Phantom of the Heart (3 page)

She wished she could move closer, but the cat was watching her with sharp, suspicious eyes.

***

Orla noticed everything, she did not know how in the dim lighting, but she did.

Sterling’s slightly drunken state, her arousal, and her frustration, thanks to Pinto. It was time to put some distance between her and the princess. If possible, it seemed as if Sterling’s arousal was growing stronger the longer she stared.

“Was there anything else, milady?” she asked calmly, her eyes downcast. The intense stare was doing something to her, something indescribable, something that caused her insides to grow warm.

Sterling’s expression darkened for a moment, before she shook her head slowly. “No. It was not my intention to rouse you from your sleep.” She turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Not sure what to feel at Sterling’s abrupt departure, Orla could only stare at the spot where Sterling had stood a few moments ago.

Chapter 3

Mesmeria was troubled as she stared down at her sleeping daughter. Sterling was growing more distant as the days passed. For a moment, an urge, so strong, to hold her daughter came over her, but she was not sure if the sentiment would be appreciated. She felt tears burning behind her eyelids. It was obvious that Sterling was avoiding her and not Cybralle. The two had daily sparring sessions and went hunting together.

Knowing that she was so close to crying, she quickly turned away from the bed and walked over to the curtains and threw them open. She heard a soft groan behind her and quickly swallowed her tears. She spun around, a bright smile on her face.

“You almost slept the day away, dearling,” she gushed, as she walked over to the bed. She blinked when the strong alcohol fumes threatened to knock her out. “You definitely need a bath first, before I let you loose amongst the others.”

Sterling’s eyes flickered open and she moaned. “There is no reason to get out of bed.” She rolled over and pulled the pillow over her face.

Mesmeria swallowed at the sadness Sterling’s words had stirred inside her. Ignoring her earlier fear of rejection, she sat on the bed and pulled the pillow from Sterling’s head. “Talk to me, Sterling.”

There was short silence before Sterling turned over, her bloodshot eyes expressionless. “There is nothing you can do about it, Mother.”

“I am the queen. I might just surprise you,” Mesmeria said softly. She had used the line on Sterling when she was younger. It was effective back then, chasing away monsters and nightmares. Now, all she saw in Sterling’s eyes was surrender. “Tell me what is hurting you, my child. Please.”

Sterling sat up, the sheet falling away and exposing her chest. Mesmeria blushed at the sight of the small bite marks on Sterling’s breasts and neck. Yes, she was indeed Cybralle’s daughter. Only a woman mad on exquisite passion could’ve left those marks. She had left similar ones, countless times, on Cybralle. She calmly meets her daughter’s eyes.

“Is it about Lady Hernina?”

Sterling dropped her face in her hands. “Mother…”

There was knock on the door and before they could respond, the door swung open, admitting Cybralle. For a moment they all stared at each other before Cybralle walked over to the bed and pulled the bedding from Sterling. “Enough of this moping. I have a plan.” She frowned and looked at Mesmeria. “Why are you here?”

Mesmeria shrugged. “Last I remember, I gave birth to her.”

Cybralle grimaced. “As if I will ever forget that day.” She pulled Mesmeria up and against her chest. “You were up early today, I did not get to greet you properly.”

Smiling brightly, Mesmeria threw her arms around Cybralle’s neck. “I went for a ride.”

“Maybe I am not fulfilling my duties, if you wake up with so much energy to spend.”

A loud groan sounded, followed by the rustling of bedding and hurried footsteps as Sterling made herself scarce. They both laughed at that. Mesmeria could not believe that, after all this time, the ruse still worked.

Sure that Sterling was out of earshot, she turned serious. “She is avoiding me. What is the plan you mentioned earlier?”

Cybralle brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “Not intentionally.” She pressed another kiss on Mesmeria’s lips. “We need to woo someone.”

Mesmeria’s lips fell open in surprise. “Who? And why are
you
involved?”

“I cannot tell you the name of the fair maiden,” Cybralle whispered. “As for my involvement, I managed to get you to fall in love with me. That alone makes me a renowned counsel on affairs of the heart.”

Mesmeria stared at Cybralle for a long moment, before she threw her head back and laughed heartily. “I was the one who pursued
you
, if I remember correctly.”

“That was my tactic,” Cybralle boasted, her bearing upright and powerful. Mesmeria rolled her eyes at the posturing. They both know that if she had not gotten tipsy that night and ordered Cybralle to lower her head so she could kiss her, they never would have been where they are now. She decided to let it go.

“Will you take care so she does not get hurt?” she asked softly, her mother’s heart aching for her child.

“She is already in pain, sweetling,” Cybralle said. “I doubt she can hurt more than she already does.”

Mesmeria leaned against Cybralle’s chest. Of all the things that could cripple her child, it had to be love.

***

Orla studied the horseshoe carefully. Satisfied, she dropped it on the work bench. That was the last job for the day. Now, she only had the stables left. A group of nobles had arrived earlier in the day for the Solstice. After the long trip, the horses needed feeding and grooming. She had sent the other groomsmen home early. The annual Solstice celebration was tonight, and it drew large crowds from surrounding towns and provinces. Unlike the boys, she did not care much for celebrations. This year, like all the other years before, she would spend her time working. With the city brimming with revelers, she always made good money. It was time to fix the small barn adjoining their hut. Her mother also needed cloth for new clothing.

She stretched languidly. As soon as she was done with the horses, she would see if her private bathing spot at the creek was unoccupied. Closing her hut, she purposefully walked over to the stables. She walked straight to the stall holding Sterling’s horse. Over the past weeks, she had developed a deep liking for the stoic stallion. Orla was the only one of the grooms the stallion allowed near him. She entered the stall and chuckled when the horse began nibbling on her shirt.

“It would appear you missed me too,” she murmured as she patted him.

There was a soft sound from behind the horse, and Orla quickly stepped away from the stallion. She knew immediately who it was. Besides her, the stallion only allowed one other person close to him.

Sterling skirted the horse and came to stand before her. Orla swallowed hard. Sterling looked incredible in an all-dark outfit. It made her look sensuous and dangerous. The green eyes were brilliant as they slowly looked her up and down.

“That explains it,” Sterling drawled softly, her eyes now firmly fixed on Orla’s face.

“I do not understand, milady.”

Sterling leaned back against the horse. “Knowing what a finicky beast he is, I have been wondering who is taking such good care of him.”

Orla blushed. “He would not allow the other grooms near him.”

Sterling smiled. “He likes you then.”

“He is an intimidating animal. I, too, had my reservations about entering his stall.” She watched as Sterling nuzzled the horse’s neck.

“He knows that you are special,” Sterling murmured, as she turned away from the horse to give her a brilliant look. “You are the most wonderful human being he has met in a very long time.”

Not sure what to answer to that, Orla lowered her eyes. A moment passed, before she looked up again. This time, she almost gasped at the look in Sterling’s eyes. She felt the look, the meaning of it, right down to her toes. It had been a week since she had caught the princess sneaking outside her window, but now, in the well-lit stable, she could not mistake the look for anything other than what it was.

The princess wanted her.

Maybe if she caved in and allowed the woman to do what was so blatantly visible in her eyes, this confusion, this angst, would finally come to an end. With her heart beating as if it wanted out of her chest, she walked farther into the stall, where the shadows were a bit deeper, and reached for the ties on her shirt. She was not looking at Sterling as she began unfastening the ties.

“What are you doing?”

She did not look up when she answered. “My duty.”

There was a deep silence.

“Which is what?” The words sounded strangled, as if they were pushed through a clenched throat.

“Whatever is in this kingdom belongs to you, milady.” Orla hesitated slightly, before she pulled the shirt over her head. Looking down at herself, she inhaled deeply. She did not see anything that anyone, least of all a royal, would want. Her breasts were bound tightly with a strip of cloth, giving her a very manly chest.

“STOP!”

The order sounded loud in the silence, startling the stallion and making Orla jump. Sure that she had in some way offended Sterling, Orla froze. When she raised her eyes, it was to find Sterling looking at her with anguish in her eyes. It was probably a play of light from the lantern hanging at the entrance of the stall, but it almost looked like Sterling’s eyes were filled with tears.

They stared at each other for a long, breathtaking moment, before Sterling turned and quietly left the stall.

Orla stood in stunned silence, listening to Sterling’s fading footsteps. When the stable was quiet again, with only the occasional snort from a horse, she exhaled loudly and slowly sank to her knees. She might just be the reason they would be banished from Arnat.

***

Cybralle sighed deeply as her eyes followed Sterling who called over a serving girl. She did not have to guess what Sterling’s next action would be. Since her return from wherever, a safe guess would be Orla, it was obvious that Sterling was in pain. She had shunned the top table and instead joined her warriors at a corner table. From the her raised seating, Cybralle was able to keep their guests entertained as well as keep an eye on her daughter. A staggering number of brimming tankards made their way to Sterling’s table where the din was steadily increasing. She turned to look at Mesmeria and found her wife’s gaze resting on the table where Sterling was loudly proposing a toast. Cybralle sighed when Sterling slumped back in her seat, spilling ale all over herself. It was time to intervene. She slowly rose to her feet and made her way over to the boisterous group. The warriors quickly stood at her approach. Sterling was the last to rise.

“We have an esteemed visitor from the top table,” she slurred as she executed a messy curtsy.

Cybralle rolled her eyes at that. Had she not been aware of her daughter’s inner turmoil, she would have chastised Sterling for her behavior. She doubted that was what Sterling needed right now.

“I have need of some fresh air. Would you like to join me?”

She saw a flash of confusion on Sterling’s face and smiled. Sterling was not as drunk as she wanted them to believe. A closer look showed the hurt lurking in her eyes. At Sterling’s hesitation, she shrugged. “You can bring your drink.”

Sterling cocked her head to the side, staring at Cybralle for moment. “I would like that.”

They made their way out of the hall in silence. It was only when they stood on the balcony overlooking the training ground that Cybralle spoke again.

“She is not like the noblewomen you are used to.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sterling’s head swing to look at her. “She is honorable, humble, and innocent. To court her, you need to embrace honesty, humility, and innocence. She will not react to sly innuendos like those…” Cybralle waved in the direction of the hall, where all the nobles were feasting and gossiping. “…corrupted vultures.” She slowly turned to look at Sterling. “You need to be yourself.”

Sterling inhaled deeply and looked away, but not before Cybralle saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. “I have tried everything. She is not interested.”

Cybralle wanted so desperately to pull her daughter into her arms and hold her tight, but she knew instinctively that Sterling was not yet ready for that.

“May I ask what exactly you have told her?” Sterling still refused to make eye contact. “Did you tell her that you love her? That you want to spend your life with her?” No woman would turn down such an offer, not from someone like Sterling. Sterling slowly turned to look at her, her eyes wide. “I take it you did not.” Sterling blinked as she shook her head. “Then you need to fix that.”

A slow smile formed on Sterling’s lips. “Yes. I need to fix it.” She threw the tankard to the ground and reached out for Cybralle. “Thank you, Umah.”

Cybralle basked in the gratitude of her daughter, hugging her back tightly.

***

Sterling crept around the hut, her eyes warily scanning the area as she slowly made her way over to the window. She would hate to have a repeat of the other night. Hopefully, that cat was out hunting mice in the barn and not laying in wait for her. Reaching the window, she released a breath she did not even know she was holding. So far so good. For a moment she stood frozen, not sure what she was to do next. She swallowed hard, suddenly very nervous. When she left her mother to come over here, all she could think about was seeing Orla again and telling her how much she loved her. Now that the moment was upon her, she wondered if coming here had really been such a good idea. Maybe Orla really was not interested in her. It was evident that Orla knew of Sterling’s sexual escapades. Her head dropped slowly at that until her chin rested on her chest. She had never thought that her exploits might come to haunt her. None of them held any importance and they were simply a way for her to keep the darkness of the battlefield at bay.