The Curse of Thir
Chapter 18

Xylee had grown accustomed to being ignored and avoided by the general populace of the castle and surrounding grounds, but she was not used to being ignored by the one human who had made it her duty to drag Xylee along, everywhere, every day since her arrival.

Those who had taken note of the Princess and her antics until now, noticed that she no longer ran about, or toured the castle with her demonic pet. The demon girl spent most of her days cooped up in the princess room without the princess, whilst the princess took to her lessons which she had been ignoring up till now.

“Obviously she’s gotten bored of that blasted thing, Margaret.”

Francis sat perched on a wooden stool outside of the kitchen. This was the first time she had stepped out of the castle since autumn and winter had begun, she had made the exception for gossip and a surprisingly warm winters’ day. A tiny woman, about the same girth as Francis, minus the height, and tight bundle of straw like hair stood beside her and puffed away at a large pipe.

“Oh... that would an explained many a thing then my dear. Some of us here betted the King finally got it good an’ dead like he always wanted. Joshua there owes me a copper or two.”She pointed the pipe towards a skinny man struggling to load the last barrel of freshly chilled milk on the back of the wagon. His heel hooked a cobble that stuck out a bit too much, tumbled backwards and slammed himself into a large oak tree that provided for quality shade during summer.

“I betted the little monster thing was still alive...His quite a handsome fellow I think, clumsy fool though. You think he’d go have a meal with me sometime soon? Cause I’d like that, nice food, good man. I need a good man. How about you Francis, you want a good man?” Francis ignored her and carried on with her bits of gossip and assumptions.

“My Princess is finally going to get rid of that thing, probably going to send it into a dark, dark pit to disappear and die in. Or maybe, and I hope this happens; we can have a good public execution. Haven’t had one of those for such a long time. I don’t even remember what sound the blade makes anymore, it’s somewhat sad really.”

“Maybe Jules will go with me to an execution, and then I’ll pretend I’m all shocked like a dainty miss and he can console me good and proper, if you know what I mean. I’m sure he could bring along a friend for you. Maybe that other fellow... what’s his name...” the pipes back end tapped on her chin in thought for the name.

“That blasted evil little El-ta almost stole My Princess, but it won’t have its nasty little fingers gripping her anymore I can tell you that. My Princess is becoming so refined and dignified she sees her error in keeping that devil spawn about. Such a fine Queen she’ll make, all fickle and refined. Perfect, just like those stories my granny told us when we were little remember?”

“RUBIN! That’s his name, lovely fellow he is.” Both women paid little attention to each other, but word still spread like wild fire amongst the kitchen staff, cleaning staff and even the guards, that the Princess was now bored of the demon and would have it killed soon. It was only a matter of time before Xylee heard these rumours and took it to heart. She overheard it one day when three excited cleaners passed by the princesses’ room and chattered away about how wonderful it would be when the demon was publically.

“Where’s Xylee, Francis?” Naveen sat at her dresser as Francis brushed her hair, she hadn’t seen Xylee for almost twenty minutes, which was odd because Xylee lived in the room if she wasn’t told to leave, and she hadn’t told her to leave.

“I don’t know Princess, perhaps the little devils gotten lost in a deep dark passageway?” Her face lit up with a cheery smile as she imagined a pile of bones in a dark corner, all which remained of that stupid creature.

“That’s an awful thing to say...” Naveen gazed at her reflection in the mirror and the frame which bordered it, depicted within it was a hunt in the wild woods. A giant wooden fox stood frozen as the carved horses and men charged towards it, its eyes clearly depicted panic as it galloped away from its pursuers down the left, then along the twisting vines that ran along the right side, sat the fox in a cage that was clearly too small for it, surrounded by jeering children throwing rocks and an executioner hovering beside it.

“What an awful frame, why haven’t I noticed it before?”

“It’s been here for so long My Princess; Duke Ruiter gave it as a present for when you were born.”

“...of course he did...”

Then she thought back to Xylees arrival, shackled and frightened, taunted by her father, the woman who now brushed her hair and every servant or guard that wondered these halls. Why hadn’t she seen it before? No wonder she believed she didn’t have any friends she thought she was still a captive to be slaughtered at a later date. She had been parading around the castle believing they were friends, but she never once realised how little Xylee knew of what it meant, or how little she, herself knew.

“I need to replace her, I need to apologies.” Naveen mumbled to herself, when the brush suddenly tugged a bit too heavily on her hair, she touched the top of her head and rubbed.

“Oh I’m so sorry Princess, I’ll fix it. Maybe a little bit of chocolate?” Francis cradled the brush with her large bosoms.

“No, it’s fine. Besides I said I’m going to go look for Xylee.” She pushed the chair back and stood up.

“I’m sure you worry for nothing Princess, just sit.” Her hands motioned for the chair. “I’m sure that little demon thing is fine.”

“...I’m going to go look for her...” She frowned at Francis and went to the door. She normally ignored the gossip travelling through the castle, but the fact that Francis had been so pleased lately caused a great deal of suspicion. She spotted two handmaids walking besides each other, with dirty sheets to take to the laundry. Calling out to them they looked back and curtsied deeply one dropping her sheets in an attempt to right herself.

“Have either of you seen Xylee?”

“The demon girl, Princess?”

Naveen frowned at her brief description of Xylee but let it slide.

“Not that I’m aware of Milady. Isn’t she meant to be in your room?”

“Yes, but I haven’t seen her for awhile and I am growing concerned.”

Both women smiled knowingly towards each other. Naveen had missed something.

“What was that about?”

“Princess?”

“That look?” She pointed from one to another.

“Well, speaking freely, seeing as she is going to be executed soon shouldn’t you give up on acting so concerned for its well being princess?” Naveen gapped openly at the two women, astonished at the words that had been said.

“I mean no disrespect Princess.” The maid realised she spoke out of turn and began to hyperventilate.

“She will not be executed! Where on earth did you hear that?”

The calmer of the two spoke.

“It’s been floating around the castle for awhile now, we assumed it was the truth. We’re truly sorry Princess.”

“How could you assume something like that! It’s baseless an... Oh no... no...” Xylee had most likely heard the same thing.

Naveen ignored the two women and ran in search of her.

The thought of running away had never really crossed her mind as a possible concept. That was until she heard the whispers from the around the castle becoming louder and louder till she could see no better option. Although, the cold glass of the necklace reminded her daily, that either way she was Eltan-ant. If she stayed she’d die, if left she’d die. Death was at every corner, in every eye she met, in every whisper she’d hear and every smell. She no longer slept in fear of the dreams, which also screamed death and not just her own. Her days and nights had become fevered with pleasant and monstrous things. She’d tasted more foods than she’d thought possible and seen strange magic and funny contraptions, surely that was enough now for one life time, perhaps now she could be free to die her way.

The grass was damp with cold, the lagoon water rolled silently onto the pasty white sand, she could see the wall in the dimming light. Looking at the sky she estimated she had ten minutes to attempt her escape.

’What if it doesn’t work? What if they just take me back alive?’ bending her legs she sat on her haunches and allowed herself a minute to think.

’If it didn’t work...? She couldn’t think like that, if she was caught she’d handle however she found fitting for that moment. Nodding she got up and walked into the water. She waded until waist high, her feet digging deeply into the tiny crystals and dived in her long ears automatically tucked back and folded in, to prevent water from rushing in. The water was cold but not unbearable, her eyes remained open as she could see as clearly above it as below it, and there just ahead stood the wall in its watery grave, almost impenetrable. Tiny portals littered the wall at the very bottom, sealed by grates big enough to let little fish swim freely back and forth between the main body of Watchers Lake and this small walled off section for the Royals private use, but too small for anybody to swim through.

Swimming to the top and treading water, Xylee checked for hand holds on the wall, but found none. They’d filed down the stones to make it impossible to climb. She looked to her left and right, although those walls where lower they led directly into regular patrol groups. That was the third option perhaps, jumping into their midst and going craze, then getting stabbed by frightened men. Not the nicest and cleanest way.

She wanted to die her way not by some stupid human with a stupid sword, or an executioner. The promise the king made to her about extending her life and causing huge amounts of pain and suffering, was enough to drive her desperation and it pushed her down into the water again, looking for any other way out. One of the grates had a broken bar; the water must have pushed too much debris through this one at some point. Grabbing hold of that spoke she planted her feet firmly against the wall and began pulling with her entire body. Bubbles escaped the corners of her mouth, the spoke gave a little. She wondered how long it would take before the necklace thought she was far enough. She broke the surface, breathed deeply and dived back down. The fact that her ears had blocked the water from rushing into her ears is probably why she didn’t hear a pair of royal feet rush through the water and dive in.