Page 10 of Stolen Magic

Did I really have what it took to continue forward with the destruction I had planned?

CHAPTER 5

Revenge was so much simpler when one didn’t become intimately familiar with the victim of their planned vengeance. In the early days of my service to Her Highness, I’d believed the kindness she demonstrated was nothing more than an act, a ploy to garner my favor.

But as the days continued, I grew to discover her sincerity…and I hated her for it, but nowhere as much as I loathed myself in the moments that the impenetrable walls I’d erected over my conscience faltered. Repeatedly I forced myself to repair these walls; guilt had no place in my purpose. Someday, after I’d completed my mission, I would allow myself to feel again, but I couldn’t risk losing focus with so much at stake.

On the morning of our departure, I woke early. The princess roused some time later to find me going through the trunks one last time, making sure everything was in order…and secreting a few of my own supplies in a small chest that I buried deep in one of the princess’ trunks: various herbs, my concealing cosmetic, and a bundle of letters tied with red ribbon.

I motioned for her to sit in her favorite chair and handed her a steaming cup of peppermint tea I’d requested from thekitchen. “To help settle your stomach for the carriage ride,” I explained as I began to brush her hair.

Princess Gwendolyn sighed. “Thank you, Lysa. You’re so thoughtful.” She took a careful sip. “If only there was a tea that would settle my heart as well.”

“It must be a true challenge to leave all you know and love to build a new life with a virtual stranger,” I responded. We had spoken on this subject many times, but I hoped that bringing it up yet again might provide new details I could use.

The princess shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve always known that I would likely to marry into another kingdom. But now that the day is finally here, it’s hard not to be fearful.”

“Especially when that kingdom is the one that has done such harm to Myrona.” I kept my voice low and sympathetic as I wove a complicated braid that would be both regal and practical for travel.

“Prince Callan is not like his father,” Gwendolyn said seriously. “I know we aren’t well acquainted yet, but I am convinced he will make a far nobler king.”

“Doubtless,” I murmured, suppressing the urge to scoff.

“Have you ever been in love, Lysa?”

My fingers froze at the princess’ unexpected question and I felt my buried emotions beginning to rise. The only person I’d ever loved had been stolen from me, and since that day I had not experienced so much as friendship. The best I could hope for was acceptance rather than avoidance; I couldn’t fathom a man choosing me above all others, nor could I envision giving my heart to anyone.

“Not yet.” I fought to keep my voice light, but I couldn’t entirely ignore the prickle of longing that twinged my hardened heart.

“Neither have I,” she admitted. “I hope that the prince and I may someday find love. It’s hard to truly know someone throughletters, but we seem to share similar goals and an eagerness to build a relationship, so I have reason to hope.” A rosy blush caressed her cheeks.

“I have no doubt you will make an excellent queen, and that the prince will be a kind husband to you.” I tied off the braid and fixed an encouraging smile on my face. “The carriage will be ready soon.”

After the countless trunks had been loaded and last tearful goodbyes said, the journey finally began…the one I’d started the moment I spoke the spell of opportunity. Our entourage made its way through the picturesque yet treacherous landscapes, carrying us farther from the castle towards the kingdom that awaited us. I watched Princess Gwendolyn from her seat across from me, measuring the passing time by calculating the best moment to enact my plan.

She stared wistfully out at the passing scenery as the carriage carried us closer to Eldoria’s border, as if she was trying to memorize the last glimpses of her home. The closer we drew, the greater her apprehension about her impending marriage and the life that awaited her grew. She did her best to appear composed and regal, but her anxiety showed in the tightness of her shoulders and the way she startled at unexpected noises. I noticed her shifting slightly closer to me—likely without even realizing it—proving that I was winning her confidence more by the day.

Gradually I began to wonder if my planned betrayal was actually an act of treachery against the princess…or whether I was in fact rescuing her from an unwanted marriage to a harsh prince. Though she seemed to naively believe that she and Eldoria’s future ruler could find happiness together, I harbored no such misconceptions. I realized to my dismay that I wanted to believe I would be helping her rather than harming her. I alsofelt a grim satisfaction at the thought of preventing Eldoria from robbing my land of its princess along with its magical wealth.

The Eldorian border finally came into view late afternoon on our third day of travel. The princess immediately tensed. I reached across the space dividing us and took her hand, a habitual motion I had been employing throughout the month I’d been in her service as a way to earn her trust…a key element to eventually breaking it.

She seized my hand like a lifeline as she drew a shaky breath. I could feel each tremor in her unwavering grip, evidence of the nerves that her practiced composure couldn’t quite mask. I meant to remain unresponsive—satisfied with the duty I’d fulfilled simply by offering my hand—but I unconsciously found myself giving hers a gentle squeeze in return, a duplicity that I reminded myself was necessary…even as I couldn’t fully suppress the warmth I felt from the friendly connection so foreign to me.

Princess Gwendolyn seemed to hold her breath when we finally reached the border and the carriage slowed to a stop so that our accompanying guards could show our documents and our entourage could switch to the Eldorian escort waiting for us. The procedure and examining of our documents took several minutes, during which the princess’s entire body remained rigid with tension.

Apprehension gripped me too, but for far different reasons. The checkpoint represented the final threshold dividing the “before” and “after” of my scheme—once we entered Eldoria, there would be no turning back. I unconsciously tightened my own grip around her hand, an action I had no explanation for. I’d gone years without human contact and had no reason to rely on such a shallow form of support now…yet I couldn’t make myself let go.

Myst peered up at me from her place curled in my lap, a curious look only I saw while in the illusionary form she maintained whenever we weren’t alone. Even without her usual enchanted communication directly connected to my thoughts, I sensed her unspoken questions, as if she’d peered into my heart and glimpsed the emotions I couldn’t examine too closely lest they made what lay before me all the more unbearable; I refused to admit—even to myself—how difficult I already found the path ahead.

The border inspection seemed to take forever, but finally the carriage started moving again. Both of our rigid poses relaxed and we released heavy sighs—mine one of relief, hers a sad sound that seemed to wriggle itself through one of the few cracks in my impenetrable walls.

It was my duty as Her Highness’s handmaiden to calm her, if for no other reason than to continue strengthening the trust I’d been steadily building from the moment I’d entered her service…yet for once I couldn’t recall any of my scripted dialogue. Instead I cradled the pouch that I constantly kept tucked beneath my collar, feeling the magic pulsate through the fabric. Each gentle pulse against my hand reminded me of my motive.

Princess Gwendolyn continued staring out the window until our kingdom was no longer in sight. Her quiet sigh disrupted the uncomfortable silence shrouding the carriage. “Do you think I’ll ever return?”

Little did she know she would return much sooner than she realized. “Eldoria neighbors our kingdom, making it only a few days’ journey by carriage. Once you marry Crown Prince Callan, I’m sure your duties will allow you to visit regularly.”

“I hope so.”

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