A long time seemed to pass. All was silent, and Reuben uttered a gentle snore or two to aid the illusion that he slept. When he finally heard the door creak slowly open, he made sure to keep his eyes tight shut.
“He’s away with the fairies, dear sisters, just like all the rest!” came the voice of the eldest princess. There was a soft, rippling sound, as of a stream that trickled merrily down the mountain to bring freshness and life to the plains below, and Reuben knew it must be laughter. He wondered at how these princesses, outwardly so gentle, could be so hard-hearted as to condemn him and many others to death for the sake of a night’s jollity.
But one dissenting voice was heard, and from the wistful, childish sound of it, Reuben guessed that it was the king’s youngest daughter who spo
