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“Alas, even if I were free to discover where my father hid it, I doubt I could harness the Andun’s energy.” A look of savage pain flitted across Tressalara’s mobile features. She should have disobeyed her father and studied the sacred scroll without his knowledge.
“When I should have been studying the Dragonmaster’s teachings, I was out running through the woods like a wild creature. Now the kingdom will reap the harvest of my selfish folly. I must carry out my plan.”
But Elani would not be persuaded. “I have a better one. They did not discover the secret passage behind your bed. You could conceal yourself there, highness, and I would put on your gown and veiled headpiece and go to the chapel in your stead. Once the guards were gone, you could flee in disguise. Lector would not discover the ruse until the vows were exchanged and the veil lifted. You would have ample time to make your escape.”
“Yes, and let them kill you when they discover I’ve fled?” Tressalara took her lady-in-waiting’s icy hands in hers and smiled. “You are a brave and true friend to me, dear Elani. You will do both myself and the kingdom more good if you are alive.”
There was a great flapping of wings at the window, and they turned to see a large white bird fly in and settle down on the sill: Rossmine, the wild hawk that Tressalara had found wounded and nursed back to health. She had been training it as a surprise for her father. The creature was so tame now that it would feed daintily from the princess’s own hand.
Tressalara went to the casement and held out her arm, and Rossmine flew to it. The hawk settled on her wrist, curving its sharp talons so delicately that they didn’t leave a scratch. She smoothed the bird’s feathers with a light touch. “Rossmine, my fair companion in adventure, I give you your freedom. Fly free. Soar high!”
She tried to toss the bird into the blue void beyond the window, but the hawk only fluttered away and arced back to the sill, settling in stubbornly once more.
“She will not leave you,” Elani said, “any more than I will. Rossmine wants to help. If only there were some ally to whom you might send a plea, with Rossmine as your messenger! Surely there is a man somewhere in this vast kingdom who would rally the people and come to your aid.”
The hawk stretched her glorious wings and cried out piercingly:“Cador! Cador the Warrior!”But neither woman understood.
As Tressalara’s hand drew back, the gold and amethyst bracelet gleamed in the sunlight. A daring plan took rapid form in her brain. “Your words have given me an idea, Elani. It may not work, but I believe it is our only hope!”
An hour passed before Lector’s men came to escort the bride to the chapel for the marriage service. When they unbarred the door, an astonishing sight met their eyes. Elani sat in one chair before the empty hearth. The princess’s golden slippers stood empty before the opposite chair, which held only her crumpled gold wedding gown—and a large white hawk.
“Where is the Princess Tressalara?” their captain demanded.
Elani pointed mutely to the bird. Rossmine turned her noble head and eyed the soldier fiercely. They saw that the hawk wore a circle of gold and amethyst upon its head. The men’s mouths fell open in astonishment.
“What sorcery is this?” The captain gasped. “The creature wears the princess’s crown!”
“Witchcraft!” another mumbled, making a sign to ward off the evil eye.
As they milled about in confusion, Lord Lector joined them. “What is the delay? I am most impatient to claim my lovely bride.”
The soldiers parted ranks to let him enter. “The Princess Tressalara has used the power of the Andun Crystal to turn herself into a bird.”
“Idiots!” Lector pushed past them and stopped in his tracks. He would not have believed this were he not seeing it with his own eyes. The hawk hissed at him, and light winked from the carved dragon in the central amethyst upon its coronet. Lector’s tan face blanched with mingled fear and fury. He lost control.
“By God, she shall not escape me through such tricks! She is of no use to me now!”
He lunged forward, intending to grab the bird and wring its neck. Instead, Rossmine spread her mighty wings and struck him in the eye with one. Before he could protect himself, a talon raked his cheek, laying it open. Then the hawk bounded to the open casement and launched herself into the air. With a mighty screech and a flap of her powerful wings, she vanished into the clouds.
Lector held a hand to his ruined face as blood dripped hot through his splayed fingers. Hate burned in his eyes. “You will pay for this, Tressalara!” he shouted.
He rounded on his soldiers. “From this moment I declare the Princess Tressalara to be a traitoress to her country. A purse of one hundred gold coins will reward the man who finds the princess and brings her to me in chains…alive ordead!”
Elani gasped, and the captain turned toward her. “What of this serving wench?”
“Lock her in and bar the door. I have no time to deal with her now. Let her starve to death for whatever part she has played in this black magic.”
Lector and his men went out. Elani listened at the door until she was sure they were truly gone, then secured it with the bar on the inside, as Tressalara had instructed. When it was in place, she crossed to the enormous tester bed and tapped on the wall behind it.
Tressalara slid the panel open, grinning in relief. “I can’t believe he was deceived by our ruse!”
Jumping down, she pulled out an enormous length of knotted fabric. Gowns, shifts, sheets, and cloaks had all been tied into a sturdy rope. “To think I believed that learning to knot a fringe was a waste of my time.” She laughed ruefully. “Now help me tie it to the bedpost, and I will make my escape.”
The drop from the tower window to the ground outside the castle walls was precipitous. If Tressalara had not been one to delight in heights and feats of daring, it would have made her dizzy with fear. White water foamed over striated boulders. A fall would mean instant death.
They fed out the makeshift rope and saw that it came woefully short of reaching the ground. Tressalara heard her maid take in a shaky breath. “Don’t be concerned, Elani. I have done this before—in my younger days, you know.”
She bit her lip as an unexpected sting of tears made her eyes smart. How angry her father had been at her reckless disregard! And how proud of her daring.Oh, Father!She dashed her tears away. She must act now and mourn later.