for a moment until Kaelen said, “Ladies, this is Gelasia Stardust. I’m her escort this afternoon.”
“Are you going to be okay, Kaelen?” Eleanor asked.
Nodding, he replied, “Things will work out somehow.”
“We were just talking about a secret Moira’s been keeping from the rest of us,” Leticia said to Gelasia. “Did you know she’s quite the seamstress?”
She turned to Moira with a bright smile. “Are you really?”
“I enjoy sewing, yes,” Moira replied blushing.
Suddenly, a short, blonde girl who looked so much like Kaelen that it was obvious they were related ran to the table. “Kaelen, is that really you? I’ll believe you, but I hope it’s not.”
“I’m sorry, Anna, it is true. I am Kaelen.”
Tears welled in her bright blue eyes. “Oh, Kaelen, what happened?”
“I did something incredibly foolish and I’m paying the price,” he replied with a shrug.
Anna cried, “But Kaelen, what will Mother and Father say when they see you? Can this be fixed?”
“Of course it can,” Gelasia replied, patting the young girl’s hand. “Why, sooner than you know it, Kaelen will be back to himself.” Anna smiled and soon her prince had pulled her back to their table and friends.
The rest of the group continued to talk. The girls enjoyed Gelasia’s company so much that when the day ended, they asked her to write them when she had spare moments.
“Of course, dears,” Gelasia said. “Just be sure you write back.”
“We will,” Eleanor promised.
As the boys led their princesses to the carriages, Lucian took Moira aside. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know more about you from your letters. I hope they’ll continue.”
Moira smiled. “They’ll continue as long as you keep writing. I’ve thought a lot about what happened over winter break and, well,” she paused.
“It’s alright, Moira,” he interrupted. “We’ll take this one day at a time. Have a pleasant journey back.”
Before she could say another word, Lucian was hugging Allegra and saying goodbye to the others before looking once more at her and waving. Moira noticed a smile on his face, one that he didn’t share with the other girls. It was different. She blushed as she realized that it was a smile meant only to be shared with her. She smiled in return before getting into the carriage, hoping that the other girls wouldn’t comment on her rosy color.
For the last half of the semester, Kaelen was put into alternate courses, while maintaining those of his regular courses that he could. In hunting he worked with Knight to build trust and teamwork. It took a while for Knight to come to him without whining or scampering off to hide behind Diana’s legs. The first time he’d gone to horsemanship, Lightning had bolted at the sight of him and even Phillipa hadn’t been able to call him back. No one knew where the horse had gone and because of it, during horsemanship he stayed with Gelasia and worked on his fine motor skills. After the transformation it had become incredibly difficult to eat properly, hold his pens and write legibly. He admired her patience because he knew most would have given up on him.
The other boys tried to sympathize, but they were all busy with their own classes. As spring warmed the grounds, the fairies seemed to add to the homework. The group of friends often worked together on their homework out under their tree. It was a tall maple tree with a large, thick trunk. It spread its branches towards the sky, bright green leaves hiding most of the branches from sight. Sitting on the grassy ground beneath, the boys had ample shade to make doing their homework easier as well as giving them protection from the sun. Their dogs played together under the branches, close enough to come immediately to their masters when called, but far enough to not distract the boys from their studies. The boys also invited Kaelen to watch them as they rode. “I’m not trying to make this worse, but our horses have to become accustomed to being around, you know,” George began.
“Hideously frightening beasts?”
“Well, that wasn’t quite how I was going to put it,” he said quickly.
When Kaelen laughed, it still sounded harsh and angry. “I understand, George. I’ll watch you guys work. I’ll even give you some pointers and stuff,” he added. The boys were relieved that he understood their need and didn’t say anything else as they walked to the barn. As the boys were working, Kaelen said, “Hey Lucian, I think you’re reining him in a little too much. He’ll go better if you give him a little more freedom. Not too much, but a little.”
Loosening the reins, he called back, “Thanks Kaelen. Does he look better now?”
“Perfect.”
The evening practice continued until the sun was dipping low beneath the horizon. The boys put their horses away and then went inside. Lucian stopped by his mailbox before walking into his room. There was a new letter from Moira, as well as letters from Allegra and from home. He flopped onto his bed while Rusty hopped onto the bed next to him. He opened the letter from Moira and read.
Dear Lucian,
I hope that things are getting easier for Kaelen. I’m afraid he won’t be seeing Esmé again. Please don’t tell him what I’m about to tell you. Melantha swore all of us to secrecy and I shouldn’t even be telling you. Apparently Melantha had another meeting with Esmé to discuss the situation with Kaelen. Her punishment after the meeting was two weeks of a furry face. After that punishment ended, Melantha spoke with Esmé again about Kaelen and her responsibility to him. There was a lot of shouting which of course drew everyone’s attention. I’ve never seen all five witches called before. When the witches arrived, Esmé was standing in the front hall. They tried to have her go into another room, but she refused. The witches have cursed her to look on the outside what she is on the inside…forever.
And now, I will answer your last question: my favorite place to go. I love the stars. Dad used to take Adrian stargazing because the stars were what helped him on his quest. So, on warm nights when everyone is asleep, I like to sneak out of the castle and go into the fields nearby, lie on my back and just search the stars. It’s like being close to Dad, even though he’s not here anymore. When I can’t go outside, I like to go to the tower and be with Dad’s things. It helps me to remember him as he was. It’s also quiet there and gives me time to think. Sometimes, I even talk to Dad while I’m there. He never answers, but it’s a way of being close, like looking at the stars.
Good luck with your homework and finals. Let me know how things go. Allegra always seems to find out before me. Of course, since she’s your sister, I guess that makes sense. I’ll see you in June.
Your Friend,
Moira
Lucian folded the paper and put it back in its envelope before putting that in a small box that he kept all of Moira’s letters in. He pulled out a piece of paper and began to write her a return letter.
When he finished writing, he put that letter in an envelope and set it aside to be sent to her before opening Allegra’s letter. Her letter also mentioned Esmé’s fate as well as the threat that if he told anyone she’d kill him. He laughed to himself and then stopped laughing as his heart sank. How many of the other princes had received letters telling them what had happened to Esmé? If Clarissa told Jacobi and Eleanor told George, it would be okay because the secret would be safe with them. But what about the other boys? What would they do if they heard about Esmé? They’d probably run to tell Kaelen thinking it would make him feel better. He sincerely hoped that Moira and Allegra were the only ones who had broken Melantha’s trust by telling him.
Finals week passed in a blur of activity. The boys seemed to be shuffled from one test to the next. Kaelen’s schedule had been altered so much that he hardly had any finals and so spent most of his time with Gelasia when she wasn’t teaching, trying to regain the nimbleness his fingers had once had. At supper the day before the end of the semester, the boys sat talking and laughing, enjoying their time before vacation.
The next morning Lucian awoke early and quickly changed i
nto his uniform for the day. He was a little depressed; he had hoped that his growth spurt last winter would have continue. Instead he was a hair more than five nine. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and put his jacket on, straightening it and looking at the gleaming medals he’d earned. He double-checked that all his things were packed and ready to go before leaving the room and going downstairs.
When he got there, his friends were all waiting and parents were milling about. Kaelen was standing in the new uniform Gelasia had helped him make. Melantha asked Kaelen for a private word as the others waited for their parents. “Kaelen,” she said when they were apart from the other students, “I’m afraid Esmé will no longer be coming to these meetings. Her feelings as yet have remained unchanged and so she has been expelled.”
“What will happen to me?” he asked, panic in his voice. “I can’t stay like this forever!”
“Of course you won’t stay a beast forever. How very silly of you to think so. You’ll continue in your classes as always and then when the time comes you’ll be sent to discover your princess. I just wanted you to hear from me and not from the students. They have a tendency to,” she paused , “exaggerate the facts.”
“Will I ever see her again?” he asked.
“Perhaps.” She smiled and continued, “Well, we have meetings to attend and a graduation ceremony