Chapter 28
Village of Helsop
Electra woke with a start. Three pairs of hungry green eyes stared up at her. Her mind suddenly filled with thoughts of giving the twins and Ebony a very big breakfast.
"Esme, Shalin, good morning." Electra swung her feet off the cot and down to the floor. She gave each of the girls a kiss and rubbed Ebony under her chin.
"How about a nice bath before breakfast?" she asked the twins. Thoughts of food flooded her mind. "All right, quit putting thoughts into my head. Breakfast first, then baths."
She took each little girl by the hand and they headed for the kitchen. Ebony trotted along behind.
Electra stirred the coals in the fireplace and filled the pot that hung over the fire with water for tea and mush. She took some of the dried meat Serafina had left for Ebony and soaked it in water to soften it. Esme and Shalin watched her every move in much the same way she herself had studied Serafina's every move when she was a young girl growing up in Chase Bound. She remembered a song Serafina had sung to her and began to sing it to Shalin and Esme.
"When we go into the forest today..." She paused when she saw the twins' smile. They obviously knew the song. She continued to sing. "Mayhap we will see in the forest today—young Mr. Rabbit."
One or both of the girls sent a picture of a rabbit to Electra's mind. They recognized the word. She took up the song once again. "Mayhap we will see in the forest today—young Miss Fox." A picture of a fox jumped into her mind as the twins squealed with joy.
Electra continued the game as he sang of young Mr. Deer and old Mr. Bear. When she sang of young Miss Wolf, no picture came to mind. The twins had not as yet seen a wolf, evidently. Electra stopped to consider how accurate the pictures of the previous animals had been. She wondered if the twins were capable of perfect recall.
Electra set the girls on the dining table and took turns spooning mush and applesauce into their mouths. When they lost interest in eating more she set them down to play with Ebony and quickly ate a bowl full of mush herself.
Isa came through the door of the school holding Little Dagon by the hand. Esme stood up and shrieked when she saw Little Dagon. She took a few tottering steps toward him. As soon as Shalin saw what was happening she stood up and walked forward as well.
"Esme! Shalin! You are walking!" Electra pulled both girls close for a hug. "I am so proud of you both."
The girls broke away and babbled some incomprehensible words to Little Dagon.
Isa laughed to see how excited the girls were about Little Dagon's visit.
"Young Dagon woke up this morning and his first words were, 'go see big cat'." She leaned down and gave each of the children a wooden spoon and a tin cup. They all began to play with their new toys.
Electra poured tea for Isa and herself. They sat down with their steaming cups as dawn broke in the east.
Electra looked out at Ice Mountain. "I thought we might try again to go on an expedition into the forest. I had hoped to introduce herbal medicine from the ground up, so to speak, but one thing after another has kept us from learning to identify herbs where they grow."
Isa looked down at the three children playing under the table. "Will we take the children?" She paused. "And the cat?"
Electra watched as Ebony dropped a doll at Esme's foot. "I suppose it would be easier to take them than to find someone willing to watch them. We could put Ebony on a leash."
Isa laughed. "I doubt a leash would stop her if she had a mind to go her own way."
Electra nodded. "As long as the twins are with her, she will stay close."
Isa drained her tea cup. "I will rinse the dishes and then go tell the students to dress for the forest."
Isa and Electra stopped talking as the sound of a horseman outside the school caught their attention.
"Another student for the school?" Isa glanced hopefully at the door.
Electra checked under the table to make sure Ebony was not prepared to attack as she moved to the door. She opened the door just enough to slip through, then closed it behind her as she stepped outside. She recognized the uniform of a messenger from Fernland.
"Good morning," she said. "Have you news from Fernland?"
The soldier dismounted and saluted smartly. "Your Highness," he said as he handed her a rolled message. "I am ordered to await a response." He stood with his feet apart and his hands behind his back—his waiting pose.
"Would you care to come in and have tea while you wait?" Electra asked.
The man hesitated, then nodded. "You are most kind, Your Highness."
Electra introduced the messenger to Ebony before offering him a stool at the dining table. The man looked as though he wished he had waited outside. He sat at the table, uncomfortable, keeping one eye on the panther as Electra poured tea.
Juanita and Esmeralda walked in, yawning and rubbing their eyes until they saw the handsome young messenger. They moved closer eagerly, then stopped again as they spied the big cat and the children under the table. Juanita walked into the kitchen and whispered to Electra, "Is Serafina still here? We were told she left."
Electra shook her head. "No, she is not here. She left yesterday. But I am watching the twins and Ebony for her until she returns. She told me she is not interested in killing either of you."
Juanita turned her attention back to the dining table and frowned when she saw that Esmeralda had already taken a seat next to the young messenger. She fluffed her long black hair and put on a smile as she joined them for tea.
Electra broke the red seal on her message and unrolled the scroll. It was from her mother.
My Darling Electra,
The day has finally come. Your brother Avor will be turning sixteen in four days' time. You and Dagon must come as soon as possible to help celebrate the day. We may have a visiting royal as a guest. We have planned a wonderful celebration and of course your friends from the acting troupe will entertain. Only say you will leave at once to join us and our joy will be complete.
With love and anticipation,
Your Mother, Delphinia
Electra grimaced as she pressed her hand to her head. Then she noticed the messenger had left off staring at Esmeralda to consider Electra's reaction to the message. She kept a neutral expression on her face as she considered her options. The messenger would report to King Geoffrey and she did not want him to report that she seemed annoyed by the invitation.
What excuse could she give for declining the invitation? If she were to go alone how would she explain Dagon's absence? She forced herself to think. If she claimed the school kept her too busy, her parents might visit here and see that Dagon was gone. He had told her he especially did not want her parents to know he had left her and Helsop undefended. She turned the paper over and wrote her reply.
Dear Mother
We are very excited about Avor's sixteenth birthday celebration. We will try to leave tomorrow for Fernland. Barring some unforeseen emergency with the castle construction, we will both be there in three days' time. I look forward to seeing everyone.
With love,
Your Daughter, Electra
Electra rolled the message back up and tied it with a string. She handed the scroll to the messenger who promptly stood up, saluted and took his leave.
Esmeralda and Juanita glared at her.
"You might have waited a little longer to reply. We were just getting to know, ah..., what was his name?" Esmeralda asked.
Juanita shrugged. "What was so important he had to leave in such a hurry?"
Electra sighed. "I am to go to a birthday celebration for Avor."
Juanita smiled a wry smile. "Any chance we could all of us go?"
Electra sighed. "I wish you could go in my place. As it is, I will need to go alone." She saw the two girls frown in disappointment.
Isa lingered in the kitchen. "Will we still go into the forest today?"
Electra gave a resolute nod. "Yes. We must go today. I promised I would start back to Fernland tomorrow."
Isa turned toward the sleeping rooms. "I will tell the others."
Electra called out as Isa reached the door. "And no excuses from Odval. Tell her we will be looking for herbs that will give her a healthy baby."
"No excuses," Isa echoed.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 29