“Yes.” She wasn’t going to say any more, but the woman seemed to be waiting to hear. “I was offered a folklorist’s dream job that includes a castle and lots of magic. I was going to take it, but I couldn’t imagine a life without Tanek and Mekos and Sojee and all the people who’ve become my friends. And now my family is here. I guess I’ve always had faith that my own personal fairy tale was going to work out.” She paused. “Sorry, I’m blathering on.”
The woman’s smile seemed wide enough to split her face. “Sojee is my father. My mother was his first wife and she wasn’t a princess, so I’m quite ordinary.” She reached out and straightened Kaley’s veil. “I am—” she began but the buzz that was Arit came between them. Both women leaned back, trying to focus on her.
“It’s too busy out there,” Arit said. “I like it better in here.”
“It does feel nice,” the woman said.
Arit stared at her. “You must be a Recorder. Only they can understand me—unless I allow it.”
“And us earthlings,” Kaley said.
“There are people out there and I can’t show myself or I’ll be swatted at like a fly. Or stared at like an oddity.” She hovered, looking from one woman to the other, seeming to be waiting for something.
“What’s happening?” Neta asked.
“Yes, tell us all.” Kaley knew how much Arit loved gossip.
The little woman landed on the back of the couch and gave a sigh of relief. She’d been holding in her news for too long. “Something strange is going on. Two important-looking young men, carrying a huge bag with gold embroidery on it, met with Queen Olina. In private! When they left, all three of them were smiling!”
Kaley didn’t think that sounded particularly mysterious, but Neta said, “Where did they go?”
“Well...” Arit said, drawing her story out. “The men walked across the big courtyard and waiting for them were Aradella’s three maids. You know, those lying, sneaking spies that Olina put on the princess? They seemed to know each other, and one of those women pointed to Sojee’s house.”
Neta’s eyes widened. “I wonder if my father knows them.”
“Maybe, but those men weren’t there to seehim.” Arit lowered her voice. “The maids gave one of the men some pink mushrooms that looked like candy.”
With all the fairy tales Kaley knew and what she’d experienced on this planet, the hair on her neck stood up. “Is that some delicacy here?”
“I’ve never heard of them.” Neta was frowning. “Then what happened?”
“The maids left and they were laughing so hard that I was suspicious. They’ve never wished any good on anyone. The menwent to Sojee’s house and the twins let them inside, but I wasn’t invited, so of course I didn’t go.”
Both women gave her a look that said,Right. And we believe that.
Arit tried to look innocent. “Maybe I did slip through a window that was a little bit open and maybe I did hear a few words.”
Kaley and Neta waited in silence.
“First of all, those men gave the girls the candied mushrooms. Then one of the men said they’d brought two dresses from Empyrea and the fabric is the best ever made. I don’t know how it can be better than swan fabric, but he swore it was. He said that everyone on the planet had heard of the beauty of the girls, so dresses had been made just for them. He said they’d be honored if the girls would wear them to the ceremony today.”
“That’s very kind of them,” Kaley said.
“My sisters will be radiant.” Neta was frowning. “I just hope that man also brought a gown for Queen Olina. She won’t like it if my sisters outshine her.”
“What do the dresses look like?” Kaley asked.
“I don’t know,” Arit said. “I didn’t see them.”
“Come on,” Kaley said. “Don’t try to make us believe that you left before seeing those fabulous dresses.”
“No, of course I didn’t. I mean that Icouldn’tsee them. The men were gushing over them, saying they were exquisitely beautiful. They held them up to the light and said only the twins were beautiful enough to wear them.”
“But you saw nothing?” Neta asked.
“Not a thing. To me, it looked like they were holding up air.”
“‘The Emperor’s New Clothes,’” Kaley and Neta said in unison.
