Chapter 8 – The Lessons Begin
Redmond’s bodyguards shuffled nervously as the three of us scrambled down the rope ladder. Redmond, nut that he was, only laughed at their twitchiness and beckoned us to follow him. We walked swiftly, trying to get a decent distance from our stalkers. Thankfully, their heavy metal slowed them down and soon we had a good dozen yards between us. I turned to the jester.
“What are you doing here?”
His blue eyes twinkled. “Fetching you, of course. Lord Aubrey wanted you to return with someone you were already acquainted with instead of just another group of oppressive grunts…like those,” jabbing his thumb at the stumbling group in the back.
“Any reason why he wants us back?” Philipia asked.
“Oh yes,” Redmond replied, “he’s very anxious to speak with you. Something about keeping you three safe from the villagers. Apparently, he thinks his royal decree isn’t good enough to guarantee the people from burning you alive. I disagreed but I’m only a jester, after all. It’s my job to put up any kind of idiotic objection I can think of.”
Alye was silent, her brow furrowed in thought. Finally, she piped up, “Have you known Aubrey long?”
“Been his jester for the past two years.”
“And how old are you?” I ventured.
He grinned. “17. Jesters start young. Allows them to learn quicker and catch the funny years while they still exist.”
“What’s he like?” Alye interjected.
Redmond stopped and his expression grew serious. “I’m completely violating my jester code of conduct by telling you this, but you should know if Aubrey’s taken an interest in you.” Pause. “Aubrey…is an enigma. One day he’s kind and laughs at every joke, no matter how stupid, other days he’s threatening to lock me away somewhere because no matter how creative I get, I can’t make him laugh. The fact that he is so fascinated by you three is odd. Normally, he sits in his tower or library or some desolate corner of the castle doing whatever it is his type do.”
Alye frowned. “What is it with everyone insisting he’s scum?” Pointed glare at me. I smirked back.
“Maybe because he is?”
“Shut up.”
“While your conversation is fascinating, particularly since I don’t understand half the expressions you’re using,” Redmond grinned, “we probably should stop these treasonous talk and go back to talking about butterflies or something.”
“Completely agree,” Philipia replied, glowering at Alye and me. “And you two need to quit it. It’s like two little kids fighting over something stupid like a candy bar.”
“What’s a candy bar?”
“Never mind.”
The castle was heavily guarded as usual but the guards gave Redmond and us only a fleeting glance before relaxing. Guess they hadn’t been hearing the rumors about our supposed evil witchery. And it helped having our own bodyguards.
But when we entered the castle, I felt something strange in the air. I thought I saw a faint green mist circling around the edges of my vision, but whenever I focused, it disappeared. A strange humming noise, very quiet, barely resonated in my eardrums. Philipia and Alye didn’t seem to notice anything. Maybe I was just tired from being up past midnight. Still, I couldn’t shake this odd twitchy feeling. I could swear I felt ants crawling on my skin.
And then Aubrey appeared and all the funky sensations stopped, replaced by the usual annoyance.
“Hello again. You three are looking well,” he drawled lazily. On the surface, he looked his usual smug self, but there was something different about him. Did one of his eyes have a slight green cast to it? But then he blinked and it vanished. I really must be tired.
“Hey Aubrey!” Alye grinned, her smile bright enough to be its own sun. Philipia had a far more subdued expression but she was obviously excited.
“Aubrey, we have a favor to ask.”
“I am yours to command.”
“We need to use your library. And I mean as in taking books out of it and stuff.”
He stared, the first time I’d ever seen him have more that one expression on his face. Surprise, confusion, a little suspicion, all fought each other. But then he shifted back to the polite mask thing I thought only medieval people could do.
Oh, wait, this was medieval. Never mind.
“May I inquire as to why you wish to use the library?”
Philipia smiled. “Because I need to learn to control my shapeshifting powers. It kind of sucks that I have to get thrown out a window,” (pointed look at me and Alye), “to change into something. And the forest is the best place to get in tune with nature and all. So if I have the books and the right surroundings, I bet I could learn to use them right.”
Aubrey’s brow furrowed and then quickly cleared. “Of course. Redmond,” acknowledging the jester for the first time, “kindly escort Philipia to the library.”
“I’d like to go with Philipia,” I interjected. Aubrey nodded and Redmond motioned us two to follow him. Alye stayed behind, puppy love on her face.
“So…” Redmond began as soon as we were out of earshot, “is there a reason you were blinking and frowning right before we saw Aubrey?”
I belatedly realized he was talking to me. “Oh…nothing. I just…I thought I was seeing things. I’m probably still tired from last night.”
“Indeed. What happened?”
“That,” Philipia snorted, “is a long, insane, and idiotic story.”
“Sounds like something I’d enjoy then.”
Of course, when Philipia told it, the whole night experience seemed quite mild, as if Alye and Selene had exchanged lighter flames for approximately 2.5 seconds and then sat down to tea instead of hurling fireballs across the forest and nearly roasting the local tourists (moi and Philipia). Funny how the perspective changed.
Dust rankled in my lungs as we reentered the library. The old man prowling the shelves had obviously been reorganizing books that hadn’t been touched for years. As we entered, he turned slowly and gave us a glare, as if daring us to make any disruption. We took the hint and retreated to the magic books.
Philipia started pulling books off the shelves as fast as she could, flipping through them for sections on shapeshifting. Redmond watched with a grin sneaking onto his face while I helped her pick out the volumes she needed. At last, she held in her arms a stack of about five books with many pages devoted to shapeshifting. The one we’d seen before, Shapeshifters, Sorceresses, and All Other Kinds of Magics, was not one of them.
“Missed something?” I asked.
“No, I don’t need it. You do.”
“Say what?”
Philipia rolled her eyes and gave me a patronizing stare. “You need to learn. I’m not the only one with funky powers and you have got to train yourself with your magic. This is a situation in which we have to take advantage of any and all resources, no matter how bizarre. So start getting books, set up camp in the library if you have to, but learn your magic. Got it?”
I blinked. I doubt many 14-year-olds have to worry about junk like this.
“So I have to stay here? With Aubrey? Are you INSANE?!” I whisper-screamed, remembering the rules of libraries just in time.
“We don’t have any choice!” she hissed back. “And you need to keep an eye on Alye, make sure she doesn’t try to marry Aubrey or something. Tanya, you know you need to do this. It’s the only way we might be able to learn how to get home.”
Well when she put it that way…
“So…see you soon?” I asked hesitantly. Philipia nodded as she shouldered her heavy pack. Alye gave a snort as some of the books threatened to tumble out of the bag. We stood in front of the drawbridge, which was being slowly lowered with many a crack and strain.
“Philipia?” Aubrey cut into our eloquent goodbye speeches. Philipia gasped in astonishment. I turned to see that the nobledude was leading a fine blood bay horse, one with a pure black mane and intelligent eyes. Already fitted with a fine leather bridle and saddle, the horse was the picture of a fine equine, perfect for long-distance or short-distance travel. A glow of happiness burst into Philipia’s eyes and she approached the horse with an air of one who has officially received the coolest present EVER.
Well, for her it was, but whatever.
“Thanks, Aubrey. She’s a beauty,” Philipia breathed as she ran her hand down the horse’s neck. The bay nuzzled her, trying to conjure a carrot out of midair.
“You are welcome. She is yours.”
“Really?” Philipia nearly squeaked. And in spite of her antagonism toward Aubrey, her face transformed into a glow of joy. She tied her bags carefully onto the saddle and sprang up onto the horse’s back. With a quick rear and a galloping of hooves, she and her new horse vanished across the drawbridge and into the thicket of nearby woods. I could only watch in envy.
Alye too stared, but with a look of mingled anger and jealousy etching across her face. She turned back to Aubrey with a grin.
“I don’t suppose you have any fencing areas?”
Oh god.
Aubrey’s expression changed into a careful smile. “Actually yes, I recently hired a highly experienced swordsman for my soldiers. If you like, we can go and visit him.”
If Alye’s smile had gotten any larger, she would have ruptured her face. Latching herself onto the guy’s arm, she and Aubrey marched back into the castle, leaving me standing there amidst the stone walls.
Okay, enough with the self-pitying.
“First lesson of the day,” I muttered as I walked back to the library, “how to make this leaf I grabbed move on its own.” I placed it on the carpet and stared at it, trying to force it to float. Nothing happened. With sweat starting to break out on my forehead, finally I saw a faint mist of blue and the leaf rose about an inch.
And promptly floated back down to the carpet.
“Darn it.”
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