Chapter Fifteen

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Chapter Fifteen

I barely had any sleep that night. The storm outside was still raging like a wild herd of horses when I woke up the next day. Its fearsome winds aptly described how I was feeling: tumultuous. In the confines of my study, the wind would have created a soothing rhythm had my mind been calm. But my mind was not calm.

When the tomte had disappeared, the rest of the world was set back into motion, and Titus was free to move around. To keep him from asking questions (because, frankly, his interrogations were painful), I told him that he blacked out when the tomte entered. For some reason, he actually believed me and became somewhat panicked. To my joy, he wanted to leave the stable immediately. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t going to complain.

All of these secrets aggravated me. Nezira and now the tomte were keeping information from me. And Philippa was too busy for me to get the answers I so desperately wanted. Apparently, talking to magical creatures had something to do with the balance of the world. And with me.

I shuffled my writing papers into a neat stack and exited my study. The column I wrote for the tribune petitioned Nezira’s innocence. I would be given an enormous amount of grief and hate mail, but if I could spread my influence to prove that the nymph was free of guilt, I would do anything in my power to do so.

Clarice’s lesson was this morning, but I wasn’t looking forward to it. I felt like a badger having a bad day. Leaving my house was going to be a pain in the backside, but I had to go to the castle today because I had an important errand to complete. Philippa told me to speak with Nezira today, and that was exactly what I had been waiting for.

That nymph knew something about me, and if I could get information out of her, then this stupid mystery would be solved. I hated mysteries and puzzles. They were a waste of my time.

I grabbed my cloak and suited up to enter the outside world again. I had a firm plan in my mind, and it would take everything I had to make it work.

I unbolted the seven locks binding my door and opened it, revealing a tycoon of wind. The streets were in turmoil. Loose papers flew across the cobblestone, and flower pots that people neglected to hide before the windstorm lay broken on the ground. A sign flew off its hinges and broke a window, eliciting several shrieks from inside the unfortunate house.

Windstorms were dangerous if you didn’t know how to handle them.

Thanks to Mother, though, I was expertly trained on how to maneuver through one of Aria’s windstorms.

I closed the door and clutched the messenger bag to my chest, keeping my head down as I dashed towards the main road to the market. The wind was blowing from the east, making it hard for my northern route. Even so, I continued on. The buildings on either side of the main road acted as windbreakers, but the violent wind seemed to blow right through the wooden structures. I avoided broken vendor booths and the shattered glass that was scattered across the cobblestone street.

I reached the marketplace without much difficulty. The stalls were boarded up for protection, but some wood pieces still managed to break free from their hinges. I ducked as one came flying past my head, narrowly missing my nose. I bolted across the open area and made it safely to the other side. Now there was only the road to the city square, then the main bridge to the castle.

The city square looked far worse than the marketplace. The tavern’s furniture was strewn all about, and part of the fountain in the square was broken off. Suddenly, the wind picked up speed, and I heard thunder in the distance. Rain was coming. If I had known that this would turn into a thunderstorm, I wouldn’t have stepped foot outside my house. But I had come this far, so there was no turning back.

I made it to the bridge just as a chair hurtled towards me. I hit the cobblestone so hard in my attempt to dodge the chair that my vision blackened briefly. I looked up just in time to see the chair fly over the main bridge and land with a loud splash in the water.

Well, at least the naiads could sit underwater now.

Across the bridge, the towering castle gates beckoned enticingly. I ran as hard as I possibly could, my feet throbbing painfully from the incessant thudding against the pavement.

“Open the gates!” A loud crack of thunder drowned out my cry for help. I shouted over and over for the guards to open the gates, but there was no response. A rolling thundercloud was fast approaching on the horizon, cloaking the land beneath it in darkness. The cloud stabbed fear into my heart, although I didn’t know why. There was something eerie about the cloud, as if it would consume everything in its path. The thunder rumbled deeply, resonating across the water. It only made me pound harder on the gates.

“Please, someone open the—”

“That you, Ms. Lannie?”

Thank goodness. I spotted a familiar man with sideburns open the door of the castle. “Yes, it’s Lannie! Please open the gates!”

Maddox dashed outside the castle and cranked open the gates. “What made you think you could walk away alive in this bloody storm?” he hollered over the wind as he guided me inside the castle. Maddox closed the door behind us, sealing away the vehement windstorm.

The servants and guards in the entrance hall passed by with piqued interest, but no one was brave enough to ask questions. I had to calm my rapid breathing before answering Maddox. “I…had an appointment with the duchess’ daughter, of course. Wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

Maddox smirked—the most I would ever get out of this near-emotionless man. “Sure you wouldn’t.” He motioned to the staircase that led to the lesson room. “Lady Clarice should be upstairs.”

I thanked him and made my way up the stairs, straightening my outfit as I mounted the crimson steps. The storm outside made a cacophonous racket despite the thick walls of the castle. The sound was unnerving, and I didn’t know if Clarice would be able to focus on our lesson today. Still, this castle was a safe haven. Almost like a second ho— I startled myself. I had almost come to think of this castle as my home. Those are foolish thoughts, Lannie.

I shook my head and continued on my way to the lesson room. The location of the room was simple, but the ridiculous amount of corridors and stairs I had to traverse made it difficult. I often succeeded in getting lost in the vast hallways.

As luck would have it, today was one of those very successful days.

“I could’ve sworn I took the left hall,” I muttered to myself, glancing down a corridor that looked exactly like the one I had just exited. “Or was I supposed to take the right one?” I heaved a sigh. It wouldn’t be too bad; I would simply ask a guard who knew the layout of the castle. That, however, proved to be a problem because I couldn’t find any guards. The halls were empty. Again. Even so, the reason for the emptiness was probably because of the king. He arrived at the castle yesterday, so the guards were probably protecting him like fearsome hound dogs.

All of these blasted halls looked the same! Disgusting red carpet, plain stone walls, paintings of overweight nobles and their animals. At least ten minutes had passed since I had gotten lost. The evens were never in my favor, it seemed. As I was about to give up hope, I heard the faint echoing of voices. Finally!

I walked at a brisk pace toward the sounds, which gradually became louder. The origin of the voices came from an insignificant door at the end of a hall. I hesitated before I opened the door to the room. What would I say? Oh, hello. I’m one of those wandering idiots who can never seem to find their way in this castle, so I decided to barge into your room while you were having a conversation and ask if one of you could be my tour guide.

Yes, that sounded perfect. I rubbed my temple fiercely, thinking about what I would say to the people behind the door. I jumped when I heard a familiar voice.

“…but it’s impossible!”

The voice was clear and soft, and was tinged with a Baluan accent. I narrowed my eyes. Was that Kasib? I thought he was in Nor.

“I don’t care what you have to do,” another voice said, thick and guttural, as if the speaker had a sore throat. “This needs to be done before the next two moons.”

“Understood.” Supposedly-Kasib’s reply was strained. It suddenly hit me that they were finished speaking. I looked around for an exit, but the only possible escape was the window and the myriad of halls behind me. I hesitated a second too long to dash down the hall. The door opened with the squeaking of hinges, and I stopped in my tracks.

“Why, hello there.”

Crap. I turned, expecting Kasib. But the man in front of me was not Kasib Tierce.

It was the king.

                                                ————————

“Yo—your Majesty!” I curtsied, but fumbled when I realized that I wasn’t wearing a skirt.

The man in front of me, though short, was intimidating. Gavin De Luca’s sharp features contrasted Titus’ by a long shot, and his cobalt blue eyes were keen and bright, as if they could puncture through a wall of stone.

I felt my knees tremble, but my apprehension lessened when the king smiled a big, hearty smile. His dark brown hair was styled in perfect waves—Titus tended to keep his messy and, in my opinion, highly un-Royal and…unattractive.

I must have been mistaken about Kasib. It was likely that the king had visitors from Balua; they were probably Baluan guards who escorted the king here.

“And who might you be?” he asked kindly.

“Lannie Brackenbury, sire.” I clenched the pendant on my blouse to keep my hands from shaking, only to find it warm beneath my touch. The king wore a dark blue tunic that was covered with a finely-made leather jerkin. No one would mistake him for a mere servant. Titus looked more like him than I had realized, although the prince had softer features. And no beard.

“You must be the tutor!” He walked forward and extended his hand, which I accepted, nearly having my arm ripped off from his manly shake. Wasn’t bowing the customary greeting? Nor must have had too much of an influence on the king. Or was shaking hands Balua’s custom? I didn’t know. The king released my hand. “I’ve heard many things about you from my wife already.”

“You…have?” The queen was speaking about me to her husband—who happened to be the king? Why in Aria’s name would she do that? I was only a tutor!

“Yes.” He smiled. The king’s eyes flickered to the door behind him, then back to me. “What are you doing in these halls? Are you lost?”

“Well, yes. I am. I heard voices and came this way. But I didn’t know it was Your Majesty behind the door. I apologize.” I bowed briefly. Even though he was a Royal, I still had to be respectful. Who knew what the king would do to me if I talked back to him? “I’ll leave immediately, sire.”

“No, no, no. I would love to take you around,” he said, smiling that familiar smile I always saw plastered over Titus’ face. “Where do you need to go?”

No.

There was no way that I was going to have the King of Aria be my escort. That simply wasn’t done. “It’s okay,” I replied. “I can handle getting there myself. It’s not that far, sire.” I was lying through my teeth to the king himself.

“Nonsense.” He waved a hand and beckoned for me to follow, clearly indicating that I didn’t have a choice in the matter. “Now where to?”

                                                ————————

“Your Majesty,” I tried after we had been walking for some time, “I am perfectly capable of making it to the lesson room myself. I know where we are now.” That last part was a lie, but I wasn’t about to tell the king that. I just couldn’t bear this anymore. It was so…inappropriate for a simple tutor to be escorted by the king. And there weren’t even guards to protect him!

“Nonsense.” Apparently, everything I said was “nonsense” to the king. “I enjoy lending others a hand when they are in need. What is a king for?” He smiled at me charmingly, reminding me too much of Titus.

Leading a tutor through halls was reserved for servants, but the king didn’t seem to mind at all. Philippa and Titus didn’t pay attention to social class either. What was wrong with these Royals?

“My son is rather fond of you,” the king said, jolting me out of my thoughts. I stared at him, eyebrows raised in surprise as he went on, “I sincerely want to thank you, Ms. Brackenbury. For some reason, Titus has a difficult time making friends here.”

I nodded mutely, even though I had no idea what he was thanking me for. I had done nothing. Fate had been cruel to me, and constantly stuck me with that prince. Not that I hated being with him. And not that I liked being with him either. I shook my head. I didn’t choose to be his friend, if that’s what we were.

We rounded a corner and entered a hall I had never been to before. The walls were furnished with various paintings depicting great and terrible things. I cringed at one picture. Sirens—so painfully beautiful, yet deadlier than poison—called longingly to sailors; their false, wicked smiles promised hope and forgiveness. One siren dove beneath the sea with her long, glistening tail; a drowning sailor was clutched tightly to her chest. The painting was titled: Into the Lying Abyss We Go

A fitting name, considering everything.

“This is the Hall of Paintings,” the king explained as he walked with me down the center.

I rolled my eyes, but said nothing. Couldn’t they have come up with a better name than that? We passed a particularly large painting. It showed a placid blue sea with a magnificent beast in the water. “What’s that?” I pointed to the expertly rendered sea serpent in the picture.

“That’s an Orandine.” King Gavin’s tone had a harsh note to it. “They were once a great species. Until…”

The king trailed off, making me glance at him. “What happened?”

His face had a far-off look, as if he were contemplating something long gone from this era. “My…father was assassinated by an Orandine.”

I looked at the picture again, inspecting the curved fins and beautiful scales of the beast. It looked like a grand piece of artwork; the scales were brilliantly colored with every hue of the rainbow. It was almost as if the jeweled scales of the Orandine glinted in the light. I knew that the previous king had been assassinated, but I never knew what creature was at fault. To think a sea serpent killed the previous king of Aria. From this information, it was obvious that they could maneuver on land. But why would an Orandine want to kill the previous king of Aria in the first place? “Why?” I asked the king. “That was a long time after the Rift Wars. Did they hold a grudge?”

A dark expression crossed his face. “Calling it a grudge is an understatement. We stole their land. And then we eradicated them from existence. They were such a mighty race.”

Something told me that this was a touchy subject for the king. I decided not to prod any further. His look was enough to curdle milk and make a baby cry at the same time. “So…” I began, grasping at straws for another conversation. “How did things turn out in Nor?”

His look disappeared entirely and was replaced with a smirk. “Absolutely horrible.”

The king’s words contradicted every fiber of his countenance. “It was that bad?”

He frowned. “Norian Royals are hard to deal with. Especially when you try to make them sign contracts.”

My mind immediately snapped to Clarice and her unfinished homework. “Tell me about it.”

The king started chuckling. “Taking her on as your student was an impressive act.”

I wondered briefly how he knew all these things about me. Philippa probably told him all of it. “You mean Clarice?” I asked. If he considered succumbing to blackmail a brave act, then I must have been in the right company. I would never tell him that, of course, so I just said, “Thank you, sire.” I paused, then added, “I won’t lie and say it’s an easy job.”

He laughed that hearty laugh again as we turned down a flight of stairs. The king ran a hand through his hair, and my mind kept screaming Titus! with every lookalike movement. “That girl will be quite the daughter-in-law, I’m sure.”

I stopped dead in my tracks, whereas the king kept moving. “What?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice. The memory of Clarice seething with anger at the mention of a relationship with Titus surfaced in my mind. I shuddered. The king must have misspoken.

He tipped his head. “I thought you would have guessed it by now.” He sighed and folded his hands behind his back. “Titus and Clarice’s wedding has been arranged. When Clarice turns seventeen, actually. The wedding will be announced at the annual royal ball. But…” The king trailed off and put a hand to his lips, looking guilty. For such an intimidating man, this gesture seemed odd. “I suppose I shouldn’t have told you that, seeing as it’s a secret…”

This couldn't possibly be happening.

The dread in my heart felt like lead, pulling my sanity down into an abyss of despair. “Does Titus know?” I blurted. If he knew, what would he do? Wasn’t he afraid of Clarice? And Clarice… I dared not even think about it.

The king grimaced, his keen blue eyes narrowing. “No, the queen and I have yet to inform him. That is a fragile matter. However, given that Clarice has been here for so long—and the fact that she is of royal blood from the Faretra family in Nor—Titus should understand. It will unite Nor and Aria. There will be no more tension between our kingdoms.”

“But Clarice and Titus hate each other!” My words were unintentionally loud and disrespectful. I cringed as the king’s eyebrow rose.

He waited before answering. We arrived at the door to the lesson room. He turned to me, giving me a firm look. “They both have a duty that needs to be fulfilled. You will not tell the prince of this matter. Is that understood?”

The king’s eyes glittered for a moment with firmness—or was that anger? “Yes, sire.” I bowed, constantly reminding myself that I was a woman with no dress.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Brackenbury.” The king nodded and turned down a hall, disappearing from my sight.

I slumped against the door to the study room and steadied my breathing. Suddenly, the door swung spontaneously inward.

The duchess’ daughter gave me a curious look as I fell to the floor. “Lannie, is it just me, or was that the king?”

I scowled at her, but she didn’t seem to notice her rudeness. Sighing, I stood and brushed myself off. “Yeah, it seems I have a knack for attracting Royals.”

“Well,” Clarice said, skipping over to the study table in her ruby gown, “I know one Royal who is attracted to you.” The girl winked at me over her shoulder, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

I whipped out her workbooks and slammed them down on the table, intentionally adding several more assignments to the pile. “You’re doing this today.” I glared at her as the color drained from her face.

“But this is twice the amount—”

“No ‘buts.’ Is that understood?”

Clarice glowered at me like a fierce puppy, but said nothing as she began scribbling angrily in her workbooks.

I seated myself in the chair and studied Clarice as she worked. She wasn’t utterly horrified or annoyed when I had entered

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