portal prophecies 01 - keepers destiny (7 page)

“So, I guess you heard about the dance?” he said, his voice cracking. He swallowed and coughed.

Just the topic she had hoped to avoid. Holding her breath a little she answered, “Yes, I wasn't invited though.” There was a silent pause for a moment before she added, “I am sure you will have a great time. Everyone is talking about it. The biggest event in forever.”

“Yeah it sounds great. Thing is no girls were invited,” he replied kicking the dirt beneath his feet.

“How can you have a dance with no girls? Sounds rather awkward,” Willow said starting their walk again.

He laughed. “Well, the guys were given an invite for two. We are supposed to bring a...date,” he said matching her pace.

“Oh, I get it. Have you decided who you want to take?”

Dezi stopped walking abruptly. “I am trying to ask you,” he blurted out.

“Me?” she squealed out in shock. “I thought Jade or one of the other Council daughters.” She looked down at a few pebbles on the ground. “Are you sure?”

“Jade is pretty to look at, but I would have a much better time with you. You know when to laugh and don't ruin my jokes,” he said winking at her with a twinkle in his eye.

She let out the air she seemed to have been holding through the whole conversation. “I can't dance. I might hurt your feet, but if you still want me to go with you, I will.”

“Excellent!” The two returned to walking. “See you later,” he added as they approached his house.

Willow felt as if she was going to burst if she didn't tell someone the news soon. She was going to the dance. As soon as Dezi disappeared inside, she changed her direction to find Clairity and Ashlyn.

She found her friends in a quiet spot under a tree in the forest. The girls beamed of enthusiasm as they listened with excitement to the story. When she finished, they all simultaneously let out a little yelp, which someone walking by might have considered a hurt animal.

“Can you believe it? Me going to the dance. I have never been invited to anything in my life. It's the most amazing feeling,” she said grabbing Ashlyn's hands and spinning round in circles.

Clairity smiled at the two. “I can't wait to see the look on Jade's face when she finds out.”

Willow stopped in her tracks and sat down. “I forgot about that.” The smile faded from her face. “What was I thinking, Ohhhhhh...Why did I say yes? I can't dance and I have no dress and Jade is going to cut me into pieces. I have to tell him I can't.” Panic was setting in.

“No,” Ashlyn said. “Why should she ruin your fun.”

Clairity agreed smiling. “She is right. You need to do this for all of us wretched folk who won't be invited.”

“You don't know that. There are lots of boys that got invites for two.” After a pause she added, “What am I going to do? It's a disaster.”

Ashlyn smiled. “A little dramatic don't you think? Come on.” She motioned for her friends to join her. “Let's go.”

“Where are we going?” Willow asked.

“To my house. You will see.”

The three headed back to Ashlyn's house. The front room of the house was filled with different fabrics, cushions, and finished clothes as well as standing figures with dresses in the process of being made. Down the hallway to the right was her sleeping quarters. It was more comfortable than a typical family would have. There was a body cushion on her bed and open cupboards filled with different types of clothes.

“Let's try some of these on,” she said motioning to Willow while removing a handful of dresses from her closet.

After trying on dress after dress, it became apparent that their figures were not compatible and there was no way any would fit her.

“Thanks for trying.”

“What are you girls doing in here,” Ashlyn's mother asked peeking in the doorway. “Oh my, dress up time?”

The girls explained the story to her. The whole time her face seemed to hang on every word with excitement. “One of our own going to a dance at the castle. It's about time I say. Oh this is good news. These dresses won't do, no not at all. Ashlyn fetch me me bag. We'll make you a new dress. You will be the belle of the ball after I am finished.”

Seconds later, Ashlyn was back with a tapestry bag filled with tapes to measure with, pins, needles, thread and a sketch book with notes and designs. Martha immediately started to measure, standing on the bed to reach Willow's chest, shoulders and arm span. After each measurement she recorded information in her book and added an “Ahuh” or “Aha”. The whole process only took a few moments and the seamstress looked deep in thought. “Hmm,” a slight pause. “If only we knew what colour your hair would be that night so I could pick something that wouldn't clash.”

Without thinking Willow added, “Red.” She wasn't sure why, but she was thinking back to the dream. Her hair was a deep warm brown right now.

“Don't be silly child,” Martha said smiling. “No one has had red hair in ages and I doubt that is going to change any time soon. I think black might be the best choice for the dress. It goes with everything. Don't you worry about a thing. You will have the finest dress I have ever made. Now off you girls go and stay out of my hair while I work.”

Martha had been the closest thing to a real mother Willow had ever had. She was short, a little plump, with short curly black hair and always wore floral print dresses with a white frilly apron over top. She never felt like she was assigned a job. She loved to sew. No one knew how exactly she made the material she used. Her
'trade secrets
' was the answer she would give if anyone asked, but it had something to do with leaves, flowers, broken branches from trees and weeds. On numerous occasions the girls had gone into the forest to gather various
'materials'
for her.

“Maybe gather some wildflowers from the forest for me over the next few days if you have nothing better to do,” Martha added.

The girls agreed and headed outside still bubbling in excitement over the dress so much that they almost bumped into Mrs. Shinning trying to go inside.

“Oh Willow darling, are you getting a dress and shoes? Dezi told us you two are going together. It's so exciting isn't it! Don't you worry about a thing. We will take care of all the details. Mr. Shinning just wanted to know what colour you would be wearing.”

“Black, I think, but I really don't need anything too fancy. I am not sure I would feel comfortable,” Willow answered.

“Don't be silly. We have already started designing a couple pieces for you. You two will be the couple to admire,” she said closing the door to the seamstress's house behind her.

“What have I got myself into?” Willow asked her two best friends. Looking behind the two, she saw a boy walking towards the castle gates. “Is that Arnold? What's he up to?”

The two girls spun around and watched the boy moving at a quick pace out of sight.

“He is probably going to try to ask someone at the castle to the dance,” Ashlyn offered, trying not to snicker at the thought of Arnold on a date with Jade.

“Yeah maybe,” Clairity responded still staring down the road. She had a half scowl on her face that indicated she didn't believe that answer, but wasn't going to offer an explanation. After a few moments she added, “We should get some rest. I have a strange feeling something big is going to happen tomorrow.” She looked at her friends faces and continued, “It's just a feeling. I don't know what exactly, but my intuition has been bang on the past while.”

The three hugged.

“Goodnight and happy dreams,” Clairity said with a half smile. “And guys, stay away from Arnold. I feel all kinds of bad vibes coming from his direction. I know it's weird but please, just tell me you will.”

The two girls agreed.

Chapter Five

It was already getting dark when Arnold arrived at the castle. Approaching the gates he addressed the guards, “Take me to Malarchy and make it fast. He won't want you messing around with me standing here waiting.”

The four guards exchanged glances and a smirk before Eudard took the assignment and headed off to see if the boy could enter or should be turned around and sent home as a nuisance. To his surprise upon finding Malarchy, he actually agreed to see the boy. Using the guards' natural telepathic connection he sent a message to the others to escort the child into the garden area.

Arnold wasn't even in front of the self declared Council leader when he blurted out, “I have the information.”

Malarchy glared at him and motioned to the two guards. “Wait outside the garden gates. This won't take long.” After they left, he turned his attention to the boy. “Do not address me in public unless I have indicated I want you to speak. Are we clear?”

Arnold held his gaze as if he was not backing down, then the edges of his lips curled upward just a touch. “Fine, just as long as you remember our deal. I have information and I want what's coming to me.”

“And you will get it and so much more, as long as the information is something I can use and you remember your place. So spit it out. What is so important that you are out after dark.”

“This is the only time I could escape after the other day. Those people don't know who they are dealing with, yet,” the boy snarled.

“Yes, yes boy, time is precious. Let's get to it,” Malarchy said.

“The writer, Diana Waddington's story, I went and listened like you asked. It was about ancient races, guardians and Acacia a giant tree. Sounded to me like she was hinting the tree used to stand on the great hill. It was quite the story, with portals to different worlds and wars. Even included drinking of blood. Pretty sure the girl didn't understand any message from it though. Not sure that group is bright enough to understand much.”

The colour drained from Malarchy's face. “Very well, we will look into it, now away with you.”

“No, we have a deal. I am not going back to the place anymore. I want a room here, tonight, and to be treated as one of you,” Arnold barked back.

“Who do you think you are talking to?” Malarchy snapped grabbing the boy's arm and dragging him towards the garden gates. “You will do what I say, when I say and right now I say you will go back to town as if nothing has happened. After I check out your tale, I will decide what it's worth to me and not a second before. Do you understand me?” Without waiting for an answer, he added, “Good.” Then he turned the boy over to the guards with instructions to remove him from the grounds and send Zsiga to the gardens.

It took less than a minute for Zsiga, the head guard, to reach the stone table where Malarchy had taken a seat. His skin, hair and eyes were all dark allowing him to move in the shadows with ease, especially at night, one of the skills which had helped him obtain the position of leader over the other guards. His impressive muscular build was another. “Sir, you sent for me?” he asked.

Malarchy seemed to be off in deep thought. He looked up and answered, “Yes, yes I did. Get together a team of men. There is something that must be done to protect the greater good of our citizens. I will meet you at the main gates with instructions in two hours. Make sure your men are prepared with weapons ready and lit torches.” He dismissed the guard and moved inside the castle where he stared at the blank wall silently until it was time to give his instructions.

Chapter Six

Willow sat up straight, and took in a deep breath. She must have been dreaming again she told herself. It was hours still before she had to get up. She lay back down and had just closed her eyes again when a scream sounded outside. This time she knew she wasn't dreaming. She jumped out of bed.

'What are you doing? Where are you going?'
The female voice shrieked. '
Stay inside. You don't know what is happening out there. You could get hurt.'

“Sounds like someone else is hurt. I need to try to help,” she said out loud. Truth was she was scared and wasn't sure who she was trying to convince, the voices or herself. Things had been changing so fast lately. Her life had become a mystery she needed to solve. She opened the door and stepped into the street.

'Go back inside!'
The voices were louder now as if upset. '
You aren't even dressed. Someone could see.'

Willow didn't even hear the voices. She was stunned at the sight of guards piling books from Diana's house on to a big bonfire in the middle of the street. There was one guard on each side of the house stopping people from getting close. Diana was being held by her arms by two guards on the front porch. She was screaming and crying. Nathan was curled up on the side of the porch. Without thinking she ran towards him. Nathan, seeing her moving toward him, got up to meet her at the edge of the porch. A hand grabbed her shoulder from behind.

It was Faramund the guard she had been talking to earlier that day. He pulled her back into the shadow between the two houses. “You shouldn't be out here girl,” he said. He turned his gaze to the boy still holding on to Willow's waist. “He doesn't need to see this. Take him to your home. You can't help the woman now.” He removed his jacket and put it over her shoulders. “Quickly now, before anyone else notices. The Council would be far harder on you than they will be on the storyteller if they find out.” He moved out of the shadow and back to his post.

Willow looked down and realized she was wearing her night dress. It was white and sometimes hung off one shoulder. Suddenly, she understood. Faramund had seen the pictures on her back. He was helping her. As the guard had suggested, they ran across the street back to her room where she had the boy turn around so she could change into clothes that covered everything.

She didn't understand what was going on, but she had a feeling she knew who did. She had Nathan lie down and try to rest, then took a position as if she were meditating and called out inside her head,
'I know you can hear me. I think it's time you told me what is going on.'

'When it's time we will. You have to understand, there are things you must discover on your own. Unless you are in direct danger.'