Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(33)

“Has Madame returned?” Ellie asked, handing him two cages.

“Not yet,” the Gamekeeper answered for him. “I will speak with her soon.”

No more needed to be said. Ellie well knew that her supervisor could handle the sirens, the director, the lake monster, or any other issue or entity that might arise.

Briar and Ellie carried cages out to the wagon, leaving their arrangement to the Gamekeeper. Ellie avoided looking at her mysterious supervisor more often than necessary, so she wasn’t certain whether he did this manually or with magic. The wagon itself seemed solid. Or was it? She couldn’t be sure.

As they brought out the last three cages, the Gamekeeper said, “Prince Briar told me of yesterday’s encounter with the unicorn. Have you any details to add?”

“One of the men spoke of hunting the unicorn,” Ellie said. “I informed him that magical creatures are off limits to guests, but I’m not sure he will respect the rules. He showed no respect for me, that’s certain.”

“The unicorn eluded me today,” the Gamekeeper said. “Wild unicorns fear me, which complicates the situation. I will return soon to seek it again.”

“Do you want me to search for it?” Ellie asked. The idea frightened her, for she knew nothing about unicorns, but she was willing to try.

“Only in an emergency. And I will not hold you accountable for injured guests. Enforcing resort rules is the director’s job.”

“But what about the unicorn’s safety?” Ellie asked.

“If you believe the unicorn is in imminent danger, contact me immediately, then do your best to protect it without risking your own safety. Although I appreciate your willingness to serve anywhere at the resort, your official position is Controller of Magical Creatures. If anyone disputes your authority or attempts to prevent you from serving as you see fit, I will intervene on your behalf.” His deep voice was grave and authoritative. “Do you understand?”

“Yes sir,” Ellie said. “Thank you.” He could only be speaking of the director.

“Now tell me what you know about this siren situation,” the Gamekeeper said. “You have twice rescued young men from the island?”

Ellie once again related her siren-related adventures.

“Was Prince Omar siren-enchanted, would you say?” asked the Gamekeeper.

“No sir. Not at all. He said he had a headache, but he knew who I was and had no desire to stay at the island or find a siren.”

The Gamekeeper turned his head toward her, and she felt the weight of his gaze. Without thinking, she took a step closer to Briar, who rested one hand on the side of the wagon behind her in a subtly protective stance.

“Are you certain this Prince Omar is fully human?” the Gamekeeper asked.

“Yes.” She paused. “Is it terribly unusual for a man to be immune to sirens?”

“Some enchanters can resist a siren call,” Prince Briar said, as if with firsthand knowledge. If his magic was that strong, Ellie thought, little wonder he could block her clumsy efforts to probe his emotions!

“Yes. So can a man who is already deeply in love with a woman,” the Gamekeeper countered, “which is less common than one might imagine.”

“Oh.” Ellie could only hope the dim lighting concealed the heat she felt spreading up from her collar.

Running footsteps approached, then Ellie heard feet skid on gravel and what sounded like a stifled gasp. The Gamekeeper lifted his head, looked past her, and faded away. One moment he was there, huge and looming, the next moment he was gone.

“Well, hello there, Omar and family,” said Prince Briar.

Ellie turned quickly. On the far side of the delivery road stood Omar and three of his younger siblings. He was carrying Rita piggyback. All five of them observed her, Briar, and the cart with round, dark eyes, and all but Rita puffed for breath.

“What are you doing here?” Omar sounded deeply shaken.

“Wh-what was that thing?” asked Rafiq. “A monster? Its eyes glowed red!”

“Teeth!” Karim wailed. “Big teeth!”

“Where did it go?” Yasmine cried, her voice panicky.

Karim clung to Omar’s leg, and Rita whimpered quietly into his shoulder, while the older two partially hid behind him.

Ellie walked toward them and used her soothing voice: “There is nothing to fear, children. The Gamekeeper looks frightening but is gentle and kind, and he will take good care of the cinder sprites for us. I caught some new ones today in the ballroom, and Prince Briar helped me carry them out here to the Gamekeeper’s wagon. See the cages stacked there? The sprites we caught in your suite are here too. He will take them up to his home, where he has a safe place for all of them to live together. The mother sprite let me know that she wants to go there. I would never give our sprites to someone who would harm them. Would you like to see them?”

All four children visibly relaxed and nodded, so she beckoned them to her. Omar brought Rita then lifted her down from his shoulders, still looking wary and worried. “That was the Gamekeeper I’ve heard you speak of?” he asked.

She nodded shortly, gave him a warning look, and lifted a sprite from one of the cages. “Do you remember this little fellow? He is all recovered from going ember, and now he isn’t afraid when I hold him. See?” She held the fluffball down at Rita’s level, and the little girl gingerly touched its back then smoothed its fur. “He isn’t smooshed anymore,” she observed with a smile.