Strong: A Fairy Tale Retelling of the Princess and the Pea (The Crown and the Sceptre Book 2) by Kristina J Jordan

Author:Kristina J Jordan [Jordan, Kristina J]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: ya, fantasy, Fairy Tale, young adult, Princess
Publisher: Kristina J Jordan
Published: 2021-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

The sun streamed brightly across the village square, highlighting the venders who had come early to set out their wares. Celine stopped at a stall and bought several packets of sweets, sharing them among the performers. Still munching, she crossed the square to Alex and Inver, who were waiting with the horses, their breath raising puffs of steam in the crisp morning air. A small tortoise-shell cat ran across the street and darted down the alley behind the bakery, presumably in pursuit of a fat mouse.

“Are they ready?” Alex patted his horse on the neck as the animal pawed the cobblestone street, eager to be on its way.

“Nearly.” Celine handed a packet of nuts to Alex before mounting Winston, taking care not to let the sword bang against the horse’s side as she swung into the saddle.

After some organizing, which included mediating a spat between Fiona and Arlo, the group set off; Fiona making a point of riding on the opposite end of the caravan from Arlo. Celine rolled her eyes and wondered how long this particular cold spell would last—everyone knew Arlo and Fiona couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. Celine and Alex took the rear position and Inver rode in front with Gerta and Brainard. Today Miranda left Brainard’s side and ride in the wagon with the acrobat troupe. They embraced her with open arms, scooting over to make room for her on the front bench.

“How much time do you think we have before Karl comes back?” Celine spoke in a low voice as she whispered to Alex; not wanting to alert the performers to her concern.

“It’s hard to say.” Alex furrowed his brow thoughtfully. “Brainard seems to think Karl has a friend—perhaps someone from the Lovanian court—who’s helping him. If he’s not working alone, he’ll regroup faster. Also, I’m getting the impression Karl’s desperate to get these performers back.”

“Wait a minute—the person helping Karl is from the court?” Brainard mentioned the person was influential, but she didn’t remember him talking about the court. “Did he say who he thought it was?” Her mind ran through the members of her father’s council. King Erich trusted all of them implicitly; Celine had known them all her life and couldn’t imagine a single one them turning on them and their people.

“I don’t think he knows. He just—” Alex’s cut off his words abruptly as he peered at her closely, a deep wrinkle forming between his eyes, “Your eyes look different. Yesterday they were a bit green and brown; but today they look blue.”

Celine turned away, suddenly self-conscious. “It must be the light,” she remarked dismissively, brushing her hand through her hair. It was growing faster than ever. Today it reached nearly to her chin, the weight of it causing the curls to straighten into tousled waves. She gave it a tug, secretly rejoicing in its new length.

Alex seemed to accept her explanation. Riding beside her in companionable silence, Celine took in the surrounding scenery. There were very few trees, instead tall coarse grass and a thick bristling plant covered the steep hillsides.

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