Page 50 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

Mother gave her a perturbed look, but didn’t address the use of their titles.“Defensive maneuvers.The border guards gave it their best, but the mice caught them unawares.”

“Where will the people go?”

Klaus wrapped an arm around his princess.“They’ll have gone into hiding.With any luck, they can stay there until we address the threat.”

“He wants to rule the entire realm.”Alaric explained.“He’ll be coming straight here.”

Clara nodded.

“The guards are watching for the invaders.Once we see them, we’ll know which section of the castle they’ll be attacking.”

“What’s the most likely target?”Klaus crossed his arms as he studied the map.

“In all honesty, they’re likely to come through the front door.There’s only one way in.”The Sugar Plum Fairy’s mouth set in a firm line, and Klaus knew what his mother was thinking.

One way in, and one way out.

They were trapped.

Chapter 15

Clarahadneverseenthe mages in such disarray.It seemed the call of the horns had pulled everyone from bed, even Mother Gingerbread.While Zelda’s short locks meant she didn’t need battle braids, most of the mages did.Women lined up to braid each other’s hair along the tan ramparts as Zelda led them through a meditation.

She focused on the head mage’s words, her newly expanded magic swirling within her.The energy inside felt chaotic, like a new puppy, pulling her to run, jump, and play.But this wasn’t playtime.

Her mentor led them through the exercise to sharpen their magical focus.When she blinked her eyes open, everything appeared in sharp relief.White lines surrounded each mage, encasing them all in a glow.

Looking down at her hands, Clara gasped.She glowed the brightest of all.This must be the result of her increased power and the battle meditation.She could literallyseethe magic.

Flutters erupted in her stomach, and she nearly turned down the breakfast breads being passed through the mages.But they had warned her in training that fighting on an empty stomach was a recipe for disaster.Plus, who knew when they would have time to eat their next meal?

A tap on her shoulder had her spinning around.“Princess, are you alright?I’ve been talking to you, but you didn’t answer.”

Princess… that was her, right?“S-sorry, it’s so loud I couldn’t hear you.”

“No matter.”The mage, whose name escaped her, grinned at her from beneath heavy red bangs.“You didn’t join in the braid line?”

“I … I don’t know how to do them yet.”Her stomach sank to the gingerbread ramparts below her feet.Here she was, princess and future ruler of a land, and she couldn’t even do the most basic battle preparations.But her fellow mage didn’t let her wallow for long.

“Mine are done already.Here, let me do yours.”

Clara followed her down to the floor and chewed her breakfast while her comrade went to work.She was so used to Trixie doing her braids by magic that having her fellow Caster work on her hair felt… different.Comforting, even.She prayed Trixie was safe.There hadn’t been time to call for her, and from the mess inside, it sounded like even the servants were preoccupied with the battle to come.

She thanked the girl, who still didn’t give her name, before the redhead ran off into the chaos.Turning, Clara sought Klaus, who was speaking with his generals, Alaric, and Mother Gingerbread.

As she neared the command group, a cry of impending doom rose from the gathered fighters.Despite the early hour, the skies grew darker, a shadow spreading over them from the south.

“They’re coming straight for the front gate, as Mother predicted.”

She jumped at Klaus’s voice in her ear.“How do you know that?”

He pointed to the darkness spreading across the sky.“The Mouse King’s dark mages blot out the light because it can weaken the spells they cast on him.He’s coming with the army.”

Dread clenched her stomach, and Clara trembled.She’d thought she’d have more time before facing the seven-headed Mouse King.But he was coming.

“Are the villagers safe?”

Klaus shook his head.“As safe as they’re going to be.”

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