Fredrika opened the secret lid and something big and heavy fell onto her hand. She examined this mysterious object in her hands and she realized that it was made from metal and it was oval shaped almost like a ring of some sort.
She crawled out under the bed and looked the object in day light.
Destruction around her was awful to watch. All the beautiful rugs, books, chess pieces and clothes were torn into small pieces, the monster had destroyed everything.
Richard would be very angry after he had seen this.
Then Fredrika looked at the object which she had found, it was a horseshoe!
She stared at the horseshoe in amazement, how it could help her to find Richard?!
Was this some sort of sick joke, had someone opened the secret lid before her?
This was ridiculous, how could she ever find her dear friend?
Then Fredrika remembered something, when she had been very young she and her friends had played a game called "a treasure hunt". Instead of a treasure map there were certain objects which gave a hint where to look for the next object which would point the way to the next clue, until the treasure was found. The golden key had been the first hint to her look for a lock and now there was this horseshoe so it seemed that she was supposed to search for a horse or a stable.
Fredrika left from the keep after she was sure that there was no monster waiting for her at the court yard.
She walked through the yard and opened the door of horse stable.
Suddenly a panicky neigh cut the air and Fredrika took few steps back, the horse had scared her for good and she had almost had an heart attack.
The black stallion of Richard's was whinnying nervously and stamping his feet.
The saddle and the reins were on and the horse was made to be ready for riding but there was no rider. Fredrika approached him with caution and talked with soft voice trying to calm the poor animal.
-It's alright I'm not about to hurt you.
The horse looked at her suspiciously but let her to come closer.
-Good boy, what a beautiful horse you are, she continued and touched lightly the silky muzzle.
Stallion seemed to relax a bit and let Fredrika to touch himself.
She was annoyed that she didn't even know this horse's name, he had to have a name and she had never asked that from Richard. This proved to her how little she knew about her friend, maybe she didn't deserve a friend like Richard. What an idiot she was.
Then she opened the stall and walked out with the horse pulling his reins.
The stallion followed her nicely and stopped when she stopped.
There was something about this horse and Fredrika knew it, he was holding the next clue.
Fredrika opened one of the saddlebags and there she found something.
She pulled out a long silky white cloth which seemed to be a cloak of some kind.
-What is this, she asked aloud.
-It's a phantom cloak for half beings like you, the stallion replied.
-WOW, Fredrika screamed when she heard the horse talking.
-Easy don't scream like that, the horse calmed her down.
-MY GOODNESS A TALKING HORSE!
-Aye, I'm not a pony either.
-D-D-Do all horses talk?
-No, but since I'm a special kind of horse I can talk, tootsie.
-Then why didn't you say anything before?
-Why should I, my master is the one who deals the talking part.
-Hmm, that makes sense. Speaking about of your master do you have any idea where he might be and what is this cloak for?
-I may have a hunch where he is and that cloak is to give you a disguise from possible enemies.
-E-E-Enemies?
-Aye, the Hatmen.
-Is Richard their prisoner?
-It seems like it.
-Oh, no. What could we do?
-Not we you. You started this whole mess so you are suppose to fix it.
-But how on earth I could do something about the Hatmen, aren't they supposed to be most cruel and violent shadow folk?
-Aye but my master trusts on you so you can do it. I'm sure of it.
Fredrika made a deep sigh and put the cloak on herself.
-Very well then, show me the way.
-That's the spirit, climb aboard.
-How, you are far too high to me.
The stallion lowered himself a bit and so Fredrika managed to saddle.
-What is your name, she asked.
-Orion, that's how my master calls me.
-Very well Orion, don't gallop too fast since I have not much of experience from riding a horse.
-Just hold on tight of my mane and you'll be alright.
Then Orion started to trot and they left from the castle.
-Now when we are on move don't say a word so no one will not notice that you are still attached to the world of the living. Just sit silently and don't look anyone to the eyes.
-Okay.
Soon the depressed kingdom was left behind and more sinister environment appeared.
Cold fist of fear squeezed her chest and she tried to hide herself better to the silky cloak.
For the sake of her life she hoped that it would actually work for her.
Again countless pairs of evil eyes were looking at her but now they left her be since they sensed that she was as cold as they were.
She was wearing a ghostly shroud which did cover quite well the scent of her living warmth.
On her way Fredrika tried to figure out how to help Richard.
She didn't have any of weapons if they were needed of knowledge how to even use one.
She was a pacifist and all kind of blood letting horrified her, she was no warrior more like a victim and Richard knew it quite well.
It was quite surprising that he believed in her, a tiny girl who had no special powers or anything useful.
It was possible that she was riding towards of her own doom but for the sake of her friend she would not turn back.
He needed her and so she needed to reply to his cry of help.
Familiar hostile darkness surrounded them once again and Fredrika felt how Orion slowed down his steps. He wasn't too happy to be in this place either and she didn't blame him.
Eventually they reached a gateway, on this time it wasn't a friendly or inviting but harsh and scary looking. This was the gateway to the realm of Hatmen.
Orion stopped and Fredrika knew that she had to continue on her own.
-I know you are scared but you have to go there, Orion whispered.
-What if, Fredrika started but Orion told her to be quiet.
-If you manage to get even close to Richard you'll have some hope for saving him and yourself so don't be scared.
Then he pushed her to her back and Fredrika walked through the gate.