The Second Life of Magnolia Mae (22 page)

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Authors: Angela Schroeder

Tags: #science fiction, #young adult, #historical fiction, #time travel, #contemporary fantasy

BOOK: The Second Life of Magnolia Mae

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“You tried to murder Daciana so you would not lose your son? You tried to have Jaceson banished to ensure that Alistair never had his place threatened. Your actions are unforgivable. This is treason against the crown. I promised Daciana and her people safety. My queen is the one who does not listen to my words. The one who threatens them. All with the help of your dear
friend
.” Pelonis sneered when he uttered that last word.

Kamille spun around and ran out of the castle before anyone could stop her. The soft snowflakes from the night before had turned into a whiteout blizzard.

“She’ll never survive out there,” Magnolia whispered. “She doesn’t know this land. Get the men.”

Pelonis reached out a hand to her arm and placed it gently on her. “You should not endanger the men for her. She brought shame to our kingdom by her actions. She would have been tried for treason and hanged or spent the rest of her life in the tower.”

“That may be so, Your Majesty, but she is still your queen and Alistair’s mother. I cannot stand by and allow her to perish in this storm if there’s something that I can do about it.” Magnolia raced off to grab her heaviest cloak.

A few men had gathered at the entry to the castle.

“Hopefully, she’s in the village. Check every home, every building. But don’t wander out into the blizzard beyond the village. We don’t want to lose any of you.”

“We’ll go with you.” Alistair and Pelonis both stepped to her side.

CHAPTER THIRTY

F
LAKES
WERE
COMING DOWN
in large white swirls. Magnolia prayed quietly for the snow to let up so that they could see. They needed to find Kamille soon. When they reached the last building in the village, they peered out into the white world. The snow seemed to slow down a bit, and the storm didn’t seem as angry as it had been just a few moments before.

Magnolia pushed on toward the sea with Dragoste by her side. He’d refused to leave her. Trudging through the snow caused the horses to slow. She could make out shapes much more clearly now than she could just moments before. It seemed the storm was slowing down for their search.

When they neared the cliffs, they dismounted. Certain that it would be better to go on foot than to have a horse lose its footing so close and pitch forward over the cliff down to the shore below. Late morning turned into late afternoon, and they still walked slowly along the cliffs. A bare brush caught Magnolia’s eye. Hanging from one of the branches was a bright crimson piece of fabric. Carefully, they walked toward the edge of the cliff. White flakes gently fell down now, allowing them to see all the way back to the castle. When Magnolia peered over the edge of the cliff, she stifled a scream. Lying on jagged rocks below was Queen Kamille.

“We have to get down there.” She forced back the tears that wanted to fall.

“I’ll go. There is a path down just over there, wide enough for a horse and rider. I have taken it many times.” Alistair moved forward.

Magnolia watched and shivered as he made his way slowly down to the rocky shore below.

Pelonis settled a comforting hand upon her shoulder.

Shortly after Alistair made it to his mother’s side, they knew that the queen was dead. She had not survived the fall. They watched as he lifted her body and laid it over the horse’s back.

All were silent as they made their way back to the castle. Right before they entered the village, Magnolia stopped. “Wait.” She spoke only loud enough for them to hear. “Nobody needs to know what happened. There is no need to speak to anyone about what she paid Gordon to do. Let her people remember her fondly. Tell them that she only wanted to get in a short walk but then got disoriented by a snowstorm. They never need to know why she was truly out there.”

Pelonis offered a sad smile before he nodded. “That’s what we shall say then.”

The solemn party continued to the castle. Once there, the men who had searched the village came out to carry Kamille’s body inside. A few others took the horses to the stables to wipe them down and settle them in. Magnolia, Alistair, and Pelonis walked into the castle in silence. She was in shock over what had happened.

The next day it was decided that Pelonis would leave to take Kamille back to Marcello for a proper burial. Alistair merely nodded while listening to his father speak.

“I leave at dawn.”

“I am going with you,” Alistair spoke up. His bright blue eyes shined with unshed tears. “I have to go with you.”

“What of Daciana?” Pelonis questioned.

Alistair turned and smiled at the woman he loved. “She is strong. I will return to her come spring. Right now, you need me at your side. I cannot allow you to do this alone. I am going with you, Father.”

Pelonis smiled sadly and nodded.

Magnolia knew then that he would have never placed a punishment of death to his wife. He would have sentenced her to the tower. He would have given her every comfort that she could have ever asked for. It was clear how much he loved her.

“Be safe in your travels.” She stepped toward them.

Pelonis wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you. I would be proud to someday call you my daughter. Anyone else would have not bothered to go search for her. I was not even going to go. Despite all that was done to you, you still went out in that storm to try to bring her back safely. I am forever grateful.” He kissed the top of her head much the way her own father had when she was a child.

“I will come back in the spring. We will marry then, if you will have me.” Alistair pulled her into his own arms the second she had been released from his father’s.

All she could do was nod in agreement.

That evening there was a quiet meal and much packing to be done. Magnolia spent the evening in the kitchen, preparing food for them to take with them on their return journey. It saddened her that Alistair was leaving, but it was something that she understood. He would return. Until then, she would have to go on with her life without him. Tears slid down her face as she packed them food. She was going to miss him more than she would ever be able to express. The only thing to do was to ensure that he returned to a thriving Avengar. Magnolia was determined to make it happen.

EPILOGUE

T
HE COOL SEA AIR
blew at her long black hair, twisting and twirling it about her face. Magnolia lifted her face up toward the sunlight, allowing it to warm her cheeks. There were times when it had seemed like winter would never end, long cold weeks spent inside. At least she had been able to teach Gwain the basics of reading in that time. She believed he would be reading books like
Gulliver’s Travels
on his own soon. It was his favorite story. Already, she planned to get him a copy of his very own.

Every Friday evening, people gathered in the great hall to enjoy some treats and listen to her read from a book. It was a time where it seemed they were family.

Jaceson and Railynn had grown close in the winter months. When he’d healed enough to walk with the use of a cane, she’d assisted him with some of the chores he’d insisted on doing. By the time he no longer needed the cane, Magnolia could see the blossoming love there.

A shout from young Gwain brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to see the young boy running toward her. “He’s coming!” he shouted as he got closer. “Alistair is coming!”

The smile that lit her face showed the biggest pleasure she’d had since before he had left her back in January. Lifting up the skirt to the long white dress she wore, she started running toward Gwain, who pointed in the direction that Alistair was coming from. In the distance was a man on a white horse riding toward them as if the hounds of hell were on his heels. Her hair streamed behind her as she ran toward him, calling his name.

He slid off his horse and pulled her into his arms, crushing her to him as if he was afraid she would disappear if he loosened his hold. “I missed you,” he whispered into her hair.

“I didn’t think you would ever come back.” She turned her face up to his, looking into those penetrating blue eyes. She ran her fingers through his thick dark hair. “I am so glad you are back. Don’t ever leave me again.”

“Never,” he replied vehemently as he slanted his mouth over hers.

She melted into his arms. Her body felt as if it had molded itself into his.

“I’ll never leave you again, Daciana Magnolia Dietrex.”

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