Page 50 of Besotted
“For making gold,” Mikkel continued, “the secret ingredient is the heart of the fairestroyalmaiden in the land—or so they believe. The queen meant to use Pearl’s heart to test her theory, but Pearl escaped thanks to Curly, the queen’s former huntsman, who refused to take the princess’s life and instead set her free. She fled to the Isle of Outcasts where she hid from the queen.”
Mikkel peered down the table toward the redheaded man next to Vilmar. Curly gave a curt nod back at Mikkel but otherwise remained silent.
I was growing more fascinated at the unfolding tale by the moment. “So the queen still hunts Princess Pearl, hoping to use her heart to make gold?”
“No. The queen has no need of her now that she is my wife. The elixir can only be concocted from the heart of the fairestmaiden—an unmarried woman who has not yet reached her twentieth year.”
“So she intends to use Princess Ruby’s heart instead?”
“Perhaps one day. But for now, Ruby is still too young.”
“Then you and your wife and her sister are safe,” I said. “You have nothing to worry about anymore—”
“Queen Margery not only wants to steal Mercia from Queen Aurora, but she also intends to steal her heart. If Margery uses the heart to make gold, there will be no end to her power and wealth. She will become a threat to every nation, including Scania.”
Mikkel’s pronouncement settled around the table like a knell of death. Finally, I understood the depth of the queen’s depravity, and I stared into my almost-empty mug, my gut swirling with a sourness that rivaled the dregs of ale.
“So now you see why we seek Aurora.” Vilmar broke the silence. “The queen desperately wants her. Thus, if we find her first, we can make use of Pearl’s bargain with the queen. We shall strike at Margery’s weakest moment and crush her evil reign.”
Now that I knew all that had transpired, I understood my brothers’ desire to bring an end to the madness, the needless suffering, and the threat to all nations. But I still didn’t feel right about aiding them in finding Aurora. “Why bring the child into the midst of the problem? Surely, like Princess Ruby, she is too young to be of use to the queen?”
“Child?” Vilmar’s brows rose. “Queen Aurora is no child.”
“She’s not?”
“She’s a grown woman, less than a month from her twentieth birthday.”
A strange fear shimmied down my spine. A grown woman. Almost twenty. Living in isolation in Inglewood Forest.
Underneath the table, Jorg bumped my knee with his. I glanced at him sideways and caught the glimmer in his eyes. Was it possible Rory was Queen Aurora?
Chapter
16
Kresten
Suddenly everything madesense. Rory—Aurora’s level of education, her impeccable manners, her polished speech, her inner strength of character. Her “aunts” were likely her teachers and Chester her guardian, which would account for how vigilant and skillful the young man had been in protecting her.
No, she wasn’t merely a woman from a noble family who’d fallen on hard times. She was Mercia’s queen, awaiting her twentieth birthday—the day she would be able to take the throne and rule her own country.
As silence once again prevailed over the table, I realized all eyes were upon me. Mikkel and Vilmar exchanged another look.
I was tempted to jump up and storm out of Walter’s cottage, away from the men before I gave myself away. Instead, I relaxed my shoulders and schooled my features into what I hoped portrayed nonchalance. “As far as I’m concerned, you should leave Aurora alone. This isn’t her fight, and she’ll be safer remaining in hiding away from Margery.”
In fact, now that I knew the truth, I wanted Mikkel and Vilmar to stay as far away from Aurora as possible. She’d remained in seclusion these many years without Margery finding her. She could go one more month. By the time she reached her twentieth year, Margery would have no more need of her heart and wouldn’t be able to question her authority to rule over Mercia. At that point, Aurora would be able to leave the cottage and return to Delsworth without as much fear of Margery assaulting her.
Of course, there was always the chance Margery would still challenge Aurora’s right to the throne and might even attack Mercia. But if that happened, she had an ally in Scania—at the very least an ally in me.
“So...” Mikkel eyed me as though watching my thoughts unfold. “This means you will not help us find Queen Aurora?”
“No doubt you have some of the best trackers already.” I nodded at the fierce-looking silver-toothed man. “If they are not able to locate Aurora, then what makes you think I can?”
“Because I know you,” Vilmar replied with an easy grin. “If there is a woman to be found, you are the one to do it. The ladies have always been attracted to you, like bees to a honeypot.”
“You’re right as usual.” I grinned in return though I wanted to grimace. I’d had enough of the conversation and needed to get out before I said or did anything to put Aurora in jeopardy. I gulped down the last of my ale, then stood, planting my cane and using it to steady my stiff limbs.
Jorg rose and retrieved our weapons belts.
