Read Online The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler - Free Book Online Page A

try!”
    They kissed me and hurried down the stairs to the princes. The other princesses and I watched from the upper stair as Father introduced Bazyli and Ade. Mysisters dipped in their most graceful curtsies, extending their hands, but they did not speak, and still silent, they went in to dinner.
    Afterward, Cook and I, and Nurse, who had come to get the evening chocolate, were in the kitchen, and we could not help overhearing Father’s fury as he stormed up and down the hallway above us.
    â€œWhy do you not speak?” he shouted. “Were the princes not to your liking? Have you so many suitors that you can offend all who come here?”
    â€œI am sorry, Father,” I heard Aurelia say sadly. “Truly, I wanted to talk. But everything I thought to say seemed so silly—I could not get the words out.”
    â€œYou are spoiled, every one of you!” Father roared. “I have indulged you overmuch. Too many dresses, too much finery. What need have you of tutors or dance masters—or a nurse, for that matter? You are too old for a nurse! You are spinsters now, not children. I will dismiss them all!”
    I stole a glance at Nurse, who had gone very pale.
    â€œFather, no!” Althea cried. “We will do better next time—I promise you!”
    â€œNext time? There will be no next time. No prince will court the mute daughters of Aricin. You are a humiliation to me. Get out of my sight!” There was a flurry of slippers on stairs and the sound of stifled sobs as theyrushed to their room, and then a great quiet descended. Cook pursed her lips.
    â€œWell,” she said, “those princes were not worthy, and our princesses knew it. I would not have spoken either!”
    I laughed, but uncomfortably, as I handed Nurse the tray with its pot of chocolate and cups.
    â€œHe means nothing by it, Nurse,” I said, trying to comfort her. “I am sure he won’t dismiss you. He is just angry. He’ll get over it.”
    Nurse shook her head. “Poor poppets,” she murmured. “I must tend to them,” and she hurried off upstairs.
    When I walked into the forest the next morning for my meeting with Breckin at Babette’s cottage, I was trying very hard not to think about the conversation I’d had with my sisters about kisses and kissing. It was difficult. Every time I did think of it, I became a little breathless, and I could feel how I flushed. If I should do that in front of Breckin, surely he would know what I was thinking. I would be humiliated. I would die.
    Instead I tried to focus my attention on the path through the wood. At first I remembered just how Breckin and I had gone, but as the trees came thicker and closer, they began to look all alike. In no time I was completely lost.
    I sat on a fallen log and tried to think. There hadbeen a stream, I recalled, and a waterfall. A big oak tree—or was that on the way back? Then I remembered the witch’s words to us: If you come into the woods and picture this path, it will be there. As long as you see it straight and true in your mind’s eye, you will be able to walk it up to my door. I strained, trying to imagine the path to the cottage. There—I could almost see it. Pretty white stones, edged with chrysanthemums, orange and yellow. I thought of it as hard as I could, then stood and began to walk forward. Under my feet I felt the soft carpet of pine needles, heard the crackle of the fall leaves, and then I felt the crunch, crunch of pebbles. Startled, I looked up. There was the cottage, trim and tidy, its window boxes overflowing with flowers, even in this cold autumn season.
    I gave a shout of triumph and ran forward, up the stairs to the door. There was a knocker on it that hadn’t been on the ruined door we’d seen the other time. I looked closely at it. It was carved in the shape of a frog, so cleverly that it almost looked alive. As I thought this, the frog extended one