Briar Rose (21 page)

‘Their kind cursed our princess. It is why Aurora sleeps and none can wake her. Why the regent is our –’ the man hesitated – ‘ruler.’

Though he’d meant to say more than that, Joshua got the picture. ‘What’s with all the metal?’

The older man gave him a strange look. ‘It’s to keep them fata at bay. Everyone knows that. Where are you from?’

‘We’re new to your . . . village.’

‘Why in God’s sweet name would anyone come here?’ the man replied, then pointedly moved away from them as if they were contagious.

The crowd grew louder as the small figure cowered, crying blue tears that splashed on its toes, its whole body shaking.

The servant cleared his throat. ‘The sentence is slow death. There will be no mercy shown,’ he announced, then dutifully rolled up his parchment.

With faint cries, the fata was forced inside a gibbet, one lined with iron. It shrieked when its skin touched the sides, but there was no way it could avoid the metal. It was a cruel way to
die.

At the regent’s gesture the gibbet was hauled up on a pole for all to see. Only now did the crowd vent its displeasure, both with oaths and rotten fruit. The anger was real, though Joshua
suspected it was also meant for their ruler.

‘Should have torn the accursed thing apart. It is an abomination,’ a woman said.

Joshua turned to see who had spoken and then his attention locked on a girl, one that looked remarkably like Briar. Her build was similar, the way she held her head, but it couldn’t be as
this girl had jet black hair and the man next to her had his arm round her in a comforting gesture, as if they were a couple.

‘Come on, let’s get out of here,’ Joshua urged.

As they broke clear of the throng, Reena looked back at the creature hanging in the gibbet. ‘Even if those things cursed the princess, that’s just sick, letting it die that
way.’

‘Not our problem,’ Joshua replied. At his friend’s startled expression, he added, ‘I know that sounds really cold, but our only job is to get Briar out of here, before
someone decides to cut her throat.’
Or ours.

‘Now you see why I have been so cautious,’ Ruric said as they walked back to the stable together. He was still holding her hand and she appeared to like that, but
Briar wasn’t smiling now, not after what had happened. A sensitive soul lost in a dark world, he knew she grieved for both the dead man and the fata.

‘Aurora looks like me. You knew that, didn’t you?’ she said.

‘Yes, I was told you resembled her.’

Why am I so keen to throw away my life for the princess? Is being a king that important?

It was the same question Ruric been asking himself for the last few months, just one of the issues that had held him back from his quest. Now Briar’s presence made that question more
pressing. His ‘cousin’ was a fine young lady, and if he didn’t need to secure a throne of his own she would make a good choice for a wife, if she would agree to such a thing.

Perhaps if he woke the princess and helped overthrow the regent, he could choose another path for his life. A path that didn’t require a throne, but might include a pretty girl with no
home.

As he looked over at her, pondering that future, someone called out.

‘Briar?’

She came to a halt, and then slowly turned. Her eyes widened in astonishment. ‘Reena?’ she cried.

Then there was a flurry of embracing as she and the other girl greeted each other. The newcomer’s arms were dark, her face the same underneath her hood.

‘Josh is here too,’ the girl said. She waved at someone and a young man moved closer to them.

Ruric took the measure of the young man and found little fault. He was younger by a few years, but handsome in his own way. This must be the lad Briar had claimed wasn’t a suitor, yet the
way he looked at her said she was mistaken.

So he has come for her.

Ruric couldn’t miss the deep frown that came his way. He knew that expression well enough: this one was jealous. How had Briar missed the signs?

‘How did you get here?’ she asked, clearly baffled.

‘Reena got us in,’ the young man said.

The look he shared with his companion said there was more to it than that.

‘What’s with the hair?’ the one named Reena asked.

Briar shook her head. ‘Not here,’ she said, looking around nervously. ‘I’ll tell you later.’

Ruric gently cleared his throat. ‘Would you care to introduce me, cousin?’

‘Oh, sorry!’ Briar began, her voice registering her excitement. ‘This is my friend, Reena, and this is Joshua. Ruric runs the stable. He has been taking care of me since I came
here.’

‘I am pleased to meet you both,’ Ruric said. He resisted the temptation to take hold of Briar’s hand to see what the one named Joshua might do. Given the fire in the
fellow’s eyes, it might result in a brawl.

‘You do know how to pick them,’ Reena replied, waggling an eyebrow. ‘So, Ruric, you wouldn’t happen to have a brother, would you?’

‘Yes, two of them.’ He smiled, studying her features. ‘Both wed.’

‘Guys, we need to be going,’ Joshua cut in.

‘But . . .’ Briar’s enthusiasm waned. ‘Right now?’

‘Ah, yes,’ Reena replied. ‘Sooner or later the curse is going to take you down. We don’t want to be here when it does.’

So there really is a curse.
That saddened him, for he realized that she might truly leave him behind.
Perhaps I am only a
dream to her.

‘Oh . . .’ Now Briar appeared to be on the verge of tears. ‘Can you give us a moment, please?’

Reena nodded immediately, but the young man didn’t look pleased. It took her shoving him down the street to gain them some privacy.

‘You are wrong,’ Ruric began, feeling an unexpected ache settle into his chest. ‘That young man does care for you.’

‘He . . .’ Briar shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter, not once I get home. His mom will see to that.’

‘Then . . .’ Ruric summoned his courage. ‘Perhaps you might . . . stay here with me.’

Briar’s mouth dropped open. ‘Oh . . . but . . . I . . .’

In her eyes he could see her emotions play out: the promise, the doubt.

‘Ruric?’ They turned in unison to find the reeve headed towards them, four of the regent’s guards behind him.

‘The horse is still not for sale,’ Ruric snapped, aggravated at the interruption. He leaned closer to Briar. ‘Allow me to get rid of this fool. I have more I must say before
you make your decision.’

‘I’ll . . . wait.’

That gave him hope. Ruric turned towards the overbearing official. ‘What do you want, reeve?’

‘You.’

Ruric was immediately set upon by two of the guards, who spun him round and rammed him up against the side of the stable, mashing his cheek into the wood. A sword poked him in
the back, ensuring he gave up the fight. The remaining muscle kept watch in case some of the villagers decided to intervene.

‘What is this? What’s going on?’ Ruric demanded. ‘You are under arrest,’ the reeve said. ‘You are to be taken to the regent for trial.’

‘What have I done to warrant such unpleasant attention?’

‘You have profited from the enemies of the princess.’

‘Oh, I see. I didn’t sell you the mare and now you’re seeking your petty revenge.’

‘Teach him some manners,’ the reeve ordered. A guard buried his first into Ruric’s side and he grimaced in pain.

‘Stop this!’ Briar said. She tried to get closer, but one of the guards held her back and she was no match for his strength. ‘Leave Ruric alone. Just take the stupid
horse.’

The reeve eyed her closely. ‘Best be silent, girl, or you’ll be joining him.’

‘Stay out of this, cousin,’ Ruric urged. ‘It is a simple matter once I speak to the regent. I shall be back here soon enough.’

Briar had seen too much death in this kingdom to believe that.

Once his arms were secured in front of him, Ruric requested the opportunity to say farewell to her. To their surprise, the reeve granted it.

He knows I’ll never see Ruric again.

Ruric looped his arms round her, and pulled her against him. He leaned close to her ear. ‘Go home. You do not belong here. Give that young man a chance to tell you how much he cares for
you,’ he whispered. When he broke the embrace, he gently touched her cheek. ‘Remember me kindly, Briar Rose.’

Tears escaping, she nodded, then tipped up on her toes and kissed his cheek.

‘I had wondered what it would take to get you to do that,’ he said. His kiss went on her cheek as well, though she swore he would have preferred to kiss her mouth.

‘Please don’t let the regent hurt you.’

‘I’ll endeavour to make it so. And, look, I have found yet another way inside the castle,’ he said, winking.

As the guards led him away, Briar didn’t try to hold back her tears. A few of the townsfolk paused to watch the procession, whispering among themselves, but none intervened.

Divide and conquer.
Take away one troublemaker at a time and the others won’t stop you.

She rounded on the reeve, all fury. ‘He’s innocent and you know it. You just did this to get the horse.’

The man’s hand shot out and grabbed on to her braid, dragging her close to him. He smelt of scented oil and greed.

‘You would be wise to hold your tongue, girl,’ he snarled. ‘I know what you have done with your hair. You’d best keep on my good side, or the regent will learn your
secret. Then you will be silenced forever.’

When he shoved her away, she nearly fell. ‘Saddle the mare. She is mine. From this day forward, I will expect you to pay me one-fifth of your profits. Do you understand?’

Even though she did not own the stable, Briar had no choice but to agree. Her hands trembling and the tears falling, she readied the horse.

‘Kick him,’ she whispered in an ear. ‘Kick him hard.’

She led the beast out of the stable and handed over the reins.

‘What will the regent do to him?’

The man heaved himself up on the horse. ‘Cut his throat. Make him one of her own. Feed him to one of her monsters. It is of no importance to me. I have what I want.’

Swinging the mare round, he cantered up the street, his head high, his victory complete.

‘How long is this goodbye going to take?’ Joshua growled, scratching under his shirt. He swore fleas were leaping on him from all directions, though he’d
found no evidence of their presence.

‘Listen to you,’ Reena replied, grinning from under the hood. ‘You keep that up and you’re going to glow green.’

‘I don’t care. You saw how he was looking at her. She was even holding his hand. What was that all about?’ he asked, stomping along.

‘He’s a hunk. That’s what I’d do. Just chill, will you? Once we get back home she’ll forget all about him.’

Home. Back in Bliss. How is that going to make things better?

As they entered a broader street, Joshua kept muttering his breath. ‘Come on, let’s go get her. I want to get out of here.’

‘All right! If it keeps you from bitching, I’m all for it.’

As they turned round, Joshua shot a glance towards an open area where a few small boys had gathered. There were two pillories there, one of which was occupied. As the boys issued taunts and
threw rotten produce and mud at the prisoner the guy’s arms and legs shook from the unnatural position he was forced to hold.

‘Talk about having a bad day,’ Reena said. When the prisoner raised his face, she gasped. ‘Pat?’

It sure looked like him. ‘Can’t be,’ Joshua replied. ‘How could he get here unless you brought him?’

She moved closer. ‘It’s him. I swear it.’

The prisoner’s eyes moved to her. ‘Reena?’ he called out. ‘Oh God, get me the hell out of here!’

‘I’m thinking that works for me. Just wish I had my cellphone to capture the moment.’

Instead, Joshua tapped one of the small boys on the shoulder and asked for what he was holding. The lad gave it up with a knowing nod.

‘Thank you.’ He weighed the squishy, overripe apple in his palm.

‘You wouldn’t dare—’ Pat began even as the fruit flew towards him.

Joshua’s aim was true and it smashed directly into Pat’s forehead, oozing its rotten flesh downward. Pat spat and swore.

‘That’s for Briar, you jerk,’ Joshua said, then laughed. He looked around and spied a pile of fresh horse manure.

Reena caught his intention. ‘Josh Quinn, don’t even think it,’ she ordered. She charged up to the prisoner and began to tug on the bar holding Pat in place. One of the
townspeople interceded, an older gent with a balding head.

‘No, girl, leave him be. We put him there because he’s been uncivil.’

‘But it’s inhuman,’ Reena said. When her hood slipped off, she made no attempt to pull it back up.

The man stared at her now. ‘He’s lucky it was just us and not the regent who put him there. It’s no more than what he deserves.’

‘What did he do?’

‘He insulted my good wife, called her a hag when she’d not tell him what he wanted to know. And he’s been blaspheming.’

Reena eyed Pat. ‘Did you do all that?’

‘Yeah, maybe,’ he mumbled. ‘I was trying to get someone to tell me what was going on. I mean, what is it with this place? Is this like one of those Renaissance fairs or
something?’