I hurried back toward my cupboard, eager to be out of my dress which already smelled of goose. I had been given three dresses and had already decided to designate one of them to be worn only in the evenings or on days off. The dirty dress I hung half out the window, hoping the breeze would blow away some of the stench.
Despite my physical inactivity, I thought myself tired enough to fall straight into bed, but my stomach wasn’t so easily satisfied. And once I had finished the evening meal, I found my strength returning.
Most of the servants lingered in the dining hall after they finished eating as Nikki had told me. Everyone helped to clear the tables, and then instruments appeared from some hidden corner of the room. People called out competing requests, stomping their feet and banging the tables in good-natured enthusiasm. Soon a rollicking tune had begun, the haphazard collection of instruments blending surprisingly well. The relaxed camaraderie was even more appealing than the bustle of breakfast had been.
Many of those around me sang enthusiastically to the unfamiliar songs, no one seeming to find lack of musical ability a barrier to participation. So when, to my surprise, they started on a tune I recognized—an ancient folk song—I got up the courage to sing with them. I quickly had to stop, however, discovering this version contained subtle differences in both wording and tune compared to the song I had grown up with. Apparently it had evolved differently in the generations our two groups of kingdoms had been separated by the High King’s wall of storms.
But perhaps, by the time my own children were old enough to sing, enough ties would have been formed between our kingdoms that these songs would be as familiar in Eldon as they were in Arcadia. That was the hope that had brought me here, and I clung to it, despite my changed circumstances.
The next morning, Philip found me as I was finishing my breakfast. The bowl he held was already empty, and he didn’t sit.
“I’m sorry, Lark, I won’t be able to join you today, after all,” he said.
I tried to hide my disappointment. And tried to tell myself it was purely because I wished to uncover his secrets sooner rather than later.
“But I promise to be there tomorrow,” he added, “if you’ll still have me.”
I nodded, and he was gone before I had a chance to wonder if his words meant we were dropping the charade of him checking on the geese. It took me most of the morning to decide how I felt about that, and even when I concluded it was suspicious, a small part of me held on to the idea it was a compliment.
I yanked at the sensible braid that ran down my back. As a princess, I had never had a shortage of suitors, but apparently my mind needed the combination of sparkling eyes and mystery to lose all sense. Given my current situation, it would be just my luck for him to turn out to be in league with Sierra and toying with me for some evil purpose.
I kept a close eye on my surroundings as I ate my midday meal. Having learned my lesson, I had made no attempt to guide the geese, and they had chosen a spot close to the day before. Sure enough, as I was eating, I spotted Sierra and Percy riding across the grass. This time they were alone, but for a single guard trailing behind, this one in Percy’s colors. Sierra must be making at least some headway with the Talinosian prince if they were continuing to ride together in the absence of the local royals.
A wild impulse to leap up and call to them filled me. I hadn’t quite been able to eradicate the hope that Percy would recognize me. But I quashed the instinct down. If I called, Sierra would almost certainly have to respond, but I couldn’t guess her reaction. There was every chance attracting their attention would be something I could do only once. Which meant I needed to wait until I could make best use of the opportunity. I needed to wait for Philip’s presence.
The day dragged on, and I nearly attempted moving the geese again, only talking myself out of it at the last moment. I completed a number of exercises, using my staff in place of the blade I should have held for my practice sword dance. The piece of wood was much too long, but I managed to fumble my way through the solo training, glad Celine and Oliver couldn’t see my awkward moves. Celine had fought hard to get both of us included in Oliver’s sword training.
That evening I visited Arvin instead of remaining with the other servants.
There you are. He removed his head from his bucket of oats. I was starting to think you’d come to a bad end.
I shook my head. “I can see you were moved to great lengths by this fear.”
He eyed me, unimpressed. Just because you are apparently too irresponsible to check on me, do not assume the same is true of me.
I was extremely tempted to press him on this statement and ask exactly how he had checked after my welfare but decided that since I had brought him into this situation, I should allow him some ill temper.
“Do you not find this stable to your liking?” I asked instead. “I could try talking to one of the grooms. The one who was here the other night seemed nice enough. Harry, I think he was called.”
Arvin snorted. They do their best, I suppose. One can only expect so much.
I bit back a smile. Arvin wasn’t usually one to temper his expectations.
But you should watch yourself, he added, his tone more serious than I had ever heard it. All desire to smile left me. That Arcadian captain has returned. They didn’t find any sign of the other girls, but they’ve brought back the guards. Those who are still alive are all claiming loyalty to the princess.
He gave me an intense stare. None of them have raised the alarm, so it’s the false princess they follow. They’re claiming they were attempting to track the four of you without success. He paused, and his voice sounded unnaturally heavy. Counting the bodies, all the guards are accounted for, including the two from Trione, so we can expect no assistance from that quarter.
I swallowed, tears pricking my eyes. Daisy’s family had trusted us, and we had failed them—as we had failed any of the guards in the squad who had been loyal, although I now suspected they had been few in number. Determination surged through my core, driving away the tears. I wouldn’t now fail my kingdom. I would get to the bottom of this plot. I would prove to everyone—including myself—that I could fulfill the role I had been born into. I was more than a useless ice princess, or a tag-along hero. This time I would rescue myself from the enchantment.
I hugged Arvin, throwing my arms around his neck despite his exasperated noises. After his warning, I almost did believe that he’d somehow found a way to check on me.
“If I can possibly get us safely out of this, I will,” I promised.
He whuffed at me in a less than confidence-inspiring manner, but I merely gave him an extra squeeze.
The next morning I spotted Philip moving toward me in the dining hall, and my heart sank. However, he merely winked as he strode past on the way to return his bowl. I frowned after him. Was that supposed to be a confirmation that he would visit me today? The man was infuriating.
Nikki caught me before I left the dining hall, grabbing my arm. “I’m not due upstairs for a few minutes yet. Do you want to see if we can get a glimpse of the Lanoverians leaving? Annice was going to come with me because they always have the best clothes, but one of the other servants must have had an issue with their uniform because she’s been called away.”
“What do you mean? What Lanoverians?” I hadn’t made much sense of her rush of words, but my mind caught eagerly on the idea of Lanoverians here in Arcadia.