Ginny Hartman Page 14
Gwendolyn stopped on the steps they were climbing that led up to the castle's door. “You care for my brother, don't you?”
Rosalind tried to do everything in her power to keep the blush from creeping into her cheeks. If sheer willpower alone would have been enough, she would have accomplished it, but nature's reaction would not be tamed. She quickly dipped her head in hopes that Gwendolyn would not notice the flush of her cheeks. “Aye, of course I care for him. He has done a great service to my family and myself. I will forever be grateful to him for that.”
Gwendolyn squealed, both hands covering her mouth excitedly. “I don't believe this. You actually have feelings for my brother.”
Rosalind's head whipped up, “Hush, you know not of what you are speaking.”
“Your face says it all. I should have seen the signs earlier. I can't believe I have been so obtuse.”
“What are you speaking about?” Rosalind stammered.
“The way your eyes light up whenever he is mentioned, the way he looked at you with complete adoration when you were together.”
“Wait, he looked at me with adoration?” she asked hopefully.
Gwendolyn giggled. “You wouldn't care how he looked at you if you didn't care for him. But since you must know, aye, he did look at you like a man in love and I daresay, you returned the emotion.”
Love? Surely Gwendolyn didn't know what she was talking about. Of course she had come to care deeply for Terric, but was it more than that? Could she possibly love him? And could she dare hope that he returned the feeling? Feeling more flustered than she had ever felt, she stammered, “I'm going to go lie down,” as she quickly ran inside and up to the bedchamber, in an attempt to give herself some privacy, where she could think about what Gwendolyn had just revealed.
Chapter 18
A Promising Start
Lying in bed, Rosalind's heart hammered within her chest. She was grateful beyond relief when Gwendolyn didn't follow her to the bedchamber. She lay atop the mattress that had belonged to Terric in his youth. The thought that she had been sleeping in the same bed as he once had made her involuntarily blush once more. Could it be possible that she had come to love him? She thought back to the time she had spent in his presence and she could definitely attest to a strong attraction to him, even from the beginning.
Thinking back to the night they had shared their first kiss, she thought of how passionate her defender was, how he had clung to her as desperately as she had clung to him. She would forever be grateful that she apologized to him that night for the awful things she had accused him of regarding her parent's death. His quick forgiveness was a gift. What if she hadn't apologized and she never saw him again? Her heart ached deeply at the thought. Grateful though she was that that conversation had taken place, it wasn't enough. She wanted more—more of his kisses, more of his laughter, more of him.
She clamped her eyes shut tightly in an attempt to dam the tears she could feel burning behind her eyelids. Her breathing was quick and painful as she berated herself inwardly for being so emotional. When she had finally gotten her emotions in check, she opened her eyes, relieved that no tears attempted to leak from them. Sucking in a shocked breath as one hand went to her heart, she realized that the colorful wisps she had been so desperately trying to beckon were suddenly before her. Translucent purple and pinks swirled before her face. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and bolted to her feet.
“Gwendolyn,” she screamed, “Millicent, I saw the wisps!” She ran as fast as her legs could take her down to the great hall in hopes of finding Gwendolyn and Millicent to share her good news, her longing for Terric all but forgotten. She skidded to a halt in front of where Gwendolyn and Millicent were sitting, both of them eying her curiously. “I saw the wisps!”
Gwendolyn shot from her seat, grabbing Rosalind by the shoulders as she brought her face directly in front of Rosalind's. “Did you touch them?”
Her shoulders fell, “No. In my excitement to tell you that they had appeared I completely forgot to do anything other than find you both and tell you.”
Millicent laughed. “Tis an exciting thing to be sure. Now that we know you can make them appear, it should be easier to do it next time. Tell us, how did you do it?”
“I'm not exactly sure. I was lying in bed thinking about...” her voice trailed off. Looking into the two women's faces who were staring at her with great anticipation, she suddenly felt foolish being honest with them.
Millicent sensed her hesitancy. “Go ahead, tell us what you were thinking of. We will not mock you. I think you have found the key to using your gift.”
Rosalind hung her head so she could speak without looking at them. Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I was thinking of Terric.”
Gwendolyn squealed, “I knew you were in love with Terric. I knew it before you did.”
Rosalind didn't dare look at Millicent. She wished that she could throttle Gwendolyn and make her cease speaking. She was still trying to determine what it was she felt for Terric. She didn't need his mother and sister attempting to help her decipher her emotions.
“Hush Gwendolyn, there is no need to embarrass Rosalind,” Millicent gently scolded. “Now there's no need to feel awkward. I promise I won't pry into your personal affairs, but if you were able to produce the wisps when thinking about Terric, and every time prior when you experienced an episode he was nearby, I can't help but deduce that the key to your gift lies with him.”
“Oh,” Rosalind groaned. “I don't know why that would be.”
“Because you're in love,” Gwendolyn squealed in a sing-song voice. Rosalind couldn't help herself and reached over and socked her in the arm. Gwendolyn gasped, as she grabbed hold of her now aching arm, eyes wide with amusement, as she looked towards her mother.
“You deserved that, child. Now stop harassing Rosalind. If you continue to fluster her, she may not be able to produce the wisps again. It will require lots of concentration until she learns how to do it well, until it becomes natural to her. Now Rosalind, close your eyes and think of Terric. Let's see if our theory is correct.”
Rosalind closed her eyes, but it was beyond awkward trying to recall Terric and the tender feelings she felt for him while his mother and sister were both staring at her. She finally gave up and opened her eyes, “I can't do it while you're both staring at me.”
“Then we will turn around.” Millicent grabbed Gwendolyn's shoulders and forced her to look the other way.
Rosalind stared at their backs before finally closing her eyes once more. She nervously began recalling Terric's face, from the strong lines of his jaw, to his vivid blue eyes. She peeked through one eye to see if they were watching and when she was satisfied that they weren't, she returned to thinking of him. She remembered the way his eyes laughed at her when she had fallen on her bottom end by the stream. She thought of his smile, the way it lit up his entire face, even the slight gap between his teeth seemed endearing. She would give anything to see him smile right now.
She felt herself smiling in response and slowly opened her eyes. Sure enough, there in front of her face were the first inklings of wisps. This time they were yellow and green in color, swirling rapidly as if they were trying to gain momentum. She wasn't sure if she should try touching them or if she dared call out to Millicent and ask her opinion, but afraid that doing so would cause them to disappear, she boldly decided to reach up and feel the magical mist.
Just like before, when her hands touched the wisps, it felt as if they were merely passing through fog, they had no substance to them, but the response it caused in her body was much more reactive. She felt as if she had been picked up and thrown through the air, as wind rushed by her rapidly. Everything around her was a blur and before she knew it, her feet hit the ground with a bang and the jarring stopped. Gathering her bearings, she looked around and noticed that just as before, she was standing facing the door of the castle, as if she was readying to leave.
Excitedl
y she turned, “I did it,” she squealed. Millicent and Gwendolyn were rushing to her, their faces full of awe.
Gwendolyn reached her first, throwing her arms around her exuberantly and bestowing a fierce hug upon her. Rosalind laughed as Millicent saddled up beside her. “I think you've unlocked your gift. Now you just need to refine it.”
Pulling away from Gwendolyn's tight hold, she asked, “But how?”
“I think it'll just require lots of practice. It seems as if you were trying to leave. Did you have a destination in mind when you touched the wisps?”
Furrowing her brows, she tried to recall if she'd had a specific location in mind. “I suppose I was only wishing to be with Terric.” Gwendolyn snickered, but quickly stopped when Rosalind scowled at her.
“Well, next time you must be more specific in your request. I think you should try it again, but this time don't think of being with Terric, for surely it wouldn't be wise for you to all of a sudden appear in Peltis. Think of something more basic, preferably close by, in case you aren't able to get back once you've gone.”
“Tis a good idea,” Rosalind agreed. “Do you want me to try again, right now?”
“Of course. Gwendolyn, follow me so we can give her some space and privacy.” Gwendolyn reluctantly went back across the room with her mother where they both turned their backs to her once more.
Closing her eyes, Rosalind first thought of where she would like to travel to. She immediately thought of the herb garden and knew that would be her intended destination. As soon as that was decided, she began thinking of Terric. She thought of the way he looked the night of her entrance. It was the first time she had seen him in his defender's uniform and her heart had leaped into her throat. He looked so brave, so handsome with his dark hair combed neatly back from his face. She had felt unusually confident as she danced before him, his gaze never once leaving her body. She felt herself getting warm at the memory and decided to open her eyes to see if she had done enough to call forth the wisps. She was not disappointed. The green and yellow wisps that she had seen previously were once more dancing harmoniously before her, though she noted that this time they were larger in size, as if they had grown.
Reaching forth her hand, she visualized the herb garden where she had spent so much time with Gwendolyn, and just like that, she felt her body being transported. Within seconds her movement came to a sudden halt and she felt herself falling. She hit the ground with a thud, her hands curling into the dirt below. Looking up, she realized that she wasn't exactly in the herb garden, but rather about halfway between the castle and her desired location. Standing up, she brushed her hands together to remove the dirt and raced back inside.
Gwendolyn and Millicent were almost to the door. “We wondered where you had gone,” Gwendolyn said excitedly.
“Well I had tried to go to the herb garden, but I didn't quite make it. I only made it to the path leading there. I wonder what went wrong.”
“Nothing went wrong,” Millicent explained. “Your gift is simply not strong enough yet, but with time and practice you will only get better.”
“I cannot wait,” Rosalind said excitedly.
Gwendolyn was pulling on her arm, “Tell me what it feels like. How does it feel when you disappear through walls?”
Laughing, Rosalind explained what little she knew, “I haven't done it enough to give you very specific details, but I will tell you what I do know. I feel as if I'm flying through the air, the wind rushing furiously by me. As far as passing through walls, I haven't had much experience with that. Should I try transporting to the bedchamber so I can tell you?”
“But of course,” Gwendolyn replied without hesitancy.
“Go up there now and wait for me,” Rosalind instructed. Millicent and Gwendolyn didn't need much prodding, for they hurried back into the castle as fast as they could.
Rosalind waited impatiently, for she was much too excited to use her newfound gift. As she waited she thought of how nice it would have been to have had knowledge of her gift before now. It would have been highly convenient to transport herself into her bedchamber at Herfordshire Castle many a times when she had been out in the gardens when she wasn't supposed to be. Her mother would surely have found her gift most vexing, which would have made her love it even more. She felt the familiar pang of sadness in her heart at the memory of her mother, but she quickly pushed it away, unwilling to let it ruin her good mood.
When she figured she had given Millicent and Gwendolyn enough time to get to the bedchamber, she closed her eyes, anxious to transport again. It was much easier to think of Terric when his mother and sister weren't standing by waiting. This time she allowed herself to think of his kiss, of his firm lips molded so passionately to hers. For a moment she was so distracted thinking about it that she almost forgot her purpose in recalling the memory. Stifling a giggle, she opened her eyes to behold the wisps. She imagined Millicent and Gwendolyn up in the bedchamber waiting for her as she reached for and touched the mist with exuberance, and just like before, she felt her body being jolted through a wind tunnel.
Rosalind bit her tongue as the magical force released her from its grip, causing her to stumble and hit her shins on the hard, stone staircase. She stood up and grumbled agitatedly, her tongue and leg throbbing in pain. It seemed that she had been deposited partway to her intended destination and she made a mental note to be a little more careful in her requests lest she face more serious injury in the future.
She quickly forgot her irritation at the minor injury as she skipped up the rest of the stairs and to the bedchamber. “I only made it to the stairs, but it's a start.”
“Aye, a very promising start at that. I am going to go rummage through some trunks that hold my father's belongings and see if I can find any journals that might shed some light on his gift, see if I can't find out some more information for you.”
Rosalind flung her arms around Millicent's neck, “Thank you for helping me discover my gift. It will help to take my mind off of other things.”
Millicent patted her head, “Aye child, tis true, it will.”
Chapter 19
A Proposition to the King
“Your Highness, Asher has arrived.” Terric straightened at Aeden's pronouncement, anxious for King Cedric to send the man on his way.
“Very well,” said King Cedric. “Have him shown to my chambers.” Aeden bowed before the king then went to do as he commanded.
Terric followed King Cedric dutifully to his chambers. King Cedric said nothing as he made himself comfortable on the largest chair in the small sitting area off of his chamber. His back was straight and his hands were intertwined as they rested in his lap, his face held no emotion. Terric stood stiffly behind him as he waited in silence.
A short time later, Asher entered the room and came and bowed before the king. “Your Highness.”
King Cedric waited to speak until he rose. “I regret to inform you that your trip here has been in vain.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, his face masked in confusion.
“I have decided that the announcement I had wished for you to make will no longer be necessary.” Terric couldn't blame the man for being confused. For a minute he thought that Asher would leave things be, but his curiosity got the best of him. “But why are you here in Peltis? Why are you not at Brantonwall Castle, and why the secrecy in sending for me? Your defender's made it perfectly clear that your location was not to be known by anyone. I was made to swear an oath before they agreed to transfer me here by way of the forest.”
King Cedric sat stone faced and Terric wondered what he was contemplating telling the man. Surely he couldn't dispatch him without some sort of explanation. Finally he spoke, “There was an attack on my life.”
Asher inhaled sharply, “An attack?”
“Aye. Unfortunately, during the skirmish King Eustace and Queen Constance were killed.” Another loud gasp from Asher. “I wished to speak to you and inform you of the tragedy so that you coul
d inform the other trajectors and spread the news throughout Darth, but I have changed my mind. I wish that information to remain secret at the moment.”
Asher fell dramatically to his knees. Terric had never seen the somber man act so dramatically and briefly wondered if his sentiment was sincere. “Darth has suffered a great loss; the kingdom will never be the same.” For a moment it appeared as if King Cedric was too overcome with emotion to respond, but words didn't fail Asher, “The Southwestern territory is vulnerable without a king. What will you do?”
Clearing his throat, King Cedric responded, “My niece, Rosalind, is now queen. Her coronation will take place as soon as we have captured and executed whomever is behind these attacks, as soon as it is safe for me to return.”
“But in the meantime, you wish to leave the southwest without any rulers? As of current, that leaves only King Lawrence as the ruling monarch in the whole of Darth. With all due respect, I must remind you what a very vulnerable position that leaves the kingdom in, Your Highness.”
“But what am I to do? I very well can't send my niece back to Herfordshire Castle to rule at this time, it wouldn't be safe.”
Asher cocked one brow, “Back to Herfordshire Castle? Are you implying that she is no longer there?”
Terric cursed behind his helmet. Though Asher held one of the most trusted offices in the kingdom, being lead trajector in no way warranted the king sharing such private information with him. He was entrusted to proclaim and enforce the law throughout the land, but Terric wasn't sure if he could be trusted to keep private information discreet. If anything happened to Rosalind as a result of the king being negligent in whom he shared such information with, Terric would go mad. He silently willed King Cedric not to say anything further, anything that could be incriminating.
“I will not reveal to you her whereabouts, suffice it to say that she is being kept safe right now and do not ask me to speak any further on the matter.”