F rom H er e
to
T h er e
“I’ll wait out here,” Queen P said, urging me to get moving without actually saying so. Taking the hint, I hurried down the stone path. The door into the nest house was made of long feathers and grass streamers. After I parted the strands and stepped inside, the streamers fused into a solid panel. So I wouldn’t try to escape? Or because it wouldn’t let me out until I picked a suitable outfit for climbing? A tree stump in the center of the room cracked open, drawing my attention. Emerging from the crack was a wooden panel that rose until it stopped a foot short of the ceiling. Then, as I watched with my mouth hanging open in disbelief, the panel unfolded and expanded until it became a huge cabinet with two doors on top and three drawers below. Carvings of tall pine trees stretched up the doors, and a beautiful kite decorated the top. I didn’t move, not even when the wardrobe suddenly popped open. I stared at the fantastic collection of skirts, blouses, shirts, leggings, boots, shoes, scarves, and hats that hung on pegs and overflowed the drawers. Gossamer fabrics were mingled with sturdy homespun threads. Some of the clothes were accented with jewels, feathers, or beads. There were so many choices, it was impossible to choose. As though realizing I needed a nudge, a long-sleeved 51