She looked down to her hand wrapped in a cloth, still seeing the stain of blood underneath. Hecuba offered to heal it for her, but Rapunzel turned her down. She hated the witch and always would for taking the life of her mother. The last thing she wanted was a favor from the old hag. The only thing she wanted from Hecuba was for the witch to release her from her prison and to remove the curse.
“That’s good, now try it with something else, my precious,” said Hecuba to her daughter. Rapunzel paid no attention, as her focus was outside in the patch of daisies growing at the foot of the tower. There was a rose bush next to it that was in full bloom. She fantasized about a knight in shining armor coming to save her, handing her a daisy or a rose. Rapunzel had always dreamed of the day she would marry. In her mind, she had it all planned out, and it was the grandest celebration that anyone in all of England would ever see.
She pictured herself dressed in an elegant gown of fine silk with a long train dragging behind her that took four handmaids to straighten. She would stroll down the aisle of a grand church such as the Canterbury Cathedral. And it would be decorated with flowers, ribbons, and banners. All eyes of the hundreds of occupants would be fixed on her as she met her knight – or possibly an earl or a baron at the altar. She would have fresh flowers woven right into her hair and her skin would hold the scent of rosewater.
The man she would someday marry would be tall, handsome and very rich. He would be honored and respected by the king himself. Yes, she would marry well, and live in a castle as great at the king’s. Her servants would bow down to her and bring her platters of the most exceptional food. The noblemen would pay her courtly love as they bestowed her with gifts of gold and precious jewels, just for the chance to gaze upon her face.
She sighed, wondering when this would happen. Her father had yet to betroth her, and she was already twenty years of age. As soon as she saw him again, she would demand he find a suitable nobleman to be betrothed to right away.
Lost in her daydreams of splendor and glory, she hadn’t even noticed what went on around her. The next thing she knew, her feet were off the ground and she was floating in the air, dangling half-inside and half-outside the tower window.
“What’s happening?” she asked, trying to hold on to anything she could. She wasn’t used to floating.
“Medea’s doing that,” Hecuba answered proudly. “Her powers are getting stronger, don’t you agree?”
“The only thing strong about that child is the smell of her dirty feet,” she spat, tired of Medea’s tricks. “She needs to wear shoes!”
Medea had been laughing, but upon hearing Rapunzel’s remark, she stopped laughing and hissed at her instead.
“That’s enough,” said Hecuba. “Sweetie, put your sister down now.”
Well, Medea put her down all right – outside the open window. Rapunzel screamed, grabbing for the walls, but falling fast. With a painful yank of her hair and jerk of her head, she stopped falling just before hitting the ground. Her gown caught on the thorns from the rose bush and her arms became scraped.
“Bring her back up here, Medea,” said Hecuba.
Hanging like a rag doll and holding on to her hair so it wasn’t yanked right out of her head, Rapunzel looked up to see her little sister in the window holding on to the end of her long braid. With a giggle and a yank of Medea’s arm, Rapunzel’s body propelled upward with great force. She landed on the floor of the tower just inside the window.
“That’s the end of the lesson for today,” Hecuba told her daughter. “Now, play nice with your big sister until I return.” She disappeared into thin air.
From the floor, Rapunzel’s face was right in front of the girl’s dirty, bare feet. Her eyes traveled upward to find Medea staring down at her. “Play,” said Medea.
“I am not going to play with you. All you do is cause trouble.”
“Marco. I want to play with Marco.” Medea hurried past Rapunzel, her bare feet purposely kicking up the rushes on the floor, hitting Rapunzel in the face. Then the little girl climbed atop a chair to see out the window. Rapunzel spit a dirty rush out of her mouth while she pulled more from her hair. Suddenly, she was very tempted to give the girl a push to let her see how it felt to fly.
It had been an entire day and, still, Marco could not bring himself to tell the de Bars about Rapunzel. He walked out to the courtyard with both missives in his hand, wondering how he was going to bring in Roger the Rat for reward. And what kind of plan could he come up with to rescue Rapunzel? After all, she was cursed so it was nearly an impossible feat. Every time she tried to leave, her connection to the earth held her trapped there as a prisoner.
Staying with the de Bars was becoming unnerving. He decided he would leave today and go back to Rapunzel. Marco missed her, as well as her adorable little sister.
“What has you so perplexed?” Lucio stood in the doorway to the stable, almost as if he had appeared by magic. He was the one who disturbed Marco the most. No one had come out and admitted that Lucio was a warlock, but Marco knew about it from Rapunzel.
“I am on my way to find your daughter, Lord de Bar.” Shoving the missives into his pocket, Marco stopped at the stable, his path being blocked by Lucio.
“I know you are a Dragon Lord, even if you won’t admit it,” said Lucio in a quiet voice.
“What would make you think that?” Marco’s eyes scanned across the courtyard to make sure no one had heard him. There was no putting anything past this man.
Lucio laughed heartily. “Your name is Drago, and you bear the ring of the dragon. I knew it immediately even though I said nothing about it to my sons. I wanted to confront you first. So, tell me. Have you learned to call the dragon yet?”
“Excuse me, Lord de Bar. I need to leave now.” Marco stepped around the man, stopping in his tracks when he saw a horse made of solid gold in one of the stalls. His mouth dropped open. “What is that?”
“Oh, that is just my son’s horse. It had a little accident, and now it is naught but decoration for Kin.”
“I don’t know what to say.” He continued to stare at it, contemplating how much it must be worth.
“It’s time you come clean with me, del Rossi. When are you going to tell me that you’ve not only seen my daughter, Rapunzel, but Hecuba as well?”
“What?” His head snapped around, and he faced Lucio. “I have no idea why you would think such a thing.”
“Mayhap because her scent is all over you – as well as a few strands of her hair.” He reached out and, with two fingers, plucked a long, blond hair from Marco’s shoulder. He held it up high in the air, surveying it.
“No one can smell the scent of another person on someone,” scoffed Marco.
“I can, since I’m a warlock.”
Marco said nothing but, instead, walked over and started to saddle his horse.
“You didn’t even flinch when I said that, which tells me you knew I was a warlock all along, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at the man.
“You don’t need to say anything. Just bring my daughter home, and you will have earned your bounty. Then you can go on your merry way.”
“She can’t leave, and you know it,” he said through gritted teeth, tightening the strap of the saddle.
“Ah, yes, she is cursed,” said Lucio sounding amused that Mario was caving-in under his constant barrage of questions. “You must know by now that four of my sons have had curses and all but one of them has managed to break them. You see, curses can always be broken. You just need to figure out how to do it.”
“All right, so I’ve seen your daughter,” he finally admitted, bridling his horse as he spoke. “She fell on me while I was chasing Roger the Rat.”
Lucio burst out laughing. “And from where did she come?”
“The old witch has her locked in a tower with no door and only one window. She has tried to escape several times now, but her hair winds around thing
s and keeps her from moving.”
“Really?” Lucio seemed very interested. “Rapunzel always loved her long, golden hair and would spend hours brushing it and adorning it with flowers. Hecuba knew that, and I suppose that is why she cursed my daughter in this way.”
“She is a special lady and very beautiful,” said Marco, slowing his actions, reminiscing about the kisses they’d shared.
“You sound smitten with my daughter. How many times have you seen her now?”
“I’ve only seen them a few times, but enjoyed each encounter,” he said, thinking about both of Lucio’s daughters.
“Them?” His brows raised in question.
Marco could have kicked himself for his slip of the tongue. Of course, he could have told Lucio about Medea but he didn’t want to do that. At least, not yet. He had something to prove to his father as well as himself first. Marco wanted to be the one to save Rapunzel. Knowing about Medea would only make Lucio seek them out before Marco had a chance to be the rescuer.
“I meant Rapunzel and the witch.” He hoped he sounded convincing.
“Did you? I find it interesting that you should refer to your visit with Hecuba as pleasant.”
Marco hoisted himself atop his horse, turning it in a half-circle, preparing to leave the stall. “I will be on my way now, Sir.”
“You do realize that I could follow you and find out the information for myself.”
“I beg you, Lord de Bar, not to do that. I would like the opportunity of rescuing Rapunzel on my own.”
“Is it because of the bounty?” he asked. “Because I could assure you the same bounty if you just tell me where my daughter is.”
“I have naught but my weapons, my horse, and the clothes on my back at the moment. My father is lame, and we have no food in our hovel. I admit, the coin of both the bounties would come in handy, but it is more than money that takes my interest at this moment. I want to rescue Rapunzel because I care for her deeply.”
“You also have something to prove to someone, don’t you?”
Marco bit his lip and nodded slowly. “Will you give me a chance to save your daughter on my own?”
“Is she in danger? Is Hecuba hurting her in any way?”
“Nay, I assure you she is a prisoner only. She has not been harmed at all.”
“Then I give you my word I will not follow you. But you have only a fortnight to bring my daughter home to me. If you can’t do it by then, the deal is off. And I will take matters into my own hands.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Marco headed out of the stable atop his horse.
“Del Rossi,” called out Lucio, causing Marco to look back over his shoulder. “Rapunzel’s head is filled with ideas of the man she will marry. She is my youngest child, and I admit I have spoiled her through the years. I gave her everything she wanted and never made her work for a thing. She won’t fall for a man who has nothing to offer her in return.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to change her expectations, won’t I?” Marco left the stable contemplating if it would be easier to get Rapunzel to accept him as naught more than a penniless pauper, or to somehow learn how to rustle up a dragon, command it, be knighted, and attain a castle and land all within a fortnight instead.
Kicking his heels into the sides of his horse, he headed away from the castle, wondering where he could find a dragon.
Chapter 10
Hecuba had no sooner left for the day when Medea was already up to her tricks, putting squid ink in Rapunzel’s ale. After almost vomiting, Rapunzel threw the ale into the fire. The girl was five years old now and had been practicing her magic on Rapunzel constantly.
Rapunzel awoke during the night feeling very cold. When she reached down for her blanket, her fingers closed around the body of a giant snake instead. She screamed so loudly that she woke Hecuba. Of course, Medea made the snake dissipate, and Rapunzel had no proof of the girl’s games. Instead of the child being scolded, Hecuba made Rapunzel tend to the fire all night long as a punishment for waking her child.
Three more times, Medea had played her tricks on Rapunzel during the night. Every time Rapunzel’s eyes started to close, Medea materialized some creature to frighten her out of her mind. Sister or not, she didn’t care! She could no longer put up with Medea’s antics and was ready to strangle the girl.
“Rapunzel,” came a voice that was music to her ears. “Rapunzel, let down your hair.”
“Marco!” Rapunzel jumped up and ran across the room.
“Marco!” shouted Medea, following her.
Just as Rapunzel grabbed her severed braid to lower it out the window to Marco, Medea tripped her and Rapunzel went sprawling across the floor in the rushes.
“Here, Marco,” said Medea, materializing a ladder for him to use. A few seconds later, Marco was hauling his body through the window and entering the room.
“Why, Medea, you have grown,” said Marco, doting over the girl. Rapunzel cleared her throat to get his attention. He looked over at her and chuckled. “Rapunzel, what are you doing on the floor? I thought you’d be the one to greet me, not your darling little sister.”
Rapunzel could hold back her anger no longer. “Darling little sister? Medea is an evil, wretched witch, following in her mother’s footsteps.” She took Marco’s proffered hand as he helped her off the floor.
“Oh, I fell,” shouted Medea. “Marco, help me.”
“Huh?” Marco turned quickly, his hand slipping from Rapunzel’s. She fell back to the ground, landing on her butt.
“Are you all right, Medea?” Marco rushed over to help the brat.
“She’s playing us both for fools,” snarled Rapunzel. When she stood up, her dress caught on something and ripped. Looking down to the floor, she saw a rat with sharp teeth holding on to her gown. She knew at once Medea was behind it. Still, the rat scared her, and she screamed.
“Rapunzel, please,” said Marco, turning around to face her. “Your screams are piercing and are going to alert Hecuba that I’m here.”
“It’s Medea,” she said, feeling her anger rising. “She has been torturing me ever since you left.”
“Is that true, Medea?” He turned to face the little girl who was pouting and playing innocent.
“Nay, Marco. I’ve been good. Rapunzel is mean.” She wiped a fake tear from her eye.
“Oh, please!” shouted Rapunzel, picking up her gown and heading across the room, ready to wring her sister’s neck. “Marco, I –” She stopped in midsentence as her hair wound around her feet, sending her to the ground yet again. Medea laughed at her behind Marco’s back.
“That’s enough!” Rapunzel stood up, no longer willing to be bullied by a child. She tried to be nice to the girl, but this game worked both ways. Holding out her hand and, even without touching her, a force came from Rapunzel, sending Medea flying backward, banging hard against the wall. Medea’s eyes opened wide in surprise as her body slid to the ground.
“W-what just happened?” Rapunzel looked at her hand in astonishment. “Did I do that?”
“I’m telling Mother,” cried Medea. “You hurt me.”
Rapunzel was so tired that she could not take another punishment from Hecuba. “You call for your mother right now, and I will bang you into that wall so hard your brains will rattle,” she threatened the child. “Do you understand me, Medea?”
“Rapunzel,” said Marco with his back to the girl, whispering to her. “Do you think you should be threatening a witch?”
“I have had all I am going to put up with from her,” answered Rapunzel, still madder than hell. “I don’t care if she is a witch, she is still my little sister. She will not treat me like she’s been doing and get away with it. She needs to learn to respect me. Do you hear me, Medea?”
Marco watched Rapunzel in amusement, feeling a little apprehensive about the way she played with fire. Still, he admired her for her courage and standing up to someone who had the means to do her a lot of harm.
“Rapunzel, mayhap you s
hould just calm down,” he suggested. However, she wasn’t open to the idea.
“I won’t calm down until Medea understands I will not put up with her antics any longer.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” The little girl got up and started to walk over to Marco.
“No, you don’t.” Rapunzel raised her hand again and a beam of light shot out, sending the girl back against the wall with a loud bang. “You will not move until you promise me you will stop playing your nasty tricks on me.”
“Marco, make her stop it,” begged Medea, crying for real this time.
“Rapunzel,” said Marco, looking into her angry blue eyes. “She’s just a child.”
“Don’t you dare take her side or you will find your back against the wall, too,” warned Rapunzel.
“All right, then. I agree with you,” he said, throwing his hands in the air in surrender. He didn’t know the extent of Rapunzel’s powers and wasn’t willing to find out. He turned and spoke to Medea. “Medea, you need to be kind to your sister.”
“I don’t like her.” The little girl wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue. “My mother is going to punish her when she hears about this.”
“If you tell your mother anything about this, I will stop visiting you,” said Marco, getting a nod of approval from Rapunzel.
“Nay, don’t do that.” This seemed to shake up Medea.
“Do you agree to our terms or not?” Rapunzel sounded tough, and she wasn’t backing down. Damn, that excited Marco. He liked an aggressive woman.
Lady in the Tower_Rapunzel (Tangled Tales Book 5) Page 7