“Artemas!” Molly cried in joy, hugging the magician. “It seems like ages since I saw you last.”
“For me too, dear young one,” he replied as a smile spread across his face. “I am so glad to see you outside of a castle prison cell,” he softly said, careful to keep their conversation away from the ears of the closely packed crowd. “We were all heartsick when we received the note you sent by carrier pigeon. Very clever, Molly.”
“Thanks,” she said modestly. “Spur-of-the-moment idea.”
“And where’s Princess Rosalind? Has she escaped too?”
“We both did. Twice.”
“Twice? Well, that must be one fantastic story, young lady,” a familiar voice said. “And I want to hear all about it.”
Molly looked up just as Mrs. Jordan knelt down next to Artemas, on the verge of tears and a smile. Molly clasped her arms around her mother, feeling for a few moments that all was right in the world.
“Mom, I’m so glad you’re here!” she said, not wanting to let go. “How did you find me?”
“It wasn’t easy!” she said with an anxious laugh. “Artemas, some other soldiers and I have been searching the crowd for you and Rosalind. King Rupert and the rest of his party are seated near the front of the platform, pretending they know nothing about the things you wrote in your note.”
“That yellow blouse you’re wearing caught my eye just as I turned my head,” Artemas said.
“Will King Rupert be safe near the platform?”
Artemas nodded reassuringly. “Many of the King’s guardsmen are stationed with him and Queen Eleanor. He is well protected.”
“But Belthasar has many of his own people secretly placed among Prince Jeremiah’s men. Some of his advisors are spies too,” Molly warned.
“Then we need to know every detail about what’s going on,” her mother said. “And make it the short version.”
So Molly quickly brought them up to date on what had happened since she and Christopher arrived in Solárin and the specifics of Belthasar’s plot to retake the kingdom. Artemas was dumbfounded that Belthasar’s spirit had survived all these years while trapped inside the timedoor.
“So that explains Vergil’s unruly behavior at the anniversary party,” Mrs. Jordan said, seething with outrage. “Just wait until I get my hands on that Belthasar!”
“Unfortunately, that is the problem,” Molly said. “While outside the timedoor, he can pass from one living thing to another with a simple touch.”
“Then how do we stop him?”
“I don’t know, but Rosalind’s sure going to try.”
“What?” Artemas gasped. “What is the princess planning to do?”
Molly filled them in on the details of Rosalind’s attempt to confront Belthasar, and Darius and Mr. Tupper’s search for Amin. While Artemas and Mrs. Jordan listened in disbelief, the crowd began to wildly applaud. Prince Jeremiah had reached the platform and stood proudly before his subjects. The ceremony was about to begin.
“It’s now or never,” Rosalind whispered to herself as the people clapped and shouted their good wishes. She had inched her way close enough to the platform to get a clear view of Jeremiah facing his subjects. They would be his slaves, Rosalind knew, if she didn’t do something right away. “So I guess it’s now!” she said, plowing one last time through the gathering until she reached the path of wildflowers and spring leaves leading to the steps.
One of the soldiers guarding the line saw Rosalind step out and tried to stop her until he recognized her face.
“Princess Rosalind?” he said, wrinkling his brow in confusion. “Why are you here among the crowd and not on the platform with Prince Jeremiah?”
“Long story!” she said, a bit out of breath. “But I’m heading there now,” she added, racing up the path toward the platform steps. The hood of her cloak fell back across her shoulders, and as her flowing blond hair swam in the breeze, some of the people nearby suddenly recognized her. Whispers of astonishment spread through the crowd as fast as a brush fire.
Rosalind reached the bottom stair just as one of Belthasar’s new advisors stepped forward to start the ceremony. His jaw dropped when he spotted the princess standing below and could only stammer a few words before he turned to Jeremiah, shrugging his shoulders and pleading for assistance.
“What should I do?” he whispered.
“I’ll handle this,” Jeremiah growled to the advisor before putting on a pleasant face for the crowd. He stepped forward and greeted Rosalind.
“I guess my dear fiancée is so excited that she wishes to stand with me during the ceremony,” Jeremiah said with a jovial smile, eliciting a round of cheering from the people. He extended a hand to Rosalind to help her up the stairs.
“I need no assistance from an impostor!” she replied in an icy voice. Joyful smiles suddenly disappeared from the faces in the crowd as many wondered if they had heard Princess Rosalind’s words correctly. She climbed up the three steps and stood face to face with Jeremiah.
“This jest is quite amusing,” he said, trying to maintain his mirthful demeanor, but inside Jeremiah was as furious as a cornered grizzly bear. “But today of all days is not the time for your delightful pranks. Please stand next to me, my love, while we proceed with the coronation.”
Rosalind stepped back abruptly as Jeremiah tried to caress her shoulder. “Only the real Prince Jeremiah has the right to be crowned King of Solárin, and you, I am afraid, are not that man.” Rosalind turned to the stunned crowd and pointed at Jeremiah. “This person is a pretender,” she said in a strong and steady voice. “A fake! And though the body of the man that stands before you appears to be my beloved fiancé Jeremiah, the spirit that inhabits his soul is none other than–”
“What strange words you speak!” Jeremiah interrupted, feigning a look of utter confusion. “Have you taken ill, Rosalind? Are you burning with fever?”
“I am burning with rage,” she responded, staring down Jeremiah until he looked away. “And I am exposing you for the fraud that you are–Belthasar!”
A collective gasp arose from the onlookers, their faces splashed with shock and disbelief. What was going on? What was happening before their very eyes on what was supposed to be a most joyful and wondrous occasion? Such horror they felt in their hearts to witness Princess Rosalind and Prince Jeremiah exchange words of contempt. And to hear the vile name of Belthasar uttered at this time by the princess herself? They wondered what it all could mean.
“What– What are you talking about, dear Rosalind?” Jeremiah said in a sickening sweet voice, holding his hands over his heart as if wounded. “I don’t understand…” He pointed to a few of his advisors. “Please! One of you must help her back to the castle. The princess is not feeling well. She is delirious.”
“Stay away!” Rosalind commanded before any of the advisors took a step forward. “Do not listen to the words of this man. He is not to be trusted.”
Jeremiah bowed his head in pretended pain and disappointment, massaging his forehead with his fingers. “Why do you say such hurtful things, my love? You are starting to make me angry,” he said, slowly looking up with a crazed gleam in his eyes. “Who here would believe these ridiculous statements of yours? Who in this entire crowd would believe that I am not to be trusted?”
“We would!” Molly cried as she and her mother burst out of the crowd and raced up the steps. Artemas, who had followed them to the platform, slipped quietly out of the gathering and waited on the path below, his hood still draped over his head. He held up a hand to one of the soldiers nearest him, indicating with a steely look to remain in his place.
Rosalind spun around, astonished to see Molly bounding up the stairs, yet hardly surprised at all. Jeremiah nervously twitched an eye when he saw the girl, muttering with disgust that she had escaped from him once again.
“I should have guessed that you’d show up when the situation looked bleakest,” Rosalind said with a smile to Molly and her mother.
�
�Hey, what are friends for?” she replied before addressing Jeremiah with a scowl. “And as for you, Belthasar, I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could throw you! And believe me, that’s not very far.”
Jeremiah clenched his fingers and his face tightened with rage. He grew so angry at Molly that he was rendered speechless for a moment, writhing in place like a twisting snake. He finally pointed a finger at her, jabbing the air uncontrollably. “Somebody get her OUT OF MY SIGHT!”
But Rosalind jumped in between Molly and Jeremiah before anyone could move.
“What’s the matter, Belthasar?” she said. “Is that fiery temper of yours starting to show through again? Are you about to reveal your true self for all to see?”
Jeremiah shook like an old barn in a wind storm as if ready to burst at the seams. The crowd watched on in silent amazement.
“You will not ruin my day!” Jeremiah shouted, pointing in turn at Mrs. Jordan, Rosalind and Molly. “Not you, or you–or especially YOU!” He glared at Molly as if ready to strike. “That crown is mine and I will have it! And you, little urchin, won’t stop me!”
“But I will!” Mrs. Jordan cried, lunging forward and grabbing King Alexander’s sword from one of the boys and pointing it at Jeremiah. He quickly stepped back. “If you even think of harming my daughter or the princess, you will have me to deal with, mister. And as sure as rain is wet, you don’t want to mess with me when I get mad!”
Molly smirked. “Take my word for it.”
Jeremiah’s face contorted as fury and bitterness coursed through his body. How could his ultimate plan for power be foiled once again now that he was so close to victory? How could these people–and this child–wash away his hopes for greatness? It couldn’t be happening he told himself over and over. It couldn’t be! Not after all the planning and toiling and years trapped in a timeless void. Belthasar thought he deserved the seat of power after what he had been through. It was his right and nobody could take it away. And he intended to have it this day!
Jeremiah pointed an arm through the air as he slowly spun around in a half circle, wreathed in the flames of the huge bonfire blazing in the background. “Seize these traitors, my loyal soldiers, and throw them into the deepest dungeon! Do not let them hinder what is rightfully mine. Take them NOW!”
As his shrill voice pierced the air, several of the spies he had planted among the regular soldiers attempted to rush to his aid. But in the same instant, the remaining soldiers all still loyal to the real Prince Jeremiah drew their swords and held the others at bay. Whether gathered around the platform or in line along the crowd, the false soldiers in league with Belthasar were overpowered and disarmed on the spot. The new chief guard who had replaced Darius was also captured before he could flee. Several more soldiers swiftly climbed onto the platform and rounded up the new advisors Belthasar had brought into the castle, separating them from those devoted to their true leader. Morgus Vandar stood among those now under guard, cowering against the edge of the platform.
Princess Rosalind’s spirit soared as she witnessed the peaceful revolt. Jeremiah’s face turned deathly white.
“It appears, Belthasar, as if your troops don’t believe in you anymore,” Rosalind said. “You apparently inspire distrust among the ranks, not loyalty.”
“Many of us suspected that something was wrong with the prince these last few days,” said a soldier standing nearby.
“He was not himself,” another agreed. “It was as if someone had replaced the man we had grown to serve and respect.”
Princess Rosalind addressed the citizens of Solárin and the loyal soldiers and advisors with words adorned with tenderness and strength. And though she and Prince Jeremiah were not yet married, most gathered there felt that she was already their Queen.
“As you can see, Belthasar has placed dozens of his greedy minions among your brave soldiers to act as spies on those loyal to the kingdom. The real Prince Jeremiah would never condone such an act,” Rosalind said. “Belthasar has also cast aside many of King Alexander’s trustworthy advisors and replaced them with thugs and conspirators preparing to overthrow Solárin. Mr. Tupper, the King’s most faithful advisor, and Darius the chief guard were both imprisoned this morning after they learned about the plot.” Murmurs of indignation flowed through the crowd. “And Molly, this brave young girl standing before you, along with her brother Christopher and me, were also held captive when we stumbled upon the truth. We have escaped just in time.”
Molly pointed a finger at Morgus Vandar still crouching in the back. “My brother left the castle late last night to follow that man into the wild. Morgus Vandar was preparing to launch an invasion of Endora after the coronation took place. How, I cannot say. And I have not received any word from my brother.”
“And don’t ever except to!” Morgus snapped.
Mrs. Jordan eyed him like an eagle spotting its prey, preparing to march over to Morgus and shake the truth out of him. Molly held her back as King Rupert stood up near the edge of the crowd below.
“I am afraid Molly Jordan speaks the truth,” he sadly announced, holding Queen Eleanor’s hand. “I learned of the invasion plot only hours ago and have sent several scouts abroad, some to locate Christopher and others to warn Endora. But, alas, even now I do not know the fate of the boy or my kingdom.”
Rosalind paused a moment, her head bowed, before turning to Jeremiah. “Now what do you have to say for yourself, Belthasar? You cannot hide in the shadow of your deceit anymore.”
Jeremiah cringed. “Lies! All lies! I am Price Jeremiah as you can plainly see. I am not Belthasar, nor does he reside inside me. That is ridiculous! He was driven out of Solárin long ago. Do not listen to these tall tales!” he demanded. “Especially from this woman who only seeks power for herself!”
The crowd cried out in dismay as Jeremiah pointed an accusing finger at Princess Rosalind. They refused to believe such malicious words would ever be spoken by the son of King Alexander, and that action most of all convinced them that Rosalind’s story was true. Though the citizenry saw Jeremiah standing before them, they now clearly heard the madness and deceit of Belthasar in his voice spewing the same evil that had haunted them years ago. No one knew how such an awful thing could have happened, but the monster that prowled their lands in the past had returned to hunt again.
“I seek nothing, Belthasar, except for you to leave Jeremiah so that he may guide the kingdom to peace and prosperity,” Rosalind said. “Your plot has been exposed and you will no longer control the destiny of Solárin. Now you must leave.”
Jeremiah hissed through his teeth. “And if I refuse, princess? I may not have the kingdom, but I still have him caught like a helpless mouse in a hawk’s iron grip. And I won’t let go!”
“Leave him!” Rosalind said firmly, but her heart was quaking. Though another suitable leader could always be found to rule the kingdom, there was only one Jeremiah whom she loved. Would Belthasar give him up? Could she? Rosalind breathed deeply, trying to control her trembling hands. “Leave him, Belthasar!” she repeated. “Or else.”
Jeremiah sneered. “Or else what?”
They stared into each other’s eyes–hers filled with resolve and melancholy, his gray and vacant. The silent impasse seemed to linger forever.
Then a razor thin shadow pierced the air. A swish of wind. A thud into wood.
All heads turned and saw a green arrow with blue and white feather fletching embedded in the arm of the wooden chair behind Jeremiah. A folded piece of parchment was attached to the arrow. Molly ran over and quickly ripped it off and handed it to Princess Rosalind.
“I guess Darius and Mr. Tupper located Amin after all,” she said, wondering how they had done so.
What she didn’t know was that one of Amin’s friends had grabbed the raisin-covered biscuit Molly brought into the dining hall, eventually discovering the secret note before leaving the castle. He quickly pulled Amin aside and showed him the message, and together they searched for Darius and Mr. Tupper
. It was Amin who approached Mr. Tupper in the crowd, and soon after, along with Darius, they slipped back inside the castle and took their places in one of the towers overlooking the coronation ceremony.
Molly tugged at Rosalind’s sleeve. “What does it say?”
Rosalind read the note with a quavering voice as Belthasar anxiously listened.
We’re in place, Princess Rosalind. The plan is set. Look toward the castle and raise the King’s sword high into the air to signal if you want to go through with it. Darius, Amin and Mr. Tupper
“They’re ready,” Mrs. Jordan softly said, still guarding Jeremiah with the sword.
“Who’s ready? What’s going on?” Jeremiah said. “What wonderful plan do you have to defeat me?” he added with a sarcastic sneer.
Rosalind scanned the note once more before raising her eyes to Jeremiah. A grim but certain smile spread across her face that made him flinch. She breathed steadily, watching the clouds drift along on a strengthening breeze. She could almost hear her heartbeat over the hush of the crowd. And somewhere behind the stone gray eyes staring back at her, Princess Rosalind felt certain that the real Jeremiah was smiling, telling her that everything would be all right. She slipped the note into a pocket of her dress.
“You can only defeat yourself, Belthasar, if you do not leave at once,” she said. “Take refuge in that despicable Morgus Vandar if you must. But you will not be King! If you do not leave Jeremiah, then the next arrow that flies will be for you. Jeremiah vowed to give up his life rather than have you in power. And I promised him I’d fulfill his wish, though it pains me to do so.” She glanced toward the castle. “Right now his very best archer has you set in his sights, and on my signal he will end this madness.” Rosalind retrieved the sword from Mrs. Jordan and held it at her side.
“I do not believe you!”
Rosalind raised an eyebrow. “Oh, but I think you do. If you can peer into the edges of Jeremiah’s thoughts or absorb even a trace of his emotions, then you will know what I say is true. So the decision is yours, Belthasar. Do you leave his body now, or shall I signal your doom?”
The Endora Trilogy (The Complete Series) Page 39
