The Cinderella Coup (Revved Up Fairy Tales Book 2) Read online

  “I shall be down momentarily,” she replied.

  As Cinderella picked up the quiver and slung the strings over her shoulders, she wondered how they would get to the ball in time. Lenora had promised she would see to the carriage, but as far as she knew, her Godmother hadn’t yet arrived.

  She picked up her cape and bowstring before leaving the room. When she descended the stairs of the castle, Galien was awaiting her in the great hall. On his back was a double sword sheath with the straps making an “X” across his chest.

  “Why art thou dressed this way? Art thou not attending the ball?” she asked, taking in his warrior type leather pants, his knee-high boots and the leather headband.

  “I shall be attending the ball, but not as a guest. Dost thou not remember the plan?”

  She shrugged. “I bethought thee would be attired differently. Wilt they not knoweth something is not right?”

  “I shall not be entering from the main gate. I shall be entering through the secret passage from the tunnel beneath the palace.”

  Galien was certainly full of surprises. This was the first she was hearing of a secret passage and tunnel. What if Hughoc had the entry and exit guarded or barred? Cinderella was not keen on the plan, but she said nothing. Galien was not a fool, he must have checked on this before now. Rufus, the all-knowing elf would have made certain that it was possible to enter from this secret entryway.

  Just when she was about to ask how they would get to Izadel before nightfall, the sound of hoof beats and a horse’s whinny came from outside. Cinderella moved to the door with Galien following close behind.

  A gasp escaped her lips as a golden carriage drawn by four white horses, appeared out of the fog. In it, sat Lenora dressed in a shimmering baby blue gown.

  “Good greetings,” Lenora chirped, alighting the booth of the vehicle. “Come along, time is of importance. Thee have need to depart to Izadel ere nightfall.”

  Cinderella’s eyes glued to the coach with its golden frame, with tiny glimmering gems of various colors. The horses’ bridles were also adorned with sparkling jewels that she wondered why Lenora was making such spectacle.

  “Is this not too much?” she blurted out.

  Lenora glided towards her with a smile. “Is it not fit for a Prince… and Princess?”

  “Yes, but will it not bring attention to us?”

  “Yes, it will bring the attention to thee, hopefully,” Lenora replied.

  The fairy then picked up a pair of the most beautiful shoes Cinderella ever laid eyes on and handed them to her. She was almost afraid to touch it as she gasped, reaching out a tentative hand to trace the smooth surface of the glass. The late afternoon sun gleamed playfully off of it, revealing its pristine beauty.

  “I cannot wear these,” Cinderella breathed. “I am afeard they will shatter.”

  “Nay, they will not. Now take off those ghastly boots.”

  Doing as commanded, Cinderella slipped her dainty feet into the glass slipper. They hugged her feet as if they were specially made for her. Her feet tingled as she moved around, in awe at the beauty on her feet.

  Lenora turned to Galien. “When thou arriveth at the ridge, a horse will be there. Thee shall send Cinderella on to the Palace gates, whilst thee maketh thy way to the secret entrance.”

  “I see.” Galien nodded.

  “Thy highness, thee must ope’ the door to the room before midnight…,” Lenora trailed off.

  “Or what?” the Prince urged.

  “Thou wilt remain a beast for another thirty years. The curse is not completely broken.”

  Galien’s jaw visibly tightened. His eyes grew hard as Lenora told him about what was expected. Cinderella still did not understand what Galien was to do when he entered the palace, other than entering a secret room and passing some test. What was this darn test he was supposed to take?

  “I will succeed,” he declared.

  “Dost thou remember where in the palace the room might but be?”

  Galien nodded. “Aye. But Lenora, why am I in human form when I still feel the beast inside of me?”

  “That answer will come to thee soon enough,” was her mysterious reply. “Now thou must be on thy way.”

  As the horses moved off on their own free will, Cinderella cried, “Wait!”

  The horses halted at the sound of her voice. Lenora closed the space and looked curiously at Cinderella.

  “What troubles thee?” Lenora asked.

  “I have been wondering, where is my stepmother, Isolde?”

  The fairy smirked. “That wench hast taken sides with the king, promising to find the witch that hath disappeared. This she did in exchange for her freedom.”

  “What witch?” Cinderella frowned.

  “Marge,” Galien chimed in, his tone bitter. “The witch that hath placed this curse upon me.”

  Cinderella slumped back into her seat and the horses moved off again. How would her stepmother know about this witch? Where would she find her and why did Marge disappear? These questions bombarded Cinderella’s mind. She knew one thing, she would need to deal with Isolde as soon as possible.

  * * *

  Some time during the setting of the golden sun, the carriage halted at the foot of the Forbidden Mountain. Galien jumped down and picked up his weapon before leaning in and kissing Cinderella’s cheek.

  “I will see thee at the palace in a while,” he said.

  “Fare thee well, Galien. Be careful,” she replied.

  The carriage moved off and Cinderella turned to look at Galien, expecting to see him taking his own path. He was running after the carriage and shouting, “Stop!”

  “Halt!” Cinderella commanded and the horses braked at the sound of her voice.

  Galien ran up to the carriage and knelt. Cinderella’s heart galloped and her cheeks burned.

  “Doth thou recall what Lenora hast said to thee our first night in the mountains?”

  “Aye,” her voice came out hoarse.

  “Cinderella, if I succeed…,” he said, but she interrupted him.

  “Nay, thee wilt succeed.”

  “Aye, when I succeed in this mission, wilt thou be my bride?”

  She knew this day would come. It was an unspoken understanding between them as the days had passed. They’d shared many moments kissing, holding hands and talking about Izadel. The magnetic pull between them was unmistakable. Their fondness for each other was unbreakable. They’d grown to appreciate the little differences between them such as the way Galien wrinkled his nose when he was deep in thought.

  Cinderella especially liked the way his voice grew soft when he spoke to her and the sound of her name as it rolled off his tongue. His eyes deepened their shade when they looked into hers and when they embraced, she heard the thunder of his heartbeat.

  She knew this day would come, but him getting down on one knee and asking her to be his bride stole her breath. Her stomach fluttered and her cheeks burned. Galien searched her face, waiting for an answer.

  “Aye, I will be thy bride.”

  His face lit up like the noonday sun as he jumped to his feet. Leaning into the coach, he pressed his lips to hers. She cupped his face and savored the bliss of his tender caress.

  Chapter 2

  Cinderella kept her eyes on Markus, the lad in charge of Tobyn’s soldiers. He patrolled the balcony of the second floor of the palace just above the staircase. It appeared, the full contingent of palace soldiers was out, including the upper and lower regiments. There were so many that Cinderella wondered if Hughoc was expecting trouble.

  The music filled the ballroom as the live band played from their station beside the royal dais. Hughoc and Lisbeth sat in their bejeweled chairs as people twirled on the dance floor.

  For a moment, Cinderella took her eyes off Markus and observed the king. Occasionally, he dabbed his forehead with his silken handkerchief. His eyes shifted around the room and he seemed to be suffering some amount of discomfort. She wondered what he must be thinking
or feeling in that moment. Was he scared that his precious Tobyn would be dethroned?

  Speaking of the wayward son, Cinderella did not see him inside the ballroom. After briefly wondering where he could be, she concluded that he was perhaps beating up an old peasant or rendering cruelty to his so-called prisoners.

  Peering at the palace clock, she noted the time was twenty after eleven. This was it. No more wasting time as Galien was waiting for her to do her part so he could do what needed to be done. She placed the goblet she’d been sipping from on a tray from a passing waiter before heading up the winding staircase. Training her eyes in Markus, she continued forward. She rather liked the fellow and felt bad about what she was about to do. As though sensing her, he paused and looked directly at her. Hesitating only a moment, he started moving in her direction. When he was about two arm’s length away, he stopped.

  “My lady, my humble apologies, but no one is allowed beyond this area.”

  “Young lad, my apologies, but I must borrow thy sword,” she smiled and he looked at her puzzled.

  Markus stuttered, “M-m-my sword?”

  “Aye, thy sword.” She made three steps to close the gap between them, leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I rather like thy sword.”

  Markus blushed and cleared his throat. While he was obviously distracted by a beautiful woman whispering in his ear, Cinderella gripped the pommel of his weapon and pulled it from its sheath.

  Markus gasped. “What art thee doing? Thee cannot take that.”

  However, Cinderella was past listening. Holding the hem of her dress with her free hand, she ran away from the astonished Markus. She headed down the hall to the second floor where more soldiers were standing guard. Markus made off after her with a shout. Some of the other men starting coming toward her.

  Her dress was hampering her movements so she paused for a few seconds to tear the hem off at mid-calf. This action caused the men to pause and stare wide-eyed at her. But when she moved off again, they all closed in on her. A young soldier stepped in her path and she held the sword up in defense.

  “What art thou waiting for, draw thy sword young lad,” she prodded.

  The youth fumbled with the latch at his waist. When he finally gripped the hilt of his sword, he could not detach the weapon. Cinderella shook her head. Other soldiers were closing in and her adrenalin was running high.

  “Aha,” she laughed, stepping forward.

  Wedging the tip of her sword through the knuckle guard of the lad’s weapon, she yanked, dislodging his weapon from its latch. The blade fell with a clank and skittled along the marble floor.

  The commotion brought the attention of the people downstairs along with the higher regiment. Cinderella grinned. If this wasn’t distraction enough for Galien to do what he needed to do, then she wasn’t Cinderella.

  “Drop that sword, young maiden!” someone shouted.

  “Come and get it!” she replied with amusement.

  An older and obviously braver soldier approached, wielding his weapon. Cinderella advanced. The clanking of blades together was music to her. It reminded her of all the times her father taught her to use the weapon. But by far, her favorite was the bow and arrow and she was dying to use it. The only issue was that Galien carried it because she would not have been able to conceal it enough to pass through the palace gates.

  By this time, Markus had recovered for the shock of his weapon being stolen. He snatched up the young soldier’s sword and joined in the fight. A circle of soldiers formed around them, but Cinderella kept her back to the balcony, not wanting to leave her blind side vulnerable.

  “Stand back Markus, I do not wish to hurt thee,” she warned as their blades clashed. “Not long ago thee did address me as Princess. Hast thee forgotten me already?”

  His mouth fell open and he dropped his hand. Cinderella took the opportunity to touch his arm with her weapon. His tunic ripped when the tip of the sword made contact.

  “Princess, please return my weapon,” he looked at her pleadingly, then turned to the contingent and shouted. “Stand back!”

  “Why doth thee keep calling me Princess?”

  “Hast thee been here thou wouldst have known. Thou art …,” he began, but was interrupted by a shout.

  The captain of the senior soldiers approached with his weapon drawn, but Markus rushed to him before he reached her. Cinderella soon forgot what Markus had wanted to say as the two men seemed to be facing off.

  “This is Princess Cinderella, the one whom the bear snatched. She’s alive.”

  “Step aside subordinate,” the senior commander ordered. “She is not a Princess of this kingdom, therefore she is still a wanted criminal.”

  Markus frowned deeply, his eyes narrowing as he stared at his superior. Cinderella wondered what he meant by ‘not a Princess of this kingdom’. Everyone knew she was no Princess, except for Markus. Nevertheless, why would the senior soldier express it that way?

  “But Sir…,” Markus said.

  The senior commander pulled his sword in a threatening manner, challenging the lower rank officer. Markus stepped toward Cinderella, shielding her. The exchange between the senior and junior commanding officers brought some amount of confusion to the others.

  “Step aside Markus, or I shall have thee reprimanded for subordination.”

  “Nay, I shall defend the Princess.”

  “Where is thy loyalty to the king?”

  Markus raised his sword to guard. “My loyalty is to the promise I made to King Reginald. I promised to serve the palace with my life.”

  “In the event that thou might have forgotten, King Reginald is dead. Thy service is now to King Hughoc.”

  “And in serving the present king I will do my best to prevent a war between both kingdoms,” Markus rebutted.

  Cinderella kept her eyes peeled to the two men arguing. She was so focused that she did not realize a group had climbed the stairs. The group was now standing not far behind the senior commander. It was the withdrawal of some of the other soldiers and Markus lowering his sword that brought her attention to it.

  The leader noticed the change in the men’s demeanor and turned to see the king looking at them in astonishment. Hughoc had apparently come to see what the fuss was about. He was accompanied by a half a dozen of his ministers.

  “What is going on in the palace?” he thundered. “Why are my commanders at war?”

  Markus was the first to kneel. “My most humble apologies My King. I was only protecting the Princess.”

  “Princess?” Hughoc seemed confused.

  “Aye, Thy Highness. ‘Tis Cinderella, the Padian Princess.”

  Cinderella didn’t hear correctly. She snorted and all eyes turned to her. They must have mistaken her for some Princess that should have arrived at the ball. She tried to get close to Markus to tell him she was not the one they thought she was, but a few of the other soldiers blocked her path.

  Hughoc’s eyes darted across the group then came to rest on Cinderella. She was still wearing her mask and she wasn’t sure he was convinced of whom it was. She didn’t trust the king, therefore as he stepped towards her, she backed away.

  “Don’t worry my child, no harm shall come to thee,” Hughoc said as he approached. “I shall pardon thee of thy crimes.”

  Cinderella stopped as a ball of fire erupted in her chest.

  “Crime?” she could not believe she was hearing the king correctly. “What crime have I committed, pray tell?”

  Her voice dripped with the disdain she felt for the man as her eyes grew hard. Her lips curled back as she made a bold step forward.

  “My child, forget all that now. Thee shall marry the Prince and….”

  “Art thee insane, Thy Highness?”

  The king raised his brows at her tone but quickly replaced his disapproval with a smile.

  “Now, now, Cinderella, my child. Tobyn wishes for thee to be his bride. What say thee forget the past and wed the Prince?”

  “Is Tob
yn not betrothed to another?” she asked, confused.

  “Aye, but the Prince wishes for thy hand only.”

  “Argh! Wilt thee desist from referring to that imposter as the Prince?” she blurted out.

  The king’s shock was evident as he stared at her bug-eyed. Markus moved up beside her, with discomfort on his face.

  “Princess, be careful,” he whispered. “The king hast not been in a good mood.”

  “Pray pardon my forwardness, Thy Highness,” she apologized with a slight bow.

  King Hughoc wasn’t swayed by her submissiveness. The way he was now looking at her with his hard steely eyes, she was convinced he knew she was aware of the deceit.

  “What will it be?” he asked. “Wilt thee wed the Prince?”

  Before Cinderella could offer an answer, a young soldier descended the third floor. As he approached, he shouted, “Thy Highness, The Creature is in the palace!”

  Chapter 3

  Some time earlier…

  Galien made his way west, outside the palace walls at the foothills of the Forbidden Mountain. In one hand, he held Cinderella’s bow. Across his chest was the string attached to the quiver of arrows on his back.

  One would wonder if perhaps in the two decades he’d not been inside the palace if perhaps Hughoc had found and sealed this secret passage. It didn’t appear that way. Galien had prepared himself well, by checking this out many times prior to this mission while he roamed the province as an animal.

  He now made his way confidently to what appeared to be the entrance to a rabbit hole. The hole disappeared into a small hill overgrown by shrubbery. Once he neared the hole, he parted the shrubs, which revealed a small hatch that he opened.

  Galien stepped through, closing back the curtain of bushes before re-sealing the trapdoor. Beyond the hatch was a stone step spiraling downward. When he was some distance below the surface of the earth, the path leveled.

  Inside the passage was dark and Galien failed to have brought with him a torch. The last time he checked the passage, he had been a beast and hadn’t needed light. Now he was in human form and could barely see. Then he recalled telling Cinderella how he could summon the beast whenever he could. He’d said it to dispel her fears and wasn’t certain he could do as promised.