“Remember,” she said, “You’re not to tell anyone about this.”
“Or you’ll squish me. I remember.”
“Good. Now stay quiet.”
Carina pulled the pocket shut. Stefan stayed still.
“Hello, Lieutenant Demarco.”
“Princess Carina! Back again so soon?”
Carina giggled. Stefan bit back a gag. She was obviously acting, and the guard was obviously buying it.
“No more robbers today?”
“You know they wouldn’t dare come when I’m on duty. They must have realized they’re no match for a guard of Santelle.”
Carina giggled again. Demarco must be a world class idiot.
The pocket was getting stuffy. Stefan poked Carina. She patted her dress, squishing him against her leg. He smacked her with his foot, but she ignored him.
“Is something wrong, Princess?”
“Of course not. Is Duke Enrico still here?”
“Yes. He’ll be here every day until all the jewels are accounted for. I hope you’ll come that often.”
Something metal creaked, and they were moving again. Stefan extended his legs and tried to peer out of the pocket. Where were they?
“The treasury,” Carina whispered as she pushed him back down. “Someone tried to rob it. They triggered an alarm but escaped without a trace.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“A fair question. I guess I can let you out now. I just can’t let you know how to get here.”
Carina’s hand plunged into the pocket and wrapped around Stefan. She pulled him out and set him on her shoulder. He ducked under her hair so he could whisper in her ear.
“Nice place.”
He took it all in. The rock island with only one bridge leading to it. The glass shelves that towered to the ceiling. The glistening blue gem that lit the entire cavern.
No wonder she asked if he knew magic. He had thought it was because he was a talking frog, but apparently she had something else in mind.
Had someone really broken into this place? He hadn’t seen the entrance from Carina’s pocket, but they had passed multiple guards and she seemed to have special permission. An iron gate protected a waterway across the cavern. Stefan didn’t see another way into the cave.
“You think they came through the water,” he said.
Carina nodded. The motion shook her shoulder, and Stefan clung to her neck for balance.
“I want you to check,” she said. “See if you can find any underwater tunnels or cracks in the gate. The guards said the tunnel by the water gate is too long to swim. There are guards posted who would see anyone passing, but it would be easier to get in that way than down the stairs.”
“Easier if you can breathe underwater.”
“Yes, there is that.”
Something in her voice made Stefan cringe.
“You suspect me, don’t you?”
“The thought crossed my mind. Maybe you’re part of an international gang of gem stealing frogs. Maybe all this has been a trap, and I’m walking right into it.”
Stefan laughed.
“As far as I know, I’m the only talking frog in the area.”
As far as he knew, but it was possible that there were more. Had Kathelin transformed more men? A frog would be able to swim through the tunnel.
So would a mermaid.
Stefan swallowed. He was in dangerous territory.
“A frog might have broken in and not been able to carry the gem,” Carina said. “That could explain why nothing is missing.”
She was talking more to herself than Stefan. He bit back a sigh of relief that she wasn’t asking questions. As much as he wanted to win her trust, he wouldn’t risk Heinrich’s life to do it.
“How do I get to the water?” Stefan whispered. “Won’t they see me?”
“We’ll go to the back of the island and hope for the best. There are strings in the water. If you touch them, you’ll trigger the alarm. Be careful.”
She gestured to the network of strings that crisscrossed the cavern. Stefan nodded.
“Check the water. Avoid the strings. Got it.”
Carina crossed the bridge. She nodded to a man with an enormous parchment scroll and walked slowly around the island. When she reached the far edge, she pulled Stefan from her shoulder and placed him near the water.
Then she stood and kept walking. Stefan slipped into the eerie lake without a sound.
He expected it to be cold, but it wasn’t. The water glowed blue. His skin tingled, but maybe that was his imagination. Stefan blamed the magical gem. It made him uneasy, but he couldn’t say why.
At least the water was clear enough to see where he was going. The alarm strings glistened all around him. There were a lot. If he were any bigger, he would have had a difficult time avoiding them.
A mermaid certainly would.
He kicked his legs and swam around the island. It was solid rock. Nothing out of the ordinary. It would be easy enough to climb up to the island from the water. If Carina dropped her golden ball here, he could have pushed it back to land without a problem.
He finished swimming around the island and took another lap to study the exterior wall. There were a few cracks, but none big enough for a mermaid to swim through. Even he wouldn’t fit.
Stefan turned to the steel gate. It reminded him of the drawbridge portcullis back home. A pattern of square steel rods. The holes between the metal were just big enough for him to slip through. He did so and studied the space around the gate.
There. That was interesting. The beams at the bottom were bent. Stefan swam closer, careful not to touch the metal just in case that also triggered alarms.
Yes, they had definitely been bent back. The metal was covered with algae and a thin layer of rust, but the beams at the bottom were scratched. The silver metal under the rust and moss was exposed.
Something had grabbed the metal, bent it to create a hole, and then bent it back again.
Stefan thought of the tentacles the mermaids had sat on. They had felt plenty strong when they squeezed him. They might be strong enough to bend the metal gate.
Were they long enough to reach through the tunnel? Stefan hoped not.
That left the mermaids.
Kathelin and Althea hadn’t looked particularly strong. He wouldn’t have thought they were capable of bending iron with their bare hands.
But they had magic. Maybe they didn’t need to.
Stefan scanned the area for any other clues, then swam back to the island. Carina sat on the edge of the rock. She used her reflection in the water as a mirror while she adjusted her hair.
She smiled when she saw him. As if she hadn’t been entirely sure he would come back. Stefan climbed up the rock. She grabbed him and stuffed him in her pocket.
He was still damp. The cloth clung to his wet skin.
“Leaving so soon, Princess?”
Stefan didn’t recognize the arrogant voice, but he didn’t like it. The man said “princess” as if it were the worst insult he could think of.
“Yes, Duke Enrico. You were right, there isn’t anything I can do here to help.”
“Humph. You’d think by now your father would know better than to have you try.”
Carina curtsied.
“He’s sure I’ll find my talent someday.”
The duke scoffed. Stefan squirmed. He wasn’t sure how much damage he could do as a frog, but he had an overwhelming urge to punch the duke in the face.
Carina squished him between her hand and leg to hold him still. She curtsied again and hurried away. Stefan waited until they passed through Demarco’s gate before saying anything.
“He has no right to speak to you that way.”
Carina patted her pocket.
“I didn’t think he was overly rude.”
“No?”
“It makes it easier to gather information when people think I’m useless.”
“Do you do that often?”
That might explain the toolbox in her pocket.
“Hush.”
Carina didn’t speak again as they walked through the castle. Stefan stayed quiet as well. He had plenty to think about. What was Carina up to? For someone so boring, she found a lot of excitement. She had helped Lina at the Princess Test. Maybe more than he realized.
But who was she helping here? She said she was gathering information. But why?
Stefan was practically hopping by the time they reached Carina’s room. She pulled him out of her pocket and set him on the pink silk pillow.
“What did you see?”
“Are you some kind of spy, my lady?”
“Of course not. I’m simply trying to solve a mystery.”
He studied her face. She looked truthful, but he had doubts. The careful organization of Carina’s pocket showed dedication to whatever she was doing. Why would a dull princess go to so much trouble to satisfy her curiosity?
“You don’t think the guards can solve the mystery? What are you up to, Princess Carina?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
Her voice was syrupy sweet and lilted like music. Stefan smiled. She was definitely up to something.
“Quit smirking,” she said.
“Frogs can’t smirk.”
“They definitely can, and you definitely are. I’m just trying to solve this mystery and help my family. Now tell me what you saw.”
A hint of desperation colored her words. Stefan studied her face. Whatever this was, it mattered to her. A lot.
He bit back the urge to ask for a kiss in exchange for the information. It would be ungentlemanly. Not to mention it wouldn’t count. She had to kiss him on her own. It had to be her idea.
Stefan was beginning to understand how difficult that would be. What princess would kiss a frog without reason? No wonder the mermaid had been willing to tell him how to break the curse. It was an impossible task.
He looked into Carina’s clear blue eyes. Whatever was going on, she was upset. Was she in some kind of trouble?
“Princess, if someone is threatening you-”
“You’ll take care of them for me?”
She grinned a little.
Stefan stood to his full height. Such as it was.
“I’m stronger than I look.”
A smile lit her face, and her eyes danced with amusement.
“Well, I’m glad to have you as my bodyguard. Now, stop stalling. What did you see? Anything interesting?”
Stefan grinned. He couldn’t help it. Her excitement was contagious.
“As a matter of fact, I did see something intriguing.”
23
Carina smiled after the frog finished his story. Finally, she had a lead. It was far from the evidence of sea monsters she needed to prove her worth, but it was a start.
“Stay there.”
She patted the pillow and ducked under her bed. The frog peered over the edge and watched her.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing.”
Carina retrieved a box and ran behind her changing screen. She shed the frilly dress and slipped into loose trousers and a worn tunic. The frog croaked when she ran back to the bed to fetch her shoes.
“What are you wearing?”
“We need to talk to sailors. See if they’ve heard of any more sea monsters in the area. Maybe the same creature that crashed the Vanquisher tried to break into the treasury.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” the frog said. “Why do you have trousers under your bed? And why are you wearing them?”
Carina pulled on her work boots and shrugged.
“Sailors are more willing to talk to a fellow sailor than a princess.”
She wrapped her golden hair in a tight knot and pushed it under a cap. She tugged the hat down, making sure it hid everything, and twirled for the frog.
“How do I look?”
He swallowed.
“Is that a trick question? It’s usually a trick question when women ask how they look.”
Carina winked at him and slung a leather satchel over her shoulder.
“I don’t have pockets big enough for you now. You’ll have to ride in here.”
“Can’t you just carry me?”
“We’re trying to blend in. Most sailors don’t have pet frogs.”
The frog sighed and hopped into the satchel. Carina left the flap open for him. He stuck his head out.
“Are we going to go through the garden?”
Carina shook her head.
“We’ll stop by the kitchen and get lunch first.”
“Excellent.”
A few maids were in the kitchen when they entered, but they didn’t stop Carina from grabbing food. In fact, they giggled and offered her a fresh loaf of bread.
“You go there often?” the frog asked.
Carina rolled her eyes and handed him a piece of fish.
“They store leftover food from royal dinners there. The servants are allowed to help themselves.”
The frog croaked and ate his fish. Carina strolled across the garden, doing her best to look like a gardener while also staying out of sight. When she reached the far edge, she ducked behind a bush and crawled to the wall. After a quick scan of the area, she climbed over and ran to the woods.
“How often do you sneak out of the castle?” the frog asked.
“Often enough.”
He squinted up at her.
“What did you mean when you said you’re trying to solve a mystery? There has to be more to this.”
“Does it matter?”
He shrugged.
“Anyone will tell you I’m not the most responsible person. But I really don’t want to be caught committing treason in Santelle.”
Carina stopped walking and studied him.
“Why should I answer your questions? You refuse to tell me anything about yourself.”
“I told you my story. Small swamp frog seeks beautiful princess.”
“You missed the part where you learned how to talk.”
“Lots of studying.”
Carina stomped towards town, using the exercise to vent her frustration. The frog’s refusal to give any details of his life was infuriating.
“I thought you said you weren’t responsible.”
“I never said anything about studious.”
“So you’re a scholar?”
The frog’s face contorted. He seemed to be trying to keep from smiling.
“Why is that funny?”
The frog gave up and laughed.
“No one has ever accused me of being a scholar before.”
“Accused?”
“Never mind me. Why are you sneaking around? This clearly isn’t the first time.”
He gestured to her outfit.
“You’re insufferable,” Carina said. “But if you must know, I’m trying to prove my worth to my family.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was close enough. It wasn’t as if the frog was being truthful with her.
“You’re going to all this trouble to earn your family’s respect? Are you that insecure? I’m sure they love you.”
Carina glared at him.
“Santelle doesn’t work like that. Everyone has a place. If you don’t find yours, you’re worthless.”
The frog raised an eyebrow. Well, he didn’t actually have eyebrows, but the gesture still came through.
“I’m just trying to help,” Carina said. “I’m the only one of my siblings who didn’t make it into Santelle’s Military Academy. The only royal child in the history of Santelle to fail the entrance exam.”
No need to mention that she’d been acting under her father’s orders.
The frog leaned out of the satchel.
“Why did you fail?”
Carina stared straight ahead. Ten years later, she still hated revisiting this memory.
“The swimming test. Most of Santelle’s military is the Navy. They don’t want sailors w
ho are afraid of water. They teach you how to swim, then they test you.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“They test you by sailing out to sea and throwing you overboard.”
The frog gulped.
“Oh.”
“It was stormy that day, but not enough for them to cancel the test. There was wind. Waves splashing over the sides of the ship. They threw me in the water, and I sank. I tried to breathe, but all I got was water. Then I panicked.”
The panic was the worst part. The part she barely admitted to herself, even when the sight of storm clouds made her heart beat faster. She had dived into the water and let herself sink just as her father ordered. But coming back up hadn’t been as easy as she expected.
“They threw you overboard in a storm?” the frog said.
“Yes, and the water was rougher than I expected. My clothes were heavier. I got my head above water long enough to get a breath and hear someone screaming for me to kick harder.”
Carina paused for a moment.
“I thought I was going to drown. I honestly did.”
“But you made it.”
“They sent a sailor in to retrieve me. He pulled me back to the boat. I was almost unconscious by then. They took me to shore and told me I’d failed the test.”
And her father had congratulated her on a realistic performance. One pat on the back.
“They shouldn’t have had the test in bad weather,” the frog said. “That wasn’t your fault.”
“Sailors don’t get to choose the weather they face. Anyway, that doesn’t matter right now. I just want to prove myself useful.”
Useful enough to claim her mother’s promise. Useful enough to stay.
The frog studied the town below them. They had almost arrived.
“Discovering who broke into the treasury will do that? Make you feel useful?”
Carina nodded.
“Then let’s talk to some sailors.”
She chuckled.
“I’ll do the talking if you don’t mind. Remember, we’re trying to blend in. And apparently, you can’t talk to more than one person at a time.”
The frog croaked and sank into the pouch.
24
Stefan couldn’t see much from inside the satchel. He heard the bustle of the harbor all around him, but he kept his gaze on Carina’s face. She looked determined. He couldn’t blame her.
The Frog Prince Page 12
