"Don't tell anyone else Poppy, promise me."

She nodded and dried her tears. "And don't worry, it'll be OK. I promise you it will." I couldn't think how it would be OK but I had to trust.

Shoulders trembling, sniffing into her handkerchief, Poppy left the room. I scoffed down some bread and cheese, feeding the crumbs to my dove-friend on the balcony, and swallowed some apple juice. I had to get back to the Dancing Hall fast. I was already late.

When I entered the Hall there was something different. Just inside the door stood another of the Skaliff guards, wearing armour and carrying a sword. This one had long red hair. Lady Bellina was holding a bamboo cane, about as long as her arm. She looked very uneasy. Yet again, she wouldn't meet my eye. I was instantly wary. My breathing quickened.

"Princess Annifer," her voice trembled, her eyes fixed on my elbow. "Lord Skarp enquired after your progress at lunchtime. When I told him you were having difficulty mastering the Crosstainian Wedding Dance, he instructed me to . . . er . . . to use the cane on you when you make a mistake. He . . . said you would learn more quickly. Apparently this is the method they use in Skaliff with the royal children and it's most effective. The guard is here to . . . ensure I'm doing it properly."

Her eyes dropped to the floor. Lady Bellina was strict but not cruel. I knew she would hate hitting me but I also knew I couldn't protest. Skarp had punished Davin by hurting Petros. He'd punish me by hurting Kriston. I clenched my jaw.

"We'll start at the beginning. You remember: Into the circle then step, step, hop, turn, jump, jump, clap, clap, clap. " She nodded encouragingly, her eyes willing me to get it right but my head was in a scramble from all the events of the day. I'd never been good at telling left from right and soon I was turning the wrong way or hopping on the wrong foot, sometimes even facing completely the wrong direction. Lady Bellina shot furtive glances at the guard and tried to ignore my errors but when it was clear I didn't know what I was doing, she shouted "Stop!" took a deep breath, aimed the cane at my legs and closed her eyes.

Thwack! It came down on my calf. She'd hit me as lightly as she could but the sharp stinging pain tore through my body. Lady Bellina swallowed, her face contorted as if she was the one in pain. I could see her hands were shaking.

"Once again, Princess," she said, gently. "We'll take it more slowly this time."I tried to concentrate but the dance was so complicated and unpredictable, by the end of the lesson, my legs were red and throbbing from the cane.

I limped up the staircase back to my room. There was a little time before I had to dress for dinner so I poured a bowlful of cold water and soaked my burning feet in it. My whole body ached from dancing all day. I closed my eyes and fell into a doze. A while later I was awakened by raindrops falling on my head. It took me a second to realise that they weren't raindrops at all. Poppy was brushing my hair and her silent tears were falling on my head. I didn't know which was worse: the tears or the silence. They were both so unlike Poppy. Sasha was weaving in and out of her legs, rubbing her head against them and purring loudly. I knew what would cheer her up. Without opening my eyes I began.

"Many years ago, when unicorns grazed in the Great Forest . . ." Poppy loved the old tales. She let out a little chuckle, sniffed twice and the rain stopped.

When she had finished, my hair was braided with pink ribbons and a diamond tiara sat on my brow. "Why don't you pick a dress for me to wear tonight, Poppy?" I knew exactly which one she'd pick - the long pink silk gown with the lacy cuffs, puffy sleeves and bows on the front. It was my least favourite. The cuffs dug into my wrists and the bodice was so tight I could barely breathe but Poppy loved it and I needed to make her happy.

She squeezed me into the gown and squealed with delight as she pulled her favourite pieces out of my jewellery box. When I was decorated to her satisfaction, with what I considered to be far too much jewellery, she grinned proudly.

"Oh Annifer! You look just like a real princess!" I didn't bother explaining that I was a real princess and always had been. Much as she loved me, Poppy couldn't hide the fact that she thought I made a pretty poor job of being a "real princess". I chuckled and kissed her on the forehead.

"Goodnight Poppy and don't worry. It's going to be OK."

Uncomfortably in this too tight dress, I walked down the staircase and along the corridor to the Banqueting Hall. Outside stood two more armed guards. Suddenly they were everywhere. This was not a good sign. I took my seat at the head of the ladies' table and immediately had to stand up again as the royal group (of which I was no longer a member) entered. I'd been looking forward to seeing Kriston all day but when I did, my stomach swooped as if I'd missed a step coming downstairs. His face was the colour of ashes, there were dark circles under his eyes and he was stooped over, staggering rather than walking. He straightened up when he saw me, and forced a smile but I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. Goddess protect him!

When they sat, we sat too. Kris was at the other end of the Royal Table so I could hardly see him. He was obscured by Skarp, who surveyed the room with his icy stare. Lady Beatrix and Uncle Ivan were in the best of spirits. Faces flushed and shiny, they were talking much too loudly and toasting themselves with their silver goblets.

"To you, my dearest darlingest husbandy wusbandy!" Beatrix simpered, pinching Ivan's cheek between her thumb and forefinger.

"To you, my most beloved wifey . . . er . . . wifey?" They chinked their goblets and raised them to their lips. Ivan took a great swig of wine which he promptly sprayed over the Royal Table as he collapsed in a fit of drunken giggles.

The servants placed plates of pigeon pie in front of us. By now all my hunger had left me. I lifted a tiny forkful to my mouth, never taking my eyes off my suffering brother.

Suddenly Kris clutched his stomach and let out a cry of pain. I shot to my feet and ran behind the Royal Table towards him. Just as I drew level with Skarp a pair of leather-gloved hands caught me by the arms. The guard pulled me back, his fingers digging into my flesh. Lord Skarp swung around in his seat and looked me straight in the eye. A shiver went through me. It was like looking at a snake. Sickly sweet he hissed,

"No need to worry Princess. Your brother just has a touch of indigestion. Hosta will escort him back to his rooms and take care of him."

Thank God for that! I'd known Doctor Hosta all my life; he'd cared for me through my childhood illnesses. He'd make sure no harm came to Kriston. But as he stood up and came towards us, I saw he lowered his bald head and avoided my eyes. He looked at the floor with a guilty air. He had a new rose coloured crystal on a chain around his neck, much larger and finer than the one he always used to wear. Hosta was extremely fond of jewels. Every time he came to my room to treat me for a cold or a headache, he would always ask to look in my jewellery box. When I said of course, he would hold each gem up admiringly, eyes narrowed in delight, watching as it caught the light and reflected rainbows onto my bedroom wall.

"All the doctors of Tarth wear a crystal around their necks as a symbol of the profession," he'd told me." They say in times long ago, they were used for healing. They were said to contain healing energy. Nowadays of course, we don't believe all that but we still wear a crystal to show we're doctors."

Had Skarp bribed Hosta so that he would only pretend to treat Kriston but actually just let him get worse and worse? I couldn't believe it of him. He wouldn't do that to our family. But as he took Kris by the arm and helped him up, I saw him shoot a terrified glance at Skarp. His hand went involuntarily to the other thing he wore around his neck. It was a locket. Inside there was a picture of his only son Bennil, he'd shown it to me many times. That was it! Skarp had threatened to hurt Bennil. Oh God! I couldn't rely on Hosta to help Kriston either.

As the doctor helped my brother to his feet, he accidentally knocked over Kriston's silver goblet. The water spilled out over the table and onto the floor. It was then that I saw that the inside of the goblet had tarnished and turned black. Before I could think further, Skarp spoke.

"Princess, they tell me you know the stable boy who fell off his horse today."

"Y . . . yes," I stammered.

"You have a maid, yes? Her younger sister works in the kitchens. Do tell them to be careful," he lilted in a teasing sing-song voice. "The astrologers tell me the stars are most inauspicious at the moment. Many bad things could happen to them. You wouldn't want that now, would you?"

With a sneer, he turned back in his seat. The guard marched me back to my place and pushed me down into my seat. I was almost paralysed with fear. Only recently, Kriston had taught me that when silver comes into contact with poison, it tarnishes and turns black. This was the proof: Skarp was poisoning my brother! And one by one, he was threatening everyone around him so no one would help. What was worse, he'd threatened Daisy now so I could do nothing without putting her at risk. Too afraid to eat, I sat rigid, staring at the pastry crust and lumps of game on my plate.

Oh Goddess help me! What shall I do now?

When the meal was finally over, I dragged myself up the stairs to my room. Abigail was sitting on my bed, her face a picture of concern. I threw my arms around her and in a torrent of words, told her all that had happened.

"I keep coming back to my dream, Abigail. I keep thinking if the Wise Woman were here, she'd know what to do. If only I knew where to find her!"

Abigail was silent. She was staring at the wall. "What is it?" I asked. She wrinkled her forehead but said nothing. There was something she wasn't sharing. "Tell me! Please tell me, Abigail, please!" I begged.

"Maybe I shouldn't say. I could be completely wrong."

"No, tell me, please!"

"Well . . . there's a woman who lives in a cottage on the western border of the city, right by the forest. She grows herbs in her garden and sells them to the citizens. I've never seen her myself but every Friday, Cook sends Poppy to her to buy herbs for the kitchen. She says they're the best quality herbs in the whole of Frailing." I'd heard Poppy mention 'the herb lady' before. She seemed to be very fond of her.

"And . . ." I prompted.

"Well, once I had this terrible cough. I'd had it for months and I couldn't shake it. The Royal Doctor had tried to help but it wouldn't go away. Next time Poppy went to the herb lady, she told her about my cough and the lady gave her a draft in a little glass bottle. She said I should drink it before I went to bed so I did and when I woke up the next morning, the cough was gone, completely gone and it's never come back. Well, I could be wrong but . . ."

"You're not wrong. She's the Wise Woman. I'm sure of it. She can help us. I know she can. I have to get to her . . ."

"Annie, there are guards on the castle gates night and day. Skarp's given orders that no one be allowed in or out unless they're on castle business."

"You said Poppy goes to the Wise Woman every Friday to buy herbs for the kitchen. If she lent me her clothes I could . . . Oh, but it's too much of a risk. I couldn't endanger your daughters."

"If Skarp kills Kriston and Ivan becomes king then we're all in more danger than we ever thought possible. Some things are worth the risk. But it has to be Poppy's decision. You can ask her in the morning when she comes with your breakfast."

She kissed my head and left the room. I thought I would never sleep. I was a bundle of terror, nerves and excitement, but the dancing had exhausted me so much, I fell asleep almost immediately.

Thank you for reading this chapter 😊

Feel free to comment and vote if you enjoyed it 💬 ⭐️

✨⭐️🌺🌿💛🌿🌺⭐️✨