Princess between Worlds Read Free Page B

your husband is from Dorinocco as well?” asked Delpy.
    All the men turned threatening looks on Liam; some even reached for their swords again.
    â€œYes, but Liam helped me!” Annie hurried to say. “He protected me when I went looking for princes and he fought his brother after Gwennie woke up. Neither Liam nor his father were part of Queen Lenore’s plan to take over Treecrest.”
    â€œWe’re the last ones to hear anything,” complained Bascom.
    â€œWhat happened after you left the castle?” asked Captain Grant, appearing interested in spite of himself.
    â€œI found princes in the neighboring kingdoms and brought them back. Beldegard was a bear at the time, but it was his kiss that woke Gwennie.”
    â€œA bear! You let a bear near a sleeping princess?” said one of the men.
    Annie shrugged. “I knew he was an enchanted prince. I hadn’t meant for him to kiss her, but it worked out for the best. Beldegard wouldn’t have been able to wake her if he hadn’t been her true love. They got engaged right away, but before they could get married I had to find the dwarf who had turned Beldegard into a bear and get him to remove the curse. ”
    Annie had moved closer to the table and she took a seat now, turning to face the men when they sat down as well. Edda came to sit beside her, laying her massive head on Annie’s lap and gazing up at her with soulful eyes. Annie wasn’t sure what to do. Glancing at Bascom, she asked, “May I pet the beast?”
    â€œThat’s Edda. She just came back from patrol with me and Delpy. And she isn’t a beast, Miss, I mean, Your Highness. She’s a troll dog.”
    â€œI’ve never heard of a troll dog,” said Liam.
    â€œThat’s because they’re all here with us,” Bascom said, looking proud. “Prince Rupert has been breeding for them this past twenty years. He wants them big like Edda, although she’s small compared to some.”
    â€œJust wait until you see Big Boy!” said a man who was Annie’s height. “When he stands on his hind feet, he’s taller than Bascom there.” He pointed at the burly man.
    â€œThat he is. Big Boy is one of our best. See Edda’s thick coat?” said Bascom as he bent down to pet the dog. “It’s got two undercoats. Keeps the dogs warm no matter how cold it is outside, and snags the trolls’ talons.”
    Annie reached out, her hand hovering over the dog’s huge head. Her touch was tentative at first, each stroke growing stronger as Edda closed her eyes and relaxed. Petting the animal was soothing somehow, and Annie settled back in the chair, still stroking the thick fur.
    â€œYou should hear the dogs when a troll gets close!” said Delpy. “The racket the dogs make is enough to make your hair curl. Trolls stink, but the dogs can smell them long before we can. A troll can’t get near this fortress without the dogs telling us it’s out there.”
    â€œWe take them on patrol so the trolls can’t surprise us. We’re not trying to fight the trolls, just keep them from entering Treecrest through the pass.”
    â€œIs this the only way through the mountains?” asked Liam.
    Bascom nodded. “The pass isn’t bad in the summer, but the snow comes early here and stays late. Even trolls can’t get through in winter.”
    â€œGo on with your story,” said Gimlet. “What happened next?”
    Annie cleared her throat and was grateful when Delpy handed her a mug of cider. She took it with her free hand, still petting Edda. After thanking the soldier, Annie took a sip before she continued talking.
    â€œOnce he was a man again, Beldegard married Gwennie. A witch tried to kill me at their wedding. I got a message from my friend Princess Snow White that she needed my help. The witch followed us all the way to Helmswood. I confronted her in the courtyard. When she