For the next few days Tia continued telling Prince Kaspar’s story to Yordis, who didn’t seem to mind that the tale had no ending. She was never left alone in the witch’s rooms and when she wasn’t storytelling or grooming the bear, Katinka kept a close eye on her.
At night Tia explored and mapped the castle. She got to know its tower rooms, its cellars, its hall, kitchen and workrooms. She explored the weaponry and practised swinging heavy swords and lifting spears. She decided she preferred the sling she kept in her pocket: it was lighter and easy to hide.
By the time she finished her map she could find her way around the castle without any difficulty.
In the daytime, when she wasn’t busy with Yordis, she chatted to the other servants and the guards in the big kitchen where they gathered in their spare time.
Two things puzzled Tia: firstly, how did the bear come and go from the castle? It was far too enormous to use the cage lift. Even in her human form it would’ve been difficult to fit Yordis and her bodyguard into it. Yet she somehow managed to enter and leave the castle without anyone seeing her.
The second puzzle was where Yordis kept the collar. Tia quickly learned people didn’t like talking about it. One afternoon, when she spoke to the chief guard, he looked around furtively then answered in a low voice, ‘You ask too many questions about things that don’t concern you. It’ll get back to the Lady Yordis if you’re not careful, and she won’t be happy to know you’re interested in the opal. She keeps it hidden – even I don’t know where it is.’
Though he was fierce, it was clear he meant well.
‘Thank you,’ Tia said. ‘I was just curious but I won’t mention it again.’
The guard patted her shoulder. ‘You remind me of my little girl, Laufey. She’s about your age. I don’t see her so much now she’s down the crystal mines.’
He sounded very sad.
‘Why do you let her work there?’ Tia blurted out.
‘The Lady Yordis wished it – and if I had refused she would’ve… done something very terrible. As she will to you if you continue to ask questions. Now, I see Katinka wants you.’
The maid had just finished filling a pail with corn and scraps; she pushed it at Tia. ‘I’m too busy to feed the hens – you do it.’
Tia’s heart beat a bit faster. The hens were outside in the courtyard; she might see Loki there. She took the pail and sauntered off, trying not to look too eager. ‘Stay in sight!’ Katinka warned her.
‘All right,’ Tia called back, though she didn’t see how she could escape from the high-walled courtyard unless she grew wings.
The yard was busy with servants running about or gossiping and guards practising sword-fighting. The hen coop was open and the chickens were scattered about, rooting for food. Tia scanned the towers and the walls. There was a bird perched on top of a flagpole, looking down into the courtyard. She was almost sure it was Loki.
She rattled the pail and called loudly, ‘Here chickens – food!’
At the sound of her voice the bird turned in her direction and the hens surged towards her, squabbling and gurgling, with the cockerel scolding them to behave.
The bird flew down and perched on top of the roost. ‘Hens are stupid creatures,’ he said scornfully. It was Loki.
Tia scattered the feed as far away as she could and when the hens ran after it she slipped behind the wooden coop; the fowls wouldn’t hear her and Loki talking there.
‘I’ve been hanging around this castle for a week,’ Loki complained. ‘You disappeared from the washerwoman’s, and there was no sign of you in the town, so I decided the witch had got you.’
‘You’re very clever,’ Tia said, and smiled as Loki puffed up with pride. ‘I knew you’d find me somehow.’
She reached into her jacket and pulled out a little wad wrapped with a leather strip from the ball she’d forgotten to give back to Halla. ‘I’ve done another message for Finn.’
Loki sighed and stretched out a leg. Hastily Tia knotted the packet to it. ‘I’ve written that the Water Traders will be here any day now. Yordis is herself when she trades. I’m going to try and find the opal then and steal it while she’s busy.’
Loki liked shiny things. ‘Where is it?’ he asked eagerly.
‘I don’t know yet – but I’ll find it,’ Tia said firmly.
‘Nadya! Nadya!’ Katinka was in the courtyard searching for Tia.
‘I’ve got to go.’ Tia squeezed out from behind the roost; from the corner of her eye she saw Loki soar away into the sky. She ran up to Katinka. ‘I thought a hen was stuck behind the coop,’ she said.
‘Lady Yordis is asking for you,’ Katinka said. ‘Hurry up.’ Fear of the High Witch made her speak sharply.
‘She won’t eat you if I’m a bit late!’ Tia said.
‘She might.’
Tia started to laugh then realised Katinka meant what she’d said. As they hurried to Yordis’s chambers Katinka told Tia that before Yordis took the opal she had been harsh but fair. ‘And she was beautiful, too. But now she’s spent so much time as the bear she’s turning into a monster – ugly, greedy and cruel.’
Tia shivered as she remembered how the bear had caught her in the forest and towered over her, its fangs dripping, its fearsome claws gripping her tightly. The very thought of being eaten was enough to make anyone obey Yordis.
Tia made a decision: she was going to search Yordis’s rooms for the opal as soon as she could. So, when the High Witch had heard enough of Prince Kaspar’s adventures Tia returned to her room and waited.
When she thought enough time had passed she went to Yordis’s chambers and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Carefully she turned the handle and peeked inside. All was still and silent; Yordis had definitely gone.
Tia explored each room including the ones she hadn’t been into before – the bathing room and the library. There was no trace of the collar. She searched again, more urgently. This time she noticed that a big tapestry, stretching from floor to ceiling in the library, swayed a little as though a slight draft was blowing from behind it. When she looked there she saw a door. It creaked as she opened it. Behind the door was a dim passageway.
Tia stepped inside and pulled the door to. Instantly all was darkness.