Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) (19 page)

“My eldest brother travels on business for my parents, and the rest are at home, Your Majesty,” Ulric said smoothly. “I thank you for inquiring.”

“I am glad to hear it. Pray, what brings you to Gallivas?”

Thea raised a brow. Her father was going to pretend this peacock had any reason but the challenge? This might take all morning to get through.

“We received word of your offer, Your Majesty. That you seek an answer to a riddle. I am most capable at the solving of riddles,” this with another wide smile. Catrin! He reminded her of Catrin, and she couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise and fear. Next to her, Esmay made a ‘shhh’.

“Are you? This is a difficult challenge, Prince Ulric, and the stakes are high.” Aland dropped pretense. Perhaps they would be free before lunch.

Thea could see that most of the court had rushed to the hall, as well, in spite of the early hour. Even Sebastian was here, glowering and surrounded by his countrymen. She thought it odd that her father had not invited him to sit with the family as he had been doing as of late. It was apparent that Sebastian wasn’t happy—perhaps that was it? Whatever it was, she was happy to be with just her family.

She did The Gaze and saw that Casimir was at the front of the crowd. Unlike Sebastian, he was not watching Ulric, but her. Her eyes met his, and she could feel her cheeks flame. She couldn’t help it. It had been an age since she’d been able to be close to him, and seeing him from a distance only increased her longing for him, even in the face of all the tragedy that currently made up her life. Reluctantly, she pulled her gaze from him and back to Ulric.

“I understand, Your Majesty. The stakes should be high. The rewards demand it.” He looked at the princesses and smiled even more broadly. Thea hadn’t thought it possible. Then his eyes met hers, and one brow quirked.

Thea started. He was flirting with her! The nerve! She was betrothed, and her betrothed sat not ten feet from him! He was bold, and she didn’t like it. She did not allow her face to show she’d noticed, and let her eyes move from him.

He flushed. Ah, he was very proud. That would not do well.

“The rewards are indeed great, but the cost could be dear,” Aland said.

Ulric dragged his gaze back to Aland. “I would be honored to meet the challenge,” he said, bowing deeply again.

“We are honored by your presence and your bold words, Prince Ulric,” said Aland. “Before we accept your claim, we would speak with you privately. That is, if you are agreeable?”

“It would be my pleasure, Sire,” said Ulric.

“Very well.” Aland stood, making everyone else leap to their feet. He walked to the side of the hall where Thea knew there was a small antechamber. This must be the part where her father would give him the chance to withdraw. She knew it wouldn’t happen. Ulric was too sure of himself, and had made too bold of a declaration to withdraw now. If this should end badly, and they were forced to take on another candidate, she would recommend to her father that he not meet them in full view of the court.

Ulric was a boor, but he had backed himself into a corner that there was no getting out of.

She didn’t talk as her sisters chattered around her, and the courtiers talked quietly. To her, all her father’s fine words meant nothing. She knew—knew in her heart—that Ulric would not succeed. She couldn’t tell why, and she would fight it until she could fight no more, but she knew this was a fool’s quest. While she found him distinctly unappealing, she didn’t wish death on him, and death was coming.

Adelaide leaned over to her finally. “What do you think of him, Thea?”

“I think him very confident, and I hope that his confidence is well placed.”

“He did seem most…bold.” Adelaide had seen the raised eyebrow as well.

“Indeed. We will have to hope that it carries him through the challenge.”

At that moment, Aland walked back in from the side of the hall, followed by Ulric. He stopped and clasped Ulric’s hand, then returned to his throne. Ulric took up the spot he’d been standing in earlier.

“So, Prince Ulric, you understand the terms of the challenge?”

“I do, Sir. I will have three nights and four days to determine why the slippers of your lovely daughters are worn through each night. At the end of the fourth day, I shall present myself once again to you and your court to share my findings. If I do not have the answer, my life shall be forfeit.”

Thea looked at him then. He didn’t change his expression. He felt confident he would crack the mystery. She wanted to cry. Poor, stupid, foolish, over-proud boy. How would she look Roderick in the face tonight knowing that they were part of a plan that would end in his brother’s death?

***

Thea sighed as she led her sisters through the forest. The glitter that had been so fascinating originally didn’t even catch her gaze now. She wanted this night to be over, and it hadn’t even begun.

On cue, when the princesses reached the shore, the twelve boats with the princes came into view. Thea didn’t think much about it, but the timing involved in this enchantment was eerie. And what did the princes do all day before they arrived? Given Catrin’s dismissive nature, she didn’t like to think on it. The ramifications of it were endless, and none of them good.

Roderick leapt from the boat, a move echoed by the other eleven. He seemed delighted to see her, as he always was.

“My lady! You grace me yet again!” He bowed over her hand and helped her into the boat.

“How do you fare this evening, my Lord Roderick?”

“You are most kind to inquire. I am well.” He beamed at her, leaning into the oars as though it were nothing.

“And your family? Your parents, your brothers? How do they fare?”

For a moment, the mask dropped. Thea could see the real Roderick in there, as though woken from a stupor. Just as swiftly, he was gone, and courtier Roderick back in place. “They are well also, Lady Thea. I believe they are all at home presently, but as I have been gone for a while, I cannot say with surety.”

Thea was surprised. That was more than she expected. “Oh. I am glad to hear it. When do you return to them? I am sure they miss you, as much as I enjoy your presence.” She forced herself to smile winsomely at him, hoping she wouldn’t provoke a rash of flirtatiousness. He was the epitome of a courtier, ever ready to pounce on an opportunity to ingratiate himself. Given that this was so far from who he really was, Thea felt sure this was just one more aspect of the curse.

She wondered, as she gazed at the other boats, if all of these princes had families that knew Catrin. It was apparent hers did, and that nothing positive came from the knowing. What had these families done?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Roderick bumping the boat onto the shore below the castle. “My Lady Thea, the ballroom awaits!”

She took the offered hand. Looking up into his face, she wondered if the princes slept all night. Roderick had far too much energy to be up during the day. Then again, perhaps it was all part of the enchantment. She sighed and stepped out of the boat.

It was time to dance.

***

The next morning, Thea woke with someone shaking her gently.

“My lady, you must rise. The king is asking for you.”

Thea looked into the anxious face of one of the ladies-in-waiting who was becoming a regular addition to their rooms. It was not the one who’d been assigned to their chamber last night. Every night, she attempted to make a great deal of noise, and every night, whichever woman who had been assigned to watch over them didn’t stir.

“Of course. Please let the king know that I shall attend him as soon as I have dressed. Where does he wish for an audience?”

“In the great hall, my lady! I believe most of the court is gathering now.”

Thea swung out of bed. She found that after weeks of dancing nightly, she was not sore every morning like she had been when this curse began. If anything, her legs felt stronger. And while her shoes still looked like she’d run the borders of the kingdom, her feet no longer bled.

“Is the king calling for all of us?” She asked the lady-in-waiting.

The woman nodded, looking a little apprehensive.

“Then wake them, gently, as you did me. Thank you for that,” she said, smiling at her.

The lady hurried off. Thea went to dress. She wondered if her father would have Sebastian sitting with them. He had not been as jovial as normal, although her father hadn’t seemed bothered by it.

Once dressed, she helped her sisters. The sooner they arrived in the hall, the better. Thea hoped fervently that breakfast would be available. Another effect of dancing all night. Now that she was not feeling worn down, she woke hungry—starving in fact!

Finally, everyone was ready. When she opened the door to the hallway, Marek was waiting.

“My ladies, I am to escort you to the hall.”

“Lead on, my Lord Marek. Let us hope there will be food involved,” Thea said, and a number of her sisters murmured their agreement. She thought, but she couldn’t be sure, that Marek choked back a laugh.

In front of the hall, the herald announced them. Thea and Adelaide led the way in. Thea saw that her father and mother were already seated. So was most of the court. Sebastian was not at the head table, and thank heavens, she could see serving platters on them! Sebastian sat at a table along with some of his men, and Ulric sat with them. So did Casimir. Thea hid a smile. That would not please Sebastian, not one bit.

She glanced at Adelaide. Addy was watching Sebastian. Her face glowed as she looked at him. Thea decided that she would have to throw the two of them together at every opportunity. Sebastian, old fashioned ideas aside, deserved someone who would glow when she looked at him. It would never be her. All she had to do was let Addy convince him.

The thought made her smile, but only briefly. Nothing she’d planned recently had come to fruition or ended well. Perhaps she ought to leave things be. She looked at Adelaide again. Addy still watched Sebastian, and as she met his eyes, smiled warmly. Thea was surprised to see that he smiled back. When he noticed Thea watching him, he looked away, his cheeks flushing.

He likes Adelaide
, Thea thought. Perhaps this would not be so thorny after all. She seated herself next to the king. The nice thing about it was that in the guise of looking at Sebastian, or Ulric, she was free to gaze on Casimir. He watched her, over his cup. He was attempting to be casual, and politely interested in whatever it was that had the court assembled during breakfast, but his eyes danced when he met Thea’s. She let the corners of her lips turn up for a moment before looking away. Her heart sang.

In spite of everything, he still loved her. Her love did not waver, but she would understand if he ceased to. Every week seemed to bring some sort of new challenge to the court of Gallivas. Thea was not the prize she’d been before, even without the pesky addition of a betrothed to get around.

The king rose, and the hall quieted. “My lords and ladies, thank you for rising so early with us. We would like to introduce, formally, a candidate for the hand of one of our daughters, who is set to discover the answer to the question of how the princesses are ruining their slippers each night. May I present to you Prince Ulric of Northam? Ulric, rise, if you will.”

Ulric stood and bowed to the head table, and then turned, and bowed to the court with his hand on his heart. He was a showman, if nothing else. Thea could see that both Casimir and Sebastian were unimpressed. The expressions on their faces made her want to giggle.

“We thank you, Prince Ulric, for being willing to take on the challenge. Now, if you will,” Aland said, gesturing for Ulric to sit, “Let us be clear what this entails. You will be given a room off the princesses’ chambers. This will go on for three nights. On the morning after the third night, you will present yourself to this court once more and share your findings. If you are unable to tell us how and why the princesses wear out their slippers nightly, then you will forfeit your life. Is that clear?” He looked intently at Ulric.

Ulric leapt up. “Indeed it is, your Majesty. I am honored to risk my life for the fair princesses.” He swept into yet another deep, flamboyant bow.

Thea looked down both sides of the head table. Mirabelle and Viviana seemed taken with him, but being young, that was to be expected. The rest of her sisters were decidedly neutral.

“Excellent!” Aland clapped his hands. “We look forward to getting to know you better, and we wish you the best of luck.” Aland sat down, and immediately turned to Thea.

“What think you of him Thea?”

“I think he is very comfortable in front of a crowd.”

Aland looked back where Ulric was talking to the laughing men sitting near him. “Indeed he is. Think you he has a chance of success?”

“While he is not to my taste, Father, I hope sincerely he does. I would not want him to fail,” Thea said earnestly. She meant it. She didn’t want him to die, prancing peacock though he was.

“I will agree with you, daughter. I do not look forward to what I will have to do if he does not come up with the answer. You know, of course,” he didn’t look at her, “You can put an end to this.”

“Would that I could, Father. Would that I could.” Thea pulled her meat apart more savagely than normal. “I do not enjoy this, regardless of what anyone may think.”