Page 23 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

All those in the square stopped their activity. Ella turned to see a man standing in front of the huge Christmas tree. He was dressed in an emerald green jacket with gold buttons, black boots and a thick cloak.

“As mayor of Rovenheim,” the man said, raising his voice so all heard him, “I have come to the difficult decision to cancel tonight’s festivities in light of recent events.”

A few gasps rippled through the crowd. Nearby, someone sniffled.

“I have also decided there will be a strict curfew for all residents at dusk for the remainder of the season,” he said. “Please make sure you get your shopping done and are home before then.”

Ella’s brows drew together as she wondered what events occurred to cause the mayor to cancel the celebration and enact a curfew. As she pondered that, a woman brushed by her in a rush.

“Pardon me, my lady,” she said on a breath and continued on in her haste.

“It’s all right, but, please, before you go.” Ella hurried after her, doing her best to keep up. “What event was the mayor referring to?”

The woman cut her a shocked glance. “Why, what happened last night, o’course.”

“What happened? I only just arrived,” Ella explained.

She stopped and turned to her, grasping her shoulder and leaning in. “A young girl was taken from the village by the queen.”

Ella blinked surprise. “The queen?”

“The apothecary’s daughter,” she said, her voice near a whisper. “Something about slippers.” She glanced around as if worried someone overheard.

The apothecary’s daughter. Her heart clawed its way to her throat at the mention of that and the slippers.

“What about the slippers?” Ella asked.

The woman shrugged. “I don’t know. I have to go.” And she dashed off without waiting for a response.

Ella turned back to the shop and looked up at the closed sign. The queen had taken Agnes’s granddaughter. All because of her slippers? That didn’t make sense. Why would the queen be looking for the slippers?

Unless…

Unless the slippers were magical. She swallowed hard as she thought of the way she was whisked to the ball when she put them on. And again, when the clock struck midnight. Noella told her to remove the slippers before the last stroke of midnight.She hadn’t. They had somehow transported her to Rovenheim. If she were transported here by the slippers, then that meant no one would be able to help her.

She turned from the store, pausing to watch the village square as people went about their business. No one seemed interested in her. She stood there, lost and alone trying to figure out what to do next. A foolish idea came to her. What if she took the slippers to the queen in exchange for the girl?

She didn’t know where to find the queen, though.

How would she find out? How would she find this queen who had taken the apothecary’s daughter? And, more importantly,whowas the queen?

A quick glance around the bustling market told her she was not going to find answers here. No one paid her any mind as they went about their business. She worried her lower lip, fighting off the tears that sprang to her eyes.

When she was home with her stepmother and stepsisters, loneliness pressed through her then. At least there, she had someone who acknowledged her presence. Here, she was completely ignored and it cut her deep, isolating her.

Blinking furiously, she turned away from the shop and hurried back down the street. She hadn’t any idea where to go other than perhaps back to Agnes, but then would she be able to help her? She had her own situation to worry about with her granddaughter captured by this queen who seemed to want Ella’s slippers.

She never saw the man heading toward her until she bumped into his shoulder. She gasped, his dark coat nothing but a blur as he captured her by the upper arm.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered and tried to wrench free but he held fast.

“Ella?”

The familiar friendly voice made her snap her head up. She looked into Nicholas’s handsome face. No longer was he dressed in his formalwear. Now he wore a dark brown tunic over padded pants tucked into black boots, gloves, and a thick wool cloak. A sword was strapped to his side and she thought she saw a dagger on his hip. He was well armed and looking even more handsome in his rugged clothes. Though, she admitted, he was handsome in his formalwear, too.

Relief punched through her as she sagged against him and then, without thinking, she threw her arms around his waist and hugged him.

“Nicholas! I’m so glad to see you.” When she pulled back, she quickly swiped the tears from her eyes. “What are you…how are you here?”

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