Chapter 20

R osamund couldn’t sleep. It was almost a relief when morning finally dawned. She peered up at the sky and watched it lighten from inky black to indigo. Despair flickered through her at the thought of returning to Myst Hall.

You don’t have to go , a voice whispered in her ear.

A strange voice. A voice she had not heard before. She sat up, listening, but all she heard was faint birdsong in the distance as the world came awake. A quick glance at the others, but they were all sleeping. The voice she heard was distinctly female.

Take the map. Go to the dragon’s cave. Find the treasure, the voice said.

She pressed cold, shaking fingers against her lips. “I cannot go alone,” she whispered to no one.

Find the treasure. Free yourself from a life of drudgery.

Could she? Could she find the treasure? And if she did, would it really free her from her life as a princess? Perhaps so. She would have the means to go anywhere, do anything, be anyone. She could change her name. Blend in as a commoner.

Take the map , the voice whispered again.

She nodded, as if to agree. Yes. Take the map. Find the treasure. Change her life.

She flexed her foot to test it. There was still a bit of soreness, but she was able to pull on the boot. As she sat in her bedroll, she glanced from Phillip to Jeffrey to Charles. All three of them were still sleeping. Good.

She pushed to her feet, and winced at the ache in her left ankle. Ignoring it, though, she managed first one step, then another. It was uncomfortable at best but she had to fight through the pain. She took a step toward the horses, eying the rolled-up map stuck in the saddle bag lying on the ground. Then she paused to glance back at the sleeping men. They hadn’t moved.

Another step and another and she was at the discarded saddle bag. She held her breath as she crouched and slipped the map from it. Triumphant, she clutched it in her hand and rose. Her nerves were on edge, but she managed to get the map. Now, she had to saddle her horse and get out of camp as silent as possible.

“Highness, I’d like to know what you’re doing.”

Jeffrey’s voice behind her startled her. She emitted a tiny yelp as she turned. Her heart fluttered wildly as she came face to face with him. He glanced down at the map in her hand and then back up at her. Finally, she pulled herself together and lifted her head a bit in defiance.

“It’s none of your concern,” she said, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the others.

“Phillip intends to return to Myst Hall. I intend to make sure he does that. With you ,” he said.

He reached for the map but she snatched it away and stepped back onto her weak ankle. She whimpered and stumbled into her horse who snorted annoyance and sidestepped a little to counteract her fall. It took her a minute to regain her footing, but she managed with as much grace as possible.

“I’m not going back,” she said, defiant.

Surprise flickered through his eyes. “But—”

“I won’t ,” she added.

“What’s going on here?” Phillip’s sleepy voice interrupted her escape attempt and their discussion.

Frustration edged through her. With him awake, her chances of leaving went to nothing.

Jeffrey stepped aside to face Phillip as he rose from his bedroll. Their eyes collided. He noticed the map clutched in her hand right away.

“Rose?” he queried.

Despite her repeated requests for him not to call her that, he continued to insist. She clenched her jaw as her cheeks burned with the fierce heat of her frustration. The evidence in her hand was all the information he needed to figure out what she was up to. He approached her slowly, as if she were a skittish foal about to bolt. His hands were extended as if in surrender.

“What are you doing with that?” He eyed the map.

“I’m leaving with it,” she said, sounding strong and sure.

“You’re not going after the dragon’s treasure, are you?” Jeffrey asked, incredulous.

Behind them, Charles yawned and stretched. He took in the scene before him and got to his feet, curiosity glinting in his eyes. A sense of unease washed over her as she continued to clutch the map. They were going to talk her out of going and take her back home and then she would still have to marry Phillip.

“That’s exactly what she’s going to do,” Phillip said with a quirk of a grin. There was a hint of admiration in his voice. “Isn’t it?”

“It is.” She refused to back down.

“She’s braver than she looks,” Jeffrey remarked.

“I think she’s amazing,” Charles added.

Phillip lifted one dark brow. “So do I.”

Impatience flickered through her as she continued to clutch the map. “I’m leaving with the map.”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned toward her horse. The saddle rested on the ground beside her mare. She eyed it with some dismay wishing she had managed to get it on the horse before they awoke.

“I’m sorry, princess, I can’t allow you to do that,” Phillip said. She started to reply when he added, “Not without a proper escort.”

“But Phillip—” Jeffrey said.

Phillip held up his hand to silence his friend’s objection. Charles had a wide grin on his youthful face.

“I cannot in good conscience let her go without me,” Phillip said. Though he addressed Jeffrey, his gaze never left hers. “It would be unchivalrous.”

“I can take care of myself,” Rosamund snapped.

“I’m sure you can. But are you prepared to face the dragon?” he asked.

“Not to mention highwaymen or any other manner of men or creatures on the road,” Jeffrey added.

Her confidence was starting to melt a little hearing that. “Highwaymen? And what other creatures are there?”

“Trolls, goblins, take your pick,” Phillip added. “We’ve seen them all on our travels.”

It was almost enough to make her change her mind and go home. Almost.

“So, I think what his highness believes is that, under the circumstances, we should accompany you,” Jeffrey said.

Phillip gave him a sideways glance. “We?”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” he said. “I made a promise to your mother. I intend to keep that promise. After we go on this quest of hers, we’re all going to Myst Hall.” He gave her a pointed look that said she didn’t have a say in the matter.

“Well, then, it seems it’s settled. Charles, saddle the horses,” Phillip said.

“Why do I always have to saddle the horses?” he complained.

“Because you’re the youngest and that’s how it goes,” Jeffrey said. He returned to the small camp and started rolling up his bedroll.

Phillip took a step closer to her, though, that smile still on his face. He dropped his voice so the others wouldn’t hear him. “Are you sure about this, princess?”

Her nerves were on the edge of a knife. She looked down at the rolled-up map still clutched in her hand and thought about everything she’d done to get to this point. Jeffrey said she was brave, but was she? Perhaps she was mad to even think about going after a dragon and its treasure. But there was something deep inside her that told her she had to go.

“I may never get another chance to have an adventure.” As she said it, she looked up at him through her lashes.

Understanding lined his handsome face. His smile faded. Perhaps he was realizing they shared the same fate. That they were bound to each other and their futures were entwined. Like it or not, their wedding awaited at Myst Hall.

“What about the curse?” he asked.

It was a valid question. Her father had removed every rosebush from the royal gardens and even the surrounding castle grounds. She had never seen a rosebush in real life. Only in pictures.

“I suppose I’ll have to make sure I don’t go near any rosebushes.” She handed him the map then. “Here. You should take charge of this.”

Surprised, he took it from her. “You don’t want to lead us there?”

She flushed, hot. “In truth, I’m terrible at reading maps. It’s best if you lead us.”

He chuckled. “As you wish, princess.”

“While you two were conversing in secret, I broke down camp and Charles readied the horses,” Jeffrey said, sounding annoyed. “Shall we get on the road?”

Phillip gave her a questioning glance. “Shall we, princess?”

Nodding, she said, “I am ready.”

Rowena held the All-Seeing Eye in her palm and used her magic to make it come to life to watch the prince and princess. They had almost turned back, which she could not allow to happen. She needed them to go to the dragon’s lair so the princess would face her fate at last. She used a bit of her Faery magic to encourage the princess to go on the quest. Much to her surprise and annoyance, the men decided to go with her. One more night and then her birthday would be upon her. Rowena’s plan would at last come to fruition.

Smiling, she clutched her fingers around the green orb, snuffing out its magic. It was almost time for the princess to meet her doom.