The Bravest Princess Read Free Page A

Bentbone. I’ll go see my father and explain everything after we have the old witch locked away.”
    Annie glanced up when two girls in matching pale green gowns sat down at the table. Although Annie and Liam had been formally introduced to Beldegard’s sisters at supper the night before, the girls acted as if they didn’t know anyone. They started a whispered conversation, but within a few minutes their voices rose and Annie couldn’t help but hear them.
    â€œI still can’t believe how rude those guards were to us,” said the girl named Willa. “They should have let us go wherever we wanted. I think we should report them to Father. He would never let guards talk to us that way at home.”
    Liam leaned forward so he could see past the other people at the table. “Pardon me for interrupting, but where did you want to go?” he asked the girls.
    â€œThe North Tower,” replied the twin named Tyne, whose braid was already coming undone.
    â€œWe weren’t doing anything wrong,” Willa added, sounding defensive.
    Liam sat back and turned to Annie. “The entrance to the dungeon is in the North Tower. Granny Bentbone must still be trying to call the children to her.”
    â€œThen she has to leave the castle as soon as possible,” Annie replied. “We should tell Beldegard’s father about Granny Bentbone. Maybe he can keep his daughters from trying to reach her.” She looked up when one of her mother’s ladies-in-waiting appeared at the end of the table. “Yes, Lady Clare?”
    The middle-aged woman curtsied. “Queen Karolina requires your presence in her chamber.”
    â€œI’ll be right there,” Annie told her. Lady Clare had already begun to walk away when Annie stood and said to Liam, “At least I got a little time to myself.”
    Liam laughed. “I’m surprised you got away this long.”
    â€œSo am I,” said Annie, straightening her shoulders as if she were heading into battle.

    When Annie reached her mother’s chamber, she found Gwendolyn in tears and her mother scolding one of the ladies-in-waiting. “Thank goodness you’re here, Annabelle!” the queen exclaimed. “I told Lady Cecily to hold on to Gwendolyn’s necklace for one minute, but she’s somehow managed to lose it. Tell me,” she said, turning back to Cecily, “what did you do with the necklace?”
    â€œI don’t remember, Your Highness,” the girl replied with a nervous tremor to her voice. “I had it in my hand, and then it was gone! Maybe someone used magic to take it!”
    â€œI doubt that,” said Annie as she joined them. “Why don’t you try retracing your steps?”
    When the queen nodded, the lady-in-waiting let her gaze wander around the room. “Well, I was standing over here when you told me to hold it, Your Highness,” she said, crossing to a table. “Then I watched Princess Gwendolyn try on the other necklaces. And then you told me to fetch the brush, so I walked past the bed like this and … oh, I know! I set the necklace down here and … look, I found it!” Cecily held up a necklace of sparkling diamonds with a triumphant flourish.
    â€œGood! Try to be more careful next time,” said the queen. “I don’t know what we would have—”
    â€œMother!” Gwendolyn cried, a look of horror in her eyes. “Did you see the wreath for my hair? This rose is all wrong!”
    â€œIt looks fine to me,” said Annie.
    â€œNo, no! It’s a shade lighter than the others. They all have to be exactly the same!”
    â€œGwendolyn is right,” said the queen. “I don’t know how many times I told the woman who arranged the flowers that the wreath has to be perfect!”
    â€œGive it to me,” Annie said. “I’ll take care of it.” Relieved that she had an excuse to leave the room, Annie