The Kingdom Thief (Sitnalta Series Book 2)

by Alisse Lee Goldenberg

  “It’s safest for us this way,” Ipsinki said. “You have to trust me.”

  Aud worried at her lip with her teeth before nodding and turning to follow Parven’s men into the dark night.

  Ipsinki turned and drew his sword. He stepped into battle as the door to the dungeon opened and Frederic stepped through with another half dozen men. Ipsinki’s heart sunk. He didn’t see a way out. He took a deep breath and tossed his sword to Gerald who looked at him in surprise.

  “I’m not letting you go into battle unarmed,” Ipsinki told him.

  “What about you?” Gerald asked.

  Ipsinki merely shrugged and turned towards Supmylo’s cell. “Looks like you’re finally getting what you want.”

  Supmylo grinned and leaned against the bars. “I’m going to enjoy watching this,” he said.

  Ipsinki stepped forward. “I surrender,” he said, his hands up over his head.

  Frederic nodded. “Good. That makes my job a lot easier.” He walked over to Supmylo’s cell and knocked him out with the hilt of his sword. “Get out of here, and forget this happened. It’s best if I continue to do my work in secret. Just know that you have some friends on the inside.”

  “And them?” Ipsinki asked, as he gestured to the three guards that Willem and Gerald had been fighting.

  Frederic grimaced. “It’s best if you don’t think about them.”

  Ipsinki nodded in understanding. “Thank you,” he said. He turned, and with Gerald’s help, they picked up Willem and climbed through to freedom.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Najort

  Sitnalta sat, staring at the wizard across the table.

  “What have you done to my troll?” Kralc asked once more.

  He stared hard into her purple eyes, and Sitnalta could swear she saw a hint of sadness in his expression.

  “First of all, I have done nothing,” Sitnalta replied, keeping her voice as steady as she could. “And furthermore, he was never your troll. Najort belonged to no one but himself.”

  Kralc favoured the Princess with a small smile. “Quite right you are about that,” he said. “But the fact remains that Najort is somewhat changed.”

  Navor turned and looked at the wizard, trying to follow his words. “So it’s true,” he said. “I am Najort.”

  Kralc sighed. “Yes and no.”

  “I don’t understand,” Navor said. “Either I am, or I’m not. Explain it to me.”

  Kralc rose. “We need to go someplace more private.” He turned to Queen Kika and King Parven. “Rise and go to bed. You have had a long night.”

  Sitnalta watched, feeling slightly unsettled while the King and Queen stood and left the room.

  “What have you done to them?” Navor asked.

  “Nothing,” Kralc answered. “They will wake in the morning, feeling refreshed, if a little more hungry than usual.” He reclined in his chair and sat back up quickly. “I do not like these seats. Besides, I am certain you will have servants coming in to clear this mess.” He gestured to the remains of their meal. “Where would you like to speak?”

  Sitnalta thought for a moment. “What about the library?”

  Navor nodded. “I shouldn’t think anyone else would be there now.”

  They exited the room as a group, each of them keeping to their own thoughts as they made their way to the library. Navor walked through the door of the library and lit a fire in the hearth before taking a seat in one of the tall leather chairs. Kralc took the one across from him, while Sitnalta perched on the arm of Navor’s chair. She wanted to stay as close to him as possible.

  Once they were settled, Kralc looked at the two young people before him. “Now, tell me what you did,” he demanded.

  “I don’t know,” Sitnalta replied. “I honestly don’t think I did anything.”

  Kralc tugged at his beard in thought. He admired her spirit, and she didn’t seem to be lying to him. “I believe you,” he said after a moment. “Now tell me about the last time you actually saw Najort.”

  Sitnalta drew in a deep breath. She hated speaking about that night, and had never really spoken to anyone about it before, but even so, she knew the importance of telling Kralc the story. She began, speaking in halting sentences, telling the wizard about how Supmylo had chased them through the forest, and about how Najort had been fatally stabbed by her father. She told him how she had run to fetch the coin, and how Najort had refused her to use it on him before he died.

  Kralc thought hard about everything the Princess had told him. “Was there anything else that happened?” he pressed. “Could you be forgetting something?”

  Sitnalta screwed up her face and thought. “I really don’t think so.”

  “There was,” Navor interjected. “Najort...I made a wish.”

  Kralc groaned. “What did you do?” It served him right. That blasted coin was always twisting things.

  “I took the coin from Sitnalta and wished that she would find her happiness,” Navor whispered.

  Kralc looked from Navor to Sitnalta. “And were you happy?” he asked.

  “I was,” Sitnalta answered, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Until recently. What does this mean?”

  “It means that, in a way, our friend here was reborn as the Prince.”

  “So, before the wish, Navor never existed?” Sitnalta asked.

  Kralc shook his head. “I have never heard of someone taking over another’s life. To the best of my knowledge, Prince Navor is a whole person, created when Najort made his wish. The two share a soul, and before the events you have told me about, King Parven and Queen Kika must have been childless. There never was a ‘Prince Navor’ until my friend here accidentally wished himself into existence.”

  “I’m not real?” Navor said. “What about all my memories. My parents. How can this be?”

  “You are real in every important sense of the word,” Kralc assured him. “Your memories are real to you, and you are very real to the King and Queen. Your love for your parents is real, as is theirs to you. How you got here should not matter one bit. Think of it as an immaculate conception. To King Parven and Queen Kika, you are their son. They remember you being born, growing up, and existing as their only child and heir to the throne. That is how the world sees you, and that is how you will remain.”

  “But what do I do now that I know I’m also Najort? I have his memories, and they keep seeping in. I’m so confused.”

  “You live! You silly little troll,” Kralc said, leaning forward and taking Navor’s hands in his. “That’s all you can do. Be Navor, be Najort, be whomever you please. Just live.” He looked up at Sitnalta. “Is this all you wanted me for?”

  Sitnalta shook her head. “I think someone awful found the coin,” she told him. “I also have two sets of memories. They tell me that King Wilhelm has used magic to take my family’s kingdom. We need your help.”

  Kralc let out a low whistle. “I knew there was something wrong with that weasel. He was not born to sit a throne. Tell me when this started, and I will see what I can do.”

  “I’m not sure,” Navor replied. “As far as I know, it has always been this way. I remember sneaking Sitnalta out of Colonodona with my father. We sailed here, and she’s been with us ever since.”

  Kralc turned his piercing gaze to Sitnalta. “Do you have anything to add?”

  “I remember Gerald taking me to the docks. I was supposed to come here as a trip. This was to be a holiday for me. When we were out at sea, King Parven told me that I had been snuck out of Colonodona. I remember Wilhelm taking over the kingdom. But I also remember a time when that never happened. Why do I seem to be the only one who remembers it the other way?” Sitnalta twisted her hands around in her lap. She was nervous about hearing the answer to her question.

  “If I had to hazard a guess,” Kralc began. “I would have to say that it has something to do with the wish Najort made. He wished you your happiness. I would say that Wilh
elm destroying your kingdom, your family, and the life you’ve known would effectively take that away. Your keeping both sets of memories gives you a chance of regaining all of this. Magic works based on energy. You focus it with your intentions. Najort’s intentions were pure and true. The fact that his wish was made as his last act before he died, and that it was unselfish and for another has had lasting ramifications. We can see this in your memories and in Navor’s existence. This purity will render the troll’s wish stronger than that of the cur Wilhelm.”

  “Well then, I owe him my thanks,” Sitnalta said. She turned to Navor, but the words couldn’t come out. It felt too strange to think of the boy beside her as the same troll she’d befriended in the forest. Even though Kralc had said that they were one and the same, in Sitnalta’s mind, while she could see how similar they were, they couldn’t be more different.

  Navor gave Sitnalta a small smile to show her that he understood, and she nodded back to him.

  “How do we fix this?” Navor asked the wizard.

  “The only way I can think of doing so is to go to Colonodona myself, retrieve the coin and destroy it,” Kralc said. “That should undo any wish that has been made on it.”

  Sitnalta’s face went pale. She felt a sick feeling grow in the pit of her stomach. “Any wish?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Kralc answered, meeting her gaze.

  “But that would mean...” Sitnalta put her arm out and clutched Navor’s shoulder.

  “Navor would never have existed, and Najort would be dead,” Kralc finished. He sighed. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But the coin is far too dangerous to exist. I tried hiding it once. But this has shown me that I cannot trust that it can stay safe.”

  Sitnalta leapt to her feet. Her heart hammering in her chest. “I can’t let you do this!”

  Navor could sense her distress, and reached out to pull her back. “It’s okay.”

  Sitnalta turned to him, her eyes flashing. “It’s not okay,” she snapped. “I am tired of watching people I love get hurt. I will not watch you die again.”

  In spite of the situation, Navor felt a goofy grin stretch across his face. “You love me?”

  “You are so stupid,” Sitnalta said. “Of course I do. I thought that was obvious.”

  Kralc sighed. He looked at the Princess. Seeing her distress bothered him in a way he hadn’t felt in years. “Maybe I can think of another way,” he said. “But if there is not, I have to do what must be done. I cannot leave this thing in the world to cause more destruction.”

  “I agree that it can't stay,” Sitnalta said. “It has caused far too much chaos. I know that if I ever had it in my possession I would never use it to make another wish. Nothing ever turns out exactly as you want it. It's impossible to control! And yet, I don't want it destroyed. Not if it means losing someone so dear.”

  “I have faith that another way will be found,” Navor said.

  “Me, too,” Sitnalta added. “Please, don’t prove us wrong.”

  Kralc rose from his chair. “I will do my utmost to not let you down.” He turned to leave the room. “I will leave you now. There is much that needs to be done.”

  “We’re not coming with you?” Sitnalta asked.

  Kralc gave a short, barking laugh. “My child, I am going to fetch the most dangerous thing I have ever created. I am going to endeavour to find a way to secure it, and ensure it stays that way for all time. There will come a time in my plans when I will need your help, but now is not that time. Wait for me, I will return.”

  Sitnalta and Navor watched as the wizard vanished before their eyes. They stood watching the spot where he had stood, holding onto each other, hearts filled with hope and fear.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Reunions

  Sitnalta spent the next couple of weeks barely able to eat or sleep. She found herself jumping at each and every sound, not even certain why she was so terrified. What drove her completely mad was the fact that Navor was so calm. He was constantly trying to get her to laugh, or even smile. He was forever telling her that there was no reason to be so nervous.

  “How can you just ignore all that’s happening?” she snapped at him. She had finally had enough.

  Navor shrugged. “I’m not. I just refuse to spend my days in constant worry over things that are entirely out of my control.” He smiled at her. “You should try it. I think it would do you a lot of good.”

  “But you heard Kralc,” Sitnalta protested. “He might have to destroy the coin. You do realize what that would mean.”

  Navor sighed. “Sitnalta, I understand perfectly. And you know what? That is all the more reason for me to be the way I am. Why would I want to spend what may be my last days full of anxiety, and being completely miserable? He might have to destroy the coin. For me, the important word there is ‘might’. If he does, I will have been happy. Everyone will remember me as being happy. If he doesn’t, then I won’t have wasted several days as a complete and utter nervous wreck.”

  Sitnalta frowned at him. “I am not a nervous wreck.”

  “Have you taken a good look at yourself lately?” He said with a chuckle.

  Sitnalta swatted angrily at him, and he dodged the blow.

  “You are completely ridiculous,” she hissed at him.

  “But you love it,” he teased.

  Sitnalta favoured him with a small smile. “I do,” she admitted. She sighed. “I’ll try to be more positive. Okay? I know what you’re trying to say, and I suppose that deep down, you do have a valid point.”

  “Deep down?”

  “Maybe a little further up?”

  Navor smiled. “Keep going.”

  Sitnalta tried to scowl at him, and failed miserably. “I won’t tell you that you’re right.”

  “But you know I am,” he grinned.

  “Maybe,” Sitnalta conceded. “So, what do we do now?”

  “Now, we go see what treats they’re trying to hide from us in the kitchen,” Navor suggested.

  Sitnalta smiled and ran off after him, trying to pretend that everything was all right, for his sake.

  * * *

  That afternoon, Sitnalta was walking through the gardens. Navor had gone off to have a lesson in sword fighting with one of the castle’s guardsmen. She saw King Parven riding out towards the village with a small group of his men riding behind. Sitnalta stood behind a tree and watched them go, a small part of her curious as to why they were going.

  The King’s face had looked determined as he had ridden past, and he hadn’t acknowledged the Princess’s presence at all. For him, this was unusual. He always had a greeting for her every time he saw her in the castle, regardless of what he was doing, or how busy he was. Sitnalta figured that he may not have seen her, but considering where she stood, and the bright colour of her gown, this was unlikely.

  Sitnalta quickly put the incident behind her and continued her walk. She stopped in front of a small flowerbed and sat on the grass. She sat for some time, picking the tiny blossoms growing before her and weaving them into intricate flower-chains. Soon she had three long strands of multicoloured flowers that she braided into a long necklace. She intended to give it to the Queen before supper that evening. She knew that Queen Kika didn’t mind if she violated her gardens. The Queen had told her that the flowers were planted to be enjoyed. Whatever was picked could always be replanted, or would grow again.

  Looking up from her work, she tracked the sun through the leaves in the trees above her. It had gotten late without her noticing. She stretched out her arms as she completed her task, realizing that it was time for her to get back into the castle and wash and dress for supper. She rose, gathered her flower necklace, and walked back to the castle, humming under her breath the whole while.

  The Princess entered the castle and began to make her way to her room. As she rounded the hallway corner, she stopped abruptly. The Queen was standing in front of her bedroom door.


  “Your majesty,” Sitnalta said, dropping into a clumsy curtsey.

  “Sitnalta,” Queen Kika said. “I was looking for you.”

  “I was out in the gardens,” Sitnalta replied. “The day was so beautiful that I felt I had to spend it outdoors.” She held out the chain. “I made this for you.”

  The Queen took it with a warm smile. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”

  “Why were you looking for me?” Sitnalta asked.

  “It’s best if I show you,” the Queen said as she held out her hand to the Princess.

  Sitnalta was confused. She had never known the Queen to be secretive before. She wondered what was going on. She thought that perhaps the Prince was planning another surprise, and that this time he had gotten his mother involved. She took the Queen’s hand and let herself get led towards the dining hall.

  The Queen opened the door to the room and Sitnalta walked through. She looked around and saw King Parven and Prince Navor standing and talking to a couple on the other side of the large wooden table. Sitnalta stood and stared at them for a moment, not daring to believe her eyes, but there was no mistaking what she saw. The Princess let out a cry of sheer joy and ran into the arms of King Gerald and Queen Aud.

  King Parven stood back and watched the reunion, feeling a bit choked up. He adored the Princess, and he knew just how much her adopted family meant to her. He considered King Gerald to be one of his greatest friends and allies, and the way he had taken to parenting the young Princess had only served to endear him to Parven even more. When he had heard of the takeover by Wilhelm, and how King Parven had been captured, he had set to work coming up with a way to free him. Seeing that work come to fruition filled him with a true sense of happiness.

  Sitnalta wept. The happiness she felt was overwhelming. She knew that the King had sent men to work with Ipsinki to save Aud and Gerald, and she had hoped that his plans would succeed; yet she had never fully committed to that hope. She had tried, but she had feared that it would wind up another dead end. Yet here they were, alive and well, and holding her close once more. It was as if her prayers had been answered. A small part of her almost wanted to find a way to summon Kralc and tell him to forget about the coin. She was happy. In this moment, she was truly happy. Let Wilhelm keep the kingdom. She would be happy as a common girl; she didn’t need to be royalty. But she knew that such thoughts were foolish. Wilhelm was a tyrant, and such men needed to be stopped.