Red Hood's Revenge

people. It would have killed Beatrice if not for Snow’s quick intervention. Today the queen’s spirit was strong as ever, but her body was so frail she could barely manage stairs without assistance.
    Beatrice sat with Ambassador Trittibar of Fairytown near the front of the chapel, heads close together as they spoke.
    Danielle hurried to join them. The stone tiles were cool beneath her feet. As she walked, she could feel herself relaxing. She glanced at the stained glass windows in the upper walls, the colored panes laying spells of peace and protection over all who entered. Father Isaac’s magic was subtler than Snow’s, but it was still powerful.
    “I’m so sorry,” Danielle said as she reached the queen. “I asked Aimee to wake me, but—”
    “I told her I’d have her shoveling stables if she dared.” Beatrice gripped a gnarled oak staff in both hands for support as she rose to her feet. “You’ve earned a night’s rest, Danielle.”
    Danielle kissed the queen’s cheek. She smiled to hide her grief at Beatrice’s appearance. Everything about Beatrice was thin . Her hands, her hair, even her voice was weaker than before. She wore a heavy cloak lined with rabbit fur for warmth, though the day was relatively mild.
    Beatrice was dying. Almost everyone in the palace recognized this, though none spoke of it. Every day she faded a little more.
    Danielle blinked and turned to Trittibar. She put one hand to her mouth as she took in the monstrosity of the fairy’s wardrobe. Enormous blue feathers sprang from his cap. His doublet was dyed the same shade of blue, though the inside of his slashed sleeves were lined in red silk. His trousers were the green of spring pines, trimmed with white ribbon. Worn leather sandals revealed blue lacquer on his toenails. A rainbow of glass beads braided into his white beard topped everything off.
    “That’s awful,” Danielle said, laughing. “Even for you.”
    Trittibar glanced down at himself. “The toenails are too much, aren’t they?”
    “Can your people even see color?” Danielle asked.
    “Better than yours, in most cases.” He brushed his beard, clinking the beads. “Why you humans insist on dressing so blandly I’ll never know.”
    He spread his arms to embrace Danielle. The fairy had a pleasantly earthen smell. He backed away and switched to a more formal tone. “On behalf of my lord and lady, I thank you.”
    “Thank you ,” Danielle said. “You were the one to spread the rumors of our financial need, and to make sure word of Prince Jakob reached Rumpelstilzchen.”
    Talia sniffed. “If your lord and lady truly wanted to help, why didn’t they hunt the bastard down themselves? How many years has he been running this con? How many more children would he have stolen if Beatrice and Danielle hadn’t planned this trap?”
    “A trap that would have failed without our assistance,” Trittibar pointed out.
    “What assistance?” asked Talia. “I didn’t see you there last night.”
    “Rumpelstilzchen is not of Fairytown. We have no responsibility or authority to—”
    “Stop this,” Beatrice said mildly. She stepped over to embrace Talia, cutting off the debate. “You know as well as I that Rumpelstilzchen might have sensed another fairy. His presence could have undone all of our efforts.”
    Talia grunted but didn’t press the matter.
    Though Beatrice tried to hide it, a gasp of pain escaped her lips as she lowered herself back to the bench. “Rumpelstilzchen and his partner are on their way to the docks. Lyskar is sending an escort for Hevanna.”
    “What about Lang?” Danielle asked. “Did Snow ever learn his true name?”
    Beatrice bowed her head. “Lang Miller was his true name. He was under no spell. He helped Rumpelstilzchen of his own free will.”
    “Lang was stolen from his parents,” Danielle protested. “How could he help to take other children—”
    “Lang was stolen as a babe,” said Beatrice. “Rumpelstilzchen was the only family he ever knew.”
    “He still had a choice,” Talia snapped. “Look at Snow. Raised by a woman so evil she hired a man to cut out her own daughter’s heart. Snow turned out all right. More or less.”
    “Don’t underestimate the allure of fairy magic,” Beatrice said, gazing into the distance. “They can tempt even the most chaste.”
    Trittibar cleared his throat. “For that reason, perhaps it would be best if Rumpelstilzchen were turned over to my people. I was telling your queen