Curse of the Forbidden Book by Amy Lynn Green Page B

say, “That’s what Silas was trying to tell you when you cut him off,” but he restrained himself. We’re in the palace now , he reminded himself. And we’re slaves. We have to follow their rules .
    â€œWe bring the gift of a song,” Parvel said. “A declaration of love from one of your many suitors.”
    Lady Taralyn stood and glided over to them, her white gown barely rustling. “How romantic!” she cried, her eyes glittering with excitement. This close, Jesse could see that they were as green as the grass of the palace lawn.
    Jesse blinked, taken aback by this sudden change in emotion.
    Lady Taralyn was staring at them expectantly, a child-like smile on her face. “Well, then. Let’s hear it.”
    Wait . Suddenly, Jesse was struck with the meaning of this. He held no instrument. But I can’t…. This wasn’t part of the plan! Rae was supposed to come out, and we were to leave without ever seeing Lady Taralyn!
    Silas looked nearly as panicked as Jesse, but Parvel was just smiling in amusement. Jesse wanted to throw something at him.
    Why, why didn’t I carry the flute instead of Parvel? he groaned inwardly. What am I supposed to do?
    â€œWell?” Lady Taralyn said, tilting her head at him in annoyance. “I’m waiting.”
    Jesse didn’t want to think about what she would do if he didn’t sing, or, worse, if she discovered their deception.
    There seemed to be only one option. I’ll have to sing a love song .
    Jesse tried to force some noise out of his dry throat. “The introduction, please,” he said, waving at Silas and Parvel.
    Silas took the lead, strumming a few chords. Some of them sounded a bit off, but that was masked by the free, easy melody that Parvel wove with his panpipes. From the sound of it, either Parvel actually knew how to play the instrument, or he was just naturally talented. It sounded like a real song.
    A song that you have to provide the words to, Jesse reminded himself.
    So, as Lady Taralyn’s eyes were fixed on him, he began. “The fairest maiden,” he sang, trying out a few basic notes, “I long to see as to your tower I look.” Rhyme, you have to rhyme! “So lovely is your curly hair, unmatched in any…book.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Parvel laughing, which made him skip a few notes on the panpipes. But Lady Taralyn was still listening with rapt attention, as if he were the greatest poet of the king’s court.
    â€œYour gaze like emeralds, skin like silk, your smile all I see. Your voice, like music to my ear, rings through eternity.” He was out of rhymes, so he stopped abruptly.
    This is getting painful . He let Silas and Parvel play a brief instrumental interlude as he scrambled to think of the next verse. Some detached part of his brain told him that Silas was getting better on the lute, choosing chords that harmonized with each other.
    Parvel nodded at him, and Jesse began again, “O that I may yet see your face, and fight the rest away. And so at last my love to keep, before the end of day.”
    He hoped the desperation on his face was enough to cue Silas and Parvel to stop. With a flourish that replayed the main melody, Parvel ended, taking a bow.
    Jesse followed his lead. To his surprise, as he raised his head, he saw Lady Taralyn clapping. She’s just being polite, I’m sure.
    But the smile on Lady Taralyn’s face seemed too bright to be anything but genuine. “How beautiful,” Lady Taralyn said, closing her eyes, as if in rapture. “Which suitor sent you?”
    Jesse glanced at Silas and Parvel. “He prefers to remain anonymous.” No sense in ruining Prince Corin’s reputation with my poor singing.
    â€œNo matter,” Lady Taralyn said, turning away from them with a smile. “I already know.”
    Jesse stared at her. “You do?”
    â€œOf course. It’s obvious from your