RMW
Chapter Twenty-Six
Wickedly Clever Little Witch
~SV~
Blackstone Castle Gate, Sunrise, 677, 28th, October
Sighing with boredom, Grekan tells the guards at the gate, “Sidonia hopes to return in time to assist her father with the quarterly Territorial Leader’s meetings.” Captain Heg nods, “Oh, of course.” The white-haired Guard grabs The Librarian’s arm demanding, “And where are you going in a hurry?” Grekan pulls away, his fear of confrontation is replaced by anger, “Black Forest Village’s Coach.”
The Clerk smugly adds, “King Anthony hired me to be his scribe, clerk, and librarian; requesting I seek rare books for him, it is why I am leaving! It will take more than a few weeks.” He picks up his bags, as Heg, the Day Captain, tells Whitey, “Let him pass.” Whitey stands in the way of the Scribe. Grekan scoffs up at him, “I doubt the High Lord will take kindly to you questioning me.”
The slight Librarian adds, “Nor will he like it if you asked any further about his business. And I am quite certain he did not hire me to inform you of his daughter’s whereabouts either.” Whitey snorts, “You are nothing but an unimportant little mouse.” Hissing back at him, Grekan says, “Good then you can stop boring me and let me pass, before I miss my ride.” Two guards open the gate.
Grekan goes around Whitey; to exit. He hopes he gave enough details that they believed him and is glad Sidonia shared what she wrote in the note to Kolo. It kept him from giving a less believable answer, since he only had a moment’s notice. He feels relieved to be exiting the grounds. The sound of the gates slamming behind him startles Grekan. It causes a sudden rush of sickness in his gut, as it all feels too final, telling him that he is on his own now.
Paranoia and fear pour over him, just as he notices a group of guards who are standing around a dark coach. It annoys Grekan that he failed to pay attention to the details of Kolo’s carriage, when he saw it. Realizing all coaches look alike to him, other than some are new and some are shabby; Grekan feels he must assume it is Kolo.
~*~
The white-haired guard runs over to Kolo’s carriage telling him, “The Clerk is going to buy books for Anthony. Grekan claims Sidonia left last night for Witch Island in the Mystical Realm, something to do with helping her school. She intends to return for the December Quarterly meeting. However, we have no evidence of her leaving last night.” Kolo groans, “Well that is the lie she wrote in her note to me! Send some men to follow the Scribe.”
He demands, “I want to know where he buys a passage for. She is likely in town, waiting for him, if not he might lead them to her. They are to grab and bring her to me.” Whitey nods, “As you wish, Master.” He rushes telling Hanis, Gareth and Emmett. The three men run off after the Clerk. Kolo mumbles, “Would Sidonia foolishly tell the Librarian anything of me or the book? Is she likely to tell that sort of secret to a scribe?” The Guard, Luke shrugs.
Tad says, “He is, always around her.” Kolo finishes off his last peasant; Grunt takes him to the forest. Kolo decides with relief, “No, I am certain that I instructed Princess Sidonia to speak of it to no one, each time I compelled her.” Kolo no longer looks at the Clerk as a threat, yet Whitey has already gone. The Evil One is irritable and ready to leave, yet something is nagging at him. Kolo says aloud, “How did the Clerk learn of the lie that Sidonia wrote.”
Kolo fumes, “Did he read the letter, she wrote to me?” The Guard, Luke replies, “I would guess that the Princess told the same lie to anyone she cannot trust, not wanting them to know either.” Agreeing, Kolo sighs, “Yes that seems likely. Why should he be aware of her true intentions?” Tad questions, “Where did she go?” Musing, Kolo says, “How did she leave? I doubt she is brave enough to use the Ferry. It is too dangerous.” The Guard, Richard agrees.
Richard says, “I bet she used a carriage, so she is less exposed.” Whitey runs back to the coach, “I have Hanis watching Grekan.” Kolo nods, as Whitey adds, “He will learn how many tickets he buys and for where.” Kolo is ready to tell Whitey to forget about the little Librarian. The Evil One feels the Scribe is no one. But, Whitey interrupts Kolo’s tired thoughts as he says, “I have two at the coach, ready to grab the Princess if she shows.”
Whitey hurriedly adds, “If not, they will get horses to follow Grekan in hopes he still leads them to her.” Kolo nods, thinking it does not hurt to let them follow the Scribe. Still, perplexed, the Evil One tells him, “One more thing. Check the Castle stables to see if a horse- no a carriage is missing, she would not be on horseback. You should do the same at the village stable. I do not believe she will go by the river. Only poor people risk drowning.” Tad nods, “Yip.”
Kolo says with certainty, “And Sidonia is not that brave nor that foolish to risk her life on the water.” Whitey nods, running off as Kolo says to himself, “She is a lady and does not ride horseback.” He falls asleep while waiting and wakes when Whitey returns, gasping, “Two horses are missing.” Shaking his head, Kolo says, “I do not see her riding even with someone. What of the village?” Whitey replies, “I have a man going to see if one was rented.”
He points, “Here comes our guard now.” Elsbert runs to the coach, shaking his head, “No female rented a horse nor a carriage.” Kolo sneers, “Did a man? I suspect the Princess has one going with her, she will not dare be by herself!” Elsbert runs back. Kolo states, “She will head for the Realm Gateway and then to Witch Island.” Luke asks, “You believe her lie?” Kolo puzzles over it, “She might have only lied about when she left, not why and where she is going.”
The Evil One adds, “Or she just went to her father’s castle at Wolf Mountain; even Sidonia resists going to the dreaded Skull Island.” Kolo says, “Whitey, I want you to bribe a night guard. Have the Vampire go at dusk to the Realm Gateway to ask if she went through it, if so, find out where she went.” Whitey takes the small coin bag Kolo offers and rushes off. Kolo falls asleep dreaming of his own desperation that causes his willingness to be in a rowboat.
Even in his sleep, Kolo cringes, at how far he went on the river. Elsbert wakes him, “A man left at dawn in a carriage.” Kolo nods, “Get a horse, and go after it. If Sidonia is there, bring her back and report to Whitey.” Elsbert runs to get a horse. Coming back, Whitey tells the Evil One, “I have a Vampire willing to go tonight. Is there anything else Master?” Kolo states, “Elsbert is going after the carriage on the road north. I want you to hire a few men.”
The Evil One says, “Get them from the village. Have them use the road west along the river to catch up with the carriage or the Ferry.” Whitey asks, “Do I tell my men to travel on the Ferry?” Thinking of his dream, Kolo replies, “No, I just want them to check it for her and all inns, and stables. Even if she escapes by the river, I bet she will get off at the first pier with a carriage to rent. Have them check all coaches along that road. And, do not hire any who are-.”
Kolo gets the bag finishing, “-dumb as rocks, be certain they understand. Give them all of the Princess’s details.” Nodding, Whitey says, “Yes, Master. I have a few men in mind.” Kolo adds, “If they do not catch up to her at the first wharf town, one will stop. Give that one the bag of coins; he will bribe those leaving the Ferry, all fishermen, and the Innkeepers for answers. Have the two hurry to catch her on the road and check every stable and carriage too!”
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Whitey asks, “You wish to spend that much, Master?” Kolo nods, “Yes, she is that valuable to me. I want everyone watching for the Princess! Your man will pay them coin for information of where she is and offer an additional reward if they locate her.” Whitey nods, “Yes Master.” Kolo adds, “If your men fail to find her by Seaport, tell them to check back with each, offering more coin, on their way up here; making certain she cannot hide from me!”
The Evil One groans, as he now lifts the good-sized bag of coins, handing it to Whitey, yet holds on, as firmly Kolo says, “I trust you to give this to the smartest one.” Whitey replies, “I have a guy, Lurky. He is wise and I trust him.” Kolo lets go, “If they fail to return, we will hunt and kill them painfully. If they come back, we will pay them well. If they bring her to you or a clue that leads us to her, they will be rewarded with more coin than this bag holds!”
Whitey nods, “That should keep them from running off with it.” Kolo replies, “Exactly. As well as motivate them to do the job right and really look for Princess Sidonia!”
~*~
Quickly walking toward the village, Grekan tells himself it is just paranoia. Kolo cannot be healed this soon, nor out during the day even in his carriage sitting right in front of the Castle gate. As he crosses the bridge, he recalls Kolo had killed the messengers during the day, and hears footsteps of at least two men behind him. Grekan increases his speed to a jog, remembering Kolo killed Donatello too.
It is hard for the little man with his bags. He glances back at the three behind him, and assumes they are Kolo’s men. He tells himself, ‘I should be glad. This needs to be my part in helping Sidonia escape Kolo. I told them she went to Witch Island and that should send a few to the Mystical Realm. Now I must hope that I can lead a few more away from Sidonia’s direction.’ His bravery fades.
Grekan cannot help believing, that he is not the right man, for this plan to work. If he had more time to think it through, he feels he would have wisely talked himself out of doing something this rash or at least hired a few guards to go with him. Yet whom could he hire that is not already reporting to Kolo? He recalls Tik’s comment, and now groans at his own stupidity. Grekan grabbed his letter opener.
The Librarian brought the slim dagger with for protection. Yet, instead of thinking to put the letter opener in his cloak pocket, he just realized that he had foolishly packed it into his big bag. Shaking his head, Grekan believes something bad will happen and most likely, it is going to happen to him. At the village station, Grekan pays for his travel to the east. He hears one of Kolo’s men, as Hanis informs Emmet and Gareth, “He only got one passage.”
Gareth says, “The Princess is not in the town coach, I checked!” Emmett says, “She is not in the crowd either.” Grekan is shaking as he goes to the coach. The Driver finishes hitching up the fresh horses and moves to load the baggage. Grekan pushes by Kolo’s men to give his larger case to the coachman who tosses it on top. Hearing one of Kolo’s men, Grekan turns as Emmet asks, “Do we grab him?” Hanis scoffs, “No, just the Princess.”
Hanis fumes, “And clearly, she is not here. Get two horses and follow him; in case he leads you to her.” Grekan boards the carriage with his smaller bag. His palms are sweating as Kolo’s man, Hanis, stares at him. Grekan reaches into his pocket, touching Sidonia’s silver key, needing more courage. The coachman calls out, “Back off from the carriage, we are leaving.” The coachman cracks the whip; Grekan’s carriage lurches forward taking off.
The Guard Hanis, rushes to inform Kolo. The poor clerk is near passing out, as he sighs with relief to be leaving. Grekan almost laughs, as he had been holding his breath. The little Clerk hopes that Kolo’s men will get lost on the road instead of finding him.
~*~
Pitsville Village, Morning, 677, 28th, October
Rorik Tricker walks for a mile, with the hag, grumbling the whole way, “It is too early for a sweaty hike.” She scoffs, “Ya were te one wakin’ me up. We might as well be gettin’ me supplies, and not risk te sun goin’ down, before me can get back.” Rorik scoffs, “Risk what?” The Hag sneers, “Fallin’. Me cannot see so well in te dark.” She watches him eye the nearly abandoned village with hope. He groans with dislike, as he does not see anyone to call to for help.
The Witch snorts, “Tat tis all tat tis left of Pitsville. Tey fears te poison is seepin’ inta their well water, makin’ ‘em sick.” Rorik stops and seethes at her, “I have had enough. Let me go right now, or you will regret it! Others will notice that I never arrived and know I am missing. They will learn that I came to you for a Dark Door!” The Witch brings out her twig wand, yanks the stick, and Rorik trips, nearly falling; he groans, “Why should I put up with your crap?”
She makes a lazy sucking sound, “Ya are te one who twas disrespectful.” Rorik shouts, “I am a prince! You are treating me, with disrespect!” The Hag glares, her mist darkens her eyes, as she snorts, “Whatcha gonna do about it, me Precious Prince? Huh dearie?” He fumes, “You cannot make me!” The hexing Hag, yanks him into walking, by making a jerking motion with the twig and smirks, “Well, look at tat. It seems me can, make ya!”
~*~
Hidden Room, Blackstone Castle, Morning, 677, 28th, October
Viktor wakes in his hiding place, a small secret area off the family’s private sitting room by the underground pool. He has a bed there, allowing him to sleep peacefully. However, he senses something is wrong. Going through the hidden passages, he peeks into his bedroom. No one is there so he goes in and notices the new books Sidonia left. Grabbing them, and some fresh clothing.
The Prince wants to thank Sidonia. Quietly he goes back in the hidden panel to come out in her room. Viktor gasps in shock seeing her room is empty, ‘She left without even saying goodbye?’ Prince Viktor is stunned that his sister also took her furniture. Noticing a letter laying on the window seat, he puts it in one of his new books. Seeing her wastebasket, Viktor finds it is clean and empty, other than a few crumpled papers.
He is about to remove the papers, when he hears the outer door unbolt, instead he drops his armload in the basket. The Prince rushes toward the panel with the basket hearing their maid say, “This is her room. Princess Sidonia will not like me opening it for you. She is very private.” Peck the Day Guard responds, “It is an order, open it now. I need to see if she is still here.” Viktor barely latches the panel, as he hears the Maid gasp, “Where is her doorknob?”
Viktor stands silently peeking through the spy hole. The Guard and her Maid express their dismay at Sidonia’s empty bedroom. The Prince feels suspicious of them entering his sister’s room. He begins to understand why Sidonia secretly left, and did not take him with her. Still, it all makes him feel ill, with bad butterflies in his gut and a shiver up his spine. Yet he is determined to be brave.
He places the basket with his things in the pool sitting room. Viktor sneaks out into the underground pool and locks the only other door coming into it. Now that he feels safe, the Prince takes a long swim. It always helps him when upset, as it relaxes him so he can decide what to do. This time he worries about the ‘Evil Two’.
~*~
Peck, a Human Guard, comes out of the Front Gate heading for Kolo’s coach; he huffs, “We went into the Princess’s room, and it is empty! Not even one stick of furniture is in there.” Whitey scoffs, “That is impossible, it is furnished, I saw it last night! You went to the wrong room!” Kolo nods, as the Guard Peck assures them, “No. I said the same to the Maid and she nearly swore at me, as if it were an insult to her.” Whitey still shakes his head, “I do not believe it.”
The Guard now imitates the Maid in her tone, as Peck says, “Do you think I do not know my way around? I have been cleaning these rooms for years and none of them is without furniture. This here is Princess Sidonia’s bedroom!” Peck agrees with the Maid, “I do not understand how the Princess did it, nor got herself and all that past the Front Gate with none of us helping her, nor seeing her leave! Even her doorknob is gone.” Kolo groans, “Wait, what of the boy?”
Struggling to recall, the Evil One, says, “A-ah Viktor, right? Find out what she told her brother.” Peck nods, “I will go see if he is with his nanny or anywhere else.” Peck goes to find Nusia. Rushing back from the Village, Hanis tells his Master, “Grekan only bought one ticket; he is going to Greece and Sidonia did not get on the carriage either, it just left town. Emmett and Gareth are following the village coach on horses. If the Princess shows up, they will grab her.” Kolo fumes, “I felt she had left, but to where and how?”
The Evil One seethes at Whitey, “Get those three riders on the fastest horses going on the road down to the sea. Tell them to check every inn and stable asking for Princess Sidonia! I should have sent more men with Elsbert; if he is not back within a reasonable time, send a few men after him. If any find her keep her unharmed in my cottage. When I send my men, you can have them collect her.” Whitey says, “I will see to it Master.”
Whitey runs off to the stable and the Evil One knocks on the roof of his carriage with the head of his cane, and yells, “Get me home, now.” Kolo fumes at the guards riding with him, “I do not know how the little strumpet outfoxed me like this!” Richard agrees, “How did the Princess get past all of us, with no one seeing her.” Tad says, “And taking all of her furniture too?”
Slowly, the Evil One begins to suspect how. Kolo sneers, “She always acted as if she had not been able to learn any of the magic taught at her school or cauldron. Somehow, I underestimated her and apparently, Sidonia is a ‘Wickedly Clever Little Witch’!”
~SV~