Touch of Gold: (Rumpelstiltskin) (Tangled Tales Series Book 4) by Elizabeth Rose Page B

in the mirror, that I just had to follow you in person,” cackled the old woman.
    “Stop following us,” Kin commanded. “You’ve frightened the girl.”
    Olivia made a muffled squealing sound and held tighter to Kin’s tunic.
    “The girl isn’t the one who should be frightened. You are,” said the witch.
    “Olivia,” Kin said in a steady voice. “Go back to your father. Quaid will protect you.”
    “Nay. I want to stay with you,” she protested.
    “Go!” he said, and she took off in the opposite direction.
    “Hecuba, what did you mean by that?” he asked, once Olivia was out of earshot.
    “I mean it’s your turn to amuse me,” Hecuba said and cackled again.
    “You mean it’s my turn for a curse, don’t you?”
    “You boys are getting smarter.”
    “Does this have something to do with that book of alchemy you disintegrated right in my hands?”
    She smiled and nodded. “Didn’t you notice the golden gloves?”
    “I thought that was only residue and naught else.”
    “And you thought your brothers tricked you by painting a halfpenny too. You just don’t believe you’re capable of being cursed like the others, do you?”
    “I’m the lucky one of the brothers and always have been.” He smiled confidently. “Do your worst, old witch,” he said, holding out his arms to taunt her. “You can’t curse me because I don’t believe it’s possible.”
    “So sure, are you? Well, that’s not the way magic works.”
    “You’re not going to turn me into a frog or a beast or a wolf like my brothers, just admit it.” He felt that if his mind were sharp, Hecuba wouldn’t be able to get in.
    “You should know by now that things are never as they seem. Even curses. Sometimes curses start out as a good thing. But too much of a good thing can turn dreadful in a short matter of time.”
    She lifted her hand, and Kin figured she was about to curse him. So he grabbed for his dagger and threw it at her. She dissipated into a smoldering green fog, and the weapon embedded itself into a stump instead. He heard her cackle echoing through the air, and looked over his shoulder as he went to pull his dagger out of the stump.
    “You can’t scare me, Hecuba, so don’t bother trying,” he called out.
    He yanked at the dagger, and when it dislodged from the wood, he saw the hilt clutched in his grip glowing. He stopped and stared, and his mouth opened wide when he watched the dagger turn to gold right in his very hand.
    “Lord Kin, do you need my help?” Quaid appeared beside him and stared with his mouth opened wide. “Your – your dagger, my lord. It – it’s gold.”
    Kin dropped the dagger to the ground as if he was burned, and when the squire went to retrieve it, he stopped him.
    “Nay! Don’t touch it,” Kin cried out. “Just leave it there.”
    “You’re going to leave a dagger made of gold out in the woods?” Quaid made a face. “Why would you do that? It could bring in a lot if money.”
    “I don’t care. This is magic. Dark magic, and I don’t know yet how it works.” Kin carefully reached out and touched the stump, squinting his eyes, expecting it to glow and turn to gold as well. When nothing happened, he picked up a rock, but that stayed the same also.
    “What are you doing?” asked Quaid, sounding amused.
    “Nothing,” he said. “Let’s go. We need to get to the castle. The baron is expecting the girl and the miller, and will wonder what’s taking us so long.”
    “We’re ahead of schedule,” Quaid reminded him, reaching down again to retrieve the dagger.
    “Nay! I said, leave it,” commanded Kin, reaching out to grab the squire by the arm but stopping short.
    “My lord? Did you turn that dagger to gold by your touch?”
    “I don’t know,” answered Kin. “I – I think so, but I’m not sure. If my touch turns things to gold, why didn’t the stump or rock turn to gold too?”
    “I’m not sure.” Quaid looked at him cautiously and then backed up a step. “Will