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I,” said Edward, turning white ashe eyed the magic carpet.
    Before they left, Tansy asked her mother for a bolt of gauzy white fabric the queen had been saving to make curtains. “What do you want it for?” Queen Charlotte asked as she handed it to Tansy.
    â€œI’ll explain later,” Tansy said hurriedly.
    â€œBe careful, and come home safely!” the queen called to them as they ran outside. The princesses, along with Edward and James, climbed onto the carpet and rose into the sky.
    Night had fallen, but the moon was almost full, casting a glow that lit their way. Clutching the bolt of fabric, Tansy anxiously scanned the forest and meadows below for signs of horses and men. But she couldn’t see any torches gleaming among the trees, and she couldn’t hear voices, or hooves beating the ground.
    â€œWhere could they be?” Elena finally asked, voicing the question on all of their minds.
    When at last they reached the well, there was still no sign of the men or their horses. The ogress’s shack stood a short distance away, seemingly untouched. Tansy sighed with relief. Perhaps her father and the villagers had decided not to harm the ogress after all. Seeing the statues gone, they might have realized the young men had been set free. Or perhaps they’d even met up with a few of them returning home and learned the story of their release. If so, King Albert and his men might be headed back to the castle this very minute.
    â€œI guess they’re not here,” said Lysandra. “Do you think we should wait, just in case we missed them somehow?”
    Everyone started talking at once. Suddenly Edward held a finger to his lips. “Shh,” hewhispered. “I think I hear something.”
    They all grew quiet. For a minute the only sounds were the wind in the trees and the flapping of bats’ wings. But then Tansy heard something else—the soft whinny of a horse. Glancing at the others, she knew they’d heard it too. All at once bright orange flames shot up from the roof of the shack, and a group of riders—bursting from behind the ogress’s home—galloped away.

10
Fire!
    H ORRIFIED, T ANSY WATCHED AS FLAMES spread from the roof of the shack down the sides. “Halt!” shouted Edward as the riders thundered up to the well. They stopped abruptly, their horses rearing up in confusion.
    â€œEdward?” King Albert’s eyes darted from him to James to the princesses. “We thought the ogre had killed you all! What happened?How did you escape?”
    Tansy tugged at Edward’s sleeve. “If we don’t act fast, the ogress and her daughter will be burned alive!”
    â€œYou’re right!” Edward exclaimed. “We’ve got to save them and put out the fire!”
    King Albert frowned. “Ogress? Daughter?”
    â€œAsk James,” Tansy said. Tearing two strips from the bolt of gauzy fabric, she threw one to Edward, then tied the other around her own eyes. “Here,” she said, tossing the bolt to Elena.
    With Jonah’s help, Elena made sure everyone had a blindfold so they could face the ogress without turning to stone. After they were all fitted, they formed a line behind Fatima. She was already at the well, hauling up buckets of water to throw on the fire.
    Meanwhile, Tansy and Edward racedtoward the burning shack. As Edward forced open the door, Tansy pulled out her flute and began to play. Flames licked the wooden house. Tansy wiped sweat from her forehead. When the door was finally open, smoke rolled out and Edward disappeared inside. Tansy heard a loud roar as the ogress awoke.

    Don’t be alarmed, Edward thought. We’re here to help you.
    I smell smoke, thought the ogress.
    It’s a fire! thought Edward. You must get out quickly!
    Seconds later the ogress and her daughter crawled from the shack, coughing. They werefollowed by Edward. He sprawled on the ground, gasping for