Chapter 31

R oderick was impressed. In Westfall, she was not ready to announce who she was to the crowd. Here in Lighthill, she seemed more than willing to tell them who she was and her intentions. They didn't accept her with open arms. It was more of a begrudging interest at best.

After telling William who she was and showing him the pendant, he led them into the inn which was connected to the only tavern in town. Inside, the patrons were not interested in anything but what she intended to do. She stood at the front of the room, her hands clasped in front of her and her head held high as she told them.

"I cannot do this alone. Those in Westfall have agreed to back me," she said.

"And ye expect us to do the same?" one man scoffed. "How do we know you're telling the truth?"

She clenched her fists, her body rigid as she stood facing them all. Roderick moved to stand next to her to give her strength and support.

"The princess speaks true. The queen commanded me to kill her because she's a threat to her throne."

Silence descended on the small crowd.

The barkeeper, a frowning man wiping the bar top with a damp rag, said, "But you didn't."

"When I learned who she was, I couldn't," Roderick said. "She's the only one who can end the suffering here and in Brookdale."

"The kingdom I want is one of prosperity," she said. "Not people starving because they're taxed and their crops are stolen."

"And you promise this?" another man said as he stepped forward.

"I do," she said with a nod.

"You'll keep your word?" he added.

"I will."

Her voice never wavered as she answered. Her hands relaxed and her shoulders drooped a little. She was losing hope again. Silence again. The man turned to the crowd, eyeing them all.

"Then I say we fight for her. Those in favor?"

When he said that, Snow blew out a shuddering breath. He would have never noticed it had he not been watching her as she looked at all the faces in the crowd as they considered. And then the barkeeper spoke first.

"Aye," he said. "I'm no good with a sword, but I'll fight for you, princess."

"As will I."

And so, it went and once they had all pledged, Roderick bought them all a round of ale and told the barkeeper to put it on his tab. Snow sat the table staring down in the frothy drink.

"You did it," he said as he joined her, holding his own tankard.

"I haven't done anything yet." She lifted her gaze to his. "Even with the men here, how many do we have? Two hundred? Three?" She shook her head. "It's not enough. Not against Seraphina and her forces."

"How many does she have?" Roderick asked.

"As many as she needs. She can conjure a dark army if she wants," Snow said.

He saw the desperation, the worry, the fear deep in her eyes. She was right. It wasn't enough. They would be slaughtered when they tried to approach the castle. He sat back in his seat, his mouth dry and his appetite for ale gone.

And he had yet to tell her about the sleeping curse placed on him. He was running out of time. He had to get them to the castle before the curse took hold of him.

An idea formed and he rose. "I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" she called after him.

But he was already stalking across the tavern and out the door. He headed to the inn, where he had words with the innkeeper earlier that day. They had since reconciled thanks to his son, William. The innkeeper, Jacob, lounged behind the desk. He shot Roderick a glare when he saw him.

"Come to make more empty promises of gold, my lord?" he snarled.

"No," Roderick said. "I need to send a message to King Alfred."

"King Alfred of the Feywood?" He snorted. "Why would he want a message from you?"

His incredulity raked on Roderick's nerves. "Are you going to help me or not?" he snapped.

The man snapped his mouth shut. "I don't have quill or paper. I can't read or write."

Roderick flushed with the innkeeper's reply. "Who does?"

"The chief magistrate," Jacob replied.

"Where would I find the chief magistrate?" he asked.

The innkeeper gave him a look as though he'd lost his mind. "Likely in the tavern. But be warned, he is not a friend to you or your King Alfred. He's loyal to the queen."

This posed a problem. If the chief magistrate was loyal to the queen, then Snow announcing her intentions and identity to the entire tavern was a terrible idea and would likely garner some type of retaliation from the evil queen. They needed to get out of Lighthill as soon as possible.

But he still needed to send that message. He needed someone else to help him. His mind raced as he tried to think of some other way to send a message to the king.

"Thanks for your help," he said.

He exited the inn, pausing there to look up and down the street. Most of the shops were closed for the night. His gaze alighted on each and every one, then paused on the apothecary. The man was closing up shop for the night.

A buzzing sound erupted somewhere in the distance. A flicking of iridescent wings in the deepening twilight caught his attention. He watched, fascinated, as the moving ball of light was headed right for him. On impulse, he held up his hand, palm out. The little sprite landed in the center of his hand. It was Annilen.

She bent over, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Then she looked up at him, her tiny faced pinched with fear and concern.

"Annilen?"

"Where is Snow?"

"In the tavern," he nodded behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"The queen attacked the Wyldwood Forest," she said. "She set it on fire. Most of us managed to escape. Then there was this incredible wave of water that came. A wall of water!" She paused to gulp in a breath. "Was it Snow?"

He nodded.

She blew out a breath. "She saved us. But the elven village…"

"Was it destroyed?" he asked, his heart climbing to his throat.

"Only some," she said. "The Elders were able to protect most of it with their magic. But the forest…" Her breath hitched, causing her to emit a tiny squeak. "I've come to warn Snow the queen will be hunting her down. And I want to join her travels."

All the more reason to get out of Lighthill. It wasn't new information, either. He was aware the queen was looking to put an end to Snow White as quickly as possible. He was certain the Feywood king would help him, if only he could get a message to him.

And then an idea struck.

He walked away from the inn, Annilen still perched in his hand.

"Annilen, I'm sure Snow will want you to join her travels, but I have something more important for you to do."

She tipped her head to one side in question and suspicion. "What is that?"

"Snow needs reinforcements if she's going to defeat the queen. I think King Alfred can help us."

"The Feywood king?"

"Yes," he said. "I forged armor and weapons for him. He would come to her aid if I asked him…and told him Queen Seraphina plans to invade the Feywood and take over the kingdom for herself."

Her brows drew together. "Is she?"

Well, Roderick wasn't certain she was, but the queen was ambitious. It was only a matter of time before that were true. He nodded.

"Yes. You can get into the castle and find the king. Tell him you know me and that you are my messenger. Tell him the queen is mobilizing for an attack and to send forces north before she can march that way," he said.

"Will he believe me? How will he know I'm telling the truth?"

It was a good question. He had dealings with the king on numerous occasions. He'd made the king his own enchanted blade. The king had commissioned it and asked for something specific to be engraved in the handle—three initials representing his wife, his son, and his daughter. FJP for Filomena, his wife; James, his son; and Pippa, his daughter. He told this to Annilen.

"Can you do this for me?"

She was silent a long moment, then finally nodded. "If it will help Snow, then yes. I will do it."

Roderick grinned. He gave her directions to the castle and how to find the king. Then, the sprite fluttered away, carrying with her his hopes the king would bring his army.