Rose of the Oath

  Chapter 8: A Mirror and a Name

  Coolness whispered through the afternoon breeze. The first hint of fall, perhaps? Or the signal of a coming storm. I held out my arms, letting my hands rustle through green leaves.

  The barrier rose before me. I pressed my fingers against it, testing its strength, its presence. The warm energy was as resilient as ever.

  I grimaced as I leaned against the invisible pressure, resting my palm on nothingness. I closed my eyes and rubbed the black stone in my pocket.

  I’d not seen Eldric again. Dachs told me he’d moved to the front with the army. I bit the inside of my cheek. War and death stalked the nation. Who was I to complain that both scouts were so hard pressed Dachs hadn’t been able to bring Eldric to me? At least my brother was still alive. Dachs brought spidery letters from Helene and Klara. It had been a week since his last mark on the tree. Perhaps he’d come this afternoon.

  But he didn’t come. Not that day, or the next. I could feel the beast’s eyes follow me every time I trod the path around the valley, pausing in the smelly cave to retrieve another wolf skin for the secret project that now took as much time as my reading. I ignored him as best I could. He got his information about the war from somewhere, perhaps from the forays he made when leaving the valley. Why did he come back? I’d see him, staring up at the cliffs in the dusk like a caged falcon. The rose he’d guarded for so long was gone. The rebels were coming. There was nothing left for him here.

  I yanked at the scarlet ribbon about my wrist. Why couldn’t we exchange places, if he was so set on staying? The girls were safe, for now, but they needed me. I needed…

  An ache wrapped thorny vines about my throat as I bit off a long strand of thread and rose to examine the completed project that had taken so many afternoons. With a faint smile, I tucked it away and slipped from the library. The trees opened to welcome me. I sank against a trunk, staring unblinkingly at the dancing flecks of light flirting with the shadows.

  I didn’t see the worn, muddied boots until they planted themselves directly in front of me.

  “Dachs!” I sprang to my feet.

  His lips curved, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes as he took my hand. “Elissa.”

  My stomach tightened. “What is it?”

  Dachs frowned. “Finally together and you want the bad news right away?”

  “I can’t focus on any good news if I don’t know the bad.” I searched his eyes. “The rebels are advancing again?”

  Dachs rubbed one hand over his face and nodded. “It won’t be long now. Soon Tauscher will have the whole of Aslaria in his grasp.”

  I bit my lip. “And then?”

  Dachs glanced away. “Fates only know. Perhaps it won’t be so bad. It isn’t as though the King has been involved in Aslarian affairs for centuries. Tauscher wants power but he also cares for the land.”

  “But… they’re rebels.” My voice faltered under Dachs’s clear gaze.

  “You think the King will save us, then?” There was no accusation in his eyes. No disagreement. Just a question. “You think the legends are true?”

  “I never…” I glanced away. The Oath of the King shall never fail. Those were the beast’s words. The words of legend. The King didn’t save those I cared for, but surrender all of Aslaria to Tauscher? Live under rebel rule?

  I shoved the thought away.

  The furrow in Dachs’s brow eased. “I do have good news, though.”

  My gaze sprang back to him. “A letter?”

  He shook his head. “The war is drawing nearer as the rebels advance. I’ll be able to visit here more often and I ought to be able to bring Eldric here soon.”

  I stared at him. “They’re that close?”

  “The war will be over in a few weeks. Maybe a month. Maybe sooner” Dachs watched me. “I will find a way to get you out of here.”

  I swallowed against an ache in my throat. “After it is too late.”

  “No, not too late.” Dachs grasped both my hands. “Don’t you see? Tauscher can’t alienate all the people of the land. He will offer pardons to those who accept him. He might even have a way to defeat the beast.”

  I pulled away. “Defeat the beast? What makes you think the power holding me here is the beast’s doing?”

  “How do you know it isn’t? Tauscher was a Servant of the King. He has power. Surely he can tear down this barrier. Something the King Himself ought to have done months ago.”

  “You’re speaking treason.” My eyes narrowed. “You do realize that.”

  Dachs’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ll not betray the King or His cause as long as there is hope, but a prudent man plans for possible defeat. Especially when he has something so precious to live for.” He took my hand again, staring deep into my eyes. “I’ll bring Tauscher here myself if I need to.”

  “Don’t. You can’t…” I didn’t pull away. “Not… Not yet.”

  “Not yet,” Dachs agreed. “But be ready.”

  I bit my lip. “And the beast?” I motioned back toward the fortress.

  Dachs grimaced.

  I crossed my arms. “He’ll wear himself to the bone if there is no one to watch him.”

  “As if that is any concern of yours.” Dachs scowled. “After all, he has—”

  “Oh, hush.” I placed my fingers on his lips. “He’s not as bad as all that.”

  “He’s not remotely worthy of being with you all the time either,” Dachs said. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I will get you out of here, Elissa. I will. By the rose, you are beautiful.”

  The last word fell from his lips in a low voice, and I shivered as a sudden thrill tingled my blood. Dachs lifted my hand, kissed it quickly, then released me and retreated through the barrier.

  “I will return when I can. Maybe even tonight.” He forced a smile. “Farewell, my Beauty, for a short time.”

  My fingers dug against the energy of the barrier. My other arm clasped around my stomach as I watched him go.

  He was going to get me out. He was lodged nearby. The war was ending. He would get me out! My breath quickened, my lips curling upward. Tauscher… yet what had the King ever done for me? For those I loved? For the beast even; what had the King done to deserve such devotion? If the rebel leader truly could, and would, destroy the barrier…

  What would the beast say?

  What did it matter? I’d be free. He would be too, if he chose to leave. Whatever he thought; whatever he would say; if that was the price, still I would be free. Free to return to Eldric and my sisters. Free…

  My smile lingered as I strode toward the castle. The beast glanced at me as we set to work on dinner. My hands plunged into flour and dough as he turned meat on a spit and thickened the gravy. Soon. Soon I would leave. My brow furrowed as I studied the beast when he turned back to the fire. The shadows under his eyes were darker than normal. His movements less deft. I tilted my head, trying to judge if there was another hidden wound or if it were merely weariness. Maybe he’d come with me. Leave this place. Travel higher in the mountains where the wolves attacked less often. He glanced at me again. I looked away as he chuckled.

  I tried to suppress the smile hovering on my lips as I laid out biscuits, but fresh hope flickered through my chest. What did a few more days here matter now? A few more meals? We’d leave, soon. At least, I would leave. I studied him as we ate our dinner. The beast was staring at me again. Or rather staring through me, a distant look in his eyes, his fork hanging from his fingers.

  “Hey.” I waved my hand before his face. “If you go to sleep here, I’ll eat your food.”

  He snorted, his gaze refocusing.

  “Long night?”

  He blinked. Normal.

  “That’s why there is a new tear?” I motioned to the gash in the wolf-skin cloak thrown over the chair next to the beast.

  His eyes narrowed. I shook my head. “This won’t do, you know.”

  I’d like to see you stop me.

&
nbsp; I repressed the sudden urge to grin. “So would I.”

  The beast mopped up the last of his gravy with his bread. Shall I give you a chance?

  I raised my eyebrows. “Hmm.” I rose from my chair, considering. Better now than later. Dachs could return soon. It would be a pity to let all my work go to waste and besides… “Maybe, but not yet. Come along.”

  I strode from the room, pausing in the shadows outside the door until I heard the faint scrape of a chair against the floor as the beast rose.

  My lips curved upward as I led the way down the corridor, turned, and pushed open the library door. Maybe I’d even tell him—no. He’d never understand. Not if Tauscher tore down the barrier. Afterward, perhaps…. Yes, afterward.

  Are you going to read me into submission? The beast signed.

  I smirked. “Not a bad idea, but not this time.” I led him toward the center of the room. “I need your cloak.”

  The beast arched his eyebrows.

  I crossed my arms. “Do it.”

  He hesitated, then shrugged, wincing at the hitch in his shoulder. I’ve been wanting to see how you look in wolf skin.

  “Indeed?” I took the cloak, wrinkling my nose as I held it at arm’s length. “Do you know what this is? It’s pure embarrassment.”

  I sprang around the desk as the beast snatched for it, holding the cloak out of his reach. “Look at the poor thing.” I motioned toward it. “Unrepaired tears in three, no—four places and bloodstained and is this mud?”

  I’ve washed it. He protested. I’ll mend the tears.

  “Like you mended these ones?” I flipped one skin over, running my fingers across rough stitching that puckered the worn leather. “No, no, no.” I lifted my eyebrows. “This isn’t worthy of a great, wolf-slaying beast, let me assure you.”

  The beast crossed his arms, glaring at me. I suppressed a smirk as I discarded the tattered collection of skins and reached under the desk. “This, on the other hand…” I shook out a flowing gray and white cloak, the wolf skins seamlessly sewed together, the colors melding one into the other. A great hood hung back and a dozen pockets and sheaths were sewn about the waist. “This at least looks the part.”

  The beast drew a soft breath, his eyes roving the garment before coming back to me, a blend of awed admiration and stunned surprise. I choked on a laugh. “Go on.” I held it toward him. “You didn’t think I was letting all those wolf skins go to waste, did you?”

  The beast’s lips twisted upward, then he paused as he gazed at me again—a deep gaze that sent heat creeping up my neck. I frowned. “Are you going to try it on or not?”

  Are you so critical of your skill that you fear it won’t fit? But he reached out, his scarred fingers stroking the fur before he took it from my hands. With a flick of his wrist, he spun it over his shoulders. The fur fell over his arms, the hood shadowing his face as he folded the flowing cloak over his whole body.

  I clapped my hand to my mouth as I leaned back against the desk. “Perfect. I mean much better. I expect you to keep it nice, you understand?”

  The beast chuckled, pushed the hood from his face and unwrapped himself from the folds to let it hang loosely from his shoulders. Come. He signed. I have something for you too.

  “For me?”

  It was his turn to not reply as he led the way from the room and wound up the stairs. Down one long corridor, up another one. The beast paused, pulling aside a tapestry of a tree covered in white roses.

  “Wait, you have secret rooms?” I demanded as he motioned me into a hidden passage, lit dimly with reflected crystal light.

  He smiled faintly. I raised my eyebrows.

  “You do realize this means I’ll be checking behind every tapestry in the whole castle,” I said.

  Why do you think I’ve never brought you here before?

  I scowled. “Can’t I know what the castle I live in contains?”

  For the most part. The corridor continued on, but the beast paused at a door, the dark oak blending into the wall. Now you get to discover something new. He pushed the door open, motioning me ahead of him.

  I stepped inside a narrow room, lit only by a ray of evening light from an invisible window high above. The door sighed shut, and I spun around as the beast leaned against it.

  An icy strand tightened around my chest and throat. “An… empty room?”

  The beast motioned past me. Not quite empty.

  I glanced over my shoulder, then turned and stepped toward the smooth silver disc at the opposite end of the room.

  No. A mirror. That’s what it was. I tilted my head, smoothed my hair, and brushed out my dress. Behind me, the beast’s lip angled upward as he advanced a step.

  “I assume it does more than allow me to look at myself?” I asked. “Is it the opening to another secret passage?”

  The beast shook his head and pressed his hand against the surface. The clear reflection vanished, replaced by a vision of marching men. The beast looked at me, then at the mirror again. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, the picture shifted.

  “Eldric!” I clapped my hands over my mouth as I stared at my brother, hunkered in the dark, overlooking a camp glittering with firelight. “Are… are those the rebels?”

  The beast nodded.

  “So, this is how you get your information.”

  The beast retreated a step. Touch it, and think.

  I raised my eyebrows, but this was one chance I’d not waste. Taking a deep breath, I splayed my fingertips on the smoothness.

  Helene and Klara appeared, sitting near a fire. Helene knit while Klara’s needles fell from her hands. Her head rested against Mother Karlin’s knee. The healer stared into the fire, her lips moving soundlessly. Or perhaps not soundlessly…

  “Can you hear through the mirror?” I asked.

  The beast snorted. Of course not. It’s sight only. Why would you be able to hear?

  “I don’t know. Maybe because one can see through distance on something that should only show a reflection?” I bit my lip and ran my thumb under the ribbon about my wrist. I should be there. The warm fire. The twins laying their heads on my lap. Singing. Eldric carving. Another figure leaning against the door, watching… Dachs? Except he was wearing a wolf-skin cloak and white scars glimmered in the shadows.

  I blinked. The vision faded. I shook my head. “How do you make it stop?”

  The beast pressed his hand against the glass as Mother Karlin’s head snapped up at some unheard sound. I hesitated, my hand lingering on the rim of the mirror.

  You can come in here whenever you wish. The beast signed. It won’t be long now.

  I froze. “Long until what?”

  The end.

  Indeed. Perhaps it would come even swifter than he expected. I forced a smile. “Well then, what do you say we spend the time we have left in the library where it’s cozy?”

  The beast hesitated, considering me for a long moment before he strode from the room. I glanced at the mirror one last time, then followed.

  Back in the library, he bent over the desk and scratched quickly on a scrap of parchment. He held it out to me.

  A single word glistened.

  Adrian.

  “Adrian,” I whispered, then stared at him. “Your name is Adrian?”

  Did you really think it was Beast?

  I snorted. “No, but…” I stared at the name again.

  Adrian. The beast had a name.

  He began to turn away, but my fingers caught the folds of his cloak. “Wait.”

  He raised his eyebrows.

  My hand fell to my side. “I… my name is Elissa. If you really wanted to know.” I spoke before I could think better of it.

  The beast—Adrian, inclined his head slightly. It suits you. Though I may still call you Beauty, for a Beauty you are.

  I gave a sharp laugh. “Are you trying flattery now, Beas— Adrian?”

  He waved a hand. Call me Beast; I’ve grown used to it. As for flattery, I suppose I co
uld do better.

  “Perhaps.”

  Adrian smirked and settled down at the desk. I shook my head, laughing. “Don’t you dare.”

  His eyes twinkled at me, then sobered as he hesitated. This is different.

  “Really?” I leaned back against a bookshelf as his quill scratched the paper. On and on it rasped, pausing frequently as the beast bit his lip, all merriment drained from his gaze.

  Finally, he lowered his quill, stared at the parchment for a long minute, and lifted his gaze to me.

  I blinked. “Surely it can’t be as bad as all that.”

  He shook his head. This is serious. As serious as I’ve ever been.

  My hand clenched in the folds of my skirt. What? He folded the parchment in half and handed it to me.

  I swallowed hard. My fingers tingled as they closed about the note and I turned away to read undisturbed.

  My dearest Beauty,

  The band about my chest compressed.

  Or Elissa, if that is what you prefer, but honestly, Beauty does suit you, in more ways than one. Anyway, there’s no easy way to say this. I ought to say it, but since I can’t speak, I must write it. I hope you hear, or read, me out all the same.

  I…

  Beauty, I want to marry you.

  I stiffened, the air leaving my body in a sharp breath. No, please. Not this. Not…

  I love you, Beauty. My love for you is second only to my love for the King.

  Why? I was going to leave soon! Dachs would get me out of here.

  What I said earlier is true. One way or another, the end is coming. In victory or defeat, this valley will open. You will be free to leave. Alone, if you wish. But if you would consent to marry me, to let me be by your side when you return to your family—

  I blinked as the lines blurred.

  Dachs’s warm kiss burned against my hand. His clear eyes. His promises.

  Soon, the beast promised. Soon wasn’t enough. I needed to get out. To get back.

  A hand touched my shoulder, and I jumped. The beast watched me intently. His fingers began to sign, but my hands closed over them, stopping him.

  “No. I’m sorry,” my voice broke. Another time; another place; but I was leaving. I would be leaving. And the beast… “I can’t… I can’t marry you.”

  The beast’s brow furrowed, and he took a step toward me, but I shook my head.

  “I’m sorry.”

  The parchment slipped from my hand and I fled the room.

  He watched her go.

  A deep sigh shuddered through Adrian’s frame as the last light of evening blinked out from the transoms high above.

  Had he really expected her to accept? Yet there was a promise. An Oath.

  He would succeed.

  He stared into the shadows where she’d vanished. The beginning was still ending. The way of the enemy lay open. It was better this way. He knew, now.

  Every muscle tensed. Closing his eyes, he exhaled softly, then bent over the table and scribbled a line on a scrap of parchment.

  She still didn’t understand. She couldn’t. The King would make a way, but she would be safe. And he would show her the truth before the end, whatever the cost.

  He strode to the window and flung open the shutters. Wings rippled the air, then a great, golden-brown falcon swooped to his wrist. Adrian fastened the parchment about its leg and met its beady gaze. For a long moment, it stared back, then sprang into the air and glided away through the night.