KATIE
Things went back to normal.
I hadn’t seen Albert again. But at night I dreamed about him, meeting me, taking me away, just like in the Cinderella story.
In my dream dad was healed, mom never worked nights again and I…I became his forever and ever.
But the reality of the dream never came. It was only a dream.
Everything about Albert felt like a dream, even that night at the ball.
In the early morning hours, I opened the store.
Pappa had had a bad night again last night and mama had to take care of him.
So I told her to sleep in and I would take care of everything for her. Even the store.
She had made another batch of lavender sweetwater that still needed to be bottled and put on the shelf.
Ever since it came out that it was Prince Albert’s favorite, batches didn’t last as long as they used to.
Still, with all the extra money we saved up, we would never get enough money for pappa to see a Swallow Annex as each time their price went up too because we didn’t know anyone that could vouch for us.
It was as if fate didn’t want pappa to heal.
The door chimed and Maggy walked in.
As chirpy as ever she start regaling her night at the bar.
I felt sorry for her.
“So Frederick is back.” She looked at me tenderly to see the expression on my face.
“The mayor’s son.”
She nodded. “Father made me.” Tears glistened in her eyes and she pulled them back. “He told me that we should get married in the fall.”
“But you hate the fall.”
“I know,” she lifted one side of her lip.
“Maggy, you don’t have anything in common with Frederick, don’t go through with it.”
She just looked at me. “My parents are not like yours, Kate. They will never let me be.”
“I’m sorry,” I spoke softly.
A scream came from outside, followed by more screams.
I frowned looking at Maggy who was staring at the entrance. We both ran toward it as fast as our legs would carry us to see what was going on.
The cow bell chimed loudly as we pulled the door opened. Maggy ran out as I just stared from the entrance.
People were bundled up. Men had anger plastered on their faces, the women were crying, well most of them. Another group was reading a parchment that had been placed on the notice board.
Their faces were in grave horror.
“I’ll go look.” Maggy said and vanished among the people that were waiting to read the news.
Nothing was happening, so I went back inside and knew that in a few moments Maggy would tell me everything about the ridiculous announcement the king must have just made.
I thought about Albert again.
In my daydreams we talked a lot about his duties as the prince. Things he didn’t like that his father was doing.
He was so different from what I expected, but then again it was only a daydream.
He might be the total opposite of the man I met that night. But then again he did give mama the royal seal.
The door chimed once more and Maggy entered the store.
She was as pale as a ghost.
I walked out from behind the counter where I was filling tiny bottles with mother’s sweetwater, and moved toward Maggy.
“Are you okay?” I touched both her shoulders and she looked at me as tears formed in her eyes.
“Maggy what is it? What did they do now?” I started to sound more agitated.
She shook her head and lowered her gaze from me. “It’s not what they did Kate.” She looked at me again. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry, about what.” I started to feel a bit panicky.
“You should sit down, Kate.”
“No, tell me. What happened. Why are you sorry.”
“It’s Albert, he is dead.”
I should’ve sat down, but I didn’t. Now I was sitting, on the floor in the middle of the shop.
Maggy locked the door and put on the ‘be back soon’ sign.
She came to sit with me, on the floor, as my mind truly tried to process this. How could he be dead?
Tears streamed down my face and she hugged me tight as a scream left my mouth.
“I’m so sorry,” she kept saying trying to hold me together as I felt like I was breaking apart.
I cried for a long time and finally my sobs calmed down.
“What happened,” I finally managed to croak out.
“It was an acid spitter. He…” she shook her head.
“Those stupid Chromatics. They are so vile.” I said through gritted teeth.
“Kate, they say that King Louis isn’t himself. Nobody knows what is going to happen.”
“When did this happen?” I didn’t care about King Louis.
“Two days ago.”
“Two days ago, and they only sent us word today.”
“Eikenborough is far from the palace, their riders only reached us this morning. I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying you are sorry.” I started crying again.
She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tighter.
A knock came at the door and Maggy looked up. “Your mother is here.” She got up, leaving me on the floor, and went to the entrance to open the door.
My mother’s voice filled the shop. “What on earth…”
“An announcement was posted on the notice board today. Prince Albert was killed by an acid spitter.”
My mother gasped and I could feel her eyes on me.
Her footsteps rushed over to me and then her arms hugged me tightly.
“I’m so sorry Kate. I know how you felt about him, sweetheart.”
I didn’t know what to say when I looked at her. There was nothing to say.
Everything was over. Everything. Even my dreams.
ALBERT
The plan worked. I was brought immediately to the militia that Robert had recruited. They were stationed deep in the mountains far away from the dragon village in a forest.
The militia were already creating a secret compound, base camp, we called it, deep in the forest of Aeken woods. It was protected by dragon magic and only another dragon would be able to detect it.
What made it a great hiding spot for our rebellion was that there were plenty of superstitions about these woods. Everyone believed them and we used them to scare away any intruders. The villagers believed that once you stepped foot inside the forest, you could never leave.
They had crafted a safe place for us in the forest, among the trees, close to a mountain that would provide cover and block most of the wind during the winter.
War was messy and time consuming. This one was not going to be different.
There were a few platforms in the trees. They looked like boxes made of wood. Sleeping quarters and more were being built each day.
When I entered with Robert, I saw many shifters were among the militia. I looked at Robert.
“It isn’t just dragons that I have recruited my prince. Many of the shifters feel the same way about the Chromatics and that they don’t have a voice either. They hope that you will use this fight not just for the Chromatics, but for all life in Paegeia.”
I smiled at Robert. “You really know me so well. I need you to get word to Delilah as fast as you can Robert. Give her this,” I gave him my handkerchief, the one she had made me by hand. It was dear to my heart. “Tell her the truth of who you are and about all this and I’m trying to do, but please don’t get caught. I can’t do this without you.”
“You have my word, your dragon mother will know the truth about you before this day is over.”
“Thank you Robert.”
Everyone that was here came toward me, touching me on my shoulders and every other place they could find. Finally we reached what I assumed was the beginning construction of a main building. It looked like a log house. Parts of it were already in place, but they were making it bigger.
The doors closed behind us after Robert told them that I would address them in a few hours. I just needed some rest.
“You’ve really been busy.”
“Well, with all the money you kept giving us, I had to put it to great use.”
I laughed. In a few weeks, Helmut would join me. Then a few months later, Caleb. Gordan was the one that had to give us intel from my father’s side and recruit in secret his best men to fight with us, for our cause.
“I need news, Robert. Did it work, how are Helmut and the others holding up with the plan?”
“Helmut faked an injury. I assume Connie was called.”
“I wish you would stop calling me your lord and your prince. I just died Robert. So just Albert from now on. We are equals till the very end. You know that.”
He smiled.
“You need your rest. I’ll be back later tonight with any news. Siegfried is in charge when I’m not here, he will look after you Albert.” He smiled softly before turning on his heels and exiting through the door. I walked to the bed and fell on it.
My mind wandered again. Not to my mother or father. By now word would’ve reached Eikenborough and my fair lady would have heard the grave news.
How would she take it?
My greatest regret was that the plan involving her didn’t work.
The plan had been to find her, because she held the greatest possession after all — my heart.
I had wanted to tell her about the plan and convince her to act heart broken, if she cared for me the way I cared for her.
What was she going through? How was she handling the news of my death?
The only great thing that happened through this plan was that I was finally free of Drizelda. Maybe she would be given away in marriage to someone else.
I could only hope.
