Princess in Disguise by E. D. Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

steps. He was there, right where she had left him. “And my name is Seth, remember?”
    â€œUh, right. Sorry, Seth,” Liam said with a grin.
    Annie noticed that while he was covered with the sticky fog, none of it had touched her. “Hold my hand and don’t let go,” she told him. “We need to get to the forest.”
    â€œThe fog will probably be there, too,” said Liam, his words normal now that he was in contact with Annie.
    â€œI know, but at least we’ll be able to hide there when the fog disappears.”
    Walking hand in hand, they began moving toward the forest. Although Annie doubted anyone could see the light, she still felt better when they finally reached the trees. She was familiar with the woods around the castle, having explored them as a child and again with Liam when they needed to get away from everyone. Shortly after entering the forest, she figured out where they were and led the way to the road. The fog was so thick that they could walk beside the road without being seen by riders.
    When they finally stopped to rest beside a stream, Liam handed Annie the torch and stepped into the water, staying within the fog-free circle that surrounded her. “I’m going to rinse this gunk off,” he said. “I can’t stand the smell much longer. And I hate that you have to hold my hand so I can walk and talk normally. I’d rather hold your hand because I want to, not because I have to. Would you mind sitting right there so I can see what’s around me?” He pointed at a rock by the edge of the water.
    Annie sat down and leaned over to inspect her boot. One of the fangs had broken off in the leather when Liam had pulled the snake free. Shuddering, she looked away, and her eye caught movement in the fog. Holdingthe torch higher, she tried to see it again, but it was no longer there. All she was left with was the impression of two bright green circles looking out at her from the swirling, drifting fog.
    â€œUh, Ruben, are you almost ready to go?” she asked.
    â€œJust a minute,” Liam said, dunking his head in the water to scrub the foggy goo out of his hair. When he stood again, he shook his head, sending droplets flying everywhere. Some reached Annie, but the two green circles were back and she was watching them draw closer. She thought they were eyes, but had no idea what kind of creature had eyes like those.
    Liam climbed out of the stream and took Annie’s hand again. “I think we have company,” she whispered.
    Turning to see what she was looking at, he frowned and bent down. “I can take care of that,” he said, picking up a rock.
    The eyes seemed to be watching him as he pulled back his arm and threw the rock between them. Suddenly, the eyes separated, moving farther apart. Annie gasped. Maybe they weren’t eyes after all. When the green circles didn’t leave, Liam picked up another rock and chucked it directly at the circle on the right. It disappeared as if a light had gone out. As Liam took aim again, the second circle darted out of sight.
    â€œWhat do you think they were?” asked Annie.
    â€œHeck if I know,” said Liam. “But I didn’t like the way they were watching us.”
    They started walking again then, although Annie kept looking back to see if the green circles had returned. “You mentioned getting horses,” she said after a while. “How are we going to do that? We’re past Shelterhome and we don’t dare go there anyway. There are bound to be enemy soldiers in the town. But I don’t know of any stables in this direction.”
    â€œI wasn’t planning to visit a stable,” Liam said, scratching his neck. “There are plenty of farms around and I’m sure some of them have horses.”
    â€œI do recall seeing horses in a field a few miles from here,” said Annie.
    â€œThen lead the way,” Liam replied.
    They were more than