The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling (The Four Kingdoms Book 5)

by Melanie Cellier

  “They have?” Celine rushed over to him.

  “So they claim.” His look of concern remained. “The governor has received intelligence of a plot against the throne by a cabal of northerners who have been trickling into our kingdom over the last few decades and who have set up their base of operation in Largo. They covet the wealth and resources of Lanover for themselves, and they saw the weakness and instability of the recent rebellion as the perfect moment to strike.”

  I sat slowly on a long stool near the door. That made no sense at all, not given the intelligence I had learned from the street urchins. The only northerners they had mentioned had been a few hired as mercenaries to swell the number of rebel soldiers.

  “But…” Celine looked over at me and then back at her brother. “What does he propose you do?”

  Cassian ran a hand through his hair. “The suggestion has been made by some of the nobles that I issue orders in Frederic’s absence to round up all the northerners in Largo. Once they are all safely under containment, we can root out who among them are traitors.”

  Celine gaped at him.

  I jumped to my feet and joined them in the center of the room. “You cannot do such a thing! Imagine the chaos and the fear! And I am sure it’s not the northerners. It can’t be.”

  “What are you suggesting?” asked Cassian. “That the governor has invented the intelligence? Why would he do such a thing? Or are you suggesting he is aligned with the rebels himself?” He shook his head. “Come Evie, do you really think the governor disloyal to the crown?” He grimaced. “Do you even think him smart enough to head a rebellion?”

  I considered his question. “No, I don’t think the governor is behind the rebellion, but I do think his information is wrong. Someone has fed him bad information.”

  “Or someone has fed you bad information.”

  I let out a growl of frustration. “That makes no sense! The rebels could never have guessed I’d run to the street urchins. Why would they bother to plant false information with them? And they risked themselves to help me get away from Marcus, remember!”

  Cassian ran his hand through his hair, clearly torn.

  “Look,” I told him, “I’m not asking you to believe them, just not to disbelieve them. Just give me time to gather more evidence, to find some sort of proof before you do anything so drastic.”

  I held my breath through a long pause.

  Finally Cassian nodded, once. “Very well, then. I’ll admit that with such a diverse population, such an action would drive a wedge down the middle of Largo. Many of the northerners here have lived here their whole lives. The anger such a move would create seems all too much like the moves the rebels have already attempted. I will wait. Only don’t take too long. If Frederic returns, he may choose to overrule me.”

  Chapter 28

  I flew straight back to my own bedchamber to change into my plainest and most sensible gown. Celine trailed behind me.

  “Evie, what are you doing?”

  I didn’t look at her as I searched for the dress I wanted. “You heard Cassian. I have to get some more evidence. I’m going back to the street urchins.”

  “Not on your own!”

  I straightened and looked at her. “Yes, on my own.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  I raised an eyebrow, and she sighed. “Fine.” She flounced over to the window. “Sometimes being a princess is the worst.”

  I shook my head. “It’s not just that. You don’t know the streets and the urchins don’t know you. I’m sorry, Celine, but you’d be a hindrance, not a help.”

  She gave me a sad smile. “I know. But you should at least take some guards. What if you run into Marcus again?”

  I gulped. “I have to take that risk. I guarantee you that if I turn up at the urchins’ den with guards in tow there won’t be a child in sight.”

  Celine frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there on your own.”

  “Neither do I, to be honest. But I’m not going to let Marcus and those rebels win. I’ve escaped from Marcus once, and if I have to, I’ll do it again.” I didn’t feel as confident as I made myself sound, but I did trust in the street urchins to help me. I was finished seeing my past as a burden dragging me down. It had made me strong, and I was ready to use my strength.

  Maybe my past precluded me from being loved by a prince, but it didn’t stop me from acting to save the kingdom that I loved. Because I did love Lanover, for all the pain I had experienced in it. Revisiting my past had reminded me that nowhere I had lived had been all bad. There was much of beauty and kindness in this kingdom.

  Once I had exited the mansion and reached a crowded street, I slipped into an unseen nook and wrapped my desert covering around me. Enough traders and northerners with delicate skin wore the costume here that I wouldn’t stand out. And with the face wrap up, neither Marcus nor anyone who worked for him would be able to recognize me.

  I moved swiftly after that, weaving through the streets until I once again entered the quieter part of town. This time when I reached the wooden board guarding the entrance to the urchin den, I knocked politely before swinging it open and launching myself in.

  Apparently the knock had been enough to identify me because they hadn’t bothered to extinguish the lights this time. As I unwrapped my face covering, Reya bounded over to me.

  “You came back!”

  Whitey wasn’t far behind her. “That’s a clever trick.” He pointed at my garb.

  I grinned at him. “Clothing is my specialty.”

  “What are you doing here?” asked Mastiff. Absence didn’t seem to have sweetened him to me.

  I took a deep breath. “I’ve come because I need your help. Someone’s fed the governor the idea that this rebellion is coming from the northerners here in Largo. They want them all rounded up, confined, and put under investigation.”

  “What?” Reya drew back a step, exchanging looks with Whitey.

  “I ain’t being confined,” said Whitey, his face going, if possible, even paler.

  “No, exactly,” I said. “It’s a terrible plan and will give the rebellion exactly what they want. But if I’m to convince them of the truth, I need more evidence.”

  I looked at them hopefully, but they all exchanged concerned looks.

  “What kind of evidence?” asked Lookout. “We don’t got no evidence.”

  I sighed. “No, that’s what I was afraid of. Which means we need to find some. You said you know where the Shadow Man has set up residence…”

  Dancer raised both eyebrows. “You want us to take you right to them? You sure about that?”

  I decided honesty was my best strategy. “No.” I grinned ruefully. “But unless you have any better ideas…”

  “I ain’t risking my neck,” said Mastiff.

  “Course you won’t.” Lookout rolled his eyes. “But I ain’t sitting back and letting them scoop up half me crew.”

  “No one pays much heed to us,” said Reya thoughtfully. “We can get you close enough. They might pay some attention to you, though.”

  I grimaced. “I did the best I could to dress inconspicuously, but there’s nothing I can do to make myself shrink.”

  “Well, come on then,” said Dancer. “Let’s get going.”

  One by one we climbed out of the den, walking as we had before, with only Reya staying beside me. The closer we got to my target, the more uncertain I became. What if I couldn’t find any evidence? Perhaps I should have enlisted help after all.

  And then we’d arrived, and I had no more time to waste on doubt. I had brought the darker of my two wraps and twilight had gripped the city, making it easier for me to blend into the shadows.

  “It’s that one,” whispered Dancer, appearing beside me and pointing ahead to a large block building. “There are guards there, there, and there. All around that main entrance. It’s the only door, so they’re always on that side.”

  I bit my lip. In case I needed a reminder of h
ow out of touch I had grown, I hadn’t noticed any of the three men in their inconspicuous places. And I needed to get close enough to find some sort of compelling evidence I could take back to Cassian.

  “Thank you.” I nodded at them both. “Could one of you please go to the gates of the mansion at sunrise? If I don’t meet you there, tell the guard you need to speak to Princess Celine. Tell them to say that Evie sent you.”

  “Wait, what?” Whitey popped up at my elbow. “I’m coming with you!”

  “No, you most certainly are not.”

  “You wouldn’t want me to miss out on all the fun.” He grinned from ear to ear.

  I kept my look stern. “I won’t budge on this. I’m not putting any of you at risk.”

  They stared at me disapprovingly, so I softened the blow. “You want to help me? Fine. Keep a look out—from a safe distance, mind—and if you hear a commotion, if something looks off and you think they nabbed me, go straight to the mansion. Don’t wait for sunrise. And make a ruckus until they fetch the princess.”

  After a quick exchange of looks, they all nodded their agreement and slunk off into the shadows.

  “A safe distance!” I whispered after them, as loudly as I dared.

  Only when I had lost sight of them in the dusk did I begin to creep forward. The location of the three guards meant I needed to approach from the rear of the building, but even out of their sight, I moved slowly. When I finally stood with my back to the building, I let out a long sigh of relief.

  Inching along, I looked for a window, or a grate, anything which might give me a sense of what was within. I still hoped I might discover something of use by listening from outside. If I could possibly avoid going in, I would.

  Eventually my slow steps brought me to a dirty window. I peered inside. A large, cavernous space filled the interior of the building. Men milled around inside it, some carrying lanterns, all carrying weapons. A table covered in paper and with several men bent over it sat under another window, around the corner from where I stood now.

  Returning to my snail-like progress, I kept my back pressed to the wall, my eyes straining and alert for anyone around me, as I rounded the corner and reached the second window.

  A small hole had been smashed in the bottom corner of the window in the time the building had stood empty, and I kneeled down, positioning my face near the round opening.

  Another man approached the table and saluted. “There’s been no move to gather up the northerners yet.”

  Several of the men rustled uneasily, but the one in the center growled at them. Confidence and authority hung around him as obviously as visible clothing. I didn’t doubt for a second that he was the urchins’ Shadow Man. The gray in his hair and beard supported the nickname they had given him, although his manner had an arrogance and assuredness that seemed ill-suited for the shadows.

  “There’s still time. They may even yet be making plans to strike the foreigners at dawn.”

  A man beside him barked a laugh. “An excellent strategy.” A rumble of humor moved through the men, a smile even touching the face of the leader.

  “Intelligent indeed. I would hardly have suggested we use it otherwise.”

  “And if they don’t act on our intelligence?” the newcomer asked.

  The Shadow Man shrugged. “We move at dawn the day after tomorrow regardless. The royals are unpredictable, they may decide at any moment to cut their visit short and run like the cowards they are. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity.”

  Move at dawn? What did that mean? Surely they did not intend to attack the governor’s mansion and the royals directly?

  “You truly believe we are ready for an all-out assault? Our attempt in the desert did not go to plan,” said an older man around the table. “And we wasted our only godmother object on the attempt. Its magic is entirely depleted now.”

  The leader’s eyes narrowed, and he looked as if he would throttle the man for daring to question him. But a moment later his expression calmed.

  “You heard the report our troops sent back. The caravan defied expectation and veered off into the middle of the desert. No one could have predicted such a move. We lost the element of surprise, and our men should have waited for our response rather than sending off a messenger and then attempting the attack anyway.”

  He grinned, sending shivers up my spine. “This time will be different. They’ll be so busy dividing the city, they won’t know what hit them. And this time, I will be in the lead.”

  His grin expanded around the table, his men clearly won over. I eased backward to rest against the wall, out of sight in the descending darkness. It was worse than I had feared. I slipped back in front of the window to try to estimate the number of men in the room. There were more than I had expected, I had to admit. Scores, at least. And an untold number might be lying in wait elsewhere.

  They moved around the room, making it difficult to count, and from this angle, I couldn’t see the whole warehouse. I needed to return to the window I had first used.

  “Just remember,” the Shadow Man was saying as I slid to my feet, “the so-called Earl of Serida is mine.”

  I moved away from the window, puzzling over his words. What connection did he have with the earl?

  I knelt next to the first window and tried to do another count, my mind so full of numbers, I nearly screamed when a voice spoke calmly behind me.

  “Enjoying the view, are you?”

  I turned slowly around. “Marcus.”

  “Evangeline.” He looked inordinately pleased with himself.

  I sprang to my feet and attempted to dart to his right, but he easily stepped to block my way, a sword appearing from nowhere. I slid to a halt a mere step from being skewered and backed up again to the wall.

  “Aren’t you going to call for help from your buddies?” I asked, jerking my head toward the window.

  His eyes glittered. “All in good time. But I’m in no hurry. Besides, our illustrious leader understands the concept of a personal vendetta.”

  My breathing caught in my throat, and I tried to think of a way of escape. If I screamed, I might alert the urchins, but I would also alert the rebel guards. And once they arrived my chances of escape narrowed to zero. And by the time the urchins made it to the palace and back with help, it would likely be too late anyway. If I was going to escape, I needed to do it myself.

  But as I examined Marcus’s face, I could feel all the blood draining out of my own. He carefully kept his distance this time, using his long blade to keep me trapped against the wall. Lazily he used its tip to pull off the wrapping over my face. Placing the edge against my cheek, he dragged it down my face without quite breaking the skin.

  “Where to start…” he mused, while my legs began to shake. He grinned. “This is too much fun.”

  I began to think alerting the rebel guards to my presence wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But then I remembered the face of their leader. Marcus terrified me, but even he didn’t compare to the fire beneath the cold and ruthless exterior of the Shadow Man. There was a man who would light up a city just to watch it burn.

  But as Marcus trailed his sword tip down my neck, still taunting me, I could come up with no options for escape. I closed my eyes as I desperately searched for inspiration. There must be some way, surely there must be some way.

  A muffled thump and the sound of a body hitting the ground made my eyes shoot open. Marcus lay crumpled on the stones of the road, and Frederic stood in his place. He had never looked so handsome.

  He held a naked sword in his hand but had evidently used the hilt to knock Marcus out rather than the blade.

  “I should have liked to fight and defeat him in a straight battle,” he said in a quiet voice, looking down at the body. “But I couldn’t afford the noise. I only have two men for backup.”

  He looked back up at me, and the expression in his eyes would have made me back up if I hadn’t already stood against the wall.

  “Evie…” He sheathe
d his sword and closed the gap between us. “What were you thinking?”

  He had reached me now, and he took a single curl in his hand, running it through his fingers. “Cassian must have been mad to let you go alone. I came after you as soon as I heard…”

  The trembling hit me harder now that I had been rescued, and he slipped his arms around my waist to support me as if it were a matter of course. I had no idea where to start, so I said nothing. His arrival, even just his presence, felt like a dream—the feel of his arms around me both the strangest and the most natural thing in the world.

  I leaned into him and turned my face up to examine his expression. He had returned to the mansion and rushed straight to my rescue. Why was I not surprised? The connection I had felt between us couldn’t have been all on my side.

  His eyes moved from mine to my mouth. “Evie, you could have been killed.” His voice trembled on the last word.

  I licked my lips, and he swallowed, his eyes flicking back to mine for a moment. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.” And then he pulled me tight against his chest and pressed his lips down hard against mine.

  Chapter 29

  The darkness, the building, the road, everything swirled away from me. Nothing existed except this moment and this man. Every home I had ever left had been worth it to bring me to him.

  My already trembling legs gave out completely, and Frederic broke off the kiss to scoop me into his arms. I thought hopefully that he might start kissing me again, but Marcus stirred behind us.

  Frederic went rigid and spun around, carrying me with him as if I were the lightest of burdens.

  “Men,” he whispered, “bind him.”

  Two guards with unnaturally straight faces emerged from the gloom and made short work of binding and gagging Marcus. Once the job was done, they hoisted him up between the two of them, and we all began to move quietly away from the rebel stronghold.

  I wanted to kick myself for wasting time in such a dangerous place. We should have moved out immediately. And, yet, I couldn’t bring myself to regret anything of the last few minutes.