We hurried back to Majestic, steering clear of Hildegard’s boys who continued to beat each other over the head with clubs. As soon as we crossed the bridge by Red’s house, we heard singing. A sweet, crystal clear voice cut through the silence. A girl with long, flowing hair swirled in circles with outstretched arms.
“Holy amaze balls,” said Ava. “That’s Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora, isn’t it? She’s the part you have in the recital.”
“Yep.”
“She’s singing just the way she does in the story. Her voice is amazing.” A bird zoomed by us, heading away from the princess toward the woods. “Let me guess, that’s not the whole story either.”
I shook my head. “But really, who wouldn’t go a little soft in the head after being isolated in the woods for sixteen years? She thinks the birds sing back to her, but all the animals run in the opposite direction when they hear her. They just want some peace and quiet, and she won’t leave them alone.”
Ava went quiet, seemingly lost in thought for the next half mile. Then she blurted out what had apparently been bothering her. “They’re really not cute at all? The princes, I mean?”
“Nope. Nothing like the pictures in the books.”
Ava groaned. “That’s so sad. At least when I thought fairytales weren’t real, I could daydream about handsome princes riding on white stallions.” She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “You’ve killed that dream for me, forever.”
As though on cue, the thunder of horse hooves beat toward us, and a large black stallion reared when it saw us. It wore a saddle but no rider. Majestic whinnied and started to buck.
A boy burst through the trees. “Archibald! Halt!”
The horse settled back onto four legs again, barely a foot away from us, as it snorted with nostrils flared. Ava trembled as Majestic appeared to be on the verge of a panic attack.
“There, there, it’s okay girl.” I patted Majestic’s side. The boy, dressed in fine clothes, took his horse by the reins with confidence and I couldn’t help but notice his muscular build. He looked more man than boy upon closer inspection, probably about our age. His sandy blond hair complimented the blue of his eyes. Overall, he looked like a hotter, stronger version of Ty Wilder. I’d never seen anyone who looked like this in all of Liralelle.
“Sorry about that.” He stroked his horse to continue calming it. “I’d just led her to the stream for some water, when Beauty started singing. Archibald can’t stand it, and took off. I’m really sorry.” He shook his head. “Seems my horse has more sense than my parents—they’re still pushing me to marry Beauty. As if getting married could make her sane again.”
Ava scoffed. “Marriage is the last thing that would make someone sane.”
I glanced at her. Maybe she needed therapy when we got back. Maybe Rae’s mom could help her out.
Ava crossed her arms. “Wait, Aurora’s a princess. I thought only princes could marry princesses.”
He grinned at Ava, revealing perfectly straight, white teeth. What was it with me and teeth? “Guess I’m not like most of the others around here, but I am, in fact, a prince. Prince Evan to be exact.” He bowed low with a sweeping gesture. “At your service.”
Ava giggled in front of me. She had to be blushing. “I’m Ava.”
He sauntered up to Majestic and rubbed her mane, his hand close to where Ava’s leg hung from the saddle. “Hi, beautiful girl.” Majestic nuzzled his hand as though she’d forgiven the fact that his horse had just charged her. Prince Evan then lifted Ava’s hand and pressed it to his mouth. “Pleased to meet you, Ava.”
Then he reached behind her and grasped my hand, gazing deep into my eyes. His mouth twitched. “And you, my lady?”
“Bree,” I managed.
His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Ah yes, the warrior.” Good thing I’d decided to come clean, because my identity didn’t seem so secret these days. News traveled fast, whether good or bad. His eyes traveled down to my sword, then came back up slowly until he met my eyes again. “I’ve never seen a warrior look like you.”
Heat burned my cheeks, but I wouldn’t let him fluster me. “And I’ve never seen a prince look like you.”
“Touché.” He smiled again, then looked closer. “You look familiar. Have I met you before?”
“Definitely not, Prince Evan,” I said. “And why is that, being that I know who most of the princes are around these parts?”
“Just Evan will do.” He glanced around. “I keep mainly to the woods. You could say I’ve been in hiding, but I’ve also been training. I’m going to find Muriel.”
My defenses flew up. Did he think he could just take over my territory? Hot or not, I wasn’t about to let a boy take over from here. This job was personal to me. “No, I’m going to find Muriel.” I flung my hair over my shoulder. “In fact, I’ve been hired to find her.”
Evan looked puzzled. “You’re being paid to find Muriel? That’s weird.” He stood straighter. “Well, I’m not doing it for money. I’m doing it because the witch has it coming to her.” He hopped up onto Archibald in one fluid movement and grabbed the reins in both hands. “I guess we’ll have to see who finds her first. Good hunting.” With that, he snapped the reins, and Archibald thundered off, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust swirling around us.
I shook my head in disgust. “Unbelievable.”
Ava stared after him. “He was pretty unbelievable, wasn’t he?” She pivoted around to glare at me. “And you’re an unbelievable liar. What, did you want to keep him all for yourself? Not that I’d blame you. I wouldn’t share that either.”
I sighed and signaled for Majestic to continue toward the castle. “No, I swear I’ve never seen him before in my life. I didn’t even know he existed.”
“Sure, and I’m a princess.” Ava twirled her hair. “I’d be his princess anyway, that’s for sure.”
I wound my finger into her curls. “I’m sure he’d love your soft hair as much as Travis.”
“Stop it,” she said, before giggling again. “I got hit on by a troll—who would have thunk?”
Rolph jumped up and down when he saw us, clapping his hands together. He ran down the front steps of the castle entrance. “You’re safe! You’ve been gone so long, I thought something dreadful had happened. Are you okay? The Queen had to be medicated, she was so upset. She’s laying down in her chambers, but I’ll go get her.”
I held up my hand. “No, don’t.” I pulled him behind a large rosebush in the courtyard, making sure no guards could see us. Ava ducked behind some lilacs.
I grasped Rolph’s hand in mine and spoke in a low voice. “Look, Ava and I need to get home. I know the Queen won’t allow us to leave until we find Muriel, so I’m hoping you can help us get home without her knowing.”
Rolph’s eyes widened. “But we’d need her crown and scepter. No one touches those but her.” He wrung his hands. “She’d know I helped you and would have my head.”
“No, I’ve thought it out. She’d never know we were gone. You’d send us home but tell her you hadn’t heard anything from us, and then tonight, you’d bring us back again.”
Rolph gasped. “I’d have to steal her crown twice? Holy hobbits, that’s crazy!”
Ava startled at the outburst and held a finger to her lips.
“Shhhhh!” I covered his mouth with my hand. “You can do it, Rolph. I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t super important.”
A guard walked through the courtyard in front of the castle. He glanced around before he continued his rounds around the perimeter of the stone walls.
“Now!” I motioned to Ava and pulled on Rolph’s arm. We ran toward the castle entrance and made it in the door without anyone noticing.
“Great. We’re inside,” said Rolph, bent over and breathing hard. “Now what?”
“Didn’t you say the Queen was medicated, as in deeply asleep?” I asked.
Rolph groaned. “Did I say that?”
Ava nodded. “Yep, I heard you.”
Rolph sighed. “Okay, I’ll do it.” He shook a finger at me. “But only this one time … well, two times. Can you at least tell me why?”
I debated telling him the whole truth but settled for half. “I’m worried about my brother. I’ve never been gone this long and I can’t concentrate on finding Muriel until I know he’s okay.”
Rolph grumbled something under his breath but told us to wait in the small sitting room to the left of the entrance. “And don’t let anyone see you or this plan is nixed.” He left to retrieve the items from the Queen’s chamber.
We crept into the cozy but luxurious room and sank onto plush velvet chairs.
Ava smiled. “This has been the craziest day of my life. I just know I’m going to wake up and find out it was all a dream, like Dorothy in Oz.”
“I hope you do think it’s all a dream. Then I won’t feel so badly about bringing you into this.”
Rolph returned a few minutes later, breathing hard. He held the crown and scepter away from his body, like he would burst into flames if they got too close. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m going to be in so much trouble.”
“Just help us already before you hyperventilate.” I strained to get a better look at the objects in his hand. “Come closer, Rolph.”
Ava sat up straighter in her chair. “What do I do? Just sit here?”
Fear contorted Rolph’s face. “Like I’ve ever done this before. I mean … I’ve seen her Majesty do it, but I’m not sure I know exactly what to do.”
I waved Ava over to my chair. “I think we have to be touching, A, because that’s how you ended up here in the first place.” Ava perched on the arm of my chair and linked her arm through mine.
Rolph was only a step away. I fingered the cold stone in my pocket and studied the crown. I’ve stared at the intricate pattern of stones on the Queen’s crown many times while she was bringing me up to speed on my latest job. The stone in my pocket was citrine, a sparkling yellow crystal. This one’s cut and high brilliance was exactly like the ones I’d seen before on her crown. I was almost positive that the stone in my pocket was one of two citrines that flanked the huge flawless diamond in the center of her crown. It would mean Her Highness had been in the woods the night Helga was killed. But no, the Queen’s jewels were intact, which meant I had squat.
The scepter was within my grasp, but unlike the large stones of the crown, its surface was covered with what looked like thousands of tiny jewels.
Rolph held the crown backwards in his hand, still keeping it as far as possible from him. He pointed the scepter at us and repeated what he’d heard the Queen say numerous times in the past. “Return to your world far from here, but hold your love for Liralelle near.”
Nothing happened.
I blinked. “I think you have to wear the crown for it to work, Rolph.”
He muttered again, but finally turned the crown and placed it on his head. I sucked in my breath. It didn’t make sense. The crown’s citrine wasn’t missing. Even if Her Highness had lost a stone in the woods, she couldn’t have had it replaced so quickly. It’s not like perfectly cut citrines grew on trees, even in Liralelle.
Before I had time to ponder it further, Rolph repeated his words. I exhaled in relief at the same time Ava yelped at the sight of the huge black tornado in front of us.
8
The funnel deposited us a few feet away from Kermit in the now empty ballet studio parking lot. The wind had died down to a mere whisper. I tried to think of how I could make Ava think this had all been a trippy dream. Maybe I could tell her that someone put psychedelics in our water bottles.
I fumbled for the keys in my bag and opened the driver side door. “Well, here we are. Hop in.”
Ava stared at me as walked around the car and waited for me to unlock her door. She waited until I started the car and pulled out her cell phone to check for reception. “Whoa, it’s almost nine. I told Rae we’d pick her up for the party. I can’t believe we’ve only been gone several hours … it seemed like we were there forever.”
I swallowed hard. This wouldn’t work, but I had to try. “We were where forever? Look, I don’t feel in the mood for a party, so how about I just drop you off and—”
“No!” Ava put up her hand to stop me. “Don’t even try it. That was the freakiest thing that’s ever happened to me. You can’t take it away from me, or make me think it didn’t happen, so don’t even try. I need this right now.” Her lower lip trembled.
I sighed. “Fine, okay, I get it … sort of. But you can’t tell anyone about this, okay? Not even Rae.”
Ava pretended to lock her lips with a key. “I won’t. But I want to go back with you next time.”
I shook my head and turned up the heat in the car. “No way. It’s too dangerous and I can’t risk you getting hurt. Besides, you’d have to be touching me when the funnel came back, and being glued to my side constantly would be hard to explain, don’ cha think?”
Ava crossed her arms over her chest. “Not for best friends, it wouldn’t. Plus, it’s my condition for staying silent.” She stared straight ahead. “As far as getting hurt, I might not be a sword ninja like you, but I take kick-boxing classes at the rec center. I’m sure I could take down a troll if I wanted.”
The thought of Ava dropping a troll made me laugh. “Stop it, I shouldn’t be encouraging this.”
Ava tugged on my arm. “Hey, turn up there for Rae’s house.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t seriously think we’re going to a party right now, do you? My mom would … oh crap, my mom is going to kill me.”
I fished for my phone and called her at work. She didn’t answer but I knew she was already on the floor at the hospital. I left a message saying I had celebrated with Ava after finding out the audition results, which was why I didn’t get home earlier. Then I called the sitter and told her I’d be home in about an hour. She said Cal had gone to bed fine but complained I hadn’t been there to kiss him goodnight. Pangs of guilt stabbed at me, but I’d be home when he woke up in the morning.
Ava pulled on the wheel to make it turn right onto Rae’s street. I pulled into her driveway and Ava texted her to meet us outside.
“Listen,” I said, “We’ll take Rae to the party but she’ll have to find her own way home. I need some sleep.”
The door to Rae’s house opened. She flounced out in a gauzy floor length peasant skirt paired with a tank top adorned by a clunky necklace. Somehow, she managed to look effortless and fashionable at the same time. It wasn’t fair. Her mom waved to us from the doorway.
“Must be nice to have a mother who cares when you’re leaving the house,” Ava muttered.
Rae hopped into the back seat. “Evening, ladies. Ready for some fun?”
“Bree’s not feeling the fun tonight, right B?” Ava turned to me. “So, I think we might just drop you off.”
“What? No way!” Rae pushed between the two front seats, and nudged Ava. “You realize Ty’s going to be there? You can’t expect a guy like that to be on his own for long.” She turned in my direction. “What gives?”
I shrugged. “Tired, I guess. Sorry to be lame, but I’d just fall asleep.” I reached the end of her street. “Also, I have no idea where I’m going. Can someone help me out here?”
Ava whipped the phone from her lap. “I’ll GPS it. No worries.” I wondered if she was trying to prove that she’d be a useful sidekick but then realized that she’d always been helpful like that. If someone had to follow me to Liralelle, I’m glad it was her.
Rae shook her head and sank back into the back seat. “I can’t believe you guys are serious. Just stay a few minutes, and then we’ll leave. Besides, I brought refreshments.” She pulled out a small silver flask that must have been tucked in the waistband of her skirt. “I know you girls don’t drink but you’re missing out.” She tipped it into her mouth and took a long sip. The smell fr
om the flask brought back flashbacks of my whiskey shots, and I knew I wasn’t missing out on anything. I tried not to gag.
Ava grabbed the flask from her. “Think I will have some. Maybe I need to be more adventurous.” Ava took a long sip, coughed, and handed it back to Rae. “Don’t think your mother would approve of this, huh?”
Rae sat up and broke into her mother’s professional tone. “Teens who use marijuana are five times more likely to have sex than those who don’t.” She relaxed her posture and raised the flask. “So, no MJ. I’m drinking instead.”
Ava and I needed to have another talk. Between what was going on at home and Liralelle, she was worrying me. I followed Ava’s directions to Trevor’s house, and hoped we could just drop off Rae without having to talk to anyone. I didn’t need the rearview mirror to know that I must look like hell. Ava took several more long pulls from Rae’s flask which made me glad we weren’t staying at the party. Since she didn’t usually drink, I wondered how well she could keep secrets if she got plastered.
We pulled onto Trevor’s street and a throng of people gathered in front of his house.
Ava tapped on the window. “Holy hobbits, that’s a lot of people.”
Rae laughed and spit out the whiskey in her mouth. “Holy hobbits? Is that your new curse word? Oh, I’ve got a good one. Galloping Gollum!”
Ava clasped her hand over her mouth, like she wanted to take back what she said. Yeah, it was really good we weren’t staying.
Rae continued to giggle and spew out Tolkien-inspired swear words. I navigated the car through a group of people and pulled over to the side of the road a little too eagerly. The tire groaned against the curb.
“Freakin’ Frodo,” Rae exclaimed while bracing herself against the door. Ava erupted into laughter and ignored my death stare.
“Everything okay here, ladies?”
I rolled my window down and stared up into familiar eyes. “Yeah, just a slight parking miscalculation.”
“Ty!” Ava squealed beside me. “You’re here.”
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