Secrets of the Night Special Edition, page 53
With a sharp cry, she turned away, clutching her stomach. Sobbing brokenly, she fell on her knees to her straw-filled sleeping mat and rocked back and forth. Talmora, she prayed, give me the strength to bear it. Tomorrow she must face death without flinching, must hold her head high as the guards led her to the execution site. She must act like a princess. But she knew she would scream and beg for mercy, would try to tear loose, try to escape.
Goddess, please help me! Slowly, she shifted to a sitting position and eased over to the wall, then leaned against its slimy surface. She sat with her knees drawn up to her chest and rested her head in her hands. She reached for the dirty prison blanket and wrapped it around her, shivering in the cold air that blew in through the barred window. If only she had someone to talk to these last few hours before her death . . . Her mind overflowed with recollections of Roric, and how she had misjudged him. Regret swamped her, and despite her efforts, fresh tears streamed down her face. To see him once again, to touch him, hear his dear voice, ah, that would be happiness. Too late, she realized how much he meant to her. She recalled their every meeting, playing each encounter in her mind, his every word, every gesture, every expression.
A movement by the window caught her attention. A raven sat on the window ledge, tilting its head, tapping its beak against the bars, as if it wanted to remove that barrier and free her. Its beady eyes moved back and forth, finally resting on her.
"Well!" Keriam tossed the blanket aside and stood as more ravens landed next to the first, filling up the entire space. No sooner did those fly away than others took their place, or are they all the same ones? Did they want to tell her something, or had they merely come to visit? If only they could talk . . .
Moments later, the birds flew away, and Keriam, too, turned from the window. She paced the cell, this stinking, dirty room that had been her home since her arrest. Her stomach knotted as she thought of all the people she'd miss, like Maudina, and she wondered if her devoted maid still dwelled at the palace, or if she, too, had escaped. And Radegunda, the dearest friend she'd ever had.Zinerva came to mind, that endearing fairy.
"Princess Keriam!"
Keriam jerked in surprise, looking around the room. Had she imagined the voice?
"Madam, here at the window!"
"Zinerva!" Keriam covered the short distance to the window again. Clad in her pink dress, the little fairy slid between the bars and perched on the windowsill, her silvery wings folded at her side, her tiny feet dangling. Keriam touched her with her forefinger, delighting in the soft, warm skin, the silky locks of hair. "Zinerva, you flew all the way from the palace? You must be very tired by now."
Her face solemn, the fairy nodded. "I stopped to rest now and then. But madam, I had to see you. I heard talk about you at the palace. They said you were in the Mag--Mag--"
"Magistrate's Hall."
"Yes, that's it. But I didn't know where the . . . hall was. So I asked Traigh since he's always been nice to me. He told me how to find the building. So here I am!"
Keriam smiled. "Thank you for coming. I haven't had any visitors--" Her voice broke-- "no visitors, nothing to read, only my own company." And the ravens.
"Traigh," Keriam said. "That reminds me of Maudina. Is she still at the palace?"
"Madam, after Aradia died–“
“Aradia died?” Relief overwhelmed her, but questions, too. “How did she die?”
“She was sick, madam. The plague, I think they called it.” Zinerva folded her arms, a satisfied smile on her face. “She deserved it, too. She was mean to everyone.”
“The plague! So Maudina–?”
“Right after that, Maudina left to stay with her sister in Sligo. Traigh told me.”
"Ah, I'm happy she had a place to go to." And if I could escape this cell? Ah, Goddess, please deliver me from this evil place, give me a place to go to.
"Madam, is it really true that you . . . that--" She dropped her arms and stared wild-eyed at Keriam, looking as if she wanted to cry. “Princess Keriam, please say it isn’t true,” she pleaded.
"It is true.." Chills raced over her arms and legs and down her spine. Her stomach spasmed with gut-wrenching fear, with a terror she’d never known. Faintness swept over her, but she fought her sickness, swallowing again and again, so afraid she’d retch. Tears brimmed her eyes, the room spinning around her. She clenched her hands around the bars and bowed her head.
"Oh, princess!" Zinerva held her little hands to her eyes, tears flowing down her pink cheeks. "If only I could save you. If only I could help some way."
Fighting her weakness, Keriam brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. "There is one thing you can do for me--"
"Anything!" The fairy raised the hem of her dress to her eyes, then stared at Keriam with teary eyes. “Tell me!”
"Well, you remember Radegunda, the healer who lived at the palace? She's back in the city now--"
"I know, princess." Eagerness transformed her tear-streaked face.
"She has helped me so much, a true friend like you, Zinerva. She lives alone. Would you visit her? I need her help! Surely her magic can save me! Her store is 15 Perfume Lane."
Her face forlorn, the fairy bowed her head. "Madam, I can't read." A fresh tear trickled down her cheek.
"Oh, I forgot. Well, here's one way you can find the store," she said, pointing out the window in the direction Zinerva should take. "There's a sign hanging in front of the shop that shows three bars of soap. When you see that sign, you'll know you're at Radegunda's. If she's not downstairs, look on the next story." A desperate hope beat inside her, but just as quickly, terror overwhelmed her again, and her faintness returned. How in the name of the Goddess could Radegunda save her?
Zinerva smiled, clapping her hands. Happiness shone in her green eyes. "Then it shouldn't be difficult to find."
"No, it shouldn't." Keriam bent over and kissed her on the cheek, then brushed her forefinger over the fairy's golden curls. "Dear friend, I wish you could stay longer. But I think you'd better leave now. I . . ." She fought for control. "I don't have much time left." She dropped her arms to her sides and bowed her head against the cold bars.
The fairy twisted her tiny hands together. "Don’t worry, princess," she said in a trembling voice. “I’m sure Radegunda can save you.”
Keriam's eyes filled with tears, hazing her vision. "I'll miss you, too. You'll never know how much."
* * *
Unable to concentrate on even the simplest task, Radegunda fussed about in her workroom behind the store. Outside, the sun's first hesitant rays drove the last of nighttime from the sky and lit the streets with a dim glow. Proprietors mopped the cobblestones in front of their stores, and hawkers set up their wares. Sentries called to each other, laughing and joking, as if they hadn't a care in the world. The city was coming alive again.
By the light of an oil lantern, she dusted and tidied the shelves, checking her supplies of herbs and spices. Sleepless throughout the long night and on her feet since early morning, she fiercely dreaded the new day, the princess's last full day on earth. Tomorrow she would suffer a horrible death, a torture so terrifying Radegunda dared not think about it. Princess Keriam would die, unless Roric Gamal returned in time to save her.
She grasped the edge of her work counter and wept as she hadn’t cried in ages, tears of sorrow and fear, of a terror too great to be borne. What more could she have done to bring Roric Gamal back to Moytura? She agonized. What more can I do now? She'd used her most powerful spells that had prevented the major from continuing his journey. But the officer had remained in the forest, neither proceeding nor retreating, apparently to wait for the fog's dissipation. Well, the fog would not disappear for a long time. She had made sure of that, determined to hold him back. But the thick murk hadn't sent the major back to the city, either. And time was running out! Curse Endora! She should have gone after the major herself, even if she’d had to cover every mile of the vast forest. She shook her head as fresh tears filled her eyes. The princess must not die this horrible death.
She pressed her hands to her tear-filled eyes. Talmora, please help me.
A tap on her workroom window jolted her, as if the Goddess had come to answer her prayer. She dared a look out the glass. "Oh!" A fairy hovered on the other side, her silvery wings beating furiously.
Radegunda raised the window and the fairy flew in. "Well, haven't I seen you around the palace?" the enchantress said. Tears choked her voice. She took a deep breath and tried to speak normally. "Seems to me you've visited the stables often. And if I'm not mistaken, I've seen you flyin' inside the palace when you thought no one was lookin'."
The fairy perched on the countertop, resting her tiny hands in her lap, prompting Radegunda to look down. "Well, are you goin' to introduce yerself? I'm Radegunda, by the way."
Banging her feet back and forth on the counter, the fairy smiled. "Yes, madam, I know your name." She tapped her chest. "I'm Zinerva . . . like you, a friend of the princess. I just visited her.” She raised her little arms and cried with despair. “Madam, you must help her!"
Radegunda dug her handkerchief from her apron pocket and pressed it to her eyes. "If only I could save her! I can't let her suffer that horrible death, I just can't!" She blew her nose, fighting for control. "I've done everything. What more c'n I do?"
Zinerva pressed a finger to her cheek. "I'd help you, madam, if there was anything I could do. But I don't see how--"
"Yes!" Radegunda bestowed a satisfied smile on the fairy, new hope bursting within her. She pulled a stool out from under the counter and sat down.
The fairy blinked her eyes. "What is it, madam?"
"Call me Radegunda. None of this formality." She bit her lower lip. "I'm afraid this will involve a lot of flyin' for you, but . . ."This has got to work, got to work. I must save the princess.
"But?" Zinerva rested her hands in her lap and stared up at her.
The enchantress clasped her hands. "You must fly over the Gorm Forest and look for Roric Gamal!" She frowned. "You know who I mean?"
"Madam, uh, Radegunda, I know everyone at the palace and those who aren't there anymore. I remember him and that other man--"
"Conneid Delbraith."
"Yes, when they escaped with Conneid's wife."
"Well, if you c'n fly over the lower part of the forest, not too far from the city--"
"I can do that!” She smiled with sweet satisfaction.
"Then we have no time to lose! If Major Gamal returns by tomorrow morning, I think--I know!--I c'n save the princess."
"Oh, Radegunda, you must!"
Radegunda sprang from the stool. "Then leave now, Zinerva! We've no time to lose. Search all over the forest--he's riding a horse--and find him. Tell him he must come back here, to my place. He must save the princess."
“Yes!” Zinerva hopped up from the counter. "Farewell, Radegunda." She flew off, her silvery wings flashing in the sunlight.
"Goodbye," Radegunda cried. May the Goddess help and guide you.
Minutes later, Zinerva flew north toward the Gorm Forest, skimming the trees, the wooded hills spread out below her. In flight almost continually since early morning, her wings ached, her eyelids drooping. She descended, now flying among the trees, twisting and darting between evergreens and bare tree limbs, maneuvering her wings so they wouldn't snag on the branches.
Her sleepy eyes searched the forest, her little ears perking up for the sound of a horse. A caracob bounded toward her, and she cringed, her tiny heart beating. The huge, scary bird grabbed a wiggling snake from the forest floor, then soared off with its prey, high above the trees.
Zinerva sighed with relief, frightened of the forest dangers but determined to continue her hunt.
Overcome with sleepiness, her eyes closing, she started to fall, but caught herself before she hit the ground.
What if she never found Roric Gamal? She had to find him, had to! People depended on her, and she had to prevent the princess from suffering a terrible death. Chills raced down her back and tiny arms and legs, just thinking about that horrid stake. The fear drove her on, more determined than ever to save the princess.
After a while, her eyelids drooped again, her wings tired and sore. Her left wing scraped a sharp branch, and pain flared inside her. Resting on the branch, she twisted her head to examine her wing as best she could, relieved she saw no tears in the gossamer fabric.
She'd better rest for a while. The Goddess only knew what might happen if she tried to go on without repose. She found a little niche in the curve of a low branch and stretched her legs out. How good it felt to give her weary muscles and joints a short rest, if only for a short while.
Yes, only for a little while. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the tree trunk. She listened to the forest sounds--clucks, screeches, and howls, happy she was high in the tree, free from all danger, as long as the caracobs stayed away. She inhaled the pine scent, the earthy smell of the woods.
Shutting out all sounds, she let her thoughts drift, her mind on her own home on the palace grounds and all her fairy friends. She thought of her human friends, too--Traigh and Maudina, and her new friend, Radegunda. Above all, she thought of the princess she would help save this day. Zinerva took a deep, contented breath, crossing her legs in front of her.
And fell asleep.
* * *
Roric paced back and forth, slapping his hands together, his boots sinking into the muck with each step. He stared ahead, disgusted to see the fog hadn't lifted but remained as heavy as ever.
It was, he thought, as if . . . as if something was telling him he must return to Moytura. But why? Had some misfortune befallen Conneid or Malvina? Or the princess! Had she been caught? Not much time had passed since he'd last visited the city, but had Keriam been captured within that time? If so, where was she now--at the palace dungeon? Talmora's bones, no! He pressed his hand against a tree trunk and gazed in the direction of the city, a gradual realization telling him he must return. If only he could see Princess Keriam again, if only he could assure her of his loyalty... Princess Keriam, don’t you know that my devotion and my heart have been yours all along? Her voice repeated itself in his mind, her every gesture, her smiles, as if she stood with him now. Goddess, he prayed, please don’t let the princess be in danger.
But if she was? He had to leave the forest, now!
A quick search took him to a tree stump. He led the horse by the bridle and mounted the animal, then turned back toward Moytura. Squeezing his knees against the horse’s flank, he rode at a canter, taking every twist and turn with a skill honed by years in the saddle. He shoved tree branches out of the way, his eyes always on the way ahead.
Tempted to take reckless chances, he kept his mount at an even pace, his good sense overruling his need for haste. The ground dried as he proceeded southward, no rain evident in this area of the forest. Strange how the rain had fallen only on the part of the woods he'd just departed. Stranger still how the fog had divided the woods in two, a sharp line, like a curtain. A line he wasn't meant to cross?
Again, he wondered why. What was the meaning of it all? Was the Goddess telling him something, urging him to return?
Skirting tree stumps, jumping over fallen logs, he kept the horse at the same pace along a certain route, as if some force guided him, telling him which way to go.
Loud squawks, then a scream, jolted him from his thoughts and sent his gaze to a tree branch a short distance ahead. There, a mob of blue jays wheeled, dipped, and dived around an object in the tree, something hidden from his view. Roric trotted his horse closer, across the bracken and fallen leaves, raising himself to see over the birds.
And came face to face with a fairy! Although he knew these tiny creatures resided in the trees--especially on the palace grounds--he'd never seen one this close before, this pretty little girl with a pink dress and golden curls.
Eyes wide with fright, she made shooing motions, as if she could chase the birds away. She looked at him--and blinked. "Roric Gamal?"
After waving his sword in the birds’ direction, he inclined his head, surprised she knew his name. "At your service."
"Major, you must come with me!"
Chapter Twenty-seven
Roric surveyed the tiny creature. "How do you know my name? And what is yours?"
"Zinerva." She sat up straighter. "Radegunda sent me after you."
"The witch!" Fear grabbed his stomach and turned him ice cold. Not Radegunda! He wanted nothing to do with the witch.
"A good witch, major.” She nodded with a smile of assurance.
“There’s no such thing as a good witch.” Sacred shrine! He must stay away from her.
A defiant look crossed her face. “Radegunda is a good witch. But sir, we must hurry back to Moytura. The princess--"
"What about her?" He held his breath, his hand clutching the reins.
"She's been captured. She’s going to die tomorrow--"
"No!" A trembling overtook him, but he fought against his panic. He must not surrender to his fear of witchcraft, not if he had to save the princess’s life. He took deep breaths and forced himself to remain calm.
"--unless you and Radegunda can save her."
"Save her--how?" He shook his head, conscious of the passing time. He tapped his shoulder. "Here, ride with me. And tell me where we're going." Radegunda's words came back to haunt him. Someday you may have need of my magic.
The fairy hopped onto his shoulder with a light plop, her feet dangling over his collarbone, and clutched folds of his cloak. "To Radegunda's, where else? She knows how to save the princess, but she needs your help."
He shuddered. But he'd disregard his fear of the enchantress, make any sacrifice to save Keriam. He dug his heels into the horse's flank, maneuvering his mount through the dense mass of trees, shoving sharp branches out of his way.
Visions of Keriam burning at the stake sent chills raking his body. “How . . . how is she supposed to die?"
"By impalement, major. Please--" Her voice trembled--"please don't let that happen."
