Chapter 52
Helsop
Serafina reached the last ridge before her descent into Helsop. She reined in her horse to view the village below her. It appeared little work had been accomplished on the castle in her month's absence. She swung her gaze toward the school of medicine and was surprised to see Fernland's royal carriage sitting just outside the entrance. The horses had been unhitched and taken away to the stable. It looked as though the carriage had been parked there for some time.
The riderless horse tied behind her pulled restlessly at his reins. He likely smelled more horses up ahead. He was fitted with two empty saddlebags to carry the twins back to Henge. Serafina chose to come alone on this trip, refusing the protection of the guards Prince Blackwell argued for. He could hardly protest their necessity after her successful quest, alone, to secure the white powder.
Serafina thought about the pros and cons of confronting Fernland's king and queen. They must have seen the twins by now. Did Delphinia know who their mother was? Had Electra told her? Had Delphinia guessed their lineage? Would the knowledge put the twins in danger?
She decided she needed to know more. The sky still reflected the colors of dawn. She turned her horse away from the ridge and trotted back to an expanse of birch trees where she could build a fire, cook breakfast and rest until night fell.
Serafina awoke and listened to the forest sounds around her. An owl hooted softly. A squeak and the scurry of tiny feet responded. The mouse that declined to be the owl's dinner was running for the safety of its den. She saw the position of the half moon and judged the hour close to midnight. She kicked dirt onto the coals of her campfire and saddled the hobbled horses.
The trail down to the village was dimly visible under the half moon's reflected light. Serafina took her time, soothing the horses with soft words. She saw no guards outside the school of medicine but circled around the village to be sure. At the site of the unfinished castle, she tied the horses to a piece of timber.
Serafina kept to the shadows as she walked through the village, spotting the two guards at the stable and the three at the post headquarters. She slipped into the school of medicine through an open window and walked silently to Electra's room. Inside she smiled to see her three sleeping daughters, the twins lying on a thick blanket next to Ebony and Electra close beside them on her cot.
Ebony's eyes were open but she made no sound. The cat had no doubt recognized Serafina's smell as soon as she entered the school. Serafina stroked Ebony's fine fur.
"Good job, old friend," she whispered.
Ebony chuffed contentedly.
Electra stirred in her sleep at the sound and jerked awake as she became aware of a new presence in the room.
"Serafina," she whispered. "You are returned."
"I decided to wait until night to make my presence known."
"I am grateful you did. I thought it best not to reveal the twins' parentage. King Geoffrey already mistrusts me on several accounts and my authority here hangs in the balance."
"Tell me more," Serafina prompted.
Electra sighed. "Dagon has not retuned from his mission of mercy. Leif, the refugee from Hammer Haven, managed to reveal the secret of Dagon's mission to Physician Rothman before I could intervene. My own fault, that. I suggested in a forged letter that Helsop might be faced with an epidemic in an ill-advised attempt to necessitate a speedy return to Helsop. The king and queen rushed to follow me with Physician Rothman in tow to help out with the fabricated epidemic. At any rate it was a short trip from Rothman's ears to those of the king.
Now King Geoffrey believes Dagon's quest is nothing less than a suicide mission. I believe he and Prince Oswald have decided it is their duty to stay and see to Helsop's defense now that our headman is likely dead. The fact that I was left in charge is a matter unworthy of notice in their eyes."
"Who is Prince Oswald?" Serafina interjected.
"He is the second son of King Gundar of Sandovia. Sandovia is beset by pirates and he insisted on coming to Helsop to purchase weapons for his father." Electra paused to consider Prince Oswald and his ambitions. "As he is a prince without hope of inheriting his father's kingdom, he seems to have set his sights on Helsop as his possible domain."
"And on you as his future queen?" Serafina asked with the hint of a smile.
"No doubt. That seems to be the way of things in royal circles. He has been quite ostentatious of late in displaying his prowess with a sword."
Serafina looked out into the darkness of the room as she considered Electra's situation. "Have you allowed yourself to dwell on the possibility that Dagon might not return?" she asked gently.
Electra shook her head. She reached under a cushion beneath her cot and pulled out the cracked crystal ball that Serafina had given her on her sixteenth birthday. She rarely consulted the gift, preferring to make her own decisions. But the day before she had given in to the temptation. "I read the clouds in the ball before putting out the light last night. I had to know. I believe...I believe he still lives." She held out the ball to Serafina, offering it up for a second opinion.
Serafina took the ball in her hands, confident in her ability. The soft orange glow gave little light but Serafina could make out a pattern of energy coming from the east. Many people. Many ships. Anxiety and hope rode with them over the waters.
Serafina spoke as she read the shifting clouds in the crystal ball. "Refugees. Coming over water. Cold water. Thousands. I see no one in pursuit, yet they are afraid. Afraid and elated. They are newly freed and revel in their freedom." She handed the ball back to Electra. "I see the man who leads them. A strong presence. I am quite sure it is Dagon."
Electra clapped her hands together. "I thought I saw all of that as well, but I did not trust myself. I thought I might only be seeing what I hoped to see."
"And now you know better." Serafina's eyes crinkled in amusement. She looked down at her sleeping twins. "How have Shalin and Esme fared in my absence?"
"They have thrived. The whole village adores them. The secret of their 'calling' powers is out among the villagers. Often they will drop by for no reason, hoping to see things flying through the air."
"Are they walking as yet?"
Electra laughed. "Walking, running, tumbling alongside Ebony. My joy in seeing you is tempered by the knowledge that you have come to retrieve them."
Serafina clasped Electra's hand. "You must visit Henge soon. It seems we are to have a new theatre. Perhaps you might attend a performance."
"I would like nothing better. As soon as Dagon arrives and the king and queen and prince become bored with no role to play here in Helsop, I will come."
"Good. Then I will take my leave while the cloak of darkness remains."
Serafina wrapped each of the sleepy twins in their blankets and whistled softly to Ebony to follow. Electra hugged them each in a hasty goodbye and listened at the door to make sure no alarm was raised by their departure. She looked sadly at the empty spot beside her cot. Her feet still sensed the warmth where the twins and the panther had slept. She pulled the blanket from the floor and wrapped herself tightly in it to sleep the short time left before dawn.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 54