Chapter Twenty-Five
A s Gryphon and I enter the castle, we’re met by an uncharacteristically jovial King Hadeon with my mother trailing close behind. His happiness has me worried, but the look on Tristana’s face seals it for me. Whatever Hadeon is about to say, it won’t be good.
“Just the daughter I’ve been searching for.” His bear claw hands dig into my shoulders. “We’ve just had word from the coast. Your betrothed has made brilliant time and will be here in a matter of days, rather than weeks. Soon, you’ll be married and off to Etos with the great Lysander Sturdevant, and our two kingdoms will be united against any upheavals that may come our way.”
Gryphon hides his widening eyes by sketching a quick bow and hastening on his way. Coward. I search deep within myself to find a smile and beam at Father, replying, “That is the best news, Father. I look forward to meeting the King of Etos.” He’s taken aback by my happy response. But he takes it in stride and carries on down the hallway, no doubt to meet with Killian and the rest of the council to discuss the ‘upheavals’ he has in mind. Mother stops for just a moment in front of me. Silently and awkwardly as if trying to remember exactly how to comfort someone, she pats my shoulders. As she does so, her smile feels off, even for her. And her eyes seem to be sending a warning my way. Whatever this marriage brings, it will not be good for me or this kingdom.
I make haste to the healer’s wing, the hallways are dark, but I know my way as if it’s written on the back of my hand. Knowing that our last conversation ended abruptly, I search out Thaliya. There’s too much I’ve yet to learn.
By the time I walk through the wide doorway into the low lit room, I’ve convinced myself that I’ll be able to successfully rescue my birth sister. With the aid of Thaliya, Gryphon, and Thaddeus, we’ll have no problem making our way north to the city of Freathia, home to the Ancients. I’ll have just enough time to pack my things and load a carriage, say my goodbyes to Licia and Killian, and leave before my betrothed arrives.
Healer’s move with efficiency through the beds, tending to the sick and sleeping. Fires burn high at both ends of the room, warding off the chill of the winter night. Out of the corner of my eye I see quick movement and see Thaliya has spotted me and is waving me over. She waits patiently for me to approach, and then without saying anything, turns and walks with quick steps down the narrow hallway leading to her small office.
As I stare at her rigid shoulders, I hope she’s not upset with me for leaving the way I did, surely she knows I just needed a little time to process such news. I begin to say something but she shushes me and pushes open the door, hustles me through, and closes it quickly and quietly behind me.
There are four other sets of eyes staring back at me as Thaliya closes the door behind me. Thaddeus rests with his feet up, taking up much of the small space. I only question for a moment how Gryphon knew I’d be here, but then get distracted by the other two familiar men in the room. But I can't place them.
Thaliya doesn’t waste time with introductions, though. “If we are to get you to the north, we have to move quickly. As I understand it, your betrothed is within a day’s travel.” I balk at her news, and the fact that it’s so much more specific than Hadeon’s.
“But that would mean—” I begin, trying to figure out how long it would take to pack a trunk. Hours. It would take hours to pack all the clothing and books, not to mention extras of everything because we’ll be traveling north in the middle of winter.
“We’ll leave just before the wedding,” Thaddeus states plainly. “That way, you have time to train. You need to at least know the basics.” He looks to Thaliya and then the older man in the room.
The reality of the situation hits me. Once I leave these walls, Hadeon will be furious. And the impact my leaving will have with his treaty with the west, I can’t even imagine. I can’t help but laugh. A loud, nervous laugh escapes from me, one that’s too big for this small space, and several of those around us wince. But I can’t help it because the seriousness of the situation is bubbling up into something else entirely.
“You laugh, Princess, but the truth is, if you are to leave Merula, your window of opportunity closes in mere days.”
“Yes, of course.” I look to Thaliya. “And you’ll be able to ready yourself and put the ward to right before then?”
Her eyes widen at my misunderstanding. “Oh, my sweet Rowandine, I wish I could go along with you.”
“What?” I ask, incredulity causing the word to come out louder than I meant it to. Everyone else in the room ducks their heads and makes shushing motions to me as I repeat myself in a harsh whisper. “What?”
“I can’t go north with you, Rowandine. My duties are here, to the people of Merula.” Her words are gentle, but they cut like a knife anyway .
“But I thought—” I thought her duties were to me. I thought she'd always be by my side. I thought she’d be able to tell me more about my parents. But now, there will be no time for that. Suddenly, tears threaten at the corners of my eyes and I become very aware of the other two men in the room—one is an older man, sitting stick straight at attention. He has many daggers strapped across his belt and two on a strap right beside him that must go on his back. The younger man I know I’ve seen before but I’ve been away too long. Both men busy themselves looking anywhere else but at me.
“I have the next best thing.” Thaliya smiles warmly and presents the younger man to me.
“Baylor?” Gryphon says, laughter playing at the corner of his mouth as he tries to put the pieces together.
“The stable master?” I look to Gryphon for confirmation, recalling mention of him but unable to place him.
“Well, yes. Princess Rowandine, this is my son, Baylor. Baylor will lead you north, along with Thaddeus and Gryphon. I think that will make for a sound quest.”
With that proclamation, Baylor’s eyes go wide and he looks at his mother. At first I think it's because she’s sending him away, but then I recognize his curly blond hair and boyishly blue eyes. His appearance, along with the mention of him being the stable master, allows me to place how I know him.
Rather intimately actually. If I remember correctly, there was a time when he spent most of his afternoons up in the hay lofts rather than working with the horses. I wonder how he ever got promoted to stable master ?
“She’s the one? But you never mentioned she was of the Aeronwick household?” His voice rising with each word, quickly reaching a dangerously high pitch for a grown man. “Mother! You could have at least—”
She waves him off. “You know my reasons, we were charged with watching and waiting. There was no reason for you to know anyway, the more who knew the easier it would be to get out. Why would it matter?” She looks suddenly at Baylor and then at me, her eyes widening in horror.
With this, Gryphon loses all control and his laughter permeates the room. He grabs his knees as his laughter comes out in uncontrollable fits. So much so that he falls to the floor, and I can’t tell if it's for show or he’s really that affected.
If possible, the older man sits up even straighter, looking terribly uncomfortable at the situation he’s found himself in. And Thaddeus, his eyes narrow imperceptibly at the stable master and he folds his arms across his chest.
Horror stricken, Thaliya turns to me. “I’m so sorry, Princess. I never would have—it never occurred to me—” She turns back to her son. “Baylor! How could you! She’s the princess!” She swats at him and he ducks just out of her way.
With splotches of red blooming up my chest and into my cheeks, I attempt to put an end to this line of conversation. “It was many years ago. Let’s put it all behind us now.”
After that small bump, it only takes minutes to decide on a plan. I’ll work with the older man, Patton, in the mornings on swordsmanship. Then in the afternoons, I’ll explore my newfound ability to heal with Thaliya. We’ll do this up until the wedding, which should give us plenty of time as Father and the council come to an agreement with Etos .
I’ll be the first to admit, with all the new information swimming through my mind, I only focus on where I need to be and when.
I jump when Thaliya’s hands rest on my shoulders and I realize everyone else in the room has left. I’ve just been standing still, rooted in place by the door frame. “It’s a lot, I know. But you’re ready. You were meant for this.” Her eyes are full of unshed tears as she hugs me. As I sink into her warm embrace, all I can think is how unready I am for this. But if she believes in me, then I won’t waste time. I'll prepare myself.