Sasha’s blue eyes widen. “If it’s her, Tara might know something about Olivina we can use to get out of this banishment. I know what you’re thinking: Why do I want to reverse the banishment? It’s not like I want to go back to RA to study, unless someone else takes over who is more progressive in their teaching methods, but I don’t want to be banished from the kingdom.”

I point to the trees around us. “If you haven’t noticed, this Tara seems happy in the woods and wants us gone. I don’t think she’s interested in figuring out how to reverse our banishment.”

“She knows something.” Sasha is pensive. “Look at her.”

We both study the girl leading the way. She keeps looking around like she’s worried something’s going to jump out and attack us.

“Maybe.”

Sasha prides herself on her sleuthing skills, so I let her run with the theory. She’s got to be a good reporter to run her own fairy-tale blog—the Enchantasia Insider. Few people know Sleeping Beauty’s younger sister runs the blog. I still feel guilty she won’t be able to publish it now that she’s been banished.

“Unless she’s hiding out till she figures out how to take down Olivina and gathers more allies to stop her,” Sasha adds. “Allies like Red! I’m telling you: This is the princess Olivina doesn’t want anyone knowing about. Olivina’s afraid of this girl. The question is: What does she know about the fairy godmother that we don’t?”

“Did you say this air is making you bloat?” Heath whispers, appearing on my other side. “Because I agree. I never would have eaten three slices of roast pheasant last night if I knew I’d be hiking the forest before dawn this morning.”

Logan holds his stomach. “Oh, roast pheasant.” He shakes his head. “I miss having access to a kitchen already.”

I feel my stomach tighten. Like Sasha, Logan never would have been mixed up in this mess with Olivina if it hadn’t been for me. Helping me save that baby dragon egg, fighting gargoyles, disobeying the school rules—him being involved was all my fault.

“Never hike without water,” Heath lectures. “This one time, we were climbing down Hobshead Canyon, and a pack of wolves showed up out of nowhere and—”

“Heath! Focus! We were talking about Tara,” says Sasha. “We think she’s the princess who was banished from RA before us.”

Heath leans against a tree to think. The trunk has a WANTED poster for Robin Hood on it. He’s legendary in these parts for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor—and he’s never been found. “Tara… Should I know a Tara? She doesn’t look familiar, and believe me, I know most of the young ladies in this kingdom.” He winks at us, and we both roll our eyes.

“We think she had our dorm room before us,” I supply. “But we could never figure out why she was banished. Snow knew her but wouldn’t say what happened.”