One Hundred refusals (17)

A serialised romantic fantasy.

Perviously…Chapter 1. Chapter 16

“Thank you, Cinnia,” Pearl whispered, creeping through the shady garden. Val left the orchard a short while ago. Cinnia had become the guardian of their love; she arranged the secret meetings of Pearl and Val, Cinnia always stood guard, and made sure they wouldn’t get caught.

Though the short minutes of Pearl and Val kissing, caressing, and whispering the sweetest words to each other, always ended too soon, Pearl was grateful to Cinnia. The latter had shown amazing loyalty to her new mistress, and Pearl trusted her completely.

“I could not stand your misery, my Lady! At least you see that Lord Valeur is indeed a far superior man, than that…snake,” Cinnia tiptoed beside Pearl, looking around cautiously.

“He is a good man, is he not, Cinnia? I know about his past. He knows about my deceit. I love him, and I believe… I believe he loves me. The real me, not my sister,” Pearl whispered with tears in her eyes.

“He has changed, my Lady. Love is a mighty power, or so I’ve heard,” Cinnia giggled. Both approached the castle, pretending they’re coming back from an afternoon stroll.

“You are expected in the council hall, my Lady,” Cinnia reminded her.

“Oh, yes… back to my daily torture. I do not know if I’d be able to stand it if not for Val,” Pearl said, her memories lingering in the sweet minutes with him. She didn’t want to think about her upcoming wedding with prince Sturnus. Now was good. She wished to linger in the forbidden sweetness of Val’s kisses as long as she could.

“My poor Lady Pearl! We must find a way for you to escape the curse. Oh, that despicable Snakeling, and his foul tongue!” Cinnia murmured.

“I’m afraid I cannot escape my death. Maybe it’s for the best. I won’t live if I can’t have Val,” Pearl lowered her eyes.

“Oh, no, my dear Lady! I helped your sister, and I’ll help you. That Snake will not have the last word,” Cinnia said sternly. Pearl embraced her instead of answering. In her Pearl had found a friend she never expected to find.

Both Ladies parted, as Pearl went into the council hall. Cinnia was on her way to her own chamber, when she saw prince Sturnus sitting on the windowsill of an empty hallway. He was a living picture of sadness; his pale skin caressed by the evening sun, his black Birdling eyes full of unnamed longing. Cinnia had never thought much of him; a feeble man living under the dark shadow of his cruel father. His posture, his weary eyes, his weak mouth proved he wasn’t man enough to stand up for himself, and Cinnia found it extremely unattractive. Especially when Lord Valeur was around; the very image of confidence, and a dashing one at that!

Cinnia noticed how the evening sun played in the prince’s sand-coloured hair, a bleak hint of silver shone through it.

“You are not happy here, my Lord,” said Cinnia. Prince Sturnus gave her a surprised smile. Obviously, nobody in this place had cared much about his feelings.

“I long to stretch my wings flying above our homeland Avem,” he replied. Both shared a warm smile; Birdlings loved Avem more than any other land, for indeed their land was fairer that any other. Or at least Birdlings themselves deemed it as such.

“You may fly in the garden, my Lord,” Cinnia suggested.

“It would not be the same. I will lose my homeland after the wedding. A starling trapped in this cold stone cage, forced to…” prince Sturnus took a deep breath, “to marry someone who is nothing more than a sister to me, and always had been.”

Yet again he stared out the window, keeping his mouth shut, but Cinnia saw him holding back a scream of despair.

“Come, my Lord! Let us fly through the garden. I am sure your father would not object,” Cinnia suggested sympathetically.

“I’m sure he doesn’t care about me, as long as I make him the Lord of Hebeny,” Prince said quietly, “thank you, Cinnia, I’d love to.”

He turned into a starling bird, while Cinnia – a tiny blue tit. Both flew out through the open window, and into the rays of the dying sun.

***

Lord Trouser could not have chosen a smaller carriage; Gema was sure he did it on purpose. Although Gema was fuming with rage, she could not stay mad at the sweet old man. Oh, no! All her fury was aimed at Ash, sitting close to her in the narrow carriage, while their belongings took up the opposite seat. The two hadn’t been speaking for days. Truth be told, Ash was speaking to the closed door of Gema’s chamber, while all she granted him was an angry snort, and nothing more.

Until the day of their departure came, Gema spent most of her time in her chamber to avoid Ash, but she certainly could not avoid him sitting in this narrow space, glued to his side.

Hours passed in stubborn silence. Gema felt Ash’s restlessness, her body responded with a whirlwind of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Oh, to touch him just once! To feel him holding her close. To kiss…oh, no! I shall not kiss those tainted lips of his, even though they do look delicious… Gema thought, and swallowed hard. Thirsty as she was, she would not give into temptation.

The journey took up the whole day. They arrived at the Citadel late in the evening. Gema was awakened by loud music. She found herself sleeping wrapped in Ash’s embrace.

“Let go of me!” She snapped.

“What?” poor Ash woke up confused, “oh…what is this jolly gathering?” He looked out the tiny carriage window.

The carriage was stopped by tables laid in every street, their coachman asked around about the reasons for this unexpected celebration.

“I’m afraid we cannot go further, my Lord and Lady,” said their coachman, “it’s the royal wedding celebration. The Queen announced her wedding would take place a day earlier than planned.”

“Oh, no!” Gema cried, “we’re too late!”

“Maybe not. We have failed to stop this wedding, but we must do everything in our power to stop the wedding night,” Ash said sternly.