by V F Sharp
Pallu shrugged. “It can’t hurt to try and win people over.”
“We already told him Ezstasia’s coming with her rabbit,” said Fin. “That may buy us some time.”
Lanzzie threw her hands up. “We’ve been giving them excuses for two days now. We don’t have any more time!”
“You’re all panicking unnecessarily,” said Meldon. “Let’s calm down and focus. There are eight of us with eight different cottages in eight different directions. The chance of him coming to this one by tonight is small. Very small. Infinitesimally small.”
Just then, there was a loud pound at the door.
“Okay. Maybe not that small,” said Meldon.
“I knew it!” said Lanzzie. “Now what do we do?” She looked down at Fin, who was still sitting on the floor. “We should’ve just stayed in the forest!”
“Lanz, take it easy,” said Fin. “We didn’t break the rules, Ezstasia did. She’s the one who’ll have to answer and we can worry about that when we find her. And we will find her.”
The pound at the door grew louder.
“Fin,” said Meldon. “Where did you put that sack of magic powder?”
“Don’t worry, it’s safe. Besides, he’s a stable master. He’s looking for a giant rabbit.”
Another loud pound on the wooden door gave every indication that it was about to be broken down.
“I know yer in there,” said the unmistakable voice of the stable master through the door.
“I’m coming,” said Fin, standing up.
Lanzzie watched nervously as Fin meandered to the door. She quickly looked around for possible emergency exits or hiding spots. She could almost hear the pounding heartbeats of everyone in the room as Fin pulled the door open.
The old man stood there grimacing, with the long straw between his yellow teeth.
“Mr. Stable Master,” said Fin. “What a nice surprise!”
“Surprise, aye, but the pleasure’s all yers I think. I’m here to collect a certain rabbit. And me name’s Krimp. Archibald Krimp. Mr. Krimp to you, Fin Fennel.”
“How do you know my surname?” said Fin.
“I know a lot of things about you, laddie.”
As he stood in the open doorway, he looked inside at all the friends, blatantly suspicious. Nobody said a word.
“Ye all become mute and unable to answer doors?” he said, sarcastically. “Need I summon a medic?”
“No rabbits here, sir,” said Zander.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“They’re not hard to miss,” said Randin.
Lanzzie cringed as the old man looked right at her and took a step forward.
“Where’s yer sister, lassie?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m sure she’s—”
“Yer sure of nothin’, that’s what yer sure of! Yer little group has been fabricatin’ excuses, but there’ll be no more fabricatin’ tonight.”
“Have you checked her cottage?” said Fin.
“Are ye mocking me, boy? Of course I checked her cottage.”
“I’m just trying to help,” said Fin.
“Good,” said Krimp. “Then to make sure ye all help as much as possible, I’m taking all yer ridin’ privileges away until her sister,” he pointed right at Lanzzie, “comes back with that rabbit.”
“That won’t be necessary,” said a strong, female voice from outside. “You can leave now.”
“What?” said Krimp, turning around. “Who, pray tell, are ye to give the likes of me orders?”
Lanzzie and Fin strained to see who it was behind Krimp. As the woman stepped closer into the moonlight, Lanzzie couldn’t believe her eyes.
It was Ezstasia.
Her sister looked not only well, she was beaming and absolutely stunning. She was dressed up in the most exquisite, flowing emerald green gown she’d ever seen.
Lanzzie felt the pent up emotion of the last several days rise to her throat and her eyes filled with tears.
“Ezstasia!” she finally yelled, running outside toward her sister and hugging her for dear life. Everyone jumped up and ran toward them.
“Lanz,” said Ezstasia, “I was so worried about you.”
“Me!?” said Lanzzie, so choked up she could barely get the words out. “We thought you were dead! Where were you? And why are you dressed like that?”
“I have so much to tell you,” said Ezstasia. “All of you.”
“Well, ye can start with me,” said Krimp. “We have rules here, and ye broke every one of them. But first, ye owe me a rabbit.”
“You mean that rabbit?” said Zander, pointing behind Krimp.
“There’s Tia,” said Fin, as the beautiful, brown rabbit hopped toward them with a carrot in her mouth.
“I reckon that’s the one,” said Krimp, picking at the straw that was dangling from his mouth as he examined her. “Well, ye don’t look any worse fer wear,” he said, grabbing the rabbit’s collar.
“So that means everything’s okay now?” said Fin.
Krimp rose and looked at him sharply.
“No, it does not mean everythin’s okay.” The old man’s eyes darted back and forth among the group. “Ye all conspired to do somethin’ off kilter, and I aim to find out what. This creature was out who-knows-where without the proper care, and everyone in this room spoke false fer it. I want to know why.” He looked at Ezstasia. “Starting with you, lassie, and how ye came to be here lookin’ like ye flew out of a fairy tale.”
“Miss Ezstasia!” called a man from the darkness, as a horse whinnied. “Is there any trouble?”
Lanzzie saw what looked to be two royal guards approaching into the moonlight on two beautiful, majestic, brown horses.
Ezstasia looked at the stable master. “I don’t know, Mr. Krimp. Is there?”
Krimp grumbled.
“Sir,” said one of the men to Krimp, “we must ask you to leave.”
“Under whose authority?” said Krimp, looking up at them. “I’m the stable master. I have every right to be here.”
One of the guards put his hand on a sword, a maneuver that Krimp obviously noticed as well, because he backed down immediately.
“However, I was leavin’ anyway,” said Krimp. “I have my rabbit.” He looked at Lanzzie and the group. “Ye all know the rules fer the future. I expect ye to obey them.”
Lanzzie stood dumbfounded as the stable master walked off with Tia. Ezstasia nodded to the royal guards, thanking them as they rode off.
“He was right about one thing,” said Pallu to Ezstasia, as they all headed inside.
“What’s that?” she said.
“You do look like you flew out of a fairy tale, except for the bandage. Are you okay? What happened? Who were those men?”
Ezstasia grinned, obviously overjoyed to be back.
“It’s a long story.”
* * * *
Lanzzie took Ezstasia’s hand and led her into the sitting room, elated to have her sister back.
“Why is she dressed like that?” said Ithron from the back corner of the room. He was, of course, sitting with Jezreel. They hadn’t left one another’s side since their kiss.
Pallu approached Ezstasia with his arms out. “Now for a proper welcome,” he said, giving her a bear hug. “Where have you been? We were out searching for you all day. And yesterday, too.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Ezstasia. “I’ll explain everything. I was worried about all of you as well. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Okay!?” said Ithron in a tone of sheer frustration. “Is that what you call it?” Jezreel tried to hush him and gestured to Ezstasia that she shouldn’t go there just yet.
“I’d say okay is relative,” said Zander, who was sitting on a chair next to his brother.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” said Ezstasia. “What happened? I assumed—”
“You know what I assume?” said Zander. “I assume by your gown that you didn’t get captured by a giant spider. An
d that big hairy wooden creature didn’t try to eat you.”
“A giant what?” said Ezstasia, looking completely confused.
“It’s a long story,” said Pallu. “Zander had a little incident, which he’s still a little traumatized by, as you can tell.”
“A little incident!?” said Zander, upset.
“Why don’t we let her explain what happened?” said Fin. “Then we’ll tell her our stories. I think we may all need some ale for this.”
He invited everyone to sit around the large rectangular table in the center of the dining room, where he poured ale into tin cups for everyone. The fireplace was burning in the corner, crackling in the sudden silence.
Once everyone had gathered around, Ezstasia opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, Lanzzie held a hand up.
“First,” said Lanzzie, “I want to say how happy I am—how happy we all are—to have my sister back with us. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. No matter what happens from here, the important thing is that we’re all together.”
“Here, here!” yelled Fin, raising his tin cup and pounding it hard on the table, letting whatever liquid spill out that may. Messy as it was, the others followed suit, as was customary after a speech—the age old Cottage tradition called splonking.
“I can’t thank you all enough,” said Ezstasia. “I can only imagine what you went through to find me. I know a lot has happened since we saw each other, and—”
Lanzzie wondered why Ezstasia paused mid-sentence, but then she saw the reason. Ezstasia had noticed Ithron and Jezreel seated together at the far end of the table, cuddling and giggling. Everyone in the room was grinning.
“Yes, a lot has happened,” said Pallu, as the others laughed.
“Okay,” said Ezstasia, setting a more serious tone. “I’ll tell my story, but then I must hear all yours.”
Everyone nodded and she continued.
As Lanzzie listened intently, Ezstasia told her story of how she had awoken in a strange place with her head bandaged. She spoke in great detail about the castle, Prince Alazar, how he had found her, and how she had been made to stay despite desperately wanting to get back to her friends. Above all, she told of the prince’s kindness and compassion—and of his awareness and concerns about the very forest they’d been in the day before. Then she sprung the question Lanzzie had forgotten all about.
“By the way,” said Ezstasia, “did you guys happen to find my arrow?”
Lanzzie and Fin looked at one another.
“You don’t have it?” said Meldon.
“I told you,” she said, “I was unconscious when the prince found me. I didn’t even—”
Ithron jumped up while Ezstasia was mid-sentence and headed for the door, slamming it behind him as he stormed out.
“What was that about?” said Fin.
“I’ll go talk to him,” said Jezreel, getting up and following him outside.
“I’ll go to the kitchen,” said Pallu, lifting himself off the chair with far less elegance. “I think we all need to eat.”
“You were actually in Valorian’s Castle?” said Zander.
Lanzzie noticed a tear falling down Ezstasia’s cheek.
“This is all my fault,” said Ezstasia. “I know he’s upset because of me.”
Lanzzie put an arm around her.
“It isn’t your fault,” said Fin. “I think it’s safe to say we all experienced some craziness in that forest. Who knows what would’ve happened to you if that prince hadn’t found you? You could be dead.”
“He’s right,” said Zander. “I got chased by a giant tree spider the size of a cottage. Nobody else saw it, but I’m telling you it almost killed me.”
Zander was known for telling white lies occasionally. Lanzzie noticed Ezstasia kept looking over at her with slight suspicion as he told some details of his story.
“That’s quite an exaggeration, Zander,” said Ezstasia. “How big was it really?”
“I’m not exaggerating,” said Zander. “It was like twenty or thirty feet high. Or maybe even a little bigger, now that I think about it.”
Zander continued to recount the details of his ordeal as Ezstasia listened with her mouth agape.
“Are you really sure that’s what you saw?” she said.
“Pallu and I were with him,” said Randin, “and we couldn’t see it.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t believe me again, especially after what happened to Ithron!” said Zander.
“I told you we believed you,” said Randin.
“Wait a minute. What happened to Ithron?” said Ezstasia, her voice cracking.
“Oh dear, that’s not such a good story,” said Meldon.
As if they heard and knew it was time to enter, the door opened and Ithron and Jezreel returned.
Ithron looked around uncomfortably without making any eye contact. Jezreel nudged him.
“I’m sorry,” said Ithron, “I guess I got upset hearing about a prince and eating grapes and taking fancy baths while I almost died while we were trying to find you.”
“I’m so sorry for what you went through for me,” said Ezstasia.
“I can tell you what I went through if you want,” he said, taking a deep breath.
“Yes. Please do,” said Ezstasia, her heart broken with the thought of the pain he must have experienced.
All eyes were on Ithron as he stood at the edge of the table. His eyes and nose were red while he recounted the terrifying ordeal. Lanzzie heard audible gasps from Ezstasia as Ithron told of the multiple attacks and the excruciating pain that penetrated throughout his body.
“We saw the physical signs of it on Ithron’s body,” said Meldon. “He didn’t just imagine it. His skin was grey and cracked, and his body was rigid. We thought he was dead.”
“Until Jez brought him out of it,” said Zander.
Jezreel put her arm around Ithron.
Ezstasia began sobbing uncontrollably. “I didn’t know,” she kept saying over and over. “I didn’t know.”
Just then, Pallu entered the room with a tray full of something that smelled amazing.
“How about a serving of my family’s most famous recipe: Honey Sweet Muffin Flats? That’ll cheer everyone up. You surprised me, Fin.” he said as he looked toward him. “You actually had all of the ingredients.”
“Don’t be so surprised,” said Fin. “They’re your ingredients from the last time you were here.”
Lanzzie grabbed one from the tray and handed it to Ezstasia. “What do you say we stop the storytelling for now and just celebrate the fact that we’re all alive and well? Are you ready to celebrate?”
“Of course she’s ready,” said Pallu. “I mean, look at these. They’re just like a muffin, but flat. I drizzle the honey on it at the perfect moment just before I flip it. The trick is to leave the top moist while the honey gets toasted to a crisp on the bottom.”
Lanzzie grabbed one for herself. She had to admit, she would do anything for Honey Sweet Muffin Flats. Anyone would, to be honest. In the Cottages, Pallu’s family was well known for this secret family recipe. Not even the best bakeries in town could make them so delightfully flavorful and perfectly moist, with that specific delicate crunch that came from the crystallized honey. It surely wasn’t from a lack of effort, though.
“Lanz, I haven’t heard your story yet,” said Ezstasia, still looking concerned. “Or Fin’s.”
“You can hear our stories later,” she said. “I think that’s enough for one day.”
Ezstasia nodded.
“See?” said Pallu, as he passed around the delectable muffins. “Delicious food is the answer to every woe.”
“It’s actually the answer to why you can’t get out of your chair,” said Zander, grinning.
“After hearing your stories,” said Ezstasia, “I think this forest is even worse than the prince thought.”
“It’s one forest I’ll never set foot in again, I’ll tell you that,” said
Ithron.
Lanzzie thought hard about the mystifying forest and their unexplainable sightings and experiences. She stared into the flickering embers of the fireplace and her mind wandered to the fascinating tales of old—many delightful and some horrific.
“It’s back,” she said quietly, staring into the flames. She turned to the others, who were all staring at her in silence.
“It’s back,” she repeated louder.
“What’s back?” said Randin.
Zander looked downright frightened.
“Magic,” she said. “Someone has been using magic in that forest—dark magic.”
“They could get thrown into the dungeons for that,” said Pallu. “Why would they risk it?”
“Whoever they are,” said Lanzzie, “they must not care about the consequences.”
“We don’t know that for sure,” said Fin. “Let’s think for a bit.”
“I agree with Lanzzie,” said Meldon. “Someone’s using magic. It’s the only logical explanation.”
“So what do we do about it?” said Randin. “We need to warn someone about that forest.”
“We can tell the Cottage Elders,” said Pallu.
“Those old buzzards?” said Fin. “They nearly had a fit because of a missing rabbit. What do you think they’d do if they thought there was dark magic somewhere?”
“Even if they wanted to do something,” said Meldon, adjusting his glasses, “they don’t have weapons to prepare for something like that. Well, they could take out their billhooks and sickles, I suppose.”
“Uh, yeah,” said Zander, in a mocking tone. “If there’s one thing dark magic users are afraid of, it’s farmers with billhooks and sickles.”
“Why do we need to tell anyone?” said Ithron, as he took out his carving knife and began to examine it. “It’s nobody’s business.”
“You’re wrong, Ithron,” said Ezstasia, rising from her chair. “It’s everyone’s business. It could mean life or death to any one of us or to our entire village and kingdoms. There’s something bad in that forest. I also saw it in the prince’s eyes. He was gravely concerned.”
Ezstasia began to pace around the room, fiddling with her hands—a habit Lanzzie knew all too well. They both did it whenever they were in deep thought.
