Chapter 8 #3
His movements still slow and predictable, Theo slid past the horse, calmly explaining his intentions as he moved. He stayed at the head end, continuing to talk gently until he was fully clear. He knew time was slipping quickly away, but he hovered one more moment.
“I’m sorry about this ordeal, my friend,” he told the horse frankly. “I hope you’ll at least get plenty of apples out of it.”
The horse gave no reply, and Theo hurried on through the maze.
He’d barely rounded the next corner when he became aware of something strange.
Everything had gone very still, and Theo thought for a moment that the spectators had stopped making noise altogether.
He paused, straining his ears and wondering what dramatic incident outside the maze had silenced a whole crowd.
But once he focused on it, he realized that the hum of the crowd was still there.
Following some instinct, he reached out instead with his under-developed magic sense.
Something definitely seemed off. He waved his hand in front of his face, focusing on the movement.
Even with all his concentration bent to the task, he could sense no Dust being stirred up by the motion.
The air felt empty without it, everything off balance and wrong.
Uneasy, Theo looked around him, wondering if it was part of the competition.
But then, as he started cautiously back into motion, the sensation of Dust returned to the air with a whoosh that was almost audible.
Once again, his mind faintly sensed the comforting cushion of magic that followed on every movement of his body, and the air no longer felt empty.
Unnerved, Theo hurried through the hay corridor more quickly now, eager to be done with the challenge.
He reached another fork, and glancing to the left he felt his heart thud erratically as something small flashed through his vision.
Surely they could no more have gotten a carbuncle into the maze than a pantherine.
But he’d seen the flash of light hitting the forehead of the small canine.
Any reference to carbuncles always engulfed Theo in a wave of discomfort so potent it turned his stomach. But the sighting felt especially eerie after whatever had just happened with the magic. Turning resolutely away, he took the other path. He wouldn’t get distracted from his purpose.
A moment later, he wondered if he’d chosen the wrong way when he found his route blocked by three burly men holding clubs.
Theo came to a standstill, eyeing their threatening posture.
Surely they wouldn’t actually be allowed to beat the visiting prince with their clubs.
But judging by the size of them, they wouldn’t have to do more than defend in order to stop him proceeding.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Theo said pleasantly.
The only reply was three menacing growls.
So diplomacy wasn’t the solution here. Was he supposed to fight his way through?
He could try, but the idea was absurd. Why would he, an unarmed solitary traveler, rush a trio of hulking strangers with clubs?
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and caught a faint clinking sound.
Of course! The puzzle box had given him more than just an apple. He pulled out the gold, and the group in front of him relaxed visibly at the sight of the three coins.
“I’ll give you one each in exchange for safe passage,” Theo said curtly.
They held their hands out, and as soon as Theo handed over the gold, they melted to the sides, allowing him through.
Theo strode past them, waiting until they were out of sight before resuming his jog.
Two more twists, one more fork requiring investigation to identify a dead end, and he emerged into an open space that could only be the center of the maze.
In the middle of the space was a small wooden room.
There was a door on the side closest to Theo, with a prominent brass handle.
It was hard for him to get a good look, however, because in front of it stood another three men.
These ones were different from the burly club-wielders, however.
Each was different from the others, as well.
The first man had an ax over his shoulder, but he didn’t wield it threateningly.
His garb declared him as a woodcutter. The second wore the uniform of a member of the Torrenese Craftsmen’s Guild.
A skilled magic manipulator, presumably.
At the third, Theo did a double take, surprised to see the castle steward in such a place.
But a second look showed that this man wasn’t the steward, although he had been dressed to look just like the well-known figure, down to the styling of his hair.
“Congratulations on reaching the center of the maze, Your Highness,” the imitation steward said.
“You have one final challenge before your task is complete. You must get inside the locked room. You may ask one of us to assist you, and you are allowed to ask each one of us three yes or no questions before making your decision. But once you have requested help from one, you may not receive it from any others. Do you understand your options?”
“I understand,” Theo said calmly.
He studied each of the three men in turn, then the door.
The woodcutter’s axe would be able to get through it, certainly.
But the door looked thick, and hacking it open enough to allow a man to pass through would likely take longer than most people would assume.
The craftsman could no doubt get him through using magic if he was willing to do so.
Although if Theo went that way, he would be wise to use his questions to confirm that the man was actually a skilled craftsman, not just dressed in imitation of one.
His eyes returned to the steward lookalike, and he noticed a thick chain around the man’s neck that he hadn’t seen at first. It disappeared below his tunic, obscuring whatever was pulling it taut. A glance back at the door showed a keyhole below the handle. Theo felt a smile grow on his face.
“I have a question for you,” he informed the third man. “May I see what’s on the end of your chain?”
The steward’s smile matched his as he answered. “Yes, you may.” He drew out the chain to reveal a small brass key.
“Does that key open the door into this room?” Theo asked, gesturing in front of him.
“Yes, it does.”
“And my final question,” Theo said, “are you willing to unlock the door for me if I ask you to?”
“Yes, Your Highness, I am willing.” The man was beaming at him, apparently pleased with Theo’s quickness.
“I choose you to assist me, sir, if you please,” Theo said.