“Nothing is the matter with you,” I said firmly. “You’re just tired and stressed. Come over here, and we can sit down quietly for a few minutes.”
He protested but allowed me to lead him over to two chairs in a secluded corner of the room. I guided him into the first one, against the corner, and then took the other.
His head began to nod, and he apologized again, mumbling his words. Then his head dropped completely, coming to rest against the wall.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, dropping a kiss on the top of his hair. “This is for your own good.” I rearranged his arms into a more comfortable position before leaving to find Sophie.
Chapter 32
He’s asleep.
Good. Surely the bell will ring any second now.
It didn’t, however. Two more songs passed before it finally sounded. We both hurried over to the small door and took our places at the end of the line.
Only when the door closed on us all, and I looked around to reassure myself we were alone, did I breathe easily again.
“Well, whatever happens tonight, at least this will be our last time down that beastly ladder,” said Celine, sounding almost cheerful at the thought.
I looked over at her and frowned. She looked different somehow. “Celine! Your crutches!”
She smiled broadly at me. “The doctors have finally declared me healed. I’ll have to work to rebuild the strength in my leg again, but I can walk freely, at least.” No wonder she looked pleased.
And she was so far behind in points that, even with the best will in the world, she had no hope of overtaking my lead. A small, guilty part of me felt sorry for it. Celine at full strength would have been capable of taking on this Prince Dominic, however monstrous. But such a thought did me no good. It was Sophie who closely trailed me in scores, and Hazel was behind her. Either of them could still find themselves the winner after tonight. I glanced at Hazel’s pale face and drew a determined breath.
The trapdoor had swung open while we talked, and Celine eagerly took the lead, no longer needing assistance. The rest of us followed more slowly, Marigold pushing Lilac away and declaring she needed no help. Her older sister still hovered solicitously, though, and I understood her concern. Marigold looked even paler than her middle sister and much frailer.
Pearl and Opal came down last, and Opal had barely stepped onto the ground when she cried out in alarm and twisted around. I stepped back to her.
“What is it?”
“My dress. Something pulled at it.”
I stared at her dress, now hanging smoothly in place, and then doubtfully at the ladder. “Are you sure? It must have caught on the ladder.”
Opal looked like she wanted to argue but then glanced at Pearl and nodded meekly. I sighed and returned to Sophie. Not that I wanted her to dispute with me…but I could see what Gabe meant about his sisters.
We all trod the path toward the palace for a final time, and I found myself gazing at the incredible leaves with something of the wonder I had felt the first time. Still, despite their magnificence, I hoped never to see them again after this night.
When we crossed the lake, Opal’s boat seemed to lag behind. I watched it floating sluggishly along and wondered if some of the magic of this place was tiring as the Tourney reached its conclusion. That was fine with me, just as long as it lasted long enough to get us back across the lake again. I didn’t like the idea of swimming back.
For the last time, we took our places around the table in the Throne Room. When the parchment appeared, Celine leaned forward, snatching it up before Emmeline could do so. “A queen must possess compassion, cunning and strength. Behind this palace, you will find a garden. And in the garden you will find three tasks, designed to demonstrate these traits. Once you have completed the tasks, you may claim the crown in the center of the garden. The first to do so shall end the challenge and claim all the points for this event.”
We all looked at each other. Our final three tasks of the Tourney, in one big event. Most of the attention focused on me, Sophie and Hazel. The number of points assigned to this event wouldn’t matter if any of the three of us claimed the crown. Our current differences in position were small enough to ensure an overall win for any of us.
“Well, this is it, then,” said Celine. “Avoid any dangers we encounter in this mysterious garden, complete these tasks as best we can, and we can all leave this place forever. It says the bell to start the challenge will sound once we all reach the edge of the garden.”
I bit my lip. I hadn’t even thought of dangers in the garden. But I couldn’t rule it out. Not when I remembered the first event.
And it seemed Celine’s fears had merit. As we crossed the palace toward the doors that would lead us out to the garden, or at least the doors that did so in the real palace, the ground began to shake. The tremors were only gentle, but we all exchanged nervous glances.
Sure enough, the mirror palace was now accompanied by gardens that mirrored the ones aboveground. Hazel knew them better than me, of course, but I thought I had spent more time in them than Sophie. And any advantage might make the difference in the end.
We all assembled on the lawns outside the palace, glancing nervously at one another. The all-too-familiar bell sounded, and Celine smiled at us all and took off running. I think she was just glad to be able to do so, but we all followed her lead, scattering quickly in different directions.
Nothing gave any indication of where the tasks might be located, and I soon slowed to a less headlong pace, trying to guess where they might be. A rustle behind me made me spin, heart racing, but nothing was there. Not long after, a twig cracked loudly, and I turned again, sure I must have crossed paths with one of the other girls. But, again, I could see no one.
In fact, whether by coincidence or some magic of this place, I didn’t see any of the other competitors at all. My feet led me to the fountain in the center of the garden and, sure enough, a silver crown glimmered on its rim, bright with jewels. It was hard to tell from this distance, but I thought it looked like the crown worn by the queen of Palinar. I walked toward it but found a soft invisible barrier prevented me from approaching too close. It seemed that the Tourney wouldn’t let me near it until I had completed the tasks.
I found one! Sophie’s voice made me start and turn but, of course, I couldn’t tell what direction it had come from.
Where are you? What is it?
I’m in the rose garden. Of course she was. And it’s archery. Celine will be pleased.
I raced in her direction, moving quickly now that I had a destination. Which trait is archery supposed to demonstrate?
Strength, maybe? It’s a big bow, and the apple we have to hit is far away.
An apple? How do you know that’s the target?
Her projection sounded dry. You’ll see when you get here.
I had taken a slightly circuitous route, figuring I would move faster overall if I stuck to the paths rather than crossing through the gardens directly. I ran but not at full pace, needing to conserve my strength, and so I was moving slowly enough for my eye to catch on a small side garden. One I recognized from my wanderings with Jon. My feet slowed on their own, and then I noticed something out of place. The corner of what looked like a table. I changed course.
Sure enough, a small desk had been tucked into the garden. I read the parchment I found there. A riddle.
I grinned. What a stroke of luck that I had passed by and noticed it. All that time in the gardens at the true palace had given me an unexpected benefit now. I read it over and then read it over again.
I hide myself, an armored creature
With no beauty in my features
Though I seem to bring no pleasure
I may conceal a hidden treasure
I considered asking Sophie for assistance but hesitated. I had to assume she would be presented with the same riddle. And I didn’t want to give her any help. In fact, I didn’t even want to tell her where it was.
If only it had been another riddle I already knew, like the one from my childhood about my own name. That thought sparked another one, and I chased it down in my mind. Names…princess names…Pearl!
I considered it from every angle. It certainly fit. I looked around for a pen.
This is hard. Sophie sounded frustrated. And where are you? I thought you’d be here by now.
I’m on my way, I projected, distracted. And, I was, in a very roundabout fashion.
I found the pen but wasn’t sure where to put my answer. In the previous event, we had written our answers beneath the riddle itself, but I didn’t want to leave the answer there for Sophie and the others to find.
No other option presented itself, however, so I lowered the pen to the paper to write a pearl, and then pulled my hand back. Wait. The pearl was the hidden treasure, not the armored creature. Which meant the answer was an oyster, not a pearl.
I took a deep breath and tried again, my hand trembling slightly at the near mistake brought on by my distraction. As soon as I had finished the word oyster, a soft chime sounded, and the letters dissolved away.
What was that? asked Sophie.
She had been able to hear the chime, then. I didn’t reply but started running toward her again.
I did it! she cried, just as a second chime sounded, and then added, So that’s what it means. Someone else has completed a task then.
I stayed silent, picking up my speed slightly. But when I entered the rose garden, there was no sign of Sophie. In the center of it, I found a small table holding a tall bow. Picking it up and taking an arrow from the quiver beside it, I looked around for a target.
A large silver apple, hanging from a tree on the edge of the garden, instantly caught my eye. I understood immediately what Sophie had meant. The apple glowed like the leaves in the silver grove, clearly not a real piece of fruit despite the way it hung from the branch above it.
A place to stand had been marked out next to the table, so I drew a deep breath and centered myself on it. Sophie and I had similar skills with a bow so, if she could do it, I could do it. It took all of my strength to draw back the bowstring, and in the back of my mind I wondered if Hazel would even be able to do it. If she couldn’t, it meant one less competitor for me to worry about.
I let the arrow fly, and it missed. By a lot. I groaned and selected another arrow. And another. And another.
Ugh. You’re right, this is hard. We should have taken Celine more seriously and brushed up on our archery skills.
She’ll be so pleased when she sees it. Sophie sent a giggle. But do you think she’ll actually be able to hit it?
I laughed too. She’s not that bad.
No, but she’s not that good either.
My shots were getting closer, falling first to one side then to the other. At least no wind blew down here, but the continuing tremors in the ground, however slight, were throwing me off. I could feel the tension rising in me again, making me jittery. Two more chimes sounded, and I had no way of knowing which tasks and which princesses. I wanted to be moving again.
At least I assumed that Sophie would have told me if she had encountered another task. I shot another arrow, and another. I’d used them all now so had to trek across the garden to collect them.
The movement eased the jitters slightly, and I forced myself to take several deep breaths before trying again. I closed my eyes and tried to put the Tourney and Jon and Sophie and the Beast and everything out of my mind. I lined up the shot, feeling myself slip into a more confident stance. A certainty crept over me that this one would hit. I pulled back the string, tighter and tighter, and…a sudden crack behind me made me jerk and the shot went wide.
I screamed in frustration and spun around. As before the garden remained empty except for me. I shook my head and collected another arrow, grumbling to myself. My irritation made me rush, not worrying about centering myself or carefully lining up the shot. Instead I simply pulled the string to my ear and released.
The arrow flew above the roses, smashed into the apple, and sent it hurtling to the ground. A chime rang through the air, and I dropped the bow in my shock.
Was that you? Did you do it?
Yes! I called back. I can’t believe it! Where are you?
Lily, tell me the truth, she projected, unexpectedly. Were you that first chime? Did you find another task on the way to the rose garden and not tell me?
I stayed silent, not wanting to confirm it, but not wanting to lie outright to her either.
She sighed. I thought so.
I’m going to win, Soph. I’m not letting you go off to that Beast.
This time she was silent.
Sophie? Are you mad at me?
Not mad, no. Of course not. But you know I can’t just let you do that.
I considered her words. You’ve found another task haven’t you? And you aren’t going to tell me what it is.
No, I’m not. She sounded sad. Another chime sang out.
The tension, released by my success with the apple, flooded back. We were even again, then.
I headed away from the rose garden in the opposite direction to where I had found the riddle. I still hadn’t seen anyone else, and it made sense that the tasks must be spread out. I had presumably completed cunning and strength. Which just left compassion.
I knew Sophie had also finished strength but not which of the others she had found. Or who the other chimes had belonged to. Three more rang out while I searched, but Sophie remained silent. I could only hope that meant neither of them had been her.
I stumbled upon another fountain and decided to pause for a brief rest. Wandering aimlessly didn’t seem to be getting me anywhere, I needed to think. I sat on the edge of the fountain and closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and focus.
As the tension drained away, my shoulders relaxed. Until a long, low growl ripped through the quiet stillness. My eyes flew open. A golden shape hurtled toward me, mouth wide and teeth glistening.
Before I could do more than register the threat, an invisible force slammed into me, throwing me sideways. I hit the ground hard, a large weight landing on top of me. The lion sailed over me and into the fountain.
Its growl cut off as it fought to escape the water. I struggled to move away from the fountain, pushing against the unseen force that held me pinned to the ground. It lifted suddenly, and I scooted backwards, feeling about me for a stick or some other weapon.
My questing hands found nothing, and I took a breath, ready to scream. But before I could, unseen hands pulled me to my feet and unseen arms closed around me. My vision filled with dark cloth in every direction as I found myself inexplicably encircled by a cloak and crowded against a familiar chest. I choked on the scream.
“Jon! What..?”
Struggling to understand what was happening, I tilted my head up to see his face. But he wasn’t looking at me. His head was shrouded in the hood of the cloak, his eyes fixed on the fountain. He seemed to have wrapped me in both his arms and his cloak.
In the midst of all the chaos, my mind caught on an irrelevant detail. I had successfully spoken aloud. Understanding dawned. A magic cloak, then. Somehow it was shielding both me from the restraints of the Tourney and Jon from sight. And, I hoped, from the magical notice of the Tourney as well.
He continued to ignore me, his eyes focused on the lion. The animal had managed to climb out of the fountain and was pacing the path next to us. It seemed confused, however, so I could only guess that I had become invisible as well.
It stopped to sniff the air, weaving its head from side to side in confusion, before starting to pace again.
“When I count to three, you need to run behind me,” Jon whispered. “I’ll draw my sword and take it down.”
“No!” As I watched the animal, something niggled at the back of my mind. “Give me a second to think.”
Jon moved impatiently but said nothing. I watched the way the lion walked. It seemed to be limping slightly, favoring one of its
front paws. If there was a lion in this underground realm it had to be significant, a part of the event. I had already completed the tasks for cunning and strength or, at least, I thought I had. Which left compassion…
“Look at its paw.” I kept my voice quiet.
“I’m a little too focused on its teeth and claws,” said Jon, in a strained voice.
I didn’t want to tell him it was a task, since he wasn’t likely to do anything to help me win. But I needed to convince him to assist me. I tried to think of something else to say. Something that was true, since it wouldn’t be convincing otherwise. “Listen to me. You had no choice but to kill the bear on the hill that day. But I’ve felt terrible about it ever since. Whatever is happening in these lands, it isn’t the fault of the animals.”
He shook his head. “And that’s why I love you. But did you notice that this one attacked you, too?”
My heart thrilled at the word love, but my mind remained focused on the event. “I think it’s in pain.”
“What?”
I sighed. “Look at its paw, like I said. I think it’s injured. I need to get a closer look.”
“You what!?”
I tried to come up with options, but there didn’t seem to be many. “We’re invisible, right?”
“Yes, that’s why it hasn’t attacked.”
“So it’s going to be very surprised when I step away from you and reappear.”
“You’re not doing that.” His voice sounded flat.
I ignored him. “While I confuse it, you approach and knock it out with the hilt of your sword. Be prepared for it to take a couple of blows. You’ll still be invisible, so it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
“Lily…”
“All right. That’s the plan.” Without giving him any more chances to protest, I pushed myself away from him hard, stumbling out from under the magical protection of the cloak.
The lion turned toward me, confusion slowing its movements, and Jon cursed under his breath, his voice already sounding further away from me and closer to the beast.
Beyond the Four Kingdoms Box Set 1: Three Fairytale Retellings (Four Kingdoms and Beyond Box Sets Book 3) Page 28