By Susan Lyttek
“Seriously? That’s what you’re gifting me?” I rolled my eyes at Amelia.
“What do you mean? It’s a good gift. It’ll keep you alive, right? So we can stay friends. I was worried being a fairy would change things, but if I’m your fairy…”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. It’s just not what I was expecting.” I looked over at my best friend. Since she’d been designated a fairy godmother, her feet rarely touched the ground—literally. Now if she could only learn how to fly in the right direction.
“Do you know how dangerous it is to be a princess? Just last week one of the other fairy godmothers lost hers when the girl got too close to a spindle. Who even keeps spindles anymore? They’re useless. I mean, if you have the option of magic clothes or the mall, your clothing needs are covered, right?”
I nodded, just to confirm I was paying some attention. Amelia could keep a running commentary going for quite a while.
“And did you see how many princesses there are at this gifting? At least thirty in our class. There’s what, a dozen princes? How are all those princesses going to find positions?”
I snorted. “With the beauty you could’ve given me?”
Amelia waved away my comment so assertively she spun, arms flailing until one elbow managed to snag an oak. She turned so green the tree almost camouflaged her.
I smiled. Served her right. She hugged the trunk until the dizziness faded from her eyes. Finally, clearing her throat, she continued. “Beauty wouldn’t have done a thing. The girl with the spindle received beauty. That girl from last year who’s still in the glass casket received beauty, too. All beauty does is catch the attention of a sorcerer or some dweeb of a prince.” She pushed off the tree. When her feet actually touched the earth in front of mine, I knew she was serious. “Trudy, I’ve looked at your options. I ran your compatibility tests. Face it, to make it as a sweet princess, you’d need a lot more than one wish.”
“Ouch.” Only a best friend could say something like that and get away with it. Even so, my hand clenched.
“See?” she said, pointing to my fist. “You can’t help yourself.”
I straightened out my fingers and smoothed my skirt. It was already streaked with sweat marks from where I’d done that before. Deep breaths, Trudy. Once calmer, I caught something she’d said. “Did you say compatibility tests? Does that mean I’m compatible with someone? Or someones?”
Amelia kicked the dirt with a satin slipper. “Someone.”
“Who, Aims? With the gift you gave me, you owe me some hope.”
“Prince Mbmumbleee.” The name garbled as she turned her head away from me to look at the clouds.
“A prince? That’s good, right? Which one?”
“Corduroy.”
Uh-oh. The half-bear, half-human prince. People were always saying he ate their chickens or plowed through their crops. And those were the people who liked him. The Magic Bureau out-and-out hated him ever since he started lobbying for students to study and pursue the gifts of their own choice. You had to admire his guts. “I’m compatible with him?”
She nodded.
“The guy getting all the death threats?”
Amelia nodded again. “He issued this last week.” She pulled a flyer out of her satchel and handed it to me. “Wanted: Food Taster. Must be experienced with poison of all sorts. Bring reference. Apply at the Blue Castle between 9 and 2 weekdays.”
Today was Tuesday. “I might as well apply for a job.” I looked over at my hovering best friend. “And you’re my reference?”
Twenty minutes later, at 11:00 AM sharp, I entered the Blue Castle drawing room. “Have you had many applicants?” I asked the attendant seating me.
“You’re the first.” He grumbled another word that sounded like, “Idiot.”
My fist clenched. Yep, he’d said idiot. I smoothed out my skirt.
Amelia flew about, looking at the paintings. Ostensibly. She was really testing her wings.
The far door finally opened, and daylight poured through. I’d expected a bear, but I didn’t anticipate such a handsome bear. Well-groomed fur beneath a simple crown shone like black satin, but vivid blue eyes caught me.
“Princess Gertrude?”
I gulped. “Yes.”
“And that fairy is your reference?”
“Yes.”
His intense gaze made me feel like a salmon. “I don’t have a position for an actual princess.”
“I know. I’m applying to be your taster.” I held up the want ad.
“Very well,” he said somberly, then clapped his two hairy paws together. I winced. Cymbals couldn’t be outdone by that clap. At its echo, servants wheeled in a banquet’s worth of food. He gestured to the bounty. “Much of this has been poisoned. You will tell me which ones and with what.”
I nodded. “Yes, your highness.” I started with the desserts. The cheesecake was delicious but… “Cyanide.” I moved to the torte. “Too rich, but no poison.” The cream puffs. “Dragon’s bane.” I prepared to continue around the room.
He stopped me. “You haven’t made a single mistake, yet you’re still standing.”
I pointed to Amelia. “She gifted me. I can taste poison and yet suffer no ill effects.”
He held out a furry paw, and I shook it. “The job is yours.” He handed me a goblet and picked up one for himself. “Let’s toast to your career!”
I opened my mouth and sensed a flavor in the air. I knocked the drink away before it reached his lips. “It was poisoned, Prince Corduroy. Death cap.”
He stumbled backwards, staring at the spilled goblet, then at me. “It was? I was assured…”
I heard a door open as the attendant tried to run away, but Amelia’s flying practice came in handy. She snagged the attendant by his ruff.
Corduroy smiled when she delivered the would-be assassin. Amelia winked at me, and I grinned back.
The prince glanced between us. “You’re both hired.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Looking forward to everyone’s thoughts!
Ha! Way to get creative with your fairy gift
Thanks!
I loved how you slipped in other fairy tales. Very creative with the gift. I wasn’t expecting that.
Thinking this would be a massive fairy tale world, so it would be natural that they’d all know each other. Glad I could surprise you!
Ha! This was really cute. See, it WAS a useful gift!
Absolutely! Thanks!
Aw, cool! I love how they BOTH got hired at the end. Wasn’t expecting that! I liked this story.
Didn’t think it was fair to Amelia otherwise. After all, most of it was her idea!
THIS IS PERFECT!!! XD I loved every bit of this (we need a sequel, like RIGHT NOW)
I love Princess Trudy! I will have to figure out, soon, what her next story is. Thank you for your comment and loving her almost as much as I do!
Such a fun story! And a great, unexpected twist having her be a poison taster! Great job!