“Leo asked me,” she said, “to come to his house.”
“Iubdan’s beard!” the goat exclaimed, and this time when she blocked Rose Red, she was like a wall, forcing the girl to come to a halt. “You can’t go to the tablelands! I don’t care if the Eldest himself invited you.”
Rose Red’s heart was racing now, and she stood there breathing hard and twisting the end of her veil in her hands. The Dream’s voice roared in her head. The words it shouted were horrible, but she could hardly understand them for the roaring. But Beana was still standing before her, and she must speak.
“He . . . he wants me to be his servant,” she panted. “It’s good work, Beana.”
“I don’t care if he wants you to be a knight of the realm! You’re not going.”
You will stay with me!
She thought her head would explode. Pressing her fists to her temples, she shouted in her goat’s face, “Beana, I’ve got to get away. I’ve got to leave this mountain, to leave the monster.”
“Rosie, you know there is no monster. The folks up here are cruel and foolish, that’s all. You’re no—”
“You don’t understand!”
How could she understand? Beana couldn’t hear that fiery voice.
But she’s right, princess. You cannot leave the mountain. You cannot—
“You’re trying to trap me here,” Rose Red cried to the goat, to the Dream, to the whole mountain if it would listen. “You’ve got me so scared I can hardly think! Leo wants me to come away, to . . . to live. If I stay up here any longer, I’ll die.”
“I won’t let you die.”
The goat’s voice still trembled, but it was gentler. She put out her slender nose and nuzzled Rose Red’s hand. “I know you don’t trust me, my girl, but I wish you would. I can protect you. I can keep you safe, and I won’t let you die.”
I can keep you safe.
“But you must trust me. And you must stay up here in the mountains. Down lower . . .” Beana’s trembling increased and she twitched her nose as she considered her words. “Down lower, you will be much closer to the Wilderlands. And they are dangerous for you! This forest may seem frightening sometimes. It may seem wild and lonely.”
I won’t let you die.
“But it is as nothing to the Wilderlands,” the goat continued.
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” Rose Red sighed. Her head throbbed with the ferocious voice of her Dream, and sweat slid down her neck beneath the veils. She was exhausted and couldn’t make herself think of things or places beyond her experience. All she knew was the mountain, the fear and hatred, and that Dream. Those things she knew with a certainty that could drive her wild . . . but she also knew Leo. She shook her head, and her breath came with difficulty.
“And it’s well that you don’t know,” Beana said. “I can keep you safe up here, but I don’t know that I can should we descend to the low country. Not that I wouldn’t try. I would try with all the grace and power granted me! I would die for you, my Rosie.”
I won’t let you die.
“But if I were dead, what good could I do you then? You’d be unprotected.” The goat nuzzled her again, the long lashes over her eyes fluttering delicately on her scruffy face. “So let’s not talk any more of going with Leo, of leaving the mountain. We’ll find a way to get by up here. We’ve done well enough up to now.”
Stay with me.
Rose Red gazed through the slit in her veil down at her friend.
Stay with me, princess.
Leo wanted her to come.
Rose Red put out her hands and, with strength that she did not know remained to her, shoved the goat out of her way. On down the mountain she continued, now at a run, though sticks and brambles lashed out at her and several times she nearly lost her footing. She could hear Beana right behind her, but she continued running as though pursued by hounds, making for Hill House.
A low branch snagged her veil and dragged it from her face.
Rose Red crumpled to the ground, her arms over her head, hiding herself from the forest and all its watching eyes. She curled up, tighter and tighter, making herself disappear.
See, princess? You cannot leave.
The Dream’s voice was softer now. Soothing and kind.
You were not meant to live in the world of mortals, of men. You are different. You are special.
She could feel him reaching out to her, could almost feel his hot breath blowing upon her neck, though she knew it was all in her mind.
You were always meant to be mine.
“Rosie!” Beana bleated, drawing up behind her.
Don’t leave the mountain.