Chapter 14: Rosalind - A New Heir

Chapter 14 Deep Dive

Outline:

Rosalind watches her bows and arrows burn
Roland tells her she can no longer: ride horses, study math or science, and never again pick up a bow and arrow
Only her bow and quiver from her 9th birthday were spared
After that afternoon, Rosalind avoided her father - hiding in every nook or room
She startles Lord Forthwind one morning when she burts out from behind a tapestry and he drops a bundle of scrolls
Rosalind stops to help him catch the bundles
She grabbed a really old one and since Forthwind's back is turned she pulls at the thread keeping ot closed
Forthwind yanks it away, thanks her, and then goes to her fathers rooms
Rosalind finds it curious that she isn't allowed to see the scroll
All she was an ornate scroll with a crest of two bears fighting, painted delicately in gold, green, and blue
Its not a crest she knows, Rosalind wishes Isamine was here
Rosalind continues down the hall as far from her father as she can
Rosalind wanders the castle late at night
She goes to the library
Rosalind doesn't know what book to pick
A book with green cover and gold letters catches her eye
She hears a noise behind her and is startled
Nearly a month has passed since her bows were burned and she sees her father
He sees the book she dropped and closes the book he was reading
Rosalind is mad she didn't notice him in the room before, but by the look on his face shes sure he hadn't expected her to enter the room either
Roland asks for the book
It was one of Isamine's favorites, the standards of old houses
Roland asks Rosalind to take care of it for when Isamine returns
Rosalind asks if Isamine will return
Roland says yes, he hopes they all will
Rosalind looks into her father's face as she gets the book
She notices his injuries are healing but the one he got in battle is sharper
Roland traces the scar but he can't remember the battle
Roland talks about the Dorian soldier that struck him, and he wasn't much older than he was
Roland swayed and Rosalind refuses to help as he falls into his seat
Roland says he was afraid in the war and not much older than Isamine, mathild, or her
But he knew if he died there that Ludo would cease to exist, it was his job to defend Ludo
Roland says he couldn't die just then and says Rosalind may not understand what he means
Rosalind tries to keep a stoney face
Roland says she will understand one day what it means to fight for Ludo
Roland says he thinks he misses his daughters but does not know
Rosalind feels as if hes looking through her
They stare at each other for a long time
Roland's face grows soft & Rosalind calls to him, asking if its her father
Roland's face darkens and he scolds her and sends her out of the room with a promise to punish her in the morning
Rosalind runs out of the room with a humph
Rosalind squirms in the heat & Elspeth scold her
The weather was cool before now today, very hot
Rosalind glances at Mathild and sees she's flushed and messy and Rosalind realizes she doesn't look much better
For days the castle has buzzed
and now Roland assembled the court on the morning of the 10th
Everyone wonders what it could be since it had been weeks since any new visitors or anything exciting happened
Rosalind doesn't care, engrossed in her own mystery, what was Forthwind up to, what was that crest
Rosalind has been following Forthwind everywhere in case he drops anything else
The court is all hot as well and many women are fanning themself
Rosalind shoots her mother a look, since she refused to let them fan themselves
The trumpets herald the kings arrival
Rosalind squirms again in the heat
Roland steps outside and the court cheers
Rosalind hopes his announcement will be quick
Rosalind looks to her mom, and sees her face is set, she realizes that her mom will protect her and Mathild
Roland quiets down the court
Roland announces he is without a son, he yalks about Ahmenebar, and the golden apple,
Rosalind realizes the scroll must have been about the apple
Roland says he thinks there is a single golden apple left & the one who brings it will be his heir
Rosalind is confused, she is the heir
Rosalind tries to ask her mom but Elspeth shakes her head
Rosalind realizes Roland said not he or she but the one
She realizes anyone can go for the apple & she is no longer the heir nor the future queen
Her purpose is snuffed out
Then she faints