His grandfather froze, his face turning the color of summer raspberries. “What was that, my boy?” he asked, his voice shaking badly. “I must have misheard you. I thought you said that you lost my bag?”
A moment later Jack burst out of the cottage, a large pot barely missing his head as he ran. He quickly slammed the door behind him, his grandfather’s curses still clearly audible as he escaped.
The old man had calmed down by the time May knocked on the door and came inside. She forced a smile.
“I heard screaming,” she said. “If it was directed at Jack, believe me, I understand.”
“Princess,” Jack’s grandfather said by way of greeting, his face now a much healthier color. “It’s always directed at Jack, and he’ll pay for it, one way or another. I see you still have my little friend?” He pointed at the ever-present fairy in May’s hair.
May smiled without any real warmth. “Yup, she’s stubborn. Never seems to want to leave, for some reason. Is that unusual?”
Jack’s grandfather puffed on his pipe. “Well, in my experience … yes. How are you holding up through all of this?”
She sat down in the same chair Jack had used, then dropped her chin into her hands. “Not real great, to be honest,” she said. “I basically have no idea who I am, and the one woman I counted on as my family turns out to be some kind of horrible witch.” She frowned. “I’m sure there’s a metaphor in there somewhere.”
The old man laughed. “That almost sounded sarcastic.”
She smiled briefly at that. “Nah, I wish. I’m working on it, though … maybe I can relearn it someday. Let’s hope. I’m kinda useless without it.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard,” Jack’s grandfather said, patting his Story Book. “So what are your plans now?”
May shrugged. “I’d like to find out if my family—my real family—is still alive, or if there’s any hope of learning about where I come from. It’s not like I have anything left back home.”
“And your grandmother?”
May’s face clouded. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
The old man sighed. “I think we all hoped never to talk about her again. Unfortunately, it sounds as if we don’t have much choice. Rumor has it she’s retaken her throne, and her armies are mobilizing again.”
May glared at him, then stood up. “If that’s it …?”
“Actually, there were a couple more things,” the old man said, lighting up his pipe again. May waited with her arms crossed while he puffed a few times, then looked her in the eye. “First, my grandson’s operating under the delusion that he won’t be coming with you on the next journey.”
May’s right eyebrow shot up. “Is that a joke?” she asked. “Of course he’s coming. I need his help!”
“Sounds like you should go talk to him.”
“He’s such an idiot,” she said, and turned to walk out.
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “One more thing: The Queen said that either Jack or Phillip would betray you, and the other would die. Do you think she was lying to you?”
May looked back at him for a moment in silence, then dropped her gaze to the floor.
“No, I don’t think so either,” Jack’s grandfather said sadly.
Chapter 46
“So I guess this is good-bye,” Jack said, sticking his hand out to Phillip, who had been waiting with the horses and supplies Phillip’s mother had graciously given them upon their return.
The prince looked at his hand for a moment, then smiled, took it, and shook it roughly. “I apologize for challenging you to a duel before, Jack,” he said, “back beneath Malevolent’s castle.”
“That’s all right,” Jack replied. “I’ve wanted to punch you a bunch of times. We wouldn’t live long enough to apologize for them all.”
Phillip laughed. “Fairly put. Have you said your farewells to the princess?”
Jack shook his head. “I sent her in to calm my grandfather down first.”
“Apparently she has done so, as here she is now,” Phillip said, looking over Jack’s head. “I shall give the two of you a moment alone to say good-bye.”
“Right,” Jack said again, then turned to face May.
“Well,” the princess said as she walked up to him. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Good-byes aren’t easy,” Jack said, holding his arms out for a hug.
She stopped and gave him an annoyed look. “No, I’m not sure what to say because there are only so many ways to call you stupid. You’re coming. And you know why?”
Jack sighed. “Why?”
May glared at him a moment longer, then stepped in and hugged him hard. “Because I need you to, okay?” she said. “Because together … we made a horrible mistake. Well, you mostly, but I helped. A little. And maybe together we can help fix it. Help me fix it, Jack, okay?”
May released him and stepped back, waiting for his answer. Jack’s heart began beating at a normal speed again, and he tried covering his deeply red face. “I, uh …,” he said smartly.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, right. It’s just going to have to be the hard way, isn’t it.” She abruptly leaned forward and pushed Jack hard toward the horses. “Get on your horse, Jack,” she yelled. “We’re going, and you’re coming. That’s all there is to it.”
With that, she walked to her horse, mounted it, and rode over to wait beside Phillip.
It took a few minutes, but Jack eventually mounted up and made it over to the other two. Though May seemed satisfied, Phillip didn’t look particularly happy about his new traveling companion. “Jack,” he said, by way of greeting. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Neither did I,” Jack said. “But the princess asked me nicely.”
“As if I could ask any other way,” May said, batting her eyes. “Everyone ready?”
“I am,” Phillip said.
“Apparently I am too,” Jack said, shaking his head.
“That’s what I like to hear,” May said. “Let’s go find out who I am, then.”
Acknowledgments
First, no matter how grumpy I got, my family always put up with me, so thank you to my parents, Michael and Nancy, and Sarah, Paul, Anjie, Shawn, and Thaphne. This book wouldn’t be here without your support. Kate, Will, and Jack, I hope you like it.
Thanks to Irene Kraas, my own agent of hope and change, without whom none of this would be possible. The same holds true for my editors at Aladdin, Liesa Abrams and Kate Angelella. The word “perfect” might get overused, but in this case it’s just what the doc ordered.
Cari DiMargo, Valaer Murray, Leah Kim, Emily Brown, and Kori Hill … your feedback kept the story exciting, never letting it turn into some boring, sleepy little tale.
Paul Nadjmabadi. Meghan Jolly. Angie Ottinger. Clay Dilks. Stacey Jackson. Laura Watson. Kim Millard. You all mean more than the world to me, and your support over the years has been so … sorry, there must be some dust in the air or something: My eyes are watering. I’m surprised I’m not getting sneezy. There must be so much dust….
Maarten de Boer, not only did you keep me from jumping off the eleventh elevator, you shared your talent of photography and made me look good, which isn’t easy. You’re a true friend. Don’t get bashful, it’s all true.
Finally, most people probably haven’t heard of this guy, but I want to thank an artist from the last century by the name of Walt Disney. It’s easy to overlook the man for the company now, but the sheer imaginative power of Walt Disney was easily the single greatest creative influence on me as I grew up. I know, I know, that sounds kinda dopey, but it’s true.
Thank you so much to all of you. And yes, the dwarf thing made me way too happy.
James Riley, Half Upon a Time
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