I gather up my gown and slip it over Joceline’s head, then add the corset and fumble with the laces. Joceline always makes it seem so easy. She tosses my velvet travelling cape around her shoulders and passes me her threadbare one. I put it on and it warms me a little, but the winter air still bites through the thin fabric.
My stomach clenches when I look at Joceline wearing my blue gown. My head spins because I still can’t comprehend that I’m looking at myself, but it’s not really me.
“Ready?” she asks.
“I guess so.” I take a step away from her because I need some distance between us.
“Wait!” Joceline grabs my arm. “Can’t forget the details.”
Before I can protest, she plucks the hairpin from my locks, tucks it into her own hair, then walks to the trail that leads out of the clearing and back to the carriage. My stomach clenches again, because not only have I lost Mother’s handkerchief, but now, Joceline has taken my hairpin. Fear washes over me at losing my mother’s protection, even though I never thought I needed it.
I don’t need it.
I race after Joceline and find her standing beside the carriage. Falada tosses his head and stamps his hooves, obviously unhappy about something. Caleb tries to snag his reins, but the fairy horse backs away from the carriage. I move to calm him, then remember I’m not me anymore.
“What’s the matter with him, Princess Aria?” I ask instead, to keep up appearances.
“Something must have spooked him,” Caleb replies.
“Oh, he’s just being his usual silly self,” Joceline adds, as Falada moves farther away and whinnies. “I think I’ll ride in the carriage with you, Joceline.” She stares at me. “I don’t want him to throw me.”
I bite my tongue and nod. “Would you like me to see if I can get him to come back?”
“That would be wonderful.” She turns and climbs into the carriage.
I walk to where Falada has left the road and backed into the trees. He eyes me warily as I approach, his shoulders quivering.
“It’s okay, Falada.” I reach for his reins. “Can you come back, please, so we can keep going towards Rivergate?”
“You’re not who you should be,” he says. “I don’t like this.”
I sigh. “Believe me, neither do I ... I don’t like any of it.”
He lets me take his reins and steps back onto the road. “All magic has consequences, you know.”
“Stop worrying. Everything will be fine.” I repeat Joceline’s words, but I’m not sure if I’ve convinced myself, let alone Falada.
The fairy horse allows me to tether him to Caleb’s steed. I climb into the carriage, and we set out on the road again. Joceline is quiet for a while, but I don’t miss the elated smile on her face. Why on earth did I agree to do this ridiculous spell? Caleb and Darren are sure to notice. Joceline acts differently to me.
“I wonder what Prince Bryson is like,” Joceline finally says. “I’ll bet he’s the perfect gentleman.”
“I’m sure he is,” I agree, because that’s what a maidservant should do when the Princess speaks.
“And the castle ... I can’t wait to see inside it. Do you think the chambers they’ll give me will be as grand as mine back in Auradale?”
I blink at her a few times, surprised at how easily she has fallen into the role of acting like she’s me. “I’m sure they’ll be just as nice, if not better.”
Joceline leans in. “I’m trying to make conversation so our knights don’t become suspicious.”
“Why would they?” I whisper back.
“I—”
The carriage jolts, then rocks and veers to the right. Joceline shrieks and lands in my lap. We go faster, and the carriage swerves back to the left. I cry out, tumbling onto Joceline this time. We end up in a tangled mess on the floor. Hooves thunder on the road. The carriage bumps and jolts, still travelling faster than it should.
“Woah!” Caleb yells
I grip the edge of the window frame and pull myself to my knees, peering out. Darren sits slumped in the driver’s seat. The carriage mares are snorting, and Caleb has his horse alongside them, trying to pull them up. Falada runs beside the carriage, still tethered to Caleb’s steed.
Someone yells.
I lean out the window. Three men on horses block the road ahead.
Bandits.
The carriage slows and comes to a jolting stop.
“Princess Aria,” Caleb calls. “Don’t come out.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I mumble.
Fancy meeting bandits right after losing my protection charms. Maybe I do need them after all.
I crouch on the floor so Joceline is between me and the door.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“You heard Caleb. He said to stay in here.”
“I’m you now, so I get to stay,” Joceline says. “You get to go outside and protect me.”
“What? You can’t be serious?”
“I’m only asking of you what you always expect from me.” She reaches over and unlatches the door.
I tumble out and crouch, using the carriage as cover. Joceline pulls the door closed. I can’t believe she’s treating me like this. I move to the front where Darren slumps in the driver’s seat. When I reach him, I grab his arm to shake him. There’s an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. He’s still breathing, but he seems to have passed out.
Caleb jumps down from his horse and joins me behind the carriage. “Is Princess Aria all right?”
“Yes, she’s fine,” I say, trying not to grit my teeth.
“You should have stayed inside as well.”
An arrow hits the side of the carriage, its tip embedding into the wood, and a shriek sounds inside.
I stare at Caleb with wide eyes. “Perhaps you’re right. But it’s my job to protect the Princess just as much as it is yours.”
I reach around and pull Darren’s sword from his belt. Hopefully the men won’t shoot at him again since he appears dead. Joceline’s training is adequate enough to protect me. I’ve watched her sessions on occasion, but I’ve never been good at wielding a sword. Now, it’s just for pretences so Caleb doesn’t notice I’m different. I scoot to the back of the carriage and peer around at the bandits who have dismounted their steeds.
“Joceline, stay here,” Caleb says.
He runs across the road and takes cover behind a tree. The men advance, firing more arrows. I sneak back along the side of the carriage and peek in the window. Joceline is on the floor, her arms around her legs with her knees pulled to her chest.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“We’re being shot at,” she says.
“You’re supposed to be looking after me, remember. You’re the one who has all the training.”
“You don’t need training.” Her head pops up in the window and she grips the edge, her fingers turning white. “And like I said. I’m you. So it’s your turn to look after me.”
I scowl at her and rip the door open. “Caleb can’t see me ... you ... use my gift. Get out here if you want me to protect you.”
Swords clang, the metal on metal scrape making my teeth ache. I spin around. Caleb strikes one bandit, running him through with his sword. The bandit stumbles backwards, clutching his stomach, then falls to the ground with a thud.