I startle at his sudden weakness and rush over to him, but my head spins at his unfinished warning. “Who wants to kill me? The prince? Look he does seem to have prickish energy especially with the fact no one here apparently knows his name, but I do not think he is going to marry me just to…” My voice is nearly hysterical at this point and Sorin's head starts to droop as his skin turns even more pallid. My heart races as fear churns low in my gut. Throwing his warning out of my mind for the time being, I realize how idiotic I must look questioning him when he looks on the verge of passing out. “Hey, Sorin are you okay?”
He pulls a vile made of a black opaque glass from his pocket and gulps down the blue iridescent liquid inside. Color returns to his cheeks and he shoves himself back upright. The bird caws again. “I can’t tell you anymore, just please trust me on this.” He gasps out, voice hoarse. “Alaceandra please I—fuck!” We hear the pounding of hooves coming towards us, Sorin stomps in frustration. Grabbing my face, he places his forehead to mine. “I can help you more if I’m not here when they find you, okay? I have to go—”
“What?”
“I know, I know, but there is no time—” The sound of hoof beats in the distance grows louder. Sorin looks around. “You’ll be fine, I’ll find you later, okay? It needs to be this way.” His eyesbeg me to understand as he backs away from me. Sorin mounts his horse and disappears behind the trees just as my father's Clydesdale, Trymisyus, comes pounding through the forest in the other direction. My father's face is scarlet with fury.
“Alaceandra, what are you doing?”
“I, uh…” I look around. Great, a nightgown this time. I really know how to dress for the weather.
“Back to your quarters—now!” I start to grab Sonny. “No—you will be riding back with me. How dare you think to defy my orders. Do you think being at your majority means you have any power here? You are a stupid little girl. I will show you powerlessness.” He pulls his horse next to me. I notice there is a small pumpkin in his hand and grit my teeth.I guess we forgot to get rid of that.My father follows my gaze and shoots me a look of disgust. Reaching down, he captures my arm in a punishing grip and yanks me up harshly onto his horse. Once I am seated, he throws the pumpkin to the forest floor causing it to break and coat the ground with pumpkin seeds. “You will be moving in with the prince tomorrow morning. I don’t have the time to babysit you every day, but maybe your future husband will—no matter, just because the law won’t allow him to marry you immediately doesn’t mean I have to be stuck with your rebellion any longer, he can look after you until the wedding.” He sneers at me once more before turning forward and urges the horse to walk. “I will, of course, be checking on your behavior in the meantime, but that doesn’t mean I need to have your insolence under my roof.” He then kicks the horse into a canter, ending the conversation.
I hold on for dear life and cringe.Fuck.
Chapter three
Goodbye
Alaceandra
In my quarters I pack a up a few of my belongings in a small bag. I look in the bag to account for all my important items. Diary? Check. Stationery and pens to write Philos? Check. My locket? Check. I sigh. I understand Mandi will ensure all my necessary items are accounted for but even still I am stressed. I am definitely not equipped to argue with my father on this matter, but I feel as if I am even less equipped to bemarried. Thus far my life has been admittedly sheltered. The only knowledge I have regarding married life has been from watching my parents. My father's predisposition for cruelty has not only resulted in a long line of infidelity and fear from the kingdom, but also a lifetime of brutal punishments for my mother. I hope that my future does not mirror theirs, although it seems unlikely. All kings are tyrants, are they not? Philos never mentioned her father's brutality but it is hard to imagine that there is any other way royalty could live outside of my family's habits. Admittedly, this is the way my father likes it. My naivety is one of the many ways he tries to pull the strings in my life. He warns me frequently if I try to wander outside of my station then the consequences of those actions will only result in disaster for those I hold close. While any damage he does to me does little to sway control in his direction, he knows harm coming to those I love keeps me in place.
Mandi walks in, her eyes brimming with tears. “The king requested I stay here.”
I look up from my bag. “What?”
Mandi nods.
“Why?” I shake my head.
“I think his exact words were something along the lines of I would be of more use here or in his bedchamber than I could be in forming alliances with you.”
I shudder.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure it is more of a power play on his part to keep you in line. He will be sending someone else with you so you won’t be alone, but…” Her eyes well up again “sorry—I- I’m just worried. I knew I should have kept a closer eye on you and you’re not ready for—”
“No! Do not blame yourself. I gave you my word I would not leave and yet I did. The fault lies with me and not with you.”
“Oh, darling. I only wish that were true…” she trails off and clenches her hands, bringing my attention to an object within them. “Well, we cannot stop the past, but maybe we can save ourselves some heartache in the future, eh?” She holds up a bracelet. The bracelet is a single silver band laced in an illegible red script; its center holds a scarlet gem of unknown origin. Mandi notices my questioning eyes. “It’s for protection I should have given it to you sooner but—” she chokes on her next words, much the same way Sorin did in the woods yesterday. “—but” she begins again, taking a deep, calming breath “there is no time like now, right?” she holds out the bracelet to me in offering, as she had with the food the day before.
I offer my wrist to her, but do not ask questions about the bracelet, not wanting her to experience pain like Sorin did. I could maybe get answers from her another time. “Thank you,” I whisper. “Do you know who he will be sending with me?”
She flinches. “Unfortunately, yes. He summoned Fadres and Credour last night.”
“Who are they?”
“Ruthless murderers, really, and not for the protection of the kingdom either. Their corruption runs deep. The only loyalty they have is to your father as they were some of the men he brought in when he reached his age of majority. 'Birds of a Feather' as they say,” she mutters. “Stay on your guard. I have yet to hear about those two getting up to anything honorable.” My heart sinks.
Down the hall I hear my father hurling orders, among other things, at the servants. “We better—” I frown. “Or, I guess, I better get going then.” I bite my lip to hold back emotion knowing at this distance father would hear my cries and take them as challenge, and as I am already in over my head when it comes to his anger, I best not make it worse on myself or anyone else. I look at Mandi and, on a whim, give her a deep curtseyin appreciation and then hurry from the room before she can garner a response.
As soon as I exit my quarters my father spots me. “Alaceandra? Are you trying to sneak away once again?” His gaze is filled with both unbridled excitement and fury and I freeze, nausea churning in my gut. Mandi appears behind me.
“Are you ready, Alaceandra?”
“You will not be escorting her; I obviously cannot trust your watch—”
She cuts in. “As she is still my charge until the time of her marriage, I will be looking after her, at the very least until she leaves this castle, my king.”
