A Tale of Two Princesses (5 page)

     "No way to get ready for this."

     "Just let me have one more day."

     "Oh, silly girl, there's not a day to waste. Who do you think paid for your bath? That man did so he might enjoy you. Get on up there!"

     "No," she whimpered. "I don't know him. He's a stranger."

     "Well, what do you want?" Mrs. Crockery demanded. "Flowers? Romance? True love? Be off with you, silly girl! In this world, your scrawny hide is worth one hundred a night, and if Banyan has any sense, he'll start cashing in on it regular like."

     Mrs. Crockery turned her around, nudging her toward the door.

     "No," Sienna whimpered. Her stomach was bubbling. She was going to vomit. Maybe if it went all over her clothes, Raphael wouldn't sell her tonight. "Don't make me. Please."

     "Put the tears away. It's been decided." She grabbed Sienna's arm, tugging her toward the door, but Sienna grabbed the counter, holding onto it.

     "How can you do this?"

     "It's not me what's doing it."

     "Talk to my uncle. Tell him I'll work harder. I'll do anything, just not that. Please!"

     "Enough crying then," Mrs. Crockery said. "Let go of the counter!"

     "I'll find a job in town! I'll go there every day. I'll bring home every cent."

     "Who would do the work around the tavern, silly girl?"

     "I'll do both! I'll work all day, do chores at night. I'll do everything. Just not that!"

     Mrs. Crockery was done arguing. Sienna began to cry as she was pushed through the door.

     "Hush, girl! Not in front of the princess!" Mrs. Crockery hissed.

     In the bar, Banyan was telling the princess a story. The princess laughed a high-pitched laugh, the back of her hand covering her lips, as if to see her mouth open would be impolite. And then Banyan poured her a new type of wine. She smelled it, her eyes glancing up as Sienna was pushed past, seeing the tears running down her face.

     "Is she quite all right?" Celeste spoke up.

     "Begging your forgiveness, your highness," Mrs. Crockery said, bowing her head. "She's just a little tired. I'm taking her upstairs to bed."

     Sienna looked up, and then in desperation, she threw herself at Celeste's feet.

     "Princess, may I serve you tonight? Do you need anything, anything at all?"

     "Sienna, up you get," Mrs. Crockery said. "You're off to bed."

     Celeste held up her hand to halt Mrs. Crockery. "It's all right. Whatever would you do for me, Sienna? What is it exactly that you do for your uncle?"

     Sienna swallowed. "I'm a stable girl. I mind the horses, milk the cow, feed the chickens, clean the stables, tidy up the rooms, wash the chamber pots, scrub the floors—"

     Celeste cut her off, laughing. "And you do all this and still manage to keep your hair so clean and prim?"

     "No, your highness," Sienna said. "Today is special. I went to town to have a bath."

     "Oh, whatever for? A party, perhaps?" she asked, glancing at Banyan. "Have I stumbled upon a celebration?"

     Banyan didn't answer, he just chuckled, shrugging. Mrs. Crockery had taken a few steps back.

     "Go on," Celeste said. "What's the occasion?"

     Sienna met the princess' eyes. "I'm going to be sold to the man upstairs for the night."

     The smile dipped from Celeste's face, turning to disgust. "What? You're a prostitute?"

     "No, not yet. Tonight's my first time."

     Celeste looked at Mrs. Crockery, who had her head bowed. Then Celeste turned to Banyan. He looked away.

     "Homa," Celeste said, "is this sort of thing common, selling one's family?"

     "Not common, no, but it does happen."

     "Well, I think we are quite done here," Celeste said, standing up. "I find you all to be a despicable company and I do not hope to ever stumble upon your presence again."

     "Pardon us, your highness," Banyan said.

     "Pardon us, your highness," Mrs. Crockery echoed, moving aside and bowing as Celeste passed.

     "Your highness, wait!" Sienna said, reaching out, grabbing the hem of Celeste's dress. Everyone gasped, even Homa. A soldier grabbed Sienna's wrist and wrenched her away, throwing her aside. She collided with a bar stool and knocked it over.

     "Do not dare to touch the princess!" the guard shouted.

     "Captain," Celeste said, "there is no need to be so harsh. You've hurt her. Help her up."

     The captain grabbed Sienna's arm and yanked her to her feet. She was in the air for a moment before she touched the floor. Her ears were ringing from hitting her head.

     "You have something to say?" Celeste said.

     "Please, your highness," Sienna said. "Please, tell my uncle not to sell me."

     "What?" Celeste said.

     "He's going to sell me for one hundred silver pieces to a horrible, horrible man upstairs. I don't want to do it. I'm not ready. Please, tell him not to do it, your highness. Please."

     Celeste looked at Banyan, who still had his head down. "Is that the going rate for a young girl's innocence?"

     Banyan did not respond.

     "I asked you a question," Celeste said.

     "Answer the princess!" the captain shouted.

     "Forgive me, your highness," Banyan said. "We are a poor tavern, desperate to make ends meet. I did not want to sell her. I care for my niece like a daughter, but this was the only way I could afford to go on."

     "You understand, I think," Celeste said, "that I can empathize with this girl. For if I could imagine myself, and it does so tax my imagination, to put myself in her place, I would be quite...displeased with the prospect of my uncle selling me to a scoundrel with a handful of silver."

     Banyan did not speak. Celeste looked back at Sienna.

     "This is not a political matter," Celeste said. "I find no reason to interfere in your uncle's business, and it would be inappropriate to do so. Do you understand?"

     "Yes, your highness," Sienna whispered.

     Celeste took a step toward the door, but then Homa cleared her throat. "Your highness, perhaps if the dear child's value is set at a paltry one hundred silver, might we even double the fare of a scoundrel who would pay the same for a night alone with golden hair so akin to yours? If her uncle would lend her to me, I think I could find something more useful for her to do than lie on her back. Might we offer her a place in the kitchens? The staff has been ever without a dishwasher since dear old Deidra passed on, and with the prince coming, they are so very busy."

     Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Homa, you shock me. Have you forgotten the queen's decree? No girl of childbearing age shall be permitted to serve within the walls of the castle. Defying the queen is treason."

     "But, your highness," Homa said, "are you not the future queen? Is it not you who will set the law in time? Might you not have a bit of practice?"

     Celeste smirked. "I daresay, Homa, you have grown bold in your old age. But I suppose as they say, with age, wisdom. And it is a rather unnecessary law, isn't it, designed only to comfort my mother's insecurities? Perhaps we can ignore it, but only for a few days. We shall not wish to test the queen's patience. Would the stable girl be interested in a few days worth of work?"

     Sienna's eyes brightened up. "I would be honored, your highness. My mother often told me stories of how she served in the castle when she was my age. How proud I would be to follow in her footsteps, even for a few days."

     "Did she, indeed?" Celeste said, an eyebrow rising. "But I am afraid you must ask your uncle if he approves."

     Sienna looked to her uncle. "Uncle? Please, a few days, and I'll bring all the money I earn back to you. I swear."

     His jaw shifted. "If the princess has offered, I dare not refuse. Your highness, by all means, take her with my blessing."

     "Then it's settled," Celeste said, looking at Homa. "I do hope you're ever so careful with her, Homa. For if she is discovered in the castle, she will find herself in the queen's wrath, and you with her."

* * *

     Sienna felt like a princess, walking through the castle, soldiers all around her, standing guard. Everything was so clean! Even the floors beneath her sandals shined. Yes, the floors shined! She didn't even know how to make a floor shine, but somehow, the floors shined.

     "Come along, child," Homa said.

     "Sorry, madam," Sienna said, hurrying to catch up. "This is the most magnificent place in the whole world!"

     Homa chuckled. "I do forget how marvelous it is sometimes. It must be something to see for you, child."

     "It is! It is! Is this where they have balls and parties?"

     "No, child, this is the entry hall."

     "Oh!"

     Homa took her through a door that led to a staircase. She picked up a candelabrum to guide her footsteps. At the bottom of the staircase, another door opened into a hallway with doors on either side, not so different from her uncle's tavern, but far bigger and cleaner and nicer.

     "Does the princess herself sleep down here?"

     "The princess?" Homa said. "Heavens, no! This is the servants' quarters."

     "Oh. This is where you sleep?"

     "I am her highness' lady-in-waiting. I sleep in chambers."

     "Um, okay. So, where am I sleeping? Is there a stable in the castle?"

     "Of course there's a stable. What does that have to do with anything though?"

     "I just thought I'd be sleeping in the stable."

     "Goodness, child, why would you want to sleep in a stable?"

     "I always sleep in the stable at home."

     "Dear me," she said. "I shudder to think of what that uncle of yours has put you through."

     "Uncle Banyan isn't so bad. He's nice to me when the tavern's doing well. It'd do better if I worked harder. It's my fault."

     "I dare say," she said, opening one of the wooden doors. "This room belonged to Deidra. It's yours for the brief time you'll be with us. The kitchen wakes with the sun to prepare breakfast. I'll return for you then. Do not go wandering about the castle."

     "No, ma'am. I'll stay right here."

     "See that you do," Homa said. "Goodnight."

     She turned to leave, but then Sienna ran after her, crashing into her and hugging her around the waist.

     "Child!"

     "Madam Homa, thank you for saving me. I thought tonight was going to be the worst night of my life. Now, I'm in a castle and it's the most incredible thing I've ever seen. And I know the princess wasn't going to help me, but you changed her mind, and I don't know why, because you don't even know me and you didn't even have to speak up, but you did, and if I can ever repay you, I will."

     Homa had a gentle smile. She patted Sienna's golden head. "Do sleep well, child."

     Homa closed the door. Sienna looked around the room. It was far larger than her stable. It was even larger than her uncle's tavern rooms. There was a bed, a real bed, off to the side, and a dresser for things, and a mirror! She hurried and looked into it. She remembered staring into her mother's mirror when she was younger. Her uncle had sold it off with the house. Now, the only way she ever saw herself was in a bucket of water on a clear day. She tilted her head as she looked at her profile. Her hair really was golden, more so than she ever thought it was. She put her chin in her palms and smiled.

     "Me? Why, I'm Princess Sienna, of course. How do you do?" She giggled at her reflection. "What's that? Where's my tiara? Oh, I'll go put it on."

     She began searching around the room, opening drawers and cabinets. The wardrobe was empty of all but a few hangers. She took one, bending it around until it was a crown. She placed it on her head and hurried back to the mirror. She bowed to herself.

     "Welcome to the castle, your highness."

     She laughed again and then went over to the window shutters. She pushed them open, gasping. She could see the whole ocean stretching out before her. She had seen it once when she was very young, but to be floating in the sky above it was breathtaking.

     "So beautiful..." She looked up into the sky, peppered with white stars flickering to say hello to her, the moon outshining them all. She smiled at it. "Mama, can you believe where I am? I hope you're watching me. I'll make you proud."

Chapter Four

Princes and Knights

     "I've heard she's beautiful, at least. Golden hair, your highness."

     Court rolled his eyes at his valet, spurring his horse to trot a little faster on the road. "Wellington, if I have to hear about the golden hair one more time..."

     Golden hair? Hah! As if hair could be golden. She was probably a blond. He'd seen blonds before. What was special about that? Nothing. And now he had to marry this girl. He had plans too, big plans. His brother was supposed to rule Cross, and Court was supposed to travel, have an adventure, make a name for himself.

     "I'll be stuck in Avelot for the rest of my life."

     "Come now, sir," Wellington said, his horse catching up to Court, "I shall be with you, and we might have an adventure anywhere within Avelot's realm. Might not that be fun?"

     "Yes, a play date outside the castle, something to look forward to."

     "There's the spirit, young master!" Wellington said. "Always on the bright side!"

     "I don't care what color her hair is, Wellington, or even if she's the most beautiful creature in the world. If I don't love her, I'm not marrying her."

     "Your highness, please," Wellington said, glancing at the ten knights escorting them. "Do not refuse her even before you meet her. Your father would be so displeased if you returned home unwed."

     "She's probably a stuck-up shrew!" Court said. "Like that desert princess who my brother still has not broken. Hah!"

     "The heat does strange things to one's mind."