Page 25 of A Filling of Fables and Firelight

“‘What have you done to me?’ the prince cried, relieved to find that, despite his new form, his voice was just as clear and human as before.

“‘I simply revealed the truth you kept hidden behind your crown and fancy jewels,’ she answered. ‘You are a prince, blessed with wealth and power, and yet instead of using your gifts for the benefit of others, you laze about like a lizard sunning itself on a rock. You chose selfish ambition and greed over doing what is right, even when making that choice would have cost you nothing.’

“Prince Kamden withered under the weight of her words and the intensity of her gaze. ‘I…’ he began, unable to find a suitable defense. ‘But I can’t stay like this! I’m a prince! How is my kingdom supposed to survive with me as a lizard?’

“‘Probably much the same as when you were a man,’ the woman said, not unkindly. ‘But take heart. There is a way to undo this transformation.’”

“Let me guess,” Kamaran interrupted. “He needs to find True Love’s Kiss to break the curse.”

Rana snorted. “I beg your pardon, but that sentence is as absurd as darning socks with gold thread. Why in Adhavi would a woman ever kiss a lizard, much less fall in love with one?” She shook her head. “If she did, her mental state would be of more concern than whatever curse the prince is under.”

“I thought True Love’s Kiss was the way all curses were broken in the stories.”

“In some of them, yes. But there needs to be an occasion for love to exist in the first place, and one of the parties being a reptile does not fit the requirements. May I continue?”

He nodded.

“The prince latched onto the woman’s words with the ferocity of a crocodile. ‘Tell me!’ he cried.

“‘To return to your true form, you must find a member of your kingdom willing to share their table and bed with you.’

“Prince Kamden’s heart lifted. ‘That’s it? Surely any of my subjects would be willing to play host to their prince.’

“‘Ah, but you may not tell them who you are or why you need their help,’ the woman added. ‘All you may do is ask.’

“‘But that’s impossible!’ Prince Kamden explained. ‘What kind of person is going to willingly let a lizard eat at their table, or sleep in their bed?’

“The woman looked at him sympathetically. ‘The better question to ask would be, what kind of person must you be in order for them to invite you? The task is only impossible if you make it so.’

“With that, the woman set Prince Kamden back on the path and disappeared in a flash of light.”

Silence filled the sitting room for a moment as Rana tied off her thread and reached for the spool again.

“You seem to have a rather low opinion of princes.” Kamaran seemed to be particularly fascinated with Zade’s fur as he spoke.

Rana pulled out a new length of gold thread, using her arm to measure, and snipped it off before answering, “You’ve only heard the one story so far.”

“It’s supposed to be me, isn’t it?” Kamaran’s voice, though quiet, was tight with emotion. She could see the muscles in his jaw twitch.

Guilt began chewing at the corners of her stomach, and she tried to save the moment by turning to humor. “I don’t recall a time that you have ever been cursed to be a lizard—unless there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“But you think I should be.” He finally looked up from the fox sleeping contentedly on his lap, his eyes betraying the wounded feeling he was obviously trying to keep from his face.

“I never said that.”

“No.” He laughed bitterly. “You just named the prince in your story after me and made it very clear that he was not worthy of the title he had been given. Tell me honestly, Rana, do you actually think I deserve my position?”

Rana twisted the needle between her fingers. If anyone had asked me that question just a few weeks ago, I would have told them “no” without an ounce of hesitation. But now…he’s different than I expected. It’s not a secret that he’s shirked out of duties in the past, but it seems like there’s more going on here than what is on the surface.

He was watching her, his dark eyes burning with intensity. She needed to buy herself more time to think, to formulate an answer that would be both honest and gentle, and she wanted to hear his perspective.

“Do you?” she asked.

It was the wrong question. Like a curtain falling over a window, his eyes lost their light.

“No,” he answered tightly, offering no other elaboration.

Zade, sensing the tension in the room, jumped off Kamaran’s lap and returned to his pile of pillows in the corner.