Courtly Masquerade Read online

  “One of the mage women brought this for you to wear.”

  I stared at the eggshell-colored gown, covered in pearls and sequins. “It is much too lovely to ride in.”

  “She says it will help to protect you.”

  Would it? Or would it keep me here? I hated it when I felt so paranoid. “What do you think, Moravia?”

  “I think she was trying to help.”

  I slipped the gown over my head with Moravia’s help. The sleeves were long and edged in lace. The collar rose high on the neck and also was trimmed in deeper ecru lace. I shook my head. “It looks too fine to wear for our journey ahead.”

  I’d have much rather worn Lynet’s green velvet dress. It didn’t show the dirt from the road like I was sure this one would.

  When we stepped into the other room, the prince returned with Larson and Basil. “They are...why are you dressed like that?” he growled at me. “We are to ride.”

  “It was a gift from a female mage, Conlan,” Moravia said. “It would not bode well for us to cast off anyone’s help.”

  Conlan nodded, though his eyes roved over the material again and his mouth still remained turned down. “I couldn’t find anyone in the village at all. Not my men, not any of the mages, no one.”

  “Our horses?” Moravia asked, her voice still calm, though I could tell she was concerned the way her blue eyes had darkened.

  “Saddled and ready for us.”

  “Then we must go,” I said, hoping we would be able to leave without any trouble, and hoping, too, the prince’s men were unharmed.

  After we mounted our horses, we tried to find our way out of the firs that surrounded the village, but it seemed impenetrable.

  “They will not let us go,” Conlan said, his voice angry.

  I wished the village to disappear. In an instant, the path was clear again.

  “What did you do?” Conlan asked as we cantered along one of the main roads to Crondor.

  “I wished us to be free of the village.”

  “She is the one,” Basil said.

  “We should have had my escort force,” Conlan said. “I don’t like it that there are so few of us. Even a band of brigands--”

  We hadn’t gotten very far when six men stepped into the road, blocking our path.

  “Like us, your lordship?” a man with yellowed and missing teeth asked, bowing low, in a mock sign of respect. He tapped a wooden staff on the road. “Get their money, and...” He used his staff to pull my black cloak away, revealing an old brown dress. “She’s nothing but a servant. But what about the other?” He leered at Moravia.

  “Leave us,” I said. Now in all of the years I have been a duchess, I very rarely got to say such things. I have no idea what made me say such a thing now, dressed like a common serving girl. And I couldn’t quite fathom how I had become dressed thus so quickly without my knowledge, unless it was the mage’s ecru gown that changed depending on the situation.

  He grabbed my leg, and immediately, Conlan and his lords unsheathed their swords. But I jumped down from my horse and shoved my finger in the man’s chest, my blood heated to the highest temperature. Again, I have never done such a thing, so even my actions confounded me.

  “Do not touch a royal female mage, unless you value your life so little!”

  For a second, he stared at me. I could see the thought process chugging in that mind of his as he tried to figure out if what I said was true.

  Then he grinned. “Kill the rest, but I keep this one for amusement.”

  I flipped my cape aside. Now, my gown was ecru again, covered in pearls and sequins, glittering in the morning sunlight.

  He stared at it, then looked at me. His gray eyes narrowed. “You’re not a—”

  “And...a shadow walker.”

  His mouth gaped open this time. His thugs started to move away from our group.

  “Shadow walker,” he said, half whispered. Then he and his companions bolted for the woods.

  One of his men shouted, “What’s a shadow walker?” to their leader.

  “Hell if I know, but it ain’t good.”

  Before I could turn to get on my horse, Conlan was beside me, helping me up. “Shadow walker.”

  Slowly, he smiled. “You sure had me scared.”

  “What? Afraid I would cast a spell over you?”

  “You already have, Arabella, a long time ago.”

  I smiled to see the look on his face, one of deep admiration, and something else. Like he really cared for me?

  Nobody had ever looked at me that way before. For a moment, my stomach did flip-flops with uncertainty. My whole body warmed even, and I worried my fever had returned. His brows and lips raised as my cheeks must have reddened.

  “You are the one.”

  I knew the way he spoke with a deeply, sensual tone, he meant I was more than the royal female mage who would help the people in their time of need.

  But the whole idea that a prince might want me...

  I shuddered as he lifted me into the saddle.

  I was to be betrothed to the despicable duke, not a handsome prince. That only happened in fairy tales. And even that would occur only if I survived a real live encounter with Zars.

  CHAPTER 16

  The first chance we had to rest that night, I sat beside the campfire and cast my illumination spell so I could read the spell book I had stolen from Zars’s library.

  I glanced up as everyone settled beside the fire. Basil poked at the burning timber with a stick. Larson sharpened his sword with a whetstone. Moravia pulled off her boots and warmed her toes by the fire. And Conlan sipped from his flask. But the thing they all had in common was they silently watched me. Did they think I would become a powerful mage after reading a spell or two?

  As soon as I caught Conlan’s eye, he said, “Did you learn anything?”

  I smiled. “I read two spells. But I already knew them.”

  He motioned at the book. “Continue. If you wish to practice on anything and you need anyone’s help, Basil and Larson will assist.”

  “And you?”

  Moravia chuckled under her breath.

  Conlan grinned. “It depends on the kind of spell you need assistance with.”

  I thought it better not to ask what he had in mind.

  I looked at the next spell, then the next after that. The most incredible notion came to me. I knew each of the spells by heart. But how could I when I’d never read any before?

  I flipped through the pages, looking for a spell I didn’t recognize. But it was though I had studied them all before.

  With a snap, I closed the book.

  “Don’t you need to study some more?” Conlan asked, as he sat down beside me.

  “I don’t need to.”

  “Nothing useful to learn?”

  “It’s the most bizarre thing, but I already know them all as far as I can tell. Yet I’ve never opened a spell book before this.”

  Conlan’s blue eyes studied mine for a moment. He took a deep breath. “Could it be that you have an enhanced ability to pick up information?”

  “Maybe.” I looked up at the stars sparkling across the black night sky. “But I’d never opened the primer either before. I figured I would have to read from the beginning. I already knew it all.”

  Conlan touched my hand, and I diverted my attention to him. “Do you know any spells that aren’t in this book or the primer?”

  I nodded. “Yes, when I saw the spell on Zars’s door, I was able to disable it. I hadn’t touched a spell book yet. Oh, and the illumination spell was another. One day, I didn’t have a candle but I wanted to read a book of poems. So I just used my hands and spoke an incantation for the spell of illumination. Nearly gave me a heart attack when a light shown out of nowhere.”

  “Did you touch any other spell books?” Moravia asked.

  “I ran my hand over each as I was reading the titles.”

  “You don’t think you could have picked up some spells that way?” Con
lan asked, hopeful.

  I breathed in the crisp, cool air and smiled. “Now that would be an easy way to become school trained. Still I was able to disable his door...and something else.”

  “What?” Conlan asked, then reached down to pull off my boots.

  I raised a brow to see the prince do something so nice for me. “I aided a woman in childbirth. I don’t know how I did it, but I helped ease her pain.”

  “She is the one,” Larson said. “She has to defeat the Dark One.” He saluted me with his water flask and winked.

  Maybe I had learned a lot of spells, but I still hadn’t practiced them. What about practice makes perfect? I had embroidered my gowns for years and certainly my early gowns weren’t half as well done as my more recent ones. In the beginning, I could only do the simplest of stitches. Of course, I soon built on them to make intricate designs, but it took years before I was really proficient.

  I waved my hands around for a few seconds. Everyone watched me, full of intrigue. I smiled. “I have cast a protection spell against wild animals and non-mages. I’m not sure it will work against a mage. Especially one as powerful as the Dark One.”

  “Can you conjure up wild boar steak?” Basil asked, as he handed me a slice of bread and cheese.

  “I can conjure up the wild boar. But I’m afraid you’d have to take care of it after that.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Conlan said, “We all need to get our rest. Moravia will tent with you, Arabella. And Basil, Larson, and I will take turns guarding, just in case your protection spell doesn’t work against mages, and we encounter a troublesome one.”

  “I can take guard duty, too,” I said, not wanting the men to become too fatigued.

  “No, and Moravia either, because she will be guarding you, in case anyone gets through our defenses.”

  Conlan helped me from the ground, and the way he continued to hold my hand, and looked from eyes to my lips, I imagined he had the notion to kiss me!

  I glanced at Basil and Larson, who both grinned at his action, then quickly looked away when I caught them. Moravia folded her arms, as if she didn’t care for Conlan’s interest in me.

  “Good night, everyone,” I said quickly, pulled my hand free, and grabbed my boots, then ducked into my tent.

  Peals of laughter followed.

  “Not yet,” Moravia scolded her brother.

  What did she mean by not yet?

  Moravia entered our tent. “If you need anything, let me know.”

  “I am the duchess and you the princess. If you need anything, I will get it for you.”

  Moravia smiled. “You are much more than that, Arabella. Much more.”

  Yes, I was the one. I hoped that wouldn’t mean I’d soon be the dead one.

  After pulling off my ecru gown, I climbed into my bedroll, wearing my chemise. Snuggling against the warmth of the blue woolen blanket, I listened to the men talking low. I couldn’t make out what they said and their monotone deep voices finally faded into the background.

  Until...I heard the king speaking and found myself at Foxmoor Castle in his throne room, along with six of his advisors.

  I assumed I was shadow walking again as no one saw me. It’s really the most queer experience as I feel cold or hot or afraid or angry, as if I were truly there in the flesh. And when I speak to an individual, I’m heard. As well as when I reach out to touch someone, I am felt by that individual. So it is more than being a shadow or ghostly presence. No wonder shadow walkers are held in such high regard.

  The king sat on his golden throne as his advisors squabbled amongst themselves. Finally, he raised his hand for silence.

  Instantly, the bickering ceased.

  “I want to know what happened to my niece.”

  I was surprised he cared.

  The steward said, “As far as we can determine, Your Majesty, she ran away because she didn’t wish to marry Duke Farthington.”

  The king’s dark brown eyes shifted to his marshal in charge of the stables. “Lord Goffers?”

  The black-haired man said, “Your Majesty, she did not hire anyone to take her from the castle. A rumor circulates that Princess Lynet—”

  “Unfounded,” the steward said, interrupting him. “I have questioned the princess myself, per the king’s orders, and she has denied any wrongdoing.”

  I snorted.

  Everyone looked in my direction. I stifled a giggle.

  “There are also rumors brigands tried to accost her...that she has been to Cambria in the company of Prince Sumaria, and that she fled there on foot. What is going on?” the king asked, his voice highly agitated.

  Boy, could I tell them the whole story.

  The marshal said, “It appears she’s still on the run, though at this point we don’t know where.”

  The king shook his head. “And my daughter? Prince Sumaria took her prisoner at market because?”

  “He stated she had become ill,” the treasurer said.

  “I want her returned here at once. She’s been ill too much of late. I want her confined to bed for a month.”

  “Yes, sire,” the steward said.

  “Now as to this other matter, have we no idea where the Dark One is hiding? If we are to rid ourselves of this evil entity, we must know where to find him.”

  The marshal said, “Sire, rumors have been circulating that the royal female mage has already confronted the Dark One. He is now quaking in his boots.”

  I wouldn’t say he was that scared of me.

  “Who is this woman?”

  The steward tilted his stubby chin up and looked the king straight in the eye. “Duke Farthington said it’s his daughter by his second wife. The girl’s name is Oleta.”

  “I wish to have word with this mage. The sooner we solicit her help, the better.”

  Was my uncle not in on the plot with the Dark One then? Though he’d issued the declaration about my not wearing the princess’s favorite colors, I’m sure he’d never realized she’d decide all colors were her favorite, except for brown. As far as being king went, he wasn’t so bad, truly. But the notion he wanted to save the people and not use the services of the Dark One, relieved my mind considerably.

  Then I had another thought. Was it that the smaller princedoms and dukedoms wanted to overthrow the nearest kingdom?

  Wouldn’t Prince Renault benefit from such a move, too?

  “Leave me,” the king said. “Find the woman and bring her here. And find Duchess Arabella!”

  The men all bowed, then hurried out of the chambers.

  My uncle held his head as he stared at the floor. “Had my wife, sister and brother-in-law lived, things would be so much better.”

  I didn’t realize my uncle talked to himself before. I wondered if anyone else knew.

  He stood and paced with his hands locked behind his back. “Will the royal female mage say no? That is the question. What can I give her that will convince her to aid us?”

  No marrying Duke Farthington for starters? I get to wear the colorful dresses and Lynet can wear brown?

  Seriously now, Arabella.

  “My lord, I wish nothing.”

  He whipped around to see no one in his throne him. His eyes couldn’t get any bigger.

  He stumbled back against his throne and sat down rather unceremoniously. “Speak again.”

  Good, he wasn’t afraid of what he couldn’t see.

  “I want only your word that you wish to strike the Dark One down.”

  “You have it.”

  His words were sincerely spoken just like whenever he committed himself to his men in battle.

  “Rumors state you are in league with him.” I said so, because Conlan had said so. Though I didn’t truly believe it now, I wanted to hear the truth from my uncle just the same.

  “Not true. I’ve sought the Dark One, which may have given some the false impression I wished to ally with him. In truth, I only wish him destroyed before he brings death and destruction to us all.”
<
br />   I took a deep settling breath and studied the wrinkles etched in my uncle’s face. He looked like he’d aged since I’d found myself on the run.

  “Do you wish to know the truth about your niece?”

  “My dear Arabella,” he said under his breath. “Yes.” His brown eyes narrowed and he stiffened his back as if steeling himself for the truth. I did not feel he could really handle it. Still I would give it to him, as I don’t believe in silent suffering. “Princess Lynet—”

  I’d only gotten the culprit’s name out when I was called back to Valdune, village of the mages. Maybe it’s the newness of learning this shadow walking ability that causes me difficulty in deciding how long or where I’m to go next, but it’s particularly irritating to be moved like that without having my say first.

  “She is gone,” Benjorian wailed as we stood inside some big square building, I presumed the town hall. It looked as though the whole of the village was packed into the building making its lofty size seem to shrink in appearance. “Our queen is gone.”

  Queen?

  “What do we do about Prince Renault’s army?” Neverat asked.

  “Release them. They may be able to protect her. I know we shouldn’t have all gone to the mage’s retreat to tell about our prize occupant at once, but I thought with the prince’s army gone, the prince and his small party would not leave. Now...now they are gone.”

  I almost felt pity for Benjorian as his eyes filled with tears. Almost. I wouldn’t be kept like a prized songbird in a golden cage. I had to help the people defeat the Dark One.

  “Maybe the dress I gave her will aid her,” a young, redheaded woman said. All mages turned to study her, then she made her way to the door of the town hall and stepped outside. Before any could follow her, she headed toward a home.

  “Thank you,” I said to her as I floated beside her.

  She screamed, then stopped. Her green eyes bugged out. “My lady?”

  “Yes. Your name?”

  She quickly curtsied, though she couldn’t see me and was faced at an odd angle. Suddenly, mages gathered around, I imagined concerned at first when they must have heard her cry out.