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Ash sighed, tilting his head back "You’re enjoying this far too rin "I can’t say anything there" He glared ice-daggers at et into Arcadia, or not?"

"Fine" He et this over with"

"Thought you’d never say so" I pulled hiic as I did

"Hold still," I told him as he crossed his ar, but I have to weave Suh to hide your Winter aura If you were a redcap or an ice-gnooing to be considerably ic settle over hila hi et this stupid favor over and done with, this is the only way You have to let laic tothe illusion over and around hiic resisted me--say what you want about the Winter prince, at his core, Ash was incredibly strong He kneho he was, and so he was not, even if it was just an illusion

But I’e trickster, either

Ash’s outline shirow, or shrink, but his hair lengthened, falling down his back, and went froolden-brown, as if he’d spent a lifeti a bright, glittering blue

His clothes changed as well, the long black coat vanishing into reen, the proud head of a huge stag adorning the breastplate A fancy gold cloak settled around hi Ash wouldn’t be caught dead in When it was done, no trace of the Winter prince stood in the spot beneath the pines A Su the faintest reseest son of Queen Mab

I put a hand to ht "Oh, ice-boy, it’s…it’s…so you!"

"I’rowled, then winced at how his voice sounded, high and clear I bit hter If he drew his sword, it would shatter the illusion, and then we’d have to go through all this again

"Yeah, well, do it later, ice-boy Relamour in there at all, or the spell will unravel That includes drawing your sword and throwing icicles at entry while we’re here, okay? We just want to get in, grab the violin and get out again"

Ash nodded I stepped back and tossed the sa a pair of aluard, I grinned "Ready?"

He sighed again, raking his fingers through his now unfa the bridge nodded politely as we crossed, but other than that didn’t even glance at us I caught one of theiven the circu

"Who are we supposed to be?" Ash asked as we continued into the lands of the Erlking Past the bridge, the heat of the suh with pleasure Of all the things in the Seelie Court, I missed the sun thewas too cold; only in Arcadia did the sun shine full and bright, and the sweetest apples grow on the trees over the thorn fence, always ripe for the picking If you could get past the two cranky giants ned the orchard, that is

"Oh," I said, grinning "Right Naan, and we’re two hedge knights who travel all over the Nevernever on quests of glory for our king and court You knoe right wrongs and slay dragons and search for ical treasures, stuff like that"

"So, they’re well respected"

"Well…" I scratched the back of my head "Not exactly"

Ash stared at me "What do you mean, not exactly?"

"Ever read Don Quixote?" I asked And Ash closed his eyes, indicating that, yes, he had read it I snickered "They’re very eager," I continued, trying not to laugh at the look on his face, "and they do have very noble intentions, I will give them that But those two couldn’t find their way out of a broom closet without a otten the Oberon to send them on noble, iiving theet them out of his hair"

"And, of course, these are the identities you stole for us"