Gwennore nibbled on a piece of bread while her mind replayed her last conversation with Silas for the hundredth time. He couldn’t have been serious. What man proposed marriage in less than a week?
She sighed. To be honest with herself, she had to admit that she’d fallen for him very quickly, too. And she still didn’t know if he was actually a dragon.
“Gwen?” Annika waved a hand in her face to get her attention. “What do you think of my great idea?”
“Oh.” She glanced at Annika and Margosha, who were sitting with her, eating breakfast in the workroom. Brody had scampered off in dog form the minute she’d opened the door. She assumed he was spying around the castle. “It sounds good to me.”
Margosha snorted, while Annika rolled her eyes.
“I suggested making a tonic out of horse dung,” Annika muttered. “What’s going on with you?”
Gwennore set the slice of bread on her plate. “People are saying Silas and I are back together.”
“Really?” Annika smirked. “Did you jump his bones?”
Gwennore shook her head. “It’s not amusing. Because of me, people are questioning his sanity, and that puts his inheritance at risk. They’re also saying it’s not the curse that’s killing the queen, but me.”
Margosha winced. “Don’t pay any attention to them. There will always be cruel and nasty people.”
Annika pounded a fist on the table. “They had better not let me hear them spouting that crap! I’ll punch their faces in.”
Gwennore smiled. “Thank—”
The door burst open, and Olenka ran inside.
“My lady!” She dashed toward Gwennore and flung her arms around her. “Have you heard the news?”
“You mean the rumors?” Gwennore asked as she rose to her feet.
“It’s not a rumor. It’s true!” Olenka reached into her gown’s pocket and pulled out a velvet bag. “I won!” She shook the bag to make a clinking noise. “Fifteen pieces of gold!”
“What?”
With a laugh, Olenka nudged Gwennore with her elbow. “You silly goose, acting like you don’t know.” She glanced at the other ladies. “She’s the best friend in the world!”
“What are you talking about?” Margosha asked.
“I won the wager!” Olenka opened the bag and let the gold coins spill out onto the table. “Gwennore cut the general last night, just like I asked her to!”
Annika jumped to her feet, giving Gwennore an incredulous look. “You cut Silas?”
“No!” Gwennore shook her head.
Olenka pulled her into another hug. “How can I ever thank you?”
“You cut Silas?” This time Annika and Margosha said it in unison.
“No!” Gwennore pushed Olenka back. “It was—”
“Don’t worry,” Olenka interrupted. “It was only a tiny nick. Although it is a bit sad that you aimed at his gorgeous face.” She gave Gwennore a disapproving frown.
“I didn’t do it,” Gwennore protested. “Silas cut himself.”
Olenka gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “You asked him to do it for you, and he did?” Her eyes glimmered with tears. “That’s so romantic!”
“No, it’s not!” Gwennore grimaced. “Holy goddesses, I could never ask someone to hurt himself. It was an accident. Silas nicked himself while he was shaving this morning.”
Olenka blinked. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Gwennore planted her hands on her hips. “I saw it, myself.”
“Wait a minute.” Annika stepped closer. “You were with him while he was shaving?”
Gwennore bit her lip. “Well, I dropped by for a few minutes.”
Annika snorted. “Right.” She gave the other women a knowing look.
“I should have known.” Olenka’s shoulders slumped as she picked up the coins and dropped them back into the bag. “I’ll have to return the money.”
“Why should you?” Gwennore asked. “If they were foolish enough to—”
“Because if I accept it, it’s the same as me saying that you did cut the general. I should have known you would never do such a thing.” Olenka stuffed the bag back into her pocket. “I let a moment of excitement and greed cloud my judgment.”
Gwennore touched her shoulder. “I won’t be offended if you keep it.”
“No.” Olenka raised her chin. “If I had acted like a true friend, then I would have been offended on your behalf. I’m taking it back, and I’m going to tell them the truth, that you would never hurt anyone.”
Gwennore hugged her. “Thank you.”
Olenka gave them all a grin, then scampered out the door.
Margosha chuckled. “There’s hope for her after all.”
With a smile, Gwennore wandered over to the bowls where the first casket of jewelry was being tested. Her smile faded when she noted that two of the lily pads were starting to shrivel around the edges.
“We may have found more poisoned jewelry.” She fished out the ring resting at the bottom of the first bowl. A large sapphire. The metal seemed a bit dull to be silver. “What do you think this is? Pewter?”
Margosha examined the ring. “Perhaps. This was a birthday present for Her Majesty, so she’s had it about four months.”
“A present?” Annika frowned. “From her husband?”
Margosha nodded as she dropped the ring back into the bowl.
Gwennore fished out the second suspicious piece of jewelry. Another ring, this one an opal. Once again, the metal was a dull grayish color.
“The queen received that one last summer as an anniversary present,” Margosha said.
“From her husband,” Annika muttered.
Gwennore glanced at her. The king was Annika’s cousin, so she obviously didn’t want to see him as a villain. “I don’t think he’s the one trying to hurt her. The culprit would be whoever is supplying him with this jewelry.”
Margosha nodded. “I agree. And these rings couldn’t be the only things hurting Her Majesty. She’s been ill for several years, but these rings were given to her this last year.”
Gwennore located the emerald ring that they also suspected was tainted. It was also set in a dull silver-colored metal. “But it’s true that in the past year, her illness has worsened quite a bit?”
Margosha winced. “Yes.”
So the rings had accelerated a problem that already existed. Gwennore set the ring down and looked at her hands. Was she exposing herself and her friends to poison? “Let’s heat up some water and wash our hands.”
“Good point.” Annika filled up a kettle and put it over the fire.
“We should wear gloves from now on.” Margosha rushed out the door.
After she returned and they had washed up, Gwennore wandered to the window to look at the village below. She’d always thought it was charming, but Silas had to see it differently, knowing that his mother had thrown herself off the bridge that spanned the Norva River. “The late queen suffered from madness, too. How many queens have been affected over the centuries?”
“A few.” Margosha joined her at the window. “Some of the queens died in childbirth. Others died from the plague. But all the ones who survived to their old age went mad.”
Gwennore recalled how her sisters Luciana and Brigitta always said it was good to be queen. Apparently, that wasn’t true in Norveshka. “So there’s never been a happy queen here.”
Margosha shook her head. “Not for five hundred years. That’s why people believe in the curse.”
“And why men from the Three Cursed Clans are reluctant to marry,” Annika grumbled.
She had to be referring to Dimitri, Gwennore thought. Silas didn’t seem at all afraid of marriage. “There must be something that all the queens have had in common. Something that links them together.”
Annika joined them at the window. “You mean something other than marrying into a cursed clan?”
Gwennore nodded. “Something tangible. Something that could be poisonous.” She glanced at the caskets. “Does any of the jewelry date back to the first queen?”
Margosha frowned while she considered. “There might be a few pieces, but they’re so old-fashioned that Her Majesty never wore them.”
“There has to be something—” Gwennore stopped with a gasp. “The crowns. How old are they?”
Margosha turned pale. “Oh, my.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “They—they were a gift to the first king, Magnus, when the Ancient Ones agreed to let him and his wife rule in their stead.”
“So the Ancient Ones made the crowns?” Annika asked, and Margosha nodded.
Had the Ancient Ones knowingly given poisoned crowns to the humans they’d selected to rule? Gwennore winced. If so, that had been a cruel and vicious trick. “How often are the crowns worn?”
“At all the royal functions,” Margosha replied. “The annual ball, any weddings or funerals involving the royal family, and the Summoning.”
“What is that?” Gwennore asked.
“It’s when the king listens to complaints and disagreements from the people,” Annika explained. “And then he makes a judgment.”
Margosha nodded. “Centuries ago, the Summoning only happened twice a year. There weren’t many roads, so it was difficult for people to travel to the royal court. But now, the journey is much easier, so the Summoning happens every month.”
“That means the more recent kings and queens are wearing the crowns more often,” Gwennore concluded. That would explain why the curse seemed worse now and why the queens were going mad at a younger age. “I have to see these crowns.”
“They’re in a locked room in the cellar,” Margosha said. “Only a member of the royal family can take you inside.”
The queen was too ill and the king didn’t trust her. Gwennore sighed. “I’ll have to ask Silas.”
* * *
“Any idea where Silas is?” Gwennore asked Annika as they ventured into the courtyard.
“No, but you could ask Karlan. His office is over there.” Annika pointed at the northern wing.
“Let’s go then.” Gwennore took a few steps before realizing that Annika hadn’t budged. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’d better go back to the workroom.”
“I need you.” Gwennore linked her arm with Annika’s. “Come on.”
Annika frowned as she walked beside her. “Am I a chaperone? Are you afraid to be alone with Silas?”
“Something like that.”
“Coward,” Annika muttered.
“You’re one to talk.” Gwennore gave her a wry look. “You’ve managed to avoid Dimitri for two days.”
Annika winced. “It hurts when he ignores me.”
“Then don’t let him ignore you. If I were you, I’d make sure he saw me several times a day.”
Annika shook her head. “It would be too awkward. He’s made it clear he wants me to stay away from him.”
Gwennore opened the door to the northern wing. “Maybe he’ll change his mind once we get rid of the curse.”
“I hope so.” Annika led her down the hallway. “Here it is.” She opened the door and stepped inside. “Karlan, do you know—” She came to an abrupt halt, causing Gwennore to bump into her.
One quick glance around the room, and Gwennore spotted the problem. Dimitri. He was standing across the room, next to Brody in dog form.
Dimitri’s reaction had been equally quick. He’d stiffened, then turned to stare out the window.
“Can I help you?” Karlan rose from his seat behind his desk.
“We were looking for General Dravenko,” Gwennore said, noting how pale Annika’s face had become. “Do you know where we might find him?”
“He said he was going somewhere, but I don’t know where.” Karlan glanced at Dimitri. “Do you know?”
Dimitri’s jaw shifted as he stared out the window.
Annika stood deathly still as she gazed at the floor.
Karlan looked perplexed as an awkward moment of silence hovered over the room, growing longer and longer.
Gwennore winced. This was not a peaceful silence. She could practically feel the tension radiating between Dimitri and Annika. Even Brody was moving his head back and forth, glancing at one, then the other.
Finally, Dimitri cleared his throat. “The general is on his way.”
“Ah. Good.” Karlan motioned to a pair of chairs. “If my ladies would like to be comfortable while you wait?”
Annika drew in a sharp breath. “I need to go. Brody, didn’t I promise you a nice bone from the kitchen?”
Brody barked and gave her a grin.
“All right. Let’s go!” She dashed out of the room with Brody trotting behind her.
Dimitri closed his eyes as a pained look stole over his face.
He loves her, Gwennore thought. But he was trying to protect her. “I think we’re making progress in defeating the curse.”
“Really?” Dimitri glanced at her, and there was a golden glint in his eyes before he blinked it away.
Dragon eyes. Gwennore nodded. “Yes.”
After a few more minutes, her superior hearing caught the sound of rapid footsteps coming down the hallway. Someone was running toward them.
Silas skidded to a halt in the doorway. “Gwen.” He breathed heavily. “You wanted to see me?”
Somehow he had known she was waiting, so he had rushed here. Gwennore glanced at Dimitri. During that long moment of silence, had he communicated mentally with Silas? If she had lowered her shield, would she have heard them?
She recalled Puff telling her the third rule for dating a dragon. Whenever you need me, you only have to call and I will come.
Silas had come.
He was in uniform, as usual, but once again, he was wearing the breastplate with the tarnished star. Had he dressed in the cabin and run all the way here?
“Gwen.” His mouth curled up. “Did you need me?”
Did the rascal have any idea what his smile did to her? She had better keep strictly to business. “I would like to examine the crowns. Could you take me there?”
He blinked with surprise. “All right.” He strode over to Karlan’s desk and retrieved a key from a drawer. As he approached her, he smiled. “Let’s go.”
She winced inwardly. With no chaperone, she was going to be alone with Silas.
* * *
Silas shut the thick metal door so the guard outside wouldn’t be able to hear them. “Alone, at last.”
Gwen stepped away from him. “Could you light more candles, please?”
Did she think he was going to jump her just because it was dark? It was tempting, he thought as he went around the room lighting the candles with the candlestick he’d brought inside.
As the small underground room slowly brightened, he could see her better. Her skin looked luminous in the candlelight. Her hair, a shimmering white. Her appearance was so beautifully feminine, her movements so graceful, he still found it amazing that underneath that delicate exterior, there was an inner strength as mighty as a powerful sword. And her clever wit was as sharp as any blade. She’d certainly pierced his heart.
How could he ever let her go?
She moved toward the middle of the room, where a table rested, covered with a red velvet tablecloth. The crowns sat on top, draped with another cloth of red velvet, edged with gold braid. A gold-colored tassel hung from each corner.
After lighting all the candles, he set the candlestick on a small table by the door and noticed that one of his cuffs was unbuttoned. He’d dressed in a hurry at the cabin.
He’d spent the morning at the Sacred Well, searching once again for a clue that Fafnir was indeed alive and living there. But there had been nothing other than the dirty pallet and men’s clothing, belonging perhaps to the caretaker who kept the candles lit inside the cave. Silas had looked for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
After flying back to the cabin, Silas had been dressing when Dimitri had alerted him that Gwennore wanted to see him.
He buttoned the cuff as he approached her at the table. “Why did you want to see the crowns?”
“We were trying to think of something tangible that all the queens would have had in common.”
“So you suspect this?” He grabbed a tassel and pulled the cloth back.
She gasped.
“I know.” He gave the crowns a dubious look. “They’re a bit much, aren’t they?”
“I … suppose they’re meant to impress.”
He snorted. “Are you being tactful? They’re gaudy as hell.”
Her mouth twitched. “Since you’ll probably have to wear one of them someday, I’ll refrain from comment.”
With a chuckle, he pointed at the larger one. “You mean this one? It belongs to the king.”
“It must have ten times the jewels as the one Leo wears.”
Silas nodded. “You can safely say that the Norveshki have been obsessed with jewels for centuries.” He motioned to the smaller crown. The gold rim and five golden arches were heavily encrusted with all kinds of jewels, and perched on top was a sparkling ruby dragon. “That one is for the queen.”
Gwen winced. “It looks like they tried to cram as many jewels on it as possible.”
He reached for it, but she grabbed his arm to stop him.
“We suspect it may be poisonous.” She pulled some dainty white gloves from her pocket. “Margosha gave me these. We should wear them just to be safe.” She set one pair on the table, then pulled on the second pair.
With a wry look, he picked up a glove. There was no way his hand would fit in this. Cupping it around his fingers, he lifted the queen’s crown. “You want a closer look at it?”
She took it in her hands. “Goodness, it weighs a ton. Wearing it must be a huge pain in the neck.”
“So you think this crown is the main cause of the queen’s madness?”
“Perhaps.” Gwen set it on the velvet tablecloth. “We can’t think of anything else that every queen has had in common.”
“But if someone had coated the crowns with poison five centuries ago, wouldn’t it have worn off years ago?”
“You would think so.” Gwen retrieved a small bag from her gown pocket. “We suspect these rings are tainted.” She upended the bag, and three rings tumbled onto the velvet tablecloth. “They were all given to Her Majesty in the past year.”
Using a glove, Silas picked up the emerald ring that he’d asked his brother about the night before. “This was a gift from the king.” And Fafnir had given it to him.
“They were all gifts from the king.” Gwen motioned to the other rings. One held a sapphire and the other, an opal. “As you can see, the stones are all different. What the rings have in common is the metal that was used.”
As Silas examined the rings, he grew increasingly alarmed. The Norveshki tended to focus only on jewels and ignore the setting. “Are you saying the metal itself could be poisonous? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Gwennore shrugged. “If some plants and animals are poisonous, then why not metal, too?”
He winced as he set the rings down. “The kings have always wanted everyone to believe the crowns are made of pure gold. But the jewels are so heavy that the crowns were reinforced with another metal. Here, I’ll show you.” Using the velvet square-shaped cloth to protect his hands, he picked up the crown and turned it upside down.
Gwen gasped.
The inside of the crown was made with the same dull silver metal that had been used for the rings. A poisonous metal? Silas set it down with a thud. “For five hundred years, the Norveshki rulers have worn these crowns. And for five hundred years, they have suffered from illness and madness. Is it our own greed for jewels that has caused the curse?”
Gwen ran a gloved finger over the ruby-encrusted dragon. “Margosha told me the Ancient Ones made the crowns and gave them to the first king and queen.”
“That’s true.” Silas narrowed his eyes. And another Ancient One, Fafnir, had probably given all three of the tainted rings to his brother.
Gwen gave him a worried look. “If the metal is indeed poisonous, and the Ancient Ones knew it, then—”
“They set us up to fail,” Silas muttered. Dammit, they’d set the human kings up to die. “They never intended for us to last. They just planned to use us for a while.”
Gwen winced. “It looks that way. But before we draw any conclusions, we need to test one of the crowns.”
“You have a lily pad big enough?”
“I thought we could use a bigger plant. A much bigger one that can communicate with me.”
“The giant redwoods?”
She nodded. “The Kings of the Forest said they would help me. They had one condition, though.”
“What was that?”
“They’re sentient beings, Silas. And centuries old. They want the humans to stop cutting them down.”
“That’s easy enough. I’ll ask Petras to make it a law at the next Summoning.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Her lovely face warmed his heart. “You should smile more often. You have a beautiful smile.”
She shot him an annoyed look. “We need to pack this crown in something.”
“And your eyes are so damned beautiful.”
“I suppose we could use this cloth.” She set the queen’s crown in the middle of the velvet square, then tied the tasseled corners at the top.
“You’re so good with your hands.”
Her mouth twitched. “Are you trying to sway me with a flood of flattery?”
“Ah. You’re really clever, too.”
She scoffed. “Would you stop, please?”
“Such polite manners.”
“Stop!” She punched him in the shoulder.
“Your right jab is excellent.”
She laughed. “What am I going to do with you?”
Love me. He pulled her into his arms. “We could start with a kiss.”
“Silas.” Her smile faded away as her eyes searched his. “We can’t. You must know that.”
“I don’t care what people think. I’m not giving you up.”
She stepped away from him and busied herself putting the rings back into the bag. “I need to take these and the crown to the Kings of the Forest. I assume you’ll want to send some guards with me.”
“You only need me.”
She glanced at him. “You’ll go with me then?”
“Yes.” He would go to the ends of Aerthlan for her.