Once Upon a Castle - Jill Gregory [114]
Tressalara reached out to touch the dome of rock crystal that held a jeweled amulet in the center of the sword’s hilt. A shock ran up her arm. She stared at the jewel. The glowing opalescent stone in the pommel shone with familiar blue and green and gold lights. It was surely one of the missing pieces of the Andun Crystal.
Besides the original, only one other was known to exist—and its whereabouts were unknown. Tressalara’s eyes widened for just an instant before she recovered herself: she was very aware of the sharp edge of Cador’s sword inches from her hand and had no doubt that the wrong word now would send it arcing in her direction. She fixed her eyes on the crystal, noticing the ancient symbols carved into its surface:
“Do you, Trev, swear that you will never reveal the location of this camp, nor the names of these brave men and women who have gathered to free Amelonia from the hand of tyranny?”
“I so swear!”
“Rise, then, and keep your oath under pain of death.” Cador sheathed his sword. “Nidd, show the newcomer around camp. After he sees to the horse.”
A sullen boy stepped forward, eyeing Tressalara warily. Along with half the camp, he’d already heard tales of this slender youth’s quick thinking and extraordinary riding abilities from Brand. In the course of an evening, Trev had won the unqualified approval of Cador, something he himself had not yet earned. And, he thought woefully, his own fear of horses could not be gainsaid.
“This way,” he said curtly, and Tressalara followed, leading the mighty black gelding as if it were a lamb.
Several of the young ladies in camp eyed the two as they crossed to where the horses were kept. Among them was Ulfin, the pretty girl Nidd worshiped from afar. Trev would easily capture her admiration, just as he had done with Cador. Gloom descended over Nidd. He would have to find a way to put this upstart Trev in his place, once and for all.
An idea formed in his mind, but he would have to wait until Cador was gone to put it into action. Meanwhile, he could sow a few seeds as the opportunity arose. He wandered off, leaving Tressalara while she watered and rubbed down the black gelding, then returned to show her the layout of the camp.
The rumor that Princess Tressalara was missing had made its way from one end of the encampment to the other, and opinion was equally divided. Many thought she was hiding somewhere within the castle precincts; the others were sure that she was dead, either by Lector’s hand or her own.
Tressalara was cheered at the size of the rebel forces. “Lector’s men are better armed,” she told her companion, “but your numbers are higher than I would have expected to have gathered together so quickly.”
“Once Cador agreed to join forces with Brand, they came from every cot and farm. There are no fiercer fighters from the mountains to the great sea!” Nidd put on his most important-sounding voice. “Cador said his victory would be assured if he could just get his hands on the princess.”
Tressalara’s heart sank at those ominous words. She lapsed into silence while Nidd rattled on, thankful that she had not given in to impulse and revealed herself to the handsome highlander. It seemed that she’d jumped from the griddle straight into the hearth fire.
But later that night, sleeping on a rug at the foot of Cador’s camp bed, she comforted herself. No one was likely to look for her among this ragged band of rebels. As long as she kept her identity secret she was safe here. As safe as she could be from everything except her own emotions.
She listened to the sounds of his breathing. Was he still awake? The urge to confide in him was strong; yet she must trust no one until she had reason to be sure of their loyalty. It seemed that Cador had his own eye upon the throne. If she remembered rightly, he had been outlawed for trying to overthrow his cousin, the Duke of Morania.
And, now that she thought of it, the oath he’d made her swear had been to him and to his people. There had been no mention of loyalty or duty to