Storming out of the throne room, Prince Paulsen’s humiliation burned into rage. He stopped at the front gates of the castle, looking out toward the forest, where his men waited. Staring blankly ahead, he wondered how he was going to explain his failure to his men and the people of Morengo. Despite their hard work and his charm, he had lost his rightful reward because the king had let his daughter choose her husband on a girlish whim. Running his hands through his hair, he tried to find a way to exploit this in his favor, a way to take back what they had worked for.
Ideas formed in his mind as he watched the forest trees sway, remembering all the men he had captured. His face twisted. “She will be mine,” he vowed under his breath.
CHAPTER TWO
When Professor Warren agreed to take on mentoring Princess Madeline, he had only thought about the high honor and prestige of the task. Unfortunately, teaching Princess Madeline created unexpected problems. He did not anticipate an unending flow of antagonistic questions and a stubbornness to fight for her views on history. The princess was not like his former pupils. He wasn’t sure if he was grateful for the challenge or grateful that he was on a first-name basis with the apothecary, who provided excellent medicines for his increasingly frequent headaches.
“Princess,” he groaned, rubbing his temples with one hand and holding his willow branch in another. “You are misunderstanding. There are reasons for these battles, reflected in the chosen strategy…”
Pacing back and forth, he found his momentum again. “Battles serve a purpose most of the time. When a strongly-held belief is challenged or attacked, battle is seen as a way of defending and increasing the faith in that belief. How strongly that belief is held determines how hard we fight and what strategy to take.”
Madeline sat on the edge of her seat, her brow furrowed, contemplating the meaning behind his words. Not necessarily agreeing, but at least paying attention. “Professor, that’s what I don’t understand. If you’re in a battle with someone, don’t you want to win? Wouldn’t you fight to win, regardless of what has been challenged?”
“Yes, you want to win, but sometimes you act more reserved or cautious. Winning is important, but you still need to protect your kingdom, your people, and your integrity. Some of the older battle strategies focused on an individual’s bravery, baiting the other side into one-on-one combat. This often turned into self-sacrifice or ambushes, and the technique was abandoned. Today, we fight in groups.”
Both their heads turned when a third voice entered their conversation.
“Interesting strategies, yes. Those are involved in leading a kingdom as well. Thank you, Professor Warren.” The king walked into the room and motioned for his steward to close the door behind them.
It was rare that he interfered with her lessons, though he frequently listened at the door for a moment or two. Madeline and Professor Warren shared a look of surprise.
Sweeping his crimson velvet robe behind him, he walked over to the window and pushed the drapery open. The soft breeze rustled through his hair and the warm sunshine snuck into the room.
Professor Warren’s face reddened with embarrassment. Princess Madeline sat still, her arms folded onto her desk, hiding the sketches that had kept her busy for most of the lesson.
“Such a beautiful day, isn’t it, Professor?” King Theodore asked mischievously.
Professor Warren nodded in agreement, stammering and adjusting his wand. Nervous tension built in his stomach and sweat beaded on his temples.
King Theodore turned his head to look up at the teacher with a smile, still holding onto the windowsill. “Professor, why don’t you enjoy the sunshine today? I will continue Madeline’s studies this afternoon.”
Neither the professor nor Princess Madeline knew what to say, but Madeline didn’t wait for more instructions. As confusion and relief washed over the professor’s face, Madeline glowed. Closing her notes quickly, making sure her drawings were still covered, she stood up and walked to her father’s side.
“Ready?” the king asked, holding his arm out.
They left the room quietly, leaving Professor Warren scratching his forehead.
Her skin tingled in the sunlight. They walked from the center of the castle across the courtyard to a tower that stretched to the sky. Madeline stole a quick look over her shoulder and smiled at Daniel. He stood by the wishing fountain, helping organize and direct the long line of farmers and villagers who were here to see the king. She watched him laugh and hand some dropped juggling balls to an entertainer. She chuckled as the balls escaped Daniel’s hands and fell into the fountain. He beamed as his eyes found hers. Her father pulled her arm forward, twisting her head around.
“Have you ever been to this tower before?” he asked.
She looked up at him, eyes twinkling. “Of course not.”
The castle towers were considered off-limits, so naturally Madeline and Braden had tried to explore them since they’d learned to walk. They’d climbed the castle from top to bottom, playing games, sharing adventures and misdeeds, and growing familiar with every room except the towers. They had always been locked, sealed off from the young royals.
“Are we going up there?” she asked, too quickly to hide her eagerness.
“Yes, my dear, we’re going up there,” he replied, smiling. His voice sounded happy, but his eyes were guarded.
Her heart started to pound, excitement building as she held her breath, waiting for the click of the key turning in the door. When the door finally opened, she ventured a breath, only to inhale a whiff of stale air.
King Theodore grabbed a torch and started up the steps, leaving Madeline below, looking up into the dark spiral of stairs above her.
His footsteps quieted to a soft tap, tap, tap as she lingered below. Wonder filled her eyes, and her fingertips swept across cool cobblestones. A smirk grew on her face as she felt dust and dodged cobwebs. The magic of the tower unfolded around her. She had always imagined this tower as a hidden fortress, full of secrets and treasure. Now those secrets were unlocking all around her. Lost in thought, she heard her name.
A small wave of light flickered from the torch above. She imagined her father’s furrowed brow as he wondered what was taking her so long. Madeline lifted the bottom of her dress and ran up the dark spiral.
The light dimmed and the air thickened as she approached the top. Slivers of light shone through boarded windows, highlighting the tower room’s hidden treasures. Madeline’s heart raced as she looked around open-mouthed. She thought she caught a glimmer in her father’s eyes before he turned away.
Her father rarely showed his emotions, and Madeline didn’t want to press the issue.
“What is this room?” she asked, trying to take in every feature of the dark, dusty chamber.
“This room,” her father started to say. “This room,” he repeated, pausing to open the shutters before leaning against the wall. His eyes stared past her.
“This room was what, Father?” Madeline pushed, not understanding his strange behavior and the depth in his eyes as he looked at her.
He looked back down at her and smiled again. Pushing the velvet sleeves of his robe up his arm, King Theodore continued, “This room is yours.”
“What?” she asked. “This is mine?” Her voice squeaked as she spun around to take it all in again, seeing it anew.
“Yes,” he answered, trying hard to hide the shakiness of his voice and the tears welling up in his eyes. “This room was originally your mother’s, and now it is yours.”
Madeline looked around her, taking in her new surroundings but also giving her father some space. She had only seen him cry once before, the day she had returned after he thought she’d been killed, and she wasn’t ready to see that again. A king or prince or princess had to be strong and unrelenting, providing the stability, strength, and encouragement the subjects needed. Raw emotions were kept secret, and displays like this discomforted them both.
The sunlight peaked in through the window
in rays of light, leaving the corners of the room shrouded in darkness. The chamber was still tidy. A bed was on the left side of the room, just out of the sunlight’s reach. Green embroidered pillows were lined up against the back wall, a testament to hours of focused work. A wooden table stood next to the bed underneath a cobweb-covered candle, layers of dust blanketing what seemed to be a book. A golden figurine of a dragon leaning against the leather-bound book caught her attention, as did a single dried rose. Its white petals were dry but intact, as if time had simply forgotten it.
Madeline walked around, trying to imagine what it was like when her mother lived in this room. What had she done during the day? What had she thought of at night before she went to bed? She sat down on the edge of the bed and crinkled her nose as a cloud of dust and dirt jumped into the air.
“Father,” Madeline said, bringing his focus back to the present. “Why did she have this room? Didn’t she have one in the center of the castle?”
“Yes, she did.” King Theodore stroked his beard. “Your mother was more to me than just a wife and queen. She was my dearest friend and most trusted advisor.” He leaned against the far wall as if a great weight was bearing down on him. “From the day that we met at the royal ball to the day that we married the following spring, we were inseparable. We weren’t allowed to be together until the wedding, but we refused to be far apart, so Elias, one of my advisors, suggested this tower.” His eyes glimmered.
He sat down next to Madeline. “We were so in love, but our wedding was delayed because my parents assured me that there were other practicalities to work out before it could take place. Your mother lived here so we could be close. I was never allowed up here. After we married, she wanted to keep it as her study and reading room, and I respected that. This is my first time here, too.”
He paused and looked straight into Madeline’s eyes, smiling. “I imagine that’s where you get some of your stubbornness. Most women were not skilled in reading or articulating strategies—your mother, though, she was the best. She wanted to make a mark on the kingdom as much as I did. She continued to learn from Elias and her tutors and helped create the peace you see in the kingdom today. I never knew what she did up here, but this was her retreat, her escape, her study, and her refuge. It was a treasure to her, and I know you will treasure it too.” He folded his hands in his lap and looked into her face, searching for something.
Madeline didn’t know what to do or say. She had never been given something like it before. This was more than a gift; it was a memory of her mother, something to share with the past. She wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and held on for a long time.
“Oh, one more thing, Madeline,” he said. He moved her arms from around his neck and walked over to the window. “I wanted to show you your wedding gift.” He guided her to a window, a childlike grin spreading across his face.
She stepped onto a pile of books by the window and peered outside. She gasped.
The view was breathtaking, the perfect panorama of the outlying countryside. She could see the village sprawling out below them, people wandering around like ants, the bright banners of the tournament grounds waving in the distance. The Blue Mountains spread to the east, and in the west the great forest loomed. Caught up in the beauty and the silence of the world around her, Madeline found it hard to concentrate on her father’s words. Tearing her eyes away from the landscape, she looked at her father, who paced back and forth, describing the different portions of the kingdom.
“As you know, there are four distinct regions in the kingdom. The great forest is to the west, the exiled lands and deserts to the east, the dragon’s lair and the bay to the south, and Dragon’s Gate to the north, with many territories and palaces along the way.”
Madeline nodded absentmindedly.
“Well, beyond Dragon’s Gate is a small village and uncharted territory.” Madeline stretched to see where he was pointing. The arch of Dragon’s Gate was visible in the far distance against the horizon. It was said to be where the last dragons had hatched.
Madeline’s eyebrows rose as her father continued talking.
“That area beyond Dragon’s Gate is to be yours,” King Theodore said, his face flushed with pride.
All she could do was look at him, then off in the distance, then back to him. Her heart felt heavy and too big for her chest. “Thank you, Father,” she managed, though her words seemed small in comparison to his gift.
The warm breeze continued to blow over her face. Off in the distance, Dragon’s Gate seemed to shine brighter, flickering as if winking at her.
CHAPTER THREE
The next two weeks slowed to a crawl. The anticipation of exploring Dragon’s Gate raced through her mind every other thought. King Theodore had promised Madeline an expedition to explore the area as soon as the preparations for the fall festival were settled. Once the villagers were in order, they’d sort out their trip. That gave them enough time to explore and still make it back for the festival. It was a great lesson in patience for Madeline, but patience wasn’t her strong suit.
Only Daniel knew the right words to say to make the time bearable, though even he lost that battle on several occasions. Their evenings were filled with long walks, hand in hand, as the last of the warm summer nights started to chill and the leaves began to show their autumn gold. Their dreams grew bigger as the days shortened. Her mind filled with visions of their warrior stronghold: towers, villages, fairs, and tournaments.
Professor Warren, meanwhile, moved their lessons to her new tower. She had determined to know the area backwards and forwards before exploring, and they now spent their time talking about geography, the history of Dragon’s Gate, and engineering and architectural feats. She had never been so engaged with her lessons.
There were old stories of hidden maps, secret tunnels, magical treasure, and dragons. She’d heard about them since she was a child; now she had her chance to find out if they were true. What sort of area was she moving to? What adventures were in store for her and Daniel? Her desire to learn fueled her studies.
As summer faded and fall began, Madeline’s focus began to dissipate. The fall festival was set to start in just two more weeks, and there was no news about their travels to the north. The brighter the leaves became, the shorter her patience grew. Her nightmares had become more persistent, and every day was more of a challenge.
Professor Warren was busy, deep in thought, the willow wand flying back and forth through the air as his small eyes scanned the maps in front of them. She couldn’t concentrate, her mind catching on every sound. She raised her head, hearing footsteps on the cobblestones. King Theodore entered the room, and Madeline looked down at her notes before rising.
“Father,” she said, standing to greet him with a curtsy, her velvet green dress sweeping over the floor.
“Madeline,” he smiled. “Professor,” he nodded, turning to greet him. “It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it?” he said with a wink.
“Yes, Your Majesty it is,” Professor Warren replied, closing his notes. “Is it too good of a day to remain indoors?” he asked hopefully.
“Of course, Professor,” he said. “Enjoy the rest of the day.” Madeline watched their exchange with curiosity. She twisted her fingers, trying to keep from fidgeting with excitement. Her green dress swayed as her body twisted in anticipation.
“Madeline,” the king said, turning to give her his full attention. “Dragon’s Gate awaits us.” Winking at her, he turned to walk down the stairs, holding back a mischievous grin. “Everyone is waiting downstairs. Take only the bare minimum. We will be traveling light for speed.”
“But Father, what about…” she tried to ask.
“Daniel is already waiting with the rest of the group. I wanted this to be a surprise. Hurry!” He swept his robe behind him as he began to descend the spiral staircase.
“They are all waiting,” she mumbled, looking around the room. That didn’t give her nearly enough time.
Thr
owing her arms up in both frustration and excitement, Madeline shook her head and looked around, her smile growing as reality sunk in. Grabbing her leather satchel, she threw a few things in—simple travel clothes, a plain apron, a charcoal-colored wool coat for warmth, and a nice dress for the time in Dragon’s Gate. Her other dresses ended up in heaps on the floor. She turned around for a final look at the room. It was a mess, but it was going to have to wait to be cleaned up—she was going to Dragon’s Gate.
She tied her hair up high and tiptoed to her window. Dragon’s Gate winked back at her from the distance. Throwing her bag over her shoulder, she ran down the stairs.
She immediately saw Daniel, her father, her best friend Sophia, and a small group of her father’s stewards and guards.
She ran forward and threw her arms around Daniel’s neck. He blushed and gave her a quick kiss. Madeline turned around when she heard her father clear his throat.
“Are we ready?”
“Yes, Father,” she said with an innocent smile. He motioned to the waiting horses.
When everyone had mounted, King Theodore led the way out of the castle. Daniel exchanged an excited glance with Madeline before following him. Sophia shot her an annoyed look as she fumbled to stay on top of her horse. Her arms draped awkwardly around the horse’s neck. They hadn’t ridden much since Madeline had been thrown by her pony and broken her arm when they were children. As best friends, when Madeline gave something up, Sophia did as well. Madeline laughed at her friend, still clutching the horse’s mane.
“Sophia,” Madeline whispered, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “It’s just like old times.”
Sophia’s eyes softened and she smiled back, remembering the hours they’d ridden together. “Yes, just don’t get tossed this time,” she said, adjusting her grip once more.
Their small group filed out of the castle grounds as the wooden gates shut behind them. With a swift kick, Madeline’s horse jumped, and they were off.
The Battle for Princess Madeline Page 2