The princess—I guess I should call her the queen now—signaled the bee man to rise, then had him lead her to us. There was a merry laugh in her eyes, but when she spoke, it was serious, like a ceremony.

“Your boon was fairly asked and just,” she said. “We have no quarrel with you, nor with any other. Will you promise us the same?”

“Well, sure,” I said. “We never wanted any trouble in the first place.”

She sighed. “So it would appear. My mother… she…”

“Wasn’t exactly easy to get along with.”

She nodded.

“Still,” I said, “it was harsh, what happened to her.”

When she gave me a puzzled look, I added, “You know, killing her and all. If it were my mama…” I didn’t finish. Our situations were too different to compare.

“Did your mother lock you in a tower for most of your life?” she asked. “Did she never have a kind word for you?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “You don’t have to explain. I know things were different for you.”

She gave a slow nod. “They were.” She waited a beat, then added, “But she wasn’t killed. She was changed into a new tribe. This is her chance to begin again and make amends for the wrongs she did in this life.”

That all sounded fine and dandy, but it put a big question in my head. I didn’t know quite how to ask, but I had to know.

“Is there… any chance she could get it into her head to come after us again?” I asked.

“No. You’ll be safe now. You and your sisters and anyone under your protection. You have my word on that.”

“Thanks for that,” I said.

“No. Thank you,” she said. “All of you,” she added, looking around to take in my sisters and the ’sangmen as well.

She held out her hand and the little ’sangman prince left his parents’ side to come and stand by her.

“We both thank you,” she said.

There was a moment’s silence, then the fairy court cheered again. This time the ’sangmen joined in.

I guess this is where most fairy tales would end. Trouble was, we still had to get home.