Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 34

  King's Lake in Fernland

  Electra slowed her steps toward the theatre, increasing the distance between herself and her family. Someone called her name. She turned to find Hilgard the Language Student and his friend, Dong Hao, rushing to catch up to her. She remembered Dong Hao was here in Fernland to learn English in hopes of gaining a position in the Chinese Emperor's court as a translator.

  "How are you progressing with your study of our language?" she asked Dong Hao.

  "I am doing quite well," he replied with very little accent.

  Electra was surprised. "You have even mastered our accent. That is remarkable."

  "And my friend, Hilgard, is doing equally well with his Chinese," Dong Hao added.

  Hilgard smiled. "I have yet to try it out on anyone other than Dong Hao."

  "I hear your uncle, the tea trader, is interested in hiring our shipbuilders once their work here in Fernland is finished," Electra commented.

  Dong Hao frowned. "Too often Uncle's caravans are the victims of desert thieves. The ships would have saved him from that. But now Bataar is offering the shipbuilders more gold to work for his father, the Great Khan."

  Electra nodded. She wondered what Dong's uncle would think about the possible alliance between Barburee and China. She decided she would leave that to her father to tell or keep secret. "Even at sea there are pirates to contend with," she said.

  Dong Hao sighed. "Our world is a dangerous place."

  "How long will you stay in Fernland?" Electra asked.

  "I must return at the end of summer to take my place in Uncle's business." He glanced at Hilgard. "I am trying to convince my friend to return to China with me."

  Hilgard shrugged. "I work for Muller now. He has hired me as his assistant. If only I could think of a reason that would convince him to send me to China..." He smiled at the unlikelihood of that happening.

  Electra moved closer. "Perhaps you could convince him there is an unlimited supply of the white powder there," she whispered in a mischievous tone.

  "You heard about our disaster?" Hilgard whispered back. "Muller is frantic to find the culprit."

  "It might have been an accident."

  Hilgard shook his head. "It was no accident. All the taps on the wine barrels were left open."

  "It is possible Dagon might be willing to share his supply until you locate another source of the powder," Electra considered aloud.

  Hilgard's eyes grew wide. "Have you told Muller or your father?"

  "No. I have not asked Dagon as yet. It is best that we do not speak of it until I have had a chance to confer." Electra realized that she should not have suggested such a solution before she spoke to Dagon. She was certainly doing a poor job of representing Helsop's interests. "I suppose we should find seats for the performance. It was good to see you both." She waved a goodbye as she made a hasty exit.

  Instead of catching up to her family, she sought a patch of grass where she might compose herself and figure out how to undo the many mistakes she had made today. She walked to the edge of the viewing area and looked down to see Angelica sitting alone with her new baby.

  "Electra!" Angelica exclaimed. "How happy I am to see you. Can you join me?"

  Electra sat down on her blanket. "How are you and the little one getting along?"

  "He is an angel. We have named him Nicu."

  Nicu had thick dark curly hair and large brown eyes. His eyelids fluttered between wake and sleep.

  "He is uncommonly beautiful," Electra said.

  Angelica smiled. "Of course I think so. He sleeps most of the time."

  "As he should. And you have been well?"

  "Yes. Muller and I are so happy."

  Electra looked around at the people seated nearby. "Where is Muller?"

  "He is working. He is questioning strangers on King Geoffrey's orders."

  Electra did not need to ask why. "Does he have any suspects?"

  Angelica avoided meeting Electra's eyes. "I do not know."

  Electra could tell Angelica was hiding something but she did not want to push her friend into revealing any secrets. Instead she changed the subject.

  "How is your father doing?" She hoped Shandor had not resumed drinking to excess.

  Angelica jerked her head up, startled. "He did not do it."

  Now it was Electra who was startled. "Did not do what?"

  "You know what. He did not leave those wine taps open." Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

  "Of course he did not. Why would he do such a thing?"

  Angelica dabbed at her eyes. "I thought that is what you were suggesting."

  "No. Not at all. I was only hoping he has been able to control his drinking so he can be a good grandfather to Nicu."

  More tears fell from Angelica's eyes. "Muller thinks he might have drunk too much and done it without remembering. He told him to leave the stables, where he was sleeping. I haven't seen my father since the white powder was ruined. I came here tonight hoping he would be playing his fiddle. The acting troupe are his only friends now."

  As if on cue the swelling sounds of Shandor's fiddle swept over the crowd and conversation ceased. They watched Take the Thief emerge from behind the black curtain and bow to the hillside audience. He spoke into a paper cone to enlarge his voice.

  "Tonight we salute our honored guests, Bataar of Barburee and Prince Oswald of Sandovia. Thank you all for attending this celebration of Prince Avor's sixteenth birthday. We dedicate this performance entitled 'The Pirates' Demise' to our beloved Prince Avor."

  Take opened his hand and held it out in the direction of the royal family. The audience continued to clap until Prince Avor stood up and made a short bow to the gathered crowd.

  Take stepped to the side and the black curtains opened to reveal a pirate ship anchored just off shore. With a black skull and crossbones flag flying, it was so realistic that gasps of surprise welled up from the audience. Pirates appeared on deck, shouting with swords waving as they jumped over the rail and into shore boats tethered below the huge ship. They rowed themselves to shore with more shouts and Fernland's Royal Guardsmen raced down the beach to engage them.

  Children hid their faces as the pirates jumped from their shore boats and attacked the Royal Guardsmen. They fought a savage mock battle in front of the audience. Just when it looked as though the pirates might be gaining the upper hand, a lone archer dressed as Prince Avor came running down the beach.

  The archer stood at the edge of the water, next to a small fire. He dipped the tip of a pitch-coated arrow into the fire and drew his bow on the flaming arrow. The arrow streaked through the darkening sky far out over the water in the direction of the pirate ship. The audience searched the water. The pirate ship was gone. In its place stood a giant of a man covered in seaweed. It was King Neptune, up from the deep, trident in hand. He saluted the young archer as the flaming arrow dropped into the water where the pirate ship had been.

  The pirates stopped fighting as they searched the waters for their missing ship. They were quickly taken in hand by the Royal Guardsmen and led off down the beach in chains. The young archer who had launched the flaming arrow bowed to thunderous applause.

  Queen Delphinia and King Geoffrey stood and applauded. Prince Avor seemed embarrassed by the production, but he smiled and saluted the actors.

  Take waved to gain the audience's attention. "King Geoffrey has generously provided free ale for all present to celebrate Prince Avor's birthday. Music for dancing will begin anon. Thank you all for coming."

  As the crowd rushed down to the tables set up with cups of ale, Electra kissed little Nicu, assured Angelica that no one blamed her father for leaving the taps open, and left to congratulate Avor on reaching his sixteenth birthday.

  Delphinia saw Electra making her way through the crowd and stood to meet her.

  "My Dear. What kept you? Is there something
amiss?"

  Electra sighed. "I saw Angelica and stopped there to ask after her baby. I thought it better to stay put once the performance began. It was an impressive show, very realistic, I thought."

  Delphinia smiled. "It was wonderful. I know Avor enjoyed it, though he was reluctant to admit as much."

  Electra looked past her mother to find her brother. "I should go and wish him a happy birthday."

  Queen Delphinia followed her. "Are you sure there is not something you wish to discuss? Is there some trouble with Dagon?"

  Electra thought her mother's expression bore a trace of hope along with the expected concern. She kissed her mother's cheek. "There are things I am unable to discuss. Secrets I am sworn to keep. I'm sure you understand."

  Delphinia shook her head. "Secrets from your family?"

  "I promise I will tell all as soon as I am at liberty to do so." She sped away to find her brother.