Snow White and Rose Red (41 page)
Read Snow White and Rose Red Online
Authors: Patricia Wrede
Blanche blushed red as a rose. Then she went pale as milk and looked down at her feet. Hugh’s voice still held a faint echo of the familiar, bearish rumble, but the slender, dark-haired Faerie man before her bore no other resemblance to the animal she had pitied and befriended. He was alarmingly handsome, and even draped in an old blanket he carried himself like a prince. The faint glow of enchantment still hung in the air around him, reminding her of the depth of the difference between them as his bear’s fur had not.
“‘Tis noble in thee to admit as much, since words are all thou’lt ever have to pay her with,” Madini’s sarcastic voice broke in. “But it makes a pretty scene, I do admit.”
“Whate‘er it makes, ’tis no affair of yours,” John said. “Get you back to Faerie, and leave us in peace.”
Madini’s expression did not change, but the eyes she turned on John were dark with hatred. “Peace? I’ll give thee peace indeed, as much as a grain of corn between the millstones! Thou hast overset my plans, but I’ll see that thou dost rue it, and thy mortal friends as well.”
“Thou‘lt see to nothing of the kind,” the Widow said before John could answer. Her voice was sharp, and her expression angrier than Rosamund and Blanche could ever remember seeing before.
“Who’s to stop me?” Madini said, looking contemptuously down at the Widow. “These half-breed exiled bastards? They’ve not the power to protect thee from my wrath; never think it. I am of the great ones of Faerie.”
“Thou mayest be great in Faerie, but thou‘rt of small account in my garden,” the Widow retorted. “Nor have I ever asked these two for a defense against thy malice.”
“Thou hast no need to ask, and well thou knowest it,” John said, stung. “Whatever aid we can give thee and thy daughters, thou hast it.”
“My brother speaks for us both,” Hugh added.
“Thy offer’s kind,” the Widow said gently, “but ‘tis more likely you’ll have need of us.”
“Thinkest thou that thy mere mortal magic can best me?” Madini said, and this time amusement tinged the contempt in her voice.
“‘Twas my daughter’s mortal magic that did what thou saidest no Faerie charm could do, and restored Hugh’s shape to him,” the Widow shot back. “And ’twas mortal magic that stole it away. And however great thy vaunted power, it seems thou hadst not means to wrest the crystal from two mortal wizards. I think ‘twere best thou didst not speak so hardly of ’mere’ mortal magic. ‘Twill serve to keep me and my daughters safe from thee.”
Rosamund and Blanche looked at their mother in wonder. Madini gave the Widow a slow, cruel smile. “‘Tis not my magic thou needs must fear, but my unwitting mortal servants.”
“What mean you?” Hugh demanded sharply.
“Why, only that this day’s work has been observed, and by one Master Rodgers, who doth hunt witches for his bread,” Madini said, and watched with great satisfaction as the Widow turned pale.
“This is a tale, or trickery,” John said quickly.
“No trick,” Madini said, and seeing the trouble in his expression her smile grew. She looked at Hugh. “Did thy bear’s nose not smell him when thou camest roaring up?”
John made an angry movement, and Hugh put a hand on his arm. “I do recall something like to what you say, but ‘twas not my object at the time, and I do not well remember,” the erstwhile bear answered mildly.
“Thou‘lt soon see all the truth in what I say,” Madini said.
Rosamund slipped around behind Hugh and went out through the open gate. She came back a few moments later and broke in on the argument, which was growing more heated. “There are footprints behind the bushes by the gate,” she said, “and I do not think they’re Master Dee’s or Master Kelly’s. But there is no one about now.”
“You see?” Madini said triumphantly. “He’s gone to fetch his constables. You’d best begin your flight, unless you wish to hang, every one of you. And be assured, where‘er you go I’ll set your own mortal laws against you.”
“I think not,” Rosamund said, considering. She looked at her mother. “Has not the talk in town been all of Master Dee and Master Kelly?”
The Widow nodded. “But that makes no—”
“Nay, Mother, it makes a great difference,” Rosamund interrupted. “For even if this man saw and heard all that occurred, ‘twas Master Dee’s spell that Blanche unraveled, and the breaking of foul sorcery’s no crime.”
“Thou mayest well be right,” John said slowly. He paused, and looked at the Widow. “And ‘tis also true that the greater part of this day’s magic can be laid at Kelly’s door. ’Twas he who held the crystal and cast the spell that froze us where we stood, and I do not think his past will bear the close examination of the courts. But if you choose to remain and defend your innocence, ‘twill be hard for you, no matter what the outcome, and that’s by no means sure.”
The Widow hesitated. Then she looked at Madini, and her lips firmed. “An we choose to leave, this one has said she’ll set more of these dogs to snap at our heels. ‘Twere better to stay where we’ve some chance to win the fight, or so I think.”
Rosamund flung her arms around her mother. Madini’s smile slipped slightly. “You are all fools,” she said.
“That’s no problem of thine, is it?” Rosamund said, letting go of her mother.
“How long dost thou think ‘twill take this Master Rodgers to return?” Blanche asked John.
“I do not know; does it matter greatly?”
“An we’re to stay and face these charges, would it not be best for Hugh ... for thy brother to be better clad?” Blanche said, blushing slightly.
“Oh, you’ve time and plenty for such niceties,” someone said behind them. The company turned as one, to see a long-legged youth leaning over the Widow’s gate and shaking black hair out of his eyes.
“Robin!” said John and Hugh together.
CHAPTER · TWENTY-FIVE
“Snow White and Rose Red had begun to run away, but the bear called out to them, ‘Wait! Do not be afraid; I will not hurt you. Stop for a moment, and I will join you.’ The girls recognized his voice, and they stopped and waited. As he came toward them his bearskin suddenly dropped off, and a handsome man stood before them, dressed all in gold. ”
ROBIN PUSHED THE GATE OPEN AND SAUNTERED IN, plainly enjoying the attention he was receiving. He was dressed for court, his doublet so heavy with gold-thread embroidery that he glittered in the sunlight when he moved. Madini’s eyes narrowed. “What dost thou here, sprite?” she demanded.
“This and that,” Robin answered, widening his eyes innocently. Then he frowned and tilted his head to one side. “Though now I think on it, thou mightest well have phrased thy question with a greater grace. I’m sure my friends here would have put it better.” He waved casually toward John and Hugh.
“Place no wagers on it,” John said. “If I’d been less surprised by thy appearance, I’d have been the first to speak those self-same words.”
“Ah, but thou wouldst not have called me ‘sprite,’ Robin said, in tones which indicated that that settled the matter completely.
“It seems this man’s a friend to thee,” the Widow said pointedly to John.
“Alas, I must admit it,” John said, “though ‘tis no credit to either of us. Mistress Arden, I present to thee Master Robin; Robin, be at thy best behavior, I pray.”
“When am I otherwise?” Robin said, bowing extravagantly to the Widow.
“Always,” Hugh said, smiling in spite of himself.
“Never say so,” Robin answered, straightening and twisting around. He studied Hugh for a moment. “Thou‘st found a tailor since last I saw thee,” he said with the air of one identifying an elusive change that had been puzzling him. He leaned forward and said in a confidential tone, “Thou shouldst lose him again, an thou’lt take my advice.”
“Cease thy foolery and explain thy presence!” Madini cut in. She was angry as much at being ignored as at Robin’s failure to give her any real answer to her first question. Events had slipped from her grasp, if they had ever been in it, and Robin made an excellent target for her frustration.
“Why, I thought I’d done so,” Robin said, blinking at her through a fringe of black hair.
“Belike you did, but I did not understand your explanation,” Blanche’s soft voice put in.
Robin looked to where she stood with Rosamund, a little to one side. His eyes widened, and he bowed even more extravagantly than before. “Roses!” he exclaimed as he straightened up. “One white and one red. Nay, do not blush; thou‘lt stain thy petals.”
“Robin,” Hugh said warningly, and his voice was very near a growl.
“What wouldst thou have of me?” Robin said, ignoring Hugh. “The half my kingdom? ‘Tis thine before thou ask!”
“An easy promise, for thou hast none,” John commented. “Be not so saucy, Robin.”
“Wherefore dost thou command him so?” Rosamund said. “He but matcheth thee; you are a pair of saucy rogues.”
“Oho! Is this the way on’t?” Robin said, looking gleefully from Rosamund to John. “Thou didst not tell me—”
“Robin!” John interrupted. “Thy best behavior; look thou, remember it.”
Blanche was still blushing furiously, in part from Robin’s teasing and in part from finding Hugh’s eyes fixed gravely on her once more. Seeing no sign that Robin would cease his banter, she ventured, “I would put a question to you, Master Robin.”
“Didst hear what she called me?” Robin said in delight. “‘Master Robin’! It has a ring to it; do you not think so?”
“The ring that suits thee would be made of hemp and fitted round thy neck,” Madini snapped.
Robin looked wounded. “Thou‘rt unkind to say so. But what was it that this lovely blossom wished of me?”
“I would know what you meant when you said we had time and plenty. ‘Twas just as you arrived,” Blanche said.
“Why, I meant whate‘er I said,” Robin answered. “So do I always. ”
“Then give us the reason for thy speech,” John said. “Assuming that thou hadst one, more than to cause confusion.”
“Oh, very well,” Robin said, and grinned wickedly. “‘Tis but that all of you seemed troubled by the large man in brown who watched you from behind the hedge there. You have no need of haste on his account; he’ll not see home before mid-afternoon, and I misdoubt he’ll speak with sense before the morrow.”
“Robin, what hast thou done?” Hugh demanded.
“I think I liked thee better as a bear,” Robin complained. “Thou wert not so importunate.”
“An thou wouldst reach home thyself with a whole skin, ‘twere best thou didst answer,” John said.
“Thou, on the other hand, hast not altered by a hair. Oh, very well, but ‘tis no great matter. I but did what thou thyself hast done for a bear hunt not so long ago, or so I’ve heard.”
“You’ve pixy-led this Master Rodgers?” Rosamund asked.
“Did I not just inform thee of it?” Robin said.
“How didst thou dare!” Madini snarled, seeing her hope of a quick revenge on John and Hugh fading.
“Was it daring?” Robin said, frowning. “No, I think ‘twas not. But the man was ponderous and full of substance; he fair cried out to be misled. Then, too, there was John’s work with Master Kirton’s hunt to be surpassed.” He contemplated his fingernails for a moment, then added modestly, “In that, at least, I have succeeded.”
“How say you so?” Rosamund demanded, springing to John’s defense without a thought. “To pixy-lead one man must surely be a lesser task than to confuse a score of riders and their dogs and beaters. ”
“‘Tis no great matter, Rosamund,” John interrupted her. “An Robin says his work surpasses mine, ’tis nearly certain that he’s right.”
“Oh, there’s no arguing with it,” Robin said. “I’ll show thee on the morrow. But ‘tis a mark of friendship that thou’lt agree before thou‘st seen.”
“Braggart! Thou‘lt rue the day thou didst ever name thyself a friend to these,” Madini said, waving at John and Hugh.
“I doubt it,” Robin said, then stopped, considering. “Though perhaps the next time Hugh takes all the dances with the prettiest of the Queen’s ladies ...”
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