Page 20 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

Fury bloomed through her chest. “Indeed.”

She resumed her pacing, clasping her hands behind her back. King Stephan thought he was a clever man to decree such a thing.

“I saw no signs of roses anywhere,” the boy added.

“And the princess?”

“Her birthday is in a few days. They were planning a celebration followed by her wedding to the northern prince, Phillip. The princess, however, disappeared.”

This caught her attention. Pleasure at the news bloomed through her. So, her spell worked. Turning herself into a dragonfly was a risk but it appeared her coercion succeeded. The princess left home at her urging. She halted her pacing to face him.

“Disappeared?” she asked in her most innocent, surprised tone, though she already knew the truth of it.

“She left under the cover of darkness with a horse from the royal stable. No one knows where she went. No one saw her leave. The king and queen are quite worried about her.”

Rowena tapped her forefinger against her chin. “Interesting news indeed.”

“There is more,” he said.

“Pray continue.”

“The king and queen from Woodhaven arrived without the prince,” he said. “It was said he was to arrive a few days after them. He has yet to arrive.”

“No prince or princess. Where, then, have they gone?”

“The prince travels southward,” he said. “Toward the Mystwood Forest.”

She lifted one dark brow. “How do you know this?”

“I turned myself into a crow and tracked him.” He grinned, pleased with himself.

She, too, was pleased at the boy’s resourcefulness. “And the princess?”

“She rides northward. It appears, my queen, they have both deserted their titles and their kingdoms.”

“How very interesting,” she muttered. She looked the young man over. “Tell me, what is your name?”

“Ferrin, my queen.”

An idea rose and she finally had a way to get her revenge on King Stephan.

“Ferrin, you have done me a great service and shall be rewarded for your loyalty. I appoint you as one of my trusted advisors.”

He bowed low. “Thank you, your majesty.”

“Now, go. I will call upon you again when I have need of you.”

He backed out of the room to do her biding. Rowena, though, needed to find a way to bring the prince and princess together. She returned to her chamber, where she consulted the green orb she used only in the most desperate times. The orb was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand and rested on a rosewood pedestal when not in use. It was called the All-Seeing Eye. It used much of her power and made her weak.

She cupped her hands around it. “Show me the prince of Woodhaven,” she whispered.

It came alive a moment later with an image of the young prince riding south toward the forest.

“Show me the princess of Myst,” she said.

The image switched to the girl riding north to the forest.

A smile curled her lips. With her hands still cupped around the orb, she began the incantation.

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