Cursed

by Emma Merrell

  More fighters began to fall to either side of him. Their archers were reforming their line so that they could fire back a volley that would give a moment of cover to the battering ram. It was the same as last time. Every arrow found its target and the heavy gate fell to the battering ram like it was made of parchment.

  A trumpet sounded behind the wall and guards ran out of the broken gate, climbing over the shattered wood and large battering ram. There were at least twenty of them, but that was nothing compared to what they had on their side. It was a massacre. It was unfair, and Jude found himself drawing back from the main skirmish. He had no taste for this.

  He watched as a couple of the guards fell, bloodied to the ground, and the mountain people cheered. They were high on bloodlust and Jude could only hope that they would remember not to slaughter any civilians one they got inside. The goal was to take the throne, not to kill the people who would bow before it.

  Bran blew his horn and Jude knew it was time. He turned his horse around and rode to the front where Bran, Leona, and Berenice awaited him. Unlike Jude, their swords were dripping blood to the dirt below. Leona turned to address them. “I do not know what will happen when people see me. I am not loved here. But protect me until I can take my shot at Anne, that is all I ask.”

  “I will not let anything happen to you. I would burn this kingdom down first.” Bran replied.

  Leona’s lips curved up in a small, smug smile that was gone in an instant, but Jude had seen it. She was playing Bran like a violin and he was the only one who could see the truth of it. He was going to hand the kingdom back to her while she worked magic behind his back. It wasn’t right, but Jude hoped that they, at least, would be better rulers than Anne was.

  The ram was pulled back and the three of them followed Leona through the gate, under the wall, and out into the rioting crowd. It took a moment for them to clear a way through and Jude took it to try and get a grasp on what was happening. It was chaos. There was a ring of guards at the base of the palace fending off angry people, with swords and spears. High up on the balcony he could see the queen trying to gain the attention of the crowd and some semblance of control.

  At first, not much attention was paid to their little foursome, but then their army started to push through behind them, and the noise levels of the crowd rose even higher. Attention turned from the balcony to the army of people on horseback that was now parting the crowd. Even Anne had stopped shouting to lean over the balcony’s railing to figure out what was happening. A couple of people tried to push Jude from his horse, but they were otherwise left relatively unmolested.

  They had made it to the middle of the mass when Leona halted. Jude saw her draw a deep breath and then throw back her deep hood. From the crowd came a gasp from those who could see clearly, and for those who couldn’t there were shouts of, “Queen Leona”. She took this moment of shock, of opportunity, and used it to her fullest advantage. She nocked an arrow into her bow and drew back, losing the arrow in a perfect arc towards Anne.

  Everything grew silent as if the very world itself were holding its breath, and then the arrow hit its mark. Anne staggered back a step, hands going to the arrow sticking out of her chest. She looked at it as if confused, and then out to her sister in the crowd, before toppling over the balcony and falling to the crowd below.

  It went so quiet that Jude was able to hear his own breath once again. Leona again capitalized on this moment of silence to speak and be heard. “My people. I am sorry for my long absence and for the curse that I left upon you all. Be assured that it was not my intention, and I have sworn off using my magic ever since. It took me a long time to form an alliance with the mountain tribe that would be strong enough to come back and deliver this kingdom from her clutches. You can be treated fairly. Palace servants will no longer be held as slaves but will be offered the option of working for a coin. Babies will at long last be born. With that arrow, I have ended the curse, and with the help of the mountain people we can rebuild a better kingdom.”

  Jude cast a look around to judge whether the crowd was buying into her speech. They remained still and silent, no one rushed forward to attack, and Jude thought that those were very promising signs.

  “I am sure my sister abolished the merchant’s guild, but I would like those of you who were a part of it to come and speak with me at the palace. I see some of your faces out in the crowd. Do the people trust the guild leaders to speak for them, as they did when my dear husband ruled as their king?”

  Things moved slowly after that. The crowds were cleared by the mountain people, as Jude and his force took care of the few remaining guards who were still loyal to Anne’s memory. More men were sent to hunt down Norrick. The guild masters, Bran, and Leona retired into the castle to discuss a plan for the rule of the kingdom. And Jude finally had a moment to seek out Petunia.

  She was helping the healer tend to the guards that had been wounded at the gate during their attack. He gave a small wave and she went to him. “Well, that was a relatively bloodless coup. Our plan went well.” She gave a bit of a smile and Jude felt his lips turning up in reply.

  “How is my sister?”

  “She is well. She and Prince Jonathan are safely hidden away at my grandmother’s house with his guard. The prince was stabbed by his brother but should recover in time.”

  Relief swept through him. “Good.”

  “Yes. When things have settled down around the palace, I think it would probably be safe enough to bring you two together for a visit. For now, though, I think things are too delicate. The people seem to be taking it well, but an uprising could happen at any time. Hopefully, the women will start to get pregnant quickly so it can prove that the curse is broken.”

  “You know that Bran won’t allow magic. How will the people react to it?”

  “He should be able to make the argument that all magic has done is ruin their lives, but I am sure there will be plenty who do not like it and protest.”

  Jude nodded that made sense. “So now we wait?”

  “Yes, now we wait. We bide our time until Jonathan and Luce can come home.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Luce

  It had been two months since the day of the coop and life had settled into a bit of a routine for Luce and Jonathan. They spoke almost daily with Petunia, getting updates on what was happening in the wider kingdom. Bran and Leona had not stopped their efforts to find Norrick, or their efforts to find Jonathan. Norrick wasn’t the only one who was a threat to their rule. It was lucky that Bran never thought to search the house of his own grandmother, or they would have been found months ago. Raids were carried out regularly, but they never knew the right place to look.

  Of course, while staying with Mary did have its benefits, it was not pleasant all the same. Her home was small, and they were packed in far too tightly. Her one-bedroom home was not meant to accommodate seven extra people. Luce and Jonathan were forced to clear the kitchen table every night and make their bed there, and his guards took whatever piece of the floor they could find. Food was tight as well, although Petunia did sneak them shipments when she thought it would go unnoticed. But the hardest part was not being able to leave. To remain in hiding until the kingdom was ripe for their return. It was coming, Luce knew, the people who had at first embraced the ban on magic had been growing restive. Bran and Leona’s rule was harsh.

  None of that mattered to her today though, because today she was finally getting to see Jude for the first time since that awful experience in Norrick’s chambers. It was by far the longest that they had ever been separated, and each second, until he arrived, seemed like an eternity.

  “Will you please sit down with me?” Jonathan asked.

  Luce paused in making endless circles around the table to sit at the bench next to her love. “Sorry, I’m just excited. I’ve missed him so much. And it will be nice to have some company around here that isn’t of the old lady or guard variety.”

  “Yes, it really will
. I can’t wait to sit down with them and have some fresh conversation.”

  Luce laughed. “Yes. I would enjoy a chat that didn’t revolve around what I should be eating or how I should be sleeping.”

  “She only wants what’s best for you and the baby. Mary may use some old methods, but she’s helped raise three generations.”

  “I know, and I do appreciate it.”

  Luce took the rare moment of solitude, with the guards out in the small garden and Mary readying herself in her room and leaned in for a kiss. It started out gentle, but before Luce knew it his hands were wrapped around her waist trying to pull her into his lap. She enjoyed it for a few more seconds before pulling away. “Let’s not get too carried away.”

  Jonathan sighed deeply. “I need to be back at the palace with you. This is getting difficult.”

  Luce gave one more kiss on the lips. “I miss being with you too.”

  There was a soft knock on the door, but before either of them could rise to answer it, Mary bustled out of her bedroom and beat them to it. She opened the door just a crack at first so she could peer through but opened it wide enough for their visitors to pass after a moment. Petunia came first, and while Luce was happy to see her, only one person mattered to her now.

  Luce barely gave him a chance to get inside before she rushed into his arms. He hugged her back fiercely and the universe at long last righted itself. She loved Jonathan with all her heart, but Jude was her family. The one who patched up her injuries when she was little, who took care of her when she was sick, and who had made her laugh when things seemed hopeless. She had missed this more than she could express.

  Jude pulled back to hold her at arm’s length. His gaze drifted down to her growing belly. “It really is true. You’re going to be a mother.”

  She smiled broadly. “And you are going to be an uncle.”

  “Amazing. Gods, I’ve missed you, Luce.”

  “Me too, but you’re here now.”

  Luce became aware of a shadow behind her and stepped aside with a smile so that Jonathan might meet her brother on better terms this time. Jude went to bow, but Jonathan stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “We are to be family.”

  Jude straightened up with a grin. “I’ve been waiting a long time to thank you, not just for what you did with Norrick, but for taking care of Luce. For keeping her alive.”

  “It was the least I could do.”

  Luce stepped away to let the men chat and waited for Mary to release Petunia so she could give her a hug as well. “It’s good to see you.”

  “And you as well, we have lots to talk about.”

  Luce drew back. “Oh, really? What is going on out there?”

  Petunia nodded her head towards the kitchen table. “Let’s all go sit. It will be more comfortable.”

  And so, the five of them squeezed onto the benches on either side of the table and began a long-overdue chat. At first the topics were happy, they stuck to discussing the baby and how well Jonathan had healed up from his wound, but eventually, they had to work their way around to discussing the next part of their plan. The kingdom was ripening for Jonathan to take back his rule.

  “How soon can we make this happen?” Jonathan asked.

  Petunia shrugged. “The people grow unhappier every day. Uncle Bran’s magic ban has not gone down that well with the magic users of the kingdom, although the nulls don’t seem to mind as much. The punishments for being caught doing magic are harsh, they’ve been cutting out the tongues of those who speak it.”

  Luce shuddered, her delicate stomach flipping over at the thought. “It’s awful.”

  “Yes, but not worse than the way things were with Anne in charge. People are at least happy that now there is no more slavery, but paid wages.”

  “I would never return to my mother’s way of running things. My people would remain free, magic would be allowed, and criminal punishments would be fair.”

  Luce put a comforting hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “We know that. It will be convincing the people that will be hard. And that’s what we need to figure out.” She turned to Jude. “Do you see any opportunities for that?”

  “We know Leona’s still using magic, and that she used it to help her win the coup. I bet if we told Bran he would be furious. Maybe even angry enough to imprison her.”

  “My people would not be inclined to follow a mountain man. It is only Leona keeping them in control. Would he believe it?”

  “I saw her doing it in the mountain caves. He has to be able to recognize how lucky they were in that battle, how every shot hit its target.”

  Luce looked to Petunia. “Is there any way for him to catch her in the act? It might be the only way he would accept it.”

  “I have been spying. She is careful, but there is one spot where we might be able to show her up. Every full moon she does a spell to replenish her powers in the girl’s court garden.”

  “The girl's court?”

  “Yes. It is empty now. All the girls have been offered other positions within the palace or the opportunity to return to their families.”

  “Good. That is really good to hear.”

  “So, we would have to maneuver him into walking in on her,” Jude said. “I bet I could tell him that someone had seen Norrick there with his woman. Maybe he would come search with me.”

  “Then what?” Luce asked.

  “We can only hope he will imprison her, and that the people will begin to fight his rule. When they are unhappy enough, Luce and Jonathan could come home. Convince the people that he will finally be the ruler that they need.” Petunia said.

  “And what of Bran? He would not just give up the throne so easily.” Jonathan said.

  “Maybe there is a compromise that you could offer him, but that is up to you, Your Highness.”

  Jonathan nodded, his eyes far away. “Yes. It will be up to me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jude

  The moon was full. It was time for Jude to play his part in things. Things that were unimaginably different than working the fields in his home village. He never could have foreseen that his future would involve royals, palace politics, magic, and war, but here he was.

  He had made sure that Leona was in place doing her spell before he went to get Bran. He was fortunate to be able to come and go as he pleased from the inner palace, being a favorite of Bran and Berenice. The thought of Berenice darkened his mood. What he had thought was merely a one-night affair seemed to have sparked the desire in her for a full relationship, but he wasn’t interested. There was someone else who made his heart beat faster.

  He found that someone a moment later in the inner courtyard of the palace. Petunia was standing by a row of prettily trimmed hedges, talking with another girl who appeared to be a servant. Jude caught her eye and gave a brief nod. She raised her hand in acknowledgment and extricated herself from the conversation she was having.

  As soon as she was near, she whispered, “Is she there?”

  “She’s there. Let’s go tell Bran.”

  “All right. I think he is in the dining hall.”

  “I wish you could just ask him.”

  Petunia gave him a warning glance. “You know that I’m not allowed anymore. No magic, no exceptions.”

  “I know. It just seems awfully hypocritical of him, considering how often he used your ability to help him get here in the past.”

  “A necessary evil.” She quoted. “As long as he rules, I will keep myself free of that abominable magic.”

  Jude snorted. Bran had no compunctions about using her magic when it had benefitted him, but now he had forbidden her? Jude wondered if he would punish her if he did catch her at it like he would any of the others. He wondered how Bran was going to treat Leona and was worried that he might not be as harsh as they were hoping.

  The two of them passed through the rooms and by all the mountain guards unhindered until they found Bran dining alone in the intimate family hall.

 
; “Ah, two of my favorite people. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Uncle, we heard whispers that there was a magical ritual taking place in the abandoned girl’s court.”

  Bran frowned. “Certainly not.”

  Jude answered, “Yes, but I thought it best to act quickly to see if we can catch them in the act. Take a small guard and go now. Maybe it is Prince Norrick, and that is where he has been hiding.”

  “We cleared that area, but I suppose he could have snuck back afterward. I’m sure that he knows a million secrets about this palace and how to get places than we will ever know.” Bran rose, wiped his mouth, and then threw down his napkin. “Let’s catch the law-breaker. I hope it is Norrick, the little snake.”

  The men followed Petunia, grabbing two of the guard to accompany them on the way out. She led them without hesitation, immediately understanding the most secretive route without being asked. She had become a good spy over all her years serving both Queen Anne and Bran.

  Jude felt the tension growing in his body as they got closer and closer. This would be the moment that their entire set of plans hinged upon. If Leona was no longer there or was able to cover up what she was doing before they could see, then they would have to come up with something else. This was the one scenario that had the best chance of working though.

  They entered the courtyard as silently as possible, staying low to the ground so that the shrubbery might screen them. Jude took in as much as he could while they approached. This was where his sister had been kept all those long months. Where all the girls had been kept. He was very glad that Leona and Bran had released them all. It was the best thing that had happened to the kingdom since he had been here, and probably long before.