Four guards approached and Cass nodded to the back of the cart.
Ari stood and waved them over.
“What business do you have here?” one of the guards asked.
“It’s… me,” said Ari. “Prince Ari, son of the King.”
All four guards tilted their heads in perfect synchronicity, as they studied his bearded face and old clothes. Deciding that he was indeed who he said he was, they dropped to a bow, the head guard mumbling an apology as he waved to yet more guards to open a set of large gates.
Cass flicked her reins and the mules took them through.
“We’re nearly there, Raph,” Jasmine said, smoothing down her brother’s hair. “Keep holding on. We’re getting you help. Won’t be long now.”
The palace was getting larger now that they were getting closer, although it was still far enough away that Jasmine was grateful they weren’t on foot. It was a stone building with turrets and a tall tower. Exactly the kind of castle Jasmine had imagined when her mother had told her the story of the sleeping princess.
However, as impressive as the palace was, it was outshone by the lush garden that surrounded it. Trees and shrubs had been carefully placed to form a spectacular display of flowers and foliage. Jasmine recognized many of them from her garden back home, but it didn’t have the same rambling, almost accidental beauty of the Garden of Evernow. This garden had more of an air of formality, with plants lined up in rows, the colors of the flowers alternating to make patterns and shapes. It was most fitting for a royal garden. The soil in Wintergreen was known to be the world’s most fertile. Trees bloomed here in a way Jasmine had been told didn’t happen in the other kingdoms.
As they made their way toward the palace, she caught the various scents as they passed the plantings. Lemon and rosemary and geranium and thyme. If she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend she was back at home.
Home.
Was it still her home now that she’d so foolishly signed it all over to the Alchemist?
The scent of cinnamon filled her nose, and a memory came back to her. It was her sixteenth birthday and her mother had clutched at her hand and begged her never to give their home away. She’d thought it was odd at the time and had dismissed it, forgetting about it until this very moment when her mother’s words stung her like a honeybee in the lavender garden.
Her mother had somehow known what might happen. She’d said a lot of things that day that hadn’t made sense at the time. Things like telling Jasmine that life wouldn’t always be easy but one day it was possible for her to find happiness again. It was as if she’d known that Jasmine was going to give their house away. However, if she knew that, had she also known about Raph’s illness? If Jasmine were to find her happiness again then Raph would need to be cured. There was no way she could ever live her life, happy to be exactly where she was, if Raph wasn’t there with her. There was no Evernow in that.
If only her mother were here. She missed her, especially now that she knew she’d likely been taken before her time by a man who’d done nothing but bring harm to all of them. It was no wonder Raph called him the Murderer. He couldn’t continue to ruin people’s lives like this. Maybe she could convince Ari to help her put a stop to him. Who better or more powerful than the future King of Wintergreen?
She looked over at Ari as he took in the grounds of his home with a look of familiar longing in his eyes.
“You were homesick?” Jasmine asked.
He nodded. “It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
Jasmine knew that feeling all too well.
“There’s something you should know,” he said, shuffling closer to her.
She wondered if this was a practical move or one born from desire, then reminded herself that princes didn’t fall in love with homeless girls who guilted them into bringing a plague into their palace. He was likely already betrothed to some beautiful woman from a good family.
“I just wanted to warn you,” he said, moving a little closer again.
“What is it?” she asked, noticing that her heart was beating a little faster.
He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
“It’s my father,” he said. “He…”
“Yes?”
“I told you that he forbade me to go to Cypress. He’s going to be furious with me. He won’t want…”
“He won’t want Raph in the palace. Or Tommy.”
Ari nodded. “I’ll need to convince him. Although, I’m certain that I can.”
Jasmine wasn’t sure she believed him. She wasn’t even sure he believed himself. “How can anyone convince the King to bring a plague into his palace?”
“Please, trust me. You’ve trusted me with so much already, including your brother’s life. And there’s so much I’ve kept from you. Trust me on this and I promise you that I’ll tell you everything.”
“You don’t need to tell me anything.” She shook her head, not understanding. He was the prince! He owed her no explanation. “Just save Raph’s life.”
“I’ll do my best. I promise.”
The cart pulled up at a set of grand iron doors to the palace and Ari jumped clear. These guards seemed to have no trouble identifying their prince at a glance. Perhaps they were more familiar with him.
Jasmine remained in the cart with Raph in her arms and Cass climbed into the back to cradle her son.
“He’s traveled well,” said Jasmine. “They’ve both made it this far.”
“Bless you,” said Cass, her eyes alight. “There’s hope. There’s hope.”
The doors to the palace opened and a man appeared, dressed in clothes so fine that Jasmine would have identified him as the King even without the guards bowing their heads as he walked past them, directly to his son.
He was a tall man, muscular and handsome like Ari. Jasmine had heard stories of his good looks and thought people were building him up to be better than he was. But was he as fair of heart as he was of face? Only time would tell. He had the same dark hair and eyes as Ari, and the same aura of sadness surrounding him.
Ari spread his arms wide to embrace the King, but his father stopped short, glaring at him. It seemed Ari hadn’t underestimated how upset his father would be when he said he’d be furious.
“You went against my wishes,” the King said.
Ari dropped his arms and bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Father. I had to go. I told you why.”
“How do you know you’re not infected?”
“I don’t. Although, I feel well.”
The King frowned and Jasmine saw a father concerned for his son, rather than the ruler of their kingdom.
“What are these clothes you wear? And this filthy beard? Were you taken captive?”
“No, Father. I didn’t wish to be recognized. It was safer for me to travel like this.”
The King nodded slowly. “And who are these people you’ve brought with you?”
Jasmine winced as the King pointed directly at them.
“They don’t look well,” he said.
Ari shook his head. “The two boys are gravely ill. We must send them to the infirmary for immediate help. Where’s Doctor Abner?”
“They aren’t to be taken inside the palace,” said the King, taking a step back.
Jasmine cursed under her breath. Ari had said he could convince him. He’d asked her to trust him. It seemed that sometimes trust just wasn’t enough.
“But Father,” said Ari, fiddling with the neckline of his shirt.
Jasmine strained her neck to see what he was doing, just able to catch sight of some kind of golden pendant dangling from a chain around his neck.
“Look,” said Ari. “I have them both.”
The King’s eyes widened and his hand flew to his mouth. Stepping forward with a sudden loss of concern for the plague, the King reached for the pendants and held them together.
“Are you sure this is hers?” the King asked.
“It can be nobody else’s,” said Ari. �
��They’re a perfect fit.”
“Where did you get it?” The King’s eyes filled with the same kind of hope Jasmine had seen in Cass’s eyes only moments before.
Ari turned and pointed to the cart, indicating Raph with his outstretched finger. “The boy had it. The blond child.”
“And where did he get it?” The King eyed the occupants of the cart with a little more interest now.
“He was unconscious when I found him. Now do you understand? We must make him well and then he can talk. He knows everything we need to know and possibly more.”
Jasmine’s heart sank and rose all at once, leaving her gasping for breath. It seemed Raph would get the help he needed, but Ari hadn’t helped them out of kindness or affection. He’d helped them for his own gain. Raph had information that Ari was clearly desperate for. And judging by the look on the King’s face, he was desperate for it too. How could her little brother possibly know something that was so important to the King?
“Step down from the cart,” said the King.
Ari reached out his arms to help Jasmine down, but the King pushed him aside. “Do not touch them.”
“It’s okay,” said Jasmine, finding the strength she needed to get herself and Raph safely to the ground. She wasn’t sure she wanted Ari to touch her anyway. Just when she’d thought her mind had become clear, she was more confused than ever. To think that only moments ago, she’d wondered if it were possible that Ari had desired her. He needed her. Or rather, he needed Raph. Desire had nothing to do with this.
Cass stepped down with Tommy beside her, seeming to have no trouble managing the weight of him in her arms. Perhaps she was more used to carrying a small boy.
“And who is this boy?” The King directed his question at Ari, not Cass. “Does he have information too? We must limit the risk to the palace.”
Ari shook his head. “These two boys are strangers to each other.”
“Then I’m afraid we cannot allow him in.”
“Please!” gasped Cass. “Prince Ari gave me his word.”
“She’s right,” said Ari. “I promised her son the help he needed in exchange for my safe passage home. He’s coming in, too.”
The King sighed, the sweetest sound Jasmine had heard in her life. For his sigh said yes. Yes to Cass and Tommy, and yes to Raph. She wasn’t sure what the pendant meant or what Raph had to do with it, but right at this moment, she didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was being given his best possible chance to recover.
And not only did Ari and the King seem desperate to learn what Raph had to do with that necklace, but she was extremely curious herself.
ARI
THE NOW
Ari led Jasmine away from the infirmary, through to the kitchen garden. Raphael was asleep, with Doctor Abner standing over him, having spent a restless night trying to get some fluid into him with a wet sponge on his lips. Tommy was in the next bed, with Cass dozing in a chair beside him. There was nothing more Jasmine could do for Raphael right now, so Ari had convinced her to go with him to the perfumery where they could begin work on a cure for the plague.
He pushed open the door, waving a hand in front of his face as a cloud of dust billowed up in the disturbed air.
He heard Jasmine cough behind him.
“I thought you said the perfumery was set up and ready to go.” Jasmine looked around. Her nose was crinkled and her eyes watering.
“It is,” Ari protested, lifting a sheet from one of the benches to reveal some distilling equipment. “It just hasn’t been used in a while.”
“How long has it been since you’ve been in here?” Jasmine opened a cupboard and sniffed at the contents of a jar, screwing up her face at the stench.
“A while,” he said, aware that this would be a good opportunity to tell her the truth about how he’d gotten so accidentally involved in her life. He owed her that much after all the trouble he’d caused her and Raphael.
“Like when you were three?” asked Jasmine, running her finger through a thick layer of dust on one of the workbenches.
“No, but that’s about how old I was when my father first set this place up. My mother loved fine perfumes and he thought he’d surprise her by having her own perfumery in the palace. He employed a perfumer to produce her a new scent every day of the year. Except it wasn’t my mother who fell in love with this place. It was my sister.”
“Princess Ana,” said Jasmine. “I’m sorry, Ari. The whole kingdom mourned her loss. It was a tragedy for her to be taken so young.”
The look of sincere sorrow in her eyes tore at his heart. So many lies had been told. So many innocent people hurt.
“Thank you,” he said, running his fingertips across his freshly-shaved chin, glad to be rid of his beard at last. “But I’m afraid you don’t know the full story.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Jasmine stepped closer to him and gently touched his arm.
He drew in a breath of dusty air and reached for her hand, holding her slender fingers gently in his own. If things worked out, he’d like to hold this hand a lot more often. And if that were the case, then she had to know the secret he’d been holding all these years. It wasn’t doing any of them any good to keep it locked up inside like this.
But she let go of his hand, not seeming to want to hold it.
“Why did you help us?” she asked. “Really, why? Was it because Raph has information you want?”
“Yes,” he said, wanting to be completely honest. “But it was more than that. I felt responsible for what happened to him. I don’t want to be the sort of King who causes trouble, then walks away. I wanted to help.”
Jasmine tilted her head and nodded.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” he asked.
She blinked at him without answering.
“Which is why I have to tell you the full truth,” he said, wanting her to understand.
“Go on then.” She leaned back on a workbench and crossed her arms as she waited for him to talk.
“My sister, Ana, was… difficult. Always difficult. She hated me from the moment I was born.” Ari almost choked on his words. This wasn’t easy to say out loud, but it was true. And he’d promised himself he’d speak the truth to Jasmine.
“I’m sure she didn’t hate you.” Jasmine uncrossed her arms, and he took a step closer to her.
“She did. She resented the fact that because I was a male I jumped her in line to the throne. She felt she’d be a better leader than me.”
“I’ve never liked that law,” said Jasmine, her voice loaded with caution. “In Forte Cadence that law was changed many years ago. Couldn’t Wintergreen do the same?”
“Only if the King wants it changed. And my father’s always thought I’d make a better ruler than Ana.” He looked to the floor, not wanting to see her face if she disagreed.
“I see,” she said. “And what do you think?”
How could he tell her that he agreed without sounding arrogant?
“As I said… Ana was difficult.” He lifted his eyes to look toward the back of the room where he’d made that gruesome discovery after she left. The images of those poor animals still haunted him. “Her heart wasn’t kind.”
“Is your heart kind?” she asked, her voice softening.
“I like to think so.” Ari locked his gaze on hers and stepped closer so that now they were only inches apart. His eyes were drawn to her mouth and the way she was gently biting down on her lower lip. He longed to kiss her. But, no. She must hear his story first, then she could judge if he was the sort of person she wanted to kiss. Someone who’d lied about his sister’s death for years. Would she be able to trust him after that?
“Ana became obsessed with the perfumery,” said Ari, blinking away the emotion swirling around him and wanting to finish his story. “And the perfumer. She’d spend hours in here with him learning about oils and blends and fragrances. Together, they discovered how these could be used to cure basic ailments. Mother and Father were so h
appy to see Ana with a purpose at last, even if they didn’t like her getting her hands so dirty. It distracted her and took her focus off me.”
Jasmine nodded and he dragged his eyes from her lips to the green of her eyes.
“On the day of my sixteenth birthday, she disappeared,” he said, feeling a weight lift as he spoke these words aloud for the first time. “She left a note for our parents saying that she was in love with the perfumer and they’d run away to make a life together.”
Jasmine’s eyebrows shot up. She’d clearly not anticipated him saying this.
“Mother wanted to search for her, but Father was worried about the scandal. So, he told everyone that she was dead, and we tried our best to pretend this was true, in the hope that we could mourn her and move on with our lives.”
“But…” He could see Jasmine’s mind starting to pull the threads together.
“Please, let me finish,” he said. “The truth is that we couldn’t move on from Ana. As hateful as she could be, she was still part of our family. I spent hours down here in this perfumery getting it set up again, hoping that by doing what she loved I’d be drawn closer to her. But I’m afraid I didn’t possess her talent for oils.”
“You tell me that now when Raph is depending on us?” Jasmine crossed her arms once more, a sure sign that he was losing her trust. “You said we’d work together on a cure.”
“Don’t underestimate your own talents,” he said. “Together, I still believe we can do this. My heart wasn’t in it back in those days. I had no purpose driving me to make any discoveries. I was just a foolish boy, turning in circles, feeling guilty for driving my sister away.”
“But you didn’t drive her away!” Jasmine unlocked her arms and threw her hands in the air. “She left. You couldn’t help being born. Nobody asks to be born.”
“I know that now. Still, a day doesn’t go by that I don’t wonder what happened to her. Mother has never been the same since and despite the hard exterior my Father sometimes puts on, he’s grieving too. We all need to know what happened and where she is now.”
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 32
