by Laurie McKay
Rosa trampled a yellow daisy as she came to meet Caden on the front step. Her pickup was parked in the space in front of Ward’s house. Brynne, Tito, and Jane were in the truck’s backseat. Jane and Brynne were watching. Both looked shamed, although he guessed Brynne was faking it. Tito was between them with his hands pressed to his cheeks. Ward’s mother stood on the sidewalk.
“You’re early,” Caden said.
At that point, Jasan came outside. Rosa looked at Jasan. She stared for an instant. Then she reached for Caden’s arm and nodded to Jasan. “Who’s this?” she said in English at the same time Jasan said it in Royal Razzon.
Desirae spoke up. “He’s a new teacher at the school.”
Maybe she did know Manglor was from another realm. Maybe she knew Caden, Brynne, and Jasan were as well. From the way she’d jumped into the conversation, he suspected it.
Rosa looked between Caden and Jasan. Was there any family resemblance? Jasan looked like the first queen. Caden had a different mother, but there were similarities—same nose, same-shaped eyes.
Caden pulled away and glared back at Jasan. He should say Jasan was his half brother. But what did it matter? Jasan wouldn’t understand his words anyway. Looking back at Rosa, he said, “He’s my brother. He’s been banished for crimes he didn’t commit.”
Instead of grimacing or telling Caden to stop with his stories, Rosa seemed sad. “Get in the truck, Caden,” she said.
He started to move forward, but Jasan grabbed the back of his horse T-shirt and stopped him. “I asked you a question,” Jasan said in Royal Razzon. “Who is this person?”
Caden jerked from his grasp and answered in the royal tongue. “Someone who does consider me family,” he said.
Rosa reached out and pulled Caden to her. “Don’t grab him like that.” She looked at Jasan with blatant suspicion. “What language is that? How do you know Caden?”
“He doesn’t understand English,” Caden said to Rosa. To Jasan, he said, “She’s my guardian in this strange land.” Then, in English, he added, “He’s speaking Royal Razzon.”
Jasan glared at her. Rosa glared back but didn’t seem to know what to think.
Desirae laughed nervously.
It seemed Jasan had had enough. “Just go, Caden.” His voice seemed to crack on the name. “Keep away from me.” He went inside. A moment later, the front door of his picturesque yellow town house locked with a click. It seemed he did know how to work the door after all.
“What did he say?” Rosa said.
“He said to leave.”
Caden looked at the pickup. In the backseat, Brynne pointed at Rosa, then made a face like she was screaming in fear. As if Rosa sensed it, she turned. Immediately, Brynne closed her mouth, closed her eyes, and sank back into her seat. Caden began to think they were in great trouble with their foster mother, and he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to go home with her.
“Then let’s leave,” Rosa said. “Now.”
Maybe this wasn’t a time to be rebellious. Although not cursed for another day, Caden complied. “As you wish,” he said, trudging to the pickup and climbing in the passenger seat.
Rosa remained outside for a moment. She seemed to be apologizing to Ward’s mother and kept motioning to the truck. By the yellow town house’s front window, Jasan peeked through his curtains, eating a candy bar, his gaze moving from Rosa to Caden to Brynne in the backseat.
Brynne leaned forward. “He looks upset.”
“You took his chocolate.” Caden buckled his seat belt. “And he’s been banished.” Although he was as upset as he’d ever been with his brother, Brynne should know Jasan wasn’t a traitor. In a small voice, he added, “They think he killed Chadwin. He’s innocent, though.”
“Of course,” she said. “Rath Dunn wants his blood. That’s why he’s here. Prince Jasan is honorable and brave.” Then she smiled. “He’s looking at me, too.”
Caden was tired of her talking about Jasan. He didn’t want to hear it.
Having the gift of speech wasn’t all about speaking languages and charming people. It was about knowing what to say to get the desired response. Right now, Caden wanted Brynne to stop talking about his brother. He turned to her. “If he finds out you cursed me, he’ll be furious.”
Her smile faded. “Don’t tell him, then,” she said. Brynne was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “He’s especially protective of you.”
“Not really.”
Jane had been looking out the window. “Rosa’s coming back,” she warned.
Brynne glanced out, biting her bottom lip as she saw Jasan. “It’s just—” She twisted her hands together. “Look, prince, he might get really angry if he finds out. . . .”
“I suspect so.”
She took a deep breath. “Don’t tell him. He’ll never forgive me, Caden,” Brynne said. “For doing that to you.”
“I suspect he won’t.”
Rosa was standing beside the driver’s door. She had her head down like she was breathing deeply and counting.
“Please,” Brynne said.
Rosa was opening the door.
Brynne quickly added, “Don’t tell him. Not until I’ve fixed it. I’ll break the curse or destroy the moon. I’ll figure something out. I promise. Please.”
Rosa didn’t say much when she got in the car. Nor did she look at them. When Caden opened his mouth to speak, she held up her hand. “I don’t want to hear a word until we’re home.”
Caden wasn’t sure why she was so mad. People would often answer a question when asked even if they didn’t want to do so. “Why?” he said.
Rosa, however, was of strong mind. She didn’t answer. Someone in the back kicked his seat. From the arrangement of people behind him, it was likely Jane this time. Which meant the kick was a warning, not an idle tease.
When they pulled up to Rosa’s house, Officer Levine’s patrol car was parked in the drive. He and Jenkins stood on the porch. They were in full uniform. An official visit, it seemed.
Rosa put the truck into park. “Inside. On the couch. All of you.”
This was a bad development.
They squeezed on the green interrogation couch—Jane on the flank, Tito and Caden in the middle, then Brynne on the other side. Brynne was leaning back and closing her eyes. Feigning sleep was her typical strategy when in trouble.
Jane looked worried, and she grabbed Tito’s hand. Tito was bouncing his leg up and down, up and down, in an unconscious tic. He looked like he might be sick at any moment.
They should worry less. Rosa’s punishments consisted of long talks and reduced computer and phone privileges. Her punishments were nothing like the fiery flogging of the Autumnlands, or the hard and often bloody labor of the elvish ruby mines. Her punishments were unpleasant, not torture.
Well, Rosa’s disappointment might amount to torture for Tito. Tito didn’t seem to understand Rosa would never send him away. Caden believed Rosa loved Tito most of all of them. Not that Tito could see it.
Rosa stood in front of them. She wore a green camouflage top and a long yellow skirt. There was nothing happy in her expression. Officer Levine stood beside her, but his expression had more compassion. Jenkins stood to the right with a tablet.
Officer Levine sighed. “There was a break-in at your school last night.”
Tito flinched, and Caden saw Jane squeeze his hand.
Rosa peered at them, each in turn. Her gaze paused on Brynne. “Eyes open, young lady.”
Brynne squirmed but did as told.
“There was a considerable mess made in the hall.”
Caden raised his brows. “We caused none of it. And I don’t like messes.”
Officer Levine nodded. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
He peered at Caden. “All right.”
Jenkins looked up. His red hair looked dark indoors. “The secretary reported seeing three kids running from the school.” He pointed his pen at Caden, then Tito. “Two boys,” he said, then flip-f
lopped his pen slowly to each end of the couch. “One girl.”
Rosa was fuming. Caden could imagine steam rising from the floor on which she stood. She zeroed in on Tito. “Did you go to the school last night?”
“No,” Jane said.
Rosa made a motion to indicate she wanted everyone silent. “I’m asking Tito,” she said.
She was a skilled interrogator, indeed. Neither Jane nor Brynne looked ready to break. Caden was an eighth-born prince. He was solid as a stone. Also, he didn’t care too much. His mind kept wandering back to Jasan, to the accidents, to other things of importance. Tito, however, was close to talking. Disappointing Rosa was his weak spot.
Tito didn’t look at her. His hand looked limp in Jane’s. “Yes, Rosa,” he said.
“You lied to me,” she said.
Tito, who had stood tall while threatened by villain and vermin, looked terrified.
“We vandalized nothing. Matter of point,” Caden said, “we were attacked by Mr. Creedly and his rats.”
Officer Levine frowned at him. “Uh-huh,” he said. “Was it your bright idea to break into the school?”
The others might keep silent, might keep their intent and motives close. Caden wouldn’t. He would tell them the truth until they believed him. “Ms. Primrose ordered me to find the cause of the gas accident. She’s going to eat my brother and me on Tuesday if I fail.”
“That’s pretty specific, son,” Officer Levine said.
“It is.”
Rosa was looking at him now, too. Some of her anger seemed to have dimmed. “Phones on the table.”
Tito and Jane immediately put their phones on the coffee table. Caden tossed his down as well. Brynne hesitated. Truly, she loved her phone. She seemed to love all Ashevillian tech.
“You have until the count of five,” Rosa said. “One.”
With a huff, and a defiant expression that meant she’d just steal it back later, Brynne complied.
“You three,” she said, and motioned to Jane, Tito, and Brynne. “Upstairs. Now. You can stay in your rooms until I decide what to do with you.” She pointed to Caden. “You, don’t move.”
It seemed Caden was in the most trouble. Once Caden heard the girls walk into their room and Tito’s slow footfalls on the creaky attic steps, Rosa sat down next to him. “This is serious, Caden,” she said.
“The school may press charges, son,” Officer Levine said. “Against all of you.”
Caden looked from her to Officer Levine. That sounded different from Rosa’s grounding. A good leader protected his people. “Jane wasn’t there.”
Jenkins scribbled on his tablet. “You sure about that, kid?”
“I tell the truth,” Caden said.
They were speaking softly. It was an odd shift, as Rosa was obviously furious with the others. If anything, she should be most angry at him. It made his stomach twitch. He still didn’t understand the strange culture here, and “press charges” was an odd phrase.
In Caden’s mind, charges brought up images of Sir Horace barreling down a mountain, but it must have had another meaning. Many English words had multiple meanings, and sometimes Caden’s gift of speech only helped him with the literal one.
Would he be crushed by a stone, or charged by a horde of beasts? Punishments like those seemed rare in this land. Besides, he didn’t need to know what it meant. “Ms. Primrose won’t press charges.” Of this, he was certain. “She gave me my quest.”
Officer Levine stared at him a moment, then said, “Son, you were seen at the school last night, and last night the school was vandalized.”
“I damaged nothing,” he told them. “You think too lowly of me.”
“Kid,” Jenkins said, “you’ve got to learn to shut it.”
Caden most certainly did not need to learn to shut it. He turned back to Officer Levine. “Mr. Creedly was there. He caused the bees to swarm during the spelling bee.” He thought back to the dark science classroom. “Rath Dunn and Ms. Jackson were there, too, skulking around in the dark. They are the ones you should question.”
Rosa took his hand. “Why do you think that, Caden?”
Caden looked down at their hands and raised a brow. “I don’t think that. I know that.”
Officer Levine and Rosa exchanged a look. It was a sad, concerned look that Caden didn’t at all appreciate. “Caden,” Rosa began.
“I have proof,” Caden said. “Hand me my phone.” Reluctantly, Rosa handed it back to him. He played the audio file. “Can you tell me that wasn’t threatening?”
For a moment, she seemed lost for words. “No,” she said finally, “I can’t. But that doesn’t mean he’s a tyrant from another realm. And I don’t know when you recorded that, or in what context.”
“I just told you when and where.” He held her gaze. “And Rath Dunn is a tyrant, and he is from the Greater Realm.”
“I know you believe that, Caden,” Rosa said, but it didn’t sound as if she did.
Officer Levine sat down on his other side. “Son, we are trying to help you.”
Caden straightened his posture. “You still believe I’m crazy.”
Rosa squeezed his hand. “We don’t think you’re crazy, Caden.”
He pulled away from her. “Brynne and Tito also were there. Ask Manglor, Ward’s father—he knows.” He stood up. “Ask my brother. Actually, go ask Ms. Primrose.”
“And if I do, and they remember things differently?”
“They won’t.”
“We should talk about this later.” Rosa took a deep breath. “Go upstairs. For now, you’re grounded.”
Caden wasn’t quite ready to go upstairs. He felt incredibly uncomfortable under their scrutiny and had to remind himself to keep his shoulders square. He looked at each of them and over to Jenkins. “You also thought me wrong when I said Jane had been kidnapped. But I was right about the lunch witches.”
“You were right that Jane was taken by some troubled people,” Rosa admitted. She seemed to neither be agreeing with him nor challenging him.
“Yes, troubled lunch witches.” He crossed his arms. “You should consider that I’m right about this, too. You need to open your eyes to the reality of my school before someone else is hurt. It is dangerous. No one should go to school there.”
Jane had been kidnapped at the school. The science room had exploded. The spelling bee had turned into a disaster. Caden frowned at his thoughts. Why hadn’t Rosa taken him, Jane, Brynne, and Tito out of the school? Why hadn’t any of the parents done so? Caden hadn’t thought about leaving the school before, either. It was an unsettling realization.
Caden and Ms. Primrose had agreed to the unbreakable terms of his quest in a forgotten tongue. She made her teachers sign contracts in blood. Hadn’t Rosa filled out paperwork when Caden had enrolled? Maybe the parents and students were bound to Ms. Primrose, too.
“It’s a good school,” Rosa said.
“And a dangerous one.” Caden turned and went toward the steps. He looked back. “Jane is alive because of me.”
“I know,” Rosa said.
When Caden got to the attic room, Tito was crouched in the corner by the floor vent. When he saw Caden he put his finger to his lips—a signal for silence—and waved him over. Caden knelt beside him. He could hear Rosa’s voice filter up through the house.
“These paranoid stories of his are affecting the other kids,” she started. Her words were muffled, but if he strained he could understand. “Jane’s still in recovery. Tito has never gotten into trouble like this before. He never had trouble with Mr. Rathis before. And goodness knows Brynne needs no encouragement. Half the time, I think they believe him. Sometimes, I almost do. He’s a good kid, but he’s a bad influence.”
Truly, Caden was taken aback. His royal personage wasn’t a bad influence—especially when compared to Brynne. “Brynne’s the bad influence, not me,” Caden whispered.
“Quiet,” Tito mouthed.
Officer Levine’s voice was kind. “What’s his counse
lor say?”
“That Caden believes what he says. Every word of it.” She laughed, but she didn’t sound happy. “Harold”—that was Officer Levine’s first name—“I’m worried the counselor might believe him, too.”
“We’ll find another counselor, then.”
Caden wasn’t liking what he heard through this vent. Also, his counselor wasn’t supposed to talk to other people about their conversations. During their next session, Caden was going to have to address that betrayal. There was the sound of movement. He heard the front door open and shut. Quickly, Tito cracked open the attic window.
Their words became clearer. Then: “I don’t know what to do. And I don’t know what to think about the scene with the new gym teacher.”
“What do you want to do?”
When Rosa next spoke, her voice was more solid, more even. She sounded like a general who had made a difficult choice. “I’ve got three other kids to think about. I’ve got to protect them.” Caden moved to the window. Their voices became fainter as they stepped off the porch. “Maybe if he went into treatment for a few weeks. I could apply to get him leave from school.”
Maybe Caden was wrong. Maybe students could escape the school.
Then Rosa added, “He could come back if he got better.” Then again, maybe not.
The words left him more unsettled than Rosa and Officer Levine’s gentle demeanor. If they believed him a bad influence and vandal, they should be angry at him like they were at Tito, Brynne, and Jane. He turned and looked at Tito.
Tito was wide-eyed and his mouth agape. “You’ve got to convince them you’re not crazy. They’re going to send you to the nuthouse.”
Despite the name, the “nuthouse” was not a storing place for Ashevillian pecans and walnuts. It was Tito’s term for a terrible place with wailing people and padded cells. It was worse than “juvie,” apparently. Caden wasn’t sure what “juvie” was either, but the way Tito talked about it, Caden assumed neither place was somewhere he wanted to go.
Tito started talking again. “They think your crazy is causing problems for the rest of us, so you have to convince them you’re getting better.”
