3.
Elsa had never felt her heart race as hard or as fast as it did on her long journey home. She'd had no time to recover, however. By morning those jewels would be discovered missing -- sooner, now that her intrusion had been found out and almost stopped by that... that guard or whatever he was. Her heart skipped a beat at the memory of those blue eyes staring at her, black hair falling in a sweep across his forehead.
He scared her witless, and not just because he'd almost caught her.
She buried her clothes underneath a tree, along with the burlap sack, hiding the jewels on her body. Then she hurried into town, slipping into the hedged-off boundaries of one house on the very edge of town. She didn't need to break into this one; it was always open. There was nothing to steal anyway. There wasn't in any of the villagers' houses.
She snuck upstairs, finding the pretty blonde who was soundly asleep in her bed. Pressing one hand over her mouth, she shook her awake with the other, pressing her hand to her lips and "ssssh!"ing her friend's startled exclamations.
When she was sure Magnolia was awake and knew it was her, she withdrew her hand. "Maggie, I need a favor," she whispered.
Magnolia took in her friend's flushed cheeks, her unusual clothes, her eyes alight with a wild light she'd never seen in them before. "... it doesn't involve burying a body, does it?" she replied, trepidatiously.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "No, idiot. I need you to take care of my father today. I need to ride into the City."
"All the way into Amesbury?! What for?"
"It doesn't matter," Elsa said with a smile. "Just... please, will you promise me? Take care of him for this one day and I'll... I don't know, I'll think of a way to repay you. Please, it's so very important..."
Magnolia stared at her friend for a moment before nodding. "All right, I'll take care of him. But when you come back you better tell me what all this is about, you hear?"
Elsa held up her hand, pinky extended. Her friend hooked her pink through Elsa's, and they shook. "Promise," she breathed, then stood. "Thanks, Maggie," she said, then turned and slipped back down the stairs. Amesbury was a good half day's walk from here. She didn't even think of getting a horse -- honestly, the things terrified her, to utter death. She didn't understand how people could stand being around them.
She had a lot of walking to do before her quest was done, but best to get started.
'A lot of walking' turned out to be almost all of that night and most of the next morning before she arrived at Amesbury. Elsa took in the bustling, busy streets, so much bigger than the tiny farming village she was used to, then took in a deep breath before stepping into the hustle and bustle. It took her another half of the day to find what she wanted -- an unscrupulous trader who would give her enough gold for the jewels to pay for rent not just for herself but for Magnolia's family as well. She was sure she got far less from the jewels than they were worth, but it was more than she'd had before, so she was content.
So by the time she staggered home, it was early the next morning. She had just enough energy to climb the rickety ladder to her room under the rafters, stuff the bag of gold underneath her bed where it wouldn't be found, then collapse into her thin, lumpy mattress. She was asleep even before her head hit the old blanket she used as a pillow.
It felt like an instant later that she was being shaken awake, groaning at the throbbing of her head. Whomever was shaking her wouldn't be deterred, however, and she finally opened her eyes, staring up at Magnolia. Light was shining through the thatching just past her head. Mid-morning then. She hated the feeling of waking up after only a few hours of sleep.
"Wha--?"
"Where were you yesterday? Why are you acting so weird? And don't you realize what's going on? Someone stole from Prince Casphus! Krayve's absolutely livid! He's ordered the town militia mobilized to search for the brigand. Can you imagine? The entire town militia!"
Elsa sat straight up in her bad, suddenly and rather completely awake. Her heart raced inside of her chest but she forced herself to stay calm, to sound unconcerned, just mildly curious. The guard had told, hadn't he? It was only a matter of time before they traced it back to her. What in the Fairy Queen's name had possessed her to do this in the first place? She wasn't a thief, she was just a farmer's daughter, and a cinder-covered one at that.
"Yeah," Magnolia replied, her eyes shining. "Apparently it was Prince Casphus himself who fought off the attacker, but he was unable to prevent their escape. Well, wherever he went, they'll get him, it's only a matter of time..."
Elsa felt her blood turn to ice and shatter in her veins. Prince Casphus himself. Then the man with the blue eyes and the wind-swept ebony hair hadn't been a guard. He hadn't even been a special bodyguard. He'd been the very prince himself and she'd...
The room bucked and whirled around her, but somehow, through the haze of terror that had settled on her, a little snippet snuck there.
"Wait, he?"
Magnolia blinked at Elsa. "You all right? You're looking a little pale..."
"I'm fine. What'd you say about the thief being a he?" Elsa flicked her hand dismissively, instead gripping one of Magnolia's shoulders almost desperately.
Magnolia blinked at Elsa. "You all right? You're looking a little pale..."
"I'm fine. What'd you say about the thief being a he?" Elsa flicked her hand dismissively, instead gripping one of Magnolia's shoulders almost desperately. Magnolia stared at her as if she was sprouting a second head.
"... Casphus gave a description of the man he'd fought off. He said he was a foreigner -- probably a Frank -- with dark brown hair and green eyes. He said the man ran off towards the West, which means thankfully the opposite way of the town, though it's a bit closer to you, sorry, and all of Krayve's men are going to be searching for him. Isn't that exciting?" Magnolia practically vibrated with her excitement. Nothing like this ever happened in their tiny town.
Elsa stared at Magnolia in utter confusion. A Frank? A man? She didn't understand -- she was sure that he'd realized she wasn't a 'he'. He'd certainly acted like he'd realized, unless she was really imagining things. Why, then, did he tell Krayve she'd been a man? Perhaps... She felt a glimmer of understanding. He was a Prince, after all, and a very important man. It'd reflect badly if people found out that not only had the thief escaped but that the thief had been a girl and escaped from him. It was just something that someone like Krayve would do to avoid appearing weak or less than perfect.
Strange, she thought. She hadn't gotten that sort of over-compensating vibe from him. Quite the opposite, in fact. Well, wouldn't be the first time she'd been wrong about someone.
"Els?"
She blinked at Magnolia's concerned face, then pushed a reassuring smile onto her lips. "Sorry. I'm just really tired and this is a lot to take in. How's Da?"
"Worried about you, Els. Just like I am. You've been acting so strangely lately -- distracted, distant, running off in the middle of the night, disappearing for an entire day... What's going on with you?" Magnolia leaned forward, staring at her scrutinizingly. "You aren't fooling around with some boy you haven't told me about, are you?"
Elsa felt her cheeks burn. "No! Look..." She sighed, reaching up and running her fingers through her tumble of red hair. "Krayve threatened to throw us out if we didn't pay all the rent we owe. I'm just... I've been trying to figure it out, that's all."
Magnolia looked relieved, then, just as quickly, went back to being concerned, though this time for a different reason. "What are you going to do?"
Elsa smiled faintly. "It's already done. We'll have enough. Has he been by to bully your family?"
Mag shook her head, smiling faintly. "I doubt he will. We've only been late once, and Da makes clocks for the royalty of both sides." Elsa was mildly surprised; she'd known the royal court in London had ordered clocks from Mag's father, but she hadn't realized the royal court of Believe, the land of magical and fairy creatures that overlapped their own, had ordered from him as well. She smiled, relieved for that small grace, at least.
"But, Els... How'd you get the money for--"
There was a sudden, booming knock that threatened to rattle the windows right out of their panes. The young women exchanged nervous looks; only one person they knew knocked with such blatant disregard for politeness. At the second knock, however, they scrambled to their feet and hurried down the ladder.
"It's him," her father said from the bed, his worn face etched deeply with worry.
"Don't worry, Da. I'll take care of it. Maggie, stay with him," Elsa instructed calmly, pulling the door open. She stepped outside, tugging the door shut behind her before either Magnolia or her father could voice a protest.
"Lord Krayve." She dipped in a shallow but still polite curtsey. He looked as oily and cold as ever, staring down his crooked nose at her. He smiled and Elsa felt her stomach write in disgust. Even dressed in fine clothes as he was, he creeped her out worse than all of the poorly-dressed thieves. At least they were honest about stealing from you.
"You're looking as cinder-covered as ever, Elsa. Now, I'm sure you know why I'm here." Again with that smile.
"You said four days, Lord Krayve. It's only been three," she pointed out, angrily.
"Did I?" One of his thin eyebrows shot up. "I seem to remember our agreement slightly different. I said you had two days -- which makes you over a day late already. But, if you wish, I will go get the magister to .. resolve this issue." Elsa felt helpless anger and fear swirl through her. She knew all too well what he was doing. His word against hers. Everyone would know he was lying but no one would say it and risk becoming the next to earn his ire. Elsa swallowed around the knot of tears in her throat. She had no other choice, really.
"I see. Please wait here... m'lord," she added, stiffly. Turning on her heel, she strode into the house again.
"What does he want?" her father asked. Elsa shot a look at Magnolia in warning and her friend shut her mouth quickly. Then the redhead turned to her father, pulling the blankets up further around him with a reassuring smile.
"What he always wants. To feel better about his slimy little self by making everyone hate him. Don't worry, Da. I've got it. You just rest, all right?" She smiled at him again, then turned and hurried up the ladder to her attic-room again. Shoving her mattress up, she pulled the sack of gold out, starting to count coins out into her palm.
She heard a sharp gasp behind her.
Whipping around, Elsa found herself staring at one very shocked Magnolia, frozen on the top rung of the ladder. Mentally searching for every cussword she knew, Elsa grabbed Magnolia's arm, pulling her fully up the ladder.
"Mag--"
"How did you get that much gold?!" Magnolia hissed, staring at Elsa with big eyes. "You... Oh my." Realization slammed into Magnolia and she sank to the floor, turning no less than three shades paler. "You... you're the thief, aren't you? Oh, Elsa..."
Elsa knelt in front of her friend, her heart thudding in her chest. "Maggie. Maggie, please, you can't say a word to anyone. Please..."
Magnolia stared at the gold, then up at Elsa, her eyes widening even more. "You want me to lie about this?! Where are you going to say you got the money?"
"I... I got a loan. I'm not going to use all of it, just enough to get by. Come on, Mag. How many times have we talked about how filthy rich princes are and how it's unfair? I'm just evening the scales a little bit. This money is going to help us -- help all of us. Please, you have to promise me, swear that you won't say a word!"
Elsa gave Magnolia a slight shake and the blonde tore her gaze from the gold to her friend's earnest, frightened face. After a moment, she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly in surrender. "All right, all right, Els. I promise that I--"
"Get out of my house!"
They both started at the sound of Elsa's father's voice booming from below. Elsa found herself searching for curse words again, scooping up enough gold to cover the rent that they owed and shoving the rest under the mattress. "Oh, Da..." she sighed. Why couldn't he have just left it to her, like she told him to?
She hurried down the ladder, followed closely by Magnolia, her eyes seeing her father standing in the doorway, though he was leaning heavily on the door, his gaze furious. Krayve was in front of him, though he'd taken a half-step back. Elsa didn't blame him. Even in his weakened condition, her father was tall and intimidating. It was hard to not be afraid of that stare when one had as little a backbone as Krayve did.
"Listen here, Jacobs. Either pay up or get out, do you underst--"
"I understand that I'm going to beat you senseless with your own stupid cane if you so much as step foot in my house again! This is our home -- my family has been here since long, long before your sniveling, snot-nosed ancestors crawled to a position of presumed power. So I will repeat... Get out of my house!"
"The town magister will hear of this, Jacobs! You can't threaten me, I own these lands!"
Elsa's heart beat so hard she was sure it was going to explode right out of her chest. She was just about to shove the gold at Krayve and demand he go away when a familiar shadow fell across the men framed in the doorway.
"What is going on here?"
Elsa, instinctively, flattened herself back against the wall. She knew that voice. Magnolia stared at her, confused, then looked towards the door. Elsa gestured frantically for her not say a word even as Krayve and her father turned to look at Prince Casphus. All Elsa could see was his shadow, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was him.
"This man refuses to pay his taxes, my lord. I am simply seeking to uphold the virtue of the law," Krayve sniveled, bowing deeply to Casphus. Elsa closed her eyes, mentally searching for a way to get her sick and weak father out of the house and to safety before the town guards could get to them. Her stomach twisted in knots; she'd barely escaped Casphus once, and that had been her alone. Now there were Casphus and Krayve as well, and her with a sickly father and an uncoordinated best friend. Not good odds at all.
"What have you to say of this matter, sir?" Casphus inquired, politely.
Elsa's father looked as shocked as Elsa herself felt, but recovered quickly. "If it pleases you, m'lord, I have been very sick recently. I am on the mend due to the efforts of my dear daughter, but even she cannot harvest the fields and tend to an ailing and useless father and earn enough money to pay the exorbitant taxes that this coward expects us to pay."
Elsa could hear Krayve sputtering at being called a coward and was proud of her father.
"I see," Casphus said, slowly. Then he addressed Krayve, because his voice was different -- harder, barely polite. "I am inclined to agree with the statement that your taxes are indeed far higher than is fair or right. You sit in luxury and comfort while your people can barely keep themselves fed. I have yet to see a single citizen in clothes that are not threadbare who does not work for you, Krayve. So, as royal Prince, I am declaring forgiveness for any taxes that are past due. You will not take any action against these fair people nor collect a single shilling until auditors are sense to assess this land and provide you with a tax fee that is proper and accurate. Do you understand?"
Krayve quailed under the stern voice, his voice taking a whining, high-pitched tone. "But-- but m'lord-- I have to repay you for your jewels, I can't--"
"That is unimportant," Casphus said and Elsa could see the dismissive flick of his shadow's hand on the floor of the hovel. "I do not expect any compensation nor do I need any. I do, however, demand that you change many of your policies around here. I am sick of seeing people so downtrodden and I intend to see that changed."
"Ye-yes sir. Whatever you say, m'lord," Krayve sniveled.
"Now, leave this poor man to his rest." Casphus turned and inclined his head politely to Elsa's father. "I will see to it that my personal physician comes and provides you with any medicine you need."
"M'lord, that is too kind..." Her father began, but Casphus chuckled.
"Nonsense. It will give him something to do!" Then he turned and his shadow retreated from the door. Elsa could hear the jingle of a horse's bit, the snuffling of the animal, then Casphus's sharp clicks as he spurred the animal to action. It was only when she was sure the horse was far from the house that she dared to emerge around the corner, Magnolia at her side. Her father was already closing the door in Krayve's ashen face, sagging. She hurried to support him.
"... perhaps there is still some good left in the world," he muttered, and Elsa could see how touched he was by Casphus's kindness. She said nothing, simply helped him back to his bed, tucking the covers around him again.
"You should rest now," she instructed. Her father snorted as if to disagree, but was already drifting off to sleep.
Elsa remained kneeling on the ground, staring at her slumbering father. After a few minutes she rose to tend to the fire, wiping the back of her hand over her cheek bone, ignoring the cinder-smudges that marred her pale skin. Magnolia knelt next to her, looking up at her with big blue eyes.
"What are you going to do?" she whispered.
Elsa swallowed hard. "... I don't know," she answered honestly.
She'd stolen the gold to pay the taxes to let her father and her stay in their home, but now the very man she'd stolen so much from had just given them a reprieve and so much more -- the hope of things changing. It threw everything she'd thought she knew about him upside-down. What was she supposed to do with it now? It felt.. wrong to keep it. Especially when he'd just shown her father -- and, though he didn't know it, her -- such kindness.
"I can't just give it back, can I?" she whispered to Magnolia. Her friend shrugged.
"I don't.. I don't think it works that way," Magnolia whispered, staring at the fire as well. The two friends lapsed into a quiet, thoughtful silence, only the crackling of the fire filling the small house.