by A W Hartoin
“I see you’ve decided to do what you have to do,” said Farue. “Good. Now you know what she means to you.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Soren would be so disappointed. He’d try to negotiate his way out of this mess. He’d be civilized. Daiki was right. I was separate and the realization didn’t give me any comfort.
We arrived at the katana stronghold and Daiki was waiting, sword drawn between many more red ants, all up on their spindly legs and ready to fight. His face relaxed the instant he saw us, and he sheathed his sword. The ants didn’t relax. They swung their large heads back and forth, scanning the area for trouble.
“Thank goodness,” said Daiki. “Your sister and that crazy Gerald are losing their little minds. They’re certain you’ve been kidnapped and stuffed in a spriggan dungeon.”
I jabbed the earring tip into the floor a little harder than necessary. “No dungeon for me.”
“And no trade either,” said Daiki. “Soren was informed before he retired for the night. He wishes to see you early tomorrow.”
“Fine,” I said. I’d meet him if I was there and not off getting Miss Penrose’s medicine.
Daiki smiled. “He’s ordered you guarded. For some reason, he thinks you might go off and do something ill-considered.”
I rolled my eyes. “Who’s supposed to be guarding me?”
Esmee appeared behind Daiki. “Me. I’m to stay at your side every moment until your meeting with Soren.”
She almost looked as unhappy about it as I felt. The last thing I wanted was Esmee hanging around, looking all beautiful and clean. I still had blood flaking off of my arms and legs. The stains on my dress weren’t going anywhere.
“Are you going to watch me take a bath?” I asked.
“You won’t be taking a bath, since I can’t watch you doing it. Soren is well aware of your ability to escape in a moment’s notice.”
“So I’m a prisoner?”
“If that’s what it takes to stop you from wreaking any more havoc.” Esmee stepped out of the door and tried to wave me in.
“There’s plenty of havoc around here without me.”
“Oh, you think so?” Esmee’s cheeks reddened and her hair started whipping around her head. If my hearing was better, I probably would’ve heard it cracking.
“Esmee,” said Farue, his usually smooth brow low and rumpled.
“Don’t Esmee me, Farue,” she said. “She should know.”
“Know what?” I asked.
Farue took Esmee by the arm. His small fingers squeezed her thin arm, causing the skin to bulge and redden. “Matilda isn’t the only one with orders, Esmee. You’re gonna watch Matilda and warn us if anything happens. You’re not to be telling tales.”
“It’s not a tale,” she said.
“I say it is and that’s the end of it.” Farue dropped Esmee’s arm. “Matilda, go back to your sister and Gerald. Calm them down. We’ll figure something out.”
Something in his face told me Esmee wasn’t going to be a problem. I glanced at Daiki and he nodded, lips pressed tight, and I remembered that he’d kissed me. I ducked in the door to hide the blush that came on suddenly. I followed Esmee, still with whipping hair, to my room.
She opened the door and Iris and Gerald leapt off the silk cushions. They hugged me with tight arms, surprisingly strong for such young fairies. All those months of lugging Horc and Easy around were paying off.
“Did you get it?” asked Iris.
“No,” said Gerald. “She didn’t.”
“How do you know, smarty-pants?”
He took my earring. “Because she still has this.”
“Maybe they just gave it to her and didn’t need the earring in trade. Horc would give it to us. He’s technically a spriggan.”
I hugged Iris again and Rufus ran from her to coil around my neck. “Horc’s heart is wood fairy, not spriggan. That’s the most important part.”
“So...” Iris’s lip trembled. “You didn’t get it?”
“I’m sorry. No.” I collapsed on the cushions and when I sat up, Esmee was watching me.
“But why?” asked Iris. “You had the earring. It’s valuable. Soren thought it would work.”
Gerald sat beside me and rubbed the emerald with his sleeve. “Nothing’s as valuable as Matilda herself.”
Iris scoffed. “What did he want? To trade you for the medicine? That’s crazy.”
I picked up The Art of War and curled up with it on my chest. “I don’t want to talk about it. Farue can give you the details. I’m more interested in what Esmee has to say.”
Esmee glided in and sat quite elegantly in an armchair. Her hair thrashed the seatback and she pursed her lips at me. “I have nothing to say.”
“What’s going on?” asked Gerald.
“Why not just say it?” I asked. “We won’t tell Soren. Get it off your chest.”
“Unlike you, I can follow instructions,” she said with a sneer that totally ruined her beauty. If she knew what she looked like when she did it, she’d never make that face again.
“Just because I don’t always follow instructions, doesn’t mean I can’t. I have no lack of imagination.”
“I have plenty of imagination, but I honor Soren. I deserve his trust.”
“Yeah, right. You already let it slip. Actually, you didn’t let it slip, you pushed it out,” I said.
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” asked Iris.
“She thinks I’m the cause of all the problems in the mall.”
Gerald crossed his arms and started pacing.
“But that’s crazy,” said Iris. “You haven’t even been here in six months.”
“Can’t you tell? I’m extra magical. I cause problems miles away.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
Esmee’s hair went wild. “Yes, she did. You’re such a stupid child, you don’t realize it. We didn’t have problems before Matilda showed up. Soren’s loyalties weren’t split. The spriggans knew their place, and they stayed in it. Because of you, the council is considering removing Soren from his position.”
Farue came in the door and yanked her out of the chair. “Esmee! You’re a fine one to be talking about loyalty. What did Soren say? He didn’t want Matilda upset.”
“Why not? Why is he so worried about her?” She twisted out of his hand and violently brushed angry tendrils out of her face.
“Soren gave his orders. That’s all you need to know.”
“Soren could lose everything and it’s her fault. And what about the commander? He could die.”
“The commander ain’t gonna die. We phalanx are hard to kill.”
“But they’ve wounded him terribly and in more ways than one.”
“Esmee, get ahold of yourself. Matilda doesn’t control the spriggans or the council. She never asked to be brought here that first time. What happened could’ve happened without her.”
“You really think the spriggan started taking over the mall because our mantel was brought here?” I asked Esmee.
“I think if you go and never come back, Soren will be fine and everything will calm down without you bursting into the council chambers and causing everyone to go crazy. Now everyone thinks Soren is incompetent. They’re saying he’s not the leader his father was and should be replaced. Are you happy?”
I felt the color drain from my cheeks. “Soren removed?”
“No, no,” said Farue. “But he will have to change. It was a different time when his father was in charge. He was no wartime leader. That’s what Soren has to be. He finds it an ill-fitting suit and keeps on trying to take it off, but that ain’t gonna help. It’s war and his job is to lead us through it.”
“It’ll get better, if Matilda leaves,” said Esmee. “Don’t you deny that.”
Farue ignored her question. “Matilda looks hungry. Why don’t you go fetch some supper for them?”
Esmee glared at him.
“She won’t escape. Cross my hear
t and swear to eat a vegetable,” said Farue.
Esmee left, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. Farue popped off his shell and sat on it. He pondered me while scratching his chin.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I said, “Well, is it true? Did I cause this mess?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows what the spriggans were planning before you came along and...” He grinned. “Lit a fire under them.”
“So it’ll get better if I’m not here. That’s why Soren blocked the commander’s messages.”
“Not exactly. Matilda, you’re a problem for Soren and a solution for the commander.”
“A problem?”
“Soren wants to protect you. That makes you a liability here in the mall.”
Esmee came back and set down a loaded tray. “I’ll take over.”
Farue popped his shell on. “We’ll talk later.” Then he left.
Gerald, Iris, and I ate dried blueberry bits and strawberry jam on toast points under the watchful glare of Esmee.
“We have to get that root,” mouthed Iris to me.
I blinked an agreement.
Gerald glanced over his shoulder and then mouthed, “Do you care what we have to do to get it?”
It was like Gerald had been reading my mind. I didn’t care. We had to get the root and get out. Soren wasn’t going to be deposed because of me. I nodded to them.
Iris stood up. “Can you get us some tea, Esmee?”
Esmee said there was no way she was leaving the room, but Iris could go to the kitchens. Iris went and came back with a tea service on a silver tray. Esmee had a container of tea and she measured out the bits of crumpled flakes into the pot. Steam rose when Iris poured the hot water in. It steeped and filled the room with a heady fragrance of faraway places. When Iris judged it done, she poured the tea into delicate eggshell cups that must have been a hundred years old they were so yellow.
I whispered over my cup. “I have to get out of here.”
Gerald and Iris nodded while I sipped. My eyes got heavy. Rufus got warm and vibrated against my neck.
“Miss Penrose needs that root,” I said as I wavered on my pillow.
The last thing I saw as my vision narrowed was Iris reaching for my cup.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I SMELLED SOREN before I saw him. He had a rich woody scent that reminded me of home, even though he smelled of maple instead of the mantel’s mahogany. I breathed deep and tried to roll over, but a firm hand stopped me.
“Matilda. Wake up.” Soren’s lips brushed my ear, making sure that I would hear.
I groaned and swatted at that annoying tickly feeling. Then he shook me so that my head bobbled around, smacking into pillows and something hard. I opened my eyes and saw the wood-grained pattern of Soren’s trousers stretched tight over his knee. A gentle hand pushed my head so that I was looking up into Soren’s warm, brown eyes.
I said something, but even to me it came out slow and garbled.
“Esmee, Matilda has been poisoned,” said Soren. “Summon Gilles. He’s your expert in such matters, isn’t he?”
Soren lifted me upright and someone else piled pillows behind me. The room was hazy and indistinct. Esmee knelt at my feet. Her hair was still. It lay on her shoulders like ordinary hair and she watched me, her eyes big and watery.
“Esmee!” said Soren.
She made no move to leave.
“Matilda, did you see anyone in your room last night? Was there perhaps a spriggan or an evening sprite?”
“No,” I managed to get out.
“Did you see anything odd?”
“No.” I slumped over and Soren pulled me upright again.
“What did you have for your dinner? What did you drink?”
“Esmee brought it. Cheese and fruit.” I closed my eyes. So tired. I just needed to sleep some more.
Soren shook me awake. “Did it taste odd?”
“It was fine. I want to sleep.”
Soren turned to Esmee. “Why are you still here? Get Gilles.”
Esmee again didn’t move other than to tremble. Soren didn’t seem to notice. But the sight of her long trembling fingers brought me to some of my senses. Behind Esmee, Daiki and Farue stood with their arms crossed. The room was oddly empty. Something essential was missing. An important part of me.
“Where are Iris and Gerald?” I asked, slurring a little less.
Soren jerked back. “Find them. Search the stronghold.”
“Already done,” said Farue. “The children are gone, but there’s no evidence of a kidnapping. We’re searching the katana territory now. I’d like to say they couldn’t get too far, but they’ve been gone for hours is my guess.”
I sat up and grabbed Soren’s arm for support. “They can’t be gone. Esmee was watching us. They have to be here.”
Everyone looked at Esmee and tears pooled in her eyes. “I didn’t expect Matilda...”
Soren stood up. “Daiki, summon Gilles this minute.”
Daiki nodded and with a worried glance at me, he rushed from the room.
“What happened?” I asked. “I had some tea and that’s the last thing I remember.”
“Did you give her the tea, Esmee? Was it tea?” asked Soren.
“Yes, it was tea. Mostly.” Her trembling got worse and I thought her teeth might start chattering.
“But it wasn’t only tea,” I said.
She shook her head. “I was afraid you’d get away from me and Iris confirmed that you’d definitely try to escape.”
“Iris helped you?”
“She only wanted you to stay here and not get into any trouble. We only gave you a little valerian. It shouldn’t have affected you so strongly.” Esmee reached up to Soren. “I’m so sorry.”
He pushed her hand away. “Don’t apologize to me.”
She looked at me, biting her lip. “I’m sorry, Matilda.”
“So you drugged me so I wouldn’t go out and try to get the root from the spriggans on my own,” I said, feeling proud that I was able to enunciate so well.
Soren gave me a funny look. “What was that?”
I blushed. Too quick with the pride apparently. I repeated what I said and Soren nodded. “I got it that time. Is that true, Esmee
Esmee nodded. She looked so miserable, I felt sorry for her. After all, she wasn’t wrong. I would’ve escaped in two-tenths of a wingbeat.
I spoke every word very carefully. “I thought you were going to watch me like a hawk? How did Iris and Gerald get out?”
“Once you were asleep, Iris curled up with you and Gerald was asleep in the bedroom. I never imagined they’d go anywhere without you. I thought it was safe to go to my own room until you woke this morning.”
“Clearly, it wasn’t safe,” said Soren. His face was so hard and stern, Esmee leaned back and wrung her hands.
“So my sister and Gerald are running around the mall on their own. This is just great. They must’ve gone after the root.”
Esmee gasped. “They wouldn’t!”
“Sure, they would. They love Miss Penrose as much as I do, and they both have stellar hearing. They probably thought they could sneak into the spriggan stronghold and steal it.”
“That’s crazy. They’re so little.”
“They’re nine and eleven, and they managed to outsmart you.”
“We’ll find them,” said Soren.
“I’ll find them.”
“I can’t allow that, Matilda.”
“I’m not asking permission. Iris is my sister, and Gerald is like a brother.”
“I’m not questioning your loyalty.”
“Well, you’d be the first.”
“You can’t leave. I order you to stay.”
I wobbled to my feet. “Soren, you were the first creature to show me kindness in this new world that I knew nothing about, but this mall isn’t my home, and you aren’t my leader. I don’t have one. I just have myself.”
“Your parents wouldn’t want you to go ou
t there.”
“Of course they wouldn’t. They’re parents. They never want me to do anything. But I’m still going.”
Farue stepped forward. “I’d be proud to lead a team to go with Matilda.”
Soren frowned. “Is no one listening to me?”
“A small team. Me, Daiki, Matilda, and Lrag.”
“Who’s Lrag?” I asked.
“One of the teufel, the red trolls. Don’t be calling him a troll though. You won’t like the reaction,” said Farue.
“But he is a troll, right?”
“I wouldn’t mention the obvious, if I were you.” Farue eyed Soren. “So do I have your permission to go after those pint-sized troublemakers?”
Soren raised an eyebrow and I stifled a giggle. Gerald was taller than Farue by a head. But what the phalanx lacked in height, they made up for with skill and attitude.
“And if I say no?” asked Soren.
“Then I will obey. You are my leader. I’ll send Matilda out there on her own and hope she doesn’t get her wings handed to her.”
Before Soren could answer, Daiki and another galen fairy, who I assumed was Gilles, rushed in. He was dressed in a short toga. His white-blond hair was probably shoulder-length, but it was whipping around his head so fast it was hard to tell. He shot a harsh look at Esmee and held up a finger in front of me. “How many?”
“One,” I said. “I’m fine.”
“You’re still under the effects of the valerian. Your eyes aren’t completely focused and your right hand is shaking. One leaf too many. Esmee didn’t take into account your wingspan and light frame.”
Esmee ducked her head. She might’ve been beautiful, but she couldn’t even drug me properly. I hoped Soren was paying attention. Gilles dug in one of the bags tied onto his belt and quickly made another pot of tea. He handed over a cup and commanded me to drink. His bedside manner reminded me of the commander. Instead of sipping, I looked into the cup at the brown bits swimming around. I didn’t know about that. The last galen tea I drank didn’t work out so well.