Page 9 of The Abandoned Princess

Growling in frustration, I strode toward our own small fire. Picking up my water skin, I downed several messy gulps, relieved to find that when no one else was nearby or paying attention, my hands still worked like normal.

A new idea struck me. Digging through my bag, I found a piece of paper and pen and scrawled a few messy words across the parchment’s surface. But when I hurried back to the other fire and thrust it in the man’s face, there was no response.

When I positioned it to entirely block his vision, he reached up a hand and pushed it down, my hand giving way at the lightest touch on the paper. Once again, he gave no sign of noticing any of our bizarre interaction.

“How utterly fascinating,” the lone traveler said brightly. “The others never got as far as trying something like that. It’s a neat arrangement, all told. I approve.”

“What have you done to me?” I asked, hearing fear in my voice for the first time.

The woman held up her right hand, allowing me a clear view of the enormous ring on her third finger. The jewel at its center was black, a dull, ominous shade that reflected no light, although it somehow didn’t dim the brilliance of the elaborate gold setting that held it in place.

“Is that a godmother object?” I asked, horrified. I had heard plenty of stories about how they could have their purposes twisted by those with ill intent.

The woman gazed down at it and shrugged. “I suppose it must be. I know of no other source of power. I didn’t pry it from the hands of some deserving woodcutter’s son, though. I got it from my brother.”

“Your brother?” Even with my mind panicking, I couldn’t turn off the spark of curiosity. Being in danger only made me want a better understanding of my situation.

“That is not the point, however,” the woman said briskly, disappointing me. “The important point is that the blinding enchantment works just as well on you as it did on the others.”

“But why?” I asked, honestly bewildered. “Why would you want to enchant me?”

“I don’t,” she said.

I stared at her. The whole interaction seemed to be descending further and further from clarity or sense.

“Well, not you specifically,” she clarified. “Except that you seemed like as good a target as any.”

“You attacked me because you think I’m alone in the world and virtually friendless?” I asked, incensed. “Do you make a habit of kidnapping youths with no one to defend them?”

“Not at all.” She smiled, apparently amused by my outrage. “I hope I have more discernment than to think you alone in the world.”

I glanced down at Lori, still deep in an unnatural slumber.

“Our fellow travelers might be deceived,” the woman continued, “but it’s obvious to me that you’re fleeing someone. I didn’t choose you because no one is looking for you. I chose you because someone clearly is.”

I gaped at her. “You’re that confident in your enchantment?” I shook my head. “You may find you’ve bitten off more than you intended.” I hoped my words didn’t come off like the bravado they were. “Half of Arcadia must be looking for me by now. And other kingdoms will soon join them.”

To my consternation, the woman’s eyes lit up. “Truly? You’re truly someone of that much importance? What excellent good fortune.”

Sudden and infuriating understanding bloomed. “I’m a test? You’re doing all this to test your enchantment?”

The woman nodded. “You’re quick! I like that.”

“You like…” My words trailed off as I stared at her.

My siblings had always regarded me as the wildest person they knew, but even I couldn’t wrap my head around the bizarre audacity of this woman.

I stepped toward her, anger filling me. “I see the enchantment doesn’t work against you.”

She realized my intention a moment before I reached her. Trapped in the slender frame of a thirteen-year-old, I had no chance of getting the ring off by physical force. Not without the element of surprise.

I reached for my hidden dagger. But as I pulled it out, she also drew something from a pouch at her waist. I expected to see a weapon, but she appeared to be holding a glass vial.

I drew back abruptly, but it was too late. She had already unstoppered it, waving it toward my face.

“We can’t have any of that now,” she said, as I staggered backward.

I tried to tighten my grip on my knife hilt, but my fingers were already weakening and growing slack. The world faded as I felt my body lower toward the ground.

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