A Charm for a Unicorn (3 page)

"This is my favorite part,” whispered Leonie.

The crow landed, and as soon as its feet touched the ground, the spell holding him into crow form dissipated and he became a tall, thin man dressed in a colorful tunic. He brushed his sleeves off and straightened his clothes, then looked up and waved at the girls.

"Shall I show him to the library?” asked Cook.

The wizard raised his eyebrows. “Of course, Cook. Serve him some brandy. Oh, and there will be another place at the table. Sir Wulfe called on the crystal ball. He'll be here shortly as well."

"Will the Crow Caller stay for supper?” Cook asked.

"I doubt it. He has other places to go. News must fly, you know. News must fly.” He sighed and looked at Leonie. “I'm afraid your lesson will have to wait. Now, go change into something more fitting for dinner. Ann, you will eat in the kitchen as usual. Leonie, tonight you will eat in the dining room with Sir Wulfe and me."

"Yes, sir.” Leonie gave a curtsy and fled.

Ann breathed a sigh of relief. Leonie had been saved from reciting her Latin! Then another thought struck her. Leonie would eat in the dining room that night, and she would be all alone in the kitchen. A funny lump grew in her throat. “Can I come hear what the Crow Caller has to say?"

Her father waved distractedly. “Yes, of course. But don't hang about, and remember to come and pay your respects to Sir Wulfe when you're ready."

Ann leapt off the casement window and ran down the hallway to Leonie's room. “Leo!” Ann slipped into her room and hugged her tightly. “Where were you? I was so worried! Let's go see what the Crow Caller has to say!"

But Leonie shook her head. “No, Father will tell us, I'm sure. I have to tell you something. Ann, the most marvelous, incredible thing happened today ... I met a handsome prince."

Ann snorted. “I'm sure there are hundreds of them in the orchard."

"No, really, I met the man I saw in the crystal ball this morning! He was looking for his lost lamb!"

"That was a shepherd."

"He's not a shepherd, he's a prince! He has lots of names. Renaldo, Hector, Alexander ... something or other.” She laughed. “Too many names to remember."

Ann didn't like Leonie's story one bit. Strangers could be dangerous. Oh well, Leonie was home now, and safe. She shrugged as if she could care less about shepherds and princes. “What dress will you wear? Did you hear Father? You're to eat in the dining room tonight. Oh darn, the Crow Caller is getting ready to leave."

Leonie looked out her window, the setting sun gilding her face and hair. “Look, he's about to change.” In a flurry of black and gold sparks, the messenger became a shiny, black crow again. Flapping his wings, he set off toward the next castle or village to call the news. Magicians, of course, had their crystal balls. And most people, Ann knew, had a small crystal in order to get in touch with a wizard in case of sickness or an emergency. But she loved Crow Callers. They came once or twice a week, but she never grew tired of watching them and hearing their news.

Leonie was usually even more interested than she was, but tonight, for some reason, she seemed distracted. “I don't have anything formal.” She didn't sound as if she cared one way or another. Her eyes sparkled as if stars lived in them, and she sighed, pressing her hand against the clear glass. “Renaldo,” she whispered.

Ann frowned. “Take one of Mother's old dresses."

"Do you think I ought to?” Leonie opened her wardrobe and gently touched the dresses hanging there. “Aren't they lovely?"

"Wear that one. It matches your eyes.” Ann knew Leonie would look stunning in the gray, watered-silk gown with the crystals embroidered on the bodice like a sprinkling of frost.

Leonie dressed, and then Ann brushed and braided her hair for her. “Why is your hair so damp?” she asked.

"I fell into the stream."

"Leo, Father forbid us to cross the stream."

"But I heard the lamb, and anyway, I never crossed the stream. I fell in and the current caught my dress and hair and dragged me under.” She shuddered and took Ann's hand. “I thought I was drowning, and all I could think was I'd never done anything in my life and how unfair it was ... when suddenly someone pulled me out of the water."

Ann's heart faltered. “You almost drowned!"

"I nearly did. But Renaldo pulled me out and saved me. Prince Renaldo, I mean. He's going to ask Father for my hand in marriage. He's coming back soon and he's bringing all his minstrels! Just think what fun it will be!” Leonie looked into the mirror and met her sister's eyes. “Oh, Ann, don't look so stricken. I'll never leave you. You'll come live with us and..."

Ann took her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “You can't be serious! You've been tricked. A prince doesn't go around pulling girls out of streams. You met some villager who wanted to impress you for a kiss. You didn't kiss him, did you?"

Leonie's face turned white, and she began to tremble. “You have no idea what you're saying. Renaldo is a prince, and he does love me. He says he's seen Father..."

"Like most of the people living in the region,” Ann's temper slipped and she had to clench her fists so as not to slap Leonie. “You're such a fool, Leo! No wonder Father doesn't want us going out of the castle grounds. You threw yourself at the first boy you met. Pray that Father never finds out, or you'll spend the rest of your life as a ... as a sheep!"

Tears filled Leonie's gray eyes. “Renaldo also said that his father, the King, knew our mother. He even courted her, and that's why Father isn't much appreciated outside the castle. That's why he doesn't like us go out."

Ann had rarely heard her sister sound so sure of herself. The mention of her mother and the King troubled her, too. “Leo...” she began, intending to tell her sweet, idiotic sister that princes did not, in fact, stroll around in the woods by themselves, when a hard knock sounded on the door and Cook poked her head into the room.

"Your father wants you both downstairs,” said Cook.

The two girls followed obediently, Leonie first, Ann behind her.

In the doorway, Leonie paused. At that very moment, Sir Wulfe stood up and turned to face her. Ann, standing back a ways, saw everything. She saw her father's strangely anxious expression, she took in Sir Wulfe's rapacious smile, and she knew immediately what had transpired. “Oh, no,” Ann whispered.

Although she shared her father's pale, wintry coloring, Leonie radiated the beloved warmth of spring where everything is fresh and new. Her gray eyes, so limpid and clear, reflected her emotions like sunlight on water, and her smile could melt even the coldest of hearts. That evening, dressed in silk the color of dawn, her ash blond hair caught in a looping braid that bared her long, slender neck, Leonie looked like the most regal princess in the world. And her world was about to be shattered.

"Come meet your betrothed,” said their father to Leonie.

Leonie staggered, catching herself just in time on the doorway. “My ... my betrothed?” Her voice sounded like ashes.

"Yes. Sir Wulfe has asked for your hand in marriage and I have accorded him this honor. Come, daughter, you must have known you would be married some day. You celebrated your twentieth birthday last month, and now it's time for you to leave home.” Their father's voice sounded strangely hearty.

Leonie managed to peel herself off the doorway and stand up straight. Moving like an automat, she crossed the room and dropped into a curtsy. “Sire, I would have hoped that my suitor ask me before he addressed his demand to you.” Her head bowed, Leonie spoke to the floor.

Ann had never been prouder of her sister than at this moment. No screams or tears, just a quiet voice and tiny tremors that set the crystals on the dress's bodice sparkling.

"Your opinion is not needed in this circumstance. As your father, I am best suited to choose for you.” He leaned back in his chair. “If you are to marry, you will need a trousseau and a wedding dress. Tomorrow, you can accompany me to the village to buy fitting cloth and order dresses while I post the bans."

Sir Wulfe raised his eyebrows. “Is there a decent seamstress in the village? Otherwise, I can send one from my estate."

Ann saw Leonie shiver again, but her father said, “We have an adequate seamstress in town. Leonie will be glad to choose her own dress, won't you, daughter?"

Another tremor shook her, but Leonie simply said, “Sire, it is with great pleasure I accompany you to the village."

Had she been ensorcelled? Ann had never heard that tone of voice from her sister. She wanted to rush in and scream that Leonie could never marry Sir Wulfe, but then Cook came and dragged her to the kitchen.

Alone with Bob and Cook at the table, Ann tried to make sense out of what happened that day. What was Leonie up to? She couldn't seriously be thinking of accepting Sir Wulfe's proposal. Her thoughts clashed in her head. Leonie couldn't marry Sir Wulfe! Besides, he frightened her for some reason. She and Leonie had often made fun of him behind his back, calling him Sir Big Bad Wolf, when they were children. What had Father been thinking?

Her food tasted like sawdust and her sister's plight made her head ache. She hardly ate a thing, and excused herself before dessert. But when she went to her room, she tapped on Leonie's door. It was closed and locked, and her sister did not answer when she knocked and pleaded with her to let her in.

Finally, the tears she'd managed to hold back all day trickled down her cheeks, and she went to her room, buried her head in her pillow, and cried herself to sleep as silently as possible.

Leonie had never been one for tears. Her father detested shows of emotion, and she'd learned at an early age that sobbing never changed his mind. Therefore, she ate her dinner in silence, murmured politely when spoken to, and then excused herself.

Sir Wulfe stood and bowed, taking her hand in his. “My dear, I hope you are as happy as I am,” he said.

Leonie simply smiled. Ann and her father had always insisted she keep her mouth closed and say nothing. Smiling in silence was what she did best. As she left, she heard Sir Wulfe tell her father that she was “exquisite".

Numb described her better. She sat in front of her mirror and unbraided her hair. Slowly, she brushed it. Then she took off her mother's dress and hung it up, and slipped her soft, flannel nightgown over her head. She looked at her narrow bed, its worn white sheets and patchwork quilt, but she didn't lie down. Instead, she took her candleholder and walked down the hallway to her father's study.

The crystal ball winked in the candlelight. Leonie peered into its depths, letting her mind free, not thinking of anything until she felt the little prickle that meant the crystal had become attuned to her. How did she know how to do this? Instinct told her to open her thoughts, to let the crystal enter her mind and link with her. But this time, instead of letting the crystal ball show her what it wished, she turned her thoughts to Renaldo.

Show me Renaldo
. Instantly, the image showed a lovely room with a huge stone fireplace and red and blue tapestries hanging from the wall. Renaldo lounged in a comfortable chair, the black and white dog lying at his feet.

Next to Renaldo stood a young man who could only be Renaldo's brother. He had the same slanted, dancing green eyes, though his hair was dark brown and sleek, not tousled red curls. The two young men shared the same fair skin and smattering of freckles, high cheekbones and strong chins. Both wore velvet tunics cut to perfection, tight hose showed their long, muscular thighs, and they wore high leather boots. Both also wore circlets of silver.

"If only Ann could see this,” she murmured to the crystal ball.

She looked carefully at the two young men. They spoke, but she couldn't hear their words. She hadn't learned to adjust the volume on the crystal ball. Renaldo leaned back and crossed his booted legs, and his brother said something that made him laugh. The dog wagged its tail in its sleep, and Renaldo's expression became serious. He stared at the fire a minute, then spoke. His brother perched on the edge of the chair, his face intent. After Renaldo finished talking his brother nodded and grinned, clapping Renaldo on the back.

Had Renaldo told his brother about her? She didn't know, but just seeing him soothed her tortured spirit. How she wished she could transform herself into a bird and fly to him—but magicians didn't do that sort of thing. They could change others, but only the most powerful magicians could change themselves. And powerful magicians hardly existed anymore.

For some reason, magic seemed to be melting away at the same rate that technology advanced. When someone invented a new way of doing something with a machine, then the magic that had been needed before vanished. Her father had explained it with a sailboat. Before the invention of sails, magicians had been required to ride on the boat and use their magic to make the boats advance. But now, with sails, the magicians were free to do other things while the wind worked for them.

There were magicians everywhere, and technology came slowly. But every time technology did arrive, a wizard would lose his job. The fire starters, for example, had been replaced by matches. Not as impressive as a magician waving a wand and starting a blaze with a burst of sparks—but a lot easier to carry around. Some magicians, like her father, did a bit of everything. Others, especially those who lived in great cities, were more specialized, and some worked together, like the wizards in charge of building.

The rules of magic were quixotic, illogical, and unreliable. Ann, with her sharply logical mind, had trouble working with true magic. Leonie, on the other hand, understood it without trying to comprehend it, and that's why the crystal ball and the transformation spells worked on her and not on Ann.

Ann thought that her father had never tried to transform her—but Leonie knew better. She knew it vexed her father considerably he could not make his spells stick on his practical, brilliant daughter, while she, a stupid, empty-headed twit, was as malleable to magic as soft clay.

She had never told Ann this, but while she'd been transformed into a sparrow, she'd spent hours perched in a nook nearby her father. For three days, she'd been privy to his mutterings. He'd muttered about her and he'd muttered about Ann, and she'd learned more about the nature of magic in those three days than in ten years of studying Latin verbs and spells.