by SL Perrine
Remembering the people and the birds and fairies outside of Hearthstone Palace, she was unnerved to notice the same could not be said for Ormshire Castle. The town around the foot of the castle was quiet, with only a few stragglers out and about. For a midday arrival, she would have expected open shops in the square and children playing near the castle entrance.
All the children played at Hearthstone Palace in hopes of seeing inside as the doors were opened. At Ormshire Castle, there was only an old man who looked malnourished and a child, no more than seven, feeding a goat some bread. This did not give her the happy and warm feeling she had of a place called home.
“Are you lost?” a boy asked as the carriage stopped outside a big wooden door. He had mud on his cheeks and his blond hair was matted to his forehead. As Renella took further inventory at his attire, she would have guessed he rolled in the mud with the hogs for fun.
“No, lost is not even close,” she said in bewilderment of her surroundings. Her guards unloaded her luggage and handed them off to the guards from the castle. “Is this the royal welcoming party then?” she asked the boy, who shook his head, undoubtedly trying to rid his ears of mud and water. He stopped for a minute to regard her.
“Did you say royal welcoming?” he asked austerely.
“Well, yes,” she said, climbing out of the carriage and being careful to stay away from the mud puddles. “Are they expecting anyone other than royalty today?” she said quite sarcastically. The boy’s face went blank, his mouth slipping into a straight line. Almost as quickly, he laughed. He seemed to consider his attire and laughed louder.
“Are you having a fit or something? Should we fetch you a doctor?” She looked around, but no one seemed to notice the boy’s behavior.
He coughed a little and put his hand up at her. “No, I don’t need a doctor. However, I may after my father gets a load of me. Shoot… well, come on. You’re early,” he said as he grabbed her by the sleeve of her travel coat.
“What are you doing?” She yanked her sleeve free of the boy’s hand.
“Unless you want to wait out here for four more hours, you might as well come with me.” He held out his hand.
“Where, might I ask, are you taking me?” She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“I’m taking you to see Lord Ourobus and Lady Sheree.” Then he repeated, “You’re early.”
“Fine,” she agreed.
He led her through the dark halls of the palace in silence. He weaved and bobbed between rooms, and in each, Renella noticed the maids and guards did not look as though they would be stopping him. They came upon what Renella could only conclude was the throne room. The big throne was centered atop a small staircase. Along the walls were chairs, lined in red velvet and gold. The throne looked like burgundy colored leather with two ornate gems in the shape of diamonds in the headrest. The boy disappeared up the stairs and through a door, to the left of the throne. When he came back, he looked like his mood had soured ten-fold as he stood on the right side of the throne.
“May I introduce my lord father, Ourobus, and the Lady Sheree,” he said as lord and lady emerged from the doorway on the left of the throne.
Lady Sheree was the first to speak to Renella. “Oh, you poor thing.” She walked down the small staircase and embraced Renella in a hug. “You should have been received. I am so sorry.”
“Yes, had your guards sent word you would be early, we would have made sure of it,” Lord Ourobus said to Renella while giving his guards a stern look. “That is no reception for the future queen of the realms.” He regarded Renella before walking the short stairs to take her hand in his and kiss the red hearthstone ring she wore. “I am sorry, your highness, as to the state of my son. I can make no excuses for him, for he is his mother’s child,” he said, looking at the young boy, who still stood at the right side of the throne. Renella took a minute to look at him as he gave a short nod, all the while looking straight ahead. Renella knew that look well. She had used it most of her life while entertaining her father’s company.
“I am familiar with the hasty acts of boys, Lord Ourobus, make no mind of it.” Renella contemplated if the lord’s reaction to his son’s inability to remain proper were as strong as her father’s.
The rest of the morning was a sort of blur for Renella. She was whisked around the palace by pretty young ladies and shown, what felt like, every corner of the castle. By mid-afternoon, she had thought to find a nice spot to hide for a bit to catch her breath. She barely had time to think about the lord’s treatment at her arrival. He had seemed bereft at the idea she was not properly welcomed. She thought maybe her father’s name would hold weight. That, or maybe the lord was not a monster as she’d first thought.
Her rooms were nice enough, she decided. Her sitting room was as roomy as the one at Hearthstone. The bedroom matched the size well. She would have preferred the light-colored wood furniture of her home. She had to remind herself she was home. The warmth radiated off the deep dark colors of her room. The bedspread was a deep burgundy satin that contrasted with the cherry wood four-poster bed, making the room look dark and dreary. She pulled the rust-colored drapes back from the windows to let in the light of the sun. She was given a wry look from her maids, who explained the dry heat. In keeping the inside of the castle dark and the windows covered, it kept out most of the heat. So, the drapes were pulled back over the window.
Renella wandered most of the lower levels and came across the most beautiful courtyard. It was encased by the castle wall, but was open to the sky above. In the center of the courtyard was a rather large pond, with a gazebo made of marble around it. The pillars were covered with dancing morning glories, which climbed the walls of the castle.
She sat atop the ledge encircling the pond and played with a loose thread from the bottom of her skirt. The sun had already begun to set, so she was able to gaze at the sky and marvel at how all she needed to do when she missed home was look up. For the sky looked the same, no matter where you traveled. The time got away from the princess as she heard the bell calling for supper. That’s when she realized she was still in her traveling clothes.
“Are you lost?” a young girl’s voice said to her from within the long corridor.
“Why do people keep asking me that?” she mumbled to herself. “I don’t believe so. I have my ladies to show me where I need to go,” Renella answered in kind.
“Well, if you’re going to supper, I can show you the way. My presence is required there as well.” She gave a short curtsy and fell in step with Renella.
She was the most appealing young girl Renella had the pleasure of meeting since she arrived. The girl looked to be the same age as Renella. Her curly brown hair was in pigtails, and she wore a pale orange jumper. She looked as though she was more than able to enjoy her youth to the fullest, which made Renella wonder what it would feel like for her to be a carefree girl, rather than a princess.
“You are excused,” she told Renella’s ladies. “I will see to the princess.”
“Please, call me Renella.” She detested all the formality.
“Fine, Renella, I’ll show you to supper.” The girl walked ahead of Renella, not bothering to tell her who she was.
As they entered the dining hall, Renella had to wonder if the cook had prepared all of the food because of her arrival, or if the spread before her was an every-night occurrence. The dining hall table looked like it sat twenty or so people, and the top was filled from place setting to place setting. She had only expected the four place settings, for she was not introduced to anyone other than the lord’s own family, but there was more.
“Ladies, how nice of you to join us.” Tyson, the lord’s son, stood at the foot of the table, but his parents were nowhere in sight. He had cleaned up and rid himself of the mud from earlier in the day. “I see, Renella, you have met my sister.”
Renella looked at the small-framed girl who had led her to the dining hall.
“Actually, I hadn’t had the pl
easure, but she was kind enough to show me here,” Renella answered him in disdain.
“Oh, Tabitha dear, where have you been off to?” Lady Sheree entered the room. “Have you two met already?” She motioned to the two girls. “Good, then the introductions are done.”
Tabitha looked at her mother and stood next to a chair on the side of the long table. She had chosen a spot closer to the foot of the table, Renella had noticed. Lady Sheree had chosen the chair next to what Renella had assumed would be Lord Ourobus’s seat, at the head. She wondered whether she should sit nearer the lord and lady or the children. As Lord Ourobus entered the room, Renella decided somewhere in between would be safer than choosing one or the other.
“Princess, how has your day been so far?” Ourobus asked as he took his seat and motioned for the rest to do the same.
“It’s been lovely, Lord Ourobus. I’ve been touring the castle,” Renella answered as her plate and settings were placed in front of her. The large center pieces were made with fresh flowers, which reminded her of home.
“Good, good. Are you settled in your rooms? Are they spacious enough for you?” He barely glanced in her direction, but contemplated his selections from the platters before him.
“Yes, they're just fine, thank you. I don’t wish for anyone to trouble themselves about me. I’ll get on just fine. Thank you for the warm welcome.” She motioned to the array of food before them.
“Oh, it was nothing,” Sheree stated as her husband began consuming his meal.
As supper went on, none acknowledged each other further. They ate in relative silence until Tyson excused himself, followed by Tabitha, so Renella saw fit to excuse herself as well. She found her way to her room with ease, contemplating another tour about the palace alone. She thought she would enjoy a walk around the grounds. As she made her way to the front door, she found Tabitha there.
“Are you lost or running away?” Tabitha emerged from the shadows of the palace walls.
“Why do you people keep asking me if I’m lost? I’m not two,” Renella said.
“Oh, Princess, I’m so sorry. I was just trying to be funny. I guess I’m bad at it.” They both laughed.
“Sorry about earlier. Not many people hear about Tabitha, the Lord of Ormshire Castle’s unwanted daughter,” she said as she bowed.
“No, I don’t believe in all my years that I have heard of you. I’m sorry.” Renella felt a sense of guilt for not knowing about her. She also felt a little upset her mother had never mentioned her.
“Don’t be, Princess. My parents hardly recognize that I’m here. I’m fed and clothed, so that’s a plus,” she said with contemplation in her eyes. “Although, I suppose that’s more the servants' doing, isn’t it?” she kind of asked herself. “Anyway, I hope you’re not planning an escape. My poor brother would be so pleased.” She giggled, which made Renella smile.
“I don’t believe I would be able to escape. If I found my way home, my father would just bring me back.” She looked at the door.
“It’s a matter of State,” they both said together, giving their best impressions of their own fathers. This made the girls erupt in such laughter, they hadn’t realized they had an audience.
“What are you two up to?” Tyson emerged from upstairs. Renella gave a short curtsy and noticed Tabitha did not even bother.
“I was going to have a walk around the grounds and thought maybe Tabitha would like to join me,” Renella said thusly.
“I do not think that is possible, Highness,” he said with mocking laughter. “Father forbids anyone from leaving the castle walls after dark.” He pointed to the guards at the door. “They won’t even flinch at opening that door till daybreak.”
“Well then, I guess our tour of the grounds must wait till tomorrow.” Renella started up the stairs. “Good night, Tabitha.” She gave a bow of her head to Tyson. “Young Lord Cole,” she said with a smirk, which the young lord returned.
The Curse of Ormshire
The Beast Within Series: Book Two
Coming April 2018
Acknowledgements
To start, I’d like to thank my husband, Howie, for putting up with absent spouse syndrome. Without his support I would never have written this, let alone go after a publisher for it.
To my publishers at Burning Willow Press, thank you so much for putting your faith in me. I believe this is a great story, and my characters and I are happy to have a home with you.
My editor, Christina LoBianco, thank you for making sure the words left, after countless edits, are still very much my own. I will be forever grateful for your diligence and commitment to my voice.
Loraine Van Tonder, the artist for the very sexy cover. You will never know how appreciative I am for letting me use your beautiful work to entice readers to my story. I’m certain half of the people who pick this up, will be doing so based on cover alone.
Finally, to those of you who read this story, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really do just want to get the stories out there. I want everyone to be able to experience these characters and what they must say.
The first chapter of this book came to me one night in a dream. I woke at three in the morning and grabbed the nearest composition notebook and a pencil and wrote it all out. When I got up the next morning I realized I had written in in the back of the book and upside down.
Even though I didn’t sit down and start writing it immediately, I knew someday I would find the story to go with it. When it finally came to me, I sat down every day for a month until it was done.
So, that it the story of how Renella came to be. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, and I sincerely hope your looking forward to book two.