CHAPTER 2
Astrange, stale air filled the King’s chambers. It was so heavy and foul-smelling – the sort of smell that conjured up images of neglected bookshelves, damp houses, and what I imagined Death would look like if he was terribly old and covered in a thick layer of dust. The room’s cream walls were decorated with gold beams, just like the rest of the palace, though they stood in stark contrast to the harshly-angled darkwood furniture. Across the floors were thick, lush carpets and furs, while a gem-encrusted fireplace with a crackling fire kept the chill from the stone walls at bay.
But it was not the impressive fireplace that first caught my attention. I barely even noticed it at all, because across from the fire, tucked into the largest bed I’d ever seen, was an ancient, dying man.
His skin was deathly pale and seemed to be flaking away from his wrinkled, withered face. At first, I thought this must be a great-great-grandfather of the King. He had the same sullen brown eyes and ambitious stare as the much younger man in the portrait outside – same broad nose and thin mouth, too. But there was something so odd about the way he appeared, something almost unnatural.
As we approached, my steps just as cautious as Raena’s, a loud cough erupted from his chest, sending a small cloud of dust into the air above him. It was then that I understood why this elderly man looked so strange. I’d studied healing long enough with the village elders to know that this was no ordinary ageing.
This was a curse.
“King Ikelos,” Raena announced our presence, bowing deeply. Following her lead, I did the same.
Slowly, the old man blinked as loose cobwebs swayed from his eyelashes. “Naria,” he wheezed before pausing to cough up another dust cloud. “My dear, you’ve grown so much. It feels like only last year when I held you in my arms on that dreadful night.”
My body stiffened as if the words had bitten me. Of course, I knew all about that dreadful night. Not a day had passed in Honeymeade without someone mentioning the fire that had ravaged our kingdom. A few had been fortunate enough to escape before the flames grew out of control, but still, thousands died, along with so much of our kingdom’s history. While the village mother had always told me I’d been saved as a baby, I didn’t know until I was twelve years old that it was King Ikelos who caught me as I was dropped out of a palace window. A palace! Though I’ll admit, finding out I was a princess didn’t change much. How can it when your parents, along with most of your people, are dead and your kingdom is in ashes?
“Elowen and Benedict were such good and loyal rulers,” the King carried on, ignoring the dust that seemed to instantly reappear on his chapped lips. “Such good friends. The world hasn’t been the same since we lost them.” He sighed as his gaze met mine. “Sending you away was for your own good, you know. At first, I thought about keeping you here. Lukas was so young then, too. I could see you becoming good friends. But then I thought about your mother, dear and kind Elowen… She always spoke of how she wanted you to be educated and learn, just as she did, about all of the healing ways of Corlixir. And I knew you wouldn’t find that sort of education here. Not unless you can learn about medicine from studying in the mines.” He laughed, but it sounded more like rocks tumbling down a cliff, and I fought the urge to wince at the sight of him.
“It wasn’t easy to build a village so quickly,” he continued, despite his obvious discomfort, “but back then, your people were fighters. We all worked together to build enough houses and schools for the survivors. And while I knew those little wooden buildings wouldn’t be the most sturdy, we made sure to choose a location where you would be protected by the giant oak trees. I know it probably never felt like it, but it was all for you, really, and your dear parents. Even the village name came from those little honeybelle flowers that your mother favoured so dearly. I can only hope your time there served you well.”
After he finished, I could feel his stare searching mine for any kind of reaction. There was a hint of guilt in his voice, too. Perhaps he still felt like he hadn’t done enough.
“My people and I deeply appreciate everything you have done for us, Your Majesty,” I answered, trying my best to sound as regal as a girl could while wearing a dull peasant gown. “And I will be forever grateful that I was allowed to grow up with the rest of my people. Thanks to them, I have a true passion for the medicinal arts, just like my mother did… or so I’m told.”
A few beats of silence passed between us before I chewed my lip, considering how best to ask the question that had been on my mind since the moment we’d entered this room.
Bother it. I am a princess, after all.
“Do you know much about the curse that has plagued you?”
King Ikelos chuckled as Raena shot me a look that suggested she wanted the floor to swallow her up. “I don’t remember you being this bold when you were just a babe,” he said between laughs. “Your father was like this too, you know, straight to the point with everything. Though I’m afraid I cannot tell you much.” A thin smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t know much about what this curse is or who placed it upon me. But I’ve already met with some of the best healers in the realm and alas, it seems no one can fix this. All I know is that each day I seem to age faster and faster. With every rising sun, I feel my life slipping away.” He cleared his throat, forcing away the dust that had settled on the blankets before him. “Do not worry about me though, child. I was old anyway. And my son is more than ready to take over. Which is precisely why I summoned you, actually. We must discuss the matter of your engagement.”
My heart stopped.
Did he just say engagement?
He must’ve been mistaken, surely. Perhaps his mind was crumbling just as much as his body was. He was supposed to help me rebuild my kingdom, not marry me off to some stranger.
“Engagement?” I questioned, my voice trembling.
A loud laugh rumbled from the King’s chest. “Do not look so upset, Naria. I assure you that Lukas is a fine young man, and I have been approached by more mothers and fathers than I can count, all desperate for me to introduce him to their daughters.”
“Lukas?” I repeated, feeling my fingers go numb. “You want me to marry your son? But we’ve never even met.”
He shook his head. “Surely you understand that this is common practice for royals? Your mother and father were engaged before they’d ever spoken a word to each other, and what a fine match they turned out to be!” The King beamed, while all I could feel was the colour draining from my cheeks.
“But what if I don’t like him, or he doesn’t like me?” My voice broke. “I couldn’t do that to your son.”
“Lukas has already agreed to do what is best for Drothmore, and if you want what’s best for Corlixir, then you’ll agree to this too.” His cracked smile faded. “The truth of it all, Naria, is that your kingdom is still in ruins, and I am dying. When this damned curse first struck, I tried to begin the rebuilding efforts, but without a ruler, there is only so much I can do before I start jeopardising my own kingdom. One king cannot rule his own lands while also seeing to the rebuilding of another. But you and Lukas… If you were to marry, then not only would your safety here be guaranteed, but you could use Drothmore’s wealth to rebuild Corlixir when I am gone.”
A thin, wiry hand emerged from beneath the white bed sheets and reached for me. Reluctantly, I stepped forward, leaving Raena’s side to take the King’s frail hand in mine. As soon as we touched, I could feel the curse pulsing through him, sucking away his life essence like a leech. If only there were a way I could help him. All my years learning with the other Corlixins had taught me everything about healing but absolutely nothing about magic.
“Are you sure there is no way to break this curse? You are still young and have so many years left to rule. I don’t need to be married to help my kingdom. I can find a way without Lukas. Please, Your Majesty, do not force me to marry someone I do not know, let alone love.”
His features darkened, but before he had a chance to respond, a quiet, accented voice chimed from the edge of the room.
“The King needs his rest. It’s time for visitors to leave.”
I hadn’t noticed her before, but near the fireplace, dressed in a long pale-blue robe, was a timid-looking young woman. A blue hood concealed part of her face, and in her delicate hands was a small stone bowl filled with what seemed to be herbal medicine. When neither of us replied, she stepped towards the King, her long robe flowing with each step and again, said, “It’s time for visitors to leave.”
“Thank you Seraphina,” the King grumbled, sending a sharp warning-look her way. His hand clasped mine as he addressed me one final time. “Think about what I said, Naria, and talk to Lukas. He’ll make an excellent king someday… And a fine husband.”
I bit back the rest of the words I wanted to say as his dusty arm fell onto the bed sheets. From behind me, Lady Raena stepped forward to gently take my other hand. I hadn’t noticed, but it’d been clutching my skirt, my fingernails almost piercing through the thin brown fabric.
“It’s time to go,” she whispered.
I didn’t need to be told twice. After dipping my head respectfully, I followed her out of the grand door, leaving the foul-smelling chamber and the dying man inside it.