Fabled Read Online Free PDF Page B

really young.” The statement was more of a question.
    “Who told you that?” She sent a suspicious look my way but then decidedly dismissed it. “No. You’re right, but our physical abilities will never be equivalent to that of an adult.”
    I took note of this and considered my options of overpowering them. There were problems with that plan, though. What if Hans had the snake bite me, or what if I couldn’t get ahold of the keys to get out? I decided to continue to play nice.
    “Not like that has ever stopped us before.” Hans snickered. He pulled out a pocketknife from his back pocket and began to sharpen it with an instrument that sat on the end table.
    “Hush,” she instructed. “More tea?” she asked me politely. I nodded, and she returned to the kitchen.
    “She just doesn’t want you to know that this isn’t our house,” Hans whispered.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, she feels lonely sometimes because we don’t get visitors like some folks, and uses the short time we have guests ,” he cleared his throat, “to play house, so to speak.”
    “Whose house is this if it isn’t yours?”  
    “It’s the old lady’s. Haven’t you heard the story?” He must have read my blank expression. “For heaven’s sake, where the hell have you been?”
    I again thought it best to say nothing.
    “The old lady is in the yard. Come here. I’ll show you.” We walked towards the window, and he pointed. “See her there?”
    All I saw was green grass, a sad-looking willow tree, the trail, and forest beyond that.
    “I don’t see anyone.”
    “That’s her. There,” he said pointing.
    “All I see is a tree.”
    He nodded his head.
    I looked at him. Our faces were close enough that I could feel his warm, steady breath. He wasn’t lying.
    “She’s the tree?” I managed to get out, remembering what Chester had said earlier.
    “Well, she was a mean old bat, for one. And for two, she abducted us and meant to turn us into food. But little did she know what tiny devils we were.” His grin curled on the edges of his lips, which sent a shiver of fear down my spine.
    I returned to the couch just as Greta joined us again with an ornate teapot. They reminded me of a children’s story, but it most definitely did not end the same. Greta must have sensed the tension in the air because she asked, “Is everything okay?”
    “Hans told me about the old lady.” My voice trailed to a whisper again, feeling more and more unsure about my abductors.
    “Hans, why do you insist on ruining all my fun?” Her bottom lip poked out, and she began to pout. Not that it bothered Hans, who seemed perfectly pleased with himself and her reaction. She reminded me of Lil when she was younger. She was the world’s worst pouter, still suffering bouts of it now.
    “Well, I suppose play time is over. I guess we might as well get on with it,” she mumbled in defeat.  
    “Agreed,” said Hans.
    “Are y’all going to turn me into a tree too?”  
    They laughed.
    “No, of course not, silly,” she said still giggling.
    “Are y’all royals?”
    “Well, well…haven’t you been doing your studies! It’s amazing how much someone can learn in one night. But no, we’re not royals. We’re soldiers. Contract kidnappers. They share just enough magic with us to get the job done,” she answered.
    “We fish ‘em; they scale ‘em.” Hans laughed.
    “Don’t be so grim, Hans. You’ll scare her,” she snapped and glanced back at me. “There’s no need to be afraid. We’re only taking you to Mr. and Mrs. Tresels. They’re good enough folk, better than most we deal with.”
    “What do they want with me?” My stomach fluttered.
    “They heard about your appearance in the forest last night from a little bird, and they have been searching for a maid for quite some time now and figured they’d better snatch you up before someone else did,” she answered.
    “I’m going to be their maid?” I shuddered.
    “Maid… servant,