“Princess Amaryllis?”
I turned to glance back at Dezmond as he trailed behind me cautiously. It was Market Day and so the main thoroughfare through the city was at its busiest. Dez seemed on edge as he glanced at his surroundings.
“Yes?” I questioned distractedly. I turned my attention to my escort, glancing up to meet Lord Rei’s gaze with a smile. He led me along courteously, my arm resting respectfully across his.
“I think we’re being followed,” Dez murmured, just loud enough for his words to carry over the noisy din of people. I shrugged, I wasn’t too concerned. Dez was one of the best trained guards in the city, his fighting skills beyond that of most of the palace soldiers. Besides, Rei was here and in his presence, I always felt protected.
Rei was two years my elder, and was tall and muscular. His beautiful brown hair was cropped just past his ears and his bright brown eyes were kind and gentle. Though a nobleman by birth he lacked the normal snobbish superior attitude that so often accompanied such a breed of people. I had found him refreshing from the blatant ways of most of my suitors and he had quickly moved up the ranks as my number one candidate for marriage. At this point we were practically betrothed.
“Thank you for informing us,” Rei offered lightly, his smile shining through his eyes as he nodded his thanks to my guard. Dez simply let out a soft Hmph of indignation at my dismissal.
We continued to peruse the market -and though I kept a watchful eye- I never noticed anyone suspicious. Market day was the day when the city seemed to come alive. The streets teamed with villagers and outlanders as they examined the vendor’s wears. It was on Market day that all the shop keepers set up their small carts and displays, enticing their eager audience to purchase their goods. I loved the food vendors as they always kindly graced me with samples of their best victuals.
There were leather smiths and jewelers, basket weavers, potters, even a few sword smiths and weapon vendors. I always enjoyed examining the crafted weapons. I ran my fingers along the smooth wood of a bow as the merchant watched me appraisingly.
“Look!” I gasped, pleasantly surprised by the pair of weapons exhibited at the next booth. “What a beautiful set of Sai!”
Dez seemed thoroughly put-out as I inspected the two dagger-like weapons excitedly.
“Would you like them?” Rei inquired, his upbeat attitude causing me to smile.
“No, but thank you.” I gently took his hand and realized we had reached the end of the thoroughfare. Dez was still on edge, his eyes glancing nervously around us. I was just about to suggest we start heading back so I wouldn’t be late for my cleansing with Benz when suddenly a strange man caught my eye.
There was an outlander selling grains to our left and the strange man was leaning in a carefree manner against a wagon filled with burlap sacks of milled grains. His face was angular and he was of a slight, though tall, build. He wore a loosely fitting white shirt that billowed gently in the wind and black breeches. His dark blue eyes watched me carefully and I noticed his black hair, which had been tied back by a strip of leather, fell past his waist.
I was shocked as Dez hurtled past me and approached the man angrily. “What are you doing here!” I heard him snarl as he met the man face on, both equally matched in height. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
Glancing back at us he nodded to Rei. “Take the Princess back to the palace or she’ll be late,” he ordered quickly, the emotions playing in his eyes scaring me.
“Nonsense,” the man crooned, brushing past Dez as he approached me. I felt Rei’s grip tighten on my hand as he pulled me closer to his side. The people milling about us seemed completely oblivious to our confrontation. “M’Lady.” The man knelt before me, gently taking my hand, his lips brushing across my skin for the briefest of seconds.
“Get away from her!” Dez demanded furiously, shoving the man to his feet and back a few paces. He merely seemed amused by Dez’s frantic behavior.
“You two know each other?” I asked, at last regaining my voice. Dez scowled as the man nodded.
“Allow me to introduce myself, Princess. My name is Gabriel. Dez and I… trained together as children,” he murmured softly, watching Dez’s reaction carefully.
“We should be going now,” Rei reminded me gently and I nodded.
“It was nice to meet you, Gabriel.” I turned away quickly, surmising that this man must have done something awful to be deemed so unworthy by Dez. I trusted my guard with utmost certainty as he had yet to be proven wrong. I allowed Rei to lead me back towards the palace.
“You ruined everything!” Desperation and horror filled Dez’s voice and as turned back to watch the pair I had the impression that Gabriel and I had met before. He watched Dez calmly and I was surprised by how upset my level-headed guard had become. Rei led me on and when I glanced back over my shoulder I found both Dez and Gabriel had disappeared.
Benz stood before me, stirring a foul-smelling tincture in a small iron wrought cauldron. Rei had been forced to leave as he had some pressing business to attend to and since Dez had never made it back I found myself facing the Healer alone. I shivered. The old woman was kind enough but her cures -though highly effective- were monstrosities of the foulest nature. I shuddered at the thought of what I would be ingesting.
Her small set of chambers were located in the basement of the castle and so bore a damp and clammy atmosphere. The living chamber smelled strongly of herbs and spices, now mixed with the foul smell coming from the fireplace and the potion she was brewing.
“And what is that exactly?” I asked anxiously. Benz had already gone about scrubbing my body from head to toe with different ointments, the whole while muttering odd words and chants. Now as I sat before her wrapped in a soft robe, I felt as if my body had been scrubbed raw. This was the final step of the cleansing.
Her grey eyes washed over me pityingly and she let out a soft chuckle as she spread her fingertips over the bubbling liquid, releasing a pale powder. “Just in case,” she whispered, winking at me.
“In case of what!” I demanded, watching the potion turn from blue to a vile grey. Benz merely smiled at me and I decided not to press for more information, not necessarily keen on learning what awaited me, or for what reasons.
“Please just tell me I won’t be stuck in the privy for days on end,” I begged, wondering if cleansing included everything residing in my bowels at the moment. Benz shook her head.
“It’s not what you ingested that has me worried, Princess,” she croaked, returning to stirring the contents thoughtfully. I scowled but said nothing.
A few minutes later Benz must have deemed the brew to be ready for she procured a ceramic flask and filled it with a ladle of the murky liquid.
“Here,” she encouraged, offering me the drink. I shuddered but obeyed.
I took a hesitant sniff of the steam issuing off the drink but the second I did my stomach lurched unexpectedly, and I vomited the contents of my samplings from the market across the low wooden table before me.
“I’m sorry!” I gasped, covering my mouth in embarrassment. As I met Benz’s gaze I found a look of concern there which startled me.
“Try again,” she urged. I nodded, trying to force the memory of the ghastly smell that had forced itself into my nostrils out of my mind. Trying to hold my breath, I tipped back my head and drained the cup, moments later spewing the contents across the room, splattering Benz in the process. She looked as horrified as I felt and I could feel the hot tears pricking at my eyes.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” I cried, letting the tears fall. “I couldn’t even taste it that time but I can’t swallow it!” It was as if something had closed off my throat in an attempt to drown me.
“Try again,” she muttered shakily, taking the flask and refilling it. I didn’t know if I should do it slower or fast again. I glanced at Benz for instruction. “Imagine its eggnog,” she suggested, obviously as clueless about how to get it down as I was.
I nodded and pressed the flask to my lips, slowly allowing it to trickle into my mouth. I had to admit it didn’t taste half as bad as it smelled. I drained the flask triumphantly and looked towards Benz. She was watching me expectantly. I didn’t quite understand why until a few seconds later it felt as if someone wrenched my stomach into a knot and I found myself heaving the contents across the floor, nausea overwhelming me.
Benz was shaking her head sadly.
“I’m sorry!” I wiped desperately at the mess that was covering my chin, scared by the lack of control I held over my own body.
“Don’t be,” Benz murmured. “You couldn’t help it.” She began to sop up the mess with a filthy rag and issued towards the door. “It would be best if you could leave now. Go have Shenna draw your bath water and take a soak, why don’t you.”
I nodded as Benz passed me a small clay jar that had been sitting on her mantle. “It’s some herbs and oatmeal. They will sooth you after the cleansing,” she offered kindly.
“Thank you.” I took the gift gratefully and moved towards the doorway, the robe scraping against my raw skin harshly.
I was surprised to see Dez awaiting me outside the chamber. He smiled distractedly before catching wind of the scent drifting out of Benz’s chambers and cringing.
“Whew, that reeks!” He shuddered before offering his arm and I allowed him to escort me to my own chambers on the next floor. I was so distracted by my ordeal that it wasn’t until we were almost there that I noticed the rosy smudge across Dez’s face and smiled teasingly.
“Are you blushing, Dez?” I asked lightheartedly, causing the glow to deepen.
“It’s just that Your Majesty has little…attire on at the moment.” Dez cringed again and now it was my turn to blush. I glanced down to insure that the robe had been covering me properly, pulling the neck closed a little better.
“Nothing was showing,” I muttered, my stomach at last calming from its upheaval.
I was grateful to find that Shenna had already drawn and heated a warm bath for me and I quickly slipped into the warmth, dumping the contents of the ceramic jar into the water. A gentle foam of bubbles frothed about me as pleasant flowery scents enveloped me. So soothing.
I allowed myself to relax into the water and fell into a half-sleep as I rested.
Blackness enveloped me. I could feel damp ground pressing at my bare feet and I felt exposed and naked. I could hear wing-beats not far off, and strained my eyes to pry into the night sky. I was startled to see a blood-red moon hanging there, as a huge creature flitted back and forth in the sickly glow of light it offered. Suddenly the beast took direction in its flight and lunged straight towards me. All I could see were the huge black wings and glowing red eyes, before the creature’s maw gaped open revealing a set of dagger-like fangs. I screamed.
I writhed as strong arms encompassed me, my screams tearing at the stillness of the night.
“Shh, Princess. Everything is fine.” I was startled as Dez’s quiet voice enveloped me and I quickly clung to him, sweat trickling down my back as I tried to push the image out of my mind.
“He was going to kill me,” I whimpered, pressing my face into Dez’s shoulder as his firm hands massaged my back gently.
“It was only a nightmare,” he offered soothingly. “Here.”
I looked up to find he was offering me a small glass of red wine.
“It will calm your nerves and allow you sleep,” he encouraged gently. I at last released my death grip on Dez and seated myself next to him, taking the wine and downing it gratefully.
“Thank you,” I murmured quietly, fear still clinging to my senses. “I’m sorry,” I choked back a sob. I had suffered nightmares after my sister’s death ten years ago and even though Dez had been newly assigned to guard me, it had been his comfort that had gotten me through such an impossible time in my life.
“Don’t be, you couldn’t help it.” His words shocked me as they were the echo of Benz’s but I had more pressing matters and decided it was coincidence.
“I think I can sleep now,” I lied. The truth was that I didn’t want to go back to sleep and face the nightmare again. I wanted Dez to stay with me; like I was a small child again and believed just his presence could stay the monsters.
“I’ll wait,” he offered, his smooth hand squeezing my own sweaty one as I slipped beneath the covers, at last relaxing.
“Thank you, Dez,” I murmured groggily, already my mind drifting towards sleep.
“Good night, Ama. Sleep well.”
