Pigsty Princess

by Nancy S. Brandt

  “You want to explain that? You never told me you were noble and had an Ability.”

  “First of all, I’m not noble,” he said. “I am what I told you. I am a pig farmer. I am Adindira’s brother.”

  “Is she your daughter?” Mariana asked Honoria.

  “Neither of them are my children. My husband fell in love with a commoner before we married. Orlando is the product of that, and later, the woman married some other man and had, I guess, a few other children.” All of this was said as though the Sahdess were telling the story of some unknown family who lived on the other side of the valley.

  “So, when you said Betatlina was your father’s housekeeper?”

  Andreas nodded. “Yes. She worked for us for many years when Orlando was young.”

  “I still don’t understand this.” Mariana shook her head. “Why are you a pig farmer? You’re the Margrave of Geindara. You’re the heir to all this.” She waved her hand to indicate the breakfast room but meant the whole estate.

  Orlando shook his head. “I am not a Margrave, nor am I any kind of noble. When this man allowed me to be sent away and never cared what happened to me after that, I gave up any interest in nobility.”

  “Orlando, please believe me. I didn’t know where you were.”

  “Did you think to ask her?” Orlando pointed at Honoria. “She knew I was living in the village. She could have told you anytime.”

  “I could have.” Honoria’s voice was still calm and unconcerned. “I chose not to.”

  “Why?” Mariana asked. “Orlando is your stepson.”

  “He was the proof of my shame.” Now the Sahdess raised her eyes to look at them. Mariana would never have expected to see the passion and fire in the older woman’s expression.

  “Shame?” Orlando asked. “What shame did I remind you of? I did everything I could to get you to accept me as a son.”

  “Everything except be my son. You were proof to anyone who cared to look closely that Andreas could have children, but I couldn’t.”

  “My darling, do you think I cared about that?” Andreas moved to kneel by her side.

  “Of course you cared. All I heard about was Elrica and how it pained you that you couldn’t marry her. Orlando was a reminder of a love you couldn’t have. That’s why I sent him away. I thought maybe then you would learn to love me the way you had loved her.”

  “I couldn’t love you as I loved her,” Andreas said, but he took Honoria’s hands and held them to his face. “Elrica was a love from my youth. Yes, when we first wed, she was in my heart, and you were a political pawn, same as I was. For a few years, I built her up in my mind as this unattainable goddess that had once deigned to share part of my life.”

  He kissed her hands. Then with one of his own, he caressed her cheek with such tenderness even Mariana could feel the affection.

  “You were real, Honoria. You shared my bed and my life. When Orlando was with us, I believed we were a family. While I did mourn that there were no more children, I never felt it was to your shame. The Elements just never saw fit to bless us.”

  The Sahdess shook her head. “You always made a fuss over other people’s children and talked about how wonderful it would be if we could have a child who had both of our Sensitivities. I knew you blamed me that we never had one.”

  Now it was Andreas’s turn to shake his head. “No, my darling. I never did. I wanted another child, it’s true, but I never blamed you. In fact, I thought you blamed me because as the years went by and we remained childless, you pulled farther and farther away from me. Then you sent Orlando back to his mother, and I thought it was because he reminded you of me.”

  Smiling through tear-filled eyes, Andreas turned to Mariana. “I’m surprised you didn’t figure out he was my son before now. He looks much like I did at his age.”

  Mariana realized the Sahdeer was right. As the two men stood close together, she could see a resemblance.

  Tears flowed down Honoria’s cheeks, but she did nothing to stop them. “I sent him away because I didn’t want you to be reminded of your lost love.”

  “My darling,” Andreas said, “my only lost love was you, and I was reminded that you had left me every day.”

  “And you truly love me?” she asked.

  “Every day, regardless of how distant we had become. I thought there was no chance we could ever have the relationship we once had again, but I couldn’t stop loving you. I was willing to live with you, even though we slept apart and rarely spoke, because the thought of not seeing you hurt me more than your silence.”

  Honoria didn’t say another word. She only took him into her arms and kissed him so passionately even Mariana could see how she felt about him. The kiss lasted long enough the Progenna grew uncomfortable and stood up, intending to leave the Geindaras alone.

  “Wait,” Orlando said to her as she walked to the door.

  “I can’t talk to you right now,” she responded. “You kept your parentage and Ability a secret, and don’t tell me it was because I didn’t ask. That’s a deceit in itself, isn’t it?”

  He opened and closed his mouth, then took a deep breath. “Do you want to at least know what kind of Sensitive I am?”

  “I can’t even imagine how it would matter.” With that, she left the breakfast room.

  ****

  As Mariana walked back through town, she knew the villagers, if they were paying any attention at all, would notice Orlando wasn’t with her. That shouldn’t matter. She had every right to walk around alone, but the looks she got from some of the people told her exactly the opposite.

  She had only been married to Orlando for a few days, and most of the townspeople didn’t trust her. The King’s daughter—she could be a spy, although she wasn’t quite sure what she would be looking for.

  Donya, that woman who had spoken to her in the bakery and whose husband apparently was punched because of something he said about her, stood just outside the door to the large carpentry shop at the edge of the main street. Another woman, this one a stranger to Mariana, was with Donya, and she narrowed her eyes as Mariana got closer.

  The last thing Mariana wanted was to make idle chitchat with someone who didn’t care about her but only wanted to be able to tell her friends she’d spoke to the Progenna. She’d seen this kind of person before.

  “Mariana,” the stranger called, waving to her. Mariana tried to ignore her, but at the last second, she stepped in the Progenna’s path.

  “Excuse me,” Mariana said, calling on the attitude and tone of voice she’d heard her mother use many times. “I’m on my way home. I don’t have time to talk right now.”

  “I’ll walk with you. I think you will want to hear what I have to say.” The woman waved to Donya, who continued to glare at Mariana.

  “How could you have anything to say to me?” Mariana asked, stepping past her. “I’m sure we have never met.”

  “That’s true, and it’s a shame. I’m Emmarine. I own the Soldier’s Flagon.”

  “Yes,” Mariana replied. “The restaurant in the center of town. Quite a large building. Orlando showed it to me.”

  “Well, I provided the food for the Sahdess’s party last night.”

  It took all of Mariana’s protocol training for her to keep her face impassive, but the mention of the Sahdess brought back that feeling of ice in her blood. However, she couldn’t let this woman see her emotions, so she merely nodded once.

  “The food was excellent. Thank you.” In reality, Mariana couldn’t remember what she had eaten. All the excitement and fun of the previous night had vanished under the revelations of this morning.

  How was it possible her whole life had been spun upside down over a few simple words?

  “I’m not here to discuss my catering,” Emmarine said. They continued to walk, and by now, they’d reached the side street that led to Adindira’s house.

  Mariana wanted to visit her sister-in-law, but Dira had lied to her, too. Maybe not directly, but she had to kno
w about her brother—her half-brother’s Ability. Why hadn’t she said anything about it? Why did everyone want to keep this such a big secret?

  “What do you want to talk to me about?” Mariana stopped walking. Perhaps talking to this persistent woman would take her mind off what she felt as a betrayal by a man she had come to care for.

  “I’m wondering what Orlando has told you about himself.”

  “What?” Mariana stared at this woman. Why would she be asking this question? “What difference does it make to you?”

  “You may not know this, but I cater to the nobility of this region. It would do wonders for my business if the King and Queen would eat there.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mariana felt as though she has lost her mind. With everything going on in her head, she didn’t have time to worry about this woman’s restaurant. She shook her head. “I don’t have time to talk about this with you. If you want my father’s business, maybe you should be talking to him yourself.” She left Emmarine standing in the middle of the street.

  “Did he tell you he is a Blood Sensitive?”

  Mariana froze. Was it possible this woman knew about Orlando? Why would he share this important information with Emmarine but wouldn’t tell his wife? She slowly turned around.

  “You couldn’t possibly know this.”

  “Couldn’t I?” Emmarine tilted her head. “I suppose he didn’t tell you we were in love at one time? Before he went off to the war with Heyton over Clearlea? He was going to marry me, but he was gone so long I found someone else. I dare say he probably still has feelings for me. You know he came to see me the other day, and I notice he didn’t bring you with him. What do you think we talked about?”

  Mariana began to tremble. He had told her it would be better if she didn’t go into the restaurant when he did. He’d sent her home with the roast, but was it possible that was just a convenient excuse to see Emmarine alone?

  “He talked to you about Mama Betatlina.” Mariana hated her voice sounded so weak. She cleared her throat and tried again. “You’re lying. Orlando wouldn’t do the things you are suggesting.”

  Emmarine laughed. “You don’t know anything about him. I don’t know why he married you, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with love. You’re the Insensitive Progenna. The King probably wanted to get you off his hands, the evidence of your mother’s infidelity. Has Orlando taken you to his bed yet?”

  The world shrank and began to waver in front of Mariana’s eyes until all she could see was the woman in front of her. Nausea roiled in her stomach, but she ignored it.

  She heard something that sounded like the crashing of a wagon load of glassware but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Emmarine’s face. Someone screamed, and the restaurant owner paled.

  “Mariana?” The voice came from far away, but she knew it wasn’t important. The only thing that mattered right now was to make this horrid woman take back the awful things she’d said.

  Taking a step toward Emmarine, Mariana said, “You’re a liar. You know nothing about me or my family. I don’t believe Orlando could ever have loved a monster like you.”

  Another faint crash penetrated her consciousness, but she ignored it. She took another step toward her adversary. The wind picked up, howling like a pack of angry dogs. Fear appeared in Emmarine’s eyes.

  “I may be an Insensitive, but I would never deliberately hurt another person, no matter what had transpired between me and her husband. You are a snake, and I hope your restaurant burns to the ground.”

  Lightning struck the ground near Emmarine, throwing the woman backward.

  “Mariana!” The voice she’d heard before called again, this time closer. “Stop!”

  Emmarine opened her mouth as though to scream, but Mariana didn’t hear anything. Suddenly the other woman collapsed to the ground, but as Mariana took a step toward her, she felt a hand on her arm.

  Puzzled, she heard Adindira’s voice. “You have to stop.”

  Scowling, Mariana said, “Stop what?”

  “Look around.”

  She did. At the carpentry shop, all the windows in the front of the building were broken, and Donya held a strip torn from her skirt to her forehead, obviously to staunch the blood coming from a cut.

  “What happened to her?” Mariana asked, pointing. “How did the windows break? Was there an accident?”

  “You don’t know?” Dira asked.

  “How would I know?”

  “We should get you home.”

  The odor of smoke reached Mariana. Startled, she saw flames coming from the door of the Soldier’s Flagon.

  “Oh, my. Emmarine’s restaurant is on fire.”

  “Yes,” Dira said, putting her arm around Mariana’s waist and urging her toward the farm. “It’s a small one. Elnys and Rianaer are taking care of it.”

  Mariana shook her head. “What happened? Was the village attacked?”

  Dira sighed. “I suppose you could say that. Let’s get you home.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Adindira left Mariana at the door of Orlando’s house and hurried away, muttering something about wishing her brother would return. Mariana watched her leave and could see small wisps of smoke coming from the center of town where the Soldier’s Flagon was located. That fire was odd, and Mariana scowled as she went into the house.

  Emmarine had been with her, but Mariana had no idea what had happened. Didn’t a fire like that usually have an obvious cause, and to start at the front door didn’t seem to make any sense. There wasn’t any place nearby where a spark could have escaped.

  Deciding to let someone else figure out that mystery, Mariana went into the bedroom where her clothing was. She still wore the dress Honoria had left on the guest bed for her, and given everything she’d learned at the Geindaras’ estate, she thought it might be better if she were in her own clothes.

  She still hadn’t decided whether she was going to try to go back to the palace.

  Just thinking about that, she dropped to the bed. Would her father have let them marry if he’d known Orlando was a Sensitive? After all, she was still an Insensitive, and marriage to her meant Orlando couldn’t pass on his Sensitivities to another generation.

  Her thoughts drifted to Emmarine and the confidence Mariana had heard in her words. She knew Orlando was a Sensitive, so did it follow he was a Blood Sensitive as Emmarine stated?

  If he was, what did that mean?

  As an Insensitive, she knew little about the Sensitivities and what they could do, beyond the obvious things. Flora Sensitives could assist plants and make them grow larger and produce more fruit. Air Sensitives, like the Queen, could hear conversations over some distances, depending on the strength of the Ability.

  But a Blood Sensitive? Besides Kylan, Mariana didn’t think she’d ever heard of one before. Could Orlando, like Kylan, tell what Sensitivities a noble had through some kind of emotional or ethereal connection? If that were so, what did he feel when he reached for her? Was she just empty?

  That thought shouldn’t upset her because she’d known this her whole life, but the idea that when Orlando’s emotions touched her, he felt nothing made her sadder than knowing he’d kept his Ability from her.

  After changing her dress, Mariana went to the kitchen to make herself a pot of coffee. She didn’t know why Orlando hadn’t come home yet, but he’d probably want some when he got here.

  As she went out to the pump to get water, she saw activity by the pond behind the barn. With a scowl, she set the pot on the ground and headed that way.

  She heard men’s voices as she got closer. Five men were sitting or standing near the pond, looking into the water. The sun was about halfway to the top of the sky and shone brightly on the surface, but still, Mariana thought she saw a light coming from the water.

  “What’s going on?” she called when she was close enough for them to hear her. All five men whirled around at her voice, and she recognized Elnys and Traren. “Elnys? I just saw Adind
ira. I thought you were taking care of the fire at the Flagon.”

  The men exchanged glances. Elnys, who had been on his knees at the edge of the water, stood and hurried to her.

  “What are you doing here?” He tried to take her arm, but she pulled away. “I thought you were with Orlando at the Geindara estate.”

  “You mean, at his father’s house?”

  Several of the other men murmured together, but Traren spoke harshly to them. “It doesn’t matter. Get back to work. Hamneth, get back down there.”

  Mariana tried to see what was going on, but Elnys kept stepping between her and the pond.

  “Did he tell you about Andreas?” he asked.

  “You knew? Did everyone know this but me?” Now she crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one foot, tapping the other.

  “Dira’s his sister, Mariana. Of course we knew.”

  “You knew he was born a noble. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  He sighed in clear exasperation. “It didn’t seem important. He doesn’t consider himself a noble and has never even talked to his father since he went to live with his mother.”

  “But he has a Sensitivity. That’s important.”

  “Why?” He took hold of her arm and nudged her back toward the house, but she pulled away.

  “Why? Sensitivities are important. The Kingdom is built on them. The First Law of Valborough…”

  He shook his head and interrupted her. “I know the First Law. Everyone does, but among the common people, it just doesn’t matter. One King is just the same as another. All they’re interested in is exploiting the workers and taking everything they can, regardless of whether they need it or not.”

  Mariana stared at him in shock. “You don’t believe that about all nobles, do you?”

  “Not the nobles, no, but royalty? Oh, yes.”

  “I’m royal.” Her heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. Adindira and Elnys were people she had considered friends, maybe the only ones she had in the village. Did Dira feel like her husband did? Did Orlando?

  Elnys waved her comment away. “You’re an Insensitive. Everyone knows that.” However, she noticed he didn’t look at her face when he spoke.