TWENTY-TWO
The terrified girl seemed to banish her fear in a moment as she rose. "Who are you?" she demanded.
She was a princess, the seer had said, which explained her regal bearing, as well as her fine gown. Maja had nothing half so fine. Abraham promised himself that when the curse was broken, he would find a fabric merchant to sell him some rich cloth to take home as a gift for Maja.
But first he had to persuade the girl to help him, and not betray him to the king. For the king would not look kindly upon an intruder in his castle, however loyal the House of Rumpelstiltskin might be.
"Who I am matters not," Abraham said finally. "All that matters is you help me."
She edged away from him, toward the door. "You should not be here. If you wish for someone's help, you should petition
