Signe Kopps - Anthras Moon

The Adventures of Ysabel the Summoner

by

Signe Kopps

Second Edition

Copyright (c) 2013, 2017 Signe Kopps.

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Except for the use of brief quotations in a book review, this book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the author.

For permissions and information, please contact Signe Kopps at signekopps.com

Editing by Joanna Rose

Cover art by Amalia Chitulescu

Author photo by William Howell

Published by Rainhorse Press

631 NE Broadway, # 542.

Portland, OR 97232

Ebook ISBN 978-0-9991290-1-2

Paperback ISBN 978-0-9991290-0-5

Ysabel, leave those boys and come sit with me.

The red-haired girl turned from the two boys playing in the shallow end of the pond and looked up at the top of the grassy slope. Her sister Olenna sat in the shade of a willow tree, rocking Princess Lira in one arm and beckoning to Ysabel with the other. Ysabel glanced back at the dark green water in the middle of the pond. She wanted to dive into the deeper water and swim through the weeds waving above the muddy bottom. She would escape the heat and her tedious life in the castle. Shed feel free again. She shook her head. Her sister would frown if she jumped into the pond as though she were a peasant girl cooling off after a hot day working in the fields.

Ysabel, Olenna called again. Ysabel started up the slope and jumped when the boys kicked sprays of cold water, drenching her back.

Hey, she cried. I wasnt looking. She moved away from the pond and lifted the hem of her skirt to wipe her arms.

Prince Rowen, a sturdy lad of five years, pleaded with her to stay. We wont splash you again, he promised.

Stay, Ysabel, urged the smaller boy, Blane, Olennas son and Prince Rowens closest friend.

Ill be back. She watched as Rowen grabbed Blanes hands and pulled him through the water, running faster and faster until he let go and they fell shrieking with laughter into the pond. They immediately sat up and furiously cuffed water at each other.

Ysabel walked up the slope, passing a nursery maid who sat in the grass out of range of the splashing water stringing blue and white flowers to make a bracelet. The boys long day shirts were folded in her lap.

She reached the top of the hill and sat beside her sister in the dappled shade. One more minute, she said, and those boys will be up again and worrying that poor nursery maid.

Olenna laughed and laid the sleepy baby in her carry basket. Princess Lira yawned and opened her eyes as Olenna tucked a soft wool blanket under her chin. Bouquets of winter violets embroidered along the edge of blanket matched the blue-grey of the babys eyes.

Sleep well, Lira. Olenna draped her shawl over the top of the basket and pushed it deeper into the cool shade.

In the pond below, the boys were squatting with their heads close together. Olenna lifted her face to the sun. This feels good. She wore a gown of pale blue wool and a bodice of dark blue wool laced with silver cording.

Ysabel smoothed her new wool skirt and linen blouse that Olenna had given it to her when she came to live at the castle. You work in the embroiderers room now, she said to Ysabel. You must look as though you belong in the castle.

Pointed high-heeled shoes on Olennas feet had replaced her old, blunt-toed boots. Ysabel wiggled her toes in her shoes and wondered if Olennas feet hurt. Her own shoes were simplean oblong piece of tanned cow leather stitched onto a flat sole and tied around her ankle with a thick leather string. The soles were worn so thin that Ysabel felt every pebble underfoot. She would have to stuff her shoes with straw to keep her feet warm in the winter. She hid her feet under her skirt; she didnt want Olenna to know she needed new shoes. Her sister would order tight new boots like hers and toss Ysabels comfortable old shoes to the pigs.

That Olenna would throw out a still usable pair of shoes showed how much her sister had changed. Three months ago she had been a contented wife living in their village with her young husband, Robert, awaiting the birth of their second child. Robert died of summer fever a few days after the stillborn death of their baby girl. For days afterward, Olenna lay in the sleeping room of their cottage, weeping for her dead husband and baby while Ysabel and her mother cared for Blane. Only the message brought by a neighbor that Queen Ceradona sought a wet nurse for her newborn daughter had roused Olenna from her grief. She bathed, put on her best dress and walked to the castle with Blane. The queen approved of the clean and pretty young woman with her healthy son by her side, and Olenna had not returned to the village.

Two months later their mother died, leaving Ysabel alone in the cottage. Olenna attended the burial for the few hours the queen allowed her to leave the baby princess and brought an offer of employment for her sister in the castle.

Ill work in the kennels? Ysabel had asked, excited about caring for the kings silky-eared scent dogs.

Olenna laughed. No, thats work for boys; you will learn embroidery.

Ysabel had silently groaned at the news. Sitting indoors all day sewing small, perfect stitches sounded boring, but she was young and unmarried and could not live alone in the village. She agreed to come with Olenna. They closed their cottage and Ysabel moved into the castle.

Ysabel opened her waistbag and pulled out a stuffed lamb fashioned from a scrap of white wool she had swept up from the sewing room floor. The wool was from the lining of a red silk cloak ordered by Queen Ceradona to wear at the upcoming harvest festival. Over the past three weeks, while Ysabel learned to sew with silk threads that tangled at the slightest tug, the lead embroiderers sat before panels of the vivid silk, their fingertips freshly sanded as they worked gold thread, rubies, emeralds, and seed pearls into an elaborate scene on the back of the cloak, depicting the queen and her ladies gathering roses in a blooming flower garden.

Ysabel shook the toy, making the legs dance in front of Olennas eyes. I hope Blane is not too old for a stuffed animal.

He will love anything you make for him. Olenna tilted her head and looked at Ysabel. You sound more cheerful. You were unhappy the last time we talked. You missed your friends in the village and you didnt like sitting inside all day, learning your stitchery.

Ysabel rubbed the tips of her fingers that were covered with pinpricks. She disliked being indoors while the weather was fine. She was happier outside, stealing eggs from the seabird nests or searching the woods near their village for nuts and mushrooms to add to the family pot. But Olenna had brought her to live in comfort and safety at the castle and she did not want to sound ungrateful.

I made a friend of the other apprentice. Her name is Adele. Shes fostering with Lady Clara to learn fine sewing before she is wed. Were embroidering oak leaves on an old piece of silk. Its hard work. Lady Clara says the back of our threadwork must look as good as the front and she makes us pick out every stitch that isnt perfect.

She sighed and blew out a breath. I dream of oak leaves every night.

You have a lot of needlework before you, Olenna said. I was surprised Lady Clara allowed you this half-day with me. She was laying out silks in the queens chambers yesterday when I brought Lira in after her morning airing. Ceradona wants new dresses in every color for her visit to her father and mother next year. While I was there, she summoned John Cauldgate to open her jewel casket and give Lady Clara brilliants enough to adorn the new clothing.