She grinned. “Nothing special.” Then she bustled into the kitchen and washed her hands. “Can I help you with anything, Yirrie?”
She gaped a long moment and then finally nodded. “One of the Elders is ill. I’m taking a care package to him and his family. You can help me with the baking.”
As Snow threw herself into her work, she hummed a faint tune. Despite everything that happened last night, her heart was light. She decided she was not going to worry about the dark wizard, Seraphina, or Roderick today. She was going to enjoy the day. Perhaps she would even ask Ardan to walk with her in the woods.
Even as she resolved to push all those thoughts to the back of her mind, she sensed a ripple of energy entering the village. She halted her kneading for a moment, letting the feeling wash over her. The tingling sensation shuddered through her with such force, her hands halted in the dough. For a moment, she tapped into the feeling, trying to understand what it was. It was nothing like when the Shadow creature came to her on the first night of festival. No, this was something different. It was not dark magic.
The feeling faded and she went back to her kneading, though it was hard to shake that sense that something wasn’t quite right. When she finished with the dough, she placed it in a bowl and covered it with a towel to let it rise.
Yirrie gave her the broom to sweep the kitchen floor. As she started on her next task, there was an abrupt knock on the door. Her gaze flew to it, her heart suddenly in her throat. She froze, the broom in hand. Yirrie went about the business of making another batch of dough while Elator unfolded his long body from the chair and lumbered to the door.
When he opened it, Tasnia stood on the other side with a fierce look about her. Angry lines creased her forehead.
“Tasnia?”
Yirrie dropped what she was doing, her head snapping up. She reached for a dish towel, wiping her hands and hurrying over.
“There is a stranger in the village,” Tasnia said. Then her gaze cut to Snow. “Ahumanstranger.”
That rippling sensation shuddered through Snow once again as she clutched the broom until her hands ached.
Roderick.
“A human stranger?” Yirrie repeated. “Who is it?”
“A man,” Tasnia said, her gaze still focused on Snow. “He’s asking for Snow White.”
Elator and Yirrie both turned their gazes to her. Yirrie’s was one of apprehension while Elator’s was curiosity.
“Do you know this man?” Yirrie asked.
Snow pressed her lips together, trying to decide how to answer.
“I—”
“He called herPrincessSnow White,” Tasnia said.
Elator and Yirrie both gaped at her. Her heart clogged in her throat as she continued to clutch the broom handle. How could he have followed her to the village? She wanted him to return to Bridgefort and forget this nonsense about her reclaiming her throne.
“Snow?” Yirrie asked. “Why would he call you princess?”
She sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then expelled it. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Perhaps you should come speak to the stranger,” Tasnia said in a way that sounded like more than a suggestion.
“I forbid it,” Yirrie snapped. She clutched the dish towel in her hands until her knuckles were white.
Elator reached for her, placing a consoling hand on her shoulder. “Yirrie, we knew this day might come.”
“If her family has come for her, then they can just go away,” she said with such vehemence it surprised Snow. “She belongs here. With us.”
“Yirrie—” Elator began.
“He’s not my family,” Snow interrupted. “But hehascome for me.”
Yirrie sniffed. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Snow. “What does that mean?”
“It means he wants me to return to the Mystic Vale and reclaim the throne that is mine by birthright.”
