Always Be Appreciative of Opposable Thumbs

Chapter Eighteen: A Contagious Type of Magic

 A large window in the room where Lana had left Hugo and Willow overlooked the rolling green hills of the castle grounds. The vastness of the property was astounding. Hugo couldn't believe that the princess thought her home was small. If that were so, he couldn't imagine what other castles were like.

Someone knocked at the door. "Come in," Hugo said.

The door creaked open, and a servant entered. "If you'd like to change into these dry clothes, sir, I will take care of your soiled ones," she said as she placed a pile of neatly folded garments on the large bed where Willow sat.

"Thank you very much."

She gave a curtsey and took her leave. As soon as the door closed, Hugo looked through the clothes she had left. They were made of the softest material he had ever felt, and the beautiful stitching suggested someone with great skill had sewn them.

"I'm almost afraid to put these on for fear of dirtying them up," he said to Willow.

I think any dirt probably got washed away by that wave.

"Good point." He glanced over at her and raised his eyebrows. "Ah, do you—"

Oh, right.

Using her beak, she burrowed under the quilt that was laid out on the bed, curling up and becoming a lump in the center. A soft smile tugged at Hugo's lips as he took off his soaked shirt.

So do you think Lana is a real princess? Or is she a princess like Sera is a princess?

He pulled the new shirt on and smoothed it out before losing his trousers. "The castle is kind of a dead giveaway."

Right, but, I mean, what if she's like a witch who stole the castle from the real princess? Willow gasped, and the lump under the quilt moved as she raised her head. What if the sea serpent is the actual princess and the witch is trying to kill her so she can have her kingdom?

With his belt cinched securely around his waist, Hugo took one look at his reflection in the standing mirror and approached the bed. He threw back the covers and smiled as Willow looked up at him with wide eyes. Or as wide as a goose's eyes could get.

"Do you think she might be a witch?" he asked as he sat beside her.

Well, no. She actually seems like a really nice person. I'm just trying not to be so naïve. I know it's gotten us into trouble before.

"Well, so far Jyoji has proven to be a pretty good guy. And Sera . . ." He winced as he tried to think of something nice to say about the fiery vixen. "Sera has been useful on a few occasions. She got us away from that crazy old woman. And she did procure a mule to speed up our journey."

I just feel like maybe I shouldn't be so trusting of people.

"Willow, I like that you think the best of everyone. It forces me to give people a chance. If you hadn't been there when we found Sera in our field, do you think I would have agreed to come on this journey?"

Your cart might still be in one piece if that had been the case.

"Not likely. And if you hadn't wanted to help her, we wouldn't be on our way to granting your wish."

And yours.

Hugo furrowed his brow. "Mine?"

Yes, yours. The Fairy will grant your wish, too.

A wish? His wish? Heat rose in his face, and his stomach twisted and flipped, like there were butterflies crashing about inside of it. Swallowing a knot in his throat, he fingered the edge of the quilt just inches away from Willow's wing. He had the urge to reach out and take it but realized how awkward it would be to try and hold a goose's wing.