18. The Reckless Quest
18
The Reckless Quest
A storia closed Cyrus’ room door behind her and followed the others into the sitting room, with Skylar and Spyrah at her heels.
Rowan was discussing the interrogation with Prince Joaquin and General Sean, now looking at ease. Astoria rang for Emily and asked her to bring them tea and cakes. Though she didn’t think Emily would be capable of poisoning them, just in case, Astoria sent her away and sprinkled a pinch of poison-teller herbs into the teapot and over the cakes.
“What is that?” Joaquin stopped talking and turned to her with a skeptical eyebrow.
Astoria looked up at him from stirring the pot. “Poison-teller. I’m sure you are familiar?”
“Of course, but where did you get it from?”
“The healer we told you about. She had a magical herb garden. She left me some yesterday to test Cyrus’ medicine, and I just wanted to make sure we are not going to be poisoned, too.”
Rowan sighed. “So we are going to suspect even the water we drink now, are we?”
“Can’t take any risks.” Astoria shrugged and looked at Joaquin. “It would be great if you could supply us with more herbs. Even after we catch the culprit, as long as Cyrus sits on the throne, he’s still under threat.”
Joaquin nodded thoughtfully. “I shall see to it, don’t worry.”
The colour of the tea and the cakes remained the same. Astoria poured the tea into their cups.
“General, would you mind us staying here a little longer? I’m not leaving until the culprit is caught,” Joaquin said to General Sean. He sipped his tea and immediately turned his attention to Astoria. “I will make sure to send you some tea herbs, too. You should get a taste of Windlewade.”
Before Astoria could respond, he turned back to General Sean for his answer.
“It would be my pleasure,” the man said with a shrug. “I was, indeed, about to suggest that.”
“Perfect.” Joaquin turned back to Astoria. “If you don’t mind, Empress Astoria, the General and I will be staying in your suite until Cyrus is awake. We don’t want anyone trying to reach him directly after learning their attempts have failed.”
Astoria turned to Rowan absently. She hadn’t realized how close they had gotten until then. He nodded, and she turned back to Joaquin. “I think that’s a wise decision. Thank you. And please, call me Astoria. We are family, after all.”
Joaquin smiled pleasantly. “Of course, Astoria. Call me Joaquin.”
She returned the smile.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know my one and only sister-in-law, but I’m afraid I want to go to the interrogation myself—if that’s alright with you.”
“Of course, please do. I’m sure Rowan could use all the help he can get. I’ve been staying with Cyrus the whole time, and Rowan has been the one running everything in both our stead.” She graced Rowan with a grateful smile.
He gave her a deadpan look that failed to look serious.
Joaquin finished his tea and stood. “Alright, Lord Rowan, let’s go. General Sean, please stay with my brother and my sister-in-law.” He gave him a pointed but lighthearted look.
General Sean bowed his head in acknowledgement. “With pleasure, Joaquin.”
The two men left the room, with Rowan repeating his previous instruction not to open the door to anyone but them. Astoria realized he was hinting this to the General rather than her. Silence stretched out between her and the man. Sure, he seemed kind and friendly, but the pointed look Joaquin gave him baffled her.
There was something about him that put her on edge, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.
He’s been looking at you since he entered the room, that’s what. And I don’t like it, nor does Spyrah.
Astoria looked at Skylar, who sat next to her on the couch, with a plate of cakes between him and Spyrah. They loved sweet food, and both were glaring at the General.
“Your pets don’t seem to like me, Your Majesty,” the man said with a light chuckle, dragging her attention to him. He was looking at them amusedly.
Astoria let out a nervous laugh. “They are rather protective of me and Cyrus.”
He laughed this time, his gaze still on the red pandas. “I assure you two, I only have the best interests at heart for both the Emperor and the Empress.”
“I’m sure it will take time to gain their trust,” Astoria said with a forced, friendly smile. “Cyrus has told me about you; that you were sent to the human realm to find his mother and fell in love with a non-mage woman.”
“Oh.” The man looked surprised. “I had no idea he would tell you that, but I’m honored he thought I was worth mentioning.” He chuckled at his own joke. Then he smiled tenderly; not even Astoria’s father had smiled at her that way.
He told her his story, how he found his wife in the woods, alone and crying, and how it was love at first sight. They met each other there again and again until they couldn’t live without one another. When he told the High King about this, Cyrus’ father didn’t deny him the favor, but he made a condition that she couldn’t go back to the human realm once she entered Windlewade. Ever again. The woman was willing to leave all her loved ones behind for him. Though she missed them to this day, she didn’t regret her choice. Now, they had five children—the only Half-bloods in all of Windlewade.
He finished his story with a fond smile.
“That’s so sweet,” Astoria said with a genuine smile. The unease had to be just her feelings; there was nothing suspicious about this man who loved to talk about his family with a big smile on his face.
“You love him, don’t you? Cyrus?”
His sudden question caught her off guard. Astoria stared at him for his straightforwardness.
He smiled kindly, almost fatherly. “That’s alright; you don’t have to answer that. Cyrus sure loves you. I mean, I have known him since he was a boy and have never seen him look at a woman the way I saw him look at you in there. Or smile. He hadn’t smiled with his heart in his eyes after the loss of his mother.”
Astoria was tongue-tied. Even a third person could see what was between them?
General Sean chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need to look so shocked, Your Majesty. It’s obvious what Cyrus sees in you. Clearly, Joaquin understood that, too. He’s not exactly the friendly type, but he has taken a liking to you. You heard him say, ‘Stay with my brother and my sister-in-law.’”
His impersonation of Joaquin made her chuckle. “I’m glad to hear that. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
General Sean barely had any grey in his dark hair, but the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes and laugh lines said he was clearly in his late forties. He was good-looking, with chiseled features, striking grey eyes, and a square jaw with a neat beard that wasn’t too thick. He was dressed in black and sea green like Joaquin.
And his eyes were on her most of the time.
Astoria ignored it at first, as she no longer felt uneasy being with him. But as this continued into the night, the hold on her tongue weakened, and she wanted to snap at him to stop looking at her. Rowan noticed her discomfort during their dinner in the sitting room and asked if she was alright. She assured him with a smile. Even Joaquin noticed the tension in the air. He shot the man meaningful looks, but the General shook his head at him.
After dinner, Astoria snapped. “Stop looking at me like that, alright? The last thing you want is for my husband to catch you. He wouldn’t take it kindly, no matter your history, trust me.”
The General had the audacity to arch his eyebrows and look amused. “Stop looking at you like what , may I ask?”
“Like how you’ve been looking at me since you entered the room, according to my pets,” she told him sternly, folding her arms. Behind her, Joaquin stopped flipping through the papers Rowan had given him.
“According to your pets, hmm…” he hummed as if pondering it. “Like a father looks at the daughter whom he is seeing face-to-face for the first time, they mean?”
Astoria snorted sarcastically. “Pardon me. I don’t know how a father looks at his daughter. Mine only ever looked at me as if I were of great value to him for his own purposes, with hate, disgust, and disappointment.”
“Most importantly, fear,” the man added with a tender smile, his eyes shining. He was no longer amused. “And I have never been more proud of you.”
Astoria swayed back in surprise. “How did you know that?”
General Sean’s eyes turned utterly gentle and sincere. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Oh? Try me.”
He looked pleased by her challenge. He stared at her for a moment, further annoying her, before he spoke.
“He was never your father, Astoria,” he began softly. “I’m so sorry you never had the chance to know your real father, but he never abandoned you. He’s always been with you. He left that note in your crib from the seer so your family wouldn’t think you were anything abnormal, but blessed. He kept Prince of Lars in the library so you would find it and train yourself. He placed the mystical red panda cub in the garden amidst a downpour, knowing you liked to run through the wet ground after each rain and would happen upon him, so you could have an animal sidekick from Windlewade. Your father has been watching over you all these years, ready to step in if you need him. And now, he is here, right here.” General Sean took a step forward to her, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I am here, my daughter.”
Astoria stepped away from him. “W-what are you talking about?” she stuttered in shock. “My mother died birthing me. She was the wife of the king of Daliston. You are not my father.” She whirled around to Joaquin. “What is he talking about?”
Joaquin’s eyes held concern. “The truth, Astoria. I didn’t know this until before we arrived here. He told me you were his daughter. That’s all I know.”
Astoria laughed in disbelief. This had to be some joke.
“Astoria, this is not how I wanted it to go, but it seems like this is how it is supposed to be.” The General sighed. “Your mother is the woman I fell in love with.”
Astoria spun around to him with a withering glare. “You are lying! My mother is dead! Trust me. I’ve carried the guilt of being the cause of her death all my life.”
Her words seemed to stun him. He opened and closed his mouth several times in an attempt to talk, but failed. “I—I didn’t know… I’m so sorry…”
“You better be. That was not a joking matter.” She took back everything she thought of him. He was not a good man.
“That—that was not… It wasn’t a joke, it was real. It’s the truth.” His eyes turned desperate and guilty all the same. “Please believe me.”
Astoria stared at him in disbelief. “So, you are saying that my mother didn’t die at my birth? Or that you brought her back to life with magic?”
“No, we faked her death,” he admitted, his face crumpling in guilt. “She never died. I cast an illusion over her so that, to everyone, she was dead. I got her out of the coffin before burial and brought her to Windlewade.”
Tears pricked Astoria’s eyes. Anger, disbelief, shock, betrayal… She didn’t know what she was supposed to feel, but joy or relief wasn’t part of it.
Astoria turned to look at Joaquin. “Is this true?”
“As far as I know, General Sean doesn’t lie. And he has absolutely no reason to lie in this case,” he said with a solemn expression.
She turned back to the General. “Why?” she demanded. “Why did you—why did she do that?”
The man looked at her like she was supposed to know it. “Because your so-called father hated her. He was already in love with that woman he is now married to and always treated your mother like she was the third wheel in their relationship. She was never loved, and she longed to escape him, but she was trapped. Like I told you earlier, she was crying when I met her. It was one of those days she snuck away from her guard to find solitude and cry. We fell in love. And when she realized she was pregnant with you… we planned to run away, but the palace kept her busy, and we had no foolproof plan. So we were forced to wait. When the king found out your mother was pregnant, he had no doubt it was his child. The loathsome fool.” He scoffed.
“So, our only chance was to fake her death after your birth. We had to make her absence believable, or else her family would go looking for her. Not that they would’ve found a clue as to what caused her disappearance, but we didn’t want that chaos.”
Astoria cut in before he could continue, snorting. “So, you thought it was best I carried the blame for killing her at my birth, right, got it. Do you have any idea what I went through from my own brother? Silas was so crushed by Mother’s death that he blamed me and hated me until just recently. All while our mother ran away with the man she loved.” She laughed coldly. “I mean, what kind of mother does that? Leaving her kids behind with the man she hates—heavens, I was only a newborn child! Didn’t she care that I would need her, the boys would need her?”
“You think she was happy with the sacrifice she made?” The man narrowed his eyes at her, a defensive edge to his voice.
“ Then s he would’ve never left us behind!” Astoria shot back, her voice rising. “She would’ve brought us along with her. Why didn’t she do that, huh?”
“Astoria, it’s not like how you think it is.” He sighed tiredly, a hand on his hip and the other running through his hair.
“Then what is it?” she snapped, her temper now fully on the surface.
“Bringing non-mages into Windlewade was against the law, so I married your mother in the human world and bonded ourselves as per the loophole the king found. But bringing your brothers along… it wasn’t possible.”
But Astoria couldn’t accept it. She shook her head violently. “Mother only thought of herself! Do you know what I would’ve done if I were in her place? I would have never abandoned my children. And if I couldn’t bring them with me, I would’ve turned down my chance at happiness!”
The General shook his head solemnly. “You wouldn’t know that…”
“Factually, I found myself in a loveless marriage like her—even worse, to my enemy. One I’ve grown to care for and like more than I thought was possible. But if that wasn’t the case, I would never abandon my children. I know I wouldn’t.”
Her biological father only stared at her sadly. “She misses you, you know?”
Her tears slipped, but she hardened her heart against his words. “I missed her too, but not anymore. Not after this truth, not after how her selfish choice ruined me and my brothers.” She clutched her hands in her hair and groaned as she thought of how her brothers would react when they heard this. Silas especially; he was still affected by her departure. “Silas is going to be crushed!”
“I’m so sorry, Astoria. She wishes to see you all, you know. She told me to tell you that she loves you and wishes she could be here—”
“Stop!” This was more than she could take. “I don’t want to hear another word! Goodnight!” She turned and stormed towards Cyrus’ room, not bothering to spare a glance at him or Joaquin—if he was even there. She had a feeling that he had slipped out the moment their conversation grew too private and intense.
Princess…
Not now, Sky.
Astoria walked towards Cyrus’ bed and climbed up next to him. She was half tempted to use her healing powers and see if he would wake up so she could tell him what just happened. But she decided against it. He needed rest. She hoped he would wake up in the morning.
She had never been as desperate for anyone as she was for him now. How had he become someone so important to her, someone she knew she could rely on and confide in? Normally in such situations, she turned to Emmett. Indeed, she could write to him now and send the letter using Cyrus’ ring. But she didn’t. She wanted Cyrus.
“Oh, Cyrus…” Astoria laid her head lightly on his chest and stroked his cheek with her free hand. His stubble had grown into a faint beard. “I wish you were awake. I… I didn’t think I would ever say this, but I need you. I want you. Please wake up in the morning… Before I go insane…”
Months ago, Astoria was convinced he was going to turn her into an insane madwoman merely by existing in her life. Now she wanted him in order to stay sane herself.
She lay next to him, keeping an arm around him and snuggling into his side. She loved the feeling of being near him and regretted the times she had shut him out whenever he reached out to her. She had been blinded with hatred then.
Before she knew it, Astoria fell asleep. Only to wake up to the feeling of something brushing against her cheek.
For a moment, she thought it was Spyrah. Then she thought it was Cyrus, awake and watching her. It made her smile. She opened her eyes.
The room was still dark, the enchanted candles alight, and her back was to Cyrus. Astoria lifted her head to see what had disturbed her sleep. To her horror, on the pillow was a folded letter.
Astoria blinked her eyes several times to let her vision adjust in the dark before summoning a small glow to her fingertips. A single word was written on the outside.
Answers?
Astoria turned the letter over and saw the same written on the other side, as though the sender thought she hadn’t been reading their notes and didn’t want her to miss this.
Intrigued, Astoria unfolded the letter and was surprised to find it was addressed directly to her this time.
Empress Astoria,
I know you’re desperate for answers about who wishes to assassinate your beloved husband. I have the answers. Why don’t you come and meet me alone on the third floor, south wing, third corridor? You will see ornate double doors at the end. I will be waiting. Just us. Bring no one. Let me see if the Daring Princess of Daliston is only daring in name. You have nothing to be afraid of. You are, after all, the second most powerful to your husband—or should I say, the fourth most, since your brother-in-law and his bodyguard from Windlewade are here.
Sincerely, me.
Astoria’s heart pounded in her chest. The better part of her conscience told her to wake up Rowan so that when she went to the destination, he could lie in wait for the culprit as a surprise and catch him.
But this person was undoubtedly a Mage. Rowan would be no match for him as a non-mage.
Should she wake up Joaquin? But then the General would come along. The last thing she wanted was to face that man again.
The egotistic part of her said she should go and face this alone. The culprit had challenged her, and she wasn’t one to cower from challenges. She was the Daring, Unyielding, Unbeatable Princess of Daliston. Now, she was the Empress of Draken, her husband’s Little Dragon. She would show him what she was capable of, that he was messing with the wrong person.
Decision made, Astoria kissed Cyrus’ forehead.
“I will be back,” she whispered to him and carefully slid off her bed. She arranged her hair and gown, slipped the letter into her pocket, and stole a glance at Skylar, who snored away on the couch, and Spyrah, who was fast asleep on her special bed that Astoria had transported to Cyrus’ room days ago.
Come alone, the person had challenged. And she would go alone.
She slipped out of the room as silently as possible—and froze. Joaquin and General Sean were sleeping on the couches in the sitting room—if they were asleep at all.
If they caught her, she would say she was going to the garden for fresh air. Hopefully, they wouldn’t dare stop her or offer to escort her after what had happened.
She stepped into the sitting room and found the two men snoring away. Holding her breath, she padded across the room and unlocked the door. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her, releasing a deep breath.
The hallways were empty except for the guards stationed outside the wing. She told them she was going to the garden. They nodded, not quite hiding their surprise. Everyone knew she hadn’t stepped into the garden since Cyrus made it for her.
It was still the only garden on the palace grounds, even after Cyrus told her she could ask the servants to prepare a non-magical garden if she wished. Of course, she did wish for it, but after learning why he didn’t want a garden or even a flower in sight in the first place, she decided against it.
They reminded him of his mother. And she didn’t want a single bloom at the cost of his pain.
Astoria ducked into a dark corner when she heard the sound of boots. When the guard passed, she tiptoed towards the stairs to the third floor, a foreboding feeling falling over her instantly.
Though Cyrus gave her free rein to explore any part of the palace, this was the first time she had stepped up to it. And it would’ve been exciting if she wasn’t going to meet her husband’s attempted assassin in secret.
She wandered towards the south wing, and it seemed like a deserted part of the palace. No sign of anyone living. Why had Cyrus left it like this?
She rounded the third corridor and came to a stop. At the end, illuminated by the light from her palm, were the ornate double doors mentioned in the letter.
A moment of hesitancy fell on her, but she pushed it aside and pressed forward. Whatever this person wanted, they couldn’t do anything to her. Besides, they were right. She wanted answers. Once she had them, she would finish off this threat.
No one would dare challenge her and Cyrus again.
Astoria grabbed the brass knocker and knocked twice.
No answer.
She knocked again. Again, there was no answer.
Were they playing her?
Bracing herself for anything and everything, Astoria pushed at the door. It was unlocked, and it opened inward. She sent light into the room, searching for a trap on the floor, in mid-air, or on the ceiling, and entered.
The room looked like an old and abandoned ballroom. Dark and eerie, the smell of dust and dampness filled the air. She gulped loudly before calling out, “Hello?”
“You made it,” came a strangely familiar male voice from further inside the room.
“Who are you?” Astoria called out, holding the light out in front of her.
“Why don’t you come closer and see for yourself?” The drawling voice was too familiar, but she tried and failed to match it to a memory.
“If you attempt to do anything stupid…” Astoria warned, taking cautious steps forward, “You better think twice before picking a fight with me.”
The man chuckled darkly. “Oh, I think I’m the last one who needs that reminder.”
Pieces clicked into place. Astoria’s steps faltered for a moment. It couldn’t be…
She picked up her pace, growing the light in her palm until it was bright enough to light her surroundings. A dark and hooded figure caught her attention, blended into the shadows. It moved towards her as she came into view.
Astoria lifted her hand slightly, illuminating the familiar sneer on the hooded man’s face.
She gasped inwardly. “You!”
Wizard Orion threw back his hood and flashed his sickening, wicked smile at her. “Hello, Empress. It’s good to see you too.”
She barely recovered from the shock. All this time? “You will pay for this, you devil! I will make you regret this!”
“Actually…” he mused and snapped his fingers. Astoria had no sooner blinked than cuffs appeared in mid-air right in front of her. Faster than she could think, they clasped around her wrists.
The light died out immediately. She tried to summon it back, but her powers felt out of reach. She felt nothingness. Terror seized her.
“What did you do?” she growled at the wizard whose outline she could barely make out in the faint moonlight pouring through a window behind him.
Wizard Orion waved a hand in the air, and the room lit up by the enchanted candles along the walls. “Anti-magic cuffs.” He jerked his chin at the bronze cuffs on her wrists. “You can’t use magic with them on, not even a fraction of your powers. They are terrifyingly silent, aren’t they?”
“I should’ve known it was you!” She sneered at him. “The notes, the poison—”
“Oh, those weren’t me.” The man laughed wickedly. “Honestly, I didn’t step into the scene until now. Oh, I have been part of all this, but I would never take credit for what unfolded in the last two weeks.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“You think I’m the mastermind of all this?” he asked and laughed again. “Oh Astoria, you poor, na?ve dear, I’m only his assistant. The mastermind of this great ploy is, well, why don’t you turn around and see for yourself?”
Astoria’s back stiffened, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. She felt someone watching her from behind.
Heart pounding in her ears, she turned. And the ground fell from beneath her when her eyes landed on him.