Page 9 of Once Upon a Crown
I looked back to the grave with melancholy when a cool breeze rose up and slithered past me.
Come.The wind whispered against my skin.
You belong here in the forest.
If I hadn’t known better, I might have thought it to be my imagination. But I wasn’t afraid. Though this place could be dangerous, it had been my home for so long. I’d started to realise, quite some time ago, that it may have protected me in many ways, from a young age.
I looked to where my horse was tied to a nearby tree. A year ago, or even six months ago, I would not have hesitated. I would have run away from everything and everyone. I would have ridden deep into the forest and never looked back. But Cai was right about one thing: I wasn’t that girl anymore — and I didn’t think I could ever go back to her.
“I wish you were here to give me some advice.” I turned my gaze back to the grave and a sad smile crept onto my face. “You would probably say that I should tell them all to go to hell.” I sniffed again, the cold air pinching my cheeks.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Ray. I don’t know how I’m going to do this.”
The crunching of footsteps on the forest floor drew my attention. Someone wanted me to know they were coming. I looked over my shoulder to see Rhen making his way towards me while leading his horse.
I’d told him I would be coming out here so that no one would worry but I’d also given specific instructions that I wanted to be left alone.
“I haven’t been gone that long,” I called out as he neared me. “Surely war hasn’t broken out already.”
Rhen stopped close to my mare. “Thankfully not.” He sounded a little out of breath. “I do have some other important news, though.”
“What could be so important that you had to ride all this way to tell me?” A list of possibilities popped into my mind and none of them were good.
“It’s your sister,” Rhen replied. “She’s awake.”
* * *
Eloisa had been in a sleeping state since Cordelia and Anesta had arrived with her at the palace. We were all surprised to find out she’d been in Argon all those months, and I had no doubt King Aries had had something to do with it. Eloisa was in no state to talk about her stay in Argon, and then she had taken ill on the journey back to Norrandale.
It got so bad that the physician told us she might never wake from her sleep.
I was nervous to see her again. Especially after our initial encounters had been less than comfortable. There was no telling what she would do.
Lance seemed unaffected by all of this. According to him, this behaviour was completely normal. It was clear why Princess Eloisa had stayed out of the public eye for most of her life. She was in no way able to perform any of her royal duties.
Maybe it was the warmth of the palace interior or my ever-growing nerves, but I was starting to feel too hot. With my gloved hands, I yanked on the ties of my cloak but only managed to tangle them further. I let out a groan of frustration and Rhen, who had been walking next to me this whole time, stepped in front of me. “May I, Your Majesty?” He gestured to the knot around my neck.
I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to admit defeat.
“Very well.” I sighed and dropped my hands. Rhen started working on the knot, his eyes focused on the task at hand.
“Would it make me the worst person in the world if I’m not overcome with joy to see my sister?”
“Your situation is...” He searched for the right word. “Complex.”
“Perhaps things would be different if we could actually get to know each other but with Eloisa’s illness...” I trailed off.
“I know,” Rhen replied, managing to pull the ties of my cloak free. He helped me take it off and draped the heavy piece of material over his arm.
“According to Lance, she wasn’t always as...” I searched for the right word. “... ill as she is now. It’s got worse, slowly, over the years. But he doesn’t seem overly concerned.”
“That’s because Lance is too hungover every morning to care.”
A slightly less significant problem in a very long list of problems. Rhen and I made our way up the white marble stairs and towards the east wing of the palace. Eloisa’s sleeping quarters had been set up in one of the rooms furthest away from any possible commotion. She also had a nurse looking after her.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” I responded. “One royal problem at a time.”
“Fair enough.” Though there was no need for it, Rhen made a habit of avoiding Lance since he’d imprisoned Rhen all that time ago. In all fairness, Rhen did commit treason by aiding the rebellion, and I doubted Lance had ever truly moved on from that betrayal.
