by Sarah Olson
“I can come with you,” Davorin offered.
“We’ll find someone else,” Charlotte said.
“No, you can come,” I said, despite the spiteful look Charlotte gave me.
“Thank you,” he said with a wink.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and took me by the arm putting space between Davorin and us.
“What were you thinking?” she hissed angrily.
“James is not going to be happy we left the castle without him knowing. When he hears Davorin went with us, he will not be completely angry. I am sure he trusts him enough with my safety. You said they’re best friends.”
“I know,” Charlotte said. “I just don’t trust him.”
I shook my head.
Charlotte was over reacting, because while Davorin was known for being a womanizer, he still cared for the rebellion and my safety. After all, it was Davorin and James who ran to Raphael’s aid when I was attacked. I was positive I could trust him with escorting us through Kings City.
Chapter 28
DUSK WAS EXCITED to see me when I came into the stables to get her. It had been too long since I had ridden her. Once we saddled up, we rode out into the bright spring day. The streets were filled with people bustling in and out of shops.
“It’s so lively and beautiful,” I said. “I want to take a look at some of the shops.”
“Let’s start there,” Davorin said, pointing
We left our horses at a small stable and began checking out the shops, one after another. They were like none I had ever been in at Eagle’s Nest. Everything was brightly colored and stunning. In some, there were tables lined with beaded and gold jewelry, while in another there were fabrics of all different shades and colors hanging from the ceiling for display. I ran my hand down them feeling the soft silk through my fingers. Betsy was right—these fabrics were beautiful.
“This one looks like the sun,” Davorin said, holding up a reddish-orange one. Gold threads were woven through it so it shimmered in the light.
“It’s incredible,” I said, running my fingers across the soft fabric. I walked down the aisle and stopped at a green one that reminded me of my gown for the Autumn Ball. “So tell me, Davorin, how did you get involved in the rebellion?”
Charlotte had disappeared behind another curtain of fabrics giving me a chance to talk to him without her constant look of contempt.
He walked over and stood behind me. “Through James,” he answered. “We both joined King Luther’s army when we were sixteen. We trained together and were assigned as guards to the palace. I wasn’t a rebel then and could care less about who ran the kingdom.”
“Why did you join then?” I asked.
“There had been a rumor that there was a rebel acting as a soldier in the army and that he was the son of King Hector’s general. I honestly don’t know how they would have missed something like that when James joined, but when I realized it was him, I asked him.”
“What did he say?” I asked, facing him.
“The truth. I guess he trusted me enough. Eventually, the captain of the guard realized it too and told me to get James so I went and warned him. In the end, we both ended up running and I joined the rebellion in Malan,” Davorin said.
“It didn’t bother you that you became a traitor to King Luther?” I asked curiously.
Davorin laughed. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it never actually bothered me that I had to join the army. It was something I had wanted to do since I was a child. I didn’t understand why some people held such distaste for Luther, but that is probably because I was from Luther’s province when he was a noble. It wasn’t until James had explained everything when he told me he was a rebel that I realized I was on the wrong side.”
“I didn’t either,” I sighed. “It wasn’t until I got to the villages in Malan that someone told me everything. I was so angry with myself for believing Luther was a just king.”
“Bad people have a way of hiding their wrongdoings,” Davorin said. “He’s fooled a lot of people.”
I nodded. “He really has. What about your parents, though? Are they in the villages?”
Davorin shook his head. “I was the third child of ten. My father was never home and my mother was always busy with my younger siblings. I was not close to them. I guess they were angry when they found out I ran since they were supporters of Luther, but didn’t care enough to try and find me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.
“Don’t worry about it,” Davorin said with a smile. “James has tried to get me to find them and fix things but I don’t see the point. Who knows, maybe one day I will.”
I had never thought of James to be the caring type that tried to get Davorin to reunite with his family. The notion surprised me.
“Hey,” Charlotte called from the door. “You two want to get moving?”
“Yes,” I said.
The three of us left the shop and continued down the street past a marketplace full of tables of fruits and vegetables. A merchant offered us a sample of a delicious bright red fruit I had never tasted before. He told us they were imported from some islands in the Western Ocean. It was delicious.
As we continued through the city, we found a quaint art gallery hidden away down a narrow alley. It was filled with gorgeous paintings of everything from the Northern Mountains to the city walls.
“They’re beautiful!” I exclaimed.
“Thank you,” the man who owned the gallery said.
He was short and a little on the heavy side, with dark brown skin that was beginning to wrinkle on his face. His black hair was short and thinning from age.
“I painted quite a few of them myself but I also sell some works from other talented artists throughout the city,” he said. “Art is a very important part of our culture. You are Asterian, are you not?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Come,” he said. “Let me show you one I think you will appreciate.”
He led us to the back to his workroom where a masterpiece of the old castle of Asteria hung above his desk. Except in this painting, it was not old and dilapidated like it was now, but in prime condition. Flowers grew all around it, soldiers stood on the roof, and carriages were parked in front.
“My father painted this one. He said it was the castle on the day of King Hector’s coronation,” the old man said proudly.
The painting seemed to swallow me, it was as if the piece was coming alive before my eyes. “Your father is an incredible artist,” I said when I could find my voice.
“Thank you,” he said, smiling proudly. “Would you like to see the last one he ever painted?”
I tore my eyes from the castle and nodded.
He walked over to one that was perched on an easel, covered by a sheet. As he gently pulled it off, dust swirled into the air and then I saw it. I nearly lost my balance when the beautiful blonde haired, green-eyed Aria stared back at me. It was a portrait of my mother. It was her profile with her head tilted up and staring at the ceiling. Her long golden hair fell behind her in waves.
“It’s Queen Aria,” Charlotte said.
“Yes!” the old man exclaimed excitedly. “It was supposed to be a gift, but he was never able to give it to her.”
I had never seen a painting of her with so much detail and could not tear my eyes away from it. A sudden longing filled my heart and I felt as if I would cry.
“Is it for sale?” Charlotte asked.
“No,” the man answered. “I’m sorry miss, but it’s very special to my family. I just thought you’d appreciate it.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Part of me wanted to beg for it and tell him I was her daughter, but I knew I could not. No one was supposed to know who I was, no matter how obvious it may have been.
The old man smiled, his dark face wrinkling.
“We should go,” I said before I lost control of my emotions.
“Of course,” Charlotte said. “Thank you very much for showing us your co
llection. All of the paintings are lovely.”
“It was my pleasure.”
I did not talk much the rest of our time in the city, and Charlotte and Davorin did not pressure me. When we finally returned to the castle, I put Dusk back in her stall and headed to my chambers. The door was opened a crack and I was stunned with what I saw. James was sitting on the bed with Aria curled up in his arms. I stood there and gawked. She snuggled closer to him and a smile spread across his face—a genuine smile I had never seen.
I gently pushed the door open and it creaked, surprising him. Within a second, the smile was gone and his cold look returned.
“She wouldn’t stop crying,” he said. “Mrs. Fallon was trying to get her to sleep and told me you’d gone out.”
“She calmed down almost immediately,” Betsy said from a chair by the fireplace. “It seems like James has the magic touch.”
James stood and handed Aria to me. “I’m glad you are back safe,” he said. “Do not leave the castle grounds without my permission again. At least until King Darius gets back.”
I stared back dumbly. Was it possible James had a gentle side? One that would allow him to be engaged to Emily and help Aria fall asleep?
When he realized he was not getting a response, he hastily left the room closing the door behind him. I looked over at Betsy.
“Don’t look at me,” she said. “Aria apparently likes him.”
“I can see that,” I said.
I had learned more about him in the past few days than I thought I ever could. After seeing him holding my daughter, it was going to be difficult to see him as the hard and cold man he made himself out to be. I did not know what to make of him anymore.
☐☐☐☐
King Darius returned a few days later and my presence was requested in the throne room.
“Please take Aria with you,” Betsy said as I was leaving the room.
She had been fussy all day and Betsy wanted a break.
“All right,” I said smiling. “Come here Aria!”
Her tear-stained face brightened at the invitation. When we reached the throne room, I found King Darius in deep conversation with James.
“Layla!” he exclaimed in greeting.
James did not acknowledge me.
“How was the wedding?” I asked.
“Dreadful,” the king laughed. “King Luther was trying to show off to me in every way.”
“Well, why wouldn’t he?” I said jokingly. “You’ve set very high standards for what a city and castle should look like.”
“I appreciate the compliment,” he said. “I also know you probably want more details on the wedding.” He saw right through me.
I took a breath. “All I want to know is if he looked happy.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
King Darius eyed me carefully for a second and then nodded. “Very well then, yes, he looked happy.”
A fresh pang of pain rose in my chest, but I fought it along with the tears that fought to release. It did not matter how much I wanted to hate Richard, because somewhere deep down inside I really wanted him to miss me. He had moved on as if I had meant nothing to him.
But you have Aria now. Yes, my beautiful Aria. “Good,” I said when I had control over my emotions, but I could tell both the king and James had noticed it, though they said nothing.
"Now Layla, I do not want to make any decisions for you so I wanted to ask how you felt about returning to the Rebel Villages. James told me you had agreed to go into combat training.”
A lump formed in my throat because after being in the castle so long, and raising my daughter, I had forgotten I had agreed to that almost a year ago.
“Yes I did,” I said. “Do we plan on going to war so soon?”
“No,” James said, speaking for the first time. “Our forces are growing, but we haven’t reached the numbers and skill that Luther’s army has. And you never know when we will have to go in.”
“So if you agree,” the king said. “It’s about time to live with your people, again, and learn how to fight.”
My instincts screamed at me to refuse, but what type of princess did not keep her word. Aria was squirming in my arms so I placed her down on the ground.
“It’s time we go back,” I said, straightening, “but I would like Charlotte Livingston to oversee my training.”
“Fine,” James said, crossing his arms.
I could tell it was not what he expected and that he was not going to argue.
I took a deep breath. “When do we leave?”
“One week,” James said.
I nodded, saddened with the thought of leaving this beautiful castle so soon.
“I will have Nadia start packing your things,” King Darius said.
“Thank you.”
The week passed quickly, and before I knew it, Betsy and I were outside of the palace preparing to leave. James and Charlotte had left the day King Darius had returned from the wedding, so we were to be escorted by the king’s royal guard again.
The king was sad to see us go but said he expected visits from us as often as we possibly could. I hugged him goodbye and picked up Aria so she could wave her little hand at him. Together we got in the carriage onto the road back to the village.
When we reached the rebel villages after the few days of travel, the sun had begun its slow descent to the horizon. I propped Aria up to the window so she could look out. She squealed as we passed the small homes and shops. People in the streets watched as we rolled by whispering to each other excitedly. Charlotte had told me during one of her visits that the women could not wait to see my Aria.
“Welcome to our new home,” Betsy said happily, when the carriage came to a halt in front of a little cottage I did not recognize.
Our new home?
“James had it built while we were gone,” Betsy said, climbing out.
I handed her Aria and then stepped out myself, unable to take my eyes off of it. “I had no idea!” I finally exclaimed.
“You’re a princess!” laughed Betsy. “You were going to need a place for yourself.”
“Layla!” I heard Charlotte exclaim as she came running over to us. “I’m so glad you are back! Come, I’ll give you the tour.”
Chapter 29
THE HOUSE WAS more than I could ever ask for. It was quaint, but perfectly comfortable for the three of us. We entered through a pale blue door that led into the kitchen making me feel like I was back in Maplewood Forest. A small fire burned in the cobblestone fireplace where a stew was brewing.
“This is wonderful!” I exclaimed.
“I thought you’d like it,” Betsy said. “When James approached me with the plans, I gave him a few suggestions.”
“It reminds me of home.”
“Well, it doesn’t have a second floor but it’s close,” Charlotte said. She led us through a small hallway with three doors. “These are your bedrooms. They aren’t very big but each of you will have your own space.”
The first room on the left was Betsy’s. It was painted white and the double bed had a decorative green and white quilt covering it. There was a small white night stand and across from the bed, there stood a medium sized armoire. Light green lace curtains hung from the window above the bed.
The room across the hall from Betsy’s was mine. It was larger than Betsy’s. The bed had a royal blue bedspread and the window was draped with silver curtains like the ones that hung around my bed in Malan. There was a wardrobe on the wall farthest from the door and a vanity with a mirror and chair across from the bed.
“I know it’s not like that room you stayed in in Kings City, but we tried to make it as similar as we could,” said Charlotte, eagerly awaiting my thoughts.
It seemed like they were getting nervous that I wouldn’t like it, but I wasn’t saying anything because I was just so grateful and surprised that I couldn‘t find words. “I love it,” I said, finally finding my voice.
“Good!” sa
id Charlotte. “Now, do you want to see your room Aria?”
Aria‘s face lit up at the sound of her name.
Charlotte carried her to the room next to Betsy’s and opened the door. One look at the way Aria’s eyes widened was proof that she liked it very much. The walls had been painted a pale pink and white lace curtains hung from the two small windows lining the wall. A small bed covered in a pink and white quilt sat against the wall. A railing had been attached all the way around for her safety and a white sheer canopy was draped over the bed. Charlotte put Aria down who immediately crawled over to a basket with dolls in the corner.
“Have they been working on this since I left?” I asked.
Charlotte nodded. “Make sure you thank James.”
“I will,” I replied, still running my eyes around the room.
We settled in quickly to our new home and before long, many villagers who wanted to see Aria were visiting us. Barely a week flew by before Charlotte was at my door to let me know that she wanted to start my training the next morning—early.
“You said you’d do it!” she exclaimed when she read the utter distaste on my face.
“I know,” I sighed, sitting in one of the wooden chairs that surrounded the dinner table. “I’m just not really looking forward to it. You know me—I’m not very enthusiastic when it comes to things like that.”
“True, but by doing this, you are an encouragement to the people. They have been here so long, watching Luther destroy their kingdom, and really need to see their princess determined to rule.”
“And I guess that means I need a sword,” I sighed. “Whatever, I can use the exercise.”
“Great! I will be here an hour after sunrise,” said Charlotte.
I forced a smile.
Betsy was not surprised when I told her how early Charlotte wanted to start in the morning. To lighten my mood, she presented me with a training outfit she had made in Malan. From a box, she pulled out a black pair of form fitting pants and a sleeveless black top with a squared neckline. The straps for my shoulders were made of carved black leather.
“Wow,” I said. “Are you serious?”
“You don’t like it?” Betsy asked, her face dropping.