Clash of Wills (2 page)

Your brother, Julian

“So it’s a compass and not a pocket watch after all!” She tucked the scroll inside her pocket before opening the clamshell-shaped object. “Which way is my brother?”

The needle turned until it pointed due west. Samantha bit her lip and snapped the device closed.
I must leave Paloran at the earliest possible opportunity—but how?

At bedtime that evening, Nan bade Samantha sit at the vanity while she removed all the hairpins and ornaments from the elaborate and heavy coiffure she’d worn all day.

“Nan, why do you suppose my father hates magic so much?”

“Er…I wasn’t born when the ban was put in place, so I couldn’t say, Your Highness.”

Nan wouldn’t meet her gaze in the mirror as she spoke, which confirmed Samantha’s suspicions.

“You
know
something!” She twisted around until she was facing her maid. “Tell me what you’ve heard.”

“Well, um, servants talk amongst themselves, but not everything said is true.”

“Nan!”

“Supposedly it had something to do with your grandmother, Queen Aurora.”

“She died right after Father was crowned king. Why would it have anything to do with her?”

Nan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “She was a wizard, so they say.”

A gasp. “No!”

“Apparently a spell went wrong and killed her. Your father blamed magic and prohibited its use in Paloran.”

Stunned, Samantha sat back. “I had no idea. He refuses to talk about her.”

“Some events are too painful to discuss. Now turn ’round and let me finish getting you ready for bed.”

As Nan brushed out her hair, Samantha fell silent. Although she was filled with a burning desire to know more about Queen Aurora, she couldn’t ask her father. Moreover, if she brought the topic up with her mother, he would be sure to find out. Perhaps if she asked someone who knew the woman when she was alive. A slight smile reached her lips.
I know just the person.

The mausoleum for the royal family of Paloran, fashioned of sober gray granite, appeared to be extremely small from the outside because the actual tombs had been constructed largely underground. Samantha removed one of the lit torches at the mausoleum’s entrance and brought it with her down the steps. She passed through a curved antechamber made splendid by the intricate stonework on its walls, and into the catacombs. The place was not one she visited very frequently, so it took her a little while to find the ornate sarcophagus of her great grandfather, King Nicholas—for whom her cousin was named. Nearby was the sarcophagus of her grandfather, King Phinneas, which was located next to his wife, Queen Aurora. Samantha knelt to read the inscription carved into the side of her grandmother’s sarcophagus. It bore her name and the words ‘Beyond death’s stony curtain is life everlasting.’

“Come to visit your ancestors, Your Highness?” a weak, quavering voice called out.

The light from Samantha’s torch revealed a thin elderly man shuffling toward her. His wizened hand clasped the handle of a lamp, and in the other hand he held a walking stick.

“Hello, Mr. Truman. You’re doing an excellent job keeping the place in order.”

He grinned. “Nobody here ever gives me a moment’s trouble.”

“Should it ever remain so. Mr. Truman, you were my grandfather’s personal servant.”

“Aye, until the day he died.” He glanced at King Phinneas’ sarcophagus. “I suppose you could say I’m his personal servant still.”

“Well, you must have known Queen Aurora. What was she like?”

“An extraordinary beauty, she was. His Majesty was smitten the moment she arrived at court. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a man so in love.” Truman’s eyes grew misty with the memory. “He allowed her to rebuild his castle in the shape you see today.”

“Does my father look like her?”

“His Majesty resembles his father, in my opinion, but you can judge for yourself. There’s a likeness of Queen Aurora in the castle gallery. Except for your coloring, you favor her in many ways.”

“I heard a strange rumor about her.” Samantha lowered her voice. “I understand she was a wizard.”

“Ach, no! She was no more a wizard than I am.”

“Then what killed her?”

Truman averted his eyes. “She wandered out into a snowstorm and froze to death. It was a terrible tragedy.”

Samantha gaped in disbelief. “
Snow
? It never snows in Paloran.”

“During your grandfather’s reign, we had very hard winters. Ever since your father assumed the throne, however, we’ve had a perpetual spring. He’s been a wonderful monarch and a good steward of the land.”

“Why do you suppose he banned magic?”

The man shook his grizzled head. “Unnatural doings can lead to the dark side, lass.”

“Not always.”

“I know you’re missing your brother something fierce, but some doors are best locked tight.” He beckoned her away from Aurora’s sarcophagus. “We’ve disturbed the dead enough for one day, Your Highness. I’ll escort you back to the castle.”

After the servants had retired for the night, Samantha lit an oil lamp and made her way to the gallery. Its fine dark wood panels were hung with all manner of portraits and oil paintings, dating back hundreds of years. Although she’d never given the portraits much more than a cursory glance before, this time she hunted for one in particular. She found a large portrait of King Phinneas and his family. Queen Aurora was seated in a chair, and her young son Tomas was on the floor at her feet. Samantha giggled at the sight of her father as a lad in short pants.

She bent over to have a closer look at her grandmother. Her hair was the fairest blond, and her eyes were aquamarine. Around her neck was an unusual medallion necklace, fashioned into a star-like symbol. Aurora was staring regally straight ahead in the portrait, whereas her husband and son were gazing at
her
. Samantha found her grandmother’s beauty stunning, but somewhat cold and autocratic.
Queen Aurora was not a woman to be gainsaid.
She also seemed extremely intelligent.
Certainly not the sort of person to wander out into a snowstorm.
Shrug. That bit of history, if true, was a puzzle that couldn’t be solved.

With a sigh, Samantha made her way to a little-used wing of the castle where her brother had kept his workshop. Julian had used the room as a library and art studio—until King Tomas had discovered his secret cache of magical artifacts and wizard textbooks. Soldiers had destroyed the banned items in a spectacular bonfire near the creek, but Samantha harbored a slim hope she might find something they’d overlooked.

She coughed from all the dust in the air.
Apparently no servants ever come in here to clean. Did Father declare the room off-limits or is the staff superstitious?
She raised the lamp higher and surveyed the space, wondering if her brother had hidden anything that would help her learn about magic. Her eyes immediately flew to the top of the empty bookshelves lining one wall.
If it’s a good enough hiding place for Nan, maybe it was good enough for Julian!

After Samantha set down the lamp, she brought a chair over to the bookshelves and stepped up onto the seat until she could peek over the decorative top molding. To her delight, a lone textbook on magical creatures remained, safely out of view. Wriggling with excitement, she retrieved the book, climbed down from the chair, and settled herself at a table to read. As she leafed through the pages, she noticed numerous chapters devoted to various sorts of elemental and natural demons.
Ugh!
She turned to a chapter on fairies instead. Although details regarding fairies were sparse, she spent several happy minutes examining colorful drawings of the pretty creatures.

The muffled sound of voices in the passageway outside made her gasp in fear. She quickly turned out the oil lamp, hoping nobody had seen the illumination under the door.
What would Father do if I were caught reading a banned book?
When the voices faded, she let out her breath slowly.
I’ll smuggle the book to my room and read it where I won’t be discovered.

Over the next few weeks, Samantha worked her way through the text, which was arranged alphabetically. She’d just finished the ‘S’ chapter, which included satyrs, sirens, sprites and sylphs, when Nan entered her room without knocking. Samantha reflexively clutched the book to her chest until she realized it was her maid.

“Oh, Nan, you nearly scared me to death!”

“Sorry, Your Highness, but it’s time to dress. You’ve another young gentleman caller arriving shortly, and your parents aren’t home. The task falls on you to receive Prince Wills of Insolitia.”

“Gah! What sort of name is ‘Wills’?”

“You’d best be polite or His Majesty will no doubt hear of it.”

“Nan, this is all so pointless! The only man I’ve ever found remotely interesting was cousin Nicholas…and my father expelled him before his tea had cooled.”

“He was handsome, I grant you. As I recall, however, His Lordship seemed to have a rakish wickedness about him.”

“That’s not what you said at the time.” A shrug. “Anyway, I liked his appearance. Perhaps I’m a bit wicked myself.”

“Don’t even joke about such things!”

“Sorry.” Samantha’s pang of remorse was short-lived. The sun was shining and she had a sudden urge to soak in its rays. “I have a wonderful idea. Father won’t return to the castle ’til tomorrow, and Mother has gone to town today, so—”