Fight at the Fountain

“What are you going on about?” Rhodri demanded.
“Nothing,” Adolphus said. “It doesn’t matter, like you said. Let’s go look for Claire.” He tugged at Bettina’s hand. She resisted.

“Queen,” she said. “Queen Eglantine.”

Rhodri gasped. “What did she say?”

“Nothing. She’s a baby. She’s just stringing words together.” He jumped into the pool boots and all and scooped up the sopping Bettina by the waist. He stood her on the bench, giving her a stern look. Rhodri stood and shuffled through the muddy water towards them. Adolphus leaned against the pillar.

“What has that woman been telling you?” Rhodri asked.

“What woman?”

Rhodri loomed over Adolphus. The pepper was a foot taller than he, taller still since the young explorer was slumped against the carved pillar. Adolphus squirmed, torn between standing up to the loathsome spy and protecting his discovery.

“The Aubergine, of course. Has she been lying to you?”

“Of course not!” Adolphus flung a desperate look at the kitchen gardens and found no relief, but a glance at his sister gave him inspiration. “Goodness, Bettina, you’re all-over mud. Go find Claire.”

Bettina, standing on the bench behind Rhodri raised her stick and waggled her eyebrows at her brother, but he was looking at Rhodri again. After a moment’s indecision, she whacked the pepper on the back of the knees before scurrying off the bench to find her sister.

“Ouch! Why does she do that?”

“She doesn’t like you,” Adolphus said. “You’re always pushing yourself into our business, following us around and mooning over Claire. None of us like you.” He stood taller, forgetting the incriminating carvings behind him.

“You’re a rotten thug, von Hedwig, if that is your real name.” His tongue tumbled over the foreign sounds. “You don’t have a proper varietal name at all. You may be cloche caste, but what are you?”

“I don’t have to answer you, half-wit. Just shove off and leave us alone for once!”

“I won’t! I’m keeping you out of trouble!”

“You are trouble, you odious sneak!” Adolphus leaned towards him, fists raised. Instead of answering his challenge, Rhodri glanced behind him at the carved pillar.  He gaped. Adolphus took advantage of his enemy’s distraction, and shoved him hard in the chest. Rhodri staggered and fell backwards over the bench. Adolphus scrambled after him, landing on his chest.

“You keep your mouth shut,” Adolphus warned, “or I’ll shut it for you, got it?”

“Boys!” Claire ran towards them, abandoning Bettina in the cucumber patch. “Boys, stop!”

Rhodri shoved the younger boy off his chest and sat up.  Adolphus leapt to his feet, standing over him, fists raised.

“Adolphus!” Claire reached them at last, pushing her brother back from his fallen foe. “We are guests here!”

“We’re not! Guests can leave.”