“TV producers can be just as vicious as a ghostwriter,” Sorrel mused. “What is a character’s life if their death will increase ratings? You’ve done well despite the challenges. My favorite change is that readers will get to see more of Lord Draw.”
“He’ll be happy to know that.” I finally took a sip of my tea. A lovely flavor bloomed in my mouth. Okay, real tea didnottaste this good.
Sorrel’s eyes drifted to the dark forest as she thought. “Before sending you, I believed I had thought of everything—I wanted to foresee any potential issues with your journey—but it never crossed my mind that you’d tell someone the truth! Yet you did, securing your greatest ally and allowing real romance to flower, not just a few idle nights with a handsome man.” Sorrel smiled widely. “I knew you’d surprise me, Dottie.”
“But what do I do next?” I interjected.
“You know what to do next, silly! Fight the bad guy, save the man!”
“Yeah, but how?”
Sorrel frowned and adjusted her capelet. “I have faith you’ll figure it out.”
A whine came to my voice. “If I fail, he dies. I need your help. I need to see clearly, consider all the options.”
“Break it down for me.”
“Ironclaw wants his sister back. He’s been different lately, surly—”
“Oh, he’s always been like that. Whitehorse just didn’t give it color.”
“He’s going to kidnap Draw and trade him to the Dark Mage for Bianca even though she’s obviously gone over to that side. He’s going to get Draw killed.”
Sorrel let out a tiny sigh. “This is easier than you think. One, get Draw back. Two, reconcile Bianca and Ironclaw. Three, deal with the state of Ironclaw and the queen.”
“Yeah, but—”
“The job I put in front of you was to fix the plot, whatever that means to you. You know this story, these characters. The hard part is over: that brain of yours knows what needs to be done. The rest is simple: just do it.”
Though I resisted it, I could see what she was saying. Ididknow what needed to be done. What I really wanted was assurance. It seemed that it was not forthcoming.
“I just have to do it...” The words sounded hollow on my lips.
“Have the faith that youcando it,” Sorrel said sternly. “Then follow through.”
She drank her tea as if she had all the time in the world while I pondered her simple suggestion though, for all I knew, maybe she really did have all the time in the world.Landsome Roadswas a big enough puzzle for me to focus on. Fairy Bookmothers roaming fictional worlds, stirring up trouble, I didn’t exactly know what that said about the universe.
“What about when I go home?”
“Everything will be exactly as you left it.”
“Can Draw...” I was overheated now. The steaming tea had made me flush, and I understood the magnitude of what I was about to ask. “Can he come back with me?”
She smiled, but her eyes crinkled as she shook her head.
“Can I stay here, if I choose?” I added the last part hastily.
Another negative.
I thought that might be the case. Nevertheless, it didn’t alleviate the punch my heart felt. My time with Draw was truly limited.
“Are you still glad you came?” Sorrel sounded uncertain, unlike herself.
My response was immediate, afraid it could all be taken away. “Of course. And not just for Draw, though he’s so... I’ve never... I didn’t know there could be men out there that really felt like this. He actually wants to hear what I think. Knows half the time before I do. He wants me to have everything, and he’s so handsome when he gets jealous—”
“You were saying it’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of, coming to Landsome,” Sorrel added, keeping me on track.
I folded my hands in my lap. “It’s the adventure of a lifetime. Thank you, Fairy Bookmother.”
