Princess in Disguise by E D Baker

Author:E D Baker [Baker, E D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781619635746
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

After thanking the butcher, Liam untied Otis from the post and helped Annie onto the gelding’s back. They rode in silence for a time with both of them lost in thought. When they reached the first crossroad, Liam reined in Otis. “Before we go east to the Garden of Happiness, I want to head south and see how my father is doing. We’re only a few hours away and it doesn’t make sense to go all the way to the garden, then come back here when we’re so close now.”

“But didn’t you just say that we had to hurry to find Moonbeam? We have all those people counting on us back at the castle!”

“And my father may be in real trouble here in Dorinocco. I understand it’s urgent that we find Moonbeam, but I need to make sure that my father is all right. Please understand, Annie. I wouldn’t do this unless I felt it was necessary.”

“I know,” Annie said. She felt so torn, she wasn’t sure what to do. She knew how important it was that they find Moonbeam, but what if King Montague was in trouble as well? And Liam was right, they were very close. “All right. It shouldn’t take long if we’re only a few hours away. We’ll go to the castle, see that he’s fine, and go on to the garden.”

“Thank you, Annie,” Liam said.

Annie hadn’t realized how worried he was that she wouldn’t agree until she felt the tension leave him and heard the relief in his voice. Sighing, she leaned against him, resting her head on his back and hugging him. “You know I’ll always be there for you.”

“And I’ll always be there for you,” he said, pressing her hand with his own. “I just didn’t want to make you go with me if you didn’t want to, but I really have to do this.”

Liam turned Otis onto the road heading south and let the gelding set his own pace. The horse had gotten his second wind and moved along with his ears pricked forward, interested in seeing what lay ahead. Annie and Liam rode in silence then, while Annie worried about what might be happening at home, and wondered if they had made the right decision. They were only a few miles from the castle when a patrol wearing King Montague’s colors passed them by.

“Why didn’t they greet you?” Annie asked. “They all looked right at us, but not one of them seemed to recognize you, their crown prince.”

“I’ve never seen any of them before,” Liam said, sounding puzzled. “I thought I knew all of my father’s men.”

“Perhaps they’re new,” said Annie.

“All of them? That doesn’t make sense. He’s never taken on that many new men all at once. I’ll have to ask him about it when we see him.”

They had been on the main road leading to the castle for only a short time when Liam muttered something to himself. “What did you say?” asked Annie.

“Something isn’t right,” he repeated in a louder voice.

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