The Sleeping Princess: Twisted Tales: Crown of Roses Book One

by D. L. Boyles

  “That’s why we don’t worry about having a rotating guard,” Doc yawned. “Go back to sleep, Summer Prince.” Then, the old man, spectacles still in place, rolled over and went back to sleep, not even the least bit concerned.

  “Why did we even bother with weapons?” he asked sarcastically.

  “Eh, they’re not always amenable when a chase is involved.” Grog tapped his boot again. “Settle down. She’s more than capable.”

  Philip slowly returned to his place along the stones, watching Snow through the flickering flames of their fire. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Bear was watching Snow as well. With the constant scowl on his face, Philip wasn’t sure if he was concerned or just loosely interested. For the next hour, Snow took turns greeting the migdraga, speaking so softly to them that even his excellent hearing could not pick up what she was saying. Eventually, the pack began to leave, a few at a time, until only the queen remained. Snow bent and whispered in her ear then the creature who looked part lion, part wolf, with a scaled body like a fish, licked Snow’s cheek before hurrying away.

  When Snow returned to the other side of the fire, she turned and noticed Philip watching her. With a slight nod of her head in acknowledgement of him, she returned to her place beside the mountain ox, snuggled down beside him, and stared up at the sky.

  The stars were out tonight. Looking up, he had an overwhelming desire to go to her, to point out the constellations he’d wanted to show her that night on the river. But he didn’t. Instead, he turned his back to her and tried to make sense of everything he had just seen.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Mountain Air and Something More

  “Have I mentioned that I need to relieve myself!” he shouted, furious to have been strapped over the side of the mountain ox once more. With no provocation, he added to himself. The only thing he had done was smile in Snow’s direction and the next thing he knew Bear was angrily tying him up. Snow only seemed slightly concerned during the process but made no effort to assist him. The most he received was a pitying glance periodically from Doc. It infuriated him!

  “We will be stopping soon,” Coy told him. Philip rolled his eyes. Coy. Who names their son Coy? Likewise, who named their children such names as Bear or Grog or Torpid? Doc, sure. Sunny, maybe. Sneezy? That was just a ridiculous name. Philip tried to sit up, tried to wiggle free of his bindings, but it was no use.

  “Snow, maybe you could sing us a song? One that will make Bear less grumpy?” No one answered him. “That was completely irrational, by the way, the way you approached those migdraga last night.” Coy slapped his cheek…lightly, but it still angered Philip. He was not used to being treated this way. As a hunter, people feared him. As a prince, people revered him. Being strapped across a mountain ox like a hunting trophy rankled him. Bear’s giddy facial expression only infuriated him further. the dwarf was enjoying Philip’s perturbation.

  He wanted to shout at them that their mothers were heartless wenches who had named them ridiculous names knowing they’d grow into ridiculous men, but that idea made him laugh furiously. They hadn’t grown—they were dwarfs. Snow had grown. Into a beautiful woman, one he’d like to…Oh, curse the moon and stars above, he was delirious. And irrational—inappropriately so. What was wrong with him?

  He chuckled about nothing and was rewarded by a mouthful—at least his dozenth—of mountain ox hair and his own dried saliva. Yes, his saliva had dried onto the ox’s side. Had he been drooling? His laughter did not subside, causing his sides to ache and his head to pound. It felt like he was bobbing on the ocean and not on the back of a mountain ox. His stomach roiled, making him groan and switch from laughter to concentration on keeping himself from succumbing to the swirling world around him.

  Before he knew it, they came to a stop and the men hefted him off of the ox. “I think the mountain air is getting to him,” Bear grumbled.

  Philip giggled like a silly girl but that only made his stomach hurt worse. He bit his bottom lip, trying to stop laughing. Torpid and Bear escorted him to a spot behind a few boulders and allowed him to relieve himself. Torpid let out a long whistle then laughed, “I ain’t ever seen a man take such a long pi—”

  “—Watch your language!” Philip chastised him. “There’s a lady present.”

  “Awh, Prince, I knew you ‘twas sweet on me,” Bear grinned, “but I t’ain’t no lady.”

  Philip tried to respond but found himself doubled over and vomiting profusely. His head ached, his stomach churned, and he felt as though he’d spent the last several days drinking nothing but bad cider.

  With little feeling for his discomfort, Bear and Torpid practically drug him back around to where he spied a crevice in the mountainside. “Another inn?” he asked, swaying slightly on his feet.

  “Not exactly,” Bear grumbled and shoved him forward.

  Philip felt as though he’d had too much to drink when he knew the exact opposite were true. “Did you drug me again?” he demanded when he saw Doc.

  “It’s the mountain,” Snow told him, her face barely coming into focus. “We’re near the summit and you’ve become delirious.”

  “I was just saying that exact thing to the ox.” Several of the men snickered at him. He whirled around to face them but rather than stand his ground, the floor surprisingly rose up to meet him. “Ow!” His face was smooshed on a cold, slimy surface. He felt hands trying to get him upright, but Snow told them to leave him on the ground.

  “He will be fine there. I don’t think he should go further until he’s feeling better.”

  “We don’t have enough water or food to stay here through the night. We planned on being at Beth’s this evening. And she’ll worry if we’re not there,” Doc stated matter-of-factly in that dignified manner of his. Typically, Philip found it a refreshing break to the crass nature of the rest of the dwarfs, but the sound of the man’s voice grated against his nerves. He wanted everyone to be quiet, for things to stop moving.

  “There’s enough food for me and the incapacitated prince,” Snow sighed. “You guys go ahead.”

  “Go ahead?” Her declaration was met with varying degrees of alarm.

  “What if he’s pretending?” Bear grumbled.

  “Or, better yet, what if he needs tending?” Doc asked.

  “Let’s not forget to mention that he could very likely go for a stroll if ye’r not keepin’ a careful eye and plummet to his death.” Bear added.

  “Exactly, Bear,” Philip agreed, trying to sit up and take part in the conversation. It did not work, so he slumped forward again, resigned to lay against the slippery stone.

  “If it makes you feel better, Doc, you can stay and help me ensure he doesn’t need ‘tending’ and doesn’t ‘plummet to his death.’ The rest of you really should continue on to Beth’s. Get some food and a good night’s sleep. Doc and I will meet you there in the morning if the prince is able to travel. If not, you’ll have to come back for us.”

  Philip didn’t know what the men said or did after that because he closed his eyes to block out their spinning faces and the whirling cave they were all standing in. At some point, things grew quiet, and a sour liquid dripped down the back of his throat. There were bits and pieces he recalled of Doc talking softly to him in an encouraging whisper, but for the most part, everything was a blur until…

  …until it wasn’t. He opened his eyes and took in the small cave they were in. Doc was propped up not far from where Philip was sprawled out and a warm fire blazed from the center of the room, outlined neatly by blackened stones. This was clearly a place that had been used for camp before. There were a few bags piled neatly in one corner and up on a rocky ledge sat a basket of what he assumed were their food rations.

  He sat still for a moment, listening to the fire. Outside, he could hear the sound of snowflakes falling and wind periodically whipping the frozen precipitation just inside of the cave entrance. That wasn’t what caught his attention, though. It was the tinkling of water and the soft f
eminine hum of Snow. He liked the sound of her voice.

  Curious, he slowly rose to his feet, ensuring he’d not topple over if he did. Sure of his footing, he slipped quietly away from where Doc was snoozing and followed the sound of humming. It was a melodic sound, one that made him feel instantly comforted and happy.

  Snow was sitting on a rock running her fingers through her hair and his fingers itched with the desire to do the same. Her humming stopped and Philip looked up from the ends of her hair to realize that she was now watching him. Without saying a word, she stood and strode past him back towards the fire and Doc. Philip reached out and grabbed her by the wrist.

  “I’ve caught you again, little rabbit, but this time I’ve no intention of letting you go.”

  “Little rabbit?”

  Philip leaned in, his eyes locked with Snow’s, anticipating the moment their lips would touch. His heart beat heavily in his chest but her face shifted slightly, the lighting of the room altering her looks. He blinked at her, confused then Snow drew an arm back and punched him square in the face. Philip was shocked and found himself being shoved aside, his head swimming with pain. He rolled over and moaned.

  Rolled over? Blinking his eyes, trying to focus, he saw a blurry vision of Snow sitting on the other side of the fire, an amused smirk on her face. How had she gotten there? Why was he on the floor? His vision danced with sparks of light and black dots. Doc’s face came into view. He looked furious as he stood over Philip. Why was he standing there? How did they get back to the fire? He tried to ask what was happening, but the spots in his vision grew. Then, he huffed out a breath and closed his eyes, returning to the safety of his sleep.

  ∞∞∞

  “I’ll have you know that I do not appreciate being handled in such a way,” Doc grumbled. “Not even for your sake.” The older man brushed dirt from his clothes and did his best to straighten his shirt. “That was clearly meant for you,” he murmured.

  “Clearly,” Snow said, a slight laugh in her voice. “Though, I think you might have enjoyed your tumble in the furs with the prince,” she teased.

  Doc growled. “I should have left you here alone with him, then. And whatever his mountain-air-addled-brain dreamt up about the two of you would have been your problem to deal with, not mine.”

  “You’re right, Doc. Thank you.” She meant it. Listening to Philip speak to Doc as though he were her made her feel more than a little nervous. But when he called Doc ‘little rabbit…’ That…well, that made her feel…vulnerable…known by Philip in a way she wasn’t known by anyone else.

  She watched Doc retrieve his medical supplies from the ground where he’d dropped them when attempting to give Philip the draught he’d concocted. The old man mumbled and grumbled his displeasure at Philip’s handling and then flinched when he looked down at the prince’s sleeping form. “He won’t try to assault me in my sleep, you think?”

  “I think you’re safe, Doc. His wrists are still bound, too.”

  “Little good that did me a few moments ago.” He looked up at Snow. “Is this still a good idea, Snow? Just because we’re taking the Endari prince with us does not mean that King Furrir will see you or that Malecinth will give you the crown you seek. It has been so long. There is no way to know if…if he will recognize you. And they may not care about Audora. What if she is not the sleeping princess they are expecting? It is a fae legend, after all, not a human one.”

  “He’ll recognize me. I know he will. So will the king.” She refused to acknowledge the rest of what he’d said. The sleeping princess had to be Audora. There was no way Snow would allow herself to imagine otherwise because if she wasn’t the one…Audora would be left sleeping for eternity and Snow would be left to wander Shadoria unable to ever go home.

  “And if he doesn’t?”

  “Then, they will kill me, and Prince Philip will be set free—free to return to Wessix and give Audora her true love’s kiss and wake her from her slumber.”

  “I’m not so sure that will work.”

  “It has to, Doc. Everyone knows what Merriweather did to help lift Audora’s curse.”

  “That, I am sure of.” He sat down near Philip’s feet and drew out his pipe, focusing on the task until it was well lit and he’d taken several long puffs. Once he was finished, he eyed her intently.

  “Then, there is nothing to worry about.” Snow curled up on her fur wrap. Tonight, in the cave, it was warm and humid, so she opted for sleeping atop the fur rather than inside of it.

  “I think there is.” Doc’s strained voice caught her attention. Teeth holding the pipe in place as he spoke and with a tilt of his head in the prince’s direction, he told her, “It is just that I don’t think she’s his true love.”

  She knew what he meant. In her heart, she didn’t believe Philip was Audora’s true love either. Or maybe she just didn’t want to. That made no sense, however, because she barely knew The Hunter Prince, the heir to the Summer Court’s Endari throne. And if he knew who she was, who she truly was, he would have no interest in her either. “The incoherent ramblings of a man under the influence of the Candes Mountains and their peculiar air do not mean anything.”

  There was an inexplicable charge between her and the Endarian prince, but she’d not been able to understand why. Was she doing the right thing? Would having Prince Philip with them make the difference? She’d never been able to get close enough to Prince Malecinth before. His sentries had imprisoned her once for eight long months in a copper mine when she was barely a teenager. Bear had helped her escape, or she’d still be there today; or dead. That was why she was no longer heading to Malesia. They were going to Furi. If she couldn’t get to Malecinth, she’d try getting close to King Furrir. Perhaps he would listen.

  Philip was The Hunter and he had saved her life and helped her more than once. Could he be trusted to help her now? She sighed, wishing she could dream up a new plan to lift her curse and free her family. There was no other way. All of her other plans had failed.

  They were quiet for a long time, Snow thinking the conversation had dropped until Doc said, “If that is what you must tell yourself, little rabbit.” She glared at Doc, but he ignored her, puffing on his pipe and staring into the fire.

  ∞∞∞

  “How are you feeling?” Philip didn’t want to open his eyes, afraid that he’d find the world still spinning. There was something pressed against his lips. “Open your mouth.”

  “Are you sure it isn’t some sort of poison, Doc?”

  Doc huffed out a breath and Philip imagined the man was scowling at him. “Poisons don’t hurt you the way they would the rest of us,” Doc stated simply. Philip opened his mouth and swallowed the sour liquid. It oozed down the back of his throat, despite the sourness, with a soothing coolness.

  “That’s not entirely true, is it, Snow?” He had hoped to hear a quip from her but none came.

  “She’s gone.”

  Gone? He opened his eyes and realized first, the dwarf was telling the truth and second, the world was no longer spinning out of control. He propped himself up on one elbow, moving slowly so as not to feel ill again. “Where did she go?”

  Doc rolled his eyes, adjusting his spectacles on his nose. “You should be relieved to find that your captor has released you.”

  “My captor has released…” Glancing down, he realized that his wrists were no longer bound. “She released me and then left?” That made no sense. She seemed so adamant that she needed his help.

  Once again, Doc rolled his eyes. It was beginning to be annoying. Philip sat up all the way and observed the cave around him. All of Snow’s things were gone, as was the basket of food. The dwarf made no effort to tell him anything, he just stoked the fire and smoked his pipe, the smell of the tobacco making Philip fear he’d be ill again.

  “What have you been giving me? For the mountain sickness?”

  The old man took his time responding, puffing on that pipe and eyeing him through the little spectacles on his nose;
he almost went cross-eyed doing so. Holding the pipe in his hand, Doc pointed with it towards a glass vial. “I made you a special syrup: rose hips, lemon zest, rosemary, and a bit of enchanted weed.”

  “Enchanted weed?”

  Doc shrugged. “Something special us dwarfs grow here in the mountains.”

  “And there was no thorn poison?”

  “Are you awake and feeling better?” Doc asked.

  Philip had to admit that he was. He also had to admit that the old dwarf was more than kind to him throughout their acquaintance, even if he had been essentially the man’s captive.

  “Better yet, do you think she would have allowed me to poison you?” Again, even though Snow had kidnapped him, he knew she’d not harm him or allow the ‘doc’ to do so either.

  “Will she return?”

  “Not likely,” Doc told him, a sad but resigned look on his face.

  “You let her go. To find the Crown of Roses. You’re afraid to help her?”

  He huffed and puffed on his pipe once more. The man remained contemplative for a while, his spectacled gaze set firmly upon Philip. “For someone who has tried to kill her more than once, you seem very concerned about her well-being.”

  It was true. He had tried to kill her, but only the once. Sort of. After that, he’d tried to keep her alive even if it didn’t make any sense.

  “You’re trying to figure it all out then, aren’t you? Don’t deny it,” Doc said, pointing at him with his pipe. “I cannot read minds, but I’m not so bad at reading faces and yours isn’t as unreadable as you’d like.”

  “It doesn’t make sense. She said she needed my help.” Philip stood up and stalked to the narrow entry of the cave. “She said you were helping her, too. So why would she leave us?” Outside, it was snowing and a cold gust of wind both whipped the falling snow sideways and pushed the previous precipitation into a drift. “Did the rest go with her? You were left to babysit?”

  “No.” Doc sounded annoyingly content. “She went by herself.”