The Best of Luck: Chapter 4

“Cadence! What are you doing?!” Emery called out, as he shuffled over to the boy who was supposed to be in the Great Hall. Cadence skidded to a stop when he heard Emery’s voice, and turned around to see his friend looking very out of breath and highly stressed out. The prince smiled at Emery, hoping it would pass along, but Emery’s face remained tense. 

“I am just making sure everything is perfect!” Cadence responded, straightening up as Emery came to a halt in front of him. He did not look pleased.

“It is a little late for that, don’t you think?” Emery asked, looking down at the watch on his wrist. “The feast starts in, oh, two minutes ago.” Emery looked up and glared at Cadence, who put a sheepish smile on his face and raised his hands in surrender. “At least, it would have begun two minutes ago if the prince was in there!” he continued, and Cadence broke.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” he said, letting his hands fall to slap his thighs. His shoulders sagged as he lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair, refusing to meet the eyes of his servant. 

“I just wanted to make sure everything was going smoothly,” he said, shaking his head and letting out a sigh. “I was not on top of things like I should have been, and I really don’t want my father to get angry about -”

“He won’t,” interjected Emery.

“- And it felt like everything just kept going wrong,” Cadence continued, ignoring Emery’s attempt to wind up the conversation and get him into the Great Hall so the feast could start. 

“Like, I ran into this girl in the hallway earlier,” Cadence said suddenly, and Emery tensed. “I asked her to deliver something for me and you wouldn’t believe what she said! She looked at me like she had absolutely no idea who I was and then she said, in literally the rudest tone possible, ‘I am the violinist, not your servant.’ Can you believe…” the prince’s voice trailed off as he noticed Emery looking at him with a sheepish smile. He pursed his lips.

“She is the violinist, isn’t she?” Cadence stated more than asked.

Emery responded with a quick and resigned,

“Yes.”

“Emery!” Cadence exclaimed, his eyes widening. “What happened to Cyrus?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” Emery exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air dramatically. “Opal and I looked everywhere for him and he was nowhere to be found.”

“Wonderful,” Cadence said in a tone that made clear it was not wonderful. “Absolutely wonderful. So, where did you find her?” Cadence asked, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes at Emery. 

“You don’t want to know,” Emery quickly responded, shaking his head.

“Can she play?” Cadence asked as a bit of panic crept into his voice. 

“Oh dear. I knew I forgot to ask her something.”

“Emery!” Cadence practically shouted, but Emery simply rolled his eyes this time. 

“Okay, you know what, Cadence?” he said, putting his hands on his hips and pinning the boy with a look. “I shouldn’t have even had to find a new violinist, because we had one this morning. But then your father put you in charge, and suddenly our violinist was gone.” Emery gave Cadence a suggestive look, and the prince shrunk back a little, his argumentative demeanor melting away.

“I suppose I don’t blame him,” Cadence muttered, looking at the ground and shaking his head. Emery disliked this more than his previous irritation. He let out a sigh and looked at Cadence defeatedly.

“Why are you so anxious about this feast?” he asked Cadence, and Cadence let out an exasperated puff.

“Because I am a joke, Emery!” Cadence declared. Emery winced, looking around to make sure there was no one near enough to hear them. “As the prince, you would think I would have the capability of putting together a little feast without absolutely everything going wrong.” He ran a hand through his hair again, shaking his head as he thought about how poorly the preparations had gone that day since he was in charge. It had been chaos. Cadence had assigned jobs to the wrong people and had forgotten to assign jobs to others. And, apparently, he had even lost some people.

“All I had to do was tell people what to do, and I couldn’t even do that.” 

“Cadence, the feast is going to be fine-” Emery said, looking over his shoulder at the doors of the Great Hall and wondering if they were ever going to make it in there.

“Well, it will be now because you swooped in. Every time I screw up, you fix it,” Cadence said with a bit of a pout. Emery opened his mouth to respond, but Cadence continued before he could.

“Today was supposed to be my chance to show my father that I was capable of leading people, getting things done and staying on task. And maybe, just maybe I could have gotten away with it. I could have taken the credit for what you did and made him happy.” Emery gave his friend a disapproving look, but the prince didn’t seem to notice. “And he would have had no idea that anything ever went wrong. But now,” Cadence groaned, “now he is going to see that girl up there, playing the violin, and he will know that I screwed up.”

Cadence looked at Emery with a sulky expression on his face.

“The previous prince was way better at his job than I am,” he added pitifully. This was the last straw for Emery. The servant rolled his eyes, grabbed the prince’s arm and began dragging him toward the feast.

“Oh, do stop moping and go take a seat in the Great Hall,” Emery said, releasing his arm and giving him a push toward the doors. “We can talk about this later. Right now, you have a feast to attend.” 

Cadence let out a sigh. He had stalled long enough. He straightened his shoulders, put a smile on his face and walked through the doors of the Great Hall. His father spotted him immediately and stood up. 

“There’s my boy!” he exclaimed, and the conversations filling the hall stopped. “Fashionably late, I see,” his father teased as Cadence walked up to him. Cadence smiled awkwardly and nodded his head as he and Emery made their way to their seats. 

Before he sat down, a hushed conversation floated to Cadence’s ears. He turned his head toward the stage where the musicians would soon be performing. There was a large curtain covering the stage but there was a gap large enough for Cadence to see through. He could just make out the conductor, Ms. Tansy, holding a girl tightly by the arm. The same girl he had run into earlier.

“Where have you been!?” Tansy whisper-shrieked at the girl. “The prince just walked in! If you had been a second later-”

“I wasn’t,” the girl cut her off plainly, not looking up at her to avoid the fire she knew was in the woman’s eyes.

“Marley-” the woman started to say, but Cadence couldn’t hear the rest of it as she dragged the late violinist onto the stage. The prince stifled a groan and did his best to keep the smile on his face as he sat down beside his father. Emery, who had also heard the commotion behind the curtain, stood behind him.

“She just got to the stage?” Cadence muttered under his breath in Emery’s direction. “That is not a good sign.” 

Emery pretended not to hear and stared straight ahead, crossing his fingers behind his back as the lights in the room began to dim. At the front, a heavy set of green and gold curtains were dramatically pulled back to reveal a highly decorated stage and a perfectly positioned ensemble. They were all dressed elegantly, something Marley hadn’t even thought about until a dress more expensive than everything she had ever owned was thrust into her arms. It was gorgeous and it fit her perfectly. The dark green matched her eyes and the gold accents looked beautiful with her hair draped against it. It did make her a bit more nervous, though, wearing something so expensive. 

Directly to both sides of the stage and just slightly pushed back were two square platforms, slightly raised above the main stage Marley was standing on. All of the stages floated above the ground. It surprised Marley to see such an arrangement and for a brief moment she wondered if it was safe. And then Ms. Tansy pushed her out onto the center stage and, with a start, Marley realized it was time for her to play. As the colorful lights in the room focused on the stage, Cadence and Emery cringed when they saw the stress painted across her face. 

It looked like Marley was holding her breath. Her cheeks were fairly pink, and she appeared just as nervous about her performance as Cadence and Emery were. 

“Cadence,” a voice spoke next to the prince, and the boy tensed when he felt his father’s breath against his ear. “Do you see Cyrus up there?” 

Cadence gulped as he watched his father’s gaze search the stage curiously. 

“Yes, well, about that, uh,” Cadence began to say, scratching the back of his neck, but he didn’t have a chance to finish. Before them, Ms. Tansy cleared her throat and raised her baton. And suddenly the room was filled with music, drowning out whatever Cadence was about to say.

Marley had a few measures before she came in, which gave her some time to breathe and get a feel for the music. It also gave her time to become even more nervous. Marley closed her eyes and felt the rhythm, imagining her fingers flying across the strings of the violin. It brought her peace, hearing the other musicians play without her, and gave her time to get ready. 

Within the span of six short measures, a peaceful smile had made its way across Marley’s face. She lifted her head and opened her eyes, placing her violin on her shoulder and resting her chin on top of it. She didn’t look at anyone in the audience. Instead, she let her gaze rest on the strings of her violin, just as her fingers did. When the ensemble behind her finished the last introductory measure, she lifted her bow and began to play. 

The lights brightened on her as she played her first note, and she took a small step forward as her fingers began to race across her violin and her bow prepared to fly across the strings. Marley breathed to the rhythm of the music, closing her eyes every now and then with complete trust that her fingers would go where they were supposed to go. She adored playing and it showed. At times, Marley improvised lines as she momentarily forgot the music she had learned only a few hours ago but she made sure that it flowed with what the others were playing. She swayed to the beat, leaning into the notes as she felt her feet itch to move freely below her. 

“Geez,” Emery mumbled from where he stood by Cadence’s side, watching the girl he had picked up off the street. “She can play.” 

Cadence snuck a glance in Emery’s direction, not liking the way he sounded so shocked by his own statement. But he quickly redirected his attention to the girl and the way she performed. Relief washed over him as he watched her move about the stage and play as if she had been practicing for months. She was amazing, and it was clear that everyone thought so. Even his father was grinning wildly and clapping along with the music, although it was incredibly offbeat.

From up on stage, Marley smiled and blushed as she noticed many of the servants below stopping to watch and admire her. A couple of them had even started dancing, grinning as they twirled each other around without spilling the drinks and food they were carrying. 

Some fellow musicians shared the main stage with Marley, but most of them harmonized with her from the two smaller stages. Marley caught a glimpse of them as she risked a twirl across the stage, and she noticed they weren’t alone. There were others there without instruments, either dancing or performing strange, colorful magic tricks with their hands to match the music. The dances were well coordinated, but not terribly complicated. After watching them from the corner of her eye for a few minutes, Marley felt comfortable moving around more freely. Even though she didn’t know their choreography, she could feel the emotions and energy that they were dancing to, and she couldn’t help but join in. She was used to dancing while she played. In fact, it was hard not to. 

By the time the final song rolled around, Marley was exhausted. Her chest heaved up and down and her knees shook so badly she was afraid they might collapse. She hoped no one would hear how loud she was breathing once the music stopped. Luckily, that didn’t turn out to be a problem. The moment the last note was played, claps and shouts and whoops erupted from around the room. Marley grinned and even laughed into the noise. She laughed even harder when she saw Cadence and Emery, who looked nothing short of astounded. 

“Excellent! Excellent!” the king roared, standing from his chair and clapping his hands together roughly. Others followed suit. Marley beamed down at the people staring up at her. She was still struggling to catch her breath when she felt a small nudge on her back.

“Bow,” someone whispered, and Marley did so gladly. She took her violin off her shoulder, holding it and her bow down at her side as she bowed for her audience, then slowly stood back up as the lights dimmed and the curtains closed once more. The very instant the pair of green fabrics reconnected, the next performers began setting up on the stage, and Marley let out a small sigh. Oh, how she didn’t want her turn to be over.

“Wow!” Emery exclaimed, nudging Cadence on the arm as the conversations struck up again in the Great Hall. “She was so good!”

“She was pretty fantastic,” Cadence nodded in agreement, a relieved smile filling his face. He had to admit, he had definitely had his doubts. But she nailed it.

“And your father seemed to love her!” Emery added, watching the king stand up with an enormous grin on his face. “He is going to think you fired Cyrus and hired her on purpose! That is one step closer to him letting you do things again, if you ask me.” Emery gave Cadence a victorious punch on the shoulder, and the prince smiled as he watched his father. “I hope so,” he mumbled under his breath. 

“I know so!” Emery replied. “Just look at him! Wait. No. Is he … he is. He is going over to talk to her.” He placed his hands on Cadence’s shoulders as the two of them watched the king meander about for a moment, before setting his sights on the musician.

“Hey!” his voice boomed across the room. “Violinist!” 

Marley froze when she heard it, and her heart nearly stopped when she turned and saw who the voice belonged to. The girl’s eyes widened as the king walked up to her. Her cheeks turned red as she immediately bowed, partly because he was the king but mostly because she didn’t want him to see her expression. Obviously, it was a ridiculous thought, but as soon as Marley saw the king, she instantly thought, this is it. He knows I’m out to get him. This is it. 

“Your highness,” Marley muttered as she tried to stop her heart from picking up too much speed in her chest. He knows.

“You,” the king began, sipping from a chalice he had clutched in his hand before looking down and grinning at the girl, “were fantastic!” Marley’s cheeks burned as she quietly smiled in relief. She stood up a little straighter when she realized he hadn’t come over to throw her in the dungeon.

“I hope I met your expectations, your Highness?” she asked modestly, trying to sound as innocent as she could. “Met them? That was incredible!” the king exclaimed, taking another sip of his wine before slamming his cup down on a table. “I do not know where you came from, but you are going to play at all of my feasts, from now on!” 

As much as she despised the man standing in front of her, Marley couldn't help but smile at this great compliment. She felt a rush of excitement race through her. The thought of playing again in the castle thrilled her to her core. To be appreciated for her talents is what she had been longing for since the day she arrived in Westwind. The day she arrived in Westwind. Her smile faltered as she remembered. She couldn’t play for the castle again. As much fun as it had been, she was on a mission. Working for the king as a violinist while also working to dethrone him didn’t exactly go together.

Not that she really had to concern herself with this conflict. The king was quite drunk and probably had no idea what he was saying. He likely wouldn’t recall their conversation - or anything else, for that matter - in the morning.

A few yards back, Cadence watched the exchange as Emery went to find some food, and he noticed the look on Marley’s face. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head at her, trying to figure out what they were saying. He needed to know if Emery was correct in his assumption that his father liked Marley more than Cyrus. 

“It would be an honor,” Cadence heard Marley say, and his father grinned. It looked like the king was about to say something else, but then a servant stepped in between them. He bowed to the king, holding a large pitcher in one hand while the other hand was tucked behind his back. The servant blocked Cadence’s view from Marley, and he sighed, shaking his head as he turned to find Emery.

“May I refill your drink, sire?” the servant asked with a complacent smile, interrupting Marley’s conversation with the king. Marley took a step back and began to walk away. But something about the servant’s voice sounded familiar and she stopped. She meant to catch a glimpse of the man’s face, to see why she was getting a sense of familiarity, but when she turned around, she witnessed a lot more than she had bargained for. 

“Yes, yes, absolutely!” the king bellowed. The servant smiled and nodded. “Did you hear my new violinist!? Wasn’t she magnificent!?” the king rambled, hardly coherently, as he swung his cup around aimlessly. 

The servant smiled tightly, nodding along to the king’s words, but it was clear he was not listening. Marley tilted her head, squinting curiously as she watched the servant. He took the king’s cup, pretended to refill it and then swiftly switched it with the cup he had been holding behind his back. It was fast and subtle, but Marley saw it. 

“Enjoy, your Highness,” the man said courteously, bowing as the king grinned. 

As the servant turned to leave, Marley looked away. She didn’t want him to know that she was on to him. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew something wasn’t right. What was in the new cup the servant had given the king? Was it poison? An enchanted drink of some kind? Was the servant after the king’s totem? No, Marley couldn’t let that happen.

Marley clenched her jaw and spun around when she was sure the servant was gone. She set her gaze on the king. She knew she needed to somehow get that cup away from him.

At the same time Marley spun around to look anxiously at the king, Cadence’s view of the girl was restored, and he glanced in her direction. A curious expression swept over his face as he noticed how unnerved Marley now looked. It seemed like she had something to tell the king, but she was interrupted.

“Your Majesty,” a guest called out, causing Marley to jump slightly. The king turned around, still clutching the drink in his hand. 

“Ah, my friend!” the king boomed. “I didn’t think you could make it!” 

The king threw his hands out to the side, sloshing much of the drink from his cup. Marley winced as it splashed onto the floor. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Behind her, the servant stopped mid departure. To her relief, the king set his cup down on a table to embrace the newcomer. Marley knew this was her opportunity to act. 

In one swift motion, while the king’s back was turned, Marley grabbed a random chalice on the table and swapped it for the one the servant had given him. She didn’t know what was going on, but she was certain of this: she was going to be the one to dethrone the king. And she would stop anyone who got in her way.

A few yards away, Cadence choked on his own drink and leapt to his feet. He didn’t know what Marley was up to, but he saw her switch his father’s cup and he knew that couldn’t be good. He moved quickly toward his father and the replaced chalice.

“Cadence?” Emery asked, scrunching up his face as he watched his suddenly frantic friend wipe a hand across his lips, swallow hard, and rush toward the king. 

Marley had quickly slipped away, holding the poisoned chalice tightly in front of her. She focused on the back door of the Great Hall and was unaware of the sudden commotion behind her. 

The king picked up the cup Marley had placed beside him and toasted his friend.

“Father! Don’t-” shouted Cadence, lunging forward and reaching out his hand. But it was too late. The king took a large drink from his cup, swallowing with a noisy gulp, before looking at his son. Cadence’s mouth fell open in horror and he stopped in his tracks. 

“Yes, Cadence?” the king asked his son, giving him a rough pat on the back. Cadence furrowed his brow in confusion, shaking his head and fumbling over his words. The drink seemed to have no effect on his father. 

“I… I thought-” Cadence stuttered, looking over his father’s shoulders for Marley, who was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah,” his father began, thinking he understood his son’s distress. “You didn’t want her to leave either.” He shook his head sadly, and took another swig of wine. “I know. Such a pity her music had to end.” He clapped his son once more on the back, shaking him a bit, before turning to converse with his friend again.

“Indeed,” Cadence mumbled, glancing around once more for Marley. Suddenly, Emery was by his side.

“Hey, are you-” Emery started to say, but Cadence cut him off.

“Did you see what the girl did to his drink?” he asked quietly, not wanting to draw attention to the situation.

“What?” Emery asked, looking around. “What girl? Whose drink?”

 Cadence shook his head once more and snuck another glance at his father, who was still drinking from the cup and appeared to be fine.

“The girl. The violinist. She did something to it, Emery,” he mumbled. “She switched my father’s cup with another.” 

Emery’s face twisted up in concern and confusion as he watched the king walk around and banter with his knights and fellow noblemen. 

“The king seems fine to me,” Emery commented, slightly hesitant, but Cadence wasn’t so easily convinced.

“I’ll be right back,” he said quietly, causing Emery to nod and take a step back. Quickly, Cadence made his way towards the back door of the Great Hall. Once outside, he turned and made his way toward the practice room … just a few minutes behind a servant who was headed the same way.