Chapter 8-1
2203 Words
Chapter 8
I looked at Henri and saw that he had aged well. Clarissa let go of me and asked, “When did you arrive? We did not hear you being announced, but that could be because we were out and about most of today.”
“We have only just arrived from America.” I turned back and said, “I would like to introduce …”
Clarissa reached out to Jeremiah and hugged him as well. “So good to see you returned safe. We had prayed for your constant looking over and the queen will be pleased that you have succeeded.”
Henri came forward and took Jeremiah’s hand. “Welcome back. We can all talk in the morning when you both have had some rest.” He turned to the little girl. “Abigail, come with me so that we can find Nanny and get you to sleep.”
“But Father, I want to stay up and talk with Cinderella.” She put her hands together and pleaded.
“Need I remind you that you had promised not to argue?” Henri took her hand and then swept her up into his arms. “We bid all of you a good night and will see you in the morning.”
I wanted him to stay or to at least to say some kind words to me, but he had already gone.
Clarissa took my hand and pulled me out of the room and into the hall. “Let me call the maids and get you settled for the night. Jeremiah, I suspect the queen will want to see you straight away.”
“I will see her after I have had some words with Cinderella in private. Would you mind?”
Clarissa showed us into one of the bedrooms and hugged me fiercely for a moment and said, “Of course not. Ring one of the bells and a maid will come bring Cinderella to her room. I will see you both tomorrow.” She kissed me on the cheek and then left. “We will catch up then and have much to talk about. Get some rest.”
“Thank you.” I watched her leave and sat down in a chair, tired and a bit overwhelmed.
Jeremiah came next to me and sat as well. He folded his hands and leaned forward. “You often do not listen to my advice, but I do hope you will get some rest tonight. Travelling on the dreamline is draining and you will need your strength tomorrow.”
“What will be expected of me while I am here?”
Jeremiah thought a moment and chanced the truth. “The queen will want your help in several matters. She will talk with you about la petite Reine, but she will also want your help with Napoleon.”
“The emperor himself?” I laughed and fidgeted with my hair. “Of what help can I give?”
“You are a Chronicler and can flow back into the past. I suspect she will want your help.”
“To do what? Kill the emperor when he is but a child?” When he did not rebut my questions, I talked faster. “I use my power with precision and such rareness that I would be loath to do so to harm another. The consequences are not known.”
“There is much you do not know, but I do not believe that the queen will want you to kill Napoleon when he was but a boy.”
“No, I would not want you to do it, but I would.” The queen strode into the room and we both became startled having not heard her. Though ten years had passed since I had last seen her, truth be told, she had aged well. “It is good to see you, daughter.”
I rose and curtsied before her as Jeremiah stood and then bowed.
“Your Majesty does us a great service to see us at such a late hour.” Jeremiah remained bowed.
“Stop your foolhardiness and let us talk with truth. Enough of these pleasantries.” She waved at us and we sat. “I am pleased to see you both returned well, but I must admit that I had hoped that your friend Renée would come with you.” She took a seat across from us. “And how is your daughter?”
I stammered and did not know how to respond.
“My dear girl, though I have not the magic myself, as queen, do you not think that I have not witches in my employ? I have checked in on you from time to time. Phoebe is a beautiful young girl.”
“Yes, she is.” I knew not what else to say. Even after all this time, the queen still knew how to disarm me with words.
She turned to Jeremiah and smiled. “You delivered your promise and we are indebted to you.”
“I thank Your Majesty for your kind words.” He again bowed to her.
“But what of la petite Reine?” She adjusted a ring on her finger and glanced around the room. “There has not been a sighting of her in quite some time. And my witch cannot see her in England any longer. Have you encountered her?”
“We have not, though I do fear that she came searching for us.”
“Her leave Europe? I doubt even she would do such a thing. Where would her puppet Napoleon get his power from?” The queen went to the window and looked outside. “No, I suspect she has gone into hiding to gather her strength and that she will appear again soon. She will not be able to resist showing herself when she learns that you have returned.”
“Your Majesty, in all truthfulness, what assistance do you need from me?”
“We do not require your assistance. We have summoned you to protect you from her wrath and out of kindness we want to see you protected and safe. But it would be advantageous for all of us if you were to use your magic to flow back to stop Napoleon from coming to be.” She reached for her hand suddenly and touched the ring and appeared distracted for a moment. “Yet it is late for you two weary travelers. Rest and in the morning we will talk more. We are happy that you have returned.”
“And the king?” Jeremiah chanced to ask. “How fares he?”
“His condition remains the same. The surgeons cannot find a way to correct his bad blood. Yet there is still hope.” She came to me and lowered her voice. “For, yes, I do ask something of you. I wish for you to save your once father-in-law. His health hangs in the balance and no matter if I have to strangle Napoleon with my bare hands or that scrawny neck of la petite Reine, I will not see him suffer much longer with this madness in his blood. Think on this and we will talk more tomorrow.”
I curtsied and kissed her offered hand. “It is good to see you again. I have missed home.”
“I know you have, my dear. I know you have.”
The queen strode out of the room and we remained bowed and curtsied until she left.
Jeremiah waited for a bit and once we were alone, said, “I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day and we will have much to discuss.”
“Good night.” I waved at him and turned away.
“Are you angry with me?” He stopped yet I kept on walking.
“I am simply tired and miss my daughter.” I left the room and followed the maid to my own bedroom. My arm still felt numb and after the maid left I blew the candle out and fell right into bed. I closed my eyes and reached out, seeing Phoebe’s face, her beautiful hair, and her smile. I hoped she was well.
***
Phoebe opened her eyes and yawned. The morning light had not yet started to stream in through the back of the wagon. Beside her, Aunt Renée still slept, snoring softly. She guessed that the sun would not be up for about an hour, but she could not be certain. She knew she had only a short amount of time before her aunt woke. Slipping into her dress, she climbed off the back of the wagon and ran with determined purpose. She saw a few smoldering fires and at last came to the tepee she wanted. Two natives painted and dressed in warrior’s garb stood in front but she walked forward and raised her left hand. They came to see her, but she spoke a single word. “Sleep.”
And they did. Her hand glowed with white purpose and she willed the light to fade and ran inside the tepee. There, tied to the ground, being held by ropes and stakes, was Tenskwatawa. Around him a circle made from salt acted as a barrier. When she took a step further into the tent, his eyes opened, but he said not a word. He watched her, took her in, and had a look of curiosity on his face.
Phoebe came forward and crouched down by his head but was careful not to cross the circle of salt. The caked on yellow paste had mostly faded from his body. She leaned close and asked, “If I free you, would you take me to my mother?”
He thought for a moment and nodded vigorously, unable to speak with the gag tied around his mouth.
“Tell me true, why do you want my mother?” She then added, “Tell me true, for I will know.”
Tenskwatawa mumbled an answer and could not speak. Phoebe inched forward and quickly pulled the gag off. Tenskwatawa opened and closed his mouth a few times to stretch his muscles. “Ah, that it is much better. Thank you.” He turned his head and spit into the dirt and then said, “I have waited many long years to meet you. And you do not disappoint. Your aunt and mother have taught you well. I am amazed at your talent.”
“They have not taught me. Neither know I have my discovered my magic.” She started to say more but stopped.
“I see. Then, I will answer your question.” Tenskwatawa relaxed and allowed his arms to rest on the ground. “I want to stop Napoleon and need your mother’s help.”
Phoebe pulled back. “Why would you want that? I do not understand. How could my mother help you?”
“Has she not told you she is a Chronicler and can flow back through time to change events?”
“She talks not much of these things.”
“Ask yourself why we are headed in the opposite direction of Europe. How much longer will it take to get back to England if this continues?” Tenskwatawa closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath and then slowly opened them. “I could do it. I could take us both back through the dreamline. I am the Queen of Faeries and can do it. Just free me and I’ll do it now!”
Phoebe came closer to the circle of salt in the earth. “Do you swear?’
“Of course I do. Why would I lie to you? I want as much as you to get back to England and leave this backward land. Free me and in minutes we will be back again. I feel the time is ripe. The dreamline is open and all you would need to do is to close your eyes and think of your mother. Your memories of her would bring us to her.” He stopped and then kept quiet.
“What is it? What do you sense?” Phoebe leaned forward, ever so close to the salt line.
Tenskwatawa pulled taut the rope and tried to escape. “Your aunt is coming. She is awake and searches for you. Please, let me help you. Release me!”
Phoebe crossed the salt in the dirt and pulled at the rope, but could not loosen it.
“Hurry, she’s coming!” He pulled with all his strength but could not move any of the ropes staked to the ground.
Phoebe stopped pulling on the chain and then began digging with her hands around one of the stakes. She scooped out the dirt and then with her left hand she grabbed at the stake and with ease she pulled it out of the ground. The stake came out and she held it in her hand.
Tenskwatawa sat up and the other ropes came easily undone. “Thank you.”
“Now let us go before she comes. Please!”
“No.”
“What?” Phoebe came forward and pounded on his stomach with both her fists. Out of breath she pushed away from him and fell to the floor. “You lied to me.”
“Yes, I have.” He bent down to her and said, “I have not the strength yet to return. But I promise that I will help you. You must trust me.”
Phoebe began to cry. “I want to be with my mother.”
Tenskwatawa took her in his arms and held her. “That day will come, but you will need to be patient. I did make a promise to you but I cannot deliver on it today. I swear it to you.”
Phoebe continued to sob quietly for a few moments and Tenskwatawa held her, gently rubbing her back. He held her without saying a word.
The flap to the tepee flung open and Renée ran in with a knife in her hand. She was out of breath and took a moment to take in what she saw. “Let her go or I swear, I’ll gut you like a pig.”
Tenskwatawa disentangled himself from Phoebe’s hug and stood up slowly with his hands up in the air. “I mean none of you harm. I promise.”
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