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Under the shroud of twilight, the carriage meandered down the winding woodland road. Patches of purple and red sky backlit the trees, and two modest lamps illuminated the rising fog as Emil gently coaxed the horses forward. Abigail was at their side for the journey, as was Albert. Inside the coach, Elinora, Tillie, Graham, Jamie, and Lina sat pensively.
Abigail had eventually confided in Albert and Emil about the truth of the forest, where Henry was, as well as the plan to rescue him, in the event the children should find themselves in trouble and in need of more help. Elinora, Tillie, and the others agreed that this was a good idea. Abigail had then asked Emil to provide the ride to Waterbridge.
Emil eagerly agreed. Though they were stunned to learn about Kellandale Wood, they were relieved to learn Henry would be coming home finally, and that they were playing a part in making that happen.
Elinora gazed absently out the window as the carriage bumped and swayed. Tillie sat beside her, and Graham, Jamie, and Lina were in the seat across from them. The Messenger perched quietly on Jamie’s shoulder. A meditative silence consumed everyone. It did not feel like any of the other times they had traveled into town—there were no light-hearted games of Worst Dessert, no teasing of one another. “I see you’re wearing your battle trousers,” were the only words uttered, spoken with unnatural seriousness by Jamie to Tillie.
Elinora craned her neck and looked out the window when she heard the rushing of the Iveria flowing fast and hard beneath the bridge as they crossed it. She thought of Henry and that fateful morning in the tower.
They followed along the river and traversed untamed forest, with random, darkened homes appearing sporadically. Just as the sun rose, they turned away from the river to where the houses were clustered closer together, signaling the approach into town. Emil halted the horses near Main Street on one of the cobblestone side streets. Only a few early morning delivery carriages were about. The gas lamps were still lit and there was no sign of the circus yet.
Jamie opened the carriage door and the Messenger flew into a nearby tree. Emil stepped out of the driver’s seat and assisted Abigail and Albert out of their seats, then walked around to help the others. They looked up at the bird and back at Jamie, grinning incredulously. “I won’t even ask,” they laughed.
“Thank you, Emil,” Elinora smiled. “For everything.”
They clasped their hands together and bowed. “You’re very welcome. Good luck to you—I look forward to seeing Henry again. And if you aren’t all back home in a reasonable amount of time, you can be sure I’ll be coming after you!” they said before returning to the front of the carriage.
“Thank you, Emil!” Tillie and the others called out in unison.
Abigail approached with Albert.
Elinora gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I hope we will all be home soon. Kellandale Wood will be very busy for a while after that, I should think.”
“We will see you back at the manor house in time for supper,” she replied, smiling warmly. “Now go find Henry and bring him back.”
Tillie reached over and squeezed her hand. “See you for supper. Make sure Cora and Jeppe set some food aside—he’ll be hungry when he arrives home.”
“Thank you both for helping us,” Graham said to Abigail and Albert.
“I’m happy to help, but please do be careful,” Albert replied.
“Listen to Albert, my loves,” Abigail said. “I know you have the forest on your side, but my goodness, please look after one another.” She looked up at the Messenger. “And you, please keep them out of harm’s way, will you?”
The Messenger fluffed his wings back at her.
She blew a kiss as she and Albert returned to the front of the carriage. Emil helped them back into their seats.
“See you soon!” Jamie called as they drove off, then he, Elinora, Tillie, Graham, and Lina turned and walked silently down the road.
“Well, here we go,” Elinora said, a shiver running down her spine. She breathed in and out deeply. “Just like we planned.”
“Let’s walk through it again one more time, just to be sure,” Jamie said.
“Right. Graham, you will head into town to find spot to wait for the parade.” She paused and furrowed her brows.
“Don’t worry, I told you I’ll be all right,” he reassured her. “He never saw me; he doesn’t know who I am. I’ll just be another face in the crowd. I can handle finding Alister and signaling to him on my own. You just concentrate on positioning yourselves at the river. Find Lady Vivienne and be ready for us when we arrive. Although, I’m not too sure what everyone will do when they see a water dragon swimming in the river they’re supposed to get into...”
“Let’s hope Alister has prepared everyone for that. Oh, Gray, you know I just really don’t like the thought of you going alone.”
“Alister will be there with Henry and Wildflower. I won’t be alone.”
“All right then,” she sighed. “The rest of us will head to the river and wait.” Her demeanor shifted as she focused and confidently directed the others, detailing the plan. “Last orders, and most importantly—don’t do anything stupid, and keep a look out for one another. Everyone, confirm you understand the plan.”
“Confirmed,” Graham, Jamie, and Lina replied in unison.
“Confirmed,” Tillie echoed. She turned to Graham. “Be careful,” she stressed.
“I will—promise. You, too. See you in a while, Tills.”
He started off toward town but then came running back. “Here, take this. Just in case,” he said, pushing the little jade dagger he had kept from Sir Edward’s treasure room into her hands. It was still in its scabbard.
Tillie took it and regarded it closely. “Thank you. I sure hope I won’t need it,” she said, tucking it into the belt on her trousers.
Graham took a good look at her. “No one will get away with anything with you there,” he said. She balled her hands into fists and raised them in the air. He did the same, then turned and made his way into the center of town.
Tillie turned and followed Elinora, Jamie, Lina, and the Messenger, and they quietly slipped into the outskirts of the camp in the woods. It took them the better part of twenty minutes to reach their destination. Once at camp, they climbed down the embankment of the river to find the Lady of the Forest. A flash in the water let them know she was there, waiting.
Jamie waved his arms at the Messenger, signaling him to find Graham and let him know they had arrived.
He bounded out of the trees and soared through the air heading back to town.
As Elinora, Tillie, Jamie, and Lina hunkered down at the river’s edge, a rustling sound came from within the trees. Jamie stood up, poked at Tillie, and pointed. She turned and they stood speechless as a man in a tailcoat stood at the edge of the woods. A monkey was sitting on his shoulder and they were both looking right at them. The man waved, then vanished. A moment later, a very large creature, primitive and apelike, reappeared in his place. A tiny monkey of a different sort sat on his shoulder.
“Monkey...” Jamie gasped. He waved to them, and the little one waved back. “That one is Sir Edward, I’ll bet, and that means the bigger one is Chi.”
Chi gave a familiar, low rumble in reply. Jamie grinned.
Just then, voices drifted over from the camp on the ridge above them. Chi turned abruptly toward the sound. The little monkey made a motion for everyone to hide, then the duo disappeared back into the shadows.
“Come on, hide,” Tillie said to the others. They ducked down, but it was too late.
“Oliver! There’s some kids over there,” a voice yelled.
“How daft can we be? We forgot to make sure no one was up there,” Jamie whispered. He looked up and two men were staring at them from above.
“Well, look at that. You’re the ones who were snooping around in the boss’s tent a while back,” one of them said. He turned to the other man. “Go find Ghant and let him know Dillon’s rats are back!”
“You’re not my boss, Byron,” the other man replied.
“Will you shut up, Oliver and just do what I say? I’ll keep them here until he arrives. Oh, he’s going to be mad.” He trained a gun at them carelessly.
Lina locked eyes with Oliver who didn’t reply to Byron, but instead dropped behind him, put his finger to his lips, and winked at her. Then he sprinted down the path toward the parade. Byron continued to brandish his weapon at them.
Lina shot a sideways glance at everyone and they all nodded discreetly, all thinking the same thing.
“All right, get up here, or that one gets it,” Byron said pointing his gun randomly at Jamie. But he suddenly fell to the ground, and the gun was knocked out of his hand.
Monkey appeared from behind, grabbing him by the ankles. Then he reached out and covered Byron’s eyes with his giant hands.
Byron instantly blacked out from fear.
Monkey conveyed to Jamie he needed his help, so Jamie followed him. Byron was slung over Monkey’s humongous shoulder as he carried him to one of the camp tents. Little monkey sat on top of him for the ride.
Jamie studied Monkey as they walked, awed by his size and strength. Once inside the tent he rooted around for some ropes. Together the trio tied Byron’s arms behind his back, then placed him out of sight behind a stack of hay bales. Monkey pulled a handkerchief out of little Monkey’s jacket pocket and Jamie secured it over Byron’s mouth. When they left the tent Monkey slipped back into the woods.
Jamie returned to his position at the water’s edge. Elinora turned to him with raised eyebrows. “Don’t worry,” Jamie said. “He’ll be fine, though Monkey made sure that man won’t be interfering with our plans anymore.”