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smartly and galloped backinto the trees, the other four following behind.
    I carried my basket far into the woods, thinking about the soldier and Aurelia, and picking up the occasional walnut and hazelnut along the way. At noontime, I sat beside a brook to eat my bread and cheese, and then I lay relishing the warmth of the autumn sun and looking up at the brilliant blue of the sky, a blue as clear as Akila’s eyes. And I must have fallen asleep, for I dreamed a terrible dream.
    A storm had come unexpected upon the palace, and my sisters were out in their boats, three pretty rowboats painted pastel yellow, green, and blue. The sky above the lake was black with clouds, and the lake was black too, its waters whipped into waves that lashed the sides of the boats as the girls clutched one another and shrieked in fear. As I watched in my dream, powerless to move, a great waterspout formed behind the boats, whirling and whirling the lake water upward, and one by one the boats were swept into it, splintering apart from the force of the spinning winds. I could do nothing but point wordlessly in horror as my sisters were drawn upward to their certain deaths. A moment after the boats had disappeared, the winds died, the waterspout disappeared, and the clouds parted, showing the sky as blue as blue could be. There was no sign of the storm, and no signof my sisters. I began to scream and scream, and woke still screaming.
    Darkness was coming on, and the clear sky had turned gray, with clouds spitting out a cold rain. I pulled my shawl around me and stood, still confused by my deep sleep and fearsome dream. I thought I heard shouts, and then realized there was indeed someone calling my name.
    â€œZita! Is that you? Are you all right?” It was a voice I did not recognize, nor did I recognize the boy who came crashing into my clearing a moment later.
    â€œWas that you shouting?” he demanded. “Are you hurt?”
    I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus. “Who are you?” I asked.
    â€œBreckin. I’m the new stableboy. Cook sent me to look for you—she was getting worried.”
    â€œWhat kind of name is Breckin?” I said crossly, my head heavy with sleep.
    He laughed. “It means ‘freckled,’” he said. “I came out of the womb like this.”
    I looked at him. Freckled he was indeed—his face and hands, all I could see of his skin, were speckled with orange. It gave him a friendly look, somehow. I smiled at him.
    â€œI fell asleep,” I told him. “I had a bad dream, and Ithink I must have yelled. But I’m fine.”
    â€œWell, you won’t be for long if we don’t get back!” Breckin said. “There’s a storm coming on, and you know the wolves are out this time of year.”
    I had never seen a wolf, and knew no such thing, but the cold breeze made me shiver and I could see the wisdom in his words. I picked up my basket. Breckin tried to take it from me, but I kept a good hold on it.
    â€œI can carry it!” I said. He shrugged.
    â€œDoesn’t look like you got much, anyway,” he said. “Cook won’t like that!”
    I started back along the path through the trees. “I’m not afraid of Cook.”
    â€œReally?” Breckin drew even with me. “Why not? I hear she’s got a quick hand with the switch! Everyone’s afraid of her.”
    I snorted. “Cook’s harmless. That switch just whistles through the air—it never actually hits anything. She’s all talk. Besides, she wouldn’t dare hit me.”
    Breckin raised an eyebrow. “She wouldn’t dare? Why’s that? Have you some special power over her? Are you a witch, perhaps?”
    â€œHush!” I said swiftly. I turned around in a circle and spat over my shoulder to ward off evil. “Don’t say that—even in jest. Of course I’m not a witch. I’m a princess.”
    Breckin hooted, and suddenly I