Page 131 of The Frog Prince
Eyes misty and gloved hands trembling.
Something tugged at the edge of the heavy cape he was wearing. He looked down to see Farwin grinning as he clambered up and under the thick fabric, hidden from sight.
Alwin found Gisela in the crowd, surrounded by the people from Otto’s village who now permanently resided in Hallin. She had a look of pure horror on her face as she dug around her ornate hairdo looking for the little menace while Liesel rooted through her bag, clearly doing the same.
Shiny, Farwin whispered into his ear, tucked inside Alwin’s high collar.
“You need to go back to Gisela,” Alwin muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
Got news.
Alwin shook his head slightly. “Can it wait?”
No want, Farwin said, and Alwin sighed.
“Fine. What is it?”
Queen in trouble.Bad one, not nice one.
Alwin froze. “She… What?”
Threats.Enemies.
“Her enemies are threatening her?”
Scared, Farwin said.No time for Frog Prince.
With that he wiggled his way down and away without ever being noticed, leaving Alwin to stand there, frozen in disbelief.
“Everything all right, my prince?” Otto asked.
Alwin turned to offer him a smile. “Just some news.”
Otto tilted his head. “Good?”
Alwin gave his hand a squeeze. “I believe so.”
He turned back to the crowd and raised his hand to salute them as their king for the first time. The cheers that eruptedmade his ears ache as they filled the palace and spilled out the open windows, carried on a chill wind.
He hoped Queen Schön heard it a kingdom over. He hoped she remembered the moniker she had given him as an insult. And he hoped she would grow to fear the one he had upgraded the insult to.
The Frog King.
And they lived happily ever after…
