Free Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) by Markelle Grabo Page B

mermaids relocated.”
    “So shouldn’t we leave now?” I asked.
    Orrin shook his head. “We must have the cover of darkness in order to succeed. Mermaids see rather poorly in the dark. We use our voices to find our way.”
    “Like sonar with whales?” I guessed.
    He actually smiled. “Something like that. The activity will not die down until morning, I believe. We will have enough time.”
    I nodded, feeling more confident in the Prince’s abilities now that he wasn’t acting so tense. “How do we leave the palace without being noticed?”
    Orrin’s eyes left me. “I believe your friend Elvina can help with that.”
    I stiffened. How did he know her real name? To the mermaids, she was supposed to be Elsa.
    Elvina, however, didn’t look the least bit surprised. “Your knowledge can mean only one thing,” the Woodland fairy said. “Eder has been here.”
    “What now?” I asked, thoroughly confused and feeling the onset of one powerful headache.
    Again, I was ignored. Wasn’t I the Chosen Daughter? I deserved some respect, right? Guess not. Brimming with frustration, I crossed my arms against my chest and sighed heavily. Still, I received no attention. Was I invisible?
    “Clever of you to hide your identity,” Orrin commented to Elvina, like I wasn’t even in the room. His expression was much too admiring. Was he attracted to her? Because that would just make things…well, more complicated, to say the least.
    “I was told to do so by Queen Brielle,” Elvina replied, smiling with pride. “She said if we had allies here, they would recognize the cover up.”
    “It must have been difficult for you,” he said gently. “Bending your way around the truth.”
    She pursed her lips, a gesture that was very fae-like and made me shiver. Elvina normally acted like such an elfen. I never thought much of her fairy heritage unless the origins of the war were discussed. Now she was acting every bit of her true nature and it unnerved me. “Living in Tarlore as the only fairy in a sea of elves capable of lying made bending the truth necessary. I’ve grown quite good at the act.”
    I groaned. “Okay, not that I’m not impressed by your skills, Elvina, but can we please back up to that part about Eder?” I asked. “I would really like to know how and why he was here.”
    Elvina drew her eyes from Orrin to me. Finally, some acknowledgment. “I’m sorry, Ramsey, but there isn’t time to discuss Eder’s involvement. Just know that he is doing us a great service by bringing the right creatures over to our side.”
    “Now you’re really acting like a fairy,” I said bitterly.
    “Excuse me?” she asked, her expression full of alarm.
    I rubbed my arms and shook my head. “Never mind.”
    Elvina and Orrin looked at me curiously for a moment before going back to ignoring me. “The remaining members of your party should be notified of our plan,” Orrin advised.
    “Ramsey should be the one to do that,” Elvina said. “Can you get her down to the prison without being detected?”
    “I will send her down with one of my guards. I would ask you to put a Glamour on her, but the prison wards off magical enchantments unless specifically allowed by the King and Queen.”
    “But how will we leave the palace without using Glamour magic?” Elvina wondered.
    “While Ramsey sees to her friends, we will remain here and work on how we can get past the limitations,” Orrin said.
    “Fine. Does that sound all right, Ramsey?” Elvina asked. When I didn’t respond, she said, “Nathan and the others should know what’s happening.”
    I had suddenly lost the will to speak. Talk of fairy Glamour had brought on flashbacks I wasn’t prepared for: Ellie’s fiery boots, the wicked gleam in her fae eyes, that sinister smile…all traces of her elfen disguise washed away….
    “I don’t want a Glamour,” I said hurriedly. “I don’t want to pretend to be someone else. Not like her. I – I can’t.”
    Orrin looked at me