arly the next morning, before nearly anyone else is up, I bid Charlotte and Louise goodbye. Louise stands near Tephanie, watching with worried eyes as the girl packs a few belongings into a satchel. Charlotte is sitting near the fire, carefully trimming her fingernails with her small knife. It is such a perfect mirror image of what her father used to do that it’s like a fist to my heart. I want to yank the knife from her hand, as if in doing so I can snatch the d’Albret legacy from her slender shoulders.
“But why are we going away? Will Sybella be going too?” Louise asks.
“No, silly,” Charlotte says without looking up. “She is too busy attending to the queen to have time to look after us.”
Her words are another fist to my bruised heart. I have explained it to her. Does she not believe me, or does she simply delight in worrying Louise?
Just then, Charlotte looks up and sees me in the doorway. I hold my finger to my lips and walk silently to Louise, place my hands lightly over her eyes. “Who is speaking ill of the wonderful and magnificent Sybella?” I ask in a low, gruff voice.
She squeals in glee and whirls around, throwing her arms around my waist. “Only Charlotte, and only because she is showing off with her knife.”
I hug her, wishing so much of our lives could be different. That we had oceans of time together. That my duties did not keep me away from her. That my own temperament were better suited to tending children than slaying their foes. But none of that is true, so all I can do is hug her as hard and long as I can when I have the chance.
“It will not be for long, sweeting.” As her face falls, I hurry to explain. “Besides, you are going to visit a princess, a most wise and lovely princess who has a fondness for eating small girls.”
Louise rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t be silly. Princesses don’t eat small girls! Ogres do.”
I clap my hand to my forehead. “Of course. That is it. I always get princesses and ogres mixed up. Don’t you?”
She giggles and shakes her head. After a moment: “Are we really going to visit a princess?”
“Yes,” I say, thinking of Annith. “Of a sort. She lives on an island with her darkly handsome consort and her highly skilled handmaidens. Sister Beatriz will want to dress you in fancy clothes and Sister Widona will let you pet and feed the horses. Besides, aren’t you getting tired of this stuffy old castle?”
Louise looks around the room, which, while pleasant, is also spare. “No,” she says simply. Tephanie looks up from her packing and smiles at me.
“That’s too bad, for you will get to wear the new fur cloak you are so fond of. And did I tell you that Beast would be going with you?”
Louise’s face lights up. “Will he? Well, then, we will be fine without you.”
I put my hands on my hips and pretend to scowl. “Is that how easily you dismiss me?”
“He is stronger than you,” she points out. “And will keep us safe.”
“Are you worried about your safety, little one? Don’t be. There are many who will take care of you. Tephanie, Tola, Aeva, half the queen’s guard. And that is just those who will be traveling with you. There are others, including the queen, who are working to keep you both safe and well.”
“What about the king?” Charlotte asks. “Does he care?”
I sometimes wish that Charlotte’s wit was not so sharp. “It is his job to care for all his subjects and see to their safety.” I do not share with her that he and I might have different opinions on how best to achieve that.
“Besides,” Louise continues, as if Charlotte had not interrupted, “Beast will let us feed his horse apples.”
“Ah, if only I’d known the way to win your heart was to let you feed my horse.”
I give them each one last hug, then turn to Tephanie. “You are all right with this?”
“Of course, my lady. It will be hardest on you. Here.” She thrusts something into my hands.
It is the embroidery she’s been working on. Slowly, I unfold the delicate white linen and find it embroidered with the brilliant red and green of a holly bush. My eyes sting and my vision blurs.
“It’s so you have something to wipe your face with, when you need it. I thought the red holly berries would hide the blood.”
“Thank you.” The words come out in a whisper. I give her a quick, fierce hug and press a fleeting kiss upon her cheek before pulling away.
And then there is nothing left to say or do but escort the small group down the stairs to the side door. Beast, the accompanying queen’s guard, and Yannic are waiting with the horses already saddled. Because of the castle’s visitors yesterday, only a handful of grooms are about—and their eyes are still filled with sleep. When the girls have been safely mounted with Tola and Aeva, I turn to Beast. I open my mouth but cannot find the words to say goodbye.
He grins. “Do not worry. I will charm any obstacles we encounter with my good looks.”
I smile past the lump in my throat and shake my head at his nonsense.
He brings my hand up to press his lips gently against my wrist. “I have ordered Lazare to remain here. I cannot leave you utterly alone.” He pauses, growing solemn. “They will be safe, Sybella.” His eyes are full of everything he cannot say. “I swear it.” At his words, I feel a presence, almost as if Saint Camulos himself has stood in surety of Beast’s vow.
* * *
When I return to my room, I go to the small trunklet that holds all my most valued possessions. I lift the lid to put Tephanie’s handkerchief in with my other treasures, stopping when I see that the holly twig I carried with me from Rennes is still as green as the day I picked it, the berries just as vibrantly red. I reach out and stroke my finger down one of the shiny green leaves and find some small sliver of hope. Perhaps Mortain holds some mysteries in life, as well as death.
?Chapter 89
am ready when the page arrives, informing me that the king has summoned me to his chambers.
I rise, wondering if a decision has already been made or if I am going to be allowed to present my case. With the girls having safely escaped this trap Pierre has set for them, it is far easier to face whatever comes with a calm heart.
When I arrive, the king is there along with Pierre’s lawyer. I do not know where Pierre found him, but surely he is one of the most respectable-looking men to ever have served the d’Albret family. Whether he is new to their service or simply part of the outer circles that I was never privy to, I don’t know. Nor do I know how much of me and my history within the family he is aware of, but he is decidedly discomfited at my presence, which is a small victory.
However, my spirits dip when I see that the queen is not in attendance, but the conniving regent is. If Pierre’s lawyer’s arguments do not sway the king to his cause, the regent will do her best to sway the king from mine.
A sense of grim foreboding settles over me.
I stop before the king and make a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty.”