Jesse remembered the feeling he had gotten when the man in black had stared at him from across the arena. “Why is that?” he asked casually. He got the feeling that Lady Taralyn’s mood could shift in an instant, and he didn’t want her to go back to being a haughty noblewoman before they found out what they needed to know.
“I’m not sure.” For a moment, she seemed to consider this, then shivered, her long red hair rippling down her back. “Perhaps it’s the look he has, rather like a frozen grimace, all of the time, even at parties. It’s almost as if he can see into my mind.”
Then she returned to the mirror. “But I have no desire to discuss something so unpleasant. You may go now.” She paused. “Please, promise me that you won’t tell your master.” She implored them with her eyes, looking like a small child.
“We won’t,” Jesse replied. A few moments before, he had been jealous of Lady Taralyn and her extravagant wealth. Now he just felt sorry for her.
“Excuse me, milady,” a voice from the other side of the room said. It was Rae, poking her head out of a door that Jesse hadn’t noticed before. Finally.
“Your bath is ready,” Rae continued. Her face had been washed, and instead of her rags, she was wearing a simple blue dress. The perfect palace servant.
Lady Taralyn pulled the curtain back over the mirrors. “Heated to my instructions, I hope?”
Rae nodded submissively. “Yes, milady.”
With a sweep of her jeweled train, Lady Taralyn brushed past her, humming a carefree tune to herself.
As soon as the door closed, Parvel burst out laughing. “That song!” he exclaimed. “I’ve never….” Whatever he was going to say next was cut off by more laughter.
Silas just shook his head and turned to Rae. “Are you all right?”
“Just fine,” Rae said, but Jesse wasn’t convinced. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her voice wasn’t as confident as usual. “Now, why is Parvel laughing?”
“An impressive performance, Jesse,” Parvel managed, between laughs. “Enough to win any fair maiden’s heart.”
“Excuse me?” Rae asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
“Next time, I come up with the plan,” Jesse retorted, ignoring Rae’s question. I’m sure she’ll hear all about it from Parvel. “We have important things to discuss, and we may not have much time.”
“The classic technique of changing the subject,” Parvel said, slapping Jesse on the back. “Are you sure you don’t want to join the tournament as one of Lady Taralyn’s suitors?”
“What is going on?” Rae demanded, looking very annoyed. “Will someone please explain?”
“Later,” Jesse said quickly, before Parvel could say anything. “Right now, we must hurry.”
“Jesse is right,” Silas interrupted. Jesse shot him a grateful look. “We may be in the palace, but we’re no closer to finding the Forbidden Book then we were outside of the gates of Davoir.”
“But now we know more about Chancellor Doran,” Jesse pointed out.
“I saw him today at the tournament,” Rae said. “He seemed exactly the type who would record the deaths of Youth Guard members.”
Jesse nodded. “He must be the key to finding the book.”
“We don’t have enough information,” Silas said. “We’ll ask some questions about this Doran fellow, find a scribe to talk to— ”
“We don’t have time for that,” Jesse said, feeling frustration well up inside of him. “The others could by dying by now!”
The others. Jesse felt a twinge of guilt. To be sure, he and his friends were trapped inside the palace, but the other squads were scattered around the kingdom, trying to accomplish missions for the king. And none of them knew that the king really wanted them dead.
He thought again of Eli. Briefly, he closed his eyes. God, please keep him safe until we can help him. Until we can help all of them.
“We have to do something,” Rae echoed, her face set in determination. “And if you won’t, then I will.”
With that, she turned and went back through the door that led to Lady Taralyn’s quarters.
“She is going to get herself killed,” Parvel said, shaking his head.
“She’s going to get all of us killed,” Silas added. “And then what use will we be to the others?”
He was right, Jesse knew. Still, he couldn’t help but agree with Rae. They had to do something—soon.
Chapter 10
Jesse was not used to being woken up by a kick in the side. He groaned quietly, eyes still closed. “Prince Corin?” he muttered.
“Shh,” a voice whispered. “It’s me.”
It was dark in the tent, but Jesse could see enough to make out the small frame and long hair of the intruder. “Rae?” he whispered.
The figure nodded, then motioned for him to come outside.
Jesse followed, giving one longing glance back at the mat. But what did I expect? Once you join the Youth Guard, you never get a full night of uninterrupted sleep.
Even outside the tent, Rae’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Jesse, I can’t stay here much longer. We have to do something.”
Just as Jesse was starting to agree, she added, “Even if that means doing it without Parvel and Silas.”
Now Jesse hesitated, glancing back at the tent. Through the linen curtain, he could hear Parvel snoring softly. He is our leader. “But…” he began to protest.
“Silas and Parvel don’t understand,” Rae said. “They don’t want to take any risks. They want to have an orderly plan. But we don’t have time for that.”
“Risks?” Jesse asked. That was enough to make him nervous. What exactly does Rae have in mind?
“Listen,” Rae said heatedly. “Every day we waste here is a day that the others could be dying. What about your friend in the other squad? Where do you think he is right now? Fighting for his life, maybe, and we could help him.”
Eli. Jesse closed his eyes briefly. When he was younger, Eli had looked out for him, protected him from the children who teased him about his crippled leg. Now it was his turn to protect Eli. They had to find that book.
Sorry, Prince Corin, he thought, glancing at the prince’s strange, woven tent. I’ll be back. He hoped his new master wouldn’t wake and think Jesse had run away.
“Let’s go,” he said.
They walked quietly across the palace lawn, being careful not to trip over any of the tent pegs or ropes that turned the grassy field into a maze. Once, they ducked behind a tent to avoid a wandering drunk who let them know of his presence with a loud belch. Other than him, no one else was stirring in the entire camp.
It must be very late, Jesse decided. What could Rae possibly want to do at this hour?
To his surprise, Rae grabbed his wrist and pulled him away from the path to the gate of the palace. “Do you want the sentries to see you?” she demanded. “There’s a servant’s entrance in the back.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? I mean, if the palace was under attack….”
Rae snorted. “Any attacker would have to get past the moat and over the outer wall first. If there were any danger, I’m sure they would lock the door. But there never has been. That’s what I was told by the head servant.” She grimaced.
“I take it, then, that you aren’t enjoying your new station in life?” Jesse asked.
“Lady Taralyn is spoiled, shallow, and moody,” Rae said wearily, “but some of her ladies-in-waiting are worse.” A spark of anger crept into her voice. “They taunt and beat me every chance they get. Call me ‘the barbarian one’ and constantly send me on their petty errands.”
“And Lady Taralyn doesn’t stop them?”
Rae snorted. “I honestly don’t think she knows about it. To her, everything is sunshine, rose gardens, and needlepoint pillows. She’s never had to do a day’s work, is not allowed to b
e punished, and has always been well-fed, comfortable, and doted upon.”
All Jesse could think to say was, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing,” Rae said, walking even faster. “But now you know why I want to find the book and leave. As soon as possible.”
Suddenly, Rae stopped, and Jesse could barely make out the outline of a door in the palace wall. She turned the knob, and the door creaked open. Jesse hoped that the sound wasn’t loud enough to alert any of the guards.
“Follow me,” Rae said, darting quietly through the door.
As if I have any choice. Hating himself for going along with Rae’s crazy scheme, Jesse did his best to keep up with her as she moved silently through the halls of the palace.
Once, Rae paused before going through a stone archway, then shoved Jesse in the other direction, slamming him against the stone wall.
“What was that for?” he hissed, glaring at her.
She didn’t even look at him, choosing instead to scan the dark halls in front of them. “The guards pace the hallways. Did you want one of them to see us?”
It was true, Jesse realized, noticing a dim glow down one of the halls. It flickered closer as the guard holding the torch made his rounds. The heavy booted footsteps got louder.
Rae didn’t stay around to be found. Not even looking back to make sure Jesse was following, she ducked through an archway and down another narrow hall, going deeper into the palace.
“Where are we going?” Jesse asked, struggling to catch up. It was impossible to use his walking stick quietly on the bare stone floor, so he hobbled along without it.
“Chancellor Doran’s chamber.” Rae stopped abruptly, motioning for Jesse to do the same. After a second’s pause, she shoved him behind a large potted fern. In the process, she slammed his elbow against the wall. A bright splotch of pain crowded Jesse’s vision, and he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out.
Good that I did. For, a half minute later, another guard tramped through the hall, clearing his throat noisily.
Then, so suddenly that Jesse tried not to breathe, the guard stopped in front of the plant. Jesse felt Rae stiffen next to him. She’s getting ready to fight. That only added to his panic.
With a deep rumbling noise, the guard cleared his throat again and spit loudly into the plant. Grunting in satisfaction, he continued on his slow, methodical march down the hall.
Face still brushing against the fern, Jesse blinked, still too afraid to be relieved. “Hurry,” Rae whispered, easing from behind the plant as soon as the guard disappeared through the archway.
“I can see that any mission of yours will involve bruises,” Jesse said sourly, rubbing his sore arm as he followed her.
Rae didn’t even bother to reply.
“How do you know where Chancellor Doran’s room is?” Jesse asked.
“Lady Taralyn told me. I just made up some nonsense about wanting to know some landmarks, in case I got lost. She told me everything I could possibly want to know about the palace. The poor girl never has anyone to talk to.”
“Poor girl?” Jesse questioned, staring at the back of Rae’s head. “I thought you didn’t like Lady Taralyn.”
“I feel sorry for her,” Rae said, with a slight shrug. “Even if she is helpless, timid, and unaware of what’s happening around her, it’s not really her fault. She’s trapped.”
Just like us. The thought was not encouraging, especially since Jesse was creeping around a dark palace hallway at night.
After a quick glance around a corner, Rae whispered, “It’s just down this hall.” Jesse found himself envying the easy way she darted into the darkness, like a shadow blown by the wind. By the time he had caught up, she had already eased the door open.
For a moment, Jesse drew back. He could see inside the room, and that meant that anyone inside could see him. “Calm down,” Rae whispered. “It’s just the parlor. There’s no one here.”
The light came from a strange candleholder on a wooden bench near the wall. This parlor was the same size as Taralyn’s, but here there were no delicate tapestries and satin pillows. No, the dim light of the candle showed wooden panels on the wall, covered with strange carved designs. Two troughs of oil ran along the room, stopping just short of a thick wooden door in the middle of the parlor, leading, Jesse assumed, to Chancellor Doran’s sleeping chamber.
Strangest of all was a stone carving of a twisted dragon that hovered on the wall just above the bench and the candle. Jesse shuddered. The monster appeared to glow with life, although Jesse knew that it was just a special kind of stone that was mined in District Two. Seeing it brought back unwanted memories of being trapped underground.
Rae was already inside, looking around. “It smells terrible in here,” she whispered, making a face.
Cautiously, still not sure that Rae’s plan was wise, Jesse joined her, shutting the door behind him. Instantly, the smell Rae had mentioned overpowered him. It was like nothing Jesse had ever experienced before, so thick and pungent he was surprised he couldn’t see it.
But worse than the smell was the way the room made him feel. For no apparent reason, his heart began to beat quicker, and the walls seemed oppressively close. Though the candle still burned, Jesse felt everything get darker.
“What…?” he stammered, staring at Rae with wide eyes. “What is wrong with this place?”
She gave him a strange look. “It’s nothing but a foul-smelling candle. Now help me look for the book.” Crouching near the bench, she felt along underneath it. “The door is thick, and it’s long past midnight. The Chancellor won’t wake, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
I am afraid. Jesse knew that for sure. But I don’t think I’m afraid of being found. I think I’m afraid of being here.
“We should go,” Jesse said, and in his mind, the words came out clearly.
“What are you muttering?” Rae asked, still looking around the parlor. As she crossed to the other side of the room, her eyes met Jesse’s, and she stopped, an expression of concern on her face. “Jesse,” she said uncertainly. “What’s wrong?”
But Jesse was past listening. He looked down at his arm. It was shaking and beaded with sweat. It’s not the smell. It’s something else. It’s….
The dragon was staring at him, its glowing eyes seeming to flash. “Evil,” Jesse said. “It’s everywhere. Evil and darkness.” He jerked his eyes away from the sculpture and back to Rae. “Can’t you feel it?”
She shook her head slowly. “Maybe you should leave.”
But Jesse felt too weak to move. Slowly, he sank to the floor, letting his knees rest on the hard stone. Rae was at his side in an instant, but he shook her off. “Get out of here,” he whispered hoarsely, jerking his head toward the door. “Don’t let it get to you!”
“Let what get to me?”
Jesse couldn’t answer. He didn’t know what was causing the feeling. He only knew that he had never been so afraid, not when he was trapped in the sandstorm, sentenced to die in Da’armos, running through the underground tunnels. This was worse than all of them. It was pure evil, darkness without a trace of light.
Light. What was it that Parvel had told him on the way to Davoir about Jesus, the One who died on the cross? “He is the Light of the World.”
Jesus, Light in the darkness, help me! Jesse cried, cowering against the cold stone.
Instantly, the crippling fear stopped, like someone removing the pressure of a knife on Jesse’s throat. He lay there on the floor, hearing his breathing and heartbeat return to normal. Slowly, Jesse stood.
“We’re leaving,” Rae said firmly. Apparently, Jesse’s strange actions had done what his logic could not. “Right now. That scent must have some effect on you.”
Jesse didn’t bother to tell her that it was not the scent, powerful though it was. Yet why would I feel such a strong sensation when
she did not? Jesse did not know.
“I’m all right now,” Jesse assured her. He took a few steps closer to the dragon. In its luminous eye was the symbol of the kingdom: an A inscribed in a broken circle.
“Well, the book isn’t here,” Rae said, glancing around the sparse room one last time. “Perhaps we should look in there.” She pointed to the thick wooden door that led into the inner quarters of Chancellor Doran.
“No,” Jesse said, grabbing Rae’s arm and pulling her back. “I don’t think we should. It’s too dangerous. Besides, we won’t find anything in the dark.”
He desperately wanted to explain, but he knew she wouldn’t understand. The evil was there, behind those doors. He could still feel it, even though it was no longer controlling him.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rae shot back, jerking her arm away. “Are you turning into a coward all of a sudden? I just want to look around.” She reached for the ring on the door and pulled. It didn’t move.
“Locked,” Jesse said, not even pretending to be disappointed.
“It’s always locked,” a low, musical voice declared.
Jesse whirled around, his heart jumping back up to its former rate. There, leaning gracefully against the doorframe, was Lady Taralyn. Her white wrap and pale face reminded Jesse of a saard, and, like one of those ghosts, she seemed to float toward them, holding a small candle in her hands.
A slight frown creased her face. “I know you,” she said, staring at Jesse. “You’re the singer, the slave of the foreign prince. What are you doing here with my maid?”
Jesse glanced at Rae. We can’t tell her. He scrambled to think of a suitable excuse. Nothing came to mind. “We were just leaving,” he said instead.
A faint, teasing smile appeared on Lady Taralyn’s face. “That does not answer the question.” She was blocking the door, and showed no sign of moving when Jesse took a step toward her.
“I’m sorry, milady,” Rae said, bowing her head respectfully, “but I’m not at liberty to say. It’s really nothing, anyway.”
Curse of the Forbidden Book Page 9