Read Online Princess in Disguise by E. D. Baker - Free Book Online Page B

we find someone soon,” said Annie. “I know we’ve met some nice ogres, but most of them are awful. I’d really rather talk to someone else if we can and avoid the ogre village altogether.”
    â€œWe’ll see who we can find,” Liam said as he undid the hobbles on the horse’s legs. “But first we have to get Otis through the cave behind the waterfall. He’s been calm enough up until now. Let’s hope he stays that way.”
    Annie and Liam walked side by side with Liam leading Otis. The horse seemed interested in where they were going, aiming his ears forward and flicking them at every little sound. When they left the Moonflower Glade and entered the forest, he began walking a little faster, as if eager to see what lay ahead. They were among the trees a very short time before the path took them to a sheer rock wall. The path continued on into a cave that led back into the hill. After the first few feet, the cave was cool and dark.
    â€œHold on a minute,” Liam said at the entrance. Digging into his pocket, he took out some crumpled moonflower petals. “I found these on the ground andwanted to see if they still glowed. You carry these and I’ll walk with Otis.” Handing the petals to Annie, he let her go first and turned to rub the horse’s neck.
    Annie studied the petals, which were brown and crumbling around the edges. She doubted they would work, so was pleased when she stepped into the dark and the petals began to glow. They weren’t as bright as the living petals had been the night before, but their light was enough to help her navigate the turns in the tunnel that led beyond the cave.
    At first Otis seemed reluctant to step into the deep shadow, but at a little urging from Liam he shook his head and kept going. With Annie leading the way, they walked around jutting rocks and found their way through the tunnel, coming out behind the waterfall. The roar of the waterfall made Otis nervous, but Liam soothed him enough that they were able to move past the tumbling water and through the underbrush that concealed the tunnel entrance. Everyone was relieved when they came out the other side, especially Otis, who hurried down the path, practically dragging Liam.
    The horse didn’t stop until they could no longer hear the waterfall. By then the path had taken them to the bank of another stream, slower and gentler than the first. Otis nickered when he saw the water, so Liam led him to the pebbled shore and filled the waterskin while the horse drank. When they were finished,Annie and Liam climbed on Otis’s back and rode the rest of the way to the rainbow bridge.
    It was a beautiful bridge, made of alternating bands of ruby, sapphire, amethyst, emerald, and topaz that filled the air above them with color. Normally, Annie would have stopped to admire the bridge, but now she eyed its smooth surface, remembering how it had become slippery when she crossed it the last time, making her fall off into the water. “Do you think we should ride over it or walk Otis across?” she asked Liam.
    â€œWe’ll ride across,” said Liam, urging the horse forward. “And go as fast as we can.”
    â€œBut what if it becomes slippery while we’re on it? Maybe I should get off and let you ride across.”
    â€œStay right where you are!” Liam said as Annie began to wiggle off. “We’re doing this together.”
    Otis had already progressed from a walk to a trot, but Liam wanted him to go faster, so he kicked his heels as hard as he could and the gelding shot across the bridge as if he were a racehorse. He was still galloping when the path angled away from the stream and ran alongside a pasture fence. Liam had just gotten Otis to slow his pace when the bellow of a bull in the pasture beside them startled the horse and sent him galloping again. He almost overshot the path when it turned a corner following the fence line, but Liam had