Chapter 10
The boys didn't want me getting seen by the De Noir clan, just yet, so Ryder gave me his scarf to put over my face and Zane gave me his hat to cover my face with and found a huge black blanket to throw over myself. Robin snickered as I walked around slowly hiding behind the twins. "What?" I snapped as he laughed walking beside me. He looked around still laughing, "Absolutely nothing princess." Zane and Ryder led the way while Peirce and Styles hid me behind them and Robin next to me. We were in some type of market place. But it was, how do I say, a little too medieval for me.
We came to an extremely scary looking hut with dark purple curtains as the door. Zane put a finger to his lips and Robin grabbed me and pulled me close to him. Zane stepped inside with Ryder walking close behind him. "Ms. Old hag?" Zane called out, snickering a little "Hello?" Ryder called.
Suddenly a figure came running towards them screaming, "Get out! Get out! Leave me be!" She finally appeared in the light and we got to see her face. She was very, very old, with wrinkles and wildly curly, dark grey hair in a messy ponytail. She was tan and looked a little like these gypsies that I've read about, with a crème shawl that overlapped her arms and a brown scarf with beads on its ends. Her hands were decorated with an assortment of rings and bracelets. I could barely breathe so I started fondling with my scarf and it fell to my chest. I heard a gasp and noticed she was staring intently at me with her jaw open wide. "The Moon Princess," She whispered slowly showing a smile. "In my own home!"
She ran towards me and curtsied. Robin held me tight when she ran towards me. "What brings you here princess?" She asked stepping away a little and holding out her hand to invite me in. Robin squeezed my arm, not wanting me to go. I turned to him nodding and walked inside. "I need your help, I understand you are the…wisest here about the entire valley." She laughed like a mad woman and stood up walking around the hut, "Wisest is the kindest term, but yes." I laughed lightly, "Can you please tell me if there are more dungeons anywhere else in the valley?" She stopped walking and turned to me with an eyebrow raised. "Now why would a beautiful princess like you be looking for dungeons?" I sighed looking down at my feet, "My uncle was kidnapped, and I have reasons to believe he's in a dungeon somewhere."
She rushed over to me and leaned in to look me dead in the eye "Are you willing to pay the price searching for him will cost?" I stared at her nervously, "Y-yes…" I said and she narrowed her eyes wanting more, "Yes." I said tougher this time. She searched my eyes and backed up smiling with not very many teeth. "Then I shall grant you the gift of wisdom. Yes there are more dungeons and another castle, although it is abandoned. Many years ago I stumbled upon it." I could hear the boys snicker behind me, probably about how she said 'many years ago'. She snapped her fingers and quickly turned around, frantically running around the hut.
She started mumbling to herself and every once in awhile she would throw her hands up in the air and curse at the world. "Ah ha!" She shouted holding a rather large book up in the air. She turned to me and held the book out for me to take. I stood up and took the book from her. Its spine was dark brown leather and the book itself was all black leather with no title, just a blank front. "I never planned on going back there, so I never documented its location, but I did paint it in this book and several other spots along the way of finding it. Have it act like a picture map and you should find it." I opened the book to find multiple paintings of different areas throughout all of Moonacre Valley.
"Do you know which direction it is?" She nodded and pointed past me and out the hut, "Far west dear." I looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you so very much." I curtsied and started heading out of the hut when she called after me, "Oh, and Maria," She took off a ring from her left ring finger, and held it out to me. My eyes were set wide from shock as to how she knew my name, but I still walked towards her. She placed the ring in my palm and closed my fingers over it. "Always remember, that little white horse will always be there when in need." She smiled and motioned for me to go on.
"Thank you." I said softly and walked out of the hut to be immediately greeted by all the boys. "Well what'd she say?" Ryder asked first, "She said yes, that there is another dungeon, even another castle but it's abandoned." Robin stared at me questioningly, "An abandoned castle?" I nodded, "Yes, that's what she said, and she gave me this book with paintings leading us there," Robin raised his eyebrows, "So, we are really doing this?" I smiled slightly and the boys smirked excitingly. "You don't have to come if you're too scared…" I told Robin and the boys all 'oooed' again.
Robin scoffed, "Please Maria, I'm not scared of anything." I laughed and scoffed, "Whatever you say Mr. De Noir." I started to fix my scarf and adjust my blanket. "So it's settled?" Zane said excitedly, "We will go tomorrow in search of this abandoned castle." I nodded and the boys hollered once again. "We shall bid you a goodnight, Princess." Ryder said bowing and the other three soon followed. Robin just shook his head and laughed. "I'll walk you home Maria." I smiled and said, "Thank you, Zane, Ryder, all of you so much." They blushed and I waved as Robin and I walked away from the De Noir territory and into the forest.
"Robin, please promise me that you will not tell your father about this." I said breaking the silence as we were almost home. He looked at me with a mixture of worry, nervousness, and concern. "Alright Maria, I promise. But you also have to promise that if anything happens you will let me and the boys handle it. Do not try to be brave here just like at the top of the amphitheatre." I nodded in agreement, "I promise Robin, thank you." He looked at me and smiled slightly. "Now that I think of it, that's actually the only thing I'm scared of," I looked up at him a little bit confused. "What?" I asked and his cheeks turned red slightly.
He shook his head and laughed, I suppose he was embarrassed. "Nothing princess," He said trialing off. I wanted to pester him more for the answer but I realized we were at the Manor already. He turned to me and exhaled deeply. I looked up at him, my height getting the best of me, and smiled. We just stared at each other. I searched his eyes and he gazed into mine. Suddenly I jumped on him and hugged him. "Thank you Robin, for everything." He squeezed me softly and sighed, "No problem Maria." I let go of him and took a step back. He lightly grabbed my hand and kissed it gently. "Goodnight Maria, be safe." He looked up at me once more before walking off into the forest.
I walked inside and leaned back on the door. I just leaned there thinking. Digweed showed up suddenly walking past the foyer and looked at me. He faked a smile and stood there watching me for a moment. "Miss Loveday is in her…and Sir Benjamin's bedroom." He nodded, "Thank you Digweed, get some rest it's been a long day." He nodded and wobbled off the way only he could. I walked to the master bedroom and found Loveday staring out the window.
I quietly knocked on the door and she snapped her head over to me, but her anxious eyes were filled with disappointment once she saw that it was me. I swallowed hard. She probably hoped it was someone with answers, or even good news. Then her expression changed again, her eyes were now at a soft stare. "Maria, my dear," She said, her voice was frail and hoarse. I walked towards her and pulled her into a hug. She looked down at me and her eyes were red and puffy, but mostly scared.
She rubbed my arms and said "Stay with me tonight dear. I won't get much of any sleep tonight anyway." I nodded and followed her gaze out the window looking into the darkness I will soon be traveling through.