CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As soon as she returned to her chambers, Gigi fussed at Isa until she agreed to lie down and rest before dinner. But it was hard to sleep. The memory of last night’s terror still lingered fresh in her mind. Even stronger than the memory of the terror though, was the foreign excitement she felt in her body and soul as she tried to close her eyes.
How odd to think that just at the end of last summer, she had been abandoned and directionless. Now, at the dawn of this spring, she had both a purpose and, she hoped, someone who cared as much about her as much as she did him. The way he had looked at her that morning sent shivers up her spine, the fervor of his protection last night through her terrors, how he somehow believed in her even when she couldn’t believe in herself were all pieces of a dream she could not have imagined last year.
And in the rose garden, when he had touched her face so softly, a strange desire within her had awakened, one that filled her with a kind of longing she hadn’t felt for anyone before, not even Raoul. For Gigi’s sake, she pretended to sleep, but really, all Isa could do was think of Ever.
Her act of sleeping must have looked real enough, because the servants began to speak to one another in the next room over. Not quite ready to get up yet, she lay there quietly, and Isa soon found herself drawn into their conversation. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but their discussion was taking a turn she couldn’t ignore.
“Do you think it is true? That the prince will propose tonight?” The younger servant’s voice was full of excitement and intrigue.
“Gigi says we must not talk about such things. It’s not our place.” Cerise’s voice was less enthusiastic. She lowered it to add, “I will admit though, I’m worried. I don’t think she’s ready. I just wish he would give her more time.”
“But he doesn’t have time!” the younger one argued. “His fire burns duller with each day! At least, that’s what Solomon says.”
“Then I’m afraid he might be too late.” Cerise sighed. “Perhaps Prince Everard was never meant to be king. Perhaps he was meant to prepare the way for her. At least…” She paused. “At least, if we must lose him, we would have someone to follow in his place.”
There was sadness in Cerise’s voice. She spoke so softly now that Isa had to strain to hear, the deafening beat of her heart making it nearly impossible to listen in.
“But the curse demands that she heal him, or the rest of its requirements will never be fulfilled! And the more I ponder it, the worse I feel about tonight.”
Isa’s mouth fell open in horror. The curse demanded? Ever had never told her the curse had specific demands! Panic hit her. How was she supposed to heal Ever, especially if he was as close to death now as they made it sound?
The younger servant spoke again, this time in a comforting voice. “Perhaps she is ready. Every time she’s on the crystal floor it shines more brightly. And she’s brought back most of the Fortress! She brought us back!”
“I think we should be done talking of such things now.” Cerise’s voice was cross. “And I think that no matter what we say or do or think, he will be proposing soon. That was his plan from the start, so we’d better be ready.”
As their conversation turned in a different direction, Isa lay in a miserable daze, wishing that this was a nightmare Ever or Garin could pull her from. She had known at the beginning of her stay at the Fortress that Ever’s designs were self-serving. How could they not be? He had blackmailed Ansel with the lives of his family to get Isa to the Fortress. Then, when she had arrived, he’d given her such looks of cold disdain and hatred that she had wondered why he’d summoned her in the first place.
But then he had begun to change. Isa had been sure he had. The gentle words he spoke to her, the way he looked at her, the confidence he’d shown about her abilities, the trembling in his fingers every time he reached for her hand or her face. He certainly wasn’t the same man she had met last autumn.
Or perhaps, the cruel voice of reason whispered, just perhaps, he was a very good actor.
The woman’s words came back to her from the night before. For power he sold his soul, and you along with it.
He had lied by failing to tell her of the curse’s requirement that she heal him, and he’d failed to mention his approaching death. And now, he was apparently pushing her towards an end the servants didn’t think she was ready for, whatever it was.
Not long after this revelation, Gigi and her hoard of handmaidens arrived to prepare Isa for supper as they always did. Isa allowed them to dress her in whatever they wanted in whatever way they wished to do it. For weeks now, the bathwater had been clean, and the clothes had been fresh. Not that she cared now.
Tonight, they were more than meticulous as they readied her. Gigi ran around, shaking her head at everything the younger women did, clucking her tongue and demanding they do it again. She, too, seemed on edge.
That night’s gown was more exquisite than any Isa had ever laid eyes on. It was a deep blue velvet. Ribbons wove through the bodice, beaded with pearls and diamonds, and the arms were draped with silver lace. The blue parted at the bottom to reveal skirts of cream colored silk. Without a word Isa allowed them to pull the thick skirts over her head, and fuss with it to their hearts’ desires.
Isa caught Gigi’s eye while the servants put the finishing touches on her gown, and as they looked at one another, she nearly began to cry.
Gently, Gigi laid a soft hand on Isa’s cheek and gave her a sad smile. “You look like a princess, my dear.” Isa wanted to weep. Instead of weeping, however, she stepped into her boots and let the others finish fixing her hair. Finally, she heard the dreaded knock at the door. It was time.
When the door opened, Isa’s heart flopped in her chest. He was holding a single rose, looking as nervous as she felt. Instead of his black hood, he wore a deep blue coat and what had once been fitted black trousers. His boots were polished so that they reflected the light of the fire in her hearth.
He trembled a bit as he stood there, and his face looked thinner than ever. His hunch was so deep now that she stood a bit taller than he. And yet, she wanted him so badly it made her heart ache.
The fire in his eyes flamed brighter for a moment when he saw her. Finally, he cleared his throat. “My lady, would you join me?”
Nodding, she accepted his arm. Neither of them spoke as they slowly made their way to the dining hall. Isa was sure he could hear her heart trying to beat out of her chest, and she didn’t dare meet his eyes until he had walked them right through the dining hall and directly out onto the balcony. Sitting her down on one of the dozens of stone benches that surrounded the crystalline floor, he lowered himself beside her, taking her hands in his gloved ones.
“I can honestly say I never thought it would be this way,” he finally said.
Isa watched him, but said nothing.
“When you arrived,” he continued, “I thought I was gaining one more person to help solve the puzzle. But I never expected you to change so many things.” He swallowed hard. “For years, the memory of you tormented me, and I hated you even more when you appeared in my home. But there was nothing I could do. You were here, and I had to use any means I could to break the curse.
“But you!” He was suddenly staring into her eyes with that pleading, disarming look of his. “You began to teach me that there is healing in love. I think I began to love you without even being aware of it. The night you ran out…” he shook his head and his jaw clenched a bit at the memory. “I thought I had lost you. I hadn’t realized how much I needed you before that.” He took a deep breath.
“That fool from Soudain didn’t deserve you, and I’m glad he ran like a coward. You are too rare a creature to belong to someone like him.”
Isa’s heart cracked a little more with each word he spoke. She wanted so desperately to believe him, but with each confession of love, he also failed to confess his secrets. He was still lying to her, even now as he moved stiffly from the bench to drop down on one knee.
“I love you, Isabelle Marchand. Will you marry me?”
Isa’s heart plunged and soared as he spoke the words. Conflicting desires raged within her as she stared at the ring he pulled from his pocket.
She wanted to desperately to say yes, for she loved him deeply. In a way, her heart already was and would always be his. And yet, angry tears threatened to fall as she knew he still hadn’t told her the truth.
Her decision was made, however, as Cerise’s words echoed in her mind, while she gazed miserably at his expression of hope. Lies or truth aside, he would die if he wasn’t healed soon.
She couldn’t let him die.
Without a word, she stretched out her hand. Perhaps she could make herself ready. She had to.
Her hand shook as he slipped the Queen’s Ring onto her finger. As he did so, the air around them began to quiver.
A column of blue fire shot up into the air to the heavens, engulfing them. Isa screamed as she saw the true power of the Fortress for the first time. She felt the weight of new burdens settling on her shoulders. Destin’s well-being and the faces of its citizens began to flash before her eyes. A familiar heat beat at her back, and she recognized the scorch of the evil fire that had nearly consumed her the night before.
Isa struggled to stay upright as the burdens and enemies began to settle upon her shoulders, piling one atop another. She tried to steel herself, to face the evil that challenged the light. People’s faces flashed before her, and she tried to memorize them. They needed someone to lead them. For hers was a burden, it seemed, that no one else could bear. If she couldn’t heal the prince now, it would all come crashing down.
Isa clenched her jaw and looked at the young man before her. Reaching out with trembling fingers, she tried to touch him, to heal his wounds. Before she could reach him, however, she felt her strength slipping way. It all began to collapse around her. The evil advanced, and the cry of innocent blood echoed in her ears as she failed to hold it all up.
Yanking the ring off, Isa shoved it at Ever, and the column immediately disappeared. With it went the people and their cries. There were no more enemies. The only sound left was her own haggard choking. The servants had been right. Nevina had been right. He had been using her.
“I’m not ready!” she sobbed. She could nearly hear the sound of her heart tearing itself in half. She had wanted so much to be ready. Her soul had longed to find his words of confidence in her fulfilled. Why couldn’t it all be true?
Anger began to mix with the heartache as she gasped, still trying to catch her breath. He had known she wasn’t ready. And he had still asked.
She felt Ever place his hand on her shoulder, but Isa shoved it off. “How could you do that to me?” she choked out as tears ran down her face. “I trusted you!”
The prince hesitated, looking torn.
“Tell me about the curse!” she demanded. “Tell me all that you hid from me!”
After another moment of hesitation, he closed his eyes and finally began to recite. “Before life can be found in this sacred place once again, a new strength must be found. What has been broken must be remade. The one who was strong must be willing to die. Only then can the Fortress and the kingdom again have the protector they deserve.” After he finished speaking, he reached again for her, but she drew back.
“So I was supposed to heal you? How can the broken heal the broken, Everard?” Her anger was so great that she trembled. “I thought you loved me, but I can see now that all along I was just part of your plan!”
Ever stared at her with a long, sorrowful look. Before he said anything though, he suddenly tilted his head and closed his eyes as though he were listening to something. It was a moment before he spoke, and when he did, his voice was cold.
“If that is how you feel, then there is no place for you here.” Stiffly, he drew himself to his feet. His face lost all of its openness, and suddenly, he looked like a soldier. “Garin,” he called. The steward ran over, his own face full of sorrow. “Put Isabelle in one of the carriages. You are to take her as far from Destin as you can. She is never to return.”
Isa felt a wave of horror wash over her. “Wait!” she cried out. “What are you doing? I turn down your proposal, and you send me into exile?”
But no matter how many demands she made or how much she begged, he wouldn’t consent. He wouldn’t even discuss it. As she continued to protest, Garin gently took her by the shoulders and led her from the balcony, leaving Ever alone to stare stonily down at the statues on the back lawn.
Gigi was instructed to get her into proper riding gear. The mood was one of tension and fear as the servants scurried about her room. Her gown was exchanged for a soft leather riding skirt and a simple white shirt under her mother’s cloak. Isa tried in vain to ask Gigi and Cerise what was going on, but no one would speak a word to her, other than to order her about.
Before Isa was hurried from her room, however, Gigi drew her into a tight embrace before handing her the bag she had first brought to the Fortress. By the weight of it, Isa could tell its contents had been added to.
Without time for proper goodbyes, she was whisked away to the stables where a coach, all black, awaited her. Isa tried one more time to beg Garin to allow her to speak with Ever, but he gently shook his head and drew her inside.
Isa left the Fortress more confused and hurt than she had been when she had arrived. “Why?” She turned miserably to Garin, who sat on the padded bench across from her. “Why would he do all of this, push me so hard and then send me away? I want to help! I just don’t know how.”
“I know you do, my dear,” Garin said kindly. “But you are not ready, and that is why you couldn’t accept the Queen’s Ring. The prince does not want you near when the Tumenian princess attacks.”
Isa felt the blood drain from her face. “They’re going to attack? But the army! It’s not ready! And Ever’s so weak…”
Garin nodded gravely. “We don’t know when, but Everard senses it will be soon.”
“But why do I have to go so far? That means it will take a long time for you to return to him!”
“Princess Nevina will not be satisfied with simply taking the prince’s life. She knows who you are now, and she knows that you are valuable to him. If she found you, and she will try, she would commit acts of unfathomable cruelty against you out of spite. So no, I will not be returning.”
Isa stared at him in shock. From the prince’s birth on, and even while bound to a shadow’s existence, Garin had rarely left Ever’s side, she had been told. And now he was leaving his charge forever in order to protect her.
Even more surprising was Ever’s last act of chivalry. He had prepared himself for certain death by sending his most trusted confidante away to keep Isa safe. True enough, his behavior towards her had been unfair and assuming, as Nevina had predicted it would. But she couldn’t leave, Isa realized suddenly. Not yet. As deeply as he had wounded her, she could not just let him die. Desperately, she tried to think of something, anything that might change the steward’s mind, or at least delay her departure.
“Please, just…just let me see my family one more time before I go. I need to let them know that I’m safe, and that I am free.”
Garin glared at her, but didn’t immediately refuse her request.
“One day.” She reached out and took his leathery hand. “I just need one night and one day with them.”
Finally, Garin nodded his head. Isa could have collapsed with relief, but leaned back against the coach cushion instead. She had bought herself one chance to escape. Now she must plan to make sure it wasn’t in vain.
The hour was late by the time the coach reached Isa’s family’s stable. Launce was the first one to see her. He shouted for the others as he sprinted towards her. Within seconds, everyone was there, hugging her, laughing, and crying. It took Isa a while to untangle herself so she could point out Garin’s presence. Ansel’s greeting wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic as it had once been, but he did at least invite the steward inside.
“My Isa!” Deline held her tightly and whispered her name over and over again as if she were a small child. And Isa wished she could stay in her mother’s arms forever and never let go. But all too soon, they followed everyone else into the house. Isa’s heart was heavy as she thought about the heartbreak that was once again about to take place.
“I assume you are home to stay?” Ansel posed it as a question, but with the threatening look he shot at Garin, Isa knew he wasn’t giving her a choice. Garin opened his mouth to answer, but Isa spoke quickly, sending him a warning look.
“I wanted to see you,” she simply said. Isa knew she was just putting off the inevitable, but perhaps they could have one night of joy before she had to hurt them again. Launce, Megane, and Ansel began to pepper her with questions, but much to Isa’s relief, Deline saw how tired she was. It wasn’t long before she was tucked in her little bed with Megane snuggling at her side.
Isa reflected upon how miserable she had been the last time she’d slept in the cozy attic room. Now, she would give anything just to have more time there with her little sister by her side, and her parents and brother downstairs. Garin had chosen to sleep in the stable with the coachman, so Deline, always the gracious host, had made sure they had more blankets than they could possibly use.
Garin’s choice of a bed annoyed Isa, as it meant she couldn’t sneak out during the night. Escape would simply have to wait until the morning. As much as she needed to stay awake and plan her flight, though, sleep’s call was too strong, and Isa soon succumbed.