CHAPTER 8

—--Day 27

The next morning, Sarah woke up to getting licked by her little ones. She smiled and petted them as they purred and flipped over on their backs for tummy rubs.

Sarah got up and went out to go to the bathroom. She heated up water for tea and moved the bucket over to the three horses to get a drink. She gave them each an apple and a handful of sweet feed. Sarah packed up everything after breakfast and tied the horse by their reins one behind the other.

Sarah rode into the capital city of Íonachta. Sarah rode up to an inn and got a room for a week, dropping off her gear in the room, securing it with a wish and taking the horses to the blacksmith three buildings down from the inn.

The fae blacksmith asked, "What do you need?" He was a red haired fae with his hair braided on the sides and pulled back into a ponytail. He was dressed in a white shirt and a leather apron and black pants.

Sarah said, "I found these three horses by my campsite and took them to my fire. Nobody claimed them all night. Can you take them off my hands?" She technically wasn't lying.

The fae man smiled as he spoke, "How much ya want?"

Sarah said, "Whatever you think is fair."

He went up to them and looked them over and said, "I'll give you twenty eight gold because they have their own tack."

Sarah said, "Fine with me. I'm just glad they will be taken care of instead of freezing in the woods." The fae gave her the money and she put it in her purse. She boarded Shadow for a week and unsaddled him, hanging up his gear on a wall peg. She kissed him goodbye.

Sarah went back to her room at the inn. The night was bitter cold and she was glad to get in the room and get a fire going. Sarah got out her dirty clothes and soap, towels and nightshirt. She fed the kittens and went down to eat dinner. After dinner Sarah sat on the bed with the kittens. They were four weeks old tomorrow and it was time to litter train them.

Sarah thought about it and wished, "I 'wish' for a wooden box that is one and a half by two and a half feet and is five inches deep with a quart bottle of sand that never runs out and a tight sealing cap and a wooden slotted spoon four by five inches wide with a ten inch handle." It all appeared on the bed.

Sarah grabbed the leather balls and took everything to the floor and sat it in front of the fire. She scooped up the kittens and took them to the floor and sat them down and filled the box with sand. She sat Magus in the box. He froze, started flexing his toes in the sand and then kicked his back legs behind him and peed in a little spot and started trying to cover it up. It was cute how their instincts took over.

Merlin watched his brother and climbed in the box on his own and started flexing his toes and peed in a little spot. Magus covered up Merlin's pee spot for him. Sarah thought about how smart they were. Merlin sniffed around and sneezed. They both climbed out and into Sarah's lap in the middle of her crossed legs.

She picked them both up and looked them in the eyes saying, "You're such good boys. Now you need to use this box to go potty in from now on. I'll set it up in the rooms and in the tent for you to use." Magus swiped his paw out trying to put it on her nose. She smiled and held them both to her neck cuddling them.

Sarah put the box on the floor by the window with the bottle and scooper. Sarah pulled out the blanket from the foot of the bed so it reached the floor.

Sarah sat on the floor and started rolling around the leather balls. The kittens watched, fascinated by the movement of them. Merlin was the first to start chasing them. Magus ran after the next and tackled it. Sarah laughed and rolled the other two and the games began. The little hunters started stalking and pouncing on them. Sarah giggled at their antics and started getting ready for her bath.

They got tired after a while and came climbing up on the bed as Sarah was washing her clothes. After hanging them up she climbed in bed with them and they all cuddled up in the blankets. Sarah fell asleep real hard.

—--Day 28

Sarah woke up and did her morning routine and got dressed. She separated the jewelry she got from the fae robbers and kept a few choice pieces, magical items and the expensive items from two bags of the four. She went down to breakfast. There was an open stool at the counter. She sat down and said to a lady fae behind the counter, "Can I get breakfast and tea, please?" She smiled at her and got her the tea first.

The fae woman with long red curly hair said, "Eight coppers." She was pretty in her peasant garb and had a pretty smile and green eyes.

Sarah took out a silver and said, "Keep the change." The woman smiled at her and brought her her breakfast.

Sarah ate and ordered another tea and left an extra copper for a tip knowing that's what the whole point was in a bar on a festival weekend. The fae woman asked her if she wanted some company for this evening.

Sarah said, "I'm flattered, really, but I'm a woman in disguise and not really needing any company. I am just being nice." The woman nodded and patted her arm smiling.

She said, "I like you. You're kind, polite and friendly. My brother owns the inn and you're welcome here. Most don't tip."

Sarah pulled out a gold and said, "Then this will make up for those stingy people being cheap. My name is Ash." The fae woman took the gold coin, pocketed it and laughed out loud.

The fae woman said, "My name is Alyanna and my brother's is Jiles. Are you going to the festival today?"

Sarah said, "Yes, but I need to know where a few jewelers are first?"

She said, "There will be plenty at the festival as vendors. They are having the archery contest later today also." Sarah thought maybe she could sell smaller quantities of jewelry to the vendors and enter the archery contest as a man.

Sarah said, "I'll go with you to enter the archery contest, but I must pose as a man to do it. What time is it?"

Alyanna got excited and said, "You are? How fun. Ok, I will go with you and watch to see how far you get in the ranks. It is going to be at 1:30 in the afternoon."

Sarah said, "Ok, I'll be back to the inn by noon anyway. We can go find lunch somewhere at the festival on the way, ok?"

The young fae woman smiled and said, "That will be great, maybe after the contest you can come back and change?"

Sarah laughed and said, "It sounds fun, ok."

Alyanna was happy and said, "It will be fun having a new friend to celebrate with and have fun with. At night I have to come back and be the inn serving wench, but that's not until dinner time around six. I'll see you at noon." Sarah got up, waved at her and went out to the festival.

Sarah went and sold all her jewelry which was a substantial amount. She came back to the inn around 11am and counted and deposited 1300 gold coins into her ring. She found a fancy 4x2 inch gold inset tiled fire opal owl with spread wings pendant on a gold chain. It was beautiful.

She fed the kittens and was ready with her gloves, cloak, pouch and bow and arrows set on her back. She had another dose ready. Sarah locked up and went down to get Alyanna.

She went down and saw Alyanna waiting for her on a stool at the counter. Sarah said, "Hi." Alyanna smiled. She jumped up and took Sarah's arm and they went out to the festival.

As they walked, Alyanna said, "You'll be my male friend, until you change clothes. I hope you win. I didn't tell my brother you're a girl. He thinks you're my new prospect." Sarah giggled.

Sarah said, "If you're my girl, let me treat you to lunch then after I register." They laughed and went straight to the archery contest area and Sarah registered her fancy bow and arrows. The man said he never saw such fine craftsmanship. She was in. She let Alyanna pick the place to eat. She got a chicken sandwich with chips or fried potatoes and a mead.

At 1:20pm they called everyone who was registered to the qualifying field. Sarah hit every bullseye straight on. She got to the final round after going through a hundred and forty six people. They were down to four contestants, Sarah, two male elves and a human male. One elf and a human were knocked out of the last round. It was down to the one elf and Sarah. The elf went first and hit it straight into the bullseye. Sarah shot her arrow straight down the middle of his arrow splitting it down and knocked the tip right off the target and took its place. It was a million to one shot unbelievable. The crowd jumped to their feet cheering the elf looked over at her in complete amazement. He reached out and pulled her hood down. Sarah turned to him with wide eyes and the crowd gasped as well as the elf next to her. It got silent and creepy.

The handsome elf said, "Dear lady, I'm sorry for revealing your disguise. I just wanted to see who was such an amazing archer."

Sarah nervously said, "It's so quiet that I'm getting scared."

The blonde elf said, "It's because a lady never won a contest or entered before."

She turned and shook his hand and said, "My name is Ash." He smiled and shook it and then kissed the back of her hand.

He said, "Prince Alwin of the Elven Kingdom." He was handsome and blonde with braids holding back his hair. He had sky blue eyes and had on brown leather garb, a vest, long jacket and riding boots with leather britches. It gave him almost a regal demeanor. He had a white poets shirt on with straight sleeves and laces loosely laced in the front with a different kind of insignia than Jareth had. Elves had more slanted eyes and a little bit longer bigger ears than the fae. Whereas the fae looked closer to a human.

Sarah said, "I'm pleased to meet you, your Highness." She smiled and curtsied. He chuckled thinking she was such an unusual and adorable person, not only because she was fae and dark haired but because she was outspoken and quirky.

The fae Unicorn King approached Sarah and said, "Dear Lady, you have won the prize and you are the first woman to do so in my contest. What's your name?"

Sarah bowed and then curtsied and said, "Your majesty, my name is Ashar. I come from very far far away. I have been traveling and seeing your fine kingdom and stumbled upon your festival and contest by chance."

The Unicorn King Odessius said, "That was the most beautiful shot I ever saw. Prince Alwin is a hard to beat competitor until you. First prize is 1000 in gold. Come let me announce you as the winner."

Sarah followed him to the stage and he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the Winter Festival Archery Contest is the first woman to win the grand prize! Ashar from far far away!" The crowd cheered. He presented her with her winning arrow and the two big bags of gold that were 500 gold coins each.

The king said, "Lady Ashar, I am not confident to send you away with this much gold."

Prince Alwin said stepping up next to Sarah and said, "I will escort her to her destination safely, King Odessius."

The king said, "That is very kind of you, Alwin."

Sarah smiled at them both and said, "Thank you, both your Majesty and your Highness." They were both smiling at her politeness.

Prince Alwin said, "Come Ash, let me walk you where you're staying." Alyanna came running and hugged Sarah.

Alyanna jumped up and down excitely said, "You were amazing, Ash!"

Sarah said, "Prince Alwin, this is my friend, Alyanna. Her brother and her own the inn over there that I'm staying at." Sarah nodded in a direction.

Sarah said, "Alyanna, Prince Alwin is escorting me back to the inn to be safe."

Alyanna gushed and said, "That is so generous of you, your Highness." They all three walked back to the inn.

Sarah said, "I swear I thought I lost after that shot you made, your highness. I just aimed true and let it just happen." He chuckled.

He chucked and said, "You sure did, Lady Ash. I'm so sorry I revealed you posing as a man. I was just so curious to see your face."

Sarah said kindly, "No harm done. I was coming back with Alyanna to change and go out with her to be a girl at the festival." The kittens started crying.

Sarah stopped and asked, "Can you hold this, your Highness?" He took the coin bags from her.

Sarah took out a bottle of milk and started feeding Magus. The prince and Alyanna were staring at her kitten.

Prince Alwin asked, "Where in the Underground, did you find a cathwyllt?"

Sarah said, "I was camping the forest. I was woken up in the night by an animal fight and went out to find out what was going on. I found a mother cathwyllt dead and two boy kittens crying. I promised the dead mother I would take care of them and took them back to the fire to warm up."

Prince stared at her for a moment and so did Alyanna. The prince cleared his throat and said, "Ash, cathwyllt cats are highly rare and to even see one in your whole lifetime is how rare they are. You must be more special than you think by seeing three." She finished feeding Magus and took out Merlin to feed.

Sarah looked at him and then at Alyanna and she nodded in agreement with him. Sarah said, "I love my animals, even my stallion loves me. He hugs me when I come to see, talk and brush him. It's strange but he understands every word I say to him and he has saved our lives once already. I have only had him for a month." Sarah was now feeding Merlin while rubbing his tummy the whole time feeding him. When he was done she kissed his little head and put him in the fur pouch with his brother.

The prince said, "You are an amazing woman, Ash." They continued walking and Sarah tried to take back one of the coin bags and the prince said he would carry it for her. Sarah pulled out her long braid of hair from her back and it hung down past her butt.

The prince said, "Ash, I'm very glad to have met you. Are you coming to my kingdom next?"

Sarah said, "As soon as I visit four more towns in the Unicorn Kingdom."

Prince Alwin said, "When you do, I would love to have you visit the castle in the capital city of Nàdur (nature). I can give you a personal tour."

Sarah said, "I would love that."

Prince Alwin asked, "In three days there is a ball at the Unicorn Kingdom's castle. Will you join me as my guest and escort, Ash?" Sarah was flattered.

Sarah blushed and said, "I'd be honored, your highness."

Prince Alwin told her, "I will come to collect you in three days at six o'clock in the evening."

Sarah said, "That will be fine. I look forward to it." She leaned in and whispered. "I must tell you that I am titled."

Alwin was taken aback and looked surprised. He asked, "You are?"

Sarah said, "I'll tell you about it when you pick me up." He grinned at her and laughed.

He cheekily said, "Maybe when you get to my castle in the Elven Kingdom I can rematch you in a game of archery?" Sarah giggled.

She said, "If you are a humble enough man to tolerate another loss again. I would." He kissed her cheek. Sarah was surprised and blushed as he handed her a bag of gold.

He said, "I could never be angry at a skill like that. You are a beautiful lady, Ash, until we see each other in three days..." He kissed her hand and smiled, handing her the other bag of gold. He turned and walked away. Sarah and Alyanna walked in the inn.