Page 49 of The Prince and His Stolen Throne

“I do,” Delilah declared, bouncing up next to me. “Are you sure you know anything about princesses?”

“Iamone!”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean you get to generalize. If we decide what princesses can and can’t do based on our personal experiences, thenIwould say all princesses are secretly cats, they just don’t know it yet.”

“Of all of us, I certainly have the most experience to speak on what isnormalfor a princess,” Angelica insisted, tapping her chest.

“Actually, I think I do,” Fitz said. Speaking at all was a mistake. Both girls looked at him, eyebrows raised as they invited him to dig his own grave. “I mean, I have two sisters, while both of you are only children, so I have twice as much data to pull from.”

“And do your sisters run, Fitz?” Angelica asked.

“You’d be surprised how quick-footed they can be when they are running from their responsibilities.”

I snorted. “We’ll see if you still think princesses don’t run when the ghost wolves chase us.”

When she couldn’t think of any argument, she led the charge, stomping straight into the Grimnight Forest.

Maximus followed her, his long legs catching up to her in a few strides.

Fitz clutched the straps of his pack and ran in after them, then promptly tripped over a root. He caught himself on the edge of a tree and said, “I’m alright!”

I tensed and watched the tree carefully, wondering if it would retaliate. The branches overhead swayed slightly, but were they disturbed by a breeze or his presence?

When he stepped away, nothing happened. No lunging branches or roots breaking through the earth to entangle him.

Maybe this wouldn’t be too hardafter all.

Delilah followed at a more sedate pace than usual, looking over her shoulder at me. “Trey?”

I took a deep breath and stepped into the forest. The moment I did, a distant wolf’s howl echoed through the woods, like we’d rung someone’s doorbell. A coincidence, or one of the old man’s scouts, letting him know we were nearby?

Will their song haunt us for the entire journey?

Maybe they would scare away the other predators, allowing us to travel safely through the darkness.

Concerned Parents Take Over the Narration

The day after the royal champions left on their quest, their family members were mulling over whether to return home or continue to mooch off the King and Queen of Misfortune.

Rick and Brendon danced around the issue all morning and into the afternoon. Occasionally Rick mentioned Brendon’s workload, other times Brendon pointed out that they would hear news sooner if they stayed in Misfortune.

They were unlikely to decide themselves, especially when the other parents seemed equally indecisive. Everyone joined together for dinner, paying close attention to their hosts, listening for any hints that they had overstayed their welcome.

Davina Unfortunate set her fork down with a gentletinkthat drew everyone’s attention. “Perhaps it’s time we discuss—”

A knock on the door interrupted her. Blinking in astonishment, she called, “What is it?”

“A man claiming to be the Good Wizard requests an audience, Your Majesty.” After a pause, the attendant added, “He is quite agitated.”

“Because this is anemergency!” shouted the angry visitor.

All the parents straightened to attention and Oliver Unfortunate called out, “Escort him in.”

The attendant barely opened the door before a man in long underwear burst into the room. His face was badly shaven, with white tissue stuck toa few patches. It was easy to understand why the attendant questioned the man’s identity.

Davina stood and pulled a chair out for him. “Have a seat and explain yourself.”

“There isn’ttime!” the man exclaimed, waving his arms wildly in the air. “I wasattacked.”