Page 50 of Once Upon a Crown
I tried to push the thoughts away but the deeper I got into the water, the more scared I became.
When the water reached my waist, I spotted something moving in the distance, breaking through the surface. Or maybe I’d only imagined it. I stopped walking, observing the water. I was definitely sleep-deprived, maybe even hallucinating. But no, I swore I could see something move beneath the water again. This time, I didn’t hesitate. It might have only been a fish, but I wasn’t going to wait around to find out.
I turned around and waded through the water as fast as I could. Looking back at the big old willow tree, I let out a few curses. Now what?
Pacing up and down the shoreline with my feet bare, I contemplated going back into the water. Scared as I was, I was also pretty desperate for that damned key. One thing was certain: I wasn’t going back home empty-handed. Not when I had come so far.
I continued walking around the lake, seeing if there was any part where the swim might be shorter. But no, the tree had to be smack dab in the middle.
“Come on!” I cried out, looking back to the treeline where my horse still grazed happily on the unnaturally lush green grass. “You brought me all this way and now what? What am I supposed to do?”
With a huff, I continued to march along the shoreline, and like an answered prayer, I came across a little wooden rowing boat with two oars inside, casually beached where the water met the grass.
Though I was thankful, I wished the boat had decided to appear before I got all my clothes wet. I hurried over and pushed the little boat into the water, rowing until my arms grew sore from the movement. The island was small, but stepping onto it, I could finally take in just how big the tree really was.
It loomed large with thick branches and heavy leaves. They were all a dark shade of green. Its presence felt old, and I slowly walked closer. The tree looked like it had been there for hundreds of years, maybe even longer, watching. Waiting for someone as stupid as me to actually try to take something from it. But the thing that created a sense of dread in my stomach was that the lines within the bark seemed to have the shapes of different faces. Were these all people the tree had deemed unworthy?
It’s just a tree. And the trees helped you before. They led you here. This tree is no different.
Except that if what Lance said was true, this tree had every intention of judging me, and if I didn’t prove worthy, it would take my soul, absorbing me until I became a part of it.
I swallowed hard. It was looking for someone worthy. What did that even mean?
With my hand on the trunk, I walked around the tree until I came across a hollow. It was quite small, but it would be big enough to put my fist into.
I stood there, looking at the hollow while rubbing my right wrist. That key had better be in there.I’m not here with selfish motives, I reminded myself.I’m here because I’m trying to find answers to protect my kingdom.
Knowing that standing around and procrastinating wasn’t going to make me feel better, I finally jammed my hand into the hollow of the old willow tree.
I immediately closed my eyes and turned my head away.
This was it. This was how I would die. Killed by a damn tree.
Expecting blinding pain, I held my breath, but nothing happened. After a few more seconds, I dared to open my eyes and move my fingers. They were definitely all still there. I let out the breath I’d been holding and started to feel around the hollow.
I couldn’t control my relieved smile when I touched something metal, and I pulled out the old king’s key. It was pure gold, and unlike any key I’d ever seen before. I tied it to a thin leather strap I’d been keeping in my pocket and hung the key around my neck. It was cold and heavy against my skin.
I looked up at the old willow tree, feeling grateful but too awkward to say thank you. I didn’t understand the magic that surrounded the tree and this place, or why I was allowed to retrieve the key. But I wasn’t going to wait around in case it changed its mind.
I stepped off the small island and back into the little boat, more than ready to go home.
Chapter 21
Elara
Tucked into the warmth of my winter cloak once more, I rode back to the palace. The only thing I could think about was a warm bath with a fire in my room, along with a dinner. I would have given anything for some warm stew, maybe a few slices of buttered bread and a steaming cup of tea.
Nightfall was around the corner, so I pushed the horse a little faster. There was rain in the air. I could practically smell it. The last thing I wanted to do was get stuck in a rainstorm at night while in the Evernean Forest.
With a gloved hand, I took hold of the key around my neck.
“You’d better have been worth all that trouble,” I said, relieved that I had managed not only to find the key, but also to make it safely out of the mist. That diary held something important. I could feel it in my gut.
As the clouds continued to grey, I urged my horse on, galloping over the forest roads. We were near the outskirts of the woods when I noticed a group of soldiers on horseback in the distance. They all wore the Evernean uniform of the royal guards.
Of course they’d sent men looking for me. I could not have reasonably expected otherwise.
I squinted to try to spot Rhen, who was no doubt leading the party. When I saw him, I decided to call out. My voice immediately drew their attention, and I slowed my horse as Rhen came riding towards me.
