An Unfortunate Beginning

by Natasha Brown

  Something swooped overhead and I ducked down, covering my head and neck. My heart thundered in my chest while I stared into the sky. The form of a bird curled through the air and I breathed a sigh of relief. It landed alongside the road and squawked. From this distance I could see it wasn’t truly a bird. I gaped as I realized this was the creature I had written about. A tamerac.

  It was more beautiful and strange than I could have imagined. Beady ice blue eyes stared at me, which sent a chill down my spine. Its body was a foot in length with emerald scales that shimmered down its torso like a serpent. Iridescent wings shone, displaying spider-webbed veins that pulsed with color. If this animal took after the one I wrote about in my story, then I hoped it liked handouts. I slipped my pack off my shoulders slowly, and rested it on the ground as I rifled through it in search of some food. I found the granola bar and snapped off a tiny piece. The tamerac tilted its head as it watched my movements with curiosity.

  I tossed the crumb ahead of me on the road and the creature flew over and snatched it up in its toothy jaw. I snapped off one last piece of granola bar and put the rest back into my bag. I stood up straight, if only to feel bigger, and put on my backpack. I was tempted to hold the treat out to the animal, but those teeth appeared very sharp. “Want this?” I was curious to see if the animal was as intelligent as I’d written it to be. “Bring me that rock and I’ll trade you.” I pointed to a reddish stone a couple feet in front of me.

  The tamerac’s clawed feet scrambled on the gravel as it scurried forward. I held my breath as it stopped before the stone. “Yes, that one,” I said and pointed to it again, completely amazed. Certain of its target, it snatched the pebble in its beak and opened its wings, brushing them against the road before lifting into the air. I realized in terror that it was flying straight at me, but before I could react, it landed on my outstretched arm. Claws clamped onto me and I was thankful I had on so many layers so I didn’t feel its sharp talons against my skin.

  I swallowed the massive lump that formed in my throat and I reminded myself to breathe. While it waited expectantly, I fought the urge to throw up and opened my other hand and offered it the bit of granola bar. It didn’t hesitate. In one swift motion the rock was dropped in my palm and the treat disappeared.

  “Brilliant. You’re smarter than a dog.” I imagined myself petting its head and it biting one of my fingers off. “Those are some sharp teeth.”

  It leaned forward to inspect my open hand and I abruptly yanked it back, causing the red pebble to tap on the ground. With it so close to me, I noticed its eyes were no longer ice blue, but purple. As interesting as it was staring at a fictional creature, my arm was starting to tire under its weight. How was I going to get this thing off of me?

  “Okay, time to go. No more,” I said, hoping it would understand what I wanted. To my amazement, it opened its breathtaking translucent wings and lifted into the air.

  I stood with my mouth agape like a pitcher plant trying to collect rainwater as I watched the bird-like animal move through the sky. What was I doing? It was time to move on. This wasn’t a trip to the petting zoo – I needed to catch up with Pepper before she got herself into trouble.

  More trouble.

  More buildings came into view as I continued on the road, and I could see I was getting close to a town. Dead grass covered the valley in a yellow velveteen carpet. Although it wasn’t green or living, it was nice not seeing more gray crushed stone. Gangly trees stood together to make up a sad sort of forest at the far end of the glen. Stone spires reached above their branches and I spotted what appeared to be another castle. I wondered if I had found Revel Green.

  Children were out in the street playing, but when they saw me coming they darted away and into a nearby storefront. Faces framed in windowpanes stared out at me and I flushed from the attention. I gripped the straps of my backpack and ventured along the street.

  I didn’t make it far before a group of teenage boys saw me and one of them called out, “What are you doing here? You lost?”

  Freaking brilliant. I never covered up my uniform with my coat. I looked around for a way out of the situation.

  The boy who yelled at me strode forward and swept his blonde hair from his face. He flashed his dimples as his friends followed behind him. “You have the rocks to walk into Revel Green with that on?” He pointed at my black leather uniform and sneered. “You’re stupid or cocky. Either way, you need to leave.”

  “Yeah,” his friends chorused.

  I wasn’t one to confront a fight, so I did what any coward would do. I turned and ran. Down a side street and past shady doorways I flew, with the boys’ shouts echoing behind me. “Hey – stop!”

  I looked over my shoulder to see how close they were when I ran into something.

  “Oy! Watch where you’re going.”

  A guard dressed in blue picked me off of him and adjusted his tunic.

  “Uh, sorry. Won’t happen again,” I said and checked on the boys, who had stopped and were falling over themselves laughing at me.

  I tried to walk away when the guard saw my uniform and his eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute – you’re one of Slag’s men. You need to come with me. My captain will want a word with you.”

  He grabbed hold of my arm and led me away. The jeers of the boys faded as we wound our way down the cobbled road. As we walked through the streets, I felt on display. The leather uniform that had kept me from freezing in the cold was like a big Kick Me sign now that I was no longer in Slag’s territory. We ventured up the road and toward the castle nestled in the trees. A breeze combed past us, and whistled as it blew across my face. I hunched, lifting my shoulders up to my ears.

  I slowed down and tried to reason with my captor. “I’m sorry sir. I’m not really a soldier in Slag’s army. I escaped, and I’m here because I’m searching for my friend, a girl named Pepper. She would have come through here this morning.”

  The man forced me along, making me pick up the pace. “No one just escapes Slag’s army. You’re just a boy. You expect me to believe your story?”

  “I didn’t do it alone. A man named Malick helped me escape while we rescued his son.”

  He stopped and turned to me. “Malick, eh?”

  “Yeah, we escaped together. I’m not from your land, and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  The guard seemed to think about it for a moment and he waved me down a dark side alley. I didn’t have any choice but to follow, and I hoped I wasn’t about to get ground up.

  “Tell me, what happened? Red came back alone a week ago without Malick and I’m hearing all sorts of stories from my buddies up at the castle.”

  I was taken aback. “Really? Well, we were at a tower gate, almost free when we were stopped. I snuck away,” I muttered, embarrassed. “I’m not sure what happened.”

  “Hmm,” he answered, “I believe you. Don’t have the face of a liar, plus you’re just a kid.”

  I thrust my hands into my pockets and felt the strange stone. I traced my thumb over its smooth, cold surface as I tried to relax.

  “So, Malick never came back? What about his friends?” I asked, their faces fresh in my mind.

  “No, they didn’t return. Red was taken to King Richard to give an account of what happened, poor kid. I hear the king’s pretty upset. Not sure there’s any way the situation could be worse.”

  “What do you mean? Is Red okay?”

  “He is for now, at least for a kid without any parents. The king’s named Malick and his men traitors and if they show up, they’ll be tossed in the dungeons for endangering the princess’s life. That’s only if she lives. If the princess dies, then I wouldn‘t want to be in Malick’s shoes.”

  It seemed messed up to accuse someone of being a traitor just for trying to save his son. King Richard was either a real jerk, or he was wacked in the head. Either way, I didn’t want to meet him.

  “So is she alive?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

&nb
sp; “Don’t know. There’s been no word from Slag yet. Don’t know what’s happening in Valen right now. King Richard’s reduced his forces as a show of goodwill and it’s just a waiting game.”

  “Wow, that’s not good.”

  The guard shook his head. “No, it’s not. Let’s hope the princess is still alive.”

  I paused, trying to decide how to change the direction of the conversation. “It’s really important I find my friend. We need to go back to our home, and it’s a long way from here. You didn’t happen to see her come through here earlier? She’s got black hair, probably pulled into a ponytail and lots of black stuff around her eyes. My age.”

  He craned his neck past me first and rubbed his beard. “Yeah. Don’t know how to break it to you, but I think she was the girl that was taken up to the castle. She was trying to gather up a crowd of people to go save the princess. King’s pretty sensitive about things like that – not allowed to spout off like that in Revel Green. I understand you’re not from here and all, but it’s not wise to make waves ‘n all.”

  And there it was. The great news I was waiting for.

  “She was taken up to the castle? Because she wants to rescue the princess?”

  “According to the king, hope only leads to more death. He’s attempted everything in his power to rescue her. When Slag threatened to kill her if the king tried anything else, that ended all of that.”

  “What will happen to my friend?” I asked, feeling my throat tighten.

  The guard patted my shoulder. “I’ll put it this way – if you don’t see her in the next couple of hours, then I’d go home without her. Listen kid, I shouldn’t let you go, not after the scene you made wearing this getup, but, I might have a problem holding on to you, being a squirmy kid ‘n all.” He smiled at me and added, “I’d get out of town today. And cover up, for goodness sake.”

  He brushed past me and before he walked onto the street I called out, “Wait, where can I find Red?”

  The man pointed to his left and answered, “Get out of that tunic before you land yourself in the dungeons, then follow the main road up to the castle and make your way to the battlement wall, take a left and follow it around to the blacksmiths. Malick’s house is just to the right of it.”

  “Thanks!”

  He nodded, rested his hand on the butt of his sword hilt and strode off down the street, away from me. I ducked against the brick wall of the building beside me, dropped my backpack to the ground, pulled out my jacket and slipped it on, zipping it all the way up to my chin. That ought to do it.

  Now all I needed to do was find Red and rescue Pepper. Easy-peasy.

  Chapter 13 - Into the Castle

  I jogged in the direction the guard had pointed, ready to get this whole trip over with. I wasn’t sure if Red would be able to help me, but he was my only option. Before long I reached the edge of the town and the battlements rose above me. I spotted a few men in blue tunics as I walked under a large archway. They watched me pass with curious expressions, paying particular attention to my jacket.

  Once I was through the walls I turned left, just like the guard had instructed me. Buildings were stacked together against the outer wall. Many looked like homes. There was a large stable, and I knew I was getting close when loud clanking could be heard. Smoke rose from an opening in a rooftop and when I passed by, I could see a man hard at work at a forge. If I didn’t have a purpose, I would have stood there all day watching him, but I didn’t want to stay any longer than I had to. So, I walked up to Red’s door and knocked.

  After a minute, I heard shuffling behind the door and a voice called out, “Hold on.”

  While I waited, I crammed my hands into my pockets to keep them warm. I rubbed my thumb against the smooth rock and pinched my lips together. Suddenly, the door swung open.

  A bright tuft of scarlet hair framed Red’s familiar face. His green eyes widened and he stepped back, clearly surprised to find me on his doorstep.

  “Hi, Red. Can I come in?”

  He nodded and stood back, giving me room to pass. The house was dark, just like everything else around here, and filled with rustic furniture. At one end of the room was a fireplace. Within it, a crackling fire radiated warmth while it lit everything nearby with a rosy glow.

  I stepped back as Red offered me a handshake and a seat beside the fire. He scratched his head and said, “What happened to you? You disappeared that night.”

  Without warning, a flood of guilt rushed through me and I couldn’t look at him. I wasn’t sure what to say. I’m sorry, I thought it was all a dream and I just wanted to save myself didn’t seem quite right.

  Red said softly, “My dad was captured, you know. His friends, too. He told me to run for it and escape – that it all would have been in vain if I got captured with him. I wanted to go back for him, but…” The desperation on his face was clear. I knew that look, that feeling. “King Richard is furious with father for trying to rescue me. It risked the princess’s life and if she dies because of him, I just know what will happen. He’ll attack Slag, and there’ll only be more death and destruction. I’m worried the king’ll kick me out of the city. I have nowhere to go, Nim. My dad’s my only family.”

  “Sorry, Red. I should’ve stuck around. I saw trouble and got outta there. I know what it’s like losing a parent. I’m all alone, too. Nothing worse.”

  Red nodded and stared at the fire in silence.

  Now I had to bring myself to ask Red for help even though I didn’t deserve it. I was embarrassed even asking, but I thought of Pepper sitting in the dungeons and forced the words out. “Say, Red. I came to the city looking for my friend. Neither of us are from your land, and we got separated. I need to get her home, but I hear she was taken to the castle.”

  “She was taken to the castle? Do you know why?”

  I rubbed my temple and answered, “Well, it sounds like she was trying to get some people together to save the princess.”

  “Your friend brain damaged?” Red asked dryly.

  “Naw, you’d think, but she’s really stubborn and just doesn’t get it.” I adjusted in my seat and said with a sigh, “Red, I hate asking, but is there any way you could help me get her out of here? I just want to find her and take her home.”

  Red stared at me and said, “Well, my time in the city’s limited anyway. S’pose I could use my connections to help you out. The benefit of your dad being the king’s general is you know everyone you need to know. Question is, who will help me now that Dad’s being called a…traitor.”

  And I thought my life was pitiful. At least I had a home and someone to care for me.

  “Bring your stuff, Nim, we’re going to the castle.” He jumped up and grabbed a small shovel next to the hearth, scooped up some ashes and dumped them over the fire. Next he put on a suede jacket and headed to the front door. I followed him onto the street.

  “This way. We’ll go in through the kitchens. The head cook always had a thing for Dad. Bet she’d help us out. Just let me do all the talking – got it?”

  “No problem.”

  We walked around to the back of the castle and Red strode down a set of stone steps to an open doorway. The sounds of clanging pots and voices told me we were where we needed to be. I stayed close to him as he moved with confidence through the kitchen and up to a robust woman with a cloth wrapped around her head.

  “Red, my dear boy, how are you? I’ve been worried about you. Did you get the bread I left at your door the other day?” she asked him, her crow’s feet wrinkling as she spoke.

  “Yeah, I did. Thanks, Nellie.”

  “Bet you miss your dad. You’re not the only one. Have faith he’ll make his way back home and the princess will be found safe. Surely the king would forgive him then – they’re old friends after all.” Nellie smiled at Red, but there was a trace of doubt hidden beneath the grin. “How can I help you? Anything you need, dear.”

  Red looked at me and said, “It’s our friend. She was taken to the castle
today for speaking of saving the princess.”

  Nellie tsked and shook her head in response.

  “We need to find her and get her out of the city. Any way you can find out where she is?”

  Nellie looked over her shoulder and her eyes grew steely as she searched the room. “Theresa!” she barked.

  A young woman scurried over to us, bowed her eyes and said, “Yes, ma’am?”

  “There was a young woman brought into the castle today. We need to find out where she was taken. Pete tell you of any ladies taken to the dungeons?”

  “That would be gossip, ma’am. Good maids don’t involve ourselves with gossip.”

  Nellie put her hands on her hips and leaned in. “Theresa, I completely agree. We are all good servants to the king. But I can’t be sure if I’ve ever seen you strolling through the hallways with your fella when you’ve got other duties…”

  Theresa nodded quickly and whispered. “Pete didn’t say anything about a girl being taken down to the dungeons. But I waited on a young lady not long ago. Maybe she is who you’re looking for?”

  “Would you kindly take these two boys to her? And take the back passages there, please,” Nellie said and shooed all three of us out of the kitchens.

  “Follow me, please.” Theresa grimaced and hurried away.

  She led us upstairs and through so many passageways, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find my way back out again. The halls were dark except for the candles and windows that lined the walls. The paintings were like windows into different worlds, happy worlds.

  Theresa stopped at a door and said, “Make sure you leave the same way you came in.” She scurried away and vanished around a corner.

  Red and I looked at each other before he reached out and turned the knob. The door creaked open, exposing a small room filled with fancy things.

  Pepper stood up from a chair beside the ornate fireplace mantle and within seconds, she had rushed over and wrapped her arms around my neck. My heart thundered in my ears at her sudden affection. When she pulled away, she had on a bright smile. “I hoped you’d come!”