Page 39 of Till Kingdom Come

“Take a step back? I can do that.” He turned and stalked out the door, slamming it behind him so loudly it shuddered in its frame. I heard his boots clattering as he took off down the stairs. Of course, the instant he closed the door I was sorry for what I’d said and full of regrets for the way I’d said it. But I was way too proud to go after him.

In a huff, I went over to the bed, took off my boots and climbed in, pulling the covers over my head. I thought I’d be much too angry for sleep, but I drifted off right away and woke in what felt like the middle of the night to hear the fire still merrily popping and crackling and nothing much else. It was the only light in the room. I checked the clock on the wall, a newer piece that was spring driven instead of using the heavy weights we used to use at home. It said seven o’clock, so I knew it was morning. I crept to the door and opened it gently, so I wouldn’t disturb the men if they were still sleeping below.

I needn’t have been worried, however, because the sleeping men in the common room were mostly gone. There were about ten men left that I could see, some sitting on their cots, cleaning their weapons or sorting their belongings and the others at the tables eating breakfast. There was no sign of Bracca at all. I was stunned and could hardly believe my eyes. Had Bracca really left me here all alone in this strange city except for a handful of soldiers? Had he abandoned me? Would he have done that?

Apparently, he would, and I waited for the anger to hit. Instead, there was just sadness. All my life I’d had strong abandonment issues, and now they hit me again full force. My mother had left me when I was little more than a baby, and Sir John had never been emotionally there for me at all, but while I knew what caused my feelings, I really didn’t know what to do about them. All I knew was that I’d never been so hurt and angry before in my life that I could remember. We had only been married a matter of days, and he had already walked out on me? Not even when I learned that Sir John had sold me to the Fairies had I been this hurt. And maybe worst of all, I had absolutely no idea of what to do next.

I might have stood there all day, except for the lady that I’d met the evening before. She was sitting in the big room below when I noticed her, all alone. I assumed she must be one of the serving women there, taking a small rest. She glanced up and saw me standing at my door. She looked startled to see me and raised her hand to wave. I gave her a little wave back and turned to go back in my room. But if I thought I was rid of her, I was very wrong. Soon I heard footsteps on the stairs.

I went to the door to greet her as she made it to the top step. “Hello, sir,” she said, dropping into a little curtsey. “Do you need something?”

“No, thank you, I just woke up and wondered where everyone was.”

“Would you like some tea, then?”

“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.” She started to turn away and I said, “Excuse me, but did Prince Bracca happen to mention to you where he was going?”

“Well, he didn’t exactly tell me, but I do know. They didn’t go far, you see. They’re at the inn on the corner by the gate. I gave them the recommendation. It’s called The Red Lion. I think he’s booked the entire inn…or so I heard.” I didn’t ask any more questions, but just nodded.

“Will you be joining them soon, sir?” she asked, probably unable to stand the suspense a minute longer.

I shook my head no. I went back inside while she went for the tea, and I felt sunk in misery. Had I been in the wrong with what I said to him? I hadn’t governed my words and Bracca wasn’t used to being talked to in such a way.

Still, I thought that what I’d said was right. Many, many years of animosity lay between the Fairies and the Elves. It was bad enough that I was half some other kind of Fae, perhaps closely related to the Fairies. To install the dark Fairy prince as my Regent would have been a step too far. But that had been Bracca’s plan all along. He’d told me it was.

I didn’t want to admit how relieved I was that Bracca hadn’t left the city altogether. But at the same time, I was still really angry at him for walking out on me like he had. The fact that he’d left some soldiers helped a little, but it wasn’t enough. As I paced up and down in front of the fireplace, I swore I would never speak to him again. Never! Not even if he crawled on his knees on broken glass and begged me for my forgiveness.

A knock came on the door, and I whirled around, and I’m afraid I was hoping that it might be Bracca. Instead, the lady came in with a tray holding a teapot wrapped in a tea cozy, along with a cup and all the other paraphernalia that goes with tea, like lemon slices and cream and sugar—anything I might need. She poured some and said, “I’ll let you do the rest, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. But I don’t know if that’s the correct title for who I am just yet.”

She shrugged. “Everyone says so, sir. But I’ll do as you say, of course.”

“Can you tell me your name, Madam?”

“Why, my name is Rosheen, sir. Thank you for asking.”

“That’s a very pretty name. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.”

She smiled. “You know, if you don’t mind me saying so, you look a great deal like your mother did when she was a girl.”

Surprised, I stopped what I was doing and stared at her. “You knew my mother?”

“Yes. I was one of her maids at her home and came here with her. Years ago. Back when King Brendan was alive.”

“What was she like? She left me before my fifth birthday, and I don’t remember much about her.”

“Ah…well, she looked like you, sir. Her hair was golden, with white streaks, all mingled in together. Like yours. It curled down her back, and she had green eyes. Her skin was very white and fair too. She hated it so—she said she wished her skin loved the sun, like some of her friends’ skin did. She was a kind person and very much in love with your father.”

“Do you know why she left the way she did?”

“She was unhappy. She would sit by the window most of the day, looking out to sea and weeping.”

“I see. Why was she unhappy if she loved him so much?”

“It was the curse, sir.”

I nodded. Curse? Did she mean the one about needing the true-blood king. I didn’t understand the connection.

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