Derek leapt to his feet. He needed to make sure nothing happened to Phillip.
"Phillip! Phillip, over here!"
Phillip faced Derek, a look of relief on his face. Derek was stopped short by a gypsy who held him back.
"Let me go!" Derek cried.
Madame Roba glanced up at Phillip, then at Derek.
"You know this man?" she asked.
"He's my bodyguard."
Madame Roba looked up at Phillip with a look of understanding and interest. She didn't seem to approve of his security methods. But nonetheless, she asked for his hands to be untied. The gypsy holding Derek let go and Derek ran to hug his bodyguard. Phillip winced and hissed in pain. Derek took a step back, concerned.
"What's wrong?"
Phillip half smiled through his pain. "My shoulder's dislocated."
The same gypsy who had held Derek stepped forward. "May I?"
Phillip nodded. Derek winced sympathetically as Phillip's shoulder audibly popped back into place. Phillip groaned happily.
"See to his arm, please. A friend of Master Derek is always welcome among us." Madame Roba said.
As Phillip was being led away, Derek called, "Where's Tab?"
The look on Phillip's face told him everything he did and did not want to know. He sullenly walked back to his log and sat down. Thomas came and sat next to him.
"We need to go." Derek murmured, more convinced than ever that there was not much time left. "We have to keep looking."
"But Derek, it's almost totally dark and we don't have Tab with us anymore." Thomas argued. "We don't even know where to go next."
"The tower." Derek said after a pause.
"What tower?" a voice asked.
Derek and Thomas started at the voice. They looked over their shoulders to see Summer hanging a blanket over a tree branch.
"No tower," Derek said. He and Thomas shared a glance.
Summer fixed a fold in the blanket.
"Hm. That's funny. I remember a tower back there." She motioned nonchalantly.
Brushing off the blanket, she turned her radiant green eyes on the boys.
"Your friend is coming. Madame Roba wanted to make sure his arm was set properly. She said everything is ready for the celebration, so we'll eat soon."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Girls," Thomas muttered, turning away.
"Yeah…girls." Derek said, watching Summer go.
Shortly after, Phillip joined them, his arm in a sling. By then the sun was down and the first of the stars were beginning to shine. The whole clearing was lit up by pole-torches and a fire here and there on the edge of the clearing. One fire lay in the center of it all. Madame Roba appeared and stood with her back to the center fire, facing everyone. She looked around, smiling.
"Friends, family, and guests -" she bowed in Derek's direction. "- we are honored with the presence of one of Corona's royals: young Prince Derek."
There was a general cheer and applause.
"As short notice as it is, we have prepared a small feast to honor you, Master Derek."
Derek blushed and stuttered his thanks. Fonso clapped him on the back.
"The lad's speechless!"
Everyone laughed good-naturedly. Madame Roba waited for the noise to die down. Someone handed her a cup and she raised it in Derek's direction.
"To the Prince's good health!" She toasted. "And may good fortune follow him in all he sets out to do!"
The gypsies echoed her and cheered as the food was brought out. The feast was small, but the food tasted better than anything Derek had eaten in a while. As Derek, Thomas and Phillip ate, the gypsies played instruments and a few sang songs. Fonso picked up a mandolin and strummed it a few times, faster and faster until everyone had turned to watch.
Fonso strummed a couple of bars and then began tapping his foot as he strummed out a wild jig. The gypsies cheered when a man stood and began to dance. Everybody clapped their hands to the beat as the man danced faster and faster. Fonso strummed the last few bars and everyone cheered him and the dancer.
A chant was started by the children and was soon taken up by a few adults as well.
"Sing a song! Sing a song! Sing a song!"
Derek looked up to see Summer stand amidst cheers.
Fonso leaned in close to Derek and Thomas. "Oh, you're in for a rare treat, lads. None's got a finer voice than that lass."
Everyone hushed their neighbor to hear Summer sing. A mandolin accompanied her.
Sweetly and softly
The gentle wind blows,
Bearing lace wings
Like gossamer snow
Over the fields
And into my home.
The Butterfly of Spring is here.
All through the seasons
Of beauty and sun,
She flies through green pastures
Where once I had run,
Preparing the world
For Summer has come.
The Butterfly of Spring is here.
As the last note faded, Derek's mind stirred with familiarity. Somewhere he had heard that tune before. His mind was brought back to the present as everyone clapped for Summer.
A couple of children began dancing and soon everyone was laughing and eating again. A pretty young woman grabbed Phillip's good arm and pulled him into the dancing, despite his protests. Derek smiled, but inside he was feeling anxious. Summer's song had reawakened his sense of dread.
"Thomas," Derek said.
Thomas didn't hear.
"Thomas!" Derek said a little more forcefully.
Thomas turned and saw the look on his face.
"Derek, you're not leaving are you?"
Derek half shrugged and fingered the lip of a cup in front of him.
"Derek, it's dark and we don't have anyone to guide us. We don't even have our things."
"Well, I'll find them. But I don't want to go alone." Derek pleaded.
Thomas looked down and then around at the festivities around them.
"Derek, let's just stay." he said quietly.
Disappointment pulled at Derek's heart. "Fine. I'll go alone."
Phillip returned just then, Pascal sitting on his shoulder.
"Look who I just found." Phillip smiled.
He gently removed Pascal from his shoulder, setting him on the ground. Pascal was smiling lopsidedly and hiccupped. Phillip laughed.
"I found him near the wagon. Looks like he had too much fun."
Phillip swayed slightly. He's not the only one, Derek thought.
"Phillip, where's Madame Roba?"
Phillip looked down at Derek. Happy, but curious, he asked, "Why?"
"I-I wanted to thank her for all this." Derek said.
Phillip was suddenly swept away by another young gypsy girl and he got caught up in more dancing. "By the wagon!" Phillip laughed.
Leaving Thomas, Derek dodged around the merry dancers toward the wagon. He found Madame Roba in the lee of the wagon enjoying a meal with some children. She was telling them a story and they giggled. Derek watched and listened. He smiled, remembering his father telling him Flynnagan Rider stories. Madame Roba looked up and smiled warmly at Derek.
"Ah, say hello to Master Derek young ones."
"Hello Master Derek," they chorused.
"Madame Roba, I…wanted to speak with you."
Understanding flashed in her eyes. "Run along little ones. Go enjoy the music and dancing."
She hurried them along until she and Derek were alone.
"I wanted, er, to thank you for all…this." Derek began.
"But something else is bothering you." Madame Roba said. Her kind, but admonishing look told Derek to tell the truth.
"I need to leave. It's - it's not that I don't appreciate what you've done for me and Thomas and Phillip, but… well, I need to go."
"You need to keep looking for your sister."
"But how did -" Derek started, confused.
Madame Roba gently took Derek's arm and sat him down.
"Your friend is very loyal to you Master Derek. To find such a friend is to find a treasure." Madame Roba said gently. "He told me your reason for leaving your parents and your home."
She held up a hand and shushed him gently, keeping him from protesting.
"You need to find your sister Master Derek. You do not need my permission to go." She smiled kindly. "But I was hoping you would say goodbye first."
Derek smiled sadly and nodded. "I will go."
"What about your friends?"
Derek's face fell. "Phillip will just take me back to the palace. I can't go home yet. And Pascal is a good friend, but I think it would be better if he stayed here with Phillip. Can you take care of them for now?"
Madame Roba raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath. "Just this once."
Derek nodded, continuing, "Thomas doesn't want to go. I shouldn't have even dragged him out here anyway. I don't think he wanted to come at all."
"I do want to go, Derek." Derek looked up at Thomas who stood at the corner of the wagon. "And you didn't drag me out here. I came with you because you're my friend. You needed help and I want to help you."
Derek stood and hugged Thomas.
"Thanks."
"Your belongings are in the wagon." Madame Roba said after a moment.
She followed them around to the ladder steps and they ducked through the cloth doorway. Derek ducked under some pots and bumped into something.
Summer squeaked in fright as she rebounded off Derek.
"Summer!" Thomas cried aloud.
Madame Roba lit a candle which illuminated the wagon's interior.
"Summer, were you eavesdropping?" She scolded.
Summer kneaded the shawl around her waist, a look of determination and embarrassment on her face.
"I want to go, too."
"No, you can't come." Derek stated.
Summer straightened herself and clenched her fists at her sides. She glared at Derek. "And why not?"
"We're not…I mean, you can't because -"
"Because I'm a girl?" Summer challenged.
She took a step forward, her green eyes blazing.
"Look, you know things I want to know. I saw you when you learned my name." She turned to Madame Roba without pausing. "Please, Madame. I want to go. I want to find out who I am; where I come from."
Madame Roba sadly sat down on a stool, setting the candle aside. Summer walked up to her and, kneeling, took her hands.
"Please, Madame," Summer said softly. "You've given me all I could ever ask for. You've been a mother to me." Summer hugged Madame Roba. "But I need to know." Summer whispered.
Madame Roba returned the hug and squeezed her affectionately just before pulling away. She rubbed her eyes.
"It's the least I can do for you, my child. You will always be welcome here."
Madame Roba stood. "Grab some food, supplies, whatever you may need. If you know where you are going, I will send someone to guide you partway. And may Heaven protect you."