"So, Ebb, are you ready to go? I want to surprise Argie just to see if I can. That woman is so unshakeable." Kol moved to stand alongside his horse.

I didn't move and fumbled over my words. "I can't…I mean we can't…you can't expect us both to ride the same horse."

"Why not?" Kol asked. "Lady is a good, strong horse. It won't bother her one bit. Besides, when we get to the lower city, I don't want you able to wander off on your own. Despite my best efforts the lower city is still dangerous and there are more scoundrels hiding in the shadows than there is in the upper city. You will be safer riding with me. Don't you trust me?"

I did not want to seem scared of the lower city. It wouldn't be so bad. I set my jaw and stepped closer to the horse. Kol smiled. While he held the reins, I lifted myself into the saddle. He was quick to follow and gracefully seated himself in front of me. I tried to sit as far away from Kol as possible, which was not far. He noticed my purposeful distance and chuckled. "You are going to want to hang on to me."

Carefully, I wrapped my arms around his waist. He laughed again and flicked the reins. When Lady started off at a trot, I quickly tightened my grip so to not bounce off. After a short ways I got tired of holding myself awkwardly away from Kol and let my body relax.

"There now, that's not so bad is it?" Kol joked from where he sat in front of me. "Just make sure you don't fall off."

I made a face that Kol could not see. "I won't fall."

I could feel as well as hear it when Kol laughed. He made Lady go faster and people moved to get out of our way as we went down the streets to the lower city. The buildings slowly changed from the elegant stone and wood structures to dilapidated houses and shops. The people were no less merry than in the upper city as we passed them in the squares and on the streets. The larger squares were still teeming with people dancing and singing and playing games. It was different than the upper city because the people laughed louder and danced wilder. By and by, after passing squares filled with happy people, Kol slowed near a large misshapen building that stood out from the smaller ones around it. A lopsided sign hung above a door and the name of the tavern was written in faded red letters: Scrolldart Tavern. The place looked to be abandoned. The windows as well as the door were boarded over with planks of wood. Kol did not stop Lady and we passed along side the tavern through an alley that was nearly too narrow for a horse to walk through. The walls were only a foot away from us on either side. At the end of the alley and behind the building was a small courtyard. On one side there was an overhang and a place that stabled a few horses in stalls. On the other, stone steps climbed up the side of the building to a door on the back of the Scrolldart Tavern.

We dismounted and Kol put Lady in one of the stalls. "Having a back entrance is better to keep out riffraff. Not just anyone knows how to enter the Scrolldart." He explained.

I followed him up the steps to the door. As soon as he opened it, I could hear the loud sounds from inside. Music, laughter, and shouting all poured out through the open door from inside the tavern. Inside was filled with all manner of people drinking and yelling. People were seated everywhere. Men and women sat on every available surface – tables, chairs, benches, large barrels, and even the bar. Many of them were drinking and shouting to be heard over everyone else. In the corner a man missed his seat and fell to the floor while the people around him cheered. When Kol entered, many of the men and women held out three fingers in a sort of salute.

I stepped closer to Kol as most of the people in the tavern looked dodgy. "What does that mean?" I asked as we walked around people to the back of the large, noisy room.

Kol held three fingers out with his hand pointed downwards. "Bert came up with it. It's the letter 'M' for Matthew so I never forget what happened and what still needs to be done to prevent it from ever happening again."

I mimicked his action and examined the letter it made. I could feel the sadness in Kol's voice when he said his friend's name. I wondered how many people in this room knew the meaning behind the gesture they just made. I assumed the people who saluted where the ones who were part of Kol's lower city operation.

I saw a little old woman bustling about behind a long counter at the other side of the room once we got close enough to see through the mass of people. She had wild white hair that stuck up haphazardly from her round head around a pair of brown goggles. She wore a brown leather apron and gloves over brown clothes. Despite her stocky frame she was quick to swipe at people who sat on her counter. In the raucous room, where she stood behind the counter was empty and neat. Shelves filled with all manner of bottles covered the walls behind her. I assumed that this was Argie. As we got closer I could see her sharp gray eyes set in her age-lined face. She was holding a rag that she waved angrily at Kol when he leaned on the counter. I took a seat on an empty stool beside him.

"Now don't you give me that look," Argie barked. "You are late. I wanted to talk to you two nights ago about that cad Freddy. He has been trying to nick my crystals for days now. I know Bert and Addie love him to pieces, but I do not want him down in my workshop. That boy looks up to you and so I'm leaving it to you to keep him out of my workshop."

Kol leaned over the counter and quickly kissed her wrinkled cheek which did nothing to wipe the scowl from her face. "You always know just what to say to make a man feel welcome, Gigi, but if you wish it I will speak to Freddy."

To my surprise, Argie slapped the back of Kol's head. "Don't you call me that or I'm calling you Nikki. Now use those manners I know you have and introduce your friend."

"Argie, this is Ebb who you've heard so much about from when you women talk about me behind my back. This is her first time into the lower city so don't scare her off." Kol introduced me and I smiled. I didn't know what to make of Argie yet, but she was lively.

"Welcome to my Scrolldart, Miss Ebb. I'm sorry about all the trouble this one has gotten you into. Bert has told me so much about you." Argie wiped at a spot on the counter while she talked to me. "You are very brave to risk coming into the lower city after your run with the street thieves. I'm glad you came to meet me though. I can't abide hearing such stories about people I have never met before. How are Victoria and Giselle getting on?"

I was taken aback by her question about my stepsisters. How much did Bert tell her? How much did Bert know? I know I did not mention Giselle and Victoria to Bert at the ball. Argie must have noticed the surprise on my face because she laughed. "Theses ears may not be as young as they used to be but they hear things. Your stepsisters are making quite a name for themselves since they are hanging about with the princes."

"I told you she was sharp." Kol commented as he reached over the counter to get at some candies that were hidden underneath.

Argie batted his hand away. "I want you to go find Freddy and tell him good boys stay out of Aunt Argie's workshop. I'll stay here and get to know Miss Ebb. If that boy is in my workshop again, I'll tan his hide and he won't be able to sit for a month." Argie ordered. Kol shrugged and went off to find Freddy. I turned to face Argie and hoped Kol would be back soon. I did not like the idea of being in this strange place alone for very long.

Argie leaned on her elbows in front of me on the counter. "So, I guess he told you the whole story."

I nodded. I did not need to guess which story she was referring to.

"What did you think? You know that you have to keep it a secret about him being so involved in lower city affairs or his daddy will send him away too. I'm not seeing my boy sent away, you hear. He has worked too hard to have it all go to nothing. He's no blood relation to me, but I love him as well as any son I could have. He trusts you and I just want to make sure you know how much that means." The old woman's voice was lowered and she stared me directly in the eyes when she talked. She was challenging me.

I returned her gaze and answered evenly. "I know what it means and will not betray his trust."

Argie slapped the counter and stood up smiling. "I like you." She declared. "Now what can I get you to drink? No don't tell me. You want some gold punch." She pulled a yellow glass bottle from a shelf behind her and a glass from beneath the counter. She poured a swirling yellow liquid from the bottle into the glass. "Go on try it, you'll like it."

I had never heard of gold punch before and did not entirely like the look of it, still I took a sip. It was the most delicious thing I had ever drunk. It tasted bright like sunshine and summer. Quickly, I drank the rest of the glass. Argie smiled and poured me another then put the bottle back on the shelf. "I know how to pick drinks. You don't want to drink too much gold punch and it's an easy thing to do, but it is spectacular."

I nodded in agreement. "I've never tasted anything like it. Where does it come from?"

Argie winked. "That is an old family secret. You won't find a brew like it anywhere in the kingdom. Gold punch is a Scrolldart specialty."

I leaned over my drink conspiratorially. The punch had made me feel more at ease in the loud bar. If she had other drinks as good as gold punch, I wanted to try them. "You mean there are more Scrolldart specialties?"

Argie grinned and plunked another glass down on the counter before reaching back to grab another bottle.

I hope you all don't mind, but I posted sooner than I had originally intended to. A bit of a hint for Argie's character - I consider her similar to the fairy godmother in the original story in that she has magic to give in some form or other.

((Andrew shows up in chapter 70))