Lost Princess (10 page)

Caius said, “I’m sorry to disturb you, my lord, but Davings has been found slain in the great hall.”

Max growled something and the two of them began to leave. Max suddenly remembered me and turned. “Bar the door upon my leaving. I will return to get you when it’s safe.“I waited until they’d disappeared before grabbing a blanket to wrap around me as I went to the door and shut and barred it as he’d instructed. My heart was racing—Davings was another of Max’s men. How could he have gotten hurt inside the castle? And slain? If that was true then the killer walked among them, or at least could enter and exit the castle at will.

I dressed and paced back and forth across the room, wishing I knew what was happening. I looked several times at the chest where I knew Max kept some weapons. I felt better knowing I could run to the chest and grab something if I had to.  Then I remembered my cousin, alone now on the top floor of the east tower with a door that often refused to stay latched, much less had a bar to keep anyone out. Max’s castle was always so safe due to his swift and harsh discipline that it had never seemed necessary to bar the door before. Plus until last winter the two spinster sisters—some distant relatives of Max’s—had been in the next room. But they had succumbed to the fever last year, and no one else had moved in.

I paced for a few more minutes, playing Max’s orders against my strong desire to determine if Callista was safe. Finally I could stand it no longer, and threw open the chest. Inside were several dangerous weapons, but the one that caught my eye was a jeweled dagger that was small and sharp. It sat nestled in a cloth and twinkled invitingly. But somehow taking that valuable item felt more like stealing than borrowing, so I grabbed a more common knife and tested the balance.

My father had shown me how to use a knife, and since I hadn’t known women weren’t allowed to do such things I hadn’t questioned it. I could use a knife in close quarters and had learned just the bare minimum about throwing the lighter knives created for that purpose.

I unbarred the door and carefully opened it, my knife at the ready. The hall was empty, so I crept down it. I heard someone and ducked inside a dark room until the person whose voice I hadn’t recognized had passed. Then I went back out into the hall person whose voice I hadn’t recognized had passed. Then I went back out into the hall, racing up the stairs and taking a mostly unused way to the east tower and Callista. I didn’t duck out of the way when people noticed me, not seeing the point now. Most people seemed skittish and I wondered if they’d already heard what had happened. I made it to Callista’s room and pushed at the door that was unaccountably closed.

A scream echoed inside, and I cried out Callista’s name. The door slowly opened and Callista stared at me wide eyed.

“Katrina! I thought you were…there is an enemy in the castle! Why are you out and away from Max?”

“I had to check on you. There is no bar on this door, and no one close by.“Callista pulled me inside and resumed her place sitting with her back against the door to keep it closed. I sat next to her to add my weight to hers.

“Devlin sent a man to come and tell me to bar the door, which of course I couldn’t do. I think I’ll have to request the door be fitted with a bar now, but honestly, I never thought it was necessary. Now with you gone, though, I feel afraid some nights being alone up here.” Her voice chattered along. Whenever Callista got nervous or scared, she babbled. “Of course I suppose it’s a moot point since I’ll soon be married. I keep wishing there was some way I could stay here, but I suppose there is not. Should I ask the Regent if staying here is a possibility? No, I doubt that would help. Since I’ve lands, he’ll use me to cement some alliance or another. That’s what I know, and yet…”

I let her voice flow over me until I felt a hard knocking at the door behind me.  Again Callista screamed, but I rose and spun, my knife hidden in the folds of my skirt. Papa had taught me many things, but one thing he’d drilled into me, over and over, was to use every advantage I had. Perhaps the attackers wouldn’t expect me to be armed, so I could attack them by surprise. I held my knife close to me and waited as the door swung open.

Callista had fled across the room as she’d noticed the knife, her hands up to her face.

Max and Devlin stood there. Max shouldered Devlin aside ignoring him when Devlin said, “They’re fine, be at ease.”

He came directly over and glared down at me. “I told you to stay in the room!” He was furious, his words clipped, and I just shook my head and tried to back away from him.  He was having none of that, and took my upper arm in his large hand and jerked me to him. I lost my balance, and as I tried to regain it I dropped the knife. I heard it clatter to the floor and looked down at it, wondering what had possibly possessed me to take a knife and come here. At the time it had seemed reasonable, even clever, but now, seeing it from Max’s eyes, I couldn’t see how I could have done it.

I tried to think of something to say that would take that furious look off his face. But before I thought of anything, much less looked up at him, he said in a low, mean voice, “Devlin, thank you for helping me look for her. Please escort Katrina to the room she shouldn’t have left and lock her in there.“I didn’t want to, but I looked up to meet Max’s cold eyes. He said to me, “I have things that need my attention and do not want to spend my day chasing you about as you have the brains of a goose.”

I swallowed but resisted his push to propel me towards Devlin. “My lord, please, one minute.” He narrowed his eyes at me, and I repeated, “Please!”

I think he would have refused if Callista hadn’t interceded. “My lord, the fault is mine. She knew I’d be alone and afraid since my door doesn’t bar.” Callista was pale at challenging Max, but she took two steps towards him, her arm raised and extended to him pleadingly. “I was so relieved when she came to sit with me. She’s always been the brave one, and I the coward.”

Devlin put his hand on Max’s shoulder, and Max seemed to calm a little. He looked down at me again, but his eyes were not as filled with anger. “Callista, if you would go with my brother, he will take you down to break your fast. I will give Katrina her minute.”

Devlin gave me a nod, and he and Callista left, Callie tossing back a worried look as she disappeared.

Max said, “Well? Your minute has begun.“I reached up and threw my arms around his neck, seeing surprise cross his face before his arms automatically went around me—to steady me if nothing else. I held on tight and said into his neck, “Max, I was so scared for you. I’m so glad you’re not hurt.”

Max shook his head as if he couldn’t understand what I was saying. “I was in no danger, it was you—”

“I know, and I’m sorry for that. I just couldn’t pace that room and worry for another minute. I know it wasn’t safe and probably not smart, yet I just couldn’t do it!”

He put me away from him so he could see me. “Wife…” He looked away momentarily as if to gather his thoughts. “You must do as I tell you.” He was really looking at me, not just proclaiming the rules.

“But Callista—”

“You must listen to me,” he said firmly. “The castle has been safe and I have become complacent. I believe someone was spying on us. The spy was discovered and the one who discovered him paid with his life. I understand you were worried about your cousin’s safety. This will be rectified and your cousin will not need you in the future.” He gave me a shake. “Katrina, I cannot do as I need if I must worry about what you will do. You say you worry for me? Then let me know you will stay where I put you.”

I nodded. “I will henceforth.“He seemed surprised I didn’t argue further and gathered me to him, running his hand down my hair. Then I stepped to the side and accidentally nudged the knife. We both looked down at it.

“Would you like to explain that?” he asked. His neutral voice gave no hint as to his feelings on this matter.

“I know how to use it,” I hedged. “My father—well, he allowed, even encouraged me to learn some unorthodox things.”

“Unorthodox?” Max looked like he might shake me again or laugh. I bit my lip until he shook his head and chuckled. “Katrina, did you take that knife from the chest in my room?”

“Yes,” I said, dropping my eyes.

Max was quiet for so long I looked up. “I knew your father,” he said unexpectedly. “And if he taught you to use a knife, I do not doubt that he taught you well.” He sighed. “Did he also teach you to take things that do not belong to you?”

“No, I am responsible for that one,” I admitted.

Again he pulled me close and put his head on top of mine. “Wife, this has been a difficult morning for us both. I find I cannot be angry with you about leaving or being armed. I suppose I should be glad you didn’t threaten me with the knife.” He gave me a sharp look. “It would not be the first time you had used a weapon against me, would it?“I shook my head, opening my mouth to tell him I had never meant to hit him, but he shook his head. “No, wife, we must go. We will continue this conversation later, count upon it.”

I nodded in understanding. “Must I still be locked in the room?” I asked in a small voice.  “No,” he lowered his head and kissed me thoroughly. “I will take you to breakfast.” He picked up the knife and put it somewhere on his person. I didn’t think he’d give it back to me, so I paid little attention. We’d walked some distance when he said, “Had I made that order to lock you up in front of anyone but my brother, I would have needed to enforce it. Do you understand that?”

I looked at him without guile. “Yes, it is like that with me and the ladies of the castle.”

Max froze momentarily, betraying his surprise at my words. He gave me a long look, but we were entering the large hall now, and I didn’t have a chance to talk to him further. He took me to the table where Devlin and Callista were already sitting. As Max sat, the food came in and everyone began to eat, markedly quieter than usual.

Max and Devlin seemed hurried, and Callista took my hand under the table and squeezed it. She leaned over, asking, “Are you all right?”

I nodded, trying to listen to what Max and Devlin were saying.

Callista said, “How in God’s name did you manage to calm him down?“I saw Max’s eyes flick to her, then to me. Callista said, “Kat?”

I said, “I did nothing, really. He…” I looked over at Max, who seemed now to be absorbed in eating. “He was very kind.”

“You jest,” Callista said. “He was so angry!”

“Yet you, coward that you profess to be, told him about the door, and probably saved me from much of his ire.  I think my courage is rubbing off on you.”

Callista gave an unladylike snort. “I think your lack of good sense is what has rubbed off.”

I gave her a gentle kick under the table, and she poked me in the side. We both started to giggle and found ourselves consumed by little bursts of laughter for some minutes. We wound down to see Max and Devlin both looking at us as if fearing we’d lost our minds.

I smiled. “My cousin has lost her good sense,” I announced to them. “We were wondering where to start to look for it.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing again.

Devlin relaxed into a smile, but Max looked mystified. Devlin said, “Where did you last see it?”

Callista gave him a smile that would put many men right under the table. “Oddly enough, since rooming with my cousin, it has become elusive. The last time I knew I had it was when I tricked Kat into sleeping on the drafty side of the bed.”

I gaped at her in mock anger. “You told me you were afraid there were ghosts over on that side!”

Callista thought. “Did I? Perhaps it was that I thought
I’d
soon be a ghost if I caught a chill over there.“Devlin chuckled, and Max looked at him then back at Callista.

I said, “If that is the case, you’re better off without your good sense.”

Devlin said gallantly, “You may be assured that I will keep watch for it, my lady.” He grinned at Max. “Perhaps we could instruct the castle servants to watch for it as well.“Max ignored the comment, and I wondered if he knew what to say to continue the jest.

I said, touching his hand with mine, “I don’t know if that would help, my lord. My lord husband has been bemoaning the lack of my good sense for some time, and hasn’t seen hide nor hair of it.”

Max looked over at me as the three of us laughed. He rose from the table, effectively ending the conversation. Perhaps that was all the humor he could stand. “My ladies,” he said to Callista and I, “do not wander off on your own this day. I will be increasing the guards about the place but do not wish you harmed in the meantime.”

I nodded, but Callista smiled shyly at him, saying, “Thank you for your concern, my lord. We will do as you instruct.”

Max nodded back to her, and I felt an odd jealousy at his attention to her. Max and Devlin left, and Callista said, “Perhaps I was wrong about him. He didn’t seem so very fearsome this morning.”

“Really? So it wasn’t you who trembled when you talked to him in your room?”

Callista nodded. “Oh, that was I, all right. I suppose I need a gentler husband who will reassure me constantly and keep me feeling safe.” She looked over at where Devlin and Max had gone. “Any ideas?” she asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Callie, you’re the one who is the prize. Ask me something else that I might be able to answer.”

“As you wish,” Callista said. “Tell me how I can get Devlin to notice me.”

I shook my head, nearly speechless. “I don’t know.”

Come now. You’re a married woman who seems to have her husband’s very fervent attentions. You caught his notice, certainly.”

I laughed. “Then perhaps you should make him so angry he considers killing you. He certainly couldn’t ignore you then.”

Callista looked past me and her demeanor became cool. “Kasta,” she said.

I turned to see the woman standing behind me. “Callista, Katrina,” she returned. It was a dreadful breach of manners for her to address me as anything but my lady since I was the lord’s wife, but then Kasta hadn’t been shy at displaying her distain of me.

“My ladies and I wondered what sort of entertainment you will provide for us next, mistress of the castle.” Her last words dripped with sarcasm.