A Tale of Two Castles(64)

The older guard shrugged. His voice was like rough rocks rubbing together. “Onnore, you could persuade a hedgehog to fly. I will be the handsome one, young mistress.”

I sat in the chair, pulled the blanket onto my lap, and tossed my head prettily. “I am sitting in a castle window, sewing.” I held an imaginary needle and pushed it in and out of the blanket. “You ride by on your prancing chargers.”

They didn’t move.

“Walk past me, please.”

They did so, awkwardly.

“With pride. Remember, you are princes.”

They threw their shoulders back.

“I am so comely you both fall madly in love with me.”

Dure snorted.

“Truly, I am half in love already, little mistress,” Onnore said gallantly.

“You both return to stand under my window.”

They actually came back.

“Each of you wishes to marry me, so you begin to argue.”

Neither one said a word.

I pursed my lips and smoothed the hair on my forehead below the cap. “Why do you think you should have me, Prince Dure?”

I watched him think. “Because I am so handsome.” He chuckled. “Onnore, you are not half as handsome as I.”

“But I am as warm as the sun.” He laughed. “I can melt your handsomeness.”

“Yet I can outwit you and stop you from melting me.”

I let them make a few more arguments. The minutes ticked by.

With each rebuttal they laughed harder.

Finally I cast my imaginary needle over my shoulder and turned the blanket into a hooded cape again. I cackled, “You princelings who love my Soulette, I will not give her to just anyone. The man who can find the magical purse filled with coins . . .” I untied my purse from my belt and shook it so they could hear jingling. I took a silver coin halfway out, then dropped it back in.

There is a saying in Lahnt: Silver blinds men more powerfully than the sun.

Dure’s mouth dropped open. Onnore rose on his toes.

“That man and no other will have my Soulette.” I closed my fist around the purse. In my ordinary voice I added, “Both princes, stand at the door, if you please.”

They went willingly and stood with their backs to the door. Dure crossed his arms again, his guarding pose.

“Stand there to prevent my escape. Now close your eyes, so I may hide the magic purse.”

They closed their eyes, but I suspected they would open them a slit in a moment. I hid my fist in the folds of my skirt.

Princess Renn would certainly check on me soon. Wait, Your Highness, I pray you. Do not come yet.

Noisily I pulled the chair and table to the window and climbed up but didn’t leave the purse there. Next, I hurried to the bed and closed the drapes around me. I lifted the mattress and let it fall, smoothed out the bedding, and then—silently—inserted the purse into the hole I’d made in the drapery.

After slipping out between the bed-curtains, I stamped to the case of shelves, which I moved away from the wall, paused, pushed back. I opened the wooden box, then closed it with a loud click. I dragged the table and chair to the middle of the room, laid a fresh log on the fire, and announced in my witch’s voice, “There, my sweetlings.”

Master Onnore, who was tall enough not to need the chair, shoved the table against the wall and climbed up. He ran his hand along the windowsill, although he could see there was no purse. He looked back to make sure I hadn’t left. Then he peered down, seeking the purse below in the outer ward.

Master Dure stood at the shelves, opening the box, looking in the bowl, feeling under each shelf. He, too, glanced at me after every few seconds. Finally he moved the case of shelves aside and slid his dagger between the floorboards.

Master Onnore rushed to the fireplace and used the poker to assure himself I hadn’t tossed the purse in there. He would have been comical if the circumstances hadn’t been so dire.

Together they advanced on the bed and drew open the curtains. After a minute or two of carefully shifting bedclothes and looking at me, they ripped open the mattress and forgot me in pawing through the feathers. I counted to a hundred, then inched the door open, slowly, slowly, until I had just enough room to slip out, and slid it closed behind me— And heard the princess from below. “I’ve come with a refreshment for the poor girl. I will take this one to her as well.”

My heart pounded, but I fitted the key into the lock and turned, hearing a quiet clink. Then, key still in my right fist, I lifted my skirt and started up the ladder to the wall walk above the tower.

“La! I can climb stairs unaided.”

I saw the glow of a torch on the staircase walls below. With all my strength, I raised the trapdoor, climbed out— And faced low boots and stout calves.

The guard pulled me up by my armpits. I passed a big belly, saw a red beard, green eyes. “Be still. I’ve got you.”

“Her Highness is hurt!”

Princess Renn cried from below, “La! Help! Oh, la!” She had discovered the locked door.

The guard grabbed my left hand and started down. I bent over but didn’t step back on the ladder. Other cries rose from below.

“Come.” He let go my hand and reached for my ankles.

I jumped back.

The cries continued, the princess’s most shrill of all.

Would he come up for me or go down to her?