Nearly a week had passed since Alyssa had learned of her own supposed kid napping. She spent the time moving from place to place, changing disguises and meeting frequently with messengers from Axia and the Council.
Now Mary crossed the throne room of the Rechadian palace. With a curtsy to the empty seats before her she spoke, "Sire, the room has been cleared as you requested. The guards await your orders outside." With another curtsy, Mary fled the room, walking as fast as she dared.
The Axian soldiers than lined the walls stood silently in the Rechadian throne room, watching as Mary closed the tall oak doors behind her. Their vigilant eyes scanned the other entrances too, their ears attentive to every sound. Word from Bryn had come two nights ago that the Duke's troops had moved in the night through the forest towards the capital, stealing silently through the trees. Sly and Cat had been following their progress and listening to the bedraggled army, to their fear for the remaining members of their families, to their sadness as mercenaries. It was clear that the people of Bryn and surrounding villages were desolate with their present situation but kept from rebellion by the threats to their families. Cat had returned briefly to relay this news, and then returned to his spying with Sly. Alyssa had lost no time in creating a defensive strategy, staying up late into the night to plan with George.
Alyssa had laid a trap within the trap. She convinced her parents to lay low, using only those guards and servants most trusted by the Council. Alyssa had made sure to spread the rumor that the King and Queen were so shaken by the kidnapping of their daughter that they refused to receive all but their most trusted advisors. This effectively isolated them and hopefully, Alyssa thought, kept them safe.
George had offered Axian soldier's whose loyalties could not be swayed, as they were not directly involved in the politics of the conflict. And these soldiers had moved into the King and Queens quarters and throne room of the main castle, secretly filling the space with men ready to defend the castle instead of the usual servants. Alyssa herself had recently moved into the servant's quarters of her castle home. Disguised as a maid, her hair was hidden under her cap and she had taken care not to be too clean lest she be recognized. This way she could be the first on the scene in case of attack.
"News?" Alyssa asked Mary as her friend scuttled into the kitchens.
"Oh I told their majesties my news and left, I listened at the doorway but heard not a peep." Mary replied. With another glance over her shoulder she added, "They still crave solitude, poor dears are so indisposed what with the Crown Princess still missing." Alyssa nodded gravely casting her eyes back down to her work to hide the sparkle of mirth in her eyes. For two days now they had played the charade, pretending that the King and Queen were alone in the throne room. Alyssa had even spoken as herself once or twice. They knew that the Rechadian palace was rife with secret passageways and possibly chock full of the Duke's spies, so they intended to tell these hidden adversaries exactly what they wanted to hear: That the royals were alone and defenseless. Again and again they posed the perfect opportunity for ambush.
Every day Mary announced to the throne room full only of defenders that their majesties could now enjoy some peace and quiet alone. At eleven in the morning Alyssa declared herself delighted to see her parents again and distraught at the thought of her kidnappers. Ryan, who did a convincing imitation of the King's tones, helped Alyssa by responding warmly. But so far, no attackers had burst from hidden corridors.
"Hmm," Alyssa said now is response to this lack of news from Mary. How can it be so disheartening to find that we have yet to be attacked, she wondered. Surely I should feel the opposite. "This is so frustrating," muttered Alyssa, "I'm beginning to doubt the wisdom of this plan."
"Nonsense!" said a new voice, one that definitely didn't belong in the kitchens.
"George!" Alyssa hissed, "What are you doing here?" But she gave him a big hug all the same, ignoring Mary's raised eyebrow at this lack of propriety. George wore the worn clothes of a peasant, but Alyssa could only seem to notice the way the thin fabric made the defined muscle of his torso all the more obvious.
"Thought I'd come see my favorite palace maids, and apparently build up your self esteem." Said George with a mischievous grin.
"It's just that nothing's happened, and I was so sure it would. Especially since Cat's news,I mean really, how long does it take to stage a decent coup?" this last bit in an irritable whisper. Not that they need fear being heard over the crash of pots, pans and general mayhem that ensued in the kitchen around them.
"Yes, yes we know you could do it better but be patient." Laughed George.
"Why are you in such a good mood?" questioned Mary, just as grumpy as Alyssa. Having your nerves on edge for two days didn't do wonders for anyone's personality. Add to that the usual chores of a maid and, well.
"No reason, really," said George amicably; ignoring the glowers the two women were sending their tasks. The cookies that lay before them were only half frosted. Alyssa only grudgingly appreciated the irony that they were orange as she spread the tinted icing over another cookie. Maybe I can offer the Duke a cookie instead of my hand in marriage, after all he is so very fond of the color orange, she thought.
"I'm just ready for it to be over, and if it doesn't happen soon we'll have to change tactics and I'm not sure what we'll do, there isn't really a plan B," Alyssa rambled as she frosted another cookie and laid it back on the tray.
Just then a shout from the far side of the room caught their attention, "Attack! A battle in the King's study!" a page boy shrieked. The members of the kitchen staff swarmed around to hear his tale, but three slipped quickly away.
Mary, Alyssa and George sprinted flat out towards the King's study. It was the place they had deemed least likely as a target since the Queen was hardly ever a visitor there and only one secret entrance graced it's walls. Alyssa yanked her hair free and rubbed her face as clean as she could while she ran, it was imperative that the footman allow them entry. Assuming he had not already joined the fray, that is. Her thoughts continued to spiral with hopeless 'what ifs' until suddenly the guarded doorway was before them.
"Stand aside," said Alyssa in her most regal voice. "I must check on my father. I heard word of a disturbance." The footmen looked her over doubtfully, their eyes resting on her servant's garb.
" We was told not to let nobody enter save the Crown Princess." Said one man dully.
"I am the Crown Princess," Alyssa said taking another step forward and projecting every royal grace her mother had ever displayed. Then in a voice that challenged anyone to argue she quietly said, "Let me through." With all of the authority she could muster.
"I think we'd better let her through," said the first man's buddy and he nodded gruffly. Moving aside, to open the door to her. Alyssa strode through to the antechamber confidently and glared at this next set of guards, daring them to question her. But as George and Mary moved to follow her, the first two men crossed swords into their path.
"Oy!" George said angrily, "We're with her!" Mary nodded adamantly, not even shying from the sharp blades in front of her.
"Only the Crown Princess may pass, by order of the King," said the guard brusquely, not lowering his weapon. George looked beseechingly over the crossed blades at Alyssa, but just then a crash sounded from the study causing all of them to jump.
"There's no time!" Alyssa cried, rushing past the second pair of guards towards the sounds of swords clashing. Father. She thought desperately.
"Wait! It's not safe!" George called after her, but it was too late, she was already gone.
"Don't worry, she's well trained by the King's Captain of the Guard." Mary soothed as George craned his neck to see beyond the doors from which echoed shouts and clangs, then quite suddenly silence.
"What's happening?" George asked, pacing frantically. The guards warily eyed this nervous energy, keeping their weapons at the ready.
Inside the King's study a battle raged, books and papers crushed under boots and sliced by blades as four men fought bravely, Sir Patrick a sick audience. He sat in the King's chair, calmly observing the fray, not even raising an eyebrow when Alyssa ran into the room, just smirking slightly. With a brisk flick of his hand, the men froze and snapped to attention.
Alyssa stood momentarily stunned by the silence, a dagger clutched in her hand. She couldn't understand why the fighting had stopped, where was the King?
"Crown Princess Alyssa, how lovely to see you again." Sir Patrick said without a trace of warmth in his voice.
"Sir Patrick." Alyssa responded tersely. "What have you done with my father?" she demanded.
"The dear old King? Why he's safe and sound in his chambers my lady, exactly where you told him to be." Sir Patrick's smile was slowly growing, his dark eyes flashing with malice.
And then Alyssa understood that somewhere along the lines, her plan had been exposed, and now Sir Patrick had used that plan to capture her. Luring her with a false battle to save her father who wasn't even in danger. She glanced quickly at the door, recognizing that the guards outside must also be of the Duke's men, refusing all but her entry. She had known that was irrational, but ignored it, consumed by concern for her family.
"Yes," Sir Patrick hissed, "Now you understand my power, now you see." Alyssa did see, and she did her utmost not to let the horror rising in her chest show on her face. "Your friend Prince George, he ignored my talents, disregarded me as another social climbing fool. How wrong he was, but no matter. He'll regret his choice once we declare war on Axia."
"War?" Alyssa echoed, still mildly confused by all of these revelations.s
"War!" Sir Patrick confirmed, looking as delighted as a small child presented with candy. "After I possess your kingdom, my dear Princess, I'll take his, and then soon, the whole peninsula will be mine. Don't you see? It'll be marvelous, you as my Empress, the two of us at the helm of the greatest nation the world has ever known." His eyes had turned glassy somewhere during this speech, his dictatorial dream lighting up his face.
Alyssa stood dumbfounded. Even the Duke might be preferable to marrying this lunatic. Then she wrenched herself back to her reality in the study, surrounded by the enemy, facing a crazy man and his nightmarish quest for power.
"No," Alyssa said quietly, almost as an afterthought, nearly posed as a question.
Sir Patrick's eyes snapped back into focus, "What was that Crown Princess? I can always find another Empress if you're unwilling." He said maliciously, gesturing at the weapons that lined the room on the belts of his mercenaries. He'll kill me, Alyssa thought. Without a second thought this man would run me through with a blade, my parents too.
Then George and Mary burst into the room behind her, taking in the situation. George drew a dagger, prompting Alyssa to recall that she held one in her own hand. And at the sight of his fiery determined face, the desolate confusion that had overwhelmed her at the vision of Sir Patrick, dressed so finely in her father's throne left her body. She saw suddenly what would happen in this small room. They would torture George, Crown Prince of Axia, the very man against whom Sir Patrick sought revenge. And the whole thing would be her fault, her responsibility. It had been she who begged his help and she who had brought him to Rechad. No, she thought with vehemence, not like this.
So life returned to her limbs and she flung her newly found dagger at Sir Patrick, the blade lodging in his shoulder. The expression of rage that had filled his face at the sight of George now shifted to her and he growled, "Another royal for the hit list," Sir Patrick pulled the knife from his arm with a stoic grimace and flung it to the floor, motioning for his men to grab the newcomers. In his fury he seemed to forget the wound to his shoulder and he advanced on Alyssa rapidly, easily crossing the study in his lanky stride. It was all Alyssa could do to back away and search for another weapon. "A shame really," he said as he came closer, "you would have made a gorgeous Empress."
"No," Alyssa whispered, "Never." Mary and George had been restrained by Sir Patrick's men and struggled fiercely against their captors. But they were outnumbered two to one with no hope of escape. Alyssa's eyes swung around the room, desperately searching for a way for them to all get out of this room alive. Her body slammed into the bookshelf behind her and her retreat came to an end. She was backed into a corner, nowhere left to run. Sir Patrick knew it too, his thin mouth curved in a menacing smirk and his steps slowed. Clearly he wished to savor the moment now that his victory was assured.
"No!" George shouted, and the men holding him shoved hands over his mouth to smother his words. Mary whimpered and twisted in the arms of a third man, her hazel eyes filling with tears. Alyssa pressed her body against the bookshelf, willing it to absorb her. Which of course it didn't. Instead her clutching fingers met only with the very solid spines of books.
Books. Inspiration or madness struck her, and Alyssa yanked one of the heavy tomes from the shelf.
"What? Going to read a last bed time story?" Sir Patrick mocked her.
"Not exactly," Alyssa murmured and she hurled the volume at his face. A reckless and unexpected move, not intended to really hurt him, just distract him for long enough for her to reach her dagger.
"Ah!" he shrieked, cradling his nose, which was now heavily bruised and bloodied. But Alyssa was already past him, sliding along the wall and throwing herself towards her dagger, which lay discarded on the floor by the desk. "You rotten, foul mannered, what kind of a Princess—" His question was cut short as he realized what she'd done, and he whirled, cat-like to face her.
Alyssa stood panting on the far side of the desk, clutching her dagger still coated with Sir Patrick's blood.
"Two can play at that game, darling." He said coyly, drawing a sword of his own. His eyes were so cold that Alyssa almost froze on the spot. A glance at George rekindled her energy and resolve, and she stood straighter, forcing herself calm and collected.
"Indeed they can," she answered smoothly. "But only one can win, I'm afraid." She was proud that none of the fear she was feeling crept into her voice.
"You think you can beat me?" Sir Patrick asked with a cackle. "My sweet and delusional Crown Princess, you underestimate my ability. Like so many fools before you."
"Maybe you underestimate me." Alyssa replied.
"I assure you I do not, Lady. You offend me with such little respect for my talents. I researched you very carefully, very carefully indeed. Lots of secrets for one so noble, I must say. What with your curse to feel the emotions and intentions of others, add that to your questionable upbringing, and, well." He didn't go on because an indistinct noise had escaped George. "Have some patience my dashing Lord Prince, I'll be with you shortly. Now where was I? Oh! Yes, your curse. Princess, Alyssa my sweet, I would have to be as daft as the Duke of Belmonte to not see your power as a threat."
Alyssa did not respond, she had no wish to discuss her personal problems and especially not with this vile excuse for a man. Besides, what power could she possibly wield? She shot another glance at George, who looked confused. She felt her stomach twist as she returned her attention to Sir Patrick, George knew now. Knew what sort of a freak she was. And he had heard it from this horrible plotting man first. She had been a fool not to tell him sooner.
Sir Patrick watched her face. "What's this? Trouble in paradise? Could it be that perhaps your dear friend Georgie over here didn't know that the rumors of your curse are true? That maybe you didn't tell him?" Their expressions must have confirmed this because Sir Patrick appeared ready to clap his hands in childish glee. "Well, well, well!" he said with a wide grin, turning to face George. "So sorry to ruin a beautiful friendship."
"Shut up." Alyssa said tersely, all she wanted was to go to George, hold him and explain. Explain until the confusion and mistrust filling his face reverted to his usual caring brown eyes and strong expression. But Sir Patrick kept talking.
"Don't want me to blow your cover? I'm sorry Princess, but I'm afraid the cat's out of the bag!" He giggled at his own joke. He's absolutely mad, Alyssa thought, and George must hate me now. Panic consumed her heart; the very thing she had intended to prevent had come to pass. George would reject her now; fear her as others did, see her only as a magical accident. "Well, let's have a demonstration!" Sir Patrick said happily. Alyssa stood paralyzed, unable to resist as Sir Patrick yanked her around her desk barrier and towards the men holding George and Mary. Feebly, she shook her head no. Sir Patrick's desires overwhelmed her senses and it was difficult to remain standing. Power. Lust. Crown. Revenge. All of it too fast and too strong for her body to handle. She fell to her knees, the dagger still clenched in her useless fingers. Control. Vengeance. He finally released his vice like grip on her arm and Alyssa gasped with relief. She cautiously raised her eyes to George, who met her gaze with angry distrust. Ashamed, Alyssa cast her eyes back to the floor. She blinked away the sudden tears that threatened to fall and when her vision cleared she could hear Sir Patrick still going on about her curse. Before her were three pairs of feet, and in her hands she still had the dagger, which Sir Patrick obviously thought her too disoriented to wield effectively. Well then, she thought, time to prove that ignorant masochist wrong! With less dexterity than she'd like to admit, she lifted the knife and quickly sliced the back of two ankles before her. George's captors cried out in pain and he struggled free, snatching a sword from one of their hands to free Mary.
"No! Idiots! Get them! Seize them!" Sir Patrick was shouting. But Alyssa was done with this awful man, and without any rational reason, she tackled him. He fell with a grunt and scrabbled to grab the sword that had flown from his hand upon her unexpected attack. Alyssa snatched his hands and pushed him into the holding position she had learned from Cat. His emotions began to over power her and she could feel herself weakening, why had she touched his skin? Enough, she thought, enough of this. With a reserve of strength she did not know she possessed she focused her mind. She sank within herself and concentrated on the feeling of magic bubbling within her at the touch of another human, with an enormous amount of determination she reversed the flow of energy. Sir Patrick's intentions fled from her mind and her head cleared, so she kept pushing. Pushing away his clinging emotions and pressing her magic more forcefully towards the source of her pain, Sir Patrick's mind.
She opened her eyes to find Sir Patrick's face twisted in horror and George standing above them both with a sword at the ready. Alyssa crawled away from Sir Patrick, relieved that someone else had taken over. Mary hugged her close and Alyssa worried that the poor woman was shaking with fear. But then she realized that it was her own body that trembled.
Axian soldiers had joined the fray at some point during her struggle with Sir Patrick and had captured his men. They helped George attach chains to Sir Patrick and the King arrived to direct further operations. Alyssa relinquished control to Mary, allowing the kind woman to guide her to her rooms. She curled up in her bed and slept, her dreams plagued by images of George dying, his ghost accusing her of betrayal and lies. Sir Patrick made appearances in dreamland too, laughing at her distress or kissing her under an altar.
"My Empress," he whispered, and Alyssa tried to run but found her hands bound to his, her wedding dress suffocating her.
"Liar, freak!" George spat at her feet. And again Alyssa fled from that nightmare to the next one.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey guys! I'm done with college apps so I finally had time to write another chapter :) hope it was enjoyable.