Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George [59]
Still, even Petunia wore a ballgown, though suitably high necked, and her hair was in loose curls rather than pinned up like her older sisters’. As Galen followed Petunia and her escort into the palace he shuddered, thinking about the king’s intent to marry the princesses to his hard-faced sons. Petunia would be perhaps fourteen or fifteen when she married her prince, and that was only if the king waited until their years of servitude were finished.
The cold-eyed courtiers clapped, the princesses curtsied, and the ball began in earnest. Galen watched the dancing for a while, but then he felt thirsty. As a servant whisked by, Galen snatched a silver goblet from the man’s tray and quickly concealed it within his cape. Galen carried it over to one corner where he was partially hidden by a drape and drank thirstily. Then he put the goblet, which was of strange workmanship, into the pouch at his belt. Another souvenir for King Gregor, he thought.
When Pansy begged to sit out a dance, Galen sat beside her once more. As though sensing his presence, she began looking around, even lifting her pink skirts to stare under her chair.
“Are you there, spirit?” she asked finally.
“I am here,” Galen said in a hollow voice.
“Why?”
“I want to help you.”
“Oh.”
“Tell me, Princess, how did your mother find the King Under Stone?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did he come to her, or did she come here, to make their bargain?” Trying to talk in a ghostly voice strained Galen’s throat, and he wished for something more to drink.
“She came here,” Pansy answered readily. “Rose says that’s how the silver forest got made. The first time Mother came, she dropped her brooch. It was a silver cross with laurel leaves around it that her godfather gave her. The next night it grew into a forest.” She grimaced. “I tried to grow a tree out of my garnet ring once, but it didn’t work,” she added.
“I see.” Galen paused. A forest of silver that grew from a cross? No wonder the twigs he had taken felt powerful. His hands still tingled faintly from knitting with them. “Can the princes come through the gate any time they want? How do they get to the surface? Surely not by your golden staircase?”
Pansy’s brow wrinkled. “No, the princes can only come at night. I don’t know how, though. They came to the garden one night, when Papa locked us in our rooms. But the next night, they could barely dance. They hate the forest. When Rose was sick she fainted, and Prince Illiken carried her to the gate. He looked ill, too, by the time we got to the stairs. Petunia threw up that night, and Lily had to carry her all the way from the boats. Petunia’s partner, Prince Kestilan, didn’t want to do it because she smelled nasty.” Pansy giggled.
Galen laughed with her, choking it off when Rose and Lily and their suitors came over to the chairs. They all smiled vaguely at Pansy.
“What’s so funny, Pan?” Rose smoothed Pansy’s tousled curls. “Who have you been talking to?”
Galen leaned close to Pansy’s ear and whispered; “Sssh-hhh,” as quietly as he could.
“No one,” Pansy said, slipping off her chair. “I know; I have to keep dancing.” And she went off to find her suitor in better spirits than Galen had ever seen her.
“What’s gotten into her?” Lily mused.
“I don’t know,” Rose said, thoughtful.
She looked right at the spot where Galen was sitting, and he felt a chill run up his arms. Even though she was looking through him, he sensed that she knew he was there. He reached out a tentative finger and touched the back of her hand. Her fingers twitched, but she did not jump or cry out; instead a small smile curved her mouth.
“We must dance,” Prince Illiken said, and he led her away.
“One more night,” Galen whispered when they had gone away. “One more night, and then I will get you out of this place. And your sisters, too.”
Galen watched the rest of the ball without speaking, although several times both Rose and Pansy tried to linger near the chairs where he sat. He rode in Lily’s boat as they went back across the lake, Galen’s added weight confusing her suitor and giving