“Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.Īfter stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.īefore I could put the boy in his place-down in the dirt, where he belonged-a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. They were cold, like ice water-made me shiver from head to toe. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. “Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.” I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

“If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots.

He could have been a hundred for all I knew.

He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. The final few stragglers looked at me with the alltoo-common look of fear mixed with trepidation.

Betsy schow books in order