Missing Royal (12 page)

“You haven’t been the castle kitchens, have you?” He laughs. “I assume you aren’t used to this, but this is a nice inn. Used to be one of the best, actually, before the kingdom was destroyed, the castle burnt to the ground, and travelers stopped coming through here. Now it’s a little dingy, but I bet if we restored it, this would be the place to stay every night again.” He talks as if he lives here. It makes me wonder about him again.

“What’s your story, Javiar? Who are you?” I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for him to speak. He folds his arms across his massive chest and turns away, clearly not wanting to discuss it.

“Come on. How did you end up in Umare? You know a lot about this place. Why is that? Did you grow up here?” I get up and stand beside him, leaning against the wall. “It seems I’m not the only one having issues letting people in.”

His voice catches. “I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone who I really am.” He turns away so his back is to me.

“Why not?” I touch his arm. I’m not the only one who’s alone, either.

The room reverberates as someone pounds on the door. Javiar looks at me. “Everyone has their secrets, Shanice. Some are best left that way.” Before I can respond he takes two steps and answers the knocking.

The same woman has a tray of food for us. Javiar takes the tray and sets it on the table then places more coins into her hand. She thanks him before leaving us alone again.

Javiar hands me a plate of food before sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard and digging into his own food. I walk around and sit beside him.

“Sometimes secrets haunt us and hurt us more than they protect us. Eventually, all secrets come into the light, and sometimes you’re better off telling them before that happens. Whatever secrets you have, you can trust me with them. We may have started off as less than friends but it doesn’t have to always be that way.” I say before taking a bite of my food – hoping it doesn’t kill me. I gulp it down, avoiding looking at it.

“If you bury your secrets deep enough, no one ever has to know.” Javiar says between bites.

“When you bury them that deep, you lose part of yourself. What has you so afraid that you can’t even open up to me? What could be so awful that you’re willing to be alone forever if it means that your secret stays safe?”

“If I could tell you, I would. But the moment I tell you, I’ll lose you forever.” He speaks as if he’s known me more than the short time I’ve been here.

“You’re not going to lose me, Javiar. We’re friends.”

“Are we? Or am I just your help? Because every time I try to get close to you, I’m brushed off. I understand that you’re in love with Valentino. I know I can never hold your heart the way he does. But you won’t even give me a chance to be your friend because you’re so worried about him.” His words hurt more than they should.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on with him right now. I may be in love with him but I don’t think he feels the same way. All of that aside, I’m sorry if it seems like I’m pushing you away. I don’t mean to. You are my friend. Right now, it seems like you’re my
only
friend.” I look him in the eye.

He’s so close to losing his cool. I can feel the tension building up in him. He needs a release, just like I did. “I’ve been everywhere, and I don’t belong anywhere. Those who know who I really am abandoned me. They never gave me a chance to explain. So I bottled it all up. I pretend I’m not really this person. And I never ever tell anyone the truth.”

“If they left you so easily, perhaps they weren’t truly your friends.” I touch his arm, offering him the only comfort I can.

“I know. But it doesn’t make it any easier. I would rather have friends who never find out.” He turns away, wiping at his eyes, never once letting me see the tears.

“Don’t tell me everything. Just tell me what you need to say most. I can see the pain you’re in, and Javiar, I understand that pain. I know what it feels like. I’ve been alone for a long time.” I set the tray on the table and sit a little closer.

“And what happens if I tell you and you realize I was right all along? I can’t lose you as well. You’re the only friend I have.”

“If you can’t trust me to handle it, then you’ve already lost me.” I frown, sad that he is so lost in his fears and secrets. I stand beside the window and watch the night go by. Very few people walk through the streets—probably going home after drinking.

I feel Javiar step up beside me. I watch his reflection in the glass. He catches my eye and holds my stare. “My mother is the princess who destroyed this kingdom, along with all the other kingdoms. My mother is the one searching for you. The one who wants your head.” A single tear falls from his eyes.

My lungs seem to quit functioning, I can’t breath as I take in what he just said. His mother is Mendina. It’s no wonder he didn’t want to tell me. My heart breaks. I turn around so we’re standing face to face. “Does Valentino know? Do my mother and father?”

I place my hands on his neck and lean closer, my mouth to his ear. “Javiar, listen to me. Your mother’s mistakes are not your own.”

“No. But my mistakes must be answered for.”

“What do you mean?” I step back and lean against the wall again.

“I worked for Mendina for a long time before I realized she couldn’t control me anymore. I left but the damage has been done. If this gets out, if anyone knew, I would be a dead man. And that’s the problem—I’m telling you, and you should be the angriest of them all.” He paces the room.

“I don’t understand. She controlled you; she used you. Yes, you did some awful things but you’ve changed. You’re trying to keep that in the past and make a future for yourself.” I look back out the window, and see Valentino. Sitting on Knight. He’s gazing up at me.

He must’ve realized I should be here by now and coming searching. I smile as he goes out of sight, entering the inn.

“So what you’re saying is I should be forgiven?”

“I’m saying you need to forgive yourself. Move on. Help me now—help me rebuild everything. Make up for your mistakes rather than dwelling on them.”

“I’m saying you need to forgive yourself. Move on. Help me now—help me rebuild everything. Make up for your mistakes rather than dwelling on them.”

Javiar stops pacing, and without a word, he marches right up to me and kisses me. His hands are on my face, in my hair. I’m stunned. But he surrounds me and I care about him – my brain stops working as I slid my arms around his neck, I almost kiss him back. But before I have a chance to react at all, the door bursts open.

Javiar jumps back so fast, you’d think he was on fire. Valentino’s cheeks are crimson. He looks between us, but I don’t know what to say. I doubt he’d listen anyway. The damage has been done.

“Come with me,” he says to me. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mean for Javiar to come at all, but I follow Valentino and Javiar follows me.

Star and Knight are saddled, waiting just outside. Javiar’s horse isn’t there which means my assumption was correct. And he doesn’t intend to wait for him, either. I barely have time to mount before he takes off.

I look back at Javiar, torn. “Just go.” He waves me away. I follow Valentino, afraid I won’t catch up. Because he’s already angry, I use the opportunity to get out some of my own anger. “Why did no one tell me I have magic?” I yell.

“What?” He pulls the reins, stopping in the middle of the street. I ride up right beside him.

“Why didn’t someone warn me I have magic? We almost died back there because I didn’t realize I was being overwhelmed by powers I didn’t know existed,” I spout off. I tried not to be angry about it.

“Shanice, look around you! This world is living off magic. It’s everywhere. And the place you grew up on is one of technology. Your parents tried to keep you away from technology. They didn’t want you connected to it, they didn’t want you so used to having all those gadgets that you were unwilling to leave them behind. More so, they didn’t want the technology and magic to collide and hurt someone.”

“That’s all wonderful,” I snap, sarcasm heavy in my voice. “But why did not one warn me?”

Valentino takes a deep breath and pushes Knight to keep going. I follow him closely, waiting for an explanation.

“It was your parents’ job to tell you. For whatever reason they didn’t bring it up.” His voice is clipped—he’s angry and hurt and annoyed with me. I slow my pace until I’m riding behind him rather than beside him. I want to apologize, I want to tell him how I feel, I want to know why I let Javiar kiss me in the first place.

He leads me down several streets until we arrive at a small cottage on the edge of the forest. An older woman, her brunette hair curled in a bun, is standing just outside the door holding a lantern. Her gray eyes are sad and she shivers despite being wrapped in a lace shawl over her long black dress.

“Your Highness.” She curtsies to me. “It is an honor to be in your presence.” She smiles. Deep wrinkles around her eyes and mouth show signs of worrying for far too long. “Please come in. Lancilotto will take care of your horses.” A young man close to our age approached from the dark. He takes the reins to both horses.

I step down and follow the woman inside. “Thank you,” I say, realizing I’ve kept silent. Valentino closes the door behind us. Brooding, angry—livid.

“I have waited for this day most of my life. I almost gave up hope.” She sits beside the hearth and invites us to take a seat. I do. Valentino stands in front of the door.

“Is he, Lancilotto, the prince?” I ask.

“Indeed, Princess. His kingdom no longer stands, which means I do not know how much help he can offer.”

“We are combining forces. He alone can offer plenty. We need his help in stopping Mendina. Does he know?”

“No.” She shakes her head, sadness glossing over her eyes. “He was just a baby. I was his nurse. I tried to save his parents as well but my first concern was the prince. I got him to safety but when I returned, it was too late. The damage had been done.” She looks so broken, so old.

The door opens, startling Valentino. He whips around but when he sees it’s just Lancilotto, he relaxes.

Lancilotto looks at the woman, then back to me. Back to her. “Nastasia, is everything all right?” he asks, concern filling his voice.

“Yes, dear. This is the princess.” She says. Lancilotto turns to me. Just as he is about to speak, knocking at the door startles us all.

This time it is Javiar. Valentino glares at him, pure hatred in his eyes but he allows him in. How would he explain things if he didn’t? I turn my attention back to Lancilotto.

What do you tell someone their life is a lie and they are royalty? Well, if I want to take after my parents, I should surprise him hours before his life is turned upside down.

He is handsome—tall, large build, full of muscle, and blond. He seems kind, friendly. And happy.

“Your Highness, it is an honor.” He bows low. I curtsy in reply.

“Truly, the pleasure is mine.” I hate what I’m about to do. Now I just have to figure out how to tell him the truth. I wish Valentino had discussed this with me before introducing us. A little warning, time to prepare would’ve been nice.

I lean a little closer. “Would you mind taking a walk with me?” I can’t believe what I am about to do, but we need him. I need his help. I’m not sure why or for what, but I know I’m supposed to find the missing royals and bring them together so we can build the kingdoms again.

“It would be my honor.” He offers his arm. I smile and take it. Valentino and Javiar both stare me, eyes wide, as we walk through the front door.

“For what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks, smiling all the way.

“Lancilotto, how much do you know about your family? Your parents?” My heart breaks, having to be the one to tell him the truth. I question why Nastasia never told him.

Lancilotto just chuckles. “Not much. They died when I was very young. My wonderful grandmother has taken care of me ever since. I remember a wonderful childhood full of hard work and food well earned. Nastasia is a wonderful person, kind and compassionate. I don’t regret the happenings in my life.” He smiles earnestly. And I can’t help but smile with him. This man is content with what he has, just as I was, and yet, he was born for so much more.
Just as I am.

“Lancilotto, I’m happy that you are content with the life you have lived. But … ”
Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe the words about to come out of my mouth.
“I am about to change everything for you. You have to understand something—I didn’t know who I was until the day I came here. My parents never told me. They didn’t tell me that I am a princess.” I cringe, using the word.

“They didn’t tell me that I had to save the world. So understand that I know exactly what you’re about to go through.” I take a deep breath. “You’re a prince.” I wait for some reaction. Any reaction. But all he does is stand there, looking at me.
Which, technically, is a reaction.

He moves as if he is going to say something, like he wants to say something but he stops every time right before the words actually come out. I honestly feel for him. If there is anyone out there who knows what this moment feels like, it is me.

I gently pat his arm. “I know,” I say simply, letting him think it through. Waiting for him to begin the question process. The silence is understandable. We continue walking as he processes all that I’ve told him.