The Stepsister Scheme

“You’re stronger than I gave you credit for. Stronger than I was.”
    Danielle bowed her head. “I had no choice. I had to protect my family.”
    “I suppose Armand is a good man, for a prince. And your son—”
    Danielle touched Talia’s arm. “ All of my family.”
    Talia’s retort died on her lips, speared by Danielle’s unwavering gaze. “Oh,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
    “My father is sending men from Pine Bay to escort us home,” said Armand. “They should reach the edge of Fairytown by nightfall.”
    Home. Her throat tightened. The word was like the first rays of sun after an ocean storm.
    Snow brought her knife to her mouth, whispered a few words, and smiled. “Hi, Arlorran! Did you miss us?”
    Danielle was amazed the mirror didn’t crack from the volume of Arlorran’s shout. “Snow! How in the name of Tirgoth’s third nipple did you escape? Where are you? Are your friends with you? Does the Duchess know you’ve—”
    “Arlorran, stop!” Laughing, Snow shook the knife until Arlorran sputtered. Fluttering her lashes, she asked, “Would you mind summoning the four of us back to your place?”
    “Did you say four? Don’t tell me you actually found the poor bastard!”
    Talia coughed, and even Snow looked a little worried by Arlorran’s bluntness, but Armand only laughed. “If he can get us away from here, he can call me whatever he’d like.”
    “Gather close,” Snow said. “Everyone needs to be touching. But don’t get carried away,” she added, giving Danielle a mock scowl.
    Danielle did her best to obey. Holding hands aggravated the wound in her arm, so Armand gently slid an arm around her waist instead.
    “You realize we still need to make our way from Arlorran’s place back to the hedge,” Talia pointed out.
    Armand studied each of them in turn. “Somehow, I find myself feeling sorry for the fairy who tries to stop you.”
    Danielle kissed him, then stepped forward, tightening their circle. “Let’s go home.”

    * * *

    Also available from DAW Books
by JIM C. HINES
    Jig the Goblin Series:
GOBLIN QUEST (Book One)
GOBLIN HERO (Book Two)
GOBLIN WAR (Book Three)

Princess Series:
THE STEPSISTER SCHEME (Book One)
THE MERMAID’S MADNESS (Book Two, coming in October, 2009)
RED HOOD’S REVENGE (Book Three, coming in 2010)

    * * *

    Copyright
Copyright © 2009 by Jim C. Hines.
    First Printing, January 2009
DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED
U.S. PAT. AND TM. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES
eISBN : 978-1-440-65868-6

    Dedication
    For Skylar

    Original scanner unknown.
Initial proofing by AmbushAu on 11 Jun 2009.
Further proofing required: files/proofing.txt
Updated to v1.1