Chapter Three

"Melody, wake up." A familiar voice commanded gently.

Her eyes flickered open to see her dad was standing next to her.

"It's time to go. I've got everything packed that we need. Grab whatever else you want. The others are already awake."

Melody nodded as he left the room. She stood up, excitement quickly taking the place of sleepiness, pulled her pajamas off and put on a green tunic. She clipped the scabbard on the belt and put her shield over her back. Then Melody grabbed her flute, doll and book and placed them in a small brown sack, which she proceeded to clip onto her belt. Her eyes glistened with excitement. 'I can't believe my dream is finally coming true!'

After a quick breakfast of eggs and bacon they were on their way to the city. Annie, Zelda, and Melody rode into the back of the wagon while Link sat up front. Link flicked the reins to their black Arabian horse, Zack. Zack began to pull them to Malclan, the big city.

"I'm glad we're going to Malclan City," Zelda said. "We haven't been there for at least six months."

"There's two reasons for that," Annie said. "The first is that it is far away. The second…" Annie drifted off as she looked at Melody.

"What?" Melody asked with a smile.

"You know what," Zelda said.

"Hey, I didn't start the fight."

"No, you didn't."

"You finished it!" Both girls said in unison.

"That rich little boy thought he was all that," Melody said. "I had to teach him a lesson in humility."

"But you could of done it without fighting him," Zelda said.

"He swung at me first. I was merely defending myself."

Zelda and Annie sighed as they shook their heads.

It was past noon by the time they reached the city. Melody had moved up to sit with her father. A big, booming sign greeted them with the words "WELCOME TO MALCLAN!" written on it in huge yellow block letters. A large purple rose was painted underneath the words. The sign was in the process of being repainted. Melody waved at the man who stood in front of the sign. He was working on painting the rose.

"Zahur, hello!" Melody yelled at him.

Zahur paused in his work and waved at her as they rode past him. "Hi, Melody!"

Melody looked around as they entered the city. The noise nearly deafened her and the many different smells almost overpowered her nose. People were everyone; on the sides of the street, in the street, in stores. Many people had stalls set up on the sides of the street and were yelling for people to come and check them out. Parents were chiding their children, mothers bounced crying babies, and adults were chatting with one another. Melody inhaled the intertwined smells of fresh loaves of bread, fish, countless kinds of perfume, human sweat, animals, and much more. Link skillfully maneuvered through the traffic until he reached the oldest inn in the town, The Red Lion. It was eleven stories high and was made entirely out of red marble. Link parked the wagon between two others.

"Go on ahead," Link said as he climbed down from the wagon. "I need to lead Zack to the stable around back."

"Alright," the girls said in unison as they climbed down. They ran over to the door of the inn. A snarling red lion was painted on the large wooden door. Melody reached it first and held it open for her sisters. She walked in after them and the door swung shut.

"Hello, Legrands," the obese innkeeper said as he walked across the lobby to greet them. "Top floor, rooms 55 and 54."

Zelda smiled as she nodded. "You know us well, Jerry."

"Every time your family visits you stay in the same inn in the same rooms. It's not hard to know what you want. Twenty-five copper coins?"

Annie shook her head. "We don't know how long we'll be here. Could be a day. Could be a week."

"What's going on? And where's Sofia? Are the rumors true?"

"We're looking for somebody to teach me how to fight," Melody said. "Sofia… she…" Melody drifted off as she blinked back tears.

Jerry patted her on the back. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly. He cleared his throat. "Your family can stay here free of charge."

"What!" Annie exclaimed. "One of the most greedy men in town is not charging us a cent!"

Jerry put his finger to his lips. "It's our little secret. And it's only for this once. Go to your rooms before I change my mind." He handed Zelda the two keys.

"Thanks," Zelda said.

The three girls raced up the stairs to the top floor. Melody arrived at Room 54 first, breathless.

"I win!" She shouted as her sisters reached the door.

"That's only because you tripped me," Annie said.

"So?"

"Go help Father," Zelda said to Annie and Melody.

"But we just got up here," Melody complained.

"Race ya!" Annie exclaimed.

Zelda turned to unlock the door as the younger girls ran back down the stairs.

"I'm going to rest a bit," Link said after they had brought their belongings up. "Do what you want, but make sure you're back before it's dark."

Melody was instantly out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the inn. A few minutes later she arrived at Tedrick's Tasty Treats, which sat at the corner of the street. The bell chimed as she opened the door and stepped into the small shop that was packed to the ceiling with all kinds of candy.

"Hello Melody," a blond haired man said from behind a wooden counter.

"Hi, Tedrick." She walked to the far right corner, where a large jar of chocolate peppermint twists rested on a wooden stool. She grabbed a twist, which was a foot long, and walked over to the counter. She set the twist on the counter as she pulled a green rupee out of her pouch. The bell chimed as a nine-year-old boy entered the shop. He was dressed in a fancy brown shirt and pants that matched his eyes and hair. He flicked an imaginary fleck of dust off of his shirt as he walked towards them, his black boots barely making a sound on the wooden floor. Tedrick hastily grabbed the rupee and stuck it in his small safe behind the counter.

"Hello Steven," Tedrick said as Melody grabbed her twist.

"Those cost two rupees, not one," Steven said as he looked at Melody in distaste.

"Mind your own business," Melody said.

"She works for me so she gets everything half off," Tedrick said.

Steven laughed. "You work here, do you?" he asked Melody. "I must make a note not to come here without gloves and some hand sanitizer. Wouldn't want to get your peasant germs anywhere near me."

She ignored him and took a bite out of her twist; Steven seemed not to take any notice. "Of course Tedrick here must have felt sorry for you, being so generous and giving you half off. It's probably all you and your stinking peasant family could afford."

"That's enough boy!" Tedrick yelled. "Grab whatever your snobby hands can and get out this instant! I won't have you insulting my workers!"

Steven turned on Tedrick. "How dare you talk to me that way, you pathetic excuse for a candy maker! My father will hear about this!"

"It's all right, Tedrick," Melody said. "I was just leaving anyway. Melody walked past Steven and out of the shop. 'Stupid rich kid. Why does he have to be such a jerk?' She took a bit out of the twist, savoring the taste as the chocolate melted on her tongue. She heard the bell chime behind her. Steven shoved her as he walked past.

"Watch where you're walking," He said.

"I believe you're the one who ran into me!" Melody exclaimed.

Steven turned and lunged at her. Melody dropped her twist as she toppled to the ground. He tried to pin her down, but she rolled over onto him. They rolled onto the street, anger in their eyes. Steven bit her hand as he reached into his coat pocket. As the struggle came to a stop she felt the cold touch of steel on her throat.

I got the idea for the candy name of chocolate peppermint twist from the song Peppermint Twist from my Joanie Bartels' Dancin' Magic CD.