by Lee Bacon
My jaw drops. “My dad’s life is at risk, and you want to go to…a dance?”
Fred’s rapid footsteps click as he explains. “It’s not just any dance. It’s the Luminary Ball. The biggest event in the kingdom. Visitors from all across Heldstone come to pay their respects. Treaties are signed, alliances are renewed—”
“I don’t care how big this stupid party is. We’ve got more important stuff to deal with.”
Fred lets out a sigh. “I have to be there, Kara. I’m the prince. If I don’t attend, the entire kingdom will know about it. My mother and father will send out an army to find me. We wouldn’t make it past the city walls.”
I search my brain for another option. A loophole. But I never get the chance, because as we turn a corner we’re met by a group of girls. Four of them, about our age. Dressed up in frilly gowns, with perfect hair and perfect makeup and perfect everything.
When they notice Prince Fred, the girls let out a chorus of gasps. It’s like they’ve just spotted a celebrity. If this were my world, they’d probably start snapping selfies with the famous prince. But this isn’t my world. And instead, the girls line up side by side in their poufy dresses, as if they’ve been practicing for just this moment.
The tallest and prettiest performs a curtsey. “Your Highness. What an absolute delight to see you again! It’s been too long.”
“Countess.” The prince sweeps forward to kiss the girl’s gloved hand. “How lovely that you could come!”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The other three girls are quick to offer their own greetings. Each one curtseys a little lower than the last. This is followed by more hand-kissing from Prince Fred. By the time they’re done smooching and complimenting each other, I’m about ready to barf.
The tallest girl glances in my direction. Her eyes match the enormous ring on her finger. Green and sparkling.
And sharp enough to draw blood.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Her crimson lips form an imitation of a smile. “My name is Francesca Gravuria Thomasina Ondietta te Xavienne, Countess of the Wrendstone Provinces. And who might you be?”
“Uh…” As I stare back at the girl, I suddenly feel very dull and very ordinary. My memory reaches back to what the prince said earlier. “My name’s Kara Estrada. I’m visiting from Stonk.”
The girl next to Francesca makes a face. “Stonk? I’m surprised you were able to travel all this way. I heard the entire population of Stonk has only a single healthy mule to share between them.”
Two of the girls cover their mouths, trying to hide their laughter. But not Francesca. She silences her friends with a flick of her green eyes.
“I’m sure Stonk is a fascinating region,” she says. “I’ve never been, of course. Father says it’s too dangerous. Besides, the desert climates are terrible for my complexion.”
One of her friends shakes her head vigorously. “Even the desolation of Stonk couldn’t harm your complexion, Francesca!”
“I’d die to have your rosy glow,” adds another.
But Francesca ignores her friends’ brownnosing comments. All her attention is still trained on me. “Will you be attending the Luminary Ball, Kira?”
“It’s Kara,” I say. “And—uh…I’m not really sure I’ll be able to—”
“Yes,” Fred says. “She’ll be there.”
I shoot a glance in the prince’s direction. With my eyes, I try to communicate that I have zero interest in attending some fancy ball. I’ve only been to one dance in my life. The Shady Pines Middle School Spring Splash. My best friend, Marcy, and I spent the entire night standing awkwardly in the corner, trying not to spill punch on our dresses.
The worst part was the worrying. What if I’m a terrible dancer? How will I know where to put my hands? Am I going to step on some poor guy’s toes? As the night stretched on, though, I got something new to worry about. Why haven’t any boys asked me to dance? Am I putting off a dork vibe? Is all this nervous sweating making my armpits stink?
So, yeah…dances aren’t really my thing.
I’m not the only one disappointed that I’ll be attending the Luminary Ball. By the way Francesca and her friends are glaring at me, I know they don’t want me there, either.
But when Prince Fred looks at the group of girls, their expressions instantly transform. Their lips stretch into tight smiles. Their delicate hands clasp with mock excitement. Their voices chirp like exotic birds.
“How marvelous!”
“Such a thrill!”
“I’m sure it shall be far better than anything you could ever experience in Stonk.”
Francesca narrows her sparkling green eyes. “You simply must come with us. We’re on our way to the Grand Drawing Room.”
“Oh, no thanks,” I say quickly.
“I’m afraid it isn’t optional. All the young ladies will be there. We’re getting ready for the ball!”
“That’s okay. Really. I actually need to—”
Francesca grabs my wrist. Her fingernails dig into my skin, but she’s beaming at me like we’re BFFs. “I truly must insist. Now come along, Kira. We shall have ever so much fun!”
I toss a desperate look at Prince Fred, but he only manages a sympathetic shrug and mouths the words, I’m sorry.
Francesca yanks my wrist. Her friends loop arms around my waist. The group surrounds me, guiding me away from the only person I know in this world.
As Kara vanishes around the corner, my fingers twist into a tense knot. She’s only just arrived in Heldstone, and already I’m letting her out of my sight.
But she’s in good hands. I’ve known Francesca my entire life. The bond between our families stretches back hundreds of years. Our parents have even talked about a possible marriage.
Not that I have any interest in such a thing. I’ve told Mother and Father countless times that I refuse to consider any kind of arranged wedding. I don’t care about “strategic alliances” (Father’s words) or “family obligations” (Mother’s favorite excuse). A marriage shouldn’t be forced onto a person like a tutoring assignment.
I’m sure Francesca feels exactly the same way.
And that she’ll treat Kara wonderfully.
When I return to my bedchamber, I’m met by a half-dozen servants. Standing at attention, hands clasped behind their backs, ready to do anything and everything I ask of them. It’s a familiar sight. From the moment I was born, I’ve been surrounded by servants. Men and women devoted to one—and only one—thing:
Me.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” says the head servant. “We laid out your attire for the Luminary Ball.”
“Would you like us to help you try it on?” says another.
“Or perhaps you’d prefer that we draw you a bath first?”
I glance across the row of servants. Crisp uniforms, stiff postures. Waiting for my command.
I begin to give an order but stop myself. Instead, I clear my throat. And when the words come, they aren’t what I expected. “Actually, I won’t be needing your help. I’ve decided to get dressed on my own today.”
A flicker of surprise flashes across the servants’ faces.
“Pardon me, Your Highness,” says one. “I may have misunderstood. It sounded as though you said…that you—”
“Want to get dressed on my own.” I nod. “You heard me correctly.”
The servants look baffled. And I understand why. All these years, I’ve come to rely on them for everything. They ensure that I’m well dressed, well groomed, and well fed. Protected inside a bubble of comfort and convenience. Safe and secure…
And unable to do a thing for myself.
All that changed once I entered Kara’s world. During my time on Urth, there weren’t any servants to comb my hair or fluff my pillows. It was often difficult. But I also experienced something I’d never encountered before: independence. For the first time, I was in control of my own life. And I rather liked the feeling.
“In
fact,” I add, “I won’t be needing your assistance for the rest of the day.”
The servants cast confused glances at one another. They’ve rigorously trained for a million different situations and scenarios. Obviously, this isn’t one of them.
After a long moment of silence, the head servant manages to speak. “But, Your Highness? Who will fasten your boots? And clean your nails? And pluck your eyebrows?”
“I will.” I straighten my shoulders, feeling more independent already. “Or—at least I shall try. That’s the only way to learn, right?”
“But—”
“That will be all,” I interrupt. “You may go now.”
The servants linger for a moment longer, as if afraid this is all some elaborate trick. But they’re required to obey my orders. Even the ones they don’t understand. And eventually, they file out of the room, leaving me alone.
Or…almost alone.
A small, furry shape emerges from behind a dresser and slinks in my direction. I can hear its purring, even from the other end of the bedchamber.
“Hello, Xyler,” I say to the cat. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough,” he replies mysteriously.
All the other cats that inhabit the palace spend their time lurking around the kitchen, hoping to gobble up any morsels of food that might fall to the floor. But not Xyler. He can usually be found in the Royal Tutor’s chambers. And while I can barely keep myself awake during my daily lessons, Xyler often curls up on the nearest bookshelf, his ears pricked attentively to the tutor’s words.
Xyler’s tail weaves behind him, but his eyes are steady. They shine up at me like two shimmering moons. “Pray tell, Your Highness…how was Urth?”
I stare at the cat for a long moment, certain I must’ve misheard him. “What did you just say?”
“Urth…how was it?”
Kara and I told nobody of our voyage to her world. “I…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
One look into Xyler’s hazel eyes and I know he isn’t falling for my deception.
“Worry not,” he says. “I won’t tell anyone. Cats are extremely skilled when it comes to keeping secrets.”
“What makes you think I’ve been to Urth?”
“Well, for one thing, you didn’t come to your room last night.”
“Perhaps I slept in a different room. This palace has plenty of them.”
“That’s what I originally thought. But as soon as you walked through the door, I knew there was another explanation. You journeyed to Urth.”
“How…?” The words catch in my throat. “How could you possibly know?”
Licking his paw, the cat explains. “You humans always underestimate the sense of smell. Even from here I’m able to detect several distinct scents on you. There’s soapy laundry. That must explain why you’re wearing such unusual garments. You took them from a servants’ washroom.”
The cat takes a step closer, sniffing the air.
“There’s also a strong odor of smoke and flames,” he says. “You must’ve been caught in a fire.”
My memory tumbles back to Legendtopia. Flames engulfing the Sorceress’s fortress. Staggering through curtains of smoke and ash.
Xyler’s unblinking gaze hangs on me. “And then there’s another scent. Buried under the smells of soapy laundry and flames. The faint whiff of Urth.”
“How do you know what Urth smells like?”
“Because.” The cat’s tail flicks. “I’ve smelled it once before.”
Three years ago, Xyler was napping under a sofa when an oddly dressed man came stumbling into the hallway, looking lost.
“Greetings, strange traveler,” said the cat. “May I offer any assistance?”
The man’s only response was to stare at Xyler in utter astonishment.
The cat tilted his head. “I apologize if I’ve offended you—”
“It’s not that.” The man ran a hand through his dark hair. “It’s just—cats don’t talk where I come from.”
“And where might that be?”
The man considered this question for a second. “A place called Urth,” he finally said.
“Urth.” It was the first time Xyler would hear the peculiar word. But it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Over the next three years, everyone in Heldstone would become captivated by the legend of Urth. A place where lights ignite with the flip of a switch. Where all the knowledge in the world can fit into the palm of your hand. Where people travel in horseless carriages and machines soar through the skies.
But on that day, the first day that Xyler met the strange traveler, Urth was completely new.
Xyler helped the man find his way out of the palace without encountering any guards. When they reached the back tunnels, the cat paused in the doorway.
“This is as far as I can go,” he said. “I wish you good fortune in your travels.”
“Thank you,” said the man.
“One last question before you depart.”
“Of course.”
“What is your name?”
The man glanced deep into the tunnel that led beyond the walls of the palace. Into a new world. Heldstone. Then he turned back to the cat. “My name is Santiago Estrada.”
By the time Xyler is done with the tale, I have to steady myself against the wall.
“This is incredible.” I shake my head, staring at the cat. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I told you already,” Xyler replies. “Cats are excellent at keeping secrets.”
Preparations for the Luminary Ball can wait. Kara needs to know about this. Now. If only we possessed the technology of Urth, I would call her on a Self-Own. All Urthlings seem to carry the sleek devices in their pockets, allowing them to speak and write to each other, no matter how far apart they may be. But this isn’t Urth. And if I want to talk to Kara, I’ll have to speak with her in person.
“You must do something for me,” I say to Xyler.
The cat stands at attention. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“I need you to find someone.”
“Whom shall I find?”
I take a deep breath. “Her name is Kara. And she’s the daughter of Santiago Estrada.”
I begin to describe Kara to Xyler, but he stops me with a raised paw.
“I presume she smells like you, right?” says the cat. “A mixture of soap, fire, and Urth.”
I nod. “You should be able to find her in the Grand Drawing Room. She set off in that direction a little while ago with Countess Francesca—”
“Your fiancée?”
“Francesca’s not my fiancée!” My tone sounds more defensive than I’d intended. Lowering my voice, I add, “Our parents have discussed the topic, but I can assure you—neither of us has the slightest interest in an arranged marriage.”
The cat looks skeptical. “If you say so.”
Ugh. These girls are the worst.
Francesca and her friends guide me through the palace in a tight bundle of giggling and teasing. If you saw us from a distance, you’d think they actually like me. But if you look closer, you might notice Francesca’s fingernails digging into my arm. Or her friends “accidentally” jabbing me with their elbows every time we turn a corner. Or the way all their compliments are actually insults.
“I love your dress! It’s so simple and cheap.”
“And your hair! It must’ve taken hours to make it look so authentically messy.”
“How refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t care about her appearance!”
Heldstone might be a different dimension, but I’ve come across girls like this before. Pretty and popular…and completely spoiled. They strut through the world like it’s their own personal red carpet. Back at Shady Pines Middle School, kids show off their status with expensive clothes and new phones. Apparently, here they brag about all the servants they employ and how many castles they’ll inherit.
I would ditch them, but where am I supposed to go? This palace is
a vast maze of twisting hallways and ornate rooms. I might never find Prince Fred again.
Looks like I’m stuck with Francesca and her groupies.
We push through a doorway (another elbow jabs me in the side) and begin making our way up a winding stairway.
Up and up and up.
“Uh…where did you say we were going again?” I ask.
Francesca’s grasp on my arm tightens. “You’ll find out soon enough, Kira.”
I swallow the urge to correct her. It doesn’t matter anyway. No matter how many times I’ve told them my name’s Kara, they keep saying it wrong.
At the top of the stairs, Francesca opens a steel door. For a second, everything goes white. A blinding light smacks me in the face. Unable to see anything, I stagger through the doorway with the rest of the group.
When my vision finally clears, I take in my new surroundings. We’re outside, standing on some kind of balcony. Looking past the thick stone railing, I feel my legs melt away beneath me. The view is beyond belief. Up to this point, all I’ve seen of Prince Fred’s world is the palace. And don’t get me wrong. It’s impressive. But now that I’m outside, the spectacular scale of Heldstone unfolds in front of me.
An immense city stretches out past the palace walls. Sunlight glistens across tall golden spires. Wooden houses with thatch roofs lean crookedly over cobblestoned streets and bustling markets. The air fills with the faint sounds of clopping hooves and clattering carriage wheels. If I squint, I can just barely read the painted wooden signs on shops far below.
The city’s population bustles through the streets, humans interacting with the kinds of residents who look like they just wandered off the set of a megabudget fantasy movie. Squat, hairy figures with bulbous noses and jutting chins (dwarfs, I’m guessing). Tall, elegant men and women with luminescent skin (elves, most likely). A hulking gray dude that must be an ogre. The monster grunts as it drags a cart behind it.
Looming in the distance is a vast mountain range. A winged creature appears from behind one of the snowcapped peaks. At first I assume it’s a bird. But this thing’s way too big. Besides, birds don’t have long, spiky tails. And they definitely don’t breathe puffs of flame from their nostrils.