The Awfully Angry Ogre Read Free

eyebrows, King Albert declared, “These must be the young ladies we’ve heard so much about.”
    â€œPlease make yourselves at home,” Queen Charlotte said cheerfully. “We’re so pleased to meet you at last.”
    After some pleasant conversation, the girls bid Tansy’s parents farewell. As they climbed the narrow, winding staircase to Tansy’s room,Fatima said, “I like your parents. They seem very nice.” Tansy noticed her friend didn’t say anything about Cole and Ethan.
    â€œWow, your room is really high!” Lysandra exclaimed halfway up the stairs. Elena didn’t say a word, but Tansy could hear her huffing and puffing behind them.
    â€œSorry about the climb,” apologized Tansy. “I wanted to be as far away from my brothers as I could get.”
    At last they arrived at her room. Lysandra kicked off her shoes and sank onto Tansy’s bed. Stretching out her legs, she exclaimed, “Ah! That feels so good!”
    Elena walked around the room, examining every painting. “We flew over that mountain,” she said. “What’s it called?”
    â€œMount Majesta,” said Tansy.
    â€œDid you paint these?” asked Elena.“They’re very good.”
    With pride, Tansy said, “My brother Jonah painted them. As brothers go, he’s not so bad. Better than the rest, anyway.”
    â€œWhat a fabulous view!” Fatima exclaimed suddenly, staring out the window.
    Tansy went to stand beside her. In the distance Mount Majesta rose tall and regal, clothed in a forest-green cloak and wearing a hat of snow. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” she said. She felt glad that at least the view from the castle was grand. Perhaps to impress Fatima even more, she added, “You know, there’s an ogre living halfway up the mountain.”
    Fatima’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding!”
    â€œReally?” Lysandra and Elena exclaimed.
    Tansy grinned. “It’s true.” She plopped onto her bed next to Lysandra and invited theothers to do the same. It was a good thing her bed was wide since they’d all have to sleep together during the visit!
    Tansy told her friends everything she knew about the ogre, including the rumors that he stole sheep and set fires. She’d just finished telling them about the eight young men who’d been turned into stone when there was a loud knock at her door.
    The princesses jumped, then laughed at themselves for being so startled. Tansy hopped off her bed and scraped open the door.
    Jonah stood in the doorway, panting and holding the handles of several large bags. “These just arrived,” he said, dumping them inside the room. He glanced over at Tansy’s friends. “I guess none of you believes in traveling light, do you?” But he was smiling as he said it.
    Tansy introduced Jonah to everyone.
    â€œThanks for lugging our things upstairs,” Fatima said. “I had to send them by carriage. They never would’ve fit on my carpet.”
    â€œPlus, our bags are so heavy, she probably couldn’t have gotten the carpet off the ground,” added Lysandra.

    Tansy patted her brother’s arm. “Good thing you’re so strong.”
    Jonah tried to flex but only managed a small bump. “Not at all like Edward’s,” he said sadly.
    â€œWho cares?” said Tansy. “Edward may have bigger muscles, but you’ve got a bigger brain .”
    â€œYou’re right, of course,” Jonah said with a grin.
    â€œI love your paintings,” Elena said softly.
    Jonah blushed to the roots of his ginger hair. “Thanks.” He started to leave, then turned back again. “Forgot to tell you. Mom said dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”
    At dinner the princesses met Tansy’s other brothers: Edward, James, and twelve-year-old Matthew. To Tansy’s relief, Edward and Jamesmade an effort to