by Deirdra Eden
“Lucas?” I hesitated, not meeting his eyes. “Who was your father?”
“My father…” Lucas looked away from me, and I immediately felt guilty for asking. “He was once a commoner, but he became a great knight for the king. The king gave him this land.” He motioned toward the fields and orchards. “Then he was killed on a crusade. Mother cried for days when we got the letter from the king’s messengers.” Lucas picked at the bark on the tree then glanced at me with a spark in his eyes. “Someday, I want to become a great knight like my father, but a lot of things are required before a person becomes a knight.”
“Is sword fighting one of those things?” I leaned against a branch.
“Yes, it is.” He looked at our practice swords on the ground. I could tell by the mischievous grin spreading across his face what he was thinking.
Lucas jumped.
I swung from the branches, dropped to the ground, and took up one of the swords. Lucas lunged with his sword extended. I parried his attack and thrust my sword toward his chest. Lucas blocked. He whirled his wooden sword toward my knees. I leapt over the blade, recovered, then sliced my sword through the air. Lucas went on the defense and blocked my attacks. I swung with all my strength. When I over-extended, Lucas stepped forward and tagged my arm with the tip of his sword.
“Gotcha,” he called in triumph. Wiping the perspiration from his brow, he added, “You are getting very good.”
“And you are getting very strong.” I rubbed a tender spot on my left arm.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Lucas lowered his sword, stepped toward me and caressed my arm.
Nervous energy rushed through me, and my palms smoldered with heat. I pulled away from his touch. How could this be happening now? If flames came from my hands, Lucas would know I was different. I didn’t want to ruin my new life at the manor. I had to get away. I turned from Lucas and sprinted toward the manor without looking back at him.
“I’m sorry,” Lucas called.
My heart pounded as I pushed open the door and entered Lady Hannah’s room. “You wished to see me?” I shuffled my feet toward Lady Hannah’s bed.
“Yes. I am going to reassign you to work in the kitchen permanently.”
“What? Why?” I stammered. With shock running from the top of my head to my toes, I felt like I’d touched one of those horrible eels. To be assigned to the kitchen—away from Lucas—was the worst thing that could happen. Was it something I did?
“It’s all right, my dear. Don’t worry. You have done nothing wrong,” Hannah said. “In fact, Lucas was quite put out when I told him I was reassigning you. He argued to have you stay and couldn’t say enough about your work ethic and efficiency.”
I bowed my head slightly to the regal lady. Some of the initial shock dissipated at the thought of Lucas fighting to have me near him. A coldness washed over me as Lady Hannah continued, “Nevertheless, you are turning into a woman. Your place is in the manor, not herding cows and cleaning horse stalls. The kitchen staff loves you, and you will be happy there.”
I tried to bite my tongue to keep the words from spilling out, but I couldn’t help myself. “Lucas has taught me well, but I still have so much to learn—”
Lady Hannah cut me off. “I know you and Lucas are friends, but he needs to be more respectful and understand your place in society as a woman.”
I lowered my head. Tears burned at my eyes. I clenched my shirt, my fingers smoldered. I quickly released my skirt and clasped my hands together before I caught my dress on fire. I bit on my tongue and tried to numb my aching heart and suppress the fire inside me. Catching on fire now wouldn’t help me earn a place in society–even if my place was to be just a servant. What Lady Hannah probably meant, was that I needed to be more respectful of Lucas’s place as a noble in society. The noble maidens were coming around more and Lucas hadn’t made himself available to court them like his brothers had.
Hannah continued, “You two will still see each other and maintain your friendship. My son has been happy and hasn’t complained once about his duties since you’ve been helping him. Yet, it is time for you to focus on more appropriate responsibilities.”
I did not speak, for fear I might seem ungrateful for all Lady Hannah had done for me. I nodded, turned to the door, and returned to my room.
From my bedroom window, I watched Lucas trudge from the stables toward the manor. He looked devastated, and his steps didn’t have the same energetic bounce I was used to seeing. I flew down the flight of stairs and greeted him at the door.
His eyes lit up, and he raced to meet me. “Did Mother talk to you?” Lucas asked.
I nodded and dropped my head so he wouldn’t see the tears that were starting to form.
He continued, “I tried to change her mind. She doesn’t understand—”
I raised my hand to stop him. “I have an idea.” I winked.
Lucas smirked. “I know you’re planning something sneaky when you smile like that.”
Over the next few months, I found ways to spend time with Lucas. I arose early in the mornings to go riding or to practice sword fighting with Lucas. In the afternoons, I got permission from the head cook to eat my lunch outside.
One particular morning, Lucas joined me in the orchard treetops and, as usual, walked me back to the kitchen after we ate. When Lucas and I entered the kitchen all the cooks went silent. They had probably been gossiping about one of Lucas’s brothers and didn’t want him to overhear.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” Lucas asked.
“Of course,” I answered.
Lucas’s lips tightened like he was holding back a grin, then quickly turned and left.
I knelt down and scooped ash from the oven while the cooks continued their gossiping about people in the manor. I tuned them out and daydreamed that by some miracle Lucas and I could get married next year when I turned sixteen.
“It is too bad about Lady Hannah,” the head cook said.
The statement shook me from my fantasy. “What’s wrong with Lady Hannah?”
“She keeps getting worse and worse since her dear husband’s death,” she answered. “Her health has been going downhill. If she keeps on like she is, she won’t be around for much longer.”
My heart sank. I scooped out another pile of ash from the cool oven and dumped it into the waste bucket. I wished I had Hazella’s book of cures. There had to be some herb or berry that could heal Lady Hannah.
I remembered flipping through the pages, admiring the art and the picture of the ruby necklace on the last page.
“The necklace!” I shouted.
The head cook put her hands on her hips. “What are you going on about, child?”
“I … uh,” I stammered and picked at my fingers. “I need to be excused. It’s an emergency. I promise I’ll return in time to take Lady Hannah her dinner.” I didn’t wait for the cook to answer before I burst from the door and hurried to Ruburt’s blacksmith shop. Cassi floated overhead, watching Ruburt straighten out a shield.
“Ruburt, do you remember where the ruby necklace is?” I asked.
Ruburt thought before his eyes flashed with remembrance. “It’s with the bags of coins.”
“Will you get it for me?” I pleaded. “Will you get it for me quickly?”
Ruburt groaned. “Fredrick needs me to work on some armor for his jousting tournament. I fixed the plows and, apparently, he was impressed. Now he wants me to pound out the dents in his shield after each jousting practice. I guess I’m the armor and weapon smith now too.”
I paced the room. “Lady Hannah is ill, and the necklace is the only thing I can think of that might help.”
Ruburt crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It may not work. Hazella had a lot of tricks she conjured up just for the money. She cheated people into thinking she had a cure for whatever illness they had.”
“But Hazella wanted it for herself. It must do something good to the wearer.” I turned to Cassi. “May I use the necklace and se
e if it will help?”
Cassi shrugged her shoulders. “Cassi needs no more. Necklace can be Auriella’s now.”
“Thank you, Cassi. That’s very kind of you.”
“Fine,” Ruburt said. “It’ll take me ‘bout an hour to go and retrieve it from its hiding place. I’ve moved the coins and Cassi’s necklace to a new hiding place with all my other treasure.”
“All your other treasure?” I gasped. With just the gold coins he took from Hazella he had enough money to start a new life if he wanted to. What else was in his hiding place?
“I like to collect treasure,” Ruburt said in a tone that sounded like I should have already known. “That’s what dwarves do. Once I think of something worth making, I’ll melt the gold and make it. Until then, I’m perfectly happy staying in the safety of the manor. But if you need Cassi’s necklace, I’ll make a special trip to get it for you.” He leaned forward and whispered. “Have you gone to the stone circle yet and met with Woldor?”
I shook my head. I hated being reminded that I still needed to meet with the Neviahan historian. “I will, after I give Lady Hannah the necklace,” I promised.
“Then I’ll meet you at the manor in a few hours with the necklace.”
I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Ruburt.”
I returned to the kitchen and finished my chores while the cooks prepared dinner. After several hours of worrying, I heard Ruburt’s footsteps echo on the stairs. I bounded from the room and met him at the door. “Did you get the treasure?” I asked.
Ruburt put his finger over his lips. “Shhh!” His eyes darted around wildly at all the cooks.
I covered my mouth and followed him up the stairs to the drawing room. Ruburt shut the door and pushed it to make sure it was tightly closed. He reached into a pouch, pulled out the necklace, and handed it to me. I touched the brilliant ruby embedded in the gold and silver pendent.
“I also brought with me the last link.” Ruburt pulled out a tiny pair of tongs. I handed Ruburt the necklace, and he connected the last link. “There, it’s finished.” Ruburt scowled. “It doesn’t look magical, but at least the craftsmanship is good.”
“You did a wonderful job, Ruburt. Now, to find out if it works.” I slid the necklace into my pocket and returned to the kitchen. I could feel every eye in the room on me as I picked up the silver tray with Lady Hannah’s dinner. “I will return after delivering this meal,” I said casually. I was pleased with how calm my voice sounded despite the anxiety I felt.
The necklace weighed down my apron pocket as I balanced the silver tray in my hands. Two handmaids walked beside me to attend to Lady Hannah. I had to be alone when I gave Lady Hannah the necklace. Someone might get the wrong idea if they saw a servant with such a valuable item. “I hope this works,” I mumbled to myself.
A handmaid opened the door. I carried the tray across the room and set it on Lady Hannah’s lap. I turned and headed for the door, trying to appear as if I was returning to the kitchen as usual, but I stopped at the window and slipped behind one of the navy curtains. It seemed like forever before the handmaids left the room and Lady Hannah fell asleep.
I crept out from behind the curtain and tiptoed across the room until I stood over Lady Hannah’s bed. I pulled the necklace from my pocket, one link at a time. What was I doing? I caught myself. I clutched the necklace to my chest. If I wanted people to think I was normal, I shouldn’t be sneaking around with magical objects. I should just follow orders and return to my duties in the kitchen.
I turned to retreat, but stopped. What if this necklace could heal her? Would trying to help her be worth the risk of losing my job, my home, and my new family? What if the necklace worked and they thought I was a witch? I was on treacherous ground as it was. With all the emotions that had seized me lately, it was becoming more and more difficult to hide my fiery power and pretend to be normal.
I turned back to Lady Hannah. I couldn’t let her die if I held the cure in my hand. I lowered the necklace to Hannah’s chest and slipped it around her frail neck. If I was going to be safe from judgment while helping her, she couldn’t know it was me who gave it to her. I held my breath. My fingers felt stubby as I tried to connect the clasp. I pulled away, but my finger tugged on the chain.
Lady Hannah awoke. Her tired eyes filled with question. “What are you doing in here, Auriella?”
My heart raced. “I … I heard you were sick. I want to help you get better.”
Lady Hannah looked at the necklace. “Where did you get such an item? You didn’t steal it, did you?”
“No! No! I’m not a thief. It’s my necklace. A friend gave it to me. I think it’s a healing necklace.” This was horrible. The story didn’t sound convincing, even to me.
Hannah examined the necklace and the concern melted from her face. “Auriella, this is a beautiful necklace, but it will not make me well. I appreciate your kind gesture, but I am too far gone.” She closed her eyes. “Nothing can heal me now.”
How could Lady Hannah be giving up so easily after all the trouble and risk I took to help? “You have done so much for me. Please let me give you this necklace and see if it makes you feel better,” I pleaded.
Lady Hannah’s ashen face beamed with compassion. She patted my curls, which now reached my shoulders, and agreed, “If it would make you happy, I will wear your beautiful necklace.”
I sighed with relief and wiped my eyes on my sleeve. Even if the necklace didn’t heal Lady Hannah, at least I had made her smile. “If I had a mother, I would want her to be like you,” I gushed, overwhelmed with a feeling I’d never experienced before.
Color washed over Lady Hannah’s face, brightening her cheeks. Lady Hannah pushed herself up in a seated position. “Do you know why I took you in?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“Before my sons were born I had a baby girl. She was born early and only lived a few hours. She had red hair like yours. If she had lived, I hope she would have been like you.”
I still worried for Lady Hannah. I lay awake for several hours, then, my sleep was restless when I did fall asleep. I had trouble pulling myself out of bed in the morning and didn’t have time for my secret sword fighting practice with Lucas. I was already late for breakfast preparations.
I pulled a skirt over my long under-dress and tied an apron around my waist. I sped through the hallway and down the stairs to the kitchen. Breakfast was almost ready. I dropped my shoulders.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Sword fighting with Lucas again?” one of the cooks asked.
“What? How did you know about that?” It was supposed to be a secret. Lucas and I had been so sneaky.
They giggled in chorus.
“No, I wasn’t with Lucas. I overslept.”
“You needed it,” The head cook said. “You’re staying up too late and getting up too early to sword fight.”
It was impossible to keep anything from them. The king should hire the lot of them as spies for the military. I pulled myself together and headed for the pile of pots next to the wash bucket. I scrubbed the dishes while the cooks gossiped about various people and things.
“Lady Hannah!” one of the cooks exclaimed. I spun around. Lady Hannah stood in the doorway. Her auburn hair glistened, and her skin radiated a warm glow. I hardly recognized her.
The cooks froze in place and stared at the queenly, youthful woman. Judging from the cooks’ reaction, none of them had ever seen her like this, at least not for a very long time.
I wiped my soapy wet hands on my apron. It hit me at once. The necklace was more powerful than I thought. I had used it without any idea as to what kind of power it held. It could have done something horrible to Lady Hannah. It could have killed her or changed her into a monster. I clenched my jaw. Even though this looked like a good thing on the surface, Lady Hannah’s change was too drastic. People were sure to be suspicious. This was, by far, the worst thing I’d ever done.