Alaric slipped the ring back into his pocket. He couldn’t do it. Not when this wretched scent made him gag every time he breathed. Part of him felt relieved. Part of him wanted to throw up.
“Oh,” Carina’s eyes widened. “I think I know what’s causing this.”
Alaric waited. Speaking meant breathing more. He pulled his cloak around his shoulder and covered the bottom half of his face with it.
“Goblin,” Carina said.
“What?”
“A goblin. I imagine a creature of darkness would have a certain aroma.”
Alaric blinked at her.
“I’m sure they don’t smell good. But why is your first thought that there’s a goblin? They’re not real.”
Carina shook her head at him and ran up the mountain. Towards the smell as far as Alaric could tell. He ran after her.
“Princess, come back!”
“Lina’s up here! She might be in trouble.”
Alaric caught up to her.
“What do you mean?”
“She was hunting the goblin. She must have found it.”
Alaric grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to a stop. Carina glared at him.
“Unhand me!”
“You’re talking nonsense, Princess. Are you well?”
“Lina needs our help! She’s in danger.”
Danger. Lina had been talking about danger since her arrival. Was this where she had gotten all her bruises? Had she managed to sneak out of the castle to battle-
To battle what, exactly?
Not a goblin, but certainly nothing pleasant.
“You’re not making sense, Princess. We should to get back to the picnic.”
“We need to get to Lina!”
Alaric sighed. He gagged on the stench.
“I’ll go get Lina.”
“I’m coming with you!”
“I am not letting a Princess of Santelle run up a mountain to face an unknown danger!”
“That is exactly the sort of situation when you need a Princess of Santelle!”
Carina looked far from bland now. She looked absolutely fierce. She pushed Alaric’s hand off her shoulder.
“I’m not leaving Lina alone up there. We’ve wasted too much time already.”
“Carina, please. Go tell the others to get in the carriages. Smell or not, I don’t like the look of those clouds. We don’t want to be trapped up here in a storm. I’ll find Lina and bring her back.”
Carina crossed her arms.
“So we’re on a first name basis now, Prince Alaric?”
“Blast. I’m sorry. Will you go? Make sure the others get home safely? They can leave horses for me and Lina. My stepmother can be stubborn. She might refuse to leave without you.”
Carina studied his face.
“It isn’t a bad plan,” she said at last. “But if you let anything happen to Lina, I will push you off a tower. And it won’t be made of mattresses.”
So Marta had been right after all. Carina wasn’t bland. Alaric lowered his arm so she could see his face.
“I’ll bring Lina back safely. I promise.”
Carina narrowed her eyes. Then she nodded and ran down the hill. Alaric ran up.
The stench got worse as he climbed. Yes, it was coming from somewhere up the mountain. Storm clouds billowed over the peaks. They needed to find shelter immediately.
A goblin, Carina had said. That was nonsense. Goblins weren’t real.
“Lina!”
Alaric realized he had no idea where to find her. Instinct led him back to Evangelina’s Temple. That had always been his place. He couldn’t explain it, but that was where he needed to look.
Mist swirled around him. Alaric ran faster. Something was very wrong. This sort of mist was common higher up the mountain, but it shouldn’t be at the base. It was like all of nature wanted to block the sun. To make him lose his way.
Alaric could find the Temple in the dark. He had done it before. He saw the two figures before he saw the wreckage of what had once been his favorite place in Aeonia. Someone, or perhaps something, had dug up the earth around the rock. Shards of white littered the ground. Bone? He ignored it and ran towards the figures.
Lina and Henry stood in front of a hole in the mountain. That hadn’t been there before. It had been a mossy rock. They were arguing.
“I won’t leave you alone,” Henry said. “What if he attacks your body while you’re in a trance?”
“I’ll lock the cave. You need to get between him and the princesses. The clouds are blocking the sun, but it’s still daylight. You’ll be stronger than him. You can drive him up this way.”
“So he can attack you? I’m not leaving.”
They both dropped to fighting stances when Alaric appeared. And they both sagged with relief when they saw it was him.
“Alaric!” Henry said. “Thank goodness! Tell Lina there’s no way she can stay up here alone!”
Lina bristled.
“Tell him there will be an international incident if something happens to the princesses while they’re in Aeonia!”
Alaric looked from Lina to Henry.
“I- When did you two meet?”
Lina grabbed his arm.
“Alaric can stay with me. He’ll protect me. Is that good enough for you, Henry?”
Henry narrowed his eyes.
“Will you stay with her?”
Alaric shook his head.
“We all need to get off the mountain now. There’s a storm coming.”
“There’s worse than that,” Lina said. “Alaric will stay with me. You get to the princesses before it’s too late.”
Henry glared at Alaric.
“You won’t leave her alone?”
“Of course not. But-”
“Good enough for me.”
Henry saluted Lina and jogged down the mountain. Alaric turned to her.
“What is going on? What are you doing up here?”
Lina let go of his arm and stared into the storm.
“I can’t leave, but you don’t have to stay. It’s dangerous here. Especially for you since you don’t have magic.”
“I’m a trained soldier. I can handle this. Whatever this is.”
Lina grinned at him.
“You think so? Wait until you see it.”
Her expression made Alaric pause. He swallowed.
“What is it exactly? What’s causing that smell?”
“A goblin. The smell is the most harmless thing about it.”
“A goblin? That’s what Carina said. Why does everyone think there’s a goblin here? They don’t exist!”
Lina turned to face him. She reached for his hand then thought better of it and pulled away.
“Alaric, I need to tell you something. I’ll understand if you don’t believe me, but please listen. Please try.”
Alaric nodded. This was it. Whatever she said, he was prepared to hear it. He had considered everything. A spy. An assassin. A princess from a disgraced kingdom.
“My name is Evangelina Shadow-Storm. I awoke from my enchanted sleep a few days ago, and a goblin called Nog awoke with me. I’m real. I’m here to protect Aeonia, just like I did a hundred years ago. Luca erased all historical records of me to keep me safe while I slept. He was my brother. Not a donkey. Oh, and I don’t turn into a goat.”
Alaric’s jaw dropped. So much for being prepared. He was vaguely aware that his mouth was hanging open. That he looked ridiculous.
“You what?” he said.
“I don’t turn into a goat.”
That hadn’t really been the shocking part, but Lina had her arms crossed, ready to fight him if he contradicted her. He didn’t plan on it. He met her gaze. Her green eyes stared straight into his.
He searched them. Searched her face. The story was unbelievable. Impossible.
So why did he think it was the truth?
“You said you were a princess. Or noble, at least.”
“I am if you get technical with my gene
alogy. My grandmother was a distant relative of King Dacian.”
“Why did you sneak into the princess test?”
“I thought some of the Council members would remember me, and I wanted their help to defeat Nog. Believe me, I didn’t seek out the King of Gaveron because he’s a charming man.”
Alaric managed to close his mouth. He was getting a bad taste from the stench. The sky above them darkened as ominous clouds rolled over the mountain.
“And when you climbed the castle tower?”
“I was checking a secret room. We stored enchanted weapons there in my century. It was empty.”
“The archives?”
“I was doing the same as you. Searching for proof of myself to see how long I’d been asleep. Alaric, think about it. Why else would I appear on your doorstep in the middle of the night? Why else would I refuse your offers of help when I clearly needed it? Why would I keep asking about Evangelina Shadow-Storm? Why would your play upset me so much?”
Why indeed? Alaric studied Lina’s green eyes.
“Evangelina Shadow-Storm?” he said. “You’re really Evangelina Shadow-Storm?”
Lina nodded. Alaric shook his head.
“That’s impossible. She’s not real. I’ve tried to prove her existence. I searched every record. Every scroll in the archive.”
Lina raised an eyebrow.
“Every scroll? Talk about impossible.”
“Alright, every scroll in the histories. Hundreds, anyway. There was nothing. Not a single mention of her. Of you.”
“Because Luca made sure of it. Alaric, I went to sleep a few years before King Thaddeus was overthrown. Before the royal family was killed. They would have hunted me down. Luca erased me from the records to protect me.”
Alaric’s stomach churned. It had nothing to do with the smell.
“Those were my ancestors. They killed your family. Lina- Evangelina, I’m so sorry.”
Lina blinked at him.
“You believe me?”
Alaric nodded. He did. He trusted her. Even when she told him the impossible. He swallowed.
“You must hate me. They would have killed your brother. Luca.”
He turned away. Alaric had never been proud of his forefather’s actions. Yes, some action had been necessary. King Thaddeus had wronged the people of Aeonia many times, but his ancestors should never have hunted down the innocent.
Lina rested her hand on his shoulder. He flinched.
“I swear I’ve been trying to make it right. I just want Aeonia to have peace. They hunted them down. Every member of your family. Lina, I know you must hate me.”
“They didn’t,” Lina said. “And I don’t.”
She pulled his arm until he turned around to face her. He stood still and looked over her head. He couldn’t meet her gaze.
Lina stepped closer. Alaric stood his ground. Whatever revenge she wanted to take, he was prepared for it. He would answer for his forefathers’ crimes.
Had she brought a weapon? She was a shadow warrior. Surely she had. Was she going to kill him?
Alaric swallowed. He would let her. Maybe that was foolish, but he would. He wouldn’t defend himself. He couldn’t bear to hurt her. Alaric lowered his head and closed his eyes.
Lina stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
38
He trusted her. The anguish on his face twisted Lina’s heart. He took responsibility for his forefathers’ actions even now. He was impossibly noble. The noblest man she’d ever met.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Alaric didn’t respond. He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.
Lina stepped back. He believed her. She was impossible, and he believed her in a heartbeat. He trusted her.
Alaric looked shocked. The kiss seemed to have startled him more than her story. He stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
In retrospect, kissing him may not have been the best way to show she appreciated his trust. Lina’s heart sank. What had she expected? That he would kiss her back? That he would love her?
She had ruined everything.
Why had she kissed him?
She thought he liked her. That only the Princess Test and her mysterious origins had kept him from pursuing her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Her voice was little more than a whisper.
Alaric’s mouth moved, but no sound came out. Clearly he was in shock. Clearly she had been out of line.
Blast! What was she thinking? A goblin was materializing in the realm of light, and she was kissing a prince! She had never been this stupid in her own century.
She hadn’t known anyone like Alaric in her century.
Lina wiped the tears away from her eyes. It was the stench. It had to be. The smell had affected her head. Clouded her judgment.
She had smelled goblins before. Worse than this. She hadn’t kissed anyone then.
She glanced at Alaric. He gave up trying to speak and stood tall with his mouth closed, watching her every move.
A red lightning bolt pierced the sky. The flash showed a hulking silhouette in the mist. Horned head. Massive arms. Alaric’s jaw dropped again.
“Is that?” he rasped.
Lina nodded.
“Nog the goblin. He escaped the seal and is taking a physical form in the realm of light. Normally we’d be safe until sunset, but these clouds are blocking the sun. He may be able to materialize sooner because of it.”
“We need to warn everyone. The princesses-”
“Should be on their way home by now. Marta knows who I am. She knows about Nog. She’ll take them to safety.”
Alaric swallowed.
“Marta knows?”
“Yes. Your ancestors weren’t as thorough as they thought. Some of the royal family escaped. They’ve been living as goat herders for the past hundred years.”
“You mean Marta is noble? A descendant of the original royal family?”
Lina nodded. Alaric frowned.
“I always thought I was generous for welcoming my stepbrothers into the castle. For treating them like princes in spite of their background. All this time, they were being nice to me. I was the newcomer.”
Lina laughed.
“You’re as much a prince as they are. From what I’ve read, your family has ruled well. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You’ll be a great king.”
“What? No, I can’t now. It should be Cael. Or you. You’re technically the oldest member of the royal family now.”
Lina frowned. Was that why he didn’t want to kiss her?
“You think I’m old?”
“What? Um, no. I mean- you were born first. Before them. Right?”
“Yes, but I didn’t age while I slept. This could get confusing. You’d better just take the throne and leave it at that.”
“But if you take the throne, the other countries will stop trying to annex us.”
“They’ll stop trying to what?”
“The King of Gaveron thinks I’m not fit to rule because I’m not noble enough. He has proposed that Gaveron should assume the rule of Aeonia so the people could benefit from a truly noble king.”
Lina bristled.
“That’s ridiculous! How dare he!”
“But you could solve the problem. He’d have to respect your right to rule. We could even cancel the Princess Test.”
He flushed and looked away. Lina watched him. He had mentioned this on the windowsill. Said the Council didn’t respect him. But would they truly use his lineage as an excuse to take over Aeonia? No wonder he pursued Carina. If the kings didn’t recognize him as a noble by birth, he could become one by marriage. He could use an alliance with Santelle to prevent the takeover.
“Alaric, is that really why you chose Carina?”
He looked straight ahead, staring into the mist.
“Of course. But now-”
He looked at her. Lina’s heart stirr
ed. Maybe he did feel something for her. Maybe-
Laughter shook the mountain. It mixed with the rumbling thunder that was getting closer by the minute. Lina stumbled as the earth quaked. Alaric caught her arm and helped her stay upright.
“Show yourself!” Lina said. “We know you’re there, Nog! We’re ready for you!”
“Are you, goat girl? I doubt it. Let me into that cave and maybe I’ll let you live.”
His voice resonated in the air around them. Thundering footsteps rumbled through the hill. The first raindrops of the storm pattered around them. Alaric tightened his grip on Lina’s arm. She placed her hand over his. His arm trembled. He was nervous.
That was the sane reaction. Especially if you hadn’t seen a goblin before.
Lina wasn’t scared. She was angry. She had endured over a century of sleep to seal away the creatures of darkness, and this goblin wanted to undo her work? Lina stepped back and pulled Alaric with her.
“I’ll guard this cave with my life,” she said. “I’ll keep the seal safe.”
A gust of wind blew the mist away, giving them a glimpse of the goblin. He wasn’t quite solid yet.
But he would be soon.
“Get in the cave,” she whispered.
“Lina, we need to run. He’s slow. I told Carina to leave us a horse. We can make it back to Mias.”
“You want to lead him to the city? Towards all those people? No, we need to keep him here.”
Alaric glanced at the hole in the mountain.
“We’ll be trapped.”
“We’ll be safe. Get in!”
Rain fell. The storm had finally arrived. Lina pushed Alaric into the cave. Nog roared and rushed towards them. Lina pulled the door shut and pushed her ring into the stone. She clicked the latch just as Nog crashed into the mountain.
39
Alaric blinked in the darkness. Nog’s blows shook the whole cavern. Bits of rock fell onto his head.
“Where are we?”
“Light. Illuminate.”
A soft glow filled the cavern. It came from Lina’s ring. From the diamond.
Alaric stared at it. At Lina.
“Is this your temple?”
She smiled at him.
“More like my bedroom. So you really do believe me?”
“Given everything that’s happened, yes. I believed you before, but I definitely do now.”
Princess of Shadows: The Princess and the Pea Retold (Fairy Tale Adventures Book 1) Page 20