“I’ll use the other raft.”
“That’s how you’ll get across the moat,” she said. “But how will you follow him? On foot? Chances are he has a horse tied up on the edge of the woods.”
“Maybe so, but I’ve got to try,” Christopher said defiantly. “Tomorrow’s the coronation and who knows what last minute scheme Morgus is arranging for Belthasar. Anyway, how fast can he ride a horse in this darkness? Remember, no moonlight or streetlights. I’ll follow along at a safe distance. Piece of cake.”
They could barely discern the figure of Morgus Vander reaching the other side of the moat. He hid the raft and wooden pole in the tall grass on the opposite bank before climbing to the top and then scrambling across the field to the nearby woods.
Christopher rushed over to the other raft and started untying it, knowing he had no time to lose. Though Molly pleaded with him to stay, Rosalind calmed her down and tried to explain her brother’s point of view.
“Christopher is right, Molly. Someone must follow Morgus and try and prevent any further disaster.”
“But it’s dangerous.”
“I know it is,” she said with concern. “But among the three of us, he is best suited for the task.”
“We’ve outwitted trolls and goblins, and escaped from this castle–twice!” Christopher joked as he dragged the raft toward the moat. “How much more dangerous can this be?”
Molly clenched her teeth, fearing for her brother unlike any time before. “Maybe so, but…”
“If you’re feeling bad because you’re not getting your fair share of danger, Molly, rest assured–you will!” Rosalind said, trying to lighten the mood. “We have to find Mr. Tupper and stop the coronation on our end. We all have a job to do.”
“Yeah,” Christopher agreed. “You’ll probably face more trouble than I will, but you’ll do okay. You both will.” He slipped the raft into the water, but before he stepped onto it, Molly rushed over and hugged him.
“Just be careful, okay?”
“I promise,” he said, gently rubbing her shoulder. “And you be twice as careful.” He glanced up at Rosalind, reassured by her determined smile.
Moments later, Christopher rowed across the moat, recalling his first trip over the water on a wobbly log in the middle of winter. When the raft hit shore, he climbed off and pulled it out of the water. He gazed across the moat and saw the dim shapes of Molly and Rosalind, thinking they were waving to him. He waved back and clambered up the grassy bank and then shot across the field like a tiger on the hunt.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Words of Warning
After Christopher departed, Molly and Rosalind trudged into the castle through the side entrance, feeling chilled and tired to the bone. And despite a clever escape from the storage room over an hour ago, they admitted to each other how overwhelming the situation appeared. They felt as helpless as two leaves caught in a gust of wind.
“We’re tired and hungry,” Rosalind said. “That’s half our problem. We must rest a few moments to help us think straight.”
“Maybe I can fix the hunger problem,” Molly said, searching in the darkness for the small wooden box against the wall. A few apples and some bread scraps were still inside. She grabbed two of the apples, quickly polished them against her blouse and handed one to Rosalind. “An apple a day keeps Belthasar away,” she said with a chuckle.
She and Rosalind sat on the bottom step and feasted on the crunchy fruit, wishing they could chat about wedding dresses and spring flowers. But they planned their next move instead, and Rosalind dreaded having to take it.
“We must find Mr. Tupper,” she said. “He’ll help us in this evil hour.”
“I’d hate to be the one to wake him up,” Molly said. “There are still four or five hours before sunrise.”
“At least,” Rosalind replied distantly, setting aside her half-eaten apple. “I don’t mind waking him up, but I tremble when I think about what I must tell him.”
Molly leaned against the stone wall and yawned. She could barely distinguish Rosalind’s outline only a short distance away on the same step, slumped against the opposite wall. “You’re worried about the promise you made to Jeremiah.”
“Yes.” Her faint whisper filled the room. “I can’t speak of it now for I’ll only have the heart and strength to utter the words once.”
“Wait for that time then,” Molly said, hoping to put her at ease. “Rest now. We both need to or we’ll be no help to anyone.” Molly yawned again, trying to fight off a deep sleep that was beckoning to her like a dear friend.
“I suppose you’re right…” Rosalind said with difficulty, her eyes heavy with worry and exhaustion. She couldn’t keep them open another moment.
“I know I’m…right…” Molly lethargically replied as her arm fell to her side. Her apple dropped to the ground and rolled silently across the floor.
Moments later, Molly and Rosalind were sound asleep.
Molly opened her eyes to darkness, believing she had nodded off for only an instant. When she stood, her back felt knotted like a pretzel and she realized she had slept for hours. She glanced out the barred window and noticed the faintest hint of gray in the eastern sky. Still very early, she guessed, but probably an hour or so before sunrise.
“Princess Rosalind,” she gently said, shaking her arm. “Time to wake up. We overslept–big time!”
“What? What’s going on?” she replied drowsily, her head still clouded with distressing images from unfinished dreams. “How long have I been asleep, Molly?”
“As long as I have, so don’t feel guilty. We both nodded off for several hours.”
Rosalind stood and stretched, then hugged herself to warm up. “This room is as cold as a cave, and we’ve lingered here too long already. We must sneak upstairs and contact Mr. Tupper at once. Time is running out.”
“Then let’s go,” Molly said, leading the way up the steps. “Do you know where we can find him?”
“Yes, but we must be discreet,” she warned. “Belthasar believes we are safely locked away in the storage room. If he or any of his followers spot us, he’ll realize his plans are in jeopardy. Who knows what drastic measures he would then take?”
Molly carefully opened the door at the top of the stairs, peering into the castle chamber where the three passageways met. She saw no one and signaled for Rosalind to follow her into the light.
“I think we’re safe,” she whispered. “Too early for anyone to be awake, I suppose.”
Before Rosalind could warn her not to be too sure, they heard voices emanating from the passage to their left. Molly and Rosalind bolted down the corridor to the right, stopping after they had passed by one of the castle kitchens. The smell of baking bread and smoked ham wafted through the hallway.
“I think we lost them,” Molly said, sniffing the air with all the enthusiasm of a hungry dog. “My, but do I smell some good food or what?
“The castle cooks are readying breakfast, bright and early as usual. I imagine they’ll have extra duties today because of the coronation. There’ll be lots of guests to feed at the dinner banquet following the ceremony.”
“I could stand a little breakfast. A few bites of that apple wasn’t enough,” Molly said, again inhaling the air as if smelling a bouquet of roses. “Do you think the castle cooks could spare a fried egg or two? Maybe a slice of bread on the side? I’ll even fix it myself.”
“Now you’re making me hungry,” Rosalind said, knowing full well that there wouldn’t be time for breakfast. “First things first. Let’s hurry upstairs and find Mr. Tupper. Maybe if you’re lucky you might get some lunch later on. We don’t have time now to bother the kitchen workers.”
“Then perhaps I’ll bother you,” a good-natured voice said as the door to the kitchen opened wide. A short woman wearing an apron and a beaming smile stepped out into the corridor. Her hair was tied up in a white kerchief and her face glowed apple red from the heat of the kitchen fireplaces. “What brings you down here at this e
arly hour, Princess Rosalind? Not looking for more clothes, are you?”
Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
“Good morning, Mrs. Rudkin,” she said. “And no, we’re not looking for clothes or breakfast.” Rosalind quickly introduced the lady to Molly, for it was she who provided the clothes Molly now wore.
“They fit quite nicely,” Molly said appreciatively.
“My daughter and son were happy to help you out, Miss Molly.” Mrs. Rudkin looked about curiously as she tugged on her apron. “Where’s the other one you told me about, Princess Rosalind? That boy.”
“Oh, Christopher,” she replied. “He’s, uh…”
“Sleeping late!” Molly jumped in. “The princess and I were so excited about the coronation we decided to take an early morning walk about the castle. My brother, on the other hand, will sleep until noon if you let him.”
“We’re quite busy ourselves today because of the special event,” Mrs. Rudkin said. “We even put on extra help. Speaking of which…” she added with a tiny scowl, eyeing two young girls wandering down the hallway engaged in idle conversation, oblivious to all else. They only looked up when Mrs. Rudkin cleared her throat. “A little late, ladies, aren’t we?”
“Sorry, Mrs. Rudkin,” one of them said, immediately recognizing Princess Rosalind. She stared at her with an awkward smile.
“It won’t happen again,” the other replied, equally impressed when seeing the princess standing before her.
“Well, Melinda, make certain that it doesn’t,” she lightly admonished. “Now you two stop gawking at Princess Rosalind and get inside. You have your morning rounds to do–and soon!”
“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in unison, sheepishly entering the kitchen.
“Sorry about all that fuss,” Mrs. Rudkin apologized. “These young girls hear stories about your upcoming wedding and it sets their hearts aflutter. All the talk I hear is about how they’re going to marry a prince someday.”
“I suppose all girls dream like that,” Rosalind replied, preparing to say goodbye. She knew that she and Molly had to find Mr. Tupper right away. Then all of a sudden an idea popped into her head. “Mrs. Rudkin, I wonder if I could bother you for one more favor, though I know how terribly busy you are.”
“For you, dear, anything. I love it when you visit,” she said. “You make the castle seem more like a home. It’ll be wonderful having you around all the time when you finally marry Prince Jeremiah.”
“Well, in a way this favor relates to that very thing,” Rosalind said, receiving a perplexed stare from Molly. “I need to speak to Mr. Tupper right away about–wedding matters. But it must be absolutely secret.”
Mrs. Rudkin furrowed her brow, not quite understanding what Rosalind had in mind. “And you want me to do what exactly?”
“If it wouldn’t be an inconvenience, could you hurry to his quarters and tell him I must talk to him immediately in the, uh–map room!”
She scratched her head, bubbling with curiosity. “I can do that, Princess Rosalind, but…”
Rosalind took a step closer and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial level. “I need to talk to Mr. Tupper about a special wedding gift for Jeremiah, and I fear that if I run into my fiancé upstairs I might spoil the surprise.”
“Ahhh!” Mrs. Rudkin said with a knowing grin. “I understand completely. I’ll rush upstairs at once and wake the old man if need be.” But first she ran back into the kitchen for a moment, then reappeared carrying a small tray with a teapot and a cup. “I’ll take this with me, making it look like Mr. Tupper has requested some morning tea,” she added with a wink. “I love being in on surprises! Now wait for him in the map room. I’ll only be a moment.” And off she dashed like a chipmunk, even more excited than the two young girls had been only moments earlier.
“What was that all about?” Molly asked.
Princess Rosalind signaled for Molly to follow her down the corridor. Soon the clattering of plates and the chatter of the kitchen workers receded in the background, replaced by the gentle sputtering of torches upon the wall. Rosalind led the way to the map room and explained her deception.
“I thought it would be safer having Mrs. Rudkin bring Mr. Tupper to us rather than us go looking for him.”
“That makes sense.”
“Besides, I don’t expect anyone will be using the map room at this early hour of the day. It’ll be the perfect place for a secret meeting. Mrs. Rudkin won’t say a word to anyone, so Belthasar will never suspect a thing.”
With their confidence rising, Molly and Rosalind turned down another corridor and entered the map room, closing the door behind them. There they waited, silently and patiently for Mr. Tupper’s hoped-for appearance. At that same moment, a bevy of workers had just left the kitchen carrying trays laden with pots of steaming tea, hot biscuits with butter and honey, and bowls of fresh fruit. The morning rounds to Prince Jeremiah and his advisors had begun.
Someone knocked lightly on the door before it swung open. Molly and Rosalind, gazing aimlessly into the grayness outside the window, spun around in surprise, then smiled with relief as Mr. Tupper entered the room. He wore a white shirt and a brown vest that nearly matched the color of his beard. Rosalind noticed the redness in his eyes, and coupling that with the tangles in his hair, assumed he didn’t have a good night’s sleep.
“Mrs. Rudkin tells me you need some advice about a wedding present,” he softly said, lumbering over and taking a seat on a low bench near one of the map tables. He was a few years younger than King Alexander, and Rosalind thought just as friendly and wise. “But I find it curious, Princess Rosalind, that you need this advice at such an early hour, especially since your wedding is several months away.”
“You are too astute to be fooled by someone like me,” Rosalind said, sitting next to him. “That is why I called for you. I have need of your wisdom, now more than ever.”
Mr. Tupper held her hand and smiled, then winked at Molly. “The princess thinks this old man can assist her, though her fiancé barely has time for my counsel anymore. What do you think, young one?”
“I trust Princess Rosalind’s judgment without question,” Molly said, taking a seat on the floor. “And if she believes you can help us, well then, that’s good enough for me.”
Mr. Tupper softly chuckled as he raked a hand through his hair. “It’s good to have friends who trust you, but…” He sighed as the smile melted from his face. “Prince Jeremiah has brought in a slew of new advisors. I fear he no longer places his trust in me as his father once did.”
“I tell you now that that is not true,” Rosalind firmly said. “In fact, I will tell you many things this morning, some which you might find difficult to believe. If you want to regain Jeremiah’s trust–which is only hidden at the moment, not destroyed–then you must listen carefully to my story and trust me.”
“I can do that,” he replied with a nod, his wide eyes filled with both hope and uncertainty. “Tell me this story then, before the sun shows its face upon the world.”
So began Rosalind’s vivid account of the events surrounding the timedoor. And though Mr. Tupper had heard bits and pieces of the tale from King Alexander, he was astounded to learn of Belthasar’s destruction inside the magical door.
“If anyone deserved such a fitting end, it was certainly Belthasar,” Mr. Tupper grimly observed. “Though I could have come up with a few other possibilities.”
“I wish it had been a fitting end,” Rosalind said, her eyes downcast. “But I must sadly inform you that…”
“What is it, child?” he asked, seeing her face turn as pale as the winter snow. “What’s troubling you?”
Rosalind looked up with tears in her eyes as every springtime dream slowly faded from her soul. “Belthasar is back,” she said in a trembling voice. “And he’s now more powerful than ever.”
Mr. Tupper felt as if an icy hand had gripped hold of his heart and would not let go. His senses reeled as all the peculiar goings-on
of late started to make sense. And everything boiled down to one individual–Belthasar.
“Go on,” he uttered, almost in shock listening to Rosalind’s astonishing words. As she gently spoke, Mr. Tupper closed his eyes, wondering if Solárin’s newfound prosperity over the last four years would once again be lost.
“And now we are on the brink of disaster,” Rosalind continued, her voice quivering. “The coronation is this afternoon, and my dear Jeremiah is…”
Mr. Tupper gently patted her arm. “I understand your anguish, Rosalind. This is a most difficult situation.” He stood and paced about the room. “I knew Jeremiah was not himself these last few days, what with bringing on new advisors and keeping such odd hours. Even Darius the chief guard had nagging suspicions that something wasn’t right. New soldiers suddenly arrived at the castle, volunteering to be in the King’s guard, and Jeremiah insisted that they be immediately integrated with the other troops without proper training.”
“Spies for Belthasar,” Molly guessed. “Didn’t Darius protest?”
“He questioned Prince Jeremiah’s reasoning, but when Jeremiah hinted that perhaps another chief guard would better implement his orders, well then, Darius complied with his request at once.” Mr. Tupper shook his head, troubled with the state of affairs. “Darius has told me in secret that even now he suspects he is being watched for any signs of disloyalty. He doesn’t trust those new soldiers and wonders if some of his men have turned against him.”
“Could that be possible?” Rosalind fearfully asked.
“I suppose anything is possible with Belthasar,” he replied. “What an awful situation! We must contact Darius at once and send word to your father about the impending troll and goblin attack on Endora.”
“But King Rupert and the others are on their way here for the coronation,” Molly reminded him. “How will we be able to stop the attack?”
“One detail at a time,” he murmured, gazing at some of the maps on the wall as he contemplated a strategy. “We’ll send a message by carrier pigeon to Endora, and Darius can pick out two of his most trusted men to ride out in secret to King Rupert and warn him to stay away. That’s a start. I’m sure Darius will have an idea or two about stopping this coronation before it ruins us all.” Mr. Tupper noted the vague hint of gray daylight outside the window and a renewed sense of urgency overwhelmed him. “Dawn is breaking. I must leave at once and contact Darius. You two stay here until I get back to you with more suitable hiding arrangements. You can’t wander the corridors now that everyone is waking up. If Belthasar or his men spot you, he’ll assume you’ve sent for help and will probably arrest everyone in the castle. Now I’m off,” he said, hurrying to the door.
The Endora Trilogy (The Complete Series) Page 31