by Talia Haze
“Hush, Boy,” Stony barked. His eyes glowed white as he glared at Kyle. “You have said your share. Quiet, now. Not another word from you.” The flames from his eyes were extinguished as his eyelids closed. Kyle gritted his teeth and he glared at Stony, but he didn’t say anything more.
The innkeeper returned and looked about the tavern. Broken tables rested in piles, drunks lay sprawled on the floor, and angry men sat in small groups, silently glaring at us. He sighed loudly before turning to Father. “Your rooms are prepared, Renard.”
The innkeeper led us down the hall, Father assigning rooms as we walked. I collapsed on the bed I was to share with Angel, not bothering to get under the blankets. Angel placed our things near the foot of the bed before quickly washing her face in the small basin.
“What do you make of all this?” she asked.
“I think this is all very exciting,” I answered, rolling on my side to face her. “I am surprised I am more unmoved by this than you are. I’ve never seen you so unsettled.”
“This is unsettling, Gabby,” Angel retorted, collapsing next to me. “I live in the real world…or at least I thought I did. It is too much to understand! Gabby, we are fairies!”
“I know! Can you imagine how much easier your war would have been with a knowledge of that power?”
It wasn’t the response Angel wanted. She sat up stared at me gravely. I rarely heard her talk without her warrior manner; I certainly never heard her sound so timid. The whole thing made her a mess…my strong, chieftain sister. And I! I felt as invincible as Father acted.
“Gabby, consider how strange this all is! How can you be so calm? We are the children of outlaw fairies who are on a treasure hunt to obtain a hand that can turn anything into gold…does not any of that seem the least bit strange to you?”
“Oh, of course it does,” I agreed. “It’s more than strange…there’s no word for what it is. But, isn’t it also just proper with everything else we’ve gone through? Think; I found my lost sister, who had taken over an entire tribe. I have traveled several months’ journey to different lands in only a matter of weeks. Consider! I stood in a magnificent home that was made of sticks. I had breakfast in the cottage of the three bears, I was embraced by a fox boy, and I’ve out-riddled Rumpelstiltskin. I’ve become an elvish princess, I’ve dined with dragons…truly, Angel, this is right proper! This is the only way our tale could go!”
“I wanted to say this is not like one of your tales, but it truly is.”
“It truly is!” I sat up and took her hand. She smiled despite herself. “I don’t know, Angel. I listened to Father until the early hours this morning. I know everything that they have been through so far and it’s just…” I lay back down and closed my eyes, replaying Father’s tales. “We know so little, Angel! We have only seen pieces of this story! Just think; you already met Father while he was in a completely separate story! It’s one big adventure! Do you not thirst for it? Surely, you are curious to know how your tale in Nyora weaves into his?”
Angel just smiled before lying down next to me. “It is curious. But I think I just have a thirst for normality.”
“And what is normal, Nik’dalo?”
“Fair enough.”
~
The next morning glowed bright and clear. Father awoke early to check the town for soldiers. Only a few of us joined him while the others lay in their beds. Father covered his head with his hood and wrapped a scarf around his face, revealing only his intense eyes. Stony and Kyle did the same, and we followed them down the street. The town looked completely different in the day. The drunks had disappeared, and regular vendors and merchants had taken their place. Women sat in small stables milking goats, and chickens scattered at my feet.
“How are we to get inside the palace grounds?” I asked, scanning the area for armor or the green and gray colors of the guard.
“I know when we can get inside, though I am still working on the how,” Stony admitted. “There is a banquet taking place tomorrow night, for the birthday of the queen. Such a fete would provide all the distraction needed. However, they guard the palace diligently. It will be difficult to get inside.”
We moved to the side of the street as a gypsy wagon rolled by. Ryan’s eyes lit up as he stared at the huge horses. “Do you have money, then?” he demanded anxiously. “I have an idea, only it’s going to cost something.” Father and Stony each handed Ryan a few pieces and Ryan quickly ran after the wagon.
“What do you think he’s doing?” I asked.
Kyle shook his head. “One can never tell what happens in that mind,” he replied.
Ryan strode back to us a few minutes later. “They are greedy. I need more.” Stony looked at Kyle.
“You have money.”
“But it’s mine!” Kyle cried out, clutching the side of his pants.
Father laughed. “Oh, to be so cheated!”
Kyle shot him a dirty look but handed his few coins to Ryan. I spun to Father as Ryan took off again.
“You mean that’s all the money you have…?”
“Keep your voice down, Gabriella!” Stony hissed. We remained silent as the curious jar-carriers continued past. “No, that is not all we have. We do not carry it all with us. The rest is hidden in our bags. Be silent.”
I supposed that made sense. I wasn’t sure how much money I was expecting them to have earned by treasure hunting, but with my father’s bounty so high, I knew it couldn’t be such a meager amount.
Ryan returned to us his arms full of colorful, silky garments, a lute, and a fur-covered drum. “They don’t know us. If the girls put these on, then we can say we’re entertainers,” he explained. “Perhaps then they shall let us inside.”
Father nodded. “Ah! Zairae! We are far from being at a disadvantage! We could never do this without them!”
We followed Father back to the inn. The others had awakened and were just headed to the stable, where tables had been put out, and breakfast set. As we ate, Ryan explained again what he had bought, Kyle still making remarks under his breath.
“The children are an added benefit that I keep overlooking,” Stony agreed, opening a large layout on the table. “However, we should still be wary. Anyone that gives the seraphs a good look will be able to see the resemblance.”
“There are scarves here,” Ryan said, looking at his pile. “They can cover their faces.”
“Agreed. Connie and Saramine will dance, Sean will play a lute and Ryan the drum.”
I looked up when I felt Father’s piercing gaze. “Gab, you will be one to slip away and steal the map.”
Me? Alone? I couldn’t help but smile broadly. He chose me over Angel. “We will dress you as a servant and you can break away from the group as they enter. You can pick locks should the situation call for it.”
I nodded excitedly as Stony handed me a parchment. “This is the layout, Gabriella. Study it. The queen’s apartments are located here, towards the west. The main ballroom is here. You will go north first, down this corridor, and then turn left in about 60 paces. This corridor is between two suits of armor. Once down that corridor, the easiest way is to take the servant’s stairs to the right here, just past the painting of the queen, down this hall here…there are windows on the right side. This is her door. The map half is framed above her bed.”
“Grand!”
“How did you get this?” Connie was startled. “How could you learn such private information?”
Kyle grinned. “Was not easy, that,” he said. “It involved tar, the dungeon master’s mother, and lots of ale.” Kyle shifted in his seat, a smile starting across his lips. “Masters shouldn’t drink, if ever you were curious.”
Kyle spun evilly to Stony, sending Father into a hysterical fit of laughter. My mother and Sean’s mother just smiled, looking down at their laps. Kyle was encouraged and continued. “You know. Whoo!”
Kyle flew into the air and slammed hard into a wall. He couldn’t stop laughing, even as he tumbled back onto th
e floor. “Taking your anger out on me again, I see!” Kyle flew into another wall.
“That’s enough now,” Father laughed, trying to wipe away his tears. “We’ve had our fun. We must finish discussing this. Zairae, let him go.”
Kyle rose to the top of the barn before he was released. He groaned as he sprawled on the floor. “Thanks,” he muttered, rubbing his end. The rest of us sat bewildered.
“What is the meaning of all this?” Connie asked.
“Making this layout required Zairae to forget himself a little,” Father replied, beginning to laugh again.
“A little. Yeah,” Kyle agreed with a smirk. “We’ll leave the details to your own imagination…” Kyle’s sentence was cut off with a scream, as he flew out of the open window.
“Let us be serious now!” Mother was annoyed. “We cannot…”
She cut off as the stable boy ran into the barn. The boy looked puzzled, but as he saw nothing out of the ordinary, he bowed before leaving. Kyle muttered to himself as he walked back inside.
“Enough, Kyle!”
Kyle huffed, but took his seat. Father couldn’t stop chuckling. I smiled. I enjoyed their banter, even though I had no idea what had happened.
“Do any of you know the dances of the gypsy?” Stony asked, turning to us. No one answered.
“I know the dances of the Inzi,” Saramine said at last. “I can teach Connie a few simple steps.”
“I shall help it,” Stony added. “Whoever watches will be enchanted until you cease. But you must be careful, boys and Gabriella. If you should watch, you will be under that trance too.”
I nodded and pulled the map closer to me. I didn’t want to disappoint. I needed to learn the layout. Turn right. The corridor was long and split into a separate hall with a staircase…Go up the stairs and to the left…
“We cannot go inside the castle village with you,” Father continued, “We will accompany you there, but once we are inside, you will be alone. Even you must also keep a low profile…even a small group could draw attention from the guard…”
“So, we will travel separately,” Angel said, not looking up from her meal. “We will go in pairs and gather later off the main road. I will be going with them.”
Father raised his eyebrows, and Stony stared at my sister intensively, but neither objected. How could they? Even without meaning to, Angel sounded chiefly.
“They will be inside unarmed,” she explained. “This plan seems sound, but we must prepare for everything.”
Father couldn’t be more thrilled. “Our daughter, Itsy!” Then, turning to me, he opened a large parchment. “Here, Gab, replace the map with this.”
We tip our hats to you, kind benefactor!
“Father!” I cried out with a laugh as he handed me the parchment. He just laughed and lifted his drink.
“To our kind benefactor!”
“To our kind benefactor!”
Chapter Five
Captive
“That is the city of Thenowe,” Father pointed, pushing his hood from his head. The city glimmered in the falling sun and the huge castle stretched high in the distance. “Be careful. If at least one of you are not back with news in six hours, we will come in after you.” Father bent to look at me. “Are you ready, Gab?” he asked.
I nodded. I stared at the layout, all night and made several tunes to help remember the directions in case. I was more than ready. I felt like I built the place. Father nodded and gently pulled my hood over my head before kissing my forehead. “Be careful.”
I smiled before turning to follow Angel down the steep hill. We reached the road right as an old man with a large cart drawn by two horses walked past. Immediately, Sean and Saramine introduced themselves. Sean took the huge jar the man carried and Saramine walked arm in arm with him, talking excitedly. She reminded him of his granddaughter, and he was thrilled. The rest of us jumped on the cart to take a ride. We went through the town gates with no trouble at all from the guard.
Once out of their sight, we jumped from the moving cart and bid the man farewell. We split into three groups and went our separate ways.
I bought Connie and myself a basket each and we often stopped at vendor stands to buy commodities. Once, I accidently crashed into a guard, dropping my basket and sending most of my items to the ground. We held our breaths, but the guard just smiled and apologized, helping me pick them up. Connie and I then continued to the palace and when we reached the wide park before the wall, we sat and at the bench in front of the fountain. We didn’t wait long. Sean and Saramine arrived not two minutes later, and Angel and Ryan came along in another three.
“Ma-hali,” Angel softly commanded. Connie and I placed our baskets at the base of the fountain and in a tight group, we made our way up the hill and to before the side gates. There were still many carriages pulling before the main gates of the castle, but we thought it better not to go above our place.
“What is your purpose?” A guard stood to greet us as we neared. Past him and under the arch of the door, were several more guards playing cards.
“We’re entertainers for the queen’s birthday,” answered Ryan in a strange accent. “From Yanuzae.”
“The queen has no need for entertainers,” answered the guard. “Goodbye.”
We turned to each other helplessly as the guard went back under the arch to join his friends.
“We should have known it would not be so easy,” Connie sighed, pushing back a few strands of hair that were in her eyes. Her scarf had blown out of place, just barely revealing her pink lips. The pink and maroon scarf perfectly accented her face…she just looked so pretty in that moment. “Do you think we should just try the main gate?”
“Any thoughts, then?” Ryan asked, turning to Angel. I had thoughts. But Connie wouldn’t like it.
“Take this off,” I said, pulling at her cloak. Connie was mortified.
“What?”
“Take it off,” I repeated. I stared over her shoulder at the guards playing their game and remembered the guard who I had run into near the border. “Those guards are young and you’re beautiful. Take it off.”
Connie’s face sank at my words, but she unwrapped the cloak from around her. “Gabriella…”
“You’ll be fine,” I said as I spun her around. One of those gypsy girls we got the scarves from had beautiful, full black hair that she let wild around her face. I would do the same with Connie. I quickly unbraided her hair, but Connie’s wasn’t as thick as the gypsy’s. Still, I tussled it around her face.
“But…but what shall I say?”
“Anything!” I answered, pulling off her sash so her stomach was bare and slipped her sleeves down so her shoulders were showing. She winced at each of my arrangements. Saramine’s eyes widened. “Just say whatever comes to mind and…and be flirty…”
“Gabriella! Have you not paid attention to anything I have taught you…?”
“Would you just shut up and go?” Ryan complained. “We’re right here…Angel is right here.”
Angel stayed silent, but her steady eyes were plastered on Connie’s. I gently pushed Connie back towards the arch. “Beg pardon,” she called. I rolled my eyes. She couldn’t behave like a princess, or it wouldn’t work. “We have traveled a great distance to perform here; I wish you would let us inside.”
“Gabby said flirty!”
“Are you still here?” The guard rose in a huff and stomped out to meet her. “I told you…” He froze. The look on his face was so mesmerized; I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Sean stepped forward.
“Come on.” The guard smiled broadly, waving his hands to enter. Connie stood frozen in terror until the rest of us caught up. The whole lot of guards rose, and chuckled and nudged each other as we walked through the arch.
“I am mortified, Gabriella,” Connie whispered, gritting her teeth. “Standing like this before the filthy guards! Father would kill me if he ever saw!”
The guards quickly parted, and they clappe
d as we went through them. Connie moved uneasily between Sean and Ryan, clutching their sleeves. We made it through the crowd of whooping guards, up the steps and to the servant’s door.
The guard posted at the door looked over Connie, and walked to meet us, but Angel stepped in front, letting her cloak open as she walked. Her daggers glistened in the dim light. The guard took the hint and quickly returned to his post.
Once inside, we walked quickly down the corridor. The distinct sound of music could be heard far ahead. I turned to look back. The door guard had gone.
“My leave,” I said, handing my cloak to Sean. Angel watched me for a moment before leading the others down the hall. I brushed out my simple frock and quickly opened the nearest servant’s door. Such a strange sensation to be alone. I felt more than prepared for my task, but completing it alone felt so surreal. I walked freely through the narrow servants’ halls. Up the stairs and to the left.
I forgot I was to play a servant girl. I opened doors far too freely and walked with far too much purpose. Still, I hadn’t run into anyone, and wandered the halls until I found my starting position.
I opened a door to the grand upper corridor. On one side were large windows, overlooking the dark, colorful gardens and letting in the moonlight. On the other side was the balcony that overlooked the huge banquet room. The king waved his hand, and at the command, Sean, Ryan, Connie and Saramine neared a platform set near the head of the table. The cloaked silhouette of my sister leaned unassumingly on a pillar nearby.
Sean played the lute, and Ryan kept the beat while Connie and Saramine danced. I wanted to watch, I only saw them practicing briefly, but remembered to avert my eyes. When Sean began to sing, his beautiful voice echoed the hall, but when Saramine joined him, all conversations stopped instantly. The guests were captivated. Stony probably didn’t even need to enchant the dance; Saramine and Sean’s voices were good enough to fare without. With a smile, I hurried across the hall.
