by L. EE
“Jada is wise. So what have you learned?”
“I can now see how I was greedy by wanting so badly for Mom to live after the curse is broken.” Andy paused for a minute before continuing, letting the realization sink in. “I think Mom is like the jewels the dwarfs loved. It was okay for me to want to save her, but I allowed that desire to control me. And that’s when I made a bad choice that nearly cost us breaking the curse, not to mention hurting Daisy.”
Father smiled. “Son, you have learned a lesson most people never do. Its value equals or surpasses that of the unicorn’s horn.”
They chatted a bit more until Captain Ladilas announced, “We’ve cleared the Forest of Giants and I don’t anticipate any more unwanted company. Let’s make camp and get some rest.”
The trip the next day proved unremarkable and they reached the city of Oops by early afternoon. Andy saw Castle Avalon’s turrets rise above the tree line an hour later when Hannah interrupted his thoughts. She put her hand on his arm and softly said, “I sense something.”
“What is it?” Andy queried, looking to Alden for clarification. Alden shrugged his shoulders.
“A cold prickly feeling, and it’s as intense as when the bellicose first attacked you!” Hannah replied, scanning the area with wide eyes.
Andy and Alden followed her gaze, seeing nothing out of the ordinary but drawing their weapons anyway. Andy filled in the adults, who also drew their weapons, and picked up the pace.
Half an hour later, they crossed the castle drawbridge as a guard announced their arrival. As the wooden bridge was being raised, Andy glanced back. Just beyond the span stood the bellicose staring at its prey.
“I knew it couldn’t be dead!” he announced.
His seven companions also turned to look, and a ripple of fear rolled through them.
“I want extra soldiers posted around the perimeter of Castle Avalon!” Father instructed the watchman.
“Yes, Your Majesty! It shall be done immediately!” the guard declared and sprang into action.
The group headed up to the dining hall, no one uttering a word.
“You’re back at just the right time!” Marta exclaimed, running to Alden and Andy and giving them a collective bear hug. Her celebration instantly shifted the mood.
“We completed preparations just this morning for the king’s celebration of Prince Andrew,” Lucee informed. Cadfael stood beaming next to his wife as Ro attempted to climb Hannah.
“Big sissy back!” the toddler announced at the top of his lungs, to everyone’s laughter.
Hannah scooped him up and showered his fat little face with kisses, to which he giggled and squirmed delightedly. Charis and Larissa gave Hannah more hugs, clearly happy to see their sister back safely.
“The festivities will take place tomorrow evening,” Ox informed.
“What would you have done if we hadn’t made it back by then?” Andy asked.
“Sent out a search party for ya!” Merk joked.
Hans approached. Stopping next to Andy, he observed, “Looks like your nose is just slightly bent. I do good work if I do say so myself.”
Andy laughed and hugged the healer. “Good to see you too, Hans.” Sensing an unspoken question, Andy smiled and replied, “Yes, the trip brought my father and I closer. I’m glad we could go together.” Hans returned the smile, patting Andy on the back.
“Am I missing something, or will you be needin’ another dagger?” Cadfael questioned Andy, jokingly shaking his head. “Yours seems to be missin’ from your belt.”
Andy grinned. “Hey, things got a little intense out there. What can I say?” He caught a wink from Father as he spoke, and Alden, Hannah, and Mermin grinned.
When much of the excitement had died down, Razen approached Father and called him away to other matters. Only then did Andy notice Captain Ladilas and the two sergeants had silently slipped away. The letdown that follows a memorable event knocked on Andy’s mind as everyone dispersed. Shaking himself from his reverie, he joined Mermin heading up to his library.
“May I join you?” Andy asked.
“Please.”
“I need to put the unicorn horn in the book before anything happens to it,” Andy explained as they climbed the stairs.
“A wise idea.”
Andy followed Mermin into the room, located the invisible book, and brought it over to the table. He set his backpack down and pulled out the unicorn horn. Opening the cover, Andy read the first page:
Well done.
You are beginning to learn what it means to rule.
Yeah, and it’s not easy, he thought.
He pulled on the white loop handle, opening the compartment behind. There lay six red dragon scales and the vial of venom, just as he’d left them. Then he realized a problem—Jada’s horn measured fifteen inches but the book only ten.
How am I going to fit this inside?
Mermin noticed Andy’s hesitation from across the room and came to investigate.
“Pwoblem?”
“Yeah. Jada’s horn is taller than the book. Any suggestions?”
After a moment of thought, Mermin recalled, “Didn’t you mention once that the key changes size based on the need?”
Andy nodded, remembering how the gold key had shrunk to fit a smaller keyhole when he and Alden had been trapped by vulture-people at the inn in the village of Oohhh. “You think the horn will change size?”
“I don’t know, but it’s worth a twy.”
Andy angled the horn toward the book. To his delight, as soon as he inserted its tip into the compartment, it started to shrink. The horn fit with room to spare.
“That’s so cool!” Andy remarked, returning the invisible book to the shelf. “Thanks, Mermin! I wouldn’t have thought of that.”
Mermin only smiled and nodded.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and as he dressed in his blue T-shirt and jeans the next morning, Andy found himself wondering how much time he had left in Oomaldee before being sent home again. His last two visits had ended abruptly after he’d recovered an ingredient. He hoped this time would be different, especially in light of recent events.
I wonder when I’ll get to stay for good… But what’ll happen to Dad and Madison? He now knew Mom’s fate, and it felt like a big foot kicked inside his stomach whenever he thought about it. He had no idea how Dad and his sister fit into the picture, and it left him feeling…uncomfortable.
Father, on the other hand… Andy couldn’t help but loose the smile begging to cross his face when he thought about the man he loved so dearly.
“Andy! Good morning!” Father boomed across the dining hall the instant he appeared.
Andy reached the King and felt arms engulf him in a welcome hug.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, Son,” Father praised softly in Andy’s ear as they held the embrace.
Andy’s heart did a happy dance, and for the first time he quietly affirmed, “I love you,” coaxing a grin from Father. They finally broke apart and seated themselves in their usual positions at the long communal table.
Mermin quietly chuckled at the display of affection and commented, “I can’t wemember the last time I’ve seen you so happy, old friend.”
The King returned the expression, then reached over and tousled Andy’s hair.
“You ready for the celebration tonight?” Father asked.
“Is there something I need to do to get ready?”
“Yes, you should go see Kalpit, the tailor. He’ll make sure your new robes fit perfectly for tonight. We can’t have the prince looking unkempt,” Father replied.
“Excellent! I’ll do that right after breakfast.”
“You also might want to pwactice a few dance steps?” Mermin suggested.
“Dance steps? There’s gonna be dancing tonight?” Andy’s voice betrayed the dread suddenly overwhelming his thoughts. “But I can’t dance. I have two left feet.”
Father and Mermin shared an appreciative l
augh before the wizard declared, “Then you will learn. Today.”
Okay, now would be a great time to be sent home!
“That’s right,” Father realized, “you’ve never attended a formal celebration here.”
“Your father’s quite the dancer,” Mermin shared. “Light on his feet, he is.”
“Dancing makes me happy,” the King replied.
Their comments didn’t change the frown smothering Andy’s face.
“Tell you what, I’ll rearrange my schedule,” Father offered. “You get your robes properly fitted, and then I’ll give you a dance lesson later this morning.”
Andy brightened.
At the appointed hour, Andy knocked on the door of the King’s chambers for his first dance lesson.
“Come in, Son. Come in,” Father welcomed. “I’m glad you got my message. I thought you’d appreciate a little privacy.”
Andy nodded.
“We should have enough room in here,” Father declared, waving his arm and indicating the open floor to the right of his overstuffed bed. Mermin perched on a chair at the edge of their makeshift dance floor and three musicians—one with a harp, one with an oboe, and one with a lute—lined the stone wall to his right.
“I didn’t know we had musicians!” Andy exclaimed, getting his first look at them.
Father and Mermin laughed. “This is Bigul,” the King introduced an older man of slight build sitting in front of the harp. “And Alaap.” The plump woman holding an oboe smiled warmly and nodded. “And Liber,” he finished, indicating the bald man with fat, rosy cheeks poised to strum the lute cradled in his arms.
“I’ve seen you all around,” Andy acknowledged, “but I didn’t know you played music.”
The King refocused his attention. “I asked Mermin to assist since it’s usually easier to watch the first time through.”
“I get to dance the lady’s part,” Mermin joked, standing and curtseying.
“You do that so well,” Andy laughed.
Father’s face beamed as he began his instruction. “Some people see dance as just moving about with no story or purpose.” The King cleared his throat and winked at Andy, who rolled his eyes playfully. “I, on the other hand, view dancing as expression, being free of one’s usual constraints. I connect with the music and let my emotions take control.”
I can get that, I’m sure everyone expects Father to act a certain way. Dance is probably one of the few opportunities for him to be himself, Andy thought, then nodded.
“The dance I want to show you is called Saltito. Mermin…shall we?”
The wizard cinched up his flowing blue robes as he and the King stepped to the center of their dance floor.
“If you please,” Father requested the musicians, who struck up a lively tune.
Father stood next to Mermin and bowed, then took the wizard’s hand. In unison, Mermin and the King stepped left then right, forward then back, followed by one hop on each foot. They slid forward left, forward right, then repeated the first steps four times. After two repetitions, they spun around and retraced their steps with each repetition. On and on the dance went, until Andy’s brain could hold no more.
How am I gonna be any good at this by tonight? he panicked.
When the wizard and Father finished, the King commented, “You don’t need to master this for tonight’s festivities, Son. I wanted you to see what the whole dance looks like so you can appreciate your progress as you learn.”
“That’s a relief,” Andy sighed, as Father laughed.
“I want you to have fun with this, Andy. Remember, I’ve had over five hundred years to practice.”
“Oh, right.” Somehow that perspective helped calm him.
“So, let’s take it one part at a time,” Father suggested.
“Okay.”
Following this approach, Andy had learned the fundamentals by the time his stomach grumbled two hours later, causing everyone to adjourn for lunch.
Father had other matters to attend after the noon meal, but Andy and Mermin returned to the King’s chambers for more practice. Three hours later, the beginnings of confidence began announcing their presence in Andy’s brain, and he smiled as he and Mermin shared the dance’s final bow. I didn’t even look at my feet that time!
Mermin and the musicians clapped.
“Well done, my pwince,” Mermin affirmed. “You’ll do fine tonight. Best get weady, our guests will begin awwiving shortly. You—”
Mermin didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence, for there came an urgent pounding on the door. A servant rushed in and announced rapid-fire, “Sorry to intrude, sir. Is the King here? There’s a…a…a black, hairy beast thing loose in the castle!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Cotillion
Andy didn’t wait for Mermin, but burst from the King’s chambers and took the stairs two at a time, stopping at the dining hall where shouts rang out.
The bellicose gazed about the room dagger in hand, sniffing the air, then halted as soon as it eyed Andy.
Unarmed, Andy wished, If only I had Methuselah!
No sooner had he thought it than the hilt materialized in his hand.
No way! You transport yourself, too? You’re so cool!
The blade extended and Andy slowly approached, his eyes locked on the bellicose. Onlookers instantly hushed and parted like the Red Sea.
Before Andy got close enough to begin circling his adversary, Father sprinted into the room having bolted up the grand staircase behind the beast. He growled loudly, “Oh no you don’t! You’ll have to get through me before you ever touch my son!”
Father’s bellow startled the bellicose, and it whirled to face the disturbance.
“Father, no!” Andy yelled, racing to intervene.
But before Andy could separate the two, the bellicose leaped on the King, tackling him to the floor.
“No!” Andy screamed.
Andy expected to hear gut-wrenching shrieks from Father. In the instant it took his brain to register what was happening, however, his ears and mind attempted to reconcile a disconnect. He heard yelps, but they came from the bellicose not Father.
The King wrestled the beast, grabbing it around its thick, furry neck and strangling it with his bare hands. Andy had never seen such a fierce look of hatred as the one on Father’s face in that moment. The beast writhed and squirmed, straining to push Father away. It finally broke free. Scrambling to its feet, it grabbed the weapon it had dropped when it made contact with the King, then bolted for the stairs and back out the door.
Andy heard a collective sigh go up from the onlookers. He retracted Methuselah’s blade, sprinted to Father, and extended his hand to help him up off the floor. “What just happened?” he questioned, disbelieving.
Father’s face now wore a confused expression and he replied, “I’m not sure, Son.” He took in another deep breath. “All I know is I wasn’t going to allow that beast to harm you.”
“Didn’t the bellicose’s touch burn?”
“No, not at all. In fact, judging by its cries, I think I burned it when it touched me.”
“But how?”
The King looked at Andy and shook his head. “No idea.”
“Are you okay?” Mermin interrupted, finally reaching them.
“Yes, I’m fine,” affirmed the King, patting the wizard on the shoulder.
Andy glanced toward the back of the room and saw Razen appear. The castle operations manager exchanged an assuring glance with Father before admonishing the staff in his high-pitched, nasally tone, “I think we’ve had enough excitement for the moment. We have a celebration to host.”
Relieved but still a bit shaken, Andy took that as his cue to go change. “You’re sure you’re okay, Father?” he questioned as he, the King, and Mermin ascended the steps to their respective chambers.
“Oh yes, Andy. If anything, I feel energized from the altercation. I surprised myself. I never knew I could feel so protective. When the bellicose threa
tened you—”
Mermin chuckled and remarked, “Sounds like a father who loves his son.”
By the time Andy made it back downstairs, a ten-piece orchestra had begun playing, setting a festive mood. New royal blue banners hung around the perimeter of the room. Each one bore the King’s coat of arms: with the woven images of a fox above chains, separated by a line that looked like turrets.
“Well, don’t you look handsome!” Marta crowed as soon as she saw his new outfit. She wore a freshly pressed blue dress with a white apron and had braided her bright purple hair with small white flowers.
“Thanks,” Andy replied, feeling his cheeks warm. He leaned in and gave her a hug. The flowers in her hair smelled like baby powder, and the scent reminded him of a fragrance Mom wore, He smiled.
Charis and Larissa dashed by in new dresses of baby blue and white gingham. They chased Ro, who squealed in delight.
“Andy,” Hans chimed, approaching from behind. The healer grabbed Andy’s shoulder and drew him into an embrace.
“Wow!” Andy exclaimed at seeing the tall, slender man. He had shaved off his pepper gray stubble and Andy hardly recognized him.
Hans gave a hearty laugh and replied, “It’s not every day you get to celebrate a new prince in the kingdom. I figured I’d clean up a bit more than usual.”
“Well, you look great!”
Hans bowed with a flourish. “Thank you, my prince.”
“Oh, stop it,” Andy blushed, waving the gesture away.
Andy joined the King. “Son! You look dashing in your new robes. Another excellent job by Kalpit.”
“I like them. They feel…comfortable.”
“Our first guests are arriving!” Razen announced moments later above the din. “Your Majesty, Prince Andrew, if you’d follow me.”
Andy had never seen the vulture-man smile, and certainly not as broadly as he did tonight. What’s up with him?