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.
