Chapter 26

R oderick waited for her outside. Tasnia and a few of the other Elders stood guard, as though waiting for her to emerge from the house. The last person she wanted to see was Roderick.

Clutching the strap of the bag, she walked with purpose through the village, passing him by and never making eye contact. Even so, he fell in step behind her as did the Elders, as if making sure she made her final exit from the village.

"Why are you following me?" she demanded, knowing he was right behind her.

"Where are you going?" he countered.

She hadn't decided yet, but now was as good a time as any. "I'm going to Faradill. I'll make a place for myself there."

"Are you sure that's wise? Seraphina is still out there—"

She spun to face him, put a hand on his chest and shoved. "Please stop following me."

Then she turned and ran as fast as her legs would take her. She never looked back. She didn't want to look back. The day was waning and she wanted to be settled at the foot of Faradill by the time night fell.

She didn't stop running until she'd reached him. Then she fell to her knees, dropping the bag at her side. The circlet slid off her head and landed on the ground in front of her. She collapsed, putting her head in her hands and let the tears flow.

For the second time in her life, she'd lost her home and her family. A family she'd come to love as much as she loved her own mother and father. Seraphina had won once again.

She hasn't won yet, little one.

Faradill's voice floated through her mind. She looked up at the old oak, tears clouding her vision.

"Hasn't she?" she asked. "She destroyed my family. Now she's destroyed my life with the elves."

The flutter of Annilen's wings signaled her arrival. Snow held out her hand to allow the sprite to land.

"Snow? Are you all right?"

"Not really." She sniffed.

"What's happened?" Concern creased her little face.

Seeing her friend's concern made her smile. "It's a long story."

The sound of hooves echoed through the forest. Fury pierced through her as she got to her feet. Annilen fluttered next to her head, then finally alighted on her shoulder.

"What is it?" she asked.

The horse came into view then, with Roderick on its back. Snow stood rock still as she watched him approach and then dismount.

"Stay where you are," Snow demanded.

He held up one hand as if in surrender. "Snow, I came to apologize."

She folded her arms, defiant. "I do not want your apologies. I want you to leave."

"What happened?" Annilen whispered in her ear.

"He's responsible for me leaving the elven village," she said, glaring at him.

His gaze flickered to Annilen on her shoulder and back to her face. "Do you mean that? Truly?" He clutched a sheathed dagger in his free hand, while he continued to hold up the other. "Because if that's what you want, then I'll go. But I'll not return to Bridgefort."

"Why did you leave the elven village?" the sprite asked.

But Snow ignored her. Despite her inner voice telling her not to ask, she asked, "Where will you go then?"

"North of the forest. To the villages of the Mystic Vale. To Westfall and Lighthill and Brookdale. To tell them about the courageous princess who was banished by the elves because she was attacked by their evil queen. To ask for their support in helping her get back the throne that is rightfully hers."

Annilen gasped. "The evil queen attacked you and you were banished? That hardly seems fair."

"It wasn't fair." He held up the dagger and said to Snow, "You forgot this."

He extended it to her, but she refused to move.

The elves banished you, Faradill said, but it wasn't a question.

"Yes, they did," Roderick answered, for he, too, heard the oak speak. "Because of me. Because I led Seraphina to the village and her. And because a young elven boy died."

Annilen fluttered off her shoulder, turning to look at her with her fingers pressed against her mouth. "Someone died?"

"She killed Ardan." As she said it, tears clotted her throat.

She swallowed hard as she stood there, trying to decide what to do or say next. A strange shudder went through the forest. Almost as though all of nature understood who and what she was and what had happened.

Finally, she said, "You would do that for me? Speak on my behalf to the villagers?"

"I would do that for you and more. I'd do whatever possible to see you defeat the queen and take back what is yours."

"Why?" she asked. "Your kingdom is the Feywood. What is your interest in the Mystic Vale?"

He took a step closer. "My interest is in you, your highness. From the moment we met, we had a connection. I've never felt that with anyone before. I've never met another elemental. I did not know you were the target of the queen's wrath until I took her the enchanted dagger she commissioned. Even at that moment, when I promised to kill you, I knew I could not. Because you're special."

He is correct. You are special , Faradill said. There are very few elementals in this realm.

"If I wanted to kill you," he said, "I would have already."

"I realize that. You had many opportunities," she said.

"Then I ask you to trust me. Come with me to the villages, so you can see for yourself," he urged. "They want the rightful ruler on the throne. Not this imposter."

You must go, Faradill said. Her magic is strong. Her hatred for you grows even stronger. She must be defeated.

Snow said nothing as Faradill's voice faded from her mind. She continued to stand there, staring at Roderick holding out the dagger to her as her mind worked to form a plan. Perhaps he was right in that she would find support for her cause in the villages of the Mystic Vale. She had never ventured outside the Wyldwood since she arrived ten years ago. Would they even remember who she was? Would they believe she was the princess?

She thought of the pendant at her throat, hidden under her gown. Reaching up, she tugged it out from under her dress and let the pendant rest in her palm, gazing down at it. She swiped her thumb over the rose and crown, the royal sigil of her family line.

"If I go with you," she said, choosing her words slowly, "and we gain supporters, will you fight with me?"

"I will be by your side until the very end." He moved closer, closing the gap between them. "I swear this to you."

He glanced down at the pendant resting in her hand, then reached up and closed her fingers around it. It was as though he sensed her apprehension.

"They will know you by your pendant," he said. "They will support you and your cause."

"Are you certain?" She lifted her gaze and met his. It made her heart turn over.

There was an inherent strength in his eyes as well as determination and sincerity. With his hand on hers, she sensed the elemental magic swirling within him. It buzzed through her, connecting them together. As though they were meant to be.

"Yes," he said at last. "I'm certain."

He reached for her free hand and placed the dagger in it. She stared down at it as her gut clenched.

"The dagger?"

"It's yours," he said. "Your weapon to fight Seraphina."

Faradill's voice filtered through her mind. You have the power within you to defeat her. If you have need of us, call and we will answer.

She glanced up at the ancient oak, the leaves fluttering in the breeze.

"He's right, you know," Roderick said, his voice soft. "You have the power."

She took a deep breath, expelled it. "Then perhaps the time has come for me to fight for what's mine."