“You own a pair of muck boots?” the sphinx asked.

“Well, yes; you can’t wear dancing slippers to gather herbs and things for dyes. Also, how do you know the kitchen boy is giving you the best vegetables unless you go out into the fields for yourself ?”

“Do you garden, then?”

Finally, Elinore braved the question, “That is the sixth question you’ve asked me, ma’am. Have I passed your test?”

The sphinx waved a careless hand. “Yes, yes, you pass. Go through the door by the fireplace and you have but one more task to complete.”

“Only one more?” Elinore asked.

The sphinx nodded.

“Then I will live?”

“We shall see.”

“I never really expected to succeed.”

“Perhaps that is why you are doing so well.” The sphinx walked back into the shadows and vanished.

Elinore was left with another door, and another challenge, and no hint what lay ahead, but she had survived, and only one more task lay before her. She might actually rescue Prince True. All the stories made him out to be a womanizing bounder, and a scoundrel. Had Elinore run from one bad marriage into another? They never tell you in fairy tales that sometimes the prize may not be worth the effort. But she went for the last door, because what else could she do?>