The Queen’s Tantrum

The others were not far. Claire, Annabelle, and Bettina dragged Rhodri as far as throne room, but all passages that might have brought them to the queen’s chambers had at least one guard in them. Rhodri shook with fear, begging them not to do anything rash, or anything dangerous, or anything – anything at all, really. When Claire saw the guards coming for them, she turned on him.

“Get away from us,” she hissed. “Run!”

With a half-swallowed yelp the boy skittered away. He scrambled into a corridor and disappeared.

“I didn’t know you could do that! Why didn’t you do that an hour ago?” Annabelle said. “Weeks ago?”

Before the guards reached them, Bettina shoved the handle of her stick into her boot, tucking the top under her skirt, fluffing up her pinafore to hide it. By the time the guards reached them she was the very picture of wide-eyed innocence.

“You will attend the Queen,” the guard commanded.

“Of course,” Claire replied. “We are honored by her invitation.”

Annabelle gave her sister a sidelong look. Claire was standing straight and dignified, as though she had never spent a single moment sneaking around corridors. She gave the guards a gracious smile, giving him permission to lead on. Annabelle straightened as well, and tried to take Bettina’s hand. Bettina pulled away. She was sulking in the border between anger and fear; comfort might push her into fear, and it was not safe for her there.

The queen’s chamber was crowded with guards, perhaps a dozen just in the room. Annabelle could see flashes of red through the shrubbery wall; they were milling about outside as well.

Her brothers and sister were kneeling in a line, guards behind them. The queen, her chamberlain, and the Capsicum Chief stood facing them.

Annabelle took the lead to give nearsighted Claire a moment to study the blur of figures. She stood beside Mirabelle, squeezing her shoulder in greeting. Claire stopped beside her, and Bettina stood in front.

“Well, well, here they all are,” Queen Drysi began. She did not get another word out, however, for just then Bettina shouted.

“Bad man!”

She pointed at the Count, standing behind the chamberlain with a flowery fellow they didn’t know.

“Watch your tongue, little one,” Drysi spat. “You are addressing the Royal Magician.”

Claire curtseyed. “Your Majesty, we know this man, and have information that may change your opinion of him. If I may be allowed to explain the history of-”

“Your brother has explained everything, and see where it got him.”

Claire peered at Adolphus, perceiving the gag and deducing his bonds from the angle of his arms.

“Oh dear. Majesty, if I might give you our side of the story?”

“You have no side! My side! My side is the only side!” The Queen screamed, stamping her foot. “You come here and disrupt everything! You promised me magic. Where is it? You’ve done nothing for me, nothing! You found that awful, lying fountain and made me punish everyone and it’s all your fault!”