Berlina's Quest (4 page)

She led the way out the door, turned, and reset the locking spell Zatarra put on it. She checked that the glamours were still holding. Then the two wound their way back through the maze of corridors to their room. The two guards were still lying unconscious in front of the door as the girls entered. Once inside, Berlina removed the glamours. Then, she stuck her wand out and woke the guards.

“Won't they report this incident?” asked Felistia.

“Not on your life. Reporting this would mean they failed in their duty of keeping us here, and they would be in worlds of trouble. Since it looks like nothing happened while they were knocked out, I guarantee they'll keep their mouths shut and pretend they were never asleep. Come on. Let's look at this map.” Berlina went over to a table one could not easily see from the door. She spread out the map, and the two girls started to study it.

After a few minutes, Berlina said, “It looks like everything of interest is up into something called ‘The Forlorn Mountains'. The Black Fortress of the Ultimate Wizards is to the north and some place labeled ‘Castle of Prince Quince'. Prince Quince?”

“That's one heck of a name,” said Felistia. “Look, there's some faint writing…your spell didn't copy it too well. It looks like someone crossed out Quince and wrote…damn, it says Drailsen!”

“Your eyes are better than mine, Fee. I can hardly see anything there. If someone obliterated the original name, that suggests Drailsen conquered this Prince Quince and took over his castle. That's very likely where he has taken Darvid.”

“You don't think that Zatarra might have had Darvid taken to that ‘Ultimate Magic' place? It sounds like somewhere a sorcerer would go.”

“I suppose that could be, but a few months back, before this mess started, I heard some rumors. There is supposed to be bad blood, severe animosity, between the sorcerers and the wizards. I'm not sure about the distinction between the two groups. Both are magic users, but they are different. Zatarra's group has the Sorcerer's Retreat off to the west of the High Palace. That's the place my mother wants to send me. I think these Ultimate Wizards, way off in the east, are the other group.”

“They don't cooperate with one another?”

“Not from the stories I heard. Forsythia mentioned some sort of rivalry, but she didn't give any details. Based on what little I know, I think Zatarra and Drailsen are taking some pretty big risks by using that Quince castle so close to the Ultimate Wizards. However, that's their problem, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is. Here's hoping they trip over their own feet on it.”

Berlina rolled up the map and put it away in a corner of the room. Then, just to be safe, she cast a concealment spell on it.

Berlina put down her quill and sprinkled a little sand on the parchment. Shaking it off, she handed the letter to Felistia and asked, “What do you think?”

To Her Royal Majesty, Queen Regent Lystia

My dearest Mother, we
—
Felistia and I
—
are bored to death, remaining here in our quarters. You have sent home the women from the Order of the Flowers, so I no longer have classes to attend. The merchant who deals in books said he has supplied us with every book available in the kingdom, and it will be months before he can import more. We are bored, bored, bored.

However, tomorrow is the monthly Faire. It is, as you know, held in the palace courtyard, so
if we were to attend it, we would still technically be remaining in the palace and properly protected. We ask your gracious permission to attend the Faire.

Your loving daughter,

Berlina

Felistia nodded. “It looks good to me, but other than relieving the boredom of the last few weeks in this room, what are you up to?”

“This might be the best chance we will get to escape, get out of the palace, and go looking for my brother. During the Faire, the doors into the palace itself are well locked and guarded, but th
e
outside gates have so many people streaming in and out that getting through them will be easy.”

Berlina took the letter back, rolled it, tied it, and put her seal on it. She went to the door and banged on it until one of the guards opened the little window. She pushed the letter through the window and said, “This must be delivered to my mother, the queen, as soon as may be. The messenger must also wait for a reply.”

The guard took the letter, bowed respectfully, and closed the window. Berlina sat down to wait. It was almost an hour later that the little window reopened, and the guard said, “Here is your reply, Your Highness.”

Berlina took the parchment from him. As he shut the window, she unrolled the letter.

To Her Royal Highness, Princess Berlina

My darling daughter, I understand your feelings, but I must keep you safe. My faithful advisor Zatarra, who has just returned from a trip, agrees with you that you will be safe at the Faire. You and your companion may attend, but guards must accompany you at all times. Also, you must not dress as a princess but must wear garb that makes you look like the daughter of one of the merchants. I have given orders that your guards will come to your room tomorrow and escort you. You will return to your quarters an hour before the Faire closes. Enjoy yourself.

Your loving mother,

Queen Regent Lystia

“Great. We'll have almost the entire day to escape,” said Berlina. “Probably the best time is just after lunchtime. Everyone gets a little drowsy then.”

“How are we going to do it?”

“Simple. We provide some sort of distraction for our guards. While their attention is off us, a glamour changes the merchant's daughters into two frowzy barmaids they never saw before. They will be looking for us as we were and hunting all over to see where we've gone. They will never even think of watching what two barmaids do.”

“Bee, you are brilliant! I love it,” said Felistia with a smile.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Two seamstresses entered with clothing suitable for a merchant's family and proceeded to fit the garments to the two girls.

After they finished and left, Berlina took a vest-like item of clothing, opened a seam, and concealed the map of the eastern lands inside. She sewed it back together and said, “There. This way, I have it with me, but nobody will see it or question it. I guess we're all set for tomorrow.”

* * * *

The next morning, the girls got dressed in their merchant clothes, so they would be ready when the guards arrived. Berlina looked longingly at her sword and said, “I wish I could take this along. It would certainly be handy to have once we get out, but I can't think of any good reason to wear it.”

“Bee, is that sword special or just an ordinary weapon with a spell on it? Does your mother know you have it?” asked Felistia.

“It's lighter than most men's swords, nicely balanced for a woman, but other than that, no. It's nothing special. As for my mother, I doubt she has ever given my having a sword a passing thought. She thinks swords—weapons—are for men.”

“Then leave it here. There will almost certainly be some arms dealers at the Faire, and with luck, you can find a sword that suits you. Buy it and put a similar spell on it. If the guards watch you buy it, they won't think anything about you having it or wearing it.”

“Fee, you are brilliant! I'll do just that.” She put the sword away and finished getting ready.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and three guards arrived to escort the girls down to the Faire. The lead guard said to Berlina, “Your Royal Highness, I wish you to know that I have nothing but respect for you. I would, in ordinary circumstances, never address my princess in anything but the proper manner. However, I have orders that—once we leave this room—my men and I are to address you and your companion simply as ‘Milady'. I hope this will not cause you any undue concern.”

Berlina laughed. “Orders from my mother, no doubt. Don't worry. I can put up with it. I shall not be insulted. It's just part of the disguise.”

The guard looked relieved he was not going to have any trouble. He headed out the door, followed by the two girls who were followed by the other two guards. They all went down to the Faire.

People filled the courtyard, wandering, looking, buying, and selling. The two girls blended right in with the crowd. The guards stayed close enough to be sure they could protect their charges, but remained as unobtrusive as possible.

In the booth of a jewelry dealer, Berlina bought herself a bracelet, and Felistia bought a necklace. Several other booths that they went into had nothing of interest, and they didn't stay long. Between booths, the girls bought a few snacks from roving vendors.

One booth looked interesting, so the girls entered and started checking out the goods. Suddenly, Berlina gave a shriek. The guards whirled around to see what the problem was, and even Felistia asked, “Bee! What's the matter?”

Berlina turned around with something in her hand. “No, no. Nothing is wrong. I was just so surprised.” She lifted what she was holding, showing it to be a book. “I found a book I have never read…it's so hard to get new books.”

Everyone relaxed as Berlina took the book over to the merchant to pay for it before stuffing it in her bag. “Not cheap,” she said to Felistia. “Good thing I brought plenty of gold.”

After leaving that tent, the two girls headed off to a part of the Faire they hadn't seen, yet. As they approached an isolated group of tents, their head guard spoke. “Milady, I am not sure you should be going into that area. Those are all the arms merchants and sword dealers. It is the policy of the Faire to keep all of those together but separated from everything else. It is not always the safest of places to be.”

“Have you orders to keep me away from there?”

“No, Milady. Just my concern. Often, several men will go in looking for swords at the same time. In the course of their trying out the wares, a full-scale sword fight will develop. I have heard of bystanders being hurt.”

“Well,” said Berlina, “I wish to look at swords. If I am not forbidden, I shall do so.” She turned and walked into the first sword dealer's tent, and began searching for a weapon that would fit her. Felistia and the guards followed.

Halfway down the first row of swords, she heard a familiar voice say, “You are in the wrong tent, Berlina.”

She spun around and found herself facing Forsythia. “What do you mean by the wrong tent? What are you doing here?”

“I am just visiting the Faire, like all the others around us. I know what you need, and I know you will not find it here. Go to the tent decorated with the black and white stripes, and seek the Black Sword therein. It is what you want, what you need. It is already enchanted. You will have no need to cast spells upon it. One of the enchantments is to make it look old and rusty. Another is to make it impossible for it to be drawn from its scabbard by others…by anyone except you, or perhaps your trusted companions.”

Berlina looked at Forsythia for a moment, then said, “Why not? Your advice has always been good.” She turned to her companion and said, “Come on, Fee. I think it would be better to look in a different tent. …perhaps the black and white striped one.” She headed out and down the row to the striped tent with Felistia and the guards trailing.

“Bee, why do you suddenly think that other tent is the proper place to go?”

Berlina stopped and asked, “Did you not hear what I was told by Forsythia?”

“No, I heard nothing. Nor did I see Forsythia. I haven't seen her since the queen chased all of the Order of the Flowers out of the palace. Did you see her?”

“Yes, I did. Perhaps, it was a vision, or maybe a projection—an astral image. I saw her clearly and heard her tell me which tent to go to. However it happened, I am inclined to follow her advice.” She started walking again and entered the striped tent.

All manner of swords filled this tent, just as the other one had been. On the back wall hung a large frame. Inside was a strange sword in a pitch-black scabbard; it's silver hilt tarnished by rust stains. Berlina walked up to the proprietor, pointed to the black sword, and said, “I am interested in that one.”

“Ma'am, we are not even sure that is a real sword. No one has been able to draw it from its sheath. We fear it may just be a rusted, broken off hilt welded to the top of the scabbard. I'm sure I can find you something better.”

“No,” said Berlina. “I want that one. Please get it down for me.”

The man looked at her and shrugged. “Of course, of course, but you'll see.” He reached up, took the sword, and handed it to Berlina. She took it and grasped the hilt. It seemed to writhe in her hand for a moment until it fit perfectly. She pulled on the hilt, and the sword slid out of the scabbard, revealing a midnight black blade.

The proprietor watched the process with a shocked expression. “That sword has hung on my wall, on my father's wall, and on my grandfather's wall for over fifty years. You are the first in all that time to be able to draw it. The story passed down to me is that it is the legendary Black Sword—the enchanted blade of many kings and warriors. Now, it has accepted you as its new owner. Congratulations.”

“What do I owe you for it?” asked Berlina.

“Nothing, nothing at all. That sword is above price, above money. Enchanted, it is! You will, however, need a belt on which to wear it. For that, the price will be one gold piece. Is that satisfactory?”

“That will be fine.” She handed him the gold piece, took the belt he gave her, buckled it on, and sheathed the Black Sword.

Felistia looked at her and said, “You know, that sword is difficult to see. It was clearly visible when it hung up on the wall, but now, it somehow blends in with your garments. One has to look carefully to tell that you are armed. I think ‘enchanted' is a very good word for it.”

Berlina nodded, and they all left the tent, only to run into several warriors in maroon and orange surcoats—the colors of Prince Drailsen. Their leader pointed at the princess and said, “See, I was told she would be here. Get her, men.”

Berlina's guards had their swords out in a flash, but the men of Prince Drailsen were ready for them, and steel met steel with resounding clangs.

The leader of the Drailsen troops—the one who had spoken—tried to grab Berlina. However, the princess had already drawn the Black Sword. The man gave a horrible scream as first his right hand and then his left fell to the ground, leaving both wrists spouting blood. The warrior stood for a moment before he collapsed and joined his hands on the ground. As his men saw what happened to their leader, they tried to get away but were quickly cut down by Berlina's guards.

Berlina surveyed the pile of bodies in their maroon and orange colors, then said, “Somebody call for trash cleanup, and I mean trash. Anyone who would wear those colors as their family insignia is nothing but!” She signaled to Felistia and her guards, and she started to walk away from the scene, sheathing her Black Sword as she did so. Her guards were shaking their heads in amazement over what they had seen the princess do.

Before they had gotten more than a few feet, Berlina and her group found themselves surrounded by a different group of a dozen or more palace troops, their commander demanding, “What is going on here?”

Berlina's head guard stepped forward to the commander, hands carefully held away from his weapons, and said, “Sir, there are special circumstances here. I suggest you talk to this young lady.” He pointed to Berlina, then continued, “Whatever you may see or hear, you must address her as ‘Milady', and not by any other title.”

The commander turned to Berlina. She took hold of the chain around her neck and lifted into view the gold medallion and silver key identifying her as the princess. On seeing it, the commander stepped backward in shock. “Of course, of course, Your…er, Milady. Perhaps you would care to explain to me?”