by M. A. Larson
Demetra, Basil, and Forbes hiked over to join her. Their labored breathing stopped when they saw the valley. Clouds billowed miles into the sky, dousing the black forest underneath.
“That is stunningly beautiful and stunningly terrifying,” said Basil.
“Unfortunately for us, it looks to be coming this way,” said Forbes. He pointed overhead, where thin wisps of cloud sailed past. “I suspect we’ll be quite a bit wetter before the night is through—”
“Look there!” said Demetra. She pointed along the curve of the cliffside where the fog had cleared enough to reveal a hulking wall of yellow brick rising up from the rock. Inside the wall stood a castle and tower that looked like they were made from gold. Just then, the first lashing of the storm washed across the mountaintop. It passed in seconds, leaving the unsteady patter of water dripping from the trees.
“Brilliant,” said Forbes, swiping the wet hair from his eyes. “To the castle, then.”
“Wait,” said Evie. She eyed the golden walls warily. “If Goblin’s Glade is anything like Rumpledshirtsleeves said it is, perhaps we should just keep going. We don’t need beds. We just need to complete our mission and get out of here.”
“Keep going?” said Forbes. “Into that?” A jagged flash of lightning cut through the sky, striking something at the far end of the valley. “When night’s about to fall and there’s a lovely little castle right there?”
Evie stared at the storm in front of them. She knew she would end up outnumbered if this came to a vote. Perhaps even four against zero. Still, something about the small kingdom made her wary.
“We could have a proper supper there, too,” said Basil. “And they might be able to help us find Rumpelstoatsnout.”
That was the argument that persuaded Evie, though she still felt apprehensive. As the fog ambled past, she caught glimpses of what lay beyond the exterior wall, where a golden tower rose high above everything. Banners of amber and green snapped atop every turret.
“That tower’s got no windows,” said Evie. “They’re supposed to help you see the enemy, aren’t they? What’s the purpose of a tower without windows?”
“What’s the purpose of a tower up here at all?” said Forbes. “You can see the entire world from the edge of this cliff. It’s probably just a decorative tower.”
“A decorative tower?” said Basil in amazement. “What in blazes is a decorative tower?”
Another flurry of rain pelted past, drenching them even more. “Right, let’s make a decision,” said Forbes. “All in favor of the kingdom?” His hand was already up. Basil and Demetra raised theirs next. Evie, still staring at the tower, slowly raised her hand as well. “Good. That was easier than expected. Shall we?” He stalked off toward the kingdom without waiting for the others.
“Forbes, wait!” said Evie. He turned back, annoyed. “I don’t think we should mention the siege.”
“Are you mad?” he said. “Why would we not ask for help?”
“Something about this place . . . I don’t like it.”
“We can easily ask about Rumpelstoatsnout without mentioning the siege,” said Basil, trying to head off an argument. “We’re on official Academy business. What royal would question that?”
Forbes sighed in annoyance. “Fine. Now, can we go before one of us is struck by lightning?” Basil, pleased with his diplomacy, smiled and started off after Forbes.
“I feel it, too,” said Demetra, eyeing the kingdom darkly. “I do think we need information, but I’m all for getting out of here as quickly as we can.”
The four of them traversed the ridge while thunder echoed across the valley. The kingdom’s wall loomed larger and larger as they neared. Its surface was smooth, sandstone bricks inlaid with small colored stones that created a golden shimmering effect. It looked dense, thick enough perhaps to repel a giant. They tracked the base of the wall to the gatehouse, which faced away from the cliff. The portcullis was opened wide. Two bartizans sprouted elegantly from either side of the gatehouse spire. An ornamental carving stretched across the stone above the gates. It read Here May One Live Freely.
“Let me do the talking, will you?” said Forbes as they approached. “It’s bad enough to turn up in this state; we don’t need to embarrass ourselves with our behavior as well. And whatever you do, not a single foolish word about dragons.”
In truth, Evie’s family was the last thing on her mind. There’s something odd about how blithe it all seems, she thought. Even in the best of times, what kingdom would leave its gates open? They passed beneath the teeth of the portcullis. A handful of people milled about the roads as though this day was no different from any other. Men in linen breeches and puffy tunics bowed graciously to women in sleeved dresses. It was a remarkably clean and orderly kingdom, though spotted with puddles, and no one seemed at all concerned about the possibility of witches strolling through the raised defenses. The packed dirt roads had none of the wheel ruts that even Pennyroyal Academy’s did. They were perfectly smooth, well tended and even. Shrubs had been meticulously trimmed into small orbs of green, lining the roads at regular intervals. Flowers sprouted everywhere.
“This is stunning,” said Basil. “Mum would kill for these groundskeepers.”
They followed what appeared to be the main road as it curved around the glimmering golden castle. Everyone they passed gave them a nod and a smile. Evie glanced back at one point and noticed that a man and woman were still watching them. Their smiles had gone.
“Good day, madam,” said Basil, grinning at one of the locals. “What a lovely kingdom you have here.”
She nodded back.
Evie looked up at the lone tower rising above. It stretched three times as high as the spires atop the castle. And there are no windows on this side of it, either.
She felt someone looking at her and turned back to see a small group watching them. They were whispering amongst one another. “We should go back,” she said. “I don’t like this at all.”
“Of course you don’t,” said Forbes. “It was my idea.”
“To be accurate, it was my idea first,” said Basil.
Forbes tromped on with a scowl. The road curved around to the castle’s main staircase. It swept up in a beautiful arc that led to the open doors. Standing there was a fat man in a deep purple velvet robe with a sparkling crown atop his head. It matched the glorious castle behind him. Beneath the robe, he wore crisp white breeches and a billowing scarlet tunic. His hair was a bob of white that curled around his ears. He offered them a winsome smile. A small retinue of guardsmen and members of court stood behind him.
“Hello!” he called with a hearty chuckle. “Welcome to the golden kingdom of Stromberg!”
“Thank you very much indeed, Your Majesty,” said Forbes.
“All travelers have a home in Stromberg, weary and otherwise!”
Forbes stepped forward and knelt, his head bowed in deference. “I am Sir Forbes, knight cadet of the first class at Pennyroyal Academy. It is an honor to be welcomed into your charming kingdom.” Evie had to admit, for as little as he knew about relating to other people, Forbes certainly knew how to speak to royalty.
“I should think the honor is mine!” said the King. “A knight cadet in my home!”
Forbes hissed over his shoulder at the others: “On your knees!”
Evie, Basil, and Demetra dipped to the ground.
“This is Evie, that’s Demetra, and that’s Basil. They’re princess . . .” He stopped himself, coughing with embarrassment. “They’re also from the Academy.”
“It is an honor and a delight to have four esteemed cadets in our midst.” Then, to the people standing behind him, “The future of our great land!” They all mumbled their agreement. “Come, I never interrogate my guests without something steaming in their bellies.” He gave them a hearty laugh. “Join me at my table!”
Forbes ros
e. The others followed his lead. “You are too kind, Your Majesty. It would be our pleasure.”
“Well then, it shall be pleasure all around!”
Several of the King’s group scurried inside, presumably to begin preparations for lunch. Forbes turned back to the others and muttered, “Do as I do. And try not to offend anyone. This could be a very pleasurable experience if you’d all stop being so paranoid.”
“Why didn’t you tell him who I am?” said Basil. “I’m proud to be a princess cadet.”
Forbes shook his head with disdain and turned up the stairs.
“Forget it, Bas,” said Evie. “Let’s just ask about Rumpelstoatsnout and get out of here.”
Inside, the grand entrance was dimly lit. Torches flamed throughout, but there were no windows. Instead, both walls opened into various corridors and chambers via large arches carved into the stone. Suits of armor occupied small alcoves between these archways, each polished and posed. Some were missing parts. Others were covered in chinks and dents from long-ago battles. A crimson carpet of crushed velvet covered the stone floor from end to end. A wide staircase at the back of the hall led to a landing, which flared off in both directions to the higher levels of the castle.
“I must say, Your Majesty, Goblin’s Glade doesn’t seem nearly so menacing as we’d been led to believe,” said Forbes.
The King’s laughter bellowed down the hallway. “We do have quite the reputation, though most of it is utter nonsense. The oldest enchanted forest in all the land? Certainly. The most haunted?” He laughed again. “Say, lad, something’s just come to me. You say your name is Forbes, is that it?”
“Indeed, Sire.”
The King abruptly stopped and grabbed both of Forbes’s shoulders, giving him an affectionate shake. “You’re King Hossenbuhr’s boy!”
“That’s right, S—”
The King pulled him into a bear hug with a hearty laugh that echoed off the stone walls. “I know your father well! He’s allowed me to hunt his land many times over the years. Such a gracious host. How is he?”
He’s a miserable, sour monster, thought Evie, remembering his attempt to kill Remington. She kept walking in silence.
“He’s well, Your Majesty. Quite well.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!”
Evie kept her eye on the guardsmen standing in the corners. None of them seemed to notice the small group passing by. They kept their eyes forward, their spears straight. The advisers trailing behind offered polite smiles, but none of them spoke.
“Well? What do you think of my armor?” asked the King proudly. “Since you’re a Pennyroyal boy, I assume you must have some appreciation for fine workmanship.” He took Forbes by the elbow and stopped in front of a massive suit of steel plate armor. It had been cleaned like all the rest, but there was no disguising the black scorch along its left side.
“A Spitzbergen, if I’m not mistaken,” said Forbes.
The King erupted in laughter. “A Spitzbergen, indeed!” He turned to his group with more joyous chortling. “The lad knows his armorers!” With an arm around Forbes’s shoulders, the King used his free hand to point out the finer features of the suit. “Notice the deep overlay of the plate here. Very difficult to get a sword through that. And there . . . The knight who wore this armor took down three full-sized drakes before he was done in. See the markings?”
“The black stain of bravery,” said Forbes, inspecting the char along the armor’s left side.
A sharp ache shot through Evie’s throat. She would have loved nothing more than to open her mouth and roast these two alive where they stood. Basil must have sensed it, because he grabbed hold of her arm and held it tightly.
“Indeed, indeed. Spitzbergen no longer works in this design. It’s quite a rare piece, I daresay.” He turned to Forbes and pointed a fatherly finger at him. “And you’ve a rare eye, my boy. Come, let us dine.”
The King led Forbes farther down the hall. Evie, Demetra, and Basil followed with the rest of the group.
“Your Majesty,” said Evie suddenly. “Perhaps we could just tell you about our mission and be on our way? We’d hate to be a bother.” She could see Forbes wince.
The King turned back with a look of confusion. Evie blushed. She had stepped over some unseen line, broken some unknown rule. “Bother? Have my gates closed without my knowledge?”
“No, Your Majesty—”
“Well, then. Let’s eat.”
He led Forbes left through one of the archways. Several of the advisers looked at Evie warily as they followed. Basil gave her a shrug, then went through as well.
“That smells so good,” said Demetra. She and Evie went down an open staircase into a cavernous dining room that was every bit as stately as the entrance hall. A long table of stained pine ran from end to end with chairs carved from the same wood. It was covered in candles spiked atop iron holders. Tall, thin windows lined the far wall, each inlaid with a frame of red stained glass surrounding clear glass. Banners hung from the beams of the ceiling alongside dangling chandeliers made up of arrangements of various antlers and horns. An immense hearth sat unused on the end of one wall, with doorways to the serving rooms and kitchens off the other end. The King ushered Forbes to a seat next to the head throne. Basil sat next to him. Evie and Demetra filed in on the same side of the table, while the members of court took seats opposite them. The bulk of the table went unused. Servants entered with trays and cutlery and drinks and hot cloths, and within moments came the food they’d smelled.
“Eat, please,” said the King. “You are my guests, and you are always welcome in Stromberg.”
“I must say,” said Forbes, “it is nice to be amongst adults again.”
Evie had to bite her lip to keep from splashing him with hot soup. Basil, meanwhile, missed the insult and helped himself to a steaming turkey leg, shoving it into his mouth with glee.
“You are a very gracious host, Your Majesty,” said Forbes. “Even if my companions are not the most gracious of guests.”
Basil stopped chewing, his mouth packed with turkey. His eyes went to the King. “Yuh, ’anks, Sire,” he mumbled.
“What’s food for if not eating?” said the King. “All of you, tuck in!”
Though her unease refused to leave her, Evie could not deny her hunger. She saw from the corner of her eye that Basil was consuming everything within arm’s reach and that Demetra had already finished several poached eggs, so she decided to join in. Beetroot and mutton and turnip soup. Roasted cauliflower and baked lung pie and grilled breast of eagle. It was a feast that never seemed to end. And, apparently, a feast only for five. The King’s advisers took just enough as to not be rude and nibbled at it silently.
There was a sudden pattering on the windows as the storm arrived in force. Within seconds, the glass was streaked and everything outside became a gray blur. The steady rain made the dining hall feel cozier somehow, and the low rumble of thunder across the valley only added to it.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time in this world it’s that there’s no conversation that cannot be improved with gravy,” said the King, dumping the lumpy brown sauce over his entire plate.
“I thought I smelled lunch.” A woman entered. She was tall and thin, draped in a frock that stretched to the floor. It was the same purple as the King’s robes, spotted with shimmering jewels throughout. An overlong silk wrap trailed off both her shoulders, dragging along the floor behind her.
“Ah!” said the King, mouth full of meat. “The Queen arrives!”
Forbes pushed back his chair to rise, but the Queen extended a slim hand to stop him. She came down the short flight of stairs and walked past the members of court. They looked uncomfortable, as though unsure whether to vacate their chairs to her or not. She took a seat across from Evie and Demetra, giving them a distracted smile.
“My darling, thes
e four travelers come to us from Pennyroyal Academy,” said the King. “This is Sir Forbes. He’s King Hossenbuhr’s boy, you remember Hossenbuhr, don’t you? And . . . I’m terribly sorry, but I seem to have forgotten your names.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Basil, wiping lamb grease off his mouth with his sleeves.
“I’m Cadet Evie, this is Cadet Demetra, and this is Cadet Basil.”
The Queen dipped her elegant head. She raised her goblet to Evie and Demetra, who lifted theirs in return. After a drink, thunder cracked just outside, causing the Queen to flinch.
“Right, now that we’re all properly gorging ourselves, what’s this about a mission?” said the King, slurping gravy off his fingers.
Evie felt the Queen looking at her. She glanced over and saw a look of pity on the woman’s face. Sympathy and sorrow. Evie quickly broke the glance and turned her attention back to the King.
“We’ve set out on a rather dubious mission, I’m afraid,” said Forbes.
“How so, lad?”
“Well . . . you see . . . how shall I put this . . . there’s been a bit of trouble back at—”
“We’re looking for Rumpelstoatsnout,” said Evie. The room went silent. Now all the advisers were gaping at her as well.
“I say,” said the King. He snorted in disbelief. “Many of the legends of Goblin’s Glade are untrue, but any story of that creature is perhaps under-exaggerated. Why on earth would you want to find . . . him?”