“I’ll make sure your horse is brushed and fed,” William said.
“What did you say to convince him?” Roderick asked.
William’s cheeks flushed dark red as he suddenly turned shy, peering down at his feet. “I told him you would pay in gold.”
Roderick shot her a surprised look. Snow’s brows rose to her hairline.
“You lied,” she said. “I never told you that.”
“You didn’t,” he agreed, still staring at his feet.
She lifted her head a little higher. “However, wecanpay in gold.”
His head shot up as he stared at her, his eyes wide and his face now drained of color. Roderick lifted one brow at her and tilted his head to one side.
“We can?” he asked.
“We can’t pay you today,” Snow added, never taking her gaze off the boy. “But I promise to pay you and lift the taxes off the village once I regain control of the kingdom.”
William stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. And perhaps she had. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with her continued denial of her true identity. She slipped the pendant off her neck and approached him. Roderick watched with interest, his gaze firmly pinned on her. She ignored him.
“This was a gift from my father,” she said, showing William the pendant. “It is the sigil of the Mystic Vale.”
William stared down at it in wonder. “The rose and the crown.”
“Yes,” Snow said. “My name is Snow White and I’m the rightful heir to the throne. Seraphina is a usurper. She doesn’t belong in power. I mean to see her dethroned.”
William dropped to one knee and his head bent. “Your majesty.”
“Get up,” she said on a sigh. “All we seek tonight is a place to stay and a warm meal.”
“And you shall have it. The tavern is next to the inn. I’ll take you there now.”
William started out of the stable trying his best to hide the limp. Roderick shot her a look that told her he was impressed as they followed the boy out.
“How did you get that limp?” she asked.
“Oh…it’s an old injury. Nothing to be concerned about, your majesty.”
“You don’t have to call me that,” she said.
“But you are.” He gave her a winsome glance over his shoulder. “Aren’t you?”
“I am but…”
“She’s not quite used to that yet,” Roderick put in.
“How about I call you my lady?” William suggested.
“How about just Snow?” she countered.
He grinned again and nodded.
Chapter 31
Roderickwasimpressed.InWestfall, 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.
