“What am I going to do about her?” he asked the stallion. The horse nickered and nuzzled him, searching for a treat. “Sorry, boy, I’ll bring you something tomorrow, I promise.”
When Richard had finished grooming Baron, he gave him a pat on his neck before heading inside. It was time to find out what the next challenge was so that he could warn Violet.
Violet was still standing staring at the door, when Genevieve returned to the room. “Violet, is everything all right?”
Violet shook her head.
“Is it because of Mary?”
“It’s a lot of things,” Violet said. “Mary, my mother, this contest.”
“If you don’t mind my saying so,” Genevieve began, “you’ve been wildly uncomfortable since you got here.”
“That’s true,” Violet admitted.
“If you want to win the prince, be true to who you are. If he cares for you, that’s what will impress him.”
Violet closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of Richard’s lips on hers. “Unfortunately, it’s his parents I’m worried about impressing.”
Genevieve waved a hand. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m pretty sure they’re not as crazy as they appear to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“These tests all seem so frivolous. I think there’s something more going on than we know.”
“Like a test within the test?”
“Exactly.”
Violet walked over and fell back on her bed again with a groan.
“Great, as if I didn’t have enough to worry about.”
“I was trying to make you feel better,” Genevieve pointed out.
A new idea occurred to Violet, and she sat up. “Did anyone ever announce who passed the test today?”
Genevieve shook her head and sat down beside Violet on the bed. “No, the steward said we would know in the morning. Several of us were sure there hadn’t even been a test.”
“And?” Violet asked.
“It turns out we each had an audience with the queen. She showed us a special hairbrush, her maid began to brush our hair, she yanked one of the hairs from our head, and then the queen sent us on our way.”
“Me too. So, what does that mean, exactly?” Violet asked, anxious to keep her and Richard’s secret.
“I think they were testing to see who was injured by it.”
“Like Celeste,” Violet said.
“Yes. When she started making such a big deal about it, I was pretty sure that the hair pulling was the test.”
“Does anyone have any idea what to expect next?” Violet asked hopefully.
“None, so it seems.”
“So what now?” Violet asked, more to herself than to Genevieve.
“There is nothing we can do except get some rest.”
“I can’t sleep yet.” Violet sighed. “I think I’ll go for a walk in the garden.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning,” Genevieve said.
Violet crossed to the armoire and took out the black cloak she had seen in it earlier. She draped the rich fabric around her and left the room. She wasn’t completely sure where she was going, but Violet felt the need to be free of the castle walls.
Out in the gardens Violet began to walk contemplatively, breathing in the cool night air. She wandered farther than she and Genevieve had explored before. As silence stretched around her, Violet began to feel better.
What has happened to me? she wondered. Her life on the farm seemed so far away.
A sudden splash interrupted the quiet. Curious, Violet wandered deeper into the gardens, looking for the source of the sound. A wall of hedges rose on her left, looming in the dark. She touched it. It was the outer wall of the great maze that would be one of the contests during the Feasting. Violet had thought to enter the maze contest this year. Little had she guessed that she would be involved in a much more strenuous series of contests, to win not a ribbon but a husband.
Violet heard the splashing again, a little ways to her right. She turned and headed toward the sound. A few steps further on Violet found a large fountain. Standing in the middle of it was Arianna.
“Hello,” Violet said quietly.
Arianna jumped and spun around, eyes wild. But when she saw it was Violet, she relaxed slightly. “Hello,” she answered tentatively.
Violet moved closer. Arianna’s shoes were on the ground near the fountain. And Arianna stood in the middle of the pool, skirts gathered above her knees.
“I live near the ocean; I miss the water,” Arianna said, lifting her chin as if defying Violet.
“I’ve never seen the ocean. What’s it like?”
“Like … freedom,” Arianna said, closing her eyes and spinning around. “Imagine standing in the surf and looking out and seeing only water. No land in sight. Just the blue of the ocean stretching to the horizon until it meets the blue of the sky.”
“You make it sound wonderful,” Violet said.
“It is.”
“Is your mother really a mermaid?” Violet asked.
Arianna just smiled and stretched out her hand. “Join me.”
Violet knew the proper thing to do would be to decline, but what had Genevieve just said, about being true to who she really was? Who she really was really wanted to jump in the fountain.
Violet kicked off her shoes, took off her cloak, hiked up her skirts, and climbed into the fountain, gasping as the cold water hit her calves. Arianna clapped her hands and danced, spinning and twirling.
“Don’t be afraid to let your dress get wet,” she said.
“It’s not technically my dress,” Violet said.
“Even better!” Arianna laughed.
Violet couldn’t help but laugh too. “I don’t think I’m even a real princess,” she said.
“Wonderful,” Arianna said, throwing her arms toward the sky as she spun.
“Up until a couple of days ago I lived on a farm,” Violet said, spinning around herself.
“That’s amazing. What is that like?”
“I love it. Hard work, sunshine, simple food, no servants or fancy clothes that I can’t get wet,” Violet said, laughing harder as she danced in the fountain.
“Then why are you even here?” Arianna asked.
“Because I was crazy enough to fall in love with a prince. How silly is that?”
Arianna stopped spinning, and her face turned serious. “It’s not silly at all. Love is never silly. It is beautiful, terrible, unexpected, uplifting, heartbreaking. It is everything but silly.”
Violet blinked in surprise at the sudden transition. “You really are in love with a werewolf, aren’t you?”
“Descendant. It’s complicated,” Arianna said. She smiled. “But that’s love!”
An hour later Violet crept back into her room, her wet skirts heavy as she tried to hold them up off of the floor. There was a candle burning on the desk, and Genevieve was sitting up in a dressing gown, staring at her.
“Genevieve, you’re awake,” Violet said in surprise, aware that something was wrong.
Genevieve held out a parchment to her. “A dog came for you.”
“I can explain,” Violet said quickly, taking the letter from her.
“You don’t have to explain anything,” Genevieve said. “You love him; he loves you. I think that’s great.”
Violet threw her arms around her. “Thank you.”
Genevieve laughed and pushed Violet away. “You didn’t tell me you were going swimming.”
“Sorry! Next time I’ll take you with me.”
Violet pulled off her soggy dress and changed into her nightgown. “So, what did the dog’s letter have to say?”
“Once I figured out it was for you, I didn’t read any further,” Genevieve said.
When she had finished changing, Violet opened the parchment and read:
My love. Tomorrow they are testing the sensitivity of your skin, particularly your feet. You will be asked to walk across grass. The intend
ed result is that the blades of grass will cut your feet. There are some berries in the kitchen that you could use to stain the bottom of your feet so it would look like blood. Forever yours, Richard.
“How sensitive are the bottoms of your feet?” Violet asked, handing Genevieve the letter.
“Terribly sensitive. My father used to tickle them when I was a child, and I would just go crazy laughing. Why?”
“For the challenge tomorrow we will be asked to walk barefoot over the grass in expectation that it will cut our feet.”
Genevieve wrinkled her nose up. “Who would think up such a challenge?”
“Richard’s parents, apparently.”
“That doesn’t seem right to me.”
“Me either, but what can we do?”
“We can refuse,” Genevieve said.
Violet sighed. “You can, but I’m not willing to give up on marrying Richard.”
“Then it’s off to the kitchens with you,” Genevieve said, scanning the letter.
The next morning at breakfast the royal family was once again present. The king, queen, and prince all ate quickly, Violet noted, and soon Richard and his mother excused themselves. The king then stood and called for attention.
“I apologize for our absence last night. We do, however, have the results of the second test. Four of you are now out of the running and may go or stay as you wish.”
None of the princesses were girls Violet knew. The first one bounced up from the table when her name was called, unable to hide a grin. The other three rose more slowly, faces solemn. Violet heaved a sigh of relief. She was still in the competition.
“After breakfast the rest of you may assemble in the gardens,” the king announced before he, too, left the room.
“We’re going to be able to see each other compete this time,” Goldie guessed.
“What’s wrong, Arianna?” Genevieve asked.
Violet looked at the girl with the silvery hair, who sat by Genevieve. Arianna’s brow was furrowed and she looked troubled.
“Can someone explain to me what the last test was?” she asked.
“You had to feel great pain if a single hair was pulled,” another girl said.
Arianna shook her head. “I don’t think that was it.”
“Why not?” Violet asked.
Arianna looked at her. “I talked with the queen like the rest of you, and her maid brushed my hair, but I never noticed her pulling a hair.”
“Are you sure?” Violet asked sharply.
“Yes,” Arianna replied. “She brushed my hair for about five minutes, and I didn’t feel anything.”
“There must have been some mistake then,” Genevieve said slowly.
“I don’t think there’s a mistake,” Arianna said. “I think they don’t want us to know what the real tests are.”
Violet glanced over at Genevieve. “We were thinking the same thing last night,” she said.
“This is ridiculous,” Goldie countered. “Why would they go to such lengths to hide what they were doing?”
“Maybe so no one could cheat,” Violet said guiltily.
“But how? I mean, none of us are likely to tell each other what we’ve discovered. We are all competing against each other. I mean, I think I was the first one to take the silk thread test, and I didn’t tell any of you that the silk threads were right, right, left, right,” Goldie said.
“You mean left, left, right, left,” Violet corrected.
“You’re both wrong. It was left, right, left, right,” Arianna said.
“Actually, it was a trick test,” Genevieve said very quietly. “Every single thread was silk.”
Violet looked sharply at her. “Really?”
She nodded.
“Is it possible that they changed it each time, so we couldn’t get the answer from each other?” Goldie asked.
Violet shook her head. There would have been no way for Richard to accurately predict how the threads would be when it came her turn, if that were the case. “How many of you do embroidery?”
“Not me,” Goldie said.
“Or me,” Arianna answered.
“You know I do,” Genevieve said.
“So you were the only one who could have possibly told the difference between the cotton and the silk threads.”
“What does it all mean?” Goldie asked.
“It means we have no idea what the real challenges are testing us on,” Violet whispered.
There was silence for a moment as the four let that sink in.
“That changes everything,” Goldie finally said.
Around them the others were finishing breakfast and getting up from the table. “Time to head outside,” Arianna said.
Violet stood up, palming a couple of berries from her plate as she did so. The others didn’t notice, and together they left the table and headed into the gardens.
Violet showed Genevieve the berries and offered her one. The other girl shook her head. Soon they were on a grassy expanse where the other girls, Richard, his parents, the steward, and a few servants waited.
“Princesses, for this challenge we will test the sensitivity of your skin. You will remove your shoes and walk barefoot across this expanse of grass,” the steward said.
“To what end?” Arianna asked.
“We expect that the grass will cut your feet if they are delicate.”
One of the girls Violet didn’t know very well fell to the ground in a faint.
Arianna crossed her arms over her chest. “I refuse.”
“Are you afraid, my dear?” the king asked.
“No, I am not. There is no point in participating, because I already know the outcome. I swim in the ocean at home. I walk on pebbles and rocks and sand. The grass will be as nothing to my feet, and I will walk across uninjured. If you think that all true princesses bleed easily, and are soft and weak, then it is best that I withdraw now.”
Violet watched in fascination as the king and queen whispered together for a moment.
The king turned back. “We respect your choice to decline the challenge. We ask that you respect our request that you stay at least until tomorrow.”
Arianna nodded and stepped back. Violet gazed at her with admiration for having spoken up. Still, Arianna did not wish to win the competition and marry Richard, so she lost nothing by refusing the challenge.
“Who would like to go first?” the steward asked.
Genevieve stepped forward. “I will go.”
“Are your feet also strong?” the king asked.
Genevieve shook her head. “No, quite the opposite. I have never walked barefoot anywhere, and I expect to be injured.”
“You may proceed.”
Genevieve slipped off her shoes and began to walk across the grass with slow, pained steps. When she turned to walk back, Violet could see the tears rolling down Genevieve’s cheeks. Violet ran to her friend and stopped her. Violet bent and picked her up as she would a sack of grain.
“I can do it,” Genevieve protested.
“And you have done it,” Violet said, carrying her back. “The steward only said you had to walk across; he said nothing about walking back.”
When they had returned to the cluster of princesses, Violet set Genevieve down gently. The bottoms of both of Genevieve’s feet were actually bleeding.
“Why did you do this to yourself when you don’t even want to win?” Violet whispered.
Genevieve smiled and whispered back, “To take the focus off of you and what you’re about to do.”
A couple of servants rushed forward with bandages, and Violet left Genevieve to their care.
Violet stood and watched as several others crossed the grass. Several suffered some sort of injury, but none as severe as Genevieve’s. When it was Goldie’s turn, Violet watched her take off her shoes and was stunned to see her scratch the bottom of her left foot with her fingernails. By the time Goldie came limping back, blood had oozed from the wound.
Then Violet and Celest
e were the only ones left. Celeste went first, and she had barely gone two steps when she cried out and sank to the ground. Servants hurried forward to help her stand. “I can do it,” she said breathlessly. She took several more steps and then collapsed, needing to be carried back.
Violet took a deep breath. The berries were still in her hand. She looked over at Richard, who nodded encouragement. Then she looked at his parents and wondered what they possibly hoped to accomplish with such a test. Violet didn’t want to do it. It was ridiculous. She couldn’t pretend to be something she wasn’t any longer. Violet prepared to slip off her shoes and walk across the grass. She glanced over at Genevieve and hesitated. The other girl had sacrificed so that Violet would have the chance to fake her own injury and pass the test. If she refused, then Genevieve had injured herself for naught.
Violet bent, pulled off her shoes, and smashed the berries in her hand onto the bottom of each foot. Then she stood and walked as calmly as she could across the grass and back. She briefly displayed the bottom of each foot and then hastily put back on her slippers. Then she met Genevieve’s gaze, and the two shared a grim smile.
Dinner that night was brief, as many of the girls just wanted to rest from the day’s ordeal. Three more girls, including the one who had fainted before she could walk across the grass, were put out of the running. To everyone’s surprise Arianna was not one of them. This confirmed for Violet that the challenges were a pretense and not the real test. Violet still had no idea what the real tests could be; all she knew was that ten princesses and three tests were all that remained.
Violet was ready with some table scraps for Duke when he padded into the room. “Good boy,” she whispered as she took the parchment from him. He eagerly gobbled down the food she presented him. Violet sat down at the table, lit the candle, and began to read.
Violet. I can’t find out anything about tomorrow’s test. Keep your eyes open and expect anything. I’ll try to help if I can. Yours, Richard.
CHAPTER TEN
Violet barely slept, tossing and turning all night. When she awoke, she couldn’t shake the fear that had plagued her all night. This was only the fourth test of six, and she had no idea what it was, much less how to pass it.