Chapter Thirteen

Wickedly Clever Little Witch

~N~

Blackstone Castle dock, 673, Morning 28th, October

Sidonia placed more coins in the captain’s hand. The dark princess stared into his eyes hoping she had the ability to compel him, as she pled, “This will cover your loss, do not allow them aboard. They killed a man last night and are attempting to escape justice.” He started to debate it and she tried harder, “You do not want them on your Ferry.”

She feared her weak condition and Dhampir ability was not enough, as she pushed harder, “We will all be in grave danger if you let them board.” This time the captain nodded; whether she had compelled him or he just believed the danger she did not care. As she looked at Kolo’s men, they saw the ferry was not stopping, and two men jumped in.

They swam for the ferry, while the other three men ran down the riverbank, yelling to get the captain’s attention. Sidonia was terrified as the swimmers came nearer, just then the current took the Ferry out of their reach, leaving them behind. Still, she was uncertain if any of Kolo’s men had realized she was on board, or if they were just checking.

Now she worried they would be at the next stop.

~N~

Grekan woke to the shock of Sidonia’s empty room, fearing Kolo had come and taken all evidence of her. He was so startled that he sat there awhile to make sure he was not dreaming. Still he was not able to come up with a logical reason for him to have slept through her things being moved, nor how or why they were gone. As he got his wits about him, then he felt the letters in his pocket. Bringing them out, he set Anthony’s on the cushion beside him, as he opened and read his.

My dearest friend,

I am certain you shall be angry with me, just know that if I believed I was in no danger, I would have gladly brought you with me. Now I must ask you to leave as well. The evil one will assume that you know where I am, so you must flee immediately. Leave a note for my father and backdate it a few days.

Tell father you have heard of some books that could be of interest and if they turn out to be desirable, you shall purchase them for him, and make copies for yourself, before returning. Leave it on my father’s desk. Be safe, and watch for anyone following you. Try when you think on me to do so kindly. I hope I shall see you again, my trusted friend.

I will think lovingly of you, Sidonia

Grekan was hurt that Sidonia had left him behind and insulted that she insist he flee like a coward. Even though he knew, it would be a dangerous venture, as surely many would follow her. Then he remembered his current plight, and all that was going on at the castle, was still deadly for him. It was that quick for him to forgive her, knowing she was right.

Then Grekan was more afraid of anyone finding him in her room. How could he possibly explain that he was guarding Sidonia, when she was gone, along with all her belongings? Listening at the door all sounded quiet so he felt it was as good as any time for him to try to sneak back to his own room. He looked down at his nightshirt, robe, and slippers, stunned he had not dressed last night before coming here.

The poor clerk felt it was nearly as humiliating as walking about naked, as it would be to be seen in his night things. Rushing out he quickly locked it, and unbolted the outer door. Grekan’s hands shook so bad he nearly dropped the keys as he rushed out and then realized he did not have a key to relock the outer door. Shaking his head, he just ran.

~N~

The day guard hurried back to Kolo’s carriage as he said, “I grabbed four others and we attempted to stop the ferry. The captain started to pull to the bank, I guess it must have been too shallow and he feared getting stuck, because he left.” Kolo raised his hands, “And?” The guard frowned saying, “Two of our men dove in the river and tried to catch it, but the current was too strong and they had to come back.”

Kolo groaned, “No you imbecile, was Sidonia on the ferry!” The guard gasped, looking back at the ferry that was now out of view, “A, I-I do not know. I mean a, I did not see her nor anyone that might be her.” Kolo cringed at the man’s stupidity, distrusting that he had even looked for her and demanded, “Where are the guards I asked for?”

The man had come up with something to save himself from becoming food, “We are running low on Day Guards. I do not want Captain Heg to notice how many you have looking for Sidonia or have killed.” Kolo saw it in the guard’s eyes, and sneered, “You think you are so clever with your lame excuse, and have saved yourself from death. If you were smart, you would have brought peasants to me instead!”

The guard brightened, “Oh. That is clever. Where do I find them?” Kolo groaned, “You are so inept that I wonder how you are still alive. Where are the peasants usually? I do not care if you have to knock on their doors because you cannot find them in their fields.” The man scratched his head. There was another awkward silence, and Kolo groaned, “What is it now?” The Day Guard asked, “Well, how do I get them to come to you?”

Kolo weakly joked, “Tell them I have sweets.” The man frowned, “I am not sure that would work.” Kolo scoffed, “Must I think for you? Just tell them I have coin and need assistance.” The guard nodded, “Oh, yes that would likely do it, what if they will not come.” Kolo groaned, “Knock them over the head and carry them back.” The guard frowned, “I know you said you want a few, but I can only carry one.”

Nearly crying Kolo said, “Can you not see how weak I am, and you are draining me further, with this tedious conversation. Carry them to me one at a time if you must. Just do it now, before I kill you for annoying me to the point I prefer death!”

~N~

Grekan nearly fainted at every shadow and once he made it into his room, he bolted the door and had to lay down. There he thought through the plan, then quickly dressed and packed his travel bag. He thought it a lucky coincidence that he had heard of some books in fact it was why he had tried to get Sidonia to go to Greece. He then realized she had known hearing, his thoughts and it was why she said it.

Feeling confident of his plan, he listened at his door. He heard the staff moving about and deemed it safe to leave now. Still, things did not seem normal as the guards went out of their way to follow and watch him. He grabbed a quick bite in the kitchen and packed a sandwich into his bag, before going to Anthony’s main office. Once there he wrote the quick note back dating it just as the princess suggested.

Finding a key in Anthony’s safe, he went up and locked the outer door. Then he returned the key, taking some coins, he relocked the safe. Now Grekan left the castle, feeling uncertain he ever wished to return. While he had not brought all of his belongings, the few he left were of little importance. Still on edge, he felt everyone was staring at him.

~N~

As Kolo finished off his three peasants, he ordered the idiot, “Take these bodies into the forest. I see the white haired guard at the front gate. Tell my driver to turn about so we can go find out what he has learned.” The white haired guard saw Kolo’s coach coming, and went out the gate coming over to him, “I have posted guards at each gate, and I have a guard trying to locate a maid with keys to enter Sidonia’s room.”

Kolo nodded, “Good. Finally, it seems I have found one guard with intelligence. I will leave you in charge. When I arrive home, I will send my men to get regular reports from you. You shall follow their instructions as if they were mine. Now, I need to leave. I have urgent business at my home.”

Just as he was about to order his driver to leave, Kolo saw someone of interest, causing him to have a cold smile. It was just bad luck that Kolo knew Anthony’s clerk, due to him assisting the princess in organizing the three libraries, while Sidonia searched for the book. Naturally, his name had come up during Kolo’s questioning of her.

Kolo now saw that Grekan was carrying two bags with him as he approached the front gate, it made him suspicious. He tapped the white haired guard with his cane asking, “Go find out where he is going and what he knows of Sidonia then come back.” The guard nodded and rushed over, going in the front gate.

~N~

As Grekan left the castle, he had a sense of abandonment to where it caused him to feel lost. Certain he would never see Sidonia again; he was also mourning the loss of a friend. It was harder on him than it would be on others, where it had always been difficult for him to make friends in his life, even as a child. Still worse was that Kolo had taken his feeling of being safe at Blackstone Castle that had once felt like his home.

Slowing under the weight of his bags, he approached the front gate. Now, Grekan sensed there was too much interest in him, as all of the guards glared at him with suspicion. He saw the white haired guard whispering to Heg the Day Captain, who nodded and turned, halting Grekan as he demanded, “Where is Princess Sidonia?”

~N~

As the ferry passed empty docks the princess saw nothing of Kolo’s men, and slowly worried less of them catching her. She wanted desperately to believe that she had managed to escape Kolo, hoping he was badly injured, enough that he would not come after her tonight. However, she was concern as it was still a few days to the ocean and there was a lot that could still happen to her between now and then.

While she did not believe she deserved it, she hoped to find some place safe. Sidonia had dreamt that she might find a nice home where she could live out her life, doing only good for others, and know some peace. In the back of her thoughts was the goal to find an army to fight for her and come back to destroy Kolo and release her mother. How could she feel harmony for herself as long as her mother had none, because of her?

Even though her school taught that she should not seek visions of her own future, it felt like this might be an allowable exception. Attempting it, instead she had a repeat of her death premonition. As she saw the muscled tall blond man, it all felt so real that when the dagger hit her, she groaned aloud with pain.

Sidonia saw the others looking at her and regretted not being able to stop herself from gasping out loud. Nervously she watched the other passengers, who finally just shrugged at her outburst and then went back to their own conversations. Sidonia reassured herself, ‘If anything it means that I do successfully escape Kolo, in order to be somewhere else.’

As unsettling as the vision had been, she still believed two things. First, it was likely years from now that she would face this stranger’s dagger. And last, one of the two Grandess’ of the living realms, Fate or her sister Destiny were warning her. She clung to the belief that she could do something to avoid this untimely death.

It was easier to expect it in her future, than to try not worrying about it, as Kolo was still a greater threat to her now. Princess Sidonia also admitted, “I rather deny Kolo the satisfaction, and accept the dagger of a stranger, than death at the hands of one who has betrayed me so deeply.”

~N~

A chill went up Grekan’s spine, at the glare and question coming from the man who was over twice his size. The other guards now stepped forward wanting to hear his answer. Grekan replied with surprise, “I thought you would have seen her leave, last night.” They all had worried looks as the brave little clerk looked into their eyes.

Grekan stated firmly, “Sidonia told me she was on her way to Witch Island, to stay with the Grand Daquan of her Rambler clan, her great grandmother Romina. She is going because the instructors at her old school, asked her to come advise them on a new Oracle training. A girl died during a vision, and while they managed to revive her, it has many angry. Naturally the princess could not deny them if it would save others.”

The guards were surprised by this information, when Grekan saw he quickly questioned Heg, “I wonder who was guarding the gate last night, he should have entered her leaving, so you did not need to rely on me.” The captain asked in a less certain tone, “When will she be back?” Grekan stated, “She told me she hoped to be back to assist her father with the quarterly Territorial Leader’s meeting.” The Captain nodded.

Now the white haired guard grabbed Grekan’s arm as he neared the gate demanding, “Where are you going?” Grekan’s fear of confrontation turned to anger, “Anthony has hired me to be his scribe and clerk, I also organize his libraries, and on occasion I purchase rare books for him. If you must know, I am headed to buy books it is likely to be a few weeks.”

The Day Captain said to the guard, “Let him pass.” The guard glared at him, and Grekan scoffed up into his face, “I doubt the High Lord will take kindly to you questioning me any further on his business. And I am quite certain that he did not hire me to inform you of his daughter’s whereabouts either.” The guard released him snorting, “Mouse.”

Grekan hissed back as he passed by, “Boar.” He hoped he gave enough detail that they believed him, he was glad Sidonia had shared what she wrote in the note to Kolo. It had kept him from coming up with a less believable answer, with only a moment’s notice. At first, it felt like a relief to be exiting the gate, until they slammed it behind him.

Suddenly he felt a rush of sickness in his gut, as the sound had felt too final, telling him that he was on his own now. Paranoia and fear poured over him, just as he noticed a group of men who were hanging around the front gate by a coach. It had him annoyed with himself for not paying more attention to the details of Kolo’s carriage, as all black coaches looked alike to Grekan.

~N~

The white haired guard ran back over to Kolo’s carriage telling him, “He is going to buy books for Anthony. He claims Sidonia left last night for Witch Island in the Mystical Realm, something about helping her school and she will return before the December Quarterly meeting. We however, have no evidence of her leaving last night.”

Kolo groaned, “Well that was the lie she used days ago! Send a few men to follow the scribe; he might lead them to her if she has left. Tell them to grab her and bring her back, but keep her hidden and report to you. My men can collect her and then bring her to me.” The white haired guard nodded, “As you wish sir.” Then he rushed off to do Kolo’s bidding. He told three men and they ran to catch up with the scribe.”

Mumbling Kolo asked, “Would Sidonia have been foolish enough to have told the clerk about me or the book?” Kolo scratched his head he muttered, “Why would she tell that sort of secret to a scribe? No I must have instructed her to speak of it to no one, each time I compelled her.” Kolo sighed with relief and no longer looked upon the clerk as a threat. He felt irritable and ready to leave, yet something was nagging at him.

Now Kolo said aloud, “How did the clerk know of the lie that was in the letter?” A guard in his coach replied, “I guess she told the same lie to anyone she could not trust, not wanting them to know where she was going.” Kolo sighed, “Yes that seems likely. He would not know her true intentions.” Now the white haired guard ran back to Kolo’s window, “I have one who will come and tell us where the clerk’s ticket is for.

Kolo was about to tell him to forget it, as the guard added, “The two others are hiring horses to follow him.” Kolo only nodded, thinking it did not hurt to let them follow the scribe. Now Kolo said, “One more thing. I also want you to hire a few men from the village. Have them take the road and go down stream until they catch up with the ferry.” The guard nodded and asked, “Do they travel on it?” Kolo shook his head.

Then he replied, “No. Make certain they have some level of intelligence; I do not what any who are dumb as rocks. They need to check if the princess is on the ferry, so make certain you give these men good details of the Princess. If they do not catch up to her at the first dock, then only one will stop. Have the other two hurrying on ahead. Give that one the bag of coins, he will ask those who got off the ferry and fishermen.”

The guard asked, “You wish to spend that much coin?” Kolo nodded, “Yes. They need to ask all if they saw her and if they are reluctant, he should offer them coin for where she went and an additional reward if they locate her. I want every fisherman looking for her. This way if they do not find her on the way down to the ferry’s last stop, tell them to check back with each offering more coin, on their way up here.”

The Evil One groaned as he brought out a good sized bag of coins.

The guard reached in taking it, as Kolo added sternly, “I trust you to give this to the smartest of them. Caution them, if they fail to return, we will hunt and kill them. If they return, we will pay them double. If they return with her or even a clue that will leads to her, they will each be rewarded with more coin than this bag can hold!”

The white haired guard nodded, “That should keep them from running off with the coins.” Kolo replied, “Exactly. As well as motivate them.” Now they waited to hear where Grekan was going.

~N~

Viktor woke in his hiding place, a small hidden room off the family’s private sitting room, down by the underground pool. He had a bed there, with blankets and a pillow, allowing him to sleep peacefully. Yet when he woke, he felt something was wrong. Going through the hidden passages he carefully peeked into his room. No one was there so he went in getting a change of clothes and saw the new book Sidonia left.

Grabbing it he took it and the clothing as he went to thank her. Quietly he went back in the hidden panel to come out in her bedroom, and gasped in shock at her empty room. Viktor could not believe that she had gone taking everything without saying goodbye. Then he saw a letter on the window seat and put it in his new book. Seeing her wastebasket in the corner, he thought it would be easier to carry his things in it.

Viktor found it was clean and nearly empty other than a few crumpled papers, when he heard the outer door being opened. He placed his armload in the basket on top of the papers and carried it towards the panel, as the maid’s voice said, “This is Sidonia’s room.” A guard responded, “Open it now. I need to see if she is there.” Viktor ran for the panel and barely latched the panel as the maid knocked then opened it.

The prince stood silently listening to a guard and the maid; express their dismay at her empty room. Viktor felt it was suspicious that they had entered it, and began to understand why she had left so quickly. He quietly went back down placing his things in the pool sitting room, then snuck out into the underground pool and locked the only other door coming into it. Viktor took a long swim it always helped him feel better, when upset.

~N~

Quickly walking towards the village, Grekan told himself it was just paranoia it was unlikely that Kolo could be healed so soon, nor out during the day. As he crossed the bridge, he heard the footsteps of at least two men behind him. Now he increased his speed to a jog. It was very hard for the little man as he was already weighted down with his bags.

Grekan glanced over his shoulder at the three behind him, and assumed they were Kolo’s men. He told himself, ‘I should be glad. This needs to be my part in helping her escape. I have told them she is on Witch Island that should send a few to the Mystical Realm. And now I will lead a few more away from Sidonia’s direction.’

Yet, he could not help but feel that he was not the right man for this plan to work. If he had more time to think on it, he would have talked himself out of doing something so rash. Maybe even thought to hire a few guards, and yet who could he hire that was not already reporting to Kolo? He shook his head feeling something bad was going to happen, and this time it was most likely going to happen to himself.

~N~

A guard came out the front gate heading for Kolo’s coach, and huffed, “We opened Princess Sidonia’s door. Her room was empty! Not one stick of furniture was there.” The white haired guard scoffed at him, “How is that possible? You looked in an empty room!” The guard assured him, “No I said the same to the maid and she about slapped me.”

Imitating her he said, “Do you think I do not know my way about. I have been cleaning the rooms for years and none of them are without furniture! I do not know how the princess did it, nor got herself and all that passed the front gate; with none of us helping her, nor seeing her leave!”

~N~

Grekan paid for his travel to the coast and heard one of Kolo’s men informed the others, “He only got one passage.” Fresh horses were being hitched as Grekan pushed passed Kolo’s men to give his larger bag to the coachman who placed it on top with the others. He heard one ask, “Do we grab him?” The other said, “No, she is not here.”

Grekan boarded the carriage, with his smaller bag. His palms were sweating as another of Kolo’s men said, “You two get horses and follow, he might lead you to her.” The coachman called out, “Back off from the carriage, we are leaving.” The other man rushed back to inform Kolo. As the coachman cracked the whip, Grekan’s carriage lurched forward taking off. The poor clerk was near passing out as he sighed with relief.

Grekan then realized he had been holding his breath. Now he hoped Kolo’s men would get lost trying to catch up with them.

~N~

Kolo seethed at the whitehaired guard, “You get those three riders on the fastest horses you can find and have them down to those docks looking for Sidonia, or I will have your head!” The guard nodded, “Yes master. I will make it so.” Kolo knocked the roof of his carriage with the head of his cane and yelled, “Get me home, now.”

~N~

The white haired guard rushed into the Knotty Pub, Murky looked up from his drink, and called out, “Whitey, have not seen you in a while, buy me a drink?” Kolo’s man came over to Murky and his two men, nodding at Bull, and weasel, “How about I give you a pile of coins, and buy all your drinks when you return from a simple job?” Bull huffed, “How simple?” Whitey was cautious, as Bull was very large and mean.

He swallowed, “I need to find the princess. She has taken off and I was given a bag of coins and the task of hiring three men to go find her.” Now weasel snickered, “Show us the bag.” Whitey pulled it out of his pocket and let it drop on the table. Murky gasped, “Ohhh that is a lovely sound.” Whitey said, “The master told me you are to bribe people into telling you if they saw her. Hit each town going down towards the Sea.”

Bull groaned, “That sounds like a lot of time in the saddle.” Whitey cautiously explained, “I grabbed three horses from the castle. First rate, no nags, you will be riding in style on this job. If you find her and bring her back, keep her in the forest and one of you come get me. I will take her to his men.” Weasel snickered, “I am in.” Murky scratched his head, “Not hearing of a carrot, and what is the stick on this job?”

Whitey said, “If you get to the sea without finding her turn around and come back, to report what you heard. I will give you each a bag. If you do find her you get twice as much.” Bull slammed the table with his mug, “Nice. I will go.” Murky grumbled, “What is the stick?” Whitey said, “If you run off with the horses and coin that was to bribe others, you will be hunted and killed, in a most unpleasant way.” Weasel said, “Nope, nope, no. I am out.”

Bull smirked, “I would like to see someone try.” Murky asked, “So do you trust this master of yours?” Whitey nodded, “He really wants her, and gave over the bag with no thought. I say he is worth the coin, and will pay what he claims.” Murky picked up the bag, “So we look for a girl?” Whitey replied, “Princess Sidonia Vlasac, 15, green eyes, coal black hair below her waist, very pretty.” Murky nodded, “When do we start?”

Whitey said, “Now. You two catch the ferry and find the girl. You Murky hold the bag and pay to hear if anyone saw her on the ferry or at any dock.” Weasel saw Bull and Murky get up. He stood and groaned, “Fine. I will go with.” Whitey saw them to the horses outside and watched them, head out of town, hoping they would find Sidonia.

~N~

Kolo rode in silence as he attempted to think of how or what he missed that would have been a clue that Sidonia was capable of disappearing. Finally, he fumed at the guards in his carriage “How did that little strumpet out fox me?” The guard agreed, “How did the little Princess get passed us, with her furniture?” Kolo sneered, “All that time she acted so meek and powerless. It seems I might have underestimated her and Sidonia could be a wickedly clever little Witch.”

~N~