“They came,” the princess stated, though any joy died instantly.
Laetitia Shade was one of those kneeling, and Maiden Fayre was standing over her victoriously.
“What happened?” Damselfly asked. “You were supposed to help each other.”
“We did help,” Maiden Fayre replied. “Without us they would not have survived.”
“Then why treat them like this?”
“No one is taking our victory from us,” Maiden Fayre pronounced.
“It doesn’t need to be like this,” Delridden argued.
“You are not from this land so you do not understand,” Maiden Fayre demanded, her lips, stained dark red. “The Shades have treated us like nothing for too long. Now it is our time to rule this land.”
“Then be better than them,” Delridden lectured. “Do not repeat the offences that were made against your people.”
“It is too late for forgiveness,” Maiden Fayre replied. “The Shades will suffer as we have suffered.”
Damselfly caught Laetitia Shade’s eye before the young woman lowered her gaze to the ground once more.
“What made you change your mind?” the princess questioned.
“When we left Mount Duskenside, you were unconvinced about fighting at all, and now your whole army is here.”
“Not what, child,” Maiden Fayre responded. “Who.”
The Sting appeared beside his leader, wearing a cruel smile, while the Blood Brothers stood with their weapons drawn.
“A man appeared shortly after you left,” he explained. “He offered us a better deal.”
“What did he offer you?”
“A chance to get rid of the Sprite army and defeat the Shades.”
Delridden shook his head in disbelief, and Damselfly looked nervously around at the Scorj who were still all wielding their weapons.
“Who promised you this?” she queried.
A man appeared from amongst the masses, wearing a familiar red cape with a high collar; a crescent birthmark could just be made out beneath his black beard and a gold pendent hung from his neck.
“Hello, Princess,” Orion greeted.
“I have been searching a long time to finally find you. “Who is he?” Delridden asked.
“I am Orion and the king sent me to return his daughter home,” the sorcerer proclaimed.
“I have come too far to go back now,” Damselfly retorted angrily.
“I was not asking for permission,” Orion threatened.
“You heard her.” Delridden stood before his wards protectively.
A burst of light flew from Orion’s fingers and struck Delridden in the chest, flinging him backwards several feet.
“No!” Damselfly cried.
Running to the soldier’s side, Damselfly glared at Orion who stood menacingly; his features may as well have been carved from stone for all the emotion he showed.
“I will go with you,” she acquiesced.
Orion stepped forward confidently before stopping in his tracks. “What is that?” he gasped.
At first the princess was confused by everyone’s attention until she followed their gaze and realised the bell was showing on her hip as she bent over Delridden.
“You recovered the bell,” the Scorpion’s Sting said, in shocked awe.
“How?” Maiden Fayre questioned.
“You achieved what even The Lady of The Lake could not.”
“It does not matter,” Orion interrupted. “I will take the girl and the bell with me.”
“I don’t think so,” Maiden Fayre disputed.
The Scorj immediately pressed forward behind their leader, although they appeared concerned by the magician’s powers.
“No, the bell is too powerful,” Laetitia Shade warned although her words were ignored.
“We had a deal,” Orion continued. “You would not have run off the Sprite army without my support.”
“Our agreement did not include the bell,” Maiden Fayre reminded.
A tense standoff followed with everyone waiting for someone else to make the first move.
“No one else is going to get hurt because of me.” Damselfly stood, raising the bell.
“Be careful with that, child,” Orion beseeched.
Damselfly held the bell high before her and watched as everyone took a step back. She knew the magic was too powerful for it to fall into the wrong hands, though she did not trust Orion. If the bell came back to Thronegarden, it could be protected by Pariah in The Hall of Bells. Maiden Fayre calculated her odds at overcoming a powerful sorcerer and a bell of unknown power before accepting her recent victory as sufficient reward. Orion placed a heavy hand on Damselfly’s shoulder and led her towards the gate. The princess took one last look over her shoulder at Delridden lying hurt though still alive on the ground before submitting to her captor.
They were going home.
Chapter 14 Testing Times
Damselfly was feeling miserable; her return home had been ignominious, being paraded through the castle by Orion like a naughty child. The sorcerer had confiscated Bakka’s skeleton key and the bell. Locking her away in her room, the princess had only seen one visitor, her father, King Handel, who had looked like a stranger and spoke harsh words that had caused Damselfly to burst into tears. Except Buttontail, all other visitors had been prohibited. Her nurse, Old Nana, was ushered away before Damselfly could speak with her, and a guard was stationed at her door. Kept prisoner, Damselfly could only reflect on her failure and remember the scolding words of her father.
They would not even let her see her mother.
Buttons had attempted to raise her spirits to begin with, though he soon became maudlin when they were given only bread and water twice a day. Damselfly had raged against her captors, banging on the door and throwing her belongings around the room. She had tried to bargain with anyone who would listen more times than she could count and received nothing except indifferent silence. Damselfly had hoped Death might return regarding their deal, though she was equally terrified that the old king would be angry too and take her mother away. King Handel had made it perfectly clear that she was on her last chance; even a princess was not immune to the laws of
