Corbina frowned. “I don’t think that you are taking things very seriously.”
Rapunzel sat up immediately.
As her long hair flowed all around her, Corbina’s eyes widened just a fraction.
However, Rapunzel was too busy to notice. Having her temper sparked, she blew out a frustrated breath.
“Not taking things seriously?” she repeated. “I have hair that is longer than any person ought to carry. Not only is it far too hot, but it’s also giving me a constant headache. I am trapped in the top of a tower with no doors or stairs. The people I love are locked away in who knows what type of conditions. Not only am I terrified about Papa Otto’s age and health, but I am terrified of what these two kingdoms will do to my family.”
“Are you finished?” Corbina asked dryly.
“No,” Rapunzel retorted. “I am just getting started. I haven’t mentioned the fact that one of the captors is my actual blood relative. Just so you know, that doesn’t bother me even one little bit. I haven’t the slightest bit of anxiety about the knowledge that my natural father couldn’t be trusted with the knowledge that I was cursed. What kind of man is he? And in turn, what does that make me? Am I more like him? I obviously can’t handle any of this.”
Corbina sighed, her expression softening. “I think you are being too hard on yourself.”
“Am I?” Rapunzel’s voice had taken on a hysterical edge. “I was so sure that all I had to do was leave the protective cocoon that Romy created for me. I was naive enough to believe that I was perfectly capable of saving her.”
Corbina shrugged. “Maybe you are.”
“Maybe?” Rapunzel repeated. “That’s the joke of the century. I couldn’t save a fly, let alone a human being. I feel completely helpless. Do you even know how horrible that makes me feel? Justus was right. I am too innocent, too sheltered. I never should have left the cottage.”
“Think about how that would have played out, Rapunzel. What would your Papa Otto and Einar have tried to do when the soldiers attacked?”
Some of her ire faded. “They would have tried to protect me from the soldiers.”
“And what would happen if one of them accidentally touched you while they were trying to protect you?”
Rapunzel’s head fell forward. “I get it.”
“No,” Corbina said softly, “I don’t think you do. Rapunzel there is nothing wrong with being young or innocent. There is nothing wrong with trying to do right by those you love. You should be commended for those acts of bravery.”
“But I am not brave,” Rapunzel added in a low voice. “I am terrified.”
Corbina nodded. “Yes, you are. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you are frozen in your fear. And now you have built so many towers around yourself, Rapunzel, that nobody can get in. This tower, it’s nothing compared to the towering self-doubt that’s holding you back.”
A ball of emotion lodged itself at the base of Rapunzel’s throat. “I don’t want to be weak.”
Corbina’s brow lifted. “Indeed? I wouldn’t care for that either. What you need to do is make a choice. Rapunzel, in life, we are often faced with situations that seem insurmountable. I can’t tell you what you will face, but I can tell you that you always have a choice. You can choose to do nothing, to stick your head in the sand, and to hide away.”
Rapunzel felt a sinking feeling inside. “That’s the coward’s way out.”
Corbina nodded. “There are plenty of people that have locked themselves in towers of their own. Instead of finding a way out, they are waiting for someone to come and save them.”
“What if nobody comes?”
Corbina sighed. “Then they spend their lives trapped by their problems. Is that really living?”
Rapunzel shook her head. “No.”
“Well then, we have a few things that need solving then. What are they?”
Rapunzel’s brows came together as she concentrated. “I can see four main problems.”
“Good,” Corbina replied with enthusiasm. “What are they?”
“First, I need to break this curse once and for all.”
Corbina nodded proudly. “Excellent, what is next?”
“I need to defeat Leon and escape this tower.”
Corbina’s eyes twinkled. “Indeed, you do. What’s next?”
“I need to save Romy from the Northern Sea King, and Papa Otto and Einar from my natural parents.”
“Perfectly so. You said you had four items on your list. What is the last item?”
Rapunzel blushed but answered anyway. “I need to find Justus.”
Corbina laughed. “And what are you going to do when you get a hold of him?”
A rush of warmth erupted in her tummy. Rapunzel could think of any number of things she would like to do with Justus. One of which was learn more about the Raven people and how she could help them. But higher on the list would be to wrap her arms around Justus and hold him close. They may have only known each other a short time, but Rapunzel knew from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes that he was someone special.
Rapunzel thought about Romy and Einar. It hurt to think that they had spent eighteen years living in such close company, but not able to tell each other how they felt. She didn’t know what the future held for her and Justus, but she knew that she wanted to find out.
She wasn’t going to hide away any longer.
“When I see Justus again, I am going to be brave.”
Corbina clapped her hands together. “Famous! Tell me about this bravery.”
“I am going to tell him how I feel.”
From just outside the window, there was the rustling of wings, and then a black raven flew inside. It was the same bird that had helped her escape the cottage.
“Was he there the whole time?” Rapunzel cried out in embarrassment.
The raven transitioned into a tall, handsome boy that made Rapunzel’s heart flip inside her chest. He strode across the floor and took her hands in his.
“How do you feel?” He was looking at her so intently.
Rapunzel felt like she could hardly breathe.
“I, um…” clearing her throat, she began again. “I care about you.”
A smile broke across his face. It started slowly and then flashed so brightly that Rapunzel knew she would never forget how he looked on this day.”
“I like what you’ve done with your hair,” he said with a teasing glint.
Rapunzel huffed. “Are you kidding me? I bear my soul, and you talk about my hair?”
Justus laughed as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
Corbina’s lips twitched. Clearly, she was trying not to smile.
Rapunzel stood and nearly tripped over her hair. “I take it back, you know. I don’t really like you at all.”
Justus grabbed her around the waist and twirled her in the air. The movement caused her hair to wrap around them, and this time, they did trip, falling into a heap of hair, limbs, and grins. Justus leaned over and kissed the tip of Rapunzel’s nose.
She froze. His eyes were once again locked on hers as he leaned and pressed his forehead to hers.
“I like you too,” he whispered. “So very much.”
“Are you sure it’s not just my hair?” she teased. Her cheeks pinked with delight.
He pretended to consider, and she pinched him.
“It’s you,” Justus said simply. “It’s been you from the start; it will always be you.”
Chapter 13
“This is quite the place you have here,” Justus said a while later when Rapunzel was properly dressed, and her hair was sort of taken care of. Having so much, it had taken many braids, and even still it was rather unwieldy.
“What happens if Leon comes back?” Rapunzel asked nervously.
“His magic won’t work on me, remember? Magic cancels out magic, so I think I can handle myself with a forty-year-old man.”
Rapunzel shook her head, fighting a smile. Justus looked so cocksure a
t that moment. She didn’t want it to go to his head, but she rather liked the look on him.
“The best idea is to not be here when he returns,” Corbina advised.
“How do we get down? Justus can’t carry me, I can’t fly, and you’re dead.”
Corbina scowled. “I prefer otherworldly.”
Justus waved his arm. “Forget about that. Didn’t you say that the pitcher of water pours continuously?”
Rapunzel frowned. “Well, yes. But what has that to do with anything? It’s not likely to cause any floods. At most, I could stand there for hours and have a gigantic mud puddle.”
“Bigger picture,” he explained with excitement. “I will fly to the nearest village. When I tell people that I have found the tower with the missing princess, people are going to come running. Especially if I embellish the amount of award money being offered.”
“Why should they believe you? My natural parents have been spreading that ridiculous story for years, and nobody has ever found me. How are you going to make people believe that you just stumbled upon the tower?”
Justus raised a finger. “Wait, I will add that I was walking along in the woods, and water fell on my head. When I looked up, the tower appeared, and at the top I saw long golden hair flowing from the window. Trust me, I can make this believable. People will be clamoring to rescue you.”
“Ugh,” Rapunzel scowled, remembering Corbina’s words from earlier. “I sound like a wimp in this story.”
“Nonsense,” Justus replied. “You were clever enough to catch my attention by dumping water on me. By the time I am able to bring someone back, there will be a big mud puddle, and they will believe my story.”
“Alright,” Rapunzel said, getting up and grabbing the pitcher.
Walking over to the window, she tipped the pitcher over, and sure enough, the water began to flow out of it. For a moment Justus was transfixed with it.
“That’s a good bit of magic there,” he said in fascination.
Rapunzel frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be flying to the nearest village?”
“Right!” Justus winked at her and then transitioned back into the raven.
Rapunzel shook her head, but a small smile played about her lips.
“You will be good for him,” Corbina said wistfully.
Rapunzel looked over from where she was perched in the window. Her arm was raised as she continued to allow the magical pitcher to pour. “Please tell me what I am missing in the journal.”
Corbina floated closer to where Rapunzel was perched. But just as she was about to speak, Rapunzel saw Leon floating up from the ground.
In a loud voice, Rapunzel said, “Leon, where have you been?”
Hoping that Corbina had gotten the hidden message, Rapunzel continued to nervously pour the water out.
“It’s none of your business what I do,” Leon replied haughtily.
Rapunzel shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
When he entered the tower, Rapunzel was thankful to see that Corbina had disappeared.
“Why are you pouring that water out?” Leon asked, just now noticing what Rapunzel was doing.
“Why not?” she countered. “I was bored.”
Leon moved forward and snatched the pitcher out of her hands. “Surely you can think of something else to entertain you?”
Rapunzel knew that she needed to get the pitcher back and not alert Leon that something was wrong. “What would you have me do?”
Leon looked around the tower. While it was large enough to hold the small kitchen and bed to sleep in, it wasn’t what one would call spacious. The tub and screen were shoved to one side, and the small larder was on the other.
“I don’t care what you do,” he said at last, throwing the pitcher back at her.
Rapunzel grabbed it out of the air, thankful that it hadn’t smashed itself on the floor. In doing so, she didn’t see that Leon had found the journal and had opened it.
“What is this?” he asked as he turned the pages.
“It’s just a book,” Rapunzel’s anxiety was increasing up as she watched him begin to read the pages.
“People that turn into ravens?” Leon shook his head. “What sort of nonsense is this?”
Rapunzel tried to laugh, but she wasn’t sure if it came across very well.
“I like birds,” she said defensively.
“Romy always liked ravens,” he said absentmindedly. “She was forever going on about being born of the ravens. I remember when that forest dweller gave her the bird necklace. Romy was fourteen, or maybe she was as much as sixteen. I can’t remember. Anyway, Romy was so proud of the ugly trinket.”
Rapunzel had no idea what he was talking about. In all the years she had known Romy, she had never worn a necklace, let alone a bird one. She wanted to ask about it, but the last thing she wanted was for Leon to stop talking. As he spoke, Leon fiddled with something in his pocket.
When he brought it forward, Rapunzel saw that it was a necklace. This necklace was made of sturdy metal. The medallion was a dark opal surrounded by leaves and vines. On the very top was a raven with its wing extended. It almost appeared as if the raven were protecting the opal.
“What is that?” she asked quietly.
Leon looked up, with a sneer on his face, he answered, “I took it from your mother.”
Rapunzel gasped, nearly dropping the pitcher. “Romy?”
Leon frowned. “No, Frieda.”
Chapter 14
Rapunzel looked at him with confusion. “Why would Frieda have a raven necklace?”
Leon shrugged. “I have no idea. She didn’t have it when I knew her. Romy wore it always. I suppose Romy left it with Frieda in exchange for you. How do you feel knowing that your mother traded you away for a bit of metal?”
Rapunzel’s temper flared. “My mother sent me away to protect me.”
Leon barked out a harsh laugh. “Your mother sent you away to protect herself. Frieda always did think of herself before anyone else.”
“But you loved her?” Rapunzel dared to ask.
“Aye, I loved her,” he spat. “And look where that got us?”
Rapunzel swallowed her fear.
The arm she had been using to hold the pitcher was growing heavy. What was she doing? It was pointless to dump water out the window. By the time it finally reached the ground, the water would likely be gone.
Choose to be brave.
The words from Corbina suddenly appeared in her mind. Finding strength from inside herself, Rapunzel straightened.
“Where does that leave us?” she repeated. “You tell me. You seem to know more about my natural mother than I ever did.”
Leon’s hand wrapped around the necklace angrily.
For a moment, Rapunzel worried that he would break it. If the necklace had been Romy’s, she certainly wanted to return it to her.
Before Leon could break the chain, it turned fire hot, and he dropped it. The necklace bounced and slipped down into the crack of the floorboards.
Wanting to distract him, Rapunzel thrust the pitcher at him. “Put your hand inside; it will help the burn.”
Leon did as she said. “Stupid necklace. I only took it because I knew that Frieda would have a better chance of remembering Romy if it was around.”
“Remembering Romy? When did she forget her?”
Leon smiled a greasy, hateful smile. “Romy never should have taught me about devil’s breath.”
Rapunzel paled. “You made my mother forget about me?”
“Your mother chose to take away Thomas’ memory of the curse,” he countered. I only wanted to return the favor.
Rapunzel felt sick inside. All of these years, she thought her mother was waiting for Romy to break the curse. To find out that her parents both hated Romy, that they thought she stole Rapunzel from them, was almost more than she could bear.
“Don’t look so sad, princess. Someone will rescue you someday.”
Leon tossed the book aside, and it fell t
o the floor. From where she was sitting at the window, Rapunzel saw something on the spine that looked like a claw. She wanted to examine it further, but Leon was looking at her oddly.
Rapunzel straightened and asked about his hand. “Are you alright?”
Leon shook his hand and muttered a spell. Moving back to the window, it appeared that he was leaving. “It’s nothing personal, you understand.”
Rapunzel blinked. “Are you leaving?”
Leon smiled, but there was only emptiness there. “I have wasted enough of my life with your family.”
Pulling out a small bag, he turned to her.
Panic raced through her veins. She tried to run, but there wasn’t anywhere to go. “Please, don’t do this.”
Leon grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be.”
“Don’t take my memories away,” Rapunzel begged, pulling against his vice-like grip.
Leon growled at her, “I can’t have you identifying me. It has to be this way.”
“Who would I tell?” Rapunzel’s arm was beginning to hurt as she tried to yank it back.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Leon’s expression was pure malice. “You are looking at the new king. Your father, having been so stricken with grief, is giving up the crown. It’s only fitting that his loyal cousin takes his place.”
“What’s the matter with you?” Rapunzel sobbed. “What about Papa Otto and Einar?”
“Maybe one day I will release them,” he replied.
Finally, managing to open the small pouch with his teeth, he was about to dump it on her when a large black bird swooped in. All of the powder was poured onto the bird.
“No!” Leon screamed.
The bird flew to where the pitcher was abandoned. Rapunzel and Leon watched as the bird, covered in white, dunked himself into the full pitcher. The white powder began to wash away.
Moments later, a very wet and very angry Justus was standing next to the pitcher. Rapunzel took advantage of the distraction and twisted her arm out of his grasp.
Leon whipped around, ready to grab her again. But just then, a swarm of wasps sailed by his head. It was so out of the blue that Leon stumbled away from the bugs. A look of confusion crossed his face when he saw that the wasps weren’t trying to attack him.
Kingdom of Crowns and Glory Page 22