The Curse of Thir
Chapter 17

Months past by and summer began its long descend into winter. The leaves of the willow trees swept about in solitude as autumn ate away at their branches, and Francis complained bitterly everyday claiming each day was worse than the last, she had taken to dressing in furry bundles of coats and remaining at the fire place, which Naveen found most convenient, and Xylee found she didn’t mind. It was one less human to sneer and jeer at her very existence. The guards however remained diligent and followed Naveen and her companion about on their exploration trips around and about the castle.

Xylee had gotten used to the everyday routine of being dragged about to see something new or hunt down a spot where they would not be discovered by Naveens bodyguards, which was never successful as they were always found, and then scolded at. Naveen found the days wonderful and excitingly new, her laughter at Xylees inexperience at most things could be heard from almost every room in the castle, which made her father smile at the fact that he had never really heard it before to this extent, then frowned because of the reason behind it. He scowled wickedly as he noticed them skirting from one end to the other being followed at top speed by the guards. He had hoped the process of spell making could be sped up by giving Master Lemoine and his assistant every resource including staff. But this had merely infuriated Theophilia who had chased the useless lot away on one particularly cold day.

“GET OUT!!” Her voice pitched in frustration as she pointed at the door and waited for the purple Geelock dust to settle on the surprised faces who stared innocently back at her. They fled out the door which she slammed shut behind them.

“How many times did I tell those Toff heads to keep the damn lid on the damn Geelock jars?” Lemoine sat at his work station, dusting what remained of the Geelock off his potion recipe book.

“Perhaps they replace the idea of sealing jars a bit troublesome?”

“Troublesome or not, now I have to go buy more!” She sat down heavily. “When can we leave? I’m sick of this castle and its useless staff....and Gelnane.... that smug bastard. Have you noticed the way his been behaving recently, one day his up the next day a stump of wood.” Lemoine turned around and shook his sleeves; purple powder fell slowly to the ground.

“Unfortunately, we have promised the king our services and I do not intend on angering the king” He ignored her statement involving Gelnane.

“You promised our services, I made no such deal!” her finger wagged at Lemoine.

“Then you are welcome to leave then Theo, seeing as it is my promise and not yours.”

Folding her arms and turning about Theophilia sighed.

“You know very well why I can’t leave... I don’t have anybody else besides you to take care of me... when... when that happens...”

“Well then my dear, you are as stuck as I. Perhaps you could replace joy in being away from Dun-hare for awhile.”

“I doubt it... stupid Gelnane.”

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“Oh come on, just try it... Won’t kill you two will it?” Naveen stood with her hands at her hips, and an emotionless Xylee stood in her shadow. Darren and Fredrick, the guards who had been charged with day duty since Xylees arrival, had once again found Naveen and Xylee hiding in an empty room at the west top most corner of the castle. Darren found this duty most frustrating, Fredrick had already begged Sir Gelnane for an exchange twice in one week.

“No it won’t kill us Princess Naveen, but I’m sure your Father the King would.” Fredrick pleadingly looked at the princess.

“By actually participating in your duties? I doubt it.”

Fredrick looked at Darren who sighed and looked away.

“Princess, I mean no disrespect when I decline or when I say that playing hide and go seek is not participating actively in our duties...”

“... we seem to play it every day though...” Darren mumbled to no one in particular.

“...hush... we are charged with protecting you not to be your playmates, Princess.”

“Well fine then, Xylee, come let us go back to the room.”

“Yes Princess Naveen.” Naveen chattered away as Xylee walked silently beside her, her demeanour became more morose with everyday. Darren and Fredrick collectively counted to five and followed the two girls.

“I kind of feel sorry for that thing sometimes, Fred.” Darren looked on and noticed the two girls picking up pace.

“Why on Thir would you feel sorry for it? If you want to feel sorry for something I suggest you feel sorry for us.” They picked up speed to match Naveen and Xylee.

“Of course I feel bad for us; we have the worst job in the history of the kings’ guard. It’s like we’re being punished and demoted at the same time.” Xylee disappeared around a corner. “I just mean, it’d be even worse to be a plaything and dragged around all the time. Kind of like a slave that can taste freedom, but can never have it you know.” Both were now jogging to keep up with fading figures ahead of them.

“I guess it is in an El-taish situation.” They broke out into a sprint. “But it is only a demon, so don’t go feeling too emotional about it Darren.”

Naveen and Xylee slipped into a door way and disappeared.

“Oh... Eltan-ant! I hate this job.”

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Naveen breathed heavily as they reached the cupboard and climbed quickly inside. She held her breathe and waited for the guards to tug on the handle of the door. It rattled.

“It’s locked. You sure they went in this room?”

“Yes I’m sure. Are you sure they not in the cupboard?”

“How could they be when it’s locked from the outside, see the keys still in the damn door.”

“Ok, well let’s go check down the hall then.” They heard the clomping of boots and the door shut. Naveen exhaled and began to breathe normally again, their bodies uncomfortably close. The smile she held on her face was almost visible in the gloomy darkness of the cupboard. Holding up a key in her hand she unlocked the door and stepped out. Xylee followed.

“I knew this plan would eventually pay off, I feel exhilarated by that rush! How about you Xylee, do feel exhilarated?”

“Yes Princess Naveen.” Naveen gave her a side long glance, it seemed to her that the more time she spent with her the more sullen and gloomy Xylee appeared. It was truly frustrating, but she refused to give up hope and continued to try and breach the gap that stood between the two of them. There had to be some way to reach her.

“Do you think I should leave that fake key out?”

“Perhaps you should Princess. You should lock it to, just encase somebody else needs it.” Naveen nodded and replaced the fake key, which was only the top half of the copper key with a small block of wood to keep it in the door.

“Very clever Xylee.” She stood and admired her handy work then tucked it in her front pocket. “Oh yes, I forgot to mention it yesterday to you, but I saw that boy that you came here with, the one who spat out that disgusting clothe.” She pulled her face at the thought. “Anyway, he is now under Gelnane as an Apprentice. Turns out he’s quiet apt at magic. Who would’ve known?” Looking out the door she had slowly opened, she motioned for Xylee to get ready to run. Darren and Fredrick were nowhere in sight, and she saw no one else about. Xylee stood ready to run, but now her thoughts wondered back to that half wit rude human, she’d probably see him again now sooner than later. She didn’t like him much; she didn’t like any of them really, not even the princess and her falsities. Xylee merely waited for the day she would be cast aside.

They slipped out and ran back where they had come from, then they headed down two flights of stairs and out the door and into the princesses private garden.

“Hopefully we have at half an hour before they admit defeat and call in Gelnane.”

Xylee shuddered at the thought of that enchanter.

“Was that, weird boy, the one who’s now Gelnanes apprentice was he your friend at all?” Naveen walked towards the strange fruit tree, it always seemed to bear fruit yet no one ever ate from it, not anybody Xylee had seen.

“No, I didn’t have friends Princess Naveen. He was most likely to become food or a play thing for the more adventures Dreag. ” The princess stopped in shock and found herself all of a sudden transfixed on the trees leaves

“... oh...” She was shocked by the manner in which Xylee had mentioned Anakal, perhaps he wasn’t nice to her and that was her reason for her crassness.

“Well, you could make more friends now.”

“I don’t have friends so I wouldn’t know how to make them.”

Hurt by Xylees simple sentence but saying nothing, she found herself wondering if all the time she had spent with her had been pointless and unwarranted. She frayed her long silk winter shirt as she pulled on the hem in worry, frustration and sadness. But Xylee was oblivious to anything but her own thoughts and did not notice the change in Naveens behaviour.

“Come on lets go back before they start a search party.” They walked back slowly, each in their own little world of hurt and thought.

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It had reached the first week of winter and the kings patience was wearing thin. He had ordered those who had been chased away from the preparations back, but Theophilia refused out rightly to have them.

So the king and Lemoine had come to an agreement that suited both parties, Lemoine would travel to fetch the last ingredient and Theophilia would stay behind to make sure everything was ready for his return.

“You cannot leave me here alone with these incompetent fools!” Theophilia blocked Lemoine from his path.

“I am not leaving you alone, besides I can’t travel with you when you are in ‘that’ state, and Gelnane will be taking care of you till I come back.”

“WHAT!” she froze to her spot. Lemoine walked around her toward his small case that he had begun packing. She had spent more and more time in their temporary dwelling, afraid her symptoms had begun to show.

“He is very capable of taking care of you whilst I am away. He was the one who caused this condition in the first place.”

“.... It’s not a condition it’s a curse! What if he makes it worse?” She sat on the stone floor. Her neck revealed shades and tints of green.

“Oh I doubt that Theo. But I have asked him to look into lessening the effects of the curse.” He looked back at her. “Or at least making you capable of defending yourself during that time? Either one.”

Theophilia sat, still in shock and looked at her hands. They had begun turning green as well.

“Why can’t we just tell the stupid king about that girl and leave? Why do we have to pretend like this? This sneaking about and secret conferencing with Gelnane is truly causing me a lot of stress.”

He stopped packing and walked over to her placing his hand on her head he tousled her hair.

“You know very well why not Theo.”

“No I don’t. You never told me what you saw, back then and I know it’s the same girl!” Her eyes filled with soft green tears.

“Oh... yes I never did, did I? I know why and that should be enough. You should get ready, your transformation seems to be, quickening.”

“Then how long will you be gone Lemoine?” She got up and walked slowly towards a large orange pot, her clothes now sagged off her body; her hair slowly turned a purplish blue hue.

“Well I’ll be here for your first two nights, but I’ll be gone from then for approximately two weeks. You should be back to your old self by then. You only change for two weeks at a time right, so everything will be just peachy.” He packed his clothes in slowly. “I’m only packing now because I know how harsh the winds are on the coast, and last time we went there I was ill prepared and I will not let that happen again. I’ll be a Lat-ve-sa uncle before I wear another one of those blasted holiday fisher hats. But, you found that weekend funny didn’t you Theo?” Turning back he only saw a pile of clothes, and a large dishevelled purple blue flower sitting in the once empty pot.

“Ah... I’ll get you some water then; I’ll even add some of that milk you like too.”