“Well, probably just to me. It’s not worth much to anyone else if you try to sell it. You wouldn’t get much if they melted it. I’m sure I have more coins in my pocket than you’d get for the ring.”
“Doesn’t matter. That’s what I want. The ring in exchange for spinning all this straw into gold.”
Hugo frowned and stared at the ring, rubbing it even harder. What would his father say?
He almost laughed. He could hear his father’s deep, booming voice in his head demanding that he take the deal right that second. It was just an old ring, and this was his chance to chase after love. Of his parents, his father was the romantic. He’s the one who’d chased after their mother, while his mother was somehow the pragmatic one.
“Okay, but will you promise me one thing?” Hugo said.
“What’s that?”
“If you ever wish to get rid of this ring, will you try to find me first? Let me make an offer for it before you sell it to anyone else.”
The stranger hopped from one foot to the other and punched Hugo in the shoulder. He got the feeling he was smiling behind his mask. “Deal!”
Hugo felt a little better about sliding the ring off his thumb and putting it into the gloved palm of his companion. At least there was a slim chance of the ring working its way back to him one day.
With a cackle, the stranger dropped onto the stool behind the spinning wheel, setting it whirling. Hugo jumped into action, pulling straw closer to the man so it was easily within his grasp. He also shifted the basket of empty wooden bobbins closer.
One after another, he watched the bobbins fill with glittering gold thread. Each one got him one step closer to Everand. He still didn’t know how he was going to fix the mess he was in. He needed to stop the queen from ever making this demand again, but he wasn’t sure how he was going to do that without losing his head.
At the very least, he had to tell Everand the truth. Everand trusted him, and he couldn’t lie to him. Not anymore. And maybe the prince would know how best to deal with the queen.
Hugo tried to stay awake and help the stranger as he worked, but as the day wore on, he grew sleepy. The last few days had been so frantic and crazy. Now he felt only relief that he had taken a good step forward. Long after the sun had set, Hugo sat against the wall and drifted off to sleep as the stranger worked.
Sixteen
Hugo woke to the sound of the metal bolt sliding out of its housing. He scrubbed his eyes and face. When he blinked to clear his vision, he found he was alone in his little cell. The straw was gone, and so was his friend, but the stranger had left behind a basket of gold thread. He’d attempted to ask the man several times what his name was or where he was from, but he’d either dodged or ignored his questions as he worked.
It was odd that the stranger kept appearing at the palace. How could he move so easily without the notice of the servants and guards? Unless he was a guest of sorts. But why did he keep helping Hugo? None of it made any sense.
But a small inkling of an idea was growing in the back of his mind. It seemed like a long shot of a guess, but pieces of information were starting to fit into place.
Just like his first time in the cell, a guard walked in and grunted at the overflowing basket of gold thread.
“The queen will be very pleased,” the guard stated as he picked up the basket while Hugo climbed to his feet. The guard turned and marched out of the room.
Hugo followed him, but as he turned down the hall, a soft feminine noise caught his attention. He jerked to his left to find the same maid who’d helped him on his last visit standing off to the side with a bright smile.
“Miss Florence,” he greeted with a bow of his head. “It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too, Mr. Baker. If you would come with me, I can show you to a room where you can rest and bathe.” She lifted a hand, motioned in the opposite direction of where the guard was heading.
“But I need to speak to the queen.” He gazed at the guard as he disappeared around a corner, leaving the hallway empty.
“Unfortunately, Her Majesty is quite busy today and doesn’t have time in her schedule to meet with you.”
Hugo frowned. How was he going to convince the queen that he couldn’t continue this charade for another moment, even if it meant forfeiting his life?
Florence edged closer and added in a whisper, “His Highness stated he is looking forward to seeing you.”
Hugo’s head snapped up so fast, the resulting breeze stirred some of Florence’s hair. “Everand—I mean Prince Everand—wishes to see me?”
A giggle slipped out, and Florence covered her mouth with her hand. “Very much. However, he wishes to give you a chance to refresh yourself and doesn’t plan to call on you until this afternoon.”
Heat burned Hugo’s cheeks, but he didn’t care. He was going to see Everand. At the very least, he could explain to him about the stupid confusion over his magic. Maybe he could convince Everand to help him see the queen and plead his case. Assuming Everand didn’t hate him for his deception.
With a nod, Hugo followed Florence through the long, winding corridors to a different wing of the palace. This one wasfar more opulent and decadent than the one where he’d briefly stayed on his last visit. The colors were all deeper and richer shades of brown and green. There were swords and stuffed animal heads mounted on the walls. The furniture shifted from white and delicate to dark wood and sturdy.
