“How shall we go, my sisters? The usual way?” asked Martha, who looked a bit stricken.
“What is it now, Martha?” asked Lucinda impatiently.
“What of Ursula? We could fail to reach her in time to help with Triton. The wedding is tonight right before sunset. She will need our magic to complete the spell once she has Ariel’s soul!”
“And so she will! The Morningstar castle is very near Ursula’s realm.” Martha didn’t look relieved by Lucinda’s words. “What? Speak! I’m tired of your sullen looks, the both of you!” Lucinda had lost all patience with her sisters.
“We’re tired of choosing our words so carefully. Tired of sounding so…so…normal! Surely Circe should love us as we are!”
“Well, she doesn’t! We agreed this was the way! The longer we argue this topic, the less time we have to see to Pflanze and the sea witch! Now, please, let’s make our preparations.”
The sisters stood at the center of the room before the fireplace. The large onyx ravens seemed to be looking at them, reminding the sisters of the Dark Fairy’s warning. That terrible sense of foreboding crept into their hearts once more as they said the words that would take them to Pflanze.
“We call on the winds, the air, and the breeze! To Morningstar Castle as quick as you please!”
That spell, no matter how often they performed it, sent a dropping sensation through the odd sisters’ stomachs, as if the floor had fallen out from beneath them. Once recovered from the initial feeling of uneasiness, they rushed to the large round kitchen window to see the landscapes that lay between Ipswich and Morningstar’s realm. Traveling among the clouds, unseen by those below, never ceased to deligh
t the witches, and to think Ursula fancied their traveling by chicken feet, like that Romanian witch with the lyrical name.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her, Sister! I wonder how she fares?”
“We have far too many witches to keep track of, my dear. Right now it’s Ursula’s time. Once we settle this matter with Pflanze,” Lucinda said.
Morningstar Castle was abustle with servants preparing for the winter solstice. Tulip had decided quite at the last moment that they would go on with the festival as usual even with her mother and father away.
Nanny thought it was good to have something to occupy Tulip while she and Pflanze handled the Circe situation, though she was now having second thoughts about her decision to keep Tulip at court rather than insisting she accompany her mother on the visit to her sister’s kingdom, especially now that the odd sisters were swooping down, quite literally, at any moment upon Morningstar Castle.
Nanny was looking out the window, hoping to spy the odd sisters, when she remembered she had promised Tulip it would snow for the solstice. With a casual wave of Nanny’s hand, light, powdery snowflakes started to fall from the sky. Tulip would have her snow, and she would be occupied with receiving Prince Popinjay for tea that day. That was the real reason Nanny had decided to let Tulip stay. She wanted to give the two a chance to spend some time together. A chance to fall in love.
Prince Popinjay arrived at the castle for afternoon tea looking rather dashing. Fortunately, he seemed to have left his lute at home and had no mind to sing tunes of Tulip’s beauty during their tea. Mr. Hudson showed the young man in, directing him past the maids and footmen readying the castle for the winter solstice, to the morning room, where Tulip was waiting for him.
“Prince Popinjay is here to see you, Princess.”
“Thank you, Hudson. Can you please have Violet bring the tea?”
“Yes, right away, Princess.”
Tulip motioned to the pink satin divan, inviting him to take a seat. “Please.” She perched next to him, hardly knowing what to say. She had always been terrible at that sort of thing, making small talk. Small talk always seemed, well, small. Empty little diversions with chatter about the weather, platitudes to pass the time. But that was what ladies were expected to speak of, not of the giants that ruled the lands hundreds of years before, or the wars they fought with Oberon and the Tree Lords of the north. Those, however, were the things that inspired her, truly fascinated her, and she wanted to know what inspired him.
Violet fortunately came into the room with the tea, which further delayed Tulip’s having to make conversation.
“Thank you, Violet, you can place it there.”
Violet set the tea tray on the round table before them with a slight clatter.
“I’m so sorry, Princess!”
Tulip didn’t mind if those cups became chipped. In fact, she’d like to toss them into the sea. It was her least favorite set, because its pink flower pattern reminded her of the Beast prince. She would have to remember to have Violet set out the black-and-silver set the next day for the solstice.
“Not to worry, Violet, that will be all. I will pour.” With slightly trembling hands, Tulip poured some tea for the prince. “How do you take it?” she asked.
“With cream and sugar, please, my lady,” croaked Prince Popinjay.
She handed him the cup, set upon the matching saucer, willing her hands not to shake and herself to say something. Anything!
“My mother was sorry she couldn’t be here to receive you. She is away visiting her sister Queen Leah.”
Prince Popinjay was staring at the contents of his cup, too bashful to meet Tulip’s gaze and too afraid to speak, should his voice crack again. It seemed Tulip wasn’t alone in her nervousness or distaste for small talk.