The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker

Author:E. D. Baker [Baker, E. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781599907574
Google: rmGnwdJxJacC
Amazon: 1599906589
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published: 2012-01-03T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

“WHERE DO YOU WANT to go next?” asked Liam. His horse pawed at the ground, impatient at standing still. Annie’s horse flicked its ears as if listening for her reply.

It was late afternoon, which meant that it was too early to stop for the night, but too late to get very far before nightfall. Annie peered up the road, using her hand to shade her eyes from the sun. “Where does this road go?”

“Southwest,” said Liam. “If we stay on it long enough, we’ll end up in Wryden.”

“Sweetness N Light said that Voracia was either south or west, so I suppose southwest is a good compromise. We can ask if people have heard of her along the way.”

Annie turned her horse to ride beside Liam and sighed with relief. The only sounds she heard were the clip-clop of their horses’ hooves and the songbirds singing to their neighbors. She welcomed the quiet after the unceasing noise in Sweetness N Light’s garden and was about to say so when Liam spoke up.

“Do you know what you’re going to do once you find Voracia?”

“I have no idea,” Annie replied. “But I’m sure something will come to me. It always does.”

“In other words, you have no plan.”

“None!” she said, and gave him her brightest smile.

Liam scowled and looked as if he wanted to argue, but Annie wasn’t in the mood to discuss their options. Instead, she turned her attention to the countryside and let herself relax.

They rode through forest and open countryside without passing anyone and had just entered another, older wood where the trees were taller and the gloom deeper, when a horse whinnied and their two mounts answered. A minute later a man rode up behind them, hailing them as he approached. “Care for some company?” he said once he was close enough that he didn’t have to shout. “This forest is no place to be alone after dark.”

“Certainly,” said Liam. “The more sword arms, the better. What brings you here at this time of day?”

“I’m Prince Cozwald of Bellaroost,” the man replied, positioning his horse so that he rode beside Liam. Even in the gloom of the forest Annie could see that he was exceedingly handsome, with long, blond hair and chiseled features. “An ogre kidnapped the love of my life and I’m going to rescue her. He’s taken her to his castle just over the next hill.”

“You’re going by yourself?” Liam asked.

Prince Cozwald nodded. “I borrowed a magic ax from my father. He got it from his uncle, who got it from his father-in-law, who bought it from someone at a magic marketplace. It’s supposed to kill an ogre with one swipe. I don’t need anyone to go with me as long as I have this ax,” he said, patting the weapon that was strapped to the back of his saddle.

They spoke together in low voices while the shadows deepened, but Annie began to feel uneasy and the young men soon stopped talking as they watched the forest around them.

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