“What?” Hugo choked out. He tried to leap to his feet, but his knees gave out, and he landed hard on the straw. “You can do that?”
“Of course. I have magic.Realmagic.”
Hugo nearly shouted for the man to help him, but once again the words were caught in his throat. He would still be lying. He would be alive, and his family would be safe, but he’d be furthering the same lie to the crown. It wasn’t really fixing anything.
“I don’t wish to lie to the queen. It isn’t right.”
“Ah, you’re such a good boy. But wouldn’t your father think it was more important that you live so you could protect your mother and brothers? No one would have to know about this little lie. I’m sure the queen wouldn’t go bragging about it. She wouldn’t want every peasant and tradesman rushing to your family to produce mountains of gold, right?”
That sounded true.
“I turn the straw into gold. You go home, and all you have to worry about is making sure your mother tells no more tall tales.”
Hugo chewed on his bottom lip as he looked from the window to the spinning wheel. He didn’t want to die. If he got through this, he could put all his energy into finding a suitable husband who would help to protect his family. No more talk about finding a rich spouse. A good, honorable man was all that he needed.
“Okay! Let’s do it!” Hugo agreed, releasing the trapped air in his lungs in a rush.
“Ah, ah.” The strange man wagged one gloved finger at him. “I don’t work for free. I’ll spin all this straw into gold, but you have to give me something valuable first.”
“Valuable?” Hugo patted his chest and pockets. “I don’t have anything of real value on me, but if you’ll go to my brother?—”
“Nope, nope. Has to bebeforeI work. If I go to your brother first and return, there won’t be enough time for me to spin the straw. Payment first. Work second.”
Hugo located his money pouch and pulled it open. “I have four copper coins and two silver.”
“Pffft,” the man dismissed him. “I have no use for money. Too common. You got any magic of your own?”
“Yes, but it’s useless and boring.”
“What is it?”
“I can make things out of glass.”
The stranger propped his hands on his hips and nodded. “Okay. Do it.”
Hugo sucked in a deep breath and pulled on the tingle of magic that buzzed about his chest. He waved his hands this way and that in front of him, crafting a perfect blooming red rose on a long stem, complete with full green leaves and curved thorns. When he was done, sweat dripped down the side of his face, and his hands trembled.
A wild cackle left his companion, and he danced about the room, clapping. “Yes! Yes! Perfect. I’ll spin the straw. Put the rose on the table for safekeeping, and stay out of my way.”
Hugo rushed to do as he directed. He even wrapped the glass rose in his white neckcloth to protect it. As he turned back, he found the odd man seated on the stool, a pile of straw beside him and a wooden bobbin in place to catch the golden thread. The wheel whirled and spun madly. His gloved hands flashed here and there. In the blink of an eye, the straw turned to shining gold thread, filling one spool. And then another and another. It was the most amazing magic he’d ever seen.
This could work.
He might live to see his family.
Six
Hugo awoke to the sound of the iron bolt being slid from its housing. He blinked and rubbed his crusty eyes to find the straw completely gone. In the basket at his feet was a mountain of wooden bobbins filled with gold thread. It glittered and glowed in the morning light.
The strange man had worked through the night, spinning up every bit of the straw. Hugo had given him the bread and most of the water. He’d attempted to chat with him to help pass the time, but the man had said almost nothing, all his concentration on his work.
Hugo had tried to stay awake, but the excitement and stress of the day had finally worn him out, and he’d fallen asleep near midnight. It was a shame. He would have liked to thank the strange man again. At least gotten his name.
A guard marched into the room as Hugo was picking himself up off the stone floor and gasped, his eyes growing huge at the sight of the gold thread.
“Follow me. The queen wishes to see you,” he barked. And yet, as he picked up the basket, his actions were careful and almost reverent, as if he were carrying some holy relic.
Hugo sighed and dusted his clothes off the best he could. He straightened his clothes as he walked. His hand automatically went to his cravat, and he winced when he found his throat was bare. He’d used his neckcloth to protect the glass rose he’d made for the man.Oh, well. The queen would have to deal with his messy appearance.
