Read [Books of Bayern 1] The Goose Girl for Free Online Page A

quickly arrived.

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On the morning of departure, Ani woke with a gasp. The total blackness disturbed her, and she sat up quickly, touching her eyes to see if they were still there. A little moonlight seeped through her curtains and comforted her. I t was just early.
    Her nightmare still clung to her like the smell of smoke t o cloth. Heralded by trumpets, serving boys had carried her into the banquet hall kneeling on a platter garnished with blue cabbage leaves and water lilies. She wore her white nightgown. Purple cherries dripping syrup had replaced her eyes. Her arms were strained backward as though she wished to fly away. They set her down before her mother, who lifted a carving knife and said, "It is your duty, daughter, for the good of the feast."
    Remembering the dream made her laugh a little. "Don't be so dramatic," she told herself. "It's not as though she is sending me off to be killed." The dream, no doubt, had been inspired by the farewell banquet of last evening. The main course had been white swans roasted in their feathers.
    Ani opened her curtains and breathed in the warm night air. Cricket voices battled for more night, and she wished she could grant it to them. Her brown travel dress with wide skirts hung over a chair. When the sun rose, she would go.
    From her window she could not see the direction they would travel, so she sat facing north and contemplated the familiar view. No more crying, she told herself. It was not difficult. Her eyes were dry and sore. She concentrated on forming the images and sensations of her Kildenrean life into a body, and in her mind burying that body, peacefully, next to her father's tomb in the soft summer earth.
    Ani was still at the window watching the sun conquer early morning blue with hot gold light when her maid entered. She exclaimed at the late hour, helped Ani dress, and braided her hair in one long plait down her back, unadorned. Ani felt keenly unroyal, boyish, and sick to her stomach.
    The escort was waiting for her at the front gates. The queen had arranged for a forty-man company, led by Talone, former watcher of the east gate, to accompany Ani on the nearly three-month journey to Bayern. One-fifth of the escort drove wagons full of supplies, as well as dresses and cloaks and gilded things that were given to Ani as last gifts. Her siblings stood before the wagons, squinting against the rising sun. Napralina and Susena cried sleepily. Calib looked distant, though when he returned her gaze she saw his eyes were full of emotion.
    Ani embraced her sisters, then stood before Calib, placing her hands on his shoulders.
    He looked down.
    "It's all right, Calib," she said. "I was upset at first, but I'm resigned to it now. The crown is yours. Enjoy it, and do it better than I would have."
    His chin began to quiver, and he turned away before he could cry.
    Next to Calib, Selia was smiling and mounted on her gray horse. Falada stood alone.
    His new saddle was a pale golden red, vibrant against his white coat. At hast he looks royal, Ani thought. She was grateful that in this one regard her mother had respected her wishes—
    she would not be made to ride the endless weeks inside a carriage like a caged bird.
    It is early, said Falada.
    Yes, but I am late coming, said Ani. I am not happy to leave.
    Nor I. My stall was nice and food was good. But the new place will have nice stalls and good food, too.
    She imagined it would, and she wished she was as easily comforted as a horse, but the long road intimidated her, and her inability to imagine any part of her new life left it dark and daunting in her mind—a distant place, a warlike people, a shadowed husband with a face she could not imagine. Tales of naive young girls marrying murderous men performed grimly in her mind. Ani put her arms around Falada's neck and briefly hid her face in his mane. His warmth encouraged her.
    "Behold, my royal daughter," said the queen.
    Ani looked up. The