Chapter 14

When Pearl reached the tree that she thought of as Melia’s, she was relieved to find her friend standing next to it.

“I’m so glad to find you,” Pearl said with a sigh of relief.

Melia smiled.  “I’ve been right here.”

“When I was here yesterday, I didn’t see you,” Pearl replied. 

“You were not alone,” Melia reminded her.

“Oh, you saw that?”  Pearl blushed slightly.  “I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

“He’s very handsome,” Melia said.  “I can see why he could prove a distraction.”

“We cannot afford distractions,” Pearl assured her.  She walked around the tree and ran her hand along the bark.  “Why would anyone want to cut these down?  It makes no sense.”

“Perhaps you should find out,” Melia replied.  “You have a reliable source you could ask.”

“Sir Brandon?” Pearl asked.  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Melia considered for a moment.  “I know I’m asking a lot of you, but I’ve never heard anything but honorable comments about him.  It could be that he has no idea what the Chancellor has planned.”

“Do you really think so?”  Pearl’s eyes lit up.  “If he isn’t part of all this, perhaps…”

“I didn’t say that,” Melia replied, “but I do believe in giving everyone the benefit of the doubt when possible.  If you were to talk to him, you might be able to find out more.”

“That’s true,” Pearl agreed.  “I might see him tonight.”

“I have a feeling you will,” Melia said.  “He seemed quite interested in seeing you again.”

“Do you really think so?” Pearl asked, then looked down.  “What if he is involved?”

“Better to know one way or the other,” Melia said, then smiled.  “What were you doing at the clearing today?”

“Callum is going to teach me how to use the long bow.”  Pearl spun in a little circle.  It’s so exciting.  I’ve never used one before since my instructors all thought it was too big for me.”

“Instructors?” Melia repeated.  “I thought you had teachers and counselors.”

“Oh, I did,” Pearl assured her, “but my father agreed it would be good to know how to protect myself, so he let me take fencing and hand-to-hand combat lessons…I even got to try a crossbow a few times.”

“Very unusual for a princess,” Melia noted.  “How did you manage that?”

“I think my father wanted a son,” Pearl replied, “so I probably got to do more than most girls in my position.”  She smiled.  “Of course, it helped that my mother came from the southern kingdom of Thorin.   It’s a realm that believes women should be given the opportunity to learn many of the same things as men.”

“That explains the water magic,” Melia said, “and wood magic is natural for your kingdom, but the air magic…that is a mystery to me.”

“It’s all a mystery to me,” Pearl replied, glancing up at the sky.  “I should go.  It’s getting late, and I need to meet Rowena before we go to the tavern.”

“Let me know what you discover,” Melia said as Pearl turned to walk away.

“I promise,” Pearl replied, hoping it would be good news.  She wanted Sir Brandon to be an ally, but she was afraid he might be working for the wrong side.

Chapter 15

When Rowena and Pearl walked into the tavern, Pearl was suprirsed to see a large group of men already at one of the tables.

“I’d better get a tray,” Rowena said,” setting down her cloak.  “Why don’t you hang these in the back, then meet me at the bar?”

“All right,” Pearl agreed.  She took the cloaks to the back room and hung them on pegs, then walked back into the main space.  She stopped so abruptly she nearly lost her balance when she saw Sir Brandon walking into the tavern.

“There you are,” Brandon said to the group of men at the table.  “I thought you were coming tomorrow.”

“Plans change,” one of the men said.  He had dark brown hair and a beard, which hid most of his face…but there was something about him.  Pearl looked more closely, then quickly backed into the other room.

“It can’t be,” she said under her breath.  She glanced around, hoping to find another way out.  When she realized she’d have to go past the bar, she picked up a large tray and held it up in front of her face as much as she could.

“Where are you going?” a voice asked. 

Pearl kept walking until someone touched her arm.  “I have to get more mugs,” she said in a deep voice.

“Why are you speaking like that?” the voice said.  Pearl lowered the tray and saw it was John.

“Oh, I’m so glad it’s you,” she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him behind her.  “I need help.”

John followed her back to the kitchen, then stopped her as she headed for the back door.  “Where are you going?”

“I, um…I have to leave,” Pearl said, glancing around.  “There’s…there’s someone out front I can’t see.  He knows me from before.  From my own land.”

“Is he at that large table?” John asked.  “They’re supposed to be gathering here from other realms.  Some say it’s for the ball, but I think it has more to do with the mines.”

“Or the forest,” Pearl added.  She had wanted to talk to Brandon about that, but she couldn’t do that now.

“What about the forest?”  John looked at Pearl for a moment.  “It’s strange.  You seem to be in the middle of everything.”

“What do you mean?” Pearl wondered if he suspected who she really was.

“It’s just that Ulster leaves, then you get here.  You don’t seem to know anyone but your grandfather, but suddenly you’re working here, you not only know about the mines, but you’ve found something out about the forest…and now a stranger shows up who may be a threat to you.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Pearl replied.  “I know about the mines because Ross and the others told me.  I found out there was someone trying to cut down the forest from Rowena, then Sir Brandon said…”

“Sir Brandon?” John repeated.  “Now, you know him too?”

“Pearl shrugged.  “I met him outside of Rowena’s cottage on my first day.  He seemed nice, and I had no idea he was a Sir when I met him.”

John smiled.  “That makes sense.  He does like to charm the young women in the village.”

Pearl wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but at least John didn’t think anything was unusual about it.  “That man out there,” she added.  “A friend of mine at home ran up a debt with one of the local tradesman, and that man works for his enforcer.”

“Now, it makes sense,” John said, nodding.  “Sorry, Pearl.  We’re all a bit on edge with lately.”

Pearl smiled.  “I understand, but can you please let Rowena know I felt ill and had to leave?”

“All right,” John agreed.  “You’d better get going.  I’ll tell her you went back to the cottage before it got dark.  There doesn’t seem to be many other people in the tavern tonight.  I doubt you’re the only one avoiding them.”

“Do you know the others?” Pearl asked, intrigued.  She had only recognized the one man.

“Most of them work in a similar profession as your acquaintance out there,” John said.  “Whatever reason they’re here, it can’t be good.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Pearl replied.  “I’d better go tell Ross and the others.”

“Be careful,” John said.  “You don’t want to take any chances in the woods at night, and it will be getting dark soon.”

“I’ll be careful,” Pearl promised.