The Bravest Princess (5 page)

While Liam talked to Horace, the elderly guard, Annie climbed in. Granny Bentbone was on the front bench facing backward, so Annie took the seat facing forward, across from the old woman. A chain clanked when the witch shifted her feet; the guards had chained her wrists and ankles together so she couldn't jump out.

“What do you want?” the old woman snapped. “If I'd wanted company, I would have said so.”

“I'm here to make sure you don't try to work your magic on anyone,” said Annie.

“Magic? What magic?” the old woman said, but from the sly look on her face, Annie was sure the witch was lying.

“Behave yourself, and you can sit there in comfort. Try to use your magic, and you'll be tied and gagged.”

“You don't know who you're talking to!” Granny Bentbone snarled.

“Apparently, neither do you,” said Annie.

The old witch cackled and leaned toward Annie. “If you know about my magic, you should be afraid of me.”

“If you knew me better, you'd know why I'm not afraid,” Annie replied.

It was true that she wasn't afraid of the old witch. Fairies and witches had tried to use their magic on Annie, but it always bounced back onto them. Annie had been impervious to magic her whole life and had grown up unafraid of it. Being attacked in a way that didn't involve magic was much more frightening to her. Annie was as vulnerable to that kind of danger as anyone else.

Both Annie and Granny Bentbone turned to the door as it swung open, and Liam climbed into the carriage. Annie moved over so Liam could sit beside her.

“How many more people do you plan to stuff in here?” grumbled Granny Bentbone. “I need room to stretch my legs or they'll cramp.”

“This is going to be a very long day,” Liam murmured.

The carriage started with a jolt, making Granny
Bentbone lurch so that she almost fell to the floor. Muttering to herself, she wiggled back onto the seat and wedged her body into the corner. “I hate carriages!” she announced.

“You're not the only one,” said Liam.

Annie glanced out the window beside her. Metal bars had been added to the windows the night before. Black fabric had also been draped on either side to cover them if necessary, but Annie left the window uncovered so she could look out. Because most of the castle's inhabitants were just beginning to stir, there was hardly anyone around to see the travelers leave. Annie could hear the riders in the front clatter over the drawbridge and braced herself as the carriage rattled across the uneven boards. They were just getting started, and she already couldn't wait for the trip to be over.

They took the road headed north, passing through the village of Shelterhome soon after leaving the castle. It was still early enough that there were few people on the streets, and only a couple of them were children. Granny Bentbone leaned toward the window, peering out, but the carriage was traveling so quickly that the children were left behind before Granny could try to do anything.

After passing through Shelterhome, Granny Bentbone closed her eyes and seemed to fall asleep. Liam let his eyes drift closed as well. As the carriage bumped
down the uneven road, Annie wondered how anyone could possibly sleep. All the roads in Treecrest had deteriorated after years of neglect. When her father had banished spinning wheels from the kingdom to keep Gwendolyn from touching one, he had taken away one of the main sources of income for the kingdom. As soon as the curse was over, he immediately began to import spinning wheels into Treecrest, and the kingdom had once again begun to prosper. Annie had heard her father talk about repairing the roads, but so far only those closest to the castle had been fixed.

While Liam's breathing slowed as he fell into a deeper sleep and Granny Bentbone snored, Annie stared out the window at the vast groves of linder trees that covered the countryside. After miles of looking at the same trees, her mind wandered. She was startled when Granny Bentbone woke up with a snort and looked around. “Why am I in a carriage? Where are we going?” the witch asked, her voice becoming shrill.

Liam awoke, looking annoyed. Annie took a moment to study Granny Bentbone. The old woman no longer had the sly look she'd worn earlier, and she seemed to be genuinely confused and frightened.

“You're going to a peaceful place where no one will bother you,” said Annie.

“Is it in the forest?” asked Granny Bentbone. “I do so like the forest.”

“Yes, it is,” said Annie.

“Good,” the woman replied, then peered more closely at Annie. “Do I know you?”

“We've met a few times,” Annie replied.

“Ah,” said Granny Bentbone. “What happened to your hair? It looks like a rabid squirrel made a nest in it.”

When Annie's hand flew to the top of her head, Liam snorted. Annie glared at him, and his snort turned into a cough.

After the wedding feast, she had asked Lady Clare to do something with her hair to hide the damage that the fire and the cook's knife had done. The lady-in-waiting had evened it out, then suggested that Annie wear it piled on top of her head. That worked, but Annie hadn't seen the need to wear it up when she was going to spend the day in a carriage with a witch.

“Someone cut it,” Annie said.

“Well, they didn't do a very good job,” Granny Bentbone said, yawning. A moment later she closed her eyes again and nodded off to sleep.

Annie turned to talk to Liam, but he was asleep as well.

It was midmorning when they approached the bridge that crossed the Crystal River. The noise of the horses' hooves and carriage wheels on the wooden boards nearly drowned out the sound of the rushing water, but when they reached the dirt road on the other side, Annie could hear children playing at the water's edge.
Annie spotted them tossing stones into the water, watching them until she heard Liam say, “What are you doing, old woman?”

When Annie turned from the window, Granny Bentbone was gesturing with her bound hands and muttering under her breath. Certain that the witch was trying to use her magic to call the children, Annie yanked off one of her gloves and threw it at her while shouting, “Stop that!”

Granny Bentbone spluttered and threw up her hand too slowly to block the glove, which hit her cheek and fell to the floor. “How dare you!” screamed the old woman. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a ball of buzzing black lights at Annie. The lights hit Annie, but rebounded onto Granny Bentbone, making her gasp and fall back against her seat, her hands falling rigid onto her lap.

“What have you done?” she cried, struggling to lift her hands, which seemed to be frozen in place.

“I didn't do anything,” said Annie. “You did that to yourself!”

“I should have eaten you when I had the chance!” Granny Bentbone shouted at her.

“And I should have knocked your entire cottage on your head!” Annie replied. She had escaped from Granny Bentbone's gingerbread cottage by dissolving a candy support pillar. It was the same day she had rescued two children the witch was going to eat. And
now this horrible woman wanted to use children to help her escape her punishment! Annie resolved not to take her eyes off the woman again. However, when she saw Granny Bentbone's arms shaking as she tried to move her frozen hands, she realized that she might not have to.

“You need to use your hands to do your magic!” Annie cried.

“Don't look so happy,” Granny Bentbone barked. “This spell will wear off, and when it does, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!”

“I wouldn't threaten anyone if I were you,” Liam said, his hand going to his sword.

“You mean your spells aren't permanent?” asked Annie.

“Not lately,” the old witch said grudgingly. “Nothing works the way it used to. I wasn't even sure I could still do magic like that.” Her expression turned bitter, and she scowled at Annie and Liam. “You two think you're so clever, don't you? Well, I bet you haven't even noticed the crows.” Her eyes flicked to the window across from her.

“What crows?” Annie asked. She turned to look behind her and cried “Oh!” in surprise.

Two large crows were perched on the window frame, peering between the bars. When the crows saw Annie looking at them, one snapped his beak at her, and they both flew off, cawing.

“I've never seen such brash crows before,” said Annie.

“Humph!” said Granny Bentbone. “Those weren't ordinary crows. They're in thrall to a witch, doing her bidding wherever they go. You could tell by their eyes. You would have seen it if you were half as smart as you think you are!”

Liam frowned at the woman. “They aren't your crows, are they?”

“Hah!” Granny Bentbone laughed. “If I were strong enough to control birds like that, do you really think I'd be sitting here talking to you? Controlling children is one thing, but controlling animals takes a truly powerful witch. There aren't very many who are that strong around here.”

“Do you know any?”

“A few, and each one is a nasty piece of work. No one comes away from dealing with them unscathed. Why, when I was young, I was a vegetarian! Then I met Horrible Griselda. She enslaved me for a year, and look at me now! You don't think I eat children because I want to, do you? It was forced on me! I'm a victim here! Why, I'd rather eat a nice carrot or—”

“You might as well stop now. I don't believe you,” said Annie.

Granny Bentbone shrugged. “It was true. All except for the part about the carrot.”

The carriage slowed as they turned south onto a
road that cut through the countryside all the way to Loralet, the capital of Floradale, and south into Dorinocco. It was a well-traveled road and in good condition. Annie hoped that would mean they'd move more quickly now.

Only a few minutes later, Captain Sterling, the captain of the guard, rode back to talk to them. “I've traveled this road many times,” he said through the window as his horse kept pace beside the carriage. “There's a stream with very pure water up ahead. I suggest that we stop to water the horses. You can get out to stretch your legs if you'd like, and we can have something to eat. The cooks sent a basket filled with food.”

“It's about time,” grumbled Granny Bentbone. “I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.”

“Sorry,” said the captain. “We don't have any horses to spare.”

At least she doesn't want something worse,
Annie thought, remembering the cookbook she'd found in Granny's cottage. “She told me a few minutes ago that she'd really like a carrot.”

“Then you're in luck!” Captain Sterling told the old woman. “I think we might be able to find one in the basket.”

When Granny looked confused, it occurred to Annie that she didn't remember what she'd said.

Annie was happy to get out of the carriage when they arrived at the stream. While Liam went to check
on their horses, Annie listened to Granny Bentbone complain that she was stiff and needed to stretch her legs, too. Horace helped the old woman out, and four other guards walked her across the road and back. Liam came to escort Annie to the stream, and they went down to the edge together. Fresh and clean, the water was the purest Annie had ever tasted. After drinking her fill, she splashed some on her face, then sat back to watch Liam scoop water onto his face and the back of his neck.

He shook his head, sending droplets flying. “I needed that,” he said, wiping trickling water from his forehead. “Maybe I'll be able to stay awake now.”

“Why are you so tired?” asked Annie. “I thought we could talk when Granny Bentbone fell asleep, but you slept as much as she did.”

“I was up half the night looking for the person who tried to kill you,” he said. Running his fingers through his hair, he smoothed it back from his face. “I must have talked to half the people in the castle, but nobody could tell me a thing.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” asked Annie. “I could have helped you.”

“And what if I'd found the one who did it?” Liam replied. “I wasn't about to bring you two together so your would-be killer could have another chance.”

“So now you're keeping things from me?”

“Only what you're better off not knowing,” said Liam.

A shadow flashed across the water, and they both looked up. Two crows were there, circling overhead. They settled in the branches of a neighboring tree, their eyes never leaving Annie. “I think I'll eat in the carriage,” she told Liam. “I'd like to get on our way as soon as we can.”

“Fine with me,” he said, turning to look up at the crows. “Does your desire to leave so soon have anything to do with those birds?”

Annie shrugged. “I just don't like the way they're looking at me.”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to ride horseback now. There aren't any more villages between here and the tower, so we won't have to worry about Granny's magic luring children. However, if you're concerned about those crows, I suppose you'd rather ride in the carriage.”

“I would, at least for now. You don't mind, do you?”

“No,” said Liam. “It's fine as long as you don't try to talk me into riding in the carriage with you. I can't sit in that little box with that old witch for another minute. It felt like I was suffocating in there. Too bad we didn't bring another carriage so you wouldn't have to share one with Granny Bentbone. Maybe the fresh air will help me think, and I'll be able to come up with a way to get rid of those scary old crows for you.”

“I didn't mean—” Annie began, but she wasn't sure what she'd meant, so she let Liam walk away as she
climbed back into the carriage with some bread and cheese and an apple. She wasn't
afraid
of the crows—or was she? They did make her nervous, and Granny Bentbone's talk of evil witches had set her on edge, but was she really afraid of a couple of birds? Liam didn't seem to think she needed to worry about them. In fact, he'd acted as if she was silly to let them scare her. If she was scared, that is.