It was getting dark when Annie and Liam reached the grove of trees where they were going to spend the night. The grove was far enough off the road that passersby wouldn’t bother them, but close enough that Otis nickered softly each time he heard another horse on the road. Liam kept watch while Annie slept. She didn’t know if he dozed or not, but he was getting cold food out of his knapsack for their breakfast when she woke. They ate quickly and were soon on their way south.
A few hours later, they entered the Dark Forest. It was hilly ground, so they were constantly going up- or downhill as they followed curves in the road. Because there was little level ground and virtually no straightaways, they couldn’t see very far ahead. Otis walked when the grade grew steeper, but he seemed to enjoy trotting downhill, so Liam let him have his head most of the time. They were rounding a downhill curve at a trot when they suddenly came upon a wagon stopped sideways across the road, blocking their way. When Liam turned Otis to the side to avoid running into the wagon, the horse tossed his head and Liam leaned back to avoid getting his face whacked. Something whizzed past, right where Liam’s head had been, ruffling Otis’s mane.
“What was that?” Annie asked as Otis danced to the side.
Before Liam could answer, an arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing Annie. “Someone is shooting arrows at us!” Liam cried, urging Otis off the road.
The horse floundered through the underbrush while Annie and Liam ducked to avoid the lower branches. A man appeared from behind a tree, forcing Otis to turn back. When another man appeared, Otis turned again and they found themselves back on the road before the curve.
“I hope you’re up to this, boy,” Liam said, patting Otis’s neck, and then they were off at a gallop, hurtling through the curve, and heading straight for the wagon.
Both Liam and Annie had jumped horses before, and they knew when to shift their weight. As Otis flew over the wagon, Annie held on to Liam so tightly that it was almost as if one person rode the gelding. And then they were on the downward curve of the arc and Otis’s hooves were creating a cloud of dust, leaving the highwaymen behind. The arrows that followed them missed their mark, but were enough to make Otis go faster. Up and down hills, over gulleys where rain had washed out the road, and under branches that could knock the unwary off a horse, the old gelding galloped as if his tail were on fire. When he finally began to slow, they were well into the Dark Forest and far from their pursuers.
Hearts racing and as out of breath as if they had been running themselves, Annie and Liam praised Otis, thankful that they had such a good horse under them. They made the horse walk to cool off, which gave them the chance to talk.
“Do you have any idea who those men were?” Annie asked Liam.
“None,” he replied. “I got a good look at one of them, and I’d never seen him before. They were wearing ordinary clothes, too; nothing about them stood out.”
“Do you think they know who we really are?”
“Either that or they were shooting at everyone who came along. Two farm boys on an old horse wouldn’t be carrying enough money to make it worth their while. Say, I know where we are,” said Liam. “See that lightning-blasted tree? If we turn here, we aren’t far from the cottage where we first met Yardley.”
“When he was a wolf,” said Annie. “Yes, I remember.”
“We could go there now and then on to Harper’s Village,” said Liam. “If anyone is following us, they wouldn’t expect us to leave the road like this.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Annie. “It will throw them off our track and we can see how Gloria’s grandmother is doing.”
Liam turned the horse toward the woods. “Not much farther and you can rest for a bit, Otis.”
They rode for only a short while before dismounting and walking beside Otis. The gelding was exhausted from his gallop and walked slowly, stopping every now and then until Liam made him move again. They were finally approaching Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s cottage when they heard the sound of someone chopping wood.
“It’s probably Granny’s son, the huntsman,” said Annie. “I bet he came by to look in on her.”
It wasn’t the huntsman, but Yardley, the young man who had been turned into a wolf by a nasty dwarf. He was human again, thanks to Annie and Liam, who had hunted the dwarf down and given him a taste of his own magic.
“Yardley, what are you doing here?” Liam asked from the edge of the clearing that surrounded the cottage.
“Prince Liam, is that you? And who is that with you? Is that Princess Annie dressed like a boy again? You don’t always dress that way, do you?”
“Not normally, at least not at home,” Annie told him. “Why are you here? Where is Gloria’s grandmother?”
“My wife and I bought the cottage from her. She didn’t want to live in such an isolated spot any longer and moved in with one of her daughters.” Setting down his ax, Yardley strode to the door and opened it, calling, “Honey! We have company.”
Rose Red appeared in the doorway, smiling and wiping her hands on a rag. “Well, well! Would you look at what the wolf brought in! What are you two doing here? Beldegard isn’t with you, is he?”
Annie shook her head. “He married my sister a few weeks ago. I don’t think you’ll be seeing much of him.”
“I’d like to water the horse while we have the chance,” Liam told Yardley. “Where is your well?”
“Right this way,” said Yardley, and the two young men walked off with Otis.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Rose Red asked Annie. “We don’t have much, but we do have tea!”
“I’d love one!” said Annie, following Rose Red into the cottage. Taking a seat at the small table, she looked around the room while Rose Red moved from fireplace to table and back again. The cottage was cozy inside and was better laid out than it had been before. The bed no longer dominated the center of the room, but was pushed into a corner, with a table and chairs opposite and more chairs beside the fireplace. Annie recognized the cushions on the chairs as being like those she’d seen in Mother Hubbard’s cottage. PEACE, HARMONY, HAPPINESS were written on three of the cushions and Annie could hear the faint magic that enforced the words.
“My mother gave me those pillows when I got married,” said Rose Red. “They work, too. Yardley and I never have arguments when we’re in the cottage. I never was serious about Beldegard, you know,” said Rose Red as she set a mug in front of Annie. “Well, maybe I was for about fifteen minutes, but I didn’t really think it would work out, him being a prince and all. I knew for sure when I saw him with your sister, the most beautiful princess in all the kingdoms. No, I’ve known for a while that the one I wanted to marry was Yardley. As soon as you turned him back into a human and he came home, he proposed to me. Mother made all the arrangements and we were married within a week. I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier.”
“I’m happy for you,” said Annie.
“That all happened right before your father locked away my mother’s cousin,” Rose Red told her. “Don’t worry, no hard feelings. I never liked that side of the family anyway. When I was little I thought that Granny Bentbone was creepy. I wasn’t surprised to hear that she ate children. Once, she told me that if I didn’t behave she was going to turn me into a sausage. I believed her. My mother said that Granny Bentbone was joking, but it still gave me nightmares for weeks. Her daughter, Terobella, was even worse. She used to torture small animals for fun. I remember one time she was about to try some awful spell on me when my mother showed up. I made sure I was never alone with her after that. My mother said that her son was nicer, but he always went along with whatever his mother did, so I thought he was just as bad. When I heard that you turned Terobella into slime, I was sorry you hadn’t turned him, too.”
“I didn’t really turn anyone into anything. She did it to herself.”
“You know what I mean,” said Rose Red.
“Tell me something,” Annie said while Rose Red sipped her tea. “Your mother has some magic, and so does her cousin Granny Bentbone, but do you or your sister have any?”
Rose Red nodded. “A little, but not anything like Terobella. We can do some simple magic, like light fires and make water boil. Oh, and I can do illusions, although Snow White can’t.”
“What kind of illusions?” asked Annie.
“Nothing fancy,” Rose Red replied. She glanced at the doorway and gestured. Suddenly a large gray wolf stood there, snarling. A moment later, the wolf was gone.
“Very good!” said Annie. If she hadn’t heard the melody of the magic behind the illusion, she might have thought the wolf was real. “That must come in handy, being out here, just the two of you. I bet you could even scare off a bear with your illusions.”
“Oh, I have,” Rose Red said with a smile. “Tell me, why are you and Liam here? Looking for another dwarf?”
“A fairy, actually. We’re hoping someone in Harper’s Village might be able to tell us where we can find her.”
“Is everything all right?” asked Rose Red.
Annie shook her head and was just about to speak when the door opened and Yardley came in with Liam close behind. “I hear people in the woods coming this way,” Yardley told his wife. “Liam said that some men shot arrows at him and Annie. It’s possible that these are the same people come to finish the job.”
“You turned Yardley back into a human, but he still has exceptional hearing,” his wife explained to Annie. “If he heard people, they’re out there and will be here soon. You should leave now while I hold them off.”
“I already told Liam how to get to Harper’s Village from here,” said Yardley.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help?” Liam asked him. “I don’t want to dump our troubles on you.”
“No, no!” said Yardley. “We’ll be fine. Rose Red and I have this handled.”
“Then I guess we’re leaving,” Annie said, getting to her feet. “Thank you so much for the tea. It was just what I needed.”
“You’re welcome,” Rose Red replied. “Stop in again whenever you’re out this way. We hardly ever get to see anyone, and I enjoy the company.”
Annie and Liam left then, going around to the back of the cottage to retrieve Otis from where he was tied to a tree. They had walked only a short distance when a loud roar made them stop and look behind them. A group of trolls were lumbering through the forest, retracing the route Annie and Liam had taken from the main road.
Liam’s hand flew to his sword. “Where did they come from?” he demanded.
“From Rose Red’s imagination would be my guess,” said Annie. “Don’t worry; they aren’t real. I think they’re meant to scare off the men following us.”
“Rose Red did that?” said Liam. “But how?”
“Magic runs in her family, remember? She has a talent for illusions.”
“Ah!” Liam said, putting his sword away. “That explains it. Yardley said they’re never bored out here, or worried about intruders.” They started walking again even as the trolls’ roaring grew louder.
“Those men who are following us,” said Annie. “They must know who we are or they wouldn’t be so persistent.”
Liam nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“Do you think they’re King Dormander’s men? If they are, he must already know that we escaped from the castle.”
“More than likely,” Liam replied.
“You’re not saying much.”
“Sorry. I’m trying to figure out when they might have picked up our trail. Have they been following us since we left the castle? Maybe someone reported seeing us in the linder groves. Or did they learn about us in Floradale?”
“Eleanor’s stepmother seemed to recognize us when we passed her on the street in Loralet. If she did, others probably did as well.”
“Then we’d better hurry and find Moonbeam before anyone can stop us.”
“I’m glad we’re going to see her today,” said Annie. “I’m tired of running around when all I want to do is go home and make sure everyone is all right. They’re not going to be able to withstand a siege for long.”
“I can’t stop worrying about my father, too,” said Liam. “The more I think about it, the more I doubt it was a coincidence that he didn’t come to the wedding.”
“Oh, Liam, I hope he’s all right. Your father is too old and frail to be held captive by some army.”
Liam laughed. “Don’t let him hear you say that! Aside from his gout, he’s as robust as ever, or at least he thinks he is.”
“I like your father,” said Annie.
“And he likes you,” Liam said, smiling down at her. “But then, who wouldn’t?”
“A lot of people, apparently. I don’t think those men following us are any too fond of me. Say, I was wondering something. Did Yardley tell you why he and Rose Red decided to live so far from everything?”
“He did indeed,” said Liam. “He wanted to live away from crowds for a while. Part of it was because he’d been a wolf and was afraid he wasn’t acting fully human yet, and part of it was because a few of the men he played cards with were angry when he ran off with their money in the middle of a game. They didn’t know the dwarf had turned him into a wolf and they’ve been looking for him ever since. He thought he and Rose Red would live here until things calm down a bit.”
“I’m glad he did,” said Annie. “Otherwise we’d be facing those men right now.”
It wasn’t a very long walk to Harper’s Village, but it was a pretty one. They passed through a grove of trees festooned with lacy white flowers and walked alongside a sparkling stream that tumbled down a small waterfall where they were able to refill the water skin and let Otis drink. A flock of bright red birds flew past them, startling Otis, but otherwise it was a very pleasant walk.
Before they entered the village, they saw at least three streets running parallel to one another and all of them looked busy. Annie was surprised that the village was so large. “This could almost be called a town,” she told Liam as they walked down the main street, leading Otis. “Look at all the shops!”
“We’re just here to find the butcher’s son and talk to Moonbeam,” said Liam. “We don’t have time for anything else. Once we ask Moonbeam to go to Treecrest, we’re going to go see my father.”
“I know,” said Annie, although she looked longingly at the inn they were passing. The smell of roasting beef was almost enough to make her stop.
A short time later, they walked by a cobbler who was working on a bench outside his shop, taking advantage of the good weather. “Pardon me,” Annie said as she stopped in front of him, “but do you know where we can find Jamesey Dunlop?”
“Never heard of him,” the man replied, looking annoyed.
“We need to ask someone else,” Annie told Liam as they walked away. “Someone less surly.”
“Gertrude said that her brother started his own shop, so we should look for a butcher. It shouldn’t be too hard. The village isn’t that big.”
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from a bakery slowed Annie’s steps. “Is it my imagination, or does this village smell better than most?” she asked, taking another deep breath.
“You’re hungry and that bread does smell good. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to get something to eat,” said Liam.
He hadn’t finished his sentence before Annie was opening the door to the bakery. It was warm and even more fragrant inside. A girl in a white cap and apron was helping customers while two other people worked in the back, taking bread out of a huge brick oven and decorating a pastry shaped like a swan. There were three people in line to buy bread ahead of Annie. She fidgeted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as the shopgirl waited on the other customers. When it was finally her turn, Annie looked at the girl more closely. “Gloria! I didn’t recognize you without your red hood.”
“Do I know you?” Gloria asked, peering at Annie. “Wait, you’re one of the people who scared the wolf out of Granny’s house! What are you doing in Harper’s Village?”
“Looking for someone,” said Annie. “Do you know where I can find Jamesey Dunlop’s butcher shop?”
“Do I ever! He married my cousin and I work there some days when I’m not working here. I’d take you there myself, but I can’t leave the bakery now. His shop is located on the next street over. Go to the corner and turn left. His shop is on the opposite side of the street. Harper’s Village has grown a lot lately, and that’s where the newest shops are.”
“It looks like a prosperous village,” said Annie.
“Oh, it is! I have a big family and they’ve all stayed here, and lots of other people have started moving here as well. I love Harper’s Village! Everyone knows everyone else.”
“Really? I asked a cobbler if he knew where I could find Jamesey Dunlop and he said he didn’t know him.”
“That would be my uncle Nick. He knows Jamesey, but he probably just didn’t feel like talking to you. He’s been crotchety ever since he gave some clothes to the brownies who were helping him and they left for good. Now he has to do all the work himself and he’s always falling behind.”
“He did look annoyed when I spoke to him. Oh, while I’m here I wanted to get something to eat.”
“Try our hot cross buns,” said Gloria. “They’re really good. I helped make them myself.”
“How much do I owe you?” Annie asked as Gloria handed her the buns.
“Nothing,” said the girl. “You helped my whole family when you chased off that wolf. One of my older brothers owns the bakery and I know he wouldn’t want me to charge you anything. In fact, if there’s ever anything we can do to help you, just let us know. We owe you for helping me the way you did.”
“You already did help,” said Annie. “You told me where to find the butcher. Thanks for the directions and the buns!” With a wave of her hand, Annie was out the door and handing one of the buns to Liam.
“I know where the butcher is located,” she said before taking a big bite.
Liam stepped to the side as Otis tried to snuffle his hair. “Oh, really! Where?”
Annie’s mouth was already full, so she just pointed to the corner, then indicated that they should turn there.
“And how did you learn this?”
She chewed quickly and swallowed the bite before saying, “I asked Gloria, of course. I told you we should ask someone.”
Following Gloria’s directions, they found the butcher shop easily. The entire area smelled of fresh wood shavings, and Annie could see that many of the buildings were new. While Annie opened the shop door, Liam tied Otis to a post. The only person inside was a short young man with a round belly and thick brown hair. Seeing them at the door, he smiled and gestured for them to come in. “How can I help you today?” he asked. “I have some excellent pork chops if you’re interested.”
“That sounds very nice, but we’re actually looking for someone,” said Annie. “We understand that your father and your new stepmother came to visit you. Could we talk to Moonbeam, please?”
The young man lost his smile the moment Annie mentioned Moonbeam. “They aren’t here anymore, thank goodness. I had more than enough of that woman, er … fairy … whatever!”
“Isn’t she kind to you?” asked Annie.
“Oh, no, she’s very nice to me and to my sisters, trying to make up for everything she’s done. She’s always giving us presents because she knows she’s destroying our lives. And the way she treats my father! She has him wrapped around her little finger. He’ll do anything she asks, even if it means putting his own children out into the cold.”
“He kicked you out?”
“In a sense. She made him tell us that we had to get jobs and take responsibility for our lives. Can you believe it? And then she had my father tell me that I had to marry the girl I’d been seeing for the past two years. I’d told him often enough that I would get around to it when I was ready, but oh, no! He had to push it. So I married Dorothea and moved here, where her family lives. Father had changed so much, I couldn’t stand to be around him anymore, and Dorothea’s family does what every family is supposed to do. They’re there when we need them and leave us alone the rest of the time.”
“Sounds just right for you,” said Annie.
“You said that Moonbeam and your father left. Can you tell us where they went?” Liam asked.
“They went to visit a friend of hers. A fairy with a dumb name. I think it was Sweetness at Night.”
“Do you mean Sweetness N Light?” asked Annie.
“Yeah, that’s it. ‘Good riddance,’ I said as soon as they were out the door. I hope they don’t come back for a good long time.”
“I have one other question, if you don’t mind,” said Liam. “How were you able to get a shop of your own? I mean, you aren’t that old. Wasn’t it expensive?”
Jamesey shrugged. “It was, but my father and Moonbeam paid for it, which was only right. After all, they were the ones who made me leave home!”