The Bravest Princess

by E. D. Baker

  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.

  A few minutes later, two of the guards brought Granny Bentbone back to the carriage while the rest led the horses to the stream to drink. Annie noticed that the witch’s spell had already worn off and the old woman was once again able to use her hands. She was still befuddled, however, and looked around the carriage as if she’d never seen it before. The look she gave Annie also seemed to be one she’d give a stranger, but she took the food the guards offered her without question and began to eat as if she really was starving.

  It wasn’t long before they were on their way again. Annie nibbled her food as she watched the scenery pass by, but Granny Bentbone gobbled hers, eating every last crumb and licking her fingers afterward. Wiping her hands on her gown, she turned and peered at Annie.

  “What happened to your hair?” she asked. “It looks like a rabid squirrel made its nest in it.”

  “Nothing,” snapped Annie, not wanting to have the same conversation all over again.

  Granny Bentbone shrugged and turned to the window. When Annie finished eating, she shoved her apple core between the bars of the window beside her. She thought she heard a crow caw, and jerked her hand back when a shadow blocked the sunlight. The old woman laughed, and Annie could feel her face turn red. Maybe she was afraid of the crows a little.

  As the miles rolled by, Annie struggled to stay awake so she could keep an eye on the witch. Granny Bentbone dozed, waking up now and then to look around, switch positions, and fall back to sleep again. The sun was low in the sky when they finally stopped for the night at the edge of a forest. Horace opened the door to let Annie out, and Liam was waiting to help her step down.

  “If we kept going, we’d be spending the night in the Dark Forest, and that’s something I’d rather avoid,” said Liam. “We’ll set up camp here and reach the tower by midday tomorrow.”

  “We’ve slept under the stars before, but what are we going to do about Granny Bentbone?”

  “Make sure she’s well chained and lock the carriage door,” said Liam. “There aren’t any homes around, so she won’t be able to call any children to her.”

  Annie glanced back at the carriage. “She has other kinds of magic, but she needs to use her hands to do it.”

  “That’s good to know,” Liam told her. “We’ll tie her hands together so she can’t use them.”

  “Is anyone going to feed me?” Granny Bentbone called from inside the carriage. “I haven’t had a thing to eat all day, and I’m starving.”

  Liam raised one eyebrow. “I thought she ate when we did.”

  “She did. She was very coherent this morning but has gotten forgetful again.”

  “I’m not forgetful!” cried Granny Bentbone. “My mind is sharp as a … a …”

  “I see,” said Liam. “I was just going to say that I know it’s early, but if we go to bed soon, we can get a good night’s sleep and an early start in the morning.”

  Annie glanced at the crows, which had already settled on an overhead branch. “I don’t know how well I’m going to be able to sleep, but I’m willing to give it a try.”

  After a simple supper of cold meat and fruit from the basket, Captain Sterling had the guards erect tents, tie and chain Granny Bentbone, and lock her in the carriage before setting up a watch rotation. The last time Annie and Liam had traveled together, they hadn’t had guards, horses, or tents, so having any one of these felt like a real luxury. Annie thought about this as she lay in her tent, wondering why, even though she was so much more comfortable, she wasn’t enjoying their trip. Of course, part of it was because she was riding in a carriage with Granny Bentbone, who didn’t have anything nice to say. Mostly, Annie thought it was because she wasn’t alone with Liam. Even when Gwendolyn and Beldegard had been with them, Annie and Liam had often walked by themselves. Annie enjoyed the times they were alone together more than any other—although she did not like that he was keeping things from her.

  Tired from the ride, Annie soon drifted off, but it wasn’t long before a sound woke her. She lay there without moving, listening, but when she didn’t hear anything else, she decided that she was imagining things and once more fell asleep. A short time later, something woke her again, and this time she couldn’t go back to sleep. She was still awake when she heard something hit the tent. For the rest of the night, she dozed off and on, woken many times by small thuds.

  The first songbirds were starting to greet the day when Annie crawled out of her tent, yawning. One glance told her what had kept her from a sound sleep. Acorns littered the ground around her tent, even though the nearest oak tree was at least two hundred feet away and there weren’t any acorns around the other tents.

  “Ouch!” she cried when something hit her shoulder. She looked up to see a crow flying overhead. An acorn rolled to a stop beside her.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Liam, sticking his head out of his tent.

  “The crows have been pelting my tent with acorns. And that one just hit me with one.” Annie pointed at the crow, which cawed and landed in the tree. “I’m glad we had the tents to sleep in. I think these crows are trying to torment me.”

  The crow cocked its head to the side as if considering what she’d said.

  “They’re just birds, Annie,” said Liam.

  Annie shook her head. “I think they’re more than that. They’re too smart, for one thing. They followed us all the way here and won’t stop looking at me. Granny Bentbone said that they’re in thrall to an evil witch, but I don’t know why a witch would do this.”

  “You don’t mean to say that you think those are the same crows that we saw by the stream yesterday?” said Liam.

  “I don’t know. Crows all look the same to me, but I suppose it’s possible. Granny Bentbone said she can see something in their eyes. They seem normal, as far as I can tell.”

  “Evil witch, huh?” Liam said. “We have run into a few.”

  Annie shuddered. “I’d rather not talk about it out here, where they can hear us.”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “No, I’m not,” Annie declared. “And I’m not being silly, either!”

  Chapter 5

  It was midafternoon when they reached the tower where Annie had been kept prisoner. She had climbed down from the tower after braiding the long hair that the previous prisoner had left behind. Now, looking up at the windows from the ground, she wondered how she had ever managed it. The structure was as tall as a castle turret and stood by itself in the middle of a vast forest. Annie was certain that if Liam hadn’t been with her, she would never have found it again.

  The four guards King Halbert had sent ahead to ready the tower for Granny Bentbone reported to Captain Sterling while Annie and Liam studied the windows high above. A few minutes later, the captain approached Liam.

  “The men have a basket rigged up on the other side, Your Highness,” he said. “They
plan to use it to haul the witch to the top.”

  “Did they restock the tower and clean up all the hair?” asked Annie.

  The captain smiled. “They did indeed. It took two men most of a day to get all the hair out.”

  “I’d like to see what they’ve done,” Liam said, turning to Annie. “Would you like to go with me? We can see how the basket works.”

  “It will carry only one person at a time, Your Highness,” said the guard. “But it is perfectly safe. The men have been using it to carry up supplies.”

  Annie, Liam, Captain Sterling, and Horace rounded the tower, leaving most of the guards behind with the carriage and Granny Bentbone. Although Annie knew there had been a lot of long blond hair draped over everything inside, she was surprised to see the size of the pile of hair at the building’s base. Waist high and as wide as a large man was tall, the pile looked almost like spun gold. On top of the pile was the rope she’d made by braiding some of the hair, coiled in a giant loop.

  “We should probably burn that,” said Liam. “We don’t want anyone else using it to climb up or down.”

  “I’ll see to that,” said Horace, eyeing the pile of hair.

  “The basket doesn’t look very big,” Annie said, examining a large wicker box tied to a rope that ran up and over a pulley fastened to the wall above the window.

  “It’s big enough for the old witch,” said the captain.

  “I’ll go up first, just to make sure you’ll be all right in it,” Liam told Annie.

  Captain Sterling summoned two of his men to help while Liam climbed into the basket. It was too small for him to sit down, and the sides came up only as far as his hips. He had to hold on to the rope to keep his balance, and the basket started swaying the moment it left the ground.

  Annie grew nervous as she watched from below, no longer certain that she wanted to go up the tower. But then Liam was at the window and the basket was on its way back down.

  “I’m not so sure about this!” Annie shouted to Liam.

  “It really isn’t bad,” he called down. “Just climb in and close your eyes. We’ll pull you up and tell you when to get out.”