Clash of Wills

Chapter One

So They Say

Aloud commotion roused Princess Samantha from a sound sleep. Puzzled, she sat up and cocked her head to listen. Her father was shouting somewhere in the castle, and the baying of dogs outside sent a chill down her spine. Her heart leaped into her throat when the door of her bedchamber burst open and a young man rushed inside—his familiar outline barely visible in the dim lighting from the passageway. It’s Julian!

What’s happening? Is Paloran being invaded? she managed.

Nothing like that. Clad in a traveling cloak, her brother sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into a tight embrace. I’m going away.

She felt his body trembling with emotion. You’re scaring me.

Father discovered my workshop, Sam. He knows I’m a wizard and has ordered my arrest.

Panic flooded her brain. There’s a storage room at the top of the east tower where you can hide. I’ll bring you food and—

No, concealment is impossible.

But—

Shh! Listen to me. I knew he’d find me out sooner or later, so I made plans to escape to the Uncharted Region.

Why go there? It’s dangerous!

The danger to me here is greater. He kissed her on the forehead. You’re the best little sister anyone could ever hope for. We’ll see each other again one day.

He moved to the casement window and threw open the sash. Samantha ran to him.

Can I come with you?

Julian shook his head. Where I’m going is no place for a young girl. His eyes glistened in the moonlight. Oh Sam, there are a great many things I wish I could tell you, but there just isn’t time. I’ll send for you, I promise.

With lithe grace, Julian pulled himself up onto the windowsill and leaped out into the darkness. Samantha bit back a scream, but as he fell toward the ground his body transformed into a raven and was swallowed up by the night.

The sound of approaching footfall sent her scurrying back to bed. King Tomas strode into the room, accompanied by his captain of the guard.

Have you seen your brother? the king demanded.

Wide-eyed, she shook her head. Not since dinner.

Tomas practically growled in frustration as he motioned to the captain. Search the room.

Samantha’s mother appeared in the doorway, her beautiful features twisted by grief. Her dark hair hung unbound to her waist and she was clad in a dressing gown. As the captain inspected the wardrobe, searched behind the curtains, and peered underneath the bed, the queen sobbed.

His Highness isn’t here, the captain said finally.

King Tomas’ gaze slid toward the open window and a muscle in his jaw quivered. Henceforth, Julian is no longer the Crown Prince of Paloran. If he’s found anywhere in the kingdom, he’ll be dealt with as a common criminal.

Pressed against the wall, Queen Helena moaned. No!

Furthermore, his name will never again be uttered in this castle. Tomas glared at his wife and daughter. Is that understood? Without waiting for an answer, he stormed from the chamber. His face an expressionless mask, the captain followed. Only then did Samantha leave her bed and rush into her mother’s arms.

He escaped, Samantha whispered. I saw Julian turn into a raven and fly away.

The queen whimpered. You imagined it. I have no son.

Seven years later...

CLAD IN A SUMPTUOUS apricot-colored gown fashioned from the finest silk, Samantha sprawled on the floor of her room with a dog-eared atlas open on the carpet in front of her. A manicured fingertip traced a slow deliberate path from King Tomas’ castle in Paloran, west to the neighboring kingdom of Insolitia, and then north along the shared border to the Uncharted Region. Despite his promise, Julian had never sent for her. I don’t even know whether he still lives.

At the sound of her maid’s cheerful humming in the passage outside her bedchamber, Samantha pushed herself up into a sitting position. A young, plump woman entered the bedchamber with an armful of linens. She stared at Samantha, aghast. Your Highness, you’re mussing your gown!

An innocent smile curved Samantha’s lips. Truer words were never spoken, Nan! Why don’t you fetch my trousers? That way I can spare my gowns and move about the castle more freely.

A sound of exasperation. Your father has made his opinions known on the subject of your attire. Why are you so determined to get me dismissed? Nan set the linens down on the bed and helped Samantha to her feet.

"It’s certainly not your fault I’m so wayward and headstrong, Samantha said. Besides which, you’ve done your best to hide my trousers where I’d never find them again. The top of the bookshelf in the library was a wonderful place, I must say, though not particularly creative."

Nan shook her head, sighed, and bent to pick up the atlas. Studying this again? I’m beginning to think you have wanderlust.

What do you know about the Uncharted Region?

The woman shuddered. They say it’s a wild land where wizards roam—along with all other manner of unsavory and magical creatures.

Yes, everyone knows that much, but have you ever met anyone who traveled there?

Can’t say that I have and probably never will. A journey to the Uncharted Region is a one-way prospect to be sure, and no decent folks would think on it.

Samantha frowned. I suppose not.

There’s no supposing about it. Nan closed the atlas and stowed it in the storage area under the window seat. Your Highness, a gentleman caller has come to see you.

Who?

Your cousin, Lord Nicholas.

A ray of sunshine. I haven’t seen Nicholas since I was a little girl!

I saw him ride in a few minutes ago. He’s grown quite handsome. Nan grinned.

No! Really?

Aye, and he’s taking tea with your parents in the drawing room right now.

Oh, heavens! Smoothing her dress, Samantha hastened to the full-length mirror to examine her reflection. A few pinches to her cheeks brought out the color. She twirled to face her maid. How do I look?

There’s little you could do to look unattractive. Run along and dazzle the young man.

With somewhat unladylike haste, Sam fled from her room and sailed down the stairs. As she approached the drawing room, the doors flew open and a fair-haired stranger strode out. Nicholas! Her knees grew weak at the sight of her cousin’s muscular frame and elegant appearance, but the anger radiating from his vaguely familiar face brought her up short.

Nicholas? You’re not leaving so soon, are you? As an afterthought, she sketched a brief curtsy.

Why, Samantha, you’ve grown into a beauty. He paused long enough to admire her from head to toe. What a shame.

A shame? What do you mean?

Your father just cast me out of Paloran as a wizard, and this brief encounter will be the entirety of our renewed acquaintance—at present.

When Nicholas deposited a lingering kiss on her hand, little quivering butterflies danced in her stomach. Allow me to communicate my most sincere regrets, she managed.

No one is more regretful than I. He leaned forward to whisper. I have a message from your brother.

She blanched. You’ve seen Julian?

Indeed I have. With a furtive movement, Nicholas pressed a small scroll and something that resembled a pocket watch into her hand. A smile played on the man’s lips as his gaze held hers. Perhaps we’ll see one another soon.

I’d like that.

Her handsome cousin had a swagger in his step as he left the castle. Samantha fled outside to the garden gazebo and sat down on a bench to read the scroll. Julian’s handwriting was clear and his message concise.

Dearest Sam,

The compass is enchanted and will lead you to me in the Uncharted Region. Come alone as soon as you can, and tell no one.

Your brother, Julian

So it’s a compass and not a pocket watch after all! She tucked the scroll inside her pocket before opening the clamshell-shaped object. Which way is my brother?

The needle turned until it pointed due west. Samantha bit her lip and snapped the device closed. I must leave Paloran at the earliest possible opportunity—but how?

AT BEDTIME THAT EVENING, Nan bade Samantha sit at the vanity while she removed all the hairpins and ornaments from the elaborate and heavy coiffure she’d worn all day.

Nan, why do you suppose my father hates magic so much?

Er...I wasn’t born when the ban was put in place, so I couldn’t say, Your Highness.

Nan wouldn’t meet her gaze in the mirror as she spoke, which confirmed Samantha’s suspicions.

"You know something! She twisted around until she was facing her maid. Tell me what you’ve heard."

Well, um, servants talk amongst themselves, but not everything said is true.

Nan!

Supposedly it had something to do with your grandmother, Queen Aurora.

She died right after Father was crowned king. Why would it have anything to do with her?

Nan’s voice dropped to a whisper. She was a wizard, so they say.

A gasp. No!

Apparently a spell went wrong and killed her. Your father blamed magic and prohibited its use in Paloran.

Stunned, Samantha sat back. I had no idea. He refuses to talk about her.

Some events are too painful to discuss. Now turn ’round and let me finish getting you ready for bed.

As Nan brushed out her hair, Samantha fell silent. Although she was filled with a burning desire to know more about Queen Aurora, she couldn’t ask her father. Moreover, if she brought the topic up with her mother, he would be sure to find out. Perhaps if she asked someone who knew the woman when she was alive. A slight smile reached her lips. I know just the person.

THE MAUSOLEUM FOR THE royal family of Paloran, fashioned of sober gray granite, appeared to be extremely small from the outside because the actual tombs had been constructed largely underground. Samantha removed one of the lit torches at the mausoleum’s entrance and brought it with her down the steps. She passed through a curved antechamber made splendid by the intricate stonework on its walls, and into the catacombs. The place was not one she visited very frequently, so it took her a little while to find the ornate sarcophagus of her great grandfather, King