Then the chase began. Mr. Jordan, Christopher, King Rupert, Prince Jeremiah and several others in the room chased after Magic like carnival goers after a greased pig. But each time someone thought he had wrestled Magic to a stop, the dog writhed, wriggled and squirmed until he was free again to spin around the room like tumbleweed in a raging wind.
Finally, King Rupert and Prince Jeremiah had Magic in their sights as he ran between two of the marble pillars toward a wall. They charged at the dog, but as Magic glanced both left and right to make his escape, he noticed two other men, one coming directly at him from either side. In a last ditch effort to get away, Magic leaped in the air to jump through the forest of arms arrowing in on him. But he didn’t sail high enough and felt a grasp of hands on his legs and collar as he was pulled back to the floor like a hot air balloon by its tethers.
The four men stumbled to the floor to keep Magic in check as he struggled to escape. Suddenly the dog went as limp as wet paper and lay on the floor and stretched, now more in the mood to be petted and fussed with than to bark and scramble about. He looked at his captors with large curious eyes, hoping for a treat and unaware that anything out of the ordinary had just happened.
“Well that was some unlooked for entertainment!” King Rupert sputtered as he knelt on the floor and wiped his brow.
“My men should never have allowed this beast inside the room in the first place! My apologies, sir,” Ulric said to the King. He was one of the two men who approached Magic from the side. “I had just entered the chamber and jumped into the fray when I saw what was happening.”
“As did I,” the second man said. “No way was I going to allow this canine menace to knock over the food table after all the preparation I had put into it!” Mr. Smithers stood with one hand on his hip and wagged a finger at Magic. “Bad dog!”
Then Prince Jeremiah jumped up just as Rosalind hurried over to them. She was relieved that the situation was under control, though somewhat amused that it took four grown men to subdue one dog.
“Can we look forward to this at our wedding party?” Jeremiah snapped. A gray veil clouded his sky blue eyes as he stared at Rosalind and fumed.
“Oh, now don’t have such a prickly attitude. It’s only a dog after all,” Rosalind said, kneeling down to pet Magic. He wagged his head as his tongue hung out the side of his mouth and his tailed bobbed in the air. “He seems to be settled down now.”
“Well, he had better stay that way!” Jeremiah quietly warned.
Soon everyone was gathered around Magic, surprised that this friendly canine was the very same dog that not a moment ago was creating havoc like a plague of locusts through a wheat field. The dog sat on its hind legs as Molly knelt down next to him.
“What’s gotten into you, Magic? You know that’s not the proper way to behave.” She looked into his eyes and scratched behind his ears. Magic simply panted and smiled at her. “I’m very disappointed in you, Magic. Not a good dog. Not good.”
“What’s going on?” Vergil whispered as he tugged at his mother’s finger. He had wandered over to observe the commotion.
“My other handful,” she said as she picked up Vergil. He immediately rested his head on Mrs. Jordan’s shoulder. “What happened to Magic? Why’d he get so riled up?”
“I don’t know…” Vergil muttered, closing his eyes and hugging his mother. “I’m tired now. I want a nap.”
“Well, that’s a first,” Mr. Jordan whispered to his wife. He watched as his son fell fast asleep in her arms.
“Come on, Molly,” Christopher said. “Let’s take Magic to another room so everyone can get back to partying like normal people. Sorry about this, King Rupert.”
“Well, no real harm done,” he said, now quite calmed down. “This little incident will help me and my wife to remember this wonderful day just that much more in the years to come. Right, love?” he said with a grin.
“Now that’s why I married you, Rupert,” Queen Eleanor replied, smiling back.
Molly then looked up to her left and right. “Well, hello there, Ulric and Mr. Smithers. I was wondering when I would bump into you two. How’ve you been?”
“Quite busy, as you can see,” Ulric said, pleased to finally meet all of the Jordan family. “That dog of yours was quite a handful to subdue, even for the King’s chief guard. But I suppose it’s good to be kept on one’s toes now and then,” he added with a chuckle.
Mr. Smithers laughed too, relieved that Magic hadn’t run into the food table. “Though I’m still a member of the King’s guard, I also assist with the kitchen staff. I labored for days on that cake. Would have hated to see it topple onto the floor like a snowman in warm weather.”
“Indeed!” a voice within the crowd said. A woman stepped out and placed her hand on Mr. Smithers’ shoulder. “I wouldn’t have heard the end of it for a week, I’ll bet.”
“Maybe just one day, Emma,” Mr. Smithers said to her with a wink. The woman had long auburn hair, and though several years younger than Queen Eleanor, she possessed similar facial features to the Queen. “By the way, I’d like you to meet Queen Eleanor’s younger sister,” he said to the Jordans. Mr. Smithers stood and gently took hold of her hand. “This is Emma, my wife.”
All were elated that Mr. Smithers had found true happiness in Endora. As the Jordans peppered him and Emma with all sorts of questions, Princess Rosalind smiled at her fiancé and whispered into his ear.
“I can’t wait until we’re married this summer so everyone can fuss over us and our happiness. Our wedding day can’t come soon enough, Jeremiah.” The princess glowed with pure joy as she rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, what a happy day that will be,” he sarcastically muttered. “Let’s remember to invite the dog, too.”
“Now enough of that talk, Jeremiah.”
“Magic can provide the entertainment and then everyone will be as giddy with delight as they are right now.”
Princess Rosalind sighed and let her hand slip from his shoulder. “Oh, stop being such a grouch, dear. What’s gotten into you anyway?” she said, stepping away from him to join the conversation.
Jeremiah sneered. “You’ll find out soon enough, my dear,” he thought to himself as everyone chatted with Mr. Smithers, Emma and Ulric, laughing and recalling old times and catching up with the new. “Oh yes. You’ll find out soon enough.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The Road to Solárin
Music and dancing continued far into the night, and there was enough food and drink to last until dawn. But the Jordan family took their leave about three hours before midnight, completely worn out by then from both the extravagant partying and the longer Endoran day.
“Twenty-eight hour days could come in very handy back home,” Mr. Jordan said. “But they take some getting used to.”
“Great... Just what we need,” Christopher said with a smirk. “More time to spend in school.”
The Jordans gathered in a small common room that connected to three smaller chambers that would serve as bedrooms during their stay. Two crossed swords hung upon one wall, shining as silver as moonlit snow. A large tapestry suspended from another wall depicted the distant snowcapped mountains under a starry night sky.
Everyone sat around a wooden table with a ring of lit candles in the center. A pot of spiced tea and cinnamon biscuits had been brought to their room so the family could unwind from their first hectic day in Endora. A low blaze in a corner fireplace gently chased away an evening chill as they enjoyed their late night snack.
“This is exactly what we needed–some time alone as a family,” Mrs. Jordan said. “We’ll have an entire week to explore parts of Endora. Jumping right into that party was a bit overwhelming, especially for Vergil and Magic.”
“They both seem to be back to normal,” Mr. Jordan said as Vergil greedily ate a biscuit at the end of the table, unconcerned with the conversation. Magic lay curled up in a ball in front of the fireplace and slept soundly.
“But wh
at about Princess Rosalind’s idea?” Molly asked. “Have you given it any thought?”
“Yes,” her parents said simultaneously.
“What have you decided?” Christopher asked, about to take a sip of tea. His light brown eyes shifted back and forth behind his cup.
Before they had left the party, Princess Rosalind invited Christopher and Molly to accompany her and Prince Jeremiah tomorrow to his castle in Solárin. He needed to return and attend to state business since his father was still very ill. Rosalind, however, would only be staying overnight to take care of a few wedding matters. A detail from King Rupert’s staff would escort her to Solárin and back.
“It will be quite safe,” she had promised Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. “A new road has been built between Endora and Solárin, and travel and trade between the two kingdoms has increased handsomely over the last few years. Besides, King Alexander has always wanted to meet Christopher and Molly since they were instrumental in saving his kingdom.”
King Rupert had also expressed his assurances that the road to Solárin was not like it was four years ago. “Times have changed since Christopher and Molly were last here. The journey is a safe one. No need to worry that Belthasar will be waiting there for them.”
Christopher and Molly held their breaths and scrutinized their parents’ every facial expression. They wanted so much to see King Alexander’s castle again and were ready to burst if their mother and father didn’t give them an answer this very instant.
“We can’t very well say that you have school tomorrow,” Mr. Jordan said.
“Though I could conduct a very thorough tutoring session,” his wife jumped in.
“Yes you could. Good idea, Sally!”
“Oh, quit teasing us, Mom and Dad!” Molly blurted out, though she knew in her heart that they would allow them to go.
“Now do both of you promise to be on your best behavior?” their father asked.
“Yes, sir,” Christopher said without hesitation. “We were on our best behavior four years ago.”
“Then your conduct now should be stellar,” Mrs. Jordan reasoned, granting them permission to journey overnight to Solárin.
“And what will we get to do tomorrow?” Vergil asked.
“You, your mother, Magic and I will explore King Rupert’s castle for starters,” replied Mr. Jordan. “Not many six-year-olds get to do that!”
Vergil beamed with pride. “Yeah!”
“I especially want to walk through some of the courtyards and gardens that I heard so much about at the party,” Mrs. Jordan said. “And maybe a side trip to some of the nearby villages to see what they have to offer. Perhaps a walk in the countryside, too.”
Mr. Jordan held up a cautionary finger. “Uh, honey, we only have about a week, remember?”
“I know, dear. I know. I’m just getting caught up in the excitement like the kids.” She turned to Christopher and Molly and smiled. “You have a good time, mind your manners, and when you return we’ll all go on a picnic in one of the King’s orchards.”
“Thanks for trusting us so,” Molly said, running around the table to hug her parents and give them each a kiss on the check.
“You won’t have to worry about a thing,” Christopher promised.
“Oh, we’ll always worry,” Mr. Jordan said. “That’s a parent’s job. But we also have faith that you’ll both do right and look out for each other.”
Molly swished her hand through the air and giggled. “Fear not. I’ll keep an eye on Chris and make sure he stays out of trouble. You know how boys are.”
“Molly, just promise me you’ll leave your sense of humor here before we go,” Christopher shot back.
“Oh, I’m sure they’ll have a splendid time,” Mr. Jordan whispered to his wife with a smile.
They departed the next morning at sunrise. The day broke cool and crisp, but quickly warmed as the sun rose and balmy spring breezes rolled over the grassy plains. Christopher and Molly rode with Princess Rosalind and Prince Jeremiah in a horse drawn carriage. Two other carriages, one in the lead and one at the end, transported members of the King’s guard and other government officials from Endora and Solárin. One driver controlled the reins of the four horses hooked up to each carriage.
“This is quite an honor to drive around with a prince and princess,” Molly said. She and her brother sat opposite the royal couple. “I feel like I’m in some sort of fairytale, Rosalind. Though this one is much more pleasant than the last.”
“I assume you’re referring to your first trip to what was once Malaban’s fortress.”
Molly nodded, recalling times of dread and wonder. “That was like a fairytale too, only the dark and scary kind. Though a few parts amid the gloom were quite pleasant as I recall.”
“Oh really?” Jeremiah said in a thin, flat voice. “Enlighten us please.”
Rosalind looked at him askance then smiled at Molly. “Yes, tell us what made a good impression on you during those trying times,” she said with a forced cheerfulness.
“Well, for one thing, our journey on horseback was quite an experience. I’m sure we’ll get to Solárin much faster this time.”
“It’ll take us about sixteen hours with a few rest stops along the way.”
“Took us an entire day before,” Molly recalled. “And though the trip was cold, dark and dreary for the most part, I remember looking up at the stars from time to time and was amazed at how beautiful they looked. I even wrote a poem about that trip in my journal.”
Christopher slapped his forehead and winced. “Oh no… Don’t torture us with that, Molly! I don’t want to get carriage sick.”
“Now, Christopher, be kind to your sister. Writing a poem takes a special talent,” Princess Rosalind said. “You should be proud of her accomplishment.”
“You haven’t read her poetry yet. You may want ear plugs for this.”
“Don’t mind my brother, Princess Rosalind. He’s a boy and a teenager. They make bad jokes all the time,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
Rosalind chuckled, admiring the antics between the Jordan siblings. “I’ll be the judge of her writing, Christopher. She may be quite talented. Let an objective observer decide.” With a smile, Princess Rosalind urged Molly on. “Go ahead. Recite a few lines from your poem about traveling across the Endoran plains. I’d love to hear a bit. Wouldn’t you, Jeremiah?”
“Of course,” he said with a sigh, his eyes fixed outside on the passing landscape.
“All right then,” Molly said, clearing her throat. She sat up straight as an arrow as Christopher pretended to block his ears. Molly saw him out of the corners of her eyes and lightly kicked his leg. “Please pay attention, Chris. I don’t want to have to tell you again.” She then smiled at Rosalind and Jeremiah. “These are the first two stanzas as best as I can remember them from my poem Winter Journey.”
“I love that title,” Princess Rosalind said.
“It’s soooo inspiring,” Christopher whispered. “Like cold oatmeal.”
“Here goes,” Molly said, ignoring her brother’s pesky comments. She began to recite from her poem.
Horses clop as the mountain top
scrapes the starry sky.
Winter winds bite at our skin
as shadowy brush drifts by.
Brittle plains carry us
so far from our home,
as four horses lead us
toward danger unknown.
All remained silent for a few moments. Only the pounding footfalls of the horses and the rattling of the carriage were audible. Molly sat back in her seat, averting her eyes to the floor, wondering if her poetry recitation had been such a good idea after all.
“That was wonderful, Molly!” Princess Rosalind said, genuinely impressed with her words.
Molly looked up with the questioning eyes of a puppy who thinks it’s about to get a treat. “Really? You’re not just saying that to be nice, are you?”
“Honestly. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentat
ion. I’m sure Jeremiah did too,” she said, taking hold of his hand. It felt cold to the touch.
Prince Jeremiah nodded brusquely. “It was an admirable attempt,” he said, forcing a smile. “Keep at it.” He continued to look out the window.
“Thanks…” Molly said.
Christopher saw the preoccupied look in Jeremiah’s eyes and noticed that he pulled his hand away from Princess Rosalind. He glanced at his sister. “You know, it wasn’t that bad, Molly. Sounds better when you speak it than reading it off the page.”
“Well, that’s a compliment, I guess, coming from you, Chris.”
“Don’t stop writing, Molly, no matter what the men in this carriage think. What do they know anyway?” Princess Rosalind said. “How long have you been a poet?”
“I started about a year ago. Just wanted to get some thoughts down on paper. Particularly about my visit to Endora. I’ll never forget those exciting times.”
“Especially our adventures in Malaban’s fortress,” Christopher added, perking up. “Now that’s worth writing about! Remember how we broke into the castle, Molly? I had to paddle that log across the freezing moat. My toes still feel cold when I think about it!”
“And sneaking through the castle corridors and evading the guards,” Molly recalled. “And all those doors to open! Sometimes it felt like a dreary dream that wouldn’t end.”
“Well, I have some good news for you,” Princess Rosalind said. “Things at the castle now are quite changed. You won’t recognize the place.”
“Malaban didn’t have much decorating sense, did he,” Molly said.
“Not quite,” the princess replied with a giggle. “But King Alexander saw that the castle was brought back to life after his exile. The fireplaces now burn with warming blazes, and colorful tapestries adorn the walls of the castle corridors. Even the vault that Malaban had constructed in the lower level has been turned into a storage room. The door was removed, dismantled and melted down.”
The Endora Trilogy (The Complete Series) Page 21
