Inwardly, Ryder cringed. Of course the king was going to remember why that particular forest was a touchy subject. “Your Highness, please listen to what I have to say. It will explain everything.”
The king’s scowl worried Ryder, but he had to believe the king’s temper would ease once he knew what was going on... Well, until he found out the witch had been impersonating his wife for at least two weeks.
“Very well, but make it quick. I have a short fuse today.” He folded his arms across his wide chest.
“I will, Your Majesty.” He swallowed hard. “As I was saying, when your daughter and I went riding, we came across this tower—”
The king’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but Ryder quickly held up his hand to stop him. “Yes, I know about the tower’s history, but please let me explain before you say another word.”
Anger lines appeared on the king’s forehead and around his mouth. He didn’t speak, but nodded instead.
“When we came upon this tower, we heard a faint voice crying for help. When we finally discovered where the voice came from, we realized this person was being held prisoner in a dark and dingy room. This person had been in there for nigh on two weeks.” He licked his lips, readying to continue. “Your Highness, this person was...your wife,” Ryder ended quietly.
Most of the anger left the king’s expression and was replaced with confusion. “My wife, you say?”
“Yes.”
“How can that be when she has been in the palace all day?” He cocked his head and scratched his chin. “I’m assuming this happened today?”
“Indeed, it happened today.”
“Then you must be mistaken.”
Ryder shook his head. “The princess knows her mother, and this woman was indeed, the queen.”
“But how can one person be in two places at once?”
“Well, you see,” Ryder cleared his throat, “after talking to the woman we found in the dank room, we realized the woman who has been at the castle for almost two weeks, is an imposter.”
“Imposter?” The king’s voice boomed in anger, once more.
Ryder motioned with his hands, trying to hint that the king keep his voice down. “Yes, an imposter,” he answered in a quiet voice. “And I know who she is.”
“You know this imposter?”
Ryder nodded. “She is the witch who caught you picking her Rapunzel flower...and the same one who kidnapped your daughter.”
The king stumbled backward as if he had lost his balance. Ryder quickly grabbed his arm to steady him. Carefully, he helped the king into the closest chair. Color had disappeared from the older man’s face, and Ryder’s heart went out to him. Such shocking news, indeed.
“I...don’t believe it,” the king muttered. “I killed that witch.”
A squeak on the hardwood floor behind Ryder had him turning to see who had entered the room. The imposter queen stood by the opened door, her heated glare piercing right into Ryder before she switched her focus to the king.
“Well, believe it,my darling husband, because I’m not dead. I’m right here.”
