by Gill James
A fly buzzed in her ear. ‘Get away, you pesky thing,’ she hissed flapping at it. Every time when she stopped flapping, it would buzz round her again. Now, that would never have happened back at the palace. The servants would have seen to it that no flies came anywhere near her or Imigriana.
At last, the double doors to the family’s private quarters burst open and Philaderan came through with a huge grin on his face.
‘Sorted!’ he cried. ‘That was hard work. But I persuaded my mother at last that you and Leonis actually acted honourably because you actually stopped. And that obviously, he found you attractive, because you look so much like his beloved Imigriana, and that made him be so charming to you that you could not help but do what you did. But your subsequent restraint is truly remarkable. Leonis is doing the right thing. And so – my mother welcomes you to our home. She will meet with you later. Maniella will look after you until then.’
He clapped his hands. A female servant came running and bowed to him.
‘Fetch Miss Maniella, will you?’ he asked.
The servant bowed slightly again. A few moments later, a side door opened and a young girl who looked about twelve stepped into the courtyard. She gasped and put her hand in front of her mouth. ‘Your majesty,’ she said. She bobbed a curtsy.
Christina laughed. ‘No, no,’ she said. ‘I am not Imigriana. Just her look-alike companion.’
‘It’s unbelievable,’ said the young girl.
‘Right ladies,’ said Philaderan. ‘I shall leave you to get acquainted. I must use the distance speaker and the distance writer to get those two love birds sorted out.’
‘You shall sleep in my room tonight,’ said Maniella. ‘And I shall sleep in my dressing room. After an attack of the falling sickness, you must rest comfortably. Come, I’ll show you.’
Maniella led Christina along three long cool corridors whose white walls were decorated with lacy abstract carvings and painted tiles. Finally, they arrived at Maniella’s room. It was much smaller than the one Christina was used to at the palace. It was so pretty though, with more of the coloured tiles and the lacy carvings. Through the slats in the window, Christina could see a bathing pool decorated with mosaic pictures of dolphins. It was surrounded by trees, whose branches swept down to the ground and here and there, scattered across a lawn, were shrubs covered in tiny orange flowers. Even now, there was a slight perfume coming from them. Christina imagined that at night the scent would be very strong. It was hard to believe they were in the middle of the desert.
‘So you didn’t take your pollogum seed in time,’ said Maniella.
Don’t remind me, thought Christina.
‘You must always have your pollogum seed in time,’ said Maniella. ‘And you should eat them in between. I do. And I haven’t had a seizure – or even the feeling that I was going to have one – for nearly two years now.’
Bully for you, thought Christina. This kid was getting to be a real pain. But, she was quite sweet with it.
‘I will massage your head,’ said Maniella. ‘Like my ama does to me. Did your ama never massage your head?’
Christina shrugged. She was not sure what an ama was.
‘Lie down and I’ll show you.’
Soon the younger girl was tracing gently circles around Christina’s skull.
‘Keep your eyes closed,’ commanded Maniella. ‘You’ll enjoy it more that way. Now, my ama says that this increases the blood flow to your brain and that it makes the connections better. So that also helps to stop the attacks. But I don’t know whether it does. It is just very soothing.’
This kid was so good at this. She was right. It was soothing. Christina was almost asleep again, when a sharp knock at the door made her sit up straight. Instinctively, she adjusted her veil.
‘Ah! Who can this nuisance be, disturbing us like this?’ asked Maniella. ‘Come in,’ she called with a sigh.
Christina slowly opened her eyes. Philaderan was standing there.
‘Good news,’ he said. ‘Both Leonis and Imigriana are on their way here. They have decided to meet here as it is halfway between their two homes.’
Something collapsed inside Christina. Why had she run away? Imigriana seemed to have got over it now. What a waste of time and effort that had been.
‘Imigriana has sent you this distance-writing message,’ said Philaderan. ‘She said I am it to give to you and not to look at it myself. So, here you are. I swear I haven’t looked.’
Imigriana took the piece of parchment. It was the first time she had seen a distance-writing skin. She supposed it was a bit like email, though it was strange that it always had to be physically printed out and she didn’t understand at all how it worked. But a message it was, all the same.
Christina, Christina,
I know you and Leonis didn’t mean any harm. Philaderan made me understand that it was because you looked so much like me that he did what he did. And Leonis is really pleased about what you did to the electric dragon. And I know you’re missing Jan.
We were worried about you, so worried. Thank goodness
Philaderan found you. But I’ve spoken with Her Majesty about it and she said that I would have done exactly the same if I had been you. So, we really are alike.
Now, talking of Philaderan, don’t you think he would suit you very nicely? He’s lovely isn’t he? And as you have no mother in this world to look out for you, perhaps I could arrange your marriage?
Wouldn’t that be grand? You and me and Leonis and Philaderan? A double celebration. Leonis agrees. Anyway, we’ll all be meeting up soon.
Christina was only too aware that Philaderan was watching as she read. There was a faint smile on his face. Had he looked at the message?
‘Oh, come on,’ cried Maniella, ‘what is in this note that it makes you frown so, and go so pale?’
Now Philaderan’s eyes were looking straight into her hers. There seemed to be a question in them. He must have looked at it. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. She was looking at Jan, not at Philaderan. They really could be one and the same person.
‘Is everything all right?’ asked Philaderan. ‘So, what did she say?’
‘Oh, basically that everything is fine, and we can still be friends,’ replied Christina, but she went an even brighter shade of red. Thank goodness for the veil.
‘I have the most wonderful idea,’ cried Maniella, clapping her hands. ‘You and Philaderan should become betrothed just like Imigriana and Leonis. That would be such a happy time!’
Philaderan laughed. ‘Well, I wouldn’t mind,’ he said, ‘but we would have to ask Christina’s parents first.’
‘Then what are you waiting for?’ cried Maniella.
‘Not that easy, my love,’ said Philaderan, swinging his little sister high in the air, ‘as you will find out soon when you have to put on the veil.’ He grinned at Christina.
Something lurched inside her. If only, if only. He did look so much like Jan. He even sounded like him and he certainly acted like him. If she was never going to get away from this world, wouldn’t that be quite a good option, in fact? But she was little more than a servant, really. She felt herself blush even deeper.
She was saved from any more discussion of the matter as the door swung open. One of the servants came rushing in.
‘Lord Philaderan,’ he announced, ‘Lord Leonis has arrived.’
‘Then we shall go and greet him,’ answered Philaderan. ‘Come along ladies.’
Leonis was waiting for them in the entrance hall. He was covered in a faint layer of sand but he was not covered in oily, smutty marks, as he had been the first time she’d seen him. Christina could smell the burnt oil, so she knew he had come by electric dragon. She couldn’t help smiling. Not that anyone could see, of course, unless it showed in her eyes.
Philaderan slung his arm around Leonis’s shoulder and patted him on the back.
‘You got here, then,’ he said. ‘I think it will take Imigriana another couple of hours to get here. S
he hasn’t even set off. Can’t decide what to pack.’
Philaderan laughed. It was strange seeing the two of them together. She had really fancied Leonis before, but in fact, he was nothing in comparison with Philaderan. Oh, he was so like Jan. Could they become a couple?
‘So I see you’ve used some common sense at last,’ said Philaderan and you came the old-fashioned way. Mind you, you could still do with a bit of a tidy-up before Imigriana arrives, even if you’re not as mucky as if you came by dragon.’
‘Ah, but I did,’ said Leonis. He glanced quickly at Christina. She lowered her eyes.
‘We did a great job,’ Leonis continued ‘before – er – before all the trouble began.’
That’s what I am, is it? thought Christina. Trouble?
‘Ah, yes, Christina’s handiwork,’ said Philaderan. ‘Show me!’
‘Oh, boys and their toys,’ complained Maniella. ‘Christina, come, let us go and sit in the shade of the marjit blossom trees and discuss philosophy. They can get dirty and play with their machines like little boys. But Leonis, you really must go and get clean before Imigriana arrives.’
‘Yes, okay,’ said Leonis. ‘Christina can show you what we did.’
‘Oh no!’ declared Maniella. ‘Girls should not get themselves dirty or fiddle with machines.’ Even so, she followed Christina and Philaderan out to where Leonis had left the recently altered dragon. Christina pointed out the changes that the blacksmith had helped them to make. Now the veil became a nuisance again, because it kept tangling itself around parts of the dragon and she found it hard to talk.
‘Fantastic!’ said Philaderan. ‘Will you come with me to our blacksmith and show him how to do that to my dragon?’
‘What about Sandstorm?’ said Maniella, her eyes bright and shiny. ‘Will you still need him if you have such a fine dragon?’
‘Yes I will,’ said Philaderan. ‘And he’s much too big for you anyway.’
‘Well, in that case,’ said Maniella. ‘They should make special dragons for girls, where you can sit inside and make them go without horses and so that your clothes don’t get blown around or dusty from the sand.’
‘Like a car, you mean,’ mumbled Christina.
‘What was that?’ asked Philaderan.
‘Oh, nothing,’ said Christina.
Philaderan suddenly put his hand on Christina’s arm. ‘Will you show me how to make my dragon like this one?’ he asked.
She enjoyed the touch of his hand. He didn’t take it away nor did she want him to. This felt like history repeating itself – recent history and not such recent history. How much had Leonis told him about what had happened? She stared at Philaderan. There was a lump in her throat. If you replaced the headdress with long blond hair and the robes with motorbike leathers – he was Jan. Definitely.
‘You will show me won’t you?’ Philaderan said more gently now. ‘Just like you did Leonis?’
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ Christina managed to whisper.
Leonis appeared in the doorway. He had changed his robes and smelt of washing oils.
‘It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?’ he said.
‘Absolutely!’ replied Philaderan. ‘And Christina is going to show me all that she showed you!’
Christina’s heart skipped a beat. Did that mean her veil was going to come loose again and that there would be more long lingering kisses? Perhaps if she was going to have to stay in their world…well, being with Philaderan would not be such a bad thing. How could she be cheating on Jan if she went off with his double? Would it be cheating if there was no way back to her world?
Her thoughts were interrupted as a servant came running towards them.
‘Lord Leonis, come quickly,’ he said. ‘An urgent message about the royal princess.’
‘I bet she’s still debating what to wear,’ said Leonis. ‘Excuse me, people, I could be some time.’ He left them and turned back towards the house.
‘Oh, I expect it will be worth it. I expect she’ll look stunning,’ said Philaderan. ‘Though you do, too,’ he added quickly. ‘Even in a simple dress.’
‘Let’s take a look at your bike – I mean, dragon’ said Christina.
‘Hmm,’ said Philaderan. ‘Let’s.’ He propelled her gently from behind back towards the side of the house. A thrill of warmth ran through Christina.
Maniella had lost interest and stayed behind, sitting in the shade, threading orange flowers from the marjit bush together, to make a bracelet.
‘Here it is,’ he said, showing her into a small shed.
She could see the outline of the dragon under a dustsheet. She lifted up the cover. It was a slightly different shape from Leonis’s. She had to examine it for several minutes before it made any sense.
‘That’s the pipe you need to move,’ she said.
‘You mean twist it back, like this?’ asked Philaderan, waving through the air.
Christina nodded. If they did that, the dragon could look just like Jan’s first bike.
‘Then we shall do it!’ said Philaderan. ‘We can go to the smith tomorrow. Thank you, you clever girl.’ He kissed her on the bit of cheek, which was showing above her veil.
Kiss me properly, thought Christina, please kiss me properly. Something was welling up inside her like it had often when she was with Jan and like it had the other day when she was with Leonis.
Philaderan hesitated, then his hand went up to her cheek as if he was going to kiss her.
A sudden scream from the garden stopped them. Then Maniella was running towards the shed.
‘Come quickly,’ she shouted. ‘Leonis needs you.’
They found him sitting on the steps to the front door. His head was in his hands. He looked up as they came towards them.
‘It’s Imigriana,’ he said, ‘the Riders of the Northern Territories have her.’
‘Kidnapped?’ asked Philaderan.
Leonis nodded and buried his head back in his hands.
Chapter Nineteen
The Riders of the Northern Territories
The sun was beginning to sink. The servants began to carry in trays of food ready for the evening meal. Christina knew she would not be able to eat. The others didn’t look interested either. But at least Leonis seemed calmer now.
‘Can you remember their exact words?’ asked Philaderan for the hundredth time.
‘The princess will not be freed until what is rightfully ours is returned to us and there is peace in Ixeria,’ said Leonis.
‘Ha!’ said Maniella. ‘Silly men! It is them that are making a war, not our king and queen. It is because they have men in charge up there instead of leaving it to the women! That is what happens when you go against nature.’
‘It’s not that simple,’ said Philaderan. ‘And anyway, it’s time you were in bed.’
‘Very well,’ said Maniella, ‘but only if Christina comes too.’
‘I shall come soon,’ said Christina. She did feel tired, but she doubted whether she would be able to sleep. It still felt as if it was all her fault. If she hadn’t have messed around with Leonis, then reacted so strongly when Imigriana was so upset, both of them would be tucked up safely in the palace now.
‘Remember, you must rest after an attack,’ said Maniella. ‘And don’t forget to take some more pollogum seeds before you go to bed.’ She skipped over and kissed Christina on the cheek. Then she danced out of the room, waving to everyone. ‘We shall soon find Imigriana,’ she called. ‘Just you see!’
‘I don’t really understand – why are these Riders of the Northern Territories so against Queen Benelov and King Tutoralph,’ said Christina. ‘What do they want?’
‘They’re still part of Ixeria,’ said Leonis. ‘In fact, if you go back far enough the royal family originally came from there, but they decided centuries ago to live further south, where it is cooler.’
‘The people in the Northern Territories live differently from us,’ said Leonis. ‘The men are in charge, but they are not kind to their w
omen.’
‘But why are they trying to attack the royal family? What are they supposed to have that belongs to them?’ asked Christina.
‘That is what nobody knows and what my father is going to try to find out. As soon as Lydia arrives,’ replied Philaderan.
No one spoke for a few moments. It was ridiculous that Lydia was going to have to come to chaperone her. Pity the Riders of the Northern Territories hadn’t kidnapped her instead. Still, Imigriana was probably a better target.
Christina wondered what Philaderan’s parents would be able to do better from the palace than they could do here. And what about Queen Benelov and King Tutoralph? It must be really worrying for them. She couldn’t help smiling to herself at the thought that perhaps something might happen to Lydia on the way across. The Riders of Northern Territories were welcome to her. But then she stopped that thought. If Lydia didn’t come, then Philaderan’s father and mother could not go, and for some reason, which she could not understand, everyone thought that was going to bring about a solution.
Leonis looked terrible. He was pale and his forehead had a permanent frown. What had she done? Perhaps it would be better if she did go to bed after all. She was just about to stand up and announce that was what she would do, when the servants came in to clear the hardly touched food.
Still no one spoke. The servants didn’t look at them directly.
‘I’ll have to do something,’ said Leonis. ‘I can’t just sit here.’
‘Wait until Lydia arrives, at least,’ said Philaderan. ‘Then, my father will set off, and I’ll be in charge of the guard here. Besides, you need some rest first. And we need to think it all out.’
‘Talking of which,’ said Christina. ‘I think I’ll go to bed now as well. Before Maniella’s got to sleep. I don’t want to wake her up.’
Philaderan nodded. ‘You ought to, too, you know,’ he said looking at Leonis.
Leonis shook his head.
Christina was hardly at the door, when one of the servants arrived.