Lost Princess (22 page)

Chapter Seventeen

When I’d arrived in the castle, I’d brought some of my things with me. One thing I’d brought was my father’s black leather leggings. He’d worn leggings all the time, and usually black. He’d always worn at least one weapon, even in our home. That had never seemed odd to me. I’d kept the leggings as a reminder of him. As I’d prepared to leave, I’d remembered the leggings and put them on, with a dark shirt of my own. My father hadn’t been much taller than I was, and slim, so the leggings weren’t that poor of a fit. I put on the belt that had come with them, and carefully put my jeweled knife in the sheath.

I looked at Max for several minutes before I left, very slowly unbarring the door to keep the sound from waking him. If he caught me before I was away? I knew he’d forgive me eventually, but it wouldn’t be pretty. And if he caught me after I’d gone, if he knew what I’d intended, then I just didn’t know what he’d do.

I crept through the castle like a criminal, which I suppose I was now. I went to the servants’ quarters and wound my way through, ignoring any servants who saw me and walking boldly as if I had a right to be there. No one stopped me. Eventually I stopped at a door leading outside into the laundry area. I exited and followed the path there around until I was approaching the stables.

This was the tricky part, but couldn’t be helped. I had to have a mount or Max would catch me before I’d even left the surrounding area. Yet the stables were guarded day and night. I’d picked up a solid bit of firewood as I’d moved along, hoping I’d have the guts to use it.  But I was in luck. The guard was chatting with a servant girl, and was at least 100 yards away from the stable. I slipped inside and prepped a horse for leaving, wincing every time the horse made any noise. I’d chosen River, who had once been my father’s horse. He’d come with me when I’d come here. I used to ride often, but it wasn’t considered appropriate once a woman was of age, so I’d been away from him for over a year. He remembered me, and I reflected I should have wondered as I was growing up what my father would be doing with such an amazing steed. River as very different looking from either the warhorses or the breeds meant to pull a carriage or work in other ways. River had long slim legs, a wide chest, and a unique muzzle that I’d never seen on any other horse, curved in then rounding about the nose instead of falling in a straight line. River had more stamina than any horse I’d ever heard of. And boy, was I going to need that stamina tonight.

I led him to the door and looked about for the guard. He was not immediately in sight, but I finally found him in the shadows of the out kitchens, with his female friend pressed up against the wall of the kitchen. Slowly I led River out, and held my breath until we were out of sight of the stables.My luck held until I was almost to the little used back exit that the servants used. The guard there was neither talking to anyone or away from his post. He watched me coming closer, pulling his sword. I raised my hands to show I meant no harm. I’d let the firewood piece go as soon as I realized I’d never sneak up on him.

As I came near, he said, “Stop. Who are you and what are you doing?“I had tucked my hair up under a hat I’d found in the stables. “I’m on the Regent’s business, of course.” I said in as gruff a voice as I could manage.

“I’ve had no word.” The guard said, trying to see my identity in the low light.

“The guard here before you knew,” I said, letting sarcasm enter my voice. “He let me in.“The guard hesitated.  “You idiot,” I snarled. “If you must go to the castle and wake the Regent, do so. I only left him an hour ago, and he seemed intent on spending time with his wife. But if you don’t mind facing his anger when you pull him from his bed to tell him someone is leaving, then be my guest and do so.“The guard still looked undecided. I continued, low, “Hurry up and decide, you lout. But you cannot speak to anyone but the Regent. I have strict orders to only report to him, and my comings and going are to be kept secret.”

I was hoping that Max was just a little too daunting to wake up in the middle of the night. I knew that the guard was mainly here to keep people out, not to keep people in, and was hoping that was enough to get me out.  The guard stepped aside finally, and I walked my horse to the gate, which he opened for me. I kept River between us until I was outside the inner walls, and then mounted. I rode to the outer walls, but this wasn’t as difficult to leave from, since even in the night there were people coming and going. I told the same story I’d told the other guard, and strongly suspected Max actually did have spies who’d arrived before, so readily did the guards accept my story. Ninety minutes after I’d walked out of the room, I was cantering up the road towards Snake River and the armies of the King.

*                                  *                                  *

DEVLIN

Devlin woke early. He was to be married today, and even though he was no mere boy, this was his first wife and he was a bit on edge. It had to be the wedding that had put him on edge. Or perhaps it was that everything Max had built, with his help, was in danger. Yes, that might be it as well.

He left the castle, thinking he might ride before the rest of the castle awoke. He went to the stables, waving at the guard who was standing at the entrance. Once inside, he went to the horse he usually rode when an empty box caught his attention. River was gone. He shrugged it off initially, assuming that there was a likely explanation for it. But after he’d ridden and returned, River was still gone. Servants were moving around the castle now. He asked the guard on the way out if he knew where River had gone, but the guard didn’t know anything, even if River had been there when he’d arrived. He only guarded the stables; he didn’t care for the horses.

Feeling a little worried, Devlin caught a stable boy, who then woke the stable master. They questioned the guard again, but he insisted that he’d been there all night and hadn’t seen anyone come to steal River. Devlin left the stable master questioning people. One missing horse. Probably didn’t mean anything, but again, that edginess remained.

Once in the castle, he went up to wash, one of the first there. After he was done, he ran into Max, looking annoyed. “Have you seen Katrina?” he asked.

Devlin shook his head. “Last I saw her she was with you.”

Max ground his teeth. “I told her not to wander off in the morning.”

Devlin grinned at his brother. “I’m sure she’ll turn up.”

Max shook his head. “I told her about the King,” he admitted. “She was upset, as you’d expect. Kept saying that no one should die because of her.” He gave a shrug, apparently at the ridiculousness of women.

Devlin nodded, but he was thinking about the missing horse. Certainly Katrina wouldn’t be so foolish as to…suddenly he froze.

Max tensed as well. “Devlin?”

“River is missing,” he said slowly.

“The horse? How…” But then Max turned and roared for Katrina’s guards, who had been following him, ashamed they hadn’t noticed Katrina leave this morning. They’d maintained they’d been on guard since dawn, and now scrambled to follow the curtly ordered instructions that Max was gritting out.  He turned to Devlin, “Ask Callista what she knows. I swear, Devlin, if she helped her…”

Devlin put his hand on Max’s shoulder. “I’ll find out what she knows.  Max, I was out there before dawn, and the horse was gone then, so she’s some hours on her way already.“Max growled and strode off. Devlin watched him go, thinking about Callista. If she’d helped Katrina to escape, it might not matter what Devlin said. Max was her guardian still and had the right to do as he wished. If only they’d already been married. Briefly he thought of letting Max go after Katrina alone and quickly marrying Callista while he was gone. But no, even if he could let his brother go off alone to seek Katrina, he wouldn’t do it. And if Max was determined to see Callista pay…Devlin shook his head. He sincerely hoped Callista knew nothing of Katrina’s plans.

He found Callista in the hall. Due to Max’s loud reaction, everyone knew that Katrina was missing. Servants and guards were combing the castle to ascertain she was actually gone and not still inside. Others were looking for her outside, but within the inner walls. And of course, still more looked for her between the inner walls and the outer walls.

Callista’s eyes were wide when Devlin came up to her. She started to cry immediately and began to crumple but Devlin caught her elbow and kept her standing. “Callista. For Katrina’s sake, if not your own life, tell me now what you know.”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Nothing!” She grabbed Devlin’s hand and held it to her heart. “She never told me anything. Not one word.” Callista looked around her. “Why would she go? I don’t understand.”

Devlin looked at her closely, but she looked as if she was telling the truth.

She shook his hand to recapture his attention. “Devlin, she doesn’t trust me anymore. She’s completely alone. What did he do to her to make her leave? She loves him!”

Devlin said, “So help me, Callie, if you’re lying to me….”

Callie waved that away. “Why did she go?” she demanded.

Devlin nodded. “I can’t tell you that. I don’t trust you that far. But suffice it to say that it isn’t because she’s angry with Max. In fact, I think she’s trying to save him.”

“She’s insane! Trying to protect the Regent?”

“Callie, my brother, remember?” Devlin said calmly.

Callie grabbed Devlin by the shirt. “Find her. Please don’t let her run headlong into…” She threw up her hands. “And when he finds her, try to speak on her behalf. Calm him down for her sake.”

Devlin lifted his brows at her ferocity. 

“Devlin, don’t let Max kill her, thinking she’s betrayed him. She didn’t, I know she didn’t.” At Devlin’s continued silence she said, “She’s like my sister, only one I have chosen instead of the one God gave me!”

He slowly pulled her fists away from his shirt. “Callista, I’ll do what I can.” He turned to go, but her hand on his arm stopped him. He looked back at her, and she stepped to him, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck to pull him down. She pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Devlin let his hands, both of them, settle at her waist. “When I return, we’ll marry. Immediately.”

She nodded quickly. “I want Katrina there to see it. Please, my lord.”

“Max will bring her back if he possibly can. You know that.” And with those words he heard Max calling to him.

He turned to see his brother striding up. “No one has seen her in hours, but one guard reported that he let a man out of the laundry gate last night late. The man said he was about my business.”

“Katrina,” Devlin said.

“I assume so. She’s tall enough to be taken for a man, although I don’t know where she found the clothes. The guard didn’t remember what horse she had.” Max’s jaw ticked and his hand tightened into a fist. “He will be dealt with. But now I’m going after her.”

“I’ll come as well.” Devlin said.

“And what of my heir? If the King’s troops come here, will he catch us together?”

“Max, I’m coming. If you want to stand and argue, that’s only going to slow us down.”

Max glared at him. Devlin gave him bored eyes. Max growled a curse under his breath and turned on his heel, walking away. “Regent of the land, but my brother does whatever he damned well wants,” he muttered as he walked away.

Devlin followed him, trying to hide his smile.

Chapter Eighteen

When my head hit the back of River’s neck, I realized I’d fallen asleep again. I’d been riding all night and had slowed River to a trot. River had been tireless, eating mile after mile without seeming to notice.

I stretched in the saddle wondering just where I was. Now that it was fully light, my disguise wouldn’t fool anyone but the most nearsighted of people. I was having second thoughts about my plan. First, I had only the most vague of ideas where the King’s armies would be. Second, I had to reach there in one piece. Thirdly, I hadn’t had time to really prepare for this, and didn’t have anything to eat or drink. I’d rolled up a horse blanket and connected it to the back of the saddle. And that was it as far as supplies went.

I considered whether I was far enough away from the castle to take an hour’s nap. But then I thought of how angry Max had been when I’d last run off, and decided I’d never be far enough ahead.

I stopped some men who were cutting down trees, and while they ogled me, making me uncomfortable, they did tell me the quickest way to the river. Unfortunately it wasn’t the way the road was going, so I set off through the trees, glad to leave their curious eyes behind.

That was a mistake. Before long I was completely lost and not even sure I was headed in the right direction. My legs and arms were scratched, and River had at least one deep scratch that was bleeding. Finally when we found a clearing, I dismounted and removed River’s bridle so he could eat. I was so exhausted and discouraged that I lay down on the horse blanket and berated myself for ever leaving Max in the first place. Why hadn’t I trusted that he’d do the right thing? He was my husband and I loved him. Why couldn’t I have trusted him as well?

I was still trying to decide whether to try to go back and throw myself on his mercy or try to continue when I fell asleep.

A rough shaking woke me. A soldier was shaking my shoulder. I sat up and looked at him blearily. Max’s men had found me. I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised. Then I realized he was wearing colors I didn’t recognize. My eyes widened as it all clicked. These were not Max’s men.

I sprang to my feet, every muscle that had tightened during my sleep screaming at me. “Who are you?”

The man looked at me with some distain. “I’ll be asking you that,” he said. “What would a woman be doing with a fine horse in the middle of the forest? Did you steal it?”

“I certainly didn’t!” I said with dignity. “I’m—” But would it be smart to tell him who I was? This is what I’d wanted, wasn’t it? To turn myself over to the King and try to talk to him and convince him to leave Max’s lands alone.