“You have indeed become an admirable man, and I am and always have been proud of you, even though I do not say it.You may not ascend the throne in your lifetime, but that does not mean you will remain without inheritance or land.Break this curse, and you shall be given some land to at least become a baron.I have many estates from my inheritance for you to choose from.”
Riven looked back to Bella, then croaked.He pointed to the pond, and Bella whispered to the queen that he could not speak unless he was in the water.She lowered him, and Riven asked, “Will you allow me to wed who I wish?”
The queen’s eyes darted between them.“I will.As a baron, you will have limited reach, so your match will not need to be as important.”
“What of Father’s wish to marry me off to a duchess or countess?”
“I will handle your father.You have enough to deal with right now.”She then handed nodded to Bella, who gently lowered herself to her haunches to speak with Riven.
“What are your commands, my prince?”
He held Bella’s eyes, winked, then kicked for his floating castle.He ascended to his throne, tried to project his voice, then huffed when it did not work.He leapt into the water, pulled a long frond from a cattail, then leapt back to his throne.He fashioned the frond into a bugle shape and spoke into it.
“Hear ye, hear ye, this is Prince Riven speaking.”
The men stopped their movements, and Riven noticed Phillippe racing to the forefront and taking a knee.In a wave, the rest of the assembly bowed.
He noticed Bella and Henriette curtsying, and his mother smiling proudly.He felt his chest expand with their approval.
“This pond is to be buried with all the respect one shows of covering their lost loved ones.The enchantress Brumenhildr, Goddess of Ponds and Lakes, Keeper of Still Waters, has punished me for the amount of animals who have died from the state of this pond.We shall bury it with reverence and create a fresh pond there,” he pointed, and all heads turned to look.
“We should also move the surviving plants to the new location, my prince,” Bella said quietly, and Riven nodded and repeated the command.
“What of the rubbish we have already removed, Your Royal Highness?”one man asked.
“It must be taken to the garbage heap, where it belongs.”
They all nodded.
“What of the treasure we was promised, Highness?”one peasant asked.
Bella stepped forward and tapped the coin purse on her hip, giving him a significant look.But Riven had an even better idea.“You shall all be paid, either in coin or jewels that I have recovered from the bottom.The queen will be in charge of your wages, for she is most skilled with numbers.”
Though her schooling prevented her from reacting, Riven noticed the pride that lifted her shoulders.She gave a queenly nod to him, which made him happy.
“We have but a few days to fix this, else you will lose your carefree prince for good, and the well water will soon become poisoned if I fail.”
It was all the motivation his people needed to start digging with earnest.
