Bitter Olof sighed. ‘Fine. It’s seaweed that’s been swallowed and passed out by a giant sea slug.’
Little Thom grimaced but didn’t look convinced. ‘And?’
‘And a drop of a potion I bought from the sorcerer, Grendel, who I met on my travels,’ Calico Grace said.
Now Little Thom looked deeply suspicious. ‘Which does what?’ he demanded.
‘It’s only temporary,’ Bitter Olof hurried to assure him.
‘Temporary what?’ Thom persisted.
Olof looked exasperated with him. ‘Your face will change for a little while, that’s all.’
Thom considered this as he took a couple of deep breaths. He frowned. ‘But if it changes the way a person looks then why can’t Gracie take the slug poo?’
‘Because our faces have already been changed by magic,’ Grace told him.
‘You just have to get inside the house, find a way to Grevilya’s chamber, unlock a window and pass me the grimoire and I’ll do the rest,’ Olof assured him.
‘Oh, is that all?’ Little Thom said, reluctantly taking the pellet.
Little Thom felt the skin on his face become taut almost as soon as he began chewing the vile-tasting seaweed. The transformation didn’t hurt. In fact, only the tightening and a soft tingling told him that anything was occurring.
‘Olof, I know my face is going to become smoother, finer, but why do you think a younger man is going to impress Grevilya over the genuine version of me?’
Olof began to giggle helplessly as he observed his friend.
Thom winced. ‘My face feels like it’s rearranging its features,’ he groaned. He glanced at Bitter Olof. ‘Why are you laughing?’
Gracie began to chuckle too. ‘Er, because it’s not a younger version of you that it achieves.’
She held up a mirror and it told him plenty about why he should never trust a pirate and her outlaw husband.
Olof and Grace looked on in awe as the giant’s ruddy features finished organising themselves into those of a pretty woman with almond-shaped eyes and a rosy complexion.
‘This had better not be permanent,’ Little Thom tried to growl, except his complaint came out in a high-pitched voice and he looked at his friend, horrified.
‘I forgot to mention the voice,’ Olof said, looking sheepish.
‘Or the hands,’ Gracie added.
‘Have you tried this stuff before?’ Little Thom asked in a woman’s nervous voice.
Grace and Olof both stepped back from him before they risked shaking their heads.
‘I’m going to throttle both of you if this spell doesn’t disappear after nine hours,’ he promised, pointing a newly slender finger at them. ‘Right,’ he flounced. ‘I’m leaving,’ and bobbed his newly grown hair that had formed itself into soft, fat curls.
‘Don’t forget your beautiful bag,’ Calico Grace said, handing him a floral holdall. ‘I’ve filled it with gold coins, just in case you need to bribe the witch.’
‘Remember to walk like a woman,’ Bitter Olof cautioned. ‘And don’t approach the house from the sea. We can’t risk Grevilya making any connection between you and pirate ships. Come around via the forest.’
Olof and Grace waved him farewell from the main deck. Little Thom climbed down the rope ladder at the side of the ship, threatening to trip on his skirts. He knew he would lose the protection of the Silver Wind’s invisibility as soon as he stepped into the rowboat that floated alongside.
There was only a narrow beach but even that was too open. If he rowed around the head he could get himself to safety at a nearby beach unseen and he could skirt the bay as best he could until he could climb up and approach from the trees as his friend suggested.
‘Little Thom?’ Bitter Olof called, as he began to row. When Little Thom turned around, Bitter Olof blew him a smoochy kiss before dissolving into helpless laughter.
After an arduous trip in the swell around the cove, Little Thom finally reached a sheltered inlet where he could store the rowboat as he made his way inland on foot.
It never occurred to him that he was being watched by a centaur and a young duke of the realm, both of whom were guarding the Crown Princess of Drestonia.
Or that a sprite had been following his progress from the moment he left Silver Wind.
23
King Lute looked to Pilo for help, but the older man remained silent. Queen Tria’s rages were formidable, and to step in would be to invite fresh wrath. Still, Pilo felt a pang of sympathy for King Lute, especially as he thought he should be sharing much of the burden of the Queen’s anger. It seemed she agreed because suddenly Tria was standing in front of him and pointing.
‘As for you, Pilo. What is in your head?’ she demanded.
Pilo pasted on an expression of contrition and maintained a sensible silence.
‘And don’t you dare talk about her needing to grow up and shoulder responsibility.’ She took a breath. ‘Ellin is a child!’ she raged, as tears began to course down her flushed cheeks. ‘You sent her off on a mission that seasoned soldiers might quail at!’
‘My queen, you are right,’ Pilo finally said, ‘but Ellin has the heart of a lion and she was the only person who could tackle this mission because of her –’
‘Magic! Yes, so I hear. I hate that she possesses this family trait,’ the Queen said, slumping into a travelling chair that had been hastily erected by her maid as her anger seemed to subside into exhaustion.
A royal camp had been set up in a clearing within the cocoon of the forest. Soldiers encircled the royals and a shade canvas had been set up. Pilo had argued against the ladies coming but neither would be left behind at the palace to worry.
‘I’d rather worry alongside Lute than be cut off from both members of my immediate family to worry at a distance,’ Tria had urged. Pilo couldn’t fault her logic and Tess had agreed, despite Griff’s concerns about bringing along their infant son.
‘Why? He has all he needs right here,’ Tess said, snuggling her baby up to her chest in his soft blanket. ‘You forget, I command a gryphon. If I want Gaston, he can be here in moments for me.’
Pilo had to concede that an enraged Gaston was not an ally to sneer at.
Griff, the King’s twin, cleared his throat now and shifted uncomfortably. His wife, Tess, holding their newborn son, laid a comforting hand on the Queen’s arm. ‘Tria, please be calm,’ Tess said, soothingly. ‘I promise you Davren won’t let any harm come to Ellin. I know he will contact me soon and the soldiers can move in.’
Tria softened as she looked at her nephew. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
‘Be still, Tria, my love,’ Lute said, moving to kiss her hand. ‘Not a hair on Ellin’s head will be harmed.’
Pilo’s heart went out to the Queen. He wished Ellin could see her mother weeping for her, to know that she was truly loved, truly missed.
Griff joined his wife at the Queen’s side. ‘Tess, when Davren confirms, we will have less than an hour’s ride from here.’
‘Yes, but what if this witch has already done something terrible?’ the Queen said, her voice again rising.
Pilo stood. ‘Your Majesty,’ he said to Queen Tria. ‘May I say something?’
You and my husband do not deserve my indulgence,’ she answered.
‘Nevertheless, Majesty, may I be permitted to offer a thought?’
She sniffed but gave him a nod of assent.
‘If Ellin felt in any way threatened, she would have blown her Whistle by now. I do understand your anxiety, but she has only been gone a short time and she is with companions we trust. I think we can assume that for the time being the Princess is safe enough.’
‘Safe enough is not good enough,’ Tria replied bitterly. ‘She’s on her way to confront a powerful witch and that shouldn’t be her –’
‘Wait!’ Tess interrupted. ‘It’s Dav,’ she said, and walked away cradling her son, while she allowed her special mindlink to open. She returned moments later. ‘Hellion’s Hole it is. Ell
in’s fine. The Rumpelgeist led them true, although they’re concerned about how faithful he has been. I’ve said the soldiers will leave immediately.’ She nodded at her husband.
Griff frowned. ‘Lute, perhaps we should feign readiness to negotiate. We have to match her cunning.’
‘I agree with Griff, Majesty,’ Pilo quickly said. ‘I think you and I should approach her as though we are willing to listen to her demands. If that fails, Griff’s soldiers will surround the place quickly enough.’
Everyone looked to the King. ‘All right,’ Lute finally said. ‘Griff, I won’t presume to tell you how to organise the soldiers, just do whatever you have to. Tess, thanks for staying with Tria. I’m sorry this is happening when you should be thinking about which lullabies to sing to your new son.’
Tess gave a snort. ‘You should know me better than that by now, Lute,’ she said.
He gave a sad smile and nodded. ‘Pilo, let’s go.’
Ellin, Flynn and Davren remained as still and quiet as possible as the stranger walked past their hiding place. None of them moved for several long moments, even after the strange-looking woman had gone by.
‘A woman wandering around out here on her own? That’s curious,’ Davren said.
‘A very tall woman,’ Flynn remarked, looking equally puzzled.
Ellin frowned. ‘That’s no ordinary woman.’
They turned to look at the back of the stranger as she approached the manor house.
‘Her stride is too long and too heavy,’ Ellin added, squinting as she watched.
‘She’s a big woman,’ Davren commented.
‘No, that’s not it,’ Ellin said. ‘Flynn, you know Dolly from Master Tyren’s Travelling Show? She’s the biggest woman I’ve ever seen and yet she’s light of tread.’ They looked at her baffled. ‘What I mean is, if you’re that tall,’ she said, her chin nodding towards the stranger, ‘and you’re a girl, then you’re very conscious of your size and you are not likely to stomp around like she is.’
‘And?’ Flynn asked.
‘I’m simply making an observation. We’re trying to be extra cautious, aren’t we? Besides, where has she come from? No horse, obviously no regular carriage service runs out to here and yet she looks as fresh as a morning-plucked rose in her lovely dress,’ she said, casting her eyes downward over her own slightly grubby clothes.
‘You make astute observations,’ Davren agreed.
‘Except her dress wasn’t that clean,’ Flynn said. ‘There was a bit of seaweed clinging to it at the back … and the bottom of her dress was damp.’
Ellin’s eyes widened. ‘You’re right!’
‘She must have come by boat,’ Flynn said. ‘That’s the only other way onto this peninsula.’
‘Well done,’ said a new but familiar voice, causing them all to swing around.
It was Wren, carrying a spell parchment.
After they had recovered from their surprise and welcomed him, Wren explained that he had come looking for his wife, Starling, and his child, Pipit, both of whom were being held prisoner by Grevilya. He shook the parchment triumphantly. ‘I’ve found Pipit. He and his wet nurse have fled to safety. Now I’ve come back for my queen. So now tell me what you’re all doing here when you should be back in Floris?’
The Princess quickly told Wren why they’d journeyed to Hellion’s Hole from Collymoor.
‘Lex has been lying to you,’ Wren said bluntly, once Ellin had finished talking. ‘I’ve been listening to your conversations and I know you’re already suspicious,’ he said, eyeing Flynn and Davren. ‘I would urge you to trust your instincts, Highness. Ask yourself why he wasn’t tied like the other children you’ve mentioned. He says he escaped? I can assure you no one escapes Grevilya unless she permits it.’
Ellin looked baffled. ‘Well, perhaps, like Starling –’ she began.
‘No, Highness,’ Wren interjected. ‘Starling obeys only because Pipit has been Grevilya’s prisoner. Be assured there will be some hold that Grevilya has over Lex. Knowing how her mind works, she will be threatening to hurt the other children if he doesn’t do exactly as she instructs.’
‘But what is it she hopes to gain?’ Ellin asked.
Wren gave a small shrug. ‘Well, she seems to like collecting royals. Look at us. And no doubt King Lute is also making his way here.’
Ellin looked at Flynn and could see his mind was turning in horrible, shocked synchrony with hers.
‘A trap?’ Flynn breathed.
‘But we’re the ones springing the surprise,’ said Ellin.
Flynn shook his head. ‘Are we sure of that?’
‘You’re right,’ Davren said. ‘Lex didn’t bring us here to help him save the children. Or if he did, that may not have been his only purpose.’
Wren nodded. ‘I suspect this is about luring the Drestonian royals.’
‘The woman you just saw walking by here,’ Wren said, ‘she is definitely up to something. She rowed around the head to a tiny beach and made her way the long way round in order to come via the road. She was obviously at great pains to avoid being seen.’
‘If she was in a rowboat, she must have come from a larger ship first,’ Flynn said. ‘Did you see it, Wren?’
‘Ah, Duke Jolien, that’s the fun part,’ Wren answered. ‘There is no ship.’ He gave a lopsided grin. ‘The woman just suddenly appeared. I couldn’t resist following and she led me here.’
Flynn’s brow furrowed with concentration. ‘It’s as though all the pieces of a jigsaw are before us, but we need to put them together to form the picture,’ he said.
‘Well, there’s a twist to this piece,’ Wren said. ‘You were right in your suspicions. That was no ordinary woman. She is riddled with magic and, what’s more, it’s Grendel’s magic. I’d know his spell signature anywhere.’ Wren held up the parchment he was carrying. ‘This one freed Pipit.’
‘So that was an old woman made young?’ Flynn asked, remembering Grendel’s disguise.
A mischievous smile crept across Wren’s face. ‘Not quite. That one not only turned someone young, it also transformed a man into a woman.’
‘I know who it is,’ the centaur replied.
‘You do?’ Flynn said.
Davren chuckled. ‘She or he appeared out of nowhere on a rowboat you say?’
Wren nodded. ‘Launched from an invisible ship presumably.’ He said it more as a jest but Ellin gasped.
‘Silver Wind,’ she murmured, astonished. ‘Calico Grace and Bitter Olof must be here.’
Davren grinned. ‘It can’t be anyone else. And I suspect our very tall woman is Little Thom.’ His amusement faded to a grin.
Now only Flynn looked confused.
‘Well, if I’m right, Calico Grace and Bitter Olof have persuaded Little Thom to dress in skirts and ribbons. Calico Grace used that trick once before to save the life of your father, Ellin. She even persuaded Pilo to dress in a bonnet!’
Ellin looked at the centaur open-mouthed. ‘I can’t believe it.’
Flynn had been trying to follow the conversation. ‘So does this change everything, Your Highness?’
She nodded. ‘Indeed it does. Wren, please, we need you to fly into the bay and call out to Bitter Olof and Calico Grace until you get a response.’
‘But I have to get to Starling,’ Wren protested.
Davren joined her argument. ‘We will help you rescue her, King Wren. But we surely have a better chance of foiling Grevilya and rescuing Starling and the children if we work together. Tell Bitter Olof and Grace everything you know. They may already have a plan we can work with.’
‘I can try,’ the sprite king said and disappeared into the late afternoon light, his little wings flapping furiously.
24
Little Thom lifted the large brass knocker and rapped gently but firmly. The door opened with a low creak of protest and the tiniest of women fluttered before him. She was beautiful. ‘Is she a pixie?’ Little Thom wondered.
He must have voiced his
query because the creature appeared offended.
‘I’m a sprite!’ she said and looked fearfully over her shoulder. ‘And no ordinary one, either. You are addressing a queen. Who are you? You shouldn’t be here. Go while you can!’
‘Er, forgive me, Your Majesty,’ Little Thom replied, unsure whether she was deluded. ‘I’m looking for Grevilya.’ He hoped he sounded harmless with his high-pitched voice.
‘Are you alone?’ Starling asked, peering around his bulk to look for any sign of companions.
‘All alone, Your Majesty,’ Little Thom whimpered in his breathy voice. ‘I took a carriage from Fairlight and then I managed to convince a farmer to give me a lift to –’ but then he stopped and sniffed, digging in his pockets for a handkerchief. ‘Oh, forgive me, but you don’t need to hear all of this.’
‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Lara,’ he said, using the name of the pretty barmaid who he could never take his gaze off whenever Bitter Olof let him visit Tarrow’s Landing.
‘Lara …?’
Little Thom flicked a nervous gaze into the garden as he searched for an appropriate name. ‘Greenleaf,’ he said.
‘Why are you looking for Mistress Grevilya?’
‘I will be candid with you, Queen … er?’
‘Starling,’ she announced. ‘Don’t address me as Majesty. It only infuriates her.’
He nodded, confused. ‘Um. I hear Mistress Grevilya has –’ Little Thom hesitated theatrically. ‘Well … a magical way with the world.’ He looked down, coyly.
‘I’m not sure I understand you, Mistress Greenleaf,’ the sprite queen said, her tone guarded.
‘I wish for your mistress to make a spell for me.’
‘I see.’ The sprite frowned. Little Thom thought he heard the sound of footsteps and then a throat being cleared somewhere behind her. ‘Please wait here,’ the sprite asked.
The door closed rudely in his face.
Finally the door creaked open again, revealing an old woman. Her silver hair was tied into a bun high on her head. She was smiling but coldness in her eyes made Little Thom’s smile falter.
‘Starling says you need help?’
The Rumpelgeist Page 17