Chapter 5
My legs weakened at the implication of his words. “What do you mean?”
The roughened man shrugged, grabbing a stack of plates as he continued, “Been others since we been camped ’ere. Almo’ six months now.”
There had been other women who attempted to break the curse? If the king still needed me, it meant they’d failed to do it.
“How many others?” I bit out. I needed to know how they had failed so I wouldn’t.
Failure wasn’t an option.
“Lia?”
Meeting Eleanor’s wide eyes, I tamped down the panic that had surely filled my face. I forced a smile her way and rubbed my hands down my skirts again. “It’s fine, we should head back. It’s been a long day, and we’re both tired.”
“Miss Adelia!” Wistari’s scandalized call interrupted us. She hurried through the maze of fires and tables, navy skirts lifted to avoid dragging along the wet and dirty ground. “You can’t be doing that. You’re not supposed to be here. Neither of you.”
“They don’ mean no ’arm, Wista. No need to get yer ’air in a knot.”
“You. You should know better, you fool!” Wistari scolded, turning her attention on the man laden with clean dishes. “What do you think would happen if the king found her here washing dishes.”
He gave a throaty chuckle, dismissing her concerns. “He ain’t comin’ down here, and ain’t no one goin’ to tell ’em.”
“He’s not the only one,” she hissed, her gaze flicking to where Pierce stood at the edge marking the temporary kitchens, eyes trained on us.
“Pierce won’t say anything. He’s like us,” Eleanor insisted, but I kept quiet. Despite his respectfulness and the strange trust I found in him, he still worked for the king. Though, I doubted he would find any issue with us working in the kitchens. What would the king care if we were here?
“See?” the cook said, and Wistari flashed him an incredulous look. He stepped closer to her, and there was no mistaking the heat filling his gaze. “If yer so concerned, Wista, I’d ’appily let yer check me over.”
“Oh, buzz off, Fallon.” She shooed him away and ducked her head, but I caught the light tinge of pink dusting her cheeks.
Fallon nodded toward us. “Ladies, let me know if yer ever need anything. We look after our own ’ere.” Then he strolled away, taking up a cheery whistle.
Wistari shook her head after him. “Come on,” she urged, dragging us away from the temporary kitchens. “What were you thinking? Coming here. It isn’t proper for ladies.”
For the second time in two days, I was reminded of my mother scolding my unruly behavior. I scoffed, beyond annoyed. “Trust me, Wistari, I have never and will never be a lady.”
Wistari pursed her lips, but there was a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. I liked her.
“So, you and Fallon?” I asked, changing the subject. The sparkle dimmed, and I immediately regretted my words. I could practically see the walls being built around her. “I won’t say anything. Neither of us will.”
“It’s no one’s business,” Eleanor added, but it was clear her guard was already up.
I was dying to ask her about what Fallon had said, but I couldn’t with Eleanor here. I’d already shown her too much of my concern in front of Fallon. I couldn’t worry her any more.
Eleanor yawned when we reached our tents. “I’m going to turn in, Meline said she’d find some books for me to read.”
I drew her into a hug. “Will you be okay?” I murmured into her hair.
She laughed, but it was an exasperated sound. “Yes, Lia. I’ll be fine in the tent next to yours, in a camp filled with soldiers. Besides, Pierce is standing guard.”
“Actually, miss”—our guard stepped forward—“my shift will end shortly, but I have personally vetted every single man on rotation, you can trust them.”
I stared at his scarred face, seeing nothing but sincerity reflecting back at me, and surprisingly, found myself trusting his word. The moment he’d pulled me from my spiraling panic had definitely made an impression.
Wistari had already prepared a bath, and I spent far longer soaking than I ever would have dared at Port’s Tavern. The lasting effects from days traveling upon a horse then another day of walking had my legs in dire need of the relief warm water would provide.
After the bath turned cold, Wistari delivered another hearty meal consisting of tender meat and root vegetables, the flavorful food another significant improvement to our lifestyle.
It wasn’t until Wistari was fussing over the bed that I found an opportunity to question her, and I didn’t hold back, getting straight to the point.
“Fallon said there had been others.”
She paused in her movements, then placed a white garment on top of the covers, avoiding my gaze. “You should change for bed.”
I sighed. I would give her a moment, but I wasn’t going to let her leave without getting some answers. After tugging off my robe, I reached for the nightdress she placed out for me. Though the clothes were beautiful, the lacy material was almost sheer and would do nothing to hide my body.
“Wistari, what is this?”
Her gaze darted to me before she continued straightening the sheets on the already perfect bed. “Your night clothes.”
I gave an incredulous laugh. “Believe me, I have never owned something like this. I may as well sleep naked.”
Wistari’s light giggle reached me, and I turned to find her hand clasped over her mouth, eyes wide as if she’d been caught doing something treasonous.
I grinned broadly, groaning dramatically. “It’s ridiculous, right? Please tell me the king didn’t order these clothes.”
She nodded slowly, her smile still hidden behind her hand. I rolled my eyes, but my smile didn’t falter. It had been so long since I’d joked with a friend. It was nice.
“Of course he did. So long as he doesn’t expect me to wear them for him, I guess.” I pulled the sheer cloth on and laughed again when it did exactly as expected—not cover me at all.
“Where are my clothes?” I asked Wistari, who had schooled her expression, though that sparkle had returned to her eyes.
“They’re being cleaned, Miss Adelia.”
“But I’ll get them back?” As much as the dresses were beautiful, they were a farce, a veil to hide my origins, my true nature. Besides, I would be much more comfortable in my own clothes. The last thing I wanted was to owe the king something.
She nodded, then patted the smooth sheets, indicating I get in. I crossed my arms over my chest. I had given her a moment, and I wanted answers. Now. “What did Fallon mean? About the others?”
She wrung her hands, looking anywhere but at me. I only waited; I’d raised Eleanor through her most stubborn years, I could be patient.
Finally, she sighed, shoulders slumping as she met my eyes. “You’re different.”
Not the words I expected. I opened my mouth, ready to demand the truth, but she continued, “There have been five before you. They all came here expecting to marry the king. He takes them into the forest, and when they return …” Her eyes dimmed, lips trembling slightly.
“They aren’t the same. Babbling nonsense.
The terror in their eyes … They saw something. Something that warped their minds.”
My heart thundered painfully against my ribs. “What happened to them?” My words were barely a whisper, and I sagged on the bed, my unsteady legs unable to hold me up.
“We don’t know. The king sent them away.”
Her voice was far away, and my vision swam, darkening at the edges.
Count, Lia.
My father’s words echoed in my mind, and I tried to listen, but my own thoughts overrode them.
One.
Five women had tried to break the curse, and five women had failed.
Two.
I would be next. What could I possibly possess that they didn’t? A poor tavern wench. No magic. No skills. Nothing that could save armies. Save lives.
Three.
And Eleanor—what would happen to her if insanity took me?
My chest constricted as all the doubts I’d pushed away flooded me. I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t strong or brave.
I’m not enough. I would fail.
“Miss Adelia, you need to breathe.” Wistari’s muffled words reached me, and I blinked, trying to bring her into focus. She tilted. No, I tilted.
Then my vision went black.
I rose to consciousness with soft hands pressed against my cheeks. Blinking through the haze, I met panicked brown eyes. Strands of honey hair framed Wistari’s face hovering over me. My vision cleared and she exhaled shakily. “Miss Adelia? Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. I’m sorry, that attack has been creeping up on me all day.” I shouldn’t have pressed her for the truth, should have known it had a high probability of sending me spiraling, even if I did need to know. I was lucky I had been on the bed when I lost consciousness.
I pushed myself upright, and she passed me a cup of water with trembling hands.
“Are you sure you’re okay? Should I fetch a healer?”
“No!” I cringed at my loud rebuttal. The last thing we needed was to draw attention from someone outside. “No,” I repeated, quieter this time. “I’m fine, Wistari. I promise.”
She nodded slowly, then after returning the cup to the small table beside the bed, she took my hands in hers and squeezed.
“You’re different. Those other women were of noble birth or upper class.
But you …” No wonder we hadn’t heard about the king’s search for a maiden before Toreshire; he’d been looking in the noble houses.
“You understand the hardness of this land. I can see it in your eyes, Miss Adelia, your ghosts haunt you.”
I stiffened, feeling more exposed than I had in the sheer nightdress. It’s as if she had taken a knife and carved at my insides, revealing my blackened soul.
“You’ll succeed, I know it,” she whispered, then urged me to lie back to tuck me in.
I didn’t believe her words, but I appreciated the sentiment. I had only known this woman a few days, and she already saw more than those who had known me for years. Past my walls to the deep scars tarnishing me—the kind not visible on the outside.
“Tomorrow, the king will request you join him for your midday meal, use it to your advantage.” Her words were a warning and an opportunity. I could wither in my despair and let it consume me into ultimate failure, or I could fight. Fight for my freedom, my life, Eleanor.
And I would.
“Thank you, Wistari.” Emotion clogged my throat, my voice raw with it.
“Call me Wista,” she murmured, sending me a small smile I returned.
I wanted to offer her the same, to allow her to call me Lia, but I couldn’t. Not with the memories that name pulled from me every time Eleanor used it.
“Then you must dispense the title. We’ve already established I’m not a lady.”
She chuckled before she doused the lamp, flooding the tent with darkness.
The day had brought many new revelations, most of them bad. Others, though, were good, like the friendship I found in Wistari.
Wista.
Something I hadn’t ever experienced. All my life, I had been alone. Even before our parents died, I had been the oddball, the weird girl who followed her father as he delivered his handcrafted furniture. The other children hadn’t liked me, only Eleanor, but she didn’t count.
I would do as she said. When I met with the king, I’d find out more about the curse, about what he expected from me, so I could prepare, because I wouldn’t fail.