Chapter 10

Beldegard didn’t rejoin them until they were out of sight of the ogre’s village. Although he gave Gwendolyn an affectionate lick on her cheek, Annie thought he looked worried. Liam must have thought so too, because the first thing he said to the bear prince was, “What’s wrong?”

Beldegard glanced back into the forest behind him. “I think someone is following us. I noticed it in the woods after you left.”

“Maybe it’s the boy with the cat Annie and Liam told me about,” said Gwendolyn. “Maybe he discovered who I was and wants to start courting me.”

“I doubt it was him,” said Annie. “I don’t think he ever saw you.”

“What boy?” growled Beldegard.

“It might be one of the men from the ferry,” said Liam. “Some of them seemed awfully interested in Gwendolyn. But don’t worry,” he told the girls. “Now that we know someone is there, we’ll watch for him. It would be hard to hide from all of us.”

“Where do we go now?” asked the bear prince.

“We stay on this road until we reach a field where some man keeps his cattle,” said Annie. “Then we turn right and cross over a rainbow bridge and go under a waterfall. It didn’t sound as if it was too far from here.”

“So when do we encounter all these dangers everyone keeps telling us about?” Gwendolyn asked.

“No one seems to know,” Annie told her.

The day grew hotter as they walked, so when the road eventually drew close to a stream, Gwendolyn cried out with delight and started for its banks.

“Wait!” shouted Beldegard as he lumbered after her. “You never know what might lie in wait in places like this. Remember, we’ve had all those warnings about danger.” He padded around the clump of birch trees shading the water to snuffle the inviting moss edging the stream. When he bent down to taste the clear, sparkling water, he drew back suddenly and shook his head. “Don’t drink this!”

“Why? Is it poisoned?” asked Liam.

“No,” the bear prince said. “But cattle have fouled the water near here. This stream isn’t fit to drink.”

Annie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, good!” she cried. “We must be getting close to the spot where we’re supposed to turn.”

“But I’m thirsty!” wailed Gwendolyn.

“We all are,” Annie told her. “It won’t hurt us to go a little longer without water. We can probably drink when we’re upstream of the cows, don’t you think, Beldegard?”

The bear prince shrugged. “Maybe.”

Gwendolyn was still grumbling when Annie led her back to the road. When they continued on and there was still no sign of the cattle, their feet began to drag. “Maybe Beldegard was wrong,” said Gwendolyn. “We could still go back to the stream for a nice long drink.”

“We’re probably close,” said Annie. “Look, there are people over there. We can ask them.”

“I don’t think—” Liam began, but Annie was already hurrying to the fence that divided the road from the land beyond.

“Excuse me!” Annie called, leaning up against the fence while she waved at the small crowd standing in the shade of an old oak tree. “I need some directions.”

The sun was lowering in the sky, its rays shining into Annie’s eyes, making it harder to see. She cupped her hand over her eyes and called to the people again, but they all kept their backs to her and remained huddled together. The few who seemed to be walking around aimlessly ignored her as well.

“They’re very rude,” Gwendolyn said at her side.

“Maybe they didn’t hear me. I could climb the fence and go closer to talk to them,” said Annie. “But did you notice how odd they’re acting? They’re just standing around, doing nothing. Look over there. Some are asleep in the grass.”

“Honestly, I don’t think they’re going to be any help at all,” Gwendolyn told her.

A loud snort made both girls turn their heads. One of the men who had been by himself was coming in their direction. Annie squinted, trying to see him better in the sun’s glare. He was bigger than the rest, with bulging muscles and a head that… Annie gulped and stepped back from the fence, pulling her sister with her. This wasn’t a person, it was a minotaur, with the body of a human and the head of a bull.

A roar broke the quiet of the afternoon as the minotaur came rushing at the fence, his head lowered. Annie and Gwendolyn fell back to the road while Liam ran to stand in front of them with his sword raised. Although their attacker slammed into the fence, bellowing, he made no further effort to reach them.

The group standing under the oak tree turned their heads. Annie shuddered. They were minotaurs as well, mostly adult females with a few children and two or three adolescents.

“These must be the cattle the ogre mentioned,” said Annie, her mouth so dry that her voice sounded odd. “There should be a road near here where we can turn right.”

“As long as we don’t have to go through that field,” said Gwendolyn. “I’m glad you didn’t hop the fence to go talk to them, Annie.”

“So am I!” Annie told her, casting one more glance at the minotaurs.

Annie and Gwendolyn were careful to keep their distance from the fence and the now-watchful minotaurs, but Liam and Beldegard eyed the occupants of the pasture with interest. The beast with the head of a bull kept pace with them on his side of the fence, snorting and pawing at the ground if they stepped off the road. Eventually even he lost interest and left to rejoin his herd. Annie was relieved when he was gone, and began to enjoy the scenery, knowing that they were going the right way.

They were out in the open country now, with crops growing on one side and the fence on the other. Bees hovered around the wild roses covered with small white flowers that hugged the fence. Crickets chirped in the tall grass edging the fence, adding their song to that of the bees. Small birds flew dipping, curving patterns as they caught insects, while a hawk circled overhead, casting its shadow on the dusty road. The hot sun beat down, making Annie long for the shade they’d left behind. A trickle of perspiration ran down her spine, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

When they finally reached the corner of the pasture where the fence turned, they found a narrow dirt path leading off to the right. They walked single file now with Liam in the front and Beldegard bringing up the rear. Eventually they reached the end of the pasture where the fence turned away from the path, and soon after that the stream looped toward them. Once again Beldegard sniffed the water. After taking a tentative taste, he turned to the sisters and said, “You can drink now.”

Gwendolyn ran to the water’s edge and knelt down. Annie sighed and trudged after her. Liam followed, looking as hot as Annie felt. “I saw colored light reflecting off something up ahead,” he said, laying his sword on the grass so he could bend down to drink. “It might be the bridge.” He sipped from his cupped hands twice before adding, “When we reach the bridge, stay back while I look around. Trolls lurk under bridges, and they’re nasty creatures at the best of times.”

“Have you ever fought a troll?” asked Annie.

Liam nodded. “Yes, and I’ve been lucky to get away with my life each time.”

“Don’t worry,” said Beldegard. “I’ll be there and trolls don’t scare me.”

“Have you ever fought a troll?” Liam asked him.

“No, but I’ve seen plenty over the last two years. They run away when they see me coming.”

“You are fierce looking, my darling prince,” Gwendolyn said, stroking his furry back.

“Or they think a bear wouldn’t have anything worth fighting for,” Liam murmured in Annie’s ear.

Even before Annie spotted the bridge, she saw colors shimmering above the stream. Red, blue, purple, green, and yellow lights seemed to hang in the air, and when she got closer she saw why. The bridge that arced above the stream wasn’t very long, but it was made of precious stone laid in stripes that sparkled and glimmered in the sunlight. Bands of ruby, sapphire, amethyst, emerald, and topaz ran from one side of the bridge to the other. Because the stones were transparent, it was easy to see that there weren’t any trolls hiding under the bridge.

“This is beautiful!” Gwendolyn exclaimed. “But I don’t understand why the ogres from the village haven’t broken it up and carted it away.”

“Magic,” said Annie, who could hear the soft melody playing over and over again. “It probably keeps it intact and wards off blows that might break it. I suppose I’ll have to sprint across it so I don’t wreck the darn thing. Why can’t fairies make regular bridges like ordinary people? Do you see how slippery this thing looks?”

“I don’t have to run across, do I?” asked Gwendolyn.

Annie shook her head. “No, but you should go first in case I weaken it.”

“I’ll walk with you, Gwendolyn,” declared Beldegard. “You can hold on to me.”

The bear prince’s first steps were tentative, and Gwendolyn moved even more slowly, but after a moment it became obvious that the magic that held the bridge together also gave it enough traction that it was easy to cross, and they hurried to the other side. Liam went next, although he kept glancing back at Annie as if to make sure no trolls were going to attack her. The moment he reached the other side, Annie started across. She was nearly halfway when she felt the stones shift under her feet and heard the melody become ragged. Another step and her foot slipped so that she staggered and almost fell.

“Hurry, Annie!” Liam cried, and started to come back for her.

“No, stay there!” she shouted as she took another step. The stones were like slick ice now, so slippery that it was impossible to keep her footing. Her feet skittered under her and it was all she could do to remain upright.

“Here, catch this!” Liam shouted, tossing the end of a rope he’d pulled from his knapsack.

Annie looked up as the rope sailed toward her. She caught it with one hand, but doing so made her lose her balance and she fell, landing on her knees and sliding toward the edge of the bridge.

“Hold on!” Liam called.

He began to drag her toward his side of the bridge, but Annie was too close to the edge. She scrabbled at the smooth surface, trying to get a grip, but slipped over the side and fell through the air into the stream. As the cold water closed over her head, she held on to the rope and used it to pull herself to the surface. Spluttering, she kicked out with her feet and stubbed her toes on the streambed. She stood and glanced down; the stream was only chest deep.

Annie waded to the side, shivering from the cold water, and let Liam take her hand and haul her onto the bank. He looked worried and didn’t seem to notice that Annie got his clothes wet when he pulled her into his arms. Being so close to Liam felt good, warm, and right, and when Annie tilted her head back to gaze into his eyes, she thought for a moment that he was about to kiss her. Instead, he let go of her suddenly and stepped away, leaving Annie feeling colder than before.

Annie was confused. Liam had said such sweet things when they were in the Gasping Guppy, but they had been interrupted and he never had finished what he was about to say. Now he wouldn’t even kiss her. In fact, she didn’t think he had kissed her since they started their expedition. Was it something she had done? Maybe he had changed his mind about her.

Beldegard was already ranging ahead with Liam close behind when Annie began to walk. She scarcely noticed that the melody of the bridge was playing again.

“Are you all right?” Gwendolyn asked, eyeing her with concern.

“I’m fine,” said Annie. She glanced down at her wet clothes, then gave her sister a rueful grin. “That was one way to cool off, although I wouldn’t recommend it.”

It was late afternoon when the path took them alongside a stream, wider than the first and deeper. They soon heard the muffled roar of a waterfall, which grew louder as they walked. After that it wasn’t far to the spot where water cascaded from atop a rocky cliff, sending a cloud of mist and spray high into the air. Annie’s clothes were nearly dry, but the mist settled on her hair and face, making her wet all over again.

“Are we supposed to go around this, or what?” asked Gwendolyn.

“We’re supposed to go behind it, but the path ends here.”

“Then there’s probably a way through,” said Beldegard. “If there’s one there, I’ll find it.”

“Be careful!” Gwendolyn called as the bear prince disappeared into the underbrush at the bottom of the cliff. “I worry about him so much,” she said, turning to Annie. “He’s always willing to go headfirst into danger. Don’t you think he’s the bravest prince you’ve ever met?”

“He’s brave all right,” said Annie. “But I think a prince who isn’t a bear and still puts himself in danger is even braver.” She was looking directly at Liam when she spoke and she smiled when he turned to wink at her.

Gwendolyn tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Each to her own opinion,” she said, and stalked away.

“It’s right here!” Beldegard called, his head appearing among the foliage.

Liam held the branches back for the two princesses, and they all followed Beldegard through the underbrush. They had to go only a few yards before they reached the entrance to the cave.

“What now?” asked Gwendolyn. “Do we go out the other side?”

“There’s a passage out the back, but there isn’t any light,” Beldegard told them. “Hold on to me, everyone. I’ll show you the way. Except for you, Annie. If you touch me, I’ll be less bear and more human. Right now, I want to stay a bear.”

“I’ll walk with Annie,” Liam said, taking her hand.

Annie wasn’t sure what to think. First he wanted to touch her, then he didn’t, now he did again. She was so confused!

After the first few steps, the passage curved and suddenly it was so dark that Annie couldn’t see anything, including Liam, who was right beside her. Raising her free hand, she felt for the wall of the cave and found it, cold and slightly damp, closer than she’d expected. They walked forward, sliding their feet until they hit something, then felt for another place to step. It wasn’t long before she saw a glimmer of light ahead.

“There it is,” she told Liam. “We’ve almost reached the opening.”

They could walk faster now and in less than a minute they were outside under the hot sun. Liam let go of her hand the moment they left the passage. Annie tried not to sigh as he moved away.

“The ogre said we should turn left after this,” said Gwendolyn.

Where the land on the other side of the waterfall had been cleared for crops and pastures, the land on this side was heavily forested. “I guess we should just follow the path for now,” Annie said as they began to walk. “I don’t see a… Wait. Are those moonflowers?”

What she had first taken for trees on the left side of the path were actually some of the most unusual plants Annie had ever seen. Long stalks higher than a tall man’s head supported spheres the size of big pumpkins. Pale blue and iridescent white, the spheres seemed to float above them as if they were tethered to the ground rather than growing from it. A faint breeze made the spheres bump into each other, filling the glade with a gentle tapping sound.

“I think this might be the Moonflower Glade,” said Annie, stepping off the path. “Now all we have to do is find Moonbeam.”

“That should be easy enough,” Liam said as he followed her. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted, “Fairy Moonbeam!”

There was no response.

“I don’t think anyone is here,” announced Gwendolyn. “Maybe this isn’t the right place.”

“What’s going on?” asked a voice. “You don’t have to make such a ruckus!”

“I hear someone, but I don’t see anyone,” said Gwendolyn.

“There’s no need to be rude!” the voice said, and a sprite no taller than Annie’s knee stomped between the moonflowers to stand in front of Gwendolyn. Scowling with his head thrown back and his hands planted on his hips, he looked outraged.

“Aren’t you adorable!” Gwendolyn cooed, and crouched down so her eyes were level with his.

The sprite’s face turned red so quickly that Annie was afraid he was going to hurt himself. “How dare you!” he said. “I am not ‘adorable’!”

Annie grabbed her sister and pulled her away from the sprite. “Please excuse my sister. She’s never met anyone like you before. She didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Huh,” grunted the sprite. “Why are you here anyway? Are you nosy posies come to snoop around, or do you have a real reason?”

Annie glanced up as a light rain began to fall even though the sun was out. She was mesmerized when the moonflower blossoms opened to form a translucent roof that caught every drop of the sun shower. Looking through the blossoms from below, Annie saw patterns forming on the petals as the drops splashed and ran to the center, where they seemed to disappear.

“How beautiful!” she breathed.

“We came to see the fairy Moonbeam,” said Liam.

“Well, you can’t,” said the sprite. “She’s not here. And before you ask, I don’t know when she’ll be back. She’s gone to the capital to help some girl get ready for the prince’s ball. After that, she could go just about anywhere to help one of her charges. Now, if that’s all you want, you should go.”

“Could you answer one other question first, please?” said Annie. “Why did everyone tell us that the way to the Moonflower Glade was long and fraught with danger? It was long enough, but it wasn’t particularly dangerous.”

The sprite shrugged. “It’s what Moonbeam tells people to discourage visitors. She hates unexpected guests.”

The sun shower stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Annie looked up as the blossoms closed back into their spheres.

“Which way do we go to reach the capital?” asked Beldegard.

The sprite looked surprised. “So it is an enchanted bear! I wondered why he was with you. You go that way,” he shouted at the bear prince, pointing to where the path turned right.

“I’m a bear, I’m not deaf,” grumbled Beldegard.

“I was trying to be helpful,” the sprite replied, and stomped off.

“I still think he’s the cutest thing,” whispered Gwendolyn.

“I heard that!” the sprite shouted.

Annie took hold of Gwendolyn’s arm and hurried her onto the path. “We’d better go before you get us in real trouble!”