Screams of terror echoed through the palace along with the sounds of running, glass shattering, and then my uncle bellowing, “Call the sorcerers!”
Sorcery. Suddenly the air was foul, an octane of bitter evil pulsing in the updraft of the creatures in flight. I peeked an eye open, then slowly rose, mouth open.
A halo of golden light surrounded the Piper and me, a barrier that protected us from the circle of guards hemming us in. Someone had roused the archers, and they stood at the end of the hall, shooting arrows at the cloud of darkness while the lords and ladies and servants fled. The chipping buzzed louder in my head, but when I took my hands away from my ears, the lure of the flute drowned out the noise.
The creatures swooped down, dividing into smaller groups before surging through open doors and down passageways, high wails of terror following in their wake. I watched them weave and soar with wings that fluttered too quickly, pointed ears, smashed in faces, and beady black eyes on either side of their tiny heads. Bats. The Piper had called an army of bats to terrorize the palace. Clever.
When I looked at him, it was hard to believe he was the same Piper who’d kissed me, making my skin tingle from head to toe. Although his lips were pursed around the flute and his fingers danced skillfully up and down the body of his instrument, his eyes were marbles of fury. He tilted his head to the left, and the bats soared in that direction. When he moved to the right, they followed, his song controlling them. When he took a step back, I froze. But as he took another step back and another, I followed, clutching the satchel.
The guards stumbled out of the way, still unable to penetrate the barrier that surrounded us. When we reached the entrance, silver moonlight shone down on that demon horse, its bone-white wings spread, waiting for us.
The Piper took the flute from his mouth, even as the last strains of his music still hovered. When he spoke, he directed his words toward my uncle, who stood in the middle of his chaotic court surrounded by guards. “Lord Faren, let it be known that your stubborn heart has brought misery, not only to your household, but to all the people of Dowler. I shall return to give you another chance, but I warn you, if you do not free the magic-thralls, the next scourge will be worse.”
“Sorcerers!” roared Lord Faren.
My skin crawled as men in white robes swept into the room. Each one held a golden rod, just like the priest. When they began to chant, the Piper leaped into the horse and pulled me up in front of him. Holding me tight, he urged the horse away from the palace.
The ride back to the Piper’s lair was more frightening than the one to the palace, and a sinking sensation washed over me. Too much had happened in one night, leaving me numb and weary. A slew of questions filled my mind, popping up like mushrooms in the forest. I wanted to confront the Piper, but the soullessness I’d seen in his eyes bothered me. His temper might be like my uncle’s. I didn’t want to broach a hostile conversation while he was still angry.
Darkness greeted us when we arrived back at his castle, the towers looming over us, sharp-edged and glinting like monstrous fangs. He wasted no time in leaping down from the horse. When I tried to jump down by myself, he reached for me. I expected his grip to be tight, bruising, but his hands on my waist were gentle. Once again, he tucked my hand under his arm and escorted me, quickly and wordlessly, through the castle.
As before, the lights lit up when we appeared and faded once we’d passed. Words lay trapped in my throat as the realization sunk in. This was my home now and the Devil of Dowler was my husband. Fitting punishment for my crime of theft? At least in my uncle’s eyes. He hadn’t even attempted to stop the wedding. It was clear the magic-thralls, whatever they were, were more important to him.
We reached a room and I got the sense it was big and airy, but this time, no mysterious candles lit themselves. Instead, the Piper opened a door and pushed me inside. “Rest,” he said curtly, slamming the door behind him.
Throat dry, I spun around, but darkness met me at every corner, making it impossible to see. At last, the antics of the night caught up with me, and I sank to my knees, leaning heavily against the door. What was I going to do?
I opened my eyes, refusing to be overcome by my situation, even though my eyelids were heavy and I could think of nothing better than lying down and going to sleep. But it was dark, and rather unkind of the Piper to toss me in a pitch black room and leave me alone. I tossed away the other alternative, that he could have put me in his room and made me sleep in his bed. My lower belly clenched at the idea of sharing a bed with him. But he’d also promised to annul the marriage, should I comply with his demands. I wanted to hear his proposal, but I was grateful he’d left me alone.
“I need a light,” I whispered to the blackness, searching the pockets of my cloak.
The Piper had done his work well, for even my candle and flint were gone, and I doubted my aunt would have had more packed in the satchel. She’d sent Uropa away instantly. As if she’d known. An icy shiver went through me as something bumped against the carpeted floor.
The sound came from inside the room, and my fingers twitched, tempted to reach for the door handle, but I assumed the Piper had locked me inside. I stayed my hand, for knowing I was trapped was worse than facing what was inside.
Panic clawed up my throat as the thump came again, followed by a hiss. A tiny ball of fire no larger than my fist, bloomed, then faded, followed by a belch.
Tiny flames licked at the hearth of a fireplace, slowly growing as they lapped at the wood, like a kitten lapping at a bowl of milk. The castle was enchanted.
Pressing a hand to my heart, I leaned forward and squinted at the shape in front of the fire. It was the size of a cat, gray like stone, with enormous eyes, reptilian nostrils, and a forked tongue that licked its snout as it gazed at me. Four legs, two horns, bat-like wings, and a snout. It patiently returned my stare, its face made less ugly by those overly large, round eyes. I detected no malice, but it looked just like a stone statue until it blinked. I snapped my fingers. It was a gargoyle! This nightmarish night was full of surprises, but this one wasn’t so terrible.
“Did you light a fire because I asked?”
The gargoyle moved its head up and down, then crouched on all fours, waving its serpentine tail. Despite everything disastrous that had happened tonight, I smiled. It was ugly but cute, a little pet in my room.
I stood, taking in my surroundings as the light from the fire grew stronger. It was a simple room with a large bed covered in black blankets and lacy drapery. Against one wall was a wardrobe and a vanity with a mirror. A chaise lounge perched beside the fireplace and a plain, high-backed chair sat against the wall. Simple, not cozy or overly lavish, but it would do.
I glanced back at the fireplace, which had elaborate stones with winged statues carved on it. The gargoyle fit in, easy to overlook if I hadn’t seen him blink.
“I’ll think of a name for you,” I promised. “Thank you for the light. I suppose I should unpack.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized I’d said it as though I were staying a long time. Giving myself a shake, I put the satchel on the bed and opened it. I’d rest tonight so I’d be ready to spar with the Piper tomorrow. Surely he wouldn’t keep me locked in this room. If I gained his trust and showed him I would comply with his demands, he’d let down his guard and I’d flee, stealing some of the valuables in the castle to finance my escape. I just needed to be patient and smart, and wait for an opportunity to present itself.
Inside the satchel were clothes, and the first item I touched was my nightgown. I frowned. How had Uropa known to pack my nightgown? I also pulled out four dresses, one pair of trousers, a loose-fitting shirt, and then gaped in mild astonishment at the two items that lay in the bottom. The first I picked up with trembling fingers as a surge of gratefulness rushed over me. It was a short knife, a dagger really, sheathed in leather with a belt that would be easy to tie around my waist or leg. Aunt Matzie had been watching out for me. How did she know?
The second item was a leather-bound journal tied shut with a string. Even in the light from the fire, I detected the pyramid symbol on the front. I ran my fingers over it, tracing the raised design. Reverently, careful not to tear the fragile pages, I flipped it open. Scrawled in messy handwriting was a ditty I’d heard before:
Beware the Pied Piper
