Rapunzel, the One With All the Hair by Wendy Mass Read Free Book Online Page B

apothecary ground some herbs into a salve that I rub on every hour. Even so, Mum is insisting that I stay in bed with warm linens wrapped around my neck. I’m sure Elkin would be teasing me relentlessly had Father not recruited him for more lessons. So now he is off with MY father learning all about castle politics, giving alms to the poor, and who KNOWS what else. It is simply not fair.
    Andrew peeks his head into my room and asks, “How is the patient?”
    I grunt in reply. He enters, holding a rolled-up parchment in one hand and an old book in the other. He places the book on the night table and waves the parchment in his hand.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I ask, pushing myself up into a sitting position.
    â€œThis, sire,” he says dramatically, “is your future!” Witha flick of his wrist, he unfurls the yellowed sheet and spreads it out on the foot of my bed.
    I lean closer. “It looks like a map of the Great Forest.”
    â€œIt IS a map of the Great Forest!” he exclaims. “And with it you shall find the bandits’ cave, marked by this X!” He thrusts his finger down onto a far corner of the map.
    I groan and lie back down again. “You’re still thinking about that crazy idea? Have you forgotten about the legendary troll that makes grown knights tremble?”
    â€œI knew you’d say that,” he said, reaching for the book on the night table. “So I came prepared with this.”
    â€œWhy am I afraid to look?”
    He hands me the book and I see it is even older than I had first thought. The tooled leather that covers the oak covers is ripped in many places, and the stitching is falling apart as well. Even with my glasses on, I have to squint to read the faded gold-leaf title. Trolls: Inside and Out — A User’s Manual. I should have guessed.
    â€œNo, thank you.” I hand the book back to him. “I don’t want to know about the insides of a troll.”
    He leaves me holding it. “Just give it a quick read. It tells you their weaknesses. You could learn enough to vanquish it and save the day for all the other Benjamins out there.”
    â€œThey really could use the money,” I murmur, resting mypalm on the book. “And I would like to prove I am worthy of being named after.”
    â€œThat is the spirit!” Andrew says, clapping his hands together. “Now, how are we going to get you into the forest? To discourage bandits, your father has decreed that only the royal hunters are allowed entrance.”
    We are pondering this question when Elkin strolls in, munching on a crab apple. He eyes the map curiously, and Andrew snatches it off my bed and hastily rolls it back up.
    â€œCan I help you, Elkin?” I ask sweetly. No use being antagonistic. Bad for the soul.
    Elkin glances suspiciously at Andrew and the rolled-up parchment, but says only, “Your father wanted me to alert you that we shall be taken on our first hunt six days hence.”
    Andrew and I exchange a look and my heart leaps a little.
    â€œIF you are better, of course,” Elkin adds.
    â€œHe will be,” Andrew answers before I have a chance.

When I woke up today, the supper tray with my hidden note was gone. I hope my new friend found it. I hope I did not insult him by addressing the letter to “Little Green Creature.” If I had known his rightful name, I certainly would have used it. What if the witch found the note instead? I would lose the only ally I have. I shudder to think of what would happen to the little guy if he got caught giving me gifts. Have I put him in danger? Was I thinking only of my own needs?
    Meanwhile, my hair keeps getting longer and longer.

The hunt is in a few days and I am off to meet Andrew in the courtyard to discuss the plan. I have just finished reading the book on trolls from cover to cover and am ready for whatever I might find at the cave. Or at least I am telling myself that I am ready,