A Tale of Two Princesses (9 page)

     "Oh, mistress, it may not be so bad. You judge too harshly too soon."

     Celeste sat up on her elbows. "Have you ever been in love, Homa?"

     "Me, your highness? Yes, once, when I was your age."

     "Really? What happened?"

     Homa smiled. "I was sixteen. I had just won a job here in the kitchens. I thought I was in paradise. I lived in the castle. I served the royalty. I wanted nothing more, not a thing. And then I saw a knight pass through the hall to ask your grandfather's blessing to serve him. The king tested him, of course, as all wandering knights are tested. I watched the knight joust. I watched him duel. And I watched him in the ring. He was a wonder to behold, a man with so much power. I don't have to tell you that such a man had women flocking to him, but his loyalty was only to the kingdom."

     Homa paused. Celeste had her eyes wide. "Well, go on."

     "I brought him food every day in the knights' barracks. I never spoke much to him, just, 'Your breakfast, sir.' 'Your lunch, sir.' 'Your dinner, sir.' 'I love you, sir.'"

     "You said that?" Celeste asked.

     "Yes. I just blurted it out. He was so shocked he spit up his chowder." She laughed at the memory. "Oh, I ran away from him afterward. I was so embarrassed with myself, but I was on pins and needles to bring him breakfast the next morning."

     "And what did he say when you brought it?" Celeste asked, leaning in closer.

     "He didn't say anything. He was gone."

     "Gone?"

     "He was sent off to the front that very morning. I never saw him again."

     "Oh, Homa," Celeste said. "That's a dreadful story."

     "It is, but there's a lesson in it for you."

     "Yes?"

     "Love is a dangerous thing. It's a weapon, really, that can be wielded for good or evil. It can be used to make one strong, or it can be used to hurt someone else. You don't realize how powerful a weapon it is until you wield it. My princess, more important to me than your kingdom is your happiness. You may find yourself in love with Prince Cross, or you may find that you hate him, but you must open your heart to either possibility."

     Celeste sighed. "Homa, I do not wish to meet him at all. I do not wish to open my heart to him. But if I must do so, at least allow me to do so without anxiety. Bring me wine."

     "Wine, your highness?"

     "Yes. I am so nervous I am nearly nauseous. I think a little wine before the ball would set me at ease."

     "Princess, perhaps we might go tonight without the wine. You know how...outspoken you become when you drink, and how quickly you tire."

     "Wine, Homa, now."

     "Yes, mistress. But please, go easy."

* * *

     Court came down the tavern stairs. There were no patrons at this afternoon hour, just Banyan wiping down his bar. He took a seat on a stool.

     "Good afternoon, Banyan."

     "Your highness," he said, bowing over.

     "Come now, I've told you about that. A tilt of the head is more than sufficient."

     "Aye, sir," he said.

     "A drink, if you please, something to loosen my anxiety."

     "I take it you're off to the ball the whole kingdom is talking about, to meet the princess?"

     "Indeed," Court said.

     Wellington came down the stairs a moment later, sitting beside Court as Banyan poured the drink. "Sir, is it wise to drink before seeing the princess?"

     "I won't be seeing her, will I, Wellington?" Court said. "A drink will loosen me up. I'm far more entertaining with a drink in me." He sipped his ale. "Do tell me, Banyan, what is there to do for fun around here?"

     "Fun, sir?"

     "Yes. I daresay I shall soon call this kingdom my home, and I shall not wish to be bored."

     "Well, we enjoy our summers quite a bit, sir. Many of the townsfolk travel to the beaches for rest and relaxation."

     "Including you?"

     "Oh, no. I'm far too old and busy at the tavern."

     "It's just you here, Banyan, and that pleasant woman, Mrs. Crockery?

     "And my niece, Sienna."

     "You have a niece?" Court said. "I haven't had the opportunity to meet her."

     "She's away, actually, until tomorrow, working in the castle."

     "Is she? What does she do there?"

     "Nothing of consequence, as I understand it, just washing dishes. When the princess came to the tavern, she took a shining to my niece and invited her to work for a few days."

     "I see. But I thought only elderly women served in the castle."

     "Aye, so did I."

     "Hmm, well, Princess Celeste seems very gracious. Tell me, is she beautiful?"

     "Oh, she is the vision of beauty, sir, stunning, she is."

     Wellington clapped a hand on Court's back. "That's encouraging, isn't it, sir?"

     "Halfway there. Not the good half though." He looked at Banyan again, taking another sip. "But is she really beautiful? I've seen beautiful women too, of course. Even a peasant has beauty. Is this princess really beautiful, or is she beautiful because she's a princess?"

     "She's beautiful because she's beautiful."

     "Hmm. And more importantly, how is she as a person?"

     "Pardon, sir?"

     "Is she likeable, friendly, good character?"

     "All three, I think."

     "Hmm. What about stuck-up, conceded, egotistical."

     "I couldn't speak such things about the princess."

     Court sighed. "Of course not."

     "Sir," Wellington said, "perhaps we should be heading out."

     "Yes, I suppose," Court said, finishing his drink. "Maybe I had better have another."

     "Your highness, with all respect, no. I shall not allow you to be drunk the night you are meeting your future bride."

     Court grimaced. "You're probably right. Well, Banyan, you had a chance to make some money, but Wellington took it away."

     "Not to worry, sir," Banyan said, "we'll be open upon your return, and if you'd like a drink, you're welcome to it."

     Court chuckled. "I daresay I shall take you up on it."

     Wellington nudged the prince off the stool. "Sir?"

     "Yes, yes. Come on then," he said as he stood, straightening his coat. "We don't want to be late. I've heard the queen likes to hang those who are late."

     "Your highness!" Wellington said. "Really, it is no joking matter."

     "Truly, it is my neck!"

     The knights were waiting outside. Court and Wellington mounted their horses and they all set out.

     "Wellington, if she is dreadful, you will not hold me to marrying her, would you, even if my father asks you why I refused?"

     "Sir, I am and shall always be your valet. I will speak the truth to the king if he so asks, but I would not dishonor you before him."

     Court smirked at him. "Thank you, Wellington. Tell me, when are you going to settle down? You're already thirty-five. Don't you want to meet your queen?"

     "I find it far more interesting to go gallivanting around with you."

     "Well, I shall not hold it against you if you are so smitten with a woman and so ask to leave my service."

     "Sir, tonight is the night you are to be smitten. Focus on that."

     "Do you think I shall be smitten, Wellington?"

     "You may be, sir. You have never yet been in love. And I daresay, your dreams of adventure and slaying dragons shall disappear when such a great feeling tugs upon your heart."

Chapter Six

The Masquerade

     The kitchen doors burst open, startling Sienna as she stood over the counter, carefully wrapping bacon around little sausages.

     "We need more cheese wraps!" said a young server.

     Sienna hurried over to the oven, putting on the mitts and taking out the cheese wraps. They looked done to her, but then, what did she know? Betilly had said to take them out after ten minutes. Had it been ten minutes? She was no good with timing things. And really, what was Betilly thinking by running off and leaving her in charge? Really, her! Well, the servers needed the cheese wraps. She pointed.

     "Can't you talk at all?" the server asked.

     She shook her head.

     He rolled his eyes. "Well, let's just get this sorted."

     Together, they put the cheese wraps on the serving tray and then the young man vanished. She returned to wrapping little sausages with bacon, putting them all on a tray, as Kathree had told her to do.

     The door burst open again. She looked up, hoping they weren't looking for more cheese wraps. There were none left! Oh, she was in trouble. But then she found it was not a server. It was a soldier.

     "You, dishwasher. Is your name Sienna?"

     She nodded.

     "The princess demands your attention. You will follow me."

     Sienna put down the little sausages and hurried out of the room after the soldier. He was taking long, big strides, his height dwarfing hers. She shuffled to keep pace. She wondered what the princess could possibly need with her. Still, best to follow orders.

     She looked around as she walked. There were people everywhere, not just soldiers, but people in elaborate costumes, the women's dresses in so many different colors they looked like rainbows, all with white masks. She kept her head down, letting her bonnet hide her.

     The soldier came to a stop outside the royal bedchamber, knocking twice. It opened just a crack and Betilly poked her head out. "Oh, found her? Thank you, soldier. Sienna, in you come."

     The soldier took up his position outside the door, next to the other soldier, and Sienna slipped between the doors, even more confused. Betilly closed the door once she was inside. Kathree and Homa were here, arguing about something. Princess Celeste was quiet. She was lying in her bed, not moving.

     "You've lost your mind!" Kathree said. "It's the noose for all of us as soon as she's discovered!"

     "No one will see her. She'll appear and say goodnight. An hour is all it will take. Three dances, maybe two."

     "We'll be executed!"

     "What do you suggest then? Humiliate the queen? We'll be discharged in disgrace and Princess Celeste's reputation will be devastated!"

     "I will not be apart of this," Kathree said. "I have no knowledge. I am in the kitchens. I am not here. And when they question you, as they will, you tell them that!"

     Kathree spun and marched past Sienna, glaring at her as if she had done something wrong. Sienna dropped her head. And then Kathree was gone.

     "Sienna, come here, child," Homa said. Sienna came forward, keeping her head down. Homa lifted it. "You may speak, child."

     "Madam Homa," Sienna said, "what's wrong with the princess? Is she sick?"

     "No, child, she's drunk."

     "Drunk, ma'am?"

     "She has been anxious over tonight's ball and she let her fear take her to the drink."

     "Oh," Sienna said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

     Homa smiled. "I'm glad you asked. Sit down, child."

     Sienna sat down on a plush chair. Homa and Betilly sat across from her. The way they were looking at her made her very nervous. Was this somehow her fault?

     "You see, child," Homa began, "the princess is to meet Prince Cross tonight, and if he finds her suitable, he will propose in the coming days, and then marry her on her eighteenth birthday."

     "Oh." Sienna was baffled. What did this have to do with her?

     "The princess does not wish to marry—not yet, that is, and not to a man she does not know."

     "Okay." Was this conversation going to segue into hors d'oeuvres?

     "This Masquerade ball was designed by the queen to give them a chance to speak to each other behind masks, a way to converse without anxiety, you see?"

     "Sure," Sienna said. Should she offer them hors d'oeuvres?

     "But now," Homa continued, "the princess is drunk, so drunk she was raving, threatening to run out to the ball and scream that her mother had killed her father."

     "Why would she do that?" Sienna didn't think they were going to be asking for hors d'oeuvres anymore.

     "She's quite upset, as you can imagine."

     "Okay," Sienna said. Maybe they wanted her to bring the princess some coffee. "Did you want me to fetch some coffee?"

     "What?" Homa said.

     "So she'll be sober. My uncle always has me fetch coffee when he's drunk in the mornings."

     "No, Sienna," Homa said. "She's passed out and quite beyond coffee at this point. What we want you to do—"

     Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Homa held up her hand, indicating for Sienna to be quiet, and then she went to the door, cracking it open.

     "Madam Vrine?" Homa said. "How do you do tonight?"

     "Where is the princess?" Vrine's voice came back. "The ball is starting. They will introduce the queen in a few minutes time."

     "The princess is freshening up."

     "What? She has had all day to prepare."

     "Yes, but it's just last moment jitters. She has asked me to tell you she will be there in thirty minutes."

     "Thirty minutes?" Vrine said. "She will come now!"

     "The princess also asked me to remind you she does not take orders from you, madam."

     "This will humiliate the queen to be introduced without her daughter!"

     "Perhaps the queen could pretend it was so planned, a spectacle to present her daughter to the prince."

     "This is absurd."

     "Nevertheless, the princess must have thirty minutes. She is no longer dressed."

     "The queen will be furious, and you will bear her wrath, Homa! Mark me, you'll be finished here!"

     "Madam, I only follow the princess' orders."

     "Thirty minutes, Homa."

     "Yes, Madam Vrine."

     Homa closed the door, hurrying back over to Sienna.