I was still fuming over that obnoxious frog when I got back to the castle, but I did stop in to see Prince Bahadur in the healer’s room. He lay still and pale on the cot, and while the healers were confident he’d make a full recovery, his parents were preparing to take him straight home via the Lily Gate. When I saw him lying there, I felt shaken. I hadn’t thought anyone would actually get injured in this challenge. I only wanted to test the princes’ characters, not risk their lives.
I was subdued through lunch, as my mother chattered away about how she would trade a limb to eat a beignet like the ones she and Papa had eaten on their visit to New Orleans the year before. She had been talking about the doughnuts all week. Last week, she had been craving snails, and the week before it had been pickled fish, so fried dough was a step up.
“Tuala.” Mother put her hand on my arm. “He’ll be fine. Thank goodness that lovely Prince Aodahn came along when he did.”
I smiled slightly. “That was very lucky.”
“You seem quite taken with him. Aodahn, I mean.” My mother grimaced and pushed her hand on the top of her pregnant belly. “Must you dig your toes into my ribcage, child?” she muttered at my tiny sibling.
I smiled for real. “I do like him. At least, from what I know of him so far. He’s certainly ahead in points.” Grenie’s words still rung in my head. I didn’t know any of them, not really.
“That’s what this outing is for, my dear, to get to know him better. And don’t forget, if you really want to be sure…”
“I need to kiss him. Yes, I know how you feel about it.” I finished poking at my food and stood to leave.
“I only want you to be happy, my child.”
“I know, Mama.” And I did. Even though I never seemed to get along with her like I did with Papa, I knew she always wanted the best for me. I kissed her on the head, patted her belly to say goodbye to my unborn baby brother or sister, and went to get ready for my date with a prince.
* * *
Each of the dates had been designed by my mother for maximum romance and to go along with the theme of the challenge. The culinary challenge had, of course, been paired with a dinner date. The aquatic challenge led to a beautiful afternoon out on the water in a row boat. The cook had packed us a basket of goodies, and the moat gleamed in the afternoon sun. Willows trailed their branches while lilies drifted in the blue-green water.
Aodahn rowed us out a little way into the water, and then we got out the basket. We found glass bottles of iced tea (sadly, not mint), pastries, and strawberries carefully folded into cloth wrappings.
“So, Aodahn, I seem to remember that you have a large family?”
Aodahn took a swig of iced tea. “Yes, my parents and six siblings.”
“That sounds wonderful.” I tried to imagine growing up with so many brothers and sisters.
The prince grimaced.
“But no one came along to watch the trials?” I hoped it wasn’t a sore spot, but I was curious. All the other princes had come with family members and courtiers, or at least trusted servants. No one else had come from the Willow Court.
Aodahn avoided looking at me and picked out a lemon tart. “We had a bit of a...falling out. Nothing serious,” he hurried to add.
“I hope you’re able to make up soon. There’s nothing more important than family.” I bit into a raspberry puff and searched my mind for something else to say. I’d never had much chance to practice small talk.
“This is an unusual way to pick a mate.” Aodahn leaned back against the edge of the boat. “But I see the wisdom of testing a future ruler in skills of speed and survival.”
“That’s not exactly it...”
“And kitten rescuing?” he added with a smirk.
“Sort of...”
“There’s more to it?” The prince tilted his head.
“Well...” I didn’t want to reveal my actual reasons behind each trial. It would give him an unfair advantage in the final challenge. And I wasn’t quite so sure about him anymore. There was something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Of course! It’s not just about being a strong ruler.” He snapped his fingers.
“Co-ruler,” I pointed out.
“Right, right, but it’s also about being a good match.” The boat rocked and suddenly he sat right beside me on the bench. He put his hand on mine and leaned in.
This was what I had wanted, so why was I suddenly pulling back?
His lips met mine in a possessive kiss. My heart jumped, but not in a good way. I pushed my hand against his chest, but he didn’t budge. I scooted back sharply against the side of the boat, forcibly breaking the kiss, but Aodahn just looked down at me with a smile.
“I think we’d be very happy together, don’t you?” He drew closer again, and I turned my head.
“I don’t think this is going to work,” I told him.
Aodahn narrowed his eyes and gripped my hand more tightly. “What do you mean? I’ll make an excellent ruler. And I know you find me attractive. I saw how you looked at me earlier today.”
“Please back up a little.” I attempted to pull my hand away, but his grip remained painfully strong.
All of a sudden, the boat pitched sideways. I yanked my hand free and leapt into the water as the entire boat flipped over. Scales brushed against my side as I swam for shallower water. I was grateful it wasn’t far. Swimming in a long dress wasn’t the easiest thing, even a light summer one. When I felt my feet touch the silty bottom of the moat, I turned to see what had happened to Aodahn.
Oh, of course, Cressie. The giant peiste had the prince by a leg and was dragging him sputtering through the water to the far side of the moat.
“Oh no, the ferocious moat monster!” I wailed loudly, hoping Aodahn could hear me. “So many teeth! I sure hope it doesn’t eat you!” I finished dramatically.
“Are you sure?” asked a voice by my elbow. “If there ever was a prince who needed to be munched on, it’s that one.”
“Cressie is an herbivore,” I told my froggy friend. “I’m just trying to make him nervous.” The giant green serpent had stopped in the middle of the water and the pushy prince dangled in the air by his foot. He appeared to be alive by the amount of thrashing he was doing.
“That’s what she told me,” Grenie said, treading water next to me. “I suggested she chew off a leg or two, but she only agreed to capture him.”
“How did you know I would need help?” I picked up the frog and started slogging back to the bank.
“You know I had my suspicions,” said Grenie.
“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I just...I guess I didn’t want you to be right. He seemed so nice. And he rescued that prince and the kitten.”
“When the servants went to find the missing kitten, it was the one on Aodahn’s route. He never stopped for it.” Grenie looked back at the prince, who had gotten his breath back sufficiently to yell out some very creative curse words at his captor. Cressie seemed unconcerned.
“So the kitten he rescued...”
“Was Prince Bahadur’s. Aodahn realized his mistake too late. He would have needed to double back, and then the other prince would have beaten him. So, he took the kitten and half drowned the prince to keep him from talking. Showing up as a hero was a bonus.”
I felt ill as I thought about how I had been taken in by Aodahn’s charms. “I’m so sorry, Grenie.” I looked down at the frog on my hand. “Thank you for rescuing me. You’re a true friend. A prince among frogs. How can I repay you?”
“What are friends for?” the frog quipped as we reached the bank. “Although, I wouldn’t turn down a raspberry puff. The pastries were the real victims here. Do you suppose there are more in the kitchen?”
“Let’s go find out.” I glanced back at the bellowing prince one last time. “We better send someone back to get him. And to make sure he leaves. Permanently.”