Marigold and Eldy both stare at each other, then practically sprint out of the room, trying to muscle each other out of the way to get through the door faster.
Their words echo after them: “Your coffee is like swill, woman!”
“At least my coffee doesn’t give people the runs for three days after.”
When their arguing is far enough away, I shut the door and raise a brow at Astrid. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ez drink coffee.”
“Yeah, well, they needed something to keep them busy.” Her red eyes shine with mirth.
I chuck her a muffin then pour us each two cups of tea: one from each teapot. “So, what’s the story?”
“I’ve only witnessed the end of it myself, but from what I can gather, Marigold and Eldy had a sweeping love story back when they both served here in Spring.”
I widen my eyes. “A torrid love affair?”
“That’s what Marigold told me.” Astrid takes a long slurp from one cup. “Both Marigold and Eldy were offered service under High Prince Ezryn when he went to live at Castletree. Eldy felt like he couldn’t leave Prince Thalionor after Princess Isidora’s death, while Marigold wanted to stay close to Ezryn.”
“So, the distance tore them apart?”
Warm sunlight drifts from a window carved in the rock, making Astrid’s hair shimmer. “On the contrary, at that point, the way was open between Spring and Castletree, and their love only grew. In fact, Marigold thought perhaps a wedding would be on the horizon.”
“No!” I gasp, crumbs flying from my stuffed mouth.
“Oh, yes. At this point, I’d come to Castletree under service to Keldarion, so I can tell you with certainty, Marigold was absolutely smitten. She left one evening to go on an extended leave in Spring, as they were to travel together through the realms. The plan was to meet Eldy here at Hammergarden.”
“Well, what happened?”
Astrid shakes her head sadly. “He never showed. She waited and waited and waited, but he was nowhere to be found.”
“Cold feet,” I murmur.
“I guess. But here’s the thing. Marigold returned to Castletree that night.” Astrid squeezes her eyes shut. “The same night the Enchantress came and cursed us all.”
My chest tightens, and my teacup clatters to the saucer. “If Eldy had showed, she wouldn’t have been at Castletree.”
“She never would have been cursed,” Astrid confirms.
I drift to the window, looking out at the courtyard of the keep, covered in cherry blossom petals. “All these years as a raccoon, she’s probably blamed him.”
“And perhaps he wonders why he never saw her again.” Astrid shrugs. “Whatever the case, their hearts are closed to one another.”
I lean my head against the cold stone. This curse hasn’t just destroyed the lives of the princes, but the staff, too. If Ezryn were to find his mate, he could free Marigold. Perhaps she could regain her happiness. The happiness she deserves.
My thoughts drift to Ezryn and his brother. Thinking of the way Kairyn spoke to him in the throne room sends a chill up my spine. Ezryn has returned to his home to find his father deathly ill, his resources stolen by goblins, and his brother making a play for the stewardship. All of this on top of needing to find his mate …
The tangled light I saw in his chest while we were in Autumn flashes in my mind. If only I could whisper into his heart and unravel those threads one by one.
I could do it, I think. I know I could.
But these thoughts are dangerous. My heart already feels like it shattered yesterday. Oh Rosalina, you’re so selfish.
“Are you okay, Rosie?” Astrid asks.
I run a hand along the soft skin of my left wrist. “Yeah, I’m okay. But I need to find Ezryn.”
22
Rosalina
I follow the winding path through the cavernous halls of Keep Hammergarden, counting doorways and turns until I’m standing before a set of beautifully carved oak doors. Last night, Ez gave Dayton and me instructions on where his chamber was located, but this place is a maze. It’s as if a castle, a forest, and a cave were combined.
Oh well. If this is the wrong room, what’s the worst that could happen?
That terrifying masked man could answer, I think. Kairyn, Ezryn’s brother. Everything about him sets me on edge. Before I lose my nerve, I rap my knuckles on the door.
“Who is it?”
A breath of relief floods out of me at the sound of Ezryn’s muffled voice. “Rosalina.”
There’s a beat of silence, then: “Come in.”