Candlewax
Page 38
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Wisps of filmy, white fluff drifted in the air all around her, like millions of dandelion seeds floating on the breeze. The trodliks had vanished. Only the yellow smears on the stone parapet suggested that they had ever been there. The whole castle was quiet.
Zekkarados swatted lazily at a bit of white film that floated by him and licked his paw. “They are no more, Catherine,” he purred. His eyes sparkled with flecks of green mixed with yellow.
“YEEEEAAAAARRRRR!” came Pokos’s triumphant yowl to Catherine through the pendant, followed by a roar of cheers that erupted from the bailey.
“You’ve done it, Catherine!” said Cyril. He held her tightly at the waist, swinging her in dizzying circles, before reverently setting her on her feet again. “You have beaten them, my brave princess.” Cyril’s voice was quiet, his eyes full of pride and wonder. “You and the fairrier cats have beaten them.”
She took his bruised and battered face in her hands and kissed him long and tenderly. Cyril. “We have done it. All of us,” she corrected. She looked beyond him, to Bessie and Menard, her eyes lingering for a moment on both of them. Despite her tears, Bessie’s smile was blinding. Menard bowed his head.
Cyril buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Catherine,” he whispered. “I thought I would never see you again. I thought...” He cleared his throat. “But here you are, in my arms.” Suddenly, he hoisted her up in the air and spun her around again. “You did it, you did it, you did it!” She laughed at his exuberance.
Then, as if remembering something, she drew back. “Kallik?” she asked.
Cyril’s face turned dark and hard. “Fled with his army when the trodliks came. I expect he’s headed back to Tabrek.” A bitter smile crossed his face. “Minus a few thousand men, that is.”
“There’s nowhere Kallik can go that we won’t find him, Cyril,” said King Stephen.
Catherine whirled at the sound of her father’s voice. There he stood, next to Sir Gavin, George Brine, William, and Conrad. His face was streaked with soot and his hair was damp from sweat, but he was grinning from ear to ear like a little boy. Catherine walked slowly toward him.
“Pa!” Bessie pushed past her, etiquette to the wind, and threw herself at her father. George Brine caught her and lifted her up off her feet, crushing her against him in a giant bear hug.
“Father,” said Catherine, stunned. She took another step forward, her heart swelling.
“Can you forgive a foolish old man, Catherine?” asked King Stephen, his face now pained and uncertain. He held out his arms and Catherine saw that his palms were raw and blistered. “I should have told you about the prophecy. All this time...”
He didn’t finish, for Catherine ran the last few steps to him and pushed her face against his chest, her arms encircling his waist, enfolded in his embrace. He held her close for a very long time, rocking gently.
A troubled look crossed Catherine’s face. She raised her head and searched her father’s eyes. “Wolfy? I heard him barking...”
It was George Brine who spoke. “Funny thing about Wolfy not likin’ stairs. He’s probably still sittin’ down there waitin’ for us.” He sighed and gathered his daughter closer. “This day will never be forgotten.” Tears ran unnoticed down his cheeks, into the dark hair of the girl in his arms.
* * *
Later that night, Zekkarados sat in a copse of Candlewax trees. The smoke had cleared and the air was cold. His pride was exploring the Wood. The great cat stared at the flickering flames of the Candlewax trees, transfixed. It was so different from Cinna, so fragrant and full of promise. All of Lackanay beckoned.
He lifted his head and yowled, and everyone for miles around heard his cry. From her window seat in Candlewax castle, Catherine smiled up at the Two Great Farrier Cats, and held out her hand. Cyril brought it to his lips, listening.
At least a dozen cries answered back from the darkness.
—Coming Soon—
Tabrek
By C. Bailey Sims
The next book of the Candlewax story
Warren had never seen Kallik so vulnerable, so old. The malevolence of the man usually projected invincibility. Now he sat on a log and sponged his trodlik bites with a piece of wet cloth. For some reason his wounds were not healing as fast as other people’s bites. His body has forgotten how. The blood of battle still stained the fairrier cat cloak, adding to Kallik’s potent stench.
“Oh, these are nasty bites. I am still bleeding. It hurts, it hurts,” moaned Kallik. Warren kept silent, merely nodding in agreement.
Kallik threw the cloth aside in frustration. Then his eyes focused on Warren as if seeing him for the first time.
“You have done well, Warren. Was it easy to find us?”
“Yes, my lord. After the trodliks perished, all I had to do was follow the trail of bridle bits, swords, knives, and other metals.” Like rings, jewels and talismans. Robbing the dead has never been easier. No bodies to deal with.
“Good. I shall let Cyril’s and Stephen’s armies follow us into Tabrek. They may think to catch me there, but I’ll be elsewhere.”
Warren grinned at Kallik, showing his full array of horsy teeth. “I have other news for you, sire.” He paused importantly and lowered his voice. “Spelopokos was hurt.”
Kallik’s head dipped toward Warren and his yellow eyes widened. “You know this?”
“It is certain. Before I left Candlewax, word had spread throughout the castle. He was shot with an arrow in the neck. They took him to a place called Rokura to recuperate.”
“Spelopokos in Tabrek? Why that sly, old cat.” Something akin to admiration slid over Kallik’s face. Then he rose and paced, his arms straight, his stubby fingers and claw-like nails tucked into awkward fists. “So he’s back, is he?” Warren nodded, his eyes following Kallik.
Suddenly Kallik stopped. He spun and grabbed Warren by the shoulders, his eyes blazing yellow. Warren squealed and fainted.
Kallik let his limp form drop to the ground in disgust and then bellowed with laughter. The guards standing nearby tensed. Kallik waved a paw-like hand at Warren, still chuckling. “Take him to a tent,” he ordered, “and put a blanket over him, for he brings me good news.” Kallik’s laugh rumbled with pleasure. The guards hauled away the unconscious Warren.
Kallik toyed with the thistle-shaped bolster of the dagger in his belt. One of his men had found the knife on the side of the trail and brought it to him. He had immediately recognized Crystallia’s amethyst-gem crest. Princess Catherine’s dagger.
Kallik rubbed his chin and looked toward Tabrek, his eyes green with pleasure. “Spelopokosssss,” he hissed softly. “After all these years we will meet again, and I promise you, it will not be to your liking.”
GUIDE TO CHARACTERS
THE FAIRRIER CATS OF LACKANAY
Spelopokos: The last living fairrier cat of Lackanay
Nepozadan: Spelopokos’s brother, now dead
THE CRYSTALLIANS
King Stephen: Husband to Queen Sarah, Princess Catherine’s father
Queen Sarah: Wife to King Stephen, Princess Catherine’s mother
Princess Catherine: Daughter of Stephen and Sarah
Sir Gavin: King Stephen’s most loyal soldier and friend
Kevin: A Crystallian soldier
Catherine of Tabrek: King Stephen’s mother and Princess Catherine’s grandmother, queen of Crystallia and former princess of Tabrek, now dead
Edward of Crystallia: King Stephen’s father, and Princess Catherine’s grandfather, former king of Crystallia and Catherine of Tabrek’s husband
Clara Smith: Princess Catherine’s maid
Cook: Head cook of Crystallia
Wolfy: The royal family’s massive white dog
Charger: Catherine’s favorite horse, a white stallion
TOWNSPEOPLE OF SWIGGINS
The Brines: George Brine, Abigail Brine, and their children Bessie, Kaylee and Tim
Phineas Swig: A cobbler an
d owner of the Swiggins orchard
Mr. Schepper: A hunter
THE TABREKIANS
Kallik: Overlord of Tabrek
Warren: Kallik’s man with the buckteeth
Jessup: Kallik’s man with the square face
Arnold: One of Kallik’s men
Ben: One of Kallik’s men
Osrek: A minor lord of Tabrek, uncle to Catherine of Tabrek
Brennenock: One of Kallik’s men
THE CANDLEWAXANS
Cyril: King of Candlewax
Cedric: King Cyril’s father and former king of Candlewax, now dead
Elizabeth: King Cyril’s mother, and former queen of Candlewax, now dead
Rogard: First king of Candlewax, the ancient patriarch, long deceased
Menard: Cyril’s counselor, one of the King’s Guard
Matilda: Menard’s wife
William: Captain of the King’s Guard
Conrad: Youngest member of the King’s Council and member of the King’s Guard
Sebastian: One of the King’s Guard
Seth: A castle guard in training to be one of the King’s Guard
Peter: A soldier of Candlewax
Raff: A soldier of Candlewax
Dowan: A groom in the Candlewax stable
Geoffry of Bellary: King Cyril’s steward of Bellary
Ty: Cyril’s favorite horse
THE CINNANS
Magnus: High examiner and high priest, ruler of Cinna
Julia: Magnus’s daughter, high priestess
Quor: Head Speaker
Mekrita: Quor’s cousin
Elsath the Prophet: Cinnan who created the amulet of the Ancient Onyxes
Pulquin: A Cinnan priest
Soah: A Cinnan priest
THE CINNAN FAIRRIER CATS
Zekkarados: Leader of the Cinnan pride
Zekkarados’s wives: Jalamina, Sekiri and Lathuna
Zekkarados’s daughters: Keeshara, Laureleye, Bizantora, Jakeetha, and Valeeri
Zekkarados’s sons: Garrahendeth, and Murzodan
Other members of Zekkarados’s Cinnan Pride: Eleven other fairrier cats
THE ALLIANANS
Captain Felonious Zacharias Spat: Captain of the Fortune
Norman: Cabin boy of the Fortune
Lefford: Seaman of the Fortune
Shem: Seaman of the Fortune. The rest of the crew of the Fortune
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Alliana- ah lee AHN uh
Ancient Onyxes- AYNchent ON ix sez
Candlewax- KAN del wax
Cedric- SED rick
Cinna- SIN uh
Crystallia- kris TAHL eeya
Cyril- SEAR uhl
Devona- deh VOH nuh
Duray Principas- DUR ray PRIN see PAHS
Elsath- EL sath
Felonius Spat- fell OH nius SPAT
Gant- GAHNT
Kallik- KAL ik
Lackanay- LAK uh nay
Magnus- MAG nus
Mekrita- meh KREET uh
Menard- Men AHRD
Mount Krenaka- Mount Kren AH ka
Nepozadan- Neh POZE uh dan
Osrek- OZ rek
Phineas- FINN ee us
Pokos- POKE ohs
Pulquin- PULL kwinn
Quor- KWOR
Sir Gavin- Sur GAV uhn
Soah- SO uh
Spelopokos- Spel OP oh kos (rhymes with Galapagos)
Tabrek- Tuh BREK
Zekkarados- Zeh CARE uh dos
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I acknowledge God’s grace throughout the many years of writing this story and seeing it published.
The early readers of the manuscript CANDLEWAX were especially important: Blanche, Henry, Billy, for being the first to delve into the story. Also Andrea, the Greenwood family, and Kelly L.
I am deeply grateful to the judges of the Tassy Walden New Voices in Children’s Literature Award in the state of Connecticut (whoever you might be), and to The Shoreline Arts Alliance for sponsoring the Tassy Walden Award. This award made publishing seem possible, even as the world of publishing was rapidly changing, and still is.
For their unflagging support, I would like to thank my friends and coworkers from The Bee Publishing Co., especially Terry, Audrey, Bob, Jill, Ellen, Shannon, and the Smith and Baggett families. Also, Brian B., Dan and Nancy B., Brian K., Rob, Julie, Susan—you kept the faith. Ginny, Mark, your outlook on things is an inspiration and your friendship buoyant.
Elizabeth Winthrop Montgomery, thank you for your multiple readings and thoughtful editing of Candlewax. Liza, your enthusiasm for the story was the spark that lit the Candlewax torch. Thanks also to Stacy A. for her keen insight and attention to detail. If there are any flaws in the writing, they are my own.
Thank you, Ingo, for your technical expertise and friendship.
Thanks to the ebullient and savvy Rebecca Mancini for introducing Candlewax to the world.
Robin Johnson, nothing would have been written without the magic laptop. Thank you for giving it to me. Your encouragement and friendship have been vital.
Bill, thank you for being there every step of the way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C. Bailey Sims was born in California and as a teenager moved to the Colorado Rockies where she attended a very small high school, learned how to ski race, ride a horse, mountain climb, and target shoot at tin cans. She now lives with her family in the much tamer but equally beautiful hills of Connecticut in a very creative household of artists and musicians. Of Candlewax she says, “This was a book that I had to write. Spelopokos wouldn’t leave me alone until I finished it.”
To learn more about the author, visit www.CBaileySims.com.
Text copyright © 2012 by Carol B. Sims
Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Terabyte Press LLC
Map copyright © 2012 by Carol B. Sims
All rights reserved. This book is published by Terabyte Press, TM. Associated logos are trademarks of Terabyte Press LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. For information regarding permissions, write: Permissions Department, Terabyte Press, P.O. Box 438, Newtown, CT 06470.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011938092
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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