Friends Who Became Villainesses

By Henry Cobb

Chapter Five: The Alchemist

At the end of my second week at Lady Depecia's ranch, I rode out with her to greet a half dozen riders who wore the symbol of Princess Amesombra's family.

"Sir Bayard!" She hailed their leader.

"Lady Depecia, I have been sent to collect horses for the Royal Rangers. You've met my men before, except Sir Corbin I believe."

"Sir Corbin of Percorbe?"

"Has Your Ladyship heard of me?"

"Only what happened to your family. My condolences for your loss."

"Your Ladyship is too kind, to spare any thought for a humble knight such as myself."

"And this is Miss Angelica Pureheart, whom I shall entrust in your care to escort to the Feuchemie estate tomorrow. Will you accept my invitation to have dinner and stay the night before you set out in the morning?"

"Your Ladyship is most kind." Sir Bayard, like the rest of his men merely glanced at me for a moment before returning his attention to Lady Depecia.

All that is all save Sir Corbin whose intense study of my face only ended when I turned to look back at him. Then he faced the other way as he followed us all into the ranch.

The next morning Depecia had me pack all of my belongings into some bags and as she was checking the fit of the dagger on my belt she said, "You will be betrayed on this trip."

"What? By whom?"

"Amy has left that for you to figure out, as useful training."

"If you know that I will be betrayed then why don't you stop it?"

"We're merging back into the plot for a bit so you can pick up something that will be very useful to you, and the ramifications of this plot will turn out beneficial to Her Royal Highness. We have carefully debated the scenario and concluded that the risk to your life is worth it."

"When will I get to live my own life?"

"We have no fixed agenda for yourself once you have defeated the demon lord. Amy has ordered that your reward shall be your pick of a willing partner and the choice to continue in her service or depart to wherever you please at that point."

"I trust Princess Amesombra."

"You ought to trust your own senses more. You were born with a natural knack to see the true nature of all things and it's time you started to train that talent. We are all especially interested in how you feel about each thing on this trip and Misaki will have you sit down and tell her this so she can write it down for us."

"So my betrayal won't keep me from getting to her?"

"We'll bend the plot a bit to ensure that you do." She had me carry one of my bags as she carried the other two and then tied all three of these to my horse.

Sir Bayard had me ride near the middle of the formation with his other five men surrounding me and the eight riderless horses they herded along a road towards the west and hence away from Lady Yeuxpera's estate that was to the northeast.

That evening after we set camp Sir Corbin volunteered to survey the perimeter while the rest of the men ate stew with me.

Sir Bayard asked what I was being sent to Lady Malheurfla for and I replied that I did not know. And then I suddenly yawned. This seemed contagious as the five men all started to yawn themselves and then I just fell asleep as rapidly as if the princess had cast a spell on me.

I was startled awake by a horse screaming. A body hit the ground nearby and the horse reared under me. Something was covering my eyes and I couldn't move my hands up to remove this because they were tied behind my back. I was tied to the back of the horse that then galloped for a bit, then slowed to a walk. I tried shouting out but found that I was gagged.

After a while, a man shouted out, "It's Sir Corbin's horse, and the young miss is tied to it!"

The horse stopped when someone grabbed the reins and then I was untied and the blindfold and gag were removed.

As I was helped to my feet I looked around and saw Sir Bayard and one of his men at our campsite as dawn was breaking.

Sir Bayard asked me, "Young miss, do you know what happened to Sir Corbin?"

"No, Sir. I fell asleep here and the next thing I knew I was alone on the horse."

At that point, another of the men rode up. "Sir Bayard, I found Sir Corbin's body."

"Body? What killed him?"

"A wild tribe arrow through the eye, Sir."

"Any indication of how many he was fighting?"

"It didn't seem to be a fight, Sir. He died before he could draw a weapon."

The remaining man returned from the other way along the road, and Sir Bayard had three of them watch over me and the horses as he went with the fourth to investigate Sir Corbin's body.

When he returned he found my dagger in Sir Corbin's saddlebag then we ate a late breakfast and continued to ride down the road, with Sir Corbin's things packed on his horse.

After a bit, Sir Bayard called for me to join him at the head of the group. "Young Miss, had you met Sir Corbin before yesterday?"

"No, Sir."

"He did seem to react to your name. Did he say anything to you?"

"Not a word, Sir."

We had a cold lunch on the ride and that afternoon entered hilly terrain with the oaks of Lady Depecia's duchy gradually giving way to pine forests as the road climbed up. Occasionally I could see snow-covered mountains ahead. Sir Bayard pointed to these. "Young Miss, we're getting close to the border, so keep a keen watch out. The wild tribes haven't been much trouble lately but what happened with Sir Corbin we must not assume we're safe here."

"But wasn't he riding away from this border?"

"And he was stopped by a wild tribe arrow in his eye. The wild tribe have excellent horsemen with keen senses who are able to move vast distances and strike from ambush. They've learned that they're no match for our forces in open battles and hence avoid these."

When we arrived at his estate Duke Feuchemie summoned Sir Bayard and me to give our accounts of what had happened on the trip while the duke's ten-year-old daughter, Lady Malheurfla, kept notes.

The duke slammed his fist into his palm. "Trouble with the wild tribes and treason in the ranks of the rangers, when the princess will soon arrive?"

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"The princess is coming here?" Sir Bayard asked.

"Malheurfla, show him your letter from the princess."

"Yes, Father. Sir Bayard, please read out loud the part at the end that is addressed to you."

"To Sir Bayard, in light of the recent threats against the young ward my father the King has tasked me with the protection of, you are to train Miss Angelica Pureheart to the standards of our Royal Rangers in horse riding, and in the use of bow and dagger. I shall arrive at the Feuchemie estate on my birthday to inspect your progress in these matters."

The duke stared at me for a moment then turned back to the knight captain, "Given the recent lapse in the ranks of your rangers, these matters are strictly confidential."

"Of course, Duke Feuchemie." Sir Bayard handed the letter back and asked, "Lady Malheurfla, I am aware that you are very close to Her Highness. Can you not ask her to celebrate her birthday in the capital, far from this troubled border area?"

She looked up at the man who towered over her. "Sir Bayard, given the treason so close to yourself, can you assure me that Her Highness is safe in her palace?"

"Lady Malheurfla, I see your concerns. I will follow my orders to the best of my abilities."

"And that is all that we ask of you. Come along, Angelica. Your things have been taken to the room prepared for you. I'll give you a chance to rest and freshen up. Your training will start in the morning."

I followed Malheurfla up the stairs and she opened a door to a room with a key, then turned to me. "This is the best we can do, given the crowd we expect to arrive with the princess. Light, please."

"Yes, Lady Malheurfla." I chanted the spell and a ball of light appeared above my head to illuminate the room. "This is very impressive, almost the equal of Princess Amesombra's room."

"This is Amy's room, whenever she visits. You are to stay here, and with her on the two nights she will be here."

"What is to happen after her birthday?"

"You will ride back to the capital with her on ... Sorry. Just wait and see."

At this point, twin six-year-old boys ran into the room. "Sis!" "Sis!" "Who's this?" "She's pretty!"

"Miss Angelica Pureheart, here are my brothers, the heir Lord Tincel, and his backup, Lord Braisen."

"It's a pleasure to meet your lordships." I curtsied to them.

"What is she doing in the forbidden room?" "Is she our new maid?"

"Miss Pureheart is a personal assistant to the princess. She has been sent ahead to help prepare for Princess Amesombra's visit."

"Hope Braisen don't bearish in front of Amy." "You're mad 'cause she said that she liked me first."

"Don't fight in Princess Amesombra's room, Your Lordships! If you break anything of hers she'll have you both executed for treason. Now let's all wash up and get ready for dinner."

"Okay, Sis!" The twins said in perfect unison.

I think I earned the respect of the young lords when their feeble attempts to embarrass me in the bath fell far short of what I had experienced in the slums. I held my tongue and left it to Malheurfla to chastise her brothers.

At first, I assumed that I was seated next to the Duke at dinner so that the twins (seated on either side of their mother) would have at least one relative between themselves and myself, but then Duke Feuchemie spent the dinner asking me for news about the capital and the duchies I had previously visited.

"I'm sorry, Duke Feuchemie, but I did not visit the docks at Port Baiemurm and had no chance to inspect the goods loaded and unloaded from the ships there."

"Father! Can't you see how tired Miss Pureheart is from her ride and abduction?"

One of the twins shouted out "Angel was abducted!" and the other continued with "Tell us! Tell us!"

At this point, the Duchess looked at her sons seated to either side of her. "Now Boys! Look at how tired she is. I'm sure that if you eat quietly and behave yourselves then she might consider telling you all about her adventures later."

When I returned to Princess Amesombra's room I changed into my nightgown and as I lay in her bed I closed my eyes and imagined that she had slept in the exact same location before and what it would be like to have her sleeping next to me now.

There was a knock on the door.

"Yes, what is it?" I tied a robe (which I suppose must have been worn by the princess before) around me and put on her indoor slippers, then opened the door to see Lady Malheurfla standing there.

"My apologies for the intrusion, Angelica, but my brothers insist on a bedtime story from you."

"I would be happy to assist." I followed her.

"You are not to mention the involvement of the rangers in your abduction (as they are not to doubt the protection they are under at this time), but feel free to use the wild tribe cover story (as that ought to encourage them to stay close to the estate)."

"Cover story? Your group made up the part about the wild tribes?"

"Sir Corbin was destined to die from several such arrows as he attempted to cross the border. We decided that instead of having you fleeing for your life through the wilderness you could just stay here for the next two weeks. Then we can pick up the plot from the point that would have been your first brief encounter with Princess Amesombra that sets up your rivalry with her."

"Then who shot the arrow?"

"Who do you know with the confidence to take that shot in the middle of the night without fear of hitting you?"

"Lady Depecia."

Malheurfla nodded and then led me to the room that her twin brothers shared between them.

The next morning I was awakened before dawn to join the newest rangers for breakfast. We were then marched outside and around the roughly finished wooden palisade that surrounded the vaguely rectangular and fairly level ridge top on which the Feuchemie estate sat. The ducal mansion filled the eastern end of the plot and overlooked the valley below while the barracks and stables for the rangers filled the western end with views of the forested slope up the mountain. Between these was the main square we returned to drill on, which had a well in the northeast corner with the main gate on the south side and various smaller buildings along the north edge of the square.

We then went to the stables to be drilled on proper care of the horses, followed by archery practice in the square (where the unusual shape and low power of my practice bow received various comments). Occasionally I would glance up at the windows of the mansion where I would often see one or both of the twins standing on chairs to look down at me.

After lunch, we returned to the square where Sir Bayard had me draw my dagger to practice various guard positions against the stick he held.

A maid shouted "Young Lord!", and I turned to face a noise (with dagger in hand) to see one of the twins stop suddenly just out of my blade's reach to drop to his knees and scrape one of these on a rock.

"Ow!"

I sheaved my blade and knelt in front of him. "Let me help."

"Okay."

I put my hand on his bleeding knee and recited a chant The Saint had used to heal the injuries of others.

The young lord looked astonished at the glow and then stood up. "It doesn't hurt anymore. Angel, you fixed it!"

He reached over to hug me and then turned to his brother. "Braisen, you can have Amy. I want Angel!"

The maid walked up and pried Tincel off me. "Young Lord, let's get you washed up."

Sir Bayard helped me to my feet. "White Magic? From a commoner?"

"Miss Pureheart, Sir Bayard. Please follow me."

We followed Malheurfla to her workshop, which was located next to the northeast corner of the square. Inside this was her office and she motioned us to sit in the chairs in front of her desk that she then sat behind.

I glanced at the wood panel mounted above her chair that had a rectangle 18 squares wide and 10 tall with gaps in the top middle, the 8th row was missing, and the remaining two rows were shorter. The squares had large symbols and small numbers in them.

"Miss Pureheart, do you want to be abducted again?"

"Your Ladyship?" I looked down from the rectangle chart.

"I advised Princess Amesombra to have you assume a fake name and have your hair dyed, but this would do no good if you insist on using your magic to heal every scrape."

"I don't understand."

"Lady Malheurfla, may I ask what is the interest of Princess Amesombra in Miss Pureheart?"

"No, Sir Bayard, you may not. The answer you are to relay to your men is that our princess has taken a fancy to have a light-casting commoner as a display ornament. Her father our King has ordered that this shining moppet be trained to help protect the princess. They should thank the gods that it is Miss Pureheart that amuses our fickle princess (for now) rather than members of their own families."

"And if they should bring up the thousand-year prophesy?"

"Tell them that our princess also fancies such stories and dresses her pet to fit the role, but that their king respects the teachings of the church that the demon lord has been dealt with. Then ask them if they'd rather believe one ten-year-old girl with childish fancies or men in high positions of great authority and learning." It was only when Lady Malheurfla mentioned that age that I remembered that she was also a ten-year-old girl like myself and that she really wasn't.

"I will do as Your Ladyship suggests."

"Excellent! Now let me show you two what I've been working on." She led us to the adjoining room that was set up like a blacksmith and she waved over a man who was working there. She picked up an arrowhead from a table and used this to whittle away at a stick of pine wood then handed it to Sir Bayard. "Examine this closely, what do you see?"

"Your Ladyship, there is hardly any wear on the edge! How did you manage this?"

"A combination of the proper alloy and heat treatment. Also note the design of the bevel."

"And how will I explain to my men that a ten-year-old girl made this?"

"What, with these frail arms? It was Mister Gerone here who made this arrowhead."

"Acting under the instruction of Your Ladyship."

"And will you have a dozen of these ready for Her Highness' birthday present?"

"I will work however long it takes, Your Ladyship."

"Mister Gerone, your hard work is an inspiration to the duchy."

Starting the next day I joined the ranger cadets in the afternoon mounted patrols of the woods around the estate with evening tutoring sessions in the estate that the twins were said to attend only because I was there. I did not resent being on the same education level as a six-year-old, given the head start in the race of life that nobles were granted.

Lady Malheurfla was our usual tutor and seemed pleased with her quick-thinking brothers. When she taught them how to use fire spells I would instead practice the light magics that The Saint had written in her diary, a thousand years ago.