A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) (10 page)

Chapter 9

Vain. 
That was all Matthew thought as she talked to him.  Her blond hair swayed at her hips and her light brown eyes were captivating, but her talk was senseless.  She desired to be a princess.  She wanted to live in a castle and she found it honorable to be wife of a commander.  She came from an opportunistic family of wealth.  “This is an atrocity.” Matthew complained to his brother and Gwendolyn after in the council room.  “You have not found me one suitable match since I returned.  This is what you really think of me?”

Gwendolyn and John exchanged innocent looks.  “She is lovely to look at, is she not?”  John stated

“
Lovely
is all she is.  She cares nothing for anything of importance.”  Matthew had promised his brother that he would choose a bride upon his return.  It had been over three months’ time and his brother had hesitated to find a maiden for him.  Finally he presented a few, but each were harder to deal with then the last.  “What happened to the maidens who were proposed to me before?  Surely any of them would be a better match?”

“They have moved on.  Perhaps they thought you had an aversion to women from your evident lack of affection toward them.”

Gwendolyn laughed lightly at her husband’s words. Matthew sighed. “I told you to pick my bride, and if you feel that this maiden is a suitable match for me then I accept it.  She is not ill willed, just spoiled it seems. Make the arrangements then.”

“No!” John and Gwendolyn said in unison. 

“What?” Matthew asked incredulously. 

“I just remembered that her mother was rude to me.”  Gwendolyn said, linking her arm with John’s.  “She said my dresses were too tight fitting for a respectable woman.”

“And her father can be a bit aggravating in the council meetings.  He speaks out of turn quite often.  I would not want you to suffer with a family such as this.  I will continue to search.”

“Perhaps we can have a ball and invite all the eligible maidens.” Gwendolyn cooed. 

“No.” Matthew said sternly.  He knew that his brother and Gwendolyn hesitated finding him a bride. They desired for him to fall in love with a maiden and ask for her hand, but Matthew had no interest in courting. “Just pick someone.”  He said to them. He turned to leave, but John stopped him.

“Wait. We have news for you.” He said with a smile. Gwendolyn averted her eyes as a deep blush came over her.  “It seems you will be an uncle soon.  Gwendolyn is expecting.”

“Truly? That is wonderful.  I am happy for you both.”  He went to embrace his brother, ignoring the feelings of envy that emerged from within him.  Their prayers were answered.  Their marriage had some times of trials, but they found love and happiness with each other.  Now they will have a child to extend that joy too.

“Your Majesty, I am sorry to intrude, but a letter has arrived.” A castle guard entered before them.  He handed John a parchment with a green seal.  John opened it and scanned the contents. 

“It seems that
the
Queen
has decided to finally pay us a visit.” John handed the letter to Matthew.  The letter was written in green ink.  It was neat with small calligraphy written in the Queen’s hand.  It made mention to return a reply by dropping the letter into the sea. 

“Lucinda is returning?” Gwendolyn asked.

Since Matthew had left Lucinda’s castle three months prior, rumors of her return and the Fifth Kingdom spread throughout the lands.  Travelers from the North and South had reported that Lucinda had visited King Joseph and King Adelphi within the last months.  He knew that she would have to return to the West soon.  John was the only king left and all four kings needed to be personally addressed before a decision could be made to legitimize her kingdom. 

“Have the scribe respond to her that we have been preparing for her visit for several months and that she should come soon.  We will be waiting.” John said to his guardsman.

Matthew handed the letter back to the guard. “We will have to tighten our guards,” John said to him.  “She
will be received with mixed welcomes and it is still an oddity how those assassins were able to get as far as your bedchamber without being detected.”  John still feared for Matthew’s safety.  Ever since the attacks on his life, Matthew had noticed that some of his men hardly left his side.  When asked why they were crowding him, they said they were given special duty by the King and were commanded not to speak of it. “We will keep the welcome small. Until she is made legitimate we cannot trust many near her.  She will meet with my council and answer our questions.  Then perhaps Gwendolyn can host a small banquet for her with some of the other women of the kingdom.” 

Gwendolyn nodded.  “It will be lovely to see her again.  Many of the women loved her dearly in her short time with us.  They took her disappearance quite hard.”

“We all did.” Matthew said softly staring toward the floor. He looked up to notice both John and Gwendolyn’s eyes upon him.  “I will gather my men,” he said quickly before departing. 

Word reached the kingdom that the Queen’s ship had reached the shore, eight days after her letter arrived.  Matthew had his men create a barricade, separating the townspeople from her path.  He stood at the beginning of the path, right by the Green Sea.  She walked off her ship with Geenessa in tail and a few of her guardsmen.  She looked lovelier than he had ever seen her.  Her hair was tied loosely behind her head and she wore a green and black gown, reflecting her kingdom. 

“Princess! Princess!” Shouts had started immediately.  Lucinda looked at the faces attached to the voices and smiled.  She raised a hand at them, but his guards kept the people back as they tried to run toward her.  She looked straight ahead catching sight of him, in the deep, blue armor of the West Kingdom.  She extended her hand out to him and he received it.

“Welcome back, Princess.” He said softly.  She held his hand tightly and kept her eyes on the sapphire adorned kingdom ahead of her.  They walked to the shouts of “Princess!” and “Sorceress!” and many “Green Eyed Witch.” A few shouted “Murderer,” to her and Matthew flinched.  The body of Lucinda’s governess, Nigina was found on the shore where Lucinda disappeared into the water.  There was a stampede of guards and villagers who chased after her, so the body was found trampled and his father ruled that as the cause of death.  He did not focus on the purple bruises around her neck that suggested strangling and murder.  Lucinda’s face remained calm, though her expression serious. She held her head high and focused on each step she took. 

The people for the most part were subdued, but one amongst them tried to jump out of the crowd at her.   One of Matthew’s men planted his elbow in the man’s face.  Her grip tightened as they approached the castle gate.  It opened wide for her.  She looked back at Geenessa and Geenessa nodded as if giving encouragement for her to proceed.   She let go of Matthew’s hand and lifted the hem of her dress slightly to make the ascension up the castle steps.  His brother and Gwendolyn stood by the entrance. 

“Your Majesty,” Lucinda said to John.  “It is an honor for me to return here after the kindness your kingdom had shown me over seven years ago.  I know I have returned this kindness with pain and I will spend all of my days asking for your pardon.  Don’t think that I have chosen to visit your kingdom last because I think of you lesser in anyway.  I knew it would be hardest for me to come here. Yet, I desired it the most.” She went to bow before him, and John caught her by the arms.

“You will bow to no one in this kingdom, my lady.  It is with great joy we welcome you home.  He turned her back to the people who had gathered by the gate.  Matthew turned as well as they all knelt before Lucinda.  When John had commanded this he did not know, but Matthew was in awe of his brother and the devotion he brought out of his people. 

“Lucinda, I have missed you dearly and regretted the last words we spoke every day.”  Gwendolyn grabbed Lucinda’s hands and looked at her with teary eyes.  Matthew wondered what those last words were that Gwendolyn regretted, as Lucinda responded with a teary smile. 

“I regretted my words as well.  You are a beautiful Queen, and I would be honored by your friendship.”

“You have it,” Gwendolyn whispered tearfully as the ladies embraced. 

Lucinda was led into the throne room where his brother’s council was waiting for her.  To his surprise, she extended her hand to his again as she was being brought in. He noticed she no longer wore the ring he gave her and wondered if he had offended her by drawing attention to it. 

The council men bowed before Lucinda.  John and Gwendolyn took their seats.  Upon John’s command, Lucinda went to tell the story she had repeated often.  The castle scribe wrote feverishly every word she spoke.  At the end of it John spoke again.

“We have listened to each of your words carefully and taken account of them.  We will come to a decision and all four kings will meet to decide in one voice.  We will want to inspect your kingdom before we make a decision.”

“Yes, your majesty.  Each King has requested such and I will make the arrangements.”

“For now we will dine and celebrate your return, my lady.”

It was a small celebration with only the highest ranking members of the kingdom, and John’s council present.  Matthew hardly spoke to Lucinda, yet he frequently caught her eyes on him from the distance as she conversed with others. Lucinda had disappeared before the celebrations ended, wanting to address some of the villagers.  Uncle Jonathan went with her as well as Geenessa and several knights to keep watch.  It was midway through the night before Matthew retired, not wanting to sleep until he knew she was safe within the castle walls.

She returned to you, but Nycilla’s presence is still strong amongst her.  You may be the key to freeing her.

Matthew opened his eyes in his bed. 
You may be the key to freeing her.
What did Thomas mean?  From the corner of his eyes, he saw a silhouette sitting at the edge of his bed.  He sat up and grabbed his dagger and raised it the figure.  The light shined through to his chamber windows and the face of the silhouette came into view.

“Lady Geenessa?”  Matthew said in confusion.  She grabbed his hand holding the dagger with both of hers.  She pointed the blade below her left shoulder and forced the blade through.  “What are you doing?” He shouted, trying to free his hand from hers.  The blade went all the way through her.  Nothing happened for several moments as he struggled to free himself and remove the dagger from her.  Then, her green eyes became black.  She freed his hand as he retracted the blade from her.  Her body started convulsing where she sat and then stilled.  Just as the woman who had tried to drown him and the men who tried to kill him, a black shadow ripped away from Geenessa’s body and shot through the window and into the night sky.

She opened her eyes wide.  They had returned to green.  She stood up and placed her hand over her wound and healed it.  “Thank you,” she whispered. 

“What was that?”  Matthew said in shock.

She grasped Matthew’s face in her hands.  “She is the Queen, but you have power too, my lord.  It will take more than this to free Nycilla’s hold on Lucinda in this world, but you are the key.”  She kissed Matthew on the cheek, then looked at him sternly.  “Do not forget the power you hold.” She walked away from him and left his chambers.

Chapter 10

Lucinda woke up early the next morning.  She sought some time on her own before the day’s activities began.  She wanted to go to the mourning grounds of the West Kingdom.   She brought a candle with her although the sun was rising and it was not dark.
She knelt before the late King John’s tomb and silently prayed.  He showed the kindness and affection of a father to her in the short few months she knew him. She wept for him.  He was at peace resting with his forefathers with the One God, she was certain of it.  Yet, she mourned for the pain she had caused him.  She was selfish.  She wanted so little when she was on the land, yet she wanted so much when she reached the sea.  She thought it was for the best that she did not think of the people in her past, but she had done nothing but cause them pain as she built her castle upon ashes.

The sound of footsteps caught her ear. She turned quickly and raised her hands in front of her. She faced the new King John, Matthew’s brother.

He raised his hands cautiously and smiled broadly at her. “I come in peace, your Grace.”

“I am sorry, Your Highness!” She went to stand but John knelt next to her by his father’s tomb. 

“He did love you like his own daughter.  They were not just words.” He said in a low voice. “Our whole kingdom fell for you in such a short time.  You are easy to love.”

She let the tears continue to flow.  “I am sorry for the pain I caused your father and your kingdom after I disappeared.”

“Do not think of it anymore.  You have returned.  What you do now is what is important.”  They said nothing for a while in respect for the late King. Lucinda finally broke the silence.  Something was pressing on her heart and she needed to talk to John before she lost her courage. “I have something to ask of you.  I have no right to and I hope you do not think I am too bold, but I must.”

“I told you if a time comes where I can see to any part of your happiness, I would.  Tell me, what is it you seek?”

She breathed deeply and presented her request to him.  He studied her as she spoke.  He said nothing for a long while and looked deep in thought.  “I do think you are bold, my lady.” He finally said to her.  “It is a necessary quality for a ruler.”  He kissed her forehead.  “Proceed as you see fit. Then, come to me again.”

“Your Majesty, My lady.” Commander Jonathan had appeared behind them.

“But first,” John stood up from his spot and extended a hand to Lucinda. “There is a matter we need to discuss.”

Lucinda looked at the two men confused.  They held grave expressions.  “I am sorry my lady, but you must know.”  Commander Jonathan handed her a piece of parchment.  It was worn and the writing was almost faded. 

My love,

By the time you receive this letter I may have already passed.  It is fitting that this child takes my whole life, as she was conceived in my weakness.  Yet, the few moments I have with her, I hope she will grow to know how much I loved her and every moment that I carried her inside of me. 

It is not of this child that I write for, but my eldest. My sweet girl. She is the one that was promised.  I have truly bore the power that will restore the kingdom, as was predicted.  She must be trained, but I fear that my husband won’t allow it after I am gone.  I fear for her life if her powers are not controlled. I begged him to promise to send her to your kingdom to be taught.  I plead with you to ask your brother to accept her for a summer.  When she comes to her fifteenth year she will be old enough to travel on her own and I pray that my husband won’t refuse my dying wish.  Find someone to train her.  She knows of the prophecy, but she does not understand.  Find someone who will make her understand.

My tears stain this letter.  I do not regret our last moment together.  I named her after your sister.  I hope that pleases you.  Be strong for her.

Lucy

Lucinda looked up at the King and the Commander.  They had remorseful eyes waiting for her to react. 
Lucy. Lucille. Her mother. 
Very few people had called her that that Lucinda could remember.  It was a name from before she was wed, her mother would say.  This was the plea her mother made on her behalf.
My love,
she had addressed the letter to, but she was not referring to her father.

“Who was this letter written to?”

They hesitated. “It was to me, my lady.”  Commander Jonathan said regretfully.

“You knew my mother better than you led me to believe.”

“I never meant to deceive you, but I thought it was best to keep you safe.” 

“Keep
me
safe?” Lucinda said. “What did she mean, ‘
It is fitting that this child take my whole life as she was conceived in my weakness?’” 
John remained silent and Commander Jonathan let tears fall down his face.  “’
I do not regret our last moment together,’”
Lucinda continued.
“
And when was that, Commander?”

“About fifteen years ago.” He said slowly.  “Fourteen years to be exact, your Grace.”

Her pulse quickened. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“She’s passed, my lady. A long time ago.  She was born with my brother.  They were inflicted by the same ailment, but she did not make it past a maiden.”

‘What was
her name?” Lucinda asked, knowing the answer.  The Commander looked at her with such sorrow. “What was her name?” Lucinda repeated.

“Erica,” He said tearfully.  “Her name was Erica.”   Lucinda felt ill.  Erica, her sweet baby sister was named after a late Western princess.  She knew Erica was not a common name in the East, but her mother favored the name and her father accepted it. 
My father,
Lucinda thought. 
Not Erica’s father. 
Erica’s father was standing before her.

“My mother was
with you
when she was married to my father.” She said in disgust and disbelief.  Her father was many things, but he did not deserve this betrayal.  He loved his wife.  That was the one thing Lucinda was certain of about him.

“It was wrong, Lucinda,” Commander Jonathan started.  “It happened once. We regretted it—“

“No!” Lucinda lifted the letter in front of him.  “She said she did not regret it!”  The image of her perfect, beautiful mother was shattering in her mind.  “Who knows of this?”  The ground around her started to tremble.

“No one else.” John said gently.  “My father did, and my uncle and I do, and now you.  I doubt your mother revealed it to anyone before she passed.  Please, stay calm.”

“She could not reveal this to anyone!  Erica would be dead if she had.  She can never know about this.  My father will kill her and you if he ever found out!”

Jonathan stepped toward her. “I know, my lady. Let me explain—“  She stepped back.  The ground around her was shaking harder now.

“What if she had been a boy?  Your child would be my father’s heir.  An illegitimate heir would take the throne, and what would you do?  Take the secret to the grave?” 
The child is illegitimate. He has made you a harlot. 
A voice whispered in her ears.

John grasped his father’s tomb for support.   “Lucinda you must calm down.  We did not want to keep this from you!  We vowed that we would reveal it if you were to return to us.  We knew you deserved to know, though it would cause you great pain.”

She was losing control.  The whispers continued to float into her head. 
The child is illegitimate. You have brought shame onto your kingdom.  How will you hide it? 
She turned away from them and ran back toward the castle.  The ground around her continued to rumble and she knew she needed to calm down.  The sky darkened and heavy winds started picking up. She needed to breathe. 
Mother, how could you do this? 
Her sweet little sister.  She knew Erica never quite looked like the rest of them.  She had their mother’s eyes, but lighter skin and hair than Lucinda and Drissa.  Lucinda thought of her sister’s sweet smile.  It was Commander Jonathan’s smile.  The whispers drummed louder in her head. 
The child is illegitimate!  You have brought shame onto your kingdom.  How will you hide it?

Suddenly, Matthew was in front of her.  “You cannot lose control here!”  He grabbed her by the waist.  “Fight it, Lucinda.”   He stared down at her with dark eyes. 
An illegitimate child, conceived out of wedlock. It will be your shame. 
She let the letter drop to the ground. She raised her hands to his shoulders, pressing her fingers deeply into his skin. 
The child is illegitimate.
The voices continued.
His eyes writhed with pain, but he did not cower from her.  “Enough, Lucinda.”  He said firmly. “Enough!”  She released her hands from him.  The rumbling stopped.  Then the wind.  The sky started to brighten again. 

Blood was dripping down steadily from his arms where her fingers punctured his skin.  Remorse filled her and she went to heal the wounds, but he pulled away from her.  “No, you cannot hide from the outcomes of your actions.  You need to face them and remember it, lest you do it again.” The truth of his words stung her.  “What happened?” He said gentler to her. “What’s wrong?” 

He picked up the letter from the floor and scanned it.  “Was this from your mother?”

“To your uncle, her true love.” She said bitterly.  “Erica is your uncle’s daughter.  She is illegitimate.” 
An illegitimate child, born of love, is still an illegitimate child.
A whisper continued to pound in her ears.

Matthew’s eyes widened. “He told me he had loved your mother before she became Queen. I never thought—“

“They seemed to have reforged their love while she was Queen.  All the time she was married to my father her heart still longed for someone else.” It was a bitter thought.  She started to walk away from him.  “Gwendolyn has had a banquet for the first meal prepared for me.  I must go.”  She left Matthew before John and Jonathan caught up to where she was. 

Gwendolyn invited many of the women and maidens of the kingdom to attend the banquet for the first meal.  Lucinda was surprised to see the familiar faces of the girls who were now women that she met seven summers ago.

“We always knew you would return to us, Lucinda.”

“We never believed the rumors of the
Green Eyed Witch. 
We knew it was our beautiful Lucinda who ruled the sea.”

Lucinda hoped that a day would come where she could hold a banquet in her kingdom and invite all the women of the kingdoms.  Their kindness was overwhelming, but Lucinda’s thoughts were on her mother and Commander Jonathan. She had to apologize to the King and Commander for her outburst, but feelings of bitterness were surrounding her. 

“Lucinda!” A voice broke into her thoughts.  A fair haired young woman with an identical little daughter were walking toward her in the banquet hall.

“Jenna!” Lucinda exclaimed as she went to wrap her hands around her.  “You look beautiful.  I have missed you.”

Jenna gave a carefree laugh.  “
You
are the beautiful one Lucinda and we have missed you dearly.  I am a married woman now.  You won’t believe it, but I married Victor from the Western Guard.  Do you remember him?” 

Lucinda nodded, thinking back to the days they used to watch the young men practice. She looked at the little girl hiding behind her mother.

“And who is this lovely child?” 

Jenna pulled the little girl wrapped around her leg forward.  “Don’t be rude, darling.  This is one of mother’s dearest friends, Queen Lucinda of the Fifth Kingdom!” She looked up at Lucinda.  “I wanted to name her after you, but Victor thought it might be in poor taste.  Apparently, you are
controversial.
So we named her after his mother,
Elinor.”
She rolled her eyes. “I only pray my little angel does not grow up to be anything like that horrid woman. I want her to be brave and strong and beautiful like you.” She stuck her bottom lip out like a child. 

Lucinda laughed and embraced Jenna. “It is still a sweet sentiment, and your husband is right. I am
controversial.
” 

“Better controversial than boring, I always say.” Jenna chatted about being a wife and mother until Gwendolyn called Lucinda up to the front of the banquet hall.