Chapter 51

Naomi felt dizzy from the thin air. “We need to get out of here before we can't,” wheezed Mr. Squibbles. She jabbed her finger, and blood spilled onto the horn. The purple desert went dark, and when there was light again, Naomi’s eyes were assaulted by so many shades of green that she looked down to make sure that she wasn’t green too, but there was plenty of air. She took deep breathes in relief, but they weren’t alone in their new location.

Naomi wasn’t sure if the being in front of her was standing or sitting, but it definitely had a tree growing out of its head. It said something in a voice that was not comprehensible, not just the words but also the very sound was impossible to understand. It was like the sound of bark grinding and liquid leaves. The being raised an appendage that could be an arm with fingers, except there were roots and leaves hanging off of it. It pointed one long root at them and said something even louder in its mulching voice.

“What is that thing?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s happy to see us.”

“Where are we?” The room was huge. The walls went up and up with a slight curve. She couldn’t see the ceiling due to the clouds that were in the way. A dull thumping sound was coming their way. It sounded sort of like marching stumps.

“Oh shit, I think those are guards. Prick your finger! Prick your finger!” Naomi listened to the mouse and hastily pressed her pricked finger to the horn. The scene went dark.

She groaned when she looked around at their latest destination. She could tell right off that they had messed up again. This world was full of large pastel geometric shapes that looked plastic. At least, nothing looked sentient. At least, Naomi assumed the large geometric shapes weren’t sentient. They very well could be she supposed, but they did not seem to be calling for guards or anything due to her sudden arrival in their midst.

“Mr. Squibbles, this isn’t working.”

“You think?”

“Did the unicorn tell you anything about teleporting back?” she asked.

“No, but then I didn’t ask.”

“Lovely. What are we supposed to do? We can’t keep blindly jumping from one world to the next. The next world might kill us simply by going to it. We could teleport into a volcano or something. I don’t want to do that.”

“And you think I do? How about you visualize someplace on our world when you do it next?”

“I’m pretty sure I was doing that all along,” Naomi huffed.

“Well, think about it harder. The unicorns can’t simply jump blindly like we are.”
Naomi pictured Agatha’s hut as clearly as possible. She held the image in her mind’s eye as she bled onto the horn one more time. She closed her eyes as she felt the shift. She cautiously opened one eye and looked straight at the old heavy door of Agatha’s hut. She threw her head back in relief at the familiar sight.

“Thank the dark gods, we made it,” Mr. Squibbles said.

Naomi rapped on the door. Agatha jerked the door open with a scowl on her face which melted away as she took in who was standing before her. Naomi scuffed her shoe on the ground and looked up at Agatha through her lashes.

“Heard you could use my help,” she said.

Agatha released a whoop of laughter and lunged out to hug her. Naomi stiffened in surprise and relaxed as the witch’s laughter infected her. She hugged the older woman back and giggled.

“Amazing,” the witch said. “I sent Mr. Squibbles away just this morning, and here you are on my doorstep in the evening.” She ushered Naomi into the hut. She sat her down by the fire and took a seat across from her.

“Tell me about Tavik,” Naomi asked.

Agatha leaned back in her chair and rubbed her brow as she stared sideways at the fire. Her actions did not make Naomi confident of the news. “He’s sick, Naomi. I’ve tried to cure him, but nothing I do helps, and he grows frustrated with me. I’m not sure he wants to get better.”

“Is he at the castle now?” she asked. At Agatha’s nod, Naomi stood up. “Then I should go there. He’ll want to see me.”

Agatha nodded again and heaved herself up out of her chair. Naomi felt a twinge of guilt at making the woman move. She was obviously weary. “Let me change, and we’ll be on our way.” Naomi waited for the older woman. The cottage looked the same as it had, though more things were scattered about. Agatha had been busy making potions and casting spells to help keep things under control. Naomi ran her fingers over a bundle of dried herbs. A whiff of spicy smoke tickled her nose. Naomi turned and saw the last moments of the witch’s transformation.

Naomi raised an eyebrow at the black cat that came to stand at her feet. “No need to strain the horse when we don’t have to,” the witch reasoned. Naomi shook her head and went outside. The horse was tethered to a rail outside the house. The horse had been behind Naomi when she teleported to Agatha’s door and had gone completely unnoticed by her. Naomi was pleased to recognize Stomper. She stroked the large horse’s head. The horse appeared to remember her too and good naturedly rubbed his head against her. She climbed onto the horse’s back and waited for Agatha to spring up too. When everyone was situated, Naomi turned the horse in the general direction of the castle. Mr. Squibbles had taken his usual place between the horse’s ears and quietly directed the horse to where they wanted to go. This left Naomi time to talk more with the witch.

“Does everyone know you’re Tavik’s mother?”

She shook her head. “Tavik still wears the helm and keeps his secrets.”

“What did he tell them about me?” Naomi asked.

Agatha shrugged. “You ran away. Lord Tavik searched for you but could not find you. The consensus is Umbreks got you.”

Naomi’s back stiffened. It was the most likely story, but the idea that she had left Tavik willingly, while true at one time was far from the truth now. “No one will be very happy to see me then.”

“Tavik will.”

“But…” Naomi said sensing more.

Agatha heaved a big sigh which sounded strange coming from a cat. “Tavik has not confided in me. I don’t know if he confides in anyone, but I suspect Errilol is behind his illness.”

“The god won’t like that he stopped fighting,” Naomi said.

“It’s a bad business all around. Tavik won’t be able to escape the god unscathed. We can only hope the god’s displeasure won’t kill him.” Naomi felt helpless thinking about how to deal with a god.

“What can we do?” She hated how bleak her voice sounded.

“We’ll help as much as we can. Don’t worry, Naomi. Seeing you will ease Tavik’s troubles a great deal.” Naomi stroked the cat’s head without thinking, but Agatha’s purr told her that her action was not amiss. She scratched behind the feline’s ears and was comforted.

Naomi half expected them to go through the secret passage to gain entrance in the castle but chided herself for being silly. They didn’t need subterfuge. She was returning to stay. Mr. Squibbles had directed the horse to the front gates. They stopped before them, and Agatha hopped down. Naomi expected the witch to change back to her human form, but the witch did not. The guards stopped Naomi from questioning the witch.

“Who goes there?” one shouted.

Naomi swallowed and wondered how to announce herself. Simple was best she decided. “Lady Alyssa, Tavik’s wife,” she shouted back.

“Who?” the guard asked, but in the glow of their lanterns, Naomi saw the other guard grab the first guard’s arm and whisper into his ear. He squinted down at Naomi to see her.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“I want to see Lord Tavik,” she said.

“And what makes you think our lord wants to see you?” the guard asked snidely. The men obviously didn’t hold a high opinion of her due to her abandonment. Considering what they’d been told, Naomi couldn’t blame them, but she couldn’t help the frustration that bubbled up in her. They should’ve taken the secret passage. It went directly into Tavik’s chamber after all.

“Why don’t you ask him?” she snapped back. Neither guard moved for a moment. The one who’d spoken to her smirked down at her. They could very well keep her at the gate the whole night she thought. Why didn’t Agatha change back? They would let her in. She was their ally now. She glanced down at Agatha and found the witch was no longer at the horse’s feet. She’d run off somewhere. Naomi hoped it was to get her help because neither guard was budging from his post.

“Lady Alyssa?” called a familiar voice. Naomi felt a relieved smile stretch her mouth as she identified Geoff. The stablemaster joined the guards in the look out and peered down at her. “Are you alone?”

Naomi thought better of acknowledging Mr. Squibbles’ presence. “Yes, may I come in?” Geoff stared down at her for a few more beats. Naomi began to worry that he would join the guards in keeping her out.

“Lord Tavik will want to see her. Let her in,” he told the two guards. They nodded and called for the huge gates to be opened. Stomper slipped between the gates, and someone came to take the horse’s reins. Naomi dismounted without an offer of help from any of the men standing around her. She felt icy stares directed at her from all sides. Mr. Squibbles had retreated to her bag and stayed out of sight.

Geoff bobbed his head and touched his forelock, but no one else gave her any greeting, and Geoff’s motions were rather timid and cursoury. There was no smile on his face.

“So you have returned.”

Naomi turned and looked up at the stern visage of Mrs. Boon. She stood in the main doorway of the castle. Her hands folded over her white apron, which seemed to glow in the dim light. Naomi gave her a small bob in greeting, but Mrs. Boon didn’t acknowledge it. “Please follow me.” Naomi thought that please was the last word Mrs. Boon wanted to say to her. Naomi dashed to keep up. She felt each of the guards eyes on her until they were through the great doors.

“You look well, Lady Alyssa,” she said.

“It feels like I haven’t been gone at all,” she said before she could think better of it. Mrs. Boon’s face hardened and her eyes narrowed.

“Lord Tavik would disagree.” Naomi cast her eyes to the ground. All of the animosity and unhappiness was making her feel guilty, though she knew she was innocent.

Once she saw Tavik, everything would be all right she assured herself. Mrs. Boon led her through the castle at a brisk pace. She realized she was leading her to her old suite as they progressed. She halted at her door and turned to her. “Yula will tend to you in the morning,” she told her.

Naomi was surprised to hear her old friend was there. “Thank you, Mrs. Boon,” she said. Mrs. Boons’s eyes flicked over her. Naomi wanted to say something to the housekeeper to make her friendlier to her, but thought that no matter what she’d done Mrs. Boon would always look down on her. Mrs. Boon opened her door with a curtsy, and Naomi slid past her. She turned to say something more to Mrs. Boon. Maybe ask her how she was, but she was already closing the door, and Naomi jumped when she heard the lock click. She tried the door, but it was bolted tight. It did not even rattle under her hand. Naomi turned from the door to take in the room. The air was a little musty from being closed up for the months she was gone. She wandered around the room. She wondered how long it would be before Tavik came to see her.

She took off her cloak and draped it over a chair. Mr. Squibbles climbed out of the hood and looked up at her. “An icy reception.”

“I can’t blame them considering what they were told,” she said sitting at the table. Naomi waited for Tavik to arrive. The candles burned lower. Her eyes drooped. “What’s keeping him?” she asked. It had been over an hour she was sure.

“I’ll go and see.” Mr. Squibbles ran under her bed and disappeared. More time went by. She grew sleepier. She got up and paced. She found her eyes lingering on the bed longer and longer as she went by it. If he were unwell, he could already be asleep, and no one might want to rouse him. She didn’t have to see him that night. They’d have all the same things to say to each other the next day she was sure. Naomi found one of her nightgowns in the chest at the bed and changed into it. After blowing out the candles, she slipped into bed.

The morning light woke Naomi. She sat up and looked around. No one had come to wake her. She’d expected Yula’s cheerful voice to rouse her, but the old maid had not appeared yet. Naomi got up and stretched. Where was everyone? Agatha and Mr. Squibbles should’ve come to check in on her. Her stomach gave a gurgle. Breakfast would be nice. She dived back into her clothes trunk and found a gown to put on. She dressed and since no one had still appeared to tell her what was going on, she tried the door. It was still locked. Dread started to creep upon her. She knocked on the door hoping to receive answer, but no one spoke from the other side. She went to the windows to open one and look outside, but the windows were nailed shut. She stared down at the courtyard. There were people down there moving about their daily activities, but no one looked up at her. She beat upon the window to get their attention, but either they did not hear her, or they ignored her. What was going on?
She sat down at the table to think. Other than something very drastic, she didn’t know what to do. Where was Mr. Squibbles? He could surely come to her. She climbed underneath the bed, ignoring how ridiculous her actions were and got close to the mouse hole Mr. Squibbles used to travel from her room.

“Mr. Squibbles, please come out! What’s going on? Mr. Squibbles,” she called. She heard the door unlock, and Naomi began scrambling out from under the bed eager to see Yula.

“Lady Alyssa?” Naomi winced. It wasn’t Yula. She straightened and began brushing dust bunnies off of her dress.

“A candle rolled under the bed. I can’t get it,” she lied. Mrs. Boon pursed her lips. She set the tray she carried onto the table.

“Where’s Yula?” Naomi asked.

“Yula is tending to other matters this morning.” Naomi frowned. She’d wanted to see her friend.

“What about Tavik?”

“Lord Tavik is tending to other matters,” Mrs. Boon answered. Naomi did not like her answers.

“Thank you for bringing me my breakfast. I’m sure you’re very busy,” Naomi said. Mrs. Boon did not reply. Naomi cautiously sat down in front of the tray. She didn’t feel comfortable eating with Mrs. Boon. She wasn’t comfortable with Mrs. Boon period. The housekeeper hadn’t been a fan of Naomi when she’d first stayed in the castle.

“When will Lord Tavik be able to see me?” She took a sip of her fruit drink. Mrs. Boon shrugged.

“Our lord is very busy. I don’t know when he’ll have time to see you.” Naomi’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the housekeeper.

“He does know I’m back, doesn’t he?” she asked.

Mrs. Boon shrugged again, but Naomi thought she detected a malevolent glint in the housekeeper’s eye. “I’m sure someone will tell him.”

“He’ll want to know I’m here.”

Mrs. Boon nodded, but it was insincere. “I’m sorry, my lady, but like you observed before, I am very busy. Please excuse me.”

“Wait!” Naomi said getting up to follow the housekeeper to the door. Mrs. Boon opened the door and moved to close it. Naomi grabbed the door and pulled it open. Two guards turned toward her.

“You can’t keep me prisoner!”

“Of course not, Lady Alyssa. These two guards are merely here for your safety,” Mrs. Boon assured her. She tugged hard on the door. Not seeing any point in struggling, Naomi released the door, and it slammed shut. She thought she heard Mrs. Boon stumble back and curse. The lock clicked again. Naomi could not believe how lousy her situation was. She was being kept prisoner in a castle she was supposed to practically rule. She sat down and stared at her breakfast. Tavik didn’t know she was back. She was sure of that. How could they keep her a secret from him? The thought that Geoff was in on the subterfuge upset her. She didn’t think Yula was, but maybe they’d gotten her out of the way somehow. She hoped she wasn't locked up like her. Where were Mr. Squibbles and Agatha? Did they know this would happen when they brought her back? If not, what were they doing to remedy the situation? If they knew, how could they have led her into it? Naomi pushed her eggs around on her plate with her fork. She felt betrayed, but she didn’t know by whom. What if Tavik knew and had ordered this? The thought made her cold.

Continue the Chapter 52.