Chapter 24
For the rest of that day and all the next, Cinder’s stepfamily demanded much of the fairy. They each tried countless hair styles, different-colored jewels and hundreds of shoes, for they all had a competitive shoe fetish. Their only regret was that they could only wear one pair of shoes for the princes’ ball.
All this preoccupation let Cinder sneak off in the afternoon to train with Silver. Silver had been heartsick ever since her granddaughter was taken. But she continued to sell her flowers at the market, and they still trained.
“Do you wish to go to the ball?” asked Silver as she whacked a long stick at Cinder.
Cinder blocked Silver with her own stick.
“That’s like asking if I want a feast for dinner. There’s no chance of it, so why think about it?”
She stabbed at Silve
