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“Sir Malek?” I mumble. “No.”
“We must restore the kingdom before that happens,” Sir Victor continues. “If Malek is named regent and seated, it will be hard to dethrone him. We have to restore you now, Milla.”
I nod and move to the window, needing a moment to process his words. He gives me a few moments of silence and then joins me.
He touches my shoulder and I turn to face him. “Milla, I need to know if you are willing to take your rightful place on the throne. We must make haste. We cannot allow Malek to rule Timberness. His evil has no boundaries. He would be the death of us all.”
I touch his arm and he winces.
“Sir Victor, are you all right?”
“What say you, princess?” he says, ignoring my concern.
I look him full in the face. “I am Princess Milla of House Starling, the daughter of Queen Millicent and Sir Waylen, granddaughter of King Girard and Queen Isabel. I am the rightful heir and future queen of Timberness, and I will fight to restore my rightful place on the throne. I will need a general for my army. What say you, Sir Victor?”
Victor drops to one knee and lowers his head. “I swear my allegiance to Princess Milla and recognize no other king or queen. My knee shall bend only to you, and I will lead your army to victory. God save the princess.”
“Thank you, good sir. I name thee Sir Victor, High General of the Starling army and defender of the realm.”
He stands. “Thank you, Princess. I will not fail you. I must go now. I need to let the others in the resistance know your intentions. They will be more than pleased, and they will pledge their loyalty to you, I swear it. I must meet with the priests on the morrow. Once we have them on our side, we will present your claim to the villagers. I have no doubt we will meet with their full support.”
I smile. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am certain of it,” he says, although his hands give him away. I can see the slight trembling in them. “Princess, I will need the letter from your mother. I must show it to the priests. I will keep it safe, I swear it on my life.”
“I understand, and trust you will,” I say. “Let me get it for you.”
I know he must show the letter to the priests, but my heart is breaking. I have just found my mother, and now I must let her go again, if even for a little while, and it aches me to my core.
“Here you are, Sir Victor.” I place the letter in his outstretched hand.
“Thank you, princess. It is of the utmost importance that you remain here with the door locked until I come for you. We must keep you safe.”
“I understand,” I reply. “And I will stay put.”
He nods and retrieves his coat, gloves, and hat from in front of the fireplace, and his father’s journal from the table. “I’ll take my leave now. I will see you on the morrow. Godspeed, princess.”
“Godspeed.”
I lock the door when he leaves and watch him through the window as he makes his way back to town, slithering low to the ground as to not attract attention from the guards. I back away from the window when he is out of sight. I sink to my knees and let out the cries I’ve been holding in. This is not a wish or a dream. I am the princess, the heir to the throne, and I will have to fight King Urich to reclaim my kingdom and restore my family.
And our kingdom’s magic.
I pour myself a cup of ale and sit at the table again. I know I should be sleeping, but there will be time for that later. I take a hearty swig of ale and think of Jordy. I wish I could run to the bakery now, tell him all the things that have transpired… But then I recall the last time I saw him, Treena’s mouth on his lips and my heart in pieces.Why did he break myheart?
I pull Gram’s match from my chemise and mutter into the air, “You knew this day would come, didn’t you, Gram? Are you watching me now? Please come when I need you. Stay true to your word.”
I kiss Gram’s match and shove it back in my chemise. I finish the ale and make my way to the bedroom, knowing that I should try to find some rest. I sit on the bed and retrieve a match and flintstone from the bedside table. I strike the match and watch the flame.
“I wish to best King Urich and restore my kingdom. Sir Malek be damned.”
I blow out the flame before it reaches my fingers. I smile when the thought hits me.I woke up in the morn a match girl, and I go to my slumber aprincess.
CHAPTER 19
It took some convincing, but Sir Victor was able to get the priests to agree that I am the rightful heir, the only true princess in Timberness. The journal wasn’t a high selling point, but the letter from my mother was indisputable, even though two of the priests still tried to argue a bit. Sir Victor had to bring an elder priest to my cottage tosee this so-called princess for himself. He is a man who watched my mother grow up. He was grumbling when he walked through my door but showering me with blessings upon his exit. He said I am a vision of my mother. The elder priest made no haste in speaking to the constable and the village patrol, informing them that I am indeed the blood-born princess and it would be a sin against God and the church to oppose me. It is good to now have God and the law on my side.
The villagers are assembling in the town hall at nightfall, under the guise that the king is imposing a new tax and all not in attendance will be picked up by the patrol. Sir Victor will be here soon to escort me there. My stomach is filled with broken-winged butterflies that are looping instead of flying. What if the villagers revolt and never accept me as their princess?
