“No, it isn’t about payment. I’m trying to catch up with my son. He’s a few days ahead of me, so I’ll keep moving. Thank you so much.”
“Watch out for brigands,” Miriam said. “Jax told me that you were leaving to find Zollin.”
Quinn turned around, but he was unprepared for what he saw. The woman before him was thin, about his own age, with traces of silver in her hair and fine lines around her eyes and at the corners of her mouth. Quinn had seen many women since his wife died, some even more beautiful than Miriam, but none had stirred his blood or made him feel the longing for a woman’s touch. Miriam made him feel things he didn’t know he was capable of anymore and all at just a glance.
“He’s my son,” Quinn managed to say.
“He’s a fine young man. Very talented,” she said, hinting that she knew him well enough to know that he was a wizard.
“May I ask why you rode with him?”
“It was a whim really,” she said. “I’m an animal healer and I was hoping to learn some things.”
“Oh, okay. So you’re from Felson?”
“Yes, I have a home there.”
“And you’re going back?”
“Yes.”
“Would you do me a favor? I have a friend who is staying at one of the inns. He’s an older man named Kelvich. Would you pass on the information that you met me, and what you know about Zollin, as well?”
“Sure, I guess I could do that.”
“Thank you so much. I can’t stay, but your news has meant so much to me. I wish I could repay you somehow,” he said, suddenly wishing that he didn’t have to leave so abruptly.
“Well, perhaps when you find Zollin and his friend in Orrock, you could come back and visit us in Felson.”
“That would be welcome, thank you.”
She smiled then turned away. He was glad that she had ended the conversation, he wasn’t sure that he could have done that, and he was more anxious than ever to find Zollin.
“Oh, by the way. Kelvich can teach you a thing or two. He’s Zollin’s mentor.”
Miriam had turned back with a smile and she nodded then hurried away. Quinn felt as giddy as a child at festival time. It was an emotion he didn’t think was possible to feel at his age and with the wounds in his past. Yet here he was, waiting as Olin brought his horse back out of the barn, thinking about a woman. He hadn’t had serious thoughts about a woman since his wife had passed away seventeen years ago. But he was glad that it was possible. He did feel a little guilty, as if having feelings for another woman was somehow betraying Zollin’s mother, but he was wise enough to push those thoughts away and focus on the truth. He was a man, Miriam was a woman, that was a combination that opened all kinds of possibilities.
* * *
Brianna slept through most of the day. Just as the sun began to set, servants appeared again. This time they set up a small table in her little room, covering it with a linen cloth and setting out dishes for two.
Edina came into the room. She had a bruise on her jaw and flowers in her arms. She glanced at Brianna, but her gaze did not linger.
“What’s going on here?” Brianna asked.
“You’ll be dinning with the Prince this evening,” said one of the other servants.
“Here?”
“Yes,” Edina said as she turned to go out of the room.
Brianna felt horrible that she had hurt the woman and now Edina was forced to wait on her. The thought crossed her mind that perhaps Edina had been mistreated by the people of the castle for many years. That may have been the case, but it was not the way Brianna wanted to treat her.
The servants left, but two returned. One was Edina and the other was a woman Brianna had never seen before. They were carrying a dress between them. It was scarlet, and even though the thought of who she would be wearing it for made her skin crawl, she couldn’t help but be impressed by the garment. They laid it on the bed and closed the door. Then both women hurried over to Brianna.
“We have a plan,” Edina said.
Brianna couldn’t hold back the tears.
“I’m so sorry I hit you,” she said.
“There’s no time for that,” Edina said.
“Don’t cry, the Prince won’t like it,” the other woman said.
“This is Wilamet, she’s going to help us,” Edina explained.
“You promise your man can heal King Felix?” Wilamet asked.
“Yes, I’m sure of it,” Brianna said.
She wasn’t sure, but it was as if hope had suddenly glowed to life again. She had help and they had a plan. She didn’t care what it took; she wouldn’t come back to this castle and the vain Prince Simmeron again.
“Alright,” Edina said, “after your dinner with the Prince, chances are he’ll fall into a drunken stupor. In the night, the wizard sometimes paces the halls, but he sleeps for at least a few hours. When we come to clean up from your dinner with the Prince, we will bring you a rope. You’ll have to climb out of the window. Can you do that?”
“I’ll do anything to get out of here,” Brianna said.
“Remember you said that when Simmeron is pawing all over you like he’s a cat and you’re a ball of yarn. This plan only works if he’s too drunk to countermand the order to clean the room up, so you need to play along so he’ll keep drinking.”
“What do you mean, play along?” Brianna asked, her heart suddenly in her throat.
“You do what a woman does,” Wilamet said.
“The rumor around the castle is that Branock has forbidden Simmeron from taking you to his bed for now, but Simmeron has no concept of self denial. He’ll want what every man wants, and you need to tease him with just enough that he has hope of getting what he wants.”
“But I’ve never been with a man,” Brianna said.
“And hopefully you still won’t after tonight,” Edina said. “But remember your resolve. This is the only way we can get you out of the castle now. And unless your friend can help King Felix, Prince Simmeron will be the next king of Yelsia.”
“And then none of us are safe,” said Wilamet.
“You’re our last chance,” Edina said. “Branock has met with the leader of the Mezzlyn and that can only mean one thing.”
“They’re going to try and kill Zollin again?” Brianna asked in horror.
“No, they want him alive,” Wilamet said. “The wizard must have sent assassins to kill Prince Wilam.”
“If he dies and the King dies,” Edina said, pausing slightly to let the impact of her words sink in, “there is no one to stop Simmeron from taking the throne. It’s royal law.”
“Then we must stop him,” Brianna said.
She was so scared that she was shaking, but she knew she had to be strong, now more than ever. Zollin needed her to be free, and the people, especially the friends who were willing to help her now, needed her to help thwart Simmeron. This was why she had left Tranaugh Shire with Zollin; why she refused to be left behind. She had a role to play in the events taking place and she would face them bravely.
“Get me ready,” she told them.
They spent an hour dressing her and applying perfumes. They combed her hair until it was gleaming in the last few rays of daylight. Then they wound it in a complicated braid that was lovely, but would also be out of her way when the time came to make her escape.
“Remember, keep him drinking,” Wilamet said. “He can’t hold his liquor.”
“You’ll have to drink some, too,” Edina warned her. “But if you simply pretend to drink and pretend to refill you cup, he won’t notice. He only sees what he wants to see.”
“Keep him drinking and don’t forget to refill my cup. I’ve got it,” Brianna assured them.
“And show him just enough to keep him interested,” Wilamet said. “Play hard to get, but not too hard. He has to believe that he’ll get what he wants eventually.”
“I’ll do my best,” Brianna said.
“Just flirt, you can do that,” Edi
na said.
“Okay, I’ll be fine. Thank you both so much.”
“Don’t forget your promise,” Wilamet said.
“I won’t.”
They left the room, and Brianna spent the next hour alone with her nerves. Her emotions swung from one extreme to the other. She couldn’t help but look out the window. It was a long way down, and if something happened, she would probably not survive the fall. Still, if she died trying to escape, at least Zollin wouldn’t be drawn into Branock’s trap. Not that she wanted to die, she wanted to live. She wanted to escape the castle and be reunited with Zollin and Mansel and Quinn. She wanted them to ride away from all the strife and be safe.
She shook away the wishful thinking. That was not the life of a wizard, she knew that much at least. Zollin had been given incredible power and there was surely a reason why. She doubted very much that it had to do with living a peaceful life. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what life would have been like in Tranaugh Shire with Zollin. Would he have been a carpenter? Would they have a child on the way now? Could she love him without his power? That thought, more than anything else, frightened her. She had to ask herself if she honestly loved Zollin, or if it was an infatuation sparked by his amazing power? She didn’t know. She had not been able to spend much time with him, and her desire for him was obviously magnified by the danger she found herself in. She wanted to say that she honestly loved him and that his magic didn’t matter, but she was just too honest with herself. Before that fateful day when he had taken her to look at the cabin he had built for Todrek and then showed her his abilities, she had been nothing more than a spoiled girl. He had known that and called her on it. She had flatly denied it, and then his power had captivated her mind and heart so much that when he fled Tranaugh Shire she had followed him. If Quinn had convinced her father to give her to Zollin, she would have resented him. She would have been dutiful, and perhaps in time would have grown to love him, but his magic had been the spark that kindled her love for him.
She felt tears starting to sting her eyes. She still longed for Zollin, but she was confused. She didn’t know if what she felt was genuine, and she didn’t know how to find out.
She was still lost in thought when there was a knock at the door. More servants came in. The first was carrying a large candelabra made of polished bronze, with scented beeswax tapers that were lit once the ornate candle holder was placed on a table in the corner of the room. Another servant carried in a large decanter of dark red wine. He set the decanter on the table and then a man with a lyre and stool entered the room. He had a black strip of cloth tied around his head and was led into the room by another servant.
“He’s blind, that’s how the good Prince prefers it,” the servant leading the musician said.
Brianna nodded, not trusting herself to speak at the moment. Another servant came in and spread flower petals around the room. A fire was kindled in the fireplace. Then she was left alone again. The musician played his instrument and sang softly. It was very strange, Brianna thought, to be in a room alone with a blind musician who was singing to her softly.
Then Prince Simmeron arrived. He was wearing a purple robe and his hair had been combed. He smiled, but it sent chills of disgust through Brianna.
“You look lovely, my angel,” he said.
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Isn’t it romantic?” he said as he waved his hand around the room.
She wanted to say that he had no part in preparing the room, and how dare he brag as if he had done it himself. Not to mention the fact that she was a prisoner, confined to the room, but she held herself in check.
“It is lovely, my lord.”
“I like it when you call me that,” he said, and there was a hungry look in his eye that had nothing to do with food. “Say it again.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand, highness.”
“Call me your lord again,” he said smugly.
“Yes, my lord.”
He laughed a high pitched, irritating laugh that grated on her nerves. She was standing with the table between them. The dress he’d sent to her was low cut across her chest and she felt extremely self conscious about it, especially when his gaze continued to drop from her eyes.
“What are we dining on?” she asked.
“Ah, well…” he hesitated, annoyance crossing his features. “The last time I prepared a special meal, you ran out on me.”
She pouted a little, it was something she had done often enough growing up, when she had wanted a boy’s attention. She only hoped it would work now.
“I was afraid,” she said. “You’re so powerful, and I’m just not sure if I will please you.”
“Don’t be foolish,” he chided, but he was obviously impressed with her reply. “I have great plans for you, my darling.”
“You must say that to every girl you meet,” she teased.
“That isn’t true. I swear it. In fact, I meet very few women, and none have ever captured my heart the way you have.”
“I’m flattered, my lord,” she said, emphasizing the courtesy title.
He giggled and started around the table, but then the doors opened again and servants came in with trays of steaming food. There was a large rack of lamb, vegetables, freshly baked bread, cream butter, smoked cheese, and a cherry jelly. Servants stayed, one for each of them, and one to carve the lamb. Seats were pulled out, napkins neatly arranged, and plates prepared.
Prince Simmeron held up his goblet and his servant filled it from the decanter. Brianna remembered what her mother had taught her about mimicking when she wasn’t sure what else to do. So Brianna held up her cup, just as Simmeron had. They ate in relative silence. Brianna found that while the food was excellent, she spent more time arranging the food on her plate than actually eating it. If being with the Prince wasn’t enough to ruin her appetite, having a servant continually looking over her shoulder while she ate made her even more nervous and less inclined to eat.
The Prince did eat; in fact, he gorged himself on both food and wine. Brianna hoped that the food would not keep him from getting too drunk. Luckily the rich food sat heavily, and once the meal was over he wanted to lie down. The servants arranged pillows on the bed, and he stretched out, requesting a song. Brianna sat stiffly on the bed beside the Prince, who continued to drink. Another decanter of dark red wine was brought up and he continually filled his glass. After a while he began to paw at Brianna. It was clumsy and not at all flattering. It was obvious that he knew nothing about women and had been catered to his whole life. Why he was trying to woo her, she had no idea, but she was able to fend him off easily enough. After an hour or so, she saw his eyelids drooping. That gave her hope, at least until he sat up and decided he wanted to kiss her.
More than anything, she had hoped to avoid this, but it seemed inevitable. He leaned in and she turned her head playfully. His wet lips smacked on her cheek, and she had to fight with all her strength not to wipe her face.
“Kiss me,” he slurred. “We can kiss, that isn’t forbidden.”
“I don’t know,” Brianna teased. “I’m a lady; I mustn’t give my lord too much too soon. What will you think of me if I do?”
“I will think that you are the most beautiful woman in the kingdom,” he said, his words running together as he tried to pull her closer.
His breath reeked of wine and she resisted instinctually. Kissing the Prince should have been a wonderful, exciting delight, she thought. Her sisters would all be so jealous and her mother would scold her for resisting, but Brianna hated every second of this. She needed a distraction, something to kill some time until he fell asleep.
“What if I rub your shoulders, my lord, you look so tense. Is something bothering you?”
She didn’t wait for the prince to respond, but moved swiftly to the other side of the bed and began rubbing his shoulders. He rolled onto his stomach and sighed.
“This is exactly what I needed, my love,” he said. “You are the onl
y one that understands the strain of running a kingdom. I knew that you were the one for me the moment I laid my eyes on you.”
“What has you so tense, my lord?” she asked. It seemed like a logical question, and she didn’t know what she might learn from the Prince in his inebriated state.
“It’s my wizard, all he does is scheme. He is very clever, but he worries me day and night with details and tasks that require my attention.”
“Why don’t you send him away?”
“Because he’s a wizard. He’s my wizard. I’m the first King to have one in over a century. My brother doesn’t have a wizard. My father never had one, but I do. I will be the great King they could never be. They think me weak, but I am not weak. I am not held back by the senseless rules they hold to so dearly. I will raise Yelsia until it is first of the Five Kingdoms and reclaim the glory that is rightfully ours.”
Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03 Page 66