“You said you were guarding the princess,” the king stated with growing concern in his eyes. “Do you know where she is now?” His voice held the same worry as that of a father. He didn’t sound like a killer at all. Was this all an act? I lowered my sword cautiously as I searched their eyes for answers. No matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find a shred of deceit.
It was then that I noticed his signet ring. It was extremely detailed with floral patterns and a letter “D” encrusted in the middle for Drancos. The more I stared at it, the more I was reminded that it bore no resemblance to the seal from the note the assassin had carried. Sure, he could have used a different seal, but it just seemed like such a specific detail to be mindful of. Either this man was a full-blown mastermind or he wasn’t the villain at all.
I took a deep breath. “She should be in the castle somewhere,” I confessed. The soldier in me told me to keep her whereabouts a secret, but the man behind the sword wanted to trust them. I risked letting my guard down. Arabella needed help as soon as possible. “She went to meet with the queen, but I haven’t located either of them.” I let out an exasperated sigh as the king rubbed his light-colored beard in thought.
“The queen was meant to meet with me for tea, but I was informed that she may be running late.” His eyes met mine in revelation. “Perhaps the princess has already found her? Did you say she was in need of medical attention?” His worry was apparent all over his face.
“Yes, urgently.” I explained hastily what I knew about poison, and how it had affected my men. After describing how my magic could only lessen the symptoms and slow the poison’s developments, the prince chirped in.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Prince Jasper interrupted with an inquisitive look on his face. “What means of physical contact did you use when attempting to heal the victims of the poison?” He leaned forward in interest, and I couldn’t help but wonder how this was applicable.
“Usually through touching hands,” I clipped, hoping to move on to the more important task of saving the princess. I turned back to the king, but Jasper spoke up again.
“That must be it then!” He jumped slightly, causing me to whirl back around at him. “I’m a scholar of sorts, you see, and I have spent quite a bit of time researching magic. A caster who possesses the gift of healing is often most effective when their magical energy is passed through the direct pathway of illness.” He smiled proudly, but I just raised an eyebrow at his random factoid.
“I’m not sure I follow…” I was growing irritated at his aloofness. “Are you saying I have been healing incorrectly?” I watched as the king devoted his full attention to his son with an impressed reaction.
“For this particular ailment, perhaps,” the prince continued. “From what it sounds like, this poison mainly affects the nervous and respiratory system. You said your men experienced numbness and shortness of breath, correct? Well, in that case, directing magic through their palms would dilute the energy’s effect by the time it reached their nervous system and lungs. If you directed your healing into the lungs and brain, then your magic may be the only cure necessary.” He looked up to me for some sign of my understanding, but I remained dumbfounded for the moment.
How had I not realized this myself? This entire time I thought my magic was too weak, when in reality it was just misdirected.
“Thank you.” I bowed to the prince in gratitude, and he gave me a friendly smile in return. “If you’ll excuse me, I must find the princess at once. I promise to speak with you in more thorough detail after she is safe.” I offered a bow toward the king as well, who shooed me to leave.
“Yes, of course. Now please, hurry.” He ushered me while simultaneously calling for a servant to assist in the search. I ran at full speed toward the door when I was forced to skid to a stop. A startled cry held me in my tracks as I followed my gaze up a long purple gown to the face of the queen.
“Oh goodness, it’s you captain.” The queen placed a hand to her chest as she caught her breath from the spook. “I was just on my way to speak with you after apologizing to the king for my absence.” She smiled sweetly up at the man who gave her a polite nod. Her face grew puzzled at his stoic greeting. “Garrett, dear, is everything alright?” She walked past me gracefully and crossed the room toward her fiancée. “You look as if you have seen a ghost.” She pressed her arms to his chest in a flirtatious manner, causing Jasper to look away with a discreet eye roll.
“My dear queen,” the king began in a solemn tone while removing her hands from his chest, “has the princess found you yet?” He held her hands in his while looking at her hopefully. He was trying to be sensitive toward the topic, but the queen merely cocked her head in confusion.
“Well, no, of course not,” she replied plainly with an innocent expression. “The dear girl is still missing. I’m sad to say that not even I have heard any news on her disappearance.” She muffled an impending sob, but quickly pulled herself back together like a dignified queen. “Why? Have you heard something?” Her eyes widened in what I assumed to be a hopeful expression, but there was something else there that I couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“The princess left for the castle no more than an hour ago,” I announced while stepping forward to establish my presence in the conversation. “She has been badly poisoned and rushed here in search of an antidote, but I know now that I can heal her once found.” I lifted my cap and bowed respectfully, intentionally flashing my silver streak of hair as proof to my claims. The queen’s expression became aghast at the information and my small hat trick. She looked overwhelmed with emotion then fell back into a plush chair.
“My poor Arabella.” She cried lightly into her palms and the king offered her a handkerchief. At the sound of her cries, a few servants cascaded into the room to ensure she was alright or if she was in need of attendance. “I wish I could tell you,” she continued while delicately wiping at a tear, “but I haven’t seen any sign of her. If she’s in the castle, then I don’t know where.” She let out another dramatic sob when suddenly, a servant stepped out from the shadows. The man had salt and pepper hair and was most likely a butler or other high-ranked servant based on his embellished uniform.
“Pardon my impudence,” the servant bowed low, fully missing a deathly glare shot by the queen, who did not seem pleased by his interjection. “but, Your Majesty, I must insist that you confide in these men. I am well-aware of the known risks. However, the captain has stated that he may be able to heal the princess from her ailment. We should bring him to her at once if there is a chance of her recovery.” He spoke boldly as he rose from his bow. The queen’s face said nothing at first. Was this man confirming that Arabella was here? My heart rate began to increase with the hope of finding her.
“Earl, I am not sure what you’re implying,” the queen finally said with a confused tone. “Princess Arabella is still missing. She hasn’t been heard from in weeks.” She glared at the man with irritation as if he had been foolish to forget. The servant’s face was just as puzzled, and I was beginning to wonder if the older man had memory issues. Disappointment filled my heart at the false hope.
“My queen,” the man began again in a much more pointed tone, “I just led the princess to your suite not even thirty minutes ago.” His eyebrows furrowed and he courageously took a step forward. A sudden unease flooded me. The queen looked unshaken, but something wasn’t right.
“Your poor memory must be failing you.” The queen shrugged nonchalantly. “I have been alone all evening.” A bead of sweat dripped down her forehead, and my sights zeroed in on it.
Without hesitation, I drew my sword and pointed it at her throat. “You’re a good liar,” I hissed furiously, “but not a perfect one. Where is she?” My blood boiled with rage at her blatant lies. She was keeping me from healing Arabella, and that made her a traitor in my eyes. The queen looked stunned by my sudden aggression, but the king and prince only stood by watching.
“She’s not here!” she cried in despair, clearly frightened by my blade. “I swear to you, I haven’t seen her!” Her voice cracked and shook, no longer able to lie smoothly. I leaned closer, prepared to threaten her until she admitted the truth when a shrill sound pierced through the air.
A whistle.
The sound was barely audible, but I recognized it in an instant. It was the signal whistle I had given to Arabella. She was here and she needed me.
Without another word, I sheathed my sword and ran toward the sound. The shrill note only lasted a few seconds, but I knew that it came from upstairs. I sprinted through the grand halls of the castle, never breaking stride. My lungs burned from the dash as I desperately ran through the halls toward where I imagined the queen’s suite would be. Before long, I found the tall oak doors from which the sound seemed to have emitted. Without hesitation I burst through the door and ran into the lavish suite.
I saw her instantly.
Princess Arabella rested peacefully in the middle of the queen’s grand bed. Fear and anguish tore through me as I saw her closed eyes and stiff body. I approached tentatively, terrified of what I would find. She was beautiful; her skin was so pale it was nearly white, but even in sickness, her beauty was unmatched. Her elegant red dress brought out the red in her lips, making her look almost like a porcelain doll. I brushed a strand of dark hair away from her delicate features as I pushed away my grief.
Was I too late?