"Take has some experience with disguises," Electra said.
Take dropped his stirring stick into the pot of eggs and then burned his fingers trying to retrieve it. He stood silently, sucking his burned fingers, wondering how to respond.
"You must have overheard me telling Tom about my job selling tickets for a play," he said finally. "I was dressed as a whirling dervish to attract customers. It was a small thing. I have no expertise in disguises."
"When was this?" Dagon asked.
"Ah, recently," Take said.
"You are still selling tickets for the play, are you not?" Electra asked.
"The battle between Fernland and Helsop intervened," Take said. "We could perhaps continue now."
"A play?" Dagon seemed interested. "What sort of play?"
"The Great Sheiks of Araby."
"Show him the tickets you made," Electra said.
Take gave Electra a sour look and pulled the tickets from his pocket. Everyone gathered around to look at them.
"Perhaps we could incorporate them into our plan. What do you think, Deimos?" Dagon asked.
Little beads of perspiration were forming on Deimos’s forehead. "I think I don’t like the idea." he said. "Not if it involves me play acting in the Great Sheiks of Araby. I’d rather fight my way into the castle with a kitchen knife."
Chapter 51
Castle at Fernland
Queen Delphinia remained in seclusion. King Geoffrey worried about his wife, but was grateful he did not have to face her. Losing the war was bad enough, but losing Avor was unbearable. The men Avor had sworn to secrecy when he joined the ranks were now taking their meals in Geoffrey's dungeon. He felt the familiar pain of not knowing if his child was alive or dead. This time the pain was consuming. He wondered if his gaze had fallen on his son as his army marched north. Had he looked at Avor and not recognized him in the sea of young faces before him? Some said they thought he was taken prisoner. Many were afraid to say anything lest they also end up in the dungeon. Geoffrey paced the width of his throne room, scowling at anyone who attempted to speak to him. He stopped abruptly when a page announced the arrival of Muller the Spy and his wife.
King Geoffrey growled ominously, "His wife? Send him in!"
A red-faced Muller entered cautiously, pulling Angelica along at his side.
"A new wife, is it?" Geoffrey said loudly. "And have you just returned from your honeymoon?"
"Your Majesty, I sent word of Serafina's deceit. I admit I was taken in by her trickery, but once aboard ship there was nothing I could do." Muller hung his head miserably.
"So once aboard you decided to have a vacation and entertain the ladies?"
"This is Angelica, the girl Serafina sent in Electra's place to deceive me. I spent many hours interrogating her and, well…" Muller went back to hanging his head while Angelica smiled brightly.
A hasty, but prolonged, fanfare announced the unexpected arrival of Queen Delphinia.
"My dear, I am so glad you are feeling better," the king ventured.
The queen looked at him through puffy eyelids. "My poor Geoffrey," she said, "I know you suffer as I do. I heard there was news out of Helsop."
The king looked down at his feet. "We believe Avor is captured. There is to be a prisoner exchange." He peered up at her hopefully.
The queen sat on her throne and covered her face with her hands as tears slipped through.
"Are those tears of hope?" he asked.
The queen noticed Muller and Angelica and tried to compose herself. "Welcome home Muller," she said. "I fear we have fared poorly without you."
Muller bowed low. "Your Highness," he said. Angelica followed her husband's lead and bowed as well.
"And who is this with you?" Delphinia asked.
"My wife, Angelica, Your Highness."
"Your wife? When did this happen?" she asked.
Muller looked embarrassed and glanced at the King to see what he should say.
"This is the fictitious Electra that Muller wrote of in his message," Geoffrey said, now wanting to end his interview with Muller quickly. "It is of no importance. We must let Muller get back to work."
Delphinia stood up abruptly and motioned the girl to come closer. She looked at her dark hair, her dark eyes, and her slim build. "Perhaps," she began hopefully.
Muller stepped up beside Angelica. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, there is no chance of her being Electra. Believe me, I wished it as much as you."
"I doubt that," Delphinia said. "How did Serafina come to use you in her scheme?" she asked the girl.
"She knew I wanted to escape my father. He has devoted his life to drink. I supposed she wanted to help me start a new life. And in fact, she did just that," Angelica said, smiling at Muller. Angelica watched the tears begin to gather again in the queen's eyes. "Believe me," she said, "if there was any chance I was your daughter I would proclaim it from the rooftops."
"Will our trials ever end?" Delphinia asked through muffled sobs.
Geoffrey had no answer for this. He could not endure Delphinia's tears.
"We will go back," he said. "We will be ready for Blackwell this time. We will raise a bigger army." The king stood up and looked around for the Captain of the Guard.
Queen Delphinia stood as well. "Perhaps we should wait first for the prisoner exchange. It may bear the result we seek. M'Lord, I fear I have underestimated my need for seclusion. May I be excused from your presence?"
As Queen Delphinia left with her lady in waiting, Geoffrey's bluster evaporated. He motioned Muller forward and said quietly, "I have a new mission for you. Take your wife to your quarters and meet me back here."
King Geoffrey was alone when Muller returned.
"You have heard about Prince Avor," he stated.
"I have, Your Highness. How did it happen?" Muller asked.
"My fault, not yours, this time. I should have guessed he would join the ranks, even against my orders," the king said.
"You have a plan, Your Highness?"
"Yes I have a plan!" the king shouted. "I plan to get my son back!"
"Of course, Sire." Muller waited.
"We do not know if he is a prisoner or if he…; we are certain of nothing at this point. I want you to find out."
"I will leave at once, Your Majesty."
"Not yet. We have a small hope that he might be part of the prisoner exchange. They should be here by tomorrow. If they think he’s just a conscript, and a young one at that, they might include him. They will try to get their best soldiers back in exchange for draftees with little training." The king was quiet for a moment. Then he whispered, "And have you heard about Electra?"
"No, Your Highness, nor have I asked. I was afraid to let out any hint of her."
"They have her as well," the king said.
"How?"
"It is a long story." The king knocked his scepter against his throne irritably. "They may not know who she is either."
Muller waited quietly, his mind racing with schemes to infiltrate Helsop and free King Geoffrey’s children.
"Be ready to leave on the morrow," Geoffrey said. "We will see the outcome of this exchange and plan accordingly."
Muller bowed and backed away. "I will await your command, Your Majesty."
Chapter 52
Electra, Dagon and Take watched the drawbridge to Geoffrey’s castle nervously, waiting for Tom and Deimos to return. It had been several hours since the two had crossed over the drawbridge into the castle surround, dressed as raggedy woodcutters, carrying great loads of sticks.
Six of Blackwell’s eight soldiers stood in front of the drawbridge watching every person who entered the castle gate. They paid little attention to men and children, but checked every woman carefully. None of the soldiers had challenged Tom or Deimos as they approached the drawbridge with their bundles of sticks.
King Geoffrey’s guards stood close to the drawbridge, as was their custom, watching people going in and out of the castle, questioning
foreigners and directing merchants to the marketplace. The drawbridge remained down from dawn till dusk. It was drawn up each day after sunset and stayed up for the night.
Blackwell’s soldiers were too far away to be recognizable so Electra couldn’t tell if the two soldiers she had seen at the clinic were among the six outside the castle bridge.
"Why does King Geoffrey allow Blackwell’s soldiers to stand outside his gate, questioning people?" Electra asked.
"I am sure he would not, were it not for his hope that Avor might be among the prisoners they have accompanied," Dagon said.
"Could he not send spies out to see if Avor is among the prisoners?" Electra asked.
"It is likely Blackwell’s men have hidden them some distance from the castle, waiting on my arrival to begin the exchange," Dagon said. "They have no authority without me. Blackwell has no prisoners in Geoffrey’s dungeon."
"Would they really be so brazen as to abduct me right there at the bridge, under the noses of King Geoffrey’s guards?" Electra asked.
"Without a doubt," Dagon said. He paused, and pointed toward the bridge. "Look, is that Deimos under that bundle of rags?"
Five rag pickers walked over the drawbridge. One was a head taller than the others. Although he walked bent over, seemingly straining under his load, there was something familiar in his gait.
"I think it is," Electra said. "That must be Tom behind him."
Take moved in behind them to peer through the foliage.
"That’s Tom, I’m sure, Take said. And those three women are following him. One must be his wife, Angie."
Blackwell’s soldiers paid no attention to people coming out from the castle. The five stayed on the road until they were close to the spot where Electra, Dagon and Take waited. Then they veered off into the woods, the girls giggling and fanning themselves.
Deimos dropped his huge load of rags on the ground and the others added their baskets of rags to the pile.
"No trouble?" Dagon asked.
"None," Deimos answered. "Blackwell’s soldiers hardly looked at us."
Take the Thief shook Tom’s hand enthusiastically and smiled at the girls.
"Me wife Angie, ‘an ‘er pals Trixie an’ Peaches," Tom said, pointing to each girl as he introduced her in turn.
"Pleased as punch ta’ meet ya’," Angie said.
"Are we really goin’ ta’ be harem dancers?" Trixie asked, giggling.
"I must warn you there is some risk involved in this plan," Dagon said to the girls.
"An’ be ye the outlaw, Dagon?" Peaches asked, wide-eyed.
"I am only a soldier of Helsop, I hope, not an outlaw," Dagon said.
"You are too modest," Electra said, smiling at Dagon’s discomfort.
"An’ ye be the long lost princess ‘erself?" Trixie asked.
"For now, just another harem dancer," Electra said.
"This ‘ere is all too excitin’," Angie said, patting her hand over her heart.
Tom put his arm around his wife and smiled hugely.
"We would be in your debt if you could help us to get Electra through to the castle, unrecognized by Blackwell’s soldiers," Dagon said.
"Aye, Tom ‘as tole us and we got some ideas, don’t we girls?" Angie said.
Trixie and Peaches giggled and nodded.
The men stood back and watched as the girls tore through the piles of rags, pulling out tambourines, lumps of coal, gauzy strips of material and other mysterious bits and pieces.
They set to work at once. Angie began plaiting Electra’s hair into dozens of narrow braids while Trixie rubbed her skin with coal dust. The braids were oiled with a henna mixture until Electra’s hair was a rich auburn color. Then they applied ink to her face and arms, painting an exotic pattern of tattoos. When they were satisfied with Electra’s transformation, they began transforming one another.
"Isn’t me Angie the clever one?" Tom asked proudly.
"Incredible," Take said, unable to move his eyes away from the girls as they worked their magic.
When the four had finished with one another, they began whispered evaluations of the men.
Deimos began to perspire and looked anxiously at Dagon.
"What did you have in mind for Deimos?" Dagon asked.
After more whispering and giggling, Trixie said, "We’re thinkin’ he’d best be the Great Shiek of Araby hisself, what with ‘is size an’ all."
"I’d never pull it off," Deimos said. "I might put them all in danger."
"They’re all in danger with or without you." Dagon said. "If the soldiers recognize Electra, you are her best chance. You could grab her and run for the castle if it came to that."
Deimos slumped dismally as the girls tried to bolster his confidence.
"Fer me own self I’d say yer made fer the part," Peaches said.
"Aye, it’s a fact," the others chimed in.
Within an hour the troupe was ready.
Deimos stood in front, outfitted in turban, flowing robes, fierce tattoos and a huge mustache. They had decided against a sword as any weapon would draw attention.
Next came the dancing girls with their tambourines. Electra would go first, directly behind Deimos. Take and Tom followed, both costumed as whirling dervishes.
They practiced their steps, Deimos walking in a heavy, stomping manner while darting threatening looks from side to side. The girls, thinly veiled with their tattoos still visible, banged their tambourines over their heads and swiveled their bodies in time to their music. Last came the two whirling dervishes, spinning high and low in wide skirts with red cumber bunds.
"I do not know," Dagon said, clearly worried. "They’ll be expecting disguises."
"I could offer them free tickets," Take said.
"They will not be bought off," Dagon said, his fingers circling his chin as he thought. "I think your best chance is to go through at the busiest time of day."
"That would be just before dusk," Take said. "Everyone rushes to get inside the castle gates just before the drawbridge goes up for the night."
"Good," Dagon said. "Now, assuming you all get through the gate, you will stay tonight with Tom and Angie. Tomorrow you will take tickets to the castle kitchen and entertain the kitchen staff with song and dance until I send word to Electra that the time is right to reveal her identity to the king and queen."
"Will Blackwell’s men try to detain you?" Electra asked.
"They would be foolish to try. When I appear without you, they will be forced to give up the search. They have no reason to stay longer."
As the sun touched the horizon, the troupe of players emerged from the forest. They joined the crowds of people rushing to reach the castle before dusk.
As they neared the gates, the girls began to dance and the whirling dervishes began to whirl. The crowds stopped to watch. Some in the crowd pointed to Take the Thief.
"I’ve a ticket to this ‘ere play," someone said. "There’s the one sold it ta’ me."
The crowd began to clap in time to the tambourines.
"Oh lookit ‘ere at yon’ fierce sheik," a woman said, laughing.
"Last call!" The guards at the gate shouted. "The bridge is going up."
Blackwell’s soldiers tried to fight their way through the crowd to get a closer look at the dancing girls, but the crowd pushed them aside. The drawbridge chains began to creak and strain as the last of the crowd pushed through.
Dagon strode forward as the drawbridge banged shut for the night. He stopped in front of Blackwell’s soldiers.
"What are you men doing here?" he asked.
The soldiers recognized Dagon and saluted smartly.
"We were ordered to accompany the prisoners," the captain said.
"I gave no such order," Dagon said.
"We were ordered by Prince Blackwell, Sir."
"Prince Blackwell is overly generous with his soldiers. Where are my prisoners? I was to meet them and my guards here at the gate."
The captain looked around nervously
. "You are alone then?"
"Captain, you are no longer in charge. I will ask the questions. Where are my men and my prisoners?"
"My apologies," the captain said. "We will take you there at once."
Chapter 53
At dawn the next morning Dagon, the prisoners to be exchanged, the three militia guards from Helsop, all waited by the castle moat for the drawbridge to be lowered. Dagon had sent Blackwell’s soldiers back to Henge with assurances that he would meet with Prince Blackwell as soon as he returned.
The drawbridge descended slowly and King Geoffrey’s royal guard rode out to escort them to the castle courtyard where the prisoner exchange would take place. Fernland’s soldiers wore full dress uniforms of red and gold for the occasion. Dagon and his guards looked quite disheveled by comparison.
The king and queen were both present for the exchange. They sat on ornate chairs shaded by an overhang of brocaded cloth. Dagon walked into the tree lined courtyard followed by nine prisoners. As the nine prisoners walked into the courtyard, the royal pair searched their faces anxiously.
"I thought there were to be ten," Geoffrey exclaimed.
"Yes, there is another, two more actually," Dagon said, "but I would like to speak to you privately concerning them."
The king and queen exchanged nervous glances. "What manner of game is this?" the king demanded. "I have ten of your men ready for release. I will not stand for trickery."
"It is your choice. I will leave behind one of the ten Helsop prisoners you have ready if that is your wish."
Queen Delphinia touched Geoffrey's arm and whispered something in his ear.
"Queen Delphinia asks that you be our guest for tea," Geoffrey said, reining in his anger with great difficulty.
"I accept your gracious invitation, Queen Delphinia," Dagon said with a bow.
The two sets of prisoners sat facing each other in the courtyard, both under guard, while Dagon followed the king and queen into the castle.
Dagon sat at the table with the royal couple as a serving girl laid out tea and cakes. As she was leaving, Dagon addressed her casually. "I believe you are entertaining several harem dancers in your kitchen. Could you ask the one called Electra to join us?"
The cup and saucer in Queen Delphinia's hand began to shake uncontrollably. King Geoffrey jumped up and promptly sat down , unable to settle on any one statement or action.
"Our Electra?" the queen gasped.