Читать книгу The Fairytale Trilogy - Valerie Gribben - Страница 20

“Marianne, are you okay? Why is Leo out?” came Robin’s muted voice from above.

“I’m unhurt!” yelled Marianne. “It was an accident.”

“Well, I’m coming down to make sure!” cried Robin, breaking branches to reach Marianne.

“Aren’t you going to tell Robin about what you learned?” asked Leo, lending Marianne a massive paw. “He deserves to know.”

“If I tell him about Grimholdt, Robin is going to try to track him down and avenge our parents. I respect Robin’s fighting ability, but he wouldn’t stand a chance against a wizard,” said Marianne, attempting to steady herself. “He’d probably commandeer you and fly o—”

“That wouldn’t be very wise. From what I’ve heard of Grimholdt’s abilities, he’ll know if you fly me within five miles of him and prepare. Marianne, I don’t think you should use me while we’re around these parts if you want to be undetected.”

“Thanks for the warning, Leo, but I don’t plan on going anywhere near the castle. I’ve finally found my brother, and I don’t intend on losing him. Please, Leo, don’t whisper a word about this to him.”

“What do I get?” asked the frog, who’d reappeared at the top of the well, all fear of Grimholdt momentarily forgotten.

“You don’t become my appetizer,” Leo stated.

A few feet away, Robin landed with a thud. Leo furrowed his scaly brow. “Please,” whispered Marianne.

“Glad you’re okay, Marianne.” Robin pointed to the tree. “The branches were too thick to see much. Which way do you think we should head?”

The frog at the well began to whistle loudly as he innocently twiddled his froggy thumbs. “Why is he whistling?” asked Robin, eyeing it with growing suspicion.

“Because . . . he’s happy. Some frogs are like that, you know. Naturally cheerful,” Marianne informed Robin, with an air of affected knowledge as she slipped the frog a gold coin. “The important thing is that we must head”—Marianne exchanged a meaningful look with Leo—“to the right,” they said in unison.

Marianne spoke little as they proceeded on their journey. Leo turned back into the dragonfly, and Robin recounted a long-winded story about how he’d once saved an elf from the jaws of an ogre. Marianne listened halfheartedly until Robin began to explain, in detail, the workings of an ogre’s stomach. Then she switched her eyes up to the sky. Someone in the clouds was weaving colors of flamboyant pink and brazen orange into the peaceful blue tapestry of twilight. Will I ever tell Robin about Grimholdt? she wondered guiltily.

“But was he grateful?” Robin’s question ruptured Marianne’s trance. “NO! Glorified goblins! That’s what elves are!”

Marianne gave Robin a laugh, hoping it was appropriately timed. “Marianne,” Robin said, twisting around, “You’ve been awfully quiet. Is something bothering you?”

“I’m a bit tired,” she lied, wishing Robin could read her mind. Yes, I’m keeping a horrible secret from the only person in the world whom I should trust! “Robin, do you ever feel lonely?”

“Not now that I have you, Marianne—”

“No, I mean a longing for someone else.”

“Penelope wasn’t my type. She’d have had my head if I ever displeased her,” Robin said soberly.

“I know, but someone like her,” said Marianne, looking dolefully down at her horse. “Someone you could, well, love.”

“Marianne, you’re fifteen.” Slowing his horse until it was even with Marianne’s, Robin asked, “Haven’t you ever been told that you should be happy with who you are first and then go looking for someone else?”

“No,” said Marianne, taking the lead. “It’s just that sometimes it’s lonely being me.”