“He can take that chance. You were at death’s door several hours ago, have you forgotten?”
I opened my mouth to protest but realized she was right. I couldn’t enter the duchess’s suite again unless I wanted to be executed on the spot. But I certainly couldn’t let Ash do it alone.
A smile crept to my lips when I thought of a solution. “I can’t go with him, but someone else can,” I said. Lana gave me a look. “Can you disguise my face like you did with my witch traits?”
“Make you look like a completely different person?” Lana shook her head. “But I know someone who can.”
Ferdinand arrived within minutes, looking as decrepit and cheery as ever with a large box in his hands. After complimenting Lana on her various household items and sturdy shelves, he set to work on me. He smeared an odd-smelling ointment on my forehead and cheeks and murmured things I didn’t understand. I hardly felt any difference when he proclaimed he was done and thrust a mirror into my hands.
“It’ll only last for a couple of hours. Whatever you must do, do it quick.”
I was too entranced by my reflection to hear much of anything else he said. A stranger stared back from the mirror. She had straw-colored hair and no freckles. Her face was longer, her lips thinner, and her nose rounder, but she had my eyes.
“Ferdinand, this is amazing! Thank you,” I said, shaking the old charmwitch’s hand profusely. He shrugged and blushed.
“This stuff entertains my grandchildren. Never thought it’d be use to anyone, but I’m mighty glad you appreciate it.” He rubbed his hands together and leaned back in his seat. “Now. I could use a cup of tea.”
A few strong words from Lana sent him out the door without tea. Barely a minute passed when Rowena and Elowyn came back. They started when they saw me, but I quickly explained to them my plan.
“I’m going to need transportation back from the palace,” I said, giving Elowyn a hopeful look. She gladly accepted, but Rowena, who did not look pleased when I told her my plans, put her hands on her hips.
“What makes you think I’m going to let you waltz into the very place you should avoid?” she said.
“I’ll be fine, Rowena. I have my disguise. Besides, with Elowyn it’ll be quick in and quick out.”
She looked like she was about to protest again, but to my surprise, Lana intervened. “She has grown, Rowena. Let her go.”
Rowena wrung her hands and sighed. “Fine. But if you land yourself in trouble again, I will personally see to your punishment.”
I beamed.
Elowyn and I took Lana’s passageway, as charmwitches were not allowed to transport above ground from Witch Village.
“I’m sorry I’m making you walk so much,” I said as we strode through the pitch-black tunnel.
She giggled. “Don’t worry about it. This is the most excitement I’ve ever had.” We walked a little longer before she spoke again. “Do you mind if...I accompany you and Prince Ash?” Her voice was hopeful, but there was a hint of sheepishness as if she expected me to say no. She was right.
“Elowyn, it’ll be dangerous. What if someone finds you?” I said. I pictured her gold-streaked hair and silver eyes. She had no reason to have a concealment spell cast on her if she never went above ground. “You don’t exactly blend in.”
She let go of a breath. “But I want to help.”
“You are helping,” I said, reaching over haphazardly to pat her head. Luckily, my hand met soft curls. “Besides, I don’t think your sister would appreciate the both of us running into danger.”
“I have an invisibility tonic from Ferdinand,” she said. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
“Elowyn...”
“Please! I’ll stay out of sight for as long as we’re in the palace. It’ll only be for a little while, until you find the duchess’s manbane.”
I held back a groan. The girl was relentless. I had to admire her for it no matter how much it irked me. Escorting Ash was perhaps her first taste of the world above ground. No doubt she insisted on following him all the way into the palace and got what she wanted. What was the harm in one more trip?
“Alright. Fine,” I said. “But you have to promise to stay invisible and do exactly as I tell you.”
Elowyn squealed and wrapped her arms around my middle. “I promise! Thank you!”
I was glad at least one of us was in a good mood. We emerged from the passageway outside palace grounds. Before I could whisper to Elowyn about sneaking past the guards, she grabbed my hand and transported us in the middle of an unfamiliar room.
I lurched forward, gasping for breath. “Elowyn! You really should warn me before—”
I stopped and stared at the indigo carpet and velvet drapes. A lavish, though untidy, double bed was in the center, elevated on a rounded platform.
“Where are we? I thought you could only transport to places you’ve been,” I said.
“Prince Ash’s room.”
I sputtered. “You followed him to his room?”
Elowyn looked at me innocently. “He said I could. He also showed me the ballroom.”
Before I could give her a lecture about the impropriety of the offer if given by anyone else in other circumstances, a door swung open and Ash himself walked out in nothing more than a pair of breeches. He stumbled back at the sight of me. “Who in the blazing fires are you?”
I was too mortified to do anything more than stare at the ground, so Elowyn answered for me. “That’s Amarante. She’s in disguise.”
“Amarante?” Ash said. He gaped at me, no doubt marveling at the effect of Ferdinand’s magic.
“What are you doing here? And why are you disguised?” He took a step closer, but I turned away.
“We’ll talk when you’re dressed,” I said as evenly as my embarrassment allowed.
“Oh! Er...I’ll be a moment.”
The door shut. I deemed
