Chapter Eight: Debt of Honor

"Give it back! Give it back, you thief!" The pretty golden-haired princess shrieked and scratched, struggling as Arwen the elf-maid suddenly snatched her heart-shaped locket.

"I'm not the thief," Arwen panted, shoving the girl backwards on the bed. "You are!" It was obvious that Princess Cara-Cara was hiding a fortune in jewels somewhere in Emerald Springs. But the location was a mystery. And the pretty gold locket just might hold the key!

"Where are you going?" Cara sniffled. "What are you going to do?" Beautiful Cara loved to laugh, and she loved to tease and flirt. But when she couldn't get her way, the blonde princess always cried. And she knew she couldn't get her way with tall, graceful Arwen. The raven-haired elf-maid was simply too strong and determined!

"I'm going to Queen Carola and Queen Claudia, and I'm going to tell them everything you've done. It's not right, hiding jewels that don't belong to you. They belong to that poor duke."

"But you don't know him!" Cara wailed. "He's not like other men. He's so mean . . . so beastly . . ." Her voice trailed off in sobs as Arwen resolutely slammed the bedroom door on her way out.

"Goodness, Lady Arwen, what have you been up to?" Gentle Queen Claudia reprimanded Arwen in a soft voice, as though scolding a child. "Your hair's all down and your bedgown is a mess!"

"Someone's been fighting," Queen Carola observed, eyeing the flushed and disheveled elf-maid with a deep chuckle. "At this time of night, pretty maidens should be in bed, not getting into mischief."

"I'm not getting into mischief," Arwen growled, suddenly conscious of her scratched face, bare feet, and unruly mane of long black hair. "I'm trying to solve a crime."

"And what crime is that?" Rika Mandalu had been so silent, so watchful, that Arwen hadn't noticed him at first. Dressed all in black, the noble duke looked sad and solemn, yet he had a wary stillness about him, like that of a hunter lying in wait for his prey.

"Cara told me everything," Arwen explained, the words tumbling out in a rush. "She told about the jewels, and her father's death, and how you were cheated out of marrying her." Arwen blushed. "She never really loved you. But I know how to get the jewels back!"

"The girl has little reason to love me," Rika Mandalu said sadly. "I couldn't even protect her royal father. The chest I gave him held treasure, but mainly jeweled swords and daggers. Such weapons will soon be needed. The armies of darkness are on the march."

"Well, I think Cara is a fool. This locket holds the secret to finding the lost chest, and unlocking the entire mystery!" Arwen felt a surge of relief, just because the noble duke wasn't going to insist on marrying spoiled, silly, empty-headed little Cara-Cara. Without quite realizing it, she had become involved in their lives, and she was convinced that a marriage between them would be a disaster. Knowing that wouldn't happen was a huge weight off her shoulders.

"Yes, yes of course. But don't just stand there, foolish girl!" Queen Carola abruptly exclaimed. "Go clean yourself up, wash those scratches on your face. The hour is late and you look ready to drop. Sleep, child. Sleep. Let us examine this wonderful locket of yours."

"When I left my bedroom, Princess Cara-Cara was in a rage, having a tantrum on my bed. She's probably still there now." Arwen feared another scene, and being scolded all over again for fighting. It had been a crazy night. The weary elf-maid swayed on her feet.

"I owe you a debt of honor, Lady Arwen." Rika Mandalu said, in a low and soothing voice. His gravely handsome features were full of admiration and respect. "Allow me to walk you to your room."