A Charm for a Unicorn (16 page)

Renaldo felt his heart beating in his throat. Not a word about his leg. No “Hello, I've missed you,” or even a “What happened to you?"

Instead, she poured herself a cup of tea and gulped it. “I was thirsty,” she said.

"I've been waiting for two days for you to decide to come see me. Why have you waited so long?” Renaldo asked, and his voice betrayed him by breaking. Furious with himself, he grabbed his crutches and stood.

The color drained out of her face. Slowly she raised her eyes to his. “Renaldo.” Her lips hardly moved. She looked stunned. The cup she held tilted, and cold tea poured out on her lap. She didn't even glance down.

"Didn't you know? Didn't Sir Wulfe tell you what happened to me? Are you going to tell me you love him now, or are you going to just sit there and sip tea as if on some stupid social visit?” The words came out as sharply as ground glass, but he couldn't stop them, just as he was helpless to stop the tide of fury that suddenly washed over him.

"What happened to you?” Her face had gone bone white.

He told her about the war and about the battle that lost him his leg, and about waking up in a hospital and finding out his beloved was engaged to be married to the wizard who'd spirited him away.

She didn't react like he thought she would—with tears and protests. She looked at him unflinchingly, as if searching deeply into his soul. Silence stretched between them. He couldn't drop his eyes, even though he knew his eyes were betraying him. His eyes were pleading with her.
Don't leave me. Don't tell me what you've come to say. I love you
. Her expression was shuttered. He couldn't read her thoughts at all.

She moved her head, the tiniest of movements, but it broke the thread between them. Color came back into her cheeks and she dropped her gaze to the spilled tea. “I've made quite a mess."

He didn't know if she spoke of her dress, or their relationship. “Do you love him? Do you love Sir Wulfe? Were you just playing with me?” Renaldo couldn't help the questions. He had lost what little control he had over his emotions. They battered him. He felt as if he were drowning again, except here there was no floating spar to save him.

"No, of course I don't love him, and I wasn't playing with you.” She hesitated, then said, “I had no idea where you had gone. I didn't know you were fighting in the war. Why did you enlist?"

"I didn't enlist!” he cried agitatedly. Forgetting his missing leg, he stepped toward her, nearly lost his balance, and grabbed at his crutches. “It was join or die, and once I had joined, it was impossible to leave."

"But, all you had to say was your name!” Her voice held reproach, but not the kind he expected.

"Your Highness, may I speak?” It was the mouse. He had been curled up in an empty teacup on the mantle, and now he climbed out of it and bowed to Leonie. “Pleased to finally meet you, Lady Leonie. I've heard much about you."

She glanced at the mouse, her expression startled. “Who are you?"

"I'm a powerful magician,” said the mouse. “If someone can undo the spell I'm under, I can save you both."

"That would be nice.” She hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Why don't you go to the stables? There is someone there who may help you."

Renaldo frowned. “The stables? Don't you mean Sir Wulfe? He's already tried to break the mouse's spell. He was infuriated when he couldn't. Although he tried to hide it, I could tell he was vexed."

"Just go to the stables. And speak not a word to anyone else. Will you do that?” Leonie asked the mouse.

Renaldo watched Leonie. She looked the same, she had the same hair, the same eyes, the same fingernails ... But somehow she'd changed. Well, he'd changed too. He'd been through battles. He felt his anger leaving him. It was like a wave slipping off a beach leaving behind flotsam and jetsam made up of the past months bitter memories.

He hopped to the chimney and took the mouse out of the cup. Setting him on the floor he said, “Run along to the stables. Leonie wants to talk to me alone."

"Yes, that's more like it,” said the mouse. He twitched his whiskers. “For a minute, I really thought there might be someone there to help me. Well, joke's on the mouse."

Leonie pointed at the door. “If I were you, I'd go to the stables and I'd ask a dapple gray horse if she could spare a few oats."

"Right, right. Everyone is a comedian.” The mouse slipped under the door and left.

Renaldo turned and sat. Leaning forward, he took Leonie's hand. “You better hurry, your time here with me is almost over,” he said with a nod toward the water clock.

"I've come to tell you something, but I don't want to say it,” she said.

"Have you come to tell me you don't love me anymore? Look at me. Can you look me in the eye and tell me that?"

She didn't answer him. Instead, she said, “Do you still feel the same about me? We only knew each other a moment, and there are things happening around us that we cannot control. Search your heart carefully. I need to know the truth."

He studied her face. He felt as if he'd always known her. “I still feel exactly the same about you."

"Are you sure?” Her brows knitted in a frown.

"Positive. Leonie, the first time I set eyes on you, you were wet and bedraggled, you were spitting water, and there were weeds in your hair. Your nose was running, your eyes were swollen, and the most I can say is that you were not a very charming sight."

"I wasn't charming?” Her frown grew deeper.

Renaldo hoped her scowl didn't mean she hated what he was saying, but he couldn't stop now. Somehow, he had to convince her. “Something happened that day. I think it's called love at first sight."

"There's no such thing."

"It's in all the fairy tales, so it must exist. I fell in love with you, Leonie. When I was in the ship, during battle, every minute, actually, I thought about you. I thought about you in the hospital. And even when I thought I'd never see you again, I still loved you.” There. He said it. Now she would stand up, tell him he was ridiculous, and leave.

She gave a deep sigh and shook her head. His heart stopped. This was it then. There was nothing left for him. He'd go back to Windtide and rule, but the throne next to him would remain empty. No one could ever take her place.

The water clock struck the hour and the door flew open with a loud crash. Sir Wulfe strode in, seized Leonie's arm, and dragged her out of the room.

"I love you!” Renaldo cried, dropping his crutches in his haste to reach her. He fell, knocking over the table. The teapot fell and shattered. The door slammed shut. Nothing mattered any more. Leonie was gone. What could possibly be worse?

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Leonie was lying in the straw, feeling sorry for herself, when she heard someone muttering. She pricked her ears and listened. Horses have good hearing, so the words came to her clearly, although she hadn't heard anyone walk into the stables. This intrigued her. She got to her feet and looked over the stall door.

There was no one in sight. But she still heard the voice.
"Go ask the gray horse for some oats. Sure. Why didn't they just ask me to leave? I would have understood. But no, have to make fun of me."
And then a deep sigh.

Leonie craned her neck over the door and peered left and right. Nobody.

"Well, there's a gray horse. Hello, pretty horse. Got any oats?"
The voice came from near the ground. Leonie looked down. A very small mouse stood in front of her door. He was practically hidden by the a pile of straw. As she watched, he kicked at a pebble, then looked back up at her.

"Hello,” said Leonie. The mouse dove into the straw. “Don't be frightened. Horses don't eat mice,” she told the pile of straw.

"Horses don't talk,” said the mouse, poking its head out. Its black, beady eyes examined her carefully.

"Mice don't usually talk either,” said Leonie.

"Oh, that.” The mouse stepped out of the straw and brushed himself off. “I'm not really a mouse. I'm a very powerful magician. I challenged another wizard to a duel, and lost. Unfortunately, I seem to have gotten stuck in this form."

"Really? Well, there is a very powerful wizard in the castle over there. Why don't you ask him to transform you?"

"He tried.” The mouse shrugged.

Leonie snorted in surprise. “He failed?"

"Obviously. I mean, do I look like a powerful magician? No. I look like a mouse.” The mouse glanced behind him and sighed. “I even have a tail."

"So do I.” Leonie swished her tail. “It's handy to keep the flies away."

The mouse cocked its head. “You are the prettiest horse I've ever seen. And you talk. In my opinion, you're not really a horse. You must be an enchantment, like all the servants here. But why a horse? I can see turning a horse into a groom, or a stable hand, but why turn a human into a horse?"

Leonie shook her head. “I'm in disguise."

"Oh.” The mouse thought about that for a while. “Well, what are you then, if you don't mind me asking."

"I'm a magician's daughter."

"The one in the castle? He has a daughter?"

"No, my father is another magician."

The mouse climbed nimbly up the haystack. “That's interesting. You'll have to tell me why you're a horse. Are you being punished?"

"No, I chose to transform into a horse."

"I didn't choose to be a mouse, believe me.” The tiny mouse looked glum.

"Well, if you want to be changed back to your own self, I can try.” Leonie felt like being helpful. She wasn't sure she could do it—after all, Sir Wulfe had failed. But she could always make an effort.

The mouse chuckled. “That's a good one. The most powerful wizard tries and fails, but a talking horse thinks she can do it. Well, go ahead. I'll close my eyes. Tell me when it's over. Won't Prince Renaldo be surprised."

"Prince Renaldo?” Leonie faltered. “Do you know him?"

"Saved his life I did,” said the mouse, eyes still closed. He puffed out his chest and his whiskers quivered with self-importance.

"You saved his life?"

"When he was blasted out to sea by the cannons. Lost his leg, poor fellow. But he's saved now. I expect he'll take me back to his kingdom and give me a medal or something."

"How is he?” Leonie had to know.

The mouse opened one eye, then the other. “I say, are you going to restore me or not?"

"Just tell me about Renaldo!"

"He's probably broken hearted right now. The woman he loves came to see him this evening, and she didn't seem madly in love anymore. I can tell, you know, when people are in love. As a magician, I feel these sort of things. Anyway, this girl seemed more concerned about her shoes than her heart. A bad sign, usually.” The mouse gave a little cough. “I was surprised, actually."

"Why?” Leonie held her breath.

"Well, he'd been talking about her for so long, and saying such wonderful things about her that I expected someone incredible. She's pretty enough, but nothing amazing."

"Did Renaldo lose interest in her, then?"

"Oh, no. That's not what happened at all. ‘Twas the girl who seemed to have lost interest. He loves her still, I can tell."

"Are you sure?” Leonie stomped her hoof. “Are you positive?"

"Yes, he loves her fiercely. There's no doubt in my mind. He spoke about her all the time, pined for her, and now suffers all sorts of torment because she's getting married."

Leonie's heart beat faster. He truly loved her? Was it possible? But the mouse's words gave her no comfort. She could never marry Renaldo and live among normal people. A tear rolled down her cheek before she even knew she was crying. Even if he did love her, she would still affect other men the same way. She would cause nothing but heartbreak and strife wherever she went.

The mouse jumped on the stall door and patted her nose. “There now, don't cry. I'm sure things will work out for the prince and his fair maiden. You shouldn't get all worked up about it. I didn't realize horses were so sentimental."

"I'm sorry. I don't usually cry. So, are you ready to be transformed?” Leonie wanted to take her mind off Renaldo.

"Hey, you don't have to try. I'll find a wizard some day who can turn me back into a human. For now, I'm all right as I am.” The mouse stroked her nose some more. “Strangely enough, I have this urge to pat your nose. You don't mind, do you?"

Leonie chuckled. “No. Now, stand on the floor. If I do it now, you'll find yourself sitting on the door."

The mouse shrugged. “Have it your way. Don't strain yourself though."

Leonie looked at him. At first, all she saw was a very small mouse, with brown fur and pink paws. But then she started to see the human he'd once been. The spell holding him in mouse form was a difficult one, but she understood it. It was like looking at a forest, and all of a sudden seeing each tree growing in it. The forest and the trees were inseparable. So were the mouse and the human he'd once been. Part of magic was learning to see what was really there.

She reached out with her mind and gently undid the spell surrounding the mouse. It unlocked, springing apart, freeing the human within. An astonished young man sat in the straw. He wore the clothes he'd been wearing when he'd been spellcast, a woman's frock, and a scarf covered his head.

Leonie snorted with laughter. “What are you doing wearing a dress?"

"I don't believe it. I don't believe it! It's a miracle! It's amazing!"

"It's a man in women's clothing. I'd love to hear the story,” said Leonie.

He looked at her, then down at his body again. He touched himself all over, pulling his hair, tugging his nose, stamping his feet. Then he opened the door to Leonie's stall and threw his arms around her neck. “Thank you, thank you, horsy."

"Don't ever call me horsy. Now, explain the gown,” insisted Leonie.

"Er, gown?"

"I doubt that you challenged another wizard to a duel while wearing that dress.” Magic had its own set of rules, and one of them was you transformed with your clothes. They stayed the same. You had better not gain too much weight while you were enchanted.