Penelope and Prince Charming (Nvengaria #1)(31)
“Compassionate of her,” Penelope said.
“The princess was indeed compassionate. And beautiful. And wise. She watched the man climb the tower, and then she helped pull him inside. He was handsome indeed, tall and striking.”
“Did he have black hair and blue eyes?”
Damien shrugged, his body moving against hers. “He was Nvengarian, so he must have looked like that. The princess was about to reward her rescuer with a kiss, a gift more precious than any jewel, when suddenly, he walked past her to the two huge boxes of treasure. He opened them, scooped out the coins, and laughed. ‘I am rich,’ said he.”
“Oh,” Penelope raised her head, indignant. “He wanted the treasure? Not the princess? How rude.”
“Yes, you see, it turns out he was not a prince at all, but a clever thief who was being helped by a wicked sorcerer. The sorcerer had given him magics to get through the forest and the thicket and to enchant the hideous beast, in return for a share of the profit.”
“The gall of them,” Penelope said, outraged on the princess’s behalf. “What did she do?”
“Well, the princess was so angry that she went up to the man while he was bent over the treasure and kicked him in the backside.”
Penelope laughed. “Serves him right.”
“Indeed,” Damien said. “The thief turned around and looked at the princess, and then realized how extraordinarily beautiful she was. He went to her, took her in his arms, and kissed her. Rather like this.”
Damien demonstrated, and Penelope met his lips hungrily. The kiss was tender—the ferocious passion of a few minutes ago gone like a spell broken.
Damien’s eyes were still when he eased away. He’d become the sophisticated prince again. Penelope admitted to herself that she’d rather liked the glimpse of the other Damien, the one of raw emotion and intensity, who’d survived by his strength and wits to make half the world eat out of his hand.
She asked, somewhat breathlessly, “So, did the princess fall in love with him?”
“He fell in love with her. The thief said, ‘If you help me get the treasure out, I will take you too.’ Well, the princess had long wanted to leave the tower, so she told the thief she would help him. He tied the rope around her waist and lowered her to the ground. Then he tied each of the two chests of treasure to the rope and lowered them as well. At last, he climbed down himself.
“The princess was quite excited to find herself out of the tower at last. But, as I said, the princess was wise as well as beautiful. She noticed at once that the thief had brought no cart or horse to help carry away the treasure. He had left his horse at the edge of the forest, he said, unable to get it through. They would have to drag the treasure chests back with them.
“The princess had a much better idea. At her waist hung a horn of silver, which she could use to summon the hideous beast if need be. She put it to her lips, and blew.”
“Oh, dear,” Penelope said. Her fingers curled in anticipation.
“Soon they heard the hideous beast crashing toward them through the thicket,” Damien said. “He emerged, huge and tall, with two great, bloodshot eyes and a horn on his head. He carried an axe, almost as big as the princess herself. He roared, furious, because he’d been in an enchanted sleep and the thief had got past him.
“The thief, terrified, told the princess to run, ready to flee himself. But the princess turned to face the beast, unafraid. ‘Beast,’ she said. ‘I have some heavy boxes here. Can you carry them for me?’ The beast at once hung his axe on his belt and picked up the treasure boxes, one under each great arm.
“‘Beast,’ the princess said. ‘I want to see the wide world. Will you show it to me and protect me from harm?’ The beast nodded his great head. Happy, the princess took the beast’s arm and told him to lead on through the thicket.”
Penelope’s eyes widened. “What about the thief?”
“Exactly.” Damien nodded. “The thief, growing worried, asked, ‘What about me?’ The princess gave him a dazzling smile and said, ‘I thank you, sir, for helping me escape the tower with all my treasure. The beast has been my dear friend for many a long year, and I believe we will be very happy together. Good-bye.’
“The thief watched, his mouth open, as the beautiful princess and all that treasure went off with the beast into the forest. He knew he’d never, ever be able to fight off the hideous beast and he had no more enchantments. He had lost.
“And so, the princess walked away with the beast, her dearest friend. Together they discovered the wonders of the wide world, and lived happily ever after.”
Penelope listened in delight, pressing her hands together at the end. “You made that up, didn’t you?”
“No, indeed.” Damien’s eyes sparkled. “I promise, it is a true Nvengarian fairy tale. I believe it is an admonishment to Nvengarians to not be so vain. Nvengarians are quite vain people.”
“I like that the princess ended up with someone worthy of her.” Penelope drew her slippered foot along Damien’s calf, fires still smoldering inside her. “I understand why Nvengarians might grow vain, though. You are all so beautiful. Even your servants are strikingly handsome, like the two lads you have as footmen.”
Damien’s expression turned exasperated. “Rufus and Miles, aye, they are a pair. They rub it in anyone’s faces that they were chosen to journey with their prince, not realizing it was a punishment.”