Isodora made another move to save herself, and gasped as the spindle pierced deeper. Her eyes took on a wild look and she began to wave her arms. In her struggle, she slapped her arm against the candle, which had been balanced on the frame. It fell, quickly setting fire to some cotton fluff along the way that then fell to the floor. It burned bright, fueled by grease that had dripped from the frame.
“No!” screamed Isodora in anguish as a sickly green cloud rose up from the poisoned spindle and surrounded her. Her own magic was working against her. The spindle must have gone deep enough to pierce her heart. The green cloud grew large and dense as it swirled around Isodora, until they could no longer see her. When her screams faded away, so did the cloud.
The fairy was gone.
But now the fire was spreading along the oil-soaked wooden floor.
“Run!” yelled Briar.
“Benny!” called Jack. His twin was still tied to the second frame.
“Go with Miss Fanny. I’ll get Benny,” Briar said. Before Jack could argue, Fanny had his little hand firmly in her grip and they were racing to the single door.
The smoke filled the room ahead of the flame. “Hold your breath,” she said to Benny. “You’re almost loose. When I say go, duck down to take a breath, then run with me.” Her fingers worked quickly to break the rushing, thankful Isodora had used the loose cotton, which was easier to break apart. The smoke burned her eyes and throat, but she broke the bonds. “Go!”
The two ducked below the thick smoke for a quick breath, and they ran. Briar led the way, knowing the shortest path through the spinning frames. Fanny was waiting with the door open. Jack was already at the bottom of the stairs, immobile, watching for the rest of his family to emerge.
In the distance, the briar hedge was shrinking and snapping and disappearing with loud, angry cracks and pops. Miss Olive stood at an opening near the gate, holding Pansy’s hand and waiting. Henry was trapped in one corner where the briars were still the thickest. Only his head and arm were visible. Prudence was to the right of Henry, and as the branches surrounding her collapsed to her feet she stood still, waiting. Observing. Observing what?
Chapter Forty-Six
Briar looked behind and saw the flames leaping out of the spinning room, but that wasn’t where Prudence’s gaze was focused. She was fixed on Fanny, who by now was carrying Jack. Briar hefted Benny to a better position on her hip. Why is Prudence so intent on Fanny? If Fanny were to get in trouble for any of what had taken place, Briar would be the first one to defend her. If it weren’t for Fanny, who knew what would have become of the children when Prudence left so suddenly?
As the last of the sharp briar branches fell to the ground, Henry and Miss Olive were released. Henry, scratched and bleeding from the briars, rushed to take Benny. “Hey there, buddy. You okay?”
Benny coughed, but nodded that he was okay. “Fire.” He wrapped his arms around Henry and squeezed hard.
“And you?” Henry asked Briar. He pulled Benny’s arm to loosen the boy’s grip around his neck, then reached for Briar. He tipped her chin, his gaze searching hers. “Are you all right? When I lost my grip on your hand I was afraid I’d lost you, too.”
She smiled at him with nothing but love and hope in her heart. “It’s over. I don’t think you’ll find a spindle in those ashes. Isodora intended for me to prick my finger again, but she fell onto her own spindle and it pierced through to her heart.”
“It’s not over at all.” Henry looked very serious.
Confused, Briar glanced back at the mill, angry flames bursting out of broken windows.
Henry shifted Benny to his hip, and put his arm around her. Dipping his head close to hers, he said, “I want you to know that we are just beginning. We’re not even close to being over, ever.” He kissed her forehead, then transferred Benny into her arms.
Briar’s heart fluttered. Henry Prince. Who would have thought? Her cheeks warmed, but not from the fire as she watched him run to the mill fire station to sound the alarm.
“Let’s go quickly,” Prudence said, waving everyone over to her. “The fog is lifting and Henry is calling in help. We shouldn’t be here when they arrive.”
“Can’t you stop the fire?” asked Briar.
“Fire is not under our control. The townspeople will need to take care of this.”
They hurried down the quiet street when the clanging of bells sounded out in the stillness. Ting, ting, ting, ting, trying to wake the whole town. Fires were serious business and a mill fire was dangerous.
Once inside, Miss Olive turned on one of the parlor lights, and at first, they all stood in a circle looking at one another.
“Sit down,” directed Miss Olive. “I already had some tea brewing. Be right back.”
The two other fairies gathered in whispered conversation near the piano. Briar chose the long sofa and the children all piled up around her. Pansy sat so close to Briar she might as well have sat in her lap. “I flew,” she whispered. “In the wind, with Miss Fanny.” Her face shone with excitement.
“What was it like?” Briar whispered back.