Chapter 3 #3
To her surprise, Mekos was frowning. “I don’t like it.” His voice was almost angry. “Take it off!”
She was puzzled by his response. What man didn’t like beauty? The mask was easy to remove and she held it out to him.
Still frowning so deep his eyebrows met in the middle, he took the mask and put it on.
They watched as Mekos changed to look like his father. He was heavier, had a black beard, and he wore the skeptical expression
that was always on Tanek’s face. Mekos turned to Aradella. “And now?”
She shook her head no. “It’s not right,” she said quietly. “Remove that thing.”
Mekos took the mask off and tossed it onto the bed like it was something dirty.
Arit looked at them. “I think you like each other as you are.”
Ian gave a snort of laughter. “You think so?”
Mekos ignored their comments. “We must think about what we need to do.” He paused. “Actually, it’s simple. Tomorrow, I’ll put on the mask and hide, then I’ll jump out at Valona and kill her.”
There was a long silence, then Aradella spoke. “Have you ever killed anyone before?”
“No,” Mekos said.
“And certainly not a woman,” Arit added.
“Of course not!” Mekos said. “But she must be stopped, and death is the only way.”
Aradella looked at him. “We’re an army of a Lely, a princess, and two Nevers. I can’t see that we’re going to strike fear
in anyone, even if you make yourself look scary. Besides, if Valona is powerful enough that she can make a youth cream out
of a person, she’ll probably be able to see past some magic mask.” When no one replied, she said, “I’m going to take a bath
and wash my hair. I want to look my best for tomorrow. After all, I’m the Honored Girl.”
When Aradella was gone, Mekos looked at Arit. “Stay with her. She’s more scared than she lets on.”
Nodding, Arit flew away.
He turned to Ian. “I need to do some thinking. Want to go with me or stay here?”
In answer, Ian flew to Mekos’s shoulder.
“I don’t have my father’s beard so you must hold on tightly.” Mekos casually left the house, but when he was out of sight,
he bent forward and moved very quickly. His steps were light and utterly silent. Ian held on to Mekos’s shirt but twice he
was thrown off and had to fly back. A couple of times pain shot through him, but he kept going. Mekos would stop to sniff
the air, then he’d turn sharply. At last, he halted and sat down under a tree.
Ian flew upward to a low-hanging branch. “I’ve not been near a Lely before.” He was trying to catch his breath. “Does Aradella
know you can move like that?”
“She’s seen hints of it.” Mekos sat very still.
“Stay where you are. Don’t come down.” In the next moment, three little fox kits came tumbling through the forest. They stopped beside Mekos and looked up at him.
“Did Mamá send you to check on me?” he asked as the cute little creatures climbed onto his lap.
“They aren’t answering,” he said over his shoulder to Ian.
“This is just like her. She sent kits that are too young to tell me what she’s up to.
” He stroked their fur as they curled up and went to sleep.
“But it’s good to know that she’s nearby.
” He turned his head to look at Ian. “You said there’s only one way to kill Valona. What is it?”
Ian looked surprised that he’d been heard, but then he hesitated, seemingly trying to figure out what to say. It was dangerous
to reveal what he knew.
“There’s no use trying to make me believe you’re a Never who doesn’t listen at doors,” Mekos said. “I grew up with my father
and Arit. I often saw her skulking around him with her light off. What do you know about Valona?”
“She can only be killed with a special knife. She keeps it where she sleeps.”
“Then I must go get it.”
“How can you? That room is under an enchantment. The only person allowed in there besides Valona is her maid.”
“Then I shall be her maid.”
“You think that mask will protect you?” Ian asked. “You didn’t listen to the princess. She’s right that Valona is very powerful.
She’s over a hundred years old and she’s taken the life of a pretty girl every year since she was twenty. I’ve heard her laugh
about how many people have tried to get that knife. She’s killed them all.” He took a breath. “There’s a woman named Reena
who might be able to help you. She can—”
“I know Reena and there’s no time to contact her,” Mekos said calmly, being careful not to disturb the kits. “I know that
Valona spends hours riding her horse so I’ll go when she’s away.” He looked at Ian. “I would imagine that such a knife is
under lock and key.”
“Yes.” Ian knew what he was asking. “If I go with you, will you help me free my sister?”
“Of course. I’ll do that even if you don’t go with me. If I live, that is.”
Ian gave a small smile. “No pressure on me, then, is there?”
“On neither of us.” Mekos glanced at the missing half of Ian’s leg. “How are you doing?”
“All right. The spider’s web stopped the bleeding, and Arit gave me something to eat that makes me almost not feel the pain.
I think that if I were still, I might feel rather awful. What about you?”
“A big part of me wants to go to my father and ask him to take over all of this. I can see myself crying to him. He would
tell me to stay with the women, then he would go fix it.”
“He’d have to fight against magic so he’d probably end up dead,” Ian said. “Then the essence of Aradella would be put in a
silver pot, the Selkan men will not be allowed to come to Pithan, and next year another girl would be murdered. But Valona
and Queen Olina would be very happy.”
“That’s my biggest fear,” Mekos said, “that evil will win. Come, we must go and watch.”