“We need to get out of here before we can't,” wheezed Mr. Squibbles. He was right. She already felt dizzy from the thin air. She jabbed her finger, and blood spilled onto the horn. The purple desert went dark, and when there was light again, her 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.
She 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 incomprehensible, not just the words but also the very sounds were impossible to understand. Its voice was like bark grinding and liquid leaves. The being raised an appendage that could have been 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. She couldn’t see the ceiling due to the clouds that were in the way. A dull thumping sound was coming toward them. It sounded sort of like marching stumps.
“Oh shit, I think those are guards. Prick your finger! Prick your finger!” Mr. Squibbles said. She hastily pressed her pricked finger to the horn. The scene went dark.
She groaned when she looked around at their newest 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, she 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 one might kill us. 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 in our world when you do it next?”
“I’m pretty sure I was doing that all along.”
“Well, think about it harder. The unicorns can’t simply jump blindly like we are.”
She 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 cottage. She threw her head back in relief at the familiar sight.
“Thank the dark gods, we made it,” Mr. Squibbles said.
That was the second time he'd used that phrase. “Who are the dark gods?”
“No one you don't thank.”
She was pretty sure that was bad grammar but decided to not pursue it. She rapped on the door. Agatha jerked it open with a scowl on her face that melted away when she caught sight of her. Naomi scuffed her shoe on the ground and looked up at her through her lashes. “Heard you could use my help,” she said.
Agatha released a whoop of laughter and lunged out to hug her. She staggered back 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 her into her home and sat her down by the fire.
“Tell me about Tavik,” Naomi said.
Agatha leaned back in her chair and rubbed her brow as she stared sideways at the fire. Her actions did not instill confidence. “He’s sick. I’ve tried to cure him, but nothing I do helps. I’m not sure he wants to get better.”
“Is he at the castle now?” she asked. At Agatha’s nod, she stood up. “Then I should go there. He’ll want to see me.”
Agatha nodded again and heaved herself up out of her chair. She felt a twinge of guilt at making the woman move. She was obviously tired. “Give me a few moments, and we’ll be on our way. You should probably put this on.” She handed her a plain gown and a pair of laced boots. She nodded and began to change. While she shuffled out of her t-shirt and jeans, she sneaked looks around the cottage. It looked the same, though more things were scattered about. Agatha must have been busy making potions and casting spells to help keep things under control. She was tying her boots when a whiff of spicy smoke tickled her nose. She turned and saw the last moments of the witch’s transformation.
She raised an eyebrow as the black cat 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 small tree by the house. He’d been behind Naomi when she teleported to Agatha’s door and had gone completely unnoticed by her. She was pleased to recognize Stomper. She stroked the large horse’s neck. He appeared to remember her too and good naturally rubbed his head against her. She climbed onto his back and waited for Agatha to spring up too. When everyone was situated, she turned the horse in the general direction of the castle. Mr. Squibbles had taken his usual place between the 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?”
Agatha hunched her shoulders. “That you ran away. He searched for you but couldn't find you. The consensus is Umbreks got you.”
Her back stiffened. It was the most likely story, but the idea that she had left Tavik willingly, while true, just felt wrong. Like she'd abandoned him. With unhappy clarity, she realized that she'd done just that. Umbreks, Golgoffs, and an insane god had run her off when he could've used her help. Many would say she'd had every right to leave that it was too much to ask of her, but she'd regretted it the moment she laid eyes again on her kitchen. “No one will be very happy to see me.” And maybe they had every right to be.
“Tavik will be happy.”
“But…” she said sensing more.
Agatha heaved a deep sigh which sounded strange coming from a cat. “He hasn't 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,” she said.
“It’s a bad business all around. He won’t be able to escape the god unscathed. We can only hope the god’s displeasure won’t kill him.”
She 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 him a great deal.” Naomi stroked the cat’s head without thinking, but Agatha’s purr told her that her action was not amiss.
She 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. She expected the witch to change back to her human form, but she did not. The guards appeared before she could ask the witch why.
“Who goes there?” one shouted.
She swallowed and wondered how to announce herself. Simple was best she decided. “Lady Naomi, Tavik’s wife,” she shouted back.
“Who?” the guard asked, but in the glow of their lanterns, she saw the other guard grab the first guard’s arm and whisper into his ear. He squinted down at her.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“I want to see my husband.”
“And what makes you think our lord wants to see you?” the guard asked snidely. The man obviously didn’t hold a high regard of her. Considering what they’d been told, she couldn’t blame him, but she couldn’t help the frustration that bubbled up in her. They should’ve taken the secret passage.
“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. Why didn’t Agatha change back? They would let her in. She was their ally now. She glanced down at her and found the cat was no longer at the horse’s feet. She’d run off somewhere. She hoped it was to get her help because neither guard was budging from his post.
“Lady Naomi?” called a familiar voice. She felt a relieved smile stretch her mouth as she identified Geoff. The stable master joined the guards in the lookout 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. She 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 through them, and someone came to take the horse’s reins. She 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 cursory. There was no smile on his face.
“So you have returned.”
She 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.” She never heard the word please sound more like a command. As she moved to follow the woman's retreating back, she felt all of the guards’ eyes on her. She was very unwelcome here.
“You look well, milady.” The pleasantness of Mrs. Boon's words did not mask her obvious disapproval.
“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 was making her feel even guiltier, but once she saw Tavik, everything would be all right, she reassured 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.
“Aren't you taking me to Tavik?”
“Our lord will come to you.” She halted at her door and turned to her. “Yula will tend to you in the morning.”
She was surprised to hear her old friend was there. “Thank you, Mrs. Boon,” she said. Mrs. Boon’s eyes flicked over her once more. She wanted to say something to the housekeeper to make her friendlier but thought that no matter what she’d done Mrs. Boon would always look down on her. Mrs. Boon opened her door, and she slipped in past her. She turned to say goodnight, 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 didn't even rattle under her hand. She 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 to window and looked up to the sky. The two moons shined down coldly on her. 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. She 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 would 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 found one of her nightgowns in the chest sitting at the foot of the bed and changed into it. After blowing out the candles, she went to sleep and didn't dream.
Bright morning light woke her. She sat up and looked around. No one had come to get her. She’d expected Yula’s cheerful voice to rouse her, but the cook hadn't appeared yet. She got up and stretched. Where was everyone? Agatha and Mr. Squibbles should’ve come to check in on her too. 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 an 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 put her face to the mouse hole.
“Mr. Squibbles, where are you? What’s going on? Mr. Squibbles,” she called. She heard the door unlock, and she scrambled out from under the bed eager to see Yula.
“Lady Naomi?” 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?” she 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.
Feeling a trend, she asked, “What about Geoff?”
“Tending to other matters.”
“It's a shame everyone is so busy. Thank you for bringing me my breakfast. I’m sure you have other matters to tend to.” Mrs. Boon didn't reply. She 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 hers when she’d first stayed in the castle.
“When will Lord Tavik be able to see me?” She took a sip of her milk. Mrs. Boon shrugged.
“Our lord is very busy. I don’t know when he’ll have time to see you.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the housekeeper. “He does know I’m back, doesn’t he?” she asked.
Mrs. Boon shrugged again, but she thought she detected a malevolent glint in her eyes. “I’m sure someone will tell him.”
“He’ll want to know I’m here.”
She nodded, but it was insincere. “I’m sorry, my lady, but like you observed before, I am very busy. Please excuse me.”
“Wait!” She got up to follow the housekeeper to the door. Mrs. Boon opened the door and moved to close it. She grabbed the door and pulled it open. Two guards turned toward her.
“You can’t keep me prisoner!”
“Of course not, milady. These guards are merely here for your safety,” she assured her. She tugged hard on the door. Not seeing any point in struggling, she let it go, and it slammed shut. She thought she heard Mrs. Boon stumble back and curse. The lock clicked again. She 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 or maybe she was gone to live with her sons. 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? She pushed her eggs around on her plate. She felt betrayed, but she didn’t know by whom. What if Tavik knew and had ordered this? The thought made her cold.
The rest of the morning passed slowly and unremarkably. No one came to see her, and it looked like no one would bring her lunch. She was going stir crazy. All she could do was pace, and her feet were beginning to hurt due to all the pacing. She flung herself into a chair and put her head in her hands. Where was Tavik? Where were Agatha, Yula, and Mr. Squibbles for that matter? It was like she’d been forgotten. This was a fine homecoming. She’d given up her nice normal job, nice comfy apartment, and nice loving family for imprisonment, abandonment, and boredom induced insanity. Nothing about her new situation was nice. It was as far from nice as she could think without physical pain coming into the picture. See, a silver lining, she told herself.
“You don’t look very happy.” Seeing the mouse emerge from under the bed, she dropped from the chair and scrambled on hands and knees to him. Mr. Squibbles backed up as if to run back under the bed. She stopped herself from lunging at him but just barely.
“Where have you been? Where is everyone? What’s going on?”
“It seems things have grown worse since Agatha and I were last in the castle. Tavik has fallen severely ill. He’s confined to his bed. Agatha can’t get to him.”
Her stomach dropped at the news. “How sick is he? What’s happened?”
Mr. Squibbles shook his head. “Errilol most likely has upped the ante, but we can’t be sure. The lummoxes have gotten it into their heads that maybe Agatha caused the illness. They found her examining Tavik last night and restrained her. She’s being held in the dungeon.” So the castle did have a dungeon. She hoped it wasn’t as awful as she’d imagined.
“They still don’t know she’s his mother?”
“And they won’t believe it if they’re told now.”
“What about Yula?”
He shook his head again. “I can’t find her. I don’t think she’s in the castle.”
She went to the window to stare blindly out. “What can we do?”
“Don’t worry, Naomi. Agatha and I will think of something.”
A thought struck her. “What about the unicorn horn? I could teleport out of here. Maybe to Tavik!” She went to get the horn out of her cloak.
“No, it’s too dangerous.” She held the horn in her hands, not ready to be dissuaded.
“We don’t have any other options. I’m locked in my room with guards at the door, Agatha’s in the dungeon, and Yula’s MIA. What else can we do?”
“Just hold off on the alicorn for a little bit. Let me look for Yula again. You were the one who warned that the horn might drop you into a place that would kill you just by appearing there.”
“Yeah, but I know where Tavik’s room is. I know what it looks like. I should be able to teleport directly there.”
“Yes, but Tavik is never alone. Mrs. Boon has healers from the temple of Calax with him all day, and guards are stationed at his door day and night. You wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
“There has to be something.”
“Give Agatha and me more time. We’re sure to come up with something.” Naomi tucked the unicorn horn away reluctantly. She hated sitting on her hands, but Mr. Squibbles was right. Accidentally teleporting into a volcano wouldn't help anyone. “I’m going back to Agatha. I’ll come back when we have a plan. Don’t worry yourself too much. We’ll get through this.” She nodded, and the mouse disappeared back underneath the bed. She turned back to the window and watched the people bustle about below.
It was well past lunchtime when Naomi finally got a human visitor, though she would’ve preferred Umbreks to Mrs. Boon. The housekeeper marched in with a tray of food. She didn’t nod her head or give any greeting when she entered, which irritated her. She was not going to be ignored. When Mrs. Boon set down the tray and turned to leave, she was standing at the door, ready to fight her for some answers.
“How long do you think you’re going to keep me here?”
Mrs. Boon folded her hands across her stomach and answered in a placid voice, “When Lord Tavik is well again, we’ll let him decide what to do with you.”
“Who’s making the decisions while he’s ill?”
“No one is making any decisions right now. Lord Tavik will recover soon.”
“You think Agatha put a spell on him.”
Her eyes slanted to her. “And what do you know about the witch? Are you in league with her?”
Naomi knew she should keep her mouth shut, but being locked in her room all day was making her desperate. “Agatha wants to help Tavik. She wouldn’t dream of hurting him.” Though drugging and kidnapping him were another matter, she reminded herself.
“Did you know we thought you were the witch when she appeared at the castle after your disappearance? It just seemed a little too pat. You disappear and a few days later the witch shows up.”
“Well, since Agatha is in the dungeon, and I’m locked in here, that little theory doesn’t hold water anymore, does it?”
“Maybe you’re the witch’s daughter. I can see a slight resemblance.”
Naomi smirked at how wrong and close she had it. “She’s not my mother.”
“Maybe you’re just another witch, and you two are working together to bring down Lord Tavik. I know you’re not Lady Naomi. You know nothing about proper nobility.”
“You’re right. I’m not the real Lady Naomi, but I’m not a witch either. I am Tavik's wife, and he will tell you the same thing.”
“Unfortunately, our lord isn’t able to vouch for you.”
“Why? How bad is he? I want to see him.”
“Out of the question. You won’t be allowed near Lord Tavik until he is well, and even after that, I doubt he’ll want to see you.”
“This is all one big mistake. Tavik will be happy to see me, I assure you. Maybe if he sees me now, it’ll help him get better.”
Mrs. Boon shook his head. “No, you used magic to weaken Tavik and flee him. You only came back now to seize control of his land. It won’t work.”
“No, that isn’t true. I care for Tavik. I’m sorry that I went away for so long, but we both thought it was for the best that I went home. I thought that was where I should be, but I realized that Tavik’s my home now. I came back for him.”
“But you abandoned him.”
She didn’t know what to say. She was right. “He thought it was for the best too.”
Mrs. Boon strode to the door and rapped on it. It was opened from the other side. She turned to Naomi before stepping out. “Whatever our lord decides to do with you, I hope it is fitting for the pain and anguish you caused him. Because gods help us, he cared for you.” With that last statement, she swept out of the room. Naomi stared at the closed door and felt hollow.
She sat down at the meal begrudgingly left by Mrs. Boon. She didn’t feel hungry. She felt anxious and useless. The four walls felt like they were closing in on her. She picked at the food and wondered what would happen now.
“Leave any for me?”
She whirled around to look at the mouse. “What’s the plan?”
Mr. Squibbles didn’t reply.
Her jaw dropped. “There’s no plan?”
“Being shackled and kept in a very dark cell is hindering Agatha’s witchy genius. Don’t worry, she’ll think of something.” Naomi felt her stomach twist uncomfortably at the image of Agatha’s situation.
“Have you learned anything new?” she asked.
“Nothing encouraging. What about you?”
She shook her head. “They think Agatha and I worked together to make Tavik sick, and that we’re trying to seize control, but they’re going to wait until Tavik's better to decide what to do with me.”
“Or until he dies. I went to his bedchamber. He’s very sick, Naomi. He’s feverish and delusional. The priests don’t know what to do to help him.”
The news was bleak. A plan was coalescing in her brain. “Have you or Agatha come up with any ideas to get her free?”
“I’m going to get her a few things tonight that she can use for a spell. She should be able to free herself, but we don’t know if we’ll be able to do much more than that.”
“Do it. Don’t worry about me. My situation isn’t that bad.”
“But what if--” he began.
She cut him off. “I can’t stand the idea of Agatha sitting in a dungeon. Go get her what she needs. I’ll be fine.” He nodded and left.
She waited to make sure Mr. Squibbles was good and gone. She didn’t want anyone to talk sense to her. She got the unicorn horn out of its hiding place. She stared at the tip and fixed the image of Tavik’s bedroom in her mind. She knew exactly where it was and what it looked like. Once she was sure of her concentration, she stabbed the horn to her finger. She was killing her fingertips with all the teleporting, but she didn’t worry about it. She felt the pull that wasn’t a pull. She'd closed her eyes again without realizing it. Maybe it was like sneezing, she couldn't do it unless her eyes were shut.
Feeling scared that she may have made one massive mistake, she sent up a silent prayer that she'd teleported to Tavik's room and not to some strange new world where dogs played poker and fish rode bicycles. Actually, that would be a neat world to check out, but she really needed to take care of Tavik first. She opened her eyes cautiously.
Continue to Chapter 18.
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