Page 16 of The Broken Mirror
“I guess.”
“Hey, you know what I just realized?” Gretel starts jumping up onto her feet so she’s standing on the bed. “This is totally like a sleepover! We’re having a sleepover right now!”
She starts jumping on the bed, and Filomena gets up and joins her.
“I’ve never actually been to a sleepover before,” Filomena shares.
Gretel pauses jumping. “What?!How is that possible? Sleepovers are the best!”
“I’ve just never really had friends to do that with,”Filomena says quietly. “I was bullied pretty hard at school by a bunch of literal trolls. It was sort of impossible to make friends.”
Suddenly Filomena is wrapped in a tight hug.
“I hate trolls. Those Alfredos were rotten,” Gretel says. “I’m so glad we met, Filomena. I’m so glad to be your friend.”
Filomena feels light tears come to her eyes alongside a swell of love for Gretel.
“Plus”—Gretel pulls away with a huge grin on her face—“who else will be able to say their first sleepover was in a literal castle?”
All of a sudden, the door to their bedroom flies open. They whip around to see who it is.
Jack stands in the doorframe.
“Um, ever heard of knocking, Stalker?” Gretel says.
“I’m sorry.” Jack blushes at the sight of them wrapped in a hug and standing on the bed. “I forgot my manners. But I have a good excuse. Because, uh, well…” He’s clearly flustered.
“Spit it out!” Gretel says.
“The village is being attacked.”
“How typical,” Gretel huffs, and gets off the bed.
Though she’d never been to one until now so can’t say for sure, Filomena has a pretty good idea that most middle school sleepovers aren’t interrupted by a village attack.
CHAPTERSEVENSLUMBERPARTYCRASHER
Filomena jumps off the bed. Though she knows Jack just said the village is under attack, all she can think is:Did he overhear our conversation? He wouldn’t have stood listening outside the door, would he?Lily Licks, she hopes not.
“What’s going on? Who is attacking the village, and where?” Gretel asks.
“We just got word that the Merry Greenwood Tavern is being ransacked by Robin Hood and his gang,” Jack answers.
“All right, all right, give us a second to get out of these clothes.” Gretel motions for Jack to leave.
“No time! Alistair, Riff, Little Jeanne, and Princess Jeanne left to help as soon as we heard. I came to get you, and we have to leave now!”
“Come on, Jack, we can’t go fight in pajamas and a gown!” Gretel insists.
“Gretel, we don’t have time!”
Sighing heavily, Gretel and Filomena follow Jack into the hallway. At the top of the stairs, Jack puts his arm out, motioning for them to stay back. The castle doors are creaking open.
Revealed in the entryway is none other than Robin Hood, who walks in chuckling.
Jack and Filomena look at each other and realize what’s happening. Robin Hood thinks everyone in the castle went to the tavern to help. He knew if there was a crisis, they’d all run to assist.
Below, Robin starts grabbing gold coins and silver trinkets by the handful, shoving them into a sack. Silver candelabras, crystal goblets, jewel-encrusted vases—all are tossed into his bag.
