Chapter 36 (Tarak)

Elanora was quick to learn how to control our horse and how to sit properly on it. She seemed to love the wind in her hair and the speed at which we could go. Looking down at her, her blonde curls wild from the wind playing with them, I couldn’t help but see her as my forest nymph, not the Princess. They were two different sides of her, and both intrigued me.

“Ara, do you think I could ride a horse more often than sitting in a carriage?” she questioned, stroking the soft mane of the beast.

“If you wish, once we get back to the palace, Roland will purchase a steed for you.” I chuckled. I had never heard a royal ask such a question, choosing a horse's rough ride over a carriage's soft luxury.

Halfway through our trip, I could feel her small frame fall back into my chest as she started dozing off. Taking the twins from her. I hugged her closer to me so she wouldn't fall. Left to my own thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder what I had witnessed earlier.

Seeing her crouched on the forest floor covered in dirt after she protected Helena made me realize exactly who she was. She was my forest nymph. The time I had spent with her by the river, I knew she was probably a servant somewhere or a runaway living dangerously in the woods.

I had watched her as her hands expertly managed the herbs washing them in the river. Watched as she got down in the mud in a ragged cloak that barely covered her to look for different herbs and plants.

I knew how skinny and malnourished she seemed. There was no way that my forest nymph was a princess. So who was she, and what happened to the real Princess.

I needed to know, but I couldn't ask her straight out. The chances of one of her servants being a spy for Emerson or, worse, she was a spy for Emerson were too likely. I needed to keep her at arm's length until I could figure out who she was.

My mind was racing with all these thoughts of her, but I knew for sure that she sacrificed her own safety for someone she hardly knew. When she killed that knight to save Helena. Something I will never forget.

Riding to one of our encampments took a little less than half a day. We stopped briefly halfway to let those who had been injured rest. Luck was on our side as we trekked through the forest in the dark. We didn't catch sight of any beasts.

As soon as we stopped behind the encampment wall, I dismissed my men to get the proper treatment they needed and had Elanora’s staff shown to their temporary quarters. While Helena showed Elanora to her chambers.

I needed to talk with Roland. He needed to know our Princess was a fraud, and I needed to speak to him to comprehend everything swirling through my mind. I found him helping unload what was left of the food, water, and supplies on the carriage.

“Roland, my office now.” My head was spinning to the point of a headache.

As we made our way to my office, we walked in silence. I needed the time to sort through everything so I could explain it clearly to him in a way that would make sense. As soon as the heavy wooden door slammed behind us, I turned to him, leaning on my desk.

“What do you think of Elanora?” I questioned, wanting to know his unbiased thoughts on her.

“She doesn’t act like a royal or noble I have ever encountered. I still can’t shake the feeling that she is Maia’s ghost coming back to haunt us. She is the spitting image of her, but there is no way she is her or her child. King Emerson would have killed that baby long ago” he eyed me, trying to read my face.

“What if I told you I knew for a fact she wasn’t a princess or rather wasn’t a month ago.” I started, and he raised his eyebrow, silently telling me to go on.

“I was taking early morning walks in the forest by the river. Father used to take me fishing while we were at the other encampment. I met a girl who was obviously a servant or a runaway there every morning washing herbs. I didn't recognize her as that girl till I saw her on the forest floor crouched in the dirt yesterday.” I went on trying to explain everything to him

“Are you sure?” Roland questioned.

“I am.” I had no doubts they were one and the same.

“While she has Maia’s necklace on, We can’t tell for certain if there hasn’t been a leak of intel from our capital into Emersons. He might just be using her to get inside our heads. I can’t stress how important it is to cut a rotten limb off before it spreads to healthy limbs. You need to find out if she truly is rotten and cut her down if she will endanger our plans.” His tone went cold as if he wasn’t talking about the woman I had just married.

Even if his comparison was crude, it was the truth. Nothing meant more to me than completing what we started. I would not falter, even if that meant killing my own wife if it was needed. I could not disappoint the people who helped me accomplish my father's wish so far. I wouldn’t let myself be swayed by my wife.

“Mmmm, you're right, I do. I don’t think she would reveal the truth even if I put a sword to her throat, but I know who may have a loose tongue if he thought she was in danger.” I eyed Roland, already hating my plan.

“Summon Tate to the interrogation cell. I will find out what I need to know, even if it means using the ones she loves.” If she was rotten, I would cut her down along with everyone in her entourage.