Kayla’s wings disappear and she drops down to the ground, seemingly deflated. “Guys, if we’re right, no one will believe Rapunzel is working with Alva. Not Flora, not the Dwarf Police Squad.”
“I could get word to Father,” Jax says miserably, “but I’m not sure he would believe me either, especially without proof. This is a conversation I need to have with him in person and that’s impossible since he’s away trying to deal with this ogre mess.”
“So let’s follow our hunch and see if we’re right,” I say. “We can confront her on our own.”
“School be starting soon, buckaroos!” Blackbeard bellows from above. “Best to be getting this Pegasus home. The sea is no place for a flying horse.” I hear the pirates begin stirring and calling out orders.
Jax still looks dazed. “How do we do that?”
“You guys will join me at the royal dinner Rose is throwing,” I decide there and then. “She already invited me, and Maxine will get an invite too since she’s an RLW now. We can go and try to talk some sense into Rapunzel. Jax, she may not know you, but you are her brother. Maybe she’ll listen. Lock her away and make her!”
“The rest of us will be on guard for Alva,” says Jocelyn. “A dinner with all the princesses and village guests would be the perfect place for her to make her move and snatch Gilly. I would do that.” I glare at her.
“You guys have all this worked out when all we have is a hunch?” Kayla sinks into a big pirate chair.
“Come on, guys!” Maxine rallies. “We’ve done this before. We just need to stick together and maybe use my gingerroot.” She pulls the smushed flowers out of her pocket. “I’m glad I didn’t give these to Rose now.”
“Hold on to them,” Jax suggests, smiling weakly. I feel bad. Learning your sister is evil is not easy to swallow. “We’re going to need them.”
I look at the group before me. A pirate, an ogre, a witch, a fairy, a royal, and me. These aren’t good odds, but maybe Father and Maxine are right: together, we can do anything.
I smile. “Yes. Let’s show these villains they’ve got nothing on our crew.”
From the Official Stationery of the Royal Court of Enchantasia*
Princess Ella, Princess Snow, Princess Rapunzel, and Princess Rose
Gillian Cobbler
is officially invited to a dinner meeting at Royal Manor this Thursday evening. You may bring guests!
Dinner hosted by Princess Rose and the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting Club of Fairy Tale Reform School.
*Write like a royal! Order your own royal-looking stationery today at the royal court gift shop. (Please note: It is not official and cannot be used to issue orders.)
Please be prepared for a security briefing by the Dwarf Police Squad led by Chief Pete. Royal meetings are not taken lightly in these times!
Dinner will consist of roast beef and figgy pudding, but the royal court does not discriminate based on palate or breed. For alternate magical creature options, please contact our chef, Patacake BakersMan, by Pegasus Post.
Does your guest want to be a Royal Lady-in-Waiting? Do you have what it takes? Contact Princess Rose for a meeting at her office at Fairy Tale Reform School today!
CHAPTER 16
To the Castle We Go
I have one foot in the Pegasi carriage when I hear Miri loud and clear. “Gillian Cobbler, you must halt by order of Headmistress Flora!” The mirror in the Pegasi stables is flashing red, which is a very bad sign.
I point innocently to myself and glance quickly back at my friends and Jocelyn, who shrugs. “But I haven’t done anything wrong.” Like lock up a princess to protect our kingdom. Yet.
“The headmistress would like a word,” Miri says. “She’s on her way now.”
“Mind if we jump ahead of you, Gilly?” Azalea asks uneasily. She and Dahlia were in line behind us, but at the mention of their mother, they push their way forward, their heavy perfume making Maxine sneeze. Both girls are wearing poufy ball gowns in different shades of purple with their new RLW sashes. Azalea grabs Dahlia’s hand, yanks her sister into the carriage, and rushes the driver to take off. “Don’t mention you saw us or our new glass-slipper high tops, okay?”
Their flight takes off seconds before Flora opens the stable doors. Professor Wolfington is with her and seems calm, but Flora’s mood is stormy. The look on her face makes the stable boys dive out of her path. Macho neighs nervously from his stable.
Don’t worry, boy, I say, knowing he can hear my thoughts.
“Did you not get my note?” asks Headmistress Flora sharply, and the rest of my crew steps back.