5. Elora
5
ELORA
T he gardens had cleared out for the most part now that the sun was beginning to sink. The air had begun to cool, and I run my hands over my bare arms, staving off the goosebumps threatening to break out on my flesh.
Standing, I smooth my skirt, slip back into my shoes, and glance towards the bench where I had left Granuail. She wasn’t there, which meant she probably went to ready my room.
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I decide to take a chance and sneak around the outside of the castle towards the kitchens. The smell of baking bread and boiling vegetables permeates the air as I round the corner.
Maids scatter the area outside, shaking out linens and beating rugs. I nod and smile as a few frown at me.
Two of them turn to whisper to each other and I take that opportunity to sneak through a small wooden door.
I’m instantly bombarded by the bustling sounds of people doing various tasks. Some are chopping vegetables, one is kindling the stoves, and others are kneading dough.
A busty older woman with kind blue eyes I had only ever seen a couple of times notices me right away and curtsies hurriedly, clearing her throat.
The others in the kitchen stop and look up at me, and they all stop what they’re doing to bow or curtsy in my direction.
I smile widely, nodding my head in greeting.
“Princess,” the older woman starts, “How may we help you?”
I take the few steps towards her, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I’m in need of a few items.” I whisper.
She nods, gesturing with her hand for me to follow her into the storeroom.
“What is it you need? Anything here is at your disposal.”
I smile at her comment. “Salt,” I begin, “and four candlesticks, please.”
The woman dips in acknowledgement before turning to retrieve a small leather bag from a shelf above her head. She opens a wooden barrel and reaches in, scooping salt into the bag before tying it off and handing it to me.
I thank her, placing the bag in the pocket of my skirt. She leads me into another room where candles hang by strings to dry.
There are buckets and buckets full of warm wax, the fires under them low enough to keep the wax melted.
The woman hands me four candles, and I thank her. She smiles, curtsying before walking back into the kitchen.
I reach over and snag a box of matches off the table to my right before following her.
I spy a small knife sitting on a table holding cooling loaves of bread, and I turn my back to it, scooping it up and hiding it in the folds of my skirts.
“Thank you!” I say before turning and ducking out of the room. I exit through another door leading into a short corridor. The servants quarters were this direction, and I walk quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone I pass by.
Eyes straight ahead, I turn the corner and head for a smaller wooden door leading to the outside of the castle. On the wall are hooks draped with unattended cloaks.
I grab one, quickly donning it as I open the door and head outside. I pull the hood up as I make my way across the small clearing to the stables. I glance at the sky and anxiety coils in my stomach.
The sun was sinking behind the mountains, casting a radiant red and orange glow across the horizon.
I quicken my pace, my hands trembling as I finger the items in my pockets.
I reach the stable door, pulling it open before ducking inside quickly.
Pulling the door closed behind me, I listen as two young men chatter about dinner. I peek around the side of a stall and watch as they exit the stable. I step out, and the horse in the stall jumps, giving off a startled snort.
I jump, too, but raise my hands and pull my hood down so he can see my face.
“Wooooah, boy. It’s ok.” I whisper as I round the corner.
His nostrils flare as I walk past, looking from stall to stall.
Towards the entrance sits an impatient white mare. She paws at the ground, regarding me warily.
I notice she’s tied to a hook on the wall, and she’s already bridled and saddled, awaiting her rider.
“Hey girl.” I whisper, holding my hand out so she can smell me.
“I need your help girl, and I need you to be careful with me.”
I step closer to the mare, reaching up and running my hand over her neck.
“Please don’t throw me.” I say as I stroke her.
The mare seemingly calms, and her pawing ceases. She watches me as I place my items in the saddle bag. I walk around to the front of her and run my hands over her nose and neck, attempting to befriend her.
She raises her head and sniffs at my face, the light puffs of air tickling my brow. I giggle, moving around to place my foot in a stirrup.
I pull myself up after a couple of false starts and less than lady-like grunts before seating myself in the saddle.
I reach for the reigns before I lean over to untie her from the wall.
I hesitate a moment, looking out towards the castle.
There’s no movement. No one has realized I’m missing yet. For a moment I second guess myself and wonder if I could possibly be absolutely mad.
There’s no way this crazy idea was going to work, right?
I have to try.
I look down at the mare, waiting for her to move.
She doesn’t move.
“Come on girl.” I say, adjusting in the saddle.
The mare cranes her neck to look at me, and it causes my stomach to swim with uncertainty.
“Walk.” I whisper, scooting forward to try to get the horse to move.
The mare whinnies, and I hear voices rounding the corner of the stable.
Fear blooms in my belly, and I squeeze my thighs against the sides of the mare. It’s at that moment she decides to take off into a full sprint.
Instinctively I lean forward, gasping as the castle passes by us in a whir.
The wind bites at my face and arms, and the cloak blows completely back, freeing my crazy silver waves.
The two stable boys yell and run after us, their arms waving in the air wildly.
I manage a look behind me to see one turn to run towards the castle. I turn back and lean into the mare, tightening my thighs further. She skips a step before letting loose into a full gallop.
The air whips at my hair and face, and the fear in me gives way to excitement.
I sit up slightly, throwing my head back and yelling out a hoot of laughter.
Feeling free for the first time in my life, I turn the mare towards the sunset, and the crossroads of Delyra.
By the time I reach the crossroads, it’s full dark. I slow the mare to a stop, dismounting gingerly. The mare huffs out heavy breaths, likely exhausted from our hard ride.
I retrieve the items from the saddle bag before smacking the mare on the rump. She bolts away, back the way we had come.
I watch the mare until she’s out of sight, turning to face the large dirt patch in front of me.
My eyes dart from right to left, but I quickly realize I am very much alone.
A blue glow begins to illuminate the mountain peaks behind me, and I know I need to get to work.
Looking around at the ground near the edge of the road, I pick up a stick before moving to the center of it.
I draw a large circle in the dirt before setting my items down within it. Reaching into my pocket I remove the folded parchment.
Trembling hands unfold it gingerly, and I study the image before adding another smaller circle inside the one I just drew.
I etch the markings for North, South, East and West in the space between the two circles, digging holes at all four markings to place the candles.
Once I am sure they are secure, I continue studying the image, etching the markings into the dirt exactly as they are in the image.
Once I’m sure the sigil is complete, I remove the matches and the salt from my skirt. I set the matches down before undoing the tie on the bag of salt. I begin to surround the sigil with salt, making sure to stay within the outer circle.
When the salt barrier is complete, I kneel down in the center of the sigil, reaching for the matches. I remove a match from the box and strike it lit, lighting the candles counterclockwise.
My hands begin to tremble, but I know what I must do, and that motivation keeps me moving.
Once all four candles are lit, I pull the parchment from my skirt again, unfolding it. The air is still, and my throat feels dry as I begin to recite the words I had written down.
“Come forth.”
My voice cracks, and I clear it, before trying again.
“Oh great demon, hear my plea. I call thee up by the power of this circle and by thine own secret name…”
I swallow thickly, my entire body beginning to tremble.
“Amon.” I whisper.
I pull the small knife from my skirt and run the blade across my palm, hissing at the sharp pain.
Blood trickles into the dirt, and I pale.
The candle flames flicker in the still night air, and my eyes widen.
I continue.
“Appear now, that I may not be afraid as I stand within this circle of Earth and fire.”
I go silent, waiting for something to happen.
Anything.
The only sounds are the drip, drip, drip of my blood hitting the dirt, and the hammering of my heart in my ears.
I take a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves.
The candle flames begin to flicker, and my eyes dart around as granules of dirt start to swirl slowly.
Suddenly the air leaves the space all at once, and I gasp as the candle flames are extinguished entirely.
A fog manifests before me, clearing a moment later.
My eyes widen as I follow clawed feet up the towering body of the tallest man I’d ever seen in my life.