quite often but not recently enough. And it was for her. “Fair enough, princess. But I’m usually rather boring. You already know I enjoy reading. My friends, Rhen and Josith—who I’m sure you’ll meet at least once before leaving, whether I invite them to meet you or not—are always trying to get me out more. They were the main culprits for Prince’s Night, actually.” The next laugh was soft, showing a fondness for his friends.
“Well, I like my fair share of fun, but I do enjoy reading as well. I can’t wait to show you our palace library. The books go on and on forever. There are far too many to read even in an entire lifetime.”
Her voice started drifting as my mind lost interest. We turned through another corridor and entered into the southern area of the chateau, which was practically foreign to me now. It had been sectioned for guests, yet Garlin didn’t see many visitors. The queen’s court and council all had their own manors, whether they sat upon farms with extensive land or were residences inside town at Florisa’s Cove. With the island being small enough to travel from point to point within a day, there weren’t many reasons for people to stay overnight. So the chambers had been left alone, mostly unused by anyone aside from rambunctious children of chateau workers sneaking about to play games, as Caulden and I had when we’d been their age. With empty closets and armoires, the southern end had the perfect hiding places.
“That sounds amazing,” Caulden replied, sounding honestly enthralled by her. “I wished we’d had a fraction of that here. I’ve reread some several times over, mostly my favorites. Some about the knights of the ancient kingdoms, others about the faerie.”
“I enjoy some like those as well. But I told you about my favorites down on Trader’s Row. Most of them involve our histories.”
“Ah, yes,” he said with a sigh. “I would love to learn even more. One of these upcoming days perhaps. But for now …” Caulden stopped outside of the grand door of the princess’ chambers.
“That was the quickest walk I’ve ever taken,” she said, turning toward him, closer than she needed. He laughed, the tone airy and sweet.
Haidee and I posted against the wall a distance back. Transton and Prins moved farther along to cover the opposite end of the hall.
“Thank you, again,” she said, leaning in close enough for the silk of her dress to caress Caulden’s legs and boots, close enough for her head to tip back and his face to tip down.
He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it away from his eyes. “Oh, I almost forgot to mention. With everything happening, we would like for you to have some extra protection by way of one of my Guards. Vala has been assigned to you for now.”
The princess’ eyes snapped my way, but I made sure I kept mine to the wall across from me. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“I think so, yes. I want to be sure you’re safe. And Vala … Vala will be sure of that.”
Liar. The thought dug into my mind as I pictured the look on his face when the idea had first been introduced. But I quickly reminded myself he wouldn’t disclose his hesitation. What would be the point except to get her to refuse me? And yet … that was an out if he really wanted one. He could kill the idea by accepting her refusal.
“I’m not sure it’s necessary. But if you say it is …” She leaned in again, touching his other arm. “Then I’ll accept the offer.”
“Good,” he said, clearing his throat nervously. My shoulders dropped. What had I been thinking anyway? That he would want to keep me for himself badly enough to change his mind, to go against what had already been accepted by his mother and the captain? No, he wouldn’t. “Vala,” he called me, snapping me from my bothersome woes.
I knocked Haidee’s arm as a goodbye when I brushed past her. “Yes, Highness.” I wouldn’t meet his eyes. I couldn’t. So I stopped a fair distance from them and stared at his chin instead.
“You start tonight. Unless the princess instructs otherwise, post out here until someone relieves you.”
I nodded a small bow.
“Good night, Anja,” he said, grabbing her hand and lifting it to his mouth to press his lips upon her delicate, smooth skin.
“Night, Caulden,” she replied as he released her hand and turned. Haidee followed him, disappearing down the hall.
Anja’s eyes slid to me then slowly looked me up and down, her smile long gone. A second later, she was inside her sitting room, Transton and Prins pushing past me to follow her before the door slammed shut.
SIXTEEN
The following morning, I was met with a reception identical to the previous night’s icy dismissal. The princess seemed indifferent to my presence. She didn’t address me or even speak while I was around unless we were in the company of the prince. The lack of acknowledgment could be routine for her, avoidance being a normal treatment of staff. I knew the reason wasn’t due to fear. I’d seen fear in enough eyes to know hers held something else, something conflictive, like a blend of distaste and inquisitiveness. After her curious questions about me the night spent on Trader’s Row, I halfway thought she’d bend to the desire to learn more by asking me about myself or about Caulden to aid in her decision on a future with him. But she hadn’t shown signs of interest so far, making the possibility of gaining information from her despairing.
She had left her chambers late in the morning, moving to the dining hall for breakfast, where she ate alone and quiet, even her mother off doing something else with her time. Later, she’d attended the prince’s training session as she had done every day during the week, watching him as he sparred throughout the side courtyard, his bare upper body glistening from exertion in the warmth of the autumn day. I stood with my back against the chateau wall as she sat on the low stone ledge that lined the entry steps. Haidee joined the prince in training as we usually did. While having time to relax would have ordinarily been appealing, my muscles twitched as I watched them train, wanting to be used for more than simply standing around.
Que
en Meirin found Princess Anja midday as she retreated to her chambers for an afternoon refreshment. “Did you enjoy watching the prince this morning?” the queen asked Anja after a quick greeting. She trailed a finger along the wall while they walked, touching the bottoms of paintings and tapestries as if she were marking everything she wanted to keep or tear to shreds.
“Mother, please don’t start,” Anja answered with a huff.
“Forgive me,” Queen Meirin said with sigh that sounded far from apologetic. “I’m bored. And he is nice to look at, nicer than many of Islain’s available lords, nicer than any you’ve already taken to bed.” Her thin fingers continued their assault on the chateau, wall after wall, dancing over vases and statuettes, sliding under the tapestries.
“Yes, well, the water here seems to grow nice things.”
Queen Meirin barked a laugh as tall as her body. “This is true. Or at least things that are younger than a certain age. That captain they have isn’t exactly—”
“Mother,” Anja interrupted, her tone short with warning.
And as if to check if I had heard, Transton and Prins casted almost imperceptible glances over their shoulders to me. Even the queen’s two guards, walking in front of everyone, appeared to react with head movements. I ignored them all.