"I don't see anyone," Hailey said. She glanced back the other way to make sure no one was following them. The mage lantern above her chose that moment to flicker and go out, making her jump. They stood in the darkened hallway of Arvendon Castle, hoping not to be discovered. The corridor was long but ultimately empty.
"Shhh!" Esmerelda said. “We don’t want him to find us.” Her voice was at least as loud as Hailey’s.
Hailey glanced at Margaret who mimed zipping her mouth shut and throwing away the key. They tiptoed from the hallway to the next corner and flattened themselves against the wall. The white plaster chilled her skin, as did the polished tile floor on her bare feet. She needed warmth, but it was just out of reach. The castle’s corridor was dim, as all the mage lights had been covered for the night in sheer cloths.
Someone tromped down the hallway. “I think it’s him! Quick, behind the pillar!” Hailey and her friends hurried behind the pillar and stood as still and quiet as they could manage. Hailey balled her hands into fists. She would not let him frighten her. She slowed her breathing and waited, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
The footsteps came closer. Had he seen them then? She tried not panic. Not knowing if he was going to spot them any moment they scooted behind a pillar. Hailey couldn’t help herself. She had to know who it was. She peeked, despite the voice in her head telling to not take the risk. The burly man wore an engraved sword at his hip. His leather sandals squeaked like a mouse with every footstep. Was he trying to sneak up on them?
Hailey held her breath. If he found them, she was sure they would be in trouble. She waited, unsure what to do.
“I know you’re here,” he said, his voice almost musical. “Come out now and I promise your punishment will be lessened.”
Hailey glanced back at her companions, the fear in her mind reflected in their trembling eyes.
One of the two remaining mage lights blinked out, casting the area into near darkness with a flash of yellow. A tree branch scratched an eerie moan against the glass at the end of the corridor.
Hailey looked at the window and realized she could see all of them reflected in the glass. All the big man had to do was look up, and he would see them.
The soldier took another step, closer to the window.
Margaret glanced at Hailey and followed her line of sight. She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth.
“I heard that,” he said.
“Oi, Daniel!” a voice called from the end of the corridor. Both men’s reflections darkened the window in front of her. The shorter man’s features were distorted in the glass, but he held a mug. “You coming?”
Hailey squeezed her eyes to control her breathing.
Margaret’s sweaty hand gripped her own. He blocked their only way out.
“Better drink this with I won’t be standing by the end of my shift.”
The big man seemed to glare at them in the window, sending a shiver down Hailey’s spine, then mouthed I see you before he turning to face his friend. “It would be rude of me to leave you in such dire straits.”
The men continued to chat as they strode down the long corridor. Hailey watched the glass and listened until they were out of earshot, then slumped to the floor.
Margaret waved a finger in front of her. "You almost got us caught. Don’t peek next time.”
“I thought it was him,” Hailey complained.
“And if it was, you would have ruined the whole mission,” Esmerelda said.
This close to the kitchen, the smell was intoxicating.
Esmerelda looked worried. “You think you can manage it alone?”
“It will be easier if I’m alone,” Hailey said. “I will need your help for the next part.”
They nodded and hurried into a broom closet, leaving her behind.
Esmerelda’s head popped back out. "Go before someone else comes.”
Hailey felt a spike of uncertainty. “What if Lavina’s in there?”
“We are going to have to risk it. Besides, you won’t get caught. You’re good at this.”
Hailey almost made it inside the kitchen, but at the last moment, she paused at the doorway.
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There he was. The Giant.
He cast a long shadow, and when he turned towards her, she ducked back around the doorway and pressed herself against the wall. A bead of sweat worked its way out of her hair and down her temple. If she stayed here, she would get caught, but if she moved he would find her. She wanted to run back to the broom closet and call the mission off. If anyone got caught, it would be her. She would have to go invisible.
Concentrating, she made herself disappear. A small gasp came from the closet. She looked back and saw Margaret’s hair peeking out.
Hailey turned back to the task at hand. The smell of the last batch of honeycakes for the night made her mouth water. She closed her eyes and let the smell wash over here.
“Goodnight, and thanks for this, big boy,” said a woman’s voice.
The Giant responded, but it sounded like mumbling to her. Hailey held her breath and concentrated. If she was too nervous, she would have trouble staying invisible. The woman walked right past her and down the corridor before turning towards the servants stairs.
She breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t Lavina.
Hailey peered back around the doorway, trying not to think about The Giant or Lavina or anyone else who might get in the way of her plans.
The kitchen had been cleaned and swept. It was a bright place. Mage lanterns hung above all of the countertops. The ovens at the far end of the kitchen still hot from the days’ cooking. Copper pots hung in a neat row above the stovetops. The shuttered windows on the other side of the kitchen were closed against the night’s chill.
She stepped into the kitchen on silent feet, holding the hem of her skirt up to prevent it from dragging on the ground, or worse, catching on something and pulling it off a low shelf.
She glanced at the copper pot that was on one of the stove tops and smiled at the lack of her reflection.
Just then, The Giant came back into the kitchen, his footsteps pounding threateningly on the wooden floor.
Hailey put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.
The Giant looked right at her with a curious expression, cocking his head to one side.
She didn’t dare move, and she almost lost her concentration. If she did that, he would see her for sure.
After huffing, The Giant scooped up a couple of things off the counter and thundered back into the pantry.
At the doorway, Margaret whispered to her. “What is taking so long?”
Hailey rolled her eyes and then remembered that they wouldn’t be able to see that. “Stealth takes time. Now hush.”
“Lavina is going to be checking on us soon. Hurry up,” Esmerelda said.
“If you want to do this, be my guest.”
Hailey took a deep breath as her friends ducked back around the doorway. The smell of fresh bread and honey all cooked together made her hungry. It was one of the foods that The Giant was particularly good at making. They were the last thing he would bake before letting the ovens grow cold for the night. Even though she usually got one the next morning, they were never the same the next day. Hot and fresh was the way to go.
She needed to move, her window was closing!
Hailey scurried across the kitchen, knowing that at any moment The Giant would be back. One counter over was covered with steaming honeycakes, their gooey centers dripping down the edge and pooling on the floor below.
She pulled a clean kerchief out of her pocket. The Giant was coming back. Heavy footsteps thumped on the tile floor. Her heart leaped as she ran to the counter. Quick as she could manage, she laid her kerchief on the counter and picked up one of the sticky treats before glancing back to the doorway. Esmerelda shook her head and pointed.
“There are bigger ones on the other side” she mouthed.
Hailey glared at her. If she got caught because Esmerelda wanted a bigger one, she would be sorry. But she was already here, and the bigger ones for the adults were all the sweeter and better reward.
Replacing the first cake, Hailey moved to the other side of the counter, picked up one of the giant sticky buns and dropped it on the kerchief before sucking on her fingers. They were so hot, but she didn’t have any other alternative. She grabbed two more and wiped the hot honey down the sides of her dress then she scooped up the corners with the rolls on it.
Just as she had gathered up all of the corners, she felt a presence behind her. How could someone so large move so silently?A large shadow covered her small form. She was so scared for a moment that she couldn’t move. Her invisibility began to fade.
"Hey!" He shouted, his deep voice rattling all the pots hanging from the rafters.
Hailey let out a small squeak and hurried away, but The Giant was fast, and he could see her now. He banged his head on one of the mage lanterns above the counters and cursed.
Esmerelda and Margaret raced into the kitchen. Hailey shoved the makeshift bag into Esmerelda's hands. Esmerelda flew down the corridor, and Hailey ducked around the corner.
As far as The Giant could see, only brave little Margaret stood alone to face him. Hailey had gone invisible again, and Esmerelda was so fast there was no way he would catch her now.
"Thank you, Mr. Bruce," Margaret said in her tiny voice.
The Giant paused for a moment and rubbed at his head. He made a move to follow Esmerelda, but Margaret stepped in his way, her hands balled into little fists and her arms held out to block the doorway.
The two stared at each other for a long second, one large, one tiny as they sized each other up, daring the other to make the first move.
Finally, the large man’s perpetual frown broke into a grin, and began to chuckle, and then the chuckle became a bellowing laugh that filled the halls.
Hailey cringed, hoping it wouldn’t rouse the ire of Lavina.
Finally, he said, “Are those other girls going to share with you?"
"Yes," said Margaret, her little voice wavering only slightly. "They are my favorite friends.”
The Giant’s tone softened. "Well now, you run along, little one, and no more trouble for tonight.”
Hailey grinned. Margaret had worked her magic.
“You’ll be washing extra pots for me tomorrow," he called after them, but Hailey and Margaret were already past the stairs to catch up with Esmerelda.
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Hailey and Margaret had just pulled the blankets over themselves when the doorway opened.
Lavina poked her head in.
The governess watched them for a long second before huffing and closing the door behind her.
Hailey breathed out a sigh of relief and giggled with her friends as they sat up in bed. Esmerelda opened the kerchief to reveal some slightly smushed but still delicious honeycakes.
They were huge! Bigger than anything they had ever eaten!
Hailey bit into hers. It was warm and soft and sweet. Hailey grinned at her friends. Tomorrow they would have to come up with a new adventure.