The Captive Twin

by R. J. Francis

  “What?”

  “I’m certain.”

  “How can this be?” Nastasha asked. “When?”

  Elaina was quiet for a bit, thinking, and then she said: “There will be a new man in your life by your next birthday.”

  “But my birthday’s not even three weeks away!”

  “Well, you won’t have to wait long, then,” Elaina said.

  Urrgh! Nastasha thought. Haven’t I been through enough tonight? Another man in my life? Before my birthday? Now was hardly the time for another man to come into her life.

  “You don’t believe me?” Elaina said.

  “Of course I believe you. You’ve proven yourself to be some sort of perfect being who knows everything, who is never wrong, and who never lies. I have to believe you. I just never expected another man in my…”

  And yet, she felt strangely at peace with the message, and whatever it might mean. She figured it must be the divine light lingering inside her, numbing her mind.

  “We should get some sleep,” Elaina said. “I’m sure I’ve said too much.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  A s dawn approached, Alessa and Makias, riding Nightmare and Tyrant, led the long train of sleepy refugees through the wintry forest. Some rode horses; others walked.

  While camp songs—as one of the youngsters had suggested—might have kept the refugees’ spirits up, they needed to stay silent for safety. The quiet kept them tense, shuddering at every crack of a branch, or thump in the distance, that may have implied danger. Most kept their eyes locked ahead for fear they might see the remnants of battle to the right or left. They had to constantly remind themselves that the shadowy figures in the night were just friendly guards and soldiers.

  Behind Makias and Alessa, Princess Tori rode the smallest of the horses, with her stuffed rabbit peeking its head out of her saddlebag, keeping watch. Twins Thalia and Erika rode in one saddle; Erika, the better rider, held the reins. Charlise carried the baby Ella on her breast in a sling. The others followed, with brave Nikoleta of Celmarea the last.

  After a long ride, they began to see in the distance the buildings of the city’s upper district against the barely lightening sky. The forest trail opened onto a dirt road, which bisected a few small farms before intersecting with the paved main road that ringed the upper district.

  They turned downhill and saw the castle—their home—before them. Their route home had been chosen carefully: had they approached the castle from the west, they would have passed through the park where the Destaurians had piled up and burned the corpses of their loved ones.

  As the returnees neared the castle, word spread quickly, and the townspeople who were still celebrating in the streets gathered to welcome them. Soldiers formed a line to keep them back. “Is that all that’s left of them?” Talidale asked a soldier. The soldier nodded.

  The subjects of Arra looked tenderly upon the elite—and between the two groups there was mutual understanding, for all had been through so much. Some civilians broke into tears at seeing how few of the court came home. Nobody dared to cheer, with the sense of loss so heavy in the air.

  Alessa and Makias started over the drawbridge. It was so quiet now, and everyone was so tired, the steady rhythm of the horses’ shoes on the wooden bridge nearly put a few in the group to sleep.

  When they entered the courtyard, the court refugees were overjoyed to see their servants alive, well, and assembled to welcome them.

  Kotaret stood among the servants. When Sylvia saw him, with the help of a guard she got down off her horse and limped toward him. Kotaret took her in his arms, and they finally kissed for the first time.

  Queen Alethea and General Valeriy came outside to greet the returnees. “My friends, welcome home,” said the queen. “Our castle is retaken, but this is not the castle you remember. We are all dealing with loss. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children have vanished from our lives.”

  “Look around,” she continued. “This is your close family now. You must continue to support each other, comfort each other, and lead each other onward with love as you began to do in the caves. This will be a time of healing.”

  “Thank you, Panuse,” bold Nikoleta said, stepping forward. “We owe our lives to you. How may we honor you?”

  “My dear,” said the queen, “there are many who have sacrificed themselves to keep you safe. You honor them and me by being who you are. And by being the best you can be.”

  Nikoleta gave a low bow, and knelt.

  “So, please, settle in,” said the queen. “Sleep well. We shall assemble again in the afternoon.”

  As Queen Alethea walked back indoors with the general, she took his hand. He didn’t know what to make of this—it was unlike her, and it was definitely contrary to protocol, but he welcomed it.

  In the morning, Alessa entered the bedroom and opened the curtains—halfway, so the light wouldn’t bother Elaina and Nastasha. “S’good to see you back,” Elaina said, her voice slurred by slumber.

  “You kids really took care of things last night, without much help from the older generation,” Alessa said. “You really are growing up.”

  “I still feel like a girl,” Elaina said.

  “And may that feeling never leave you,” said Alessa. Even though she had been active all night without sleep, Alessa couldn’t miss her morning exercise routine. She centered herself on the rug and sank into a deep lunge, her back straight, her hands reaching high.

  “Is the castle secure?” Nastasha asked, waking up now.

  “Yes,” Alessa said, switching her posture to stretch the other side, “but there’s still a lot of cleaning up to do. Elaina’s Destaurian brothers could have been better house guests.”

  "Where are the Celmareans?” Elaina asked.

  “Some are still in the forest, helping to hunt for Destaurian holdouts. A few are in the infirmary. One of them, Cora, was asking about you.”

  “Cora was hurt?” Elaina asked.

  “Not seriously,” Alessa said. “She’ll be fine. Unfortunately we lost her brother in the fighting.”

  Elaina explained to Nastasha who Cora was, and that Nastasha would probably be dead if it were not for Cora’s help. There was a knock at the door. A servant announced that the queen wanted an audience with the ladies at the table in thirty minutes.

  Queen Alethea, Prince Jaimin, Princess Tori, Nastasha and the resident ambassadors Elaina and Alessa sat down for a late breakfast in the royal dining hall. On the wall, rectangles a shade darker than the surrounding wood marked where the royal family’s portraits used to hang.

  “Any idea where we’ve gone off to?” Jaimin asked.

  “No,” the queen replied. “We shall hope that the stolen portraits are recovered.”

  There was a seventh person invited to the meal, but he arrived late: Makias entered after the first course, and sat down next to Tori. He was dressed in brown suede pants, and a thickly woven shirt of gold, white, and forest green. A frilly undershirt peeked out at his collar and wrists. Tori stared at his interesting outfit, pressing the limits of politeness.

  “Welcome, Makias,” the queen said.

  “Panuse,” he responded, and in the Celmarean tongue he apologized for his tardiness.

  As was her tradition, after the main course, the queen addressed those gathered, saying:

  “I am pleased to confirm that most of the townspeople, and most of our servants and guards, have survived. And even some friends who we thought were lost either hid themselves through the duration of the fighting or disguised themselves as servants. Galen, our doctor, lives. Hermeus and Yvette of the Royal Academy also live. Our chief engineer Tyman and all of his staff survived by hiding out on the site of our new power plant.”

  “This meal,” she said, “indeed this day, is only a brief respite. I have succeeded in obtaining the capitulation of many of the Destaurian units, but many more have fled. Radovan may yet have more grief in store for us.”

  The queen continued
: “Princess Eleonora remains a prisoner somewhere in the Destaurian desert. Our task now is to free her. Once freed, she can help Elaina turn their father back to the light.”

  “Despite the challenges ahead, I feel blessed to have such a strong family, and such steadfast allies by my side. I know we shall succeed. Alessa, dear, you and Elaina must move your possessions into the castle. Go this afternoon to make arrangements and farewell your home.”

  “Shouldn’t we be heading for Destauria today?” Alessa asked the queen.

  “Tomorrow morning will be the soonest, as there is much to prepare, and we must first ensure the pass is safe. All of you, gather your questions and ideas, and we shall discuss them later today. I should especially like to hear from the youngest member of our council.” Alethea gave her daughter a warm look.

  “And you will hear from me,” said Tori. “I’m not short on ideas.”

  Jaimin stood and raised his glass in a toast. “To those we’ve lost,” he said. They all drank, and thought fondly of those they would never forget.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  O n their way back from the meal, Elaina, Nastasha and Jaimin stopped by the infirmary. The place was packed with patients, and only the luckiest ones got beds. The rest were set up in cots or on the floor.

  They visited briefly with Cora and her Skarjian fiancé Zolin, Priestess Ariana, and Nikoleta and her parents Tasia and Alvar.

  “I’m looking forward to showing you the ways of our people,” Priestess Ariana said to them. They assumed that the wise priestess was addressing Elaina and Jaimin, but, oddly, she was looking at Nastasha when she said this. Turning to Elaina, Ariana said, “Your mother and I are very close.”

  You are? You still visit her? Elaina asked in her mind.

  Yes, Ariana responded.

  How can you read my mind? You don’t know me.

  Ariana smiled and didn’t have to say anything. Elaina got the feeling that somehow the priestess knew her well.

  When they got back upstairs, there was still some time before the caravan to Alessa’s house would be ready to depart. Elaina sat cross-legged on her bed and made the spiritual journey to Eastern Destauria once again.

  “Are you awake?”

  “Elaina?” said Eleonora, who had been half asleep. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for news.”

  “It’s done. We’ve recaptured the Arran castle. We’re leaving soon to rescue you.”

  “I hope you didn’t kill anyone I know. Anyone I liked, anyway…” Eleonora said.

  “I…hope not either,” was all Elaina could think to say.

  “The baby’s almost here.”

  “I know,” Elaina said.

  “I can’t have this child alone. You must hurry.”

  “Even if I don’t make it there in time physically, I’ll be with you. And I’ll get you back to Destauria. I promise.”

  “I…I’m not sure I want to go back. Is there another option? I can go east.” “Going east” meant the same in Destauria as it did in Arra. It meant giving up coastal life for a new start in the far inland kingdoms. There were tales of those who “went east” fleeing relationship woes, quakes, debt, or, in rare cases, fleeing justice.

  “Please. You can help make things right,” Elaina said. “Help me heal our father. Restore your homeland to peace.”

  “You make it sound easy. It won’t be easy.”

  “I know,” Elaina said. “None of this will be easy.”

  Although it was just a practical mission for Alessa and Elaina to oversee the transfer of their things from Alessa’s house, when the townspeople got wind of who was coming through, the princesses’ short journey became the focus of the ongoing victory party. Hundreds of subjects lined the road, cheering and waving whatever brightly colored fabrics were within reach.

  Marco, Arin, and other guards surrounded the royals as they progressed into the square. Jaimin looked upon the faces of those he’d fought for and was moved to speak. “My people,” he yelled, and a hush fell over the crowd.

  Jaimin had never addressed the townspeople before: always his father had. “Our great kingdom is being redeemed,” he began. The civilians couldn’t contain themselves and they burst out into a cheer. When it died down, Jaimin continued: “In these trying days, your fathers, your sons, your husbands, and your friends have given all they have. Some have given their lives in exchange for our freedom. I grieve, as we all must. But I have seen what their sacrifice has achieved—and I assure you none have fallen in vain.”

  “I am committed to keeping our kingdom strong, free and fair, and worthy of the souls we have lost. I pledge to you that I, my mother, and my sister, will devote our lives to your security, so that you and your families may share in Arra’s riches without fear.” The crowd rang out with excited calls.

  “In the time of my grandfather’s reign,” he continued, “when our neighbor Celmarea needed protection, we rose to the challenge, fighting and dying on a foreign shore for those we scarcely knew, driven only by the conviction that our cause was just. This month, when the threat was upon us yet again, our cause was joined by the survivors of Celmarea and the brave warriors of Audicia. They, like us, know what brotherhood means. Yes, our regional alliance is strong. What’s even more important is that the will of the divine spirit is with us.”

  “And, here with me now, are three islanders who have risked their lives for you: Makias of Celmarea, and Princesses Alessa and Elaina of Celmarea. Princess Alessa has a face familiar to you. She is the sister of your queen. And Princess Elaina, to whom many of our fighting men owe their lives, is pledged to become my wife next year.”

  The crowd went wild with conversation, but this quickly gave way to respectful silence. A few in the front knelt to honor their heroes, and the gesture caught on. Soon the entire assembly was either kneeling or bowing in admiration.

  Masha, the dressmaker, was ecstatic to see her best customer, Alessa, safe and well, and she wasn’t in the least bit surprised to learn that both Alessa and Elaina were of royal blood. Several teen boys who had secret crushes on Elaina were devastated by the news of her engagement.

  Next, Elaina spoke: “Some of you are sure you have seen me before,” she said. “And you have. I sold goods at the market for many years. I was hidden among you for my own protection.”

  “She makes the finest cheese in the world, I reckon,” said an old woman.

  “You’re so kind,” Elaina said. “Listen—your husbands, sons, and brothers will be back soon, weary from battle. Encourage and love them as we work to bring calm to the region. In the past few days I’ve held hundreds of your dear ones in my arms. I’ve been awed by the courage they showed even when death was so near. I’ve seen the hope in their hearts. With hope as our foundation, we can surely bring about a lasting peace.”

  “Rise and celebrate!” Jaimin said. “The day we feared came, and still we are free.” The crowd stood and roared with joy.

  The horses and wagons moved on down the street, with the royal guards doing their best to back the jostling masses away. Elaina touched the outstretched hands of those whom she rode past, and when they touched her fingertips they felt the power of the divine spirit. And they spoke of it when they returned to their homes.

  Arran soldiers stopped the parade of subjects from following the royal caravan south into the woods. When Alessa entered her home with her arm around Makias, she found, to her relief, that the place was completely intact. Soldiers and guards had already searched the place, making sure it was safe.

  “This is where I’ve been all these years,” she told Makias.

  “It’s just as I pictured it,” he said. “What a sanctuary!” He strolled over to admire her bookshelf.

  “Someone must have come by to water the plants,” Alessa said. “I think I know who.”

  Alessa was overwhelmed with gratitude that nobody had broken in and ransacked the place. She took a walk around and got a last mental image of her only adult home the way it had been furnished f
or so long, and then it was time for the guards and servants to pack. She had them pack her favorite furniture, plants, and all her loose belongings, leaving some of the basics behind. After all, the place still could be refurnished and used as a retreat.

  Elaina asked that her collection of aging cheeses be carefully relocated to the castle’s kitchens.

  “Thanks for speaking with the people,” Elaina told Jaimin, on their way up the stairs to her room. “I think we won them over.”

  “You can do no wrong with them,” said the prince. “Your charm may just save us if they ever find out you’re Radovan’s daughter.”

  “Hush, Jem. Not too loud.”

  “They’re going to find out sooner or later,” he said.

  Elaina’s room was intact. Her wardrobe doors and dresser drawers were open from when Alessa had hastily packed some of her clothing the evening of the invasion, but everything that should have been there was there. Elaina stepped into the dark closet where most of her possessions were still stacked in crates along the walls.

  Something about being in Elaina’s bedroom and seeing her with her crown on, surveying her belongings in a focused, businesslike manner, kindled Jaimin’s desire. Elaina immediately picked up on the change in his thought patterns. Instead of dismissing romance as not being on the schedule, she yanked him into the closet, pulled the door closed, and clasped the sides of his head, pulling his face close to hers.

  “How much time do we have before the guards come up?” he asked.

  “Not enough,” she said. She pressed her lips onto his, and as they kissed she slowly slid her hands down his sides, slipped them beneath his waistband, and held them to his hips. She was about to explore further, when Areu stopped her.

  Jaimin and Elaina figured waiting six months to marry might suit Arrans fine. But they were Celmareans, after all, so maybe they could play by different rules.

  EPILOGUE

  T here was more to move than the wagons could carry in one go. As Jaimin and Elaina waited for the wagons to return, he rested in her lap while she massaged his face. Jaimin felt so relaxed he drifted off to sleep. And he had a dream.