Unlocking the Spell by E. D. Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

what brings you to Treecrest?” asked Annie.
    â€œWe have heard that the princess of Treecrest is finally free of her curse,” Puss hurried to say. “As the most beautiful princess in the world, she will make the ideal bride for the Marquis.”
    â€œWe’re on our way there so I can win her heart,” said the young man.
    Annie struggled not to laugh. “I’ve heard that she’s already taken.”
    â€œReally?” squeaked the Marquis, making Annie wonder just how old he was if his voice was still changing.
    â€œAbout Carabas…,” Liam began.
    â€œIt is time for us to go,” the cat said to the young man.
    â€œIt was nice meeting you,” the Marquis told Annie and Liam.
    â€œNow!” said the cat as he jumped off his chair.
    Rose Red appeared in the door, carrying two steaming bowls of stew, and had to step aside as the young man and his cat hurried past. “I’m glad I had them pay before I brought their supper,” she said, setting the bowls on Annie and Liam’s table. “That cat looked shifty to me. So, are you staying for a while or are you waiting for the next trip across on the ferry?” she asked Liam, still acting as if Annie weren’t there.
    â€œActually,” said Liam, “we came to talk to you. Or at least a friend of ours did. You do remember Beldegard, don’t you?”
    â€œBeldegard?” she said, looking puzzled. “I don’t know any man by that name.”
    â€œHe isn’t a man exactly,” Annie said. “He’s a bear who used to be a man. A prince really, but then you probably know that.”
    Rose Red’s eyes widened. “I know he used to say he was a prince, but he really is? Ah, well, that’s neither here nor there. What good is he if he’s still just a bear?”
    â€œWe’re on a quest to get him turned back,” Liam told her. “If all goes well, he won’t be a bear for much longer.”
    â€œAnd he’s here, you say?” said Rose Red with a spark in her eye.
    Liam nodded. “We’ll take you to him as soon as you bring us that cooked fish and bread we asked for. He’s hungry, too.”
    â€œI’ll be right back,” said Rose Red, and hurried from the room.
    â€œI think she’s eager to see him,” Liam said.
    â€œIndeed,” replied Annie. “Now that she knows he really is a prince and has a chance of becoming a man again. We’d better eat fast. I don’t think she’ll want to wait for us to finish.”

    â€œBeldegard!” Rose Red exclaimed as if he were the most important person in the world. With a cry of delight, she ran to the bear and hugged him, shoving Gwendolyn out of the way.
    â€œPardon me!” said the princess, but Rose Red kept hugging the bear prince, who didn’t seem to mind.
    â€œI wish you’d greet me like that,” Liam whispered to Annie.
    â€œGet turned into a bear and I will,” she murmured back.
    â€œBeldegard!” Gwendolyn wailed when it looked as if Rose Red would never let go.
    The bear prince grunted. “Uh, you’re making it hard for me to breathe,” he told Rose Red, who dropped her arms and stepped aside to look at him.
    â€œI’m so glad you came to see me, Beldy,” she told him. “I’ve missed you so much. Why did you ever leave me?”
    â€œBeldy?” said Gwendolyn. “She actually calls you that?”
    Beldegard sat up a little straighter. “You got a boyfriend, remember?”
    â€œBut Yardley ran off without a word!” Rose Red cried. “Can you imagine? And after he was gone I realized how much I loved you and I didn’t know how to find you.”
    â€œHe’s been busy,” Gwendolyn snapped at her. “Tell her why we’re here,” she said to Beldegard.
    â€œOh, right. We’re looking for the dwarf who turned me into a bear. You remember, I told you