"The Revolt in Ashdale" Chapter 3: Anna's Uninvited Guest

The darkness in the room was suddenly oppressive. In the faint light under the door, there were clearly two feet planted. But whose?

Anna's heart pounded violently in her chest. A bitter taste filled her mouth. She quickly considered all the possible escape routes. Could she climb out of the window? Hide in the closet? Or under the bed among the scented sacks of dried lavender?

She sat up in bed, her fingers anxiously twisting the copper bracelet between them. She heard the handle of the door being pressed down, producing a typical metallic scraping sound as the latch grated against the catch in the frame.

Now the door opened slightly, letting in a bit more light from the hallway outside, where the person attempting to enter was evidently carrying a lamp.

If it had been the cook, she would only have had a tallow candle. The servants didn’t carry lamps.

It had to be one of the manor’s fine gentry. But what could they possibly want here?

The door was fully open now, and Anna wanted to scream, but the sound was frozen in her throat.

The figure quietly slipped into the room and closed the door, the hinges creaking faintly in protest.

The light from the lamp spread across the room, revealing its details. And the figure’s.

It was a woman. Anna could see that it was Lady Elara.

"Anna," she said, "I see you are awake. Don’t be afraid. I must speak with you."

Anna sank back against the pillow, her body relaxing from the tense flight response.

"Madam, you’ve startled me out of my much-needed sleep. What can I do for you?" she asked with a trembling voice.

"Anna, I was born in Elyndor, and I recognize a magical bracelet when I see one. You’re wearing such a bracelet on your wrist, and now I will tell you of its powers, which you surely don’t know. Only a select few possess such bracelets."

Anna said, "I received it from my grandmother, who told me she had bought it in Elyndor many years ago."

"It’s likely that it came from Elyndor, but she certainly didn’t buy it. There’s something she’s hidden from you. Only children born with King Arannis as their father had the right to wear such bracelets. He wanted to ensure a good life for his descendants. The bracelet will always ensure that its rightful bearer can fill their stomach every day, no matter where they are. And drink whatever they thirst for. It will also provide coins in your pocket if you need to buy something necessary for your journey on Earth. Always wear it and think of needing a coin, and immediately you’ll find one in your pocket. The bracelet will protect you from accidents and violence. In threatening situations, the bracelet can make you invisible—you need only grasp it with your other hand and think the thought, ‘I must become air.’"

Anna tried to absorb everything and remember it. "But how will I know when something is necessary or threatening? And could my grandmother really be the daughter of a king?"

"Yes, it’s certain, my girl. Look, I wear the bracelet on my wrist too. I am also a child of King Arannis, and I see so many features in your face and manner that I’m sure you are his descendant. You are a princess, Anna, a royal child. The bracelet will suddenly feel warm and tighten slightly when situations arise where it can help you. But do not abuse it."

"But what good can it do now that Queen Althea has disappeared? I don’t understand," she asked Lady Elara.

"I’ll tell you: The curse on the Queen, which has led to her disappearance, can only be broken by a wise, innocent woman who is heir to the Elyndor throne. Very few know this; the old tale left it out because she is the Queen here in Valmorun. But the Queen is also the daughter of King Arannis—she is your grandmother’s sister. Your grandmother would have become queen in a neighboring land if she had made the vow to the Dragon in the Volcano, but she didn’t and followed her heart, ending up as a farmer’s wife in Sunflower Valley. We’ve known all along. You are the chosen one who can break the curse."

Anna was speechless. A princess? A dragon? A curse that only she could break—to save an entire land from suffering and famine?

"I know it’s a lot of information, and you probably feel overwhelmed. You must go to Elyndor, back to your people there. They will help you. There’s no time to waste. You must leave as soon as it gets light. You are the chosen one!"

The room was completely silent. Anna stared ahead as they heard footsteps again in the hallway. Lady Elara quickly extinguished the lamp and disappeared into the far corner of the room.

Feet now stood still outside the door. The handle slid down.

Again, Anna was terrified. Who was coming to her now?

This time, the door wasn’t opened cautiously but was ripped open.

"Useless woman, so you’re supposed to be innocent?" she heard a harsh, deep male voice growl at her. He also carried a lamp. It could only be Lord Roderic. "Innocent young women excite me, and as master of this house, I take what belongs to me whenever I want."

He strode toward the bed, lifting his nightshirt. In the flickering lamp light, Anna could see his erection jutting out from his body.

Everything inside Anna screamed, "No, no, no, I will not be taken by this old fool and lose my innocence!"

He threw himself over her and pulled up her nightgown. She felt his repulsive fingers running up her thigh and his heavy weight pressing down on her. He smelled of sweet wine—he was surely drunk, as he was every night.

Suddenly, Anna felt a warm sensation around her left wrist. It wasn’t his hand. It was a fine, tightening feeling. The bracelet had been activated. She was in danger, and it told her that she still had options. She wriggled beneath his weight and, with difficulty, managed to clasp the bracelet with her other hand and think the thought, "I must become air."

Effortlessly, she slipped to the side, and the lord fell into the bedding with a thud.

"What in the bloody hell happened to you, wench?" he shouted, fumbling around for his prey. But she was gone. She stood next to him, watching as the lustful beast tried to satisfy himself in her bed.

Now she knew what those disgusting stains on his shirt had been.

She would never, never again stand there and wash them.

He finished and staggered out of the room.

Lady Elara approached her. "I despise that man for what he does to women. To me, to you, and to all the maidservants through the years. He will pay for his crimes. Will you help me? Then leave tomorrow, save Queen Althea, and together we will establish proper order here in Ashdale!"

Anna’s decision was made easy. "Yes, I’ll stay here with this wretched lord only until dawn breaks. I already have a plan." She felt a surge of energy she had never known before.

If you missed the Prologue and the first chapters, you can read them here: