Excerpt: The Straw Maiden

“Captain Felton, may I assist you in any way?”
The calm voice sounded wrong in the present situation. Captain Felton turned with obvious loathing to look at the person who spoke behind him. I could not refrain from shaking with relief. Prince Knight Mateo stood just in front of the open door with what seemed to be the entire guard that had been left in Esyrid’s Light standing behind him. He held himself formally but calm though I could see the anger simmering in his eyes as the sun started to rise. He walked confidently forward through the Corinthian guards who did not seem to know how to react now. He came up beside Hansin and clapped him on the shoulder like an old friend. Hansin understood the message and motioned for the guard to follow him in. Captain Felton growled but he knew he and his men were hopelessly outnumbered by Kaspians. He retreated to the only form of fight he had left.
“I should have known you’d be behind the assassinations,” he growled. “I wouldn’t put it past you to have your own sister killed if you thought it would gain our simpathy. Didn’t work out that way, though, did it?”
Prince Knight Mateo looked at him with a controlled expression but I could clearly see the animousity building underneath.
“I do not have any idea what you are referring to. I merely came down to greet my younger sister, Princess Knight Vichanodette. She has had a long voyage by sea in order to reach us on time and I imagine that she must be very weary. If you have any objections to me taking her inside, please, I invite you to ask Sir Edkin the House Master. He was well aware of her arrival and has my late sister’s chambers ready to receive her. He will be insulted if we wait much longer as he is eager to meet her.”
Captain Felton’s eyes bulged as he struggled to contain his frustration at this news. He could find no objection to prevent us further and so instead watched with barely contained rage as Kaspians dismounted around him and calmly entered the castle. Prince Knight Mateo approached my horse and helped me down from the saddle. He then embraced me warmly and kissed each of my cheeks as a brother should greet his sister after a long absence. He made a casual gesture towards the door but I noticed that despite his easy outward appearance, he positioned himself at my side between Captain Felton and his men. He kept one arm protectively at my back as he hurried me to the door.
“One second,” demanded an unfriendly voice I did not recognize. Prince Knight Mateo grimaced but turned around slowly, still keeping himself between me and the soldiers. One of Captain Felton’s men eyed me curiously. I did not believe that Captain Felton even understood what was happening as he looked with confusion at his man. Some sort of recognition clicked on the soldier’s face and yet he looked more perplexed then before.
“I’ve seen you at the castle before,” he began hesitantly. “Yes, you were here for the Fall Feast. You danced for the court.” A few other soldiers nodded, suddenly remembering as well. “But you weren’t a Princess Knight. You were with the other one, your... sister.” He said the words as though he himself did not believe them. My heart thudded in my chest. I had forgotten about my very public dance at the Fall Feast. If they all chose to believe that I was a simple weaver woman and not younger sister to Lady Amura, all was lost. My cover would not hold.
“Yes,” Another said. “I know you too. You were always with the Lady- with the other one,” he finished lamely, failing to name her as Captain Felton rounded on him. “But you were just her weaver woman. I heard others of your kind saying so. You wove your story tapestries. Nothing more.”
I waited for the killing to begin. Surely it would be over soon.
To my surprise, Prince Knight Mateo laughed.
“Of course she was with her sister all that time,” he said convincingly. “In Kasper, the younger sister travels with her elder sister chronicling her life. Weaving is a skill all second daughters learn so that they may help their sister remember all her great feats.”
“Then why hide her?” asked the soldier who had first raised doubts. “Why not announce her as the second daughter?”
Prince Knight Mateo sighed and spoke slowly as though patiently explaining something that should be obvious.
“We Kaspians don’t believe that we should announce who everyone in the royal line is. It makes us a much bigger target. Besides, don’t you think the other Princess Knights would have thought Kasper had a greater advantage with two daughters in the Corinthian Court? No, it was better to keep the second daughter hidden.”
“Then where has she been all this time,” Captain Felton challenged, glee in his voice again. He thought he had us in a trap. I felt as though we were in one as well.
“Home, of course,” Prince Knight Mateo said, as though that explained everything. “With Lady Amura dead, we could not be sure how great the threat was. We fabricated the story that she too had drunk some of the poisoned mead – or was sick, if you would prefer to continue the ruse –” he added swiftly when Captain Felton seemed ready to interrupt. “So that she could be safely returned to my father. But now she’s back as the contests begin with the first thaw and she really needs time to prepare. But again, she is very tired from her journey. I would very much like to get her to bed.”
He turned me away again and headed with determination for the door. With every step I feared a sword in our backs but somehow we were able to make it through. Our guard followed us through the passage ways towards the wing I remembered so well from many months ago. Within minutes, we reached Lady Amura’s old door. I balked at the entrance, horrible memories and guilt flooding me. Pierret was at my side in a moment and with his help as well as Prince Knight Mateo’s presence, I crossed the threshold in to what was now my room.