The Bravest Princess by E. D. Baker Read Free Book Online

the cookbook she’d found in Granny’s cottage. “She told me a few minutes ago that she’d really like a carrot.”
    â€œThen you’re in luck!” Captain Sterling told the old woman. “I think we might be able to find one in the basket.”
    When Granny looked confused, it occurred to Annie that she didn’t remember what she’d said.
    Annie was happy to get out of the carriage when they arrived at the stream. While Liam went to checkon their horses, Annie listened to Granny Bentbone complain that she was stiff and needed to stretch her legs, too. Horace helped the old woman out, and four other guards walked her across the road and back. Liam came to escort Annie to the stream, and they went down to the edge together. Fresh and clean, the water was the purest Annie had ever tasted. After drinking her fill, she splashed some on her face, then sat back to watch Liam scoop water onto his face and the back of his neck.
    He shook his head, sending droplets flying. “I needed that,” he said, wiping trickling water from his forehead. “Maybe I’ll be able to stay awake now.”
    â€œWhy are you so tired?” asked Annie. “I thought we could talk when Granny Bentbone fell asleep, but you slept as much as she did.”
    â€œI was up half the night looking for the person who tried to kill you,” he said. Running his fingers through his hair, he smoothed it back from his face. “I must have talked to half the people in the castle, but nobody could tell me a thing.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me?” asked Annie. “I could have helped you.”
    â€œAnd what if I’d found the one who did it?” Liam replied. “I wasn’t about to bring you two together so your would-be killer could have another chance.”
    â€œSo now you’re keeping things from me?”
    â€œOnly what you’re better off not knowing,” said Liam.
    A shadow flashed across the water, and they both looked up. Two crows were there, circling overhead. They settled in the branches of a neighboring tree, their eyes never leaving Annie. “I think I’ll eat in the carriage,” she told Liam. “I’d like to get on our way as soon as we can.”
    â€œFine with me,” he said, turning to look up at the crows. “Does your desire to leave so soon have anything to do with those birds?”
    Annie shrugged. “I just don’t like the way they’re looking at me.”
    â€œI was going to ask if you wanted to ride horseback now. There aren’t any more villages between here and the tower, so we won’t have to worry about Granny’s magic luring children. However, if you’re concerned about those crows, I suppose you’d rather ride in the carriage.”
    â€œI would, at least for now. You don’t mind, do you?”
    â€œNo,” said Liam. “It’s fine as long as you don’t try to talk me into riding in the carriage with you. I can’t sit in that little box with that old witch for another minute. It felt like I was suffocating in there. Too bad we didn’t bring another carriage so you wouldn’t have to share one with Granny Bentbone. Maybe the fresh air will help me think, and I’ll be able to come up with a way to get rid of those scary old crows for you.”
    â€œI didn’t mean—” Annie began, but she wasn’t sure what she’d meant, so she let Liam walk away as sheclimbed back into the carriage with some bread and cheese and an apple. She wasn’t
afraid
of the crows—or was she? They did make her nervous, and Granny Bentbone’s talk of evil witches had set her on edge, but was she really afraid of a couple of birds? Liam didn’t seem to think she needed to worry about them. In fact, he’d acted as if she was silly to let them scare her. If she was scared, that is.
    A few minutes later, two of the guards brought