Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Together.
Eating.
Feasting.
I took another left and went to the army dining hall and shoved the doors open and there on the table was another note.
“Well done, son. I’m cheering you on from the grave. Brilliant of you without much training, but where do you go when you need a reprieve?”
I wracked my brain again and quickly knew.
It didn’t take long.
I ran to the servants’ kitchen.
And sure enough it was empty and taped to the freezer was the next clue.
“Who does a king go to when he needs counsel?”
I wanted to run to the Prime Minister’s house but thought better and ran to her room. To Samira’s room and inside, next to her small lit up Christmas tree in the corner of her desk was the next clue. Taped to a black box was a note that said, open me.
I opened the box inside was a picture of my parents when they got engaged, my father was down on one knee, looking up at my gorgeous mom with stars in his eyes, they had gone riding I believe by their attire and she was down on her knees across from him, both of their black coats looked filthy, her hand was without gloves and he was putting a ring on her finger.
“One of my favorite memories. I’m glad you can see it now, fully. Her favorite food was found in the garden, do you remember the journal entry about her gardening?”
I snatched the picture, shoved it into my pocket and rushed toward the back gardens, when I got there a small post was lit up with Christmas lights and attached to it was another journal entry and instructions. “Find the ring.”
The ring?
What ring?
I didn’t remember a ring! It died with her. It was lost during the coup!
Had I only gone nearly halfway, and I can’t find the ring?
“That’s it?” I screamed at the sky. “Find the ring! Find the ring?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think.
The ring.
What ring?
The only ring I knew of that existed was mine. And it was in the vault near the back of the castle, it used to be a dungeon but was converted over eighty years ago.
Feeling morose, I started walking toward the vault. I had full access and headed down the stairs, the guard said nothing as I pressed my thumb against it and opened it.
And inside.
Was the ring.
Hers.
The lost ring of the Three Kings.
The one I couldn’t give her because I couldn’t find it and assumed it was lost along with my parents when they died. We all assumed it. It had been a national treasure and proof to the three kingdoms that no matter what, the King and Queen would fight and take care of the country not through war but through love for their people and each other.
I didn’t know what to do for a few seconds but stare.
It wasn’t here two years ago.
Rupert even asked me to pick one out.
What was actually happening?
With shaking hands, I reached for it. So simple, the ring wasn’t made of silver. It was gold and smelled like frankincense and myrrh.
It had one small princess diamond in the middle.
Shaking, I pulled it out and clutched it in my hand, only to see another note from the journal behind it.
“You have to take risks to get the reward, should you risk it, Zautland? Should you ask her, with this ring? The three kingdoms need you, and while you might have thought this would be a journey through the twelve days of Christmas, all we wanted was for you to have at least half the journey so that the rest of your lives you could complete the rest of those days each Christmas. Find her, find her because of your light and love, but find her now and give her this ring, but where could she possibly be? Where would she be taken? What makes the most sense? Only a good king is constantly watching, knowing where his subjects are, where his queen is at all times. What would make the most sense to you, do you think?”
I had nothing.
I wanted to give up, until I thought about it, really thought about it.
Frederick making me suspicious.
Spurning me on.
Frederick going with my shenanigans and supporting me all this time only to almost betray me.
Me getting frustrated.
Going to the cabin as he knew I’d do.
The snow storm.
I frowned.
And looked down at the ring.
It was all I had.
I tucked it into my pocket and I ran to the front. “Get me a car now!”
Chapter Nine
Samira
“LET ME GO!” I screamed it until my voice felt like it was going hoarse.
“God, she’s annoying.” A familiar sound hit my ears. “Do you always scream like that, Samira?”
The blindfold was pulled from my face, all I remembered was someone grabbing me and shoving me into a car and telling me not to talk for at least an hour while I scrambled against the ropes tying my wrists together and then in some sick, weird way of torture, getting told it would all be okay if I just stopped talking.