Chapter 17

"Are you sure it will work?" asked Anaella for the first time of Tnsaiu. The question had been bubbling in her mind, and only now did she find the courage to ask. They were riding through the streets of Regina on a special mission given by Prince Gespian. She felt very uncomfortable riding in such a crowded area so close to the castle, and not being disguised with her peasant's clothing, but rather in her own rich attire.

"No," he answered as usual in his soft calm voice. "I'm not sure. The attempt to poison the king has been made several times and it has never worked. Only the assassins were killed."

"So you have decided not to try it with poisoning?" concluded Anaella.

"Aye. I am beginning to believe that this Felipe cannot be killed. When I was in his presence a week ago I could feel some sort of spell around him. What kind I do not know, but I fear it was placed there by a witch. That leaves us only one option."

"What's that?"

Tnsaiu hesitated and for the first time since she met him, Anaella saw a flicker of doubt touch his dark eyes and his eye brows almost deepened with worry. That worried her, for she had never seen him anything but cool and unruffled. He answered slowly, "I have been working on a powerful magic trick that only the greatest wizards know. If I succeed it will not only dispose of Felipe, but it will help me tremendously in my effort to reach the Four Seats."

Anaella did not understand the last part, and she said, "What does this trick do?"

Tnsaiu glanced around at the many people scurrying about them and knew better than to blab out magic steps in such a public place. "You will see, if it works," he said quietly.

"And if it doesn't?" wondered Anaella anxiously.

Again he surprised her by suddenly smiling as he said, "Anaella, you are truly half human and fairy, for I have never met anyone who asks as many questions as you do. Whenever I talk to you, half of your conversation is inquiring. It is time for you to simply trust me."

Anaella blushed slightly and nodded. She hoped trusting him meant relying on him to get her out of this mess safely and without getting killed.

The horse's hooves clattered across the draw bridge, dodging the many peddlers going in and out of the castle's gate. It was market day, and the cooks in the castle were buying their needed wares. They casually established their horses in the royal stables and ignored the curious and suspicious glances that the stable-hands gave them.

At the castle doors the guards immediately stopped them. The first one asked, "Who are you and why do you want to go inside the castle?"

"I have an important appointment with King Felipe," said Tnsaiu, giving them each a calm, cold stare. The guards wavered, and the first one again demanded, "What's yer name and who's the lady?"

"Sirs," said Tnsaiu. "My sister and I have come a long distance, and would like to be permitted in. I believe we have rooms already arranged for us, for we wish to stay a while." The guards still glared at them and Tnsaiu finally flipped a coin towards them and they dropped to the ground desperately.

Anaella looked at them in disgust and followed Tnsaiu into the castle. The maids, soldiers and servants hurrying about didn't give them a single glance as they separated and each began their exploration of the castle.

Pulling her hood over her head, Anaella went wandering around the castle, pausing every now and then to murmur a few words to random people. The first she approached was brawny young girl with large hands and a scowling face. She glared at Anaella suspiciously but she ignored the face and whispered to her, "Are you loyal to Felipe, miss?"

"Just as much as my cat is loyal to my neighbor's dog," she huffed.

"Then spread the word," murmured Anaella, "That Felipe will soon disappear, and you will again be free."

The scullery maid huffed again but when she opened her mouth to answer, the hooded girl had vanished. She shrugged indifferently, but still told the incident to her chum who happened to be the kitchen gossiper and soon the whole kitchen was whispering secretively.

Anaella wanted to go down to the dungeon and try to do something of a liberation, but as she began to search for it, she became lost in what seemed to her an endless hall filled with doors and rooms. She finally caught sight of a small barred door beyond it was darkness.

"What are you doing here?"

Anaella swung around and gulped when she saw Felipe coming towards her. He did not look happy because his eyes flashed out dangerously. Then he recognized her and he huffed, "You are that peasant girl my son brought here. Come with me, I have an important task for you."

She nodded and tried to be Ella by curtsying slightly and muttering, "Yes, your majesty."

He opened the door to the dungeon with an old, copper key, and she followed him into the gloomy corridor. A foul stench pricked her nose and she winced as she heard the cries of men, women, and even children. The wide passage was lined with cages, and a few candles flickered lightly. This was not the place Mattie had led Dasian, but it was the place the guards had taken little Hanna.

She tried not to look at the many gaunt faces that stared at her, and the hands that stretched out frantically. Felipe barked once and the hands at once withdrew, but they still looked at them with hallow, sunken faces.

"Who are these people?" Anaella couldn't help but ask, as she fought the urge to reach out and take one of the bony hands and comfort the owner.

"Rebels," he grunted, "And spies. I don't kill many people. Only torture them and keep them here to die. Pitiful, disgusting things they are."

Before Anaella could stop herself, she was staring into the large brown eyes of a little girl, who clung to the bars and pressed her face up at Anaella in wonder and pleading. She stopped and stared back. Slowly she reached into her cloak and pulled out a small loaf of bread. The child's eyes widened, but she made no move to grasp it.

"Don't touch her!" barked Felipe just as Anaella let the crust slip into the girl's hand. Instead of ravenously eating it, she ran to the dark corner and gave half of the bread to a failing old man who was covered in scars and bruises. She nibbled the other half timidly while glancing at Anaella with thanks in her eyes.

For the first time in her life, Anaella felt furious. How dare he lock up these people and treat them so cruelly when they were only defending themselves from his tyranny. She felt Felipe swing her around to face him as he bellowed, "I told you not to touch the brats. If you dare do it again…" his voice trailed off and he looked at Anaella's swirling blue eyes with fear, as if he had just realized something dangerous. "You, you are a fairy? Am I right?"

Anaella almost nodded, but then did not respond. He figured it out by himself.

"You are the one Gahela spoke of. Are you not? Admit it!"

"I am," Anaella said softly.

"You escaped the dragon!" he ranted, pacing back and forth. The closest prisoners hesitated in their moaning to listen to his raving, "You lived and met Dasian. You had to become his spy. It is you who have brought so many losses to my army. Aye, and it was you who scared my army off with that silly mirage. And now you must think that you will kill me, eh?" he drew his sword quickly. "Well, not if I kill you first!"

He swung his sword down on her, but it clashed with Tnsaiu's sword. The wizard had appeared in the nick of time, and as he stepped in front of Anaella, Felipe's eyes filled with surprise, as Anaella stepped back, relief washing over her.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Tnsaiu straightened. "I am a wizard of the woods; they call me Tnsaiu."

Before Felipe could respond, Tnsaiu stretched his hand towards him, muttering a few words. A spark of the blue fire from the wizard city flashed from the tips of his fingers then disappeared. Tnsaiu frowned and tried again.

Felipe realized what he was trying to do and he gave a hoarse laugh. "You may be a wizard, but you certainly don't have much power." He again lifted his sword.

Tnsaiu's had clattered to the floor and Anaella gulped in dread. But then a hand grasped Felipe's arm and hindered the blow. One of the men in the cages had taken a hold of him eagerly and was trying desperately to grab hold of his neck. More hands slid through the bars and their hands clutched Felipe on all sides. He growled in indignation and raised his sword to cut off the hands. But then Tnsaiu's attempt, on magic worked, and the lazy fire ushered from his fingers and surrounded the king. The hands immediately let go and a howl of delight echoed through the dismal prison.

Felipe was caught in bonds of blue that kept his arms close to his side as he sputtered angrily.

"I was right," said Tnsaiu, beginning to circle the enraged king. "The witch did put a spell on you, so you will not be killed or destroyed. You will remain alive, till you die, a ripe old age. But we will not set you free. I will send you to my city. There my people will decide what to do with you. Farewell, I will see you in a week or two." He snapped his fingers and Felipe with the blue light disappeared.

"It worked," sighed Tnsaiu and again he smiled lightly.

"The keys!" cried someone hoarsely, "The dog had the keys."

"Oh, locks," said Tnsaiu with a wave of his hand. "Those are easy." He pointed to the lock of the first cell, and a ray of blue fire hit it, breaking the lock, and the door swung open. The people inside scurried out the door joyously.

While Tnsaiu was zapping the locks down one side, Anaella worked on picking the locks on the other side. It was slower work, and she had only gotten five done when Tnsaiu declared the work finished. The occupants cheered and a few rushed to Tnsaiu as if to embrace him. But his cold imposing look stopped them. He was not to be touched, physically or emotionally.

But Anaella had several little children and old men and women swarming her thankfully, as they embraced, kissed and praised her. She blushed prettily and patted each one and murmured to the little girl with brown eyes, "'Tis my pleasure, little one."

After all the prisoners had been freed, Tnsaiu and Anaella walked down the halls of the palace silently, each lost in their own thoughts. Anaella could hardly believe that the war had been won so quickly after the rebels had suffered considerably. But Tnsaiu, had been there and his magic had finally made things right.

As they walked down the hall, Mattie hurried to them, a scowl on her face.

"Who are you?" she scoffed, "Was it you two who set the Captain free? As well as the rebels?"

Anaella's heart jumped when she heard, Dasian was free. But she let Tnsaiu talk.

"Nay, and aye," he said slowly. "We did not set him free from the castle, but we did set him free from the burdens of the war. And yes, we did set the 'rebels' free from your father's death grip." He turned to the gathering courtiers and soldiers. "You are all free. The war is finished. In no time the true king of the land will be seated on the throne."

Mattie was furious, but could do nothing, as Tnsaiu brushed past her, and the people murmured to each other in excited whispers. Anaella couldn't help but step up to the girl and ask, "When did the Captain escape?"

"Yesterday," she scoffed, "And by the way, the war is not yet over. Your spy will take of that."

"My spy?"

"Yes, I will not reveal the name but she will continue the war."

Anaella turned back and hurried after Tnsaiu; another puzzle had been solved. When they reached the stable, she told Tnsaiu of her discovery, "The traitor from our army, it's Veronica."

The wizard nodded gravely as if he already knew, then shook his head in disgust and sorrow.

"I suspected Veronica was being traitorous, the minute I saw her lay eyes on Jengo," he said solemnly. "I don't know why she wanted to switch sides, I suppose this Jengo fellow pleased her or she was fed up with me. Either way I warned her, though she did not listen. When the news reached me that Sir Loban was dead, I was very grieved and knew it was partly my fault. That made me come here to try the spell and end this war once and for all."

He then quickly informed her he was not going with her.

"I have other duties here, before King Gespian arrives. You must go stop Veronica, before she does anything. You go and tell Dasian's camp. You be first to spread the good news."

Dasian glanced up from his writing as his tent flap opened and someone entered. He did a double take and stood in surprise.

"Veronica?" he said in surprise. The lone woman wizard nodded. Her black cape draped over her and her hood covered most of her face.

"Captain. I have some very important news for you."

"Aren't you stationed with General Zafar?"

"Yes, I am, but I had to take this to higher authority. You know of the mysterious traitor in our midst. The one who killed the noble knight, Sir Loban. I know who it is."

Dasian sat back down and waved his hand. He took a drink from his glass and said, "Say on."

Veronica hesitated, staring at him, with a peculiar look. "It was Anaella sir. Now before you reject this, let me explain, from the beginning. Before you got her from the fairy realm, did you know most of the fairies were already on Felipe's side?"

"Her guardians knew nothing of the war."

"Or so it seemed. She played spy with you for while, then began to betray you. After you attacked Jengo's camp, she helped Jengo escape and flee to the castle. There she told them where your camp was. Because she didn't want you suspicious, she rode back and warned you."

"What of the mirage?" challenged Dasian, not even sure why he was listening to these lies.

"That was also to prevent suspicion. Now in the future, Jengo and Felipe will know where your camp is and the fairy won't warn you, betrayal number 2. Did you know she deserted you for a while and returned to the forest of Ardunt?"

That caught Dasian off guard. "What?"

"Ah, so you didn't know. Well she did and after she visited her fairy friends, she went to Gahela."

"You're lying."

"I wish I were. You can ask her yourself. She went there and conversed with her. Tnsaiu covered for her and told you she was scouting. She gave the witch her hair as well. I'm sure you wondered why she cut it. She let Gahela cut it. When she returned didn't she seem a bit, jittery?"

Dasian did not respond, but in his mind, he was beginning to doubt.

"It was because she killed Sir Loban. The witnesses said it was a woman. Can you now see all her betrayals? Even now you do not know where she is. I do. She's at the castle with Tnsaiu, who is also treacherous. They're probably making plans with Felipe. She will return soon and you can ask her where's she has been, if she went to the witches. She'll confess it and begin to tremble. I'm sorry I had to pour the truth out on you so suddenly."

"It's not true," he muttered. He rested his head in his hands and thought vigorously, trying desperately to separate Veronica's facts from what he knew.

"It is true," retorted Veronica. "So many facts and proofs; Anaella is the traitor."