chapter eight & nine

(chapters one, two, three&four, five, six&seven)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Inside the East Listran fortress, the army of West Listra was having a grand time. Several East Listran children had continued sliding down the banisters when the army entered, and some of the youngest soldiers could not help themselves. They dashed to the top of the stairs, (a few still sneezing) and had a go. They all proclaimed it great fun, except for one unfortunate man who sneezed midride, derailed, and continued his journey down the stairs. The women of East Listra were quite reserved and cold toward the Westerners, but gradually warmed up, as they saw that the Westerners were not terrible, evil, men. The cooks had finished a large batch of pretzels meant for the royal family, but as no royalty were there but the queen (who was in bed from her fainting fit), they fed the enemies, who were quickly turning into friends. As everyone knows, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. These soldiers were no different, and soon everyone was laughing and chatting like old friends.  No one noticed the little old lady slip out the great doors, after a glint of her blue eyes, and a swift smile that swept over her features.

~

The whole army of East Listra, plus their king, princess and Leo, marched towards the fortress of West Listra.   

Celia talked to Leo as they walked. 

“How did you think of such a good plan?” she asked, admiringly. 

“I don’t know…”muttered Leo, “but I don’t think it’s such a good idea after all.” 

“Why not?” asked Celia in surprise. 

Leo turned to her. “How did the West Listrans know we would all be gone? Even King CARTOW didn’t know we would be gone.  The West Listrans didn’t just march up hoping that today they would have good luck.  It can’t have been by chance that they took East Listra’s fortress. But how could they have known the army of East Listra would be gone? I think this may be some intricate plot.” Leo looked worried. “Why did you decide to come here today?” he flung the question at Celia with surprising force. 

 “Why,” replied Celia, flustered, “I…my maid. She told me about the squirrels in the Woods of Worden.” 

“Ah…” said Leo, and stopped a soldier. “Why did you come out here?” asked Leo. 

“To find the Princess!” laughed the soldier. 

“How did you know she was lost?” asked Leo, nearly shaking the poor man. 

“King Cartow told us.” Leo dropped the soldier’s arm, and looked wildly around for the king, but the ranks of soldiers were too tightly packed, and Leo could not get near him. He pounded his fist into his hand. 

“What is it?” asked Celia, confused. “I think I’m on to something. I don’t think this is all chance. I think this is someone’s scheme. But what do they hope to accomplish?” Leo mused to himself. Celia shrugged. She had given up trying to follow Leo’s random statements. 

“What?” she cried, looking into the trees. 

“My maid? Here?” 

Leo leaped to his feet. “Your maid? Where?” Celia looked startled by this emphatic response. She pointed toward a white tuft of hair bobbing through the trees toward them. The old lady stopped, and appeared to talk to a soldier, who pointed straight at Leo.  The piercing blue eyes narrowed, following the finger, and then the old lady vanished into the forest.

~

After an hour more, the army reached the plain leading to the fortress of West Listra. Leo began acting like a cornered cat. 

“What is the matter?” whispered Celia, for the whole army was silent and she did not want everyone to hear her question. 

“We are playing right into some one’s plan, maybe a trap. Maybe the flag in our castle was just a ploy. Maybe the West Listrans want us to attack…maybe…” Leo trailed off. Celia looked really nervous. Now she’s terrified too, thought Leo, greatly annoyed with himself. Good job, Leo.  

“Then again, we could totally destroy them, and win the fortress, and this interminable war would finally be over!” said Leo, trying to lighten his voice. Celia faked a smile.

CHAPTER NINE

The middle aged man sat in the semidarkness, gnawing on his dry crust of bread. His lunch. The man’s face was pale from lack of sun, his hair was dirty blond. Chains bound his left ankle, allowing him to move only a short distance. He sighed, and a few crumbs flaked from the bread. A tiny mouse scampered closer, snatched the largest crumb, and darted away. The man thought of his wife. Where was she now? His son, now almost a man. And their tiny baby....six years old today. November 7^th.

~

Celia’s stomach was flopping most peculiarly.  She had never actually seen a battle take place, and she wasn’t keen on the idea.  Her father had sent her to a tall oak, growing near the edge of the plain, and told her to climb it. When the battle was won, she would be fetched, and taken into the city with the triumphant parade. He didn’t even mention the possibility that they could lose.

 Leo whispered to her. “If we lose, I’ll come get you.” Celia nodded, and hitched up her skirts to climb the oak. Her stomach didn’t feel any better.

~

“CHARGE!” The army of East Listra shot across the plain, and collided with the great wood doors enclosing the West Listran fortress. They pounded against it, again, again. With a creak of protest, a panel cracked, and the army poured in. The fortress was eerily quiet. No soldiers met them with cries of protest. The army stopped midstride in amazement. Leo looked around, a deep feeling of unease nearly enveloping him. What was this? A curtain moved in a turret, and a little girl’s face poked out for a moment. She giggled, then appearing to have been yanked backward, she vanished.   

“Aha!” yelled King Cartow. “You may surrender peacefully, or suffer the consequences!” he shouted to the window. There was rustling, muttering, then, slowly, a door opened, and a trail of sullen women and children trickled out, along with a few elderly people.

~

Leo watched, amazed. His plan had worked! The entire army of West Listra was truly gone!  He nearly shouted with relief and happiness. A sudden thought flew into his mind. Father. A wild, crazy hope. Could he be here? In this castle? He glanced around, then dashed off toward the large door that opened into the throne room. His boots beat a tattoo on the hard stone floor as he ran through the huge room.  Down a spiral flight of steps, through a corridor, down another staircase. He whipped around corners, his instincts directing him to the dungeons. After a few false turns, he finally pulled open a thick, rotting wood door, bound in iron. The darkness overwhelmed Leo, and he had to stand for a moment to gain his sight. As his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he began to make out the dismal corridor. To each side of him were cells, containing prisoners. The younger people clustered to the iron bars to see who was there, but the older ones stayed in their seats, hopeless in the terrible prison. Leo stared into each cell, as he walked gingerly through the dust on the floors. No…no… it was crazy. His father wouldn’t be here.
Suddenly his eyes fixed on a middle aged man. Dirty blond hair, bearded now…
Their eyes met.

“Son?” asked the man, his voice cracking. 

“Father!” gasped Leo rushing to the man’s cell. They embraced through the iron bars that had separated them for so long.

~

Celia sighed in relief from her uncomfortable perch in the oak. The flag of East Listra was being raised from the ramparts of the West Listran fortress. All was well.