Chapter 1

Emma Let's get this straight. Her name was Emma. It has never been Ella, I have no idea were that came from. In truth her name was Emmeline and her platinum blond bangs were always draped across one eye. Long, dark eyelashes and full lips. She was beautiful and she knew it. Her slender form was always slinked into clothes that hugged her elegant curves perfectly. She was not particularly wealthy, her father simply a small, well-organized merchant.

Something about him appealed to my mother though, and they were married before the end of April.

The town loved Emma. Drias cronies immediately switched their loyalty to her. The role of Queen bee suited her though, and even the adults jumped to their feet to serve her.

On this particular day I had been called from my rooms and into the parlor. I usually tried to avoid the parlor, it being the gossip hot-spot, but my mother had actually sent Maxel up to fetch me so I figured I had better go.

"Hurry up, this is incredibly serious. Apparently Emma saw you stealing some horse out of the stables. " Maxel had never been able to keep a secret.

"Is that all she saw?" I was hoping that Jack could remain her secret. I had a funny idea that my family wouldn't approve of what we've been doing lately.

"There was some other detail but I can't remember. Oh will you please hurry up! I hate being in this musty room!" The old man had long since given up any kind of formality with her. He loved to complain about her dark room, decorated with reds and blacks with the bookshelves lining the walls. Her four-poster bed had been pushed to the side of the room and her large wooden trunk had been hidden in the corner. Nobody except Annie knew what was in the trunk. Mostly knives and lock-picks, codebooks and other things she often found useful.

I pulled on my most dainty-looking slippers and began to follow Maxel. On a quick impulse I grabbed up a red sash and tied it around my waist. Picking up my skirts I rushed down the stairs to catch up with our bookkeeper, who was already at the doors of the parlor.

"In with you now! Don't keep Emma waiting any longer! Its pure kindness she's even stayed this long, what with her busy schedule!"

"Pure selfishness, that's what it is. Let's see how kind she is once I get in there." I muttered under my breath as I was ushered into the room.

"THERE YOU ARE! FINALY! WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? I SENT MAXEL UP TO GET YOU TEN MINUTES AGO!" There was an explosion from my mother and Emma, both of which sounded similar.

"I don't know, perhaps Maxel stopped at the kitchen on the way up. I came down as soon as you asked." It was fun turning them against each other.

Emmeline was perched on a sofa in a pink dress that squished up her assets so much that it was embarrassing to look at her. Her father sat in a beige armchair near the balcony door. My mother was standing in front of a chair, her skirts were rumpled at the back.

"Emma saw you stealing a horse from the stables with a servant boy." Emmas father, Creiler, was a frank man when he wanted to be. There would be no beating around the bush this time.

"A servant boy? Only one? Are you sure? The lowlys seem to flock around me every time I go riding. Only one you say? How strange. Which day was this?" My face was straight, though it was an on-the-spot lie.

Emma looked slightly annoyed.

"It was yesterday afternoon. And that does not explain the stolen horse, Annie." She smirked under all her face makeup.

"Yesterday afternoon….Hmmm…Let me think… yesterday was the spring fair. Most everyone was in the city. Oh wait…. yes, Peter came with me yesterday. " I thought hurriedly. It was true, the spring fair had been yesterday. As for peter…well, he had moved away a year ago, so at least he was safe from the wrath of my family. "And I didn't steal the horse for him. He asked Jack the hostler before he took it." Well, Jack was a training hostler, but still.

"I don't believe you." Emma spat devilishly.

No matter how little she cared for me, my mother was still not going to let her youngest daughter be talked down to.

"If she says that's what happened, then it's the truth. What reason would she have to lie to us? Annettera, please try to discourage the servants from riding with you. If you need a chaperone then, ask for one. But its not proper to go riding with boys so close to your own age." She sat down without smoothing out her skirts. Emma looked shocked and somewhat insulted, so she stormed out onto the terrace, where tree of her friends stood waiting.

As my mother and stepfather discussed the kings failing health, I slipped out unnoticed, discarding the sash in a flowerpot and grabbing an extra pair of riding boots from the closet near the side door.

Saddling snow-globe at the stables I decided that I would take the short ride to the Mystics house. I figured that I needed some advice.

Before I left though, I climbed into the haylofts to say hi to Jack. He grabbed me from behind, and I spun around into his embrace. We kissed for several moments, then I told him where I was going and why. Letting go of me, his face grew serious.

"Be careful." He whispered. "That lady has been known to cause trouble as well as cure it. Please don't get hurt." He grabbed my hand and his eyes were pleading. "Do you have to go?"

"Oh Jack! It's only an hour away! I'll be fine! Plus I have protection." I pulled up my sleeves and lifted up my skirt to reveal many hidden knives strapped under my clothing.

"Good. I'll see you after diner then. Goodbye." We embraced once more and I climbed down the ladder.