Rumplestiltskin Read Free Page B

water cups and placed them in the knapsack as well and then tapped her foot—waiting. Another ten minutes later had her glancing at the final crowds making their way past the window. It was now or never.
    She must leave. Heaven knew where her father was at this time, which tavern he had decided to attend last evening, but it could not be helped, she could not wait another moment. Already she would have to rush to catch up to the last of them.
    Grabbing her shawl, she threw it around her shoulders as she clutched the knapsack and dashed out the door. Fumbling with the lock as she closed the cottage up, her eyes scanned the small yard and fence, no sign of her father anywhere. Anxiety plagued Aubrynn and for a moment she felt she would be ill. How foolish could her father be? And today of all days!
    With another glance around, she scurried to catch up to the last of the families already yards ahead of her.
    Her trek took just under an hour. It was nearly impossible to keep her skirts from being covered in mud due to the rain the night before. It would seem the Fates had guaranteed anything and everything would go wrong this day.
    Aubrynn sighed and hitched her skirts as high as she dared while still appearing modest and climbed the last of the stone steps leading to the back of the castle gardens. Mostly everyone had already paid their respects and taxes and were now gathered en masse over where the royal tombstones were.
    She tried not to show her nervousness as she turned her back on the crowd, removed the coins from her petticoat and made her way up to the guards in charge of taxing. The very last to approach them, she held out her money.
    “Yer name, miss?”
    “Aubrynn and Daniel Sloat.”
    The man scrolled through the list of hundreds of names. “He yer father?”
    “Yes sir.”
    The man looked up. “Where is he then?”
    “I, uh…” Aubrynn flushed. “I am afraid he had to relieve himself. He could not wait a moment longer.”
    “All people must be accounted for. You tell yer father to come here after this is over so that I may be sure to cross him off this list. All those not crossed off meet an outcome they are not too eager to experience.” His kind eyes met hers. “You will find yer father soon, yes?”
    “I—uh, yes. I hope so.”
    “See that you do. It is orders we cannot disobey.”
    “Yes, sir. I know. Thank you.” She dipped a curtsy and hurried away, praying silently her father showed up despite himself.
    Already the musicians had begun their tribute to the deceased prince as Aubrynn stepped up to the end of the crowd. Men and women alike were wiping their eyes and attempting all manner of whimpers to appease the royal family. She caught a glimpse of the beautifully dressed queen as the multitude parted, just before King Marcus stood to deliver his speech.
    Aubrynn looked down with the others, not willing to meet the man’s eyes. She stared at the stones around her feet allowing his words to glide over her, only catching about every third one. Soon this would all be over. Soon she could head home and wait again until they were summoned next year.
    But if her father did not show, she was not sure she would even have a house to live in until next year. Without her father in the home, the king would surely take it up again. Where would she go? Her mother’s sister lived about fifty miles south in a neighboring kingdom, perhaps she would take her in? Or if she offered herself as a maid, for free room and board, maybe one of her own neighbors would take her? But no one could afford the luxury of another mouth to feed. Things were tight everywhere with the king’s high taxes.
    Aubrynn cringed and took a deep breath chanting within her mind, “Please come, Father. Please come, Father. Please come, Father…” over and over again until she thought her heart would burst. Heaven knew he had never been a good father, not even while her mother and sister were still alive—but since their deaths it