5. Beatriz
Chapter 5
Beatriz
Sunlight bathed my bedroom with the promise of a cheerier day. I sat in a cushioned chair at my small desk and read over Zichri’s words. His last letter had been a childhood story where Agustín, his eldest brother, tricked Hugo and Zichri into believing the baker had stuffed insects into their favorite pastries. I chuckled, imagining the two younger brothers inspecting their food and trying to keep face while consuming their buggy treats.
I dipped my quill in ink and considered my message. Though I would have loved to have written about something of a more joyous nature, I had to tell him about Monserrat. But my whole arm shook when I tried to write it.
The quill fell from my grip, spotting the paper with ink puddles. This must be the workings of a curse within the message itself. I lifted the quill again, forcing a stroke onto the page, but again my forearm muscles tightened. My blood boiled. How could Monserrat curse me so after acting like a friend?
Instead, I decided to write a story.
A warm breeze rattled the doors to my terrace, punctuating the fire in my veins. Every bit of my frustration translated into the quick strokes, although the actual message was unremarkable. How I wished to tell him my dilemmas, but I didn’t have the heart to disclose my papá’s most recent ultimatum, nor could I write about Monserrat’s letters.
Laude bounced into my bedroom like she did each morning and leaned over my shoulder, her red curls tickling the top of my left ear. When I glanced up at her, I caught the hint of a dark ring under her eyes, as if she’d been up half the night. Was she having strange nightmares again?
Before I could question her, she asked, “What are you writing to Prince Zichri ?” The obnoxious way she sang his name grated against my sensibilities, but I wouldn’t ask her to stop, especially since her friendship had become a balm in my season of waiting.
I scribbled the rest of my sentence and dotted the period. “I’m telling him a story about my favorite pastry shop.”
“Well, that’s boring.” She plopped backward onto my shimmery-blue bed covers with a smile embedded on her freckly cheeks.
My eyebrow rose instinctually. “Laude.” A reprimanding tone marked my voice. “You still need to exhibit lady-like behavior, even if it’s only the two of us in my bedroom. What if a maid entered?”
She sat up and smoothed the wrinkles from her sunshine-yellow dress. “Then, they’d think I’m having the time of my life instead of caring about how all of them hate me.”
Ever since Laude’s position had been elevated to a lady-in-waiting from a lowly maid, the other maids refused to be cordial with her. Anger writhed in my chest at the thought of their cruelty, but I held my tongue on the matter. There was no forcing others to be kind, even if their actions ignited my ire. My mostly dormant gifting tended to pulse with every slight toward Laude.
I stowed my unfinished story in my desk drawer and got to my feet. “Perhaps you’d like to go with me on a mission.”
Laude shot to her feet and scrunched her nose with excitement. “Are we headed to a forbidden valley?”
If only marching into dangerous territory would solve my problems. I faced the full-length mirror and caught sight of my eyelids, puffy from crying all night after my less-than-successful attempt to gain my father’s favor for Zichri. No number of braids in my hair or rosy flower tiaras could hide the evidence. I smoothed my flowing pink dress and adjusted its poofy sleeves. When it came to convincing my brother to skirt around the truth with Mamá and Papá, I had to appear confident and present a delectable argument. I pressed my lips together in a perfect pout.
“Princess? Are we truly going on a mission into the valley again?” Laude clutched the ruffles along her neckline, a nervous gesture.
“No, I’m sorry. I got lost in thought. We’re going to convince Cosme to lie for me.”
She chuckled. “That’s a relief. I’ve dreamt of drowning ever since my near-death experience in those treacherous waters. But asking Cosme to lie?” She let out a long whistle.
“Cosme will help me.” I strode toward my bedroom door. “I have inf—” Again, my tongue tightened at the thought of speaking about the letters. I’d have to shove them into his hands like Monserrat had done to me. Then again, Cosme would have to agree to help me first. I sped into the passageway, and Laude skipped to catch up, a hesitant smile stretched across her face.
I ignored her lack of confidence in my plan, evident in her expression, and continued my march down the corridor lined with paintings depicting the genesis of our lands and powers. Somehow, the illustrated story provoked a solemn ambience. Bright hues captured the children arriving at Valle de los Fantasmas from a dying world. Another revealed the split. One group left for the north with powerful relics which subdued their natural giftings. The others trekked south to the Agata Sea, where we maintained our giftings from the Ancient One. A warning from the earliest tomes was scrawled on the last painting: Where power gathers, responsibility increases, as does greed.
The somber mood the art produced dissipated the moment we turned a corner in front of the back stairwell. My mission to enlist Cosme to my cause pushed me forward.
Laude broke the silence. “You know he will never lie for you because he prides himself on being discreet and the image of truthfulness.”
“This is a matter of fairness. Mamá and Papá insist on Zichri procuring a treaty, even though many of his people consider him a Himzo traitor. Zichri’s brothers are power-hungry fools who will never bend unless we hand them Giddel on a platter.” I turned a corner. “Laude, how can Cosme not see that Zichri isn’t our enemy? The law that only allows marriage within allied kingdoms is unreasonable in this situation.”
“You don’t need to convince me.” Laude strolled with a firm smirk in place.
“But Laude, Cosme must agree. What if you couldn’t see Jaime?”
She paused mid-step in thought and then continued with a bouncy stride. “It would be a shame.”
“A shame?” The indignation in my voice rose an octave. “You’d be beside yourself, longing to see him.”
Loose curls bobbed around her face, though the tightly braided bun at the top of her head remained in place.
“Admit it. You’d even dare enter the King’s Corridor in the middle of the night too.” I turned left, following the passageway toward the main terrace, where announcements were made.
“Princess, you misunderstand my sentiments. I’m happy to be able to marry at all. It’s more than I ever dreamed. Now that Jaime is Zichri’s official messenger, I receive a double portion of favor from the Ancient One.”
“Fine. What you say is true.” I stopped in front of the passageway leading to Cosme’s wing of the palace.
Laude squared up to me, meeting my gaze with her crystal-blue eyes. “Hmm? Why are you so distressed?”
I let out a slow breath. “Will Cosme fib for me?”
“About what?”
“Me using my gift with him and the rest of the Dotados. Papá said he’d give Zichri permission to enter his land if I learned to use my gift.”
“Ahhh … now I understand.” She bobbed her head and backstepped.
“Tell me he will.”
She let out an airy giggle and started toward Cosme’s quarters.
“Laude, any boost of confidence will help at present.”
“Do you want me to lie to you?” She waved for me to follow her.
“You are insufferable.”
“I know, and yet for some reason, you keep requesting my company.” She flashed her teeth in a dazzling grin.
“What’s the point of bothering Cosme if he won’t help? We should start our studies on the Agata Sea history or continue our designs for the new garden.”
She looped her arm through mine, tugging me toward Cosme’s quarters. “He’ll never lie for you to the king and queen, but perhaps you should ask him more questions.”
Begrudgingly, I trudged along the last several paces and let Laude knock on the white door with simple yet refined molding. Several seconds passed.
“He didn’t answer.” I spun away, ready to retreat, and happy for an excuse to do so.
Laude twisted me back. “And you thought I was insufferable. Give the prince a chance to button his tunic or whatever he does in there.”
The door creaked open.
Cosme’s dark eyes appeared, round and surprised. After a second, his face settled into his usual, cocky expression. He squeezed through the cracked opening, ridiculous in his unwillingness to allow me to see the secrets within his chamber, and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. Grass fell from his cropped hair. Stains marked his haphazard white tunic, and wet mud coated his boots. Not to mention, a healthy stink radiated off his person.
My tongue curled with a curt question about his recent whereabouts, but I bit back my curiosity. Cosme always looked as if he’d trekked across a jungle, and he always brushed off my many questions with “it’s Dotado business.”
“What brings you to my lair?” Cosme combed his fingers through his hair and side-glanced at Laude.
“I want to join your Dotados.” My chin remained in the high position like I’d practiced.
His eyebrows furrowed. “You are part of our group.”
“No, I am not.” I leaned forward and pushed the door open.
Cosme caught the wooden edge, blocking my way.
“I hardly call attending a beach swim with your friends being part of your enclave of spies.”
Laude crossed her arms, gnawing on her bottom lip. Wasn’t she supposed to bolster my confidence?
Cosme chuckled. “You haven’t a gift to offer. Am I correct?”
I bit the insides of my cheeks.
“Papá told me to keep you safe.” Cosme shrugged. “How am I supposed to protect you if you’re spying with us and can’t even fight?”
“Yet, Papá wants me more involved in kingdom affairs.”
He chuckled. “You are keeping my betrothed company tonight. That’s something.”
I rolled my shoulders back. This was it. “Then, perhaps, you might want to tell Papá about all the kingdom work I do with you using my gifting.” I winked. “You’d get Papá to stop bothering you, and I’d have time with Prince Zichri.” I reached for my sleeve pocket, unsure if this was the opportune time to tell him of Monserrat’s father’s betrayal.
His expression sobered.
The extra information about Zichri may not have been the best idea.
“Beatriz,” Cosme had the timbre of a light scold, “I don’t even know what you can do.”
“I can feel other people’s emotions and sometimes things happen.” I squeezed my arm over the bulk of letters within my garment's secret compartment. “You saw what occurred last time.”
“No, I didn’t see what happened. I only saw Prince Lux’s corp—”
One sharp look from me got him to shut his mouth, but the damage was done. My stomach became an angry beehive, and I let go of my sleeve. “Then you know I’m dangerous.”
Sympathy drooped the corners of his eyes. “I will not lie to Papá and Mamá for you. It might be time you learned about that part of who you are.”
Tingles raced up and down my arms, aching to release the power. “No.”
“Then have it your way. I’m not willing to spin fake truths.”
“Is that Beatriz?” asked a familiar voice from within my brother’s sitting area.
Fantastic. I get rejected and Cosme’s ever-present friend is here to console me. I whirled around, grunted, and strode several paces. Why did I even bother? He never cared about my situation in the past. Part of me longed to shove Monserrat’s part in the betrayal in his face, and the other part wanted to use the information in my sleeve to prove I was a contributing member of his spy group. Guilt wrangled my insides at my horrible thoughts.
Forgive me, Ancient One , I prayed. How can I ever be good enough when I am who I am?
Whispers echoed through the passage, and I noticed Laude hadn’t retreated with me. She spoke to Cosme and Lucas in hushed tones in a conspiratorial fashion.
“Laude,” I called to her, “are you coming?”
“I’m going to borrow her for a minute.” Cosme released his iron grip on the door to usher her into his quarters and let Lucas out.
She met my gaze. “Don’t worry, Princess, I’ll be back quicker than it takes me to braid your hair.”
The door slammed shut leaving Cosme and Laude in his sitting room, the headquarters of the Dotados, and Lucas in the corridor with me. Laude took an excruciating amount of time to braid my hair, so I wasn’t sure how long she anticipated being away. Several other Dotados always accompanied Cosme, so I didn’t need to worry about Laude’s reputation, but why wasn’t I invited? I remained shut out. A hollowness settled through my body like I was a husk, moping about the corridors of the castle.
“May I accompany you, Your Majesty?” Lucas caught up to me wearing the expression you’d find on a cheerful puppy.
A reflexive eye roll shot up and around, but I nodded despite myself.
Lucas had been around when we were younger and disappeared for many years. I hadn’t recognized him when we'd danced at my special ceremonia months ago. The last time I had seen him, he’d had rounded cheeks and a shy personality. But these past few months had sparked old memories. Now, he seemed to always have an extra flicker of light in his blue eyes when he saw me.
We strode in amicable silence, which I much preferred to conversation since my mind whirred with its own questions. Why did Laude get to sit with the Dotados in one of their special meetings? And why didn’t she seem fazed at Cosme’s abrupt invitation?
If Cosme could keep secrets from me, I could keep him in the dark about certain details too. I patted my sleeve pocket, started toward the stairs, and an idea bloomed.
“Would you like a walk about the garden?” Lucas kept in step.
“No, I have another idea.”
Laude couldn’t hold her tongue once she started talking. I might have to pick up her favorite encanelados , the ones from the candy store that coated the walnuts in sugar and caramel just right. She’d spill every last secret.