Verily I sentence you
Ever after to suffer and mourn
Seek you sums and yields
Killer of beasts kind and true
In this filth hereby be adorned
Save and prevent until healed
Sentenced until then are you
“Such an odd curse,” she muttered.It was singsong, not angry like Bella would expect from an avenging enchantress.It did not bespeak vengeance or retribution or even punishment.In fact, Riven had had to summarize what the curse actually meant after reciting it to her.
She stared at the paper, recalling Riven’s words.She knew she had captured the curse correctly, but the whole thing felt...off.She stared until her eyes crossed, then blew out the candle as the wordLOVEflitted across her vision.
“Wait!”She fumbled in the dark for her flint, struck the stones until the wick caught flame again, then scrutinized the curse.
Nothing.
She looked away, wondering if the curse could only be seen peripherally.
Nothing.
She dragged her finger down the left-hand column.
There it was.“LOVE’S KISS,” she breathed.Just reading it made her heart race.Bella knew she had strong feelings for Riven and had truly enjoyed their brief time together.He had generously given her a bounty in coin, plus his horse, and gifted her the safest way possible to return home.He had protected her from the ostler, despised men who mistreated women, and even watched over her last night on the shore.He was kind and noble and even humble.
It didn’t even matter that he was a prince.Bella knew she loved him for who he was.
She loved him.
Because he saw her for who she was, not just for how she looked.
She loved him.
And tomorrow, she was going to return to him and tell him as much.
Smiling, she blew out the candle again and crawled into her cold bed, kicking her feet in anticipation of telling him.
Bella loved Riven, and she fervently hoped it would be enough to break his curse.If she were the luckiest woman on the planet, he would return her love and maybe even marry her, if they could find a way in which his parents would allow it.
If not, at least she could say she did her level best to help him break his curse.
Because she loved him.
And she could not wait to let him know.
––––––––
COCKCROW WOKE HER,and Bella struggled to rouse herself.Excitement had kept her up until just an hour or so ago, so Bella knew she would need a strong cup of tea to start her day.
She tugged on her warmer layers of skirts, then her kirtles, then a wool shawl before opening her curtain.“Papa?”
No answer, but his bed was made, and his mug and plate were in the tub to be washed.How had Bella slept through her father’s breakfast?She unwrapped the cheese on the table and broke off a wedge, then did the same with the round of bread beside it as she swung the teapot over the hot coals and stoked the fire.
Halfway through her meal, someone knocked.Bella set down her tea and pulled open the door.
