“Lady Blackwater.” A Knight tipped his head, “Welcome back, your carriage awaits.” He waved his hand, leading her through the crowd.
It seemed as though most of Eranox had been waiting at the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the High Wizard when he returned. Though Luna could tell that they were surprised to see her instead of her father, they bowed to her all the same.
A brass carriage waited on the other side of the gathering, with two brilliant white horses waiting in front of it. Though as Luna stared at them closer, they appeared to have wings and horns. She glanced to Lucas, who seemed to think nothing of it as he opened the carriage door for her.
“Try to look graceful.” He whispered as he held his hand for her so she could ascend into the carriage.
Luna took his hand to steady herself, taking the three small steps to the inside. It was plush and red, like something out of a movie about a princess in a far-away story world. Luna sat by the far window waiting for Lucas to join her.
Lucas slid in beside her a moment later and the door closed behind him.
“What’s wrong with those horses?” Luna whispered, curious.
“Those are Alicorns, they come from Oro. They are only used for the royal carriage, I know you don’t have ones like that on Earth...” He explained quickly under his breath, “You’re going to have to smile and wave.” He added, pointing to the window, where onlookers were still staring into the carriage window. “They are going to be watching you.”
“Oh,” Luna plastered a smile on her face and did her best royal wave as the carriage lurched forward on the cobblestone street.
“This is super weird.” Luna hissed through her teeth, watching as the heads bowed to her when they passed.
“Get used to it.” Lucas whispered back, waving out his own window, “They’ve been waiting for a High Wizard, it’s the only thing that can save them…” He added quietly.
Luna stared out the window at the inhabitants of Eranox, though they bowed to her as she passed, she knew that her family had let them down. Some of them had families out in the Gateway, cursed and lost for eighteen years, others had only recently lost loved ones. They hid their pain well, she could see the hope in their eyes, they were depending on her to save them.
Beyond the wall of onlookers, the rest of Eranox sprawled out. Luna wasn’t sure which street they were taking, it looked like the same one that she and Lucas had walked through on her first trip through Eranox, but there was so much about it that was different.
Some of the shops seemed to be boarded up, the gardens were less lush. Though it had only been a day since she had left them, Eranox had already started to fall to ruin.
She wondered what it was like at night, how they kept safe from the curse and where they hid. For the smaller ones it would be all they had ever known, even Lucas didn’t remember a world before the curse.
If she was able to lift the curse Eranox would change, but how long would it be before it was back to what it was before, before the whole thing had started?
Luna could only imagine that she might get a chance to find out for herself.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When the carriage finally passed through the gates that surrounded the castle and left the city behind the crowd of onlookers disappeared behind them. Luna slumped forward in her seat, her face aching from all of the smiling and waving.
There were more people in Eranox than she had imagined, certainly more than she had seen during her last short visit. They seemed to have come from nowhere, filling the streets, watching from windows, standing on rooftops. And they had all stared at her the same, they had been expecting someone else, but she would have to do.
“Are you alright over there?” Lucas laughed.
“My face hurts.” Luna pressed her hands against her cheeks, trying to get the feeling back in her chin.
“You’ll get used to it.” Lucas smiled, handing over her school bag as he watched her face with a smirk.
“Is it always going to be like that?” She wondered, remembering her first arrival in Eranox and how the inhabitants had stared at Lucas, back then she was practically invisible.
“For now at least,” Lucas looked out the window as the castle approached, “It has been a long time since we have had a High Wizard, some of them have never even seen one until now. I’m not sure they know how to act around you to be honest… it’s been so long, even I don’t know how…” He shrugged his shoulders turning back into the carriage, “You give them hope.” He added, leaning forward to reach for the door. “You have your bag, I’ll let you take your things from here.” He smiled as the carriage finally jolted to a stop.
Luna looped the strap of her bag over her shoulder and glanced out the window, they had arrived at the doors to the castle and another crowd was waiting.
“Remember that you can ask for me if you need anything.” Lucas added, his hand hovering over the handle.
“Wait, you’re not coming with me?” Luna asked, surprised, “Where are you going?” She had thought Lucas would be with her for the whole trip to Eranox, to help guide her through it. She wasn’t sure that she would be okay on her own to navigate his strange world, especially if she needed to use those powers again; she had no idea how to control them. “How am I supposed to act?” Her eyes were wide, “What are High Wizards normally like?”
“Just act like you are supposed to be the one who is here, be Lady Blackwater, you will be fine.” Lucas assured her.
“And what about you, where will you be?”
Lucas shook his head disappointedly as though it was not his decision to make, “I’ll be around, but they need you not me…” He trailed off sheepishly.
The door opened before Luna could say anything else and Lucas climbed out of the carriage, waiting at the bottom of the steps to help Luna down.
She held her bag over one shoulder and stepped outside, not sure what to expect.
A line of men with trumpets and silly hats stood on the front steps, playing some strange melody to greet them as they walked from the carriage towards the front steps of the castle. Luna felt her face flush, she was sure that all of the extra show was meant for the other High Wizard they had been expecting, not for her.
“Lady Blackwater,” Margie curtsied, standing at the head of a line of servants waiting to greet them, “I am so glad that you are safe.” Her face flushed as she looked down guiltily.
Luna tipped her head in greeting, not sure what to say. It hadn’t been Margie’s fault that Luna had escaped her room and traveled home through the Gateway in the dead of night, not really. She could tell that she had caused the kind servant some grief with her unusual disappearance.
“They are going to take you back to your room.” Lucas whispered, letting go of her hand slowly, “I will see you very soon, I promise.” He added, stepping away to let Luna go.
Luna nodded and walked towards Margie nervously, it was nice to see a familiar face. At least she knew that she wouldn’t be alone.
“This way, Lady Blackwater.” Margie smiled, leading Luna into the castle through the towering ornate doors that waited open for them.
Luna followed Margie through the great doors into the castle, leaving Lucas and the greeters outside behind her. The castle looked the same to her, but she felt different entering the spacious halls willingly. She was less nervous than she had been the last time, even though it had only been a couple of days since her first arrival in Eranox, and her first impression of the castle.
Margie led her through the corridors, leaving the strange welcoming committee behind them at the front doors, still playing their melody. She took her time winding through the long halls and up the stairs towards the room where Luna had stayed.
Margie opened the door quietly and Luna walked inside. The room was just as she had left it, her phone was still sitting on the night stand where she had abandoned it during her escape, though the necklace that she had left with it had been returned to her and hung around her
neck.
“We’ve locked the windows Miss, I hope you don’t mind.” Margie flushed again as she closed the door over and hurried across the room to pull the curtains closed, covering the thick iron bars that now pressed against the glass preventing another escape attempt.
“Thank you Margie.” Luna smiled, setting her school bag on the ground by the side of the bed, not sure where she should put it.
A trio of servants were waiting at the end of Luna’s bed, fussing with a gown that they clearly expected her to wear.
“We will have to get you ready for Dinner now.” Margie clicked, moving Luna’s school bag across the room to the wardrobe, “They are having it early… before curfew…” She whispered loudly, letting Luna know that it was an unusual occurrence for dinner to be so early. “It’s a special occasion…” She added, winking at Luna.
Luna tried not to sigh, knowing that it must have had something to do with her return and her new title of High Wizard, she was going to have to wear the dress.
Though it still felt strange, having others put her clothes on her, Luna knew that they were expecting to dress her in something more appropriate before she met the King.
Luna started to take off her Earth clothes, laying them on the end of the bed while the servants finished preparing the dress for her.
Luna turned to face them, tucking her arms through the gown that was being pulled over her head.
“Oh it looks lovely.” Margie gushed as Luna’s head popped out of the neck hole and the dress fell into place.
Luna felt the tug at her back as they began to tie it on her, she smiled as another servant reached for her hair.
“I see you’ve gotten your stone back.” Margie smiled, “Glad to see it.”
“Yes, Lucas brought it back for me.” Luna answered politely.
“I had them put pockets in your dress.” Margie stepped forward, showing Luna two slits in the seam. “I know you like to carry your things.” She winked, reaching for Luna’s phone on the night stand.
Luna accepted it, smiling as she tucked it into one of the pockets. Margie didn’t need to know that the battery was dead and it didn’t work in their world, though the pockets were a nice touch.
“Thank you.” Luna smiled, it was all she could do while her dress was being tightened and her hair wrapped into a bun.
A moment later the tugging stopped and Margie put her hands to her face gleefully, “Well, turn, have a look.” She pointed to the floor mirror behind Luna.
Luna spun, staring at herself in the mirror, her hair was poised at the top of her head, the dress rolling to her feet. It was a deep crimson with hints of burnt orange, it glimmered in the firelight, making it look like Luna herself was part of the flame.
“Very pretty.” Luna smiled politely, knowing Margie was waiting for her reaction.
“Well then, off we go. Your escort should be waiting for you.” Margie turned, opening the door a crack to check out into the hall. “And there he is.” She swung the door open, curtsying to Lucas on the other side.
“Lady Blackwater.” He held his hand out to her, a small smirk poised on his lips as he turned to face the hall.
He had changed too, he looked like a Prince from a fairy tale, his jacket matched Luna’s dress.
Luna took his hand, nodding to the servants as she left the room, ready to play the part of the High Wizard if it would appease the King.
It was all so strange, she could have done the same job in jeans and a t-shirt, but she knew that Eranox was accustomed to their ways, so she played along as Lucas looped his arm in hers and led her through the castle standing tall like he was balancing a book on his head.
When they reached the Great Hall the King was waiting for them outside of the doors looking pensive. He bowed to Luna as she approached, and she tried her best to curtsy while still walking to show her respect.
Lucas handed her arm over to the King and he turned leading her into the Great Hall where a feast was waiting.
“It is a pleasure to see you again Lady Blackwater.” He gushed, pulling out a chair for her at the head of the table.
The room had grown silent, all eyes were on Luna as she sat in the chair at the center of the royal table, she glanced over to Lucas, sure that she had been placed in the wrong seat.
The King sat beside her, and Lucas placed himself on her other side, she was relieved that she would be able to whisper to him while they dined.
Servers entered the room, their footsteps echoing on the tile as the room remained focused on the head table. While the wine was poured the King rose, holding a goblet in his hand.
The servers finished their jobs and exited the room, the silence only growing.
“To the return of Lady Blackwater.” The King announced, raising his glass in the air.
“To Lady Blackwater.” The room chorused, taking a drink to Luna.
Luna felt her face growing red while the room stared at her, she nodded to the crowd, it seemed the only thing she could do.
They tipped their heads to her and finally turned back to their own tables, the servers returning a moment later with the first course.
Luna sat stiffly in her dress while the servers placed a soup at each place, waiting patiently as Lucas had told her for the King to begin the course.
The King sat silently, poised before the dish with a regal look about him, but he kept his hands in his lap. Luna turned to Lucas, he was staring at her, “You outrank him… you eat first.” He hissed through a well-timed smile.
“Oh.” Luna glanced at the King, he smiled at her as she reached for her spoon, dipping it into the soup.
She brought it to her lips and took a taste, and immediately heard the clatter of the others beginning their course.
“You should have told me.” Luna leaned towards Lucas, trying not to draw too much attention, “Last time you said the King had to eat first…”
Lucas leaned closer, staring at his soup as he spoke, “You weren’t officially the High Wizard then…” He mumbled, there was a tone of apology, but it was too late.
“Anything else I need to know?” Luna hissed.
“You’ll be fine.” Lucas went back to his soup quietly.
The meal passed quickly, there was a heaviness in the air that Luna knew meant talking was coming after the food was gone. It was so formal, though no one said a word to her, she knew that they were just waiting for the guests to leave so they could have their private conversation. Strange traditions that left Luna feeling edgy, she just wanted to ask a million questions, but she would have to wait.
As Luna set her dessert fork on the table the room clattered with the end of the meal. Lucas leaned towards her, “Stand and bow your head.” He suggested, and Luna followed his instruction, listening as the rest of the room cleared.
She stood there for several minutes until she could hear the door closing and the room had gone quiet. When she looked up, Lucas and his father were standing on either side of her, heads bowed in the same way.
The King looked up, turning to her slowly.
“There is much we must discuss.” He reached for her chair, pulling it out of her way. “Tonight I would like you to rest.” He turned to Lucas, passing him a look, “The council will meet in the morning, we must ask that you remain in the castle for the night…” He seemed to have a knowing look in his eyes.
Luna felt sheepish, he was asking her not to run away again, and Lucas had told her that the curse had entered Eranox, so going outdoors after dusk was as dangerous as entering the Gateway itself.
“Thank you.” Luna tipped her head, it seemed like the only thing she could say to keep the questions from spilling out. She would have to wait a while longer to get her answers.
“Lucas, will you take her to her room.” The King stepped aside so Lucas could present his arm. Luna tucked her arm in his and let him guide her towards the door of the Great Hall, the King watched them as they left.
Luna kept herself poised until they wer
e out of the Great Hall and back in the winding corridors of the castle interior.
“I thought he was going to tell me why I was here…” Luna whispered, waiting for Lucas to answer.
“Formalities Luna, I’m sorry, but you had to be presented as the High Wizard.” Lucas sighed, “Now that we know your father isn’t coming back, you are the High Wizard, officially.” Lucas added, keeping his voice low.
“He had to appease the people, they will sleep happy tonight knowing they have you. Tomorrow we will have more time to discuss the curse.” Lucas added.
“He’s giving it another night to spread…” Luna reminded Lucas of the impending evening and the chaos that it was bringing.
“You wouldn’t be able to do anything before dusk anyway.” Lucas turned a corner, “It wouldn’t be safe to try.” He stopped before Luna’s door.
“I guess this is it then.” Luna looked at the door, already dreading a night in the strange room, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Send Margie if you need me.” Lucas nodded his head, releasing Luna’s arm, “And remember to stay inside.” He added, opening the door for her.
“I will.” Luna rolled her eyes, walking into the room.
Margie was waiting for her, a pot of tea rested on a table in the center of the room.
“Welcome back Lady Blackwater.” Margie rose from her seat as the door closed behind Luna, she could hear Lucas’ footsteps as he walked away.
“I will be staying with you for the night Miss, to keep an eye on things.” Margie, stepped behind Luna and started to untie the corset of her dress, “I see that you have brought some of your own things.” Margie pointed to the wardrobe across the room, “They’ve been pressed and hung for you.” She tapped Luna on the arm.
Luna pulled her arms over her head and a moment later the dress was off. Margie carried it away to be hung.
“Do you mind if I wear my own night clothes?” Luna asked, hoping that her mom had packed her some pajama pants. She didn’t want to be caught in a night dress again.
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