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Adrika
I awoke to an empty bed and the din of excited noise coming from just outside my bedchamber. After donning a robe, I carefully opened my door to peek out. Gwen stood with baby Caitlin in her arms, looking out the window at the end of the hallway. Two towheaded boys leaned against her on each side, and August stood next to them, going on excitedly about their view. Caitlin looked over Gwen’s shoulder at me and grinned around her thumb.
“What is going on?”
Gwen turned toward me, excitement shining from her face. “Come and look.”
As I came even with her, I could see an enormous balloon peeking out above the top of the stables. So, this was the aircraft Reagan spoke of? The pale balloon fluttered in the wind. This flimsy structure was what my husband was trusting to get him home?
The anger I felt toward him seemed beyond my power to control. If he had just allowed me to explain about Brett, maybe things would have been different. Instead he had gone off on his tirade and rendered the man unconscious. No doubt Brett deserved punishment, which should have started when he had been placed in the dungeon—not at the hands of a jealous husband.
Now Rian was rushing off to war without me. I had no desire to go with him but resented the fact that the decision about what part I would play in all of this had been made for me. I thought he was different, but the man was, in fact, just like my father.
Gwen and I turned at the sound of thundering footsteps coming from the stairwell. Drew burst through the door with a grin on his face and a gleam in his round, hazel eyes. “Mama said I can go outside to watch.”
“Can we go too? Please, Mama.” Dallas was the one to voice the question, but three sets of eyes were looking up at Gwen for an answer.
“You may, but you have to remain within the castle wall, and you must stay together.”
A groan sounded from Dallas as his shoulders slumped. “But Gussie’s not even dressed yet.”
“You and Tomas stay with Drew. I suppose August will find you once she is ready.”
The noise from the three boys running downstairs would probably be enough to wake the whole castle.
I stepped into the vacated spot in front of the window. “I suppose all of you have ridden in that thing before. I am surprised your children are so excited.”
“I have, but the children have not yet. Do not worry. I am sure it is perfectly safe. I am going to get dressed and go downstairs myself.”
If it was so safe, why had she not allowed her children to ride? I stood watching for the longest time before the balloon lifted, revealing the ship beneath as it rose above the stables. My breath caught in my throat as the vessel moved forward. My husband was in that thing. If he made it to Dermot, a war awaited him. For the first time, I was struck with the possibility that we may never see each other again, and I had not even said goodbye. Not only that, but we had parted in anger. A tear rolled down my cheek unchecked.
Nothing was the same without Rian here. It was decided that we would take that Friday off from meeting. Session would resume on Monday. Other than the fact that it would occupy time, which seemed to be in abundance now, I was very much dreading it. What had been interesting to me before was now pointless. We were at a stalemate without end. My father was opposed to any ideas for the betterment of the kingdom, let alone the country.
Without their husbands, Brianna and Gwen were more focused on the children. I had been invited to participate in their planned activities, but after a couple of hours of failing to fit in, I retreated to the solitude of my chambers. I spent two days with my nose in a book.
By the time Sunday morning came, I was ready to rejoin civilization. I was sitting in front of the mirror while Kariann styled my hair when Brianna found me. She held out two small slips of paper. “As you can see, the men made it to the fort and are now on their way to the border.”
I nodded as I flipped to the second note. I felt a jolt run through me at the sparse words written there. Come home. Leave the advisor to handle business. I turned the slip over to view the blank back and then looked up at Brianna who was still standing there with her brow wrinkled in concern.
“What do you plan to do?”
“I suppose I will be traveling home. We had planned to leave by ship when the time came.” I leaned forward as my mind raced. I had never had to seek transportation on my own before. Here was another example of how sheltered I was. I would have to travel alone. I took a deep breath. At least one of the two warriors we brought with us would be with me. And Kariann. I looked up at her reflection in the mirror. She did not look happy.
Brianna touched my shoulder causing me to look back up at her. “How soon would you like to leave? I will have Austin check the schedule for a ship headed in that direction.”
“As soon as possible.”
Brianna bent closer and reached for my hand. “You must be worried sick about your father. I doubt the threat will ever make it as far as the castle, but still, if it were my father, I would want to be right there. I can only imagine how you must feel.”
She could not possibly know how I felt. I had not truly realized what a relief it was to be out from under Father’s oppressive rule until I saw his blunt commands on the slip of paper still in my hand. And to be returning without my husband . . .
I studied Kariann’s reflection again after Brianna left. She had cringed when I asked her to take my hair back down and put it in a simple braid for travel. “You do not wish to return with me, do you?”
Her gaze met mine in the mirror. “Of course, I will be returning with you.”
“That is not what I asked you. I think if given the choice, you would stay here with Deidre. Am I right?”
She folded her hands in front of her. “It is true that we have similar taste in style, but my obligation lies with you, Princess Adrika.”
“I will see what I can do. You can begin packing my things.” I did not even look back as I left the room. I liked Kariann well enough, but she was no Damini. Besides, I had gotten the impression that she was an annoyance to Rian. I would find someone better suited for me once things settled down.
Late that afternoon, everyone said their goodbyes with a promise to see each other in less than six months when Session would be held again in Gilvary. I then boarded a ship alone but for my one guard. I managed to talk Brianna into allowing Kariann to stay. Deidre’s giddiness at my departure stung more than a little. She seemed happy to exchange me for Kariann. I knew I was twisting the truth of Deidre’s feelings to aid my self-pity, but my heart was none the less raw.
My guard and I were the only passengers aboard this cargo ship. The only cabin belonged to the captain, and it had been made available for my use during the time it would take to return me to my homeland. In three days, I would once again be under Father’s rule.
The small cabin smelled of unwashed male, but at least it provided some protection. This was not the Dermish vessel I was used to. That one catered to travelers more so than merchandise. Father and I were usually waited on by a staff of servants with manners not unlike those at the castle.
The men aboard this ship seemed rougher and more vulgar. They openly ogled, as if they had never seen a female before. My guard stayed closer than normal by my side during the day and slept by my door at night.
On the morning of the third day, we were standing out on deck as we approached the rugged shoreline of Dermot. The mountain range marching out of view looked just like one of Brianna’s paintings. Even as I dreaded the oppression I was sure to encounter, a familiar peacefulness settled in my soul. Home.
I expected to take the last leg of my trip to the castle on horseback, but Donal was there waiting beside a wagon when I disembarked from the ship. The cook’s mute son hardly left the castle, or so I thought. He handed a slip of parchment to the guard and then hopped into the wagon and took up the reins.
The warrior scratched his head, his brow wrinkled as he read the missive. Dare I ask what it said? As if reading my thoughts, he placed the note in my hand. It was as sparing in words as the one Father had sent to me. Warrior, you are to stay and help guard the docks. Send the princess on. The mute will take care of her. Whereas my note was written in my father’s shaky handwriting, Father’s servant, Brasil, had written this one, but the tone was the same.
I was not worried about traveling to the castle without the guard. Everyone knew who I was. No harm would come to me on this short trip home. The thing that bothered me most about the note was Father’s obvious indifference to the people he was depending on to keep him and his daughter safe. The realization struck that I had been no different. I had spent three days with this man as my only companion and had never even asked his name.
“I am sorry, My Lady. I gave Prince Rian my oath that I would protect you until his return, but the king’s orders trump that of the prince.”
I looked up at the aging hazel eyes of the man before me. He had been one of the warriors guarding Rian before our marriage set him free. Rian had no doubt gotten to know him on a friendly basis. He was appalled at my father calling people by their titles. It came to me now that I agreed with Rian. “What is your name?”
There was a pause before he answered. “Jon. Jon Wilkins.”
“Well, Jon, I appreciate your service. No doubt, all will be well. Hopefully, this threat will be over soon, and you will be back at the castle.”
Jon helped me into the wagon seat and handed me my staff. He looked nervously at Donal and then back at me. “Take care, Princess, and safe journeys.”
He was probably as doubtful as I was in the boy’s ability to defend me should the need arise. Even though I was perfectly safe, it seemed that my father had taken his lack of feelings toward me to a new level. I never thought to see the day that I would travel anywhere without the aid of an armed warrior.
We parted with Jon and traveled on in silence. There was nothing to do but take in the scenery around me. Damage from the drought was more noticeable than it was when we left here a month ago. The closer we came to the castle, the browner the foliage and the heat more oppressive. The constant breeze from the ocean while in Aisling had masked the spiking summer temperatures.
It was after noon when my home finally came into view. For the first time in a while, I took the time to study the brownstone structure. I had not realized the castle had gone into such disrepair. One corner at the top had completely crumbled. Surely, someone had reported it to the king, which he had probably ignored. Seeing a thing for yourself is not the same as only hearing of it, and I could not remember the last time Father had wandered outside.
Still, it was a shame that he would allow his home to come to this state—especially when he sat upon a room filled with enough treasure to revamp the entire kingdom. Maybe Uncle Galik had been right on one account. Perhaps the king was beginning to lose his mental facilities. He was past his seventieth year. It was bound to happen eventually, but what could I do about it?
I expected to arrive at the front of the house where I would be greeted by some of the household servants. Instead, Donal brought me around to the kitchen entrance. Maybe he did not know any better. The growling of my stomach seemed to agree with his direction. Other than a piece of dry toast with my cup of thick, black coffee, I had not eaten.
The cook was the only one who stepped out the door to greet us. Renny offered one of her work-roughened hands to help me down. “Princess Adrika, welcome home. You must be famished. I’ll have your dinner ready in no time.”
She turned to look up at her son still sitting in the wagon. “After you take care of the horses, you can come in for your own meal.” She gestured with her hands as she spoke. I had never asked, but it was assumed that the reason Donal could not speak was because he could not hear.
Renny led me into the kitchen and pulled out a seat at the table in the middle of the room. Other than Mother bringing me through as a child for a snack, I had never eaten a meal in here before. The cook bustled around the kitchen, preparing my food.
She placed thick chunks of pork roast between two slices of bread, adding it to my plate along with cold roasted potatoes and fruit salad. “I decided a cool meal was best in this heat. I hope that is all right.”
With only a nod of my head, I began eating. The castle was eerily quiet. I expected to see more workers in the kitchen, already preparing for the evening meal. “Where is everyone?”
She turned her back to me and stirred a pot on the stove. “Every able-bodied man has been pressed into service protecting the castle. That means less mouths to feed for me and more work for the rest, I’m afraid. I was just about to carry a tray to your father. I have some potato soup for him. Would you like a little to go with your meal?”
Strange. I would think those protecting the castle would still need to eat. I decided not to question it. I did not really know anything about the workings of the castle. Would I be expected to know in the future? For now, I was too exhausted to care.
“No, thank you. I have had my fill as it is. If it would help, I can take the tray to Father when I go.” He would expect a report from me anyway.
I was shocked when she walked over and took both of my hands in hers. Renny had been the head cook for as long as I could remember, but the only servant I had ever shared a close relationship with was Damini.
“Princess, I should warn you. Your father has taken to his bed. He fell in his chambers a few days ago and hit his head. He is still coherent, but his face is badly bruised. I imagine it looks worse than it actually is.”
I pulled my hands from hers. “What do you mean you imagine? What has Healer Irving said? Does he expect Father to recover?”
Renny let out a sigh. “The king has refused to see the healer.”
Father considered the town’s healer a personal friend. He would never refuse his care. I ran from the kitchen. My boots slapped against the stone floors, echoing down the oddly deserted hallways. I stopped suddenly in front of his chamber door. I could never barge into his suite unannounced. Taking a few soothing breaths to calm myself, I then knocked.
I was just before ignoring protocol and enter on my own when Brasil cracked the door open. His eyes grew large as he opened the door further. The servant, usually impeccably groomed, looked haggard and unkempt. His thinning blond hair stood at different angles and his face was more gaunt than before, with dark circles beneath his eyes.
“Princess Adrika, I did not realize you had returned.” He ran his hand over his hair in an attempt to smooth it into place. “Do come in. I am sure the king will be happy to see you.”
Stepping into the sitting room, I closed the door behind me. My attention was drawn to my mother’s bedchamber door to the left of the central sitting area. It was cracked open. As far as I knew, no one had entered there since her death. Brasil rushed into my father’s bedchamber on the opposite side of the room. His movement drew me back to my purpose.
I followed him into the dark bedchamber that smelled of sickness. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust and find Father’s bed, piled thick with furs even in this heat. I stepped around a pallet of blankets on the floor beside his bed. Brasil’s bedchamber was connected to this room. Was Father doing so badly that his servant would need to stay this close?
Brasil lit the candle beside Father’s bed, and I stepped in for a closer look. I covered my mouth as the unexpected gasp left my lips. Renny’s warning had not prepared me for the sight of Father’s bruised and swollen features. The left side of his forehead appeared misshapen. The egg-sized spot in the middle of the deep purple bruise looked like a pocket of blood beneath the skin.
“Poppa.” The childhood endearment slipped from my lips so naturally. This man who had been cruel in recent years had once shown me love. I had so much longed for him to turn back to that same affection. It was heartbreaking to think his life may soon end, taking any chance of a reconciliation.
My hand slid from my mouth, as I looked to Brasil. “When did this happen?”
“It has been three days now.”
Brasil gently rubbed Father’s cheek with the back of his hand. “Your Highness, the princess is here.”
Father blinked the one eye that was not swollen shut a couple of times before focusing his sight on me. “Adrika.” His lips trembled as he whispered my name. He looked so frail.
I eased to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. I wanted to take his hand in mine, but he was encased in bedding. “Poppa, let me call for the healer. There must be something he can do to help you.”
He shook his head, fear showing in his face.
“I see you finally decided to return to your duties.”
I jerked around at the sound of my uncle’s voice. My thoughts raced ahead, along with my heart, while my body seemed to be nailed in place. The Cordelians had obviously reached further into the kingdom than had been reported. It was possible he was here in peace, but that seemed very doubtful.
Standing to face him, I folded my hands in front of me, no doubt failing in my attempt to hide my fear. “Uncle, I did not realize you had returned.”
“You should be happy to see me, Daughter. I have come to right the wrong decision carried out by your foolish father and provide you with a husband worthy of your blood. I am sorry he is not here to greet you, but do not fear. Your true prince will arrive soon enough, and by that time, I will have molded you into the perfect mate. You have been coddled and spoiled, but you will learn what it means to be a woman of Cordelia. I will teach you.”
My body flushed hot and then cold. “I do not understand. I have a husband. You performed the wedding ceremony yourself.”
“Unfortunately, yes, but once you are a widow, you will be free to marry again. Admittedly, you will not be as valuable as a wife, but your new husband is willing to overlook the fact that you are used goods when there is a kingdom attached.”
The image of Rian in battle with hundreds of men, all with the sole purpose of eliminating him, assailed me. My body shook and tears pooled in my eyes. Brasil grabbed my elbow as if he knew I needed the support of his touch. I looked over my shoulder at my father. He did not say anything, but I felt strengthened by the look he gave. I had no idea what the future held, but somehow, we would make it through.