Chapter 10

"Are we going the right way?"

"Jack!" Cadhia and Rapunzel exclaimed.

I sniggered to myself at their response. "Sorry, bored again," I shrugged.

"Please focus on where you're walking, Jack. Remember what happened the last time you complained?" Rapunzel said.

"Honestly, Magda, how can you even stand this boy?" Cadhia said.

"Fine, let's have a proper conversation, instead of me blabbering to myself as I walk with sore legs behind you two," I exclaimed and eyed the two girls who were riding on Prancer. I had a feeling Prancer would never let me ride on his back again.

"Why do you keep calling Rapunzel 'Magda'?"

"Because she is from the high tower. The whole forest knows about her. Well, at least the magical side of it does. That is what we call her."

For the next few hours, or that was what it felt like, the three of us exchanged stories about ourselves. Rapunzel and I didn't need to tell much to Cadhia. She was a Seer Fairy, a somewhat clairvoyant. She knew about us more than she should. She told us that her homeland was in the deep Irish forests where she lived in a whole community of fairies.

"But why are you here?" Rapunzel asked.

"I ran away. I had to. I was banished from my fey. It's a long story, I'll tell the both of you someday."

The ladies continued in enthusiastic conversation as I trailed behind them somberly, but politely quiet. They talked about many things; Cadhia told about the fairies and the mountainsides and forests of Ireland as Rapunzel listened with fascination. Rapunzel had not much to tell, only her dreams and wishes that she had listed down mentally since she was a little girl.

"I really want to see the floating lights. That has been my lifelong dream. I want to know why they are being released on that particular day every single year."

"Floating lights?" Cadhia asked.

"I figured they were lanterns," I piped up.

"Lanterns... Only once a year?"

"Yes."

"I know about these lanterns! Every year the King and Queen along with the rest of the kingdom releases a big lot of them into the sky. They lost their daughter, the princess, many years ago and they are hoping the lanterns would help her find her way home."

"Wow... I... Is that really what the lanterns are for?"

"Yes, I am absolutely certain. The whole kingdom knows about it, including the ones nearby. This was what I have overheard from the other fairies. I am not too sure about particular details. I do not mingle around with the other fairies much."

I looked at Rapunzel and noticed the slight crestfallen expression she wore on her face. Cadhia didn't notice anything because Rapunzel's face was turned away from hers. There was a gaping silence as I thought about what Rapunzel told me the day before. She said that she felt as if the lanterns were meant for her.

"Well, I'm glad I know now. I can't wait to see them being released tonight!"

I almost didn't believe how she could change the tone in her voice and the look on her face that quickly. It startled me. Still, she looked like she was going to be fine. Then, I imagined the countless times she must have asked her mother to let her out of the tower just once, but always being turned down; the countless of times her mother had left her alone in the tower and a great feeling of mischief and adventure burned inside her to go against the rules, but never having the courage to sneak out; the countless of times she looked out her window and wondered what was beyond those tall rocky cliffs.

"Jack? What are you going to do once you reach the kingdom?" Rapunzel asked.

"Well, first of all I've got to make sure you get to see the lanterns tonight," I replied.

"Then what?"

"Then... I don't know. Find refuge, I guess. Get a job. Find somewhere to live. Perhaps if I have the time, I'd try to find a way to get back home."

"I have never seen a blue moon in all my life. It's powers are certainly strange," Cadhia said.

"Yeah, tell me about it," I said.

Then I thought to myself, after seeing the lanterns, the three of us would go our separate ways.

"What are you going to do in the kingdom, Cadhia?" Rapunzel asked.

"I might have to part with the four of you for a bit. I'll join you tonight. I have a few things I need to do."

"Like what?"

"Ah, I will have a bit of my fun there," she mused, a whimsical smile playing at the edges of her mouth.

Rapunzel and I looked at each other. I shrugged.