A Goose Girl_Entwined Tales [Volume 1] Read online

  A Goose Girl

  Entwined Tales: Volume 1

  K. M. Shea

  A GOOSE GIRL

  Copyright © 2018 by K. M. Shea

  Cover design by Page Nine Media

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any number whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historic events is entirely coincidental.

  www.kmshea.com

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  World of Entwined Tales

  1. A Poor Plan

  2. The Arrival

  3. Unexpected Allies

  4. The Fairy Godfather

  5. A Vicious Threat

  6. The Truth

  Epilogue

  Entwined Tales continues with Eva’s story

  Entwined Tales

  Afterword

  Other books by K. M. Shea

  About the Author

  World of Entwined Tales

  Chapter 1

  A Poor Plan

  “Corynn…Have you ever wanted to be more?” Princess Davina asked.

  “No,” Rynn replied without hesitation.

  “You didn’t let me finish!” the princess complained. She jutted her lower lip out and batted her eyelashes, adopting a pouting expression that managed not to ruin her beauty.

  Rynn sighed and absently patted her horse when it did the same. “I apologize, Princess. What were you going to say?”

  Satisfied, Princess Davina nodded once. “Haven’t you ever wanted to be more than a lady’s maid? Perhaps…did you ever wish to be a princess?”

  “No,” Rynn said even faster than the first time.

  Princess Davina furrowed her delicate brow. “Why not?”

  “Because I had a difficult time managing my siblings before I came to work for you, Princess. I can’t imagine it would be any easier to manage an entire kingdom,” Rynn said.

  Princess Davina flinched when her horse—a beautiful gelding whose coat glittered like the stars and whose mane and tail were white as snow—pinned its ears and chewed audibly on its bit. “Oh, being a princess is not that much work, really,” she said. “Most days everyone tells you what to do!”

  “Mmhmm,” Rynn said. She turned in her saddle to glance back at the four soldiers who rode behind them. Three of them rode their horses in a languishing manner, yawning and slumping in their saddles. The last—Captain Hulderic, who led the squad—drove a covered cart that was laden with gems, gold, costly fabrics, and more. He smiled when he met Rynn’s gaze. Though it was a pleasant gesture it didn’t cancel out the consistently narrowed-look to his eyes.

  Rynn ignored her desire to frown sharply. Captain Hulderic aside, such a fine guard the queen sent to escort her eldest daughter to her future home and husband. What possessed her to choose such men?

  “Personally, I always wished to be a rich heiress,” Princess Davina continued.

  “You are a rich heiress, Princess,” Rynn pointed out.

  “No, no, no. I mean the rich heiresses you hear about in the stories—the ones who are free to travel as they so choose and eat grapes off of golden platters served by handsome male attendants.” Princess Davina smiled dreamily.

  Rynn ignored the princess’s daydreams. She’s always been a romantic thinker. It’s no surprise she would be especially…dreamy, given that she’s traveling as a bride to a new kingdom.

  Princess Davina’s marriage was part of an agreement between Astoria—the princess’s kingdom—and Farthendale. The princess’s mother, Queen Cassia, had made the arrangements to assure harmony between the two kingdoms. While Astoria and Farthendale were economically dependent on each other, they did not have the smoothest of relationships. Naturally, this meant Princess Davina had complained about her future nearly every step of the journey.

  I will not allow her to turn this lovely afternoon into another pity party for herself. Rynn cleared her throat. “As a princess you have a wonderful life. Your mother has never spared an expense to see to your happiness. I imagine your fiancé in Farthendale will treat you with the same adoration.” (It was likely, given that Princess Davina was astonishingly beautiful, even if she was a bit empty-headed.)

  Princess Davina placed a delicate hand over her heart. “No, do not say it. You cannot remind me of the dark future that awaits me! In Farthendale, the royal family eats with their fingers and doesn’t even have a tablecloth covering their banquet table, and the civilians let their goats live indoors with them. They hate music and, worse yet, Prince Geraint has a hunchback and squints!”

  Ahh yes. She would be most concerned about the prince’s appearance. “Might I ask who served as your source of this information?” Rynn asked.

  “The chambermaid said she heard from her mother’s cousin, whose neighbor is a merchant who ships to Farthendale,” Princess Davina said.

  Rynn rolled her eyes. “In summary, such tales are nothing more than rumors. And rumors often say the worst about everyone.”

  “They could have a grain of truth,” Princess Davina said.

  “Princess, we’re traveling in Farthendale lands right now,” Rynn pointed out. “The citizens we have met thus far are all as cheerful and kind as the Astorians back home.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Princess Davina said bleakly as tears welled up in her lovely blue eyes. “Farthendale could be the most beautiful place on earth—which it won’t be—and I would still hate it. I so long to have no cares at all and to be free to do as I wish,” Princess Davina continued.

  “Idiot,” the princess’s white horse growled.

  Both Davina and Rynn winced.

  The princess’s horse, Falada, was a fairy steed that had been given to the Astorian royal family as a gift from the fairies themselves. He was a mark of their distinguishment.

  Given Falada’s rather black-hearted temperament, ability to speak, and proneness to throwing his rider, Rynn often thought the gift was perhaps more of curse. But in her own family’s experience, magic often was rather temperamental.

  Pushed into silence by the ornery fairy horse, the lady’s maid and princess quietly rode down the dirt road. Rynn didn’t mind. As she had spent most of her life in Astoria’s golden plains, Farthendale’s plentiful forests and mountains were wonderous to behold.

  It was almost an hour before the princess dared to speak again. “May we stop?” she asked. “I should like to go to the river and drink some refreshing water.”

  “I will fetch water for you. I can use the gold chalice your mother gave you,” Rynn said.

  “Oh, you don’t have to—”

  “I insist.” Rynn halted her horse and slipped off its back. If I let her off that horse, it will be hours before I can get her back on! The journey had already dragged on longer than it should have, and Rynn was eager to drop Davina off in Farthendale so she could return to Astoria and clear herself of all responsibilities for the princess. “It is my duty as your maid.”

  Princess Davina smiled and again placed her hand over her heart. “You are so devoted to me. I am so glad to have a maid worthy of me,” she declared. She yipped a little when her fairy horse snorted deeply enough to rock his whole body, even though he had stopped as well.

  Rynn smiled at the princess, nodded to the guards who had lazily stopped behind them, and dug out the gold cup from her saddle bag before marching to the river that gurgled and chirped just behind a screen of trees and bushes. />
  She glanced over her shoulder, slightly surprised to see Princess Davina nudge her horse closer to Captain Hulderic and call out to him.

  Captain Hulderic was a night watchman. I did not think she would know him. Rynn shrugged and ducked a branch. She scrambled across the sandy shore and walked into the river—hissing a little at its cold temperature. She took the opportunity to drink some water herself, before carefully filling the chalice with clear water. (Even a grain of sand would be enough to make Davina send Rynn back for a new cupful.)

  When she was finally satisfied, Rynn trekked back through the trees, shielding the cup and moving carefully lest she spill the water.

  Princess Davina smiled as Rynn rejoined the party on the road. “Thank you, Corynn.” She reached down to take the chalice from Rynn—who backed away as soon as the trade-off was made. (If she lingered Falada might decide to take a chunk out of her hide. Again.)

  “I was just telling Captain Hulderic how loyal you are,” Princess Davina continued. She sipped her water and bequeathed a gentle smile on Rynn. “You would do much for my sake, wouldn’t you?”

  “I do my best to serve the Astorian royal family,” Rynn said, which was the gentlest way she knew to say ‘not really.’ (The princess’s desires were often opposed to the Queen’s, whom Rynn considered far more important.)

  Captain Hulderic smiled first at Davina, then at Rynn. “You two do seem close.”

  Princess Davina nodded eagerly. “Indeed! Could we not be mistaken for sisters?”

  “Hah!” The snort of disbelief escaped Rynn before she could smack her hand over her mouth. With Davina’s bright blue eyes on her, Rynn coughed. “I beg your pardon—there was a tickle in my throat.”

  “I do hope you feel better now. But, Captain, don’t you agree with me? Do we not look alike?” Davina asked.

  Rynn turned her back to the pair so she could remount her horse and roll her eyes.

  Davina and Rynn looked about as alike as any set of strangers one could stumble upon. Yes, they both had blonde hair, but where Davina’s was sunshine yellow, Rynn’s was a darker shade of amber. Davina’s blue eyes were never more menacing than a shade of summer sky, but Rynn’s were a perpetual storm-cloud gray. Moreover, Rynn was at least a hand taller, and while the princess moved like a deer, Rynn had the quick but efficient movements of a work horse.

  Captain Hulderic shared Rynn’s eye for realism, though he was rather polite about it. “Perhaps one could mistake the two of you to have a sister-like bond?”

  Davina dropped the chalice in her dismay. (Which meant Rynn had to dismount and retrieve it.) “Oh, but we look so alike!” Tears began pooling in the princess’s wide eyes, and her lower lip trembled.

  “Of course you do,” Captain Hulderic said in a soothing tone. “The pair of you look more alike than you and the Queen herself.” He sounded so genuine, it took Rynn a moment to realize his sanity had not, in fact, left him, and instead he was merely lying to the princess.

  He’s a smooth deceiver, Rynn noted as she snatched the chalice up and retreated back to her mount.

  Princess Davina sniffed. “Thank you, Captain. Your words are very kind.”

  Rynn’s forehead puckered as she once again clambered back into the saddle. Why does the princess suddenly care if we look alike? She prizes her appearance and hates to be told anyone comes near to her in beauty.

  “It is my pleasure, Princess.” Captain Hulderic bowed from his seat on the cart, making Davina giggle.

  “If you have finished prattling,” Falada-the-frightening-fairy-horse said in a voice of rusted metal. “Are we not ready to move along, or do you need help dismounting?”

  Princess Davina turned pale as Falada pranced in place in an obvious threat to buck her off. “We are ready!” she squeaked.

  Falada proceeded, setting the pace at a swifter walk than it had been.

  Shivering slightly, Rynn and the soldiers followed.

  * * *

  The following day found Rynn rather puzzled, for the princess was so giddy she hummed all morning—until Falada turned his head and bared his teeth at her.

  “I am glad to see your mood has improved, Princess,” Rynn said. She gazed at the forest, listening to the sound of foreign birds chirping and the gurgle of the river—which was still audible.

  “Of course!” Princess Davina said. “Soon I will step into my long awaited future!”

  “I thought you did not want to marry Prince Geraint?” Rynn asked

  Princess Davina, who had been smiling up at the strip of sky they could see through the impossibly tall trees, stiffened. “Yes, well, I believe deeply in the luck of my family!”

  As the same luck had also bestowed Falada on them, Rynn suspected the belief was rather mistaken, but she was not going to sour the princess’s mood when she had sulked nearly the entire journey.

  “I see.” Rynn shifted in her side-saddle and adjusted her horse’s reins.

  The sound of horse hooves drifted through the forest, and soon after one of the soldiers mounted on a lathered horse careened around a bend in the rode. He pulled his horse to a walk and saluted. “Sir, Princess! Cadburey lies but an hour ahead of us.”

  “Well done, soldier,” Captain Hulderic praised.

  Princess Davina squealed. “A mere hour! How exciting! Captain—it is time, is it not?”

  Rynn blinked. “Time for what, Princess?”

  Captain Hulderic made a show of rubbing his chin and studying the princess. “Are you sure this is what you want, Princess Davina?”

  For a moment Rynn’s heart stopped. What is he saying? She can’t possibly back out of the marriage!

  “Indeed,” Davina said, relieving Rynn.

  “You will come to love Farthendale as much as you love Astoria, Princess,” Rynn said.

  Davina smiled and pulled back on the reins, making Falada sneer. “I’m afraid it won’t matter.” She slipped from her saddle, a beaming smile settled on her face.

  Rynn frowned and was quick to dismount. “What are you talking about?” she grabbed her horse’s reins, toting it behind her as she followed Davina to the cart filled with her dowry.

  Davina pushed back the burlap sacks that covered the cart’s precious cargo. “It is time for me to finally live out my dreams and travel as a rich heiress.”

  A throbbing headache began to carve its way into Rynn’s skull. I left my parents and six siblings because I thought it would be easier to manage one princess than the lot of them. I was incredibly misguided. “Princess, you cannot be serious.”

  “But I am! I have spent nights planning my escape.” Davina snagged two beautiful saddlebags that sported gold leafing and embroidery from the spot directly behind Captain Hulderic’s seat. She opened the flap, briefly revealing the gold coins, pearls, and jewelry that filled the saddlebags.

  Rynn glanced up at Captain Hulderic, hoping he would speak to Davina—or at least stop her! She was encouraged when he climbed off the cart, until he picked up the saddlebags and carried them towards Rynn’s mount.

  “Captain,” Rynn hissed as she scrambled to keep up with him. “You must stop this!”

  He shrugged. “I cannot say no to the princess.”

  “Yes, you can!” Rynn hissed.

  Captain Hulderic slung the saddle pack over Rynn’s horse and tied it to the saddle. “As a soldier sworn to her family, I wish for Princess Davina’s happiness.”

  “The princess’s happiness must take second priority for the good of Astoria!” Rynn snapped. She turned to Davina, hoping she could talk some sense into the girl—she had no choice! If Davina shirks her duty it will surely cause trouble for our kingdoms, but if I have to face Queen Cassia and inform her I let Davina waltz off I will be imprisoned! “Princess, you must think this through! If you do not travel to Farthendale and marry Prince Geraint, you will throw into disarray the uneasy alliance our kingdoms have agreed upon.”

  “I know.” Princess Davina nodded with great solemnity. She then turned a
nd rested a hand on Rynn’s shoulder. “Which is why you shall go in my stead.”

  Rynn was fish-mouthed in her shock. “What?” she finally shrieked.

  “You will travel to Farthendale and pretend to be me, taking over my life as a princess. Though you’ll have to change first to make it at all believable. I would never let this shabby drab you call a dress touch my skin.” Davina rubbed the sleeve of Rynn’s traveling dress between her fingers.

  Rynn didn’t know what to say. She was too stunned by all the obvious problems with the plans. Is there no end to this girl’s stupidity? “Princess, I cannot pretend to be you. We look nothing alike, and when Prince Geraint discovers our betrayal it will certainly sever Astoria’s relationship with Farthendale!”

  Davina pushed her luxurious blonde hair over her shoulder. “How can he find out? Neither he nor anyone from the royal family has met me in person.”

  “But several Farthendale ambassadors have met you,” Rynn said. “Moreover, your mother promised to visit. She will know I am not you!”

  “Oh, pooh,” Princess Davina sniffed. “You can tell the ambassadors a fairy cast a temporary spell on you to make you unbelievably beautiful. I am stunning enough for it to be believed, and Farthendale with its boring mountain-stock clod-pole people see less magic in a full year than we Astorians do in a single day.”

  Rynn shook her head, barely holding back the desire to strangle the impulsive princess. “And your mother?”

  Davina’s bright smile faded, and she stared unseeingly at the second saddle pack Captain Hulderic positioned over the horse’s haunches. “Please, Corynn. I know you think me tiresome, but even I am not so dull as to believe my mother—or my little brothers—will ever come visit me.”