A Charm for a Unicorn (19 page)

"What happened to Sylvain? Why is he back in his own form?"

"I have no idea. One minute he was you, and everyone was fooled, including me, and the next minute he was back to being Prince Sylvain. In a dress."

"I should have known. Claude, you are a hopeless magician.” Leonie spoke to a small pile of straw. A mouse poked its head out.

"Hello!” He waved. “Yes, that's me. Claude, a not-so-powerful magician. My wand was cracked. Sorry."

"Hey!” cried Sylvain, “why aren't you in human form?"

"I only had that dress to wear. I asked to be turned back into a mouse until I got some decent clothes.” He climbed up Sylvain's dress and sat on his shoulder.

Renaldo looked at Leonie. “Did your father turn you into a horse? Was all this his plan?"

"Not exactly.” Leonie sighed, her eyes sad. “It wasn't much of a plan anyway. I just wanted to give Querel a chance at peace, and now I'm not sure what will happen. I'm worried about you, Renaldo. Sir Wulfe doesn't have a good excuse to force me to marry him anymore. His mischief has been averted, and I'm afraid he'll take revenge on you somehow."

"I'm worried about you. Sir Wulfe will make it seem to everyone that you're a unicorn. They'll be shooting arrows at you!"

"I don't trust Sir Wulfe, but I doubt he wants to kill me. After all, he wanted to marry me, didn't he?"

"He said his hounds would tear you apart."

"He said that?” Leonie shook her head. “You must have misunderstood. He said he loved me. Why would he want to harm me?"

Renaldo shook his head. “He did! This is serious!"

"I have to tell you something, Renaldo, and then I'll...” she broke off and turned her head. “I hear footsteps. Who's coming?"

Sylvain dashed to the doorway and called over his shoulder. “It's Sir Wulfe. What should we do?"

"I'll create a diversion. Renaldo, Sylvain—promise me you'll get away from here as fast as possible,” Leonie said.

Renaldo saw the gray horse start to shimmer. A soft light engulfed it, and then, to his amazement, a unicorn appeared.

"They wanted a unicorn hunt,” said Leonie in a breathless voice. She whirled, and in a twinkling, ran to Renaldo and touched him lightly with the tip of her glorious horn. “I can't stay cooped up in this form, and I can't talk for long. I'll be all right. Please go back to Windtide. Please."

Renaldo held his breath. The unicorn's eyes changed as he looked at them. Leonie's gentle expression turned as clear as rock crystal, and a frosted, wild chill seemed to settle in her eyes. Renaldo thought he saw an endless forest in her gaze, and then the unicorn whirled and streaked from the stables.

Shouts, an angry bellow from Sir Wulfe, and a woman's shriek sounded from the courtyard. Renaldo sank to the ground, and Sylvain tugged at his sleeve.

"She'll be all right,” said Sylvain.

"It's not that,” Renaldo whispered. “I saw the expression in her eyes. She isn't ever coming back."

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Renaldo looked at Sylvain. Sylvain couldn't read Renaldo's expression. “I'm sorry,” he said finally.

"I really thought you were Leonie,” said Renaldo. He hopped over to a pile of straw near the doorway and leaned on it. “Will you tell me how you came to take her place, and why?"

"I came after you,” said Sylvain. “When you disappeared, I decided to search for you. I thought you were in Castle Veil, so that's where I went first, but there was only Ann and her father. So I went to see Sir Wulfe, only, for some reason, he transformed Leonie into a unicorn and then asked me to go find her. Our mother didn't want me to get involved. She wrote to me and told me not to do anything."

"She found out Leonie was responsible for my leaving home,” Renaldo said. He gave a crooked grin. “She still has her nose out of joint about Leonie's mother and our father, I'm afraid."

Sylvain raised his eyebrows. “That's what Leonie said. Anyway, I came here incognito and Sir Wulfe sent me after her, not knowing who I really was."

"You didn't tell him?"

"No. I told him I was a..."

"A horse trainer.” Renaldo nodded. “I wondered about that. So he hired you to seek out Leonie.” Sylvain saw Renaldo draw a deep breath. “I love her."

Sylvain decided the best thing would be to tell all. “Of course you love her. She's full of wild magic. Why do you think her father never let her out of Castle Veil? She's got a charm on her. Any man who sees her falls in love with her. They can't help it. ‘Twas the same with her mother. Our father saw her and was besotted. But it's nothing but a charm."

Renaldo took a step back, forgetting about his leg. He fell with a crash.

Sylvain closed his eyes. He couldn't stand to see his brother's desolate expression.

"And you? Did you fall in love with her? Look at me!” Renaldo shouted. He groped for his crutches and stood up again. His face was very white.

"For a while. It wore off when I didn't see her."

"Well, it didn't wear off for me. I love her. I still love her. It has nothing to do with magic,” said Renaldo. He spoke very clearly.

"I realize that now,” whispered Sylvain. “But you have to understand. You can never marry her. She can never live ... with people,” he finished lamely. “You're going to be king. She can never be your queen."

"We'll see about that,” said Renaldo. But right now we have to stop the hunt,” he said, turning toward the door. “Hurry up and change."

"I'll try my best, but I don't have any idea how I'll manage that,” said Sylvain, but he found himself speaking to an empty stable. Renaldo had gone.

Sylvain dashed to his room and dressed in haste, but as he started to leave, a small voice said, “Will you take me with you? I don't want to be forgotten here.” It was the mouse.

"Of course!” Sylvain picked him up and tucked him in his pocket. In the courtyard, Sir Wulfe, his mother, and the King of Querel stood near the king's carriage, while the two princes mounted prancing horses. Grooms held two other horses, presumably for Sir Wulfe and his mother. The crunching sound of the horses’ hooves on the gravel was loud, but didn't cover the noise of the baying hounds. Held on long leashes by the huntsmen, the hounds whined and barked, and strained to get free.

Sylvain's mother fanned herself with her hand. “I saw it. It dashed right across the courtyard. Heavens, if I hadn't seen it, I never would have believed it. A unicorn!” she said, her eyes shining. She caught sight of Sylvain. “Fetch a horse, do hurry! There is a unicorn. I've seen it! Oh, what are you carrying? What's in your pocket?"

Sylvain looked for Renaldo but didn't see him, so he pointed and said, “It's Renaldo's friend, the talking mouse."

"A talking mouse!” cried the king of Querel, clapping his hands. “I do love magic tricks. I just love watching the Crow Callers. I'm like a child when they come. I love to see them transform. Such fun magic!"

The princes, riding side by side, trotted up and chimed in. They too, it seemed, wanted to hear the mouse talk, so Claude greeted them and recited a little poem. Sylvain started to hope he could put the hunt off with the talking mouse, but Sir Wulfe would have none of it.

The magician smiled, but the look he gave Sylvain was full of venom. “Put the mouse back in your pocket. He might get hurt.” Then Sir Wulfe glared at his huntsmen. “Loose the hounds. We're ready to go."

"Can't you wait just a...” Sylvain got no further. The dogs, freed from their leads, surged past him on the way to the forest.

"Hurry and get your horse!” cried Sylvain's mother, and she clambered onto her mount, settling her skirts with a practiced flick. She was a competent rider.

Sir Wulfe climbed onto his horse, a dark gray stallion, and, with an irritated glance at Sylvain, cantered out of the courtyard, leading the group. King Gustavo, too frail to hunt, was helped by two servants back to the castle. Sylvain thought the best thing to do would be to go back to the castle with King Gustavo and wait for his mother to return, then insist that they take Renaldo back to Windtide. Their father must be frantic with worry. He decided to summon a Crow Caller, and had just taken the first step toward the castle when the sound of hoof beats stopped him.

Renaldo, perched on the back of a tall, bay horse, trotted from the stables. His face was set, and his eyes flashed.

"Where do you think you are going?” cried Sylvain, running to head him off.

"To save Leonie.” Renaldo leaned forward and the horse broke into a gallop. Even with one leg, Renaldo still rode well.

"No, you'll hurt yourself!” Sylvain tried to grab the horse's reins, but it was moving too fast.

Renaldo didn't slow. “If she dies, I might as well die too,” he called over his shoulder. Then he disappeared into the forest, taking the same path the others had.

Sylvain made a face and looked toward the castle. “I suppose I better go on a unicorn hunt. Leonie might not need me, but my brother does."

Renaldo caught up with the rest of the group at the same time the lead hound leapt into the air and gave a particularly loud bark. A faint white shape darted like smoke through the trees, and everyone shouted at once.

Sir Wulfe turned and saw Renaldo. He gave him a thin smile. “So, you had to come see her again,” he said.

Renaldo checked the rage that boiled suddenly in his veins and managed to keep his voice level. “I've come to make sure no harm comes to her."

Sir Wulfe glanced at the queen, then slowed his horse to canter next to Renaldo's. “Your brother is a fool. Why did he meddle in my affairs? Why did he go off seeking Leonie?"

"He was searching for me, not Leonie. I suppose he thought she could help him find me."

"Plausible."

"Do you know about her wild magic?"

The look Sir Wulfe gave him was startled. “Of course I knew.” He slowed his horse down even more. “Don't you understand? She can never live among men. In my castle she would have been safe, respected ... loved,” he added, in a softer voice.

Renaldo snorted. “Love? What do you know about love? Love doesn't mean putting someone in a gilded cage. It means setting them free."

"And I suppose you will let her go?” Sir Wulfe's sneer was back. “She scorned me and made a fool of me. She spoiled years of careful planning. The princes signed the treaty, and now the twin halfwits are friends once again. It's all Leonie's fault. I am going to teach her a lesson.” He kicked his horse and surged ahead. “The hounds are on her trail. She won't get far. They are enchanted, as are the paths she runs upon. They lead in circles, so she cannot escape."

Renaldo's first thought was to urge his horse faster to catch up with the magician. But then he reflected that if the paths led in a circle, speed would make no difference. He tried to recall where he'd caught sight of the ethereal unicorn. He turned around and looked for the place, and once he'd found it, he pulled his horse to a halt. The noise of the hounds died away as he stood there.

It grew colder. His horse snorted and stomped its hooves. Renaldo pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders and waited. There came the faint sound of the hounds again. Their voices, bell-like in the chill air, grew steadily louder. And then, through the trees, he saw a flash of silver. For a second he thought he dreamed it, then the unicorn came into view. She appeared like moonlight when the cloud moves away—silent and luminous. When she caught sight of him, she stopped in her tracks.

Renaldo slid off his horse. He hadn't thought to bring his crutches, so he had to lean upon its withers. “Leonie,” he said.

The unicorn shook its head violently and darted a glance at the deep woods.

"The paths are enchanted. Sir Wulfe has caused them all to lead in circles. You're trapped, no matter which way you go. Come with me. I will protect you.” He shivered as her opalescent gaze raked over him. Her eyes were both assured and yet frightened. “Please, Leonie.” He hesitated. “I know the spell that is upon you, but I swear, I swear by all I hold dear, I love you. The charm has no effect on me. It's you I love, not your magic.” He let go of his horse and hopped toward her. His horse shied suddenly, and he lost his balance. Before he could fall she was there.

"Thank you,” he said.

"If you keep your arms around me, I won't be able to flee,” she whispered. Her eyes begged him to let go.

"If you try to run away, you will only run in circles."

"I'll escape.” There was an edge of panic in her voice.

The noise of the hounds grew louder. Renaldo thought of what Sir Wulfe had said. He'd been right. He couldn't set her free. Especially knowing that she would be caught, eventually. “I can't let you go,” he whispered. “I'm sorry."

The unicorn trembled in his arms. “Please!"

"No. I want Sir Wulfe to change you back."

"He can't do that. Only I can change myself."

He had no time to wonder what she meant. Behind her, he saw the dogs appear through the trees. He meant to warn her, to say something, but at that very minute he found himself holding Leonie and not a unicorn.

"Renaldo, I...” she started to speak, then everything happened at once.

The hunters poured out of the woods, along with the pack of hounds. The princes of Querel were in the lead. Behind them galloped his mother and Sir Wulfe. With a spray of gravel and dirt, the horses slid to a halt, tossing their heads and snorting loudly. The dogs froze, their bodies tense. Everything stopped. Time stood still, but only for a heartbeat. Then Sir Wulfe cried, “Let her go! She's mine.” His face was purple with jealous ire.

"Renaldo! I order you to release her!” His mother's voice shook with rage.

"No!” Renaldo replied.

In an instant, the dogs surged forward like a cresting wave. Everyone cried out at once. The huntsmen raised their horns and blew, and the whips surged forward to try to control the pack. “Get back, get back!” they bellowed.

The hounds fell upon Leonie. Her scent was the same as the unicorn's. They didn't realize she'd changed.

Leonie screamed, and Renaldo whirled around to protect her. He stumbled and fell, trying to cover Leonie with his body as the dogs tore at her. Everything was a roiling melee. He felt the hot breath from the rushing hounds on his neck and hands, and there came the sound of tearing silk and screams. Jaws latched onto his arm and back, but he didn't let go of Leonie.