King Noam pulled out a packet of parchments. Alaric flinched.
“You weren’t supposed to know about that.”
He reached for the parchments. King Noam pulled them away.
“Are you sure you want this information, Alaric? Any of these girls will strengthen our position. I hate to be mercenary about your future bride, but that is the truth. Wouldn’t you rather get to know them without the pressure of political alliances on your shoulders?”
“I’ll only have three days. Hardly enough time to form a real relationship. The Princess Test is all about politics. It always has been.”
Alaric leaned on his father’s desk and tried to catch a glimpse of the parchments.
“Who is coming?” he asked.
“Of the twenty girls, eight are princesses. The rest are the daughters of high-ranking officials or province governors.”
“Only eight? It won’t be easy to find the true princesses in the group.”
King Noam nodded.
“Yes, it will be challenging. And unnecessary as far as I’m concerned. There may be a few who question our bloodline, but they are not willing to do so openly.”
Alaric grimaced.
“They won’t dare to question us at all after the test. Who do you think would benefit us the most? Should I look for a country with good exports? Or a strong military? I could secure a trade route.”
King Noam sighed.
“It will be harder than you think, Alaric. You aren’t allowed to know which country the princesses come from. You won’t even know their names. If you are going to do this, try to find someone you actually like.”
Alaric smirked.
“As if I would leave something this important up to chance and emotions.”
“I know you wouldn’t. I read the reports. Your spies were very detailed.”
Alaric beamed.
“Were they? Excellent.”
He reached for the parchments again. King Noam pulled them back.
“Alaric, assembling this report is a serious violation of the Princess Test. It is supposed to be anonymous.”
“No one has to know. Please, father. I sent our best agents. They were not detected.”
“If you insist.”
King Noam sighed and handed Alaric the parchments.
“For goodness sake don’t let on that you know which girl is which. You’re supposed to make your decision based on love instead of politics. At least, that was the original intention of the Princess Tests.”
Alaric glanced at the first parchment. A pencil sketch of a young woman smiled up at him. Under it, someone had scribbled notes in the margins.
“You added information?” he asked.
“I had our ambassadors supplement what your spies discovered. These reports now contain everything you could want to know about the young ladies.”
Alaric’s face burst into a smile.
“Father, this is- Thank you!”
“Alaric, you don’t have to choose one of these women. It would be traditional, helpful even, but you don’t have to. There are many fine ladies on our own shore.”
Alaric stared at the packet in his hands. Odette’s face flashed into his mind, but he pushed it away. He had given that dream up long ago. He clutched the parchments like a lifeline.
“I will marry one of the princesses, father. I will secure our position. Which would you prefer?”
“Alaric-”
Alaric flipped through the parchments.
“Eldria has a princess coming. Their import system is second to none.”
“Alaric-”
“And Santelle! They have an impressive navy. Would a country near our border or across the ocean be better?”
“Alaric, will you please stop thinking of alliances? I want you to be happy!”
“And I want Aeonia to be safe!”
“I’m allowing those profiles so you know what you’re walking into. So you can find someone with common interests you can share adventures with! Share life with!”
“Is that what your father did? Handed you a packet of profiles?”
King Noam frowned.
“No. He handed me one. Your mother’s. I had no choice. East and West Aeonia had to be rejoined, and a marriage treaty was the only possible way to do it without bloodshed. But you do have a choice, Alaric.”
“I don’t want it. I want what’s best for the kingdom.”
“And a happy king won’t benefit the kingdom? Look how happy I’ve been since I married Marta.”
Alaric stood.
“Thank you for this, father. If you’ll excuse me, I’m tired.”
King Noam lowered his head in defeat.
“The Council of Kings will arrive tomorrow evening. The Princess Test starts the following morning. Good night, Alaric.”
Alaric bowed and hurried through the castle. He slammed the door to his room and punched a tapestry.
“Blast!”
His knuckles stung, but the pain helped him focus. He should have known his father would be difficult about this. How long had he kept the parchments from him? Alaric had ordered the reports months ago. These were his lifeline. The only way he could ensure his kingdom’s future.
He sighed and spread the parchments over a table. At least he had them now. Late was better than never. He sorted the parchments into two piles. Princesses and everyone else.
The portraits in the smaller pile smiled up at him. Eight princesses. All eligible. All charming.
A happy king. His father had been more than happy since he married his third wife. He had been radiant.
Their love twisted Alaric’s heart every time he saw them together. He had dreamed of such a relationship for himself once. He had nearly had it.
But as crown prince, his marriage had more at stake than love.
He ignored the portraits and sorted the princesses by kingdom. Of the eight princesses, some came from kingdoms with little to offer. Kell, for example, was too small to be a valuable ally.
He paused over Marian of Fletcher’s parchment. Fletcher would be a good ally, but Marian was the king’s niece. She had the title of princess though. Did that count?
No, he decided. If he were going to marry someone who wasn’t a princess beyond a doubt, he might as well have courted Odette.
Alaric stared at the six portraits left. Princesses from the largest kingdoms in Myora. The most powerful families. An alliance with any of these would strengthen Aeonia and silence claims that he was not noble enough to rule. He skimmed the text under each portrait.
His spies had written useful information about each country. The exports. The political situations at the moment. His father’s men had crossed out most of it and added personal anecdotes.
What did it matter if Princess Brigitta of Ostenreich fancied horses and chocolate? If her kingdom’s main exports were horses and chocolate, Alaric would have found the information much more interesting.
He sighed and turned away from the table.
“Lady troubles?”
“Gah!”
Alaric grabbed the nearest object, a chair cushion, and hurled it towards the voice. The speaker caught it with a thump and laughed.
“I’m always happy when you throw pillows instead of books.”
“Go away, Stefan. Or at least knock before you come in.”
Prince Stefan picked up the larger stack of parchments, Alaric’s rejects, and thumbed through them. His blue eyes danced. He selected a parchment from the pile and waved it in front of Alaric’s face.
“What’s wrong with Princess Fiora? She’s pretty.”
“I don’t care about pretty. She’s from Kell. We need a powerful country.”
“Kell has one of the oldest royal families in Myora. That’s something. I bet she’s stunning in person. The description says she has bright red hair.”
“I don’t care how she looks, Stefan.”
“Well, I guess pretty isn’t the most important thing. Marta isn’t pretty,
but she and father are happy.”
“And Cassandra was gorgeous and nearly ruined the kingdom. This is impossible.”
Stefan studied his brother’s face. His grin faded.
“This is really bothering you, isn’t it?”
“This is an enormous responsibility, Stefan. I am choosing the future queen of Aeonia!”
Stefan coughed.
“Would it take pressure off to think of it as choosing your wife? To ask whom you love?”
Alaric glared at him.
“You know I can’t allow my personal feelings to interfere with this sort of thing.”
“This is exactly the sort of thing you should allow your personal feelings to interfere with! But you won’t, will you? You proved that with Od-”
Another pillow to the face swallowed Stefan’s last word.
“You promised not to talk about that,” Alaric said.
Stefan set Princess Fiora’s parchment back on the pile of rejected girls.
“What can I do to help?”
“Go swim in the moat.”
“I’m serious, Alaric.”
Alaric sighed.
“I’ve singled out the princesses from the biggest countries, but I don’t know enough about them to make a decision.”
Stefan picked up the smaller stack of parchments and read them aloud.
“Colette of Montaigne. I bet she’s a snob. Brigitta of Ostenreich. Likes chocolate and horses. Really? That’s all they told you about her?”
Alaric shrugged. Stefan continued.
“Merinda of Eldria. She looks decent. Eirwyn of Gaveron. The King of Gaveron is rude, don’t choose her. Carina of Santelle apparently isn’t interested in anything at all. And Lenora of Darluna likes butterflies. Are they serious? Butterflies? You sent a spy all the way to Darluna, and the only useful information he found is that Lenora likes butterflies?”
“They’re not the most useful reports, but they are something. I’m going to the archives tomorrow to research historical alliances and trade records. It’s a lot of information to go through. I could use help.”
“Wait. I offer to help you with your love life, and you ask me to research trade records?”
Alaric shrugged.
“Welcome to the life of the future king.”
“Don’t you dare die before you have an heir, brother. I wouldn’t deal with this for all the gold in the treasury.”
Alaric pulled another pillow from the couch. Stefan raised his hands in defense.
“Fine, I’ll help! And not just with picking a princess. I have a surprise planned I know you’ll love!”
“Stefan, please tell me you aren’t planning anything while the Council is here.”
“Would I be me if I didn’t?”
The pillow flew towards Stefan’s face.
3
Lina made it through the sea of snowbells and walked along the fields at the foot of the mountain. She tried not to think about Luca. Tried not to think about anything.
She needed to get to Mias. That was all. Someone there would have answers. Her feet dragged through the grass. A flock of cashmere goats grazed nearby.
They still raised goats. Lina’s breathing eased a little. At least that was the same.
“Hello, there!”
Lina jumped. She lost her grip on her sleeve and panicked as the pea left her hand. She snatched it back and clutched it to her chest. Where had the voice come from?
A young girl lay on the ground. She smiled up at Lina. Her hair shone red gold in the moonlight. Freckles sprinkled over her sharp nose.
Lina stared. A human. An ordinary human. She looked safe. Relaxed and unconcerned about meeting a stranger in the wilderness at night. Her actions were proof that the world had not gone up in flames. Proof that the creatures of darkness had been defeated.
The girl stood and brushed grass off her skirt.
“Sorry if I scared you. I like to watch the stars at night. Is that what you’re doing?”
“Um, not exactly. I-”
Lina hesitated. She had no reason to distrust the girl. Her ring had not indicated any danger. But she had no idea how the world was now. No idea what to do next. She simply stood and stared.
“You’re traveling, then?” the girl suggested.
“Yes. Traveling.”
“I’m Eva.”
The girl held her hand out. Lina hesitated. Grasping hands was a gestured reserved for sacred pledges. Surely the girl did not intend to forge a magical bond?
Eva waited. Her green eyes watched Lina without wavering. Lina reached her grimy hand out and took the girl’s. She was no longer in her time. She couldn’t trust the rules of etiquette that she knew. Apparently grasping hands was commonplace now.
Eva grinned at her.
“I have a cottage not far from here. I herd goats. You can stay the night if you like. My aunt and cousins are in Mias for a few weeks, so there’s an extra bed.”
Lina considered the offer. What could she do in the city in the middle of the night? She caught herself yawning. She should be wide awake after her long sleep, but she felt exhausted.
“Alright then. If you don’t mind, that would be wonderful. I’m Lina.”
Eva led Lina through the field to a small cottage surrounded by even more cashmere goats. Lina’s throat caught as a memory engulfed her.
Luca added another bottle of melted gems to the stack in his arms and tottered across the room. Lina gasped as the bottle on top swayed back and forth.
“Watch out, donkey!” she said. “You’ll spill the potions!”
Luca stuck out his tongue at her.
“I wouldn’t have to carry them like this if you weren’t so slow, goat.”
“Goat?”
“You call me donkey all the time. I’m allowed an animal based insult.”
“So you’re saying my hair is soft, right? As soft as cashmere wool?”
Lina grinned at him and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“No. That’s not what I’m saying. You’ll notice I didn’t call you cashmere goat. I meant an ordinary, plain, wire haired goat.
“You do know I’m a shadow warrior, right?”
“Of course I do, Miss Evangelina Shadow-Storm. That’s why it’s called an insult. You see, I’m implying that you’re stubborn as a goat, smell bad, will eat anything, bleat loudly-”
Lina threw a bolt of shadow magic at Luca. He tossed his head and deflected it with a bolt of light.
Eva watched Lina with wide eyes.
“Are you all right, miss?”
Lina blinked. She turned to Eva.
“Yes. Sorry. I like your cottage.”
“Thanks! It’s been in my family for generations.”
Lina stopped herself from asking how many generations. She didn’t want to know. She didn’t want to think about it.
“Are you hungry?” Eva asked.
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“So? Food doesn’t disappear from the cupboards after sunset. I’ve heard traveling is hungry business.”
Lina smiled at her.
“Actually, yes. I can’t remember the last time I ate.”
It had been a picnic with Luca in front of the newly finished wolf statue. Just hours before the enchantment to put her into the enchanted sleep. Lina pushed the memory away.
Eva pulled half a loaf of bread from a shelf. She broke off a hunk for herself and handed the rest to Lina.
“Oh, I don’t want to eat all your food.”
“Eat it,” Eva said. “It will go stale soon. I always bake too much when my cousins are gone.”
Lina ate. Eva gave her a glass of water. She drank it in a single gulp.
“I guess traveling is thirsty work as well. I’ll get more from the well.”
Lina finished the bread before Eva returned. She drank three more glasses of water to wash the dust from her throat. She tried to think of a reasonable question to ask to give her some idea of the date. Ordinary trave
lers didn’t ask what year it was. They didn’t ask who was king. They didn’t ask-
“Are you here to see the Council of Kings?” Eva asked.
Lina blinked. If the Council of Kings still existed, maybe she hadn’t slept as long as she thought. That was excellent. She could report to them just as she had before her enchantment.
“They’re meeting soon?” Lina asked.
“The delegations arrive tomorrow night. I’m hoping to get an afternoon away from the goats so I can see some of the Princess Test.”
Lina smiled. The Council of Kings. The Princess Test. Things hadn’t changed so much after all.
“I didn’t come here for the Council, but I’ll certainly try to get a glimpse of the Princess Test. Who is choosing a bride?”
“Crown Prince Alaric. I heard at least twenty girls are coming. At least five are princesses.”
“Only twenty?”
Eva bristled.
“That’s a good number. The main countries and lesser provinces. Kell only had seven come when they hosted the Council.”
“Of course. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
Only twenty, and that a good number. In Lina’s time, dozens of princesses had traveled to the Council meetings for a chance to marry into the Aeonian royal family.
Lina sighed. This was going to be a tangle. She needed more information.
“Is the archive still open to the public?” she asked. “I’ve heard it’s the most beautiful building in Aeonia.”
“Yes, it’s open. But I’d recommend seeing the castle over that.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to see them both.”
Lina sighed as she settled into bed. She lay on top of the covers to keep from spreading her dust.
She couldn’t fall asleep. Her body was stiff and sore, but her mind wouldn’t let her relax. She hovered just on the edge of unconsciousness. Shadows pulled at her, but she brushed them away. Now wasn’t the time to visit the realm of shadows. There was nothing to fight. No one to meet. She just wanted to sleep.
Eva’s soft snores filled the room. Lina pulled the pea emerald out and twirled it between her fingers. Her heart ached for everything she had lost, but resolve replaced her initial wave of grief. She needed to see the Council. She needed to make sure what she and Luca started had been finished. She owed that to Luca. There would be time for tears later.
The Princess and the Pea (Fairy Tale Adventures Book 1) Page 2