Chapter Thirty-Four

As it turned out, no one left. Sarah refused to leave her son and sister, and Alice refused to leave without Henry, who wanted to stay for Lilyrose and, also for Ronal.

With Edmund’s relieved blessing, Eleanor and Sarah provided what assistance was needed by the castle steward.

Having spent over an hour watching Ronal but unable to sit close or hold his hand because of his parents’ presence, Lilyrose slipped out of the room. She stood in the corridor, staring towards the stairs until someone bumped into her.

The maid gasped and tried to curtsy, the linen in her arms slipping to the floor. “My lady, forgive me. I didn’t see–”

“Lilyrose, maybe this isn’t the best place to stand?”

Eleanor, who’d been a few paces behind the maid, was now alongside her.

“Sorry, Mama. Here, allow me.” Ignoring the girl’s protests, Lilyrose gathered the linen and piled it onto her arms. “Busy?” she said to Eleanor who nodded.

“But I prefer that to simply sitting and doing nothing.” She stroked Lilyrose’s cheek. “Were you in with Ronal?”

She nodded then sighed. “Fed up with sitting and doing nothing. I’ve already looked in on Tilly.” She lowered her gaze and her voice. “She still hasn’t opened her eyes.”

“Don’t give up hope, my darling. I’d ask if you want to help me and your aunt, but I don’t think you or I would survive,” she said with a smile.

Lilyrose wrinkled her nose. “I’m sure I’ll find something to do.” Kissing her mother on the cheek, she waited for her and the maid to walk away before making her way to the stairs.

Hugging the banister rail to keep out of the servants’ way, she paused on the last step. Activity ebbed and flowed about the entrance hall, and she could sense anxiety sniffing around like Edmund’s great hounds.

Knowing Arthur was with Edmund and Lionel, Bruce and Sweyn, discussing, she assumed, battle plans, she wondered what she could do.

“Lilyrose. Cousin.”

Looking toward the main doors, she waved to Henry and Alice before making her way to them.

“Is everything alright?” asked Henry.

Nodding, she said, “I was trying to think of something to do.”

“We’ve just returned from a walk,” said Alice, in a full-skirted dress the colour of wheat, the same as Lilyrose, except Lilyrose’s dress had amethyst trim on the cuffs and hem. “It’s almost as busy out there as it is in here.”

Henry backed out of the way of a woman cradling a large basket, seemingly unaware of him. “It’s getting difficult to know where to stand.”

“I know you’ve already been out,” said Lilyrose.

He smiled. “You want to go for a walk?”

“I was thinking more about practice.”

“Sword practice?”

Nodding, she looked at Alice. “If you don’t mind.”

“So long as I can watch,” she said, grinning.

“Shouldn’t you change?” said Henry, looking Lilyrose up and down. “Or is that a foolish question?”

Her reply was to lift her skirt just enough to reveal the familiar sight of trousers covering her legs.

They made their way towards the armoury where the furnace burned hot as weapons and armour were made and mended. Henry grabbed a couple of wooden practice swords, deciding it would be safer as Alice would be with them. Walking to the garden, they hoped it would be sufficiently out of the way.

“I’m struggling with the knowledge that magic can touch us so easily,” said Henry, shaking his head. “I always thought it only existed in tales.”

“Even with the gem elves here,” said Alice, “as beautiful as they are, it’s still a hard thing to accept.”

Lilyrose shook her head slightly. “Magic doesn’t make me comfortable. I prefer the certainty of things I can touch and see.”

“Then there’s the situation Master Sweyn has described in Lord Hagen’s hall.” Henry rubbed the back of his neck. He, Sarah and Alice had been told what had befallen Hagen and his household.

“His poor ward,” said Alice, picking at the end of her braid. “What’s her name again?”

“Agata,” said Lilyrose. “She sounds so brave. Master Sweyn said she’s not even twenty years of age yet.”

“Do you think she’ll be woken from the sleep when the chief is freed?”

Henry shrugged.

Lilyrose frowned at the wooden sword. “I think… I think only the death of Marlis will break the spell. The same way the curse on me will be broken.” Exclaiming softly, she turned to look into Alice’s concerned gaze; her friend had moved closer to put her arm around her.

“That wicked woman won’t try again, I’m sure.”

Lilyrose had to smile at the certainty in Alice’s voice.

“I agree,” said Henry. “And if she does, she’ll find she has to get through a fair few of us to get to you.”

“And how surprised she’ll be when she sees you know how to defend yourself,” said Alice.

Her smile widening, Lilyrose slapped the side of the wooden sword on the palm of her hand. “That I certainly do.” And that knowledge renewed her courage to face what was coming.