The carriages have stopped at a peaceful stream just before it joins with a larger, faster-moving stream coming from the east. Where the two join, the water picks up speed and strength. It’s a good thing they stopped now, as trying to fill the barrels in that water would be dangerous!

As you walk along the babbling brook at your side, you look longingly at the water. It’s so fresh and clear, and you’ve been traveling so long with the dust and dirt of the road blowing into your face. You’re parched!

“Will you fetch me a cup?” you ask Felicia.

She makes a face. “I’m not your servant. Fetch your own water.”

Surprised, you look back to the carriages. You have no idea where cups could be had. The guards are all busy loading the barrels–except for one guard, the one who greeted Felicia before. He is watching the two of you carefully.

You shrug. Well, a cup isn’t absolutely necessary to drink water, only to look ladylike while doing it. There’s nobody out here to see you other than Felicia and the guard. You drop down to your knees at the stream and lean foward, cupping your hands for a drink.

As you do, your locket drops forward. You move to grab it, as its clasp has always been a little loose, but before you can, it drops into the stream and is swept away!

Panic brings you to your feet. Mother’s locket! You cannot lose it! You run along the stream, which is moving fast. There! A glitter just before you!

But before you can reach it, Felicia is there, dipping her hand into the stream and snagging the locket as it swept by.

“Oh, thank you!” you cry, reaching out your hand for the precious charm. “That was my mother’s, and–“

You stop short. Felicia has tucked the locket into her waist pocket.

“That’s mine,” you say slowly, reading something unfamiliar and dark in her face.

“It belongs to the Princess of Fairelandia,” Felicia says. “And as of that moment, I am the princess.”

“What?”

“You are my traveling companion, a maid from the palace sent to serve me. I will find a place for you in my new palace . . . as long as you behave properly. I am the princess, sent to marry Prince Darvik, and I will not have any uppity maids confusing people.”

“Felicia . . .” You do not know what to say. “Felicia, don’t do this.”

“Princess.” It’s the guard. They must have finished filling the water barrels. “Princess, we are ready to go.” To your horror, you realize he is not addressing you. He is addressing Felicia.

“Very well.” She turns to follow him. “Come, servant.”

The other guards are watching now, but none of them make a move to stop this. One or two look uncomfortable. One smirks. But the rest simply mount their horses or climb into their carriages and prepare to leave. They must all be in on it, or they must have been paid off. They will not help you.

Do you:

attack Felicia while her back is turned, trying to steal back your charm?

or

race into the woods to escape?

or

get back into the carriage for now, planning to reveal the truth to the royal family when you arrive in Romancia?