Page 42 of The Masked Princess

Their return triggered a whirlwind of activity. The Dovean soldiers that had accompanied Soren still weren’t cleared to travel—of the few that had survived, many had suffered grievous injuries. To ensure the protection of her niece, Helene insisted on sending Captain Padrin and his soldiers with Soren and Annalise to protect them until they could meet up with the rest of their Dovean guard, who were now undoubtedly camped outside of Rea.

Elsabeth was waiting for Annalise on the steps of the castle, a heavy, gray woolen cloak around her shoulders.

“High Lady Telimary told me she was sending you with me,” Annalise said as she approached Elsabeth. “But I want you to know that you don’t have to come. I’ll be fine on my own, and I already have a lady’s maid waiting for me just outside of Rea.”

Elsabeth’s lined face was pink with the cold, but there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes. “Only one lady’s maid and no mention of a footman or a housekeeper? Fie! It’s a disgrace, I tell you. Don’t you worry, Your Highness. I’m going with you, and that’s that,” she said with an air of finality as she crossed her arms against her ample bosom.

Helene smiled as she joined them. “I told you she was stubborn, Annalise.”

“What if my future husband, King Nelan, doesn’t approve?”

“Then he’s a fool. As a princess and soon to be queen, you are well within your rights to have far more than two attendants. Elsabeth loved your mother like a sister, and it was a crime that your father sent her away.” Her aunt glanced between Annalise and something just past her shoulder. “And I would be remiss if I did not send you with a chaperone. The Rhinneans can be sticklers for such things, and with as delicate as the situation already is, I will not have them questioning your reputation.”

Annalise turned to see Soren standing several feet away, discussing travel plans with Captain Padrin as they checked the legs of the horses in the company. “Is there to be no carriage?” she asked, noticing for the first time that there were only horses in the yard.

“I wasn’t planning on sending one. You are an excellent rider, and I made sure our stable master gave you the bravest and sturdiest of mounts. Would you prefer to spend the long days sitting in a stuffy carriage?” Helene asked.

“It’s just not what I was expecting. Elsabeth, you’re okay without one?” Annalise asked.

The old maid laughed. “Of course. Nothing quite like the fresh winter air to get the blood flowing and clear out the lungs, that’s what my old pa always said. I’m not some fancy lady who has so many things I require a wagon to move them all either. As long as I’ve got my knitting needles and a few sentimental items, I’ll be happy, and I can fit all of those into a saddlebag.”

“I’ve also given her enough money for a few new dresses and such when your party gets to Rea, so you don’t have to worry about her comfort and wages while you get your feet under you,” Helene added quietly.

Tears sprang to Annalise’s eyes, but she hurriedly wiped them away. “Yes, well, thank you, High Lady Telimary. Thank you for your welcome here and your great generosity, and thank you for telling me about my mother,” she said stiffly, unsure of what else to say and falling back on the familiar grounds of etiquette.

Helene smiled and took Annalise’s gloved hand in hers. “You are most welcome. It brings me great joy that the Goddess blessed me with the chance to meet you. You are a fine young woman, more than fit to be queen, and I look forward to the day when you either return to Murana for a visit, or when you invite me to your new castle.”

“If I do, then you’ll come without Brunen, isn’t that right?”

Helene looked up at the sky and shaded her eyes, as if the mare in question was circling overhead. “Yes, most likely. She doesn’t like to leave this area, and as I’ve said before, we don’t advertise our mounts.”

“Then I will have to come back and visit you here. Surely King Nelan won’t begrudge me a few weeks for strengthening the friendship between our two countries,” Annalise said with a hopeful smile.

“I hope not.” Helene’s smile mirrored her own as she drew Annalise into a hug. “No matter where your path leads you, know that you have a safe place here. Murana may be a small kingdom, but we are a fierce people and our rhys are mighty. You are always welcome here, no matter under what circumstances, and every Muranan in the valley will defend you as if you are my own daughter. Promise me that you’ll never forget that,” Helene whispered in her ear.

Annalise squeezed her aunt back. “I won’t.”

CHAPTER 32

It was mid-morning when their party left Orighet. They rode as the weak winter sun climbed overhead, then stopped for a quick lunch at the pass that marked the edge of Murana. The mood was somber, with even Elsabeth more subdued than normal, as everyone ate and looked out over the valley. Finally, when the last of the portioned bread was eaten, Annalise swung into the saddle, and they were on their way once more.

When they stopped for the night deep in the wilderness that bordered Murana and Rhinnea, Elsabeth made herself indispensable through harrying the soldiers to set Annalise’s tent up properly, building a fire to boil tea, and even adding a warming pan to the foot of the princess’s bedroll so it was toasty when she slid between the blankets.

“You don’t need to do all of this for me, Elsabeth. I’m sure it’s quite the hassle,” Annalise said the next morning.

Elsabeth tutted like a mother hen as she poured another cup of tea and slathered jam and butter on a slice of bread before setting them both in front of Annalise. “Don’t you worry, Princess. It’s no bother at all, and I won’t have you half-starved to death in these woods before we even reach Rea. Now you just sit back and relax as I get this tent broken down and packed away.”

Despite being her newly discovered relative, Captain Padrin remained quiet, and his men followed suit. They kept to themselves and rarely spoke to Annalise beyond what was necessary, preferring to ask Soren if they had questions and letting him relay any information about the travel plans.

Annalise took their standoffishness as a rejection of her curse, and thus her. With the goal of making them more comfortable and helping them understand she wasn’t a threat, two days into their journey she dug out her old mask from the saddlebags. Her aunt had arranged for the top craftsmen in Murana to repair it as best they could, although with the large cheek piece broken and lost, they’d settled for removing the entire bottom half and sanding down the edges. Practical it was not, but she hoped the men would at least recognize she was trying.

As Elsabeth buzzed around their fire, Annalise traced her finger over the carved white surface of her mask. After so many weeks with her face free to the world, a small part of her loathed hiding once more. She hesitated for only a moment before placing it on her face and tying its new silver ribbon behind her hair.

When Elsabeth returned from tearing down the tent, she did a double take. Annalise steeled herself for a discussion, but Elsabeth uncharacteristically said nothing and instead excused herself on the grounds of finding someone to help her with the upper tent tie.

Soren had made a habit out of checking on Annalise every morning a few minutes before it was time to break camp. He’d inquire as to how she’d slept, make sure she had no needs Elsabeth hadn’t met, and then help Elsabeth finish breaking down the tent and pack her things before assisting Annalise into the saddle.

Every day, Annalise teased Soren for helping, and every day, he told her it was part of his job. She suspected from the tender looks he gave her and his willingness to share his own rations that there was something more to his help than just a man simply doing his duty. She saw it, and yet she said nothing in fear that if she acknowledged his emotions, she’d have to acknowledge hers, and then they would both be miserable. No, it was far better to leave things unsaid and pretend she didn’t recognize the soft yearning in his eyes that matched her own inner feelings so perfectly.