Courtly Masquerade Read online

  I nearly fell down the stairs in my haste as I tried to lift my gowns and hold the railing at the same time, but we had headed north and a light sheen of ice covered the wooden steps.

  The gray day made it impossible to determine what time it was whether early evening or early morning or even late afternoon.

  As soon as I reached the street, I was able to maneuver better. I looked for the livery where the men’s horses were undoubtedly kept. But I knew they’d find me before I could saddle a horse. I spied the livery south and hurried down the alley to a parallel street. Next, I turned and headed toward an apothecary store, north. A blue star symbol on the apothecary store’s sign indicated a mage owned the herb shop. He or she might at least give me directions, or possibly a map.

  I jingled Conlan’s coins. I probably had enough money to buy a magical map.

  When I reached the next street, I heard shouts from Conlan, and a woman telling him to lower his voice or everyone would know their business.

  He was probably pretty angry that I had stolen his money. But I hadn’t. I had exchanged it for mine. If he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t have taken mine.

  I ran as fast as I could down the street, hoping Conlan and his gang wouldn’t catch up to me before I disappeared into the shop. Though he might conduct a shop-to-shop search, if he thought I was important enough. I wasn’t sure why my name made him so mad. But I wouldn’t use it again.

  The other notion I had was that since everyone knew I was headed to Ro Castle, dumb mistake on my part, I would change direction and head for Crondor instead. No one would expect me to go there. And maybe I could meet with Lynet’s prince and ask for refuge, after explaining what she had bade me to do. Would Prince Renault understand? I hadn’t found most men in high positions to be very understanding.

  I yanked the door open to the apothecary shop and stumbled in through the doorway as I slipped again on ice. Then I slammed the door shut as a man wearing a black hooded cloak stared at me with ebony eyes. He turned to the shop owner who stood behind a counter wearing a bright blue robe decorated in gold trim. The man’s vivid blue eyes widened, and then he smiled broadly.

  “I will return another time,” the black-cloaked man said to the shopkeeper, though he kept his eyes on me as if I might just disappear. His voice sounded dark and ominous and sent a sliver of dread through me. He slipped past me, like a nightshade, soundlessly, effortlessly.

  I instantly grew concerned he was leaving to warn someone about me. Paranoia was becoming my best friend.

  I rushed across the wooden floor to speak with the merchant as the door closed behind me. Sparkling flasks of potions and tons of books on spells covered two walls. Wands, crystal balls and a glass case containing rings, amulets, and other small, jeweled artifacts sat against another wall. Some kind of ball emitted a warm yellow-orange glow, and I imagined it was a mage’s equivalent of a fireplace.

  As much as I would love to look at all the magical delights and asked a million questions about their uses, I stuck to my immediate concern. “Do you have a map?”

  The shopkeeper smiled. “An ordinary map or a—”

  “Magical, if you have one.”

  “Have you the ability to use one or are you buying it for an acquaintance?”

  Why the fifty questions?

  “For an acquaintance.”

  “I only sell them to magic users.” He smiled.

  I wanted to wipe the silly smile off his thin face. Why didn’t he say so in the first place? Was it a test?

  “It’s for me.”

  He ran his hands through his short, curly blond hair and lifted his brows as his smile instantly faded. “For which area?”

  What? I would not reveal where I was headed to one more soul. “All areas.”

  “You mean you don’t want a city map of a specific location?”

  “No,” I snapped. “Uhm, sorry, I’m in rather a hurry.”

  “You want a generalized map of this area? Farther north? East? West? South?”

  “Can I look at them? I don’t know where it is exactly.”

  “If you tell me where you want to go, I can tell you which map you need.”

  I was bound and determined, this time, not to give away my intended destination. “If you’ll let me look at the maps, I’ll decide where I want to go. I might change my mind.”

  He chuckled and spread four maps out on a wide oak table. Foxmoor Castle sat in the middle of the first. I didn’t want that map. The second showed the coast and where the slaver ships waited. I didn’t want it either. The third one indicated Ro Castle, and the fourth showed several routes to Crondor.

  “I’ll take these three maps,” I said, including all but the one for Foxmoor Castle, anything to help muddy the waters.

  “That’ll be--”

  The door opened and I turned to see Conlan, now clad in a white wool cloak storming toward me. “She hasn’t any need for maps. And she can’t use my money to buy them. Come along, Sis. We must make haste before the weather gets much worse.”

  I just stood with my mouth agape, unable to say a word. If the buffoon of a shopkeeper hadn’t delayed me for so long I would have had my map and escaped.

  When I didn’t move, Conlan grabbed my arm and walked me firmly to the door. “Do not scream or I would just as soon wring that pretty neck of yours.”

  So the beautiful blond was definitely one of the bad guys. I knew it, but when someone is so handsome and smiles so warmly, it’s hard to think of him as anything but nice.

  He handed me over to another man, who helped me onto a horse. Typical nobleman couldn’t do it himself.

  But now he had his money back and my money pouch, too. And I was already contemplating my next escape.

  CHAPTER 4

  The blond woman named Moravia rode ahead with Conlan through a thick thicket of woods, the green pines lightly dusted in white powder. Both argued heatedly over some matter, I was conceited enough to think it was about me, while my two guards cantered their horses on either side of me. Four more men brought up the rear and two rode in front of Conlan and Moravia. Should have been enough to deter brigands.

  I glanced at the rider to my right. “Where are we going?”

  He seemed a pleasant enough fellow, always smiling. He wore a black beard and his hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He winked a bright blue eye at me.

  “Can’t say, eh?”

  “I’m not sure we’ve even decided.” He motioned to Moravia and Conlan who now sat in silence.

  “Who’s the boss?”

  The man guffawed so loud as we continued on the trail through the woods, Conlan and Moravia looked back to see the reason.

  The man quickly quit laughing, but the grin stayed on his face.

  “So Conlan is supposed to be, but his girlfriend keeps trying to rule,” I said, deeply amused.

  The man’s smile continued as he shook his head.

  “So what is your name?”

  “Larson, my lady.”

  “Well, Larson, I thank you for being kind to me. Conlan isn’t.”

  Larson looked at me and I nodded.

  “Said he’d wring my neck if I didn’t go along with him. Here I thought he was a nobleman. Though, I know some can be downright nasty. But to say a thing like that to a noblewoman for no good cause? He’s no better than the brigands who wished to sell me to slavers.”

  “He’s not so bad, my lady. Just a bit perturbed over deadly politics for the moment.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I wouldn’t worry your pretty head about it.”

  That did it. I turned my attention to the rider on my left. “Know where we’re going?”

  He was bearded like the other, but his was blond and his eyes were green. “Larson already told you we don’t know.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I thought maybe you’d know more. So what’s your name?”

  “Basil, my lady.”

  “Well, Basil, why would Conlan want to take me with yo
u?”

  “Can’t say, my lady. Maybe he wants to keep you around a little longer until he finds out who you are.”

  I looked at Conlan as he sat tall and proud on his gray mare. “I told him who I was.”

  “Yes, and it’s what the letter told you to say to the duke of Ro. But it’s not who you truly are.”

  I’d forgotten all about the letter from my lady-in-waiting. When I’d fainted, and Moravia had removed my gown—at least it had better have been the lady—she must have discovered the letter. Because Conlan was noble and undoubtedly was educated, he must have read the letter.

  So why was he mad at me? He already knew it was my game. Did he think because he smiled at me so sweetly he would charm me into telling him who I truly was? Wouldn’t work on me in a million years.

  When nightfall had nearly overcome us, we reached a hilltop and looking down we could see a majestic castle of white stone. Eight towers enforced the curtain wall. At once, I nearly cried at the sight of the castle. Well, truth be told, I did cry, but quickly pulled the hood of my cloak forward to hide my distress.

  It was my castle, or would be mine as soon as I married that awful Farthington.

  “What distresses you, my lady?” Larson asked.

  “Just got something in my eye.”

  “Have you been here before?” Basil asked.

  I nodded without thinking. I always found telling the truth came easier. But on this trek, I had to learn the hard way that lying would probably keep me safer.

  Basil rode his horse to where the four men stood.

  I didn’t see any sign of Conlan or Moravia.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked Larson. All of my parent’s staff had been replaced by the king’s choices as far as I knew so I would not find anyone to aid me here. And if we chanced to visit the place, I feared word would be sent to the king that the Duchess Arabella had been traveling with persons unknown. Did he know about it?

  And then they would detain us, and I’d be turned over to Lynet. No telling what she would attempt to do to me this time.

  Horses galloping toward us caught my attention. I twisted my mouth as Conlan and Basil hurried to join me. Now what?

  Conlan pulled in beside me. “You know this castle well?”

  “I said I have been inside it.”

  He looked at Larson who watched me still. Then Conlan turned to me. “Why were you crying?”

  “I got something in my eye. If you should care.” I glowered at him with my meanest glare.

  “We go to the gates.” Conlan motioned and Moravia soon joined me.

  To my surprise, sixty knights followed us. “Why all the show of force?” I asked Moravia.

  She stared at me with her blue eyes. She had the same willowy golden-wheat colored hair as Conlan. I wondered now if they were sister and brother as much as they looked alike, rather than boyfriend and girlfriend.

  She furrowed her brows. “Who are you?”

  I was surprised at her question, as I had expected her to respond to my query concerning the force of troops who rode with us. “Arabella. I have already told Conlan.”

  “Lying will not bode well with any of us.”

  Didn’t matter whether I lied or not. Nobody would believe me anyway.

  “Listen, do I have to go to the castle? I really have sad memories. You can leave me with a guard while you—”

  Moravia was looking at the castle, but turned to me. “No.” She considered me for a moment, then tilted her head to the side as if questioning my sincerity. “What kind of sad memories?” She didn’t seem concerned that I was saddened by the prospect of visiting the castle, rather more curious as to why.

  I couldn’t tell how my parents had died within days of each other. And to make matters worse, I’d been taken to Foxmoor to serve as lady-in-waiting to Princess Lynet, who seemed to take pleasure in displeasing me.

  “Nothing.”

  “Perhaps if I felt your suffering significant, I would allow you to stay behind.”

  Perhaps...the same word that Lynet used. I highly suspected it would lead me to the same result...nothing positive. If I told Moravia my parents had died here, she’d want to know who they were.

  I shook my head.

  “Very well.” Her tone was caustic, but I was sure she didn’t think I was so dumb to tell her any more than I did.

  We continued toward the castle built on a high hill, to protect it from invading forces. When we reached the gate, a guard, wearing the king’s purple and gold colors, immediately bowed to me. “Princess Lynet, whatever are you doing here?”

  I was still getting over the shock of the guard wearing the king’s colors and not my father’s of blue and gold when Moravia’s eyes rounded. “Princess,” she said under her breath.

  I had two choices: agree I was the princess, or explain I was the duchess. Being the duchess hadn’t helped me out much lately.

  Conlan turned his attention from me finally and said to the guard, “Perhaps you’ve heard of me. Prince Sumaria.”

  I nearly fell off my horse.

  Moravia grabbed my arm to steady me. “The princess seems faint again.”

  Conlan leapt from his horse, then hurried to help me from mine. “I apologize, princess, if I have been a bit rough on you,” he whispered in my ear.

  I wanted to kick him. He could wring my neck because I wasn’t the princess, but now he would be sickly sweet and apologize because he thought I was Lynet?

  But then a strange thought crossed my mine. How come he didn’t think I was she if he was Sumaria? Supposedly, the prince was wooing her. Or was it a lie on her part? Or was Conlan lying that he was Prince Sumaria?

  I didn’t know what to believe.

  Not that it really mattered. I wasn’t safe with any of them.

  “Baths for everyone,” I said, with a princess-like wave of my hand. This could be fun.

  “Everyone?” a gray-haired man asked, stroking his gray beard. He quickly identified himself as the steward.

  “Just for the ladies,” Conlan said.

  Moravia nodded and struck close to me as we entered the castle. My guard dog. How did she know I’d make another escape attempt? I had to. No telling if someone within the castle walls at Cambria might recognize me as the duchess.

  “Why didn’t you tell us you were the princess?” Moravia asked, annoyed, as a maid motioned to a room off the main hall. I recognized my old room at once.

  They would give my room to that brat of a princess? I fumed.

  Servants already were busy filling a tub with hot and cold water while another added rose petals to add fragrance to my bath.

  Everything was as I’d left it four years ago. Blue, my favorite color, covered the bed and embroidered cushions on the three benches. Tapestries of women sewing or hunting on horseback decorated the stone walls to keep the drafts out. Another covered the floor, picturing women fishing at a lake. I sighed deeply, happy to be in my room again.

  I slipped out of my velvet gown while standing behind an embroidered silk screen.

  Once my bath was filled, Moravia said, “You may leave,” dismissing the servants like I should have done.

  Again I squelched the irritation in my blood. After I slipped off my chemise, socks and boots, I climbed into the bath.

  Moravia stood staring out the window and repeated, “I asked why you didn’t tell us you were the princess.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me Conlan was Prince Sumaria?” He did look just like how he’d been described in court gossip.

  “Sometimes when traveling, it’s safer for people not to know who you are.”

  “Yes, as it was for me.”

  Moravia turned to look at me as I ran soap over my skin, glad to remove a fine coating of dust. “Why were you tearful about this place?”

  I shook my head.

  “Why did it upset you to learn that Conlan was Prince Sumaria?”

  “I hadn’t had enough to eat.”

  She narrowed her
blue eyes at me. She didn’t buy my story. “I didn’t know the princess lied so much.”

  I smiled. Somehow I had to know if Lynet had ever met Prince Sumaria before. If she had, this Conlan wasn’t the prince. If she hadn’t, she had lied to me. Of course it wouldn’t have been the first time.

  “Where were you going when you jumped from the carriage?”

  If I told her I had been on a mission to see Prince Renault, it shouldn’t matter. Either the princess had never met Prince Sumaria, and therefore, he hadn’t warned her against seeing Renault, or Conlan wasn’t Sumaria, and again it wouldn’t matter to him where I was going or for what purpose.

  “I was on my way to see my betrothed, Prince Renault, but I received word my carriage was to be attacked by bandits, so I escaped.”

  Moravia had unbraided her blond hair, but stopped. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

  Stay put? I smiled.

  Who was she to order me about in my own castle?

  CHAPTER 5

  As soon as Moravia charged out of my bedchambers, I climbed out of the tub and dried myself off. Then I bolted into the next room that had been my mother’s bedchambers, dressed in lavenders. Her lavender fragrance still scented the air, and I had to work quickly to avoid becoming overcome with grief again.

  I yanked a royal blue gown and clean chemise of hers out of a chest, then quickly dressed. With fresh stockings and my boots on, I crossed the floor to the door. When I peeked out, Basil stroked his blond beard. He bowed to me, grinning as his green eyes sparkled with mirth.

  So I did have guards in place still.

  Before I could step into the hallway, Conlan and Moravia hurried toward me.

  It distinctly looked like I’d made Conlan mad again, as hard as his scowl appeared.

  He grasped my arm and pulled me into the room as Moravia joined us. “Tell me what you said to Moravia.”

  Telling it once was enough, if all it did was get me into this much trouble. I repeated that I was on my way to see my betrothed, Prince Renault, when I received word my carriage would be attacked.

  He stared at me the whole time, furious. Then he looked over at Moravia, who shook her head.