I stiffened. The voice didn’t belong to the major. But I did recognise it.
Chapter 19
I peered through the small gap between the wardrobe doors. Sure enough, my uncle Horace stood just inside the cabin, gaping at William and Celine. The major stood behind him, his eyes travelling from his open chest to the box still in Celine’s hands. He raised both eyebrows, but said nothing. William had been right, a major could do little against a prince and princess.
My uncle, on the other hand, had no such compunction. “What is the meaning of this?”
Celine seemed torn between terror and defiance. She and our uncle had never gotten along. When she didn’t say anything, William drew himself up and took the box from her hands, closing the lid over the sword. “We witnessed this item being stolen from the hold. We are merely reclaiming it.” His expression dared either of them to question him.
An admiring grin crept across my face. His golden hair caught the moonlight, and he looked confident and powerful, every inch the prince. I could see why Cordelia had written so much praise of him in her letters home after she had first arrived in Northhelm.
Uncle Horace looked surprised, but after a moment of assessing William, he seemed to deflate a little. “Well, no harm done then. The sword is actually mine, and I requested the major to retrieve it from the hold for me. I had become concerned that the box might be damaged down there. It is a…valuable item.”
I could see the reluctance in William’s face as he handed the box over to my uncle. But what could he do?
Their brief interaction had apparently provided enough time for Celine to recover her confidence. “Why did you bring an old sword with you, Uncle Horace? It seems a bit strange to me.” She stared at him, her expression demanding an answer.
Uncle Horace chuckled a little nervously. “This isn’t just an old sword, my dear.”
Celine winced visibly at the title, and I suppressed a chuckle. Nothing riled Celine like Uncle Horace’s disdain and condescension.
“It’s a beautiful weapon.” William watched my uncle closely.
“That it is, that it is.” He patted the box and then looked between them. “But I must confess to still being confused. What exactly were the two of you doing roaming the ship together in the middle of the night?”
Despite the lack of direct accusation, William stiffened and looked offended. If my sister hadn’t been so young, I would have understood my uncle’s natural conclusion. But he should have known better than to think William would ever get involved with a girl who was only fourteen.
Celine looked equally offended, but in response to William’s affront. I could only hope she wouldn’t be upset with him for long.
Slowly William forced himself to return to a state of calm. “I would be happy to explain it to you, of course.” He let his eyes linger meaningfully on the major. “Perhaps we could adjourn the conversation to your cabin, or mine, if you prefer.”
“Oh.” Uncle Horace glanced back at the major, seemingly having forgotten his presence.
I understood William’s motivation. He wanted to clear the room so I could make my escape. But something about the situation wasn’t adding up, and I refused to be cut out of the proceedings. I could handle Uncle Horace.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the wardrobe. The major gasped and fell back. Everyone else turned startled faces in my direction. William pressed his lips together into a tight line and glared at me.
I focussed on my uncle. “Your Highness, I second the suggestion of retiring to your cabin. At the very least we will all have a little more room to breathe.”
He shook himself and looked around the confined space with bulging eyes. “There’s no one else concealed in here, is there? Because I don’t know if I can take any more surprises tonight. I’m not as young as I used to be.” No one replied since no other hiding places remained. He turned back to me. “I’m amazed and confused but, now that you mention it, it is a little tight in here.” His eyes swung towards Celine. “Of course, I would be a great deal more amazed if I hadn’t found my reprehensible niece involved. She has a penchant for stirring up trouble.”
Celine glared at him, both hands curling into fists at her sides. I pushed down my own anger at his words, and repeated my suggestion that we move the conversation.
“Oh, very well. If that is what it takes to get answers, I am willing enough to play the host.” He gestured for us all to follow him out of the cabin. “I even have a rather fine brandy we can sample.” He directed his words towards William, who maintained an impressive diplomat’s face of polite interest. Celine could learn a lot from him.
The major made as if to follow us, but William gave him such a haughty look that he stopped. My uncle glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, yes, Harrison, you stay here. No need to accompany us. I can’t imagine I’ll come to any harm in the presence of my niece and my nephew’s brother-in-law. Despite the presence of a mysterious stranger amongst us.” He chuckled, apparently finding himself humorous. No one else laughed, but the major reluctantly stepped back into his cabin.
My uncle kept up a quiet stream of small talk directed at William as we made our way across the ship to his larger cabin. William replied as briefly as possible, but Uncle Horace didn’t seem to mind.
He ushered us all into his cabin and suggested we take seats around the small table while he found several glasses and the brandy bottle. Only William accepted a glass, and I noticed he didn’t drink anything.
“So,” said my uncle, once he had also taken a seat, “are you planning to remove that scarf now?”
“No.”
He frowned. “I’m a prince, you know. I could have you arrested for insubordination.”
“You could try.” I kept my voice even. “And since I am loyal to the Lanoverian royal family, having to resist you would cause me great distress. I hope you won’t attempt it.”
“Well, then.” He narrowed his eyes at me.
“We aren’t here to discuss her face.” William swirled the drink in his glass. “We’re here to find out the significance of that sword.”
“Are we now?” My uncle transferred his attention to the prince. “I thought we were going to find out why you were wandering the ship in the company of my young niece.” His gaze flitted briefly back to me. “And apparently a mysterious young woman of unknown origin.”
I didn’t like what I saw lurking in his face. He might not try anything now, when we easily outnumbered him, and he wanted answers. But I suspected the guards would be receiving orders to search for me after this. I growled inaudibly. I might need to curtail my time spent as Aurora for the rest of the voyage.
I cleared my throat. “My origin isn’t unknown. I work with the Duchess of Sessily. I assist her in keeping our kingdom safe. I have no nefarious intentions, but my work is best done from the shadows.”
William nodded his support of my assertion. “I had many dealings with the duchess in Northhelm. She is greatly concerned for the wellbeing of Lanover.”
I bit back a smile. A diplomat’s answer, not a word of which was untrue.
Uncle Horace looked between us several times before narrowing his eyes in Celine’s direction. “I admit I was curious about a prince of Northhelm’s involvement. But it seems a little clearer now. What young prince could resist the request to assist such an intriguing young woman? Your involvement, Celine, seems entirely unnecessary, however.”
Celine glared at him. She sat ramrod straight, touching as little of the furniture as possible. “Why shouldn’t I be involved? I care for our kingdom as much as anyone.”
Our uncle eyed her off for another several seconds before deciding to let it go. “About that…” He took a sip of his brandy. “Exactly what sort of risks to our kingdom does the shrewd duchess foresee on this journey?”
“What sort of risks do you foresee? Why insist on so many guards?” I leaned forward. “Why has the queen announced a new stop on our itinerary?”
&nbs
p; The sword might belong to Uncle Horace. And he might have requested the major to have it retrieved for him. But why had they been exchanging it in the middle of the night? I had attributed Uncle Horace’s presence on the voyage, and his insistence on so many guards, to his usual concerns over the prestige and safety of the royal family. What had I missed?
Uncle Horace took a deep breath and then steepled his hands together, resting his elbows on the table and his chin on his fingers.
“It is true that I encouraged Viktoria to make such a stop. She was easily persuadable, however.” He glanced at Celine. “I think your questions the other night had an impact. I think my brother and his wife would like to check on our banished sister.”
My blood surged as usual at the mention of my aunt. Something of my passion must have leaked out of my eyes, because my uncle fixed his gaze on me, and something in his manner changed.
“Ah,” he said softly. “I see you’re not a fan of my fair sister.”
“My loyalty doesn’t extend to anyone who would commit infanticide. Let alone against a royal child.” I tried to keep my voice level but didn’t entirely succeed.
“Well then.” My uncle leaned back in his chair and surveyed us all for a full minute. “Perhaps it was more than chance that brought us together tonight.”
We remained silent, waiting for him to explain.
He leaned forward abruptly, a new, more fevered, light coming into his eyes. “I hand-picked the guards aboard this ship. They, and their major, are loyal to me.”
I exchanged an uneasy glance with William. Tom had been right about the guards.
Uncle Horace noticed the change in my manner. “I should say, loyal to Lanover. And willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for its well-being.”
What in the kingdoms was that supposed to mean? My nerves hummed, on high alert. The night had taken an entirely unexpected turn.
“My brother is blinded by his love and compassion,” my uncle continued. “He cannot see our sister for the true traitor that she is. While she lives, she is a danger to our entire kingdom. And now she has created a magical barrier to shield herself from the world. What is she doing back there? That is the question we should be asking ourselves.” He took a deep breath. “That, and how can she be stopped? Permanently.”
I stared at him, my pulse roaring so loudly it obscured my hearing. All these years I had scorned my uncle. And now it turned out that he was the only one of my family who recognised the danger. Who understood the risk my aunt posed to us all. Had he been the one to order the Largoan captains to attempt to penetrate the hedge?
“You mean to storm the hedge? You realise there will be a price to pay for going against the king.”
“If my brother found himself unable to follow through with the law and execute his sister after she attempted to kill his own child, I feel confident he will forgive his brother for doing what he could not. I will use my position and influence to shield my soldiers as much as possible. But, as I said, they are ready to make the necessary sacrifice for the good of our people. As am I, if it comes to it.”
I leaned back in my chair as I tried to process his revelation. I struggled to think clearly, however. Finally, after all these years, someone intended to do what needed to be done.
I forced myself to breathe and to appear unconcerned. I had just been thinking that Aurora needed to disappear for a while, and now I didn’t need to fear the outcome of that absence. I could relax. I could sit back and let my uncle and his soldiers crush the head of a rebellion they didn’t even know about.
The thought sparked a frantic churning in my stomach. For three years I had honed myself and my network. I refused to take a sideline now. I told myself weakly it had nothing to do with personal revenge, but the hatred burning in my chest told me otherwise. And I didn’t care. I deserved revenge. And I wanted to be present to see justice carried out.
I considered the ways I could force my uncle’s hand, make him agree to include us. Then I paused. “Why are you telling us this?”
“We’re all interested in the same thing – the good of Lanover. And it seems to me that our interests might align.”
“You mean you want us to help you?” I carefully kept any hint of satisfaction or pleasure from my voice. “You have a whole company of guards. What do you want from us?”
“I told you earlier that this is no ordinary sword.” He patted the box which he had laid on the table. “It is, in fact, a godmother item.”
Celine gasped. I suspected it was the first time she had ever seen one. I had encountered our godmother several times in my years as Aurora and had even managed to acquire an item from her to send with my sister Cordelia to Northhelm to help her with the unrest there.
Somehow, knowing that such an elegant and simple item came from the godmothers didn’t surprise me. They preferred quality to ostentation.
“What does it do?” William seemed almost as intrigued as Celine, if slightly warier. What history did he have with godmother items?
“It can break through any barrier, when employed by the right wielder.”
I narrowed my eyes. Now we were getting to the heart of it. “And who is the right wielder?”
My uncle shrugged. “That is what I don’t know. But somehow I doubt it’s any of my guards. I will try it myself, of course, but elderly bachelors aren’t usually the heroes of tales or the wielders of magical objects. Young adventuring princes and mysterious maidens on the other hand…”
His words made sense, but years of natural antipathy made me loath to trust him. “If you really want an alliance, then give the sword to Prince William as a gesture of good faith. He is the most natural candidate. And no one would question his possession of a valuable sword, if they stumbled upon it.”
Uncle Horace looked at us each carefully. He frowned when his eyes rested on Celine, and she glared straight back. She said nothing, however, and I resolved to congratulate her later on her improved self-control.
“Very well,” he said at last. He pushed the box towards William. “Guard it well. I will ensure that we arrive at the island in the late afternoon, ensuring we will need to make camp for the night before proceeding. Meet me at the hedge at dawn, before the rest of our party wakes. Each of us shall have our chance to test the sword. With the safety of our kingdom at stake, I trust that one of us will prove worthy.”
With the sword safely in our possession, none of us could leave fast enough. We convened in a shadowy corner for a quick farewell. I feared that my uncle would alert the guards immediately, and I already faced the delay of waiting for Celine to return to our cabin before I could escape to safety myself.
“I don’t like this,” Celine whispered. “I don’t like it at all. Allying with Uncle Horace!” Her voice dropped even further. “Being party to an assassination.”
“It isn’t an assassination,” I said, not bothering to soften my cold tone. “It is the legal punishment for a crime that she openly committed. You asked us to trust you. Now you have to trust me. Your uncle is a means to an end, a temporary ally. We don’t have to like him, we just have to work with him for as long as our interests align.”
“Aurora, I’m not sure about this…” The discomfort in William’s tone fanned my anger into open flame.
“This is not open for debate. You are both either with me or against me. Even now Prince Horace may be alerting his guards to search the ship for me. I cannot remain out in the open discussing this with either of you.”
William’s eyes widened, and he looked quickly from left to right. “We stand with you, of course. You should go.”
I took two steps away and then looked back at them.
He gestured for me to hurry. “Don’t worry, I’ll guard the sword.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not that. Don’t come to the hold again tomorrow night. In fact, don’t come again at all unless you hear from me. I need to lie low after this.”
I took another step away, but a hand g
ripped my arm, pulling me to a stop. William had closed the distance between us and, when I turned, his face hovered just above mine.
“How are we supposed to contact you?”
“You don’t.” I fought to keep my voice steady, but the pressure of his hand ignited a fire that raced up my arm. It warred with the energy that had flooded me since my uncle had outlined his plan.
“How will we know if you’re safe? You can’t just disappear!”
I forced myself to look into his blue eyes without flinching. “Of course I can. I’m the spymaster, that’s what I do.”
I wrenched myself from his grip and disappeared down the passageway.
Chapter 20
William’s interference had given me the opportunity to escape to our cabin before Celine arrived, and for that I was grateful. I lay beneath the covers, fully clothed, until her breathing indicated she had fallen asleep. Then I carefully undressed.
My heart still pounded, despite the long period of inactivity, as I carefully hid my disguise beneath my mattress. And I couldn’t discern the cause. The thought of seeing justice filled me with elation, but the idea of confronting my aunt produced such an intense wave of nausea that it reminded me of the first year of the curse.
The burn of the mixed emotions seemed to consume me. And yet, every time I closed my eyes in an attempt to sleep, it was William’s face I saw. I could still feel the imprint of his hand, gripping my arm, and see the heated intensity of his gaze.
Celine shifted in her sleep, and the sensation of sickness hit again. I had been hardened by years spent in a double life. But what business did I have exposing my young sister to the execution of one of her own family members? I instantly resolved to forbid her to accompany us. If only I could be sure she would obey.
The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (The Four Kingdoms Book 4) Page 15