“Know what?” Annilen tilted her head to one side, peering up at Snow with her brows knit together.
“No one knew until tonight,” Snow said. “I am the heir to the throne of the Mystic Vale.”
Annilen’s eyes went wide with shock. “You’re a…princess?”
“Rightful queen,” Roderick corrected.
Annilen curtsied low. “Your majesty.”
“Don’t call me that,” Snow snapped. “I’m not.”
“You are,” Roderick said.
Indeed, you are, Faradill agreed.
Snow sighed. “I know, but it feels strange to say it out loud. For the last ten years, I have denied my true identity. I kept it buried deep down. I did not expect to ever return to the castle. I was content to live here among the forest and the elves.”
“Then Seraphina wins,” he said. “Seraphina has won long enough. It’s time to dethrone her.”
“How? I have no army and only a dagger as a weapon.” She nodded to the dagger still in his lap.
“An enchanted dagger,” he reminded her, a glint of humor in his eyes. “We can raise an army.”
She lifted a brow. “You’re mad to think that.”
“We can,” he insisted.
“How?” she demanded.
“We visit every village between here and the castle. Once they know you’re alive and ready to take back the throne, I have no doubt they will follow you.”
“All those who live in the forest will follow you, too, your majesty,” Annilen said.
And you have all the power of nature behind you, Faradill added.
A tingling sensation went up her spine as she glanced from the little sprite to the old tree. It meant a lot to her Annilen was willing to stand with her. If she knew her friend, then Snow knew Annilen would tell everyone.
Faradill was right. Shedidhave the power of nature behind her. She glanced at Roderick, who waited for her to respond to his suggestion. He was an Artificer. He had even more power than she did. He was a blacksmith. Perhaps he would be willing to help make weapons for those who would follow her into battle against the queen.
She immediately shoved all those thoughts aside. It was nothing but a dream.
“You have doubts,” he said. “I see it in your eyes.”
“Of course, I do,” she agreed.
“You have the power of nature, as Faradill said, and all those in the forest. The villagers, too. And I would bet the elves would help,” he said.
She scoffed, thinking of Tasnia and her snooty ways. “The elves have no interest in human affairs. They are content to remain in their forest village hidden away from the rest of the realm.”
Aside from that, the last person she wanted to tell was Yirrie. Snow gave a silent blessing to Faradill, then dropped her hand from his trunk. It suddenly occurred to her she wore nothing but her shift and dressing gown. She got to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Roderick asked.
“I must return before I’m missed.”
Annilen stifled yawn. “Me, too. Good night, Snow.” She fluttered off, leaving a trail of pixie dust shimmering in her wake.
“What about—”
