Not Princess Material

Chapter 8

"Both of you come with me." The captain didn't slow his stride as he walked through the garden past Codey and Arthur.

They shot one another a quick look before hurrying after him. Codey looked back once to see two other soldiers taking their places guarding the gate. It looked as if they were going to Kingsley after all. He swallowed hard around the sudden lump in his throat. Fear threatened to drown him. He stamped it down, refusing to give in to it.

They followed the captain all of the way to his office. "Sit, both of you. Arthur, close the door." He took a seat behind his desk, looking serious.

"Sir, are we going to Kingsley?" Codey asked him.

"Yes, but not by order of the king."

Codey's brows drew together in confusion. "I don't understand."

"He insists there's nothing there to investigate. What's more, he was firm about the two of you not going to Kingsley. Claimed he won't have untrained men mucking about messing things up."

Arthur sat up, his spine stiff. "Untrained? He does know who we are, doesn't he?"

The captain sat back with a heavy sigh and he dragged a hand over his face. "He knows very well who the both of you are. That is exactly why I'm sending the two of you despite his insistence. You'll have to slip out without catching the notice of anyone. If you're caught ..."

Codey held up a hand. "Don't worry, sir, I simply wished to see my home and Arthur decided to join me."

The captain smiled. "I doubt the king will buy that story, but it's worth a try."

"There's a small problem with our trotting into Kingsley to investigate the baron without the king's consent ..."

The captain nodded in response to Arthur's statement. "I realize that, without the king's backing you can't march in dressed in uniform."

"Then how do you suggest we do this?" Codey asked.

"Arthur will stroll in as Prince of Arieland."

Arthur smirked. "Clever, send me in disguised as myself. I think I can manage that. What about Codey?"

"A servant I suppose."

Arthur studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "We'll be separated. The baron would never let him remain with me the entire time."

"So what, I could question the servants," Codey insisted.

Arthur snorted. "If the baron is the issue I'm sure he's frightened the servants into silence. I've a better idea. You'll go as my cousin. Sometimes, in Arieland wealthy families pay off gentlemen of noble birth to act as companions to their sons. They believe they'll provide a good influence. Doesn't always work out that way, but you can't tell nobles a damn thing."

Codey wrinkled his nose. "I am not companion material. I'm a stable boy not a noble."

The captain snorted and sat forward to fold his hand together on his desk. "No, you're a knight. I think it's the perfect plan. It will get the both of you inside the baron's home, up close with him. You can figure out what's happening in Kingsley and report to me. It may be nothing or it could have something to do with the attack on the princess."

Arthur stood. "We'll leave tonight. I need to get Codey some clothes or he's going to look like the stable boy he claims to be," he said with a chuckle.

They both shook the captain's hand before leaving. Codey walked beside his friend, deep in thought for a few moments before he realized Arthur had turned in the direction of the castle. "Where are you going?"