Page 59 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“The girl from the village,” Nicholas said.

“Eh! Are ye goin’ to let me out, too?” someone called from one of the cells.

“No!” Noella shouted, then to Ella, “Perhaps if we had more time, dear, we could do that. For now, we must make haste.”

Without waiting for an answer, Noella hurried down to the cell with the girl in it. She used her wand to open the cell door and then waited. There was no movement.

“You’re safe now, dearest. We’re going to take you home.” She waved for the girl to come out of the cell.

When there was still no movement, Noella huffed. Her wand disappeared back into the air, then she put her hands on her hips once more.

“We must go, little one.”

Still nothing.

“Let me try,” Ella said as she stepped around Noella into the doorway of the cell.

She looked into the cell to see a scared young girl huddled against the far wall. Her clothes were torn and dirty. The cell smelled awful. Her face was dirty, her eyes were round with fear. She had two long braids, one over each shoulder.

“Hi,” Ella said, her voice soft. “You’re Ingrid, right?”

The girl considered whether or not to answer, then finally nodded.

“I’m Ella,” she said. “I know your grandmother, Agnes. She helped me when I was lost.” Ella took a tentative step inside the cell.

Some of the tension in Ingrid’s body dissipated.

“She told me all about you,” Ella continued.

“She…did?” A soft mewl from the girl.

Ella nodded. “Yes. You’re thirteen. And you have a sister. And your father is the apothecary in the village.”

Ingrid straightened a little as she nodded again.

“My friends and I have come to take you home,” Ella said. “This is Nicholas.” She waved for him to come into the cell.

He stepped to Ella’s side and gave a small wave. “Hello.”

“And this is Noella.” Ella stepped a little closer and said in a rough pretend-whisper, “She’s my fairy godmother.”

That got her attention. “Your fairy godmother?”

Behind her, Noella huffed. Nicholas shushed her with a slash of his hand.

Ella held her hand out to Ingrid. “Yes, and she’s going to help us get out of here. And then we’ll take you home.”

“You promise?”

“Promise.”

Ingrid reached for her hand, sliding it into Ella’s. The girl’s hand was cold as she took it and a pang of concern went through her. Ingrid had no cloak but at least she still had on her wool dress and boots. Ella pulled her to her, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.

“Let’s go,” Noella said.

She charged down the corridor heading for the gate. Seconds later, she had it open, too. She pulled it open and stepped aside. Ella and Ingrid were first followed by Nicholas who turned to face Noella.

“Are you coming?” he asked, concern lining his face.

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