“We’d love to share dinner with you,” Galinor interrupts, his eyes widening as he tries to silently tell me to keep my mouth shut.
I grumble, yank out a chair, and sit in it. With my arms crossed, I glower at our host. Ergmin only smiles to himself, and then he produces a stack of cards.
For not wanting to converse in the wagon, the gimly is quite gregarious now. He asks questions about nearby villagers, my parents, and the royal family.
“I don’t get out much.” Ergmin nods to the back, where the furry, sharp-toothed monster must be sleeping. “I used to go to the palace for feasts.” He looks wistful. “But you never know when Brugo will get up to trouble. It’s hard enough to sell my crops.”
Though I feel a twinge of guilt, I won’t let myself feel too badly. He has trapped us here, after all.
We play the game with him for most of the afternoon, and finally, Ergmin pronounces the stew finished. The cooked iktar smells odd. After seeing the creature, it’s not something I’m eager to eat.
Ergmin doesn’t share my hesitance. He digs in, relishing every bite. I pick at mine, mostly eating the carrots and potatoes.
Ergmin wears a satisfied smile, and he pushes his bowl away. “That was good.”
As I wait for him to declare he’s ready to help us, he lights a pipe. I tap my foot, clasp and unclasp my hands, and eventually sigh loudly. Still, Ergmin seems content to enjoy his after-supper smoke.
I glance at Galinor. He too looks impatient, but he is better at hiding it than I am.
Through the cracks in the closed shutters, I see it’s growing dark outside.
“Farmer Ergmin,” I say when I can’t take the wait any longer. “Do you think you could do the counter curse now?”
Ergmin looks at me and then glances at the shutters. With a deep sigh, he sets his pipe aside. “I suppose it is dark now, isn’t it?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I demand.
Ergmin sighs. “There is a time for everything, young lady.”
I open my mouth and then close it again, swallowing back my words. Galinor gives me a helpless shrug when I turn my gaze to him. He’s right. Since Ergmin’s the only one who can undo the curse, we have no choice but to do things his way.
Ergmin takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and then waves his hand three times. His eyes snap open, and he gives me a grim smile. “The curse is lifted.”
I blink at him. “It’s done?”
“That’s right.”
I huff out a breath. “Just like that? That’s all you had to do?”
Ergmin picks up his pipe again, lights it, and takes a large draw before he answers, “What did you expect exactly? A fire display? Something smoldering in a pot?”
I might lunge at the old man.
Since I don’t want to spend the rest of my life as a rat or a toad, I think it’s best we leave.
“Thank you,” I say, rising. “I do appreciate your help.”
Ergmin nods.
I grab Galinor’s hand and lead him out of the cottage. I hesitate at the door and turn back. “It’s truly over? No more curse?”
Ergmin nods, his face solemn. “It is truly over.”
Chapter 24
Itravel back to the manor in a daze. Suddenly, we are here, and I don’t remember the ride back. Galinor’s presence is a comfort to me, even if I fear this is the last I will see of the prince.
We walk through the door and are greeted with silence.
