Chapter 24. A dramatic plan of rescue

Daphne's POV

When we saw the village, Mr. Nolps shrugged:

"Well, Ms. Grimm, I think it's a destiny. I'll go with you."

"All right," I said. "Now I need... what I need is... a proper plan. Mr. Nolps, have you any money with you right now?"

"I believe so."

"Enough to buy an envelope, a stamp, two sheets of paper and a pencil?"

"I think I can buy all this."

"Excellent. Buy it now, please," I begged. Nolps looked confused but nodded and rode to the village. Several minutes later, he returned with everything I needed.

I started to think of a plan to rescue my family and Walter:

"This Mr. Nolps is really unnecessary here. On the other hand, he can help. Besides, we also have two trained horses. So... Nolps doesn't know magic, and I'm a weak girl. I doubt we can defeat the prison's guards in a fight. We must out-trick them!" I thought. "I look myself now, and the Scarlet Hand knows me. But Joseph (I hope) is perfectly unknown to them! What if he goes to the guards and pretends to be a... let's say, a goblin in a human form?

"Let's assume that the guards believe him. He tells them about... me, Daphne Grimm, walking several hundred yards away, along with Sabrina and... eh... Uncle Jake. Let's assume, again, that they believe it. I'll leave Snowflake in some distance from the prison. They might think that it's not a horse, but three people standing close to each other. They go, leaving Nolps with the keys - I'll think of some way for him to get the keys. He opens the prison, and everyone goes free!

"At first, all of us saddle Charcoal, but Snowflake runs away from the Scarlet Hand very soon - that's because they frighten the horse a lot. So Joseph, Dad and Mom ride Charcoal; Basil, Walter and I ride Snowflake. We come to the passageway to our world, and my family, along with Walter, goes in there!"

I made some little details up, while Joseph waited patiently. I took a pencil and a sheet of paper and wrote:

The Plan of Rescue.

1. I show the secret passageway to the prison to Mr. Nolps.

2. I leave Snowflake several hundred yards away from the prison and order her to wait.

3. As for myself, I hide in the grass. It's high enough.

4. Mr. Nolps rides to the prison and tells the guards he's a goblin called Frlwommpf, I remembered Granny telling us that most of the goblins have unpronounceable names. He also informs them that Daphne Grimm (me), Sabrina Grimm and Jacob Grimm are walking nearby - and he points to Snowflake. Then he tells the guards that he'll take care of the keys.

5. The guards go and try to catch Snowflake. She runs away. I come to Mr. Nolps's assistance, and we open all of the prison cells.

6. All of us ride Charcoal, until Snowflake comes back. Then the two horses bring us to the door between the worlds.

I used the second sheet of paper, the stamp and the envelope to write a short note to Sabrina and Laura. Joseph brought the letter to the post and returned to ask me:

"So, what are you going to do?"

I showed him the plan, he read it, and his eyes grew wide.

"What's all the foolishness? I don't even know how to act as a... goblin!"

"I'll teach you," I smiled. "First, try to pronounce the name of Frlwommpf."

"Flrowmf, Forlmpff, Fworlompf..." Joseph tried until he finally said the name properly.

"Good!" I praised him. "Now, try not to speak in your usual voice. Grunt."

That was the easiest part. When I told Joseph to grunt something, he grunted:

"Why in the world do I need to do all this?"

"You'll save the lives of countless people," I said the truth. "Finally, I need you to learn something about this evil organization."

Joseph rolled his eyes, but I showered him with information about the Scarlet Hand, Mirror and the rest famous members of it, the Everafter War, etc. etc. etc. He was scared by all this, but I urged him to learn everything by heart. Then I found a bush of raspberries and used them to paint a fake scarlet handprint on Joseph's jacket. He eyed it with disgust.

"You wanted to help me, so do it!" I snapped. "Let's get started."

Blackwater Park

Sabrina's POV

I thought I'd soon go crazy in here. I understand next to nothing in whatever's going on in Blackwater Park. Sir Percival is discussing something with Mirror in a low voice which I can't overhear. At the same time he's soft and gentle with Laura. Laura doesn't know whether to believe his kindness or not. She's scared of Mirror to death and she's still a little afraid of her husband.

Mirror spends most of the time in his workroom. What's he doing there? I haven't mustered all the bravery I have to find this out. Nothing bad has happened to me yet, and I don't know what Mirror plans to do with me.

Can anybody explain what I must figure out of all this mess?

The only hope is Daphne's optimistic note...