The other man strikes, and Caleb’s sword clangs again as he parries the blow.
I pull Joceline out of the carriage. “Pretend it’s your doing when I use my power.”
She stares at me, wide-eyed. What is she doing? She can’t seriously think she’s me now. I leave her swaying on her feet and run towards the two remaining men with my weapon raised. Caleb strikes swords with one, and the other advances on me, a sly and self-assured smile on his lips. I swing Darren’s sword, knowing full well I have no chance of fighting this bandit with it. The heavy weapon wobbles as I bring it down, missing my mark. The man laughs.
Caleb cries out. The man in front of me takes a step forward, his weapon raised. I stare him in the eye, then I give him everything I’ve got.
The two bandits lift off the ground and shoot backwards on a wave of air that drops them in a crunching heap in the middle of the road. Their horses spook and run into the forest. The men stagger to their feet, angry scowls marring their faces.
Joceline is at my side. “How did I do?”
I glance at her sideways. “You could do better.”
She raises her eyebrows, then gestures towards the bandits. I use the opportunity to slam them with my elemental power again, picking them up and tossing them into the trees. One hits his head with a sickening thwack. The other lands on a broken branch. Its tip pokes out of his chest.
If she wants to play dirty, then I can, too.
“Oh no,” Joceline says, her hands covering her mouth. She turns away.
“Look what you did,” I say in my best surprised voice. Still want to be me?
I stare at the body hanging from the tree, and my stomach turns. What have I done?
Caleb stumbles over to us, blood staining the sleeve of his tunic. “That was ... Well done, Your Highness.” He looks at Joceline.
She lowers her hands and clasps them in front of her, her eyes trained at her feet.
“That was brutal,” I say, my voice shaking. “You could have just knocked them out.”
Joceline lifts her head and glares at me. “I did what was necessary,” she snaps.
How dare she speak to me that way? I open my mouth to put her in her place, then remember she is me now.
“It’s better they’re dead.” Caleb stares at the man he slayed. “People who travel this road will be safer.”
I find little comfort in his words. I still ended the lives of two men, but I justify my actions by telling myself that the bandits had already hurt Darren, and our lives were in danger. Because I lost Mother’s protection.
I glance at the dead bodies again. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength, and on this occasion, Joceline is taking the credit. A fact I don’t think she’s too happy about, but maybe, it will teach her not to be so cocky next time.
Joceline twists her hands into a knot. “I’m not usually so violent.”
“Well, better to be alive than dead by their hand. We should keep moving,” Caleb says.
“You’re hurt,” I say.
“It’s just a scratch.” Caleb smiles. “I’ll be fine.”
“What about Sir Darren?” I add, using the knight’s title. “Has he come around?”
We go to the front of the carriage. Darren groans and presses his hand against the seat, attempting to sit up. I rush to help him. Caleb climbs into the front seat of the carriage and holds Darren by his uninjured shoulder. He inspects the arrow.
“We need to do something about this,” Caleb says. “This might ...” He grabs the shaft and rips it out. Darren screams. “Hurt.”
I go to the back of the carriage and find a scarf from my wardrobe. Caleb uses it to press against Darren’s wound. His eyes flutter open and closed. He’s in no state to keep driving, so we help him down and inside so he can lie on the seat.
“You can ride with Darren, Your Highness,” I say. “Keep an eye on him and make sure he’s okay. It’s probably safer for you to be inside.” And I don’t want to talk to you right now.
“I agree,” Caleb adds. “Best you stay out of sight, Your Highness.”
He mounts his horse. It jostles on its feet when Falada tosses his head, pulling on the tether.
“Consequences,” Falada mumbles. He snorts and tosses his head again. “When are you going to let me go?”
“I’m sure the Princess will untether you when we reach Rivergate.” I climb into the driver’s seat of the carriage and take up the reins.
“Yes, yes,” Joceline says. “You must wait until then.”
She gets into the carriage, and we set off. I don’t look as we pass the dead men. I’m trying to hold myself together after doing something so terrible. It’s a horrible thing even though we were in danger, and pretending that it wasn’t actually me, because I’m not myself anymore, helps a little.
But what will happen if I pretend too much? What if I want to switch back, but Joceline doesn’t? She seems to have fallen into my role easily. I might not want to marry Prince Bryson, but if avoiding that means I’m going to lose myself in the process, perhaps an arranged marriage is the better option after all.
If I marry him, I’ll still get to be myself.
Chapter Five
AFTER WE’VE BEEN ON the road for a few hours, we stop to tend to Caleb and Darren’s wounds. Caleb will be fine, but Darren needs a physician. That we came upon such terrible circumstances not long after I lost my handkerchief, and Joceline took my hairpin, doesn’t pass me by. I wish I had been more careful. Or not agreed to do her stupid spell.
We take most of the day to reach the western edge of Deluge Woodlands, where we have to cross the river into the fields surrounding Rivergate Castle. Darren has worsened, and he really needs to see someone who can give him some medicine, or at least clean his wound. I fear it has gotten infected, and that’s why he is so poorly.
When I spy the castle in the distance, the sunset turning the sky a blazing orange, relief floods through me. Not only because we can get Darren some help, but because we’ve made the last leg of the journey without bad luck finding us again. And after two nights sleeping on mattresses I’m not accustomed to, I’m looking forward to a proper bed.
“Oh my,” Joceline says, her head hanging out the carriage window. “What a splendid castle.”
I peer around from the driver’s seat. I’m still not used to seeing someone who looks like me, but her smile fills her face. Despite the way Joceline treated me earlier, it’s infectious, and I can’t help smiling, too, as we turn onto the road that leads through the village before the castle.
People come out of their cottages as we pass. They wave, and I lift my hand to wave back, but then remember I’m the maidservant now, why would the people be acknowledging me? Joceline has her arm out the window, and my heart sinks as all eyes are on her.
Caleb trots his horse out in front, leading Falada, and I follow with the carriage until we reach the outer gatehouse into Rivergate Castle. A line of guards are waiting, and they escort us across the bustling outer court towards the drawbridge. The people surrounding us stop what they are doing to watch as we pass.
When we move through into the inner castle grounds, King Marlowe’s army raises their swords in salute. Fire torches burn from sconces on the castle walls. They cast light over everything as dusk approaches. A trumpet sounds, and Joceline lets out a squeal. We proceed along the welcoming line, and I look to the steps leading inside. King Marlowe and Queen Lynna stand with Prince Bryson, all three of them framed by huge wooden double doors. My stomach flops and flutters, then I remember the Prince won’t be looking at me. He’ll only have eyes for Joceline.