A sudden pop startled the observers. The gateway, with its muddled colors and strands of light, rose into the air with a swoosh. It seemed to be pulled together into one shining spot. When completely concentrated, it gleamed with a silver light. Then a snap cut off the glow, and the silver box fell from the air to hit the stone floor with a clatter.
Fenworth strolled forward and picked up the box. He held it in his hand, turned it over several times, then smiled at the men watching him. “A suitable prison for an incorrigible villain.”
He held it out to examine it again. “I really should label it ‘Do Not Open.’ Yes.” He patted his pockets. “Bealomondore, do you have some paints? We could paint a warning on the outside.”
“Not on me, sir.”
“Oh, never mind.” Fenworth tucked the slim silver box into a pocket. “I’ll do it later.” He gestured to the soldiers. “Come closer. I’m sure you would like to admire the amazing art of Verrin Schope. Come and I’ll tell you a tale of adventure and glory. Actually, Librettowit will because he is so much better at not forgetting things and not adding things. I’ll fix refreshments. Pleased to do it. Always willing to serve. Come, sit down, relax. You’ve had a hard night.”
56
Past, Present, Future
Tipper stood in the driveway and waved to the last three wounded soldiers as they left Byrdschopen. For nine months the mansion had been a hospital. Slowly, as the men got well, fewer rooms were used for wards. They hadn’t had a new patient in seven weeks, a sign that the war was truly over. The resistance had smashed the occupation forces and sent them home.
With a last wave, she turned toward the house. Her parents stood on the bottom step, her father’s arm wrapped around her mother’s shoulders. Lady Peg beamed, her happiness glowing through her gentle and confused soul. Verrin Schope kissed the top of her head, squeezed her closer, then whirled her to face the other direction. They mounted the three steps and entered by the massive front door. Several of the servants who’d come out to bid farewell followed them in.
For a moment, Tipper stood with her arms wrapped around her middle, feeling alone. A flutter of bright colors caught her eye, and she bolted toward the side of the mansion, following Sir Beccaroon.
“Wait,” she called as she rounded the corner. “Wait for me.”
The big parrot stopped and turned, waiting for her to catch up. “What is it, Tipper?”
“Can’t you stay for a bit?”
“Not this afternoon. I still haven’t found someone to help the Marrost family bring their harvest in.” He glanced up at the gray sky. “I hope the rain holds off a few more days.”
She nodded. The shortage of men made all aspects of life difficult. Too many husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers had been lost in the war.
Beccaroon spread his wings, and she quickly said, “Well, good luck then.”
From the veranda across the back of the mansion, she surveyed her home. Her father had been fixing it up. He came back to find Byrdschopen in a sorry state, thanks to his daughter’s ineptitude at running a household and farm. Now they wanted her to run a country. She was the next queen.
Tipper picked up her skirts and ran to one of the back doors. She zipped through the first floor and rushed up the stairs to the second floor and then the third and up to the top of the house to burst out on the flat roof.
She walked more calmly to the balustrade that edged the tiled outdoor dance floor. The balls held under starry nights had taken place long before her father inherited this home. She’d never danced with her true love while a small orchestra provided the music and liveried servants served delicate sandwiches and daggarts.
Maybe Byrdschopen didn’t feel like a home to those who had dwelled here under such ostentatious wealth. But the now shabby house with two loyal servants and her besotted mother at the helm had always been a place of peace for her. She’d grown up under trying circumstances but nonetheless happy.
Now her father occupied all her mother’s time. Tipper had been unwittingly crowded out. She was supposed to go to Ragar, reside in the Amber Palace, and take up the scepter of queen. Her future was set before her. The past, the scrimping and saving and conniving past, held more allure.
In the past, she’d had no money, but she’d had purpose. Now she had money but no purpose. Once queen, she would have money and purpose. Where was the elusive contentment?
Footsteps pounded against the stairs, echoing through the cupola that covered the door to the main house.
“Tipper!” Paladin’s voice brought a smile to her face, pulling her out of the introspective doldrums that had plagued her all morning.
“I’m here.”
“Finally!” He appeared in the door, and just as he stepped out of the shadow, the sun peeked from behind a cloud. He wore white and seemed to reflect sunbeams of soft light.
“I’m looking over my life from the vantage point of the very tiptop of the place I’ve always lived.”
He came to stand beside her and put an arm around her waist, tugging her a bit closer. “I’ve been talking to your father.”
“I thought he was with Mother.”
“He was. She contributed quite a bit to our discussion.”
Tipper giggled and leaned her head against his upper arm. The top of her head just barely reached his shoulder.
“She assured me that after I asked my question, you would be properly befuddled and it was high time as well.”
Tipper leaned back and looked up at his mischievous grin.
“What question?” Her eyes grew wide as she deciphered her mother’s remark. “Betrothed? Properly betrothed and high time.”
“Don’t leap ahead of me.” He let her go and dug in his pockets, found the item he sought, and pulled it out.
Diamonds and sapphires sparkled in the sun.
He leaned forward and kissed her lips with a quick peck. “Stay right there. Continue to look ravishingly lovely. Don’t interrupt once I get started.”
He dropped to one knee before her. “Princess Tipper, I have grown to love you. I admire your spirit, your generosity, your tender heart, your practical approach to problems.”
“That last one wasn’t very romantic.”
“You aren’t supposed to interrupt.”
“Right.”
“I love your easy smile, your beautiful laugh, your singing, your cooking, your—”
“Hurry up. Get to the good part.”
“Your impatience and your bossiness.”
She arched her eyebrows but did not interrupt.
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She held back the explosive yes and watched him as he waited. He was confident and amused. She still waited.
“My knee is getting sore.”
“Stand up.”
He stood and brushed his pant leg with his hand.
“Well?”
She grasped his forearms and looked deep into his sky blue eyes. Her heart grew exceedingly calm as she saw peace, maturity, wisdom, and love in the very depth of the man who stood before her. She’d found contentment.
A bubble of joy rose to the surface and burst as she stopped holding back her response.
“Yes!”
Epilogue
Hollee worried. She couldn’t help it. Her wizard said he was making fresh brain soup to celebrate. He’d gone for a walk and come back to the one-towered castle with a huge, lumpy bag. Then he’d taken over the kitchen, shooing everyone out except one kimen who would not go. The chief cook would not desert his domain, leaving his precious pots and ovens to an old man who shed bugs whenever he moved.
Verrin Schope sat with Lady Peg and Queen Venmarie in the main room by a roaring fire. Paladin and Princess Tipper stared at each other a lot. Since he’d asked her to marry him, the two had become boring. The wedding would be exciting, and immediately after that, the coronation would be fun. But for now, they were a dreary couple and they had hardly noticed her when she said Fenw
orth was cooking something strange.
No one would be interested in her concern. Still she searched for Librettowit. Perhaps he would know more about brain soup.
She found him in the chapel library. Bealomondore sat with him, looking at huge books of art from different countries.
As soon as the librarian looked at her, Hollee blurted out her reason for coming. “Wizard Fenworth is making brain soup.”
Librettowit took the news in stride. “In celebration, I suppose.”
“Yes. For ousting the Baardackians.”
“Humph! It’s more likely in celebration of finding the right plant.”
“A brain plant?” Hollee hoped she was wrong. “We don’t grow a brain plant in Chiril.”
“We don’t grow one in Amara either. But Fenworth finds this short vegetable that produces a clump of white florets so close together as to be almost solid. You pick off the head and boil it, though some people eat it raw. Fenworth says it looks like a pure brain, one that belongs to someone who doesn’t bother to think that much.”
Bealomondore laughed. “I think brain soup is a significant contribution to a celebration feast. Our countrymen will now have time to cultivate things of the mind instead of physically wrestling with an invading army.” He winked at Hollee. “We can return to a life of ease, nothing more exciting than a new shade of green coming into fashion in time for the winter balls.”
“This country has periods of leisure?” asked Librettowit. “I never would have suspected. But I’m in favor of returning to Amara. Fenworth and I have been gone a long time.”
Hollee made a face.
“What’s wrong?” asked Bealomondore.
“I like it with all of us here in one spot. But you and Paladin are going to negotiate a treaty with Odidoddex. Lady Peg, the queen, and Princess Tipper are going to Ragar to prepare for the wedding and the coronation. My wizard is going back to Amara. There just won’t be any fun anymore.”
Both tumanhofers raised their eyebrows and exchanged a look of incredulity.
“This has been fun?” asked Librettowit.
“Yes, all the bits between battles.”
“Perhaps you can ask Fenworth if you may return with us through the gateway to Amara.”
Hollee nearly passed her own record for consecutive flips.
When she stopped, Librettowit glared at her. “He’ll teach you to cook brain soup, you know.”
“Brain soup will be wonderful.”
“Go off and ask him then.”
Hollee did cartwheels out the door, singing a song she made up as she turned head down, then feet down, then head down, then feet down. It contained the words “grand adventure,” some “too-lee, too-las,” and a chorus of “Fenworth and me.”
Appendix
Things
admitriol
Ointment made from an herb with healing properties.
amaloot
A warm soothing beverage, usually sweet.
Amber Palace
In Ragar, home of the reigning royalty.
Arbaneous Topicalee
Bane Bark pulverized, mixed with a bit of pica, and dried.
astain
A scrubby, tough bush with deep roots.
awdenberry
A sleep-inducing tea is made from the leaves, berries make refreshing juice.
Baardack
Country north of Chiril.
bellringer bird
A forest bird who is named more for his call than his looks.
bentleaf tree
A deciduous tree having long, slender, drooping branches and narrow leaves.
bogswart bark
A plant with pungent bark, found along streams.
bossvetch
A creeping vine with small round green leaves and delicate pink and white cluster blooms.
bramblewood trees
Small trees with gnarly branches and very rough bark.
Cheap Cheep
A diner in Ragar that serves only chicken and eggs and is open only for breakfast and noonmeal.
chukkajoop
A soup made with beets, onions, and carrots.
croomulite
A mineral that many believe revitalizes the blood.
daggart
A baked treat in the form of a small crunchy cake.
dopper
A cherrylike fruit.
drummerbug
A small brown beetle that makes a loud snapping sound with its wings when not in flight.
fíbbird
A tiny, brightly colored bird with a long slender bill for sipping nectar and narrow, rapidly beating wings for hovering over flowers.
First Speatus
Rank in Baardackian army, similar to first lieutenant.
hollow
A nondimensional space captured by a wizard to use for storage.
Icardia
A land bridge from one continent to another, made of very tall mountains.
Insect Emporium
Shop selling insects and insect compounds for medicinal purposes.
jimmin
Young tender meat—chicken, veal, lamb.
krupant
A porridge heavily laced with fruit.
losibird
A large black bird that sends up a noisy clamor when disturbed.
Misken Minstrels
Traveling troupe of acrobats, jugglers, and dramatists.
monger
A long black aggressive snake, very poisonous.
moonflower
Large white blossoms found on a three- to four-foot moonbeam plant having large shiny leaves.
mullytawny tree
A tree that sprouts round bronze-toned green leaves that resemble burnished coins.
mumfer
A plant known for its showy flower heads of profuse petals and brilliant colors.
oubotis ivy
A very strong vine that clings stubbornly to brick walls.
parnot
A green fruit like a pear.
Perchant Crags
A landmark on the northern side of the Hanson Valley.
platter tree
A deciduous tree with large platterlike leaves.
pultah
A lance used by schoergats for hunting and battle.
Rat Tail
A card game involving collecting cards in sequence to make the longest “rat tail.”
Round Baker Inn
The tavern/inn where Verrin Schope bases his spying operation.
schoergats
Flying beasts that favor dragon meat above any other; said to be a mutation of schoergs, one of the low races.
sparkle bug
A night-flying insect that generates a sparkling light.
spinet tree
Bears long leaves so green, from a distance they look black. The bark is white with scar marks of dark brown.
tangonut crème pie
Tangonuts taste a lot like butterscotch, so a créme pie would have the puddinglike base in a pie shell with a whipped cream covering.
tincture of trussell
A medicine for headaches.
torleo
A medicine made into a plaster and applied to sore muscles.
wild cascade
A flowering bush on which smaller branches of tiny leaves cascade off of larger, sturdier branches. Bears clusters of purple flowers that also appear to be cascading.
yumber
Dried fruit, nuts, and grain ground into a paste and shaped into a bar.
Seven High Races
doneels
These people are furry with bulging eyes, thin black lips, and ears at the top and front of their skulls. A flap of skin covers the ears and twitches. Small in stature, they are rarely over three feet tall.
emerlindians
Emerlindians are born pale with white hair and pale gray eyes. As they age, they darken. They are tall and slender.
kimens
Smallest of the seven high races. Elusi
ve, tiny, and fast, under two feet tall, musical, and merry.
mariones
Excellent farmers and warriors. They are short and broad, usually muscle-bound rather than corpulent.
o’rants
Five to six feet tall with no distinguishing characteristics except that they are most likely to become wizards because they are most likely to hold Wulder in esteem.
tumanhofers
Short, squat, powerful fighters, though for the most part, they prefer to use their intellect.
urohms
Largest of the seven high races. Gentle giants, well proportioned, and very intelligent.
Seven Low Races
bisonbecks
Most intelligent of the low races. They are often enlisted as fighters.
blimmets
Burrowing creatures that swarm out of the ground for periodic feeding frenzies.
grawligs
Mountain ogres with clunky features and low intelligence; strong and clumsy.
mordakleeps
A shadowy creature with a long tail. Appear as black globs and must stay close to a water source.
quiss
These creatures are extremely slippery, live in water, and have enormous appetites. Every three years they develop the capacity to breathe air for six weeks and forage along the seacoast, creating havoc.
ropmas
These half-men, half-animals are useful in herding and caring for beasts. Low intelligence, basically docile, easily manipulated by other races.
schoergs
Black fur, skinny arms and legs, bulbous body; they tend to dwell in caves.
Characters
Graddapotmorphit Bealomondore
Tumanhofer artist.
Sir Beccaroon
Grand parrot, magistrate over the Indigo Forest; former guardian to Tipper.
Trader Bount
A sea trader who is tried and executed in Baardack.
Brox
Bisonbeck warrior under Kulson.
General Commert
One of the commanding officers of the Chiril army.
Advisor Cornagin
An o’rant on King Yellat’s council.
Door
Ropma who helps rescue Tipper.
Wizard Fenworth
Ancient o’rant wizard from Amara.