[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
get an arrow in me. I just forgot I was not wearing my mail. So
please do not feel you owe me anything.
He smiled at me then, and although I wasn t sure whether he
meant what he had said or was just humoring me, I smiled back.
Are we at peace now, Princess?
Yes, Sire.
Thinking the conversation was over, I was going to return
to my seat, when I remembered my mother s instructions. I
walked to the table then, and with my back to the king to con-
ceal the pills, I smashed one of each in the bottom of a metal
cup; after adding some water, I offered them to him. Don
Julián thanked me and lifted the cup to his lips. His hand was
shaking so badly that water splashed all over the covers.
Please, Sire, let me help.
Without arguing, Don Julián surrendered the cup to me
and, his eyes searching mine without shame, he drank.
I was helping him to lie back when the sleeve of my dress
Two Moon Princess_book 3 8/17/07 2:05 PM Page 214
214 CARMEN FERREIRO-ESTEBAN
slid to my elbow and momentarily uncovered my wrist.There,
perfectly visible, my watch was reflecting the sun s rays.With
a sharp movement of my arm, I pulled the sleeve down. But it
was too late. The look of amazement in Don Julián s eyes left
me no doubt. He had seen it. He extended his right hand. May
I have a look?
There was such eagerness in his voice that, before I could
think of any excuse, I had taken off my watch and was handing
it to him. It is a time reader, I told him, as if that would
explain everything.
Don Julián examined the watch for a long time. It is from
the other world, he said at last, and it was not a question. A
light of wonder I had never seen burned in his eyes, making
him look extremely young and vulnerable.
Have you been there, Princess? Have you found the door?
Yes, Sire. I . . . I hesitated. Mother had ordered me not to
disturb him. She had explicitly forbidden me to tell him about
my plan, insisting that Don Julián was not strong enough to
reach a clear decision. On the other hand, I intuitively felt that
right then, caught in his intense desire to go to the other
world, Don Julián might be susceptible to my offer. Hastily I
continued, Sire, the other day at the bridge, I was going to tell
you about the other world, to tell you that you could go there
if you agree to stop the war.
I see. My honor for my dream.A tempting offer, Princess.
A very clever one indeed.
Do you agree then? Are you willing to negotiate with
Father?
Don Julián shook his head. Don t you think, Princess, that
now it is a little too late? Why should Don Andrés accept any
demands from me when I am his prisoner?
Two Moon Princess_book 3 8/17/07 2:05 PM Page 215
TWO MOON PRINCESS 215
But you are not his prisoner!
Don Julián eyed me suspiciously. Princess, I am in your
father s castle. I cannot move without your help. And judging
from Doña Jimena s description of my wound, I will probably
die anyway.What
But, Sire, Father doesn t know you are here. If you agree
to settle your dispute with him without fighting, you are free
to go back to your kingdom.
Don Julián sat up, his eyes bearing into me with such inten-
sity that I blushed. Would you let me go, Princess? Why?
Because I want this war to end.And having you meet with
Father and sign a peace agreement is the only way.
For a moment Don Julián remained silent, then he shook
his head. I cannot do that, Princess.As much as I would like to
go to the other world, I am the king. I cannot leave my people
with Don Andrés knowing of my absence. What would stop
him from taking my kingdom while I am gone?
You would have his word, Sire.
Don Julián said nothing.
Suddenly I remembered. Would you trust my father, Sire,
if our Houses were united by marriage?
Don Julián looked up. Marriage? I told you before,
Princess, I do not want to marry your sister. Besides, even if I
agreed, Don Andrés would never consent. He believes I was
trying to get his kingdom by marrying Princess Rosa.
Weren t you? A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but still he
said nothing. Anyway, Sire, I was not talking about you, but
Don Alfonso.
Grabbing the covers with his right hand, Don Julián bent
forward. You will marry Don Alfonso? he said, and as he
spoke all blood seemed to drain from his face. That would be
Two Moon Princess_book 3 8/17/07 2:05 PM Page 216
216 CARMEN FERREIRO-ESTEBAN
perfect.You are only the fourth daughter.Your husband could
not have any realistic claim on Don Andrés s kingdom. It
would be a good bargain for your father
It was then that, to my eternal shame, I hit him in the face
with all the strength of my wrath. I hit a defenseless man who
had saved my life, who was my only chance to stop the war,
and who I had promised Mother to take care of. And as if that
were not bad enough, as I moved back from the bed, horrified
at what I had done, I saw my mother standing by the door
watching me.
Two Moon Princess_book 3 8/17/07 2:06 PM Page 217
TWENTY
A Ghost from
the Past
For a long interminable moment, Mother stared at me, her
eyes full of contempt.Then without a word she moved to the
bed, and as I retreated from her in shame, she bent over and
grabbed Don Julián s wrist with her long ringed fingers.The
king, I noticed, had fallen back from the force of my blow and
was lying still against the pillows. I didn t have to get closer
to know he was unconscious.
Finally Mother s shoulders relaxed. Letting go of Don
Julián s hand, she turned to me and, in a low strained voice,
ordered me to bring her a wet towel.
This is useless, she said after pressing it against Don
Julián s face for a while. He needs ice.
But of course, we didn t have any ice here. Instead
Mother asked me to crush some pills in a cup and mix them
with water. Holding Don Julián s head gently on her left arm,
she forced the liquid in his mouth. At last Don Julián stirred
and opened his eyes. Mother shot a glance in my direction
and, with a slight wave of her hand, ordered me out of the
room.
217
Two Moon Princess_book 3 8/17/07 2:06 PM Page 218
218 CARMEN FERREIRO-ESTEBAN
Only too soon, Mother joined me. Don Julián sleeps
now, she said, and her voice was stern. You must not disturb
him. Is that clear?
Yes, Mother. Eyes averted, I waited for her to leave. But
Mother wasn t finished with me yet.
Don Julián has excused your behavior, she continued in
the same harsh tone. But I haven t. We both know, Princess,
that in his present condition Don Julián could never have
posed a threat to you. So pray tell me what happened. But do
not expect my sympathy, Princess. Today you have shamed
your family.
I knew Mother was right. I should not have hit Don Julián.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]