Stray by Elissa Sussman Page B

particular fondness for it, as she did for all tragic and beautiful tales.
    According to the story, they had been a handsome couple, deeply in love, deeply happy. Queen Morganne had been the youngest of several girls, all of whom had once been very close. But as they grew older, it was clear that while Linnea’s mother was finding her ever after, her eldest sister was straying further and further from the Path, pulled by dark jealousy for her youngest sibling. When Morganne married, Josetta began to show her true side—her cursed side—and King Dominick refused to welcome her into his home, even when his daughter was born.
    Furious at being excluded, Josetta used magic to get past the guards, with the intent of stealing the infant and raising Linnea away from the Path. When Morganne refused to give her up, the queen was brutally murdered. Before Josetta and her huntsmen could abduct the child, however, the king intercepted them. It was only through magic that Josetta had managed to escape, fleeing to her wicked kingdom.
    The poor king died soon after, his heart broken.
    â€œI’ve heard that your mother was beautiful and your father very devoted to her,” Aislynn offered.
    â€œIs that all?” It was clear now that Linnea was testing her new fairy godmother, and it seemed as if Aislynn had failed. “I think you’re lying. They’ve told you everything, haven’t they?” Linnea sniffed and began to turn away.
    â€œNo,” Aislynn said, surprising herself. “Truth and honesty, they didn’t tell me you were so short.” She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth.
    The room was quiet, and then, to Aislynn’s surprise, the monarch princess let out a snort, which grew into a full laugh. Aislynn felt a flicker of warmth at the sound, but it quickly faded, swallowed by the chill that had spread through her. She curled her cold hands into fists.
    When the giggles subsided, Linnea, with a genuine smile on her face, waved a hand toward the dresser. “Well then, hand me my hair ribbons, won’t you?”
    â€œYes, Your Majesty.” Caught in the reflection of Linnea’s mirror, Aislynn saw herself for the first time that day. She was barely recognizable, swathed entirely in purple, with only a tiny triangle of her face showing. And in that triangle was a pair of huge brown eyes. Aislynn expected them to look different, dulled somehow, but they didn’t. They looked as they always did. Lost and a little sad.
    â€œYou should be an excellent source of advice when it comes to these parties I’m going to be attending.” Linnea’s voice startled Aislynn out of her thoughts. “You’ve been to a few, haven’t you?”
    Aislynn looked away from the mirror. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
    Brigid had begun to tie Linnea’s curls into ribboned pigtails, making her look even younger. “I’ll need you to tell me all about them.” Eagerness lit the monarch princess’s eyes. “Every single detail you can remember. I want to be as prepared as possible. Let’s begin with the decorations.”
    Aislynn smiled, remembering that she had demanded the same of her parents after each party they attended. But she also knew that there were no proper words to describe how it had felt to walk into a ballroom for the first time, how her heart had felt like a candle flame, shimmering and bright. How she could never remember anything about that first party except the way the punch had tasted—fresh and sweet—and how no punch had ever tasted that good again. She was still unsure of what she would say when she was interrupted by the sound of the first bell.
    â€œWell, I suppose we’ll have to discuss it another time,” the monarch princess said sadly. Turning back to examine her hair in the mirror, she gave a sigh too great for someone of her beauty and wealth, but just right for a girl waiting for her first ball.

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