“A little more loosely please,” I croaked. I heard him clear his throat.
“My apologies.”
Stepping away, he led me to the horse and helped me onto the saddle. From there, he jumped on behind me and had the horse turn toward the direction we had come from. The horse galloped along the edge of the woods, giving us a covert view of the broken –and now deserted– carriage and headed straight for the Solstice Palace in the distance.
When we arrived, the sky was streaked orange and pale yellow from the setting sun. As we rode up to it, I could not help but feel my jaw drop in awe.
While the King’s Castle was just a fortress built of grey stone surrounded by four watchtowers and a drawbridge, the Solstice Palace was nearly twice its size. Black gates surrounded its premises, and there were small domed gazebos and untended garden pathways that were attached to the purple-veined limestone of the Palace. The cobblestone floor was marked with faded golden suns and crescent moons, perhaps in accordance with the Palace’s name. Tattered flags swayed in the wind atop the domes and the road leading into it seemed forgotten, the trees having overtaken it.
The four Royal Guards who had taken off during the attack were waiting by the Palace gates, looking relieved at the sight of our arrival in one piece. When the Archduke demanded to know why they had left us, they spluttered excuses about their magic’s limitations as the reason why they had failed to keep us safe.
I glared at the four, but inside I relished at the sight.
I took pleasure in watching them beg for their lives. The Archduke stared hard at the cowering Royal Guards, who were begging for our forgiveness, with his fists clenched, and eyes narrowed.
“You can keep your pitiful lives,” he growled. “I do not want to see your faces anywhere near me again. Keep to the gates and I just might have mercy on you four.” They nodded their thanks and rushed away. The Archduke’s anger quickly subsided, and he sighed.
“It will be tough ruling a Palace filled with good-for-nothing subjects,” I said with a half-smile, patting him on the arm to feign sympathy.
The Archduke opened his mouth to speak, but I had already begun walking up towards the Palace. I was hungry, tired, and feeling rather disgusted from the trip. I had also seen another carriage outside the gate. I was sure Selenah was already here and I was in no condition to deal with her in the mood I was in.
After being blissfully bathed, clothed, and given a proper meal, I decided to explore the Solstice Palace to familiarize myself with it. But before I could go beyond the bedchambers, there were shouts from Selenah’s living quarters. Curious, I walked over to see what the fuss was all about.
Selenah was asleep on her bed, but she looked distraught. Everyone made way for me when I entered as if I could magically cure whatever caused her distress. But I had to admit; it did make me feel more respected than I had ever felt before.
I walked up to her bedside and looked at her. She was muttering something under her breath and clenched her fists every now and then.
“What is going on here?” I asked, looking around the room to see a few maids present, as well as Connor, whom I suspected, was her escort to the Solstice Palace.
One of the maids spoke up, staring at the ground in shame.
“I was sent to wake her for supper. She had retired early, speaking of fatigue. But when I tried to wake her, but she did not rouse. I sent for the Captain immediately.”
“Do you know what ails her?” Connor asked, looking at me with a hopeful look.
I furrowed my eyebrows. I would not have the slightest idea, but assuming that Connor’s magic was more for fighting than healing, and from the Palace’s recent reopening, there were no nurses or physicians ready for this situation.
“She is not sick,” I said, gazing at her. No quick breathing or feverish skin. And I knew Selenah took naps when tiredness befell her. From this, I could safely assume that she was indeed, asleep. But if it were not an illness that kept her asleep and in distress, then there could only be one other answer to explain it. “I think she is having a nightmare.”
“Nightmare?” Connor stepped forward. “Is that what ails her? A simple nightmare?”
“Perhaps it is not,” I said, turning to look at him. “Whatever it is, I do not think I can get her out of it.”
“If it is just a nightmare,” Connor said, “then should we not just wake her?”
I looked back at Selenah’s pained face. I took a deep breath and placed a hand on her shoulder to gently shake her. Connor leaned forward in anticipation. But nothing. She remained as she was, forehead wrinkled and asleep.
The thought of the Shadow Reaper suddenly came to mind. Is it possible he speaking to her within the dream as he had done with me before?
Connor frowned, a hand on his neck. “Is there nothing we can do for her then?”
I sighed. “I do not think so. She must do this on her own.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
NIGHTMARES AND SHADOWS
“We should all retire for the day,” I heard the Archduke say, catching me by surprise. I had not realized he had come in. “We can do no good to her Ladyship if we ourselves are ill with worry. The maids will keep watch of Lady Selenah. Captain Connor stay nearby if need be. As for you, Mistress Melanie, I advise that you rest.”
Everyone nodded at their resident prince as I stood up to leave. The halls were now lit with torches with the darkening of the sky, but the passageways were still daunting. The Archduke insisted he escort me to my designated chamber seeing my hesitance and knowing I was still unfamiliar with the palace itself. I agreed.
The skies crackled with lightning, flashing a brilliant white through the corridor lancets. I flinched at the sound’s similarity to the Dark Mages’ whips. The Archduke laughed aloud at my fear and I scowled.
“What is so amusing, Archduke of Herington?”
He immediately composed himself. “The Palace is just so gloomy right now,” he said. “And after everything that has happened today, it was nice to have something to laugh about. I apologize if I offended you. That was not my intention.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant. I was all too keen on forgetting today’s little mishap on the road and I knew I could not blame the Archduke for his insensitiveness. He did not know the extent of my ordeal with the Dark Mages.
“And please, call me Owen,” he added with a genuine smile. I glanced his way with furrowed eyebrows.
But friends were hard to come by. Even if he was after Selenah, it would not be so bad to have someone to talk to in the Palace.
“I agree,” I said, looking over at him with a smile of my own. “Archduke of Herington is a mouthful.”
Owen chuckled at my small jest and stopped before one of the chambers. He stood by the door and cleared his throat, straightening. I smiled, looking up at his blue eyes and realizing how much of a contrast they were to his darker, sandy hair.
“This is yours,” he said, opening the door for me. “I hope it will be to your liking, Melanie –may I call you that?– I was quite rushed into deciding on where everyone’s chambers should be and I quite honestly did not know what sort of chamber you would want or if you had any preferences,” he added, scratching his head. “I do hope you find it comfortable. If you need anything do let me know and I will have it arranged as soon as possible.”
I nodded. “I understand. Thank you and goodnight, Owen.”
He smiled again and turned away.
I entered the semi-large room and looked about. The chamber was devoid of furniture beyond necessity, but that was nothing to complain about.
After I had readied myself for bed, with the extra clothes in the armoire, I noticed something moving in the sky.
I walked up to the window and opened the shutters.
A surprisingly cold draft blew in, making me shiver in my nightgown. I craned my neck to look up at the object.
It looked like a bird, or the shadow of one. Perhaps an eagle? I thought it was odd
to find a bird flying in the midst of an upcoming storm. Is it lost? Knowing I could do nothing to help it, I closed the window and went to bed.
****
The next morning, I awoke to harsh sunlight. I blinked, turning away from the light. After tossing in bed a few times and then acknowledging that I could not go back to sleep, I turned to face the window once more. I was surprised to see find that it was open; I remembered closing it before going to bed.
There was a warm breeze but that was it. Not a single bird sang.
I forced myself out of bed with a sigh. I changed into a simple dress of pale blue from the wardrobe in the chamber, brushed my hair, washed my face, and grabbed a hair tie and some pins for my hair. As I struggled to put them on, I wondered why everything was so quiet.
With a frown, I left my chamber to have some breakfast. As I turned a corner, I walked right into someone. The loose pins fell from my grasp and my hair fell back down over my shoulders.
“Good kings! You people need to be more care–” Owen caught himself and apologized. He knelt down to gather what I dropped. “My apologies. It is just that everyone here, well, is a little…” He fumbled for a word.
“Clumsy?” I supplied with a slight smile.
He nodded with a smile of his own. I took the pins and hair tie from him and quickly did my hair.
“Do you mind taking me to the dining quarters?” I asked. Owen shook his head and offered an arm. As he walked me there, I asked him, “Have you noticed the Palace is so quiet?”
“Yes, as if it is holding its breath,” he said.
“Even the birds,” I added. “I have not seen one or heard one since last night.”
“Last night?”
“Did you not see it? The large bird in the sky?” He shook his head. I shrugged. “Where is everyone? Did the King not send for maids and Guards?” I asked, looking around the empty hallway.
“They should be here,” Owen said. “Oh, and I forgot to say,” his voice lowered. “Lady Selenah is still asleep.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Still?”
He nodded. How odd, I thought. The dream was a message for me. Could it be different for Selenah?
Hearing that last bit of news, I was not in the mood for eating, but dined with Owen anyway. He was still his usual self though, talking as the maids prepared the table, after swallowing each spoonful, and after everything was being taken away. I sat there mindlessly listening but watched him with open interest. I was simply amazed by how someone could talk so much, and with such enthusiasm, no matter the subject.
I had nothing else to do after the meal was over. I did not want to waste my time staring and waiting for Selenah to wake up. When she did, the world would resume play. And it was not like I could do anything either. I had no magic or knowledge of medicine. So, until then, I had some free time; I planned to spend this at the Palace’s library.
Owen said it was called the Grand Library and bid me goodbye when I told him I wanted to the rest of my day there. I grinned at his excuse that he needed to attend to princely duties instead of spending time at the library. He did take me the Grand Library though, so I thought to not tease him aloud for it.
Searching the aged shelves, I took up all books that contained any history during the time when the Reaper was still alive. Perhaps in his life, he had some weakness that we could use against him now that he was back as the Shadow Reaper. There were only two books that met the criteria: “History of Royal Princes” and “Powerful Enemies: Tales of Queen Selina the First’s Rivals.” With the first book, I hoped to validate Tiran’s story of a fourth born prince and perhaps convince the others that he could be the one behind Selenah’s nightmare.
I spent hours looking over the two books in vain. It was difficult to find which prince was the Reaper, now Shadow Reaper, had been; having four sons was very common among the Royal Families. And amongst those sons, there was always at least one who had acted out against the court in some way, whether by using violence or magic to usurp the throne.
Picking up the second book, I looked through Selina the First’s history. The Dark Mages had talked of her, so it seemed a good alternative to Tiran’s story. But even this search came up short: Selina the First seemed to have many Dark Mages –and other male magic users– as enemies who were very powerful, according to the author, the Royal Librarian of that time period. Their motives did not vary either: trying to oust a foreigner from their royal bloodlines and using their magic as a claim to the throne. None stood out to me as the Reaper.
“Mistress Melanie, there you are!” someone called.
I looked up, startled by the loud noise. A maid was at the doorway to the library, catching her breath. She must have run up the flight of stairs to get here.
“You must hurry. Follow me.” She turned on her heel and ran. I followed after her, leaving behind the two books.
The maid led me to Selenah’s chamber and ushered me inside as she stood by the door. There were only two others in the room: Connor and Owen. Their lips were pressed in fine lines and neither said a thing. They were worried.
I walked up to Selenah and knelt down, bracing myself for the worst. At first, I did not notice what was wrong with her. Why else would they have sent for me? Then I saw it: her right hand was transparent. I could see the bed covers that her hand rested upon.
“What is going on?” I asked aloud in disbelief. No one answered.
I raised my hand to touch hers, expecting it to go straight through, but it did not. Her hand was solid, though it was translucent.
At this realization, I felt grief-stricken for some reason. I did not know why, but tears began to fall. They were from not only the possibility of losing her, but from all my past pains. Selenah had taken what mattered to me the most when I was young but losing her would mean losing the world to evil magic. Because whether I liked it or not, she was going to save the kingdom from the Shadow Reaper. She had to.
I gripped her cold, transparent hand, and urged her to wake up, so she could be the hero everyone wanted her to be. To become the hero our parents gave up their lives for. To become the Queen everyone was saying she would become. To become the sister I always hoped her to be.
In response to my touch, I felt her hand curl around mine. At first, I thought this to be a good sign until she began tightening her grip. I nearly cried out as her nails dug in to my palm, digging into my skin. I could even feel blood trickle down my wrist. But her twisted mouth and wrinkled forehead only told me she was in deep pain. I could not blame her for what she was doing.
Heavy rain battered the windows. Lightning split the sky and thunder cracked above us. Selenah stirred, her face pained. She said something inaudible and tried to twist out of my grasp. Everyone else watched, paralyzed.
“It is just a dream!” I whispered harshly to her, retaining my grip on her hand despite the pain. “Wake up, Selenah! It is just a dream!” Thunder drowned out my last words, but Selenah’s eyes fluttered open.
“Mel?” she breathed, eyes wide at the sight of me beside her. I saw Connor jump from where he sat.
Selenah’s chest heaved up and down as she looked around. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it. Selenah looked fatigued, pale and sweaty, as if something was draining her life away. Her eyelids began to droop.
“Selenah,” I said, forcing her to open her eyes again. “Do not go back to sleep. Not now.”
“I feel so…tired…” Again, her eyes began to close.
“No, you have to eat first,” I pleaded. If she went back to sleep, the Shadow Reaper could drag her into another nightmare. And this time, she might not wake up again.
“Selenah!” I whined, jerking on her hand, which had now regained its normal color and appearance.
She opened her eyes and smiled; I could now feel her gripping my hand. I bit back the pain to give her a forced smile.
“Mel,” she said again, this time as if she now realized I was here. “Thank you.”
CHAP
TER EIGHT
TEST OF FATE
By afternoon, the Solstice Palace came back to life at the news of Selenah’s recovery. The arrival of experienced maids, Guards, cooks, and several nobles was also good news. The courtyards and halls were now lively with servants running about, cooks setting up the kitchen, gardeners feuding over what herbs and flowers to grow and where, nobles familiarizing their new home, and the new Guards practicing their routes.
I was taking a stroll through the courtyard, admiring just how noisy it was –and how much I loved it that way– when I saw Selenah approaching me. I rolled my eyes but also felt a little happier now that she was well again. As I suspected, the Shadow Reaper had indeed visited her in her dream, holding her captive in a desolate forest.
Followed by her was an unexpected guest: Prince Gareth. I had not seen him arrive. Behind the Prince were his usual Guards. Seeing him, I hid my bandaged hand behind my back.
“Mel!” she exclaimed. “I cannot thank you enough for saving me.”
I scoffed but curtsied as Prince Gareth took a step forward.
“Melanie, you saved Selenah’s life, and maybe even the kingdom. My father and I would like to show our gratitude by naming you, Melanie of Brassion, Duchess of the Solstice Palace.” His words were followed by a sweeping bow, while I stood, taken aback by the Prince’s words. Me! A Duchess! Standing back upright, he met my gaze and smiled. I held my breath, feeling my face flare up at his friendly gesture. “You are also now a member of the King’s Court and are free to live and travel wherever you wish, all documented and signed with my seal.”
I shook my head, baffled by his generosity.
“I thank you, Your Highness,” I said, curtsying again. This is really happening!
“Of course, Duchess Melanie.”
As Prince Gareth spoke, Selenah’s eyes shifted to look over my shoulder for a moment. She then turned to look at Prince Gareth. Her face lit up as he turned his gaze down at her.
“Let us go, Gareth. I know Mel, and she would rather enjoy her time without us,” she said, looking back at me and winking.
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