Aradella got up, put her shoulders back, and lifted her chin.
Bree stood before her, then went to her knees. “Oh, please, dear sister, do not execute me.”
“You deserve it!” Aradella said. “You did not cleanallmy jewels. You left a spot on one of them. You deserve death! Guards, take her away!”
Bree stood up, her elbows bent back as though she was being pulled away. “My dear sister, what of our lifetime of love?”
“Love? I have no time for that!” Aradella said. “I am now the queen-to-be and you are nothing!”
Bree pantomimed jerking away from the guards. “You husband-stealing monster!” She put her hands around Aradella’s throat and fake squeezed.
Aradella dramatically and quite flamboyantly went into a death spiral. She landed in a heap on the floor.
Laughing, Mekos and Qip, Frank and Ian applauded, but Tanek and Kaley were staring in stunned silence.
“How...? When...?” Kaley whispered.
“They are actresses!” Mekos said proudly. “You should have seen them on that stage! The whole island cheered.”
“How do you know that?” Aradella asked.
“Well,” Mekos said slowly, “we saw you.”
Bree gasped. “All of it? Even what I did to poor Bart?”
“We were there for every second of that splendid play,” Qip said. “Tam thought you were wonderful.”
“And best of all, you conquered the Monster of Sheean.” Mekos’s eyes were full of admiration.
“We did,” Bree said, and she and Aradella looked at each other with smiles.
“But you—” Aradella began.
“Stop!” Kaley said loudly. “Start at the beginning and tell us everything. And please explain the Monster of... Whatever he was.”
“Monster of Sheean.” Mekos looked at the girls.
Frank said, “Yes! Tell it all, and I remind you that I’ve had a lifetime of good storytelling.” He gave an affectionate glance at his granddaughter, then turned back to the others. “What happened when you landed on this island?”
Mekos rolled his eyes. “These twohatedeach other. Tam and I were afraid they’d go into battle. We locked down our weapons.”
“Most of it happened because of the bag Zeon gave us.” Aradella was looking at her cousin.
“And your knowledge of plants,” Bree said.
“And that you know the spells.”
Ian said loudly and impatiently, “It was all about my leg! Now stop dawdling and tell the story!”
With much laughter and lots of drama, they told of the play and the fight in the arena. They told of taking the medallion, but by silent mutual agreement, they left out what Elvin said about Urah. They didn’t want to ruin the lighthearted moment.
“What did this monster look like when he changed?” Kaley asked.
Their words tumbled over each other as they described the goat parts of him, complete with horns.
“A satyr,” Kaley said. “Unfortunately, they are known for sex and booze and truly disgusting orgies. I would imagine that’s how he got into trouble that made someone reshape him. Could I see the things you collected?”
They looked at Qip. “I’ll get them.” He left the room.
