Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
That sounded true.
“I turn the straw into gold. You go home, and all you have to worry about is making sure your mother tells no more tall tales.”
Hugo chewed on his bottom lip as he looked from the window to the spinning wheel. He didn’t want to die. If he got through this, he could put all his energy into finding a suitable husband who would help to protect his family. No more talk about finding a rich spouse. A good, honorable man was all that he needed.
“Okay! Let’s do it!” Hugo agreed, releasing the trapped air in his lungs in a rush.
“Ah, ah.” The strange man wagged one gloved finger at him. “I don’t work for free. I’ll spin all this straw into gold, but you have to give me something valuable first.”
“Valuable?” Hugo patted his chest and pockets. “I don’t have anything of real value on me, but if you’ll go to my brother—”
“Nope, nope. Has to be before I work. If I go to your brother first and return, there won’t be enough time for me to spin the straw. Payment first. Work second.”
Hugo located his money pouch and pulled it open. “I have four copper coins and two silver.”
“Pffft,” the man dismissed him. “I have no use for money. Too common. You got any magic of your own?”
“Yes, but it’s useless and boring.”
“What is it?”
“I can make things out of glass.”
The stranger propped his hands on his hips and nodded. “Okay. Do it.”
Hugo sucked in a deep breath and pulled on the tingle of magic that buzzed about his chest. He waved his hands this way and that in front of him, crafting a perfect blooming red rose on a long stem, complete with full green leaves and curved thorns. When he was done, sweat dripped down the side of his face, and his hands trembled.
A wild cackle left his companion, and he danced about the room, clapping. “Yes! Yes! Perfect. I’ll spin the straw. Put the rose on the table for safekeeping, and stay out of my way.”
Hugo rushed to do as he directed. He even wrapped the glass rose in his white neckcloth to protect it. As he turned back, he found the odd man seated on the stool, a pile of straw beside him and a wooden bobbin in place to catch the golden thread. The wheel whirled and spun madly. His gloved hands flashed here and there. In the blink of an eye, the straw turned to shining gold thread, filling one spool. And then another and another. It was the most amazing magic he’d ever seen.
This could work.
He might live to see his family.
Six
Hugo awoke to the sound of the iron bolt being slid from its housing. He blinked and rubbed his crusty eyes to find the straw completely gone. In the basket at his feet was a mountain of wooden bobbins filled with gold thread. It glittered and glowed in the morning light.
The strange man had worked through the night, spinning up every bit of the straw. Hugo had given him the bread and most of the water. He’d attempted to chat with him to help pass the time, but the man had said almost nothing, all his concentration on his work.
Hugo had tried to stay awake, but the excitement and stress of the day had finally worn him out, and he’d fallen asleep near midnight. It was a shame. He would have liked to thank the strange man again. At least gotten his name.
A guard marched into the room as Hugo was picking himself up off the stone floor and gasped, his eyes growing huge at the sight of the gold thread.
“Follow me. The queen wishes to see you,” he barked. And yet, as he picked up the basket, his actions were careful and almost reverent, as if he were carrying some holy relic.
Hugo sighed and dusted his clothes off the best he could. He straightened his clothes as he walked. His hand automatically went to his cravat, and he winced when he found his throat was bare. He’d used his neckcloth to protect the glass rose he’d made for the man. Oh, well. The queen would have to deal with his messy appearance.
It was another lengthy walk through the palace, where servants were rushing about to make sure everything was perfect for the royal family. He thought most of them looked to be well fed and happy. He hoped that meant the royal family treated them well. It couldn’t be easy working in the palace.
The guard delivered Hugo to a sunny room where the queen sat at a small table with a handsome man. He had salt-and-pepper hair and a neat beard that lined his jaw. The king! This had to be the king. It wasn’t enough that he was speaking to Queen Lilianna, but he was seeing King Hubert as well. And like this? His appearance was a disgrace. It wasn’t fair. A once-in-a-lifetime event, and he had to see both of them when he was an utter disaster. Couldn’t the guard have been kind enough to allow him to splash some water on his face and run a comb through his hair?