Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler

Author:Diane Zahler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

9

The Fire:

And What Was Destroyed

Mother!” Liam cried from downstairs, his voice joyful, and I heard Riona echo him: “Mother! You’ve returned!”

I lay limp with relief on the dusty floor beneath the bed. I could not move. The rush of fear and then its disappearance had left me utterly weakened. Even when I heard Liam dash up the staircase and open the door to the bedchamber, I could not stir.

“Meriel?” he said, confused when he did not see me. Then he bent down, and his face came into view.

“What on earth are you doing?” he asked, his blue eyes amused. “Is this a time for hide-and-seek?”

I scowled at him, willing my trembling limbs to push me out. Then I saw understanding in his face.

“Ah,” he said in sympathy. “You thought it was the queen. No wonder you were frightened! But it is just our mother, home at last, kicking at the door because she had no hand free to open it.”

I was not frightened in the least, I retorted crossly, my pride giving me the strength to crawl from my hiding place. I stirred up dust as I moved, and it made me sneeze violently. The stoat sneezed as well, and Liam started to laugh as I struggled to stand. “We are not the best housekeepers,” he admitted. “Especially when Mother is away.”

I ignored him as I brushed the dust from my skirt, trying to preserve what remained of my dignity. When the stoat and I both sneezed again, though, I started to laugh with Liam, keeping my giggles silent as my shoulders heaved. It felt so good to be merry, after all the days of work and worry!

Finally Liam wiped his eyes and bent to pick up the stoat, which was grooming the dust off its shiny fur. “Come down and meet Mother,” he said, placing the stoat on his shoulder. “She knows all about you and is very eager to make your acquaintance.”

Knows all about me? How? I asked him, following him down the narrow stair.

“Well, she’s a witch, Meriel,” he pointed out, and I had to suppress another laugh.

In the main room, Liam and Riona’s mother was bustling about, plumping up a cushion here, straightening a curtain there. She stopped when she saw me and came forward to take my hands in hers. She was a short, round woman with the same dark curls and azure eyes as her children. Her dress, like her daughter’s, was undyed linen, and she wore a string of aromatic herbs around her neck. The pockets of her apron were stuffed with dried plants, and a lovely scent of sage and lavender rose from her. Her cheeks were red from the cold, but her hands were warm, and her greeting was warmer still.

“Princess Meriel, welcome to our home!” she exclaimed. “I am Brigh, the mother of these two wild things.” She motioned to Riona and Liam, who made faces of embarrassment. “Your Highness, I met your governess on the road to Corbrack. We had a quick cup of tea at an inn there, and spoke of your troubles.

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