by L. EE
“Probably. We can check. Razen should still be meeting with the King and Mermin,” Alden offered. “Hannah can be lookout again.”
The trio headed right and walked the length of the hall to Razen’s office. They saw no one except two assistants and a man busily working, his back toward them, when they passed the tailor’s suite. Andy stopped in front of Razen’s door and motioned for Alden and Hannah to keep quiet. He put his ear up to the keyhole. Nothing.
“Okay, sounds like he’s out.”
Andy pulled the pouch he wore around his neck from beneath his T-shirt and extracted the golden key. Having never seen what the small piece of metal could do, Hannah puzzled at the sight but remained quiet. Andy inserted the key into the lock and turned. Click.
Andy pushed the door open slowly to its squeaky protests and surveyed the room. In a whisper, he asked, “What’s the signal?”
Hannah drew her hands up to her mouth and inhaled, but Alden cut her off. “Don’t worry about it. I know what her warning sounds like,” Alden offered. Hannah frowned.
Andy and Alden crept into the dim office and Alden closed the door to a crack. One torch by the door and another on the wall dimly illuminated the space. A large oak desk dominated the left side of the spartan room, and two straight-backed chairs stood at attention before it. An ornate tapestry stretched floor to ceiling behind the desk, giving the room a hint of sophistication. Both boys were familiar with the wallcovering since their discovery the previous year that it hid access to tunnels running up and down the castle wall. Straight ahead, on the outside wall, a modest fireplace stood cold and unlit. A goatskin rug lay in front of the stone hearth, and wood was stacked neatly in a pile to the right of it
Andy grabbed the torch nearest him and approached the desk. Unlike Mermin’s desk, which was piled to overflowing with scrolls and parchment, Razen’s workspace reflected the discipline and rigor by which the man lived. Andy unconsciously felt his palm, remembering the blisters this man caused last time he was in Oomaldee. On the left side of the desktop stood a hand-carved wooden sphere on a block pedestal. Simple in its highly polished form, it rose six or seven inches, reminding Andy of pieces he’d seen when his family visited the Dallas Museum of Art three summers ago.
Modern art? Here? Seems out of place.
On the right side of the desktop sat two large books, perfectly stacked. Several markers jutted out from the page edges, forming a fringe. Andy brought the torch closer to read the spines. The bottom one was titled “The Perfect You: Maintaining Your Shape Over the Ages,” and on top of that was “Self-Help Cures for Persistent Problems.” Sounds like books I’ve seen at the library back home. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Andy smiled and placed the key next to the volumes.
“What’s so funny?” Alden interrupted in a whisper. “Come on, we don’t have much time.”
“Sorry.” Andy refocused and opened the top book, turning to the first marked page. He read a couple paragraphs on “How to Judge Whether a Problem Is Persistent.” Wouldn’t that be obvious?
He shrugged and turned to the next marker, continuing his search until he came to the recipe for “Festering Wound Elixir” that Alden had mentioned. As Andy worked down the list of ingredients, a sense of foreboding filled him:
One measure raw karkadann horn, ground to a fine powder
Three gnut weed thistles
Two dried Thriae, crushed
Hair from two tails of a Kitsune
One pod of milkweed
He read further:
In a small vessel, mix karkadann horn together with the gnut weed
thistles and dried thriae. Heat for twelve hours over low heat, taking care not to boil. Let cool completely.
Slowly stir the remaining ingredients into the kettle. It is critical the intended recipient drink the brew as quickly as possible, for the potency of the mixture will diminish within seconds.
“Alden, the list of ingredients,” Andy whispered. “Do you know what any of them are?”
“I only recognize karkadann horn and milkweed. Karkadann is like a ferocious version of a unicorn. The horn is supposed to heal anything that ails you, even poison. Karkadanns live in the land of Cromlech, where Hans is from. He told me about them once. In fact, I think that’s what he used to cure you from the poison dart that time you saved my life during the Tower Chase competition.”
“What about milkweed?”
“Milkweed is sweet. My mom uses it in the kitchens. The potion must taste pretty bad if…” Alden continued yammering, but Andy’s attention shifted to the wooden sphere on the desk from which a wispy, translucent swirl had wafted. It rose up, forming a ball twelve to fifteen inches in diameter that hung rotating above the manuscripts. A voice spoke: “Andrew Ferrin Smithson.”
Whoa! Mom?
“This isn’t good. Sculptures should not emit swirls that sound like your mother,” Andy’s inneru warned.
Mesmerized, Andy continued listening.
“What would you give to save me while still breaking the curse?”
What? Only Daisy and my inneru know about that!
Before Andy could question further, Alden whispered loudly and roughly shook his shoulder. “Andy! I said Razen’s coming. We’ve got to go!” Alden shut the book, silently closed the office door, replaced the torch on the wall, and grabbed Andy’s arm, dragging him through the double tapestries behind the desk.
“Wh-what?” Andy queried, coming out of his trance in the tunnel.
“Shhh, come on.”
They scampered down the stairs as quietly as they could in the darkness. Only when they reached the dungeon level and plunged through the wallcovering concealing the lowest flight of stairs did they stop to catch their breath. Thankfully, the dungeon appeared empty, although they could hear Sir Kay and Sir Gawain taunting each other.
“What happened to you back there? One minute I’m talking to you and the next you’re zoned out,” Alden complained.
“You didn’t see the—?”
“See what?”
Andy told Alden all he had just experienced, omitting the question the swirling sphere had asked.
“You don’t think it’s the same as when the key brings stone statues to life?” Alden asked, pointing toward the one-upmanship they overheard from around the corner.
Andy shook his head. “No, this is definitely different.”
“Let’s go meet Hannah. She should already be back at my room,” Alden indicated.
They headed back through the tapestry in the dungeon wall, up one flight of stairs, and through the sliding panel that connected the tunnel with the servants’ quarters. Hannah was waiting for them outside Alden’s door.
“What took you so long?” she interrogated once they closed the door to Alden and Marta’s room.
Alden related everything he and Andy discussed.
“Are you kidding?” Hannah replied.
“Did you sense anything, Hannah?” Andy queried, remembering how she’d perceived the bellicose before it attacked during the Oscray match.
“Nothing more than I usually do when I’m near Razen.”
“So you felt something,” Andy probed.
“Everybody has a vibe. When I’m near my parents or the King or Mermin, I get a warm, almost fuzzy feeling in my stomach, if that makes sense. But when I’m around vulture-people—not all of them, mind you, just some of them—I get a cold, prickly kind of feeling. I haven’t figured out what makes the difference. Razen’s vibe is weird, it’s a mix of warm fuzzy and cold prickly at the same time, almost like there’s a battle going on inside him.”
“I’m surprised you feel any warm fuzzies with Razen,” Andy commented, at which Hannah and Alden shared a laugh.
Bringing the conversation back around to the mission’s original intent, Andy reported, “I read the ingredients for the recipe and I have to agree with Alden. It’s got to be a recipe for curing Abaddon. Unless Razen’s got something wrong with him.”
&nb
sp; The second he said it, Andy paused, realizing how funny that sounded.
“I can think of several things wrong with Razen,” Alden offered, launching the three into a fit of giggles.
“Well, Hannah and I need to practice for the Tower Chase. Want to watch?”
Alden and Hannah went to change and Andy made his way down to the kitchen where he had agreed to meet them. Reaching his intended destination, he grabbed a handful of chocolate chip cookies, much to Marta’s delight. In no time, his two friends appeared wearing their equestrian uniforms—royal blue jackets and green riding breeches. As they headed toward the back door of the castle, a young servant boy called after them, “Master Andy!”
The trio stopped and the boy, who couldn’t have been more than six, panted, “I was sent to tell you His Majesty is ready for you. He’s in his chambers.”
“What’s your name?”
“Marcus.”
Andy smiled. “Thanks for letting me know, Marcus. By the way, you can just call me Andy.”
Marcus grinned before running off.
“Well, I’d best be off then,” Andy said. “See you at dinner.”
On his way to meet the King, Andy stopped by his chambers and retrieved the gold envelope from his backpack. He accidentally dropped it and, as he bent to pick it up, he noticed his shallow breathing. He stared at the addressee—Emmalee, Favored One—and exhaled a long breath before slipping the envelope in his back pocket.
He climbed the two flights of stairs and knocked on the door of the King’s chambers.
“Come in!” boomed the King. “Ah, Andy. Please, come in, come in.”
The King approached and closed the door after Andy. He motioned toward a pair of chairs situated near his desk, which stood against the wall to the left of his enormous bed. “We haven’t had the opportunity to properly catch up and I thought my chambers might provide a quieter place to do so.”
Andy sat in one of the handsome leather-covered armchairs and watched the King open a small, decorative wooden box resting on the upper right corner of his desk. He pulled out a stoppered vial of liquid.
“Know what this is?”
Andy smiled. “Yes, the vial of venom.”
“I’ve kept it here since you left because I can’t see that darned book to put it away for safekeeping. Let’s take care of it as soon as we’re done here.”
Andy laughed. “No problem.”
“So then,” the King began, “while you’ve been away I visited the Library of Oomaldee, as you know. I saw the portrait you mentioned, and I agree, we look nearly identical at your age. It’s uncanny.” The King began to grin. “I couldn’t help noticing your near stumble when you acknowledged my request for this meeting, and I’m wondering if you might have learned something more that will help explain the situation.”
Andy returned the grin and reached for the envelope.
The King’s jaw dropped as soon as he caught sight of the golden color.
“You told me your wife’s name was Emmalee.”
The King nodded, affirming the assertion.
“My mom said she got this just before she got pregnant with me,” Andy said as he handed it to the King.
“No!” the King exclaimed, jumping to his feet as soon as he read the addressee. “My Emmalee!” Tears began running down his cheeks as he stared at the envelope. Then, as realization clicked, he looked over at Andy and choked out, “My son?”
Andy nodded and ran into his outstretched arms. They hugged for what seemed an eternity.
“Read the letter,” Andy encouraged when they finally broke apart.
The King and Andy both laughed as they dried their tear-stained faces and blew their noses.
Seated again, the King pulled the single sheet of parchment from the envelope and read it several times. He shook his head, nodded, and cried more as he digested the news.
At last the King wiped his tears and looked up. “How is it possible she’s still alive?”
“My mom wears a necklace with a slice of the Stone of Athanasia.”
“Merlin! What a skillful wizard he was. Bless that man!” the King praised, then thought quietly for a minute.
“I’ve been wondering…,” Andy started. “What should I call you?”
The King chuckled. “What do you call your father in Lakehills, Texas?”
“Dad.”
“Did you have something in mind, Andy?”
“May I call you Father?”
The King locked eyes. “I would be honored…Son.”
Andy beamed.
“Speaking of your dad…” The King paused, slowly shaking his head. “I find it hard to express the gratitude I hold for what he has done. It couldn’t have been easy.”
“He said he’d been hard on me growing up because he wanted me to be prepared if and when the time came. He feared I would suffer if I wasn’t ready. I wish he hadn’t been as hard on me as he was, but I get it.”
“I have great respect for him, Andy. Your dad is an amazing man.”
Andy smiled, and for the first time in his life, he felt pride toward his dad.
“I’d love to see your mom again, but I don’t want to cause her problems or pain. She has a new life. I respect that.”
“Maybe I can put in a good word for you,” Andy joked.
The King smiled wistfully and seemed far away for several minutes.
“We need to throw a banquet to celebrate!” he declared when his attention returned. “We’ll invite the governors and anyone who cares to join us, in a fortnight. This is a momentous occasion in the history of the kingdom. You are heir to the throne. Shall we call you Prince Andrew?”
“Do you have to? Prince sounds so stuffy. I prefer just Andy.”
“Ah, you must understand, ruling well is about the people, not you. The people will want to give you an official title, a name that makes them proud when they associate with it.”
“Oh.”
“Those closest to you can still call you Andy, but in public, you will use your formal title.”
“Looks like I’ve got lots to learn. How’s this all gonna work with my family back home?”
“I don’t know, Andy, but I’m sure your path will become clear as time passes. It always does.”
Andy’s stomach rumbled loudly and he covered his mouth. “Excuse me!”
The King laughed as he returned the letter to the gold envelope and handed it back to Andy. “We still have a curse to break. What say we file that vial in the invisible book before something happens to it and head down to dinner?”
The King put his hand on Andy’s shoulder as they walked down the flight of stairs to Mermin’s library. Andy reveled in the closeness he shared with his father.
They greeted Mermin and announced the headlines, much to the wizard’s astonishment. As Mermin tried to grasp the King’s news, Andy located the book invisible to all but him, brought it over to the table, cleared a spot, and opened it. The single page at the front held a message:
1. Flirt not with temptation.
2. Take care where you leave things.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Andy turned the page and opened the compartment with the white loop handle. To his surprise, it held more than the six red dragon scales he’d collected.
CHAPTER SIX
Rewards of Temptation
The gold key sat on the top. I forgot to pick it up when we left Razen’s office! If he’d found it… Whoever you are, thanks!
Andy picked up the key and stowed it back in his pouch before placing the vial of venom in the book. Turning back the page, he checked to see if the message had changed. Below the original admonitions, it now said, You’re welcome. He breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the book and re-shelved it.
The key explains the part about taking care where I leave things, but what does “flirt not with temptation” mean?
Mermin had recovered from the shock of the news and a grin filled his entire face as he embrac
ed the King in congratulations.
“I’m so happy for you both! And I’m so pwoud of my bwother!”
“You should be, old friend, for he’s made much of this possible.”
Mermin gave Andy a hug, then joked, “Pwince Andwew, huh?”
Andy raised his hand and batted the comment away while laughing. “That’s what Father says, but you can still call me Andy.”
The King gave Andy a wink.
Dinner became a riotous affair after the King announced the news, and normal decorum evaporated as all in the dining hall celebrated. Alden and Hannah rushed over and mauled Andy, thrilled.
“You thought he might be your grandfather, but your father?” Alden burst. “That’s awesome!”
Marta’s enveloping hug, Hans’s firm squeeze, Cadfael’s bear hug, Ox’s pummeling, and manhandling by other well-wishers left Andy sore but in high spirits.
“Hey, we’ve got an Oscray match to win tonight with Prince Andrew!” Ox yelled above the din after everyone had eaten their fill.
With that, strong hands propelled Andy forward, down the hall, and out the back door of the castle. The throng emerged into the orange-streaked haze of tiring sunlight and the stench of cow farts. Someone thrust a set of nose plugs into Andy’s hand as the crowd whisked him on toward the egg-shaped playing field.
News of Andy’s identity had spread quickly, for he noticed several signs celebrating Oomaldee’s new heir scattered throughout the stands, even among the opposing cavalry fans. He wasn’t sure what to think. The blue-clad fans of the castle staff chanted:
No need to make do,
Cavalry can’t outdo,
Castle staff will subdue,
Since we have Prince Andrew!
When Andy reached his teammates at the edge of the field, Alden grinned and shouted over the noise, “No pressure!”. With all the commotion, Andy hadn’t had the opportunity to change into his Oscray uniform, but no one seemed to care. Andy greeted Emmadank, the giantess, and Gwinny, the vulture-woman, who both gave him warm hugs.