Read Online A True Princess by Diane Zahler - Free Book Online Page B

know what damage has been done since I left?”
    Karina nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, I am sure they need you there. Do take care of Father. And the baby, when it comes. And . . .” I wondered if she was going to ask the nisse to care for Ylva, but even Karina could not be that forgiving. “And thank you,” she finished. She took a step forward and seemed about to hug him, and the look of utter panic on his face was too much for me. I snorted with laughter. The nisse glared at me, and before I knew it— thump! —I was flat on my back in the pine needles, the wind knocked out of me. By the time I could breathe again and had struggled to my feet, the nisse was long gone. Karina could not help laughing.
    “At least he didn’t set me on my head,” I grumbled, brushing pine needles from my sleeves. “Good riddance!”
    “Oh,” Karina said, “he wasn’t really that bad. A bit short-tempered, but really very generous.”
    Despite myself, I had to agree. “And,” she added, looking rather pleased, “while you were lying in the dirt, he told me his name.”
    “Oh, what is it? Tell!” I begged. But Karina shook her head, mischief flashing in her eyes.
    “I’ll never tell, never!” she vowed. “I promised him I wouldn’t.”
    “If I guess, will you tell?” I beseeched her, and she nodded.
    “Is it Rumpelstiltskin?” I joked, and she laughed again, though I could see the shadow of her brother’s absence in her face. To amuse her then, I guessed every strange or silly name I could as we left the gloom of Bitra Forest and walked out into the sun-warmed light of day.
    On the far side of the field, we could see the road, and on it were travelers. We reached it quickly and strode along, glad for its even surface. I soon noticed that the people we passed looked at us rather doubtfully. I had not set eyes on a mirror for ages, but I saw Karina’s face and knew that mine must be just as grimy, my hair just as tangled.
    “We must look a fright,” I said to Karina, and she nodded, trying to comb her fingers through her knotted blond curls. It was a wonder that the travelers did not run from us in alarm.
    The road branched and branched again, gathering more travelers with each split, but we kept straight on. I saw traders go by with laden carts, and merchants riding fine horses, so I knew we were near Gilsa. At last we stepped through the oaken gates and onto the cobblestones of the bustling, well-ordered town. The houses were stone and strongly built to withstand the long, harsh winters, and there were shops selling wares of all sorts. We saw tailors and cobblers, fishmongers and butchers, furriers and barrel makers. There was even a sign maker’s shop, to provide brightly painted signs for all the other shops.
    When we passed a bathhouse, I said to Karina, “Before we go to the palace, we must clean ourselves up. They will not let us in looking as we do.”
    “But what shall we do when we get to the palace?” Karina asked anxiously. “We can’t just go in and start looking in drawers and cupboards for a jeweled clasp.”
    “Nor can we ask about it,” I agreed. “I have been thinking that we should try to get work there. As servants, we’ll be able to look about freely.”
    “And what if the clasp is with the royal jewels?” Karina moaned. “Whatever will we do then?”
    “We shall steal it,” I said firmly, and her eyes widened at the thought; but then she nodded.
    “For Kai,” she reminded herself, pushing open the bathhouse door.
    Once inside, we peeled off our filthy dresses; then we scrubbed and scrubbed until our skin glowed, and washed each other’s hair until it squeaked. We washed our clothes and put on the one clean dress each of us had left in our packs. I felt like a new creature entirely when I was dressed, and I could tell Karina felt the same.
    Bathed and refreshed, we set out for the castle. We had not gone far before we saw two of the lords we had met at the inn coming toward us.