Winterfrost by Michelle Houts

story, she nearly forgot she had a part in it.
    “And now,” Gammel concluded rather abruptly, “you must find Ulf.”
    The little kitchen under the enormous oak was so quiet, Bettina could hear the watch mouse softly snoring.
    “But why me?”
    “You are a Larsen, are you not?”
    “Yes, but —”
    “Ulf’s mistakes affected the Larsen family more than anyone else. Heaven knows, I have tried for many years to set things right with Ulf. Just yesterday I sent Hagen to speak on our behalf, but Ulf sent him away. But not before Hagen saw evidence of your Pia. She’s there with Ulf, Bettina, just as I had suspected. And only you can set things right again. Perhaps Ulf will return your sister to you if he knows he has the forgiveness of the family he disappointed.”
    “Won’t you come with me?” she nearly whispered.
    “I’m sorry to say that due to past circumstances, my presence would not help your situation,” Gammel answered.
    There was a sadness in his voice that tugged at Bettina’s heart and filled her head with even more questions. A small knot began to form in Bettina’s throat. She felt as if she’d swallowed a hazelnut whole.
What did Ulf do to the Larsens? When?
Bettina thought it best to ask the most important question first.
    “Is Pia — is she safe?”
    Gammel peered over the top of his glasses. “I cannot lie to you, Bettina. I do not know Ulf’s motives, and his behavior has been unpredictable in the past.”
    Bettina’s heart sank. But Gammel continued. “I do believe, however, that Ulf’s grudge is with those of us in the nisse world. He was always quite fond of the Larsen family.”
    A slow sigh of relief slipped from Bettina’s lips. It wasn’t much, but she’d take what little hope was offered. Now for the more practical questions.
    “Where will I find this Ulf ? How . . . how will I get there? And what am I supposed to do once I find him?”
    “Everything will become clear to you in due time.”
    Despite her apprehension, despite her worries, something about Gammel’s demeanor calmed her and gave her confidence. He believed in her, and that seemed to be enough to get her started. The next thing she knew, they were on their feet and Pernilla was hugging her.
    “Turn,” Pernilla instructed. Bettina obeyed and Pernilla placed a small backpack on her back.
    Gammel took Bettina by the hand and led her to the door.
    “But my size . . . How will I . . . ?” she started to ask, but Gammel interrupted her.
    “Your size will always work to your advantage,” he assured her. Then he placed her hand on the door handle, and she was whooshed from the comfortable kitchen to the frosty forest beneath the giant gnarled oak.
    Bettina stood a moment and stared at the forest that surrounded her. It was familiar, yet different somehow. The giant oak seemed to have somehow grown even taller. And the leaves under her feet were as large as dinner plates. It wasn’t until Bettina spotted an acorn the size of a boulder that she realized it had happened again!
    Instantly, she turned to reach for the door, but she couldn’t find the root.
    “Gammel!” she called. “Gammel, I thought I would be big! How will I ever get out of the woods if I’m the size of a sapling?”
    Bettina circled the oak twice looking for the root that hid the small door, but she could not find it. This would never work.
    Your size will always work to your advantage.
    They were the last words Gammel had spoken to her. Being tiny out here in the big world didn’t feel like an advantage at all, but Bettina trusted Gammel.
    She found a small rock and climbed on top of it to get a better look around. There must be a reason for her smallness. But how on earth would she get to Ulf ? Walk? It could take days. Or weeks. And she didn’t even know where to go.
    A sharp snap in the frosty undergrowth of the forest to her right startled her. Behind a tree, a large white goose like the ones in the Pedersens’ barnyard appeared.