Chapter 2

The next few days went by without much excitement. Thérèse hadn't been able to get back to her hideaway since the night she fell asleep there. Daily life had kept her busy. During the days, her tutors came to her room and gave her lessons. She adored literature and science. She would sometimes ask so many questions the lessons would go on for hours. 

In the evenings she had duties with her mother, the queen. Her mother insisted Thérèse accompany her as much as possible. She would, one day, have to lead the kingdom of Argence herself and her mother wanted to ensure she was thoroughly prepared. They met with members of the court to discuss politics and relationships with other kingdoms. They had large conferences with the townspeople who had complaints or requests that only the queen could resolve. The treasurer gave reviews of Argence's finances, and the biggest merchants came to discuss trade practices. 

When she wasn't busy with her education or her mother's training, Thérèse spent time with her friends. There was Olivier, who she'd become close with over the years since he helped her sneak out. Thérèse had also befriended a young woman named Brigitte. Her father was one of the queen's advisors, and Brigitte lived in the castle like most of the advisor's families. She was two years older than Thérèse and was getting married in the fall. She had pale skin, blonde hair that reached her waist, and dark green eyes. Brigitte was very outspoken and intelligent. She and Thérèse had become good friends almost immediately. Finally, there was Brigitte's half-brother, Bernard. He was in his early twenties. His features were all dark, the opposite of Brigitte. He had black hair and a black beard, with dark brown eyes and deeply tanned skin. Bernard was the best soldier in Argence. He was known far and wide for his courage and combat skills. He was built like a bear with the heart of a lion. The young women of the court were always vying for his attention, but he was only interested in training and war. 

Brigitte, Bernard, and Thérèse all used to play together when they were children. They would run throught the castle imagining dragons and monsters chasing them. They would play hide-and-seek in the forest, or sneak sweets out of the kitchen. They had grown up together, and so shared a close bond. When Olivier started joining them, Brigitte and Bernard took a liking to him. They found him a bit odd at first but accepted him as part of their group. 

The bunch would normally take their meals together and go to events that Argence hosted. Thérèse distinctly remembered when Argence held a military tournament and all the surrounding kingdoms sent soldiers to compete. Bernard, of course, was the leader of Argence's team. They had done wonderfully, beating out all of the other teams in events like swordfighting, horse riding, and combat. 

Today, they were having lunch together in the garden. Thérèse packed her basket full of cheese, fruit, and bread and went to go meet Olivier. She stepped into the main hallway and started toward the garden doors. They were located towards the back of the castle and led into a large, well-kept garden. In the summer it was blooming with roses, lavender, baby's breath, and all other assortment of flowers. In the winter the servants erected a small gazebo in the center of the garden's square. It was made of black metal and had intricate details around the outside. There were benches and a table inside. This is where the group would have their lunch. 

As Thérèse approached the garden doors she heard Olivier call out from somewhere behind her. 

"Thérèse! Thérèse!" 

She turned to see Olivier rushing towards her. He had the same long pants and dirty shirt as the previous night. In his hand he held a canvas sack. Thérèse stopped and let him catch up. 

"I'm sorry I'm late. It took me forever to convince the kitchen staff to get a bit extra for today." He opened the sack to reveal some cooked meat wrapped in paper, a handful of vegetables, and a jar of grape jam. 

"I know it's not much. It's all they were willing to give me." Olivier said. He blushed slightly and looked at the ground. 

"Oh Olivier, it's plenty. I've got bread for the jam, and Bernard and Brigitte are bringing desserts and other meat. It'll be more than enough." 

Olivier smiled. They walked in silence for a few minutes. When they reached the garden doors, Olivier stepped in front and held the brown wooden door open for Thérèse. She nodded appreciatively and stepped outside. They felt the cold, crisp air in their lungs. Olivier closed the door and offered Thérèse his arm. Taking it at his elbow, they followed the stone path towards the center of the garden. 

The gazebo came into view, as well as Brigitte and Bernard. Brigitte wore a red gown with a fur shawl. Her hair was done up with ribbons and her porcelain cheeks were rosy. She was unpacking her basket and laying out the desserts she'd brought. Small pastries and cakes were spread on the table in front of her. Bernard sat opposite her with a pitcher of wine and a jug of water in front of him. He had on his soldier's uniform. It was similar to the guards', but his jacket was black instead of purple. His freshly-polished boots glistened in the sun. He had a large bruise on his brown cheek, probably from practicing combat with a fellow soldier. He ran one gloved hand through his thick hair and leaned back on the bench. 

As Thérèse and Olivier approached, Thérèse took her hand from Olivier's arm and waved. Brigitte saw them first, and smiled broadly. Thérèse and Olivier entered the gazebo and set out the food they had. Thérèse took a seat across from Brigitte, next to Bernard. Olivier sat quietly on the last open spot, next to Brigitte. 

"How are you both today?" Brigitte asked. 

"Tired, but well." Thérèse responded. She reached for one of the plates Brigitte had set out and began to spread Olivier's jam on some bread. 

"No wonder you're tired." Bernard said accusingly. 

Thérèse put her knife down and looked at him. She had a confused expression on her face and her heart quickened. 

Uh oh.  She thought. 

"What do you mean, Bernard?" Brigitte asked. 

"I saw her last night. Taking Bisou out into the forest. That's when you were on your shift Olivier, right?" Bernard looked across the table at Olivier, and Olivier shrank from his gaze. 

Thérèse turned to Bernard with ice in her eyes. 

"I don't know what you're talking about." she said 

"Oh sure you do! I've seen you several times. What do you do out there Thérèse?" Bernard picked up a turkey leg and took a large bite. 

"Sneaking out at night like that? Where do you go? What do you do? Meeting friends perhaps? Make any enemies?" He finished chewing his mouthful of meat and swallowed. 

"Bernard, that's enough." Brigitte said hesitantly. 

"No, not friends, not enemies. A lover, perhaps?" Bernard smirked. Thérèse was just about to speak when suddenly Bernard's smirk was covered with a thick, white fluff. He sat up briskly and looked across the table. 

"I said that's enough!" Brigitte yelled. She had thrown a spoonful of whipped cream directly at Bernard! Bernard wiped his face with the back of his hand and was quiet for the rest of the meal. 

After a moment of silence, Brigitte spoke again. 

"So, Olivier. Is there anything new and exciting from you?" 

Olivier shook his head and looked at his plate. 

"What about you, Brigitte? Any new gossip from the advisor's chambers?" Thérèse inquired. 

"Actually, yes." Brigitte put her fork down and sat up straight. 

"I overheard my father and a few others last night. There's a group of visitors coming from a kingdom far off. They're making a four-day journey to Argence! There's going to be a feast and dance, everything! They're supposed to arrive sometime next week!" Brigitte leaned back and smiled. She was already thinking of what dress she would have made, who she would dance with, and how she would do her hair. 

Thérèse smiled shakily and drank some wine from her glass. She always got nervous about events like these. Her mother insisted everything be perfect, and perfection was not Thérèse's specialty. 

"Do you know where they're coming from?" Olivier asked. 

"Yes. It's called Bayonne, I believe." Brigitte answered. 

Thérèse could feel anxiety blossoming in her stomach. She looked up at Brigitte.

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Thérèse asked. 

"Of course. Bernard can clean all this up." Brigitte rose and linked arms with Thérèse. Bernard scoffed, and Olivier scampered out shortly after they left. 

"What's on your mind, Thérèse?" Brigitte asked. 

Thérèse looked around at the garden and its lack of color. She sighed. 

"I just hate events like these. It never goes well for me. I always do something to mess up. And they always turn out to be some ruse on my mother's part to find me a husband!" 

"Come on, they're not all bad." Brigitte started. "The food is good, the music is fun. It'll be alright. We can stick together. No husbands, no mothers, just us." 

Thérèse smiled at the thought. 

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you." 

Brigitte nodded. They joked and laughed for the rest of their walk. When they had made their way all around the garden, Brigitte went back inside. She had violin lessons in the evening and needed to prepare. Thérèse said goodbye and started towards the stable. 

Outside the large wooden structure were the various stable boys and girls milling about and doing chores. One of them saw Thérèse coming and brought her Bisou. She thanked the stable girl and once again began her ride towards her hiding place. 

When she reached the clearing, she tied Bisou and sat at the edge again. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the coming visitors. Who were they? What were they like? Why were they coming? Thérèse hoped she could just play her part and smile her way through the events. 

They're not even here yet, but I'm ready for them to leave. 

She stood up and brushed the snow from her dress. She took a walk, following the edge of the ravine, and then back to her clearing. By the time she had completed her loop, it was almost dark. As Thérèse approached the clearing, she heard Bisou whine. 

Thérèse froze. Bisou was a quiet horse. She only made noises like that if there was danger. Thérèse took a few more steps towards her spot, staying behind trees and using shadows to hide herself. 

She peered around the side of a sturdy oak and saw a man on his knees. He was thin. Tattered shorts covered his thighs, leaving his knees and below bare. He was shirtless. His wild beard showed he hadn't shaved in weeks. His body was purple from bruises. His hands were tied behind his back, and his bloody feet stained the snow below them. Thérèse could see that he was blindfolded and gagged. She looked around for Bisou, and found her still in place, but with four other horses tied haphazardly to trees around her. Footsteps crunched in the snow. 

Thérèse's eyes snapped back towards the noise. Someone was walking up to the man on his knees. It was another man. He had a dark blue coat, brown pants, and black leather boots that had seen their fair share of the forest mud. Even though it was dark, Thérèse could make out a few of his features. He had thick brown hair. He was tall, and had a fair amount of muscle on him. Not bulky, but strong enough to cause damage. His face was accented by a thin, well-kept beard. 

As the stranger approached the prisoner three other figures appeared behind him. Two of them had candles. It looked like one man and two women. They stood behind the prisoner, silent. The stranger stared down at the quivering man. He reached down and ripped off his blindfold with one hand. The prisoner blinked hard a few times. Then, the stranger took off the prisoner's gag. Thérèse heard heavy, shaky breathing. It sounded like his lungs were full of water, the air barely escaping.

"You have been charged with treason against the king and cowardice of the highest form." the stranger spoke. He had a deep, gruff voice. It was intimidating yet oddly soothing. "How do you plead?" 

The prisoner looked up at the stranger and met his eyes. After a moment, the prisoner coughed, then spat directly on to the stranger's boots. The stranger looked at the two women standing behind the prisoner. 

"Get him up." 

One of the women stepped forward immediately. She took her position on the man's left side. The other handed her candle to the man, then stood on the prisoner's right side. In perfect sync, they each grabbed an elbow and hauled the man to his feet. He was half-standing, half being held upright by the women. The prisoner lifted his head to look at the man in front of him. Just as he did, his head was knocked back with immense force. Two of his teeth went flying, and blood splattered on the women's faces. They didn't even blink. The stranger took out a handkerchief and wiped the prisoner's blood from his right hand. 

"How do you plead?" he asked again. 

Through a mouth full of blood the prisoner gargled, "Guilty". 

"You understand the penalty for treason and cowardice, correct?" the stranger asked. 

The prisoner nodded as though his head weighed a thousand pounds. His whole body was limp. He was now entirely supported by the women. His chest was heaving. 

"Very well." the stranger said. He gave a quick nod to the woman on the prisoner's left side. She grabbed hold of the prisoner's thin hair and pulled his head back, exposing his throat. 

The stranger produced a sharp hunting knife from the holster on his thigh. With one quick motion, the stranger ripped the blade across the man's throat and placed the knife back in its place. The prisoner's blood splattered into the snow like a gruesome fireworks display. Thérèse stifled a gasp and resisted the urge to be sick. The women held him for a moment, then let him fall to his knees, eventually crumpling into a lifeless corpse. They returned to their position by the man with the candles. He passed one off to each of them and stepped towards the body. He grabbed the man by the ankles, and the stranger picked him up under the shoulders. They took a few awkward side steps and threw the body into the ravine. Into Thérèse's ravine. As they watched his body plummet, Thérèse carefully crept over to Bisou. She was able to untie her without being noticed. She mounted Bisou, but when she pulled herself into the saddle, she ran her face right into a branch. It snapped. 

The group whirled around as Thérèse jerked Bisou towards the castle and set her at a gallop. Thérèse could hear them shouting after her and heard another set of hooves pounding the snow. Her cheek stung in the wind and she knew she'd have a light scar by morning. When the castle came into view, the second horse pulled back. Thérèse safely made it to the gate. She jumped off Bisou as soon as she saw Olivier. She ran towards him. He tried to speak to her, but Thérèse didn't stop running until she was in her bed with the door locked.