“If there’s a magical object involved, I don’t like the idea of your being there at all,” said my grandfather. “I can send experienced men of my own to protect the children.”
I was shaking my head before he had finished speaking. “We know the way, we can move faster.” I bit my lip, honesty compelling me to add, “Well, with Alexander along, anyway.” I looked across at him. “I assume you’re coming?”
“Of course.” He gave me a look as if I were crazy. “Where you go, I go.” He smiled without humor. “And I’m in almost as much danger here as you, remember. I did just break out of prison.”
I laughed once, a short sound which quickly died. This latest news had driven his recent escape from my mind entirely.
My grandfather opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “We have no time to waste on argument. We have to leave immediately.”
“Let me send some men with you, at least.”
I frowned. “More people will just slow us down. I trust in Alexander.” I bit my lip. “And I intend to convince the children to come with us to Lestern. But I’ll have to tell them the truth, and I’ve already sent danger in their direction and upended their lives. I don’t think I’ll win any extra points by turning up with a collection of unknown guards.”
“Let me send Tarver, if no one else. You’ve already had a chance to see my captain’s competence.”
“Carter will want to come too, I expect,” said Alexander. “He won’t like the idea of remaining cooped up here in this mansion for weeks on end. And his presence might be a danger to His Grace.”
“If we’re to go all the way to Lestern with the children in tow, we’ll need a wagon,” I said. “You both claim Tarver and Carter are extremely competent in their different ways. Can they follow with a wagon? Can we trust them to get it to the cottage without drawing any attention?”
“Of course,” said Alexander, at the same moment as my grandfather said, “Naturally.”
“Excellent.” I nodded briskly. “That’s decided then. Alexander and I will leave immediately. Tarver and Carter can follow behind with a wagon and supplies as quickly as they can. I’ll need to pack.” I turned to my friend. “Can you give Carter directions on how to get to the cottage?”
“Of course.”
I wasn’t sure either of them actually approved of my plan, but I didn’t intend to give them any further chance to raise objections. I did hesitate in the doorway, though, looking back into the room.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Grandfather. I trust I will see you again soon enough.”
He slowly shook his head, a strange light in his eyes. “I trust so also. In fact, I grow increasingly certain of it by the hour.”
We left as twilight was starting to descend, the earliest we could risk slipping through the city. Bronson had already reported whispers of an escape from the dungeons, but people seemed scared to speak of it too openly. Extra guards milled around, but in the busyness of the city, we avoided them without too much trouble. In fact, the ease of it supported my grandfather’s statements. These weren’t experienced guards who had spent years defending this castle and our capital.
I wouldn’t have dared to find a path through the forest in the darkness on my own, but the trip was immeasurably easier with Alexander to lead me. The moon gave so little light I would have been walking into trees without him, but he somehow found a path anyway. And we easily avoided the patrolling guards given the light of their lanterns.
“Fools,” muttered Alexander after one such interruption. I didn’t disagree.
Soon enough we had left the patrols behind and were making even better time. Inwardly I marveled at the chance that sent me once again fleeing alone through the forest at night with only Alexander for companion and guide. But how different this trip felt. Still frantic, still hurried, but we had a purpose now that our other blind flight had lacked. And I no longer started at every sound, a dead weight, slowing Alexander down.
I had barely stopped to think in the last few days, but I allowed myself now to ponder as I let Alexander lead us. I had fled the castle alone, weak, and virtually friendless. And I had returned slightly stronger but even more alone, with no idea how to find or rescue my missing friend. But now, even though fear gripped my heart for the children who had become like family to me, I was leaving the capital with not only my rescued friend, but with information and allies and the promise of an army.
And yet even that paled against the sense of satisfaction that came from knowing that I had done it. I had said I would rescue Alexander, and I had done so. Tarver himself had said they couldn’t have done it without me, hadn’t he?
Take that! I said to my inner critic, now fallen silent. There is strength in me after all.
But my mind replied only with an image of little Poppy clinging to Daria’s side as they waved me farewell, the others ranged behind them. What good was my strength if I couldn’t prevent harm coming to those who had befriended me without motive, gain, or guile? Every way I turned, I brought harm to someone.
I pushed my feet faster, and Alexander, a single stride ahead of me, responded by increasing his own pace. In tune with me, as always. Had he even rested since his escape the night before? I hoped so.
We stopped briefly to rest a short time before dawn, on our way again by the time the sun was well in the sky. Weariness dragged at me now, but still I moved faster than I had ever done through the forest before. The combination of my training and Alexander’s presence made the miles fly by.
I wanted to keep going, but when Alexander insisted we stop for a midday meal, my body protested the truth of his words.
“We’ll move faster if we keep up our strength,” he said. He didn’t have to say the words for me to know that I had started to flag. I sank down onto the ground.
“A brief rest, then.”
He silently handed me cold rations from a large bag he carried. I watched him, surreptitiously at first, and then increasingly openly. That he saw himself as my protector I didn’t doubt. It had always been that way between us. But I had rescued him. What did he think of that? Did he still pity the poor, lonely princess as he had implied in the cottage clearing what felt like a lifetime ago?
“What is it?” he asked warily, throwing a small twig at me as if we were on one of our old jaunts through the woods, and I was merely plotting some new escapade to get us into trouble.
“What did you think when you saw me appear in front of your cell?” The words tumbled out before I had quite resolved to say them.
He looked startled, his gaze dropping to the ground.
“Alex?”
“In truth?” He looked up at me briefly before his eyes fell away again. “I thought it merely another dream.”
My heart sped up, and my hand clenched around my food. Had it been rescue he dreamed of? Or me? But that I did not have the courage to ask.
“When I realized you were real, I felt joy, and then fear.” He shook his head. “And then pride.” He smiled across at me, his momentary embarrassment seeming to be gone. “I’ll admit I didn’t imagine you would manage to rescue me. Although I was terrified you would try.”
I could see he meant no malice with his words, but anger shot through me, tapping into a deeper well I hadn’t even known I carried. No wonder I always doubted myself, when my best—and really only—friend always doubted me.
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth? About my grandfather? That you were working with him.”
Alexander frowned, his face darkening and then flushing. He said nothing.
I had thought myself content with the knowledge that it must have been concern for me that drove his silence. But I realized in this moment that it wasn’t enough. He called me his queen, and then he hid things from me. Important things. Because he was afraid I couldn’t handle them. What sort of queen did he think I would be?
“I know you were trying to protect me, but it just left me vulnerable. I need to know you trust me.”
&
nbsp; Still he said nothing, and now he wouldn’t even meet my eyes. A horrible thought washed over me, and I gasped.
Perhaps I had been wrong about his motives. “Did you think I would forbid you from contacting him? Out of anger and resentment that he ignored me all those years?”
Alexander swallowed. “Snow, I…”
I stared at him, but he didn’t complete the thought. I shook my head, tears in my eyes that I battled to keep from falling.
“How can I ever rule when my closest friend in the world doesn’t trust me to make the right decision? To be capable? Am I just supposed to be a puppet ruler? A pretty face to wear the crown and smile at the crowds?”
“No, of course not! Snow!” He met my eyes at last, looking horrified. “You will be an incredible ruler. I don’t doubt it.”
“But you do,” I whispered. “It’s obvious. You doubt me.”
“No.” He looked torn, his features twisting. “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. You’re brave and strong, you’ve proved that many times over in the last few weeks. And you have a kind heart, the sort that people are drawn to. Just look how those children welcomed you. And how easily you won over half your court with only one party.”
“Sort of won them over,” I muttered. “Don’t forget we need an army to satisfy them.”
He ignored my grumble. “But you’re also a girl who just lost her father. A girl I—” He cut himself off, swiftly shaking his head. His voice dropped almost to a whisper. “I don’t always see things clearly where you’re concerned. It’s me who makes the poor decisions, not you.”
I swallowed, trying to understand his words and what was behind them. They sounded almost as muddled as my own thoughts half the time. With a deep sigh, I let my anger flow away. Just as Alexander apparently found it difficult to forget I wasn’t still a lonely child, I sometimes forgot he wasn’t that much older than me. If I was allowed to still be finding my way, didn’t I need to extend the same courtesy to him?
“It’s all right,” I said, causing him to look up quickly. “But I need you to promise you’ll never do it again. Never keep information from me to protect me. From now on, we make decisions together.”
He nodded, regret clear on his face. “That’s an easy promise to make. It should have been that way from the beginning.”
I smiled at him, relieved to have peace restored between us. It had never felt right to be at odds with Alexander. But the smile didn’t last long. I took my last bite and stood. Things might be well with the oldest of my friends, but I had recently acquired some new ones, and fear for them tugged me onward.
Our pace somehow quickened again after that, and we made such good time that we stumbled into the clearing as the last of the sun’s light disappeared.
The clearing was deserted, although smoke rose from the chimney. But I knew from experience that meant nothing. Racing across the open space, I flung open the unlatched door.
Astonished faces turned to greet me, and I counted them rapidly. One, two, three, four, five, six.
“Where’s Daria?” I gasped.
Silently they all drew back from where they had been clumped together around a familiar figure stretched out motionless in front of the fire.
“Oh Snow!” Poppy ran toward me, tears streaming down her face, and flung herself into my arms.
I swayed from the impact of her small weight just as Alexander pushed through the doorway behind me, his eyes quickly taking in the scene.
We hadn’t moved fast enough. We were too late.
Chapter 20
But even as I had the awful thought, Daria turned her head weakly and smiled at me.
“Hello, Snow.” Her gaze traveled to Alexander, and her smile grew. “And hello, Alexander.”
I almost dropped Poppy at the second shock, racing forward and falling onto my knees beside Daria, Poppy tumbling from my arms and kneeling beside me.
“Oh, you’re alive! Oh, thank goodness.”
“Only just,” said Ben. I had never heard him sound so grim.
“And here you are,” said Anthony from beside him. “Right on time.”
Daria glared at him from the floor. “What are you saying, Anthony? This isn’t Snow’s fault.”
“It’s mighty funny timing is all I’m saying,” said Anthony, crossing his arms over his chest.
“This whole thing seems too strange to understand,” said Ben. But he looked at me as if hoping for an explanation.
Two tears ran down my cheeks. “Oh, Daria, Anthony’s right. It is all my fault.”
“No,” Alexander said quickly from where he still stood by the door. “It’s her fault.”
“What?” Anthony uncrossed his arms and turned belligerently toward Alexander. “Don’t try to blame this on Daria.”
“No, no,” I jumped in quickly. “He doesn’t mean Daria. He means…” I swallowed, nervous now that the moment for truth had come. “He means Queen Alida.”
“Queen Alida?”
“The queen?”
“What?”
Multiple voices spoke at once, astonishment or skepticism visible on every face.
“Why would the queen want to hurt Daria?” Ben’s soft voice spoke last of all.
I grimaced and rubbed at the moisture on my face. “She doesn’t. Not specifically, anyway. She wants to hurt me.”
“You?” Anthony scoffed.
I took a deep breath. “I’m afraid I haven’t been honest with you all. My name isn’t really Snow. Well, Snow is my nickname.” I paused. “My name is Princess Blanche.”
All six of the standing children drew back, their eyes round and bodies stiff. Daria, who still lay before me, tightened her hand spasmodically around mine.
“Princess?” asked Danni, still staring at me as if I had two heads. “Why would a princess want to live in our cottage?”
“Because her stepmother tried to kill her,” said Alexander.
The children all started again, as if they had forgotten his presence. Ben looked at him searchingly, and Anthony recrossed his arms.
“So I guess you really are a royal huntsman. We should have guessed who she was when we realized she had a huntsman trailing her around.”
Now it was Daria’s turn to scoff, the sound weak compared to Anthony’s. “Don’t be ridiculous, Anthony. How could we possibly have guessed she was really the princess?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it. The princess!”
I squeezed her hand, looking down at her face. “I’m so sorry, Daria. I’m so sorry I never told you the truth. I thought I was protecting you, but really I was just afraid that you would kick me out if you knew the truth.” I gestured at her. “And you would have been right to do it, too! Look at what’s happened! I should never have stayed here.”
Ben’s heavy sigh sounded behind me. “I do wish you’d told us the truth. But I doubt we’d have sent you away.” I looked up at him, and he gave me a long-suffering look. “Daria can never resist a good sob story.”
“Why is your stepmother trying to kill you?” piped in Jack, apparently uninterested in the part where I was a princess.
“Because she wants Snow’s throne,” said Alexander. “Snow is the true queen.”
“Of…of course.” Daria struggled to push herself into a sitting position. “Your Majesty.”
I shook my head and pushed her gently back down. “Don’t be silly. I’m still Snow to you.”
“I still don’t understand,” said Louis, who had been standing quietly to one side, his brow wrinkled. “What happened to Daria? And what does it have to do with you being a princess? Or queen, or whatever?”
“Well…” I rocked back onto my heels and glanced at Alexander. “To tell the truth we’re not entirely sure about that. We didn’t tell anyone about you all, I promise. But somehow the queen learned that I had been here. She thought I was still here, in fact. So she sent some sort of…weapon. We hurried to warn you as soon as we heard, but obviously we were too late. What happened?”
He shrugged uncomfortably. “Well I don’t know about any weapons. Maybe this had nothing to do with you, after all.”
Alexander stepped forward, his eyes keen. “Tell us exactly what happened.”
“Daria, Anthony, and Louis just got back from a trip into the village,” said Ben.
“Just this afternoon,” said Danni. She looked a little put out, and I wondered if she had resented being left behind.
“Yes, this afternoon,” said Ben, unworried by the interruption. “They had bought all the necessities, and there must have been a little money left over because Daria also bought herself a new dress.”
Daria flushed and indicated she wanted to sit, so I helped gently raise her, using several cushions to prop her against one of the chairs.
“I’ve been growing so much that I desperately needed a new one. It was a little finer than I would normally look at, but the peddler was so kind and friendly. He offered it to me at such a bargain that I couldn’t resist.”
Ben took back up the story. “When she got home, she sent the rest of us out of the cottage so she could try it on. All except for Poppy who begged to stay and help her tie the laces.”
Poppy, who had been surprisingly silent since her first outburst, crawled up to Daria and tucked herself under her arm. Tears poured down her face.
“I didn’t mean to pull them so tight. I promise. But I’ve just learned how to tie them myself, and I wanted to show Daria how good I’ve gotten.”
“Of course it wasn’t your fault,” said Daria, squeezing her. “You don’t even have the strength to tie them like that.” She looked up at me. “Honestly, I don’t know what happened. One moment Poppy was showing me how she could lace them properly, and the next they were just getting tighter and tighter. I tried to tell her I couldn’t breathe, but I couldn’t even get the words out. And then everything went black.”
“It’s a good thing Poppy was with her,” said Ben. “When Daria collapsed and Poppy couldn’t get her to wake, she ran screaming out to us.” He shook his head, eyeing a pile of material next to the fire. “There’s something bewitched about that dress, I swear. The knot looked simple, but we couldn’t get it undone. It wouldn’t budge at all. In the end, we had to cut the laces. And they were mighty hard to saw through, too. If it had taken a few seconds longer, I’m not sure we would have been able to revive her. She’d only just started breathing again when you both came bursting in.”
A Dream of Ebony and White: A Retelling of Snow White (Beyond the Four Kingdoms Book 4) Page 17