Thrallmagic: Chapter 3

Chapter Three

The morning sun shines brightly in my eyes as I walk up the staircase to my parents’ chamber. I come to a stop just before the corridor that led to their rooms, and rest my head against a wall. The chain mail I had left on from this morning’s practice session with the captain gleams, casting little lights on the wall. Taking off my gloves, I run a hand over my face, wiping away the sweat and dirt. Taking a deep breath, I walk to the door. The guards snap to attention, their spears crossing before me.

“Who seeks an audience with their Royal Majesties?” The guard’s voice booms out into the corridor as he formally questions me.

“I am the Princess Rionach, come to speak with my parents.” I level my gaze at him, and, they bring their spears back to attention. One of them steps forward, bowing, and opens the door for me.

Striding through the doors, I come to a halt before their bedchamber and knock, the sound booming into the large room. A healer opens the door, avoiding my eyes. When I walk in, the smell of rotting flesh makes me cringe, and I step hesitantly towards the high bed. My mother sits in a chair, the perfect expression of worry and fear pasted onto her face.

“Rionach!” Her voice shows surprise, although she must have been expecting me.

“Mother. I came to see how Father was doing. Is he any better?” Or did you just poison him further, I add in my head.

She shakes her head mournfully. “I’m afraid he’s doing worse. The healers say that he must have been poisoned.”

I gasp in fake surprise. “How, mother? And by whom?” Widening my eyes and furrowing my brow, I play the part of the confused and worried daughter to perfection. I am worried, deep inside, both for my father’s life and the country’s future, but I bottle it up refuse to feel anything.

Just as my mother draws breath to reply, the head of the healers, Cairn, steps towards us, bowing. “Begging your pardon, your majesty, but I would kindly ask both yourself and the princess heir to depart the room. The healers and I require utmost silence if we are to help his majesty.” Somehow, he manages to sound pompous and deferential at the same time. Sneering coldly, I wait for my mother to leave, then follow.

Without looking back, she leaves her sitting rooms. “Come, Rionach, let us go to the libraries, where we may talk in peace.” One of the guards falls into step behind us. We pass groups of chattering nobles that fall silent when we approach. As we walk down the stairs, a serving maid carrying a pot of steaming water rushes by us, probably for my father. Pushing down the grief and anger that threatens to overwhelm me, I walk faster, overtaking my mother.

I push open the library doors and walk in, not bothering to hold them for her. "Your majesty, you wished to speak with me?" My voice is cold and haughty.

"Not here, Rionach." I follow her to the not-so-secret passageway. The huge floor to ceiling mirror that hangs behind the books opens with a breath of her magic, and it swings open. I wave my hand at the cold sconces, and the torches int hem flare to life, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the stone passageway. Looking both ways for watching eyes, Mother shuts the mirror. 

"We're here, where no one can hear or see us. What is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

She smiles graciously, clasping her hands girlishly in front of her. "My daughter, the king- your father- will not live long." 

I choke on air. "What are you saying, that there’s no hope? How can you be so happy when it is your husband that is dying?" 

She shrugs. "It was a political arrangement, Rionach, as you well know."

That must have made it easier for you to poison him. "Truly, mother, it was." Suddenly, a bout of rage takes over me, and I spit, "I know why he's dying."

Her expression doesn't change, but she stops walking. Tossing her pale hair behind her shoulder, she laughs. "We all know why he's dying, darling."

"We all know he's been poisoned. We don't know who poisoned him, but mother-" A crash echoes up ahead, and both of us run towards it. A torch has fallen out of the sconce, but no one is around. "We cannot speak here anymore than we could in court." Secretly, I thank the Triad for keeping me from saying anymore.

Mother nods, unshaken. "I'll speak to the Captain about this. Our privacy cannot be interrupted anymore."

One thing, at least, which we can agree upon, I think to myself. We step out of the corridor at another point, emerging into a set of unused rooms. "By your leave, your majesty-" I start to turn away, but my mother cuts me off.

"After the council session you so dearly want to attend, Prince Blathen wishes to go riding with you." 

I close my eyes, trying to calm myself before and argument could erupt. “Ma’am, I thought I would show the vampire nobles around the gardens today. It would be a grave error to ignore them or offend them.” It takes a huge effort to keep my voice steady.

“Take them with you, then.” She studies a blank sheet of paper, unconcerned. “You can have a private dinner with Blathen in his rooms.”

A feeling of nausea sweeps over me at the thought of surviving dinner with the vile elf. His leering looks and chronic inability to keep his eyes on my face only made me hate him more. Curtseying, I say, “Of course, your majesty.” Without waiting for her leave, I turn on my heel and stalk down the hall to find Captain Wyrnson and then Lord Nikolas and Arianna.

The spiral staircase down to the grounds makes my head spin. Clutching the hand rail, I wonder briefly if I’m getting sick, but write it off as exhaustion and stress. Just then, I spot my sister with some ladies of the court. They giggle in unison as I approach them. When they notice me, they curtsey and many of them leave.

“Kerissa, can I speak with you for a moment?” I let the air around us weave a bit, creating a sound barrier for anyone daring enough to try and listen.

Isi nods. “Of course, sister.” She steps away from the remaining ladies, eyes squinted against the sun. Leading her over to the shade, I gesture for her to sit down on the cool grass. Fanning myself, I sit down next to her.

“Isi, did you hear about our father?” I choose to be blunt, not having the time to be gentle.

“I heard he was ill. Was that why he didn’t attend the dancing last night?” I nod my affirmation, my eyes searching the training yard in the distance for the tall figure of Captain Wyrnson. My sister interrupts my thoughts, saying, “Rionach, if you can’t pay attention to what I’m saying, why did you ask to talk at all?” A disgusted expression on her face, she gets up to leave, but I catch her arm.

“Isi, I’m sorry. I’m distracted.” Taking a deep breath, I concentrate on her. “This hasn’t been announced to the court yet. You can’t tell anyone, do you understand?” At the back of my mind, I find myself wondering if I can trust my sister, but I smother those feelings.

“Of course, Isi. You can tell me anything, you know that.” Now it’s her that’s distracted, making eyes at a young lord sitting across from us.

Tactfully, I ignore it and continue. “Isi, he’s very ill.”

She looks at me carefully. “How ill is very ill?” She doesn’t hide her emotions very well, and a hint of fear carries in her voice.

“They’re saying he won’t make it through the week.” I prepare for a fountain of tears, or anger, perhaps.

Instead, she sits there, expression blank. “What’s wrong with him?” Her voice is tight, like she’s using every ounce of her will to hold back tears.

I draw her into an awkward embrace. Isi and I no longer know each other well. The last time I’d seen her was her tenth birthday. After three years of being fostered with Unseelie faeries, she’s become like a stranger to me. “They’re saying he was poisoned.” She hugs me back, and I feel tears on my neck. Still, she surprises me when she comes back up by having a clear, expressionless face.

“We’ll talk later, sister.” She smiles at me gaily, although her eyes still hold tears. Turning away, she goes to find her ladies, probably to try and forget.

I get up, sighing, and start towards the training yards. When I get there, a guard tells me that Captain Wyrnson is in the barracks, so I head towards them. Before I get all the way there, though, I nearly run into the captain himself. Glancing around, I create another sound barrier around us. When he sense it, he gives me an odd look, but says nothing.

“Can I help you, your highness?” His eyes pierce mine.

“Your title is a hereditary one, is it not, Captain?” Now a confused expression overtakes his face.

“Yes, indeed, your highness.” As we walk, I subtly turn a bit to take us further away from the palace.

“You are a young captain of the guard. Do your men respect you?”

He nods. “Of course. Is there a point to this questioning, your highness?” His voice carries a hint of amusement.

I bid the wind to whistle through the trees in front of us. Stopping abruptly, I ask, “Can I trust you, Captain?”

His steel-grey eyes narrow. Then, he bows. “My allegiance is to you, your highness, as always.”

Smart man, to phrase it like that. I take a leap of faith, choosing to believe Arianna’s words, and say, “I’ve heard, and I wish to discuss this further.” Stepping even closer, I whisper, “Meet me at the eaves of the forest tonight at midnight, Captain, if you truly support me.” Leaving him to figure out my intentions, I stride away, dropping my hold over the wind as I do.

Now to find Arianna, and get her to come, too. Suddenly, I catch sight of the vampire guard from last night with his lady, standing not too far from me. He scrutinizes me, and the walks off. Cold dread envelops my heart as I think of what could happen if my mother ever finds out about this. I make a mental note to ask Captain Wyrnson about the man, and mutter a hasty prayer to the darkest of the gods to aid me in my plans. “Let me live, Lady Morrigan, and let me save this country.”