The Storyteller’s Daughter

by Victoria McCombs

  A sad smile came to his face. “Then it’s perfect that you have it.”

  He moved to the desk beside me, fingers playing across the carvings on the chair. “I’m sorry about my father. He can be dramatic sometimes, especially when challenged.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “So, he didn’t mean it?”

  “Unfortunately, whether he meant it or not, his words stand. He’s the King, and there were several witnesses. He can’t change his mind now.”

  I pulled my hands through my hair, flattening it out. Then I leaned against the desk and crossed my arms. “He would actually kill me?”

  A stricken look came across Conrad’s face. “He’s killed for less.”

  Someday I’d ask him to tell me the story there, but we had more important things at hand. With shaky steps, I closed my door, then turned to face Conrad. “You told me you were planning on taking over. When?”

  Conrad sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his hand across his forehead. “Soon, but not that soon. I can try to push it up, but we need every advisor on board for this to work peacefully.” For the first time I saw the strain of his job hiding behind his face. He looked tense, with stiff shoulders and a clenched jaw. “There is a chance it can still be an easy transition even without Silas on our side; he’s a stiff old man that few people like. He will be one of the first to be replaced, as soon as the buzz settles. But I’d like to have Nathaniel with us first. There’s a chance, after the spectacle today, that he will be more amenable to joining us. I haven’t seen my father behave like that in public in a long time.”

  I tried to understand, but princely coups were beyond my comprehension. “I don’t know if it means anything, but you have my support.”

  He smiled at me. “It means the world to me. We should talk about my father’s offer. You’ll still need to accept it.”

  I sighed. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I needed to be clear. “Conrad, I’m not interested in marrying you. I like you, but not that way.”

  He took it in stride. “You don’t have to be ready yet. I’m not asking you to be in love with me right now. But I hope I’m a more attractive offer than death?”

  He was right. Almost anything was more appealing than that. I nodded slowly.

  “Good! Then agree to marry me. We drag this engagement on as long as we can. I take over the throne, and if you haven’t fallen in love with me by then, I end the engagement. You’d be free to leave.”

  Hope fluttered in my chest as he spoke. That could work.

  “Do you think you could be happy with that?”

  Despite myself, I smiled. “Yes. I can do that.”

  Conrad straightened. “Great. Take the whole month to get back to my father; it’ll help drag this situation out. In the meantime, I’ll go see about Nathaniel.”

  He stepped forward and kissed my head. Then he gave me this smile, as if I made him the happiest man in the world despite having asked to leave earlier that day. His face was lit with joy.

  I almost told him right there. I almost told him everything. From Rumpel to the curse to my inability to spin straw into gold, I almost told him the whole story. But something stopped me. I still didn’t trust him with my life, and if he knew that I didn’t spin gold he might not protect me from his father.

  So, I kept my mouth shut and watched my almost-fiancé as he strolled from the room, leaving me as confused as ever.

  I blamed it on the dress. I should have known better than to put on the late queen’s dress. I brought this chaos upon myself.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Well, that went well,” Rumpel joked. I playfully tossed straw on him.

  “That couldn’t have gone worse.”

  Rumpel shrugged. “You’re still alive. So yes, it could have gone worse.”

  I sat barefoot in my long navy dress on the ground next to the straw. “I made such a fool of myself, storming in there and demanding things.”

  “It was bold. I like that,” Rumpel said.

  “You’re not the only one. Conrad liked it too,” I joked. He made a face, but he knew I was making fun.

  “So,” he tied off a spindle and reached for another one, sliding it in its place. “Are you going to marry His Highness?”

  I groaned. “Not really. I’ll wait a month, then accept the King’s offer to marry his son. Another two months of spinning gold, then Conrad and I will try to drag the engagement out longer. In that time, Conrad will try to carry out his coup and replace the King. Then he’s king, and he can end our engagement.”

  “Something tells me he won’t end it,” Rumpel muttered unhappily.

  “He has to.” There was tenacity in my voice. “I won’t marry him.”

  My legs were stretched out and my feet played with Rumpel’s as he spun. I wondered what it was like for him to talk about me being engaged to someone else, even if it wasn’t real. It must be hard it was for him, knowing that he can’t give me those things.

  “There’s one thing that you’re forgetting,” Rumpel said.

  I threw my hands up, tossing straw everywhere. “I’m sure there are a million things I’m forgetting.”

  Rumpel laughed, but his voice remained serious. “In three months, my curse is final. So right about when you are supposed to marry Conrad, I’ll be gone. I know you want to drag the engagement out, but you might be safer as his wife.”

  My chest constricted. The whole point of me marching into the throne room was to guarantee that I was free before Rumpel’s curse was finalized. Instead I was more trapped than ever.

  “I don’t want to be his wife.” My voice sounded whinier than I intended.

  “Trust me, I don’t want you to be his wife either. But he’d have more grace for you if you were.”

  I was quiet for a long time. There must be a way out of this, I just wasn’t seeing it. Rumpel’s offer still stood to take me away before he left. I’d be alone and in hiding, but I’d be safe from the King’s or Conrad’s anger.

  I didn’t want that, though: to hide or run away. I wanted my life back. “I hate this.”

  Rumpel rubbed his foot over mine. That was all the touching we would do. Rumpel wanted to protect my heart from the pain of losing him, so he was holding himself back from me. Occasional touches ran between us through our fingers, our feet, but never anything more. He sighed. “I hate it too. I hate that I can’t give you the things that Conrad can. I hate that he can parade you through the halls during the day while I’m stuck hiding with you at night. I hate that I can’t give you the life that you deserve.”

  Warmth and pain filled my heart together. I hated that I cared more and more for him each day, while he was running out of time. I hated that we hadn’t broken his curse yet, that I ever believed that we could.

  I hated that I was falling in love with Rumpel, and that I was going to lose him. I hated that more than the thought of losing my life.

  Without expecting it, tears began to stream down my face. Rumpel saw, and quick as a fox he was on the ground next to me, pulling me close. I continued to cry into his shoulder, holding on to him.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my face in an unflattering way.

  I loved Rumpel. But he wasn’t mine forever. I only had three more months with him, and before that time was up, I needed to get engaged to a prince.

  * * *

  I walked back to my room after Rumpel finished spinning gold that night. A maid caught up to me with an envelope in her hand. “I was just on my way to your room to give you this. It’s from your family.”

  I eagerly reached for the paper in her hand. She curtsied and scurried away as I ran back to my room to open it.

  I sat at the desk and tore into the paper. There was only one person in my family who knew how to write.

  My Dear Cozy,

  I hope this letter finds you. I wasn’t certain if we were allowed to contact you during your time at the castle, but Conrad seemed so nice that I assumed he would allow it.

  You
r visit meant so much to us. We assumed you were well when we were given a title and money, but seeing you set our hearts at peace. It is one of my greatest joys as a papa to know that my children are safe and well.

  It is also a joy to see my children grow, and you, dear Cozy, have grown into a wonderful woman. I don’t know all that has gone on while you have been away, but you are stronger than ever. You have a new confidence inside you that we had never seen before.

  We can’t imagine all that you are going through there, but we know that you will be a beacon of light to those around you. We have selfishly kept you to ourselves for the past twenty years. Anika is ready to attack the world with gusto, but you have always been more cautious then her. You see the world with realistic eyes and you don’t lose yourself in it. For that reason, we know that wherever you are you will be okay.

  If I’m right, the young prince has feelings for you. And, if it’s not too forward of me to assume, you don’t feel the same way for him. I’m proud of you for not feeling pressured toward anything. But, if your feelings change, you have our blessing. I know you’ve had a hard time seeing yourself as more than the tavern girl because you don’t have a Gift, but you have more than you know. You have spirit, you have gentleness, and you have courage. That will lead you to many places in life, and if it leads you to be queen then we are proud of you. But if it leads you back home, then we will be overjoyed.

  I couldn’t be more honored to be your papa.

  I love you.

  My eyes welled up with tears as I reread the note over again. He always knew just what to say. Somehow, without knowing what was going on, my Papa reached across the distance and gave me the strength needed to go on.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “Lady Cosette, have you reached a decision?”

  He knew I had, that’s why we were gathered there that morning. It was only the King, Conrad, and a few advisors in the room. I hoped there would be more people, but this should work too. The sweet scent of breakfast found me on my walk here, and I regretted passing up on mine to prepare myself. I wanted to look as comfortable and confident as I could when I stood before the King with my decision.

  “I have, sire.” I curtsied deeply. Anna found me a deep blue dress for today with a high neckline and slender skirt. It wasn’t as extravagant as the dress I wore last time, but I still felt pretty in it.

  I decided not to wait the full month to tell the King my decision. I knew what I wanted. I was going to take charge of my future, and I didn’t need Conrad to help me.

  My hands were sweaty but I resisted rubbing them on my dress. Instead, I straightened my posture and looked the King directly in the eye. “I have decided to decline your offer of marrying your son.”

  The King’s eyes went wild while Conrad lowered himself into his chair. I tried not to focus on his face. The King breathed deeply. “You know this means you will be put to death for refusing to give your country gold to end the war?”

  “I have offered to spin gold for you for two more months. I would take that deal if I were you.”

  “Ah, so you’re testing me?” the King sneered. I gulped but didn’t reply. He knew my decision, now it was his turn to decide how far he was willing to go.

  The way I saw it, he could relent and let me spin for a few months, then set me free. Or he could stick to his word and have me killed, a decision that would hopefully grant Conrad the support he needed to overthrow his father and therefore void my sentence.

  The King waved his hand to the back of the room. “Very well. Death it is. Put her in the dungeon.”

  I had really hoped it would go the other way.

  With tight grips, guards seized my arms and pulled me back. “I can walk, don’t drag me!” I exclaimed, getting my feet under me. Conrad stood up to speak to his father, but the King wasn’t paying him any attention. His gaze was fixed on me. He wanted to see if I would break.

  I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  The guard’s grip on my wrists remained harder than necessary. I yanked on my hands, but they held tight, digging their nails into my wrist and crippling my hand. A cry filled my mouth, but I blocked it from escaping, determined to not let the King see my weakness.

  They dragged me from the throne room, while my feet scrambled to gain control. The King watched me leave with his arms crossed. I regained my footing once we were out of the room, but the guards’ grip didn’t relent. They pulled me down back hallways and dark stairs. I grew frantic, but kept it inside.

  A thick wood door separated one last stairwell from the rest of the castle. Down the stairs, a pungent smell grew. I was regretting my decision already. A series of tunnels came after the stairs. A large key ring hung on the wall, which one of the guards grabbed.

  The dungeon cells were unpleasant spaces. A man pressed against his bars and cursed at us. I hoped I wasn’t placed near him.

  We moved past him and down the tunnel. Some of the rooms had small windows near the top, while others drowned in darkness. Small squeaks drew my attention to the ground, then I instantly wished I hadn’t looked. Rats scurried in and out of the cells, poking their noses in corners and sniffing at our feet. I bit my tongue and tried to ignore them. The guards looked equally disturbed.

  “This one will do.” The guards halted suddenly, almost making me trip. They fiddled with the keys until they got the door open, casting me inside. I stumbled to the ground, bashing my knee on a stone.

  The doors were locked before I stood again.

  Without a word, they tipped their heads at me and left, eager to be free of the vile atmosphere.

  My surroundings were a far cry from my bedchambers upstairs. I hadn’t been lucky enough to get a room with a window, but it was far enough away from others that their curses and mutterings were muffled. A small cot lay on the back wall with no more than a thin blanket. The ground was sticky, and I dreaded thinking what from.

  The smell was the worst, and I pulled my dress’s neckline up to cover my nose. After inspecting the cot, I cuddled up into it. Shamelessly, I allowed tears to stream down my face as I contemplated the decisions that led to my being here.

  There was a chance that tonight would be my last, if the King let me live that long. How long did death sentences take to carry out?

  A scurrying sound caused me to jump. Rumpel’s voice came quickly, calming me down.

  “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that,” I complained, yet I was so grateful that he was here.

  “What is that smell?” he asked. His side brushed against mine as he joined me in my misery on the bench, and he scrunched up his nose.

  “I don’t want to know.” I cuddled myself into his side. He put one arm over me and slid his other hand into mine.

  The room didn’t seem as bad with him there.

  I was breaking his rule about physical touch, but he didn’t protest. Apparently, the rules didn’t apply in the prison.

  “So that could have gone better,” Rumpel said flatly. An echo of another prisoner’s shout ran down the hallway. I hoped they’d quiet down soon.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you my plan. I received a note from my father, and it gave me this strength. So, I just decided to stand up to the King.”

  “I don’t think your father wanted you to do this.”

  I laughed. “No, probably not. Think he’ll actually kill me?”

  Rumpel stroked my thumb. “I’ll save you before that happens. I can snap my fingers and whisk you away.”

  “Where would you take me?” I leaned further into Rumpel and imagined how nice it would be to be whisked away by him.

  “Anywhere you want. We can go see the ocean. Spend my last few months together, just you and me.”

  I admitted that sounded nice. But it would mean that I could never come back home. I would have made an enemy out of the King, and in turn, my kingdom. He might take it out on my family. I couldn’t stand the thought of me by the ocean with Rumpel while my family suffered. I wo
uld only use Rumpel’s offer of an escape as a last resort.

  “If it comes down to it, then yes. Take me away.”

  Rumpel kissed my forehead. “Just say the word and we will go.”

  My stomach growled and I deeply regretted missing breakfast. I didn’t want to think of the disgusting food they probably served prisoners. I was grateful that Rumpel was there to distract me from the wretchedness of this place.

  I looked over at him as a new thought came to mind. “Can you make gold?”

  Rumpel sat up straight and cupped my face in his hands. “Are you okay? Because if you don’t know the answer to that…”

  “No, I mean can you make gold out of nothing?”

  “Oh. Yes, I can do that.”

  “Then why on earth did you spend so many hours spinning straw through a wheel when it could have taken you a few seconds?”

  Rumpel smiled, still holding my face in his hands. “Darling Cosette, don’t you know? Even from that first night I wanted to spend every second that I could with you.”

  His words always melted my heart, and I leaned forward to him, hoping he would break his rule. Thankfully, he ducked his head down and kissed me with all the tenderness of a flower. I never knew I could feel so loved in a prison cell. Despite my happiness, though, I found tears streaming down my face again. Rumpel pulled back, surprised.

  “Silly girl, why are you always crying?” he asked gently as he rubbed my cheeks dry. I reached up and clung to his hand.

  “I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you,” I sobbed. Rumpel rubbed my nose with his.

  “You have me for as long as I live.” He kissed my cheeks. “As long as I live, I am yours.” I let him kiss my face until he breathed in sharply. “Someone is coming. I must go, my love.”

  He disappeared then, leaving me clinging to that word, love. I hadn’t told Rumpel yet that I loved him. He wouldn’t want it; he would tell me I needed to guard my heart.

  Once Rumpel was gone, I pulled myself up and approached the bars, wrapping my hands around them. A figure came closer, their feet making a rhythmic sound on the floor. I recognized his shape before I could see the details of his face. He sighed as he stood in front of the bars, looking down at me.