The Rejected Princess

by Clark, Katie;

  “I’m sorry.” She hurried forward. She continued before he could interrupt her. “The Maynes were coming for lunch along with Dr. Presnell. I couldn’t refuse the chance to meet him.”

  Ben’s tight expression changed to surprise. “Did you learn anything?”

  “About the Sterns’ and Maynes’ involvement? Yes.” She paused, struggling for peace about her past. “About Dr. Presnell, no. He acted as if he had no idea who I was. In fact, he seemed to have little care about any conversation that went on. But I learned so much more about the rebel cause, and what they hope to accomplish.” She didn’t add that it scared her. That if they strove to stomp out anomalies, she might not be safe anywhere at all.

  Ben took one of her hands and squeezed gently, but he quickly released her. “The queen hasn’t awoken yet, but she will any minute. You need to hurry.”

  Roanna frowned. “What do we do now? They are guilty, but it’s my word against theirs. How does this help us?” As soon as she finished speaking, an idea came to her. “I have to tell Katherine.”

  “What?” Ben shook his head. “That would be foolish. We even drugged her so she wouldn’t know about the meeting. It will be better to give me the information, and let us continue to work on it.”

  But Roanna was resolute. Katherine was content with contributing little to the running of the country. However, desperate times called for desperate measures. The time had come for Katherine to awake from her slumber.

  “I can handle Katherine. She will help me. I know.”

  Ben’s frown changed from disagreement to confusion. “Why would she help you?”

  Roanna’s throat swelled with her answer, but she couldn’t push the words forward. Ben might be disgusted if he knew the queen was her long-lost mother. “She will. You have to trust me. We need to go now.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not coming to Santa Rio. My absence is too suspicious. I have to get back to the palace.”

  He was right, but she wished he wasn’t. She nodded. “I’ll see you soon then.”

  He stepped away as Roanna climbed into the train car. The train blew a stream of steam into the air as she took her seat. Ben lifted a single hand in farewell, and Roanna placed her hand on the glass.

  Ben’s gaze seemed sad. Resigned.

  The train moved away from the station.

  Ben strode to the auto and hopped inside, and she watched him until he drove out of sight. She wasn’t a fool—she had thought a hundred times about the marriage contract between Dawson’s Edge and Lox—but things were different now. The Loxians had perfected the Termination technology to detect the anomalies. They wouldn’t want an abnormal queen on their throne. Ben wouldn’t want a woman with an anomaly ruling at his side.

  Once the kingdoms knew she was Dawsonian, they would know she was wholly abnormal.

  Katherine groaned as the train chugged away, and Roanna pushed her feelings to the side. She changed seats so she was sitting directly beside the queen. Someone had removed their tea and brought in fresh snacks.

  Katherine’s eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at Roanna. “Did I sleep long? I don’t even remember dozing.”

  Roanna considered her answer. She could lie and tell Katherine she’d only slept for a few minutes which would explain why they were still quite a distance from Santa Rio.

  But if she wanted Katherine’s help, she had to use the truth. Katherine would help her—she had to. She would understand the threat to her family if the rebels were successful in implanting Termination within the country.

  Roanna swallowed her fears. “You slept for a time, yes.”

  Katherine sat up straight, stretching her back. “Then we’re almost there, I suppose.”

  Roanna shook her head. “We made an extra stop, actually.”

  “Oh?” Katherine took a cookie from the tray and bit into it. “Why?”

  “We stopped at the Sterns’ estate so I could try tricking them into giving us information on the attacks.”

  Katherine’s hand paused midway to her mouth, cookie dangling. “We what?”

  Roanna’s heart sped up. “It worked, Katherine. They admitted they were behind the attack at the Loxian border as well as the attack at the palace here in Dawson’s Edge. They told me these things because I pretended to be working with my father. I said Chester’s Wake wanted to form an alliance with them, to defeat Dawson’s Edge.”

  Katherine’s eyes had gone wide. She sat in stunned silence for a moment. Slowly, she returned her cookie to the tray. “Did you drug me?”

  “No. Someone must have for you to sleep so long, but I wasn’t aware that was going to happen, and I don’t know who did it.” The words were true, technically.

  Katherine frowned, her brows lowered and her eyes sad—or maybe confused. “The king will be very angry,” she said.

  Roanna gulped. She had known this, but hoped Katherine would help him see the necessity. “But the mission isn’t finished yet,” Roanna pled. “We know they are responsible, but at this point it is my word against theirs. I need your help to trap them in their own plot. You must help me. For the sake of this kingdom. The rebellion is gaining followers and…and they want to implement Termination. They mean to kill off any who are found to possess an anomaly.”

  She could see the fear and horror in Katherine’s eyes at this announcement. Katherine sat silently for long minutes. Roanna squirmed in her seat.

  “I don’t like getting involved.” Her words were soft, but her eyes were fierce. “But I will do this because you ask. What do you need from me?”

  Roanna stared in surprise but quickly moved ahead with her plan. “We need to invite the Sterns and Maynes to Santa Rio. They cannot know of your presence. I’ll tell them I’ve spoken with Chester’s Wake, and my parents are agreeable. You will listen in to confirm my story. You might even broadcast it to the king.”

  Katherine’s gaze intensified. “I do not like the position you’ve put me in. I do not like being deceived and practically blackmailed into going along with you.”

  “I’m not blackmailing—”

  “You are telling me I may lose my kingdom, my family, and my freedom if I don’t help you. That is blackmail, whether you know it or not.”

  Discomfort swirled in Roanna’s gut. Was she manipulating Katherine? Bending her to her will? “No I’m not. The rebels are doing this. I’m trying to stop it from happening.” Why couldn’t Katherine see that?

  Maybe Roanna was the conduit of the truth, but it wasn’t her, personally, forcing Katherine to act against her personal wishes and beliefs.

  “I’m sorry,” Roanna said. “But I saw a way to mend the problems afflicting our kingdoms. I knew Merry Stern would confide in me, and I was right. Will you help me or not?”

  Katherine’s gaze moved to the passing landscape outside the window. “Yes, but I do not like it.”

  Roanna’s stomach somersaulted. Katherine’s judgment was unfair, but she was probably tasting a little of the anger Roanna had been feeling for weeks. Being forced into action was never appealing.

  They didn’t speak again until they reached Santa Rio.

  71

  Katherine instructed Roanna to do whatever she could do to get the Maynes and Sterns to Santa Rio. Roanna was to call Katherine when she was needed.

  Roanna sent word to Ben immediately via a servant. She wished she could send word to her family.

  Roland’s offices occupied the top floor of the estate. If she could find a key, she might be able to use his technologies to send a message. But how likely was Roland to leave a spare key lying around?

  Figuring it was worth a try, she tromped up the three staircases leading to his office with the fantastic view of the ocean. The halls were abandoned, and the door was locked as she suspected.

  She returned to the first floor, defeated. She would need to wait at least a day to contact the Sterns, or her story wouldn’t seem believable. In the meantime, she would relax at the beach.

  Col
orful wildflowers tumbled over each other, cascading in glorious decoration. Roanna breathed deeply of the scent. At some point, Roland had implied flowers enhanced their powers. Was it true? It could be why she’d always been drawn to the gardens at home.

  Roanna didn’t care. She didn’t want her anomaly. She didn’t want to be different, yet she was different.

  Merry said there were some in the royal family who could enter people’s minds and bend them to their will. Roanna had read that in the history book.

  Could she do it, too?

  She focused on exercising her powers. She felt with her mind, stretching the limits of the aura around her. It felt elastic. Bouncy.

  Stretching farther, she felt for the aura of the nearest servant. There, in the hallway leading to the kitchens.

  A woman was sweeping, pressing the bristles toward the corners, but they wouldn’t reach. Her aura was stretchier than others Roanna had felt—not that she had much experience. How easily could she push the woman? Make her sweep to the left instead of the right?

  The desire was there, just to see. But it didn’t feel right. Didn’t feel honorable.

  Roanna jerked away before she could do something foolish. Something wicked.

  The sudden movement caused pain behind her eyes, and she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes.

  Why must this be happening to me?

  The thought was filled with anguish, but a new idea occurred. She didn’t have to use the powers, ever. She didn’t have to test them. Practice them. Employ them.

  Ever.

  She would keep her mind closed, never use it to mind read or communicate with other Dawsons. As long as the royal family was successful at stopping the rebellion, no one ever had to know she had the anomaly. It wasn’t as if the Dawsons’ powers were well known outside of their own country.

  But could she keep the extent of her powers from Ben?

  Roanna stood and hurried inside, eager to put the unpleasant thoughts behind her. She smiled at the servant who swept near the door. The girl returned the smile and curtsied.

  Supper would be served soon, and then Roanna would go to bed. She would send word to Merry Stern first thing in the morning.

  The evening passed uneventfully. Roanna ate alone then retired to bed. She slept lightly, every sound disturbing her.

  The next morning, Roanna was awoken by a knock on her door. Katherine came in without waiting for an answer, and Roanna hurried out of bed. “What is it, Katherine? Has there been another attack?” She grabbed for her robe.

  Katherine held up a hand to stop her. “No, nothing is wrong. I came to discuss this plan of yours.”

  Roanna fumbled with her robe, slipped her arms inside, and then perched on the end of the bed. “What about it?”

  Katherine fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with the whole thing. “Have you contacted the Sterns yet?”

  “No, I plan to send word this morning. I hope they will come for supper tonight, or at the least tomorrow night.”

  Katherine nodded once, her look thoughtful. “I will wait to tell the king until after we are successful. He will be furious.” She shot Roanna a warning look, letting her know how dangerous this mission was. King Dawson might punish her for disobeying. What might he do?

  Roanna squirmed. “I know, but if we are successful, the kingdom will be saved. If we’re not, then your family could be doomed.”

  Katherine sighed. “The kingdom could be saved this time, you mean. There will come another time, and another. Man does not live peaceably for long.”

  “Shouldn’t we, though?” Roanna asked. Lox seemed to be peaceful. Queen Frieda and King Neville had done a marvelous job of keeping the peace. Of course, they still killed all fetuses with anomalies. How peaceful was that?

  Katherine smiled sadly. “You are young and hopeful, and that is good. But there will always be differences among us. That is what makes us war, yet makes us beautiful.”

  The statement was profound and simple all at the same time.

  Katherine was right. Differences were good—differences all around.

  “Well,” Roanna finally said. “We shall bring peace for this time, then.” She moved to the desk near the window. “I will send word to Merry immediately.”

  72

  The Sterns came for supper that very night. Merry expressed impatience to begin their alliance, and she asked if Roanna’s family would entertain the Stern family in Chester’s Wake. The rebellion was anxious to get started, Merry said, but Roanna suspected she only wanted to see Gregory again.

  The Maynes came along with the Sterns, and Santa Rio was filled with guests for supper. The dining room bustled with activity as Roanna greeted each person. They ate happily together, talking loudly and excitedly.

  “I’ve never been to Santa Rio,” Merry said. “It’s beautiful here.”

  “That’s what I thought when I first visited,” Roanna admitted.

  “Perhaps you will be gifted the estate when this is finished, Merry,” Lady Mayne raised her eyebrows and leaned close.

  Roanna frowned. The supposed war hadn’t even started and already Lady Mayne was giving away properties? Did she have an entire royal line picked out, as well?

  It was time to get down to business. “Let us speak of why we are really together, shall we?”

  The conversation around the table died down, and everyone looked to her.

  “Chester’s Wake has agreed to fund the movement, but we will offer no soldiers in the fight. Do you have the soldiers you need?”

  Lord Mayne was the one to speak. “We have soldiers in the south, Princess. We also have the hope of soldiers across the ocean.”

  Across the ocean? Roanna could only hope that arrangement fell through. She kept her face neutral, but she hadn’t anticipated that the rebellion went so deep.

  “Excellent. We need to know those in Dawson’s Edge whom we can trust, and we need a contract of sorts, assuring our assets.” She and Katherine had spent hours arranging the plan.

  Baron Stern frowned. “You would ask us to divulge our allies to you, when our relationship is only just beginning? And you want to put it all down on paper? This creates unnecessary evidence.”

  She cast him a disdainful look. “I am a princess of Chester’s Wake, and my father is its king. We do not take lightly to funding wars, so yes, we need to know who our own allies will be, and we need assurances.”

  Baron Stern nodded. “Of course, Your Highness. It makes perfect sense. It’s only, we need to know we can trust you first. If Chester’s Wake is to fund the movement, let us have a deposit of good faith first. We can agree on a payment amount, method, and schedule first. The contract will be drawn up. Once our funding is secure, we will freely give you all that you ask.”

  Roanna pressed her lips together, thinking. They needed the names of those involved in the attacks. They needed the names of inventors, builders, funders, commanders. Something concrete they could take to King Dawson, to Queen Frieda, and her own father, the King of Chester’s Wake.

  In her distress, she let down her mental defenses. The aura of those around the table hit her dead on, a dull ache throbbing behind her eyes. The more she practiced her powers the stronger they seemed to grow. Was this how it would be for the rest of her life?

  Baron Sterns’s aura was more malleable than she would have thought.

  A wicked urge took hold of her. The urge to win—to bring peace. It would take precious little pushing to bend him to her wishes. Her eyes slid closed in a slow blink as she felt the edges of his mind. She could push him toward surrender. He wouldn’t even know she’d done it. And it was for the greater good.

  The blink ended, and she studied the faces of those around the table. All of these people were traitors. Traitors to their country and to the peace. All for what? They wanted the palace for themselves and their own beliefs? They hated the royal family?

  Perhaps she was brought here for this moment. So that she could mold these rebels to her w
ill and end the bloodshed they wanted to cause. She was one of the anomalies they hated, after all. She would be justified in her use of power.

  She pushed slightly, willing his mind to change.

  The action brought a wave of nausea, but not because of the strength of her power. For eighteen years, she’d had her decisions taken from her. Did she really want to be that kind of person?

  This wasn’t who she was. She would not be the monster they expected her to be, whether they disgusted her or not. Whether she had the power to force them or not.

  With a determined snap of her mind, she withdrew from Baron Stern’s aura and closed her mind once again. She shook her head. “Then we have no deal. Father’s instructions were clear. There will be no contract—no money—without assurance of our allies.”

  Baron Sterns’s nostrils flared. He set down his silver fork and leaned back in his chair. “How do we know we can trust you?”

  Roanna raised her eyebrows. “Do you need funding or not?” She prayed they wouldn’t see her bluff.

  Baron Stern huffed. “Very well. You shall have your list before we leave this night.”

  Roanna offered a curt nod. “Excellent.”

  If they had figured their plan correctly then Katherine had heard the conversation at the table and would relay it to the king. Roanna’s job was done. She relaxed slightly, eager to get on with the evening.

  They finished their meal and Baron Stern and Lord Mayne consulted over the list they would provide Chester’s Wake.

  Merry and Roanna sat quietly, speaking.

  “Have you always heard them speak of this movement?” Roanna asked. “Have they tried other plots that failed?” She thought of Dr. Presnell’s assumed kidnapping at her birth.

  Merry sighed and shrugged. “More than I can count. Some have landed them in dungeons and others in gold. So far, though, none have been successful in bringing King Bartholomew Dawson to his knees.”

  Clarity washed over Roanna then. She was a pawn to them, and she had been since birth. Maybe Dr. Presnell had taken her to bring the king and queen to their knees. Perhaps he thought she would be tested and terminated in Chester’s Wake. She was nothing to any of them, nothing but a means to an end, even as an infant.