Red Hood's Revenge

upward.
    Roudette dodged it with ease. “What do you mean?”
    “Princess Danielle came to save her, did she not?” She smiled. “They rescued her from your grasp. Hope brings strength, even to one such as Charlotte. Strength enough to fight. At least for a while.”
    Roudette froze. “How long?”
    The Duchess took her time in responding, her enjoyment obvious. “For a skilled witch, a day. Perhaps two. In Charlotte’s case, I imagine her strength will fail before the sun sets.”
    Roudette circled the pit. She never would have worked with fairies had there been any other way, but some prizes were worth the price. “If I lose Talia because of your failed magic, I will come for you next.”
    The Duchess feigned a yawn. “Shouldn’t you be off chasing after your quarry, little wolfling?”
    Roudette’s smile grew. Perhaps she would return to Fairytown regardless. She preferred not to kill without a contract, but there were exceptions to every rule.
    Unfortunately, the Duchess was right. Roudette spun away, reversing her cape and allowing the magic of the wolfskin to flow through her flesh. She couldn’t track the fairy’s magic, but there was only one place they would have gone.
    If hope had given Charlotte the strength to fight, then Roudette would have to remove that hope.
    Moments later, she was bounding through the woods toward Whiteshore Palace.
     
    Danielle stood with Armand in the courtyard beneath the shade of a cherry tree. A short distance away, Jakob was playing with some of the younger children they had rescued from Rumpelstilzchen. She counted fourteen, most of them gathered around the fountain. Three of the biggest children had climbed into the wide bowl of the fountain. They linked hands around the central pedestal, giggling madly as the water sprayed down on them.
    Jakob stood clutching the edge of the fountain with both hands, jumping in place as fast as his stubby legs allowed and squealing 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