‘Yes. History. We were going to do it in the study.’

‘Good idea,’ she says. ‘About time that room got used for some actual studying. Might be dusty though – you’ll need to take a cloth. There’s an old feather duster somewhere . . .’

We sit and have tea with her first, and though I can see it’s tiring for her, she’s bright with chatter, happy to tell Zara some of her stories.

Peg sees us upstairs after tea, once Nan has drifted off. He swishes the feather duster with his tail as we go, and Teacake follows behind.

‘What’s this studying all about then?’ Yanny demands once we’re in the wood-panelled room.

‘Just looking into things,’ I say, making my voice casual. ‘We have all these books; they may be useful. That’s all.’

He nods, but he doesn’t look very happy about it. ‘Dad would love it in here,’ he says, prowling around the shelves. ‘He loves old books.’

‘So does Peg,’ I say. ‘I just thought we’d see what we can find. I want to shift this glamour spell of Nan’s, and then I’m going to go back into the forest to find the palace.’

‘Isn’t that dangerous?’ asks Zara.

‘For most people, it would be,’ Yanny says, sitting on the bench by the window, looking out towards Winterspell. ‘Not for our Stella, though.’

‘What do you mean?’ Zara asks.

I can’t speak; my mouth is dry. He already knows. ‘Stella is the Lost Prince,’ Yanny says. ‘And she isn’t going to find her answers in any of these old books.’

‘Yanny!’

‘Well?’ he demands, his eyes glinting. ‘Tell me you aren’t the Lost Prince. Swear it.’

‘I . . . can’t.’

Zara frowns. ‘You’re what? What’s this about a Lost Prince? What have I missed now?’

‘It’s a legend,’ Yanny says. ‘He is the child of the old fae queen and the king we now call the Shadow King. The Lost Prince was taken from the forest, and will return one day – and when he returns, everything will change in there. He is a symbol of hope.’ He stares at me.

‘Nan made it up,’ I whisper, swallowing hard. ‘I mean, you’re right. I am the Shadow King’s daughter.’ I feel my skin flushing, and the acorn at my throat is warm. ‘I found my mother’s acorn, that first time I came into Winterspell with you, and since then, my magic has been growing. I think that maybe I can help, but I need to know how to get rid of this glamour Nan did so that I can fight, so that I can find the palace—’

‘You already have everything you need!’ Steam drifts from Yanny’s mouth as he speaks. ‘You’re just wasting time, Stella!’

‘That’s harsh, Yanny,’ says Zara with a hard look. ‘You don’t need to shout about it. Stella’s not responsible for everything that happened – she’s trying to help!’

‘Not quickly enough,’ he says. ‘While she’s in here all safe and cosy, trees are dying in Winterspell – and you both know what that means!’ His eyes glitter as he stares at me, and I know we’re all thinking about Thorn. About all he’s lost already. ‘You are the Lost Prince, Stella. Don’t you see that? Even if your nan made up the legend, she made it up about you. So you’re the Lost Princess, instead – who cares what the title is! You’re still the one who could make the difference.’