Snow White and Rose Red- The Curse of the Huntsman Page 10

  Snow smothered a giggle as a man approached. He was wearing the black coat and uniform of a fully-fledged Handler.

  “Snow White and Rose Red?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Snow said, answering for both of us.

  In response, he handed her a piece of parchment that was sealed with a wax emblem. “Orders for you.”

  Snow looked at it. “Mother’s seal,” she said as she broke the wax and opened the paper.

  “What does it say?” I asked, fidgeting to read over her shoulder.

  “We’re leaving,” Snow said distantly, surprise clear in her voice. “There’s a mission for us.”

  “Finally…” Not that I didn’t enjoy the valley, but I longed to explore the larger world. I looked to the man in black. “Does this mean we’re past our training?”

  “You’ve been cleared for this mission,” he said. “Everyone begins field work as part of the final stages of their training. You’re not certified yet, little mageling. But you’re on the path.”

  The Handler took us to the little cottage at the center of the Vale that held the arsenal of our people. It looked unassuming enough from the outside—a cream-colored exterior with a thatched wooden roof and two little windows on either side of a wooden door—but I knew it was layered with enough protective spells to bring fire and chaos down on anyone uninvited.

  The Handler took a key from around his neck and unlocked the door before ushering us in.

  “As you may have heard, this is where we keep our magical tools. Weapons, charms, enchantments… everything that you might need is here. Because you’re both still trainees, your access to these supplies is restricted. Normally, for this first mission, I’d let you select something from the most basic supplies. But because of the importance of this mission, and because not much is known about what you’ll be facing, you’ve been given special clearance to have a broader selection. You can each choose an item,” he said, gesturing to the racks of items.

  I clapped. Snow frowned. “Only one?” she muttered, while the same time I eagerly asked, “Any item at all?”

  He resisted laughing. “Choose wisely. You can consider this the first part of your test,” was all he said.

  Snow walked the length of the cottage, scrutinizing each item. The magical relics and knick-knacks were arranged in artful display, with the more valuable and dangerous items hung upon the walls with inscriptions beside them.

  I was immediately drawn to a wall filled with enchanted jewels. My eyes skimmed over the descriptions. There was an amethyst the size of my fist set in a necklace made of gold. The inscription next to it explained that it granted the water immunity to poisons. Next was a little silver crown set with diamonds that allowed the wearer to breathe underwater for hours at a time—though it was lovely, even I could admit that there was little chance we’d be underwater in this mission. A bracelet hung heavy with emeralds had the power to summon gusts of wind. But I couldn’t quite imagine a time when I would need that.

  I stopped at last in front of a wrist gauntlet that held a handful of rubies. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen—a meshwork of laced, sparkling gold set with tiny glimmering rubies that surrounded one huge ruby the size of my thumb. I read the description—For the amplification of magical abilities. I could certainly imagine a scenario where I’d like more power.

  I lifted it from the wall and fit it to my wrist. It snapped into place like it belonged there all of its days.

  Snow cleared her throat. “Honestly?”

  “I think it’ll be useful!” I squeaked. “Please, Snow. He said any! Besides, what have you chosen?”

  Snow held up a little gem that she’d plucked from one of the baskets on the floor. “A Tiger’s Eye. We can use it to see magic.”

  “Oh. Well, yes, I suspect that will be useful,” I allowed. “But we certainly don’t need two… and this gauntlet will be useful, too. I promise!”

  Snow finally raised her hands, relenting. “Fine, fine. It’s your choice after all.”

  And I squealed and threw my arms around her in a tight hug. The Handler hid another smile and showed us out.

  We packed up our bags quickly. William and the Huntsman met us at the gate.

  I flung myself at William with abandon; my sister, on the other hand, was more reserved as she melted into the Huntsman’s embrace.

  “You’re going to forget me,” I teased him.

  “Never,” he swore.

  “Before I’m even down the road, you’ll have another maiden in your arms.”

  William laughed, and I tried to memorize the sound of it. “Half the girls here would as soon light me on fire as look at me. The other half calls me ‘mongrel’ behind my back. Honestly, I’m still amazed to have your affection, my sweet Rose.”

  I ruffled his hair. “Well, you’re my mongrel.”

  He kissed me thoroughly and then helped me onto my horse. I turned to Snow, where she still stood with her Huntsman.

  “Parting is never fun,” Snow said into his shoulder.

  “I’ll think of you every day,” he said, his arms wrapped around her slight frame.

  “And I’ll hurry back as soon as I can,” Snow promised.

  They shared a smile, a kiss, and one last lingering embrace, and then we were on our way.

  Soon enough we were headed over the crest that marked the edge of the village. It was a pleasant ride, and one that we didn’t need to rush.

  For the first few miles, Snow rode half-turned in her saddle, her eyes straining to see the Huntsman.

  “We both know you can’t still see him,” I prodded her. “Besides, was he really at the gate all this time?”

  “Love is trust.”

  “Sometimes love is foolishness.”

  “Sometimes,” Snow agreed.

  “It’s not even a long trip.”

  “He worries for us,” she said, finally twisting forward in the saddle.

  “As though we can’t defend ourselves,” I said with a frown.

  Snow attempted a smile for my benefit.

  “Are you going to be like this for the entire trip?” I asked. “We’ll be back to your Huntsman before you know it. And honestly… aren’t you excited? We’re going to Elysia. The Kingdom of Gold!”

  “I’ve never been fond of travel,” Snow said.

  “We’ve never traveled! From our village, we came straight here! That’s hardly a journey. Do you really expect me to believe that you aren’t at least a little bit excited to see it? Rumor has it that the streets are gilded.”

  Snow gave a shrug. “Gold is common there. Why not use it for whatever you can?”

  “Because it’s beautiful?” I hazarded. “Because it’s expensive?”

  “What value is there in gold,” Snow scoffed. “It’s not so strong as steel.”

  “You’d want your Huntsman to give you a necklace of steel, then, and not one of gold?”

  “I prefer no necklace at all. They only get in the way,” Snow said.

  I shook my head and didn’t bother arguing with her. Snow was the most gorgeous girl in the world in a plain tunic and breeches. She’d never understand the lure of ornamentation, the desire to wear something lovely and transfer some of that loveliness to yourself. For there was no ornament, no jewelry that would ever be more beautiful than her.

  “So what do we know of this mission?” I prodded her.

  She pulled the piece of parchment out of her saddlebag and unfurled it. “I know you’ve heard of the Sleeping Beauty.”

  “The Princess in the City of Gold who slumbers and never wakes?”

  “Yes, her. Just over a year ago, on what would have been the eve of her wedding, she fell into a deep trance. A sleep from which none could wake her. A year passed, and the marriage contract fell through. The Prince she was intended for grew tired of waiting, I suppose. And so last month, when the marriage contract was dissolved, the Queen and King sent word far and wide that any Prince who can wake the Princess would receive
her hand in marriage.”

  I whistled. “And the wealth of the City of Gold. But this was a month ago, and no result?”

  “Their city has been swamped with charlatans, Princes with dubious birthrights and reaching nobles… but none can wake her.”

  “And so she slumbers. What has that to do with us?”

  “The King and Queen have appealed to the Vale for help. Clearly the cause is magical. It was only a matter of time. Honestly, I’m surprised that this is the first we’ve heard from them…”

  “Wait,” I demanded. “Are you saying that we are going to the City of Gold?” The City of Gold, their royal city, was at the heart of their little kingdom, and no place was said to be grander in all the world.

  “Yes,” Snow said reluctantly. “But contain yourself!”

  It was far too late, as I was already cantering off, whooping at the top of my lungs. “We’re off to the City of Gold to wake the Sleeping Beauty!”

  I didn’t need to turn to know that Snow had her head in her hands.

  “Come on, Snow! Before someone else wakes her!”

  Snow kept pace, but didn’t smile. “If someone else wakes her, we should thank them for solving the problem for us.”

  “Where’s the glory in that?”

  Snow only shook her head. “We have no idea what we’ll find there. What if the Princess is dead and the King and Queen have gone mad, claiming she but sleeps? Why wait this long to summon help from the Vale? What if it’s a trap, and they’re luring us out to capture us? Or what if there’s something darker at play that we’re unprepared for?”

  “This is why I never have any worries, Snow. After you’re through, there’s none left for me.”

  When my horse tired, I slowed her to a walk.

  “You’re so serious lately,” I said with a sigh.

  Snow looked at me, apology in her eyes. “I don’t mean to be.”

  “It’s been ever since…” I trailed off, unsure of how to finish.

  “I know,” Snow said. “I crossed over, Rose. My heart stopped, and the world fell away, and…”

  “I’m sorry. It must have been horrible.”

  Snow laughed. “No, where I went… it wasn’t horrible. It was like looking to the edge of a long journey. The horrible part was knowing that I’d left you in danger. And that I was completely powerless to help you.”

  Tears sprang to my eyes, but I blinked them back. One of us had to be sensible. “Ever the older sister,” I said, when I’d regained my voice, a smile taking the place of tears.

  “It’s my job to look out for you,” she said. “I can’t stand to think that I’d let you come to harm.”

  “I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

  “Yet you’ll always be my little sister.”

  “Then we’ll take care of each other, just as we did last time.”

  “We were lucky last time,” Snow said grimly.

  “Snow!” I groaned. “We’re on our first trip together. We’re going to the City of Gold. Stop pretending that this won’t be fun! You’re being more dour than usual.”

  She forced a smile that looked nearly painful. “It’ll be fun. We’re going to have fun!”

  And because I knew she was saying it for my sake, the laughter came genuine and warm, springing from that place in my heart that my sister would always occupy. At first Snow just rolled her eyes, which only made me laugh harder, until I was near bent double in the saddle, with heaving laughs shaking my shoulders. And then Snow was laughing too, and there was no end to it, as suddenly we were children again, giggling over a silly secret whispered late at night when we should be sleeping, or sharing sweets in the school house.

  So maybe Snow was right, at least in part. I would always be her little sister.

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