and placed it in the ground, then took a pin out of my hair and pricked my finger, letting a drop of blood touch the thorns. This time I used magic and whispered, coaxing them to grow. Then I touched the ground, whispering an enchantment. The grass grew long, and I spun my fingers in the air to weave the blades together into a grass rug. Thick vines sprang up, and, mimicking what I had seen in Xander’s tent, I weaved them into two single beds off the ground. The roses wrapped themselves up around the tent poles and across the top before dropping down. Each opened bud glowed softly, creating a real flower chandelier.
A toadstool sprouted from the ground, and I perched upon it, a second appearing for Prudence. At the first hint of the magic transforming the ground beneath her feet, she let out a gasp of surprise, but held in her enthusiasm as she watched what I was doing. The large mushroom toadstool truly fascinated her, and she squealed in delight when she touched the flower chandelier.
“It’s like a dream,” she whispered in awe, then ran to sit on her bed, lifting the blanket to look underneath. “Will it really hold me?”
I nodded, exhausted and famished from the exertion of power it took me to create our haven. By the time Prudence brought me our tray of dinner, my head was also pounding.
We had just finished our meal of roasted venison and vegetable soup when a commotion drew us out of our tent. Two guards, Tipper and Fagen, were arguing outside.
“What’s going on?” Pru asked.
“We’re looking for your servant,” Tipper said. “The prince has demanded we find her.”
My heart dropped as I watched the disorder I had caused by refusing to attend the prince. Did he really care that much about a strange girl?
Gaven approached our tent with another guard and stopped before me. “We have been ordered to search your tent,” he said stiffly.
“No,” I answered coolly. “You will not find any servant girl in my tent.” It was the truth, as Pru and I were both outside.
“Doesn’t matter. I have my orders,” Gaven replied without emotion.
My anger was rising. “I would prefer you not.” I did not want him traipsing through my enchanted tent. I had made it homey for Prudence and me, and the thought of either of them in our private area really set me off.
Gaven motioned to Tipper, who went in. Immediately I heard the guard cry out in fright. “What in the blazes? Witchcraft and black magic.”
Through the opening of my tent, I watched in horror as the guard took his sword and hacked at my floor, bed, tent, and trunks. Destroying everything I had built and created with magic.
“Gobber!” I cried out, but the trunk shattered, and the silky dresses spilled out. Gobbersnot was not in his trunk.
My hands shook in anger, and I had to close my eyes and focus on not cursing him to kingdom come. Rosalie, do not turn him into a frog or a bat. When my tent was thoroughly destroyed, he came out and shook his head at Gaven.
“I take it you did not find my servant.” My voice was low and cruel.
“No.”
“And that was reason to destroy my belongings?” I asked.
“That was Tipper keeping your evil at bay,” Gaven said without any remorse.
“I am not evil, or should I say, I’m not as evil as my sisters. But you’re making me wish I were.”
“Where is she? Your servant?”
“Prudence?” I said, pointing to my one and only maiden.
“No, not her. Rose.”
“Gone.” I lightly touched my veil, pressing it to my face and reminding myself to pitch my voice lower so he wouldn’t hear the similarities in our tones.
“If you have done something to harm her, by the heavens, I will—”
“Stop. She is alive. I promise you.”
“When she returns, send her to the prince,” Gaven said shortly.
“I will most certainly not.”
But he had already moved on and forgotten me as they moved to search my carriage.
Stepping into my tent, I held back my cry of frustration. Tipper had hacked through the walls, the vine beds, the flower chandelier and even my trunk. The lid was demolished, and I knelt down to pick through the scattered pieces of dresses. All of my dresses were ruined, slashed to shreds, along with my few precious possessions, including my sewing kit and book. The dresses could be replaced, but I was furious about my book.