A Game of Crowns

“Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.”

-Rick Riordan

My eyes opened to see a bright pink sky and what seemed to be two moons fading, making room for the day. The roaring of a fast-moving river could be heard but not seen.

Where was I?

My fingers curled around clumps of dirt. I stood up and tried to brush off as much as I could. It was cold here and my near nakedness surprised me. I wore the underclothes I had fallen asleep in. I gasped realizing where I was. My hand automatically went to the small stone that hung between my breasts; a sigh of relief escaped me.

Dirt clung to my body no matter how much I worked to sweep it away. I wrapped my arms around my torso and hoped it would be enough to keep me warm. Who was I kidding? It was freezing.

About a hundred yards to the left of where I woke up was a forest with an obvious trail. To the right lay, a field of poppy’s as far as the eye could see.

I chose the trail that led into the forest. I couldn’t stay out in the open. With every step I took, the roar of the river grew louder. It was obvious where this trail would lead.

How was I supposed to get out of here?

When I finally reached the river, it was surprisingly calm. It was as if someone put a spell on the raging crystal clear waterway. Stepping closer to the edge of the river I stared into its depths and noticed something.

A chill went down my spine and it had nothing to do with the temperature. About three feet in and two feet below the river were two bodies encased in textured glass.

Two women slept in the glass tombs. The first was a pale woman whose blonde tresses were the whitest I’d ever seen. On her head, she wore a crown of thorns. Her blonde locks snaked into a braid that hung at her neck. Her thin lips appeared to be frozen into a grimace. The other woman was a dark-skinned beauty with tight, curly, black hair. A crown of shimmering stars glittered on her head.

I walked as close to the edge as possible but I couldn’t see a way to release them. I knew who these women were and I needed to save them before I was pulled back to my bed.

“Penelope?” asked a shocked voice.

I spun around to find Tobias staring at me with wide eyes. My eyes widened in response while my arms rushed to cover my body. Tobias was here too. I wasn’t alone.

I let my arms drop as I ran to him. His arms caught me as I collided roughly with his chest. “I’m so glad I’m not here alone,” I whispered.

He ran his hands up and down my arms trying to warm me up. He pulled back a bit to take me in and his eyebrows creased. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the moonstone pendant that laid near my heart. Taking off his shirt he handed it to me gently.

I eagerly put it on. The smell of his bath soaps invaded my nose and it took me back to our first dance. I shook my head. Now was not the time.

The hem of his shirt landed mid-thigh, not covering much, but it was as if he’d given me a fur coat. The shirt warmed my skin and provided a sense of security.

His bare chest sent my mind to the gutter. Memories of my hands running across his perfectly contoured torso flashed before me. The smirk on Tobias’s face was smug. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

“Come. I want to show you what I found,” I said, directing him towards the river.

He followed quickly. We couldn’t forget where we were. The raging river continued to rumble but the area around the tombs continued to be uncannily calm.

Tobias gaped at the two figures of the naked women encased in the glass. It miffed me that the sight of another woman’s body caused such as stupid reaction from him. He could have at least averted his eyes instead of gawking once he noticed their state of undress.

“Well, now we know where Xandra’s two sisters have disappeared to. Now how are we supposed to find this, once we crossover?”

“I don’t know,” I said shrugging my shoulders.

I neared the edge of the river again watching their sleeping forms. They seemed so peaceful encased in their cocoons.

I yelped and fell back, surprised when they opened their eyes.

Tobias helped me off the ground. “What happened?”

“They’re awake. I think.”

I ambled closer, trying to get a better view. Reflective eyes stared back at me and held my gaze. My very soul stared back.

These mirror eyes showed me the future under Xandra’s rule. Death, destruction, and despair ran unchecked. Families were broken, the land unfertile, and an unknown amount of the dead laid in in the fields of Iron Forge. The other two territories weren’t doing much better but they still fought.

The eyes showed me my home. Our two-bedroom house was burnt to the ground and smoke continued to rise from the ashes. In a pile laid my mother, my father, and Thomas. Their hearts yanked out of their chest. I yelled and yelled until I could yell no more.

I could hear Tobias screaming my name but nothing seemed to be able to pull me out of the Priestess’s grasp. My fingers found my hair and began to pull. Vision after vision assaulted me.

Just when I thought I could take no more the pendant pulled me back. I knew I was in my bed but I continued to thrash around, unable to voice the horror I could still feel within. I was mute.

I don’t know how long it went on before someone tore into my bedroom. I could hear my door being tossed open and voices calling my name.

Someone pulled off the covers and I was grateful but the slight coolness did nothing to soothe my burning body.

“Penelope,” cried Tobias. I knew it was him but my mind would not release me. My eyes could not see. His hands cupped my face roughly but I continued to flail around.

“Move,” said a rough voice.

‘Rowan!’ my mind cried out.

“Be still, moonstone. I’ve got you.” He cradled me in his arms.

“What do you think you’re doing,” growled Tobias.

Rowan said nothing.

The knob of my shower squeaked. Cold water gushed onto my face and body, drenching me in seconds. His velvety voice sang a song that called to my soul. The beautiful language coaxed me out of the dark corners of my mind.

I slowly peeled open my eyes. My ragged breathing subsided when I saw his celestial eyes trained on mine.

“Rowan,” I breathed.

“Sshh. It’s okay, moonstone. Rest,” he said softly.

My body relaxed and my eyes fluttered shut.

***

“Rowan?” I mumbled.

My eyes slowly opened. Grey eyes met steely blue ones.

“No, It’s Tobias.”

I smiled up at him but he didn’t return it. I fidgeted a bit beneath my covers.

“My lady, you’re awake!” breathed a relieved Georgiana.

“Hi,” I murmured.

She moved Tobias from his seat beside my bed. Her hand flew from my cheek to my forehead. “Your fever is gone. If it hadn’t been for Rowan you might have died.”

Hmm, she was calling him Rowan. I smiled internally. It took a lot for Georgiana to warm up to someone. She was still so proper with me. It was always my lady or Miss Tate, very rarely Penelope.

She crinkled her nose at me as if she knew what I was thinking. I let my eyes wander back to Tobias who watched me warily. I tried smiling at him again and this time he softened. He took a hold of my hand before saying goodbye.

“I’ll be back. I have some things I need to take care of with Killian,” he said with a small smile on his face.

I nodded.

Georgiana and I watched him exit the room. She took his seat.

“Do you have anything you’d like to tell me?” she grinned.

“What are you getting at, Georgiana?”

Her eyebrows wiggled up and down. “You know what? Rowan.”

“What about him?”

“Don’t be exhausting, Penelope.”

I laughed ridiculously hard at her words. Never had she been intentionally rude to me. It was a breath of fresh air. I sat up and pulled off my covers. I wore a simple, white, spaghetti strap nightgown.

“I put it on for you. You fell asleep in your underclothes again. Then you were soaked from the shower Mr. Rowan gave you,” she said blushing for me.

My mind snapped to the vague memory. I remembered him carrying me and I remembered water. I blushed knowing he’d seen me with so little clothes.

“How did he know to come?” I asked her.

“Mr. Carter told him you needed him and they both came running. Miss Opal is the new Guardian for the wing and she notified me of the situation.”

Opal knew of the situation...How much of it did she know? She did well with us on the second trial but that didn’t mean I trusted her completely.

Georgiana’s next words caught my attention. “I like him. I know Tobias is Killian’s best friend and then there’s the game but I like Rowan,” she said shyly.

Her brown eyes twinkled with her words. She finally looked away and began cleaning up the mess on my vanity. “So, you missed out on Madame Lorelle’s announcement today.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“One trial has been cut from the competition due to unexpected downsizing. Pairings are about to be named tomorrow at a ball in honor of the participants and their families.”

My eyes widened and my mouth opened and closed without a word being said.

She continued, “Your family is on their way. They should arrive tomorrow around noon and will be staying for two days.”

Her kind smile lit up her face. She knew how much I missed them.

“My family,” I whispered.

She nodded enthusiastically.

“If you’re up for it, wardrobe would like you to try on some dresses.”

Her bright smile was hard to say no to.

“Sure, Georgiana.”