Serafina looked closely at the horses. "Ah, they have indeed been scorched. Fortunately we have just this morning gathered the Aloe plants needed to treat them. Electra is very good with horses. We should leave for the cabin without delay."
Avor tried to think of another excuse but Serafina was already untying the horses and leading them away. Avor rushed to catch up with her and take back the reins. Serafina released them and walked on quickly. Avor stood holding the horses, wondering if he should just mount up and head for Seachase.
I’ve come all this way to find Electra, I must see this through, he thought. He caught up to Serafina near the edge of the swamp.
Large trees marked the entrance to the swamp. The path was narrow and close to the dank black water pooled on either side. Avor stepped carefully on the slippery moss. The horses’ hooves made deep holes that quickly filled with water.
"Stay close," Serafina said as she quickened her pace.
Avor watched his aunt’s movements carefully. She kicked aside a nest of scorpions and gazed angrily at the tree snakes hanging in loops beside her. They recoiled, hissing. She watched intently as an old log drifted by. Fingering through the vials in her bag her hand settled on one filled with a red liquid. As she walked she made little clicking noises with her teeth and dripped red drops into the water. Logs continued to gather around them.
Avor tried to calm the horses. His own horse, Sassafras, reared up, throwing her head from side to side. The General’s horse, Tyre, backed away from her.
Serafina stopped and said, "Why not give your horses a rest. That one seems in great distress. I will go on ahead to start our dinner and tell Electra you have come. Stay on this path and you will soon reach our cabin." Serafina continued into the swamp without waiting for a reply.
"Easy Girl, it is just a swamp. Do not be afraid," Avor said, trying to stop the trembling in his voice.
Sassafras edged backwards, looking at the gathering logs. The logs looked back.
"Crocodiles!" Avor shouted. He took a rope from the saddle and used it to lash out at their long green snouts. The crocodiles continued to move closer, opening their great jaws as they cornered their prey. "Be brave, Sassafras, Tyre," Avor shouted. The horses kicked at the giant jaws, wheeled and kicked again.
Chapter 11
Village of Chase Bound
As Electra neared the village of Chase Bound she saw movement at the edge of her vision and looked toward the swamp in time to see a lad with two horses heading into the trees. A glimpse of a dark cloak told her Serafina was leading the way. Electra called out but they were too far away to hear her. The tracks she had followed out of the forest were the tracks of two horses and a man. Could they have been made by the youth who was now following her mother into the swamp?
Electra had been shocked by the scene she had just viewed in the forest. The trees in a small area had been burnt through like charred logs in a fireplace. She had been even more shocked to see the fresh tracks leading out of the devastated area. How had anything survived the intensity of that fire? She had an uneasy feeling that the survivors were still alive due to her own interference. She had pulled the effigies out of the fireplace. The effigies her mother had made. Had she placed her mother and herself in danger? Had Serafina meant to kill this young man? Why was her mother keeping secrets from her? She bristled with unanswered questions as she took off running toward the swamp. She stopped running momentarily when she heard shouting and the shrill whinnies of frightened horses up ahead. Then she ran even faster, fearing for her mother’s safety. She stopped abruptly as she rounded a curve in the path. It was not her mother in danger but the young man, who now appeared to be closer to a child than a man.
"You there, stop teasing those crocodiles," she shouted.
"Keep back, my lady, these deadly beasts mean to kill us all. You must save yourself."
Electra knelt down and slapped the water several times with the palm of her hand. The crocodiles snapped their jaws angrily. She put her fingers to her mouth and whistled three shrill notes as she slapped the water again. The crocodiles snapped one last time and slithered back into the shadows of the swamp.
Prince Avor was astonished. "I am much in your debt," he said.
"Good, then you can answer my questions," Electra said. "I know you have been searching for me and I want to know why."
"You are Electra? My sister?" the Prince asked, more and more amazed.
As Electra and Avor were meeting for the first time, Serafina rushed into her cottage and picked up the crystal ball, expecting to see a successful end to the crocodiles' attack. Instead she saw Prince Avor, still very much alive, standing beside his sister.
"No," she screamed at the top of her voice.
Bella clucked in fear. Serafina grabbed the chicken's cage and flung it into the fireplace. Bella flew out as the broken cage caught fire. Serafina threw her book of hexes into the fireplace. The book exploded in a white ball of fire. She began throwing everything within reach into the fireplace. Soon the cabin was littered with flying papers and rubble. Serafina cursed the crystal ball and threw it against the wall. It cracked on one side and fell into the rattlesnake cage, setting the snake free. Serafina lunged to grab the snake and fell, hitting her head against the hearth.
Chapter 12
Swamp near Chase Bound
When Avor had finished telling Electra the story of her birth and abduction, Electra continued to stare at Avor. Both she and Avor were slender, dark-haired and light-skinned. They did look like brother and sister. But the story was too incredible. She was sure there was a more plausible and more sinister reason for his pursuit. As far as she knew, Serafina had never kept things from her. That is, until lately.
"It is not possible," Electra said, "I would know if she were not my mother."
“How?” Avor asked.
"One just knows," Electra answered stubbornly, "And you can see I favor her in appearance."
"She is our aunt, she and our mother look alike." Avor insisted.
"It is fruitless to discuss it further without Mother present." Electra turned up the path, then stopped and said, "Aren’t you coming?"
Avor glanced back the way he had come wondering how many times he could survive his aunt’s attempts to kill him. He looked warily at Electra and then at the dark smoke rising above the trees behind her. Electra turned to follow his gaze and cried out.
"Our cabin’s on fire."
They ran through the swamp to the smoke-filled clearing.
The cabin was consumed in flames. Most of the siding was gone, leaving burning rafters and the blackened shell of a chimney. Electra ran about kicking aside burning embers calling for her mother. The crystal ball, smudged and cracked, rested under a pile of burnt wood. As Electra looked into it she read the disaster that had taken place. Deep within the ball she saw a red glow that had not been there before.
They found a pile of bones and rags left from Serafina's cloak. Electra sat down amid the rubble and wept. Prince Avor patted her shoulder but she shrugged him off. She held her crystal ball tightly, rocking herself as she sobbed.
"This is your fault," she said. "It must be. Mother did not want you to find me."
"I am sure you are right about that. I think she tried to kill me to stop me from finding you," Avor said softly.
Electra stopped crying and stared at Avor. That much was true; her mother had tried to kill him. Why? He looked so young and defenseless.
"She must have had good reason," Electra said, "What do you know of your own parents’ motives? Perhaps you are only a pawn in some nefarious plot. Perhaps killing Mother was their goal from the start."
Avor walked back to unsaddle and feed the horses, not knowing how to convince her of his parents’ innocence.
Electra sat weeping, hugging her crystal ball to her chest as the day darkened into evening. Finally she stood, wiped her eyes, and approached Avor.
>
"I believe whoever sent you on this mission is to blame for my mother’s death. I will go back with you to confront your parents and learn the truth."
Avor looked uneasy with her words, but he nodded and said, "It is a fortnight’s journey to Fernland. We could go more comfortably by ship. I would like to accompany General Pommell’s body home."
"General Pommell? Is he the one who accompanied you?" Electra asked.
"You knew we were here?" Avor asked.
"I saw you in the crystal ball," Electra said.
Avor’s shudder went undetected as the dark of night closed around them.
"Perhaps we should build a fire," he said. "It is too late to start off tonight, unless you would rather go to the Inn."
"I can’t leave yet," Electra said. "I have to…" Her throat clenched and her words leaked out as a whisper, "…bury my mother."
"Let me help you," Avor said.
"No!" Electra said sharply. "I prefer to do it alone."
Avor left her reluctantly and busied himself making a campfire away from the burned out cabin. Once the fire was burning brightly he went to settle the horses for the night. When he returned, Electra was seated next to the campfire, still holding tight to her crystal ball.
Avor told her about the fire in the forest and the death of General Pommell. His words seemed to hang suspended in the night air. He could not discern from Electra’s face if she was hearing any part of what he was saying. He tried a question.
"Shall we book passage from Seachase back to Fernland then?"
Electra’s eyes came to life. "Is that what you think best?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Avor said, relieved to find she was listening.
"Then we shall certainly go by land." Her eyes blazed in the dim light of the campfire. "Do not suppose I have come to trust you. I will not fall into any trap you have laid aboard ship. And we will not go to the Inn where you can send word to those who sent you. We will leave tomorrow by a route of my choosing and meet your parents unannounced."
That night Electra packed what she could salvage from the cabin, took enough gold coins for the trip and left the rest where they lay. She buried Serafina’s bones by torchlight placing some of her burned books in the grave beside her. She made a small pile of rocks to mark the spot and sprinkled rose petals over the stones.
At dawn Electra and Avor began the long journey back to Fernland.
Chapter 13
Aboard the Southern Cross
Muller watched the door of Serafina and Electra’s cabin on board the Southern Cross. For an entire day and night neither had emerged, nor had either opened the door when the ship’s steward came by with food. Whenever the corridor was empty Muller put his ear to the door. He heard movement within but no conversation. So far his subterfuges involving urgent messages from the captain and possible leaks in the ship’s hull had brought no response. Dressed in a porter’s uniform he decided to try again.
"Porter here with tea, compliments of the captain," he called out. He almost dropped the tray when the door opened ever so slightly.
A slim hand reached through the opening to take the tray. Muller moved to peek through the narrow opening.
"I'd be happy to bring it in and set it up for you," he said. "It’s all part of the service." He glimpsed a cascade of long dark hair around a lovely olive-skinned face. The door opened a little wider and he stared into two eyes as black as ebony.
"Come in then, I suppose," a musical voice invited.
Muller stepped into the cabin, set the tray on a table and looked around expectantly.
"Umm, wasn't there another passenger besides you? I was told to bring a service for two."
"Oh, you mean Serafina? She decided not to come." The girl seemed to be studying his face, as though she might have seen him somewhere before.
"She decided not to come?" Muller repeated, his voice rising. He was surprised but quickly recovered his calm demeanor. "I see. Then, perhaps I could bring your lunch later if you prefer to dine in your cabin?"
"That would be lovely. What is your name?"
"M…Manuel."
"Manuel. Thank you, Manuel. I'll see you at lunch then."
Muller searched desperately for a reason to stay. "Perhaps I could straighten your cabin a little. The Captain wants to be sure you have the utmost in service."
"He does?"
"Of course. Even though you made no mention of it, your high status demands it."
"I'm confused. What high status?"
"Why, your royal lineage, of course."
Angelica laughed. Her laughter held the same musical quality as her speech. "Please tell your captain that he is mistaken. I have no royal lineage."
"Ah, of course, Serafina never told you. Your, ah, Mother, no doubt never spoke of it. But Serafina is not your real mother. Your real parents are King Geoffrey and Queen Delphinia of Fernland."
"What a lovely fantasy." Angelica laughed again. "But I fear my real mother is dead and my real father is a man who values drink above all else. Serafina has helped me to get away from him and his curse."
"Helper, mother, no matter what she called herself, I'm telling you, you are in fact a princess, and I should know; I am not a real porter, but in fact a spy for His Majesty the King."
Angelica looked at Muller, with an amused expression. "Who do you imagine I am?"
"Princess Electra," Muller said. It sounded almost like a benediction.
"Electra? A Princess?" Angelica wondered for a brief moment if she should go along with the ruse, but decided against it. She wanted a new life, but one of her own making. "You are the man who came to our camp, looking for a love charm," she said softly.
Muller was loath to give up his victory, but on hearing the details of Serafina's deception he finally admitted defeat. They would be another ten days at sea before reaching Manoa where he could send word to King Geoffrey and backtrack to try again. By then, of course, it would probably be too late. His quarry, the real Electra would have moved on. And General Pommell! He had sent word to the General and Prince Avor to catch the next ship to Manoa. Now he would have to leave a message in Manoa telling the General how he had fallen for Serafina’s trickery. Muller groaned in frustration. What a mess he had created. Thanks to Serafina, he would probably lose his position as Chief of Spies.
Angelica thought Muller very handsome, frustrated as he was. He had believed her a princess. She smiled and fingered the love charm in her pocket. Ten more days at sea, she mused. A lot could happen in ten days.
"As long as you have brought tea for two and you are not a porter after all, why not join me?" Angelica asked.
Lost in thoughts of his own ruin, Muller nodded absently and sat down beside the small wooden table.
Chapter 14
Kingdom of Fernland
Avor stood on the ridge that marked Fernland’s border, waiting for Electra to return from scouting possible campsites. In the distance he could see his father’s hilltop castle floating on a layer of mist. The valley below formed a lush green expanse of forest, crisscrossed by many streams. After fifteen days of travel he was anxious to be home. When Electra finally rode up to join him, he tried to control his homesickness.
"We could continue on," he said, "I know the way from here even in the dark."
"That’s a good-sized river we will need to cross," Electra said, pointing in the direction of King’s River.
Avor smiled. "If not for the mist you would see the bridge. There will be soldiers stationed there. They will accompany us on to the castle."
"I want no accompaniment. I prefer to arrive at the castle unannounced," Electra said.
"It might be difficult to arrive unannounced during daylight hours," Avor said.
Electra thought about that for a moment. "Will the soldiers take orders from you? Would they allow us to go on alone?" she asked.
"Perhaps, though it will be difficult to persuade them. There a
re spies and scouts from Helsop roving about in the forest. The soldiers would want to guard us from them. In truth it might be better to leave the horses here for the night. My father’s men could retrieve them in the morning. We would make less noise and attract less attention on foot, should a spy be close by."
Electra was still undecided. She looked out at the castle wondering what answers she would find there. She looked at her brother—for she had come to think of Avor as her brother over the last fifteen days. He seemed a bit in awe of her and she felt inexplicably protective of him.
"Come along then," she said, dismounting. "I can see you are longing for your castle comforts. We can hobble the horses; they’ve plenty of grass here."
They took only their heavy cloaks and a little bread and dried meat for the night. Electra's crystal ball, always with her, hung loosely in a sling around her shoulder. By the light of a full moon they started down the steep trail that led to the valley below. Soon they were engulfed in drifts of fog so dense they had to stay close to see one another. Carefully they inched forward into the growing darkness.
"We're on the valley floor," Avor said. "It will be easier now, but we'll have a few streams to cross before we reach the river. At the river there will be a bridge guarded by a detachment of the Royal Guard."
Avor led on, familiar with each twist and turn along the trail. They forded the smaller streams by jumping from rock to rock or crossing on fallen logs. As night wore on they felt the chill and dampness seep into their clothes and shoes. They heard the rushing waters of the river first. When they drew within sight of the bridge they saw an orange glow through the mist. "We will soon be warm," Avor said. “Those are the campfires of the Royal Guard."
They quickened their pace. "I should hail them before we cross the bridge," Avor said, "to let them know we're friend, not foe." At the foot of the bridge Avor cupped his hands to shout, then stopped. "Something is wrong," he whispered, "the banner should be red…"
At that instant, dark shapes rose up around them as swords reflected in the dull orange glow of a torch.
"We'd best take them to Dagon, could be spies," said a voice muffled by a metal face plate.