“Trouble in paradise, Billy?” Sabrina asked.
The prince’s eyes lowered and regret filled his face. “She and I are not talking … at the moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Seven and I have to check on the state of some cots. The refugees keep coming and the supplies are getting scarce.”
The former mayor and his assistant left the group behind and marched across the field.
“I suppose you would like to say hello to our resident drill sergeant?” Canis said, gesturing toward Snow White and her ragtag collection of soldiers. The group rushed in her direction. As they got closer Sabrina noticed Ms. White was dressed in full army fatigues and was blasting a whistle at her trainees. The recruits quickly got to their feet and ran in place, their boots filled to the brim with the heavy mud. All the while Snow called them “worthless,” “weak,” and “spineless maggots.”
“Snow! What in heavens are you doing?” Granny cried as she hurried toward the teacher.
“Getting these plebes into shape,” Ms. White said, though she never took her eyes off her recruits. “We need to be prepared for hostilities. Have you come to volunteer? We can use all the soldiers we can get.”
“Dear heavens, I think I’m a little old to go to war,” Granny replied.
“That’s a shame. Any other volunteers?” Snow said. “It would be nice to have one of the Grimm boys helping out. What about you, Hank? Now that you’re up and about you could make yourself useful.”
Henry shook his head. “We have no intention of staying in this town any longer than we have to.”
“Can’t say I blame you,” Snow said. “This town is a disaster. Taxes are outrageous, no one is safe, homes are being searched without warrants, not to mention the disappearances. Relda, your son may have a point. I’d go with him if I were you.”
Granny Relda shook her head. “I’m not leaving.”
Henry scowled and stamped the ground.
“So, what’s the scoop on you and the prince?” Daphne asked.
“Daphne! Don’t be rude,” Veronica admonished.
“No worries, Veronica. The girls have been privy to my soap opera for some time. If you must know, Billy proposed.”
“Gravy!” Daphne cried.
“And I declined,” Snow added.
“What? Why?” Granny asked.
“’Cause he’s a jerk. He’s arrogant. He’s mean. He’s selfish,” Sabrina said.
“Sabrina, that’s not nice,” Veronica said, though she didn’t sound convincing.
Just then, a gray goose hobbled over to the group. “New refugees are coming in now. One of them is asking for Geppetto,” it honked.
“Geppetto, what do you know about this?” Snow demanded as she turned her attention back to her troops.
An elderly man covered in mud fell out of formation and ran to Snow White. He saluted her nervously. “Nothing, sir!” he shouted.
“Geppetto!” Granny cried. “You’re training to be a soldier?”
Geppetto nodded. “Things have gotten very bad, Relda. It’s not just harassment and stupid laws anymore. Now if you don’t take an oath to the Scarlet Hand and the Master they just burn your home and business. The toy store is ashes. It’s time to fight back.”
The rest of the troops let out an exuberant Hoo-ah!
“Well, it appears you have a visitor, maggot,” Snow shouted. “Let’s go see who it is.”
A large group followed Geppetto as he hurried through a throng of excited Everafters crowded into the courtyard. Many were hugging friends and family as they trudged through the open gates. Sabrina and Daphne squirmed their way to the front and watched the toy-maker report to King Arthur, who was making a list of people as they entered the fort.
“Sir, I was told there is someone here asking for me?”
King Arthur looked at the list. “Oh yes, the kid. Over there.”
Everyone turned to find a small boy sitting on a huge traveling bag. He was no older than Daphne and was wearing a pair of red overall shorts and a button-down shirt. He had on a yellow hat that sported a quail feather. His face was angular and his nose a bit pointy, and he had a pronounced overbite. His expression was tired and agitated. He stood up and scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on Geppetto. At once his scowl became a wide, toothy smile.
“Papa?” he said. “Dearest Papa!”
“Papa?” Sabrina and Daphne repeated. The old man was trembling, as if in the midst of an illness, and tears were gushing from the corners of his eyes.
“Pinocchio?” he cried, rushing to the mysterious child. In one quick motion he scooped the boy off the ground, swung him around in his arms, and hugged him tight. “You’ve come back to your father.”
“Pinocchio!” Henry exclaimed. “That’s the Pinocchio?”
“It appears so,” Granny Relda said, a happy tear sliding down her cheek. Geppetto was an old family friend and the Grimms knew that the toy-maker’s heart was broken the day he and his son were separated.