I was awoken abruptly as a scream pierced my aching head, and I flung myself upward, only to have several things happen at once. Shenna was still screaming in the adjacent room and calling for guards, but what startled me the most was Dezmond, as he gracefully dashed into my bedroom, only to grasp my shoulders harshly. When had he gotten back? At the same time I noticed the handful of black feathers strewn about my bed-spread and the stench of strong wine lingering in the air.
“Ama! Are you alright, did he harm you!” Dez demanded, fear of which I had never seen flitting in his wide violet eyes, his white hair even in more disarray than normal around his angular face.
“Who?” I mumbled sleepily, rubbing at my temples desperately. “I hurt all over… especially my head,” I complained, pulling at Dez’s strong grip with my other hand. As I became more alert I quickly realized I wasn’t decent enough for Dez to be this close to me.
“Ama, I need to know-”
“Get away from me, Dez,” I commanded firmly, my vision blurring as I shoved at him, nausea overwhelming me. He looked shocked as he released me but nodded once before retreating from my bed chambers, closing the doors behind him. Shenna’s hysterical screams- though now somewhat muted- could still be heard issuing from outside in my living chambers.
I staggered out of bed, realizing in Shenna’s current state that I would have to dress myself. With that in mind I slipped into a simple mauve colored dress and allowed my long golden hair to remain loose after I ran a comb through its tangles. I snatched at a thin golden circlet to adorn my head before gracefully exiting the room.
I joined Dez in my living chambers and was surprised to find ourselves alone.
“What was that about?” I scoffed lightheartedly, referring to Shenna’s bout of screams. Dez was leaning stiffly against the stone wall, and as he turned to watch me the worry in his eyes caused my previous apprehension to return.
“What happened?” I waited breathlessly for an answer, as Dez opened and closed his mouth-speechless. This was so unlike Dez, he was always relaxed, always so sure of everything. What had happened?
“Why don’t you tell me what happened last night,” Dez spoke calmly as he struggled to compose himself.
“I-I… I don’t remember,” I offered slowly, struggling to recall last night’s events. I had been at my sister’s evening gala and then… and then what?
Dez nodded bitterly as if he’d expected as much. I evaluated him carefully, noting his rumpled black coat and the grey smudge beneath his violet eyes. He wore his usual black breeches overlaid with white shin guards. A thick leather band was secured across his forehead, achieving little in keeping the disheveled white locks at bay. Dez had been my personal guard ever since the night ten years ago when his father had died trying to protect my twin sister and I from an assassin. I had been the only life spared that night. I shuddered at the memory, turning to sink into the plush sofa before the large marble hearth.
“Have one of the maids fetch me my breakfast,” I waved Dez away, my pounding head causing politeness to evade me as I clutched at the gaping hole in my memory. “And see if they can find Benz and ask her if she has something for this blasted head ache!” I added, mentioning the royal family’s private healer.
As Dez nodded curtly- his long white braid bobbing as he did so- Shenna rushed into the room, her round face red from all the excitement. I was quite impressed that the old chamber maid hadn’t fainted from all the screaming.
“Nothing Benz has will help very much,” Shenna clucked sharply, glaring at Dez as he paused to listen in on the conversation.
“What do you mean?” I questioned angrily, the pain getting the better of my normally docile temperament.
“You’re just sick from all the strong wine you drank last night,” she explained quickly, rushing about the room, tidying up despite how unnecessary it was.
“What!” Dez and I echoed one another and the maid froze in timid reproach.
“Dez! My breakfast!” I scathed my guard angrily and he scowled but left without another word.
“What do you mean?” I demanded, rounding on Shenna. “I didn’t drink any strong wine last night.”
Yes I drank wine, we all did. Water was unclean and held death for most-but the everyday wine was weak. I was positive that I had never taken any strong wine, I had watched how it affected those around me and had shied away from such frivolous behavior. But what other explanation did I have?
“The devil you didn’t,” she muttered harshly, giving the mantle a final dusting before she huffed out of the room, almost running into Dezmond in his hasty return.
“What was that about?” I complained, worry still gnawing at my nerves. “I swear I didn’t drink. Sure I have a head ache but why did she think-”
“That’s not the only thing she think happened last night,” Dez interrupted quietly and my worry deepened as I held his violet gaze.
“Go on,” I encouraged half-heartedly.
“The wine is understandable from her point of view. Your room reeks of it and you are acting as if you had too much to drink last night.” I scowled at his words but allowed him to continue uninterrupted. “And then there’s the matter of the feathers.”
I remembered noticing the black feathers littering the bed chamber and my interest was suddenly piqued.
“Shenna is a superstitious woman, she thinks the devil paid you a visit last night…” he trailed off, avoiding my gaze. At last I understood the screaming. Upon entering my room Shenna had been overwhelmed by the strong scent and had seen the feathers. I couldn’t help but laugh at her notions. She had grasped at illogical conclusions.
“And what do you think?” I asked calmly, watching Dez carefully. His eyes narrowed as I addressed him and then his brow furrowed into a scowl. As I watched him I suddenly got the impression he knew far more than he was letting on.
“I… I can’t say,” he replied cautiously before anger glinted in his eyes. “I leave for a single night and they replace me with some incompetent guard who simply falls asleep. He doesn’t even remember you retiring to your chambers last night!” Dez roared angrily, smashing his fist on the mahogany table before coming to sit dejectedly beside me on the lush sofa.
“Odd isn’t it?” I mused thoughtfully, tracing the thin lines of embroidery on my dress. “Neither the guard or I can remember last night…”
Dez nodded as if the thought had already occurred to him. “You’re fine though?” he asked cautiously. “I mean you aren’t injured in any way are you?” he spoke carefully and I nodded slowly, trying to discern any hidden meaning in his words.
“A little sore, but otherwise I feel alright. I’ll be fine once this head ache goes away.”
Unable to keep still, I massaged my aching back desperately. Dez watched me curiously for a moment and I was about to disapprove of his prying eyes but just then the doors burst open and King Cavendar strode impressively into the room, worry a mask across his young face. His golden hair fell like a mane about his beautiful face, his blue eyes twinkling in the chandelier’s glow.
“Amaryllis!” he boomed, his voice reverberating in the small chamber. “Shenna told me of what happened. Are you well?”
I nodded at his words. A few years back Cavendar and I had been courting, but his desire to be king and my older sister’s need of a suitable husband had inevitably seen the two married, and our courtship ended. I was fine with this arrangement as I loved my sister, Queen Eurena, with my entire heart, and longed for her happiness over my own. I was still a bit uncomfortable around the King, as sometimes I caught him watching me, his eyes full of a longing which horrified me.
His eyes scanned Dezmond disapprovingly before he nodded in my direction. “I don’t believe half of Shenna’s rambling, Princess, but I feel it prudent for me to warn you against partaking of such strong drink in the future,” he murmured kindly. I was about to reply but he interrupted me.
“For Shenna’s sake I have arranged a cleansing for you this afternoon with Benz. She is a superstitious fool but one of the best chamber maids in the palace. I know how upset you would be if she decided to leave simply because we didn’t go through a simple ordeal of a cleansing,” the King explained quickly.
“She thinks I was visited by the devil,” I muttered angrily, repeating Dez’s words. The King looked a bit shocked that I knew this as his eyebrows disappeared into his lengthily golden hair.
“She doesn’t just think he visited you last night, my dear Princess. Shenna has the notion in her head that the devil took to your bed last night!” he roared, ending with a hesitant laugh. I gawked at him.
“Just because there were a few feathers in my room?” I asked, horrified that anyone could contemplate such idiocy. “Since when does the devil have feathers?” I demanded fiercely, shock turning quickly to anger.
Before anyone could answer I rose hastily to my feet. “I’m going to see her Majesty!” I announced, deciding breakfast was taking far too long, and storming out of the room. I quickly realized it had only been delayed because of the King’s presence and smiled apologetically at the maid waiting timidly beside my bedroom door.
“Be gentle with her, Amaryllis,” Cavendar cautioned me as I strode off towards his wife’s chambers. “Please try not to upset her,” his voice trailed after me and I glanced back, pleased to see that Dez had silently taken up his normal position a few paces behind me.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” I replied reassuringly, just before rounding the corner in the long hallway. My sister had suffered three miscarriages during their marriage and after basically living in her bed for the duration of this last pregnancy, she was seven moons along, the longest she’d ever carried a child before. She had spent her time organizing last night’s gala from her bed and though it had been splendid she unfortunately had not been in attendance.
It took me mere minutes to reach my sisters chambers and as I entered, Dez respectfully took up vigil outside the large wooden doors.
“Ama!” my sister exclaimed happily, her eyes lighting up as she greeted me from her lavishly adorned bed. Her swollen abdomen was obvious despite the loosely fitting cotton outfit she wore.
“Eurena!” I raced to the bed and gently embraced her. It had been days since I’d taken the time to see her and now I felt ashamed. “It has been too long, forgive me,” I murmured quietly, smiling as she caressed my long golden hair gently. Her emerald-green eyes shone with love as she watched me, her pale face haloed by fiery red hair that fell in waves just past her shoulders. When I tried to picture my mother -who had died when I was three - all I could see was Eurena’s beautiful face.
“Nonsense,” she fretted quietly, holding me at arm’s length to inspect me carefully. “Though I wonder if you got a little carried away at the party last night? Darling you reek!” I blushed as she chuckled, and -remembering the King’s warning not to upset his wife- I shrugged.
“It won’t happen again,” I promised, hating to lie. “But how have you been, dearest? The pregnancy bodes well with you?” I inquired curiously. Since I was eighteen I should have already been married and presumably be expecting a child of my own by now. But since I was the second daughter and my sister had borne her duty to be Queen adequately, I had more freedom in a choice of husband and the pressure to be married quickly, was relieved. I knew who I was to marry, but it needn’t be rushed in anyone’s opinion and I was fine by that.
“As well as could be expected,” my sister murmured softly and for the first time I noticed the pale shadows beneath her green eyes and the exhaustion in her voice. “It’s hard to keep much food down and I feel nauseous all the time,” she explained quietly.
I scooted closer to her, gently placing my hands on her swollen belly. She smiled as she placed her hands on top of mine. A few moments later I felt a furious twitch beneath my fingers and the two of us smiled, fascination filling me.
“Time for your medicine, M’Lady.” A sharp voice interrupted us and I turned to see Mia hobbling into the chamber. She was the oldest of all the maids, her eyes milky and seemingly blind though she seemed to get around well enough. She had trained under a healer before her employment at the castle and had proved to work wonders with my sister’s health over the past several years. I nodded my head respectfully in her direction before rising to my feet.
“I will visit soon,” I promised light-heartedly, as Eurena smiled contentedly up at me.
“Take your time, it’s not as if I’ll be going anywhere any time soon,” she laughed sweetly, shooing me from the room.
I found Dez awaiting me patiently in the hallway and he looked at me quizzically before I bade him to follow.
“I think a visit to the Market is in order,” I stated matter-of-factly.
He nodded his agreement as the two of us set off to make plans.
