The Bravest Princess (13 page)

“Not if she wanted to get rid of you first so you couldn't come back to Helmswood to help them.”

“Do you think she was the one who sent the crows and followed us all the way back here?” asked Annie.

“I don't know,” said Liam. “The message the witch had sent to my mother was signed ‘Terobella.' Do you think that might be Marissa's real name?”

“I doubt it. I think it must be someone else entirely. Marissa has lived here for years, but according to Beldegard's mother, Terobella lived in Montrose until recently. You know, when we first heard the name ‘Terobella,' I'd thought it sounded vaguely familiar, but I've tried and tried and I can't remember where I might have heard it before.”

“Regardless of who the witch really is, you're in danger here, Annie,” said Liam. “You have to promise me
that you won't do anything foolish or go anywhere alone. I want you to tell me before you do anything out of the ordinary.”

“I promise I won't plan to do anything foolish,” said Annie, giving his hand a squeeze.

Liam gave her an odd look, as if he was not really satisfied with her answer, but all he said was “Did you tell Snow White about what happened on our way here?”

Annie shook her head. “I thought she already had enough things to worry about.”

“I think we should tell her and the king. They need to know what's going on.”

“Of course we'll tell them,” said Annie, “but I think all it's going to do is make them worry more.”

Annie lay awake thinking about Snow White's evil stepmother. If Marissa was in the castle, she would be in disguise. It wouldn't take long to find all the women who had come to the castle only recently and touch them to see who changed. Annie wasn't sure how to go about it without letting Marissa know what she was doing, but she finally decided to get a list of the names and visit each person as casually as possible.

It was easier to go to sleep with a plan in mind. When she woke the next morning, Annie went straight to the steward's office. The man was seated at a table, going over the schedule for the day. When Annie told him what she wanted, he looked at her in surprise.

“I'm sorry, Your Highness, but you and Princess Snow White are the only ladies to have arrived at the castle recently. When Queen Marissa was here, many people left. Even more left when she escaped from the
dungeon, fearing what she would do in reprisal. I can give you a list of the women who live here, but that's the best I can do.”

Annie thought for a moment. If so many people had fled the castle, couldn't Marissa have returned and taken on the appearance of one of the woman who had actually gone? If the real woman left because she was afraid, she might not have told anyone that she was leaving, so no one would think it odd that she was still here. Finding Marissa was going to take a lot longer than she'd first thought, and it looked as if Annie was going to have to touch every woman in the castle.

“That list will be fine,” Annie told the steward. “I'm going to need the names of the ladies of the court, as well as all the women who work here. And please be thorough. What I have planned won't work unless I have every single name.”

“Very good, Your Highness. I'll have them ready as soon as I can.”

Annie sighed as she left the steward's office. What had seemed like a simple task was suddenly becoming much more complicated.

Liam had volunteered to speak to the king that morning to tell him what had happened on their way to Helmswood. When Annie went to the small dining room where the family ate, Liam, Snow White, and
four of the princes were there eating fruit, cheese, and boiled eggs.

“Did you meet with the king yet?” Annie asked, taking the chair next to Liam's.

“Indeed, I did,” said Liam. “He was very concerned and apologetic because he's convinced that his wife was the one who put the flowers in your hair. He says he's going to hire more guards to watch for her. And there's something else. A messenger arrived from my father last night. He sent a patrol to check on Granny Bentbone, but the tower was empty when they arrived.”

Annie was horrified, and it must have shown on her face because Liam placed his hand on her arm and gave it a comforting squeeze. “How did Granny Bentbone get out?” she asked.

Liam shrugged. “The men didn't see anything she could have used. My guess is it was either magic or someone helped her.”

“We have to find her again!” said Annie. “She's too dangerous to remain on the loose.”

“My father already sent word to your father. By now they probably both have men out looking for her. There's nothing we could do that they won't be doing already.”

“I suppose,” said Annie, “but I feel responsible. We were the ones who suggested the tower.”

“Actually, it was my idea and I wasn't even sure if it was a good one. I'm sorry, Annie. It's my fault, not yours.”

“We'll just have to hope they find her soon,” said Annie. “Otherwise we'll go help when we're finished here. So, what did Snow White's father say when you told him about Terobella's letter and the crows?”

Liam reached for a peach and eyed it while he said, “Just that he's never heard of her, but he'll have his guards watch for her, too.”

“Father told me about what happened to you on the way here,” said Snow White. “How dreadful for you!”

Digby looked up from selecting another boiled egg. “Are you talking about what happened in the marsh? Nasty business. We were lucky I got away with my life.”

“We wouldn't have let anything happen to you,” Emilio said, shaking his head. “But you shouldn't have gone off the path in the first place.”

“I was the only one looking for a way out!” exclaimed Digby.

“When you've finished eating, could I speak with you alone?” Annie asked Snow White.

“Of course! Is something else wrong?” Snow White asked, her eyes growing wide.

“No, no! It's nothing like that. I just need you to help me with something, if you wouldn't mind.”

“I'd be happy to help, but it can't take too long. I told Father about the contest and he's going to call a meeting with all the princes at noon. He wants me to announce the contest then.”

“What contest?” asked Maitland.

“There will be tests of skill, I am sure,” said Nasheen. “I myself am an excellent rider.”

“You'll learn all about it at noon today,” said Snow White. “Annie, we should probably go now if you want my help. Noon will be here before we know it.”

Liam gave Annie a quizzical look as she snatched some fruit and followed Snow White out of the room. She'd thought about telling him what she had planned, but the way he was acting lately, he'd probably try to stop her. And while she had promised not to plan anything foolish, this wasn't foolish and it was going to work!

“Now, what is this all about?” Snow White asked once they'd reached the privacy of her chamber.

“I believe I can find your stepmother if she is in the castle, but I need your help to do it,” said Annie.

“I'll do anything if it will find Marissa. What do you want me to do? Help you locate all the secret passages so we can spy through peepholes? I know of two passages behind the walls, but I'm sure there are more.”

Annie shook her head. “Nothing like that. I just want you to introduce me to the noblewomen in the castle. I think Marissa is probably here posing as someone we wouldn't ordinarily suspect. She might even have taken the place of someone you know, so I need to meet all of them.” When Snow White looked baffled, Annie said, “Magic doesn't work around me, remember? If I touch her, the magic she's using to disguise
herself will disappear, and we'll see what she really looks like.”

“Oh, I'm sure that's a very good idea,” said Snow White. “It's just that it sounds really tiresome. I thought you had something exciting in mind.”

Annie bit her lip, holding back what she really wanted to say. Why was Snow White taking her plan so casually? Not exciting enough! Annie was there to help her, not entertain her! “Sorry, it's the best I can do,” she finally said. “Will you help me?”

Snow White stood and straightened her gown. “We'll start right now. Let's see who we run into first. I suppose it's a good thing so many people left the castle when Marissa was in control. There are far fewer people here now than when I was a little girl.”

They had scarcely started down the corridor when Snow White called, “Lady Polette! I'd like you to meet someone.”

A noblewoman who had been walking in the other direction stopped and turned around. “Yes, Your Highness?” she said, looking surprised.

“This is my friend Princess Annabelle of Treecrest. I don't believe you've met.”

Lady Polette curtsied, saying, “No, Your Highness. I don't believe we have.”

Annie couldn't think of any reason to touch her, until she noticed that the woman was wearing gaudy jewelry. “What an interesting ring,” she said. “May I see it?”

Lady Polette looked flustered, as if she thought Annie wanted the ring for herself. When the noblewoman began to pull it from her finger, Annie said, “Oh, no. You don't have to take it off,” and reached for her hand. Annie touched her long enough to admire the ring and wait for any magic the woman had to fade away. Without the magic that made her attractive, Lady Polette had a long, narrow face that reminded Annie of a horse, but she didn't look anything like Snow White's stepmother.

“It was lovely meeting you,” Annie said, releasing the noblewoman's hand.

Lady Polette curtsied again as Annie and Snow White walked away. “We're going to have to think of a reason for me to touch them,” said Annie. “Maybe I could hand them something.”

“You could give them a handkerchief if they have a runny nose,” suggested Snow White.

Annie laughed and shook her head. “I don't have that many handkerchiefs, and I doubt very many noblewomen will have runny noses.”

“I know!” said Snow White. “We'll get one of the gardeners to pick some flowers for us. You can hand each lady a single blossom!”

“That would work,” said Annie.

“We'll go to the garden now. You can bump into women on the way!”

“That will make a good first impression!” Annie said, laughing again.

They met three more noblewomen on the way to the garden, and Annie managed to bump into each one. After meeting them, Annie made a point of memorizing their names so she could tick them off her list.

The steward had also made up a list of all the women who worked in the castle. Annie was about to call to a maid, but the girl scurried away when she saw the two princesses. “I need to talk to all the women,” said Annie, “including the servants.”

“That's not going to be easy,” said Snow White. “They've been awfully skittish since my stepmother escaped.”

“I'm sure I'll think of something,” Annie said, though she wasn't sure at all.

The head gardener ran to meet them when they entered the garden. Annie admired the roses while Snow White told the man to pick all the flowers that would fit in a basket and bring the basket to Princess Annabelle after the meeting with the princes. As soon as he was dismissed, the man ran about, giving orders to his helpers.

“It must be close to noon,” Snow White said, glancing at the position of the sun. “We should go to the meeting now. I'll help you more later if I have time.”

“This is going to take forever,” said Annie. “I can use all the help I can get!”

The princesses made their way to the king's audience chamber, where the princes were already waiting. Snow White stayed with Annie until King Archibald came in, then went to sit beside him.

“I've decided how I will choose the prince that I will marry,” Snow White announced. “There will be trials, but not of the usual sort. No one will be sent on a quest. Instead, each of you must determine how you will prove your worth to me. The trials will start in the morning. In the first trial, you will have to express how you feel about me in a creative way. It is up to you to decide how you will do this.”

“What?” said Digby. “We have to decide what we're going to do? I've never heard of such a thing.”

Nasheen looked indignant. “This is quite irregular. Princes never have to think for themselves in situations like this.”

“I'm not sure what to do,” called Milo. “Tell us what you want.”

“I already told you enough,” said Snow White. “The rest is up to you.” The king leaned toward her and whispered something in her ear. Snow White nodded and stood. “If you'll excuse me, I'll see you tomorrow. You will have until tomorrow's supper to complete your task.”

When Snow White and her father left the room, the
princes turned to Annie. “You must know what she wants,” said Emilio. “Can't you give us some ideas?”