Chapter 14
Lucy: A Magical Exchange
They worked in comfortable silence for the better part of the allotted time. However, an hour before judging was to begin, there was a knock on the door.
Lucy and Sebastian shared a look, and Sebastian shrugged. “Come in,” he hollered, before focusing back on the embellishments he was stitching.
Lucy put aside her paintings just as the door opened and Emperor Zoun and Han entered, accompanied by a figure that she didn’t expect: Robin Hood, leader of the Sherwood Company. Her eyes popped as he entered, but he gave a subtle shake of his head as the trio approached.
“So, your highness, may I present the team from Moyar,” Han said. “Lord Damien and Lady Donatella Lee, I presume.”
“Er, no,” Sebastian said. “No, they’re…indisposed. I’m Sebastian Doyle, and this is Lucy Savage. We’re their assistants.”
The emperor frowned. “Assistants?” he repeated. “I thought their assistants were foxed.”
“No, neither of us has had a drink all day, though I wouldn’t say no to a fairy wine once this is all over,” Sebastian said. Lucy rolled her eyes at the attempt at humor. “No, I’m quite certain we’re the assistants.”
The emperor turned to his advisor. “Look into this, will you?”
“Of course, your highness,” Han stuttered.
“In any case, Mr. Doyle, we’ll be the judges for this competition.
You’ve already met the emperor, but I am Han Nakano, and this is our guest judge, Prince Robert Locksley of Hopka.
” He gestured to Robin. “Doubtless you’ve heard of his brother, the crown prince, and his extraordinary love for the…
exotic styles across the sea in Talon. Sadly, Prince Christopher had other pressing engagements, so he sent his brother in his stead. ”
Lucy could not say she’d heard of the aforementioned Prince Christopher, but Sebastian was nodding in comprehension. “We are honored, your highnesses,” he said with a low bow. He shot a glare to where Lucy stood, frozen, and, belatedly, she remembered she was meant to curtsy.
“No need for formalities, Mr. Doyle,” Robin said, a smile playing about his lips. “Tell us, what are you working on?”
“When you entered, I was stitching designs of a crescent moon along the edges of the robe, which will pull in the silver of the tunic I’ve already completed,” Sebastian said, pointing to where the tunic and breeches were hanging across the room.
“Lucy is working on more detailed decorations, which will cover the rest of the robe.”
Robin crossed the room until he was standing in front of Lucy. “May I see said decorations?” he asked.
Wordlessly, Lucy nodded and motioned to the parchments she’d been painting. “Be careful. Some of the paint is still wet,” she said, realizing her mistake far too late.
“I won’t touch, I promise,” Robin said, bending over the parchments. Softly, so that the others couldn’t hear him, he whispered, “So, Red Riding Hood’s name is Lucy. The bite you gave me is still painful, by the way.”
“Well, you shouldn’t go accosting people in the woods if you don’t want to get bitten,” Lucy whispered back.
A smile played around the prince’s lips.
“Well played, Red. In truth, I wasn’t expecting you to feel that we’d accosted you.
According to my men, Mr. Doyle there had kidnapped you and was forcing you to accompany him.
That’s why I agreed to come play judge in my brother’s place; I wanted to ensure that you were safe and not being coerced. ”
“Sebastian has never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do,” Lucy told him. “You can rest assured, I am perfectly safe with him.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Han asked, coming to join them.
“I was discussing the loveliness of Ms. Savage’s designs.
I’ve never seen someone replicated the wonders of the aurora borealis in such detail before.
And to do it in only a matter of hours is most impressive,” Robin said, gesturing to the parchments before him.
Lucy stared at him. Very few people had seen the northern lights in Moyar, and, she suspected, even fewer had in the western kingdom of Hopka.
But the young prince spoke of them as if he’d seen them in person.
Han stepped closer. “Indeed, your highness. But, I confess, I am confused. You are painting on parchment. Shouldn’t you be painting on the robe itself?”
“We are going to attempt a technique that not many have tried, if anyone has at all,” Sebastian said, coming to join them.
“I certainly can’t remember anyone attempting it, though I haven’t been able to keep up with the latest fashions until recently.
” He turned to Lucy. “Which of your paintings is driest?”
Lucy considered and chose the first one she’d worked on. It had hues of greens, violets, silvers, and blues, all swirling together like the skies had taken leave of their senses and chosen to dance instead. Sebastian’s eyes lit up looking at it, and he couldn’t help but gasp.
“A fine performance, Mr. Doyle. Anyone would think that you’d never seen the woman’s work before,” the emperor said, studying the art with calculating eyes.
“It’s not that, your highness,” Sebastian said, his voice half an octave higher than usual. “Of course I’ve seen her work before. But every time she allows me to see another one of her creations, it gives me additional pleasure. She has truly come into her own with this piece.”
The emperor tore his eyes away from her painting. “Well said, sir. Now, let us see this technique you’ve told us about.”
Sebastian nodded and flicked his wrist. The painting floated off the parchment at his command, writhing and whirling around him like a snake circling its prey.
He ignored it, crossing to the robe he’d been working on moments before.
He paused for a moment, considering, then nodded and carefully flipped the robe over with his non-dominant hand.
Then, he made a motion with the one controlling the paints.
At his command, the paintings settled on the fabric, looking for all the world like it belonged there.
For a moment, no one spoke, entranced by what they had just witnessed.
Then, the emperor applauded. “What a show you have put on for us, Mr. Doyle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a design technique like that.
Certainly not from the designers who claim to employ you.
I admit, I was not expecting much from Moyar, but you have intrigued me.
I look forward to seeing the final product. ”
With those words, he strode out of the studio, his advisor scuttling behind him. Robin remained a moment longer. “Well, I can say one thing for sure: my brother will be quite disappointed that his missed this. Quite disappointed indeed.” He laughed as he hurried to join his companions.
Once they were gone, Sebastian approached her. “Are all your paintings like these?” he asked, his voice husky. “So entrancingly beautiful and full of magic?”
Lucy lowered her head. He wouldn’t think her work was so beautiful if he could see the paintings that had taken hold of her after the werewolf had…
no, she wouldn’t think of it. Not when she was with him.
“No, most of them aren’t,” she admitted.
“They’re usually a little darker.” A lot darker.
“But I don’t think the emperor would have appreciated any of them.
He strikes me as a fellow who prizes light and beauty and indulgence over the terrors of the world. ”
Sebastian cocked his head. “The terrors of the world?” He stepped closer.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you afraid.
What frightens you so much that you have to immortalize it with oil, canvas, and parchment?
” His face darkened. Was it a trick of the firelight, or perhaps a flash of anger?
Regardless, it reminded Lucy starkly of moments she wished she forget. Hastily, she backed away from him.
“No…nothing, of course,” Lucy said, bending over the last painting she’d been working on before their interruption. “We should get back to work. We have a lot to do before judging.”
“Lucy.” Sebastian lifted her chin. “If someone has done something or said something that frightened you, you can tell me. I won’t judge you, and I’ll find a way to put a stop to it. You have my word on that.”
“Would you? Even if it was someone you knew?” Lucy asked, her voice fragile in her own ears.
“Especially then. Even if it were my father, I’d find a way to help you,” Sebastian said. His eyes glimmered with something she wouldn’t name.
For a moment, she considered telling him.
Confessing what had happened that night in the glade, revealing all that she’d been through in the years since they separated.
But reality came crashing down on her before she could open her mouth.
He couldn’t protect her. And she didn’t need his help.
She’d disappear as soon as the contest was over.
Instead, she forced a smile. “I’ll tell you after we succeed in our mission.” She motioned to the paintings she’d been working on. “These should be ready for you to work your magic on.”
Sebastian nodded his thanks. “I should be fine on my own for a while. Why don’t you go see if you can find one of our horses so you can go check on your gran?”
Lucy froze, glancing up at the full moon hovering in the sky. “I…I’ll help you with the final touches. After all, I’ve already abandoned you once today. I don’t want to be accused of doing it a second time.”
Sebastian followed her gaze. “Very well,” he said. “Can you check the tunic to make sure I didn’t leave behind any loose threads?”
Lucy ripped her eyes away from the moon to gape at him. “You? Leave loose threads? Never.”
Sebastian gave a sardonic smile. “Touche, vixen.” He waved his hands and the images on the parchments rose into the air. He crossed back to the robe he was working on. “What were you and the prince talking about? From what I could see, it didn’t look to be a discussion about paintings.”
“It wasn’t,” Lucy said, following in his wake. “We were talking about…about where we may have met prior to the competition.”
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. “You’ve met him before then?”
“Once or twice. And before you ask, no, I won’t tell you where.” Lucy perched on a nearby stool and watched as he began arranging her images on his silken creation. “I’m not even sure you’d believe me.”
“Does it have to do with why you were stealing from Oliver the day we met again?” His tone was almost nonchalant, though she could see the rigidness of his posture, his barely suppressed anger. He glanced up at her as he attempted to rotate the painting slightly “Well, does it?”
Lucy swallowed hard. “Why would you think that?” she asked, careful to avoid the question. She was not an adept liar, and Thaddeus’s warnings echoed in her mind.
“Because you’ve never been to Hopka,” Sebastian said, looking up from his work.
“So it’s unlikely you met him there. And it’s equally unlikely that a prince would have come to the Moonwood Glade.
So that leaves the capital city earlier this week or Farraday during our time there.
But the princes of Hopka famously never attend Farraday.
” He shrugged. “So, how did you come across the prince, and what does it have to do with you attempting to steal from the duke?”
Lucy’s heart hammered in her chest. “I…I can’t tell you that.”
“Why not?” Sebastian demanded. He’d left the robe and was now standing in front of her. “Why won’t you just tell me?”
“Because it’s not safe! If I tell you, I’m putting myself and everyone I know in danger!” Lucy burst out, slamming her brush on the table. Green paint splattered across the wood.
Sebastian took a step back, startled. He studied her face, concern in his amber eyes. “Lucy—”
She reddened and ducked her head. “I’m sorry.” With those words, she dashed from the room, praying that Sebastian would not follow her.