My Very UnFairy Tale Life (5 page)

Chapter 9

When I opened my eyes, it took me a minute to remember what had happened. Then it all came rushing back: the frogs, the Silence, and Klarr's face just inches from mine. I must have passed out.

I sat up and realized I was alone in a dim prison cell. There was no sign of the sorcerer. For now, at least, I was safe. Dr. Bradley was probably coming to rescue me at that very moment. Wait, except that after I'd gone through the portal, he hadn't been able to see me on his big puddle screen, which meant that he had no idea where I was. How had Klarr found me there if the Committee's location was supposed to be secret?

I was in the same dungeon I had tried to rescue Prince Lamb from earlier that day, I realized. Or had it been yesterday? The dungeon was so gloomy that it was hard to tell if it was day or night.

Most of the cells were empty, which meant the prisoners we'd released had managed to get away, but in the cell across from mine was the mouthless boy I'd seen earlier. He was about my age with blond, almost white, curly hair and very pale skin. He looked like he'd never been out in the sun in his life. His round brown eyes glanced over at me, and he held up his hand in a wave.

I gave a weak wave back.

Hello
, a voice said.

I froze.

Don't be afraid. It's only me
.

The boy from the other cell waved again, but I was convinced the voice hadn't come from him. It sounded more like it had actually been in my head.

If
you
try
to
speak
with
your
mind, I should be able to hear you
, the voice said.

I tried to form a coherent thought.
Is this thing on?

Yes!
came the reply. The boy waved one more time.

How
are
you
doing
this?
I asked.

It's called mind-speaking. It's a skill the creatures of my land developed in secret after Klarr cast his spell on us. I suppose it's our own small form of rebellion
.

I'm Jenny
.

Welcome
to
the
dungeon, Jenny. I'm Prince Lamb
.

I jumped off the bunk and ran to the prison bars.
You're Prince Lamb? But you're supposed to be a sheep!

The boy nodded sadly.
Klarr
changed
me
from
my
sheep
form
into
this
.

But
why?

Because
it's better for his act
.

His
act?
I repeated.

I
guess
humans
have
better
acrobatic
skills
, said the prince.
My
mother
will
be
devastated. She won't want her son to be a freak
. The prince glanced up at me.
No
offense
.

I probably should have been miffed at being called a freak, but all I cared about was getting out of the dungeon. I tested the metal bars of the cell, but each one felt solid, as did the lock on the door. There was a tiny window by the ceiling, but there were thick bars across it too.

I
recognize
you
, said Prince Lamb.
You
were
here
earlier
with
the
two
frogs. I saw Klarr attack you and take away your mouth
.

We
were
trying
to
rescue
you
.
Now
Klarr
is
probably
going
to
kill
me
.

If
he
was
going
to
kill
you, he would have done it already
, said the prince.
He
probably
only
wants
to
torture
you
.

Oh, what a relief!

It's not so bad
, Prince Lamb replied. Then his face darkened.
Except
when
he
makes
us
walk
the
tightrope. And the trapeze gives me nightmares for days
.

Don't worry
, I said.
I'll find a way to get us out of here
.

Our conversation was interrupted by the clanging of approaching armor. Three guards came into view, and I could have laughed as I recognized their guinea-pig faces. If they were all that stood between me and freedom, things were not as bad as they seemed.

The guards stopped in front of my cell and studied me for a moment.

“We know you,” said one.

“You tricked us,” said another.

“Where did your mouth go?” asked the third.

“She must be the one the sorcerer brought in,” said the first. The other two nodded in agreement.

“He does like putting humans in his act,” said the second.

“Shouldn't he be here by now?” asked the third.

The last guard's words sent me into panic mode. Klarr was on his way here! I had to find a way out
now
!

There had to be some way to get past the guards. I looked them over and caught sight of the keys dangling at their waists. If I could distract them and get my hands on one of those sets of keys…

I glanced across the corridor and sent Prince Lamb a message:
I
have
a
plan. Pretend to be really sick
.

The prince looked uncertain for a moment. Then he threw himself onto the ground and started writhing in fake pain. I pointed frantically to get the guards' attentions.

“Something is wrong,” said one of the guards. I was impressed at how real Prince Lamb's act looked.

“He seems to be in bad shape,” said the second.

“What's the matter?” asked the third, kneeling beside the prince.

Then I realized the flaw in my plan. The guards were so concerned about Prince Lamb that they were huddled around him, which meant they were even farther away from me than before.

Act
even
worse
, I told the prince.
Try
to
scare
them
.

Prince Lamb crawled toward the edge of his cell. Then he started throwing himself against the bars, as if he were trying to break them down.

“Stop!” said one of the guards.

“You'll hurt yourself,” said another.

“Help?” whimpered the third guard as he backed away. He drew closer and closer to my cell until he was right in front of me. Carefully, I reached out and wrapped my fingers around the keys. Then I lifted them off the guard's belt and quickly hid them behind my back.

You
can
stop
now
, I told the prince.

Prince Lamb's frantic movements ended. He fell onto the ground and lay still.

“Look,” said the first guard.

“He seems better,” said the second.

“Do you think it's contagious?” asked the third, his voice shaking.

The guards looked at each other and quickly scampered down the hallway. I wanted to laugh as I held the keys up for Prince Lamb to see. His eyes lit up.

Let's get out of here
, he said.

As quietly as I could, I unlocked my cell door and crept over to unlock Prince Lamb's. Finally free, we trotted down the hallway, on the lookout for any danger. When we got to the end of the corridor, we spotted the three guinea-pig guards furiously eating heads of lettuce, their ears shaking. I had never seen creatures shoveling food into their mouths so fast.

They
eat
when
they're nervous
, the prince told me.
They
probably
won't even notice we're here
.

We tiptoed around the guards as the sounds of crunching and munching continued. We were almost at the stairs that led out of the dungeon when a loud horn sounded outside.

“Stop them!” one of the guinea pigs cried.

The prince and I scrambled up the stairs as fast as we could, the guards right behind us. When we finally got out into the daylight, we darted around the circle of dancing bear statues. I glanced over my shoulder. The guards were still following, but their short legs weren't carrying them fast enough.

We
just
have
to
get
into
the
woods
, I said.

We ran even faster until we were among the thick trees. The prince and I wove around branches, under vines, and over rocks. Finally, after we'd waded through a stream, the woods around us were quiet. I pulled Prince Lamb behind a giant tree stump and listened.

I
think
we
lost
them
, I said, trying to ignore the squishiness of my wet shoes.
Now
what
do
we
do?

Prince Lamb breathed hard through his nose.
We
must
return
to
my
kingdom
.

Are
you
sure
you
want
to
do
that? Klarr will probably send soldiers there to look for you
.

My
mother
needs
to
know
I'm all right. After that, I'll go into hiding
.

I shrugged. My mission was to rescue the prince. If he wanted to get himself kidnapped again, that was his business.

We continued on our way, stopping every few minutes to make sure no one was following us. We'd been lucky to lose the guards so easily.

A long while later, when my legs were turning into jelly and my wet feet were starting to feel moldy, we came out into a clearing. I could still make out the giant towers of Klarr's castle over the treetops.

Can
we
rest
for
a
moment?
said Prince Lamb.
Traveling
on
two
legs
is
much
more
tiring
than
traveling
on
four
.

We're still too close to Klarr's castle
, I said.
We
need
to
keep
moving
.

Prince Lamb nodded, but I could see how exhausted he was. I glanced up at the castle again and caught sight of something large with glimmering wings sailing through the sky above us.

It was Halga!

I waved my hands in the air to get the monster's attention, but Halga was too high up to notice. Then I remembered my bracelet. I took it off and dangled it in the air, gently moving it back and forth to make the purple gems catch the light.

After a minute, something like a squeal came from the sky, and Halga rushed at the string of sparkling stones. When the monster was within inches of the bracelet, I pulled it behind my back.

Halga came to a screeching halt directly in front of me. “Give me the shiny thing!” she roared.

I shook my head and hoped I wasn't making a big mistake.

Halga stomped over to me. “Who do you think you are, denying me anything?” Then she sat back, puzzled. “You look familiar but different.”

I nodded encouragingly and tried to mime a frog-like creature with my free hand.

“You're that girl!” said Halga. “The one that came with Crong!”

I jumped up and down, caught in yet another bad game of charades.

“But what are you doing here? And with no mouth? And who is this boy?”

Since I couldn't explain the situation, I put my hands together in a pleading motion.

“You need a favor?” said Halga.

I nodded. Then I pointed in the direction of Queen Ewe's kingdom and mimed flying.

“If anyone sees me helping you, Klarr will punish me for sure,” said Halga. “I already let you into the dungeon, and that was only because Crong asked me to. I can't risk it again.”

I put on my best puppy-dog face, but Halga shook her giant head. “I don't think so, adventurer girl.”

The sound of a clown horn echoed in the woods. We were running out of time. Klarr was out there somewhere, looking for us. There was no way I was going to let that crazy clown catch me again.

Reluctantly, I held up the bracelet and tried to make it clear that if Halga helped us, the bracelet would be her reward.

The monster's eyes lit up. “Would you really give it to me?”

I nodded, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. What did it matter if I had my mother's bracelet if I wasn't alive to appreciate it?

“It's very shiny,” said Halga. “All right. I'll help you.”

I ran my fingers over the purple stones one more time. Then I forced myself to toss the bracelet at the monster. Halga caught it easily in her teeth. Then she crouched down and began to lovingly admire her new treasure.