Muriel’s face grew sad, her wrinkles etched deep in her face. “That, my dear, is debatable. Let’s just say that while I use my magic for good, she’s been using it for other reasons. I’ve been in hiding for years, trying to find a way to stop her. When I spoke to Helga the night before she died, she described the warrior Bree that she’d met that day, and I knew it was you. We were to meet that night and discuss a plan, but when I arrived, I saw my sister there with Helga.”
Muriel wiped a tear from her eye. “The Queen and I fought and my magic prevented her from killing me outright. She threw me against a tree. When I came to, Helga was dead and I couldn’t bring her back.”
That explained the citrine I’d found on the ground. The force of hitting the tree must have knocked it loose. All this time, I’d thought of Muriel as a monster, and she’s been trying to help everyone. She pushed her scepter into the ground and feebly attempted to stand.
“Here, let me help you.” I grabbed her arm and helped her up. The bony grasp of her fingers didn’t seem as scary now. Her watery eyes seemed kind rather than evil.
“Thank you, child.” She smiled at me. “We have to go now.”
Evan picked up Cal and tossed him over his shoulder. “Time to move on, kiddo.”
We got Muriel’s horses ready for travel. She and Evan had one ready for me. Cal rode with me, tucked safely in front, his hands grasping the reins with mine so he could help “steer.” Muriel rode just ahead, while Evan’s horse stayed in step with my own. The air was cool but comfortable, and trees rustled as a gentle breeze blew through them.
Evan explained that they’d been moving from cabin to cabin in the forest, a series of safe havens that Muriel had set up over the years to prevent discovery. He told me that right after Her Highness had sent me back to my world, she’d asked him who he was. Since he didn’t know his true heritage at that time, he’d told her about his adoptive parents, but something told him to leave out the part that he was a prince. He accompanied her to Muriel’s cabin only to find it empty. Her Highness had been furious that Muriel had escaped her again. He overheard her tell Rolph that they would return to the castle to gather guards in order to hunt Muriel down.
Hearing Rolph’s name made me wistful. Hopefully, he’d realized by now that his employer was not the caring leader she pretended to be. “I hope Rolph is okay.”
Muriel called over her shoulder. “He is. Who do you think warned me about your little brother being in danger?”
My heart soared. He had helped to save Cal from Her Highness. But that also meant that he was playing a dangerous game. If the Queen knew about his betrayal, she’d kill him.
“And Ava?” I asked Muriel, a lump in my throat. “Any news about her?”
“I’m hungry,” Cal whined.
Evan reached into his pack and produced an apple. He reached over to Cal’s eager hand. “Here you go, bro.”
“Yes, child,” said Muriel. “But I’m not sure what it means yet. Rolph heard guards talking about a kidnapped girl who escaped from Gertrude.”
“She got away!” I cried. “That means she’s alive.”
Muriel hesitated. “Possibly. But Gertie threw a fit about it and has been on the hunt for this girl. She’s got her guards combing the land for me as well as your friend.”
Cal crunched into the apple, keeping his other hand on the horse’s mane. I had a feeling he’d be asking Mom for a pet horse when we returned home. If we returned home. Mom was probably a wreck, and Jay must have realized I was gone by now. Even though the thought was a selfish one, I missed Jay and wished he was here. And I’d do anything to hear Ava’s chattering voice again.
“But that means she’s out here somewhere.”
Evan looked grim. “I’ve looked everywhere, believe me. No one has seen her in days. If the Queen found her, she’d likely have killed her outright this time.”
He was right. Her Highness wouldn’t risk taking her back to the castle, not if she was growing more worried about Muriel.
“That’s why we’re traveling,” Evan continued. “We’re searching for Ava, but also trying to rouse support from the locals and tell them what’s going on. We need to find a way into the Center Village unnoticed. The highest population of Liralelle residents live within the Village gates. Once they discover that Her Highness is behind the missing girls, we should find many people willing to fight.”
Muriel slowed her trot ahead of us. “The problem will be getting in unnoticed. No doubt Gertrude has considered this. Guards are likely placed all along the perimeter.”
“I still feel responsible for Ava,” Evan said. “I just don’t think it’s a good sign that no one we’ve come across so far has seen her. It’s not like she knew anyone in Liralelle aside from us. She wouldn’t know who she could trust or where to go.”
We rode in silence a few minutes. Splatters of sunshine broke through the forest in places where the trees were less dense. My mind wandered, trying to process all of the information I’d absorbed in the past hour. Thoughts of Ava pierced my brain and I remembered how brave she’d been when she first landed in this crazy place. If by chance she was still alive and in the forest somewhere, she’d be dying for someone to talk to.
I jerked my head up. “I think I know where she is.”
15
We briefly stopped to let the horses drink, and let Cal run around and expend some energy. He was being so good with all of this. I wondered how long it would take until he asked to see Mom and go home. What would I tell him then? He leaned against me once we were back on the horses. Soon I heard his gentle, even breathing and knew he’d fallen asleep. I placed a protective arm around his waist so he wouldn’t slide off.
We rode until we reached the edge of the forest nearest the troll village. The familiar puff of smoke from the fire ring rose into the air.
Muriel chuckled. “Gertrude always hated the troll village even more than the commoners. She’d have sent guards to check it out but wouldn’t have gone in there herself. If she’s here, your friend is a smart one.”
Evan glanced around the clearing to the village. “I don’t see any guards, but they could be hiding.”
I nodded. “I’ll go in. I know the most likely place she’d be.” I sat up straighter and tugged on Cal’s arm to wake him.
Muriel struggled to dismount her horse, and Evan rushed to her aid. Her crown and scepter stayed hidden in a bag tied to her horse’s saddle. “Well, I don’t get around as well as I used to these days, but I will remain here and guard the child.” She fished a sugared treat out of another pouch and Cal quickly hopped down to take the candy. Nothing woke that kid up faster than sugar.
Evan nodded. “I’ll make a ruckus on the far side of the village. If there are any guards, it will draw them over there.” He looked toward me. “You slip in through the side. If there are no guards, I’ll come back here and wait with Cal and Muriel.”
I frowned. “And if there are?”
Evan shrugged. “I’ll figure something out. I’m resourceful like that.”
“Be careful, Evan. I’m pretty sure Ava wants you alive.”
He grinned. “That’s what I’m hoping. I owe her for not staying awake. Wait for my signal—you’ll know it when you hear it.”
Evan took off through the woods toward the back edge of the village. A few minutes later, I heard him whooping and hollering, and singing a song that involved the word ‘whiskey.’ If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he was drunk. Which I guess was the point.
Nothing happened. No guards stormed out from the woods to apprehend him. No flash of swords could be seen through the thick trees.
I kissed Cal on the top of his head. “Be good.”
He nodded while chewing off another piece of candy. Muriel smiled at me. “Nothing will happen to this boy under my watch.”
I knew it was true. I thought about the scepter and her crown in the bag. “Can’t you and your sister summon each other the way you do with me?”
Muriel shook her head. “Magic is a funny thing. It has rules like everything else. Since we possess the same abilities, they don’t work on each other.”
“That explains why you’ve been able to hide from her for so long.” I looked at Cal. “Okay, be right back.”
I sprinted toward the village, which was only surrounded on the front three sides by a wooden fence. They must have figured that if they were so disliked, they didn’t have to worry about keeping people out. No one wanted in to begin with. The back side simply opened up into the forest. I scaled the fence and dropped down on the other side.
A series of small huts lay before me, and I knew the hut I wanted was closer to the front entrance. I skirted between other huts and was passing behind the fire ring when I saw a troll I recognized. Travis. The troll who’d been infatuated with Ava and her hair. Sweat dripped down his face, as he tirelessly chopped wood for the fire. I crept behind a large tree and whisper-shouted to him. “Travis!”
Travis whipped around, raising his axe in the air mid-chop. He looked fiercer and less amiable than last time I saw him. “Travis, back here,” I whispered again. “It’s me, Bree. Remember, I’m friends with Ava, the blond-haired girl.”
Travis lowered the axe and walked toward my voice. He whistled as he walked, as if he were just going to collect more logs for the fire. His face appeared next to mine behind the tree. “It’s not safe here, miss,” he said quickly. “The Queen’s guard ‘ave been doing raids at all hours, lookin’ your friend. I knew that girl was a good one, that somethin’ wasn’t right.”
My heart hammered in my chest. “Have you seen her? Ava, I mean.”
Travis looked around quickly. A few other trolls chopped wood on the opposite side of the fire ring. They sang songs involving activities with the troll women that my mother would have found totally inappropriate. None of them paid any attention to Travis.
“Aye. She’s stayin’ with Horace. He’s been hidin’ her and I’ve been bringing them what they need.”
Hope surged through me. I wanted to reach out and hug Travis. “I have to see her.”
Travis nodded. “Come back tonight, when it’s dark. The raids have all been in the daytime. With having no light out here, ‘cept lanterns and sunlight, they can’t search very well after sunset.”
I’d come so far to find her that waiting several hours felt like torture, but at least I’d see her soon. “Thanks, Travis. If you see her, tell her I’m coming.” I leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
His cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson. “No worries, miss. I’m happy to help.”
I wound my way back toward the maze of huts. Movement caught my eye in my peripheral vision. Hildegard, the nasty female troll I’d first asked about Horace stood in the window of her hut, a scowl plastered across her face. She pulled the blind down, like she couldn’t get me out of her vision quickly enough.
I got back to the fence and hurdled over it. Cal, Evan, and Muriel sat in a circle in the woods, quietly playing a game with sticks. They must have convinced Cal that being loud was dangerous, because I’ve never heard him silent for longer than a few minutes.
Muriel smiled when she looked up. “I can tell by your face that your friend is okay.”
I couldn’t contain my grin. “Yeah, but I haven’t seen her. We have to camp out for a bit and go in when it’s dark. The guards have been doing raids during the day.”
Evan pumped his hand in the air. “That’s perfect. I can’t wait to see her and apologize in person.”
Cal’s face fell. “Bree, do you mean we have to be quiet all day?”
I squatted down next to him and ruffled his hair. “Yes, but it will be fun ... like a game.”
His eyes brightened a little, but he remained doubtful. “I don’t think being quiet is very fun.”
Muriel opened one of the satchels at her side. “And I have plenty of treats.”
I sighed as his face lit up. “Enjoy it while you can, Cal. As soon as we get home, it’s back to bananas and oatmeal.”
It finally grew dark enough to see the first stars twinkling in the night sky. We ate bread and cheese for supper since we couldn’t risk a fire in the dark. The last thing we wanted was attention. We’d had one incident before dusk where several of the Queen’s horsemen passed by within fifty feet of where we sat. Luckily, we’d camped in a dense area full of foliage and trees. I’d pulled Cal down into the brush with me and hoped that the horses would stay quiet enough to go unnoticed. The horsemen hesitated a moment and the silence had gone on for what seemed like eternity. They finally continued on through the woods.
Evan lay on the ground next to Cal and pointed out stars visible between the canopy of the tree tops. Dim light from the moon lit the area outside the tree line, and the air was brisk and cool. It was enervating and brought back memories of some of my former missions under the orders by Her Highness. I shuddered to think of those I’d killed at her behest. Those she’d told me were evil and needed to die before they killed others. What if those were lies too and I’d killed innocent people?
Muriel’s hand came to rest on my shoulder. “Doesn’t do any good to rehash the past, child. Just use what you learned to do better next time.”
“What are you, psychic or something?” I asked.
Muriel smiled. “You’d be amazed by how much people’s faces give them away. Now you’d best be moving along.”
“I’m going with you,” said Evan.
I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I’m just going to get her and bring her here. Then Muriel can send her back home with her scepter.”
Muriel shook her head. “She won’t be any safer in your world than Cal was. Gertrude will find her there, just like she found him.”
“Why did she want Cal?
Muriel’s voice was slow. “I would have told you already if I knew but I’m not sure. You’d have to ask her that. You’ll get the chance, dear, because until we stop her, I don’t think he will be safe. In either world.”
I felt sick to my stomach. How could I defeat a witch like her? Especially if Muriel’s magic didn’t affect Her Highness. “What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to put anyone else in danger but I don’t know how to beat her by myself.”
“What do I look like, chopped liver?” asked Evan. “You don’t have to do it by yourself.”
Muriel’s eyes shone in the dark. “I sense you’ve had many responsibilities in your young life, warrior child. But we all need help at times. Even me.” She rummaged through one of her bags as she spoke. “Letting others help when you need it is the sign of a great leader. Gertrude’s pride is her weakness.”
Evan stood up. “I’m fine with standing guard while you get Ava. Just get back here as fast as you can. We’ll figure out a plan after that.”
I thought of whom else might be able to help. “Ella would help us, if we can find a way to get to her without her step-sisters seeing. She goes alone to fetch water from the pond.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Muriel said. “Every person counts.”
Cal held on tightly to my leg. He wasn’t as fearless in the dark as he was during the day, and I wished I had a nightlight to turn on for him like I did at home. I hated to let him go. “Stay close to Muriel. I’ll be right back.”
“You keep saying that,” Cal said. “I just want to go home to my bed.”
“I know, sweetie. I’m trying to get you there. Hold on a little longer.”
Something flashed in the darkness. “Here,” Muriel said. “It’s a sword. You might need it.”
I gripped the cool silver handle. A sense of confidence and calm overcame me. I was still Bree, warrior of Liralelle, and I could save the Kingdom from Her Highness. With help, I reminded myself. I ducked out of the trees and ran toward the troll village.
The fire still burned at the center of the village, casting strange moving shadows over the ground from the flickering flames. The village was eerie at night—s
ilent, save for the crackling of the fire. One lone troll stood at the edge of the fire ring, tossing in logs to ensure it never died out. I stayed close to the huts and made my way toward the front. The huts all looked the same in the dark. I worried I wouldn’t know which one was Horace’s without light. After weaving around several huts, I recognized Horace and Helga’s roses climbing the wall.
My heart raced as I crept to the back of the hut to a small window. Since the trolls were much shorter than me, I had to stoop down to peek inside. The interior still looked warm and cozy. Fresh flowers adorned the table, and the teakettle whistled on the stove. I watched Horace get up from a chair to retrieve the kettle. He poured the water into a teacup. Just one teacup though. Where was Ava? She loved that tea.
I tapped lightly on the open wooden frame. Horace jerked his head toward me, but he wouldn’t know it was me in the dark. He confirmed that thought by reaching into a drawer and removing a large knife. My own weapon was sheathed at my side, and there was no way I was using it against Horace no matter what happened. He came toward the open hole in the wall.
“Horace, it’s me. Bree.”
He stopped halfway to the window, and lowered, but didn’t drop the knife. He peered into the night. “If you’re Bree, where did you meet Helga?”
“In her shop. The same day she was killed. Muriel came to your house that night.”
Horace quickened his pace to the window and leaned out. “It’s you! Get in here ... it isn’t safe.”
He took my hand while I attempted to crawl inside. It was such a small space that I got stuck and wasn’t sure I could fit through. I couldn’t believe I made it so far only to get stuck in a window frame.
“Here, let me help.” Horace yanked me with a forceful pull.
I yelped as I flew through the window and landed on his floor with a thud. My sword clanked loudly on the ground.
“Sorry ‘bout that. Just trying to help.”
I stood up and brushed myself off. “I know. Please tell me Ava’s here?”
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