Roz stepped in then, letting the hood of her coat fall to her shoulders, her craggy, lined face smiling. “I must tell you what I have seen in my mirror, children. I did not understand last eve when the vision came, but now I do. Listen close. You are, indeed, the prince’s one true love, milady. I did not tell falsehoods when I counseled the king of such. He was right to send Resplendant away. And your happiness Brenda spoke of indeed lies with Iver. Yet, the prince’s one true love must stay here in Shamalot in order to remain safe from those who wish to harm her in her homeland.” She turned to Marty, Wanda and Nina. “You three must return to your families, and help the maiden save her brother—for he is in great danger.”
“He’s alive?” Toni almost screamed as relief flooded her veins, forcing her to lean back against Iver, who held her steady and strong.
“Aye,” she said, her gravelly voice thick. “But he is in dire need of help, and the maidens must assist where the moon is high over the forests, where the wind blows endlessly and the trees and water are in abundance.”
“But what does that mean? Will I ever see him again? I can’t see him if I’m not there, and I want to help find him.”
Roz placed a hand on Toni’s and stared deep into her eyes. “You must heed my warning. ’Tis urgent you do so. There are hunters who seek you, milady. Ugly hunters who will take your life if they locate you. I can assist with a means for you to see your brother and your newfound friends again, but for now, you must stay here and learn to rule the kingdom with the prince, and they must return.”
“And you must give me your word you speak the truth, Roz. I will not have my lady’s heart suffer,” Iver said.
Roz instantly bowed in reverence. “My word, my prince. She will see her brother again. This I swear to you.”
“Welp, I guess that’s settled, huh, kiddo?” Nina asked with a nudge, her voice weak and trembling. She began to pull the bluebirds from her hair and the one from inside the bodice of her dress, setting them on the edge of a broken chair, where they continued to chirp. “Promise me you’ll take care of these little buggers. I’m fucking attached.”
Toni threw her arms around Nina’s waist and hugged her hard. “I promise. Now, we need to get her home, Roz. How do we do it? She’s sick and—”
Nina thwarted Toni’s words by hugging her back with a weak squeeze. “You be good, kiddo. Whatever we need to do back in Jersey, consider it done. Okay? Go be happy, Sparkly Pants,” she gruffed out before letting go and knocking Dannan in his thigh. “You look out for Red here.”
Dannan rumbled his consent, his wide chest expanding as he sucked in a breath of air.
Tears fell from Marty and Wanda’s eyes as they held out their arms to her and gathered her and Nina into their embrace. “What Nina said. We’ll find Cormac, I promise. We’ll do whatever it takes to help him. But you have to promise us something. Stay put. Try not to fret. Become part of this world you’ve fallen in love with—learn it—learn how to be a good princess. Most of all, find your joy again, honey. You’ve been so long without.”
Toni inhaled a shuddering breath as Iver tucked her back by his side. “So this is it?” she asked Roz on a squeak.
They’d all been so tightly bound by the chore of getting her to the castle, she wasn’t sure what she’d do when she didn’t wake up to Nina complaining about her stupid hair, or when she could no longer tell Carl one of her mixed-up fairytales. “Everyone can go home now?”
Roz nodded her silvery head, tucking Toni’s hand into hers. “For now, yes. But you will meet again and again. This I promise. All you have to do is ask.”
Toni turned to face the women and Carl, leaning down she pressed a kiss to the top of his head as tears fell from her eyes and her heart swelled in her chest.
“You be good, and the next time you read a story, think of me, huh, buddy?”
Carl stomped his hoof and nudged her with his muzzle as she stroked his soft jaw.
How did she say goodbye to these women? How did she let them go after everything they’d done for her? How did she tell them how much they meant?
But she would. Because it was important to say it as often as she could, whenever she could. “And you three? How do I even begin to say thank you? I…” She choked on her words, almost unable to get them out. “I never would have made it here without your support. I haven’t had anyone on my side for a long time, but I’m damn glad it was you three and Carl who showed up when I needed someone the most. So…thank you. Thank you. All of you. I’ll never forget what you did for me—ever.”
“Nor I, fair maidens,” Iver said, his voice cracking ever so slightly. “You are brave and noble, and I shall never forget what you have done for Shamalot by helping to save the good people and Toni from Angria’s destruction. You are always welcome, honored guests in our kingdom.” He bowed before the women then stroked Carl’s head.
Nina balled her fist and gave Iver a gentle slug to his arm. “You be nice to Red here, Prince Flawless. Or I come back. Then I kill you. Got it?”
Iver barked a laugh and pulled Nina into a hug. “I shall wait in fear of your reprisal, Discontent One.”
Marty and Wanda, both smiling through tears, hugged him, too. Dannan gathered them all up and squeezed. “Come back soon, lasses, and I shall show ye the town as my guests. We’ll chase elves and drink thistleberry wine.”
Everyone laughed, wiping their eyes.