Chapter Text
Several days passed eventless.
I knew from Garlan and Jurien that during this time Sir Alcaster more than once parted away somewhere for some business no one in the order knew anything about, - that is, no one except of us and his possible allies. Sir Mythros – or better to say Myth – was rarely seen too. Now when I knew who he was, the glamor did not work anymore, and looking at the royal advisor I was recognizing the face of my former fellow by apprenticeship and later sworn enemy by the will of fate. I noticed the disgust that sparkled in his eyes for a brief moment when he had to address to me with respect, as to the prince, - he did know who I was but was forced to control his hostility.
The three of us tried to learn who Mr Varg was, but in no documents connected to the Angiellian court or the Order of Caldira a person with this name could be found. Also, considering the fact this man was hiding his face, it would be natural enough for him to hide his true name as well, so we abandoned the useless search.
I saw the princess at every dinner, and more than once we stayed to talk face to face. She had treated my words seriously and did not ask questions on the matter I had to be silent about, - instead, she asked many things of Brugantia, and I understood she wanted to know if there is life outside her ice cage. I was telling her all I knew, from clothes and traditions to folk celebrations, from landscapes to songs, compared them with the Angiellian ones time to time, - and saw interest in the eyes of my listener who did not know her nation at all from this angle. I did not need a bigger praise.
But then the day came where Sir Fritzgerald appeared on the doorstep of my temporary home.
Being left together with the three of us out of access of strangers’ ears, the blonde knight told us he learned all about the situation the prisoner of the old manor was in, and that the following night Sir Alcaster would be at the capital.
That was a chance not to miss.
- That is not an ordinary mansion but a real castle, even with a moat, - the youth was saying, - Prince Klaude is kept tied and constantly guarded by two men. If someone tries to take the manor by force, they will have enough time to kill him and threw his body into the moat, where no one will find it. That is why one of you should swim the moat, get inside secretly, free the prince and lower the drawbridge for the aid led by the rest. I will do anything in my power to help that person.
The young knight unfolded a sheet of paper before us:
- Here is the plan of the building. My room at the ground floor is this, where I will be waiting for you.
- Is Sir Mythros going to be in the manor at night? – I asked.
- Yes. But he is not a military man, and in the extreme case it will not be difficult to…
- Sir Fritzgerald, - I frowned, - Sir Mythros is one of the most powerful witches in Angielle.
Terror was written on the young man’s face.
- What?..
- That is why I should be the one to go. – I looked over my comrades in a gaze not allowing contradictions. – You would not be able to resist him. Besides, you are knights of Caldira and you will sooner be believed when you come asking for aid.
Garlan and Jurien exchanged glances and nodded.
---
After the dinner I told the princess that I am parting at the evening.
The princess listened to me and suddenly said:
- I want to go with you.
To say I was surprised is to say nothing at all. Almost four years Crown Princess Lucette Riella Britton did not leave the palace walls.
Any other day I would be happy with it to the core of my soul, but it happened today, when ahead of me lied the event on which my life and Prince Klaude’s life depended.
- You should not, princess, - I said tonelessly.
Her brows furrowed.
- I have no desire to exchange your company for the company of our court.
I shook my head:
- You will have to believe me once more. You cannot go.
Her brows furrowed even further:
- Is it connected with the thing you were talking about before?
- Yes, and it is dangerous.
The princess was silent for a time. Finally she said:
- I would ask you not to go if I did not know that you are not one of those who endanger their lives without a good reason. If your duty orders you to go, then go. I can only wish you good luck.
I bowed my head:
- I would need it. Thank you, princess.
Having fallen silent, I fell in thought. If I do not come back, - and such a turn is possible considering I am going to deal with Myth, - I needed to say her some things for the last time.
- Princess, if anything happens to me – remember what I told you. Give no way to solitude and despair. If someone will be increasing your pain to convince you to cooperate – run from that person. Do not get your hands down, you are the future queen, and I still believe you are the hope of Angielle. Sir Fritzgerald will always be by your side, and if things will feel too bad… - I handed her a little piece of paper where I wrote the address of the Marchen. – These people devote themselves to helping those in trouble, and they will not turn away from you, I can promise you that.
The princess was watching me in silent shock.
I took full lungs of air and dared:
- Whatever happens, hold on, Little Star.
---
The night was filled with singing of cycads, occasionally intertwined with a splash of water in the moat that surrounded the Leverton Manor.
Garlan and I carefully came down the slope overgrown with ferns to the very edge of water. Jurien went for the people with whom they were supposed to be waiting hidden for the bridge to be lowered.
Sir Alcaster really did use a true fortress for his dirty deeds.
I looked around the unfriendly walls. A dim light flickered and went away in one of the windows.
We moved along the moat and soon were standing facing the wing of the building that we needed. The gates and the bridge were not visible from here, therefore the guards at the gate could not see us as well.
Garlan put his hand on my shoulder.
- Good luck, - he whispered.
I thanked him with a nod and, trying not to cause any splashing sound, climbed into the moat.
To speak truth, my swimming is not bad, but I never had before got into water at night and in full clothes.
Anyway, some time after I found myself under the wall, carefully moved along the grey stones to the appointed window and, catching the shutter with one hand, slightly lifted myself from the water and quietly knocked.
The shutters opened, and Sir Fritzgerald soundlessly gave me his hand and helped to move into the room.
In the moonlight, the young knight with his silver head looked like a ghost.
- I prepared dry clothes, - he said quietly. – And tea.
I thanked him. Indeed, a sneeze at a wrong moment tonight could cost me much.
Having changed my clothes and warmed up, I asked the knight to lend me a rapier.
- Are you not a witch? – the latter asked in surprise.
- For the prince, - I explained. – Judging by what I was told, he is a great warrior, and given a weapon he will have much more chances.
Fritzgerald nodded pensively, went away and soon returned with a sword and a scabbard in hands.
- I may need my sword tonight, - he said. – That is an extra one.
I tied the scabbard to my hips.
We decided that I neutralize the guard watching the prisoner, then we meet, and Fritzgerald goes to get the bridge down while I go to fight Myth.
Already on my way, I noticed my companion was looking tired, maybe even a bit sickly.
- Are you feeling well, Sir Fritzgerald?
- That’s nothing, - the youth was embarrassed. – Just dizzy. I must have got a sunstroke today.
---
Trying to step as quiet as possible, I was moving by faintly lit halls when my ear caught a sound of footsteps.
I hastily turned into a side passage and pressed myself to a wall behind a heavy door.
Two people passed through the hall, conversing in non-loud voices. One of them was Myth, the other, to my surprise, Varg.
This morning we thoroughly questioned Fritzgerald about all people who work or visit the manor, and no one of them resembled my nighttime visitor. Yet now he walked past me in just some foot of a distance.
I tried to listen to the conversation.
- …This man annoys me, - Myth was saying. – So can we be sure he does not come until morning?
Varg bowed his head:
- Yes, sir.
- In this case we have enough time. I have tasks for you that Sir Alcaster should not learn about under any circumstances.
Varg bowed again.
They were already too far to hear what Myth said next.
I was waiting for these two to disappear from sight, following them with a pensive gaze.
So, Myth was playing his own game in secret from Alcaster, and I have to say I was not surprised with it.
But now I had come not for this, and the nuances of relationship between our opponents could wait.
---
On tiptoes, I approached the door of my quest.
It was not closed tightly, and nearing my face to the gap, I saw firstly the back of a head of a guard, and then distinguished in the depth of the room a silhouette of a man tied to a chair. A man with long red hair.
Carefully I raised my hand and crafted a sleeping spell. The guard staggered and collapsed onto the floor, I opened the door… and barely avoided a hit of his comrade.
The soldier bared his sword. I stepped back into the farther end of the room, having no time to get him to sleep too.
A weightless barrier fell to pieces from a sword strike.
I stepped aside, attempting to win some time, the guard moved too – and suddenly Prince Klaude twisted in his ropes and overturned his chair at the soldier’s feet.
The latter hit the floor like a sack, and this pause was more than enough.
The spell surrounded the guard’s shoulders like a blue mist, and trying to get up, he fell down again and fell into an enchanted sleep.
I drew a breath.
Prince Klaude was pale and exhausted with the days he spent locked, but having caught my eye he attempted to smile.
I leaned down to him, cut the ropes, and helped him to stand up.
- Thank you for paying a visit, magician, - the crown prince shook his red head. – Forgive me for not offering a treat this time.
It was amazing how quickly this man recovered his self-control, or at least a façade of one.
Together, we dragged the sleeping guards into the hall. Then I explained briefly to Prince Klaude that aid is going to be here soon, gave him the sword and asked persistently to lock the door from the inside.
- Do you think me a damsel? – the Brugantian grumbled. I shook my head:
- I am sorry, Your Highness, but I have my own battle before me.
---
Again I was quickly walking a corridor.
Firstly I needed to find Sir Fritzgerald, to send him to the bridge… and then, to face Myth.
I turned around a corner and unexpectedly froze.
Opposite me, narrowing his carnivorous yellow eyes, stood Varg, pointing his cane at me like a weapon.
- Nice night it is, play actor.
I counted to five in my mind and looked at him calmly.
The young man in black did not move:
- If I was you, play actor, I would not try using magic.
I moved my gaze to the black cane in his hand. No magical power was radiating from Varg himself, but from this accessory, it was.
- You have a good toy, - I said casually. – Myth’s gift?
Varg patted the handle of the cane lovingly:
- His indeed. It turned out interesting that with this very thing I just knocked him against a wall. Sorry if I disturbed your plans in this regard, - but my hands itched to do so for too long a time.
I tilted my head in a testing fashion and folded my arms on my chest:
- What do you want from me then?
My companion bared his teeth:
- To have fun.
- This way, maybe you should act the knightly way and offer me a possibility to defend myself?
Varg’s grin became even wider.
- I am afraid I am not exactly a knight.
Purposedly carelessly, I glanced aside.
A little table with several decorative trinkets standing near the wall reminded me of the coffee place at Chestnut Street
I leaned forward, as if to pick something up, and in a brisk movement overthrew the table between us.
Varg jumped aside, letting his cane down but not dropping it.
I prepared my hand with an immobilizing spell, my opponent threw his weapon up again, and we stood still because no one of us was attacking the first.
Varg’s lips parted again, and I understood he was laughing.
- Do you specialize in furniture fights, play actor? Teach me, I want it too.
- We actors are like this, - I replied impassively. – We are used to improvising.
He clearly liked my response.
I slowly moved along the wall, not letting my opponent out of sight.
He did the same, not taking his eyes off me and not lowering his weapon.
In his steps, movements, gaze an open fascination of hunting was read, an excitement of a beast following the steps of its prey.
Well, if he desires to follow me…
I had remembered well the plan of the manor and so moved on, taking my opponent to the direction of the drawbridge.
When we finally found ourselves in the room where the mechanism was located, my opponent let out a whistle.
- You want to get the bridge down? Was not your knight comrade supposed to do it? Although, it is difficult to blame him for not doing it, - he could not fight me.
I leaned onto the wall with my free arm:
- I believe you just forgot to forewarn Sir Fritzgerald that you are going to attack?
Varg narrowed his eyes:
- Why are you so calm, play actor? How do you know, maybe your Fritzgerald is already feeding the fish in the moat?
- I know well whom he is feeding, - I responded even calmer. – I do understand some things about curses after all, Sir Sunstroke.
For several seconds, Varg stood frozen, staring at me in shock.
Then he tilted his head backwards and laughed out loud:
- You do have a head on your shoulders, play actor!
I made a step aside.
My opponent momentarily tensed up again.
The mechanism lowering the drawbridge was now between us.
I raised my hand, going to attack.
Varg reacted in a moment.
The black cane made a sharp move, something gleamed in the air, I dodged… and the tightly stretched rope fell down, cut like with a knife.
From the outside, came the creak of the bridge lowering, and a minute later, sound of running, voices and clanking steel.
Varg turned over to me, grinning:
- It is going to be fun here now. But I guess I had enough for today. See you, play actor!
He hopped onto the windowsill like a squirrel, jumped down into the moat, glanced over his shoulder – the yellow eyes and the white teeth gleamed – and in several strong rows vanished in the night.
Several minutes later, the gate guards, caught unaware, were dealt with, and next to me I found Garlan, Jurien and several unfamiliar knights, out of breath.
- How is the prince? – Garlan let out from the doorstep.
- Alive, - I responded with a heavy breath, and my legs bent with exhaustion.
---
I learned later what happened later in the night.
Alcaster’s people could not resist my courageous friends, and those who did not fall in battle or escape were arrested. It was said that their spirit fell the most when they saw Prince Klaude after a week of imprisonment and half-starvation fighting two opponents at once. As rumours go, someone said then: “This redhead is a true beast”.
Next day, the Brugantian prince desired to see me and asked Garlan and Jurien to leave us alone. Without witnesses, the mask of confidence fell from the dashing handsome man like a shell, and he was standing in front of me for a long time, moodily casting his eyes down, before he said:
- You know, magician, I am ashamed.
- For what? – I asked confusedly.
- I am an heir of the throne of a great land. I am the adored by everyone Klaude Almonte, the idol of many women, the prodigy of the sword, to sum it up, a prince charming. And what I turned out to actually be? – he smiled unmerrily. – You, a street performer, not only saved my life and my kingdom from an outer scandal, which would be the result of my carelessness, - you surpassed me in every relation. Garlan and Jurien told me how you were sitting here over my papers… I would long ago have run away to have a drink with some girl.
I gave him an encouraging smile.
- Never too late to realize your mistakes and fix them, Your Highness.
- You know, do not call me highness outside of the official circle. – A smile glistened in the prince’s green eyes. – Call me Karma – that is how all close friends call me.
- Then you stop calling me magician too. My name is Waltz.
- Does “little Waltz” work?
I sighed:
- Karma, I am older than you and a head taller.
Merry sparks danced in the prince’s eyes:
- That is exactly the reason.
---
Same day, I was told that Crown Princess Lucette wants to see me.
My heart was standing somewhere in my throat when a servant leaded me to Little Star’s chambers.
She was sitting before a mirror, staring into the cold glass with an absent gaze, and seemed more diminutive and fragile than ever.
- Waltz Cresswell, - she spoke quietly when the servant closed the door behind me.
I approached.
She slowly got up and turned around to me.
- Waltz Cresswell, I am grateful to you, - she said. – You prevented a high treason from happening.
I bowed. I had no strength to talk.
She made a step close and took my hand.
- Thank you, Waltz, - she said even quieter. – You helped me a lot. Thank you.
Her thin pale fingers grasped my palm.
- For Angielle, I will be the… Little Star.
Still unable to speak, I was kissing her hand.
The princess gave me her piercing look:
- Do you want a place at the court?
I shook my head. I could take a reward after the war, but did not do that.
The princess nodded:
- For some reason I thought so.
The decisiveness from yesterday suddenly lit in her eyes:
- That address, is it your home? The people you were talking about are your friends?
I nodded.
She did not blink:
- If I need help, I will come.
---
Leaving the princess’ chambers, I encountered Sir Fritzgerald. He definitely was feeling much better.
- Thank you, - the young knight said seriously. – You kept her safe.
I smiled:
- You were of a great help to me.
The youth blushed up to his ears:
- But I did not even do much…
I shook his hand firmly:
- You did more than you think, sir.
---
In the evening, I received a note, containing only one line in a familiar handwriting:
“Want a race across the moat tomorrow, play actor?”