Their shift passed interminably slowly. Dreamy found a moment to tell Grouchy what had been said, but it was nothing that could be talked about in the hot, close confines they worked in. Ears were everywhere and Dreamy didn’t know if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed as if here and there hooded eyes turned his team’s way. Was their secret safe? Snow White had been friends to all the dwarves, but it was their cottage she had come to when the drinking and singing was done. Would the other teams pass that information on to the soldiers if asked? How strong was dwarf honour – and what would happen to them if Snow White was discovered? He fought the rising panic. He would take whatever fate passed their way. They had vowed to protect the princess. They had failed once – they would not fail again.

There were no ravens in the forest; that much at least was a relief. Rain was pouring heavily through the trees as they trudged home and the drops were cold and had no summer scent as they turned their faces upwards into it and scanned the branches for silent birds.

The prince had a fire lit for them and a fresh rabbit was roasting on a spit, but as the water dripped from the dwarves to the cottage floor, the meaty scent did nothing to entice them to eat.

They sat in silence for a while, sipping beer.

‘Maybe it’s nothing to do with us,’ Breezy said. ‘Maybe she just wants to make sure we’re all working?’

Grouchy barely snorted in response.

‘A princess is missing,’ Stumpy said. ‘Even if the queen thinks she’s dead, she’s got to make a show of looking for her. We didn’t think of that.’

‘Is there anything I can do?’ The prince had stayed out of their conversation, but he’d been listening from the fireside.

‘You should go,’ Grouchy said. ‘Your land needs its prince and these are our troubles. Plus, winter is coming. You can’t sleep out there forever.’

Dreamy’s heart stung at the words, and the thought of Snow White out on the mound in the dark in her glass coffin, the rain hammering on it. At least the prince stayed with her. At least while he was here she was rarely alone.

‘Maybe in a day or two.’ He turned back to the fire. ‘I still need to rest.’ His jaw locked and although no one would argue with Grouchy, and he was right, they knew what really kept the handsome prince in their poor cottage and up on the mound.

‘A day or two longer,’ Grouchy said. ‘And then, my friend, you must leave. I will not have more on my conscience.’