True Heart (4 page)

T
he next morning the crowds were even thicker.

Road dust hung in the air.

Kip kept sneezing.

“There it is!” someone finally shouted.

Heart looked up.

The city of Bidenfast had been built high on a hill.

The houses reminded Heart of Derrytown. They were tall, and some of them were pretty.

But the castle towered above the town.

Its stone was the color of storm clouds.

Heart moved forward, trapped by the crowds.

She kept Kip close.

Avamir and Moonsilver walked side by side, placing their hooves carefully.

Slowly the river of people and wagons neared the city gates.

Heart saw guardsmen standing on both sides.

“Keep your head down,” Heart murmured, hoping Moonsilver wouldn't start prancing to show off his armor.

Avamir nickered softly.

Moonsilver stopped, pulling his halter from Heart's hand.

She turned, startled, as he dropped back and lowered his head.

His long, armor-covered horn fit against his mother's side.

Heart watched carefully.

The guards kept scanning the crowds as they passed through.

None of them seemed to notice the unicorns.

Heart exhaled as they inched their way forward.

Heart looked up the hill, staring at the castle.

It reminded her of Dunraven's. Maybe all castles looked cold and hard.

Easing to one side of the throngs of people,
Heart finally managed to turn up a less crowded street.

“Do you know where the Gypsies are?” she asked a farmer leading a mule.

The man shook his head. “Just got here last night. I can't find a stable for Worthy.” He patted his mule. “Can't even find my brothers. We were to meet at the gates, but …”

He trailed off, and Heart nodded. It would be impossible to find anyone in the crowds outside the city.

She wished the man good fortune and went on, walking up the street, then turning down a lane with tall houses. A boardwalk rose above the dust. Heart heard women laughing and looked up.

Two women dressed in city clothing were walking toward her.

She asked them the same question.

“In the square below the East Gate, aren't they, Mara?” one woman asked the other.

“The Gypsies?” the second woman answered.
“No. They're on the green above the old library building.”

The first woman nodded. “That's right. The Gypsies are on the hill. It's the trained bears that are caged by East Gate.”

“Library?” Heart asked. Joseph had used the word. “Are there books there?”

The woman frowned. “I don't know. No one goes there but the nobles.”

“Can you tell me the way?” Heart asked.

The woman began talking and pointing.

Heart listened carefully.

The directions were easy.

The hard part was getting through the streets.

The whole city was a maze of wagons and carts.

Men sold cakes and breads from pushcarts.

Tents of bright cloth had been set up everywhere.

Women were selling embroidered blouses, baskets, silver earrings, cabbages, leather boots, and a hundred other things.

It was like a market square that filled the whole city.

Heart had to let go of Moonsilver's halter so they could walk single file.

She kept glancing back at him, then at Kip, as she wove a path through the crowds.

Heart was tired and hungry.

She could tell the unicorns were weary too.

She longed to be back in the forest, camping in a meadow where they could all rest.

But the noise of the crowds beat at her ears.

It blended with the colors and smells until she felt nearly dizzy.

When they finally made the last turn, Heart looked up the wide street.

There was a huge stone building on one side. Lions carved out of marble were at the gates.

Beyond it Heart saw trees and more houses. Then the street narrowed and went up a hill.

At the very end of the lane trees framed a little meadow. Heart saw a blue wagon.

It was Binney's!

Joy and relief lifting her feet, Heart walked faster.

Kip barked and raced in a circle.

Heart called to him to stay close.

Avamir raised her head and nickered.

Moonsilver began to prance, and the plumes on his armor swayed and nodded.

When they got to the steepest part of the hill, Heart could see more of the wagons. There was Zim's and Talia's aunt's and the red one that belonged to Davey and his parents.

Heart's eyes were stinging, and she hoped that she wouldn't start crying when she saw Binney.

Avamir shook her mane.

Heart reached out to touch the mare's neck.

Binney was going to be so surprised. They all would be.

There would be food and laughter.

And Heart knew she'd get to sleep in a soft bed inside Binney's wagon tonight and …

“Page!”

Heart glanced to one side, not understanding at first.

“Page! Come here!” the guard shouted a second time.

Heart realized the guard was talking to her, and she stumbled to a halt. Avamir and Moonsilver stopped with her. Kip whined and circled them.

“Yes, sir?” Heart said politely.

“Stay away from the Gypsies.”

Heart stared at him. “Why?”

The guard laughed harshly. “Because our new young lord has ordered it. People were thronging up here to get a look.”

“But I know them and—,” Heart began.

The guard laughed again, cutting her off. He shook his head in disbelief, then pointed back down the hill. “The stable on Coal Dust Road is for the lords' horses.” He stepped squarely in front of Heart, scowling.

Heart fought tears. The Gypsies were camped on the other side of the line of wagons.

No one could see her.

No one would know she was here.

The guard took a step toward her. “Did you hear me? Who is your master?”

Heart let out a breath and lowered her eyes. “Yes, sir. I heard you. Thank you, sir.”

She walked in a wide half circle, pretending to lead the unicorns as though they were horses.

Kip trotted close to Avamir's side, his head tilted in confusion.

He whimpered.

Heart walked back down the hill, her eyes full of tears.

CHAPTER SEVEN

H
eart had no intention of going to the royal stables.

She could not imagine a more dangerous place for the unicorns.

She walked in circles for a long time.

She traded a few songs on her flute for enough pennies to buy bread for herself and Kip.

She bought carrots for the unicorns and some cracked corn.

Then, as the day passed, she wondered where she should go to camp.

The streets were clearing out. It was getting chilly.

Heart rounded a corner and saw a line of guardsmen walking toward her.

People moved ahead of them like herded cattle.

Heart stopped.

She turned around, hurrying back the way she had come.

She headed down another street, thinking hard.

Maybe she should leave the city and make her way back to the forest to camp. But it was so far, and they were all so tired.

“Curfew!” someone called.

Heart looked up, puzzled.

“No one allowed on the streets past six,” a guard was shouting. “Make your way to your lodgings and camps now.”

Heart saw another line of guards. People walked in front of them, too. Behind them the street was empty.

“Page!” one of them shouted. “The stables are that way!” He pointed. “I'll show you,” he called when she didn't respond. He walked toward her, stern faced.

Terrified, Heart could only follow him through the streets.

He walked fast.

“There,” he said after a few minutes. “Is your lord riding this one in the parades?” He jerked his thumb at Moonsilver.

Heart smiled, trying not to look as frightened as she was.

“Here's another one!” the man shouted to the guards outside the stables. Then he turned to leave.

A tall man walked Heart inside. “There are a few empty stalls. Just look until you find one.”

Heart nodded, her hand trembling on the unicorns' halters. Kip trotted silently, his ears and tail down.

The stables were dim.

Heart walked up the aisles with fear-stiff knees.

All the pages stared. Their faces were closed, wary. They looked at her with disdain as she passed.

They all wore bright, new tunics. The boys had caps. The girls kept their hair short and neat.

“What happened to that mare?” one of the girls asked as they passed. It was not a kind question. Her voice was sharp and sneering.

Heart kept walking.

Whispers floated down the stable aisle, surrounding her.

“What country lord sent the likes of her here?”

“The armor is filthy.”

“The mare is skinny. I'd be ashamed.”

Heart looked at Avamir. It was true. They had traveled hard since they left the forge.

“The one next to mine is empty.”

This voice was soft. Heart looked up. A girl was gesturing at her. “Down there. At the end of this row.”

Heart nodded. “Thanks.” She was afraid to say more. Her voice was unsteady.

If the unicorns were spotted, there would be no escape. There were guards everywhere.

She opened the stall door with shaking hands.

Moonsilver and Avamir stepped into it. Heart looked around. The hayrack was full. There was a big oaken bucket.

“Stay quiet,” she whispered to Avamir. “Keep Moonsilver calm. I'll be right back with water.”

Kip whined, and she looked down at him. “We
can't go see Binney yet,” she told him. “We just can't.”

“I do that too.” The girl's voice startled Heart into stumbling backward. She kicked her carry-sack, and her book slid onto the straw bedding.

“Sorry!” the girl said. “I only meant to say I talk to my mare too.”

Heart nodded and pushed the book out of sight with her toe.

The girl climbed the gate planks. She leaned forward. “My name is Anna.”

Heart introduced herself.

“What a beautiful name,” Anna said as they clasped hands.

Heart set her carry-sack at the back of the stall. Then she picked up the bucket.

Anna showed her the well.

Heart lowered the bucket, then raised it, dripping and full.

“What lord do you serve?” Anna asked on the way back. “Will you be allowed to go to the Gypsy shows?”

Heart caught her breath. She didn't answer.

“I can't,” Anna said. “Lord Dunraven never lets us out of the stables.”

Anna followed Heart back to the stall. Heart set the bucket in the corner, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

Kip drank first.

A sudden murmur of pages' voices rose in the stable, and Heart turned to look.

Through the wide doors, outlined against the evening sky, Heart saw a boy.

He was sitting down. It looked like he was floating along at shoulder height.