Chapter Twenty-Two

I sighed, gazing at the rolling hills of blue. Lannie sat beside me, content to make strange figures out of the sand. Sunlight glittered in the waves of the ocean as a fresh smell of saltwater drifted toward us, making me smile. Today was such a beautiful day. It was a pity that it had to be ruined by one grievous error.

I had made the mistake of teaching Clarice, the eleven-year-old daughter of the duchess, how to ride a water horse. She had been so enthusiastic when I introduced her to Alvira. That mare could put up a fuss at times, but I did not regret teaching Clarice to ride her.

If only I had been more careful… I should have known Clarice would take Alvira out when I was distracted. She was angry with the prince for hurting her that day, so she took it upon herself to do something forbidden. That carelessness of mine led to the incident with the assassin. Clarice barely escaped unharmed—it was a miracle the arrow missed her. I suspected the assassin wasn’t shooting to kill; he was shooting to disable. To kidnap.

And to think he confused her with Titus… Though now I knew why the assassin would want to kidnap the young prince—and it wasn’t just because he was the heir to Aria’s throne. When he scratched Clarice, I thought Titus was different, but not this different. There was something more to him, something deeper than anyone could imagine. I knew the truth about the prince now. He was royal on both sides.

“Something wrong, Mother?” Lannie asked, pausing from her creations in the sand. The girl was only twelve, but she was so perceptive. Strange, too.

“Not at all, Lannie. Not at all.” I stroked the sand beneath my white dress. Nigel was at work now in the city square, entertaining the hordes of people that came for pleasure. He didn’t know that I had been fired from the castle today. After the assassin incident, Odelia threw a fit when she discovered Clarice’s secret riding lessons and demanded that I be stripped of my job. Philippa had no choice. I didn’t blame her for what she was forced to do.

I fingered the flower pendant attached to my blouse. I would give it to Philippa when I turned in my official resignation form tomorrow. I couldn’t bear to have it anymore—it was something magical. Something I wanted no part of. Even if it could protect Lannie one day, there was a strange aura about this piece of jewelry. If I passed on because of this curse, Philippa would give it to Lannie when she was older. Until then, I had no intention of revealing its purpose to her. It held memories, but that wasn’t all. Mayra hid many things from me; I was sure it did much more than hold memories.

Mayra…

That witch visited me again today. She continually asked for information on how the prince was doing, much to my confusion. I faithfully answered her questions, but she still harped on me about my curse, telling me that it wasn’t a curse. But I knew better than to think that. As a Harbinger, there was some sort of creature I was linked to, she said. Or rather, a being of a sort. Mayra chastised me for calling it a creature. It was neither human nor magical creature.

But it didn’t matter because I didn’t care. I did not have an obligation to save this world. I had an obligation to raise and protect my daughter from this curse. I would not have her be resigned to a fate she had no choice in choosing. If I had to extract myself from this world in order to destroy this curse, I would. What Mayra kept telling me… I would have no part in it.

Today, Mayra told me something that chilled my bones. I had been angry at the time—having just been fired from a job I dedicated eight years to—and I probably yelled at her more than she deserved. I felt guilty, but that guilt was nothing compared to the feeling that overcame me when she spoke to me today. My memory flitted back to that time in the square.

“There are forces at work beyond your understanding, Harbinger,” Mayra said. We were in the city square, seated at a table near the tavern. “You and your daughter are in danger. The Elementals are angry with how their hosts have grown lax.”

“Hosts?” I was appalled. She made it sound as if I had a parasite! Then again, maybe I did. But I didn’t understand how I was linked to this “being” she spoke of.

Her dark hair was just visible beneath the scarlet cowl of her cape. “I have told you before and I will tell you again: be wary. They will come for the spirit’s power—for the Harbinger’s power. You will be in danger if you do not accept your fate.”

“My fate?” I clenched my fists. I was not some tool to be used by this world. I was not a mere object. “I am the only one who decides my fate!”

I saw her frown beneath her cape. She sighed. “Helena, please… I have made a promise that I will watch over the prince. You, as one of the Harbingers, must find the others and stop the catastrophes in Etheia. I cannot keep my promise otherwise. It will only get worse as time goes on.”

“All you care about is yourself!” I cried, standing abruptly from my chair. The surrounding people gave us curious glances. I didn’t care if Mayra promised to watch over Titus. I didn’t care if the Elementals were angry. “I have a child,” I told her. “I will not abandon her to satisfy your wishes—or the Elementals’ wishes, at that!”

“But Helena—”

I didn’t hear what she said next because I turned around and bolted in the other direction.

A deep frown made its way onto my face as the memory faded. I couldn’t accept this fate that had been “assigned” to me. I was a mother. I had burdens of my own to bear. Lannie was still growing, and she needed a mother to guide her. And Nigel… What would he do without me? Lannie would drive him insane if I left to “find the others.”

I sighed, stroking Lannie’s ashen blonde hair. She turned to me with a confused look. “Seriously, Mother. What’s wrong with you?”

Deep down, I was scared. If I lost Lannie because of this curse… If I died and she inherited it… I would never forgive myself.

But there was one thing I was sure of.

I would not be the Harbinger the world wanted me to be.

                                                ————————

I woke abruptly, gasping and clutching at my throat. It was almost as if I could feel the serpent’s coil suffocating my neck. Was I in heaven with Mother? Or was that a dream?

I grasped the satin beneath my fingers. Mother’s pendant was still held firmly in my hand, glowing softly. It had caused another dream, but how had I gripped onto it for so long?

A faint scent of lavender pervaded the room, and I looked to the side to see a batch of lavender fronds in a glass vase. Only the rich would be foolish enough to waste money on flowers like that…

Sunlight filtered in through the velvet drapes to my left, illuminating the large room in a golden light. I sat up in the cushioned bed as it dawned on me. Of course… A place of safety. I was in the castle.

But where in the castle? The lavish surroundings weren’t familiar to me.

And where was Titus?

“Lady Brackenbury! You’re awake?”

A maid entered the room with a tray of food. I was tempted to say, Of course I’m not awake. I’m just sitting up and I look awake. I refrained from doing so for the sake of the friendly maid. I was working on being polite to others. Sort of.

The maid was plain in appearance, but her eyes twinkled with innocence. This girl was young, I realized. I tried to smile at her as she set the tray down on my lap, but I didn’t think it reached her. “Th—” I tried to thank her, but the words wouldn’t come. My throat was seized with pain when I tried to speak. I felt my neck. It hurt where my fingers grazed the skin. Looking down, I saw that I was clothed in a simple white shift, quite the opposite of what I wore last night. Beneath the shift, I felt pain in my side and ankle.

“You’re ankle, ribs, and throat appear to be bruised, ma’am,” the maid said with a sad smile. “Doc says you won’t be able to speak for a while. You’ll get better soon, though, so don’t worry.”

I raised my hand, wanting her to explain what happened, but the maid must have misunderstood it for Go away please.

“If you’ll excuse me.” She curtsied nervously and exited the room with haste.

I slapped my forehead. Was I really that hard to read? I wasn’t even good with people when I couldn’t talk!

I finished my food in silence, cringing as the soft porridge traveled down my throat. The injuries that the Orandine inflicted on me weren’t as severe as Titus’ wounds, but they still hurt… I shivered. Where was he? And what happened to Mayra?

The witch told me that Titus needed to stay alive—and she told my mother that she had made a promise to watch over Titus. But what did it all mean? Why did she care?

And what did my mother mean about the “truth” of the prince? Of course he was royal on both sides. Unless my mother originally thought that Philippa was a commoner… I sympathized with Mother, since I had thought the same thing when we met. But I didn’t know who she was at the time. The queen came from one of the northern kingdoms and united with King Gavin to create an alliance between their countries. It was common knowledge; there was no mistaking that she was royal.

A sudden idea broke through the barrier of my muddled thoughts. What if the Orandine found me here? I wouldn’t be able to defend myself, and I didn’t think the guards would stand a chance against that monster.

I glanced down at my mother’s pendant. The serpent had wanted it, but why? I assumed that it mistook it for something precious. It was something precious, but…

They will come for the spirit’s power—for the Harbinger’s power.

That’s what Mayra had told my mother in her dream. Or my dream, rather… But what was she talking about? My eyes flicked to the pendant again. It was obviously some type of magic. The Orandine had said it was a catalyst. And for some spirit, it seemed. It was linked to me—or Mother, as Mayra pointed out to her in the dream—but it didn’t make sense for me to have this “catalyst” when I didn’t even know where the blasted spirit was.

Either way, it was a ridiculous notion for this pendant to be the catalyst for a spirit. It only held memories. And seals something, I thought, remembering what Mayra said.

And even though the pendant was magic, it defied the laws of logic. Or my laws, at least.

Wait, magic wasn’t logical. So did that mean it was on an entirely different plane of “logic”?

Before I could start a philosophical discussion with myself, a girl dressed in green waltzed into the room. Clarice’s crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders in a neat mess as she stopped at the bed. She moved the tray from my lap in silence and sat on the sheets. “I only have two words for you,” she said. “What happened? I don’t believe what Titus told me. Giant, extinct serpent my butt.”

I pointed to my throat with a smirk. I didn’t need to explain myself. There was going to be no talking from me for a couple of days.

She sighed. “Right. It was worth a shot. Should I tell you what happened after you and Titus wiped out, then?”

Considering I thought we would die at the door of that bridge, she definitely should. I nodded.

“I found you and him unconscious on the bridge.” I wanted to ask how she found us, but my despicable throat prevented me. Thankfully, Clarice was attuned to my pantomime actions. “Lannie, that door was locked. It broke.”

I didn’t understand. And? I mimed.

She gaped at me as if I were a simpleton. “That is a reinforced door made of hard, strong oak. And the lock was ripped out,” she said, eyeing me suspiciously. “Something really strong must’ve broken through that door.” One of her eyebrows rose. “You wouldn’t happen to know what—or who—that was, would you?”

Really? She was blaming Titus? How the heck could he have done that? He could punch through stone, but I didn’t see him raise a fist against that door. And I seriously doubted that he could break the door with his mind. I shook my head. It was the wind, which had a capricious mind of its own.

She shrugged, apparently giving up. “Well, after that, the guards created a fuss over you two when I told them. You were covered in dirt and grime and stuff.” Her lip curled in disgust and she covered her mouth. “Lannie, you in particular looked nasty.” Clarice visibly shivered. “I told my maids to take you to my room and get you cleaned up.” She indicated around her. “I was awake at the time, lucky for you. I freaked out when I was talking to Philippa in one of the halls. We were just chatting about the king and then boom!” She spread her arms wide. “We heard a crash echo through the hall and I rushed to investigate it. And then I found you guys.”

I rolled my eyes as a triumphant smile crossed her face.

“But it makes me wonder,” Clarice began, “what an Orandine was doing here in Aria, if that's what you guys really saw. And I wonder why it was able to shapeshift like that to disguise itself.” Her expression darkened as she gripped the sheets on the bed. “Lannie, you’re just a tutor and yet…you get yourself into all these messes.” Her troubled gaze settled on me, and I could have sworn I saw them sparkling with the beginning of tears. “Don’t get into trouble anymore, okay?”

I couldn’t respond—and even if I could, I wouldn’t know what to say. Why was she so worried for me? She was acting like Titus had before I got attacked. I was only her teacher. A nobody. And I wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around…

Knocking from the entrance made Clarice jump to her feet. She swept a hand over her eyes and rushed to open the bedroom door. I spotted Titus’ figure in the entryway before Clarice slammed the door in his face.

I gaped at her as she retreated to the bed. She huffed. “He doesn’t need to see you now, so he can go stuff it. Anyway, this is my room.”

Let him in, I tried to say, gesticulating with my hands at the door. Clarice rolled her eyes in response and stomped over to it. She whipped open the door. “What do you want?”

“I’d like to see Lannie if she’s awake.” The prince’s voice was fringed with agitation.

Clarice let him in, clearly hating every minute of it. Titus pulled a chair from her table—which notably made her turn bright red—and seated himself next to the bed.

I just stared at him. There were bandages on his head and arms, but that was all. How did he heal that fast? He was soaked in blood the last time I saw him! Why in Aria's name was he here to see me when he needed to heal?

He gave me a half-smile, obviously noticing my surprise. “I heal quick.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. This boy was suspicious. He didn’t employ Mayra to heal him, did he? Then again, I didn’t think she was capable of that.

“Are you feeling alright?” he asked, fiddling with the cuff of his dark tunic. He kept casting nervous glances at Clarice.

I shook my head in response, indicating to my throat and making an I can’t speak sign. Whether he understood it or not was beyond me.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything, Lannie,” he whispered. His voice was thick with some emotion I couldn’t place. “If that woman hadn’t been there to save us, then…”

So he knew about Mayra. Should I tell him about her? Had he overheard the Orandine’s words about the Harbinger? And wait! Why was it supposed to be a secret? Because if I tell people I can speak to magical creatures, they’ll think I’m using magic myself. I groaned at the thought, hurting my throat in the process.

“What woman?” Clarice interjected. “What’re you talking about?”

Titus glanced at me, then back at Clarice, who was standing near the bedpost. He shook his head. “I don’t know, unfortunately. All of that was rather blurry.” He turned to me. “Do you know who that was?”

I paused. Something inside of me told me not to reveal that information. Mayra was charged with watching over Titus, and I’m sure she wouldn’t want him knowing. Instead of giving him a definite answer, I shrugged. Thank goodness for my incompetent throat.

Does anyone else know about this? I tried to mime. My expert signs consisted of pointing out the window, snaking my arm, and tapping my head.

Clarice and Titus stood, acting as onlookers trying sincerely to decipher my movements.

“Aria!” Clarice said when I pointed out the window.

Titus crinkled his eyebrows as I wiggled my arm. “Water?”

Clarice flicked him. “Snake, you idiot!”

I tapped my head, and Titus snapped his fingers. “Brain!”

The duchess’ daughter snorted. “Coming from someone who doesn’t have one, that’s a pretty good guess.” I glared at her for the unnecessary and untrue comment, but she continued, unfazed, “It’s know. Oh, you want to know if anyone else is aware of the Orandine?”

When I nodded, Titus shook his head. “Only a few people. My father doesn’t want the kingdom to panic.”

So Aria didn’t know that a murderous Orandine was loose within her walls? What a great way to please your citizens, King Gavin, I thought snidely. I am amazed. Well, I suppose what they don’t know won’t kill them.

Actually, in this case, it very well could.

“That’s a bit strange of your father,” Clarice mused, leaning against the bed frame. “How is he, by the way?”

I marveled at how she actually asked Titus a question without acting like a brat.

“He’s incapacitated right now,” the prince replied. “He was sick this morning. Said he didn’t feel well.”

It’s probably that rich food we had last night. Serves him right to get sick because of his own foolish decisions. If I had been able to speak, my words that day would not be kind, I realized.

Titus stood from his chair. “Well, I’ll leave you to it,” he said. “Get well soon, Lannie.” With a smile, the prince exited the room.

Clarice put her hands on her hips as she turned to leave after him. “Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you’re mute. We’re having an interrogation when you can talk.”

I rolled my eyes in response. As if I would be off the hook. There was still a giant serpent out to kill me.