Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 16

  Kingdom of Henge

  Serafina watched with amusement as her husband, Prince Blackwell, tried to entice Shalin to let go of her crib and take a few steps without holding on to something.

  Blackwell held up one of the dolls that Electra had given the twins. The doll was Shalin's favorite toy.

  "Come here, Shalin. Come and get your doll," Prince Blackwell urged. He shook the doll a little to hold his daughter's attention.

  Shalin stared at her father, then at the doll. She grasped the crib with one hand and held out the other hand. The doll flew from Prince Blackwell's hands into Shalin's outstretched hand.

  "What the....?" Prince Blackwell looked at Serafina. "Did you put some kind of flying spell on that doll?"

  Serafina looked at Prince Blackwell and shook her head. She knew her husband did not want to acknowledge his daughter's supernatural powers. She hoped he would accept these gifts in time but that time had not yet come.

  "No, I did not."

  Prince Blackwell looked up at the painted ceiling. "There is something wrong with this room. I think we should relocate the nursery. If that cat is to stay with them, they should have a larger room anyway." He glanced at Ebony, the panther, who was indulging Esme by allowing the child to comb her fur with a rattle.

  Serafina heaved a silent sigh. This was not the time to leave the twins alone in the care of their father. She decided she should not put off telling him any longer.

  "As it happens I am planning to take the twins to Helsop to visit their sister for a time. You might see to the nursery's relocation in our absence."

  Prince Blackwell showed his surprise. "You are taking the twins to Helsop?"

  "Electra is back from her apprenticeship. I received news of the school's opening. She is accepting students. I myself may journey on south for a time."

  Prince Blackwell was now past surprised. He was astounded. "Where are you going?"

  "I may have to go as far south as Manoa."

  Prince Blackwell picked up Shalin as she crawled to him and placed her doll in his lap. He seemed so distracted by Serafina's news that he hardly noticed Shalin had drawn her favorite blanket through the air to press against her cheek as she settled into her father's lap.

  "But why must you go? Why now?" he asked.

  "I have gathered information from many sources. The news is always the same. Our previous source of white powder is exhausted. There are rumors of another source—an island on the migratory path of huge flocks of birds. The white powder we need for our exploding arrows can be extracted from these ancient bird droppings. The guano would need refinement, of course. But the factory could be erected on the island. It is the owner of the island that is the problem."

  Prince Blackwell listened intently as he gathered Shalin in close with his arm. "How is this property owner a problem?"

  "He allows no one on his island. He is very secretive and may be deformed in some way. He has gone to great pains to secure his isolation."

  Blackwell huffed. "I could send the army. It should not be difficult to take an island by force."

  "It may come to that, but let me make sure first that the island contains what we need. I may be able to arrange everything without the aid of the army."

  "I do not like the idea of you or the twins being gone for any length of time." Prince Blackwell realized he was holding Shalin too tightly when she squirmed to escape his grasp.

  "I hope to arrange things quickly. I do not wish to be apart from Esme and Shalin any longer than necessary. But I do want them to know their sister well and I am sure they will be safe with her."

  Prince Blackwell struggled to think of a reason to keep his family at home, but he knew a continuing supply of the white powder was of the utmost importance. No one knew more about the white powder than Serafina, who had used it in her practice of sorcery. He also questioned his ability to care for the twins on his own. Much as he loved them he sometimes wondered if there might be something unusual about them, something beyond his understanding, not that he had much experience with infants.

  "I will allow it if you will promise to call for the army if you encounter resistance."

  Serafina smiled. "I will do as you say."

  With this subject closed, Prince Blackwell decided to bring up a concern of his own.

  "At present I am at an end of my patience with my father over this theatre business. Now he has ordered the workmen to build living quarters for the actors. He has offered each of the actors a gold coin if all will stay longer in Henge. Oddly enough it is only their leader, this one they call the thief, that seems bent on returning to Fernland. I could order my men to stop work on the theatre, but frankly, I have enjoyed the peace his obsession has afforded me. He rarely visits my office of late to demand we make plans for a campaign of war on Fernland. Do you suppose he has become addled in his old age?"

  Serafina hid a smile. "It is possible he is addled. Why else would his thoughts swing from thoughts of conquest to thoughts of theatre arts—unless..."

  "Unless what?" Prince Blackwell demanded.

  "Unless it is the actors themselves who are the objects of his obsession."

  "The actors? They were not even here when all this theatre mania began."

  "I believe Take the Thief was here visiting the gypsy camp. He said he was searching for information about his father."

  Prince Blackwell shrugged as though that fact meant nothing to him. "Did he find the information he sought?"

  "I do not know," Serafina replied. "You might ask your father. Perhaps he knows."

  Prince Blackwell stood up and looked wistfully at his two daughters, both busy with their play. Esme had completed her grooming of Ebony and was now engaged in a pulling battle with her sister for possession of the blanket.

  "I do not look forward to the lonely days ahead. Are you quite sure this is the best path to take?"

  "I would not do without the comfort of my family anymore than you, were it not imperative."

  Serafina walked to her husband, took his hand and pressed it to her lips. "I will return as soon as I am able, I promise you."