A Distraught Maiden

By Anna del C. Dye

A king who sent his chancellors to the dungeon for setting him up with a wife behind his back.
A princess who puts her trust in the wrong friend—losing her past, present, and future.
An old king who, in his madness, hides the treasures of his kingdom, leaving it in despair.
A malady that can not only wipe out his whole royal bloodline, but also the whole kingdom in its wake.
And fate that is hard at work trying to fix it all.
You’ll find all the answers in A Distraught Maiden the standalone Book Ten of the Royal Romance Series by Anna del C. Dye

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna del C. Dye
• Release date: Feb 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215176702

Anna del C. Dye

Anna was born in the extreme South along some famous beaches. She grew up with four other siblings being placed in the middle. Her mother died when she was six and she found a new mother in her husband’s mother and loves her dearly. She accredits her mother-in-law with teaching her many things in life.The green eyed, brown haired author moved north to marry her husband Rodney and has resided in Utah since then. Her husband, a native of Idaho, met her in her hometown. They fell in love and she came to Utah on Christmas Eve to be married two weeks later. They are the parents of three princes and a princess.Early on in her life she showed an affinity for sewing and took classes that rewarded her with the opportunities of doing costuming for the cast of four musicals, which she enjoyed immensely. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and understands some Portuguese.Some of Anna’s writing recognitions:She received the Editor’s Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry and had her article entitled A New American Mother published by Desert Saints Magazine. Her short story entitled Amerine—Fairy Princess wan an award in the Oquirrh chapter contest and was published by Kalkion Magazine. Other articles about family and relationship have been published frequently in the MOMS CLUB® of Salt Lake Valley-West.

Book preview

Prologue

Princess Fauna stood at the tip of the Sanoan Cascade some hundred yards from her palace. The water’s mist touched her porcelain face and golden hair, while the sound drowned her voice and even her thoughts. She had never seen anything more powerful than the force of that cascade.

Are you sure it is all right for us to be alone out here, Morty?

At seventeen summers, she had followed her friend Morty after he promised to show her a surprise and they had ended up at the falls. However, she had always respected the site yet tonight it made her insides writhe.

Do you know your brother holds you as a prisoner, Princess?

My brother doesn’t want me to get hurt, that is why he escorts me everywhere.

How strange Morty’s voice sounded, dangerously coarse. He had never spoken to her like that before. What had him on edge, to change so much? She looked at the oaf of a man and for the first time she wondered at his behavior.

Is that why he is selling you to the King of Teramir as a servant?

Don’t be daft. My brother would never do that, he loves me. Where on earth could he have gotten that idea? Why would he try to turn her against her brother? He knew she respected her brother.

I doubt he feels anything like that for you. Me on the other ... no matter, we are escaping tonight. And, from now on, you will be my responsibility.

Escape, from what? Are you mad? What on earth did you drink with dinner? The change in her voice almost frightened her. She had never been uncomfortable with Morty, three years her senior. However, right now, he caused her to tremble and it felt too much like fear. You are making no sense…. It’s late, I’m going back to the castle.

She turned her back to the man, and in the distance could see her home, a four-story circular castle. Every wall in it was round and she loved it. The towers outside the walls and the rooms in it were lit by natural light. They could see the sun rise and set from their windows every day.

She started stepping hurriedly toward the place that made her feel secure when, before she knew what had happened, she found herself trapped by Morty’s arms from behind. He raised her in the air and turned her to face the cascade in one swift movement. She felt her arms tingle with the pressure he put on them.

The force of the sudden movement made one of her feet brush the precipice for a second and she panicked. She didn’t want to fall down, she tried to get ahold of his arm to hold onto and bumped her brooch. It opened and scratched her on her shoulder as it fell to the ground, where it now lay.

Let me go, Morty. My brother won’t be pleased with you when I tell him about this.

That is why I won’t let you go, Princess. His hot breath assaulted her ear and she resisted the urge to gag. This version of Morty was a stranger to her and everything about him repulsed her.

I worked many years to gain your trust and now the time of my reward is at hand.

What are you talking about? They had been first acquaintances and later friends, that was true. And she did trust him, but now she didn’t care for his company…. Why the sudden change?

You are mine to do with as I please. Your beauty will be mine, no one else’s. His words did nothing to calm her. She struggled with the arms that held her prisoner and she found a knee to kick.

Stay still or I’ll have to hurt you.

From her thrashing about she and Morty now faced the palace, but no one was there to help her. The more he talked, the more her mind screamed run. She pushed his arms away only to have him tighten his hold while she fought for a deep breath. In the middle of her panic, she discovered a tall rock at her feet. She pushed back with all her might in hopes he would release her before they fell to the ground. Instead, the would-be kidnaper teetered backwards and he dragged her into the pool many feet below. All she could do was scream, though no one heard to come to her rescue.

Chapter One

The Princess’ Disappearance

Jazeel, where is Princess Fauna?

The prince had been preoccupied with his father after he had another deranged attack in which he cut the ear of one of his servants half off. Pyrus had ordered the king’s arms and legs to be tied to his bed. He also ordered two more guards to stay in the room to keep the servants safe and the healer to keep his father sedated.

I haven’t seen her since supper, Prince Pyrus.

Taller by a head than his friend Jezeel, Pyrus looked fit for a thirty-year-old royal. He loved to swim and had done so most days with his sister, Fauna, his cousin, Rosella, and Jezeel while growing up together.

She isn’t in her room; I came from there. I need to talk to her about her pending trip to Teramir and her upcoming marriage.

A most awful situation for sure, My Prince. The prince’s friend and bodyguard shook his long ripened-wheat colored hair, as if to clear his mind. He sat back in the chair he occupied and greeted the prince when he entered the study.

You don’t have to make me feel wretched, Jazeel, I already am. The council has voted that that is the only solution to our lack of funding and I’m bound to agree, since I don’t have the power to veto it.

Princess Fauna’s beauty is revered all across our land, My Prince. King Linden must have heard of it.

His offer is most generous for us and we can’t refuse it, the prince answered.

You are right, My Prince. Besides, she is a princess and King Linden will remember that she has a kingdom to back her up, if he doesn’t treat her well.

Not really, my friend. After she becomes his wife, all have to remember she will be his, … and that worries me. I know him not, nor his kingdom. Father hasn’t been very receptive of other kingdoms with his bad mind and they don’t visit us anymore. I don’t know what will await my sister in his lands.

Your father’s ailment was hard to detect, My Prince, and even more so the madness with which he made our friends and kingdom’s treasures disappear. Pyrus’s father had succumbed to a malady they were too slow to detect until they found the kingdom’s riches had disappeared a month prior.

How have we come to this, my friend?

I’ve no idea, My Prince. All we can do now is fix it and hope other kingdoms understand that it was his sickness that isolated our kingdom from them.

Yes, I will send messengers to all the lands and make sure we can restore all the relations we once enjoyed with them.

The prince sat at the corner of his dark wood desk after he moved the metal forge bust of his father to the middle.

A most sensible plan, Sire.

Have we figured out yet what he did with the coffers, Jezeel? Perhaps if we find where he hid them, we can spare my sister such misfortune.

The king killed all those who helped him hide them and we have nothing to go on, Sire.

His father a murderer… that should secure the axe on his neck. However, because of the sickness, the Council of Six saw fit to let him live. Could it even be called living? His father was more like a caged animal with an insatiable lust for blood, … anyone’s blood, perhaps even his. Pyrus shivered since he didn’t even recognize his father anymore.

I don’t know how to tell her of her impending situation without breaking her heart, Jezeel, but I must.

He went to look through the only tall and spacious window in the room. He only saw the pure face of his dear sister, her eyes full of tears, looking back from the glass. Why must she pay for what their father did?

Waiting will prolong the inevitable, My Prince.

You are right. Pyrus walked to the door and called out, Page, send for Princess Fauna’s ladies-in-waiting.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Less than half an hour later, three ladies of various ages and sizes curtseyed before the prince. He had the right to summon them, although he had no more authority than what the council let him have until his coronation and the crown rested on his head. Still, he could ask them questions about his sister.

Lady Sentra, where is my sister?

The motherly woman looked uncomfortable with his question.

She went for a walk with Morty, Sire, and we were told to have free time until her return.

How long has she been gone? Morty, … he had seen her with him before. He doted on her and seemed like a humble man. But somehow it didn’t feel the same this time. His heart felt a chill when he thought of the fellow and how he always showed up where Fauna was, no matter the time or the place.

Since right after supper, Sire.

It has been two hours and you haven’t gone to look for her? Back at his study doors, Guards, send men to look for the princess in the gardens and all about the castle. Ladies, look in the castle and get back to me as soon as you find her.

Something was wrong, he felt it in his heart.

Chapter Two

King Lindon and His Problem

Sometime later, in the kingdom of Teramir close to the borders with Lark.

Lin, look there’s the body of a woman in the river.

Willow’s slim hand pointed to the middle of the river where the moonlight bathed itself in the dark waters. However, Lin was preoccupied staring at the fire he nursed. Not that the fire was that interesting, while the orange flames danced in his moss-green eyes.

The moon tricks your brown eyes in the dark, my friend. King Lindon had no intention of looking foolish by moving to his friend’s side and finding nothing there. They had chosen that spot to have supper and rest before they continued to Lark, their destination on this trip and the real preoccupation in the king’s mind.

What about the man tangled in the branches over here. Is he a trick too?

A man? … What man?

Lin’s curiosity was piqued and he walked towards his friend. Indeed, the body of what must have been a man swayed slowly in the rhythm of the waves, face down, piled on the bushes near them.

It must have been a boating accident, the young king surmised.

Do you think there are more bodies, Lin? Should we get this one out of the water?

Get her to shore first, before the river takes her down and out of our sight. We’ll see to the man afterwards.

The two grabbed the woman’s feet and under her arms and moved her away from the riverbank. With her water-soaked dress, she weighed quite a bit for the petite form dangling from their hands. Once on the ground close to the fire, he tried the women’s neck and felt a soft pulse there.

He and Willow, his childhood friend, returned for the man. He weighed more and took a bit longer to untangle from the brush. By the time they finished they were soaked to their hair. Willow shook his head no when he tried the man’s neck and listened to his chest.

I think the woman is barely alive. I can feel a slight breath coming through her nose.

He moved the wet hair from her face, though the fire next to them did nothing to allow them to see her features.

We passed a town yonder, should we take her there, Lin?

Change into dry clothes and go get a healer in the town. It will be best if we don’t move her, just in case.

You’re right. We don’t know if she has broken bones. We might make things worse if we move her.

I’ll stay to keep her warm and bury the man, while you fetch the healer, Willow.

Done with changing to dry clothes, in one jump Willow mounted on his horse’s bare back and took the king’s brown stallion by the reigns to bring the healer on it.

Lin turned the woman on her belly, placing her head to one side. He began to press her back. After a moment, a trickle of water came out of her mouth. The woman didn’t wake up though. He wondered what he would tell her if she found him touching her in this fashion.

If you are meant to live, you will, miss. If not, we did our part. His murmur was only heard by her and him.

He moved back to get his blanket from the site he had chosen to sleep that night and placed it over her slim body. He moved away to change his wet clothes amidst the crackles of the fire where his travel bag awaited him.

The efforts had taken them some time and he was cold from the wet clothes and the small breeze. Crickets had joined with their melodious singing to the background of water rushing by. However, his mind wasn’t on the two people now in his campsite. It was in Lark. On the problems his chancellors had provoked by promising his hand in marriage to their princess without his consent.

After spreading Willow’s and his wet clothes on the rocks closer to the fire, he rolled the man inland and placed him next to a big rock. He went through his pockets and came up empty.

No way to identify you. Rest in peace fellow.

Lin then went about carrying rocks and piling them on top of the man.

About done, he heard two sets of horse’s hooves in the distance and he put more wood on his fire. The healer would need something hot, and light to care for the woman who hadn’t yet stirred.

The cool tranquil night had turned into an adventure of sorts. Who were these people, and what was their story? His thoughts were interrupted when Willow and a woman, riding his own horse, appeared a moment later.

Lin, this is Cony, the healer. The two horses stopped at the same time, but Willow’ feet hit the ground before the woman next to him blinked.

Good, you kept her warm.

The tall and slim figure of a woman glanced at him and Lin lowered his eyes. It was a custom he had picked up during his clandestine trips with his friend about his kingdom. He couldn’t see much of her, but the sound of her voice seemed to be of a woman in her twenties.

Willow helped her off the horse and she hurried to the inert figure on the ground.

She still breathes. She felt over her upper body and added, That arm is broken.

She lifted it, pulled hard, and then twisted one way. A faint moan came from the woman, but she didn’t stir much.

I’ll need to immobilize it. Find me two branches about this long. She showed them with her hands. I’ll find something to tie them with.

In a moment, Willow came back with the sticks while she pulled a long vine from a creeping plant, to cut off a piece. The knife she pulled from her under skirt shone by the firelight, and Lin made a note of it. What else did she hide under her clothes? He had better stay alert.

Lin let Willow help her, while he saddled the horses. He made sure not to be too close to her, since he didn’t want to be recognized. However, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep his senses focused on the scene.

When the healer was done with the victim’s arm, she continued feeling her. When her hands felt about the hair, the woman began to stir and moan.

She has a goose egg on the back of her head. It would be wise to get some of the cool water against her head. She will need rest in a bed and her body will need to be warmed. She could get really sick from being in the cold waters for who knows how long.

We aren’t from here, Cony. Lin and I are just passing through. Could you care for her in your house?

Who will pay me for my efforts?

I’ll give you a silver coin, Willow said. The arrangement to have Willow take care of their money when the prince chose to take a stealthy trip had worked very well for them through the years. While Willow took care of the money, Lin pretended to be just another one of the subjects in the realm. This continued after he became king.

When will you come back for her?

She isn’t coming with us. We don’t know her, Lin finally spoke.

Right, I forgot. You do realize that I’ll have to kick her out when the money is spent? And you had better bring her some clothes. I don’t have any to spare.

Lin’s amused face was lost on Willow who had eyes only for the healer. She was right though. It wasn’t fair for her to care and share her meager belongings with a stranger.

Let’s go. Cony retrieved her satchel from the ground and moved towards one of the horses.

Willow took the inert woman in his arms while Lin climbed on his horse to wait for him. As soon as the woman was settled in his arms, Lint took the reins with his other hand and started his horse at a slow walk. Willow, meanwhile, helped Cony to his horse and got up behind her.

In no more than half an hour, they stopped at a two-room hut. The scent of lilacs filled their senses, carried by the breeze that caressed their faces. There were other smells too, and, although pleasant, Lin didn’t know what they were.

Spring was a beautiful time to be in nature, and Lin made sure every year to have a week to enjoy it, without the courtier’s or subject’s demands stressing him out. However, this trip wasn’t a holiday. He needed to regain his freedom or his chancellors would pay dearly when he got back.

Cony’s house sat close to the trees, away from the path they had taken. It had the feel of a peaceful place and he believed the combination would be conducive to healing the woman in his arms. They stopped. Then Willow took the healer by her small waist and placed her on the ground.

Let me light the lamp, first, Cony instructed. Don’t move anywhere. I have traps about my home.

After a light came from a covered window, she opened the screeching door wide for them to enter. In the meantime, Willow took hold of the sleeping woman while Lin got off his horse.

For a single woman living alone, a screeching door and traps are most wise, Cony.

Why did Willow mention that? It was a good thing for her to take care of herself but why even comment on it?

Willow took the wet woman into the house to the only bed there. Lin chose to wait with the horses and took the time to change out of his wet clothes one more time that night. A new shirt came out of his travel bags, his britches were fine for now. The biggest issue was he didn’t have another change, and bugs of all sorts would be happy with that situation. As it were, it would be a cold night without his blanket.

Here. Lin felt a rough bunched-up cloth strike him in the chest when he turned to look at his friend coming out the noisy door. We’ll bring it back when we return.

Willow had borrowed the healer’s blanket. He smiled. He must have read his mind.

Anything else we can help with in there? Lin doubted, but had to ask.

No, Cony said she’ll change her into dry clothes and put some oils on her. It’s best to let a woman care for a woman.

Very well, then. Shall we go?

Are we going back by the river to spend the night there?

Our wet clothes are there and we need to make sure the fire is out. Then we’ll continue further and keep our eyes on the shore. Maybe there are others looking for the man and woman we found.

Once at the place, they retrieved the rest of their belongings and put dirt on the fire. The friends followed the river to the best of their ability in the dark; yet found not another soul. Around midnight, they stopped their meanderings and put their saddles down to use as pillows. This was a good way of making sure that they wouldn’t disappear during the night.

We’ve crossed over into Lark, Willow. We’d better rest some for tonight.

They laid their heads under a grove of trees near where they tied their horses. In silence, they prepared for the night and sweet bliss overtook them. The tweets of many birds and the fast flapping of their wings awoke them the next morning to a bright day, and hopefully to his freedom.

I want to go to the capitol this morning, Willow.

They munched on cheese and bread for their breakfast and a flask of ale that Willow brought from the castle’s kitchen.

Why there?

I want to hear the people’s conversations about my pending marriage to their princess.

I’m sorry that the councilmen took it upon themselves to find you a wife, Lin. I know you believe in getting to know your wife first.

Yes, he didn’t want to relive his mother’s mistakes and be tied to a loveless marriage.

It isn’t your fault. I’m hoping for a polite decline to their proposal and then to continue on with my life.

A tall order, for sure … and if it doesn’t work, what will you do with the council at your return?

There will be changes. I can’t have men who will sell me behind my back to counsel me. I won’t tolerate it. I’ll find my own wife when I’m ready.

I understand, but … what will you do if you can’t break the engagement?

I don’t know, Willow, I’ll play it by ear and behead all my councilmen on my wedding day.

You wouldn’t. Really? All right, let’s get you unhitched then. It isn’t very popular to behead six councilmen at the same time, you know.

He did know. That is why they were in the dungeon that night and he far from them. Otherwise, they would have been dead by morning.

They traveled about five more hours through green and fertile prairies. Then they spotted the capital. It was not much different from his own, yet it was somewhat dissimilar. Stands dotted what looked like the center of the city in an orderly fashion. Children ran and played with glee. It was a familiar affair and Lin felt at ease in the neighborly kingdom.

We are in luck. It seems to be Market Day.

They drove their horses to a corral and gave a coin to a kid to care for their belongings with the promise of another when they got back.

Willow, let’s find a place to get some food and bread for our return trip home.

Sure, that place looks like as good as any, and I like its smell.

He pointed at a pick your meat and I’ll cook it for you, place to his left.

I’ll be in that one. I need a new blanket. The healer’s is too rough on the edges and is giving me hives. Lin pointed two stands down to his right.

You aren’t a king, remember? Willow murmured and Lin fought the urge to laugh. He was the king, and one who wished his life belonged to him instead of his chancellors.

Funny. Lin moved to the stall he mentioned and look at the cloth there. There were many colors, thicknesses, and lengths, but none that would be used by a king passing for a peasant to produce any warmth on a cold night. And the rest were of no use to him, since, at least the last time he checked, he didn’t wear dresses.

Do you sell blankets?

No, mister. I have clothes fer your lady. They have blanke’ yonder.

She pointed to a stall four places down the row. However, he remembered the woman from the river and chose three dresses and a shawl for her. They were nice, but not royal like the ones his courtiers were adjusted to.

Willow, … good, you are back. Pay the lady, will you?

Willow smiled big. He didn’t mind spending the king’s money which made him feel important. His fit companion had moved into the castle with his parents when his father came as assistant to a chancellor many years before. He and Lin had become fast friends since Willow’s tenth birthday. They spent all their free time together. Some of their schooling was in each other’s company which made it that much more interesting.

In the meantime, Lin moved to the stall the woman had pointed to.

Anything ye want, sir? The bearded man asked.

A blanket.

Here is my best. Just two mites, sir.

Lin looked at a green and a brown one and they were as rough at the one he had now. He gave them back. They are too harsh for what I need. The man put them down and motioned for him to wait while he moved behind the back curtain and came back with different ones.

Perhaps ye like this kind better? This one is six mites.

He showed him another green one, but this one was softer and thick and felt much better to the touch. Willow had caught up with him at