The Stepsister Scheme

here, he’ll take your virtue as payment.”
    Talia touched the handle of her knife. “If that fop tries to take my virtue, I’m taking his manhood.”
    “I only take what’s willingly given,” said Timothy.
    Snow looked Timothy up and down. “He’s pretty, but I don’t think he’s my type,” she said. “He’s far too impressed with himself.”
    “Go on, you scoundrel,” the old woman said. “These ladies aren’t for you.”
    “And what would you want?” Danielle asked. She was starting to understand this place. Nobody did anything for free.
    “Me?” The woman rubbed her knobby, hairy chin. “I’d like to play a game, my pretty.”
    “Not interested,” said Talia. “We’ll find Arlorran on our own.”
    “How?” Danielle asked. “How much time will we give Charlotte and Stacia to work their magic while we wander aimlessly about Fairytown?” She folded her arms and turned back to the woman. “What game is that?”
    “You’ll lose,” Timothy said in a taunting, singsong voice.
    “A short way from here, the road splits in three directions,” said the old woman. “You guess which road will lead you to Arlorran. If you’re correct, I’ll be your willing servant throughout your journey. Your every wish will be my command, from the moment you answer until you leave Fairytown. You’ll need allies here, and my power is nothing to sneer at.”
    The fox wrinkled his nose, proving her wrong.
    “And if I guess wrong?” Danielle asked.
    “If you’re wrong, you give me the son you carry in your womb.”
    Danielle rolled her eyes. “It’s all about the unborn children with you fairy folk, isn’t it?” Turning to Talia and Snow, she asked, “Is she telling the truth? Will she serve me if I guess the right road?”
    “You can’t,” Talia said. “That’s the heir to the throne, Princess.”
    “She is of fairy blood,” Snow said. “If she makes a bargain, she’ll have no choice but to keep it. But Talia’s right. The odds are two to one against you, and you can’t risk—”
    Danielle smiled. “I’ll play your game.” She saw Talia close her eyes in disgust, and even Snow looked nervous. But Danielle wasn’t worried. Not this time.
    “Excellent,” said the woman, rubbing her hands together. “One road will take you south. Another curves to the west. The third will lead you to the north. Your friend awaits you on one of these paths.”
    Danielle turned to Timothy. “You know where Arlorran is.”
    He nodded.
    “Tell me which road, and I’ll order her to serve you. ‘From the moment I answer, until we leave Fairytown.’”
    “Hey,” shouted the old woman. “You can’t do that!”
    The fox began to yip, a sound suspiciously like laughter. Slowly, Timothy smiled. Lifting his walking stick, he pointed down the road. “You want the southern path, which will lead you to the First Forest. Most evenings, you’ll find Arlorran in a tavern called the Tipsy Oak. You can’t miss it.”

    The Queen’s Sun had all but disappeared when they reached the three branches the old woman had described.
    “They did tell us the road split,” Snow said.
    Talia rolled her eyes. “They might have been a little more specific about it.”
    The central road continued straight ahead. The northern path disappeared into a stone-ringed hole in the earth. And the southern branch, the one Timothy had instructed them to follow, climbed into the trees.
    Ancient oaks grew on either side of the road. Danielle could see the roots twining around the edges of the road at the point where it left the earth like a bridge. The road itself was thick as Danielle’s hand. Farther on, the trees grew like pillars beneath the road, carrying it higher and higher until it was little more than an emerald thread among the leaves. Branches laced together on either side like a railing. Danielle could see the whole thing swaying slightly in the breeze.
    “Two suns make for healthy plants,” Snow commented.
    Talia was already heading up the road. Danielle rested her left hand on her sword handle as she followed. The wood and glass were warm to the touch. A sword would do her little good against the dangers of Fairytown, but simply touching it brought her comfort. “Please watch over Armand,” she whispered, wondering if her mother could still hear her. “Keep him safe until we arrive.”
    Already the road had taken them into the upper branches. Leaves surrounded them, so they walked through a tunnel of green.