Chapter 31
A Change Of Heart
As soon as the sleighs pulled up in front of the palace a group of armed troll guards surrounded them. They were confused when they saw their leader tied up in one of the sleighs and a senior troll stepped forward to question Maximilian.
“Sire,” he began nervously, “why do you have our Leader of the Guards tied up like a criminal?”
“Don't waste your pity on a traitor,” replied Maximilian. “He has been involved in a plot to destroy your queen along with the other villains you see here. They are to be taken immediately to the dungeon to await interrogation.”
The guards' confusion increased when Fizzcrank made a last effort to protest his innocence in front of his colleagues.
“It wasn't me!” he whined then pointed at the trussed-up Shamans. “It was them. They forced me to help them. I'm innocent. It isn't my fault. Get me out of these ropes.”
Surprisingly, it was Ekon who spoke up and dashed any chance of Fizzcrank's release.
“He lies,” said the Shaman. “He was our spy in the palace and he agreed with everything we did. He hates your queen as much as we do.”
The troll guards rushed forward and pulled, first Fizzcrank then the four Sharmans, off the sleighs and pushed them up the steps to the palace. From there they were taken down to the dungeon where they were locked together in a large cell.
In the meantime Maximilian told Matilda about his visit to the Ancient Library and how he had left The Keeper to try to find the locking spell.
“Do you think he can do it?” asked Matilda.
“I really don't know,” said Maximilian, “but I hope so. He does have an advantage in knowing the library backwards and he needs to get back into my good books after he let Ekon into the library. Cross your fingers.” He laughed. “Now let's find Atalai.”
They found her in conference with her Grand Vizier and, again, dismissed him as soon as she saw them walk through the door.
“Well, I see that you have found Matilda,” she began as she rose from her couch, “but where did you find her?”
“A long story,”explained Maximilian, “but briefly, you have been surrounded by people who wished you harm and now they have been exposed. They await you for questioning in the dungeons.”
Atalai paled. “And who might these people be?”
“A group called the League of Shamans that includes Rashi,”Maximilian replied and Atalai gasped in shock. “And their spy in the castle was none other than your Leader of the Guards, Fizzcrank.”
“Surely this can't be true,” responded Atalai.
“I'm afraid so,” said Maximilian staring fixedly at the Ice Queen. “They await you below.”
“Then let us proceed,” stated Atalai coldly and, after collecting two guards as escorts, she, Matilda and Maximilian descended to the dungeons.
The prisoners were an unhappy group, shackled and sitting apart from each other, heads down as they contemplated their fate. They all looked up as the jailer rattled his key in the lock. Fear turned their stomachs as they saw a steely-faced Ice Queen look down upon them; all except for Ekon who stared back defiantly and then spat at her feet.
“How dare you!” screamed Atalai. “Who is this man?”
“His name is Ekon,” Maximilian informed her, “and he is the leader of the League of Shamans.”
“You shall pay dearly for this,” Atalai addressed Ekon. “You have terrorised our people unfairly and that debt must be seen by them to have been repaid. Your punishment will be public and extreme.”
Hearing these cruel words, Maximilian felt, once again, embarrassed for Atalai. Would she never learn that using extreme methods only diminished her own reputation? However, Ekon was not cowered by her words.
“Terrorise?” he shouted back at her, his face twisted in anger. “You are the expert in terror. You allowed your army to strike fear into the hearts of innocent people; people who had nothing to do with starting the War of Tears but who were made to pay dearly for your grief at the loss of your father. Well, they lost everything, their families, homes and lives . . . because of you.” He spat the last word out.
Atalai was shocked by the attack; not only the words but the way they were spoken. She looked to Maximilian for sympathy but none was given. Swishing her skirts, she walked out of the cell and climbed the steps back to the main palace. Maximilian and Matilda followed behind. They followed her to her sitting room. As she sat down, the Ice Queen was quietly sobbing. Ekon's words had struck home.
“How can I be so hated?” she asked through her tears. “What have I done to offend people so deeply? Is what that Shaman said the truth? Have I brought terror to the lives of innocent people?
I certainly didn't intend doing that.”
“Of course you didn't,” said Maximilian to soothe her distress. “However, in your grief for your father's death you let things get out of hand. What began as a just war against Dakar in defence of your own people grew into a war of terror for every Drakespearian. I would like your permission to speak to the prisoners. Perhaps that will give us some answers as to what has been happening.”
“Yes,” agreed Atalai. “I need to understand my mistakes. I feel so foolish.” She looked up at Maximilian. “And you did try to warn me.”
“We learn from our mistakes,” stated Maximilian as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head before heading down to the cells below.
Chapter 32
Better Late Than Ever
As they were about to descend the stone steps to the dungeon, Maximilian had a strange sensation. His head began to buzz and then he heard a voice. It was Husan, the mischievous elf.
“Hello, Master,” said the cheeky imp. “I believe I have some good news for you from that old
grump, The Keeper.”
Maximilian grimaced. “Just get on with it Husan,” he thought.
“Okey-dokey,” responded Husan. “Hope you have something handy to write this down.”
“I think I can remember anything you have to tell me,” stated Maximilian crossly.
“Right,” said the elf, “Here goes. The Keeper says that the locking spell was hidden in an ancient book in the “History of Magic” section. It can be infused into a wand to cast the spell . . .”
“I know that,” interrupted Maximilian impatiently. “Just tell me how to remove the spell.”
“It's an incantation,” Husan informed him. “The Keeper found it in that book. Ready for it?”
“Go ahead,” replied Maximilian.
“You just have to wave the infused wand at the subject that has been frozen and say, 'Tribium
falsa bequore'. That's it. Simple.”
“Yes, quite,” agreed Maximilian. “Fortunately I already have a wand infused with the locking spell from the thief who stole it. Now kindly pass on my thanks to The Keeper and tell him that he is back in favour. I'm sure that will make him very happy.”
“What about me?” asked the elf in a hurtful tone.
“You'll have to do a lot more to make up for all the trouble you've caused in the past,” declared Maximilian, and then softened, “but thank you for using your talent to contact me. Now go and pass on my message to The Keeper.”
“Oh,” said Husan sadly.“Very well. Consider it done.”
Matilda had watched the concentration on Maximilian's face as he paused on the top step. When she saw his face relax she tugged on his robe.
“Is everything alright?” she asked.
“Excellent,” replied Maximilian. “That was Husan sending a message about the locking spell. The Keeper found it in a book in the Ancient Library, thank goodness. Now we have the power to release all of those innocent people from the freezing spell.”
“But that's wonderful!” exclaimed Matilda. “Husan can be useful. And well done to The Keeper.”
“Yes,” agreed Maximilian but then added, ungraciously, “but it would have been more convenient if he'd found the spell before I had to
face the Shamans at their cave.”
“Better late than never,” said Matilda with a smile.
“Harumph,” snorted Maximilian. “That's true, my little one. Now let's go down and find out what these rogues below can tell us.”
Matilda followed him down to the dungeon.
Chapter 33
An Explanation
The jailer opened the cell door and Matilda and Maximilian entered. They were met by glares from the Shamans and Fizzcrank. Maximilian simply stared back at them.
“It's all over,” he said.
“What do you mean, over,” asked Ekon.
“Just that,” stated Maximilian. “Atalai has realised the error of her ways or, rather, is on the way to recognising that she was wrong in allowing the events that set you on your path to occur. So you have achieved your aim . . . even if I believe that you were just as misguided in using the methods you did. Once again innocent people were made to suffer.” He fixed his gaze on Ekon.
“We had no alternative,” the Shaman responded.
“I don't agree,” declared Maximilian. “However, the conflict is over now and we need to make peace.”
“Will she punish us?” asked Fizzcrank in a snivelling voice.
“I don't know,” confessed Maximilian, “but I think that, if you are willing to explain why you did what you did and throw yourself on her mercy, there is every chance that you will be given your freedom . . . with some strong conditions.”
Ekon looked around at his accomplices for their agreement. “What do you need to know?”
“I already know how you acquired the locking spell,” stated Maximilian, frowning at Ekon, “but why did you choose the village of Ravjik?”
“I can explain that,” said Rashi. “When I read Dakar's diary it mentioned that Frostwolf was responsible for the cruelty to his father in his village. Ravjik is Frostwolf's own village so we believed that they should suffer as Dakar's people had suffered.”
“And Bladefoot?” asked Maximilian.
“He had escaped the punishment because he was away at the time,” explained Rashi. “We caught up with him in the forest.”
“And the village of Tetra?” continued Maximilian.
“When we heard that their leader had cooperated with you,” said Ekon, “we felt that everybody needed to be warned that, if they helped our enemy, they would be punished.”
“Who arranged the attack on Atalai in the castle?” Maximilian wanted answers to everything that had occurred.
“That was me,” said Rashi. “I told Ekon where the queen would be and arranged for the guards to be absent. It was only you turning up that saved her.”
“And that's what really confuses me more than anything else. Why did you suggest to Atalai that she should invite me to help,” said Maximilian.
“Yes, that was a big mistake,” admitted Rashi. “I knew you had fallen out with Atalai over the War of Tears, and that you shared our view she had overreacted to her father's death so I thought you should be able to observe her downfall. Obviously I was wrong.”
“Very wrong,” said Ekon looking angrily at Rashi.
“Hm-m-m,” muttered Maximilian. “Luckily I now have the power to reverse your misdeeds and the fact that you have been so honest with your answers is in your favour. We shall see what occurs after I have spoken again with Atalai.”
He signalled to the jailer who opened the cell door and let them out, leaving the prisoners to consider their possible good fortune.
Chapter 34
A Change Of Heart
Atalai did not immediately react when Maximilian told her of his conversation with the prisoners. She was still clearly upset with the realisation that she had been so hated and her eyes were red from crying. Finally she broke the silence.
“I see that I have been so wrong,” she admitted. “I didn't listen when you tried to warn me and my stubborn streak wouldn't let me admit that you may be right. I was just so tormented by the death of the father I loved so dearly that I only wanted revenge. But I didn't realise that some of my soldiers would take advantage of my anger to treat innocent people so cruelly. It is unforgivable.”
“Can you now understand why the Shamans felt that you should suffer too . . . even though they were also wrong in what they did?” asked Maximilian.
There was a slight delay before Atalai answered.
“Yes, I can understand,” she stated, “but I find it hard to forgive. I am still hurting.”
“You have every reason to feel hurt,” agreed Maximilian, “as have all of the people who have suffered because of the War of Tears and its consequences right up to today. I think it is time to show mercy and heal the wounds. You would be respected greatly if you granted pardons to the Shamans . . . with strict conditions of course.”
“I will consider your wise counsel,” said the Ice Queen, “but I need time to think. I will let you know my decision this afternoon.”
It didn't take very long. Atalai sent a guard to fetch Maximilian and Matilda and asked them to accompany her to the dungeon. When the jailer opened the prisoners' cell the Shaman's looked up in surprise to see the Ice Queen herself standing there. They were stunned into silence as Atalai addressed them.
“What you have done to innocent people in the name of revenge is shameful. You have caused suffering where no suffering was deserved. The target of your anger should have been me alone for I was the one who began the War of Tears. However, I can hardly stand here and preach to you as I, too, have been guilty of the same charges. In my grief and ignorance I allowed events to occur that caused great suffering and bred hatred. For that I am sorry. As for you,” and here she paused, “although your reasons for seeking revenge may have based on sound information, your actions were unreasonable, and they deserve punishment.”
“But you said you are guilty too,” interrupted Fizzcrank. “Where is your punishment?”
“My punishment is in my heart,” Atalai replied. “I cannot forgive myself for my behaviour and will carry the guilt for many years. However, through my good friend here,” and she pointed to Maximilian, “I have been taught a valuable lesson that will help me become a better ruler and a friendlier neighbour. Now, I have decided that your punishment will be individual. Rashi, you will remain as Shaman in the Ice Palace.”
Rashi was shocked. “How can that be?” he asked. “How can you trust me after what I've done?”
“Exactly,” replied Atalai. “I trust that, after you see how things change in Frizland, you will give me your complete loyalty. I will be watching closely.”
“Thank you my Queen,” said a humbled Rashi.
Atalaiu now addressed the others. “Fizzcrank, you will remain as a troll guard but not as their leader. That is your punishment and you, too, will be watched closely. As for the rest of you, you are free to return to you own lands as long as you give me your pledge that you will no longer take part in any vengeful activity.”
Ekon spoke up for the Shamans. “Your show of mercy is amazing and deserves our solemn pledge that we will . . . behave ourselves in the future.” He smiled as Malak and Alwan nodded their heads in agreement.
“Well said,” Atalai stated as she, too, smiled. “Now you are free to go.”
As soon as the jailer had opened the door the prisoners walked out. Ekon stopped in front of Atalai, bowed and said, “Thank you. You have behaved as a great queen and you deserve this.”
He handed her Dakar's diary.
When everyone had gone, Maximilian smiled warmly at Atalai and said, “You are wonderful,”
As he embraced her.
“Thank you, my dear friend,” she replied. “I shall never doubt your advice again.”
“Now,” stated Maximilian lifting Ekon's wand out of his robe, “let's go and free the frozen villagers . . . and Bladefoot.”
Chapter 35
The Unfreezing
Maximilian stood in front of the statue that was Bladefoot, pointed Ekon’s wand and utte
red the words, “Tribium falsa bequore”.
The result was amazing. The frozen figure began to melt, rivulets of water dropping to the floor,
and gradually Bladefoot's limbs loosened until, finally, he fell down and opened his eyes. He shook his head and slowly climbed to his feet.
“What happened?” he asked.
“It's a long story,” answered Maximilian, “but we have other work to do so we'll save the tale until that's finished. Come with us, we are going to visit your village.”
“Why?” enqired Bladefoot.
“To right a wrong,” said Atalai.
As they walked out to a waiting sleigh, she took Maximilian's hand and said, “You are wonderful, too.”
The group finally reached the village of Rajvik. Maximilian went from house to house delivering the magic words. Figures melted and came back to life. Soon the whole village was gathered in the central square. Bladefoot stood in front of the crowd with Maximilian, Atalai and Matilda.
“This is a great day for Rajvik,” he declared. “Thanks to our saviours, Maximilian, Matilda and our queen, we can now carry on our lives as normal and put this terrible chapter behind us. Three cheers for Maximilian.” The villagers cheered. “And three cheers for our queen.” Once again the people cheered.
“I don't deserve your thanks,”Atalai stated in a trembling voice, with tears in her eyes. “I was the cause of your trouble without knowing it. The real hero is Maximilian and, of course, his helper, Matilda.” She waved her hand in their direction. “Their deeds will be recorded in a special place in the history of Frizland so that they will always be remembered.” The crowd surrounded the proud pair and applauded again.
Bladefoot remained behind with his family as the others set off to rescue the villagers of Tetra. It was turning out to be a long and tiring day as their sleigh pulled into the village square. Maximilian performed his magic again, going from house to house until everything was returned to normal as Matilda and Atalai looked on.
Once again there were celebrations when the villagers realised what had happened. Vandar was especially thankful to Maximilian and gave a speech in his honour. People placed flagons of wine, bread and cheese on wooden tables that had been hastily put around the square and the party began. Musicians played folk music on fiddles and flutes. As the sun set and darkness crept over the village, fires were lit in pits for light and warmth.