A Tale of Two Princesses (27 page)

     "No," Court said, pushing through the barn doors. "She may not have until morning. She may not even have the rest of the night."

     "Then, sir, with all regret, might we better avenge her rather than save her?"

     Court stopped right in front of the stables. "You would let that poor girl die?"

     "She is just a stable girl, sir," Wellington said, glancing at Finn nearby.

     "A knight's code is no respecter of class," Court said.

     "Of course not, sir, and if we found her so availed on the road, I would agree with you, but to chase down this demon in the dead of night could spell your death. Think of Princess Celeste. Do you wish to make her a widow before ever she has a chance to be a bride?"

     "Wellington, I gave you an order. Go to the castle. You're wasting time."

     "Sir..."

     "Now, Wellington!" Court roared.

     "Yes, your highness."

Chapter Seventeen

Into the Tempest Forest

     Striker thundered across the plains, his hooves tearing through the damp ground, the distant sky dark and rumbling with rain.

     "The rain moves," Finn said on his left. "It is a storm of possession."

     "Yes," Court said. "I daresay it follows the dragon wherever it goes, corralled by the lightning."

     "But what magic could control a dragon?"

     "I do not know, but I think this monster was sent on the errand of a man."

     "Why do you suppose that, sir?"

     "Look at what has become of that poor girl. Her mother perished in the dragon's mouth. And then it came for her. A coincidence hard to swallow, if ever I could believe one, but to seek her out a second time; no, there is more to this than a hungry beast. What's more, the dragon had me, could have killed me, but it stopped."

     "Because I attacked it?"

     "No, it carried her off because you attacked it. I think it took her so I would follow."

     "Dare we suppose why?"

     "She has crossed someone," Court said. "Who, is the riddle."

     Finn gave a nod of his head. "That poor girl has no luck but bad, certainly for this dragon to come again and again."

     Court's eyebrows scrunched up as he rode. "Again and again."

     "Sir?"

     "She did say again, didn't she?"

     "Pardon, your highness?"

     "She kissed me, Finn," he said, glancing at his friend. "Stolen against my will, mind you, but she did so."

     "What woman would not wish to steal a kiss from a prince?"

     "Yes, but she said she had to do it, that she was compelled to kiss me again."

     "Again? She has kissed you before?"

     "No, she hasn't."

     "Then why did she say it?"

     "Why indeed. And she calls me Court."

     "Sir?"

     "She calls me Court, sometimes by accident. It slips from her lips when she is vulnerable."

     "She is a peasant, unaccustomed to traditions."

     "No, it's not that. If it's one thing a peasant knows, it is how to address a royal. She speaks to me as if she is familiar with me, as if I know her. And I do. Somehow, I do. I cannot shake the feeling I have met her before, somewhere, a place I do not even remember, but I am certain of it."

     "I cannot fathom when you came across a peasant girl and so gave her leave to use your name, sir."

     "Nor I. But all of this, this mystery, I am missing something here, Finn. I feel it in my stomach. There is a puzzle about me I am blind to, but as I step back foot by foot, so the picture is revealed. What is happening around me?"

     They charged on, Court's eyes lifting to the storm, watching as it settled over the distant forest, the lightning's flash calling him.

* * *

     "Your highness!" Wellington said, bowing. "I must urgently speak to the queen!"

     Celeste was sitting on her throne, just beside her mother's empty throne. "I am afraid, my dear Wellington, my mother has fallen ill this very evening just after the prince departed. She is resting in her room."

     "Oh, how terrible. And our need is so pressing!"

     "Whatever is the matter?"

     "The prince is in dreadful danger! The dragon has attacked again. It has made off with the stable girl at the tavern, and the prince means to enter the forest to slay it and rescue the maiden. We must urgently send a unit of soldiers to his aid!"

     "Dear me!" Celeste said. "What a horrific turn of events! That poor, poor child. Betilly, she is the one who served in our kitchens, was she not?"

     "The very same, it seems! How distressing! The prince is so valiant to save her soul."

     "A kind and brave man, the prince is," Celeste said.

     "Indeed!" Wellington said. "Whatever are we to do? May the queen be told in her condition?"

     "Yes," Celeste said. "I will tell her, and I will be sure that one hundred of our finest soldiers come to the aid of my dear fiancé. I shall not permit him to perish on so ghastly a mission."

     "Thank you, dear princess!"

     "Not at all, Wellington. Do report to the castle gates and our soldiers shall meet you there shortly. Escort them to the forest and let us pray all comes to safety."

     Wellington bowed firmly at the waist. "The kingdom of Cross shall forever be in your debt for the life of the prince!"

     "For the life of Avelot's future king," Celeste corrected. "Betilly?"

     "Your highness?" Betilly said, stepping forward.

     "Please hurry and escort our friend Wellington to the gates."

     "Yes, your highness."

     "Your highness!" Wellington said, bowing again and hurrying away with Betilly.

     Celeste stood up, motioning for the steward. He stepped forward, coming to her.

     "Your highness?"

     "Inform the captain of the guard to mount one hundred soldiers to enter the Tempest Forest."

     "Ah, pardon, your highness, but only the queen may command the castle guard."

     "Of course," she said with a sigh. "Where were my thoughts? Do follow me."

     The steward followed her as she led the way out of the throne room, passing through the castle. He waited outside the queen's quarters as Celeste entered, the door closing behind her. Inside, Celeste found Vrine sitting beside the queen, holding a cup of tea. The queen was coughing heavily before she took a sip, waving it away.

     "Come, your majesty," Vrine said. "You must drink. It will keep up you're strength."

     "My strength wanes like never before," the queen said. "Celeste? You've come to visit me, my child. I do so hate for you to see me in such a condition."

     "Mother, there has been a turn of events," Celeste said. "The dragon has attacked again."

     The queen coughed. "Again? How dreadful. Has there been a death?"

     "That stable girl who impersonated me has been carried off."

     "What?" the queen said, sitting up. "Was she not the same girl who was attacked the first time?"

     "She was," Celeste said.

     "What a terrible coincidence."

     "Yes, terrible. I need you to send the guard out to assist the prince."

     "It will be done at once," she said, coughing. "Bring the steward."

* * *

     Court knew he was close. The rain was smashing into him again, coating the trees all around. And the distant roaring, he could hear that too.

     "Men, dismount. It may hear the horses."

     The knights surrendered their horses, moving deeper into the forest, their torches flickering as the drops of water splashed against them. One knight swayed into another and they both stumbled. Then they began arguing.

     "Shh!" Court hissed.

     "Sir, they've been drinking," Finn reminded him. "Perhaps if we wait an hour..."

     "No, we have no time. Let's move."

     Court pushed on, his men following him, all slow on their feet, their heads hanging, their shoulders slumping, their footfalls heavy. Then there was another roar. Everyone's eyes turned in its direction. They followed the sound, coming upon a great rock face, towering as high as the trees, the rain running over it as if it were a waterfall, for even the ground had been scooped out from the abuse. Behind the waterfall was a great cavern, stretching so very far above. Even in the dark, the stone glittered with jewels.

     "Do you think that could be its lair?" Finn whispered.

     "Yes, I do," Court whispered. "He's calling us. Come."

     "Sir!" Finn grabbed Court's shoulder. "Do not rush in."

     "But Sienna could be in there."

     "Yes, and we are dealing with a dragon, not a man in costume. This beast possesses intelligence, and as you said, your footsteps may be so called. Do not, I pray, walk into a trap."

     Court closed his eyes. "There's only one way in. Trap or not, I have to go. You wait here."

     "No, sir, absolutely not."

     "Finn, listen. If it is a trap, you can come in and rescue me. If it's not, you can come in and...and rescue me anyway."

     "Then let me walk into the trap and you can rescue me."

     "No. Sienna's my responsibility. I am yours. Keep your ears sharp."

     Court broke away from his men, keeping low as he moved. When he came to the mouth of the cavern, his legs sank into the muddy pond. He passed under the waterfall, drawing his sword from his waist, holding it at his side as he pulled his feet from the water.

     The cave's roof stretched far above, great enough, perhaps, even for a dragon to take flight. There were dark corners all around, his torch doing its best merely to lay the floor open before his eyes, his sword trembling in his hand. And then he saw human bones on the ground. Someone was feeding this monster, keeping it here as a pet to be beckoned when needed.

     Court edged in deeper, his head on a swivel. The dark cave was littered with rocks and boulders and stalagmites. And then he froze in place, tilting his head, holding his breath. He could hear someone crying, a whimper echoing against the walls. Or was he imagining it? He breathed again.

     Dare he call out? He had to risk it. He put his back up against a great boulder there in the midst of the cave, his sword at the ready, expecting the dragon to jump out the moment he spoke up. His eyes were darting around, his heart pounding.

     "Sienna!" he shouted. "Sienna, are you in here?"

     "Court? Court! Court, are you there?"

     He took in a deep breath of relief, but his eyes kept running all around him. "Sienna, where are you?"

     "Oh, Court, I'm so happy to hear your voice! I'm, I'm in a pit. The dragon is somewhere nearby! He dropped me in and then left! Please don't leave me here!"

     "Keep talking!" Court called. "I'm going to follow your voice! Just don't stop!"

     "Okay," she called. "Please be careful. He's so scary."

     Court began moving again, quietly, his eyes looking upward rather than forward. He was sure the attack would come from above. He considered leaving his torch. It was a beacon. Yes, it was too great a risk. He set it on the ground and slowly edged away from it.

     "Court, I'm sorry about everything," Sienna said. "I'm sorry I got captured. And, and I want you to know, even if I die here, thank you for coming after me."

     Court was breathing very shallowly, adrenaline swimming in his system, his skin feeling prickly, his ears pounding. His eyes were still adjusting to the dark, and every piece of jagged rock looked like the dragon waiting to pounce.

     "And I'm happy for you," Sienna continued. "I want you to marry Princess Celeste and be happy with her and have lots of children and grow old together. You deserve that, really, and I'm so sorry I almost messed it up. That was so stupid of me. I shouldn't have kissed you and I'm so sorry and I won't do it again."

     Court moved around a boulder, keeping his side to it, his head in the other direction, cringing as he stepped on a leg bone, the snap loud in his ears.

     "It was a good kiss though," Sienna said, a little softer. "I, I know it was wrong, and I shouldn't have done it, but, but it was nice, and if I make it out of here alive, I'll never forget it, never forget meeting you and all the things you've done for me."

     Court nearly sighed. He wished she'd talk about something else. He was trying to concentrate and this girl was practically professing her love. He kept his eyes trained on the stalactites; each one looked so much like a dragon's head.

     "And I know I'm just a stable girl, and I'm no one important, but I've really liked the time you've been at the tavern, and I wish you could stay there forever. I know you can't. I know you'll be moving into the castle soon to be with, with the princess, but I'll always look back on this time as the happiest of my life. And I want you to know, even if I shouldn't say it, I...I lo—what was that? Court! Something's above me!"

     "Shh!" Court hissed. "It's me!"

     Sienna looked up, her bright green eyes shining in the dark. Court could see her, but how was he going to get her out? She was far too deep.

     "Court, oh, Court! Thank you for coming for me!"

     Court looked around. Reaching her would be impossible. He stretched his hand down anyway. "Can you jump to my hand?"

     "I, I can't stand. The dragon dropped me and I hurt my ankle. Court, I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry you had to come save me again. And I'm sorry I kissed you. And I'm sorry—"

     "Sienna, not now! Can you try to reach me?"

     "I'll try," she said, putting her hands on the wall to help herself up. She whimpered as she made it to her feet. She held up her hand but they were still four or five feet apart. "I'm sorry."

     "Jump. Just try."

     Sienna bit her lip and then tried to make a jump. She immediately came crashing down on her backside, crying out, holding her leg. But then Court heard the roar. He shot up, looking around in the dark. When the roar sounded again, it was accompanied by the death cries of his men.