The Frog Prince

by A. G. Marshall

  She didn’t have the breath left to respond. Carina kicked her shoes off and kept running up the hill. For once, she wished she had listened to the royal tailors and worn a simple gown.

  She gasped for air when she reached the castle gate, but she didn’t slow her steps. The guards let her pass without question. She nodded to them and ran through the empty courtyard.

  “It’s coming ashore,” the frog said.

  Carina turned, and her heart sank. The harbor was in chaos. Ships and buildings had been turned to splinters. The kraken caused destruction with each swipe of its tentacles. At least the crowd of people had disappeared into the forest. She hoped they would be safe.

  Because the frog was right. The kraken was coming ashore. The monster wrapped enormous tentacles around trees and pulled itself over the dock. Its head wobbled from side to side as it left the water.

  “She’s going to attack the castle,” the frog said.

  He sounded like he couldn’t believe his eyes. Carina understood the feeling.

  “Kathelin said they were losing control of the kraken. She said we were running out of time.”

  The frog gulped.

  “She was right about time, but they seem to have plenty of control over the kraken.”

  “So you think the mermaid is controlling it?”

  Carina tried to identify the mermaid, but she was too far away to see her face. Kathelin had mentioned others. Those who thought taking the gem would be easier than asking.

  Apparently, she had told the truth.

  The kraken continued its clumsy climb out of the water. Carina frowned. The enormous beast would crush everything in its path.

  Its path led to the castle. And to them.

  46

  Stefan wished he didn’t have to ride on Carina’s shoulder. He knew he wasn’t heavy, but he hated adding to her burden. She gasped for breath as she climbed the castle stairs two at a time. He lost sight of the kraken as she ran into the building.

  Gustave followed close behind them. Stefan swallowed. Now was really not the time to be envious of the king’s legs. He couldn’t keep up with Carina as a frog, so he had to sit on her shoulder. That was that.

  Blasted mermaids. Blasted frog body.

  Another roar shook the ground. Stefan glimpsed the kraken when Carina passed a window. It was through the harbor and climbing the hill towards the castle.

  “How much farther?” Gustave panted.

  “Not far,” Carina said. “We need to fetch something from my room first.”

  She rushed into her room and rummaged through a dress hanging in the corner. Gustave raised an eyebrow when she pulled a piece of parchment and the golden ball from the pockets.

  “Are those really important right now?”

  “Yes. Now hurry.”

  Carina tucked the golden ball into her pocket. Stefan relaxed his grip on her neck and balanced on her shoulder as she rushed through the castle hallways.

  “Will they let us in?” he asked.

  Carina waved the parchment in her hand.

  “I have permission, and I can hide you. But they have orders to keep everyone else out.”

  She nodded towards Gustave. He shook his head.

  “I’m not leaving you alone. It’s too dangerous.”

  As if to prove his point, the kraken’s roar shook the castle again. Something like an earthquake reverberated through the building.

  “She won’t be alone,” Stefan said. “I’ll be with her.”

  “Indeed. But two protectors are better than one.”

  Gustave bowed, and Carina rolled her eyes.

  “We don’t have time for this. Stay out of sight, Gustave. If it is possible to sneak you in, we will. If not, you can wait here while we fetch the gem.”

  “There may not be a castle left to wait in.”

  Stefan sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, they could use Gustave’s help. If they ran into trouble, a human would be more useful than a frog.

  He hopped onto Gustave’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

  “I’ll make it happen. Hide here and wait for my signal.”

  Carina narrowed her eyes, but she didn’t comment. Stefan jumped back to her shoulder and ducked under the strands of golden hair that had come loose.

  He wasn’t completely hidden, but he couldn’t help Gustave if he was in Carina’s pocket. He did his best to look frog-like and innocent as Carina rounded the corner.

  A single guard stood in front of the tapestry. His face paled when he saw Carina.

  “Princess, what is happening?”

  “A sea monster took the Onslaught. The rest of my family was on board. Didn’t the messenger to Duke Enrico tell you about it?”

  He swallowed.

  “A messenger came through, but he told me nothing. Forgive me Princess, but I cannot allow you to linger in this hallway.”

  “I am aware.”

  Carina handed him the scroll. He read it and raised an eyebrow.

  “You want to go to the treasury now? It seems a strange time to learn responsibility.”

  “This will be the safest place in the castle, and I want to make sure Duke Enrico knows the current situation.”

  The guard nodded.

  “I suppose that makes sense.”

  He pushed back the tapestry and unlocked the door. King Gustave peered around the corner. Stefan caught his eye and winked. He hoped Gustave would wait. If the guard saw him, it would ruin the plan.

  As soon as the secret door opened, Stefan jumped off Carina’s shoulder and landed on the guard’s face.

  “What the?”

  The guard tried to brush Stefan away, but the prince held tight to his hair. His frog feet gripped hair surprisingly well. He croaked as loud as he could. Hopefully, Gustave recognized that as the signal.

  “Oh, bad frog! Leave the poor guard alone!”

  Carina reached for Stefan, pretending to help the guard. Stefan had to admit, she did good work. She leaned into the guard’s shoulder, pushing him until he faced away from the open door. She waved her hands in alarm, blocking his vision even more.

  King Gustave slipped through the door. As soon as he was out of sight, Carina pulled Stefan off the guard.

  “My apologies, sir,” she said. “The noise has upset Mr. Froggums.”

  The guard brushed his hair back into place. His eyebrows knit together, and his voice was tight as he spoke.

  “You’d best get to the treasury, Princess. I don’t want to be responsible for your safety. Whatever is coming, I won’t be able to protect you.”

  Especially when he couldn’t defeat a frog.

  Stefan kept that thought to himself. It was ungenerous after the guard’s incompetence had helped them so much.

  Carina curtsied again.

  “You are a shining example of Santelle’s finest, but call for reinforcements if you need them.”

  She slipped through the door. It slammed behind her, plunging the hallway into darkness.

  “Are you there?” Carina whispered.

  She walked forward and ran into someone. Stefan found himself squished between two bodies. He gasped as the collision knocked the air from his lungs.

  “Frog, are you alright?”

  “Yes,” he wheezed.

  “That was nicely done,” Gustave said. “We need to hurry. Which way is the gem?”

  “Down.”

  Carina led the way. Stefan balanced on her shoulder, doing his best to recover his breath.

  “You were marvelous,” Carina said.

  “Santelle’s finest didn’t stand a chance.”

  She laughed, and the sound echoed through the corridor.

  47

  Carina hurried down the hallway and tried not to think about what she was doing. She was saving her family. Following the only lead she had.

  But she was also violating more laws than she cared to count. Sneaking the King of Montaigne into the royal treasury? Her father would be furious.

&
nbsp; If he was still alive.

  She swallowed. She couldn’t afford to waste time with thoughts like that.

  “Gustave,” she said. “You can’t tell anyone you were here. If they knew I let you in- well. It would be bad.”

  “Of course.”

  Gustave’s voice was soft. The frog patted her shoulder.

  “They’ll be alright. Your family is strong.”

  Carina nodded.

  Muffled thumps filled the dark stone hallway. Carina quickened her pace. Was the kraken’s roar filtering through the tunnel?

  Or was it something worse?

  She reached split in the hallway and walked to the right. In spite of everything, she wondered about the path to the left. Where did it lead?

  A sharp sound reverberated through the corridor. It took Carina a moment to recognize it.

  A scream.

  She jogged forward. The frog clung to her neck to keep his balance.

  “Sorry,” she said. “You heard that?”

  “Yes. What happened?”

  “I don’t know.”

  More sounds echoed from below. Voices. Crashes. Everything bounced off the stone walls and distorted. She couldn’t tell what was happening. Only that something was.

  Carina rounded a corner and crashed into Lieutenant Demarco. King Gustave ducked into the shadows when he saw the guard.

  “Princess Carina! What are you doing here?”

  Demarco sounded nervous. Carina tried to smile, but she couldn’t quite manage it.

  “Has a messenger come for Duke Enrico?”

  He nodded.

  “A guard came through, but he hasn’t come back. I hear sounds on the other side of the gate, but I can’t open it without an order. Smith can’t see anything from his post either.”

  Carina pressed her ear against the door. Something was going on in the treasury. Something loud.

  “A sea monster took the Onslaught,” she said. “My family and the other dukes were aboard. Enrico is the highest ranking officer left.”

  Someone coughed behind her. Demarco gasped and drew his sword.

  “Princess, you were followed!”

  “No, don’t attack!”

  Carina flung her arms out, blocking Demarco’s path. King Gustave stepped into the light.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to show myself.”

  “This is King Gustave of Montaigne,” Carina said. “He’s helping me. We need to bring a message to Duke Enrico.”

  Demarco kept his sword raised.

  “Princess, I’m under orders to protect this door. I can’t disobey.”

  Carina handed him the parchment.

  “Here. Orders from my father. Open the door.”

  Demarco shook his head.

  “I can’t open the gate with an unauthorized person there. Even if he is a king.”

  The frog croaked. Carina nodded.

  “You’re wasting time! If my father’s order isn’t enough, I’ll issue a new one. I am a princess of Santelle, and I command you to open this door!”

  She straightened to her full height. Demarco towered over her and had a sword, but she was too annoyed to care. The guard met her eyes and slowly lowered his weapon.

  “That is your official order?” he asked. “And you’ll take responsibility for the consequences?”

  Carina understood. She wouldn’t be able to keep Gustave’s coming a secret after this. Demarco would be obligated to report the incident to his commanding officer. And she would be held responsible.

  “Yes,” she said. “I give you an official order as princess of Santelle and the only member of the royal family left on shore. I will accept the consequences.”

  Something flashed through Demarco’s eyes. Sadness? Respect?

  He slipped his key into the lock.

  “Smith, unlock your side!”

  “That’s a bad idea, Lieutenant. I think the water gate has been breached.”

  Carina put her mouth to the keyhole.

  “Lieutenant Smith, open this door immediately! That’s an order.”

  “She has the king’s seal,” Demarco said. “You’d better do it.”

  Carina bit back a sigh of relief when she heard the sound of metal scraping metal.

  The key turning in the lock.

  She curtsied to Demarco.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant. If I have any say in the matter, I will recommend you for a promotion for your actions.”

  Demarco put away his sword and bowed to her.

  The sounds of chaos swept over Carina as the door opened. Screaming. Splashing. Crashing. She looked at the frog and Gustave.

  “Ready?”

  They nodded.

  Carina gathered her skirts and ran.

  48

  “Carina, should we make a plan first?”

  Stefan’s arms ached from clinging to her neck, but he refused to get in that blasted pocket again.

  “That won’t do any good. They’re under attack!”

  A scream echoed through the treasury as they rounded the corner. Carina stopped and gasped. Stefan lost his grip and slid along her shoulder. Gustave caught him.

  The water gate was gone. Tentacles thrashed around the cavern and cast eerie shadows on the walls. Gems and broken glass littered the rock floor. The jewel cases had been shattered. Guards stood in a circle around the island, waving their swords and trying to hold back the tentacles.

  Duke Enrico stood in the middle, guarding the Kraken Heart.

  King Gustave stared at the cavern.

  “The communication charm didn’t do this place justice. I had no idea Santelle’s treasury was so big.”

  Carina scoffed.

  “That is the point of keeping something a secret. The blue light is from the Kraken Heart.”

  “How are we going to get it?” Gustave asked.

  Stefan bounced on Carina’s shoulder.

  “I can dodge the tentacles.”

  “That’s too dangerous,” Carina said. “They could crush you.”

  “They could crush any of us.”

  Carina stared into his eyes. Stefan’s heart beat faster. Her face was so close to his. If she kissed him-

  If she kissed him now, he wouldn’t be able to retrieve the gem. He turned away from her.

  “Get me as close as you can.”

  Carina eased forward, dodging bits of glass and scattered gems. A stray tentacle swiped at her. She ducked, and Gustave knelt beside her.

  “Can we make it across the bridge?”

  Carina nodded. The bridge was close. They just needed to-

  A deep sound rumbled through the cave, and rocks fell from the ceiling. The tentacles waved and smashed against the stone walls, flinging rubble through the air. Carina grabbed Stefan from her shoulder and crouched over him. He hated that she had to protect him, but he was vulnerable as a frog.

  Gustave crawled closer and wrapped his arm protectively around Carina’s shoulder.

  Stefan glared at him. He wanted to be the one to protect Carina!

  The depth of that realization shook him. He wanted to protect her. He would give his life to keep her safe.

  He blinked in surprise. Responsibility had never been his strong suit. In fact, he usually avoided any trace of it. But Carina changed things. He wanted to take care of her.

  Stefan balled his webbed feet into fists and glared at the island.

  “I’ll go,” he said. “I can make it.”

  Carina held him tighter.

  “No. It’s too dangerous.”

  “We need that gem!”

  A tentacle crashed down ahead of them. More of the cavern crumbled.

  “Look out!” Gustave said.

  He pushed Carina away from a falling rock. It hit his head, and he crumpled to the ground.

  “Gustave!”

  Dust filled the air, and Carina coughed on the word. The king struggled to his feet. He rubbed his head and winced. Blood dripped down his face.

  �
�I’m fine,” he said. “Just cut my hand on some glass.”

  His voice sounded weak.

  “You’re hurt,” Stefan said. “Get back to the entrance.”

  Gustave stepped forward and swayed.

  “Watch the door, Your Majesty,” Carina said. “Guard our way out.”

  Gustave narrowed his eyes at her, but he nodded and limped towards the tunnel.

  Stefan watched him long enough to make sure the king could walk. Then he turned his attention to the treasury.

  Blast.

  The kraken had smashed the bridge. Carina walked to the edge of the lake and stared into the water. Tentacles swarmed beneath the surface, creating ominous ripples.

  “Let me go,” Stefan said. “I can swim around them. You can’t.”

  Carina ducked her head. Was she crying, or were her eyes watering from the dust? She studied him for a moment. Then she nodded.

  “Be careful.”

  Carina set him on the ground and stood. She waved her arms.

  “Duke Enrico! It wants the sapphire!”

  “Obviously!”

  Even with his life at risk, the duke’s tone irritated Stefan. His disrespect was possibly more annoying than the kraken tentacles destroying the treasury. Stefan hopped around the lake, looking for the safest place to dive in and doing his best to avoid the glass splinters littering the rock.

  “Throw it to me!” Carina said. “I can take it to safety!”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “The bridge is gone. You won’t make it off the island!”

  Duke Enrico scowled, but the guards around him nodded.

  “We can’t hold them back,” one guard said.

  The duke stared at Carina a moment longer. Then he pulled a key from around his neck and unlocked the sapphire’s case.

  Stefan waited. No need to swim with a kraken if he didn’t have to.

  “Throw it!” Carina yelled.

  Duke Enrico cradled the gem in his hands. Guards flanked him as he walked to the edge of the island.

  “Throw it!” Carina said again. “I’ll catch it in my skirt!”

  She stretched the fabric between her arms, ready to catch the gem.

  “You swear you’ll get it to safety?” Duke Enrico said.

  “I swear it.”