Kira’s first order of business was to clean the mess Ussay and she made trying to find a dress. She didn’t bother with wrapping the ball gowns, just hung them and threw the linens in the corner. She’d worry about that later.
After she changed out of her dress and into something simpler, she set out to find Ussay. She half expected her to be waiting in Kira’s room when she’d returned earlier, but since she wasn’t there she knew Ussay must be with Mara. Kira couldn’t wait to find out the details of Ussay’s date with Cade.
As Kira neared Mara’s sleeping chambers, the door flew open and an older woman walked out with an armful of dirty linens. She curtsied then continued down the hall, disappearing through a small doorway at the end. Since she’d left the door ajar Kira assumed it would be all right to enter. She found Mara sitting in the chair near the window nursing Ethan.
“Good morning, dear,” Mara said.
Kira averted her eyes. Mara hadn’t bothered to cover herself and Kira got an eyeful. “I’m so sorry, Mara. I should have knocked.”
“Nonsense. Did you enjoy the festivities? I do not recall seeing you after the Khapri.”
Kira pretended to fix her hair in a nearby mirror, giving Mara the privacy she didn’t think she needed. “Octavion took me to the meadow. It was fun. Have you seen Ussay this morning? I need to talk to her.”
Mara finished with Ethan, laid him across her lap and buttoned her dress. “I believe she is in the village. I gave most of the staff the day off for their hard work yesterday. They were up most of the night cleaning. Perhaps I could have Nestor fetch her for you when he returns.”
The same image of Shandira grabbing Arela flashed through Kira’s head. She spun around to face Mara. “Return? You mean he’s not here?”
Mara smiled. “All is well, my dear. He is merely taking Arela riding. He felt she was being neglected with all the attention on Ethan. He presented her with a pony this morning.”
“Oh, well that’s nice.” The panic that ran through her each time an image popped into her head was about to give her heart failure. She had to stop letting her imagination get the better of her. “I think I’ll go back to my room and rest. Maybe he can take me up to see. .” Kira didn’t want to say Lydia’s name out loud in case one of the servants lingered in the hallway.
Mara understood. “How is she?”
“Stubborn. Maybe a little impatient. I think she’s frustrated with not being well.”
“That will all come in time, my dear. We must be grateful she will recover.”
Kira agreed then politely excused herself from the room. As she walked back to her chambers she realized that, for the first time since she’d arrived, she wasn’t being watched. And if what Octavion said was true about not being in danger, at least not for today, then she could go exploring.
Kira’s first thought was to get a closer look at Octavion’s lair, but that made her think of the arm band she’d asked Altaria to make for him. She still needed to get a silver medallion and some leather so she ventured into the courtyard, across the wooden bridge and started toward the village. Her newfound freedom felt good.
“Pardon me, my lady.”
Kira spun around to see two guards trailing behind her. “What?”
Both men bowed to her, then the taller of the two spoke. “We have orders not to let you leave the castle.”
Kira rolled her eyes. “But I’m not in the castle, I’m standing outside, so you’ve already failed. Shall I tell Octavion?”
“No, my lady. But-”
Kira put up her hand. “Look, Octavion said it was perfectly safe for me to go into the village. If you want to follow me to Ussay’s cottage, fine. But then you’ll have to come back here because I’m not having you two follow me all day.”
Both men stood there with their mouths open, but said nothing.
“It’s settled then. Follow me or don’t. I’m going.” After all, what would they do, lock her up in the dungeon? She didn’t even know if Octavion’s family had a dungeon. She lifted the hem of her dress and strutted down the cobblestone street toward Ussay’s home. She didn’t look back to see if the guards followed, but didn’t hear their footsteps.
Around the entire perimeter of the village-and attached to either side of the castle-towered a white brick wall. It appeared to be built from the same material as the castle, and rose high above the cottage roofs. The builders had capped it off with thousands of jagged rocks-she assumed to keep intruders at bay. It wouldn’t, of course, keep out Royals.
There were two entrances, the side gate leading to the Aubelet and cemetery, and the main gate, opposite the castle entrance at the other end of the village, where most of the merchants came and went freely. There was nothing between the castle drawbridge and the village except a long cobblestone road and several stone statuaries. As Kira walked down the hill and onto the village streets she took special care to be friendly and acknowledge the residents of Xantara. She knew that someday, as Octavion’s wife, she’d be considered royalty and these would be her people. She wanted them to love her as they loved their Royals, but she knew the relationship she’d have with them would be different. They would have no reason to keep her from entering their homes and businesses and no reason to fear her.
When she reached the large community well, she knew Ussay’s cottage would be only a stone’s throw away. She stopped long enough to get a cold drink of water then continued down the street, passing a few houses before the merchant’s booths filled the streets in the marketplace. Two gates down on the right she found her surroundings familiar. She swung open the rickety wooden gate, walked along the short dirt path and knocked on the door.
Almost instantly the door flew open. Ussay’s wide eyes met Kira’s before she let out a squeal and threw her arms around Kira’s neck, almost knocking her to the ground. Once Kira recovered, Ussay led her inside to sit near the fireplace. Kira hadn’t noticed the chill in the air until the warmth of the fire brought welcomed warmth to her skin.
“Who brought you?” Ussay asked.
Kira flashed a mischievous grin. “I escaped.”
“Oh, no. We must send word to the castle. They will worry.”
“Mara thinks I’m sleeping and two guards know where I am. Besides, I won’t be gone that long. I need to get some leather and visit Kueelok. I thought you might want to go with me.”
Ussay’s bottom lip jutted out as she held up her hand. Kira had to laugh-the gesture she inadvertently made with her bandaged middle finger wasn’t exactly considered good etiquette in on Earth.
“It will not stop bleeding,” Ussay said. “I dare not go out with it like this.”
Kira waved her own bandaged hand and smiled. “We’ll match.”
Ussay laughed.
“Do you want me to cauterize it again? With the hotter coals of the fire it might take this time.”
Ussay wrinkled her face in protest. “It hurts when you do that.”
“I know, but you won’t be able to work at the castle if it’s still bleeding. Besides, you have to help me pick something out for Octavion.”
Ussay hesitated for a moment, then removed the bandages and gave Kira her hand. This time the point of the knife they used glowed red with heat. Kira was careful to barely touch the tip of the blade against the cut, completely stopping the bleeding. She gently wrapped Ussay’s finger with a clean bandage.
Their first stop of the day was at Kueelok’s. Kira wanted to see if he’d finished her necklace and talk to him about doing some hand tooling on a small piece of silver for Octavion’s arm band. Kueelok was more than happy to show her a few examples, but she wanted something more unique. After turning down several of his ideas, she settled for an oval piece of silver with the face of a wild cat tooled in the center. The idea itself wasn’t unique, but the way Kira arranged the facial features was. The medallion depicted a hybrid cat-half the face of a lion and the other half a tiger. Kueelok quickly sketched the design on a piece of parchment for her approval, making only one change at her request. Near the top and to one side of the disk she had him make a light impression of two crescent moons.
Once she had that taken care of, she asked to see her necklace. After learning of Serena’s, she thought she might not want it, but spending the night in Octavion’s arms had made her reconsider. She loved the idea of sending her thoughts to him.
Kueelok seemed confused at first, claiming Octavion had already retrieved it. But when he realized she hadn’t yet received the piece, he declared his ignorance and scooted the girls out the door. Kira’s own theory was that Octavion planned to surprise her with it-which would be even better than picking it up herself. She promised herself she’d act surprised when he presented it to her.
They stopped next at the leather smith’s booth. The old man standing behind the table grew crotchety and almost angry when they refused to look at his more expensive goods. He seemed to think the small piece of leather she requested to be an insult. He promptly ignored the girls and turned his attention to the other customers.
Ussay and Kira rummaged through a few boxes of scrap strips of leather and found the right color and length Altaria requested. Of course, Kira had to lie, saying she was the one making the arm band, but Ussay didn’t seem suspicious.
A beautiful young girl came out of the nearby home to help the older man when things got busier. Her kind patience seemed to sell a lot more merchandise than he did with his grumbling. As they waited, the girl turned her back to them long enough for Kira to see the way she’d braided her hair. It wasn’t so much the design, but the way it wound around itself making a ribbon at the end to hold it unnecessary. Kira was suddenly aware of the rats nest atop her head. When she turned to question Ussay about the braid, she had the same expression on her face as Kira imagined on her own. Neither of them had been able to do anything with their hair because of their fingers.
“Do you think she would braid our hair?” Kira asked.
“She would be honored. To do anything for royalty is much desired. If others find out, it is good for business.”
When they were finally able to gain her attention, the young girl took one look at Kira’s sparkling green eyes and red hair and almost fell over from overzealous curtsying. She called for her grumpy old father to relieve her so she could service the future wife of the prince.
“My name is Zahra,” she said as she led them inside her tiny cottage. She took a stool from beside the fireplace and sat it near the window in full view of the street.
As Kira sat, she could see several women outside whispering and pointing in their direction. What Ussay had said about increasing the girl’s business suddenly gave Kira an idea. She picked up the stool and strutted out the door, setting it in full view of the gathering crowd. Zahra and Ussay were not far behind.
Kira sat on the stool, keeping her posture perfect so she better portrayed a true Royal. Then she instructed Zahra to make her beautiful. Zahra blushed, but got quickly to work. It didn’t take any time at all to do both Kira’s and Ussay’s hair.
When she finished, Kira made a big deal about it in front of everyone, promised to compensate her generously and invited her to come to the castle to do her hair on another occasion. When they left, there was a line of women that ran the length of three cottages waiting to have the girl do their hair.
As soon as Ussay and Kira rounded the corner they ducked between two cottages and released their pent-up laughter. Kira couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard.
“You did not see her face when you left with the stool. I thought she was going to faint.” Ussay held her side, trying to suppress another bout of hysterics.
“Did you see her father?” Kira asked. “He didn’t look very happy when everyone paid attention to her and not his leather business, especially that group of young men standing across the street.”
“He will feel better when he sees the money she will make. Perhaps it will bring her a suitor. A rich dowry is tempting to a young ambitious man.”
“So how is your suitor,” Kira asked.
They’d finally gotten their giggles down to a minimum and ventured back out onto the street. Ussay blushed from Kira’s question, but remained silent.
Kira nudged her arm in jest. “Did he kiss you?” she whispered.
Ussay turned even redder. “A lady does not reveal such things.”
“He did. I knew it. Way to go, Cade.” Kira put a little skip in her step as they turned another corner and the other merchant booths came in to sight. Immersed in her conversation, Kira had been too busy having a good time to keep track of where they were until she saw the booth with woven shawls displayed on the table in front of her. Her feet suddenly refused to move and she couldn’t take her eyes off the view in front of her. Octavion stood in front of Serena, her hand in his while they laughed together.
Kira felt the blood drain from her face and her heart stop beating. It was all a lie. Every word. Every kiss.
Ussay walked a few steps ahead before she spun around to see why Kira stopped. “Kira, what is it? You look ill.” Her voice seemed to come from very far away.
Kira couldn’t answer. Couldn’t take her eyes off Octavion as he bent to kiss Serena’s hand and then brush a strand of hair away from her face much like he’d done so many times with her.
Serena blushed then laughed with the voice of an angel.
“He. . lied,” Kira managed to say as the tears filled her eyes, then streamed down her cheeks.
Ussay looked in the direction Kira stared. Her gasp sent shivers through Kira’s entire body. Ussay had seen it too. It wasn’t a nightmare-this was real.
“Oh, Kira,” Ussay said. “I am sure it is nothing. We should talk to him and. .”
“NO!” The word shocked Kira out of her trance. She grabbed Ussay by the arm and pulled her back against one of the structures so they were out of Octavion’s view. “You can’t tell him. Promise me you won’t say a word.”
“Kira, I. .”
“No, Ussay. Promise me.”
She nodded.
Kira wanted to scream, but knew it would only bring more attention to something she wanted to forget. Her second thought was to run. “I’m sorry, Ussay. I need to go.”
She pushed past the girl and ran as fast as she could through the market and up the road leading to the castle. She didn’t notice if the guards tried to stop her or if they followed. She only paused long enough to open the door before flying up the stairs and into her room-Lydia’s room. The same feelings of displacement she’d had in the clearing came flooding back stronger than she could have ever imagined. She didn’t belong here. Nothing in this place was hers, not even the man she loved.
Kira threw herself on the bed, bumping her arm on a small wooden box someone had left on her pillow. A thin red ribbon held it shut with a bow. The necklace-a painful reminder of what their life could have been-what it would never be. She didn’t want to open it. She knew the pain it would cause as she saw her reflection in what she imagined to be his loving eyes. The same one’s he’d just seen Serena through.
Kira swept the box off the pillow, sending it crashing onto the stone floor. She didn’t look to see the damage she’d done to the box or if the contents were scattered among its broken pieces. She simply buried her head in the pillow and let every ounce of energy she had left force out the last of her tears in gut wrenching sobs. Her heart twisted in her chest and her gut felt as if someone had buried their fist in it.
“Kira,” Ussay’s said in her soft and tender voice.
“Leave me. . alone,” Kira said between sobs.
Kira felt Ussay’s hand touch her shoulder as she crawled up on the bed beside her. “Where did you get the box?”
Her question took Kira by surprise. The shakiness in her voice caused Kira to remove the pillow and look at Ussay’s face-she was trembling.
“Why?” Kira asked.
“There is. .” Ussay glanced over the side of the bed. “There is blood.”
“What?” Kira sat up on the bed and looked down at the scattered remnants of what she’d assumed was a gift from Octavion. There, lying amid the pieces of the broken box was a heart shaped, tiger’s eye pendent hooked to a broken silver chain. The blood Ussay saw smeared all over the box’s white satin lining came from two canine teeth of a tiger.
Toran.
Every image, every memory of Shandira and what she had done to her, flooded Kira’s mind. She saw her face, felt her evil spirit and even heard the sadistic tone of her voice. Kira edged her way off the other side of the bed and backed into the far corner of the room. She slid to the floor, drew her knees up. Not again. Not now.
The memories of her abuse at Shandira’s hand swirled and morphed until she saw the image of Arela twirling in her ruffles, her hair flowing out around her head as the breeze she created lifted it in the air.
Kira sprang to her feet and ran to Arela’s room, but it was empty. She heard laughter coming from the garden, and when she looked out Arela’s window, she saw her playing ball with Nestor while Mara sat holding Ethan.
Ussay stood in the doorway with a confused look on her face. “What is wrong? Who did this?”
“You need to leave. You can’t be around me, it’s too dangerous.” Kira walked past her and went back to her room.
“Kira, please. If you are in danger, we must tell someone. Perhaps Octavion could come back and. .”
“NO!” Kira spun around and grabbed Ussay by the arms. “You can’t tell anyone. She put that in here for a reason, Ussay. She wants me dead and won’t stop ‘til she gets her way. If that means killing everyone in the castle, she will do it.”
Ussay’s face turned white and her eyes widened with fear. “She?”
Kira released her. “Shandira was in this room.” She hadn’t noticed until then that Ussay held something in her hand. “What is that?”
Ussay slowly brought it up between them-a piece of parchment. “She left a note, but its meaning is unclear to me.”
Kira snatched it from her and tried to decipher the letters and symbols. After a few seconds, it all made sense.
Where once it was mighty, now fallen it lays.
A fierce little young one stumbles and plays.
Your feet, they betrayed you where flowers bloom.
Blonde curls and ribbons will meet her doom.
Take heed to tell no one, her future is mine.
Her sweet disposition, I’ll sour in time.
Alone you must venture, beyond the main gate
Or all those who love you will regret their fate.
Make haste when shadows are made long by the sun,
Melt into the darkness, when night time has won.
Kira had to read it twice to take it all in. Shandira had been there. The whole time Kira played with the cubs, her falling in the water and perhaps even before when she’d been with Ussay and Cade, Shandira lurked in the shadows. What confused Kira even more was that she hadn’t felt Shandira arrive. That meant she knew where they would be and waited for them. Did she overhear their conversation in the garden? Did she stand only a few feet away? Or did her strong talent in reading other’s thoughts let her eavesdrop?
Kira’s fear quickly faded away, to be replaced with anger. This time, she wouldn’t let Shandira call the shots. She went to the other side of the bed and knelt to examine the objects, being very careful not to touch the pendent. She didn’t want Shandira in her head-at least not yet. Ussay sat on the window seat, still wearing a terrified look on her face.
Kira stood and went to sit next to her. “You need to go, Ussay.”
She slowly turned her head and focused on Kira’s eyes. “What will you do?”
Kira shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I can’t ask you to be a part of this. I won’t have you choosing between keeping my secrets and being loyal to Octavion-not this time.”
Ussay looked at her hands and picked at her bandage. “She will take your life. You know that.”
“Yeah, but maybe I can injure her in the process. If I have the element of surprise and it’s on my terms, maybe I can keep her from hurting anyone else.” Kira put her hand on Ussay’s. “I don’t belong here and I don’t want to go back to my world. There’s nothing for me there, either.”
Tears filled Ussay’s eyes. “We must tell someone. You cannot do this alone.”
Kira held the piece of paper so Ussay could see the words written there. “Do you see what this says? Blonde curls and ribbons will meet her doom. Take heed to tell no one, her future is mine. Her sweet disposition, I’ll sour in time.” Kira crushed the paper and threw it on the floor with the box. “She’s talking about Arela. Do you really want Arela looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life, hiding and afraid Shandira will magically appear in her room in the middle of the night and take her away?”
“No,” Ussay whispered.
“Then I have no choice.”
After a moment of silence, Ussay stood and faced Kira. She straightened her back, raised her chin and wiped away her tears. “Tell me what to do. I want to help.”
“You realize you would be deceiving Octavion. You of all people should know what he is capable of when he is angry.”
“And how angry do you think he will be when he finds out I knew what you were about to do and let you do it alone? I will do what I can to help you prepare, even go with you if you would permit it. But when he asks, I will be truthful. Will that do?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because I have an idea,” Ussay said. “Octavion mentioned once that you preferred a bow, is that true?”
Kira looked at her curiously. “Yeah, why?”
“Octavion’s lair is filled with different concoctions, some are extremely poisonous. If we coat the tips of your arrows with one of those, it would merely have to graze her flesh to have an effect. It may not kill her, but it would weaken her enough so you would have the advantage. It would even the odds.”
“Ussay, you’re a genius.”