Page 13 of Untamed

I dipped my quill in ink and considered my message. Though I would have loved to have written about something of a more joyous nature, I had to tell him about Monserrat. But my whole arm shook when I tried to write it.

The quill fell from my grip, spotting the paper with ink puddles. This must be the workings of a curse within themessage itself. I lifted the quill again, forcing a stroke onto the page, but again my forearm muscles tightened. My blood boiled. How could Monserrat curse me so after acting like a friend?

Instead, I decided to write a story.

A warm breeze rattled the doors to my terrace, punctuating the fire in my veins. Every bit of my frustration translated into the quick strokes, although the actual message was unremarkable. How I wished to tell him my dilemmas, but I didn’t have the heart to disclose my papá’s most recent ultimatum, nor could I write about Monserrat’s letters.

Laude bounced into my bedroom like she did each morning and leaned over my shoulder, her red curls tickling the top of my left ear. When I glanced up at her, I caught the hint of a dark ring under her eyes, as if she’d been up half the night. Was she having strange nightmares again?

Before I could question her, she asked, “What are you writing toPrince Zichri?” The obnoxious way she sang his name grated against my sensibilities, but I wouldn’t ask her to stop, especially since her friendship had become a balm in my season of waiting.

I scribbled the rest of my sentence and dotted the period. “I’m telling him a story about my favorite pastry shop.”

“Well, that’s boring.” She plopped backward onto my shimmery-blue bed covers with a smile embedded on her freckly cheeks.

My eyebrow rose instinctually. “Laude.” A reprimanding tone marked my voice. “You still need to exhibit lady-like behavior, even if it’s only the two of us in my bedroom. What if a maid entered?”

She sat up and smoothed the wrinkles from her sunshine-yellow dress. “Then, they’d think I’m having the time of my life instead of caring about how all of them hate me.”

Ever since Laude’s position had been elevated to a lady-in-waiting from a lowly maid, the other maids refused to be cordialwith her. Anger writhed in my chest at the thought of their cruelty, but I held my tongue on the matter. There was no forcing others to be kind, even if their actions ignited my ire. My mostly dormant gifting tended to pulse with every slight toward Laude.

I stowed my unfinished story in my desk drawer and got to my feet. “Perhaps you’d like to go with me on a mission.”

Laude shot to her feet and scrunched her nose with excitement. “Are we headed to a forbidden valley?”

If only marching into dangerous territory would solve my problems. I faced the full-length mirror and caught sight of my eyelids, puffy from crying all night after my less-than-successful attempt to gain my father’s favor for Zichri. No number of braids in my hair or rosy flower tiaras could hide the evidence. I smoothed my flowing pink dress and adjusted its poofy sleeves. When it came to convincing my brother to skirt around the truth with Mamá and Papá, I had to appear confident and present a delectable argument. I pressed my lips together in a perfect pout.

“Princess? Are we truly going on a mission into the valley again?” Laude clutched the ruffles along her neckline, a nervous gesture.

“No, I’m sorry. I got lost in thought. We’re going to convince Cosme to lie for me.”

She chuckled. “That’s a relief. I’ve dreamt of drowning ever since my near-death experience in those treacherous waters. But asking Cosme to lie?” She let out a long whistle.

“Cosme will help me.” I strode toward my bedroom door. “I have inf—” Again, my tongue tightened at the thought of speaking about the letters. I’d have to shove them into his hands like Monserrat had done to me. Then again, Cosme would have to agree to help me first. I sped into the passageway, and Laude skipped to catch up, a hesitant smile stretched across her face.

I ignored her lack of confidence in my plan, evident in her expression, and continued my march down the corridor lined with paintings depicting the genesis of our lands and powers. Somehow, the illustrated story provoked a solemn ambience. Bright hues captured the children arriving at Valle de los Fantasmas from a dying world. Another revealed the split. One group left for the north with powerful relics which subdued their natural giftings. The others trekked south to the Agata Sea, where we maintained our giftings from the Ancient One. A warning from the earliest tomes was scrawled on the last painting:Where power gathers, responsibility increases, as does greed.

The somber mood the art produced dissipated the moment we turned a corner in front of the back stairwell. My mission to enlist Cosme to my cause pushed me forward.

Laude broke the silence. “You know he will never lie for you because he prides himself on being discreet and the image of truthfulness.”

“This is a matter of fairness. Mamá and Papá insist on Zichri procuring a treaty, even though many of his people consider him a Himzo traitor. Zichri’s brothers are power-hungry fools who will never bend unless we hand them Giddel on a platter.” I turned a corner. “Laude, how can Cosme not see that Zichri isn’t our enemy? The law that only allows marriage within allied kingdoms is unreasonable in this situation.”

“You don’t need to convince me.” Laude strolled with a firm smirk in place.

“But Laude, Cosme must agree. What ifyoucouldn’t see Jaime?”

She paused mid-step in thought and then continued with a bouncy stride. “It would be a shame.”

“A shame?” The indignation in my voice rose an octave. “You’d be beside yourself, longing to see him.”

Loose curls bobbed around her face, though the tightly braided bun at the top of her head remained in place.

“Admit it. You’d even dare enter the King’s Corridor in the middle of the night too.” I turned left, following the passageway toward the main terrace, where announcements were made.

“Princess, you misunderstand my sentiments. I’m happy to be able to marry at all. It’s more than I ever dreamed. Now that Jaime is Zichri’s official messenger, I receive a double portion of favor from the Ancient One.”

“Fine. What you say is true.” I stopped in front of the passageway leading to Cosme’s wing of the palace.

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