Touch of Gold: (Rumpelstiltskin) (Tangled Tales Series Book 4) (6 page)

“Freya can transport and take Red with her,” said Lucio, talking about Arnon and Wolf’s wives. “And yes, Kin would be angry if he knew we were following him. That’s why you two need to stay hidden. When you find out something, report back to us, and we’ll take it from there. But from what I see already, I think it’s going to get bad. Really bad.”

“I was cursed and turned into a wolf,” complained Arnon. “And then I got cursed a second time and was turned into a frog. But what does our golden brother get as his curse? He gets to turn things into gold. Why can’t the old hag turn him into an ugly buzzard or some such thing so he’ll live through what we’ve had to experience instead of being so damned lucky?”

“Come on, and stop complaining,” said Wolf, directing his brother toward the stables. “At least your curses are gone. Mine might stay with me forever.”

Chapter 7

Olivia and the others traveled a good part of the day, but she and Kin didn’t say more than a few words to each other the entire time. She noticed that Kin seemed distracted and kept looking back over his shoulder. At first, she thought he was checking to make sure her father didn’t try to escape, but when her father and the squire took the lead and he continued to look over his shoulder, she knew it was something else that took his concern.

“I would think you’d look where you’re going instead of where you’ve been,” she said, keeping her eyes forward as they rode. After all, someone had to keep an eye on the bumpy road, since he was more interested in whatever was behind them.

“What did you say?” he asked as if he hadn’t heard her.

“Is there something back there more interesting than up here?” She meant herself, since when they’d first left on their journey, she thought she felt something special between them. But now he seemed to have forgotten she was even there.

“We’ll water the horses at the river and take a rest,” he called out to his squire.

“My lord?” came the squire’s confused answer. “We’re not ten minutes from Castle Tark. Shouldn’t we keep going and rest and water the horses when we get there?”

“Nay. We’ll do it now.” He was off the horse and helping her to the ground before she could object. She expected his hands to linger on her waist, or his eyes to meet with hers, but he just put her down and headed toward the creek, checking his weapons at his side as he walked. “Olivia, stay by your father and hold onto the horses for a minute. Quaid, join me at the river please,” he said over his shoulder.

Olivia did as Kin instructed.

“Olivia, how are you doing?” asked her father, coming to her side.

“Shhh.” She put her finger to her lips and strained her ears to hear what Kin and Quaid were saying. “Something is going on, and I intend to find out what.”

“I can’t hear a thing,” said her father, tilting his head and trying to listen.

“Neither can I. I’m going to sneak down to the river to eavesdrop on their conversation. You stay here, and I’ll be right back.”

“Olivia, no,” warned her father, but she ignored him and headed through the underbrush toward the river.

“What is the matter?” asked Quaid as Kin led the way to the river.

“I don’t know,” said Kin, checking his sword and dagger for the third time. “I just get an uneasy feeling. Like someone is following us.”

“Following us?” Quaid pulled his sword from his sheath and held it in the air, turning slowly. “An enemy, my lord?”

“Not that I can tell. And put the weapon down before you scare the girl and her father.”

“If you’re sure.” Quaid lowered the sword but kept it at the ready. “Who do you think it is?”

“I’m not even sure someone is following us,” said Kin, looking around. “It’s more like a feeling I’m getting.”

“Oh, is that all.” Quaid put the sword back in the sheath at his side. “I thought we were really in danger for a minute.”

All of the sudden they heard a scream and it was coming from the underbrush at the edge of the creek.

“That sounded like Olivia,” said Kin, taking off at a run. “Get back to the horses and keep an eye on her father,” he ordered.

“Aye, my lord. Just call if you need my help.”

Olivia tore out the bushes, holding up her skirts, screaming. She ran toward Kin, and kept looking over her shoulder.

“What is it?” he called out, coming to her aid. He raised his sword high in the air, ready to take down any attacker.

“It’s an old hag,” she cried, clinging to Kin as her frightened eyes looked back toward the bushes.

“What are you talking about?”

“There was no one there, I swear. Only trees,” she stammered. “I stopped by this odd tree with branches out to the sides that almost looked like a person holding out their arms. That’s when I noticed the hand mirror on the ground and picked it up.”

“Hand mirror?” Kin stayed alert to everything around him. There was only one person he knew who would have a hand mirror out in the woods, and he didn’t like the sound of this at all.

“I looked into the mirror and saw the tree behind me turn into an old, ugly hag.”

“Hecuba, I know you’re there so you might as well come out,” Kin called out.

Out of the bushes walked the old witch, grasping onto her hand mirror. “I was having so much fun watching you in the mirror, that I just had to follow you in person,” cackled the old woman.

“Stop following us,” Kin commanded. “You’ve frightened the girl.”

Olivia made a muffled squealing sound and held tighter to Kin’s tunic.

“The girl isn’t the one who should be frightened. You are,” said the witch.

“Olivia,” Kin said in a steady voice. “Go back to your father. Quaid will protect you.”

“Nay. I want to stay with you,” she protested.

“Go!” he said, and she took off in the opposite direction.

“Hecuba, what did you mean by that?” he asked, once Olivia was out of earshot.

“I mean it’s your turn to amuse me,” Hecuba said and cackled again.

“You mean it’s my turn for a curse, don’t you?”

“You boys are getting smarter.”

“Does this have something to do with that book of alchemy you disintegrated right in my hands?”

She smiled and nodded. “Didn’t you notice the golden gloves?”

“I thought that was only residue and naught else.”

“And you thought your brothers tricked you by painting a halfpenny too. You just don’t believe you’re capable of being cursed like the others, do you?”

“I’m the lucky one of the brothers and always have been.” He smiled confidently. “Do your worst, old witch,” he said, holding out his arms to taunt her. “You can’t curse me because I don’t believe it’s possible.”

“So sure, are you? Well, that’s not the way magic works.”

“You’re not going to turn me into a frog or a beast or a wolf like my brothers, just admit it.” He felt that if his mind were sharp, Hecuba wouldn’t be able to get in.

“You should know by now that things are never as they seem. Even curses. Sometimes curses start out as a good thing. But too much of a good thing can turn dreadful in a short matter of time.”

She lifted her hand, and Kin figured she was about to curse him. So he grabbed for his dagger and threw it at her. She dissipated into a smoldering green fog, and the weapon embedded itself into a stump instead. He heard her cackle echoing through the air, and looked over his shoulder as he went to pull his dagger out of the stump.

“You can’t scare me, Hecuba, so don’t bother trying,” he called out.

He yanked at the dagger, and when it dislodged from the wood, he saw the hilt clutched in his grip glowing. He stopped and stared, and his mouth opened wide when he watched the dagger turn to gold right in his very hand.

“Lord Kin, do you need my help?” Quaid appeared beside him and stared with his mouth opened wide. “Your – your dagger, my lord. It – it’s gold.”

Kin dropped the dagger to the ground as if he was burned, and when the squire went to retrieve it, he stopped him.

“Nay! Don’t touch it,” Kin cried out. “Just leave it there.”

“You’re going to leave a dagger made of gold out in the woods?” Quaid made a face. “Why would you do that? It could bring in a lot if money.”

“I don’t care. This is magic. Dark magic, and I don’t know yet how it works.” Kin carefully reached out and touched the stump, squinting his eyes, expecting it to glow and turn to gold as well. When nothing happened, he picked up a rock, but that stayed the same also.

“What are you doing?” asked Quaid, sounding amused.

“Nothing,” he said. “Let’s go. We need to get to the castle. The baron is expecting the girl and the miller, and will wonder what’s taking us so long.”

“We’re ahead of schedule,” Quaid reminded him, reaching down again to retrieve the dagger.

“Nay! I said, leave it,” commanded Kin, reaching out to grab the squire by the arm but stopping short.

“My lord? Did you turn that dagger to gold by your touch?”

“I don’t know,” answered Kin. “I – I think so, but I’m not sure. If my touch turns things to gold, why didn’t the stump or rock turn to gold too?”

“I’m not sure.” Quaid looked at him cautiously and then backed up a step. “Will I turn to gold if you touch me?”

“I’m not sure about that either.” Kin didn’t know but needed to find out.

Quaid looked at him from the corners of his eyes, made a face, and nodded his head. “Go ahead,” he said, holding out his arm. “Touch me.”

“What? Nay,” said Kin, shaking his head. “It’s too risky. I’m not sure what will happen.”

“Would you rather touch the girl and have her turn to gold instead? Besides, I don’t think it’s really going to happen again, do you? It was probably just a fluke. Go on, touch me.”

“A fluke,” Kin repeated, lost in thought. Mayhap the boy was right. Either way, he needed to know, so slowly reached out to touch him, but stopped. “I want you to know, you’ve been the best squire I’ve ever had,” he said, and his hand snaked out again.

“I know,” said Quaid, squeezing his eyes closed and holding out his arm steadily. “Now just do it.”

Kin reached out again, and before he could change his mind, he grabbed Quaid’s arm. They both had their eyes closed with their heads turned in opposite directions.

“Quaid, are you all right?” asked Kin, but he heard no answer. “Quaid?” When the boy still didn’t answer, Kin opened his eyes and spun on his heel to face him. Quaid started laughing, and Kin felt like killing him and hugging him both at the same time.

“You idiot,” he said, pulling the boy into his arms and giving him a hug. “I thought you were gone forever.”

“Just think how rich you’d be if I were. You could have lived like a king with that much gold.”

Quaid embraced him too, and they slapped each other on the backs fondly.

“What’s going on?” said someone from behind them.

Kin turned to see Olivia standing there with her father. They had the horses with them, and Lightning snorted and raised her head in the air almost as if she were jealous that Kin was giving someone else attention.

Kin pushed away, feeling like a fool being caught hugging his squire. “What are you waiting for, Squire?” he bellowed. “I told you we needed to go, so stop fooling around and get on your horse.”

“Aye, my lord. Of course,” said Quaid, his voice cracking in the process.

Kin helped Olivia mount Lightning, confident for now that he wasn’t going to turn her to gold. Then he seated himself behind her, spying the golden dagger glittering in the sun, still lying on the ground. That’s exactly where it was going to stay because he wasn’t sure what would happen if he brought it with him. He didn’t need anything else happening before he had a chance to figure out what caused it to turn to gold in the first place. He turned his horse and rode as fast as he could to Shaftesbury, wanting nothing more than to deliver the girl and get back to finding out if he’d really been cursed by Hecuba, or if he’d been given a gift instead.

Chapter 8

Olivia’s stomach clenched into a knot by the time they got to Castle Tark. She felt like she was riding to her execution, and her father was right there to suffer the same fate with her.

“We’re here,” said the squire from their side as they rode across the drawbridge. She could see Baron Pettigrew standing in the courtyard waiting for them with a huge smile on his face.

“Your betrothed looks happy that you’ve arrived,” said Kin, and it was more than she could take. She turned to look at him, her face so close they could have kissed.

“Please, don’t let me die,” she begged him. “You’ve got to save me as well as my father.”

“I don’t have to do anything of the sort,” he told her, slowing down his horse and enabling them to have a few more minutes to talk privately. “You got yourself into this mess, and I advise you to start thinking up a way to get yourself out of it as well.”

“I’d already done that,” she said through gritted teeth. “Until you ruined it.”

“Oh, do you mean that little plan to steal my horse and hide away in the woods? And how long did you think it would take the baron to find you? Or did you really believe you’d get away with it?”

“Why not?” she asked, facing forward as she spoke. “After all, I never would have thought anyone would believe that someone could spin wool into gold, yet the baron believed it.”

Olivia’s words were like a punch to the gut for Kin. He stayed quiet, not knowing what to say to her. Just yesterday, he would have thought it foolish for anyone to believe something could be turned into gold. But after today, he started wondering if perhaps he could do just that.

“I’m sure the baron won’t kill you when he finds out the truth,” said Kin trying to make her feel better. He looked over to the stout man on the horse next to him and rethought the situation. “Of course, I’m not so sure if he’ll be so forgiving of your father.”

She turned to face him again, and he could see the panic in her eyes the closer they got to the baron. “Please,” she whispered. “Save my life.”

“Why should I?” he asked, swallowing deeply, knowing he couldn’t let such a beautiful woman be beheaded, no matter what she’d done. “I’m not accustomed to saving damsels in distress for free.”

“You won’t do it for free,” she said quickly. “I’ll – I’ll pay you.”

He laughed heartily at that. “With what?” he asked. “You are naught but a commoner and you and your father have nothing between you that I’m willing to risk my neck to get.”

“I’ll give you my jewelry,” she said, her hand clutching the long string of pearls around her neck. “I’ll give you my headpiece and this ring.” She stuck her finger in his face.

He cleared his throat and took her hand in his, and examined the ring. “It looks to be made of silver. It’s enticing, but not all that valuable.”

“Then how about my headpiece?” She pulled the metal circlet from her head and held it out to him. “It was made in Italy. My father traded for it. It is of the finest quality; I assure you.”

“Stole it is more like it,” he said, his hand going out to finger the long string of pearls around her neck. “However, this might be something I’m interested in attaining. I’m sure I’ll be able to sell it for a good amount of coin.”

“Nay,” she said, pushing his hand away from her. “It’s not negotiable, and not for sale.”

“It’s not?” He laughed again. “I would think your life would be worth more than a necklace.”

“It was my mother’s. It means a lot to me, and I don’t want to give it up.”

“Well, I don’t know then if I even want to make a deal,” he said. “Besides, what makes you think I can help you in the first place?”

“You seem to know the baron, and he trusts you. If not, he wouldn’t have ordered you to be my escort.”

“You have a point there. I do have a good standing with the man.”

“Then he’ll listen to you. Tell him my father was drunk and didn’t know what he was saying. Tell him we should go free and if he doesn’t do it, you’re going to stop doing his bidding.”

“Whoa, there,” he said. “Calm down. And stop telling me what to do. I’ll have to think about it,” he said, sliding off the horse and holding out his hands to help her to the ground. “We’ll just wait and see what happens.”

“There you are my dearly betrothed,” said the baron coming to greet them. “Are you ready to show me your special skill, Odelia?”

“It’s Olivia,” she corrected him, looking to the ground when she spoke. “It has been a long journey, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to make a visit to my chamber and wash the road dust from my face and hands.”

“Yes, it has been a trying trip,” Kin broke in.

“Aye, I suppose that would be in order,” agreed the baron.

“And some food,” said her father, coming to her side. “If you don’t mind, good baron, we’d like some food and ale since we left before we broke the fast.”

“You did?” The baron looked at Kin. “De Bar, why in the devil’s name did you leave so early?”

“Your sweet little betrothed was so anxious to see you, that she was in the stables at the crack of dawn, ready and eager to go. Weren’t you, Lady Olivia?” Kin said, winking at her in the process.

“I was up early since I was unable to sleep. Because of my father’s snoring,” she added quickly, glancing over to Kin.

“I will have a chambermaid show you to your chamber,” said the baron, calling over a servant.

“And my father, too,” she added, but the baron scowled.

“Nay. He’ll sleep in the great hall where my guards can keep an eye on him. And I warn you both – if you have deceived me in any way, then it’ll be your heads on those spikes next.” The stout man raised a finger and pointed upward.

Olivia looked to where he pointed up to the battlements where two spikes held decaying heads for all to see. Ravens landed on the parapets nearby and took turns picking at the decomposing flesh. She gasped and looked as if she were going to retch. Kin stepped in front of her to block her view of the gruesome sight. Baron Pettigrew was known for having a temper, and also for killing off commoners who couldn’t defend themselves so that he’d always have heads on the spikes to scare away his enemies.

“I believe the chamber is that way,” Kin said, taking Olivia by the shoulders and turning her, sending her off with the chambermaid. Her father took one look at the heads and hurried to follow his daughter. Kin’s heart went out to the girl when he saw her glance over her shoulder up to the battlements once more, and then her eyes darted over to him. Her hand clutched the string of pearls even tighter than before. She looked so frightened that he wanted more than anything to comfort her and pull her into his arms, but he couldn’t do it with the baron standing right there.

“De Bar, how about a drink?” asked the baron, putting his arm around Kin’s shoulder as if nothing were wrong at all.

“I think a drink is in order,” Kin told him, now knowing he had to do something to help He couldn’t let her go to her death because of her father’s idle boasting.