Lesser Prince (Guardians of Gaeland Book 1)

by Jamie McFarlane

  Further down, the landscape showed signs of recent activity. Just beyond the view of any casual passersby on the main road, trees and brush had been cut back and fresh gravel had been dropped, making the way wider and smoother. Something had pulled out tree stumps, dumping them at intervals along the road. The rest of the trees had been cut into logs and stacked.

  A hundred yards ahead they met with an impromptu roadblock. An old truck had been parked across the road in such a way that it was impossible to pass. Lyka pulled to a stop and waited. Two portly men, dressed in camouflage and armed with hunting rifles, walked toward the Humvee.

  After speaking with Lyka, one of the men climbed up into the truck and drove it off the road, just enough to allow them to pass. A mile later, they exited the tree-lined lane into a clearing. The vegetation within the clearing had been completely destroyed by truck traffic. Just as along the roadway, trees had been felled and stacks of logs lay in neat piles off to the side.

  In the center of the clearing was a grand, white stone platform. At each corner of the platform were columns similar to those at the drive's entrance. However, these columns were completely intact, rising twenty feet into the air. The base of each column resembled the bottom of a pyramid; at least six feet square where it met the ground, tapering to three feet where the round pillar began. At the top of the columns, green limestone beams had been mortised into the stone and a pergola-styled lattice of natural wood timbers had been neatly set. On all sides, spacious limestone stair treads descended from the austere platform.

  As soon as the SUV pulled to a halt, Finias jumped from the vehicle and made his way up the stairs and into the center of the platform. Lyka followed directly behind him.

  “Well done, my friend. This is precisely what I envisioned.”

  “I had hoped to have the clearing in better shape, but as you can see most of the important work has been completed.” Lyka smiled broadly.

  At this moment the ghostly shape of the crone approached at considerable speed. She joined the two men on the platform and regained her solid form. “You have been busy, young princes. Who could have ever imagined it; Blackhall and Parnassus, together rebuilding The Crux.”

  Gregor finally joined the small group, “Brother, will you finally tell me what all this is about? I’m sure I don’t want to know how we paid for this, but it must have cost a fortune. Why have you gone to so much trouble to build an empty platform?”

  “Gregor, you would not believe me even if I told you. Tomorrow, however, all will be revealed. Now, we must ready ourselves for a party.”

  Masquerade Ball

  Helicon, West Virginia

  Madame Thimblespite had impeccable taste and had outdone herself outfitting what she considered the “most charming family she’d met in ages.” Sam thought the woman had spent way too much time fussing over Amber, oohing and ahhing as if Amber were some sort of model. He’d made the mistake of trying to set the record straight on this subject and had received a sharp whack on the wrist from Madame’s ruler.

  She had given Jesse instructions to have the family washed and ready to dress at precisely two thirty. When the knock came on their door, Jessie opened it to Madame Thimblespite’s employees, a young man and two young women. One pushed a trolley cart while the other two were almost completely obscured by the boxes, cases, and bags they carried. Jesse, Amber and Sam watched with open mouths as the three workers efficiently set up a make-up and hair station, unfolded a full length mirror, set up a privacy screen in one corner, hung up wardrobe bags and stacked boxes against the walls and on top of the beds.

  Sam was finished first, not needing a lot of make-up and hair styling. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, complete with long tails. His shirt was snow white and sported a dark blue bow tie. The matching blue vest had a faint design stitched through the front in silver thread. His shoes were highly polished black wing tips and an ornamental sword rested inside a scabbard affixed to his belt.

  Sam’s mask was a masterful piece of art. Made of black, white and blue feathers, it had a tag that read “Blue Jay” sewn into the elastic strap in the back. When he put the mask on, his face was transformed into the proud looking bird.

  Amber’s light blue satin gown shimmered as she moved. The front of the dress draped gently between tiny silver and diamond clips perched on each shoulder. The bodice was fitted and hugged Amber’s form until the floor-length skirt flared out low on the hips. Diamonds sparkled on Amber’s white pumps as they peaked out from under the hem.

  Her mask was designed to represent an underwater, tropical scene. Fingers of white coral sparkled across the surface, tiny tropical fish added splashes of vivid color and, as Amber moved her head, three bright orange sea anemones swayed back and forth above one ear.

  Jessie walked out of the bathroom and stared at her children in surprise. They looked like royalty. She blushed as both kids whooped and hollered over her appearance. Jessie’s outfit was an extremely sleek, well-tailored black velvet evening gown that hugged her athletic figure.

  “Oh, mom, you look hot!” Amber blurted. “How are you going to walk in that thing?”

  Jessie turned, enjoying the attention.

  An assistant opened a box and lifted Jessie’s mask from its pillow of tissue paper. “This is my favorite of all Madame Thimblespite’s creations. Tonight you will be a rare black leopard nicknamed the Cobweb Panther. Most people never get close enough to these magnificent animals to realize that they are not completely black. The dark fur hides the spots that all leopards and jaguars have. However, a very rare number of black cats have a strange dusting of white in their fur, as well. This gossamer detail makes them look as if they have been walking through cobwebs, hence the nickname.”

  Jessie turned toward the mirror. From across the room, the mask did look like it was inky black. The fur-like velvet material, ferocious brow and slanted eye holes combined with whiskers and ears for the perfect feline look. A mist of white passed over one eye and across the nose of the mask.

  Beaming with pride, the three workers hustled the group out the door and down the nearest set of exit stairs. A black sedan picked them up outside the barn and drove the few miles up to the castle. Floodlights illuminated the castle and flags flew proudly overhead. A familiar man opened the door of the sedan and helped them out. They gaped in astonishment at the impressive structure.

  “Ah, good evening! You must be the Elendahls. Don’t you all look just splendid! If you would exit here and head up the stairs, Princess Gelasius will be honored to welcome you to Helicon.” The small man resembled their friend Traux so closely, they just had to be related.

  With Amber on one side and Sam on the other, Jessie led the way up the grand stairs and through the two ornately carved castle doors. Beautifully dressed people milled about the enormous front entry. The colors were amazing to the point of overpowering. Madame Thimblespite’s masks were evident everywhere - animals, fish or birds. There was even a gentleman who looked like a praying mantis. Apparently, no living creature was off limits for one of her themes.

  A woman wearing a dark green velvet gown and a white feathered eagle mask approached them. She lowered her mask, which was mounted on a long carved wooden rod. The woman’s blonde hair was full and long, flowing down to the middle of her back. As they approached, her smile warmed and she reached her free hand forward toward Jessie.

  “Oh, my, what a beautiful family you have and how elegant you all look.” She grasped Jessie’s hand as if they were old friends. “Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Princess Gelasius Parnassus of the House of Parnassus. And you must be Jessie, Amber and Samuel. You honor us with your presence tonight.”

  “Thank you for inviting us,” Jessie replied. “This is quite an occasion for us, everyone has been so thoughtful.”

  “That is wonderful to hear, we are so looking forward to seeing this young lady compete next week. I have been spying on your practices. Your mare Wild Grey is incredible and you are a fa
bulous rider.” She looked at Amber who, for the moment, was glad to be wearing a mask; her cheeks flushing at the attention.

  As Gela was speaking, another woman came up to the group, dragging someone behind her. The woman wore the same exact shade of green that Gela wore, but the dresses couldn't have been more different. The newcomer’s gown was silk and had been beautifully stitched with tiny green flowers and vines. A great number of the flowers seemed to be swirling around the skirt and then coming to rest in small piles near the hem. Her mask was obviously a bumble bee, the bright yellow and black stripes could be nothing else. In case there was any doubt though, it sported two curly black antennas that bounced as she moved.

  “Wonderful timing. Jessie, Amber and Samuel Elendahl, please allow me to introduce my sister, Princess Larissa Parnassus and our nephew, Prince Tigerious Parnassus.”

  Larissa was unable to contain herself. “Jessie Elendahl! Dauxal told me you were here. I don’t know if you remember me, but we competed several years back. No doubt we should expect great things from Amber.”

  Jessie smiled at the young woman’s exuberance, “Yes, of course. You don’t seem to have aged a day. And it is very nice to meet you, Tigerious. Thank you for such a warm welcome, we’ve been having such a wonderful time here, everyone has been so hospitable.”

  “See, I told you there would be other kids your age here.” Lari looped an elbow through one of Tig’s arms, grabbed Amber’s wrist and signaled to Sam with a snap of her head, dragging the little group over to the wall. “I had to twist Tig’s arm to get him to come tonight, maybe you guys could hang out?”

  Lari winked at Tig, giggled, and then walked back over to Jessie and Gela.

  Tig groaned and dropped his chin onto his chest, his eyes closed. “She actually means well,” he tried. “I’m sorry if she embarrassed you. Please call me Tig.”

  “She seems nice and not stuffy for a princess,” offered Sam.

  “I think she actually has a good idea.” Amber laughed. “It looks like we might need to stick together if we are going to make it through the entire ball. I’m afraid Sam and I aren’t real heavy partiers either.”

  Tig gave Amber a grateful look. He might look calm and dignified in his royal attire, but underneath he was a basket case. Tig was terrified that he would get his dark green tux dirty or in some other way embarrass his new family.

  “Great mask, Tig. Did you get to pick that one?” Sam asked excitedly.

  “No. Madame Thimblespite picked it out for me. The tag says it’s some kind of lizard. I think it’s really cool,” Tig responded.

  “That’s not just any lizard,” Sam moved in closer to get a better look at the intricate mask. The face almost looked like it was made of stone. Round white scales were quite pronounced around the nasal area and along Tig’s lower jawbone. The skin surrounding the scales was a very light, steely grey-green and looked like old wrinkled leather. There was a pronounced arch over each eye and three white horns were grouped together where the mask ended above the forehead.

  “Awesome,” Sam breathed. “That's a male Lesser Antilles Iguana. It even has the third eye. See that light spot, up at the top?” Sam pointed to Tig’s mask and then gave a frustrated sigh. “You can’t see it. We’re going to have to find a mirror. This is so cool.”

  “I think there’s one in here.” Tig led the group through a hallway that passed beneath the grand stairs leading to the second level. They entered the room Larissa had identified as the ballroom. It was immense, with a two story fountain in the center that sparkled and glowed from some type of submerged lighting. Water splashed over the sides of the different levels, ending in a wide rock-bottomed pool.

  Green and white Christmas lights were wrapped around a dozen marble columns that held up a wide balcony encircling the entire room. Guests were spread out throughout the balcony and main floor and the sound of music and laughter filled the air.

  Sam asked incredulously, “You live here?”

  Tig hadn’t been expecting a question, “What was that?”

  “You live here?” Sam readdressed, louder.

  “Oh, no, not me. Just visiting. My dad is sick, it's a long story.” Tig’s face turned red as he considered his awkward response.

  “Oh, geez, sorry,” Sam said.

  “Thanks. Hey you want to get something to eat?”

  “I could eat,” Amber said.

  The trio headed toward a banquet table filled with exotic cheeses, fruits, shrimp cocktail and a variety of other appetizers. After loading their plates and grabbing a glass of punch, they looked around for a place to sit. Not seeing anything close by, Tig offered, “Let’s head upstairs, we’re going to want a good place to watch anyway. Lari says we won’t want to miss the dancing. It’s a big deal.”

  Tig led the trio through a side door to a small stairway. The view from the balcony was beautiful. The chandeliers hung even with the balcony level, giving the observer the sensation of almost being able to reach across and touch them. Plush chairs had been arranged in small seating groups close to the wide marble railing while the walls opposite were filled with thousands of hard-backed books.

  “Wow, what a library!” Sam exclaimed.

  “Yeah, I’ve only been up here a couple of times.” Tig responded.

  “It would take forever to read all of these books. You’re so lucky. Is it okay if I read some?” Sam couldn’t take his eyes off of the new-found treasure.

  “I don’t think anyone would care,” Tig answered, a little unsure of himself.

  “Sam, don’t you dare,” Amber interjected.

  “No need to get all grumpy,” Sam said, deflated.

  Tig led the way to an empty table. Having just met, they didn’t have much to talk about and grew quiet as they ate.

  “Who is that?” Amber asked pointing over the balcony at a group of newcomers. Amber’s eyes had been drawn first to the unusual looking older woman. She had black hair with white streaks running through it and was dressed in a long flowing black dress. If she hadn’t looked so young, Amber would have sworn it was the old woman who had attacked her outside the barn at her home. The woman was accompanied by two men; one dressed in a long black coat with a high collar and black shirt, and the other dressed in a Parnassus green tuxedo. Instead of a cream colored shirt like Tig's, his shiny black shirt very much matched his long unkempt hair. The three wore no masks.

  The crowd parted around them and even the music stopped as they entered. After a few seconds of silence, the music started up again and people went back to dancing, talking and eating.

  Tig’s face lost all of its color and he struggled to talk, “That’s my uncle in the green.”

  Sam whispered, “It’s her, she’s here. Amber we have to go!” His voice was tight with fear.

  “What are you talking about, Sam? You know that woman?” Amber was louder than she’d intended. As if hearing them, the old woman looked directly up at their balcony table, staring first at Sam and then at Tig, finally turning away to confer with one of the men. “It can’t be …” Amber said in confusion.

  “Oh, man! She looked right up here. We have to go!” Tig said, echoing the fear in Sam’s voice. “Follow me.” The three waited until the old woman and her group couldn’t possibly be looking in their direction and then stood, flattening themselves against the bookcase wall and moved toward the stairway. “She’s dangerous. She shouldn’t be here and I need to warn Gelasius.”

  They started down the stairway, but halfway down, Tig, who was in the lead, saw a shadow. “Get back. Someone is coming,” he whispered hoarsely. Up on the balcony again, Tig moved to the front of the group, “Follow me, there’s a back way.”

  Tig led them further down the balcony and through another door that deposited them into the main east-west hallway of the castle. “Hurry, we need to find someone who can help.”

  Amber had had enough. “Hold on, what's this all about?” She grabbed Sam’s shoulder and looked into his face, “That’s th
e woman who’s wolves attacked Twister. How do you know her?”

  “We don’t have time, Amber. That woman tried to hurt me while I was out hiking. I didn’t tell Mom because I thought I was being stupid, but it happened. You have to believe me.” Sam's eyes darted back and forth in panic.

  “Let’s find Mom. Besides it will be safer with a bunch of people around. We need to stay together. Can you get us back to the ballroom?”

  “Yes.”

  The sounds of the party grew louder as they moved along. Tig felt relief; help was just around the corner. That feeling, however, was very short lived. The kids skidded to a stop, seeing Jessie and the old woman standing in front of them. In one hand, the old woman had a grasp on Jessie’s hair and in the other, a long slender knife held to Jessie’s throat.

  The Crux

  “Boys, very good. Just like a lamb to the slaughter you are. Please remain quiet, I’d hate to poison this woman like I did your father, Tigerious. I am not sure she would survive it.” The old woman looked pleased. The kids heard footsteps approaching and saw the two men who had entered the ballroom with the old woman, closing in from behind.

  Lyka spoke first, “Ah, Prince Tigerious. How fortuitous that we should all meet like this. I did so want to introduce you and the Elendahls to my great friend and benefactor, Finias Blackhall.” The man in black gave a mocking bow to the group. Lyka continued in an oily voice, “He and his brother, Gregor, need your help with a family matter, shall we say? I apologize for the crone’s brutality, but alas, it is necessary as we are on a tight time schedule and need your immediate cooperation. Nothing bad has to happen tonight, Tig, and it won’t if you do everything Finias requires. Now, tell your friends to follow us quietly and we will allow their mother to live. You are quite out-matched here.”