The Twins of Tintarfell

by James O'Loghlin

  Edward’s eyes narrowed. ‘You escaped.’

  Dani realised that there was no point trying to cover it up. ‘I did.’

  Edward shifted in his saddle, as if trying to work out what to do.

  ‘We’re looking for Bart,’ he said slowly. ‘I told my father the truth about what happened and he ordered a search for the kidnappers. Because what happened to Bart is partly my fault, I insisted on leading it.’

  Dani raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t thought the Prince would be brave enough to tell his father the truth, but he must have done, or he wouldn’t be here.

  ‘Our soldiers are out looking everywhere for him,’ continued Edward.

  ‘Good,’ she said. ‘The kidnappers only took Bart because they thought he was you.’

  Edward opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped.

  Dani was trying to work out what to do. If she managed to find Bart’s kidnappers, she might need help rescuing him and, while she was sure that Edward would be nearly useless in a fight, the soldier next to him looked big and strong. Also, if she joined them then maybe she could get on the back of the soldier’s horse and rest her aching legs.

  On the other hand, if she joined Edward and they were able to rescue Bart, Edward would want to take them both back to the castle, and Dani had already decided that she didn’t ever want to return. However, the most important thing was to rescue Bart. She could worry about their freedom afterwards.

  ‘Shall I arrest her, your Highness? She’s an escaped servant,’ said Potjer.

  Dani realised she had bargaining power. Because she had picked up all the pieces of hay, Edward wouldn’t know about the trail she was following.

  ‘I have a proposal,’ she said. ‘I know how to find Bart. I’ll lead you to him if I can come with you on the back of the horse. Then, when we find them, there’ll be three of us, so we’ll have a better chance against the kidnappers.’

  ‘You think they came this way?’ asked Edward, his voice suddenly nervous.

  ‘I’m sure of it.’

  Edward looked around, as if suddenly wary of danger, and then leant forward on his pony. ‘How do you know where he is?’

  ‘Do we have a deal?’

  Edward stared hard at her, his eyes narrowed. ‘All right,’ he said eventually.

  ‘One more thing,’ continued Dani. ‘If I tell you how to find the kidnappers, then, when we find them, you do whatever you want to them, but Bart and I go free. You can say we escaped, or even that we were killed.’

  Edward’s expression hardened. ‘No. You can have your freedom, but Bart must return with me.’

  ‘You don’t need him. He’s just a servant.’

  Edward shook his head. ‘I have to bring him back. It’s the King’s orders.’

  Dani hadn’t really thought that Edward would let them both go, but it had been worth a try. Anyway, once they rescued Bart, she was sure that they would be able to escape from the Prince.

  ‘All right,’ said Dani, ‘but you must at least promise that when we get back to the castle, neither Bart nor I will be punished. It’s not Bart’s fault that you made him ride your horse and he got kidnapped, and I didn’t have any choice either. I had to come and look for him. He’s my brother.’

  ‘I give you my word,’ promised Edward. Dani wondered how much the Prince’s word was worth. She suspected that he was just saying whatever he needed to get what he wanted. Still, that was what she was doing, too.

  ‘But, in return,’ continued Edward, ‘you must promise that both you and Bart will come peacefully back to the castle and not try to escape.’

  ‘Agreed,’ said Dani. She was happy to promise. Whether she would keep the promise was another matter entirely. ‘Let’s get going. I can get on the back of the horse. The pony probably won’t manage two people.’

  Edward’s jaw clenched. ‘He’s a small horse.’

  Chapter 10

  Lord Jasper Randling

  After Bart had finished his story, Gronk asked him to tell another, and then another and another. Eventually, Bart asked if he could sleep and lay down in the hay. He awoke when the sun was already up and pulled himself into a sitting position.

  ‘Still a way to go,’ said Gronk.

  Bart checked in with the sparrows. They were tired but told Bart they were still dropping the hay. Soon the cart slowed and turned left onto a thinner track that led into the forest. They proceeded until the sun was high and eventually crossed a stream.

  ‘Nearly there,’ said Gronk. ‘Have to cover you up now. Don’t tell the boss I let you out, right?’

  Bart nodded. Gronk lowered him onto the wagon floor and covered him with the blanket. Suddenly, Bart was scared. For a while, sitting on the back of the cart, he had almost forgotten he was a prisoner. He wondered why he had been brought here, and what was going to happen to him.

  Soon the cart stopped and Bart heard footsteps walking away. A short time later two sets of footsteps returned and then the blanket was pulled back.

  Looking down at Bart were three people; Gronk, Wanda and a middle-aged man dressed in a white robe. He was thin with dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair that was parted in the middle, a neatly trimmed goatee beard, a long straight nose and deep blue eyes.

  Wanda pulled Bart up into a sitting position.

  ‘Treat him gently,’ said the man in a deep, calm voice. ‘He’s our guest.’

  ‘I thought he was our prisoner,’ said Gronk.

  The man shook his head. ‘No, no. Unfortunately, we have had to treat him like a prisoner to get him here.’ The man addressed Bart. ‘I am so sorry, my boy. We will get you fed and I will explain everything. Hopefully you will forgive us.’ He turned back to Wanda. ‘Please. Untie him.’

  Wanda and Gronk untied Bart’s ankles and wrists and helped him off the wagon. They were in a clearing in the forest and to Bart’s left was a simple stone cottage.

  The man shook his head sadly. ‘You probably can hardly walk after your uncomfortable journey. I am so sorry. Take the boy inside, Gronk. I’ll join you in a moment.’

  Gronk led Bart inside to a comfortable sitting room lit by two big windows. There was a large sheepskin rug on the floor and a fireplace. Gronk beckoned Bart to a sofa and then stood by the door. Soon the other man entered and sat opposite Bart in an armchair.

  ‘Again, a thousand apologies for the unpleasant way in which you were brought here,’ he said, ‘but soon, I hope, you will understand. My name is Lord Jasper Randling. Can I offer you refreshments? Lemon cordial perhaps? Grilled venison and potatoes?’

  ‘What’s venison?’ asked Bart.

  ‘Deer meat.’

  ‘Thank you but I’m, um . . .’

  Lord Randling smiled. ‘You’re a vegetarian. Of course. How silly of me.’

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘You will soon see. But I believe we have a vegetable stew that I am sure you will like.’

  Lord Randling clapped his hands and a few seconds later a short, expressionless woman with brown hair pulled back into a tight bun emerged from a doorway and placed a glass full of yellow liquid on a small table beside Bart.

  While working in the castle kitchen, Bart had prepared lemon cordial many times but had never been allowed to taste it. In fact, he had never drunk anything other than water. He took a sip. Delicious! Fizzy, lemony bliss. He took a gulp, and another, and then the glass was empty. Immediately, the woman refilled it, and then brought him a vegetable and rice stew which tasted wonderful.

  ‘Before I explain, let me say this,’ said Randling. ‘I know how hard your life has been, Bart.’

  He knows I’m not the Prince, thought Bart in surprise. He tried to focus. Dani wasn’t here, so he needed to keep his wits about him and try to work out what was going on.

  ‘When I think of how badly you have been treated,�
�� Randling continued, clenching his fists, ‘it makes me so angry. But those days are gone.’ He opened his arms wide. ‘You are free.’

  ‘Right,’ said Bart uncertainly. ‘Good.’

  ‘You see, Bart, you are special. You have a gift that you should be using every day, but it has been taken from you. No, that’s not quite right. It has been blocked. A wall has been built between you and your gift, making your life incomplete. Let me ask you this, Bart. Do you feel that your life has lacked something? That it has not been as it should be?’

  Bart’s life in the castle was boring and repeti­tive. Every day he wished it were different. ‘Yes.’

  Randling nodded his head sadly. ‘Of course. Bart, you have the ability to communicate with animals, and even to persuade them to do things. You have a bond with them. I wonder if, despite everything, you have been dimly aware of this gift? Perhaps that is why you are a vegetarian. Am I right?’

  Bart had always thought the idea of eating other living creatures was wrong. ‘I, maybe, yes.’

  ‘You’ve always felt drawn to animals, yes?’

  ‘Yes, I love them. I play with them whenever I can. And . . .’

  ‘Yes?’ prompted Randling.

  ‘They let me play with them.’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ exclaimed Randling excitedly. ‘And since you’ve left Tintarfell Castle, have you felt that connection with them grow? Even on your journey here?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Bart slowly. ‘In fact I –’ He stopped him­self. Perhaps he shouldn’t tell Randling he had persuaded the sparrows to create a hay trail for anyone following him.

  ‘You what?’ prompted Randling.

  ‘I . . . I talked to some sparrows. In my head.’

  ‘My goodness. How exciting. You must be very powerful. You see, Bart, within the castle walls your powers were blocked, or at least severely weakened, by some sort of spell. But it seems that even there, you felt something.’

  Bart remembered how, as he rode Midnight, he had been able to instantly calm the horse and then direct her, even though he knew nothing about riding. He didn’t know how he had done it. It had just come naturally.

  ‘As you got further from the castle,’ continued Randling, ‘the power of the blocking spell weakened, but it still affects you. So if you were able to communicate with animals on your way here, imagine what it will be like when we remove the spell.’

  ‘You can do that?’

  ‘Most certainly. Once it is done, you’ll be able to talk to animals, and get them to do things for you.’ Randling smiled. ‘It will be a whole new world. It will be the life you were meant to live.’

  Bart imagined talking to lions, elephants, maybe even fish. He could hardly wait. Then he frowned. ‘But why do I have these powers? And who blocked them?’

  ‘You have them because you inherited them from your father.’

  ‘I never knew my father. Or my mother.’

  ‘I know. That’s very sad.’

  ‘Why would someone block my powers?’

  ‘Ah, that brings us to a discussion about the nature of power. Those who have power are always anxious to stop anyone who might threaten them. Perhaps when the King –’

  ‘The King?’

  Randling looked surprised. ‘Of course. He is the one with the power, and so is always on the lookout for threats. Perhaps, when he became aware that you had this power over animals, he wondered how big your powers could grow, and whether you might be able to learn to use them on people. People are animals, too, you know. Whatever the reason, he must have found a sorcerer or a witch who could create a spell to neutralise them. By the way, how is the King?’

  ‘He’s been ill for some time. He hardly leaves his room.’

  ‘I have no sympathy for him. He treated you, and others, terribly.’

  ‘You said I inherited these powers from my father. Who were my parents?’

  ‘What were you told about them?’ asked Randling.

  ‘That they lived in the forest near the castle. My father was a hunter and was gored by a wild boar. When my mother heard the news she went into labour, and died giving birth to me and Dani.’

  ‘So both your parents died in accidents just before you were born. Did you not think that sounded a little . . . suspicious?’

  ‘I never . . .’

  Randling smiled kindly. ‘No, of course you didn’t. I’m sorry. Let’s think it through, shall we? You inherited your powers from your father, which means that he must also have possessed the power to communicate with animals, yes?’

  Bart nodded. ‘I guess.’

  ‘Does anything strike you as odd about his death?’

  ‘If my father could communicate with animals,’ said Bart slowly, ‘why would he have been a hunter? I would never hunt.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘And why would a boar attack him? Surely if he had powers over animals he could have stopped it.’

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Unless I inherited my powers from my mother, and my father didn’t have them.’

  Randling shook his head. ‘These powers can only be inherited from a person’s father. Your mother may or may not have had them, but your father certainly did.’

  ‘So, if what we were told wasn’t true, who were our parents? Are they dead or not?’

  ‘Dani’s parents are dead.’

  Bart stared at him. ‘What do you mean, Dani’s parents?’

  ‘What you were told is, I believe, nearly true. Dani’s father was gored by a boar and her mother did die while giving birth to her.’

  Bart felt dizzy. ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘I’m afraid, Bart, that Dani is not your sister.’

  Bart’s mouth fell open. He couldn’t speak. Dani was the one great certainty in his life. She took care of him and was his best friend. She was the one who made it all bearable.

  Randling looked concerned. ‘You do not want to believe this because Dani is the most important person in your life, yes?’

  Bart forced himself to nod.

  ‘This is what I believe happened. Because she was an orphan, Dani was taken to the castle. Around the same time, you were born. The King had somehow become aware of the powers that your father had. Perhaps your parents were part of a rebel movement against him – I don’t know – but for some reason the King felt threatened. I don’t know what happened to your parents. Perhaps the King had them killed, or perhaps exiled. He took you into the palace, I suppose so he could keep an eye on you, and had someone create a spell so that your powers wouldn’t work within the castle grounds. Then he paired you up with Dani, and let everyone think you were orphaned twins. That way he didn’t have to invent a new story to explain where you came from.’

  ‘How do you know all this?’

  ‘I have sources inside the palace. The head cook, Miss Bertha, collects information for me.’

  Bart’s head was spinning. ‘If this is true, why didn’t the King kill me?’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe he is not quite so evil that he would murder a baby. Perhaps he felt safe knowing he had blocked your powers within the castle and that you could not leave. Or perhaps at some stage he was going to try to persuade you to use your powers to help him.’

  ‘I . . . I can’t believe my sister . . . isn’t my sister.’

  Randling nodded sympathetically ‘I understand why you don’t want to believe it, but consider this. Despite the blocking spell, you were still drawn to animals, yes?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Is Dani like that?’

  ‘No, she doesn’t like animals. She gets nervous around them.’

  Randling raised his eyebrows. ‘Do you see? If she was your sister, she would be like you. If you and Dani had the same parents, she would also have inherited that connection with animals. If Dani doesn’t have it . . .’ He pau
sed, and looked sympathetically at Bart.

  ‘She must have a different father,’ Bart finished tonelessly.

  ‘You need to rest,’ said Randling. ‘You must digest this information and then, no doubt, you will have more questions. Gronk will show you to your room. We will talk more in the morning.’

  Bart hauled himself up.

  Randling placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘I hope you understand, Bart, why we had to abduct you. There was no other way to rescue you. On the way here Gronk had to keep you hidden in case anyone was looking for you. You do understand, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes,’ replied Bart. ‘But what about Dani? I’ve never been apart from her before. I need to find some way of helping her, too.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Randling. ‘I have already thought about that. I will explain in the morning. Now go with Gronk. Tomorrow, we will remove the blocking spell.’

  Bart was bursting with more questions but followed Gronk down the hallway to a bedroom containing a huge four-poster bed and a chest of drawers. A large window criss-crossed with iron bars let light in. Bart wondered if, this deep in the forest, they needed to keep wolves and other creatures out.

  Gronk gestured at a cord hanging from the ceiling. ‘Pull that if you want anything. I mean, it won’t just magically appear, but one of us will.’

  Gronk left, shutting the door behind him. Bart pulled Edward’s shiny boots off his feet and slumped onto the bed. The idea that Dani wasn’t really his sister was shocking. He wondered if, when he saw her again, he should tell her. He wasn’t sure, but he promised himself that it wouldn’t change anything between them. He wouldn’t let it.

  As for the powers that Randling had told him that he had, and the blocking spell that had suppressed them, it all made sense. That’s why he loved animals and avoided meat, and had been able to control Midnight and talk to the sparrows. When the spell was removed, it would open up a new world. As Randling had said, it would be the life that he was meant to lead.

  Bart decided that there was no way he was going to return to the castle and be a servant again. He would find a way to rescue Dani, and then they would be free.