1. Jasmine

"I'm sorry, dear, but as much as I'd love to help, I can only give you this much." The village herb woman, Flo, held out the small packet of medicine with tears in her eyes. "If I could spare more, I would." She sniffed and pushed her long, dark hair off her wrinkled face. "Times are tough, and I have children to feed."

"I understand." I said the words with sympathy, but my croaking voice gave me away. This wasn't enough. It would barely cover three nights of the medicine my sister needed for her cough. "It's better than nothing."

If only I could earn more money. But my boss held her coins tight. I barely made enough by hand sewing dresses for the wealthy women in town to feed me and my sister, plus keep a roof over our heads.

"I wish there was a way to cure her," I said, my eyes stinging. They hurt from staying up late sewing garments I sold on the side. But without the extra work, I wouldn't be able to pay for even this measly amount of medicine.

"They say the palace healers can perform magic," Flo said, her hand on my arm. "If you can find a way to reach them, you may be able to talk one of them into seeing your sister."

"As if I'll ever get close enough to them to ask for a cure." I scoffed, allowing anger to push away my endless sadness. "The guards would stab me if I came within ten feet of the fence."

"Not if you had an invitation to the upcoming ball."

I lifted my eyebrows as I tucked the packet of herbs into my skirt's pocket. "I doubt the royal family will be inviting me, plain old Jasmine Bains, to a fancy ball. A few of them, however, will be clambering for me to make their gowns." The extra work might buy my sister a little more time.

"Every young woman has been entered into the lottery."

"It's not going to happen." If only it could.

"Don't give up hope, deary."

Sometimes, it was hard not to wallow in sadness. I worked hard from sunrise to sunset, but I barely made enough to pay our rent and buy food. At home, I sewed until the early hours of the morning to make extra money for Lana's medicine. There was never enough for anything extra.

"Even if I got an invitation," I said, "I doubt I'd be able to go." I didn't have a thing to wear to one ball, let alone the three that would take place over the weekend.

"You could make lovely gowns for yourself."

With what fabric? At work, I was allowed to take home scraps I carefully stitched together to make skirts and blouses for me and my sister. I doubted a patchwork dress would impress the royal family.

"You do such beautiful work." Flo tilted her head. "Perhaps, if you can spare the time, you could . . ." She shook her head. "No, it's too much to ask."

"What do you need?"

"If you'll make me a new blouse in deep blue, I'll trade you enough herbs to get Lana through the month."

"I'll do it." Where would I find the time to make a blouse? I'd just have to get by with less sleep.

"Lovely, deary." She mixed more of the herbal remedy and handed it to me. "You'll deliver the blouse by Thursday?"

Two days from now. "Of course." It was a struggle to keep the smile on my face. "Will the end of the day work for you?"

"Of course." She squeezed my hand. "Now get along with you. I've heard the invitations to the ball were going out today. Perhaps there's one waiting for you at home."

"Perhaps." With a rueful shake of my head, I left her shop and hurried across our village of Forest Fable. People lived very differently outside the village, and I'd often wondered what it would be like to move there with my sister. Surely it wasn't better than here. Some said people flew across the sky in big silver birds and rode along the ground in carts that rumbled and spewed smoke. Who could believe such a thing? No, life might be simpler here, but it was familiar and decent.

As I was hurrying down the cobbled street, weaving around the large hill in the center holding numerous homes of the elite, I paused, sighing at their beauty.

"What would it be like to have so much you don't have to worry about buying medicine or food?" I whispered. When I sucked in a deep breath, my lungs hurt. My heart ached just as badly. "Gleaming buildings, fine furniture, and everything my heart could desire is not for an average woman like me." My voice broke. "I just want enough money to buy the medicine Lana needs."

My eyes stinging with tears, I ducked my head and continued walking, reaching our small home built on the edge of the village, far from the glorious buildings in the center.

Someone had tacked a note to the door.

"Please tell me the landlord isn't raising the rent." I could barely afford what he charged right now.

I tugged the envelope off the door and went inside, smoothing my face into a smile and doing all I could to look pleasant and happy.

My sister's chesty cough greeted me.

Our home consisted of one bedroom and an open area with a kitchen and a small place to sit in the evening. Lana lay on the sofa because it was much too cold in the bedroom we shared.

I hurried over to the stove and fed it sticks, noting I'd have to collect more soon. It didn't provide much heat, but it was all we had.

"Jasmine?" Lana asked, stirring on the sofa.

"Good evening," I said in a cheerful voice. I lifted the packets. "Look! I've bought plenty of medicine."

"Wonderful." Lana tucked back the blanket and rose, coming over to give me a hug, her body so frail, her bones bit into my flesh. The slight pain didn't matter, though, as long as I could hold my sister. She leaned back in my embrace. "You sold the skirts and blouses you made, then?"

"Yes, for much more than I expected." This wasn't the truth. I'd barely made enough for the three days of medicine. "And I have a new commission, a blouse for Flo."

"Flo's sweet."

I nodded and carried the rest of my purchases into the kitchen. "I thought I'd make a soup." I lifted the chicken leg and vegetables I'd bought before going to Flo's herbal shop. "The leg's thick. It'll make a nice, rich broth. And I bought bread too. Are you hungry?"

Lana walked slowly into the kitchen and perched on a stool, shrugging. "A bit."

"Let me get it started, then." In no time, the chicken simmered. Once it had cooked, I'd pick it clean and add the vegetables, plus a bit of flour to thicken it.

"Did you have a good day?" she asked.

"Couldn't be better." I had to force cheer into my words.

"Cordellia wasn't too mean, was she?"

"Oh, not at all. You know my boss. Most of the time, she's kind."

Lana's low laugh rang out. "We may live in Forest Fable, and some may say it's enchanted, but there's not enough magic in our village to make Cordellia behave in a kind manner."

"We get along well enough. She respects my work."

"If only she also respected you."

I sighed and started slicing the bread we could dip in our soup. I hadn't been able to afford butter or jam for so long, I couldn't remember how either tasted. "She will one day."

Lana nudged her head toward the envelope I'd laid on the counter. "What's that?"

"It was on the door. I'm sure it's nothing."

"Is the landlord raising the rent?"

"I'll look at it later."

"Open it now. If we need more money, I'll find work to help pay."

"I make enough for us both. You need to rest." And heal. "When you're better, I'll take time off, and you can work for the chicken."

She scoffed. "I hope that day comes soon. You work too hard, Jasmine."

If only I could work harder. Maybe then we'd have more. But such was the life of a street rat—something the palace guard once called me as I scurried past on my way to work.

When the soup was finished, I served her a generous bowl, laying two slices of bread beside it.

I joined her at the small table while she ate.

"Where's your meal?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm not hungry. Cordellia fed us a wonderful lunch today, and I'm still full." If one could call bread and a moldy slice of cheese wonderful. Still, it had been enough to tide me over. "I made enough soup for you to have it again tomorrow for your lunch. There's plenty of bread for your breakfast."

Lana swiped out the last of the broth with her bread and ate it, chewing slowly. "Thank you." She didn't look up. If she did, I was sure I'd see tears in her eyes. They were mirrored in mine. "I . . . hate this."

I leaned forward and gave her a hug. We sobbed a bit, but when we leaned away from each other, we shared watery smiles.

We might not have much, but we had each other.

Rising, I put the rest of the soup in a container and placed it in our cool box.

"I'm going to lay down," Lana said. She got up and staggered to the sofa. When I went to bed, I'd carry her there while she slept, then snuggled close to her to keep her warm.

"Don't forget to take some medicine." While she did, I added a few more sticks to the stove. I'd have to go to the forest tomorrow to collect more, something I could do after work.

Once she was sleeping, I slumped on the other stool in the kitchen and nibbled on the heel of the bread while getting out the fabric I'd use for Flo's blouse. Fortunately, I had just enough left after making a dress for someone else. I bought the fabric from Cordellia, and while she never gave me a bargain, she didn't mark it up much beyond what she paid herself.

It was only when I went to the sink pump for a glass of water that I saw the rumpled envelope still lying on the counter. Should I wait until tomorrow or deal with the bad news right now? I opted for the latter. With a blouse to make, it wasn't like I'd have much time to sleep even if I remained awake trying to figure out how I'd pay a higher rent.

The envelope held only a cream card.

I gasped as I read.

Jasmine Bains has been selected to

attend the palace weekend ball.

Please present this invitation at the

castle gate promptly at six on Friday.

The card slipped from my fingers, fluttering to the floor. If it hadn't landed on my foot, I might've believed I was dreaming.

I slumped to the floor beside it. How was this possible?

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

This was a chance to beg the palace healers to help my sister, but . . .

"I can't go," I whispered. "I don't have a thing to wear."