CHAPTER TWENTY

Adie

reeping through the underbrush, Adie heard none of the twins’ exchange with the queen. She was too busy sneaking up on one of the queen’s footmen—a scout or a guard, she wasn’t sure which. It didn’t matter. All she knew was that she didn’t want him behind her when she went for the queen with Elsie’s jackknife.

She didn’t really think she’d succeed. Or if she did, she doubted that she’d survive. But the jackknife was made of steel, so it had iron in it, and all the fairy tales said iron was deadly to fairies, so there was at least a chance that she’d be able to do some damage. And while she might not survive, perhaps her sisters might escape in the confusion.

That was all that really mattered. That they were safe.

Right now the jackknife was folded up in the pocket of her jeans. In her hands was a three-foot-long branch that she’d picked up under the trees. It hadn’t been her first choice. She’d kept selecting and hefting various branches as she continued to sneak up on the bee fairy until she finally found one with enough weight that it didn’t feel as though it would break on the first strike.

It was hard to stay quiet. If this part of the wood hadn’t been sprucy-pine, she probably would have been noticed by now, but the ground was thick with a carpet of needles, spongy and silent underfoot. Every time she did make some noise—stepped on a twig, pushed through the occasional bush—she stopped and crouched low, not daring to breathe, hoping the bee fairy would think it was only a squirrel or bird.

Maybe it was true that the Dillards had some Indian blood in them, she thought as she managed to creep almost up on the footman without his noticing her.

Okay, this was it.

She straightened up, took a long, deep breath, and stepped forward, swinging the branch. The branch connected with the back of his head and he grunted, toppling forward, his spear falling from his hand. The footman landed on his hands, down, but not out. The force of her blow stung the palms of Adie’s hands enough that she almost lost her grip on the branch. The footman was already half rising and turning in her direction.

They’re not people, Adie reminded herself. They’re nasty stinging insects. It’s hurt them or be hurt by them.

Just as he was about to call out for help, she swung the branch again and caught him in the temple. This time he went down and lay still.

Adie dropped the branch and had to go down on one knee. She was shaking so hard she didn’t think she could stand. Bile rose in her throat, but she made herself take a few steadying breaths until the queasiness passed and she was able to get back on her feet. Picking up her stick, she held it ready and nudged the footman with her foot. He remained motionless. She tried again. When he still didn’t move, she switched her branch for his spear and began to work her way back to the meadow where the fairy court held her sisters captive.

She arrived just in time to see one of the queen’s footmen kill a fat little man who looked like a bumblebee, then aim his bow in Grace’s direction.