A Tale of Two Princesses (30 page)

     Court looked at the men around him. "Men, are you up for a dragon hunt?"

     They shouted a cheer.

     "Good," Court said, drawing his sword. "Then let us show the dragon the pride of a knight!"

* * *

     Sienna watched the countryside roll by, the big castle getting larger in the distance. Then they passed through the town. People suddenly began booing her, and an egg smashed right into her face. She gasped. It was followed by lettuce, tomatoes, even an onion, all while the people shouted, calling her horrible names, her beautiful dress, already muddy and dirty, turning all sorts of new colors.

     She had no idea why they were so furious with her. Wouldn't any of them pose as the princess if they were told to, just for one night, if they could have spent the evening with Court? She covered her head, hoping it would all go away, somehow.

     Finally, they arrived at the castle, the great gate opening. She was hauled out of the carriage and dragged away by two soldiers. Her leg was burning in pain as she stumbled down a winding staircase and then down a long, dark corridor. The sounds came first, the wailing and crying of prisoners. She saw the iron bars, the arms hanging out, begging the guards for food, for water, for a magistrate.

     She lowered her eyes, horrified by the sounds and smells. She felt sick deep in the pit of her stomach, not just to imagine this was her life now, but to know she would never see Court again, and that soon, she would hang by the neck.

     And then the torture devices came to her eyes, an iron-maiden, a pillory stock, a rack, and tools to do hideous harm on anyone so accused. A large man appeared before her, a whip slung around his neck as if it were a necklace.

     "This is her then?" the man said in a gruff voice.

     "This is her, warden," the soldier said.

     "She's got backbone, this one," the warden said.

     "The queen ordered a confession." The soldier pulled out a scroll, handing it to the large man. "Have it returned by the end of the day."

     "End of the day? This one will sign it by the end of the hour. Half an hour, maybe. Half a minute, even."

     "Bring it to me when you're done," the soldier said, dropping Sienna. She slumped to the floor, too weak to stand. The other soldier removed her iron shackles.

     "She's been hurt?" the warden asked.

     "Yes. Had a run in with a dragon, it sounds like."

     "Heh. I got teeth sharper than any dragon."

     "Have at it then," the soldier said. He and his companion moved off, the sounds growing louder at each cell they passed.

     Sienna looked up at the large man, trembling. "Please, sir, I—"

     His whip was off his back and in the air so quickly she did not even see it uncoil, nor see it snap back, but she did feel it. She shrieked as it ripped into her back, cutting through her dress like butter. She fell on her chest, sobbing out in pain.

     "Rule one, you don't talk. I talk. This is my jail. If I want you to say something, I'll tell you what to say."

     He grabbed her by her short, golden hair. She cried out as he dragged her across the dungeon, ramming her neck down into a pillory stock, pulling up her hands and shoving her wrists into the shackles, locking it closed. She was not tall enough for it, the tips of her toes struggling to keep her upright. She was gasping and struggling.

     "Bit too much for you, eh?" the warden said. "We'll give you an hour to think about your confession, than we'll have you sign it."

     "I'll...I'll...sign...sign it...now," Sienna gasped desperately. "Please...please."

     He chuckled. "You really didn't last long, did you?"

     Thankfully, the stock opened. He grabbed her hair and she cried out as he pulled her over to a small table, pushing her down onto her knees. She slumped forward, leaning across it, still coughing to get her air back. The warden unrolled the scroll, stuffing a pen in her hand. He even dipped it in ink for her, moving her hand beneath the text. She was too exhausted to read it. She signed her name quickly.

     "I think that might be a new record for me," he said, rolling it up.

     He grabbed her hair and dragged her away. She held his wrist as best she could, trying to walk, trying to do anything to stop the pain. And then he pulled open a cell door and threw her in. She stumbled and fell on her chest, gasping and sobbing, listening to it close.

     "Sienna?" someone whispered.

     Sienna turned her head, and her eyes tried to focus. She blinked a few times to see if it was true. "Madam Homa?"

     Homa was in the next cell, reaching through the bars. Sienna crawled to her, taking her hand. Homa looked in terrible shape, thin from starvation, her lips cracked from thirst, her clothes filthy, wearing the same dress she had worn the night of the ball.

     "Madam Homa," Sienna whimpered, wrapping her arms around her neck through the bars.

     "Oh, dear child," Homa said, stroking her hair. "What a state you're in. Whatever did they do to you?"

     Sienna whimpered. "I'm so glad you're okay."

     "I'm glad you're well too, though looking at you, perhaps you're not."

     Sienna shook her head, sniffling. "They arrested me for impersonating the princess."

     "But why? The queen pardoned you."

     "I heard Wellington say the queen died last night," Sienna said. "I think Princess Celeste is the queen now."

     "What?" Homa said. "How?"

     "I don't know, but they said Queen Celeste wanted me arrested. I guess she was angry with me. I don't blame her. She's probably upset I pretended to be her."

     "But Celeste is such a sweet girl. I couldn't imagine her imprisoning you."

     "I don't know. She might know that, that I'm in love with Court."

     Homa frowned. "Oh, child. I so regret my choices. I should not have thrust this upon you."

     "I don't regret it," Sienna said, sniffling, wiping her nose. "I think that night was the best night of my life. And now they'll hang me, but that's okay. At least I had the chance to be a princess and fall in love and kiss a prince."

Chapter Nineteen

The Confession

     Court rode Striker through the castle gate, the soldiers saluting. He dismounted and started through the hall. Wellington was at his side, trying to keep pace.

     "Sir, hadn't you better rest? You have not taken sleep all night."

     "I will rest when I know what's happened to Sienna."

     "Sir, she admits her crime."

     "I just can't believe it. I can't. It makes no sense to me. There's been a mistake. There must've been."

     "It is hard to be confused when one speaks of high treason, sir."

     "Just be quiet, Wellington."

     They came to the hall before the throne room and were forced to wait outside.

     "I'll be king in a week and I must wait?" he muttered.

     "In a week, sir," Wellington reminded him. "We must stand on formality. Do remember to be respectful to your bride."

     The steward came through the doors. "Her majesty, the queen, will see you now."

     Court followed him in, finding Celeste sitting on the throne, the queen's crown now on her head. The king's throne remained empty, the crown sitting upon the seat. Vrine was standing over the queen's shoulder, now her lady-in-waiting, it seemed.

     "Celeste," Court said as he reached the small staircase that led up to the throne, "I must know—"

     "Prince Cross," she interrupted, "I will remind you to bow before you address me."

     He pulled his neck back. "Of course..." He bowed at the waist. "Celeste—"

     "And, please, Prince Cross, do me the honor of addressing me by my title in present company."

     "Queen Celeste," Court said, "I must know—"

     "Please, slow down, Prince Cross," Celeste said. "You are entirely far too worked up."

     "I have reason to be."

     "I know you do. I understand you pursued the dragon into its lair last night. It eluded you?"

     "It did."

     "And a search this morning has produced nothing?"

     "No, it has fled, but we did honor my lost company with a burial and a prayer."

     "I am afraid, my dear prince, the dragon is a fearsome foe, and I must thank the stars that you are returned from it alive. Do you have any idea where it may be?"

     "None. Even the forest's perpetual rain has stopped."

     "I see. That is unfortunate. We will have to be vigil when looking for the next attack."

     "Indeed, but, Queen Celeste, there is another pressing matter. I must know what has happened to the stable girl, Sienna."

     "The stable girl? What matter does that reflect upon you?"

     "Only that I went to some trouble saving her life, and I would find myself quite distressed to learn she was a villain."

     "I am so afraid, Prince Cross, you must be distressed." Celeste sighed. "She has committed murder upon the queen herself, my dear mother, capital assassination, high treason. She will hang by the neck in six days time, on the day of our wedding—the executioner is ever so booked until then."

     "Hang?" he said loudly.

     "Do you not think it is a severe enough punishment for the cruel murder of the queen? I do so agree with you, but the kingdom has outlawed burning at the stake. Do you think we ought to bring it back?"

     "No, of course not. I mean to say, I find it...incredible that Sienna, that a stable girl, would find reason to murder a queen. What gain is there for her? What motive? Why such madness?"

     Celeste nodded. "Indeed, she was a troubled girl. I have no wish to keep things from you, my fiancé." Celeste looked to Vrine. "Vrine, clear the hall of all but the prince."

     Vrine bowed her head and snapped her fingers. Court nodded to Wellington. Everyone began filing out of the room. Vrine closed the doors before returning to the throne. Celeste stood up, coming down the steps.

     "Oh, my dear, Court," she said, holding out her hands. He took them and she patted the back of his hand. "I can imagine how shocking this must have come to you. Yet I am afraid I must shock you more. But first, do tell me, has the girl spoken to you about what she has done?"

     "No, not a word. She expressed to me she wanted to tell me something. I assumed it was...well, I assumed she wished to express her feelings for me."

     "Oh?" Celeste said, her head tilting. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

     "Of course not, Celeste. You must understand the girl is a peasant. When a prince show's her attention, even that of a friend, she so imagines herself in love."

     "Indeed. Then she has said nothing of a secret?"

     Court shook his head, squinting. "No. I would not think a stable girl had any secrets."

     Celeste nodded, taking a deep breath. "What I am about to say cannot be shared beyond your ears, not to anyone, not even your servant. Do you understand?"

     "Yes."

     "Oh, dear prince. I fear this will shake you to the core, but on the night of the ball, whilst you and I were out and about in the gardens, the queen, my dear mother, revealed to Sienna that she is my half sister."

     "Wh–what?" Court said, his eyes flying open.

     "Yes. You may notice Sienna and I have a similar hair color, the same color our dear father was renowned for, the Golden King, he was once known as."

     "I, yes, now that you mention it, I did notice."

     She nodded. "Indeed. My father, as you may have heard in rumor, was unfaithful to my mother, and so produced a second heir with her. My mother did not hold with sexuality whilst she was pregnant, and nine months was ever too long for my father, it seemed, so he looked for comfort from another, and so found it with a servant girl. And upon learning this, it is a tragic thing to admit, but my mother did indeed slay my father. Oh, I knew, of course, but what can a child do against the madness of a parent? I do believe my mother came to regret it. But upon seeing Sienna, she felt compelled to tell her what she had done, tell her who her father was, and so reveal to her that she was indeed a child of royal birth. Sienna was mad with rage."

     "Mad with rage?" he echoed. "Sienna?"

     "Indeed," Celeste said. "She returned to the kitchens, and upon the queen wishing for tea, Sienna poisoned it."

     "Oh, my God."

     "I am afraid it gets worse. Had she the opportunity, she also intended to murder me, and upon my death, so announce herself as the lost heir, to make a bid at the throne. And I do believe upon meeting you, she had formulated some sort of hope of winning you as her king."

     "Unbelievable," he whispered.

     "Do not hate her, Court. I pity the poor thing. She must have been hurting so to learn the truth of her lineage, the truth of her father's death, but to commit such a crime, well, it cannot be excused."

     "How did you learn she poisoned the queen though?" Court asked.

     "You will have noticed my previous lady-in-waiting, Homa, is missing. She has been a prisoner these last days—poison was found in her company. Upon learning the queen had finally died, she so revealed to us it was Sienna who poisoned my mother, and then admitted to giving the girl the poison to complete the task."

     Court put a hand to his face, rubbing his forehead. "I am...in such shock, Celeste."

     "I do see you are, indeed, to think such an innocent child could commit such a heinous act."

     "But might Homa have lied, perhaps to slay the queen herself and so shift the blame? Might Sienna be innocent?"

     "I am afraid not," Celeste said, motioning to Vrine. "Sienna has signed a confession."

     Vrine gave the scroll to Court, who opened it, his eyes running over the text, lying out what she had done, that she had asked Homa for poison, that Homa had given it to her, and that Sienna had put it in the tea before serving it. Her signature at the bottom was askew, as if she had been trembling when she signed.