Lost Princess (23 page)

The soldier scowled at me. “You are?” he prompted.

“I’m Katrina, wife to the Regent Maximus.”

The soldier reeled back. “You’re—“I stood in front of him, trying to look like a Regent’s wife.

Another soldier said, “She can’t be—”

But the leader of the soldiers, the one who had been talking to me, said, “silence.” He studied me. “How do I know you tell the truth?”

“Why would I lie? Did you tell everyone you were looking for me? Have the heralds announced it from the castle walls?” He scowled and I rolled my eyes. “I used to live in Faralee with my father, Bartimus.”

The soldier leader swallowed, and his entire demeanor changed. “My lady, uh, Princess Katrina. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

I tried not to look as surprised as I felt. “I left Max in order to see the King. Can you take me to him?”

The soldier nodded. He directed his men to remount and took the reins to River.

“What are you doing?”

“We wouldn’t want you to lose your way, Princess,” he said respectfully. “The reason we’re out here is to search for information of you.”

I allowed him to lead River and we headed out. I tried not to think about Max. Part of me had expected him to catch me, and now that it didn’t look as if that would happen, I was sick at heart. This was what I’d wanted though, so I lifted my chin and pushed my tears away.

We went through the forest until we met another road, then we traveled quickly along it until it got dark. At that point the men found a house and forced the people to put them up, eating their food and insisting that they give up their home to these rough thankless men. I tried to apologize, but the captain of the soldiers didn’t want my identity known, so kept me from the people.

I was left in the best bedroom, with two guards at both the window and the door. I certainly wouldn’t be leaving here, should that be my intention. The bed was comfortable, and I was exhausted, but I couldn’t immediately sleep. I thought of what Max was doing right now. Was he looking for me? Angry? Worried? I turned over and tried not to think about it, but my worries followed me into my sleep, and I dreamed all night of Max, betrayed and furious.

The next day we approached the river. We weren’t traveling by the road now. Max’s men were gathering, and the soldiers had removed enough of their armor to hide the fact they were the King’s men. Still, Max’s men appeared to be watching the bridges, so we were forced to swim across the river, a wet and dangerous exercise. We managed all right, but I was shivering and my teeth were chattering after we crossed. I was given a dry blanket to wrap around me, but part of me was horrified that I’d left Max’s lands. There was truly no hope for me now.

I’d assumed that we’d have to go all the way to the capital city, many days riding away, but Max had been wrong about the King’s location. Not far from the river a large group of soldiers were gathered. We went to this camp, with me freezing and sore in both spirit and body. We were questioned, and I was taken to an unassuming tent. I waited for a time, not really paying attention, all my thoughts inward, until I was ushered inside.

There was a swirl and a woman, as tall as I was, grabbed my shoulders, tearing off my dirty cap. “Katrina?” she said.

I looked at her curiously. She had hair similar to mine, but nothing else seemed recognizable. I wasn’t sure, but thought this might be Queen Ophelia.

“Katrina?” she said again, shaking me lightly.

“Yes, I’m Katrina,” I admitted.

A man came and stood next to her. He was only an inch or so taller than I was. His hair was red, almost orange, and he was dressed richly. “Ophelia, we can’t know if it’s really her.”

The woman who must be my mother—Ophelia, said, “What do you know of Bartimus?”

“Papa?” I shrugged, noticing that the man stiffened and frowned. “He raised me alone in Faralee. He was about my height, slim and quick. I adored him,” I said deliberately.

“He…was good to you then?” Ophelia asked.

“Of course. When he died I was devastated, but Max became my guardian and took me in.”

“And married you,” Ophelia spat.

“Yes, and married me,” I said calmly.

“Well, he couldn’t have been too kind to you. The captain of the cadre that found you thought you were running towards us, away from your husband,” the man said.

I nodded slowly. “Are you King Walter?” I asked.

He nodded in a kingly manner. It looked a little silly. “Then I’m here to ask the two of you to stop this ridiculous attack on Max, er, the Regent.”

Walter looked over at Ophelia. “Did Max send you?”

“Of course not. He’d never want me to endanger myself like this. He’s most likely furious at me.”

Walter said, “You’re my daughter, not that…Bartimus.’ That makes you my heir.”

I waved my hand. “I don’t care about that.”

Walter frowned.

I added, “I just want you to stop. I couldn’t get Max to listen to me, so I thought if I could convince you…”

“The Regent has overstepped his authority and committed treason against his King. I will not stand for it. I will see him hang.”

I put up my hands as Walter hissed those words. “You’re still going to attack?”

Ophelia said, “Of course. While we want you back, darling, that was just an excuse to take back the lands that bastard has stolen from us.”

“That bastard you speak of is my husband,” I hissed right back at her.

My mother stepped away from me, shocked. “You speak to me so?”

“I don’t even know you. And I do know Max. He’s honorable and clever and wonderful.”

Walter looked over at his wife. “It would seem Max has made quite an impact on our daughter.” He looked at me. “You will forget him in time. And I have decreed your marriage null,” he said archly.

“I couldn’t care less what you’ve decreed,” I snarled. “And I’m not your daughter!” I wasn’t completely sure about this, though.

Ophelia said softly to Walter, who was glaring at me, “Let me talk to her alone, woman to woman.” I thought about the knife in the sheath and wondered if I had the courage to draw it. After some discussion between the two that I wasn’t privy to, Walter left the tent. Stalked out, actually.

Ophelia considered me. “You have all the fire of your father,” she said in a quiet voice. Then she shrugged. “Yes, you could be right, Bartimus could be your father. I don’t know. I told him you were his only because I was afraid he’d kill me otherwise. He was a violent man.”

“Not with me, he wasn’t,” I said.

“He wasn’t always, I guess,” she admitted. “And I must say, you do look a bit like him. But you could just as easily be Walter’s. If a live King wishes to claim you, and the other possibility is dead, then why not embrace him and call him father?”

I just shook my head. I couldn’t understand her casual attitude. “How could you? How could you be with them both? I assume my father never knew?”

She shrugged. “Bartimus never knew I was sleeping with Walter, no. And of course I told Walter that Bartimus had forced me. I’d told Walter I’d lied about your parentage to Bartimus when he stole you away. I still can’t believe he did that. Yes, he was quite insistent that we run away together, but why would I ever leave a prince to be with an assassin?” She gave a laugh.

“But both of them?” I asked again.

“I knew once I married, my choices would be limited. Walter is a jealous man. And Bartimus…” her eyes seemed far away now. “He was so handsome, exciting, and so very lethal.”

I realized I would never understand this woman. I wasn’t sure I wanted to anymore. I’d made a horrible mistake to put myself in the hands of these two. What could I do now? Was there any way out?  “Mother,” I said, trying not to frown, “Please let me go back to Max. I love him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, dear,” she said. “You’ll come back with us, and he’ll die. You’ll find someone else. And Walter, who I will from now on refer to as your father, already has a man who will wed you, even if you aren’t a virgin.”

I stared at her. “What if I carry Max’s child?”

“There are ways to get rid of it,” she said easily. “I’ve done it myself a time or two. I probably wouldn’t do that now, since none of my children lived. Other than you, of course.”

I stepped away from her, my hand automatically going to my belly. “I’d never let you do that!”

“Oh, dear, I wasn’t going to ask you,” Ophelia trilled, amused. “You’re my daughter and all, and that’s nice, but I’m a Queen and you’re just a silly girl. I don’t want a child as much as I want power.” She gave me a cold smile. “In that way Walter and I are well suited.”

I had my knife in my hand before I realized I was going for it. “You make one sound, and I’ll put a hole in your throat,” I hissed at my mother.

The Queen’s eyes widened, but then she smiled. “Oh, I suppose I should have suspected something like this, given who raised you.”

I narrowed my eyes, but then decided that was sort of a compliment. “Yes, you should have expected I wouldn’t be a snake like you.” I touched the tip of the sharp little dagger to her neck.

Her smug expression faded a little. “Where did you get that knife?” she asked.

I said slowly, my brain racing as to what I should do now, “From Papa.”

“That’s…it can’t be.”

I ignored her for the moment. Could I possibly use her to get out of here? Was there any chance that would succeed?

She was still stammering. “Precipice,” she said softly. I was moving around behind her, the knife still at her throat.

“What?” I said, focusing.

“The knife you have. It’s called Precipice. It’s legendary. It’s said to be alive in a way, to desire revenge. When Walter became King, we searched the treasury for it but you had it all along. Be careful daughter, lest it hurt me.”

I gaped at her. “I think you’re in more trouble from my desires, not that of the knife.” I was starting to think Queen Ophelia was quite possibly crazy.

She was looking less confident each second. Suddenly she whipped her hand around and hit my knife arm with a stinging blow. I almost lost my grip on the knife, and struggled to keep my hand tight on it while Ophelia jabbed her other elbow into my stomach. I was thrown back, and the knife in my hand slid deeply into Ophelia’s throat.

The Queen gurgled and collapsed against me, her life’s blood spraying in an arc to my right, covering my hand and most of that side of the tent. I struggled not to scream as the knife slid back out and the Queen fell to the floor, dead.

I simply stood there for an unknown amount of minutes, breathing heavily, spots darkening my vision. I’d thought to use her to escape, but that was impossible now. I’d killed her. Dear God in heaven, I’d killed my own mother. The bloody knife seemed warm in my hand, and I thoughtlessly wiped it off and put it back in the sheath.

There’s no telling how long I would have stood there had a respectful voice not called into the tent. “Queen Ophelia? There is a man to see you and the Princess. He says he’s part of the Princess’ personal guard.”

I swallowed and looked at my mother on the floor. So this was it. He’d come in, thinking to be my guard, and find the Queen dead at my feet. He’d take me and Walter would have me slain. There could be no other outcome. I thought of Max briefly yet said, “Yes, send him in.”

As he came in I turned to face him. He was in full armor except for the helm, which he carried under his arm. Fine chain mail covered his head in a hood, hiding his hair. But it didn’t matter because I would have known those eyes anywhere. I stared at him. Then I filled my lungs, and he leapt at me, covering my mouth with his hand, his other arm snaking around me.

“Quiet, wife,” he hissed at me. He looked down. “What has happened here?”

I was shaking so hard I couldn’t see. “I…she…Max!”

He pulled me tightly against him. “Hush. Did you kill her?“I nodded, still shivering.

“Then we had best leave,” he said lightly.

“Compose yourself so we aren’t suspected.“I took a deep breath and forced myself to concentrate on him. Even if we both died now, at least I got to see him again. It was something, anyway. “Max,” I whispered. “Walter wants you dead. He won’t compromise with you.”

“I understand,” Max said. “Now, Princess, it’s time for you to act royal. Put that nose in the air. We’re going to leave here, and you tell the guards that Queen Ophelia directed that no one is to bother her until Walter returns. I need you to be convincing. Can you do it?”

I looked up at his slate gray eyes and said, “Will you ever forgive me for all this?”

Max quirked a smile. “You think to bargain with me? Now?” He touched my cheek. “Get us out of here, and I’ll think about it.”

I nodded and faced the tent opening, while Max moved the queen gingerly, so she looked to be lying on the bed. He used a piece of clothing to wipe the blood off his hands. “Go ahead, Katrina. And make it good,” he said, moving to stand behind me.

I went to the tent opening and stepped out. “My mother is resting and directs me to tell you that she isn’t to be disturbed by anyone but my father, the King.” I felt more than saw Max follow me silently. The guard looked uncertain. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Where is my other guard?” I said, wanting him to think of something else. “I was told I would have two.”

“My l—Princess, I don’t know.”

“Then go find out,” I said haughtily. “Where is the King now?”

“I—”

“What exactly do you know?” I snarled. As if frustrated, I rolled my eyes in what I hoped looked like a royal temper—seriously, I had no idea what royalty acted like—and walked off. 

I heard Max follow with a murmured comment to the hapless guard.He came up close behind me, directing me where to go. I strode through the camp, feeling eyes on me occasionally, but as I’d done before, I tried to act as if I knew what I was doing, and most of the people seemed to believe I did. A few knew enough about me already to bow as I passed. News certainly did travel fast.

As we reached the outskirts of the camp, it got trickier. We weren’t far from the river now, and there were King’s guards at this side of the bridge, and Max’s men at the other end. I couldn’t see how we’d get through.