Free The Bravest Princess by E. D. Baker

protective arm around the princess, he glared at the queen and said, “Get away from her, Mother!”
    â€œDo you honestly think I’d tell you about it if I were actually going to accept the witch’s offer?” the queen said, sounding scornful. “I came here right away to tell you about it, Montague. I’m not the monster you think I am. You have to see that now.”
    â€œPerhaps,” said the king. “Do you know this Terobella?”
    The queen shook her head. “No, but I assume that she’s a witch if she can control all those crows.”
    â€œPerhaps,” said the king. “You may return to the tower. I’ll discuss this with you later.”
    The queen inclined her head and swept from the room, casting an exultant look at Liam as she went.
    â€œThe only reason she told me is that she hopes to get in my good graces,” said the king. “That woman doesn’t do anything unless she thinks it’s to her advantage. She’d probably accept the offer if she thought she could trust the witch to keep her promise, but your mother doesn’t trust anyone. Well, son, I think you have a real problem on your hands. Whoever this Terobella is, she’s obviously strong if she can control all those birds.It might be better if you and Annabelle stayed with me until we’ve found out more about this witch. At least you’re protected here.”
    â€œI can’t stay,” said Annie. “I need to get to Helmswood and my friend Snow White as soon as possible.”
    â€œWho do you suppose this witch Terobella is?” said Liam.
    Annie shrugged. “We’ve met lots of witches, but none named Terobella. I do think I’ve heard it before, though; I just don’t remember where. What I want to know is why someone whom I’ve never met wants to hurt me.”
    â€œThat’s a very good question,” said Liam.
    â€œDo you have any enemies? Do you know if anyone hates you?” the king asked Annie.
    â€œIt never occurred to me that I might have enemies, but I’m sure there are lots of people who don’t like me. There are all the princes who wanted to marry Gwendolyn, then found out they couldn’t because I’d helped Beldegard turn back into a human.”
    â€œNone of them seemed angry about it, just disappointed,” said Liam. “What about the fairies Voracia and Sweetness and Light? I can guarantee that neither of them likes you.”
    â€œThat’s true, but why would they get a witch to help them? If they mean me harm, they would handle it themselves.”
    â€œAnd then there’s the dwarf named Cragery, and Snow White’s stepmother.”
    â€œBut Cragery is a squirrel now, and Queen Marissa is locked in her husband’s dungeon,” said Annie. “Even if they were able to cause trouble, I doubt very much that either one could control a flock of crows.”
    â€œRegardless of who it is, the most important thing now is to keep you safe,” Liam told her. “We should probably stay here as my father suggested, but”—he held up his hand when she began to protest—“I know you, and you’d never agree to that. We’ll just have to take the carriage. I know we were looking forward to riding together, but you’ll be safer in the carriage than on horseback. The crows won’t be able to reach you in there, not with the bars on the windows.”
    â€œI suppose,” said Annie. “Although the bars make it feel more like a dungeon cell. At least I won’t have to listen to Granny Bentbone ask about my hair.”

Chapter 7
    The flock of crows started following them the moment they entered the forest. Annie didn’t like riding in the carriage, but she was grateful for the bars on the windows when the crows landed on the roof and began pecking. Some well-placed arrows chased them off, leaving dead crows littering the forest floor.
    The