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with delight every time the water splashed his face. Even from here Danielle could see how badly her son wanted to join the others.
    Nicolette and four other nursemaids were doing their best to keep the children under control. Nicolette was trying to herd the group inside for breakfast. A few of the nursemaids had other, more pressing concerns. One was having an earnest debate with a little boy about why he really should put his pants back on. Another lectured a red-haired girl on what was and was not a privy.
    “Trittibar was right,” said Armand, squeezing Danielle’s hand. “The children seem to be doing well.”
    “The younger ones, at least.” Danielle winced as Jakob lost his grip and fell, landing hard on his backside. He sat stunned for a moment, then climbed to his feet and hurried toward Danielle and Armand. His movement was clumsy, as much a waddle as a run.
    “Mama!”
    Danielle smiled and scooped him up. Water dripped from his hair and shirt.
    “They went in fountain.” Jakob’s round face was serious. “ I stayed on grass.”
    “Yes, you did.” Danielle rubbed a hand through his hair.
    “Mama, where Aunt Tala?” Jakob asked.
    Danielle hugged him, heedless of the water dampening her own clothes. “She’ll be back soon. Go play.” She waited until he was away before turning to Armand. “They should have reached Stone Grove by now.”
    “If anyone can handle Roudette, it’s Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.”
    Danielle stared. “What did you say?”
    Armand looked thoroughly pleased with himself. “You thought I’d never figure it out?”
    There was no point in denying it. “When did you know?”
    “I guessed the truth about Snow shortly after the mermaid incident.” He lifted Danielle’s hand and pushed back her sleeve, revealing a copper bracelet with a small mirror in the center. “She gave me a magic mirror too, remember? Magic mirror, white skin, not to mention she goes by the name ‘Snow.’ ”
    “Most people assume it’s a nickname, because she looks like Snow White.” Danielle glanced at the mirror, willing it to show her Snow and Talia, but nothing happened. “What about Talia?”
    “I heard her singing to Jakob last month.” He chuckled. “I’ve heard many gifted singers in my time, both human and fairy. Talia is something in between. Her voice, that was one of the gifts the fairies gave her? Like her grace? I’ve long suspected a magical element to her skill in battle. Hearing her song gave me the final piece I needed.”
    “And now that you know the truth?” Danielle asked.
    “If they wished their identities known, they wouldn’t be working as servants to my mother.” He shrugged. “I’ve heard the stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Who hasn’t? The fact that they’re here in Lorindar, alone, tells me those stories didn’t have as happy an ending as the bards would have us believe.”
    “They’re not alone,” Danielle said firmly.
    “You know what I mean.” He squeezed her hand. “You could have told me.”
    “It wasn’t my secret to share.”
    “I know.” He winced as one of the children let out a particularly piercing scream. He started to say more, and then his expression hardened.
    Danielle followed his gaze to see guards racing toward the main gate. “Nicolette, get the children inside.”
    “You too.” Armand took Danielle’s arm.
    One of the guards turned back, shouting for Tymalous. Danielle’s heart pounded, and she pulled free of Armand’s grip. “If this were an attack, they’d be calling for reinforcements, not the king’s healer.”
    By now most of the palace staff had stopped to see what was happening. Father Isaac emerged from the chapel, faded black robe flapping behind him as he ran. Tymalous moved more slowly as he followed.
    Snow was the first through the gate, half- carrying the exhausted and battered Trittibar. His arm was a bloody mess, the sleeve and skin shredded. Talia followed, pushing Charlotte ahead of