Free Let Slip The Princesses of War by David Schenck

with the girls on our plans.  We have this, um, kind of urgent mission thing, but maybe we can make some time for tea.  Come on Ben.”  But Ben was otherwise occupied. 
    I re-entered the Tent.
    “Well,” Asked Cinderella.  “Who is he?”
    “He is.” I stopped and couldn’t help smiling remembering the friendly old man rubbing Ben’s ears.  “He is Tom.  He’s invited us to tea.”
    “Tea?” Pea looked at me suspiciously, “Tea, like dried leaves soaked in hot water?  Or tea, like a light meal served in the afternoon?  Hot tea or tea with the queen?  It’s too early for tea in the afternoon.”
    “Well, IF we go for tea, either way it will be tea with the queen.” I put a hand on my head and spun myself in a way that, for some reason, conveys my queenly status.  “Anyway, I don’t know. He just said tea.  So, what do you think?  Should we go tramping off in the middle of the mission for tea with Tom?”
    “What do you think?” Asked Cindy.  “You met him.”
    “Well, he seemed, I don’t know, friendly.  And Ben likes him.”
    Pea said, “Oh, well if Ben likes him, let’s go.”
    I looked for a sign of sarcasm on her face, but found none. 
    “Ok, let’s” added Cinderella.
    Emily nodded her agreement. 
    “Really?” I asked. 
    “Look, if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when you are on a quest you’ve got to follow the story where it leads.  No use fighting it.” Pea hefted her bottle for emphasis.
    Tom and Ben were playing some inscrutable game that involved a stick and a ball (where did the ball come from?) when we came out of the tent.
    “Tom, I’d like to introduce you to Their Highnesses the Princesses Sweet Pea and Cinderella.  And this is Emily.”
    Tom bowed his head low over each hand in turn “I am most grateful that you have agreed to join me for a little tea.”
    “Thank you kind sir for your most gracious invitation.” Replied Cinderella, who was always better at courtesy and such.
    Cinderella closed up the tent and was about to put the acorn into her pocket when Tom asked, “Excuse me, but might I see that before you put it away?”
    I could tell that Cindy wanted to say no.  But there was just something so damn friendly about Tom, that she handed it over. 
    He examined it for a moment.  “Pretty thing.” He spun it in the palm of his hand, like a top, then threw it high in the air and it vanished!  Cinderella had her sword half drawn, before Tom, laughing, opened his hand to reveal the acorn safe and sound. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.  This is Mab’s work, if I’m not mistaken.”  He handed the acorn back to Cinderella
    Cinderella re-sheathed her sword and nodded.  “Yes. Do you know my fairy godmother?”
    Old Tom laughed.  “Know her?  Why, I’m her godfather.  Feels like just yesterday when I held her by her squirming feet, suspended over the vat of molten fire, while her mortality burned away.  Oh, what a party!  Still, I don’t suppose she remembers.  She never mentioned me?  Old Tom?”
    She shook her head.  “No, sorry, I don’t think she ever has.  Although Fairy Godmother isn’t much of a conversationalist. It’s mostly lights and fairy dust and wand waving and, well, gifts.”
    “Ah, no matter, still it would be nice to be remembered, at least talked about, even if nobody visits.  But the important thing is that you’re all here now!  Shall we your highnesses?” He bowed and motioned us forward.
    Emily tugged at his sleeve to catch his attention.  “I’m not a highness,” Emily said, “I’m just a girl.”
    Tom reached down and lifted her onto his shoulders.  He looked so thin and old I thought he would break, but he bore her weight like it was nothing.
    “Just a girl?  Well, just a girl is a fine thing to be!  I remember when I was just a girl a long while ago.”
    “Don’t you mean just a boy?” Asked Emily.
    “Oh, that too!  Anyway, when I was just a girl, it was one of