Veiled Dreams (4 page)

Another of the men grabbed Christina’s wrist. The sword was coming down rapidly. Christina shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

I hope I faint before I feel it!
she thought. But she stayed conscious, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead, her heart racing wildly, her breathing shallow. She felt the cold edge of the metal on her wrist, the skin beginning to rip.

‘Stop!’ shouted Mona. She rushed forward and pulled the sword away. ‘Have you forgotten the law of Royal Trial? Can’t you see that you are dealing with a royal princess?’

The man with the sword hesitated. He looked at the other two.

‘It is true, sir,’ said the smallest of the three men. ‘All members of foreign royal families must have a fair trial before they are punished.’

‘Well, she certainly looks like a princess,’ said the one who had grabbed her wrist. ‘I think we should take care, sir.’

The man with the sword frowned.

‘Mm. Perhaps. We shall take her to the Magis Counsel. They shall decide.’

‘Should we take the old lady?’

‘Why? She is not royalty. We could deal with her now. She has harboured a thief!’ He leant forward towards Mona, swinging his sword.

‘No,’ shouted Christina. ‘She – she – I’ve just hired her to be my servant!’

‘Careful, Leckeri, we don’t know which kingdom they are from. If we should cause our king to have new enemies…There are enough problems with the South Borders.’

‘Hm. Yes. Very well. Take them both to the Magis Counsel cells.’

Mona jumped forward.

‘How do you propose to get us there? You cannot expect my Lady to walk through the dirty town streets. She will need a carriage!’

‘Hmm,’ said Leckeri. He looked dubious at first, his eyes shifting towards his companions, as if seeking their approval. Mona’s stared at him sternly. ‘Samett,’ he said, ‘you stay here and guard the two ladies. Bolomfus, come with me to find a carriage.’

Bolomfus and Leckeri left the shop. Mona caught Christina’s eye and indicated that she should sit down. She positioned herself at her sewing table.

‘That’s right, ladies,’ said Samett ‘Make yourselves comfortable. It won’t be too pleasant in the Magis Counsel cell. Oh, and you’d better eat and drink now, because there won’t be anything before the trial tomorrow morning. And get me something while you’re at it!’

Mona caught Christina’s eye again. She was trying to tell her something, but Christina couldn’t make out what. Mona busied herself filling plates with cheese, fruit and a sweet bread. She poured some of the brown drink for the guard and some sparkling water for her and Christina. Christina saw her sprinkle a powder into the guard’s drink.

The three ate and drank in silence. Within a few minutes, the guard was sound asleep.

‘He’ll come to no harm. It was just a herbal sleeping powder. And he’ll be wide awake again by the time the others return with the carriage. But I needed to talk with you without the guards hearing. It is really important that you say nothing in front of the guards, nor in the cell, nor even at your trial. Let me be your voice and ears. I shall be your lawyer. It is written that that she who dares to take the Queen’s Chalice will rule in the Kingdom of Ixeria, along with her twin. But the king is rather afraid to lose his
power and has turned his back on the Book of the Law. It is also part of our Law that a member of any royal household, accused of any crime, has the right to silence and is innocent until proved guilty. And I think the king will go along with that one. For he is afraid of war and will not want your people to become his enemy.’

‘But it can’t be me! I have no twin! And I’m not really royal. You’re just very clever, and made me look that way!’

‘Ah, but there are many forms of royalty. How can you be sure you have no twin? Do you remember your birth? And who was the girl in the mirror?’

‘You mean you saw her too?’

‘Yes, in the strange shop in the mirror. Destiny brought you here. You cannot deny your destiny!’ Mona’s voice was hard. She was frowning.

‘And I didn’t steal the Queen’s Chalice. I just shoplifted a strange pot from Pandora’s Potions – because the girl in the mirror wanted me to.’

‘But who is she? I tell you, you are the One. I saw it as I sewed your golden thread into your royal dress!’

There was something about the way Mona spoke that made Christina realise that this was serious business. She went hot all over and then a shiver went down her back. Lights seemed to flash in front of her and she felt the narrow room closing in on her again.

Mona sprang up and took a handful of berries from a bowl on the table, and placed one of them under Christina’s tongue.

‘Not now child. Not now.’ She pushed the rest of them into the wide pockets of Christina’s trousers. Then she opened the door of the small sideboard and took further supplies, which she stuffed onto the lid of the chalice.

‘Always eat a berry of the Pollogum tree whenever you feel a fit coming on. It will prevent the attack taking effect. Eating one every day will keep you less prone to seizures. There are enough
here for several weeks. And don’t worry!’

The berry worked. The room widened and Christina found herself still wide awake inside the tailorette’s little shop. She just had a hint of a headache and that was lifting rapidly.

‘Ah, but shh!’

A carriage had stopped outside the door. Samett moved. Leckeri and Bolomfus appeared in the doorway.

‘Ladies,’ smirked Leckeri, ‘your carriage awaits.’

Mona and Christina were bundled roughly into the carriage. It was not the most comfortable of vehicles. It certainly had been splendid in its time, but now the covers of the seats were dowdy. Springs came out of the cushions. Paint peeled off the outside. It was dark now but was still warm, and the sky was clear and full of stars. The carriage creaked along the quiet streets. Christina looked for more of the people from this strange town, but there was no one on the streets.

‘Nightfall is curfew.’

Christina turned to look at Mona. But Mona was staring ahead.

‘Don’t look at me child, or our secret will be out. Yes, I can speak to you with my thoughts. And the people of Ixeria cannot hear them, only those from other worlds.’

So Mona was no more from Ixiera than she was.

‘That is right, my child. I was summoned here also, but I have not yet fulfilled my destiny…perhaps it will be soon…But remember, do not say a word. We can talk like this.’

‘So why didn’t we talk like this earlier?’

‘The guard would have found it odd if we had sat for so long without talking.’

On and on they travelled, the bumps in the road shaking and jostling them and making them most uncomfortable. Would the journey ever finish? At last the carriage drew to a halt. Christina peeped out of the window. They had stopped in front of a tall white building. They were out of the narrow streets now, and the
gigantic white columns of the Magis Counsel Building were reflected in the newly washed square. Light poured out of the great golden doors, which stood half open.

But it was not through these doors that Mona and Christina were led. Leckeri pulled them roughly out of the carriage and Bolomfus and Samett marched them down some steps at the side of the building. He led them into a damp, dark room. Dirty mattresses on the floor, straw stuck out through the rough cloth. There was no window, so it was warm and humid inside. But there was a rich, spicy smell which made it more bearable.

The guard was a woman. She was tall and thin, and her face was very grim. Her clothes were grey. She did not smile, nor did her eyes ever meet those of Mona and Christina. Christina noticed that she wasn’t wearing a veil. Neither was Mona, for that matter. Oh, she wished she could take hers off.

‘Why do I have to wear a veil and you two don’t?’ she thought at Mona.

‘Ladies who are past the age of marrying do not have to wear the veil. Only those already married and suitable for marrying. Such attractive ones as you. But you may take it off now. There will be no more men here tonight.’ Mona explained

Mona and Christina pretended to sleep straight away. In fact, Mona gave Christina by thought, several instructions of how she should conduct herself in front of the Counsel the next morning.

‘You must stand tall,’ she said. ‘Your eyes should always look down. You must not make a sound – not even a cough or a sneeze. You must walk, as if gliding, up to the bar.’

‘I don’t know if I can do that,’ she said.

‘Of course you can, said Mona. ‘And let me do all of the talking. I will tell of your rich family, and of the land of wonderful machines. Ixeria would be able to make use of the knowledge you could bring. And as for the Queen’s Chalice – well you are so rich that you thought it was someone’s rubbish. I will tell them that you are a tourist, a visitor, full of curiosity and
anxious to make friends with the people of Ixeria. But beware, the Counsel Chamber will be full of those keen to see justice done. At the least, a hand chopped off. They will have already heard that a foreign princess is about to be tried.’

At last Mona finished, and soon she was fast asleep, snoring gently. Christina couldn’t sleep. What on earth was happening? Where was she, in fact, and why? How was she going to get back home? Would she ever take her exams? What were these strange turns she kept having? Would the magic berries always work? What about when she got back to her real world – if she got back? And oh, oh, oh – would she ever see Jan again?

Christina tossed and turned for what seemed like all night. But it couldn’t have been, because then came the horrid nightmares of being in that other room – the one that always got narrower, but this time there was no way out. Christina woke as Mona gently shook her.

‘Almost time to go, Royal One. Let me put on your veil, and smooth down your garments.’

Christina’s back ached. She was thirsty and she felt dirty – distinctly unroyal. But she did as Mona said. Skilfully, Mona wound the green silk and chiffon around Christina’s head. Then she smoothed down the tunic and the trousers. Holding Christina at arm’s length, she looked at her from head to toe, then smiled and nodded. ‘Use some of the pomade. It will make you feel better.’

Christina took the lid off the jar and rubbed some more of the ointment into her wrists. At once she felt cleaner and full of energy. The guard arrived and unlocked the door. Two soldiers stood ready for them. One pulled his sword from his blue sash and held it pointing upwards. The other took his from his green sash and pointed it towards the ground. The first one indicated that Mona and Christina should follow. The second dropped in behind them.

And so they walked out of the dark cellar, up a narrow
stairway, and into the Great Hall. They continued along a thick red carpet. On either side, the crowds of people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the foreign princess. The four made their way slowly along the length of the hall. Christina tried her best to glide, and she looked down at the floor all the time, but she longed to look around and get a better view of the people of Ixeria.

At last they arrived at the front of the hall. The soldiers led Christina on to the witness stand. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Bolomfus, Leckeri and Samett. They looked pleased with themselves. In front of her, she could just see the bottom of the High Counsellor’s red robes.

‘What is the charge?’ his voice boomed out.

‘That on yester eve the prisoner did take the chalice and its magic pomade from her majesty, Queen Benelov of Ixeria.’

‘Very well. You are charged, your Royal Highness, with an offence against the State of Ixeria. What say you to that charge?’

Christina said nothing.

‘I see you have taken your right to silence. Who is your spokesperson?’

All at once the whole situation seemed ridiculous to Christina, being brought to trial for shoplifting a plastic jar from Pandora’s Potions – a jar that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. She couldn’t stop herself giggling. As she did, her eyes caught those of the Counsellor’s.

‘Wait a minute,’ he cried. ‘Take off your veil.’

‘Sir, this is unheard of. She is a young maid!’ protested Mona.

‘Remove her veil!’

The soldiers grabbed at the chiffon and silk, tearing it with their rough hands. All the people in the hall gasped in surprise. The High Counsellor turned to Leckeri, Samett and Bolumfus.

‘Fools,’ he shouted. ‘Did you not recognise her? This is Princess Imigriana, daughter of Queen Benelov and King Tutoralph.’

‘Imigriana, Your Highness, where have you been all this time? The king and queen have been looking everywhere for you?’ The High Counsellor’s voice was stern.

Christina remained silent.

‘Well speak, child!’ He was growing impatient.

‘Sir,’ said Mona. ‘I believe the young princess met with some accident and lost her memory. I saw her outside my shop. She looked ill, and her clothes were very dirty.’

‘Did you not recognise the Queen’s Chalice?’

‘No, I did not. The vase only showed me that she was of noble birth. I am too poor to have visited the palace and seen the jewels.’

‘Nice one, Mona! Now they really will think I’m the princess.’

‘At least it stops them trying to cut off your hand. And anyway, you look like her apparently. Is she the twin?’

The twin. It was that nonsense about the twin again.

The room began to close around Christina.

‘The berry. Take a berry!’ Just in time, Christina slipped one of the berries into her mouth. The dizziness passed. But an old gentleman had noticed her go pale and sway slightly. He stood up.

‘Sir,’ he said, speaking to the High Counsellor. ‘Her Highness is obviously not herself. Let the doctors examine her. And then let us get her to her home and family. Surely that will bring back her memory?’

‘Yes, you are right. Send for the Counsel doctor. And bring Her Highness to a quieter place, away from the crowds.’

Mona stepped forward.

‘Sir, may I be released now? Her Highness shall surely now be
safe. I should like to return to my work.’

‘Of course, old lady.’ The Counsellor had lost some of his sternness and seemed almost kind. ‘And thank you for finding the royal princess. It is a great honour for our town.’

Mona bowed, waved quickly to Christina, turned and made her way out of the hall.

‘It will be more difficult to talk like this when you are further away. And you will be safe now, at the palace. But if you really need some help, just concentrate very hard and you will find me.’

‘Thank you! Thank you!’

Christina bit her lip as she saw the one who was nearest to being a friend going away from her.

Now the Counsellor and the old gentleman led her gently into a room at the side of the bar. She was invited to sit down on a bed covered in drapes and soft cushions. A young girl in a pink costume very much like her green one, offered her fruit and water. The room was full of flowers, and two tall young men, bare to the waist, waved leaves from some giant plant to fan the warm air. A little fountain gurgled in the middle of the room.

The girl in pink introduced herself. ‘Your Highness, my name is Itola. I serve the High Counsellor. This is his chamber. Oh, Your Highness, where have you been all this time? The Court has been most worried.’

‘I’m not sure. Another place. A world with machines and clothes you could not imagine.’ Christina decided it was best to go along with what Mona had suggested. But what had happened to the real Imigriana?

‘The people will rejoice that you have returned.’

There was a knock at the door. The High Counsellor opened it. The visitor stepped into the room. He wore a tight-fitting white suit, and on his head a shining white turban.

‘Your Royal Highness, the Counsel doctor. If you will permit him to examine you.’

‘Of course,’ whispered Christina. She had never seen a doctor quite like this before. The man sat down next to her on the divan. He had neither stethoscope nor thermometer. He simply held his hand a few inches above her head and closed his eyes. Then his hands moved to different parts of her body, always hovering a few inches away, so that he was not actually touching her. It made her feel warm and tingly.

‘Aha!’ said the doctor at last. ‘She has most certainly suffered a blow to the head, which has caused her to lose her memory. There is a very slight disturbance in the brain, but everything else is functioning perfectly. I recommend a good night’s rest, some wholesome food and then she should be returned to her family.’

‘It will be arranged. She may spend the night at my home. It would be an honour.’

In fact, Christina spent a very pleasant evening at the High Counsellor’s house. Off duty, he was much less grim and pompous. His wife was very kind, even if she did try to ask too many questions about where Christina had been. They had no children, but considered Itola to be almost a daughter. And it was good having a hot perfumed bath. Afterwards she ate meats and salads in tasty sauces accompanied by all sorts of different breads. She tried new sorts of custards and fruits for dessert. Itola offered her some of her own fine clothes to wear while Christina’s were laundered and her veil was repaired.

She brushed Christina’s hair a hundred times before she went to bed. ‘I will sing to you before you go to sleep,’ she said.

She started singing. Her voice sounded like the wind whispering through the trees on a warm summer evening. Christina found her eyelids drooping. The silk sheets felt so comfortable next to her skin. Soon she was drifting into a deep, comforting sleep.

Even so, when she woke up the next day, she felt very nervous. She knew she was an impostor and wondered what was going to happen when they found out.

‘The journey to the king’s palace will take all day,’ said Itola, as she helped Christina to dress. This time, she wore a fine green silk.

‘You have a long journey ahead of you,’ said the High Counsellor. ‘But we shall make the carriage comfortable for you.

Carriage
, thought Christina. She hoped they could make it more comfortable than the one she’d travelled in the day before. Hadn’t they got any better form of transport, especially for a princess?

When the carriage arrived servants piled it high with cushions. Two boys stood on the boards at the side and constantly fanned her and the High Counsellor.

At least this one was a bit better than the other one. The seats were deep and comfortable. The windows were spotlessly clean. As they moved off, cheering crowds lined the street.

They wanted to kill me yesterday
, thought Christina.
And now look at them
.

The journey was long and tedious, but the people of Ixeria certainly treated her well, making frequent stops and always ensuring she was comfortable. The scenery was fascinating. They seemed to be going up and up, and then down again slightly, through orchards – the trees filled with types of fruit she had never before seen, and at last into the craggy mountains, which loomed above them, their peaks covered in snow.

At last the carriage stopped and the footmen opened the doors. Christina stepped out. It was almost dark now, but bright lights shone from the palace windows and doors. The first impression was of hundreds of arches and millions of tiles. But as Christina walked towards the main entrance, she could see that the walls of the palace were just elaborately painted. There were only a few real arches, the rest were reflections in mirrors or just painted on the walls. The palace was surrounded by perfumed rose gardens.

The great door opened. A young girl appeared and walked
slowly down the path, which led up to the entrance of the palace. As she saw Christina, she squealed with joy, and turned and ran back towards the palace. ‘The princess is here! The princess is here!’ she cried. There was a great commotion. Servants ran here and there, as news spread that Imigriana had returned.

‘It seems,’ explained one of the footman, ‘that the message became garbled between here and High Town. Your parents and most of the servants have gone there to collect you.’

‘So, Imigriana, you have returned. Let me bring your things to your room.’ The voice came from a tall, elegant speaker, draped in grey and with dark eyes peeping above her veil.

‘I don’t really have any things.’ Then Christina realised her mistake. If the servant did not bring her things up to the room, how would she know where her room was?

The High Counsellor spoke just in time. ‘Take care of her Highness. She cannot remember what has happened to her or much of her life here. Our doctor thinks she will begin to remember when she is in familiar surroundings. Please show her around her home.’ He turned to Christina. ‘My dear, I regret I cannot stay until your parents return. I have urgent business at the Counsel tomorrow. But Lydia is a good and faithful servant, and she will take good care of you until they come back. I wish you a good recovery.’ He bowed slightly. Then he turned, and he was away.

Once more Christina found herself alone amongst strangers.

‘Come. Let us go inside.’

‘I’m – er – sorry, Lydia. I don’t remember my way around the palace.’

Lydia stared at Christina. Then she lowered her veil and smiled. But the eyes didn’t smile.

‘Yes, it must be very difficult for you. Come, let us take a walk.’

Lydia and Christina walked through what seemed like miles of corridors.

I’ll never find my way around here
, thought Christina.

Many of the rooms looked the same, and she couldn’t work out what they were all used for. But with some it was clearer.

‘This is the bathing room,’ Lydia pointed to the deep pools. ‘Your Highness usually takes at least four baths a day.’

The whole room was covered in real tiles, which were decorated with pictures of sea creatures and dragons being chased by handsome soldiers.

‘And this is the grand dining-room.’

The ceiling was very high. Marble pillars held it up. In the centre was a heavily carved table and chairs.

‘How many seats are there?’ asked Christina.

‘One hundred and twelve. But we only use this room when all the court is present.’

Thank goodness
, thought Christina.
I like company, but that’s ridiculous
.

‘Where do they – er – we eat the rest of the time?’ asked Christina.

‘Well in the small dining-room, of course. Though of late, you have preferred to eat in your quarters and that has worried the king and queen.’

‘Actually, I would like to go there now,’ said Christina. ‘And I would like to eat there now. I promise I will eat with Mother and Father when they return.’

Lydia stared at her. She was frowning slightly.

‘Is there something wrong?’ asked Christina.

‘Not really,’ said Lydia. ‘I expect it is the effect of the memory loss. But you never usually refer to the king and queen as Mother and Father, though you address them by those names. When you speak to others you normally say “His Majesty” or “Her Majesty”.’

‘Could you leave me alone now?’ asked Christina.

She would be sure to make more mistakes if she stopped to talk to Lydia for much longer. And there was something about
the woman she didn’t like, but she couldn’t work out quite what.

The woman bowed slightly. ‘As you wish.’ She left the room.

Christina unwound her veil and flung herself on to the four-poster bed. She had to admit, she did like the bedroom. It was spacious and airy, but at the same time, the rich rugs and tapestries made it feel cosy. There was a large carved wooden chest at the foot of the bed. Christina went to open the lid, but as she did so, there came a knock at the door.

‘Come in,’ she called nervously.

Two servants appeared, carrying trays of salads, cheese, fruit and breads. They laid all of the food out and made a fuss of Christina as she ate.

‘Would you like more water, Your Highness?’ one servant would ask.

‘May I offer you more bread?’ the other suggested.

The food was good, though the bread was different from what she knew at home and many of the salad vegetables and the fruits were not like anything she had tried before. It was quite nice having people serve you as if you were the most important person in the world. ‘Is the food to your liking?’ asked the taller of the servants.

‘Yes, thank you,’ replied Christina.

‘Is there anything else we can get for you?’ asked the other.

It was a little difficult to answer the last question, as she did not understand what food was available in Ixeria.

Soon she had finished eating.

‘You may go now,’ she said to the servants.
Goodness, I’m really beginning to behave like a princess
, the thought.

She went back to the carved trunk and found that it was full of old books and papers. Rummaging around for a little while, she found some small cloth bags hidden between the leaves of some of the books. One or two were filled with coins and others with jewellery.

Christina then moved over to the wardrobes. The outfits were
exquisite and of course, were all a perfect fit. A white satin suit, prettily embroidered with a turquoise cording stood out from the rest. Sewn in between the corded shapes, were gold and silver medallions. There were even some dainty pointed slippers to match. The veil was actually a type of hat, which had flaps at the side and a piece which could be drawn across the mouth and the nose. She tried it on. It felt so much more comfortable than the loose pieces of silk, which she wore with her green outfit.

She pulled on the rest of the white suit. Her heart was thumping as she stepped out into the corridor. She really had to find out more about where she was, though.

The corridor was partly outside, in effect a covered balcony, and she could see the mountains sloping up to the moonlit sky. If she heard the slightest noise, she hurried back to her room and stayed there until it was quiet again before she set off again. Each time she counted the doors carefully so that she would be able to find her room again.

The palace was huge. That much was clear. But there didn’t seem to be much going on. Was it really just her and Lydia and a few servants here?

She made her way back to her room for a final time and had another look through the wardrobes. She found a long loose dress, which she guessed was a type of nightie and changed into it. She supposed she ought to think about getting some sleep but she didn’t really feel tired yet. She spent a while looking out of her window on to the town below with its lights and noises. There didn’t seem to be a curfew here like there had been down in the city. The air was still warm and the night scents of the flowers were relaxing and gradually they made her sleepy. She gave in and lay down on the bed. Seconds later, she was fast asleep.