His words jumbled in my already crowded brain. I tossed my hand into the air and headed for the door again. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but I need to go."
“Your Highness, you can't leave here. Not yet. If you go now before I can stop the curse, the guards will come for him and I may never get the chance to help him."
"My mother would do anything to save him. I know you said their love was built on hate and tragedy, but no matter what has happened in their past she loves him more than anything and he —“ I pointed toward the cage in the yard “— loves her more than his own life. She would let you help him any way you could. She would even let you come back to the castle if she thought it would make things easier."
Edwin shook his hands in front of himself. "Oh no. The temples are a sacred place for the guardians of the light. I do my best work in the peace and quiet of the mountains. Besides, if we returned your father to the castle the entire kingdom would be looking at the gate night and day. It would be a disaster."
The pulse of a memory. Running through the streets as the reporters chased Veda and me. Hunting us down like wild dogs. Trapping us in the corner. Her lips so close to my lips. The longing look in her clear eyes. The last time I saw Veda smile. "You're right. But I need to tell her that he's alive. She deserves to know what's going on."
"Just like she told you the truth?”
I charged towards Edwin, my patience non-existent, but he cowered his arms up covering his head. "Fine. I'll let you go, but you are only to tell your mother that he's here. She's welcome to come to visit if it makes her feel better, but I can't have anyone else charging up on my mountain. You understand?"
I nodded. Whatever nonsense Edwin spewed before seemed to change his opinion of me in a hurry. Either that or he’d lost a grip on his sanity. Or maybe I did?
"I'm serious. If you dare to tell anyone else I will open the cage and let your father run forever if he would even make it down this peak alive."
"I've got it."
I ran down the gilded steps and through the yard to the cage. My father sat in the corner, the same spot I’d left him last night. He looked up for a second and saw me standing by the bars, then hung his head again and stomped his large feet against the floor.
"We are going to find a way to break this curse, I promise. And I'm going to tell Mom to come."
I cringed as the word ‘mom’ came out of my mouth because if what Edwin said was true she really wasn't. I didn't even have one.
I stuck my fingers in my mouth and whistled, and the looming shape of Alizeh quickly emerged over the early evening sun.
A restless feeling overcame my body, a sudden urge to be off this peak, or to scream, or even just to fall to the ground and curl up in a ball, but I needed to do something and I needed it fast.
Alizeh landed and I tossed myself on top of her back. “Alizeh, to the castle.”
6
1st June
Red and yellow bubbled on the horizon as dawn threatened to boil over and flood the night. Keeping my eyes open proved harder every mile as we descended through the sky toward the castle, but the obligation to tell my mother that I found my father helped me battle on.
Alizeh circled the city then gently landed in the front courtyard of the castle. The eerie stillness of morning clung to my skin like the early dew clung to the blades of grass beneath my feet. Two guards rushed from the main castle door, swords drawn and ready to fight.
"We weren't expecting you, Your Majesty," the first guard said as he stopped in his tracks after recognizing me as the intruder.
"Not to worry. All is well. But I will need someone to take care of my friend."
Alizeh nuzzled her head into my shoulder and made a gentle cooing noise. The mouths of the guards dropped to their feet but took their orders like the professionals they were.
"Yes, sir. What exactly do we do, sir?”
"Talk to the kitchen about some food, meat or fish and any other scraps they can spare. Then show her to the ponds in the garden to cool off. I don't want her going far right now as she will be needed again shortly." I leaned into Alizeh and smiled. She'd been my truest companion over the last few days. And not once had she let me down.
The second guard sheathed his sword and circled around Alizeh, his arms outstretched and his brow furrowed. “Excuse me, sir? Do we get a leash, or…"
I cuddled Alizeh closer to me. “Absolutely not. This magnificent animal is a guest at the castle and will be treated as such."
They both nodded although the uncertainty of my request cut puzzled looks into their faces.
“If you treat her well she will follow your commands without any complaint. Trust me, you’ll love her.”
I rushed across the courtyard and through the front castle entrance as Alizeh clucked at her new handlers. The sweet smell of home flooded toward me and eased some of the tension in my shoulders, except it also left more questions that I needed to have answered. The trip to Edwin’s had left an unresolved feeling itching in the back of my brain, but my happiness would have to wait.
"You’re back, Your Majesty." Griswold greeted me in the foyer with a beaming grin. He helped me
