Violet took off running.
And the birds knew exactly what they must do next.
35
With the feather in one hand and the pirate figurine in the other, which she held to bring her luck, Violet ran toward the castle gates. She ran until she heard the gentle buzz of the insects and the birds grow louder and louder, and she wondered what was happening behind her.
When she turned to look, she could hardly believe her eyes. The birds and insects had swarmed the queen’s face, her hair, her arms, her legs; they were everywhere, and it was all the queen could do to get back on her feet and run.
She ran, her arms flailing as she tried to escape the swarming mass. But the creatures stuck together and did not let up.
They went toward the east end of the castle.
Violet watched as they chased the queen right toward the tower.
36
Nuri searched Marko’s eyes. The recognition that should have been there was not. Nuri then understood that something had happened to him. That’s why it’d taken so long for him to come for her.
As much as she wanted to help Marko, she couldn’t fix everything at once.
“Violet needs us,” Nuri said. “Harry, this boy here, has told me that Violet, our daughter, is trying to escape this day. Whatever feelings you do or do not have for me, please, will you help me get to her?”
“Of course,” Marko said. “But the guard refuses to let us through. Even with offers of money.”
Nuri approached the guard. “Let me ask you one question. Do you have a mother?”
The hard lines on his face softened as he replied, “I do not any longer. She died two seasons ago.”
“Imagine her trying to get to you, and someone keeping you apart. That’s what you’re doing. My daughter needs us. Please, I beg you. If the queen discovers us, we swear on our daughter’s life we will not implicate you. You will never be mentioned, mark my words.”
He looked around and then put his lance back in its sheath. “I will let you through. But hurry. You do not have long.”
The minstrels were following Harry past the gate when a voice sang out.
A voice Nuri would have recognized in a crowd of a thousand.
A strong voice who would commandeer a mattress turned ship.
A sweet voice who spoke of seeing her father and being free.
We don’t know where we’re going,
only know where we have been.
The road we’re on is called Freedom,
and we’ll walk it again and again.
Nuri, Marko, and the other minstrels watched as Violet came from around the corner, following the butterflies, the bees, and the birds, one after the other after the other, in a long string of glory.
Not impossibly small.
Magnificently immeasurable.
Nuri couldn’t run to greet her fast enough.
“Mama,” Violet squealed as Nuri knelt and let her daughter fall into her.
“My princess,” Nuri whispered. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
“I am glad to not be any princess but yours,” Violet told her mother.
They held each other for a long time. When Nuri reached up and rubbed Violet’s bare head, they both giggled.
“What do you think of it?” Violet asked.
Nuri took the figurine from her daughter’s hand. “Whether you are a princess or a pirate or a simple girl who loves birds, I think you look strong and brave. Just like your papa, who is here to finally meet you.”
Marko took his cue and approached slowly. He extended his hand out for her to take. She still held the hummingbird’s feather. “Hello, Papa,” she said. “I am so happy to see you. Look here, I have a feather from one of my flying friends. They’ve rescued me from the evil queen.”
Violet placed the feather in her father’s outstretched hand, and like magic, the vacant look in his eyes disappeared. He took her hand and kissed it. “At last we finally meet, my dear daughter.” Then he turned to Nuri, beaming. “I can remember. Thank heavens, my memory has returned.”
“I never lost hope,” Nuri said as Marko reached over and kissed his wife’s cheek. “Can you recall what happened to you?”
“The queen cast a spell on me,” Marko explained. “It took the feather of a hummingbird to break the curse.” He swept Violet into his arms and spun her around, until they finally fell to the ground, both of them laughing. “You clever girl, you broke the curse!”
“I think you are the clever one,” Violet said as she ran her finger along his jaw. “I’ve heard stories about you.”
“Have you now?” he asked with a smile. “Do you have a favorite?”
“Yes,” Violet replied, with a twinkle in her eye. “The story of the day you met your daughter is definitely my favorite.”
37
Peace and Pax watched as the girl from the tower ran to greet her parents. They knew with certainty that love and freedom would be hers from now on.
They had chased the queen when she began to run. They chased her through the doorway of the tower and up a long spiral staircase and into a room. The queen had quickly shut the door, locking herself away from every creature, big and small, that she’d ever tried to make love her through spells or threats or demands. Satisfied, the birds, the bees, and the butterflies returned to join Violet and led her out of the garden to find her parents.
News of the day’s events quickly spread, and Maggie and George rushed down to celebrate Violet’s reunion with her family.
As Maggie stood there, tears filling her eyes, a brilliant blue butterfly flew up to greet her. Maggie held her finger out, as if to say rest here and say hello. The lovely butterfly accepted her offering and landed on her finger. Finally, with the elusive touch of a butterfly, the last of the witch’s spells were broken.
George and Maggie had been two innocent victims of the queen’s evil ways. Now they were transformed from their roles of gardener and maidservant to their true roles of king and queen.
Violet gasped when she saw Maggie in a royal blue gown and George with a plush red cape lined with white fur. They both wore jeweled crowns atop their heads.
Nuri and Violet curtsied. “Why didn’t you tell us, Your Royal Highnesses?” Violet asked as she rose to her feet.
“Because I couldn’t recall our true identities while under the spell,” Maggie replied. “In fact, the entire kingdom was enchanted.”
“It was extremely powerful,” George said. “But thanks to Violet’s feathered friends, who brought the rare indigo butterfly here today, we are finally free.”
Maggie and George weren’t the only ones affected. King Louis now stood before them wearing plain clothes, looking quite ashamed of himself.
“I assure you,” he told Maggie and George and the others, “I played no part in any of this. I was as much a victim as the rest of you. If you’ll remember, I was a tailor twenty years ago, before the witch cast her evil spell. It was at the special meeting, in the great hall.” He looked at George. “Do you remember that day?”
“I do now,” George replied. “A woman came to the castle and said she had vital information about a deadly virus making its way through the land. When I asked her to give me the information, she told me to assemble the masses so she could be sure all were well informed.”
“It was the witch?” Violet asked.
Maggie nodded. “The witch cast her horrible spell on us that day. But all is well now, thanks to you, Violet. Marko and Nuri, will you stay on at the castle? We’d love for you to, in whatever capacity you’d like.”
“I’m afraid we are wandering minstrels at heart,” Nuri said. “We look forward to showing our daughter the life she has missed out on for so long.”
“Will I play music with you, Mama?” Violet asked. “While I was training to be a princess, I learned to play the harp.”
“Aye, my daughter,” Nuri replied. “You will never have a day without music. I promise you that.” She turned and spoke
to Maggie and George. “But please do not worry. We will return often to visit.”
“You are welcome anytime,” George replied. “Please, consider this your home.”
Violet turned to her friend Harry. “I shall miss you. Thank you for all you have done to help me.”
He gave her a sad smile. “I shall miss you as well, but I’m glad freedom is finally yours.”
“Some of the birds will follow us, but I suspect some shall want to stay here, in the beautiful gardens,” Violet said. “Would you keep them company from time to time?”
“I would be delighted to,” Harry replied.
George turned and spoke to Harry. “It would please me greatly to appoint you the new gardener of the castle. I’m happy to teach you everything I know. Of course, our first task shall be to return the secret garden to its original state.”
Harry’s eyes lit up. Violet laughed and gave her friend’s arm a happy squeeze. Harry bowed. “It will be my honor, Your Majesty, to care for the beautiful gardens.”
“Good!” the king said. “Then it is done.”
The crowd buzzed with excitement over all the good news.
“Wait,” Marko said, shaking his head, as if he’d just had a revelation. “I’ve recalled the specific spell the queen cast on me—‘Only the feather of a hummingbird will free your mind, grant your wish.’ So I believe I have one wish to make. What shall I wish for?”
Violet was the first to speak. “Do not wish for fine clothes or good food. Do not wish for a feather bed or a warm fire. And most of all, do not wish for beauty, as the queen did, for none of those will bring you true happiness.”
“Tell me, my wise daughter. What would you have me wish for?”
“That anyone who sets eyes on a hummingbird will find joy in its magnificence, now and forever.”
“There is nothing else you want?” her father asked with surprise in his voice.
“My wish has already come true,” Violet said. “I drew a picture of it one day in the tower. Remember, Mama? I drew the three of us smiling, because we were thankful to be free.”
“Ah,” Marko said. “Of course it has. Then your wish for the hummingbirds is mine as well.”
“We should have a party,” Violet said, looking at the king and queen. “To celebrate this day. Why, I even have a pretty purple dress I can wear.”
“What a fine idea,” King George said. He clapped his hands loudly twice. “The royal ball will go on as planned. Please, back to your preparations, everyone.”
“But I shall not be crowned princess,” Violet said as she turned toward the castle with her mother and father on either side of her. “I just want to be a young minstrel.” She paused for a moment. “Except, of course, on the days I want to be a pirate.”
About the Author
Lisa Schroeder is the author of over a dozen books for kids and teens, including the young adult novels I Heart You, You Haunt Me and The Bridge from Me to You and the middle-grade novels It’s Raining Cupcakes and My Secret Guide to Paris. She loves tea and cookies, flowers, family hikes, books and movies that make her laugh and cry, and sunshine. Living in Oregon, she doesn’t get nearly enough sunshine, but the hikes are amazing. lisaschroederbooks.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
About the Illustrator
Nicoletta Ceccoli is the award-winning illustrator of many children’s books, including How Robin Saved Spring and The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum. She studied animation at the Institute of Art in Urbino, Italy, and lives in Italy. nicolettaceccoli.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Henry Holt and Company ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on Lisa Schroeder, click here.
For email updates on Nicoletta Ceccoli, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Part Two
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
About the Author and Illustrator
Copyright
Text copyright © 2016 by Lisa Schroeder
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Nicoletta Ceccoli
Henry Holt and Company, LLC
Publishers since 1866
Henry Holt® is a registered trademark of Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Schroeder, Lisa.
The girl in the tower / Lisa Schroeder; with illustrations by Nicoletta Ceccoli.—First edition.
pages cm
Summary: “An evil queen kidnaps ten-year-old Violet to turn her into a princess”—Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-8050-9513-5 (hardback)—ISBN 978-1-62779-493-0 (e-book) [1. Fairy tales. 2. Kidnapping—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ8.S3126Gi 2016 [Fic]—dc23 2015003081
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
First hardcover edition 2016
eBook edition March 2016
eISBN 9781627794930
The Girl in the Tower Page 10