Chapter 29
JACOB
LICHTENSTEIN CASTLE
“I’m sure of it.” Prince William slams his fist on the gilded chair’s armrest and then rises to pace before us.
His tiny poodle trails after him, wagging its tail.
“I don’t know who it is, but we have a mole among my staff.
There are always rumors of someone trying to usurp the throne.
If I were to get a golden coin for every threat, we’d be able to fill our coffers.
This is different. It’s as if someone knows my father’s and my every plan. ”
Inwardly, I sigh. The king gave us access to his library today.
I hoped to spend the entire day searching for clues about our curse, who these witches were that the Enchantress hated so much, and some idea of where the Realm of Candora was located.
Especially since the spell book we found at Hohenzollern Castle didn’t offer anything else useful.
But the moment Prince William got wind we were here, he summoned us.
“Maybe if you explained the situation more, it would help,” Wilhelm says, polite as ever.
“Last night, the weapons delivery was ambushed on the hillside. It’s the second order I’ve made that’s been stolen. No one knew about it other than the men delivering it.”
“Perhaps your mole is one of your soldiers?” I offer.
“Considering that every soldier from each delivery is dead, I think not.”
“Sounds like someone wants you to be defenseless and weak,” Wilhelm points out.
“Or they’re amassing a large weapons collection for a keepsake,” I joke. The prince shoots me a fierce frown. I suppose I deserve that.
“Someone is attempting to overthrow the crown,” the prince repeats.
“Of course, Your Highness,” I say, and then hating my next words, offer, “How can we be of service?”
He brightens. “What you two do is very special. You know things and see the world in a different way.”
If only he knew.
“To add to the fact that you’re aware of my…err…condition,” he adds.
“Of course.” I try not to think of him in his frog form, otherwise, I might start laughing. A guaranteed trip to the dungeon.
“I’d like to take a short trip before my ball,” the prince continues.
“A trip, Your Royal Highness?” Wilhelm pales. “You wish for us to accompany you somewhere?”
“On the contrary!” The prince plops back down into his chair, throwing his hands up. “I wish to accompany you.”
“How intriguing.” I adjust my collar, which is currently constricting my throat. Wissen’s name appeared at the top of the hourglass this morning. We don’t have time for princely escapades.
“I want to see my kingdom in its purest form,” the prince continues.
“To know what the commoners say about me and how they feel. And more importantly, I want to keep my ears open for any signs of the mole trying to overtake my future throne. With the two of you as expert hunters, I’m sure we’ll discover the culprit, and then I’ll bring him to my father’s throne.
He’ll see me as a true prince and hopefully he’ll let me cancel this lunacy of finding a wife through, not one, but three balls. ”
“I like this plan,” Wilhelm says. “We’ll have a great chance to get to know each other better.”
What he means is we’ll get his full story so we can send him back to the realm of the Forbidden. Clever.
“I knew you’d see things my way.” The prince slaps his hands onto his knees and rings a bell for the servants.
The door flies open, and an entourage enters the room.
He waves his hands, indicating for his servants to come closer, saying, “I’ve decided to go on a short trip before my grand ball tomorrow night.
I need time to reflect on my life before I choose the woman I shall marry.
Make preparations. I leave within the hour. ”
The servants bow. The head servant escorts us out of the prince’s quarters.
“This could be a problem,” I tell Wilhelm as we head back to the stables. “What will we do with him tonight? We can’t lug him along with us to the doctor’s house. We need every minute to focus on Wissen’s story.”
All morning, my thoughts were on Ella, dirt smeared across her face, and that fierce look of determination storming in her eyes. She’s all I can think of, and truth is, I’m counting the hours when I see her again.
Tonight.
She promised.
“If my memory serves me correctly,” Wilhelm says. “You were the one who offered our services. This is your fault.”
“Fine. Isn’t everything?”
Why didn’t I kiss her last night? I should’ve. That’s my fault too.
“Maybe he could come along with us,” Wilhelm offers. “He might be able to help.”
“As a frog?” I snort. “I think not.”
The castle bustles with activity, preparing for the festival of balls.
Servants load chairs and long tables into the banquet hall while carts piled with fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and jugs of wine clutter the courtyard.
We duck around a long line of servants parading in armloads of roses and sidestep past baskets overflowing with ribbons and lace.
“This looks like it will be quite the event,” Wilhelm says after we clear the mayhem. We stroll out along the bridge that hovers above the chasm below. “But you’re right. The important thing is to finish this next story.”
I think about Ella and clench my fists. “We’ll find Wissen’s story. You can be sure of that.”
Once we prepare our horses and one for the prince, we ride to the courtyard to wait. A servant races outside, waving a letter. Bowing, he hands it to me. I find a note inside.
I’m in the garden by the fountain. Do not bring me a horse.
“Thank you,” I tell the servant and hand him the reins of the prince’s mare. “Take this horse back to the stables. We don’t need him anymore.”
“As you wish.” The servant dips into another bow and leaves.
“Did the prince cancel?” Wilhelm asks.
“He’s waiting for us in the garden.”
Sure enough, a small frog sits contentedly on the fountain’s stone border, waiting for his escort.
“I think this will be a first for me,” I say.
“I’m getting tired of firsts,” Wilhelm says with a sigh.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” I say, and scoop him up, dropping him into my pocket. “You can stay safe in there. Can’t have you falling off the horse now, can we?”
“Can he understand what we’re saying?” Wilhelm whispers as we ride out of the garden.
“I imagine so. Let’s visit the site of the robbery and assess the situation.”
It feels good to be riding, the sound of the horse’s hooves beneath me and the wind in my face.
Buds are showing up on the trees, spring daring to cut through winter.
The path steepens in a sharp downward slope as it works its way down the mountain.
About halfway, I spy wheel tracks cutting through the path, angling sideways.
“This is where the carriage went off track,” I point out.
We dismount, and a few strides off the main trail, I find that the bushes are twisted and bent. Though the attack was only last night, the bodies have been taken care of, but dried blood is on the grass. Flies buzz about.
I scramble through the bushes while Wilhelm wrenches aside the broken carriage door. A forgotten arrow is buried in a bush, and I bend to pick it up.
“Nothing in the carriage,” Wilhelm calls out, his face blanched. “Except a bloody arm that reeks. Doubt you’d want to smell that.”
A glimmer of light just to the left of the carriage catches my attention.
A shiny ax with a smooth wooden handle is embedded in an oak trunk.
I yank it out, twisting it in my palm. A glint shimmers across the silver blade, and an eye stares at me.
A chill shudders over my body. I drop the ax, leaping backward.
“What’s wrong?” Wilhelm steps to my side. “What happened?”
The eye vanishes, and the blade becomes just silver again.
“No, everything isn’t all right.” I mount my horse. “Whoever attacked this caravan used some sort of mirror magic to do it. It also means they now have a large supply of weapons.”
We discuss our options as we head down the mountain. When we arrive at the village, it’s hard to ride through the streets with the added visitors here for the king’s festival. We visit several shops, and I make sure to have my pocket open so our Frog Prince can have a good view of what’s happening.
Guests fill up every vacant room and there isn’t a table free at the tavern, so we order food and take it back to our shop.
Once the door is locked and the shutters closed, I set the frog onto the floor and command him to his human form while Wilhelm arranges our dinner on the table.
Rumpelstiltskin arrives with news he’s managed to burn Ella’s marriage contract, but when his eyes land on the prince, he hisses, leaping back.
“Who let him in here?” he asks. “Why does no one consult me on these matters? He’s going to imprison us all.”
“Don’t worry.” Prince William waves his hand dismissively. “As long as you’re not trying to take my kingdom, you’re welcome to stay here.”
“Can’t promise that,” Rumpelstiltskin mutters only loud enough for me to hear.
A knock raps at the door.
“Let me get that,” the prince offers, holding his shirt in one hand while he uses the other to throw open the door before I warn him otherwise. “Oh, hello there. I’m afraid we don’t require any lady kissers as the brothers seem to have got that part all squared away, but you have my thanks.”
“Excuse me?” An all-too-familiar voice gasps. “I’m hardly a lady kisser.”
My heart sinks as I step to the door to find Ella standing there, scowling at the prince.