Read Online Rumpelstiltskin (Timeless Fairy Tales Book 4) by K. M. Shea - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K. M. Shea
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started walking down the hallway. Prince Toril followed him, keeping pace.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“She wasted my time—which is more valuable than the blood that pumps in her veins.”
“Her father wasted your time,” Prince Toril said.
King Torgen stopped to stare at Prince Toril. “You are well informed of the matter.”
“I am,” Prince Toril said.
King Torgen looked down the hallway.
“It isn’t because I’m in love with the girl,” Prince Toril was quick to say.
“So you still love the mute swan girl, then? It’s a pity you’re so stupidly loyal.”
Prince Toril winced. “You must let the girl go, Father.”
Prince Toril ducked just in time to avoid King Torgen backhanding him.
“Listen closely, son ,” King Torgen spat. “I must do nothing . I am King , and it isn’t until I die that you will rule. As long as I breathe, I reign. You would do well to remember that.”
Prince Toril was frozen by the mad, frenzied look in his father’s eyes. It wasn’t until King Torgen had walked twenty paces before Prince Toril was able to break out of his paralysis and follow.
“You are right. You are the King, Father,” Prince Toril said. “But it is your position only because you were granted it. You have an oath to uphold; we are to protect the weak, not behead them,” Prince Toril said, passing a line of guards.
King Torgen narrowed his eyes at Prince Toril. “You seem set on this girl.”
“I am set on freeing her, yes.”
King Torgen stopped outside a barred door. “Fine,” he said, sticking the key in the lock and twisting it.
“She will be free to go—even without spinning the flax into gold?” Prince Toril eagerly asked as guards removed the bar from the door.
“The peasant girl can—,” King Torgen went silent when the door opened.
“She can?” Prince Toril prompted. When his father did not respond, Prince Toril peered over his shoulder.
A rather normal-looking girl with brown hair and large eyes was standing in the middle of a barren room. Next to her was a spinning wheel, upon which there was a spindle of thread that glittered and twinkled like gold.
In that moment, Prince Toril knew the girl was doomed. He would never be able to save her from his Father’s clutches now.
Chapter 5
Gemma had dosed off for a few minutes when the horizon was pink with the promise of the sun. While she was sleeping, the mage must have slipped out. When she opened her eyes he was gone, although the gold thread was still there, wound around a spindle.
Gemma’s body creaked and ached as she pushed herself off the ground—a most uncomfortable sleeping position—and approached the spinning wheel.
She held her breath, releasing it only when she reached out to touch the metallic thread. It was real, and it was most assuredly gold—or at least close enough that no one would know the difference.
“Not a hallucination then,” Gemma said, turning to the window to greet the sun with a tame smile. Her future was still dark, but she would survive the day, which was more than she hoped for. With extra time, she could gather better escape tools.
Gemma was crouched in front of the spinning wheel, eyeing it with escape plans in mind, when she heard voices in the hallway. The door thudded and clanked as it was unlocked and unbarred. Gemma had just enough time to hide her bent fork and dull knife in her skirts before the door opened.
King Torgen stood in the doorway. His bloodshot eyes were immediately drawn to the gold thread.
“She can?” someone said out in the hallway. A handsome young man Gemma recognized as Prince Toril peered over his father’s shoulder. The prince was…horrified. He looked from the gold to his father, dismay twisting his face.
“Gemma Kielland. Well done,” King Torgen said, a delighted smile crawling across his face as he stormed into the room.
Gemma nervously backed up until she hit the wall before she stooped in a curtsey.
“You
“She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“She wasted my time—which is more valuable than the blood that pumps in her veins.”
“Her father wasted your time,” Prince Toril said.
King Torgen stopped to stare at Prince Toril. “You are well informed of the matter.”
“I am,” Prince Toril said.
King Torgen looked down the hallway.
“It isn’t because I’m in love with the girl,” Prince Toril was quick to say.
“So you still love the mute swan girl, then? It’s a pity you’re so stupidly loyal.”
Prince Toril winced. “You must let the girl go, Father.”
Prince Toril ducked just in time to avoid King Torgen backhanding him.
“Listen closely, son ,” King Torgen spat. “I must do nothing . I am King , and it isn’t until I die that you will rule. As long as I breathe, I reign. You would do well to remember that.”
Prince Toril was frozen by the mad, frenzied look in his father’s eyes. It wasn’t until King Torgen had walked twenty paces before Prince Toril was able to break out of his paralysis and follow.
“You are right. You are the King, Father,” Prince Toril said. “But it is your position only because you were granted it. You have an oath to uphold; we are to protect the weak, not behead them,” Prince Toril said, passing a line of guards.
King Torgen narrowed his eyes at Prince Toril. “You seem set on this girl.”
“I am set on freeing her, yes.”
King Torgen stopped outside a barred door. “Fine,” he said, sticking the key in the lock and twisting it.
“She will be free to go—even without spinning the flax into gold?” Prince Toril eagerly asked as guards removed the bar from the door.
“The peasant girl can—,” King Torgen went silent when the door opened.
“She can?” Prince Toril prompted. When his father did not respond, Prince Toril peered over his shoulder.
A rather normal-looking girl with brown hair and large eyes was standing in the middle of a barren room. Next to her was a spinning wheel, upon which there was a spindle of thread that glittered and twinkled like gold.
In that moment, Prince Toril knew the girl was doomed. He would never be able to save her from his Father’s clutches now.
Chapter 5
Gemma had dosed off for a few minutes when the horizon was pink with the promise of the sun. While she was sleeping, the mage must have slipped out. When she opened her eyes he was gone, although the gold thread was still there, wound around a spindle.
Gemma’s body creaked and ached as she pushed herself off the ground—a most uncomfortable sleeping position—and approached the spinning wheel.
She held her breath, releasing it only when she reached out to touch the metallic thread. It was real, and it was most assuredly gold—or at least close enough that no one would know the difference.
“Not a hallucination then,” Gemma said, turning to the window to greet the sun with a tame smile. Her future was still dark, but she would survive the day, which was more than she hoped for. With extra time, she could gather better escape tools.
Gemma was crouched in front of the spinning wheel, eyeing it with escape plans in mind, when she heard voices in the hallway. The door thudded and clanked as it was unlocked and unbarred. Gemma had just enough time to hide her bent fork and dull knife in her skirts before the door opened.
King Torgen stood in the doorway. His bloodshot eyes were immediately drawn to the gold thread.
“She can?” someone said out in the hallway. A handsome young man Gemma recognized as Prince Toril peered over his father’s shoulder. The prince was…horrified. He looked from the gold to his father, dismay twisting his face.
“Gemma Kielland. Well done,” King Torgen said, a delighted smile crawling across his face as he stormed into the room.
Gemma nervously backed up until she hit the wall before she stooped in a curtsey.
“You
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