The Royal Trials: Imposter Page 5

  Ducking down to check behind my crate, I mumbled my answer. “Uh-huh, yep, all good. Just... can't find my notebook.”

  Damn it all to hell, it was nowhere to be seen.

  “You definitely left it here?” Lee asked, and I could hear the frown in his voice before I even turned to look at him.

  I gave him a tight smile and nodded. “Yeah, same as everyone else. I guess someone might have picked it up by accident?”

  We both glanced around at all the other vacant seats, and Lee would have seen the same thing I'd seen—no extra notebooks. Somehow, I didn't believe this was an accident at all.

  Oh well, maybe I'd be going home tonight after all?

  “You're at a serious disadvantage not having any notes from this morning’s class, Lady Callaluna,” the young gardener murmured, scowling now like he, too, suspected this was a deliberate act. “Perhaps I will walk with you for a bit, if that would be acceptable? I need to be out checking on things anyway.”

  Fighting a blush that was just so completely unlike me it was ridiculous, I nodded my agreement and fetched one of the small baskets from the stack near the greenhouse door. There was no sense in shoving dirty plants into the pockets of my dress, even if it was already stained.

  Lee held the door open for me, and as I passed by him, his hand brushed the small of my back. Such a small movement, seemingly so innocent, yet my body lit up like Lakehaven's sky on Frogs’ Feast. It was all I could do not to melt back into his touch and demand more, which was sheer insanity.

  This was a man who I had barely known half a day, and I was ready to swoon like... well, like a lady. The sooner I dropped the act, the better. It was seriously starting to compromise my own strength and sanity.

  Thankfully, Lee didn't seem to notice as he walked beside me through the gardens at a polite distance, so there was no risk of any more body parts brushing, much to my disappointment.

  “I won't influence your test in any way,” he informed me after we'd walked for a few minutes in silence. “But I just find you somewhat less painful than some of the other ladies. If you wouldn't mind me keeping you company?”

  I snorted an unladylike laugh at this and grinned up at him. “Less painful? Careful with those compliments you're throwing around, Lee. You might accidentally flatter someone.”

  His eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said, and he started to backtrack. “That's not... I didn't mean to say any of you were painful... I mean...”

  “It's fine, Lee. I know what you meant.” I laughed at his awkwardness. “You don't really get much time to speak with women one-on-one, huh?” It was just a hunch, but the faint blush in his cheeks confirmed it.

  “Large groups I'm fine with,” he admitted, “But no, you're right. I don't often get to speak like this...” He waved his hand to indicate the fact that we were alone. “Aside from the current circumstances, ladies don't have much reason to speak with a lowly gardener, now do they?”

  I shrugged. What would I know? “Maybe not here, but things are different where I'm from. You're an attractive man; why shouldn't a lady seek you out for... conversation, regardless of her rank?”

  He paused, his eyes narrowing on me for a moment, and I quickly remembered the role I was supposed to be playing. That was way out of character for a prospective queen.

  “Things are so different in Riverdell?” he asked, and I nodded hesitantly.

  “Uh-huh,” I responded, ducking his intense gaze once more. “As you can see, ladies in Riverdell are more outspoken than in Lakehaven.”

  He seemed to accept my weak explanation easily as a smile curved over his lips. “I'll have to visit there sometime, in that case. I find this outspoken nature of yours rather refreshing.”

  I smiled back but said nothing as we continued along the path leading into the more secluded section of gardens, much further away from the palace buildings. Just off the path, something caught my eye, and I paused.

  “Score,” I whispered under my breath, bending to pluck a few leaves of nettlefish, an herb that was meant to cure toothache. Just as my fingers brushed the fuzzy leaves, I froze. Something... didn't feel right. I knew that its deceptively similar counterpart, monksfoot, could cause severe vomiting and the only perceptible difference between them was the width of the leaf.

  Pulling my hand back a fraction, I frowned, searching my mind for which one this was.

  Monksfoot. I was almost sure of it.

  But just a foot to the left…

  “Nettlefish,” I announced with confidence as I plucked several slimmer leaves from a plant growing so close it almost seemed to be from the same root. Sneaky.

  “Good work, Lady Callaluna,” Lee murmured in admiration. “You had me worried a moment there. What reminded you?”

  Giving him a smug smile, I ignored the question. “Lady Callaluna,” I repeated. “Sounds so formal.”

  Lee shrugged but arched a brow at me. “Such is etiquette between a gardener and a lady, is it not?”

  Ugh, probably. I should get better at not voicing my every thought aloud.

  “Like I mentioned, Lee, things are more relaxed in Riverdell.” And thank the stars you've never been there, or my disguise would be totally shot by now.

  He said nothing for a bit as we walked, but I could feel his attention on me from the corner of his eyes.

  “So, how about Calla?” he suggested after a long time. “But only in private, of course. I wouldn’t like to be reprimanded for my lack of courtly manners by Lady Savannah.” Something about this amused him to no end but didn't bother me. It was still a stolen name, shortened or not. Still, “Calla” made me feel like somewhat less of an imposter than “Lady Callaluna of Riverdell.”

  “Sounds perfect,” I replied with a smile. “But does that mean you intend to see me in private more often?”

  Another plant caught my eye, and I bent to grab the flowers. This time I was confident I had grabbed the right one, as my intuition didn't spike, and the yellow bloom was exactly as I had attempted to draw it.

  “Would you like that, Calla?” Lee asked me in a heated voice when I straightened. “I thought you were here to marry a prince and live out a happily-ever-after in the palace.”

  I snorted a laugh, unable to peel my eyes from his handsome, somewhat nervous-seeming face. “Princes be damned. I never wanted to be a part of this ridiculous game in the first place. If it weren't for that binding oath, I would have grabbed the monksfoot back there on purpose.”

  His brows shot up in surprise, but a small smile tugged at his lips. “I take it you were pressured into accepting the invitation, then?”

  I grimaced, thinking of the guilt trip Mistress Mallard had laid on me. “You could say that.”

  “So you're here now. What makes the princes of Teich so unappealing? The twenty other girls here would probably slit each other’s throats to win.” Lee sounded genuinely curious, but not outraged. Thank Aana for small mercies. It had occurred to me after the words were out that he could be a mole, reporting everything we said back to the royals. Then again… did I care? Citizens of Teich had freedom of speech, and I couldn't be punished for my opinions… could I?

  Pursing my lips, I tried to find the most diplomatic phrasing for my answer. “Look around you, Lee. Look at how lush and green everything is here.”

  He did as I asked, looking somewhat proud as he took in the gardens. Rightly so, I guess, when he was one if the gardeners working to maintain the grounds.

  “What do the gardens have to do with the princes, Calla?” The way he said my new nickname gave me belly flutters, and I struggled to stay focused.

  “Everything. Have you been into Lakehaven lately? Or farther abroad? Have you seen the damage that the Darkness caused to the lands? The suffering that people endure every day, while what little magic remains is used to maintain a pretty garden for the queen?” I paused, glaring up at him. “Dare I ask, have you ever ventured into the Pond? Seen how almost a third of Lakehaven’s population is living?” I could tell by the guilty look on his face that his answer was a resounding no. “How could I ever love a royal who allowed his people to suffer just so he might experience beauty on his own doorstep? No, I am certainly not here for the princes of Teich, and I will happily walk away if I'm eliminated.”

  Something I'd said had offended him, I could tell by the tight set to his jaw and the way he avoided my gaze all of a sudden. It didn’t make a difference though; everything I'd said was true.

  “It won't be that easy, Calla,” he said finally, his voice sounding disappointed, almost… regretful?

  “I know.” I shrugged, giving him a reassuring smile. “I'm not stupid; that zap the magic gave me earlier was not fun. I know I will need permission from the royals to leave, but hopefully they’ll be happy to be rid of me when they see I'm not interested in becoming queen.”

  Lee shook his head and sighed heavily, leading me back down the path. “That's not what I meant. I think once the princes meet you, they won't be able to let you go.” He looked down at me, meeting my eyes with his heart-stopping gaze. “I know I wouldn't.”

  His admission made my breath catch, and thousands of butterflies erupted inside me. The way he stared at me made me feel totally naked, and I was liking it way more than I had any right to.

  “Yet another serious character flaw for the princes, then. People cannot be owned, no matter whose throne you sit on.” With a monumental effort, I broke his gaze and continued hunting for herbs. It was considerably easier than feeling like my soul was being examined by a blue-eyed gardener.

  “You intrigue me, Calla,” Lee admitted some time later, when I'd gathered five of the six correct plants for the test. “It's not proper for a palace employee to speak so openly with a lady competing in the trials, and yet… I can't seem to make myself walk away.”

  Hiding a self-satisfied smile, I reached out to pick a beautiful white flower that had caught my attention. It was growing almost from within a tree trunk, and the delicate shape was a cross between a tulip and a rose.

  Bringing it to my nose, I inhaled the sweet scent of it and sighed. “This is gorgeous,” I commented, turning back to Lee. “What sort of flower is it?”

  Frowning, he took the bloom from my hand, his fingers brushing against mine in a way that made me feel naked all over again. “It's an ophelia bloom,” he murmured, looking confused. “These supposedly died out when Queen Ophelia was killed. I've never seen one here before...” Glancing past me, he stared at the tree I'd plucked it from, like he was committing its location to memory. Looking back to me, he tucked the flower into my braid, weaving the stem in before smiling. “It suits you, Calla.”

  This time there was no hiding the stupid grin on my face and my cheeks heated with awkwardness. How sad that at the age of eighteen this was the most flirting I'd ever engaged in. I'd need to talk with Jules about how to do it without embarrassing myself.

  “We should start heading back; what do you have left to find?” He indicated to my basket, and I peered down at what I'd collected so far.

  “Just... teichian violets,” I announced. “Then I'm good.”

  He nodded, following my lead as I started walking once more. “I'm impressed by how well you've done without any notes. You must have a good memory.”

  “Something like that,” I agreed, not willing to discuss my intuition with someone who really was a stranger to me, no matter how badly I wanted to taste his lips. “You can head back if you need to prepare the test, though. I won't be too much longer.”

  He hesitated, but the way he glanced back toward the way we'd come said it all.

  “Go,” I urged him. “I'm sure it would be better for your reputation if we weren't returning together anyway.”

  His lush lips curved into a smile that gave me a crazy urge to kiss him. “It's not my reputation I'd be worried about, Calla. But I would hate for anyone to think you've cheated on this test.”

  Biting the inside of my cheek and carefully averting my gaze from his handsome face, I shrugged. “So, go. This last one will be easy to find; I might even beat you back if you dawdle.”

  He huffed a short laugh and ran a hand through his honey-blond hair. “Yeah, okay. I'll see you back there, then. Just...” He trailed off, scuffing his shoe in the dirt. “Just don't take too long. I have a horrible feeling I might be worried if you did.”

  A broad smile spread across my face, and my stomach did a weird flippy thing. Oh geez, I had it bad for my teacher. Surely there were rules against that? Actually, there probably were. I just wouldn't know because I’d never in a million years have thought I'd end up competing in the Royal Trials.

  Lee gave me an awkward sort of wave, like he had reached out to touch me and then changed his mind, before hurrying back toward the greenhouse. Despite the fact that I was fairly certain he was just flirting, I still found myself hurrying to locate and pick the teichian violets and rushing back to the greenhouse for the test.

  As I entered, I found I was the last one to return, and all twenty other girls turned to stare at me. Ignoring them, I made my way back to my crate seat, which had been set with a mortar and pestle as well as six steaming mugs of water on a tray.

  “I see everyone is back,” Lee commented. “That's a good start. Let's get on with this test then, shall we? You're to grind each plant you've gathered and steep it in the hot water. After the teas are brewed, you must drink each one to prove your confidence in what you've learned.” His lips tightened, like he disagreed with this test but had no say in the matter. It made sense that someone else was pulling the strings on tests. Somehow I found it hard to imagine a person as kind as Lee creating a test that would poison women.

  I was confident in my herb choices, so I held no nervousness at the prospect of ingesting poison. Looking around me, I noticed several girls were pale and sweating already, their hands shaking as they began grinding plants.

  “Ready?” Lee asked the girl closest to him, standing over her completed tray of teas when she placed them on the ground in front of her. “I have antidotes to all of the poisons, so you have nothing to fear here.” She looked relieved, but I frowned at the odd emphasis he'd placed on that last word. Was he implying there was something to fear outside of this test?

  All of us watched in silence, holding our breath as she took the first cup in a shaking hand and screwed her eyes shut tight.

  “Okay,” I heard her whisper under her breath. “I can do this. I can do this.”

  Without another moment to psych herself out, she took a large mouthful of the tea and swallowed quickly, gasping when she was done. For a long moment, no one spoke and all eyes were on the girl who'd gone first.

  “Congratulations, Lady Bella, you got the first one correct.” Lee's smile held the same relief the rest of us seemed to be sagging with. “Please continue.”

  Emboldened by her success, she drank the next five with more confidence. Luckily, the next four were all correct, too. Unluckily, the last one was not.

  “Here.” Lee produced a bucket at lightning speed, just in time to catch the vomit that hurtled out of her mouth like a freight train from before the Darkness. “Drink this,” he told her, holding out a small vial when the first round of vomiting ended, and she gasped for breath. “Quickly, before it starts again. Then you're dismissed; you can go clean up and have a rest before dinner.”

  Lady Bella gratefully threw the antidote back and wiped her mouth off on a delicate handkerchief from her pocket. “Thank you, Lee,” she whispered, still as pale as a sheet.

  As she scurried out of the greenhouse, sniffling with unshed tears, Lee moved on to the next girl to begin again.

  This continued over and over, with most girls getting at least one of their herbs wrong and needing to drink an antidote. Some were easy, like Lady Bella's vomiting. Others were more serious, like the woman who ingested shadowbloom and went into cardiac arrest. That one required both an antidote and a round of chest compressions before she was dismissed from the test. Five girls, myself included, got all six plants correct. I knew this because for some reason Lee left my test until very last, so I got to sit there and watch my peers drink poisons.

  “Why did you make me go last?” I asked the handsome gardener as I helped him pack up the crate seats and used teacups.

  He sighed, not looking at me as he rinsed the mugs under water in the small sink. It was a luxury that the palace still had things like running water, but I guessed if anyone had it, it would be the royals.

  “Because now you know who your competition is, Calla,” he confessed. “Scores from each test don't just dictate who gets eliminated each night, but they count toward an advantage in the final test come the end of the week.” He turned the tap off, drying his hands on a rag, then turning to face me. “Call me crazy, but I find myself wanting to help you win this thing... within the confines of my own binding oaths, that is.”

  “Why?” I frowned at him. “I kind of got the impression you liked me.” My cheeks heated with embarrassment as I said this, but I pushed forward anyway. “Shouldn't you be hoping I get eliminated?”

  A dark shadow passed over his features, and he shook his head, dropping eye contact and folding his muscled arms over his chest. “No one would wish for that, Calla.” His words felt heavy, loaded with knowledge of something bigger. Something he wasn't permitted to share with me. “You should go,” he reminded me. “You have dinner with the royal family soon, don't forget.”

  I laughed, trying to ease the sudden tension between us. “How could I possibly forget? This is my big chance to snag myself a prince!” I pursed my lips, looking down at my dirt-covered gown that I'd been wearing since dawn. “Maybe I'll just go as I am?”

  Lee snorted a laugh and shook his head in disbelief. “I almost believe you would too. Just be careful, okay? And... if you ever need to talk about anything, you can leave me a note under here and I'll come find you, okay?” He tapped a pot containing a scary-looking plant with teeth. “Just don't get your fingers too close to this part or you'll lose one.” He indicated to the bulbous part of the plant—the part with teeth—and gave me a serious look.

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